Sound recordings and transcriptions of interviews by Joan Smith of Harry McShane, Marxist activist... 1.17 (side 1); 1.18 "Pre 1WW/Early 1920s parish councils" (side 2), [c1972]
Subjects of 1.17 include (transcript page numbers given in brackets): inconclusive discussions about the formation of a British communist policy in 1919-1920 (V-2 to V-4); relationship between William Gallacher and John Maclean (V-5); Gallacher’s political mistakes and McShane’s disagreements with him, including dispute over presentation to parliament by John McGovern of petition from the unemployed (V-5 to V-9).
Subjects of 1.18 include (transcript page numbers given in brackets): hope among socialists at the end of First World War that their ideas would make progress in Britain and Germany (X-1 to X-4); lack of nationalist feeling among British workers (X-2); virulent pro-war performances or speeches of Harry Lauder and Ben Tillett (X-5 to X-6); advocacy of nationalisation in new Labour Party constitution drawn up in 1918 by Arthur Henderson and subsequent weakening of the Independent Labour Party (X-7 to X-8); strike in February 1919 in Glasgow for a 40-hour working week (X-9 to X-11); lack of major celebrations or holiday in Glasgow at Christmas, and celebrations and ten-day unpaid holiday at New Year (X-11 to X-15); Glasgow workers’ summer holiday excursions, including boat trips down the Clyde (X-16 to X-17); James Annan, socialist owner of Annan Line steamers (X-17 to X-18); other Glasgow shipping lines (X-18 to X-19); employment of young workers on ships (X-19 to X-20); socialist press around 1918 (X-21); victory within British Socialist Party for supporters of soviets over supporters of parliamentary action (X-22); resistance by McShane and John Maclean to attempt by communist ‘fraction’ to take over unemployed movement (X-23); formation of Amalgamated Engineering Union and collapse of Triple Alliance (X-24); advocacy by Labour Party of nationalisation of key industries and its rejection by Marxists (X-24 to X-25); raising of unemployment benefit at end of First World War (X-26).
Brand: BASF C90.