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SECRET
P.C. PAPER NO. 31 .
MEMORANDUM ON ANTI-WAR PUBLICATIONS(SUBMITTED FOR HOME POLICY COMMITTEE)

Any decision affecting the export of publications must take a number of factors into account. Of those circulation is probably the most important. Distribution, format and size are allied problems. Responsibility for policy is a second important consideration; connected with this are problems of presentation news sources and direction.

The following analysis of publications bears these considerations in mind.

(1) COMMUNIST

Daily Worker 1d. daily - 4-6 pages - circulation 100,000 at weekends - probably 60,000 - 70,000 midweek. “Chairman of the Editorial Board” R. Palme Dutt.

Labour Monthly 6d. monthly - 60 pages - a magazine of International Labour - edited by R. Palme Dutt - contributing editors are drawn from U.S.A. and the Empire - circulation 16,000 in March - estimated print order for April 20,000 - this journal is one of the most highbrow of the Communist publications and is understood to circulate in English- speaking countries - its contributors include Left-wing as well as Communist supporters.

Russia Today 2d. monthly - 16 pages - circulation approximately 34,000 probably increasing - Editor Pat Sloan. A well-produced, illustrated account of life in Russia with limited comment on national and international affairs. The Russia Today Society is in its 11th year. The journal has greatly improved under Sloan's editorship. There are no advertisements.

Russia Today Newsletter 2/- a year - 4 pages fortnightly - circulation unknown - Edited by Pat Sloan. Up to date comment on the political situation.

World News and Views 3d. monthly - 12 pages - circulation unknown An international journal translated into all languages - with contributors of some international standing - articles on the Communist situation in various countries including Germany and the Far East - a publication for informed members of the Party.

The Challenge 1d. weekly - 8 pages - circulation unknown - some advertisements - a newspaper for the Young Communist League - its appeal is to young workers - it provides an open forum for a discussion of labour conditions for young workers and students. Mick Bennett is the well-known young national secretary of the Y.C.L.

Inside the Empire 2d. monthly - 8 pages - No. 3 April - an inconspicuous journal published by the Colonial Information Bureau, 390 City Road, N.1. an organisation which specialises in the provision of speakers on colonial questions - makes a feature of industrial and political grievances throughout the Empire, especially India.

Empire 3d. monthly, 16 pages. Anti-Imperialist, Anti-Government.

Party Organiser 2d. monthly - 24 pages - an illustrated journal primarily of interest to Community Party organisers and helpers - includes notes of local activities, - penetrated 117 - 2 -organisations, literature sales and distribution etc. - circulation estimated at 4,000 - of domestic interest only.

War Commentary 2d. monthly - 16 pages - badly produced and printed journal of the Anarchists - a war-time journal with a mild revolutionary objective (contributions from Ethel Mannin for example) - its main interest is the revolutionary fight for international working class freedom.

Youth News 2d. monthly - 20 pages - the organ of the British Youth Peace Assembly - editor H.M. Schneier - this small well-produced journal specialises in appeals to students, members of youth organisations such as the Youth Hostels Association, societies of refugee youth etc. - the B.Y.P.A. 15a Grosvenor Crescent, S.W.1. is mainly under Communist direction although it did not start as a Communist organisation - B.Y.P.A. publishes subsidiary journals e.g. Life in the Empire No.1 the Bengal Peasant (in association with the communist Federation of Indian Student Societies).

Newsindia 2d. monthly - 16 roneoed sheets - published by the India League, 165 Strand, W.C.2. - provides reading matter for the Federation of Indian Student Societies and a platform for Krishna Menon - it publishes news from India of a kind which never gets space in the British press.

The New Propeller 1d. monthly - 12 pages - a well- produced illustrated newspaper for aircraft workers - it is in line with other publications addressed to special industrial groups e.g.

The Transporter for employees of the London Passenger Transport Board.

Cab Trade News for taxi men.

Country Standard - for agricultural workers. 1d. monthly.

The Week Weekly newsletter - 16/- yearly - printed and published by Claud Cockburn (Frank Pitcairn of the Daily Worker) at 28 Victoria Street, S.W.1. This newsletter addressed to the intelligentsia is thought to possess special sources of inside information and is widely read at home and abroad particularly in Canada and U.S.A. - its Communism is camouflaged beneath good journalistic scoops.

There are several other Communist journals published in this country e.g.

Communist International . Executive committee of Communist International: published in U.S.A. 6d. monthly.

