cont. . . .

By this Second Congress, the aims of the LAW had become more focused on advancing the role of the writer as cultural watchdog. The reasoning was that, as stated in the bulletin announcing the meeting, a healthy culture was both the product of freedom of thought and expression, as well as the means of defending "the political and social institutions that make for peace," and by implication, of forestalling fascism's spread to the United States.

Theres is no mention here of the Soviet Union or Stalinism, as there was in the announcement for the First Congress. The LAW had begun to back off its support of Stalin amid widespread rumors of his repressive tactics. In hindsight, of course, we now know that these rumors turned out to be true.

Burke is identified on this page as one of the individuals serving on an organizing committee "functioning to make the congress a success." --DB

[continue . . . ]

Todd Deam is the project coordinator who acquired Burke's FBI Files and who has transcribed them for publication in PDF format. David Blakesley prepared the images for web publication and has written the running commentary.

*For a transcription of the text on this image in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format, click here. Requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in, available for free download here.

Page 5 of Burke's FBI File.

 

Last updated: July 20, 2000--David Blakeskley.

Site sponsored by the School of Liberal Arts and Department of English at Purdue University.