People’s Canada Bookshop in Vancouver received a letter through the mail (see the full text [below], as well as the front of the envelope, reproduced in PCDNR April 25, 1972) on April 13, 1972. The letter was a photstat copy of the original and supposed to have been written by Comrade Bains to somebody called Sid.
This letter is the handiwork of police agents who wishfully think that these sorts of slanders could sow confusion in the revolutionary ranks and liquidate revolution and damage CPC(M-L). But this will never happen.
CPC(M-L) and Comrade Bains have been slandered and vicious lies have been propagated against us for a long time, especially since the summer of 1968. But none of these slanders had any influence on the general course of events, except in bourgeois circles who felt happy that the communists were being slandered and felt that it is a good thing.
Three forces have aligned themselves to oppose us in Canada: (1) fascists, (2) social fascists, and (3) lackey police. They have been responsible for spreading rumours and gossip, distorting the correct political line, physically attacking our comrades and burning bookshops and arresting our comrades.
This alliance has further escalated its work since July, 1971. Certain individuals, calling themselves Marxist-Leninists and Quebec Patriots, with the support of certain foreign residents, especially lumpen elements from Iran, have been openly providing information against our activities to police and propagating gossip and slanders against us. There are other elements who are their allies in Montreal, in Ottawa and certain other places in North America.
This letter shows how desperately the lackey police would like to infiltrate our Party and disband it. The information given in the letter is a combination of picking up names from our posters, rumours and gossip from the social fascists, especially the above-mentioned elements in Montreal, and then presenting it as if the flunkey writer is knowledgeable about our work. These police agents are quite conscious that we do have support amongst the masses and that sooner or later hundreds and thousands of Canadian people will repeat what we say and do so on a mass scale and the reactionary rule of the compradores will be replaced by the rule of the dictatorship of the proletariat through social I revolution. This scares the reactionaries and they are reduced to propagating rumours, gossip and slanders and nothing else.
To be attacked and slandered against by the enemy is a good thing and not a bad thing. If the enemy does not slander us, attack us vigorously and paint us black, then we would have reduced ourselves to their level and we would certainly worry. The enemy praises so-called Marxist-Leninist and lumpen elements in Montreal (even deportation orders have been withdrawn against certain individuals for the service rendered to our enemy by these elements) and their counterparts everywhere and presents them as “sensible and pro-people” and with glowing compliments. By viciously attacking us, the enemy has drawn clear lines between us and them and instead of causing confusion, the positive aspect is the clarification as to the nature and method of work of the enemy.
When U.S. imperialist chieftain Nixon visited Ottawa, the Globe and Mail carried news for several days detailing the names and motives of the groups who were organising against his visit. It was noteworthy that they had no difficulty remembering the names of groups who were social fascist and police inspired, while they couldn’t remember the name of CPUF, CPC(M-L) and mystified their purpose and the nature of their protest. Furthermore they did not lose the opportunity to prepare counter-revolutionary public opinion that we are “violent” (which we hope that the Globe and Mail remembers when violence does come and then it won’t be so comfortable and easy for them to write, since hundreds and thousands of people who are being violently suppressed will I certainly become violent and look after all such quislings and reactionary elements) confounding right and wrong and accusing us of being “violent” who have been violently attacked by fascists, social fascists and lackey police covering up for their class. It is no accident that the Globe and Mail, who can, like aristocrats, fire a reporter for siding with truth (case of Tony Seed in the winter of 1971) is mounting its counterrevolutionary propaganda at this time and the fascist letter arriving around the same time. We would suggest that this is coordinated work organised by the state machine and this work has three basic aspects:
1. Active promotion of counter-revolutionaries as so-called revolutionaries and creating gossip and slanders against genuine revolutionaries and mystifing their work;
2. Active propaganda by the state machine that CPC(M-L) is “violent” in the open, and violently suppressing them without any reports in the bourgeois press; and
