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—— V"'
. :■* \ . 62a Progress Bldgs.Commissioner St.,
M Y « 4 y h i c , g f u t l s ! 6, • -The Secretary.
Dear Friend,The Anti-Pass Conference called by the Communist Party, met in Johannes
burg on Sunday 21st. of November. A spirit of determination to carry on the fight against the pass laws to the bitter end, was the keynote of the speeches
made by every delegate who had. the chance to speak..
Speaking, from a platform decorated with banners "Mayibuye I Afrika!" and a great portrait of the African martyr, Johannes Nkosi, who was killed by the police during the great anti-pass demonstrations in Durban on Dingaan's Day, 1930, the chairman,, Dr. Y.M. Dadoo opened the conference. He set the standard of the whole proceedings when he said:
"We have come to realise that the basis of the brutal oppression and exploitation of the African people is the. pass laws. The time has
come for the Non-European people to unite, to raise their voice and to carry on a campaign against, the pass laws, against this badge of slavery which humiliates the African people. We who are here are not alone.If we campaign properly and well, we will win the, support of the Coloured and Indian people, and of the progressive. Europeans. You have come here determined to win the support of all organisations for a great anti-pass campaign, as a step forward to the complete freedom of our people. You are charged this morning with the responsibility of giving a lead to your people in the greatest of all fights, the fight for .liberation! ”
Dr. Dadoo was followed], by the main speaker of the day, Mr. E.T. Mofutsan- yana, who reviewed the lessons and mistakes of the past anti-pass campaigns.Ho dealt with the innumerable passes that the African people have to carry, and said:
"The industrialist, the Chamber of Minei$ and the Native Affairs Department are disturbed, because this conference will shake the roots of their exploitation and oppression. People, talk about freedom. But if you talk about freedom and are still prepared to carry a pass, then I d o n’t care for your freedom.’ The time h a s’come for us to fight the passes to the bitter end. , We have called this conference to make a start on the greatest campaign in the history of this country. After this conference we must confront the leaders of our national movement with the demand that they conduct this campaign. We must use every channel that we have.
We must petition t h e iGovernment and tell them we-can no longer tolerate their pass laws. We must tell our representatives in Parliament that in the coming session they must move a Bill to abolish the pass laws.The conferences which take place in Bloemfontein must tackle this issue, so that when delegates come back from Bloemfontein they are determined to do something practical, in the struggle for liberation. The pass laws have bound our hands too long! Away with passes!"
Many speakers followed, including Messrs. Radebe, Lempe, Mogomotsi, Xaba, Keetse, Ramohanoe, Mbelle, Makabeni, Moema, Pozwayo, Maswabi, Mnisi, Mabuse,
Damane, Mosetlhi, Khan, Rammitloa, Khanoe,Moeng, Motau and Msitshana, and Misses Josie Palmer and V. Junod. Delegates from several organisations brought messages of support and solidarity.
Mr. J.B. Marks, speaking for the African Mine Workers'Union, summarised the feelings of the delegates when he said:. .
"This conference has passed sentence on the.pass laws, the sentence of death. The pass laws are a national stigma, and can only be fought by all the black people standing and fighting together. We have been
•’ humiliated by these laws. To hell with passes!" -----
Many more delegates wished to speak, but the Chairman appealed to all tho those who had nothing special to say not to speak as the time was getting
late, and many delegates had a long way ts travel home. He then read out the following pledge which was repeated by all the delegates standing:
"WE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AFRICAN PEOPLE SOLEMNLY PLEDGE OURSELVES TO CONTINUE WITH ALL OUR MIGHT THE CAMPAIGN WHICH HAS BEEN LAUNCHED HERE TODAY" AGAINST THE UNJUST AND OPPRESSIVE PASS LAWS. WE PLEDGE OURSELVES TO SUPPORT THE ANTI)PASS COMMITTEE BY ENLISTING THE SUPPORT OF OUR ORGANISATIONS AND OUR PEOPLE."
After the pledge had been taken by all the delegates, the following resolutions were mdved by the resolutions committee consisting of Messrs.
Makabeni, RaAiohahbe, Marks, Bopape and Bernstein.
RESOLUTION 1. That this conference elects an Anti-Pass Committee of 15
members, who shall have the following duties;a) To organise mass meetings, and conferences of African organisations in
all centres. . . .b) TO set up local anti-pass committees in all' centres to carry on the
campaign,c) To co-operate with the African National Congress in the calling of a
National Anti-Pass Conference during Easter 1944.d) To undertake every possible form of activity, which will bring pressu® on, the Government to abolish the pass laws.
RESOLUTION 2. That two members of the committee be elected trustees, who-shall
raise funds for the campaign by every means in their power.
