The end of a Chapter Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #410)

with each other and in the course of which she gave me her impressions of our work as she saw it from a distance. She was criticla of the extreme nationalism and anti communist views advocated by the PAC but at the same time warned us not to exaggerate the adverse effects of these tendencies on the part of the PAC because there was justified hostility to colonial rule on the African continent and people there did not find it at all strange for a nationalist organisation to be anti white. She also stressed that their anti communism did not shock the average man in England and explained that some people even found it strange that we should work so smoothly and willingly with whites. Naturally she strenuously defended our policy adnd showed that in their extreme nationalism the PAC was lagging behind nationalist movements in Africa and elsewhere. It is profitable for an organisation to be constantly reminded of how others see it and her comments enabled us at least to be consciously aware that in shaping our policy and activities we should take account of the conditions both at home and on the continent. About the same time Oliver Tambo wrote to the National Executive along similar lines. In regard to the situation here at home the ANC realised that another crisis was approaching and that our political obligations could no longer be fulfilled through part time officials who waged the struggle only from offices. The organisation of the Convention and the strike would require full time activists operating from the underground and who were not paralysed by the need to obey the host of restrictions imposed by the enemy and who could travel from place to place meeting people and organisations and setting up the necessary machinery. I was asked to undertake this task and to