Correspondence; [The Socialist Party of Canada and the International Socialist Bureau.] (1909)

Letter to the Editors from the October 1909 issue of the Socialist Standard

To the Editor.

SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA.

Dominion Executive Committee,

 

Vancouver, B.C. 

Aug. 2, ’09.

 

RESOLUTION.

In view of the fact that a demand has been made in various quarters that this committee take steps to affiliate with the International Socialist Bureau, it has become necessary that the committee define its position on this question.

Whereas, the I.S.B. has seen fit to admit to membership and representation certain non-Socialist bodies, particularly the British Labour Party ; and

Whereas, such parties are not only ignorant of Socialism, but practice openly the most shameless policy of fusion and compromise with capitalist parties, advocating at most a number of petty, and, in many cases, misleading reforms ; and

Whereas, such endorsation of the I.S.B. can only result in the encouragement and fostering of “fake” Labour and pseudo-Socialist parties to the detriment of the Socialist Party proper, and the misleading and betrayal of the working class ; and such action also affords encouragement and justification for that element existing to a greater or less extent in all Socialist Parties, which is in favour of opportunistic methods and compromise ; and

Whereas, this committee considers that the Party funds can be expended more usefully for purposes of propaganda and organisation than in a way that has little more than sentimental value if any ;

For these reasons this Committee declines to consider any affiliation which entails the slightest suspicion, of fusion or compromise. Such action would, moreover, be a direct violation of the constitution of the Party, which expressly forbids any such action.

This resolution, in the above terms, to be forwarded to the International Socialist Bureau, to the affiliated Socialist Parties, and to the Provincial Executive Committee. In point of fact, to be given the widest possible publicity.

THE DOMINION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

 

[We reprint the above as requested and are pleased to note that the British Labour Party is appreciated in Canada at its true worth. —Ed. “S.S.”] .