RESOLUTION 3. That the following resolution be sent to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Native Affairs: ’This conference of African and other
Non-European organisations on the Reef and Pretoria condemns the Pass Laws since’ they are contrary to the promises of freedom contained in the M a n t l e Charter, and calls for the immediate abolition of these laws which
. ;iiliate and oppress'the African people." ~
RESOLUTION. 4. That the above resolution be. sent to the members of the Native Representative. Co';"i~il, who are to be asked to take the matter up strongly and quickly with the Government.
RESOLUTION 5. That this conference requests the Native Representatives in
Parliament' and the Senate to draft a Bill for the total-abolition of the Pasfe Laws and to introduce this Bill in Parliament during the first session
of 1944»
The resolutions were passed unanimously, following, committee:E.T. Mofutsanyana.J. B. Marks.C. D. Radebe.S. Ivl. Moema.C.S. Ramohanoe.
Y.M. Dadoo.D .¥. Bopape. J. Palmer.
:A.E.P. Fish.
‘ j. Xaba..
The conference then elected thei ' ‘ '
E.G. Mokoena.O.L. Monongoaha.V. Pi11ay.E.P. Mafethe.
1 A.S. Mabuse.
The conference concluded with the singing of Nkosi Sikdlele iAfrika,
Mayibuye iAfrika and Sechaba sa Heso.
The following delegates were at the conference:
TOTAL:
10 delegates from 6 National organisations representing 4,421 members .
15 delegates from 9 Residents' Organisations H 3,741 It
43 delegates ti 26 trade unions,16 Communist’Party branches,
t» 40,160 ft
23 delegates »i tt 919 t9
4 delegates ti 3 Youth organisations ft 370 It
11 delegates w 11 Miscellaneous organisations, n 358 tt
1 delegate 11 Trade Union Council 8,000 tt
1 delegate It Compound ‘»t 95 ?f
2 delegates 11 1 Village Committee. 17 , 000' residents
2 delegates 11 2 Advisory Boards, 2,000 voters.
38 delegates "■ 33 Factories 2,528 workers.
3 delegates it 3 Teachers' Organisations, tr 1.204 members.
153 delegates 112 bodies 80,796 persons.
Yours fraternally,
E.T. MOFUTSANYANA..
Y.M. DADOO.
JOINT CONVENORS. ANTI-PASS COMMITTEE.
« s? a/o Y
24th November, j,»j 3.
Rev.J.A.Calfcta, ) P.O.Cradock,0,P.)
. r/
Mr. T.R.Masethe,F*«ive Location*P .O .D U I VISLgBLOOy « ? .
Dear Mr. Masothe,
I wish to acknowledge your letters of the 3rd and 12th November and wish to let you know that, if you continue to carry on as you do, you are going to create difficulties for us as well as for the organisation.
In your letter of the 3rd, you write to say you have arranged a meeting for me at Pietersburg on the 21st and I received this letter on the 15th, and in your letter of the 12th which arrived on the 16th you write to say that you have arranged a meeting for me at Pietersburg on the 28th. Now no sensible man, and I am sure you are a sensible man, will Just go on arranging meetings without finding out how the other parties concerned are situated for such meetings,
I ahall not he able to go out for any meetings now until next year, as I am buoy preparing for Conference and attending to other matters of the work close by.
You say we want reports and yet we are sending you no cheques and we are sitting at our offices. I am sorry for a responsible man like you to speak like a child, because even when your letters came we were away in the Free State at our expense on Congress worke
When we send out membership tickets to any person, we expect a report as the tickets are token value to Congress, and any one who holds them is liable to Congress to the value of tho tickets held. We cannot have Congress agants asking for tickets and not reporting and expecting As to send further tickets to them, nor can we be expected to send agsnts who do not report monies for tickets and lists of membership and branches any monies for organisation, because we have no way of JUdging that they are doing any work unless they report By the reports they give, we can know what progress we are making in their areas.
ou are.going
do not write me a letter again about ling about saying I am staying at ray office giving a donation to the organisation
• a proper report., on the tioketi 5 <lo to assist you«
you can return '“differ the old
...
charge that they are eating up and using up Congress money. '7e must, therefore, have discipline and control among the officials themselves so that they may set an example for branches and members.
Yours sincerely,
PHssiirjnvGiaraRAL a n d o f f i c e r a i&ii Tip; TRANSVAAL APRIC FOR THE TIME BEING,
A B V P f i . sc ,#
THE TRANSVAAL AFRICAN f
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N«inx' • S ? ?« * * T
Corner Oakford Road
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THE V E R U L A M PRESS,C O M M E R C I A L P R I N T E R S & B O O K - B I N D E R S .
^ Publishers of the African Journal:
J ' ' I N K U N D L A Y A B A N T U .B A N T U F O R U M .
