p Dear comrades, notwithstanding the so-called assimilation law of March 19, 1946, Guadeloupe factually remains a French colony. Tied to the Common Market in 1957, it has since been a rural appendage of the EEC Six. The economic position is such that the land, factories, all the main means of production, are in the hands of foreign capitalists.

p European trusts, operating through French monopoly capital, are on the best of terms with Martinique capitalism, and hold sway in our country. Canadian and US capital has also penetrated the economy.

p Guadeloupe is thus a cockpit of rivalry between European colonialists, the Martinique bourgeoisie and Canadian and US capitalists.

p The Guadeloupe people are steeped in poverty, which increases as more and more of the wealth they create is drained off. Their dignity is trampled upon by fraudulent elections, racial discrimination, humiliation and oppression. The people are denied their natural and inalienable right to shape their future.

p It is no exaggeration to say that social conditions are steadily deteriorating. Every now and again, there are attempts to suppress popular protest by 495 violence; two years ago the streets of Pointe-a-Pitre were Uttered with killed and wounded. Nor is the tension relaxing.

p Responsibility for the social tension lies primarily with colonialism. It breeds social instability by creating economic situations fraught with disaster. Nor is that all: as our Political Bureau says in its latest statement, it also "helps the emergence of Leftist tendencies and groups, honeycombed with colonial agents operating hand in glove with traitors of the labour movement and all manner of adventurers acting in the interests of the capitalist coterie closely linked with American imperialism."

p These are the methods used:

p First, anti-communist propaganda to produce massive ideological and political confusion.

p Second, appeals to boycott elections and resort to armed action, as a substitute for mass political struggle.

p Third, threats and provocations against our more prominent leaders.

p These are elements of the reckless and adventurist policy the Leftist elements are trying to impose on our workers’ movement,

p We are therefore justified in saying that Leftism and colonialism are merging in an alliance against the Communists, the true anti-colonialists.

p In Guadeloupe we were able to steer clear of this adventurist course, because our Party, for all its shortcomings and weaknesses, has sunk deep roots in the masses and is closely connected with the Young Communist League, women’s and trade-union organisations. This is evidenced by the fact that, despite the rigged elections, bribery and foul blows by anti-Party elements, we are represented in 10 of the 34 municipalities, which account for more than 35 per cent of the country’s territory and more than 45 per cent of its population. There are six Communists and one Communist sympathiser among the 36 General Councillors. The only Communist in the French National Assembly elected from the Overseas Departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Reunion) is from Guadeloupe. Similarly, the only pro-Communist Senator from the Overseas Departments comes from Guadeloupe. Lastly, during the recent French presidential elections, Comrade Jacques Duclos polled a larger per cent of the vote in Guadeloupe than in any other Overseas Department.

p To this should be added that election results are by no means an accurate measure of our influence. For that influence actually extends to 55—65 per cent of the population. Besides, we know only too well what reliance can be placed on these elections—we neither overestimate nor underestimate them.

And yet the menace is from the “Left”,