Allies Fail to Gear Political Warfare to Military Conditions
KATZ, RUDOLF
Allies Fail to Gear Political Warfare to Military Conditions U.S.Neglects to Use Anti-Nazis in Reich By RUDOLF KATZ ' ~K . Secretary of the German Labor Delegation WHAT was Hitler's greatest...
...He advised the Congress that the report of an Allied landing had not been confirmed by later reports, the left-wing elements, knowing that they would be badly defeated on the Hoor of the Congress, and reluctant to risk a vote which was bound to reveal their weakness, took the occasion to withdraw their amendment...
...It has a policy of political warfare fitting perfectly into its total military purpose...
...It will not mean the end of all race exclusion laws, but only the winning of the first battle in the war for their repeal...
...Yes, it even appears sometimes as if—as a result of our awkwardness in this held of political warfare—the tasks of the generals were made more difficult than need be...
...They are failing to see in its true light a not unimportant war problem...
...As a delegate of the AFL to this Congress, I had a memorable and inspiring experience...
...Be was given the alternative of going to an Army camp or to prison...
...But the lack of ability to fathom the psychology of .the German people suggests the possible dangers during the coming times of peace as well as inadequacies in the conduct of war...
...And the people of Japan, Siam, Java, and other Pacific countries are also excluded...
...A deep sense of responsibility characterized all the discussions and the decisions...
...And through this oversight he is now about to lose everything, his position, the war—in the end bis very life...
...one held the German people as a whole responsible for the war and the other completely absolved them...
...June 22, 1941, he estimated the weakness of his enemies with brilliant accuracy...
...THE General Council reported that the Anglo-Sonet Csn* m it tee had met to develop a joint program of acnes a further the war against the common enemy...
...AFL Fraternal Delegate ta British Trades Union Convention •THE British Trades Union Congress at Southport held * early in September was an impressive gathering of about eight hundred delegates representing over six million organized workers...
...With the understttemeat easj actcristic of our British friends, he added that the "had not been asleep over the continent" ^ Citrine asked- whether it would be appropriate IMW** Soriet delegates to bring pressure to bear on their foeerment to open up a second front against Japan...
...THERE are in the United States about 130,000 Japanese, and of these about 70,000 are American citizens...
...He ia here only as a visiter because Indians are barred from entry into the United States as immigrants...
...By tolerating laws which prohibit land ownera)tWJ?,*, the engagement in professions and other callings by thsev by excluding them from participating in a normalMust American citizens without discrimination because of ffiatr race or color, by stigmatizing the entire group as undesirables, by-refusing to permit them even to bring, mer from their mother country their wives, children or laaess, we have sinned against them more than they hare aJama against us: yet with but few exceptions, are lmj fcljsi American citizens and willing and eager to fight B the war against their kith and kin...
...The o delegates pointed out that the proposal was not *^JJJ The labor movements of occupied cour tries had 'uejjea, In some countries, such as the United States and there were two large labor organizations, presenting cuities in the matter of representation He reminded the Soviet delegates that the AFL haD1)Btf ready refused to join the Anglo-Soviet Committee restrictions on travel were another obstacle...
...The General upheld the position of the British delegates, ia wastehearted accord with the idea of a second freet Tat hope was expressed that it would take place tali J"*1if possible, bet H refused to bring pressure to hear aa the British Government for the immediate such a front This view was embodied in a spatial rem 1 lit ion...
...We want India as an ally and friend no less than we want China as an ally and friend...
...However, a number of left-wing delegates see' mitted an amendment demanding an immediate secern front...
...It is altogether ljkeJy that at the Peace Conference the racial equality policy will be urged on aflltbe nations participating in the deliberations...
...It differs from the title "Lady" which is derived from the accident of marriage or birth...
...The title "Dame" is the female equivalent of "Sir," and denotes official recognition of her abilities...
...Thereupon the special resolution was unanimously adopted...
...improvement on the educational system by various measures— and, above all, the development of an effective program of full employment after the war...
...I do not wish to be misunderstood...
...During the past two months a new element has appeared in this area of activity...
...I remember just that thing—not only from my own knowledge of what the Japanese said—I was not in Japan that time, but from Japanese friends who were there...
...The president of the Congress was Dame Anne Loughlin, a representative of garment workers, the first woman to occupy that post during the 75 years of existence of the Congress...
...It is not suggested that they may lose the »ar on this account Bat they are creating a situation which amy unnecessarily prolong it...
...Fraternal delegates were present at the Congress from the United States and from Russia and Sweden...
...The Soviet government has...
...The chief cause of it may be a lack of a certain gift among the AngloSaxon nations, a failure to fathom the thinking and feeling of a foreign nation...
...No one pays any attention to them...
...They can go on and point to our laws excluding other "yellow" peoples only because of their color...