P. 0. Box 50T E L E G R A M S :
VEEPRESS
c VERULAM, Natal.
24th.Nov. 1943.
Dr. A.B. Xurna,104, End Street,JOHAHNE93 UBG.
Dear Sir,
The directors of ;I Inkundla Ya Bantu" have been keenly interested in your wish to make their journal a Congress Organ. -Thilst at this stage it is not possible to harness Inkundla Ya s Bantu as a party political organ,the journal^ policy is PRO-CONGRES
Our policy is to give Congress every possible support and we would consider it a very happy agreement if we gave preference to Congress news whilst congress in turn advertised our journal.
Should Congress have ideas which would be to the good of all parties, these may be discussed.
For the present, we beleive that we serve the National courge better by following the policy we have up to now maintained«
Thanking you,
Yours faitoiJSttlly,
/ ' - > M b X ' f U / Z f c
.J S r - T H E V E R U L A M PRESS, p— 0& Garden St. v e e p r e s s
C O M M E R C I A L P R I N T E R S & B O O K - B I N D E R S .Publishers of the African Journal:
INJCUNDLA Y A B A N T U .B A N T U F O R U M .AJ
VERULAM, Natal.24th. November 1943.
/ &Dr. A.B. Xuma, f\. r ‘104, End Street,JOHANNESBURG.
Dear Dr. Xuma,
I wish to acknowledge receipt of yours dated 17th instant, and wish to thank you very much for same.
I am afraid however, we are unable to comply with your order for 100 copies of the last issue of the "Inkundla Ya Bantu" as that issue was sold out within a few hours of its publication. In case you wish to have a hundred from the next issue, wherein Mr Mosaka replies to your manifesto, we shall be pleased to reserve that number as soon as you have advisea us tothat effect.
Your kind invitation and offer came at a very _ akward time, as you* will realise, trains are heavily booked this end,‘whilst pressure on my side - preparing lor the Aavisory Boards Congress and raising funds for delegates to the Bloemfontein. Congress, makes it impossible for me to undertake a long journey to JohannedDurg just now.
In your letter you& expressed a desire for^a , personal interest in " Inkundla Ya Bantu. Whilst one cannot foretel what the outcome of the discussion such as you had envisaged might have been, your delayed replies compelled us to admit . interested persons (not any of the A.D.P. Group) in the Inkun_la Ya Bantu" Partnership. All of them are very strong and loyal Congressmen. Inkundla will ofcourse maintain its pro--ongress
j regret I shall not attend the Bloei.iTontein^ Congress.I shall however be at Pretoria from the 17th - 20th for the Advisory Boards Congress.
My family joins me in giving my warmest regards
to you and yours.
Yours very rely.y j^ncere ly
# 1
24th November, 3.
Mr, Radebe,Secretary,Kliptown Vigilance Association,
• V j X •’ » -p-.»y*-r .; ^
Dear Sir,
I have been hoping to contact you gentlemen again. I do not know whether you are still Interested In making representations to the authorities concerning your asra, if so* see me at once, as the Inter-
Rev. J. A, Calata, J view is set for Saturday# November 27th at 9 a.m.P.O.Crado ck, C . P .)
Yours sincerely,
ABX/pd.
PHESIDKNnVQTflrERAL .
A b K 4 V f 2 S
RevP .O
V
2|th November, 3.
Mr. J.M.Nthakha,P .O .Box 46,HIELBRQN. O .F .S .
Dear Mr. Nthakha,
Although we have not yet met, I $ave known of you and h«ve hoped to meet you. however, even before meeting you, I am going to commission you for a job of
J .A .Calata ,) work in the interest of our people.Cradock,C.P.)
All our thinking men must work together for the cause of unity and the salvation of our people.
In the name of the African National Congress, I
call upon you to get together the leaders of your area;
members of Advisory Boards; Tfrgilance Associations and
others into the banner of Congress so that we can speak with one voice before the authorities and have every
right to claim recognition and attention tn our grievance thereby.
Convev my greetings to your fellow-workers in the Advis ory Boards and other leaders and tell them Congress stands prepared to cooperate with them and to strengthen them in any fight they have taken up or Intend to take up in the interest of the people.
We invite you and others to come in and help us to
strengthen and improve this organisation so that it can be more effective in tn^fcause of our people.
Yours for the Freedom of the African people,
ABX/pd.
PREST DENT-GENERAL.
( r h
. C«•• . 'P< (i '
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I
3r
Southern Africa Executive Committee: Chairman: D. M. Buchanan., K.C.Hon. Treasurer: A. W. Davis, Esq.Hon. Secretary: Miss C. H. Stohr.
