Socialist Press no. 108

maintainference ANSWER RACIST

VIOLENCE WITH

WORKERS DEFENCE!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 108 * 12 July 1978 * 15p maintains pacifist line There is a crying need for independent action by the workers move- ment the crush gangs fascist thugs who are attempting to terrorise immigrant communities and labour movement organisations. Yet the only policy arising from the largest anti- racist the Anti grouping, Nazi League, is one of hand- end a Communist Party stall movement. ing out leaflets, They are not linked to badges and Dagenham show

LOWI

posters designed to combat attacked any programme to put an was by tacsist the of the National ideas end thugs. the con- matelal Front. ditions-poverty, unemploy- Black youth and workers The NF have for some been slow to see have not time placed the use of the -which provide the spawn- the need to take action on fist and the boot before the their own behalf. ing ground of fascism. of slogans. Vicious use Years of harassment at Pacifist attacks on Asian and black the hands of the police and workers are on the increase.

has the state apparatus But in offering a way taught the immigrant com- Guns used munity to place no faith in forward for independent struggle against the fascists, these forces of "order". In East London last week of the these groupings are now far the sight

AMO

racist thugs attacked Asian in advance of the Anti Nazi Special Patrol Group and during League, whose conference other detachments of police change of shift. In South last weekend confirmed its thugs attacking picket lines London and in Wolverhamp- pacifist course. has confirmed this correct ton guns have been used to Ignoring the bitter lesson impression. intimidate black workers started by NF of the fire As a result in Hackney and youth on the streets.

supporters which two weeks numerous self-defence In Hackney is ago gutted the ANL's own associations have begun to estimated 150-200 headquarters the conference in immigrant spring racist attacks per violent made no call for workers' week take place. the physical attacks of the offered defence, and no trace of a socialist policy to Meanwhile the NF has fascists. Callaghan-Healey's stepped up its action against There are undoubted fight workers' organisations. such cuts in living standards.

weaknesses Labour Party meeting groupings. In the main they The barrage of colourful anti-fascist publicity put out Manchester was broken up have made no attempt to draw in the wider labour by the AN has connected weeks ago. Last week-

LWO

March challenges Irish repression

5|293 BRAI

COWLEY WIRKERS

PITCAST LEA

RIERS

A WORKERS

MALIST LEA

SMOLIST LEACIN

NOW

LITIN

WS supporters on Sunday's march * with the radicalisation of layers of workers and youth who genuinely want to fight fascism and drive the thugs off the streets.

ANL

itself tne dominated as remains an organisation by its list of sponsors who include union bureaucrats, Stalinists, liberals, starlets, and church- alongside self-styled men "revolutionaries". It is incapable of offering clear policy to those youth and WIlC turn towards it for leader-

PHOTO

ship. Its leaders know that one policies would immediately drive off of the prosperous middle class personalities and capitalist politicians that the sponsored

ANL.

Rather than building a movement on the necessary policies, they tailor their policies to the most reac- elements in tionary the movement. Almost 2,000 demon- marched strators the streets of through London at the weekend in against the protest continued British occu- pation of Northern Ire- land. demonstration had The been called by Prisoners Aid focus Committee to on treatment of republicans in Long Kesh and other British concentration camps and to campaign for political status to be restored to the repub- licans. The march was also called under the slogan of Troops Out of Ireland. There were a handful of trade union banners. 40 About to 50 comrades and supporters of Workers Socialist the League marched. As well as the demands for troops out, political status TOr lican prisoners and the free- ing of all political prisoners our slogans called for self- determination for the Irish kick out Mason people, to and the coalition cabinet ANL spokesman Hain Leading ANL spokesmen have peddled illusions in the possibility that action by police and the use of state bans could the assist struggle against the NF Equally, the ANL has at any point challenged the betrayals of the Labour and TUC leaders or their refusal to lead effec- tive action against the which organises and oversees the repression and a call for an Irish workers' republic. There were delegations 200 and 250 of between from both the Workers Revolutionary Party and the Socialist Workers Party

WRP

Both the and Young Socialist contingents marched behind a van which drowned most of their slogans with Irish republican songs and flew the Irish tricolour-the flag of the Irish bourgeois government.

