First Published: The Call, Vol. 7, No. 36, September 18, 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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San Francisco–At a time when China is under broadside attack from many quarters, the US-China Peoples’ Friendship Association successfully held its fifth annual convention here over Labor Day weekend. Nearly 1,000 members, reflecting a 36% growth in national membership, enthusiastically reaffirmed the USCPFA’s Statement of Principles and passed many resolutions to expand and deepen the work of building friendship with China.
In particular, the convention committed itself to make 1979 the year that will bring full normal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, based on the I972 U.S.-China Communique. The meeting also resolved to expand even further the association’s outreach to workers and national minorities.
The strength of the association was especially apparent in the resounding defeat of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP), which came out in the open as an enemy of China. Trying in every way to disrupt the convention, the RCP deluged participants with anti-China, pro-“gang of four” leaflets, distributed in violation of convention rules. They harangued delegates and guest speakers who refused to go along with the RCP’s attacks on China’s leadership as “revisionist” and “fascist.”
The RCP went so far as to put forward a resolution calling on USCPFA members to “resign from their locals and urge them to disband.” Speaker after speaker rose to denounce the resolution.
In a dramatic move, one woman representing the National Minorities Caucus announced that the caucus had unanimously voted against the RCP resolution.
“We condemn the RCP for their chauvinist attacks against China,” she declared. ”They’re the same attacks launched by the KMT, KICK, FBI and the U.S. State Department on the people of China.”
The speaker also condemned the RCP for singling out the minority delegates and trying to browbeat them into agreement. This contempt for the minority USCPFA members, she pointed out, went hand in hand with the RCP’s lack of faith in the judgment of the Chinese people.
Opposition to the RCP was reflected in many people’s comments over the weekend, including the opening remarks by USCPFA co-chairman Unita Blackwell, long-time civil rights activist and mayor of Mayersville. Miss. Comparing their disruptive tactics to those of the K.K.K., Blackwell counterpoised the RCP’s goals with the purpose of the association.
“Each of us are different,” Blackwell pointed out. “We are different colors, different races, different religions, different political points of view. But one thing we have in common, we all came to build friendship with China, and that is the role of the USCPFA.”
Addressing the RCP directly, she went on. “If you don’t believe in the principles of this organization, you should leave and leave soon.”
On Sunday, after the overwhelming defeat of the RCP’s resolution, the convention energetically endorsed a resolution which called for “free and open discussion” based on the principles of the USCPFA. However, any members who persistently “disrupt.. .programs” will “be asked to resign or if necessary be expelled. . ..” In addition, the 1979 National Plan gave priority to extensive membership and public education about China’s recent victories in order to arm the USCPFA and general public against slanders and distortions from all enemies of China.
In contrast to the RCP’s slander, slides, films, speeches and lively discussions throughout the convention welcomed the great advances being made by the Chinese people since the victory over the counter-revolutionary “gang of four.” Educationals described the momentous achievements being made in modernizing industry, agriculture, and science and technology. Participants in the convention were treated to a sparkling performance of Chinese song and dance presented by the San Francisco Chinese Folk Dance Association, which exemplified the flourishing art and culture in new China.
One special highlight was the surprise appearance of Dr. George Hatem (Ma Hai-the). After living and working in China for over 46 years, he noted the “tremendous efforts being made by the Chinese people, leaders and government to make the world a better place to live at.”
Dr. Hatem, who first came to China from the U.S. to offer his medical services in the struggle against the Japanese, remarked. “Through my discussions here I know that the USCPFA wants to continue to build deep friendship with 890 million Chinese people and not with the [’gang of] four”.
To build this friendship even deeper among the U.S. people, the convention targeted specific goals in the campaigns of normalization and outreach.
Since 1975, the USCPFA has worked persistently for normalization of relations between China and the U.S. The campaign now includes specific conferences on topics such as trade and China and the 1980 Olympics; outreach and coalition work; more educationals and publicity on the Taiwan question: a National Media Coordinator, added to the staff of the Center for U.S.-China Relations; and an Ad Hoc Committee to Admit China to the 1980 Olympics.
The 1976 priority to expand outreach to workers and national minorities was strengthened by the outreach plan which includes speaking tours, slideshows, special interest tours to China, scholarship funds for travel there, and an active campaign to recruit trade union leaders and rank-and-file members and seek trade union support for the association’s work throughout the country.
Other resolutions strengthened the organizational apparatus of the USCPFA such as centralizing the USCPFA literature by establishing a Publications Center in New York; and bringing New China magazine, which for several years was under the control of the RCP, into the structure of the association. In addition, the National Minorities Caucus began to map out its program. It elected interim leadership until a national committee can be elected for the first time, this fall.
In order to lead the challenging work ahead, a new National Steering Committee was chosen. Re-elected as co-chairmen were Unita Blackwell and Frank Pestana from Los Angeles. Mark Sheldon, active in the National Council of Churches, was elected vice-chairman.
The USCPFA’s fifth annual convention adjourned highly determined to work for normal diplomatic relations in the next year, broader outreach, and a more efficient and improved organization. Key to this work is a better understanding of how 800 million people are building a strong and united country and a bright future for themselves.