P.O. Box 206, Cape Town.★
Mrs. Margaret Ballinger, M.P.;W. G. A. Mears, Esq.; D. B. Molteno, M.P.;
Dr. E. Roux; Mrs. M. E . Whitehead.★
Overseas Executive Officials: Chairman: A. Creech Jones, M.P.
Hon. Treasurer: F. Horrabin, Esq. Hon. Secretary: Alderman Carol Johnson,
Finsbury House, Blomfield St., London, E.C.2.
Dr. A. B. Xuma, 10ii, End S t ., Doornfontein, JOHANNESBURG
M X <r
FRIENDS OF AFRICASouthern African Office:
10, ALLBRET BU ILD IN G S, PRESIDENT AND FRASER STREETS, JOHANNESBURG.
TELEPHONE 33-5965.
Secretary/Organiser: W. G. Ballinger
★African Consultant:
Self Mampuru.
Representatives and Correspondents in Provinces. Union of South Africa, British Protectorates and Territories in
Southern Africa.
Telegrams, Cables & Postal Address:
P.O. Box 4118,JO H A N N ESBU R G .
26th November, 19 -5
/? « C
Dear Dr. Xuma,
With this letter I am enclosing an appeal for financial assistance towards the continuance and possible development of the Society of the Friends of A frica .
As you are aware the Society operates largely in the field of race and economic adjustment in Southern Africa, where it has achieved a large measure of success in improving the wage rate and other conditions of employment of the lower paid workers and stabilising their employment in terms of Wage Board Determination. I need not remind you of the work done in the Parliamentary field by two of the Executive members of the Friends of Africa, Mrs. Ballinger and Mr. Molteno, to help , | the African cause.
We shall be grateful if you will assist the Society as suggested on the back page of the enclosed pamphlet.
Yours sincerely,
1 1 4 ;
_____________ £ 4 M
%}-~r l a f r r z y ^ M A o ? < p *
/L*JL+*±/
A - t J*+*s+&JLe~?
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a ^ & C J l jidJy-^Xh / * V f t j ^ T ' & - K ,
Rev
P.O.
c
27 th November, /9u 3,
Mr. C.P.Kotsemme,P.O.Box 50,
VEROLAM. Natal.
Dear Mr. Motsemme,
I am very grr.teful for your letter of the 24t!i November re ray personal association with the "Inkundla".
,J .A .Calata , ) i regret not that you took others into the "Inkundla*,Cradock,C.P.) company; but tOat it Had not been possible for you to
find out I f I was still Interested.
Actually with so many things on ray hands, I tend to think that there Is plenty of tlrap for my private affairs.
I , however, must now plead with the Directors of the "Inkundla" to re-open the question of ray coming into the Company,its I was interested in the "Inkundla" as a part of a bigfer plan. I hope this request will recfefcve favourable consideration, as ray delay was not indifferent but due mainly to relngating for the time being my personal interests to national Interests.
Looking forward to your spending a day or so with us fr3m Pretoria and with kind regards,
I am, ;
Yours very sincerely,
PRBSI DT” T- GF’IRAL.
^ i i*. • . i *) < i
?7/"favZ
CQlJl'ICIL OF NON-EUROPE, JF Tfo.DE UNIONS .
1ST .JTOuL i ONFERENGE 194-3.
TRADES H.iLL 30 KERK STREET, (NO. 3 H..LL) JOH.iNNES BURG.
S.iTURD-.Yj NOVEMBER 27TH, 1943 AT 10 ,-..M.
1 . O fficial opening.
2 . Credential Committee's report.
3 . Greetings from Fraternal Delegates.
4 . Presidential address ( Mr Gana Makabcni)
SUNDAY SESSION, NOVEMBER 28TH, 1943 ,.T 10 ,t.M .
E. Minutes of last C nference.
6. E e p r t of Executive Committee, and report of National Conference, and report on income and expenditure 1943.
7 . iimundments to the Constitution.
8 . .-Proposed Resolutions from affiliated Trade'Unions.
9 Election of Officers.f
10. D-te and place of next Conference.
12. General Business.
Delegates are requested to be punctual at the sittings of the sessions of Conference,
Yours F-ithfully,
D.GOS.iNIHON. SECRETLY.
/thy. 4 ) a tv
£f$i£c* xaC/ v'H
/-? $• / ^ W r v t ^
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Rev,P.O,
/lbX-4t II2
f i, j C
Cef^~
29th November, /^3jO .
Rev. J.J.Skomolo,St. Agnes Mission,KAAUWPOORT, C .P .
My dear Rev. Skoinolo,
Ehclosed herewith, please find personal cheque for €6 (Six-pounds) as requested in your letter for the trip to Cape Town,
Cradock1^ ^ ! ) 1 sorry for the but I had difficulty' * In contacting my Treasurer and, as a matter of fact, the
policy of financing organisers has not been adopted by the Executive as yet. Plans will be laid down at the next conference.
