First Published: The New Masses, Vol. 56, No. 1, July 3, 1945.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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The American Communists are moving ahead toward that clarification of their theory and practice which should help revitalize their work and strengthen the whole labor and progressive movement. Last week the National Committee of the Communist Political Association held a three-day meeting and adopted a number of important decisions. Among them were: by a fifty-three to one vote (with Earl Browder casting the sole negative ballot) it approved the main line of the draft resolution recently adopted by the CPA National Board on “The Present Situation and the Next Tasks,” and set up an editorial committee to incorporate amendments proposed by the members of the National Committee and the rank and file CPA membership; it concluded that “the responsibility for the opportunist errors and mistakes of the CPA” rests first of all on Earl Browder, while “full responsibility must also be shared by the entire national leadership and particularly by the National Board,” with the exception of William Z. Foster; it decided to convene a special convention in New York City, July 26, 27 and 28, at which the policies will be reviewed and given final form and the national leadership will be refreshed and strengthened; it elected a secretariat of three, William Z. Foster, Eugene Dennis, and John Williamson, with authority to act between meetings of the National Board and to serve as spokesman for the CPA.
As a Marxist publication devoted to the cause of progress and democracy, NEW MASSES last week began evaluation of its own course and its own mistakes in the recent period. We shall have more to say in future issues. And we especially want our readers to speak up on the vital questions involved.