The Defiance Campaign Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #112)

had staged a successful joint campaign and that to depart from that policy would necessarily appear strange, leaving us with no convincing argument to meet the criticism that would certainly follow such a departure. We ultimately argued the matter at the meeting of the National Executive of the ANC and after careful consideration it rejected my views and endorsed those of Walter. Among those who turned down my proposal were Dr. J.S. Moroka, Professor Z.K. Matthews, Dr. S.M. Molema and Reverend Sikomolo, all of whom were regarded by many Congressites as right wingers and staunch African nationalists who would normally be expected to favour the go it alone line. They agreed with the other members of the executive that the ANC was an independent body fighting primarily for the liberation of the African people. It alone decided whether on any particular question it should work alone or co operate with other organisations. The contemplated action was one of those matters it considered should be tackled jointly with the other oppressed groups. They held that whether Africans would support a move in greater or lesser numbers would depend mainly on the efficiency of our machinery and on our ability to reach the people and explain the issue involved. Although I respected the decision of the Executive I none the less thought the issue was of sufficient importance to be canvassed at the national conference in December 1951 but the delegates dismissed my views just as emphatically as the Executive had done. The matter had now been considered by the highest organ of the ANC and I fully accepted the position. That conference attracted a record number of sealous delegates and observers from all over the country, including former President General Dr. A.B. Xuma, Yusuf Cachalia, joint secretary of the SAIC, and Manilal Gandhi, son of the famous Mahatma. Chief A.J. Luthuli, who presided,