163% A Melbourne correspondent reports dramatic new moves in the confl— ict between the 'Russian' and 'Chinese'! wings of the Australian Communist Party. The Australian Commmist Party, whilst having a Khrushchovite leadership, includes a large pro-Chinese faction, who are particualrly strong in Victoria (see previous issues of the Bulletin).
The first big confrontation occured at the Victoria State Party Conference. The pro-Russian national leadership used the epparatus to hand pick the delegates, and to make sure of victory they inc eased the number of delegates from 98 to 150. Despite this the Hill faction still obtained 16 votes, The national leadership were thus able to remove the 15 supporters of Hill from the State Committee,
This was answered by attacks on the Sharkey—Aarons leadership being made in the pro-Chinese Rank and File Circular, This circular recently appealed to "Those comrades who continus to be hoodwinked by the pretence of democratic-centralism being practised by the Sharkey—Aarons clique," It further claimed that there were members of the Central Committees who “are becoming aware of the traitorous role being pursued by the present leadership of the party." The Rank and File Committee has also printed and distributed the Peking People's Daily editorial "Whence the differences? A reply to com rade Thorez and Other comrades." An attack on Khrushchoy, in the shapo of reprinting his speeches mede in Berlin in 1953 attacking Tito and the one made +o the 1963 Bast German ¢.P. Conference supporting Tito, was also made.
A wave of resignations and expulsions of the Hill group followed. Such influential members as P, Malone, State Secretary of the Builders Labourers! Foderation; F, Johnson, Secretary of the Victoria State C.P.g G. Lewins, State Secretary of the Painters Union; and 0. O'Shes, State Secretary of the Tramways Employees! Association are involved.
o'Shea said: "Il refuse to accept something that is against the workers! best interests and havo therefore resigned my membership, I have not lost my faith in the workers, under the correct leadership, to win a better life and overthrow capitalism," :
The Victorian Communist newspaper Guardian reported the removal of members from the Central Committeo for "Factionalima, breaches of the party eonstitution and rejection of democratic centralism," It claimed that “for a period of 16 months the Central Committees and all party organisations have been waging a patient struggle against a “Left" opportunist line in the party advocated by a group around comrade E.F. Hill."
Rumours are now circulating that the formationof a break-away C.F. afilliated te the Indonesian and New Zealand parties in a South.EZast Asian federation will be announced. As many as 200 Victorian: Commmists might join such a party. New South Wales Communists reported likely to join include Bert Chandler who prints Tribine the official Sydney Communist paper, and Mr. J. Hughes, ancther member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. Other axpected supportors include strong groups in Wharf-labourers' and Seamen's Unions,
It is obvious that Hill and compmy, who are not fools and .are in regular contact with the Chinese, would not take this step if thoy thought there was much chance of a compromise between the Russians and the Chinese. It seems obvious, too, that the Chinase would not encourage such moves if they thought a recompromise was in (the offing. If this step is taken it may herald a new stago in the conflict, with the Chinese attempting to start rival C.F.a wheres they fail to win influence in the existing party. As the sides lin up, Sharkey and Dixon of the Central Committes are due to fly to Moscow on 3rd June, while Hill and his wife will be going to Peking,June 30th,
~~ “a.
1639 Est cues is TaCk SHIINIS3 POR DISTRIBUTING "PRINTID MATTER".
The test Gorman authoritios hevoe attcked the action of the Chinese
Embassy in Gast Germany in distributing copias of the letter of the
Juna 14th Chinese Communist Party to the CPSU. On Juno 2lst, the
official Gast Gorman News Agency (ADN) issued the following statoment:
"The Hmbassy of the People's Republic of China in the Garman
Democratic Raprblic has distribated printed mattor in violation of the
axisting rules and legal regulations, First Deputy Foraign Minister and
State Secratary Otto Vinzer has drawn the ettention of the Ambassador
of the Feople's Republic of: China to tha fact that actions of this
kind are not parmitted. It is regrettable that the mbassy of the
People's Republic of China in tho Garman Democratic opublic should —
have acted thus in contradiction to th> desire of ths Iarzist Leninist
parties to cease public polemics between the fraternal partiss and to
settle @ifference: cf opinion through negotiations".
The Chinese reply, after defending their right to distribute matorial
in Gast Germany, claimed: "The printing and distribution of this document
esseeWill help increase the fraternal German psople!'s correct understanding
of the positions.,.of the viewpoints of the Communist Party of China: and = thus will be beneficial to the strongthoning of unity."
The statament ends on a vary critical notes ",..such practice can only
be regarded as a deliberate attempt to kick up an uproar, attack the C.P.
if China, widen tho differences in the international Communist movement
and undermine unity among fraternal parties..." (this is) “a contim ation
of the practice of the Sth Congress of ‘ast Gorman C.P.. This is desply
regrettable,™