Our Youth - Y.C.L. 2d monthly.

Volunteer for Liberty - International Brigade. 2d. monthly.

University Forward - University Labour Federation. 2d. monthly. (terms).

Other journals published in Russia circulate here e.g.

Moscow News

Anglo-Soviet Journal

U.S.S.R. in Construction

Labour Research 6d. monthly falls into a special category, and although Communist in direction falls more properly under Left-wing publications. It is a factual source of events, with special reference to their economic basis. A large number of Trade Unions are affiliated to the 118 - 3 -Labour Research Department and Ellen Wilkerson is on the committee.

It should be remembered that the Communist Party of Great Britain publishes a large number of special leaflets and pamphlets, some of which have a large sale. It is estimated that Men Behind the War (James Johnson) has sold 54,000 copies. What is Happening in France is published under the auspices of the communist Anti-Fascist Relief Committee. The Party makes a feature of provincial pamphlets e.g. Blitzkrieg over Manchester, Scotland and the War , and there are a number of Communist periodicals printed and published locally e.g. Wythenshawe Women's News.

(2) FASCIST AMD NEAR-FASCIST

Action Weekly 2d. - 8 pages - editor Raven Thompson - circulation thought to be in the neighbourhood of 15,000 - official journal of the British Union, address Sanctuary Buildings, Gt. Smith Street, S.W.1.

Action News Service No. 1 April 30th 1940 - bi-weekly newsletter - editor Raven Thompson - 20/- a year - Oswald Mosley will be a constant contributor.

The Patriot 3d. weekly - 8 pages - founded 1922 by the late Duke of Northumberland - 15/- a year - anti-Communist anti-Semitic, implicitly Fascist - a forum for personal opinion and abuse.

British Union Quarterly l/- limited circulation.

Free Press 2d. monthly - 4 pages - organ of the Militant Christian Patriots, 93 Chancery Lane, W.C.2. - anti-Semitic, anti-Freemason and by implication Fascist - a badly-produced, badly-printed newspaper.

People's Post ld. monthly - organ of the British People's Party, 13 John Street, W.C.1. - editor John Beckett (Fascist) - it is also the organ of the parent body, the British Council for Christian Settlement in Europe (Marquess of Tavistock, Dr. Meyrick Booth, John Beckett).

Headline Newsletter Weekly - 10/- a year - editor John Stone - address 13 John Street, W.C.1. - a badly-produced roneoed sheet emanating from the British Council for Christian Settlement in Europe. Both the B.C.C.S.E. and the British People's Party have a close relationship with the personnel and organisation of the Link (now defunct) of which Professor A.P. Laurie, Mr. H. St. John Philby, Admiral Sir Barry Domville, Ben Greene were associates.

Angles Weekly newsletter - 6/6 “yearly - 56 Crogsland Road, N.W.1. - a roneoed newsletter of 4 pages acting as an organ for the Imperial Fascist League - Arnold Leese edits the paper and sponsors the Angles Club - it is violently anti-Semitic, “Anglo-Saxon” and generally cranky - an unimportant satellite of B.U.

It should be remembered that an attempt is being made at the present time to unify both the membership and the publications of Fascist and near-Fascist bodies - the instigator of this movement is John Beckett.

Like the Communist Party British Union sponsors a number of special leaflets, of which the best known are “ Tomorrow We Live “ (by Sir Oswald Mosley), “ Mind Britain's Business “ (by Capt. R, Gordon-Canning), “Why we are at War” . “ The British Peace and How to Get It “ (by Sir Oswald Mosley).

(3) PACIFIST

Peace News 2d. weekly - 8 pages - editor Humphrey Moore - 6 Endsleigh Street, W.C.1. - estimated circulation 36,000 - on the editorial board and on the policy committee there were a number of distinguished persons e.g. Canon Charles Raven, Lord Ponsonby, Wilfred Wellock, Vera Brittain, Dr. Herbert Cray, Arthur Wragg, Canon Stuart Morris. - It is the organ of the Peace Pledge Union - founded in 1938 - Well printed and containing articles of considerable literary and cultural merit - a forum for peace and postwar settlement discussions - there is evidence of divided opinion among the policy committee about the propriety and expediency of incorporating political policies within the framework of the Union's Christian principles - the following statement has recently appeared: “Neither the P.P.U. nor Peace News itself is necessarily committed to views expressed in the articles we publish (still less does the acceptance of advertisements imply endorsement of any views expressed or implicit therein or P.P.U. connection with the matter advertised).