...Washington and London, on the contrary', have in this field—nothing at all, a complete vacuum...
...Will they ever master it...
...Sir Walter delivered a scathing attack on the paper, accusing it of irresponsible misrepresentation and adding that he would seek legal redress for this contemptible attempt at character assassination, -He spoke with deep bitterness for, ironically enough, it-Was he who had supported the establishment of the Anglo-Soviet Committee and, while in the United States last year, had endeavored, without success, to persuade the AFL to join the Committee...
...What will be America's answer...
...Even if it is impossible to mobilize them immediately for direct action, it is possible to influence them powerfully...
...If the Senate bill also passes, the Chinese will receive treatment, as far as immigration and eligibility for citizenship are concerned, equal to that accorded European and African nations...
...The British delegates took the position that they not authorized to deal with matters of military stmtsgj...
...For this sort of activity, unskillfully conducted, hus seemed to have the unexpected result of whipping our potential German allies, formerly opposed to Hitler, more firmly into line behind his military machine...
...Yet passage of the repeal bill by the Senate will not shut up the Japanese propagandists...
...I am against the Communist dictatorship...
...The Moscow leadership is a hundred percent active...
...Its political strategy is logical and geared to the total war program...
...It is being conducted with concentrated energy, according to plan, effectually and—we have reason to fear—by no means without results...
...There was no doubt as to the **ntl**Vr |ejae Congress...
...The Congress was about to adjourn »r when Sir Walter informed the delegates of the Congress that s note had been handed to him stating that the radio reported an Allied invasion upon the continent between Dunkirk and Bologna...
...Russia, in short, has the sort of political vision required for successful activity in this field...
...Now is the time to adopt laws, if only to implement war measures, to wipe out the injustices founded as met prejudice or the assumption that one race is inlmmillj superior to another...
...In behalf of the AFL, I set forth its official position, namely, that organic liaison with the Soviet unions is undesirable because they are not free labor organisations in the democratic sense of the term but are instruments of the State and would foster ideological conflicts to the detriment of she war effort...
...The first called upon the British labor iseeana* to demand from their government the immediate syswrnj of a second front in Europe to divert at least atrtj Kan divisions from the eastern front The second pnipas.il ssinl for the broadening of the present Anglo-Soviet CerrmMm to include representatives of the labor movements ef m countries including those occupied by the enemy...
...But—and this is the rub of the matter—Russia is doing something in this area of political warfare, something which the western powers, to their great loss, have thus far neglected...
...The fact thft some American and British Tories have little enthusiasm for freedom, except freedom from governmental regulation, is a hindrance to effective propaganda...
...To be sure, they will win the war anyway...
...For with regard to the central points in this field what happens is nothing—actually nothing...
...It was the death-blow of liberalism...
...m e m m sbasi en a-AsJUimei ?T the Versailles Peace Conference, Japan,and China asked for a declaration on racial equality...
...The heroism and loyalty of these citizens were demonstrated recently when they were given an opportunity to jam tht United States forces...
...After his arrival America declared war...
...A tense Congress listened to his excoriation of the Communist organ...
...the the importance of extending social security benefits...
...They were both shelved in favor of a resolution which declared that those Germans guilty of criminal acts should be punished...
...The day after my talk Schvernik approached Sir Walter Citrine and requested an opportunity to reply to my statement that Soviet trade unions were not free democratic labor organizations...
...He compared the inadequate outfit of his enemies with his own powerful war machine—and ordered the attack...
...Ill .contrast to the very effective military conduct of the war by Britain and the United States, what has thus far beetl done in the field of political warfare is nothing but amateurish dabbling...
...They did not get it—because the representatives of ihe United States, England and the British Dominions were solidly opposed to the proposal...
...It is, judged from the Russian point of view, enterprising and resourceful...
...But the victory will be more costly, achieved with greater effort than is necessary...
...Allies Fail to Gear Political Warfare to Military Conditions U.S.Neglects to Use Anti-Nazis in Reich By RUDOLF KATZ ' ~K . Secretary of the German Labor Delegation WHAT was Hitler's greatest error...
...In another area of war policy it is England*and '., the United States which are guilty of short-sightedness...
...The final report of the First Pan-American Demographic Congress, held in Mexico City in October, urged the adoption of a racial equality policy by all the nations of the Western Hemisphere...
...He refused to go into the Army, saying, with considerable logic, that if be is not good enough for permanent residence and citizenship, he should not be good enough aa...
...It was in this that his short-sightedness revealed itself...
...Men who know European and, especially,' German conditions are constantly struck by the astounding inadequacy...
...I am filled with admiration for the fortitude of the British people and for the sturdy, realistic British trade union movement Its constructive approach to the problems of today and tomorrow, its far-sighted leadership, gives one renewed confidence in that great labor parliament Sir Walter Citrine, its veteran secretary, was a dominating figure in all the proceedings...
