BB-23-b-1
[Handwritten notations: “Carolyn: Copies to Dr. [Ptolemy] Reid, Min. [Vibert] Mingo, Mrs. Santiago”]
Honourable Prime Minister Burnham
Public Building
Georgetown
Dear Prime Minister Burnham:
I suggest that you keep a wary eye on the United States, in light of recent events and trends there. I have no reason to doubt that you are keeping the United States in proper perspective, and I only hope that others in positions of responsibility do the same. Steering the ship of state through the difficult waters of non-alignment can, especially in times of economic hardship, make us susceptible to taking a perhaps unrealistic view of US policies. Behind a lot of the conciliatory noises and gestures of co-operation, there still remains type structure of monopoly capitalism. As one of our leaders and said, personalities change, but the institutions remain the same. So let us not be fooled by the masks of capitalism. A few recent news items from the States give us a glimpse behind the masks.
In the campaign for Governor of California (the largest State by way of population), the front runner in the polls is the former Los Angeles Police Chief, Mr. [Daryl F.] Davis. He has advocated hanging blacks who ‘riot’ (i.e., demonstrate for their rights.) The police under his infamous direction are notorious for abuse of civil process, and have been linked to beatings and killings.
Ray Scott, a black youth, was just this week lynched by an Alabama mob after being brutally beaten and tortured.
The very important Garment Workers Union in New York which has been at the forefront of progressive labor reform, and has put forth socialist platforms for the workers, is currently under ‘investigation.’ Its most important leaders have been imprisoned on charges of ‘conspiracy.’
US Representative Charles Diggs, Chairman of the Committee on African Affairs and one of the foremost black Congressmen, the founder of the Black Caucus, has been the target of a McCarthy-era ‘witchhunt.’ Press smears, and charges of tax evasion have been hounding him, along with many other blacks in political office. This week, while on a trip to Africa, seeking support for liberation groups inside the racist regime of South Africa, Diggs was indicted on 35 felony counts of fraud and misuse of campaign funds. He is faced with a 175-year goal [gaol, or jail] sentence. Mr. Diggs has never professed more than a moderate political stance, and has carefully avoided connections with ‘socialists.’
James Taylor, Chief aide of Gus Hall, a foremost progressive in the left was assassinated a few days ago.
The US Federal government forced striking coal miners (who have to work under terrible conditions, safety hazards, and low pay) to accept the contract offered to them, by threatening to send out Army troops. Many of the strikers were starving after 113 days off the job. Their union has sold them out.
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While the racist-reactionary police chief in California is a front runner in the Governor’s race, the left-liberal police chief in Cleveland, Ohio was just fired for trying to implement non-discriminatory hiring practices.
Federal Courts in the US have agreed to continued experimentation with recombinant DNA, despite great warnings about the dangers posed by such experiments. The objects of these experiments is to create a ‘sub-human’ creation who will provide a labor force which, in the words of one prominent financial backer of this research, “won’t go on strike.” The production of certain labor force is now estimated as feasible within two years. Mr. Huxley’s Brave New World seems to be moving towards reality in the United States.
Finally, I urge you to consider closely the passage of Senate Bill 1437, a revision of the infamous Senate Bill 1, which has been widely discussed all over the United States. It passed by a vote of 75-15, and its ‘floor manager’ in the U.S. Senate was the ‘liberal’ Senator, Edward Kennedy. The bill is a civil libertarian’s nightmare. It would, among other things:
– make protest of any government regulation unlawful
– make picketing of unfair court actions or proceedings unlawful
– curb freedom of speech
– give the government extended powers that could be used to institute repressive measures
– A government employee, leaking to the press any government contract documenting illegal actions of public officials would be subject to legal sanctions (a provision obviously designed to prevent future Watergates.)
It is clear that because of this bill’s passage, government repression of political organizations or individual dissent has been made very simple, since the bill destroys safeguards against this.
The above examples – which constitute only a very brief resume of highlights of events occurring in just the past few days – make it apparent that the correction and mood of the US in 1978 is redolent of the witchhunt years of Senator McCarthy or the virulent ‘red-baiting’ days shortly after World War I in that country. Many commentators in the States had noted these trends with alarm, and I submit that they bode a possible return to the most bitter repression of all but the most reactionary of ideas and positions. The effect it can have on our nation cannot be fully assessed, but it is certain that the same proponents of reaction in US domestic life are those who look upon any socialist direction in the Hemisphere as antithetical to US interests, and deserving of being sabotaged.
Thank you very much for your consideration of these comments. I am hopeful that they will be of use to you and others in keeping a realistic perspective on the United States.
Yours Sincerely,