Peace Focus Monthly newsletter - 2/6d a year - editor D.H. Barber - tolerant advocacy of peace.

The War Resister Quarterly - l/2 a year - organ of the War Registers’ International of which the P.P.U. is the English affiliated body - published in English, French, German and Esperanto and circulates freely abroad, especially in America - H. Runham-Brown is the leading spirit in this country and the movement, although strongly anti-war, is fundamentally non-political in England.

There are several minor pacifist publications and newsletters, the more important being Vera Brittain's Personal Newsletter, The Tribunal (for Conscientious Objectors), Home Front (journal of the No Conscription League). Peace (2d. monthly, organ of the National Peace Council, editor Gerald Bailey). Of these Peace is the most significant with its highly reputable history and responsible support e.g. Dr. Hewlett Johnson, Lord Ponsonby, Maude Royden, Archdeacon Donaldson, Dr. F.W. Norwood, Dr. J.H. Hertz.

There are of course a large number of peace societies and organisations, most of them affiliated to the National Peace Council, some of them with political views. Many of them are purely religious e.g. Baptist Pacifist Fellowship, Anglican Pacifist Fellowship. A large number of them are international and cultural in outlook e.g. International Peace Society, Women's International League.

The P.P.U. publishes and sponsors a number of leaflets, booklets and pamphlets. Some of these are written by well-known authors e.g. J. Middleton Murray, Eric Gill.

(4) ANTI-WAR AND LEFT WING

There are a large number of publications advocating extreme left-wing political action associated with an anti-war attitude and criticism of the Government. They are too numerous to describe in should be noticed that many of these publications, while not strictly Communist, are under the influence of a Communist editor or committee.

Left 3d. monthly - a forum for Labour Party, Co-operatives I.L.P., Communists and others - strongly left but not fanatically anti-war.

Plebs 3d. monthly - organ of the National Council of Labour Colleges - well-produced journal with respectable history - anti-war but not fanatical.

Tribune 2d. weekly - relic of Popular Front days - extreme left of Labour movement.

Solidarity ld. monthly - published in Glasgow - anti-Fascist.

The Young Socialist ld. monthly - organ of the National Council of Socialist Sunday Schools.

Militant ld. monthly - organ of the Militant Labour League (recently expelled by the Labour Party) - revolutionary Left wing.

Socialist Correspondent . 2d. monthly-organ of Marxist theory and Information.

The Socialist Standard 2d. monthly - organ of the Socialist Party of Great Britain - ancient respectable history - anti-Nazi - anti-war.

Youth for Socialism ld. monthly - Trotskyist.

Forward 2d. weekly - I.L.P. Scotland - strongly anti-Nazi and anti-war.

Workers International News Trotskyist international - 2d. monthly.

New Leader Official organ of I.L.P. - divided on the war issue.

Irish Freedom ld. monthly - Irishmen in England.

CONCLUSIONS .

It will be seen from these notes that there are large numbers of anti-war publications in circulation. Many of these are Communist. A considerable proportion are new, small and likely to be ephemeral. The great majority do not pass through newsagents’ hands. A war-time phenomenon worth special attention is the increase of newsletters, of which there are now nearly 100. Many left-wing journals have an inconsistent editorial policy. Some are in the process of being Communised; others are not yet strongly anti-war.

From the point of view of circulation, only the Daily Worker, Russia Today, Labour Monthly , Action and Peace News are significant. Of these Peace News is a reputable journal; Russia Today is a small well- written, factual monthly and Labour Monthly a forum for political discussion.

On the other hand, several of the lesser publications reach a wide audience e.g. the Week . Certain publications, although insignificant in format and probably in actual circulation, can be classed as definitely subversive e.g. Headline Newsletter , The Patriot Angles , Inside the Empire, People's Post, Free Press.

We have no definite information about the circulation abroad of any of these publications. Undoubtedly newsletters are mailed abroad as enclosures and certain of the publications listed above have international affiliations. Official journals such as the Daily Worker and Action have a circulation in foreign countries and are frequently quoted in the neutral press. Their importance abroad lies in the amount of responsibility which is accorded them.

It should not be forgotten, however, that irresponsible articles appearing in the daily and Sunday Press may have as disturbing an effect as any in the journals described above.

MARY ADAMS.

HOME INTELLIGENCE

1st May, 1940.

I attach two folders to illustrate these notes:

(1) publications mentioned in the conclusion,

(2) most of those mentioned in the body of the test.