...A special secretariat was set up to prepare and submit specific plans dealing with post-war problems to the Congress next year...
...This did not make a favorable impression upon the delegates in view of the tremendous sacrifices made by the British people during the dark years of ^1940 and 1941, when they were fighting alone with their backs to the wall, and the Communists were calling this an imperialist war...
...while they naturally favored hitting Hitleriam aB sides, they were not equipped with sufficient Immrjeml to determine whether the opening of a second ****** Europe was immediately feasible...
...The...
...British were too modest to loudly proclaim their coatrHWB»» to the war effort, he declared, recalling what had complished in Africa and Italy by the British in c«oper«m» with American forces...
...But the objections of these reactionaries who fear too much democracy can be overcome...
...This involves our allies Within'the German camp, the millions of German opponents Of the Nazis...
...The request of the Russian del< gates to extend" w Anglo-Soviet Committee was likewise rejected...
...I paid warm tribute to the British people for their great contribution to the war, particularly recalling how steadfastly they stood alone after Dunkirk and saved civilization frosn Nazi conquest These remarks were received by the delegates with exceptional enthusiasm...
...a*...' IN the fight for the repeal of Chinese exclusion laws the argument by proponents of the bill most frequently made was that passage of the repeal law will stop the mouths of the Japanese, who have been using our exclusion laws as propaganda against us among the people of China and among their own people...
...What proud people would not have been stung by so flagrant an insult and injury ?—especially Whan one cor - siders the fact that the difference between, total exclusion and equality of treatment Would have meant a maximum immigration of about 100 Japanese annually...
...In analyzing the Council's report and speaking m tuJTT of the General Council's resolution, Sir W^*"-T,!—t pointed out that Stalin had been calling for a secondI ^m since 1941 though such an attempt might well ^VL^^jy In a major military catastrophe and virtual sn,e^tartM...
...When he sat down a resolution voicing full confidence in the Secretary and General Council and approving the position of Sir Walter Citrine was adopted, only two delegates dissenting...
...Yet the only voice that had been heard, so far as I know, urging the repeal of these laws is that of the Post-War World Council...
...The Congress received the news with great joy...
...Resolutions adopted by the Congress demanded action by the House of Commons on the Beveridge Social Security Plan and the maintenance after the war, as far as feasible, of certain controls over prices and the cost of living...
...In my address to the Congress on September 8 I gave the Congress a picture of the contribution being made by American Labor to the war effort...
...As long as 27,000 Germans are eligible for entry into the United States under the 1924 quota law, as long as Rumanians, Hungarians and Bulgarians are eligible to etiter and become American citizens, the exclusion of Orientals from these privileges cannot honestly be said to be political rather than racial, and as long as this situation continues liberals must make every effort to change it so that there will be one cause less for hatred and strife and war in the future...
...Repeal of theae iaws will remove the chief argument of the Japanese propagandists and will weaken the morale of the Japanese fighters, "as well as strengthen the hand of our friends among the peoples of India, Siam, and other affected countries of the Pacific...
...This is a striking and unusual sort of failure...
...He failed to include in his calculations the armies, airplanes and fleets which were as yet non-existent but which his enemies were capable of constructing...
...My codelegate from the AFL was Harold Ulrich of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks...
...As a result of the activities of the British-American armies their enemies remain unweakened...
...It is doubtless true—contrary to a widely spread legend . —that there are numerous groups of civilized, democratic, decent persons in Germany who are today more . than ever against the Nazi dictatorship and against the war...
...He miscalculated the ** war potential of his opponents...
...When he cut loose on September 1, 1939, and then again or...
...r "f* i 1 The House of Representatives has passed a bill repealing all laws excluding Chinese from immigration to the United States and barring them from American citizenship...
...When Pearl Buck appeared before the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization of the House of Representatives to urge repeal of the Chinese exclusion laws, she said: "I remember, I know from my own personal experience of the world, bearing out the fruit of it, the tremendous evil effect that our exclusion had on the Japanese many, many years ago...
...Are the other liberal groups not thinking of this problem, or are they too timid to speak out...
...When Congress reconvened, Sir Walter moved the adoption of the Emergency Resolution proposed by the General Counts...
...The keynote was the determination to speed the day of victory, and an acute awareness of the necessity to prepare for the post-war period...
...Or it may be that the cause is rather to be sought in a basic distaste among free peoples for what we have come to call political propaganda...
...It is impossible to believe that a dictatorship like that of Moscow can ever stand for democracy, freedom and justice in Germany...
...Yet we have race exclusion, laws that bar Indians from immigration into the United States and from American citizenship...
...Of course the divergencies of opinion among the leaders of the western democracies makes difficult agreement on the content of propaganda...