Yours very sincerely,
P RESIDENT- GBNPRAL.
ABX/pd.
ftfh/ i 1
t.27- POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS.—POSKANTOORTELEfiiAAfiDiENS.S G.P.-S.355—1942-3—l.’jQ.'iW-aiH). 8.
Traffic- Serial No. Verkeers-
▼oignom
Class.Kiaa.
Handed lu at— JLngelewer
KJ 33! KIMBERLEY 16 2/40PM
Words. Date.Woorde. Datum.
Time of Handing in. Tyd van inlewerin<
Route— Roeto—
oa
Service Instructions—CS'
Diensaanwysings—
I; y,lOffica
KantoorstempeL
TOAAN
DR XUMA 104 ENDSTR JHBURQ
ANXIOUSLY AWAITING INFORMATION RE SHOW I3TH DECEMBER KINDLY EXPEDITE MATTERS
.= MALUNQA + 104 1 3 + UD 13 +j ' | 1
— -----------—
Doubtful words may be repeated. No Repetition Fee will be collected if an error is disclosed. This form should accompany any inquiry. Twyfelagtige woorde tun berliaal word. As ’n font aan die 'ig gi'foring word, sal gecn koste vir die herhalir.g gevorder word nie. Hierdie vorm rooet all*
navraa vergesei.
Xiuw*. A? ^t f y 3
K ' ' f a
n t p r k f ^
P * A f ^ [ U)
29th November, 3*
Dr* J«L* Dibc Ph1 0« |Ohlange Institute,Phoenix Rail, via IPRBAN. Natal.
*Dear Dr. Dube,
J
re: HONORARY LIFE PRESI DENT-GENERALSHIP OP THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS.
Rev.J.A .Calata, )
P.O.Cradoclc,C.P.)
You are cordially requested to attend the Annual Conference of the African National Congress, December 13th - 16th, 1943, when you will be Instated as the
Honorary Life President-General of the African National Congress. Daring the Conference you will be the guest of the African National Congress.
I f you are unable to attBnd, the ceremony will go on and your certificate will be sent to you.
Congress feels that In honouring you thay are honouring themselves and are showing the gratitude of the African people for the unselfish and self-
sacrificing service you rendered our people as National President of the African National Congress.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
P RESI DEN T- GFTIRAL.
ABX/pd,
Atx- 2f cL
Rev
P.O,
29th November, 3.
Rev. 2 . R.Mahabane, Boichoko Parsonege, B. Location,KROONS TAD.
Dear Rev. Mahabane,
>J . A.i^alata, )
,Cradock,C.P.)
re: HONORARY LI ¥& PRiSl ASST- GENERALS HIP
OF THE AJF11 CAN NATL )KAL CONGRESS.
You are cordially requested to attend the Annual Conference of the African National Congress, December 13th - 16th, 194§, when you will be instated as the
Honorary Life P re si dent-General of the African National Congresn. Djrtng the Conference you will be the guest of the African National Congress.
I f you are unnble to attend, t.he ceremony will go on and yoxjr certificate will be sent to you.
Congresp feels that in honouring $ou they are honouring themselves and are showing the gratitude of the African people for the unselfish and self- sacrificing service you rendered our people as National President of the African National Congress.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
P RESI DEN T- GET ERAL .
. cy -
yftX- 4 T . U 2 f e
29tn November, 3.
Mr. S . M ..linkgatfio,P.O.EERSTEHUST M G ,
PRETORIA.
Dear Mr. Makgatho,
re: HONORARY LIFE PRESI DENT-OINFPALSHIP OP THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS.
R e v .J .A.Calata, )P .O .Cradock,C .P .) You are cordially requested to attend the Annual ,
Conference of the African National Congress, December 13th - 16th, 1943, when you will be instated as the Honorary Life President-General of the African National Congress. During the Conference you will be the guest
of the African National Congress.
I f you are unable to attend, toe ceremony will go
on rnd your certificate will be sent to you.
Congress feels that in honouring you they are
honouring themselves and are showing the gratitude of —1 the African people for the unselfish and self-sacrificing service you rendered our people as National President of
the African National Congress.
As to your travelling expenses, I shrll be glad
to recommend to my Executive the refund of your train
fare second class return. ' •
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
PRESI DEN T- GENERAL.
Q c_
i
/ f a x /
29th November, 3.
