Memo

From New International, Vol. XIV No. 3, March 1948, p. 66.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.

That statement on the cover about Erber’s article on Czechoslovakia – that it’s the fullest report yet published on the background of the Czech coup, in any periodical – isn’t an advertising blurb ... While bits of the story have appeared here and there, this issue contains the only story which explains the Stalinists’ preparations and machinations for the rape of Czechoslovakia. ... While the NI doesn’t try to follow news events as closely as a newspaper, we’re quite proud of being able to do this job in the first issue after the events themselves ...

Next month we intend to present discussion articles interpreting the Czech events ... These articles are in preparation as we go to press ... Erber promises one at the end of his article, and there will be one or two others.

Speaking of Erber’s article reminds us of a point we intended to make before in this chat with our readers ... It’s one of those conflicts between theory and practice ... The editorial theory of the NI is that articles are to be no more than four-five pages in length, with room for exceptions ... Well, there’s been an exception in each of the recent issues ... The importance of the subjects and the quality of the articles have richly justified them in the eyes of our readers, we find, and nobody seems to be worrying about this point except ourselves; but we’re still looking on these long articles as exceptions to our rule.

The same goes for our first installment of Victor Serge’s great book, The Year One of the Russian Revolution, which was originally expected to be the only long piece in this issue. Here in this comparatively small compass Serge presents an illuminating report of the atmosphere and “feel” of the ten days that shook the world, the October days of 1917 ... It should be read with the Czechoslovakian overturn in mind, to get one side of the contrast between Stalinism and Bolshevism ... The second installment next month, shorter in length, will deal with the reaction of the classes in Russia immediately after the revolution ...

James T. Farrell’s series on James Connolly, to be completed next month, brings the following inquiry from friends of the NI in Ireland: “Farrell’s articles on Connolly are timely. What’s the possibility of Farrell giving us permission to reprint them in pamphlet form?” Such permission has already been given for the publication of the entire series in Ireland, as soon as it is completed. When it appears, Labor Action Book Service will have copies available for American readers.

Articles coming soon ... Crowded out of this issue by the Czechoslovakian crisis was an important and thought-provoking article by Ernest Rice McKinney on the civil-liberties program now before Congress, raising the question “Is it possible for American capitalism to abolish Jim Crow?” in a new light ... A study by Walter Grey of the effect of military preparation in the United States on science ... An analysis of third-partyism in the U.S. by Henry Judd, and from the pen of the same writer, a summary appreciation of the meaning and role of Gandhi.

Henry Judd’s new department on Socialist Thought Abroad, starting in this issue, will usually alternate with another new department which will review interesting articles from the American periodical press, to be conducted by Philip Coben ... Notes of the Month, absent from two issues now, will be back, of course.

We’re continually getting requests for the NI from European socialists many of whom cannot possibly pay for a subscription, as it is easy to understand ... The business department fills as many of them as it can, and we wish that we could send many more copies and bundles over there, but there is a limit to our ability to do this ... You who read and appreciate the NI – how about making it possible for a European socialist to do likewise? ... Subscriptions sent in for this purpose will be doubly welcomed.

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Last updated on 23 December 2015