Base political methods however...would find their fullest expression, not in socialism, but only in some kind of Stalinist gulag. So a claim that such unprincipled means are justified because they serve the End of socialism is false; in fact, base means can never serve noble ends."

Indeed. Stalinism rather than Marxism, and not an inherently socialist perspective. So what's your point, Dick?
my point is this, hear I speak from experience.
that phrase was a common mantra amongst communists of the 1950s,including my parents who knew Bert Lloyd well,I am sure that would have influenced Berts thinking[IF he did not collect the song]and did it slip it into the tradition,he would have thought it is more important that the song is sung.
Bert handed out many songs to singers in the late fifites early sixties.
I dont know where you were Ruth[living in America?]
but I was there at BERT llOYDS HOUSE,at his childrens birthday parties etc,I remember clearly phrases like the end justifies the means being used by COMMUNIST Friends.,it may have been originally a phrase used by machiavelli,but it was a phrase still used by communists even after Stalins death.
Bert lloyd claimed in 1952[That was before Stalins deathin 1953 ]that he had collected the song,the mindset of many communists at this time was the end justifies the means.
that should be clear enough Ruth