J . T. Gumede E sq .,
94a Commercial Road,PlETERkARI T2KJRG/
Dear Ur. Gumede,
re: HONORARY PRES1 DENT-GEJLRALSSIIP OF THE AF.IGAN NATIONAL CONCRESH.~
• A.Calata, )
radock,C.P.) You nre cordially requested to attend theAnnual Conference of the African National Congress, December 13th - 16th, 1943, when you will be instated as the Honorary Life President-General of the African National Congress. IXiring the Conference you will be the guest of the African National Congress.
I f you are unable to attend#the ceremony will go on and your certificate will be sent to you.
Congress feels that in haaE&&i*ipguyou they are honouring themselves and are Slowing tttefer gratitude of the African people for the unselfish and self-sacrificing service you rendered our people as National President of the African National Congress.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
PRESI DENT- GEN] RAL.
fab* c+SHX*) j
C. J » ijJiviA , isox 148,
jjlant/re-,Myasaland
29th Novei.oer, 1943.
Dear Dr. Xuma,
I am in receipt of your letter of 11th November, enclosing a copy of the constitution of African r.ational Congress, which I aslced for through the Institute of Race Relations, for which. I send you my very sincere 'thanks.It is really very kind of you and your organisation for sparing to us and both myself and the proposed organisation for which I asked for the copy,"feel indebted to you for this will greatly help us to draft our own.
It may interest you to know that Native Associations in Hy as aland were first started in 1912 - just about the yea,r your Congress was established. We have several of them but each werking independently and now with the post War reconstruction and the planning of future policies we felt we must also try to adjust our own affairs hence we had to approach you.
Further, it may perhaps surjjrise to near that though I do not know you personally, I .think I can claim to have known you for in 1941 on 26th September, I happened to present at a function you had in honour of a Hiss Konala &r>A • her two girl friends who had I think qualified for their degrees that year. Unfortunately my visit in the Union was such that I was only able to come in touch with some of the school leaders.
X have sent also. 2 /6 through a friend of mine asking to pay it for my membership so that I shall* have the benxfit of studying other matters you may be bringing up in future for the come good of the bottom dogs.
Once more I thank you for the help you have given__us and do hope this will in future bring us to a closer collaboration in matters Isrhadsh affect our people.
I am, Dear Doctor,Yours sincerely,
Dr. a . B. Xuma, K . D . , D . P . H . 104, Knd Street,
Johannesburg,— >
f tJ '
fax- 4 7 K SOA
%
30th November, 3.
Paramount C:iief Tsiekedi Khama,
P.O.Serowe,Bechuanaland Protectorate.
My dear Chief and friend,
We are h o p l ^ that you and/or your representatives
will attend the coming Conference of the African National Congress a.nd also the National Committee on Post War Reconstruction by Africans of which you are an Honorary
Rev. J .A .C alata ,) member.P .O .Cradock,C .P .)
The Conferences are fr«m/the 13th to the 16th
December, inclusive, and we would like to know through you or your representatives the aspirations of your
people in your area.
Hiring tie Conference a document entitled "British
West Africa and the Atlantic Charter"- Memorandum drawn
up by African representatives of the Brfetish West Africar
Protectorates and Colonies of the Gold Coast, Nigeria,
Sierre Leone and Gambia setting forth their claims for freedom and self-government will be read. This document should be an inspiration to all of us and we are trying
to draw up at this Conference a similar document for South Africar and the British Protectorates of Southern
Africa.
We look forward with pleasure and anticipation to
seeing you at Bloemfontein.
Yours sincerely,
PRES1 PS1;T-GENERAL. and ORGANISING
SECRETARY "A1XANTIC CHARTER" COMMITT]
/MSx }>o lrapeicai: __sah^- al y-'irnEs .
f Tran e m n 1 Prvol c cej
22-5311.
G/ 104, iTid .street, Xteomfontein,J I A- i^I-URG.
30tn November, 194 3.
IvTl J,:. kjytUiG.
Tie next meeting of tie Coastttee Adssinistoring toe Tranemal Province of tie African National Congrefcp will be held at Congress? Headquarters, losenberg’ s Arcade (1st lo o r ) ', 58 Market street, J*'oan^es burg, on Mor day, December 6 th 1941, at 8 T,ilm You are requested to attend.
(&fd .) A .19. fuma.
OFMGiifl AJMLKIST.’iFlHC I ik Ti<AK;S7AAi* XT ' XT'yr^TRTr^xr-T:ttsym m r-------
A__ G is S i) A.
1.4.
6.8 .
'u3fci<(s; 2 . fcioutes; 3. Matters arising: from Minutes;fir organising; 5. iJelegatlon t> tie Conference;
■>e«olutl m® to tie c siing Conference; 7. Rent of remises and useof h a ll ;
General. A32/pd*
A 3 * *G 'v
^ o N ' E U R O p E A / V 7 -e,
S?// communications to be addressed to the (Secretary U N ,
Offiic
Secretary 8 Phone 33*4;652 •President s Phone 22-0873
7oA / s
P.O . B O X 4549,
J O H A N N E S B U R G
30th November,1943,
Dr A ,B . Xuma,Pres ident-Gener&l African National Congress, 104 , End Street, JOHANNESBURG.
