From: South Africa's Radical Tradition, a documentary history, Volume One 1907 - 1950, by Allison Drew

Document 9 - Letter from W. H. Andrews to Tom Mann," 26 December 1922

                                                                         THE COMMUNIST PARTY

                                                                                                                                       Central Executive Office.

                                                                                                                                                             Trades Hall

                                                                                                                                                         Johannesburg.

                                                                                                                                                                  26-12-22

Dear Comrade Tom

Your letter from Port Elizabeth and report of the meeting from E. P. Herald just to hand also acknowledgement of amount paid you. There is no doubt that your tour has done a vast amount of good we feel the benefit in our organisation. We had touched rock bottom before you came and now a more buoyant spirit is in the air. The boys are recovering. Big propaganda meetings are held weekly outside the town hall and in other parts and our paper is selling more freely finances improving and we intend to resume weekly publication early in the new year. We have taken a nice new printing office nearer the centre of town with two year lease and option to purchase at £16 00. We shall be better away from the vicinity of Marshall Square. Bill (Rostion?) is delighted to be getting into a place where all the work can be done in one room. I am sorry to hear that Cape Town has failed to arrange an extension of the tour and surprised to hear that the Australian tour is in some doubt. I was under the impression that it was practically settled. However you may yet get it fixed up.

The commutation of sentences is I think a tribute to the agitation started by the Communist Party and the fact that no more bodies of men executed will be allowed burial outside gaol shows that the big funeral demonstrations are effective. The Durban Town Hall protest meeting was a surprise also and the red army proposition and its reception although of course only temporary enthusiasm shows the growth of an idea. The papers here are attacking Bunting and the Mail I think it was in a leader urged that he should not be allowed to land owing to his policy of educating +organising the native workers they are on the war path all right. + so are we so that's all right. With best wishes for the New Year and thanks + kindest regards from your friend + comrade

W H Andrews.