the evening inviting me to a CP meeting tomorrow and supper the next night—good. zpm zhy
Wednesday 12th
The conference was not in this week’s issue of Picture Post, but at 11 o’clock there was a schools broadcast … not awfully thrilling but good for the uninitiated. … zic znw zrd
After an early supper I went to the Union Debating Hall … to the CP meeting. Interesting types—mostly youngish factory workers, a few old men and middle-aged women, a few students. Only about 80 there. zpm zpn zop
Ted Bramley, London CP district secretary, … explained how Mosely was a symbol of the capitalist reaction which even now is banning TU activity etc.—one of the hardest jobs the CP is facing is stopping strikes. Their programme seems to me eminently sensible: (i) win the war (ii) strong united Labour movement for social reform, starting with the nationalisation of the basic industries, followed by whole scale socialisation. He was good on pointing out how then everyone would be able to enjoy the culture at present restricted to the 15% capitalist class. His medical programme was excellent. zpm zhp zep
After him spoke a factory girl, saying why we should join and why she had … followed by two recent converts—I could not help being reminded of Salvation Army prayer meetings, but it was all free from emotion and ritual and thus alright. zpm zpn
There are several reasons why I won’t join the CP, yet at least. (1) Not being permanently resident anywhere I could never get down to useful work; (2) I am not entirely convinced on the rightness of their methods, but actually I think there is probably no alternative. I do not like the stupid manifestations of class war which sneers at ‘toffs’—it is from these people that most culture comes—by virtue of their good fortune, but it is childish to dislike them from envy. zpm zpn
… Gwyn Davies … introduced me to a young medical student (who remembered Margaret), whom I invited to tea tomorrow to discuss. Then he took me and Comrade Mariel (that is to say bourgeois but safe Mrs. Gillet jr.) to a snack bar, where we talked. zpm zop zhy
