Source: The Militant, Vol. 13 No. 2, 10 January 1949, p. 5.
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The Dec. 24 issue of Socialist Call carries a letter from Norman Thomas to an unnamed “Dutch Socialist leader” appealing for opposition from the Netherlands Social Democratic Labor party to the imperialist conquest of Indonesia: “Unless the Labor Party in the Netherlands should promptly protest this, action, the reputation of democratic Socialism throughout the world will be sadly tarnished.”
At first sight it might appear that Thomas is standing on firm socialist principles in calling on the Dutch Social Democrats to oppose the foreign policy of their capitalist government. Could a socialist commit a more monstrous crime, against the principles of socialism than supporting blitzkrieg war on the Indonesians, murder of the freedom fighters, crushing of the independence movement and the restoration of imperialist rule over the Indonesian people ?
However, something beside concern over socialist principles is back of Thomas’s letter of admonition to his Dutch co-thinkers. First of all, one notes a complete absence of enthusiasm for the cause of the Indonesian Republic. This American Social Democrat, who is touted in some circles as the outstanding “moral hero” of our time, does not hesitate to repeat in his own way the Dutch imperialist propaganda about Indonesian “provocation”: “I do not necessarily attribute great efficiency or complete virtue to the government of the young Republic. I can well believe that negotiations With it have, not always been easy.”
This coolness toward the Indonesian Republic is all the more extraordinary in view of the fact that. many of the leaders of the government put down by the Dutch despots were “socialists” holding the same general views as Norman Thomas and his Dutch correspondent.
Secondly, there is pot a trace of anger with the Dutch Social Democrats for supporting Dutch imperialism. “You may even want to argue that your Government’s expedition will really be welcomed by the Javanese,” says the ineffable Thomas. Such a foul argument from a Social Democrat in behalf of Dutch imperialism would make even a dish-water liberal boil over, you might think. But not Thomas. His top emotional register is Milquetoast expostulation – tempered with anxiety that “dur Dutch comrades should understand ...”
The real concern of Norman Thomas is not at all over socialist principles. He is worried about some thing else. He fears that the “high-handed action” of the Dutch might push the people of Indonesia and Asia towards “Communism,” by which he means Stalinism mainly but also revolutionary socialism. And he fears that the war against Indonesia might “discredit” the Marshall Plan, thus jeopardizing the military alliance of Western European powers against the Soviet Union and their preparations for the projected World War III.
Both of these fears have been expressed by spokesmen of the U.S. State Department who dislike the lack of finesse displayed by Dutch imperialism in smashing the Republic of Indonesia. Thus the U.S. State Department and its forebodings, over the Indonesian situation loom behind the Norman Thomas letter. It is not as a socialist but as a supporter of the foreign policy of American imperialism that Norman Thomas writes to his Dutch fellow Social Democrats, advising them not to support the foreign policy of Dutch imperialism. This “moral hero” preaches, “Do as I say; not as I do.”
There is an instructive political lesson in this episode. The U.S. State Department felt embarrassed over the brazen cynicism of its Dutch ally in attacking the Indonesians. As a face-saving gesture of remonstrance, it cut off the trickle of Marshall Plan aid to the East Indies while continuing that aid to the Netherlands where it counts the most in the war against Indonesia.
Norman Thomas felt embarrassed over the brazen cynicism his fellow Social Democrats would reveal in supporting this rapacious Dutch imperialist venture. As a face-saving gesture he addressed a letter of remonstrance to one of the Dutch Labor Party leaders while continuing fraternal relations with these assistants in colonial conquest.
Clearly, the Dutch Social Democrats and Norman Thomas share the guilt of the Netherlands government and the U.S. State Department in the crushing of the Indonesian independence movement. The Dutch Social Democrats serve as high-pressure salesmen for Dutch rule in Indonesia. Norman Thomas serves as a high-pressure salesman for the Marshall Plan through which the State Department built up the Dutch war machine.
When Norman Thomas admonishes the Dutch Social Democrats. about supporting imperialism, it’s an obvious case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Contrast the record of the Trotskyist movement. In the Netherlands, the Revolutionary Communist Party, Dutch section of the Fourth International, has consistently opposed Dutch imperialism. One of its main slogans since it came out of the underground struggle against Nazism has been, “Free Indonesia from Holland Now!”
The Dutch Trotskyists defend the cause of the Indonesian Republic. Year in and year out they have patiently and persistently explained to the Dutch workers the imperative need of solidarizing with the Indonesians and joining with them in militant struggle against Dutch capitalism.
This course required courage but the Dutch Trotskyists have not swerved. International solidarity against oppression is one of the basic principles of socialism. And the Dutch Trotskyists know how to carry out their duty as revolutionary socialists.
Similarly in the United States, the Socialist Workers Party gave full support to the freedom movement of the Indonesian people. From the day the Indonesian Republic declared its independence, the Socialist Workers Party called on the American labor movement to rally to its aid.
The American Trotskyists explained how this colonial struggle weakened the giant corporations like General Motors that have holdings in Indonesia, thereby aiding the American labor, movement in its struggle against its enemies at home.
The Socialist Workers Party told the truth about the Marshall Plan and how it would be used to build up militarism in Europe as part of the preparations for another war. Throughout the 3-year struggle of the Indonesian Republic, the Socialist Workers Party exposed the perfidious role of the Truman administration in putting the Dutch despots back in power.
Today the Socialist Workers Party calls for an immediate halt in Marshall Plan aid to Dutch imperialism and for militant intervention by the labor movement in behalf of Indonesia.
Against the record of the genuine socialists the record of the Social Democrats at home and abroad is a “sadly tarnished” one indeed!
Last updated on: 29 February 2024