Dear S ir ,
I have been directed to forward you the enclosed memorandum from the above to be submitted to the Atlantic Charter Committee.
My Committee is st ill considering to enlarge on the demands of the African workers during the post war reconstruction.
Yoursy^ai^kfully,.
GENERAL SECRETARY.
•t Q>(*>
Dr A . B ,»Xuua ,85 , Toby Street,
S oph'ia t own, J oh? nn efeburg .
©/- T',
My dear Dr Xuma,
Some time back I mentioned to you a letter I intended « ending you and though much hrs happened in the interval between then ->nd now,the thing? I~"wanted to discuss in the intended letter still re.ii?in topical.You • ill,th-refore,be kind °nough to allow me to bring" new problems for you to think about whilst you ?re already overworked preparing for the Bloemfontein conference. ^
It is the organisation of the Congress Propaganda"' Machinery that I am particularly interested in at this stage.V/hile you bear on your shoulders the heavy work of organising the movement as a xki whole,one always feels that your work ^ould be very much eased if Congress had a properly organised Propaganda Machinery.The absence of it makes it very difficult for our people to have clear-cut views on their problems ^nd makes it more difficult still for our own organisers to bring our membership to the nillion maximum.
A few weeks after I had arrived in Johannesburg a Congressman approached me with a view to enrol me as a Congress member.I did not need to be converted or persuaded,but put to him a Question or two with the intention of finding out how he handles the average man in the street.In the discussion that followed he fared so badly that I was convinced more than I had been while in Natal that our need just now is for the organisation of our Propaganda Machinery on scientific lines.
Congress has a difficult task before it.Our own people have in their mind the idea, that Congress is a swindling organisation.Whether this is true or not is immaterial.We are concerned with a fixed and particular view in the average mind.Thus,when an average African is asked to join Congress,he resents the invitation because for him (according to his way of thinking) it means his jrxfcia.g parting with his money.Our immediate objective is to disabuse his mind of this notion.
Secondly, we have the "militant" parties which are coming in further to confuse the people end make our work in Congress :;ore difficult.Thirdly and lastly,we are confronted with the tesk of breaking down oppression and freeing our people.Our propaganda,therefore, must aim at meeting the demands made by the three difficulties on the way of Congress.A start in this direction may be made by the establishment of a Propaganda Committee to direct all Oon.vress Propaganda .A committee of three presided over by the President-General would be ideal. Its duties would be to put across the Congress point of view nd on it we would have men skilled in the technique of publicity.They would be appointed either by^the President-General or the National Executive and their duty would be^Vuc-te Africans on Congress ideals;co-ordin-te the =-ctivities,speeches7pronouncements etc ., of Congress members;comment or elaborate on and amplify or explain Congress policy; and,in general,keep Congress constantly in the public mind.
With this organisation,we would then be sure that Congress spokesmen do not say conflicting things,merely because they do net know what the Head Office has in mine.To further ensure that Congress activities are co-ordinated,we would even publish a monthly newsletter, cyclostyled or roneod at the Head Office,to further aid the work of the Propaganda Committee.
The Press is another institution we have always not used properly.I have always felt that Congress has never known how to exploit and use the large fund of goodwill the Press has towards our national movement. Congress is in the very ■‘‘ortunate position of having very many friends in the Fress; I suppose they are so many that Congress "oes not appear to know just what to do with them.This is very unfortunate for one day Congress may wake up to find that the "militant11 parties have snatched that goodwill to use it for their own ends, .’ith a properly organised Propaganda Machinery,we would use the Fress to^our^ very ^reat advantage.I suppose Congress's trouble with the Press is that
the former does not know just how to use the latter to get tne best
results/-
L______ ._______________________________________________
- / t e s t
ii
results.
, S ke. the f illio n-*«nbership campaign,for example..It is not impossible to get a million Africans to enrol in a year/provided the campaign is in capable hands that know their work.This campaign has
5 itfo?C.?ea ed j f ySar becpuse our SJtx *ide not organise itsattack. Spasmodic Press reminderB,at once too anaemic and phlegmatic
.impress our rank and file ,le ft the people cold and unmoved.Here was a job of work t o b e done,but which needed hands !