The demonstration It the important. was biggest in London against British imperialism Ireland for many years and it reflected a growing tide of revulsion against the torture the tactics carried out by British army and the "justice' used to Summary lock up republicans for with only mock years resemblance of a trial. But it also reflected- particularly in its lack of trade union banners-a con- Bosses spot Garners' ally Page 11 fascists. The Workers Socialist League has consistently argued that the central issue in the fight against fascism is the fight to mobilise every workplace, factory, working class political and Colate trade union body and immi grant community in united defence squads trained to combat the fascists. United fight If of the

ANL

any dignitaries or the organisa- tions involved in the ANL would fight for such policy the WS would fight alongside them on this ques-

LION

This, in our view, must be combined with the struggle to remove the right wing Labour leaders-whose opened the treachery has fascists-and door to the building revolutionary capable of fighting the Labour and

TUC

traitors. tinuing failure to raise the issues in union branches and Labour Party wards. Before the march set off almost twice as many demonstrators arrived in Hyde Park at the end of a dis- demonstration against appeared prisoners in Chile "Here trade there were union banners in profusion.

The demonstration- which limited itself to the They?" chant are w nere and slogans of support for Allende's popular front gov- ernment which failed to arm the Chilean working class the against reaction-had been given full backing by the Stalinists. They felt safe mouthing that slogans made demands the labour movement politica. over prisoners on the other side of the world. But the political disappearances in Chile be parcelled cannot safely from the question of political repression, imperialist occupation and torture in Northern Ireland.

COMECON TAKES ON NEW

ROLE IN KREMLIN PLAN

Page Z

- INTERNATIONAL-

Last month's brief of the meeting

COMECON

economic alliance in Bucharest may well turn out to be point in a turning the role of this organisation.

Comecon was set up in the early years of the "cold war" organisation nominally to jointly plan of Eastern economes Europe but reality 1n wishes of ensure the Soviet bureaucracy were adhered to in the economic sphere. 'National interests' of the various workers' states were formally protected by the rule which said that all decisions of Comecon must be taken unanimously. years of Stalin's monolithic control this the East integration ot created no problems for the European economies. But in Soviet bureaucracy. Soviet One the recent years a number proposals the recent especially was to abolish this session Romania, have used the rule unanimity rule It was not thwart the wan of the only the Romanian bureau- Soviet bureaucracy which cracy, Comecon to promote more

NEW BIDS TO CONTAIN

PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE

President Sadat of reading of them Any makes it clear that they rely Egypt spent last week- on 'agreement' whereby the end strutting round Israeli bandits are be LO discussion Vienna in 'gradually' persuaded to the with various social hand over some of 'occupied territories' during democratic messengers "transition' five for imperialism period. including Austrian that being All Chancellor Kreitsky and promised to the Palestinians 'Labour' Israeli leader 1s tne usual bantustan stale 'agreement' with trom Shimon Peres. Israelis, Jordanians and He hammering out Egyptians. the discussion in prepar- the Palestinians can forthcoming ation for hope for little from these 'peace' talks foreign at talks, they also minister level due to take misguided to express joy at place in London shortly, Tite

SHOW

These are sponsored by by the being carried out and the US imperialists Syrian 'peace-keeping' force were carefully prepared in in Lebanon against theright the recent Middle East visit wing para-military forces.

of vice-president Mondale. Killed The proposals on which these talks will be based, Friday, have Over the last week hun- dreds of fascists and other been portrayed in the capit- alist press and in Israel right wing militia men have been killed the 'hard line' from the Pales- by same Syrian that saved tinian point of view. forces

JERE ARE THE

NALGO leader Drain at the head of last weekend's protest march demanding information on whereabouts of disappeared Chilean political prisoners.