3. Active infiltration and subversion of CPC(M-L) by police spies.
CPC(M-L) and its members and supporters are quite used to this method of work of the state machine and will certainly respond with vigour to their flimsy attacks. The Resistance Movement is already simmering and coming up again and the more the reactionaries attack us the more we will wipe them out. This pious nonsense about violence they will find out is not going to stop us from actively resisting and fighting the attacks of the reactionaries. We have every right to fight the joint attacks of (1) fascists, (2) social fascists, and (3) lackey police. In the first round (May, 1968 to December 1971, especially during the period of April 1970 to May 1971) over 150 arrests of our comrades took place in Canada alone (without Quebec) and close to eighty people spent an average of three months in jail, over 14 were deported, several thousands of dollars were given in fines, four of our bookshops were violently attacked, one of the bookshops was taken over by the police agents, etc. But none of these attacks liquidated our organisation. Instead we became stronger. We were slandered all over North America as “CIA” agents – those who were financed by “CIA” agents. This short period of four years has really exposed who are the real CIA agents – those who are praised in the imperialist lackey press – those who receive money from state agencies and those whose deportation order is squashed for “good behaviour”! Currently, the RCMP and FBI are very busy finding out who is financing CPC(M-L). It is disgusting to see these policemen crawling around interrogating relatives of Comrade Bains, including his wife, so as to so-called establish how we finance ourselves and tailing for information on other activities. It is far more disgusting to see how the social fascists drool in front of their masters and provide information and participate in counter-revolutionary propaganda that there is no fascist state machine and that there is no necessity to organise underground. “I am not being harassed by police” boasted a social fascist recently and his face went yellow when it was pointed out that “We know, because you are part of the police network” and he ran away in a panic.
This recent escalation of attacks on us is bound to make us strong and weaken and degenerate the enemy further. We will certainly win this round and all the rounds which are to come. We are not afraid of the reactionary attacks! We are not afraid of the so-called Marxist-Leninists and their friends in Montreal who are in active cahoots with the police! We are not afraid of any gossip, slander or character assassination! We have no bourgeois selves to protect! We will certainly win! Down with the alliance of fascists, social fascists and lackey police! Long live the resolute spirit of daring to struggle and daring to win!
* * *
As we discussed, the United Front concept is making progress but one developments in Vancouver worthy of mention are:
Jack Scott continues to attack me verbally but has avoided public confrontation. His influence in New Left circles will be difficult to overcome but I still feel confident of eventually succeeding. I can’t foresee any change in his political stance so may have to try discrediting him.
Andy Enomoto continues to remain non-committal. It is obvious that efforts to cultivate him over the years have been to no avail.
The Anniversary celebrations are proceeding on the 18th and 25th as planned. I anticipate a large turnout including my closest followers from the East (Orton, Scott, Hertzog, Reid, etc.). Cruise will be here too.
I arrived in Vancouver during the evening of the 24th, after a brief meet with Carlson in Winnipeg. Locally they didn’t know when I was arriving and were in a real frenzy. Propagating that secrecy bullshit continues to have the desired effect. I took a cab to August’s place (5362 Joyce Road).’ He is still using the alias “John Cowell” and was living with Claire (to each his own). The Vancouver movement had arranged and paid for a unit at the Caribou Motel where I went directly from August’s. This was more than I anticipated. Having a motel room of my own is considerably better than the den of iniquity on Joyce Road.
I stayed at the Caribou until the first of March and then moved to the Pacific Motel on the 2nd, after which I moved in with that Iranian girl I sent here from Montreal. I’m still with her on 6th Avenue, but may be moving.
Before leaving Toronto, I noted my payment had been deposited in the usual manner, however, since my arrival here the local proletariat have supplied me with a car, driver, half-decent food and accommodation for which I pay nothing. I have even had the occasional bottle of “Cutty Sark.” So you see, I haven’t been completely deprived of my bourgeoisie tastes. In addition, I’ve been able to extract $200.00 from them and having bestowed that token position on the old man from Vancouver Island, we are assured of his continued financial support. (I thought that would please you.)
These two meetings should solidify my leadership position and also determine whether or not the New York conference in May will be necessary.
I have approached that individual we discussed and he appears agreeable but we’ll have to take it easy and not push him. I’ll arrange for you to meet him at some later time. Lang is still attempting to make contacts in Ottawa.
I apologize for the brief manner in which I have outlined my activities n Vancouver but everything is in a state of confusion with people hanging addresses, etc., and present conditions are such that I find it extremely difficult to be alone. Hopefully, in April a meet can be arranged at which time I will supply a complete report. The accuracy of your predictions continue to astound me.
In conclusion, please realize that this attempted formation of the United Front and continuance of the CPC(ML) is taxing all my resources.
I am experiencing periods of mental anguish at which time I feel concerned for my health. At times I feel that my interest fades and periodically doubt my ability to continue, It would be wonderful if you could arrange for me to see my daughter again. There is some consolation in that the McLatchie thing seems to have died at last.