0 ,P. , 01? Pr°P3ganda,one feels always that it is time we made. ' ' ' i i i train our organisers.The men one meets in the trrin--men selling Congress tickets-are anything but convinced Congressmen in no ay wnatsoever suggest that they are insincere.Whet Indefinitely .,z2 -^5 kjey era themselves so vaguely acquainted with the congress point of view that they do not know exactly where they ^tend Thus,,men they meet the average African who is in very bad need of' * education on Congress ideals,they irritate and disgust him with their evasions and vague generalisations.
. I have always been impressed by the manner in which the averageuommunist African is informed.Given any situation,he knows fully the
A^aS2?°+ . a pr rty anX tiie reasons for it.Involved in a discussion or -.ate with an average Congressman, it is our man who gets the walloping. °
■ rn« vrork of a,11 °f u s >pnd yourB in particular,may be very much eg s ea n Congress makes its members have very clear-cut views on the problems that it is interested in.
Whilst on leave,I read in our paper that Congress already has pre.-_.1 3 ee where it will have its offices.Whilst congratulating you very sincerely on this achievement, I may be pardoned if I at the same time xxx express the nope that it will not be long before we run classes for congress organisers.
J ,^ jVe confined my remarks to Propaganda because it happens to iB- J } fi1 ’vi\ich 1 s‘Ti Particularly interested as a Pressman.The
political situation is 3uch th*t none of us can sit back and say we are
£ £ n P2 : 1^ SiU ^ ! i £tlnf , b8Clt 18 'tabbing the n?ti0D at the bank and aen we ±eel that Providence did not x x k s x x b destine us for active
political careers,we as a people are in such a crisis as forces all of us.to puu our shoulder to the wheel and see the nation safely out of the crisis .it is in this spirit that I have written this rather long letter.
Then,of course,there is the other aide to it.Our leaders are irequenuly admonishing us to help the national cause with our respective talents and Qualifications.Without pretending that my own particular talents are more than the average,I feel that where they can ce used to advance our cause,there let them be strained to their utmost extreme.Thus,-here I can give my little bit to stand by the national leader,I claim to be a Congressman to the bone: hence this letter on Propaganda.
V.ishing you the very susi best health and success in the service of Africa,
Yours very '
J ord gucane.
30th Hovwubtp, I9Y ')*
Dear Sir,
On Wednesday, December 8th 1943, tie African
National Congress will nave tie official opening of
t-ieir new headquarters whicn provide offices for the
National Congress anc the Transvaal province,with a
hall for meeting of fcie Congress, Trade Unions and
other organisations.Rev. J . A.Calata,)
P .0 .Cradock ,C .P .) A l1 interested parties are Invited to visit theoffices at the First Floor, Rosenberg's Arcade, 58,
Market Street, (Corner of Sauer Street) between 3P.M. and6 P .M . Opening ceremony at 5 P.M .
Yours sincerely,
i RaSI QJA Ty QMJ iiRAL .
Tne Secretary,
^ 3 / / 3 o j
30th November, V 3 .
Paramount Chief Sobhuza,Komkulu Private Bag,MBABANE, Swaziland.
My dear Chief and friend,
We are hoping that you and/or your representatlvea
will attend the coming Conference of the African Rational] Congress and also the National Corami ttee on Post-T.Yar Reconstruction by Africans of which you are an honorary
Rev. J .A .C alata ,! membpr.P .O .Cradock,C .P .)
1>ie Confe ences are from the 13th to the 16th December, Inclusive, and we would like to know through you or your representatives the aspirations of your
people In your area.
-taking the Conference a document entitled '’British
West Africa tind the Atlantic Charter” a Memorandum drawn Sip by African representatives of the Britisn West Africa: Protectorates and Colonies of toe Gold Coast, Nigeria,
Sierre Leone and Gambia setting forth t'oeir claims for freedom and self-government will be read. Tiis document should be an inspiration to All of us and we are trying
to draw up at this Conference a similar document for South Africa and the British Protectorates af Southern
Africa.
We look forward with pleasure and anticipation to
seeing you at Bloemfontein.
Yours very sincerely,
PRMfl. J3ENT-GaNLRAL. and ORGANISING SiuCRlTARY "ATLANTIC CiiARTiiR COMHITTB
ABX/pd
RESOLUTION
" This Conference views with much concern the growing Police raids for Passes and realises that the Pass Laws are not only raking
criminals of Africans, but that they also keep wages of the Pas^-bearers
at a low level, and prevent the recognition of African Trade Unions. The
Conference, therefore, pledges itself to fight against these abnoxious
laws by launching a vigorous campaign against the Pass Laws. To this end
Conference gives full recognition to tie Anti-Pass Committee befxin in' 4
Johannesburg in November 1S43, *lth a view to using it as a basis for
an organisational campaign to culminate during Sfcster 19** in a Nation
wide Anti-Pass Campaign
& y v L
Collection Number: AD843
XUMA, A.B., Papers
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