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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 4. April 23, 1947

Intellectuals in Action

Intellectuals in Action

At a time when so much is heard about "moral and intellectual values," when "The Challenge of Our Time" is being analysed and discussed by so many with sharp axes to grind, the example of intellectuals like Fox and Cornford deserves to be recalled now on the tenth anniversary of their death in action against fascism.

"It is hard for the intellectual today." wrote Ralph Fox in his book Lenin—A Biography, "to accept that literature can be a matter of party, of battle . . . that he should fight, tooth and nail for his heritage occurs to him rarely. Yet the names which humanity has hitherto revered beyond all others are the names of men who have fought tooth and nail, of men whose work breathed the spirit of party."

Cornford too was one of those whose work breathed the spirit of party. Recalling the last discussion class which Cornford attended at Cambridge, Professor Ernest Barker wrote: "His belief in Communism was no youthful effervescence; it was a still water which ran deep. He spoke slowly and deliberately and there was sound knowledge as well as conviction behind what he had to say. He was one of those who are willing to stake heart's blood upon their convictions."

As a student John Cornford's career at Trinity College, Cambridge, was one of exceptional brilliance. He took first-class honours in Pt. I of the Historial Tripos and a starred First in Pt. II. On graduating he was awarded the Earl of Derby Research Scholarship. He had already begun his research work when the Franco rebellion began. He resigned his scholarship to join the Spanish People's Army as a volunteer.

"I tu? que has fet per la victoria?"

(Spanish War Poster.)

Facsimile of a poster received by "Salient" during the Spanish War.

"The Socialist movement in the Universities, not only in Cambridge but throughout the whole of England, owes more to him than to any other individual." wrote the Cambridge Review after his death. Those of us who were in the student movement and the University Labour Federation at the time know how true this was. It was his passionate devotion to the cause of the working people and to their unity in the fight against fascism that took him to Spain.