Sound recordings and transcriptions of interviews by Joan Smith of Harry McShane, Marxist activist... 2.23 "ILP 1920s + 1930s - Scottish National Question- CP organisation 1930s - Social Fascist campaign" (side 1); 2.24 "Social Fascist campaign - 1931 arrest" etc. (side 2), [c1972]
2.23 "ILP 1920s + 1930s - Scottish National Question- CP organisation 1930s - Social Fascist campaign" (side 1); 2.24 "Social Fascist campaign - 1931 arrest" etc. (side 2), [c1972]
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[c1972]
Item
Subjects of 2.23 include (transcript page numbers given in brackets): growth of Labour Party at the expense of the Independent Labour Party following the adoption in 1918 by the former of a constitution calling for common ownership of the means of production (1); prominence of ILP members on Glasgow Council in 1920s (1); expulsion of John McGovern from Labour Party in 1931 for using forged credentials for nomination as electoral candidate (1-2); disaffiliation of ILP from Labour Party in 1932 (2-3); abortive efforts to promote unity between ILP and Communist Party in Glasgow (3); gradual disappearance of the ILP in Glasgow in the 1930s (4); support for a Scottish parliament in the 1920s (4-5); John Maclean’s call for a Scottish Communist Republic and his formation in 1923 of the short-lived Scottish Workers’ Republican Party (5-6); support for Scottish nationalism by Aitken Ferguson and others within the Communist Party in the 1930s (6-8); prominent members of the party’s Scottish committee (9); proceedings at Glasgow committee meetings (9-10); activities of Gorbals branch (11); failure of employed workers to support the unemployed movement in the 1920s (11); false accusation against McShane of breaking up a meeting addressed by Lord Beaverbrook in 1935 or 1936 (13-14).
Subjects of 2.24 include (transcript page numbers given in brackets): attacks on demonstrations and meetings attended by McShane in the 1930s by opponents of so-called ‘social fascism’ (1-2); courage of London communists in confronting fascism (3-4); disorder at unemployed demonstration led by McShane in 1931 and McShane’s subsequent arrest and release on bail to lead another demonstration (6-8); resultant accusation by the national executive committee of the Communist Party that the Scottish committee had disarmed the workers, and the latter’s denial (9-10); McShane’s arrest, trial and acquittal for breach of the peace at a meeting at Queen’s Park Gate (10-11); other examples of him being imprisoned and fined in connection with political agitation (12-14); futile conference in Dublin in 1932 (14).
Increasingly muffled sound towards the end of both sides, especially side 2.
Brand: Scotch C90.