...No steps tuge w&oi lu tnooiiize uiem...
...If the repeal is enacted into law, it will mean a social advance comparable to the President's orders establishing the Fair Employment Practice Committee...
...It utilizes all the situations offered by the changing turn of events...
...As John Dixon Ford pointed out in an article in The New Leader (July 10, 1943), the War Department, the FBI and other government agencies have flatty'JtjpissV that American citizens of Japanese ancestry had'asm...
...The Army of the United States wanted him as a soldier...
...German people should—in our opinion, must—be reeducated after the war...
...Most uapo of all, however, was the fact that t*is T^op<^J^ai\mZ aimed at the establishment of a new inUrn*t"**' plementing the established International Federation-91 „ ^ Unions, which would produce conflict along ideologwOt It was urged that the British and Soviet trade n*"~lWt, centrate on cooperation to win the war and leave ease* ters to the future...
...They have always been an industrious, law-abiding groan, without a crime, delinquency sit atrial welfare problem...
...mitted any acts of sabotage or treason in connect!mrjina Pearl Harbor...
...They have proved themselves bran fighters—on the side of the United States...
...its political campaign against the Nazis in full swing...
...Minister of Labor Ernest Bevin, one of the strong figures in the Churchill National Government, and formerly a leader of the powerful Transport Workers Union, discussed demobilation on a stagger system based on length of service...
...Sir Walter explained to Mr.'Schvernik that it is contrary to established policy to permit fraternal delegates to use the platform of the Congress for controversies with other fraternal delegates and that it would create a bad precedent Schvernik persisted, however, and Sir Walter placed the matter before the Congress wain almost unanimously rejected Scbvemik's request * » « Second Front Against Japan...
...increase the sacrifices required and make more difficult the post-war rebuilding...
...Not long ago a visitor from India consulted the writer about his draft status...
...However, the British delegation could aW ague to two proposals submitted by the Russian member* ef tht committee...
...For many reasons, it is of special importance to note that Russia does not commit the same error as Britain and the United States...
...a soldier in the United States Army...
...Not Good Enough to Live Here—Not Good Enough to Fight" Race Exclusions and Racial Equality ¦a...
...Whatever the reason, the fact is that the free peoples have thus far failed to understand the importance of this important aspect of the,conduct of war...
...It will be instructive to draw a parallel to this Hitlerian blunder...
...SceveraiJr Demands Second Front %M SCHVERNIK, the head of the Russian delegation, stressed the great contribution the workers of Russia are making to the war effort, and declared that Russia was bearing the brunt of the war...
...But—can bad psychologists at some future date turn into good educators ? Report oh the British Labor Movement fX IHOOUE NA&Li* Vice-President, 1LGWU...
...However, despite our inability to join in any organic relationship with the Soviet trade unions, the American Federation of Labor is and will continue to be for wholehearted cooperation with Soviet Russia as well as with our other allies in prosecuting the war to victory and in post-war reconstruction for the maintenance of world peace...
...we caused the death-blow of liberalism at that time...
...k^ndoiest" Sir Walter Citrine's impassioned address drew x^^mapplause...
...He called for the immediate opening of a second front He said that the failure to open a second front in 1942 had saved Hitlerism...
...They used the flimsy excuse of the good news, 'djtet had been heard and the hope that the General Council would- give serious consideration to the calling of a World Conference of Labor...
...In this struggle they constitute a potentially mighty weapon . . . but the western powers make practically no use of this weapon...
...There nai agreement on a number of points, such as the speeding at of the production of munitions and facilitating shipment ef supplies...
...That has been the single thing that has made Japan regard us as an enemy...
...There were two resolutions on the treatment of the German people after the war...
...As a matter of principle I am sharply opposed to the Moscow Free German Committee with its political generals, with its Schutzstaffel members and German Officers Club and its Communist control...
...There can be little doubt of the fact—the seeds of Pearl Harbor were planted by us when we adopted a law excluding Japanese from immigration and American citizenship...
...The repeal of all laws excluding peoples solely because of their race is not only a matter of elementary justice, but is indicated as a war measure...
...But his elementary mistake lay in the fact that he took account of only their actual military strength—not of their war potential...
...The next morning the British Daily Worker carried a story declaring that Sir Walter Citrine rmd deliberately "hoaxed" the Congress into believing that an invasion had taken place and thereby caused the withdrawal of the amendment by the left-wing elements...
...But tile inadequacy of this measure repealing Chinese exclusion laws must not, in our jubilation, be overlooked...
...L.'jWImt the western powers are not seeing in proper proportions is—just as was the case with Hitler—only a potential...
...On this basis, the Chinese quota will be 105...
...IV is the matter of political warfare...
Vol. 26 • October 1943 • No. 44
