Document 30 - Letter from S. P. Bunting fo E. R. Roux, 9 January 1929

From: South Africa's Radical Tradition, a documentary history, Volume One 1907 - 1950, by Allison Drew

Document 30 - Letter from S. P. Bunting fo E. R. Roux, 9 January 1929

I presume you had a letter [from] CG, who might be [-] for a reply instead of the procedure below, do which you like, I shall [-].

                                                                                                                        42 & 43, ASHER'S BUILDINGS,

                                                                                                                          Corner Fox & Joubert Streets,

                                                                                                                                                  Johanneshurg.

                                                                                                                                                              9 1 29

Dear Roux,

I have only time to say that we got over our crises at our Conference (a very fine one, splendid country delegates). We agreed on interpreting the slogan as meaning much the same as a (predominantly & characteristically native) Workers & Peasants republic, and not meaning a black dictatorship; and though some wanted to move amendments or references back I felt bound, while allowing full discussion for the sake of arriving at an understanding, to disallow these as contrary to the Comintem statutes, enjoining unreserved acceptance. After the 4 ½ days Conference was over we got a cable from Inkpen (for ECCI) requesling its postponement till March (to allow an emissary to come out & convince us, [l've] gather from Danchin), but cabled back that it was all over, slogan adopted, and that we were now trying to finance elections. Wolton came out with his attack on the party, very poisonous & diseased, but in reply he was induced to stop till after the elections, & his charges were not taken seriously.

He is to fight Cape FIats & I Tembuland. the head office will have to be in suspense, but we have got a native assistant secretary Nzula whose trustworthiness will still have to be proved, I fear, as his record is notquite irreproachable: but we'll see. Weinbren & Thibedi are still irreconcilable to the slogan, especially W, who is leading the native T.U.'s against it - an awkward position which however must I think burn itselfout. (I also think the slogan defective, but we can get along with it, and may make a hit, will see.) Will you please pay that money you collected for me (which you appear not to have remitted) into my account at Westminster Bank Ltd, Bloomsbury ([-]) Branch 126 High Holborn WCl, within a week ofreceiving this, as by next mail I am closing that account before departing for the wilds - a real adventure it will be, & Govt may shut us up there, the law prohibiting meetings there is in force now, & may be stiffened! [-]

S P Bunting