Brezhnev objected to this proppsed weakening of the position individual Hallola. And in the bureaucracies. end the USSR had to with- draw the proposal. This is one of the factors which seems to have led to a Sadat the Palestinian them from and leftist fighters during 1975-6. The increasing inability of the 'native' bourgeoisie in Lebanon to establish any kind of viable state has clearly compelled Syrians to intervene in an effort to establish their proprietary rights area they have always seen as part of 'Greater Syria'.

turn has led to This in Israeli jet fighters appearing over the battle areas their Beirut to show concern for the fate of their allies in the Lebanese fascist movement. The Syrian massacres are aimed to establish the kind of political strength which the Zionists fear The Syrians have always proved more successful than most other Arab regimes in fighting them. However

SLIOIL•

'Greater Syria' tied probab- ly to the counter-revolution: ary strategy of the Kremlin bureaucracy, will not be further the Concerned Palestinian struggle against Zionism and imperialism. will instead use its Syria to impose hold

OVCI

more effectively a 'compro- of the being mise sort Sadat and the planned by change in the whole concep- ber of Vietnam. This is one tion of the Soviet bureau- of the developments which about the uses of cracy indicates increasingly Comecon. close alignment between It has never been used as Hanoi and Moscow. an instrument of real inter- membership Vietnam's national economic planning.

of Comecon was one of the But now the bureaucracy s things used by the Chinese interest in using it even as a last week justify the stepping up of its weapon of centra ised econ omic control over a group Vietnam. campaign of sattelites has dimished in Its latest move in an increas favour of of a conception ingly tense situation is the Comecon as an withdrawal of complete simultaneously of "peacefu from economic aid coexistence' and of Vietnam. Union's Soviet current More surprising was the political offensive in Africa and other part of the semi- observers •resence colonial world. Bucharest of representatives Thus one of the signifi- and Angola Ethiopian of the Derg (the ruling cant decisions Comecon meeting was one military dictatorship). his return to Addis Ababa -to increase between the organisation the Derg's economic claimed that and the capitalist European ministel Economic Community. Ethiopia about to be Was granted full membership of Another significant the Comecon. development, was presence at the meeting for this true the evidence that Soviet the tirst time as a full mem - French strike wave continues and occupa- Strikes Workers at eight of the Moulinex factories are still tions continue to sweep on strike, although deals on across France, although the wage claim have now dispute of the the been made at some plants.

dockyard government In Northern France, in- munitions and factory junctions have been taken workers has now been out against the strikers at settled. Gravelines, where pickets The state employers were have blocked all access end forced to to ar the construction sites at the regional differentials, to nuclear power plant. guarantee The court orders have levels. and to make substan- been met with the threat of tial concessions on wages in general strike the a complex deal. Dunkirk region. EUROCOMMUNIST CPs

SHUN BAHRO CASE

On June 30 Rudolph to gain an understanding of what the 'real, existing Bahro, the East German socialism' really is and also dissident economist "what we could hope for under house arrest since from the entirely different last August, was premises of true socialism".

whole sentenced to eight years It avs bare the of privilege rotten system His imprisonment. surrounding the bureau- 'Treason' and crime? Cady 'espionage'. It calls for a political built The trial was conducted revolution it no doubt in as through the fight for a legal needed to be. Bahro was a opposition, communist "today's member of the SED (East because pall) German Communist Party) the gravedigger of the party when he was 18 in idea and of the individual from party consciousness". 1952 until his resignation in August 1977. It calls for fundamental graduate in philoso- reorganisation worked the tion, without the subord- phy, he on collectivisation of agri- ination which results from culture and then in journal- super-organisation. to Marx's He ism. returns From 1967 onwards he ot the tree assoc iation of producers' where- held responsible positions concerned with industrial by unified social organis maintained rationalisation and can be through co-ordination scientific organisation Ol allu juxtaposition. production. An essential element in His 'crime' is in fact to 'university have written and published this would be education' for all-though book Alternative-A Critique of not in the elitist, academic Real, Existing Socialism'.

Having tried for years to This 'socialism' Bahro considers to be "right now work for change the from internal criticism that a real' revolution party, Bahro concluded the need "to be daring enougl necessary to set it on the road again" to spread our ideas through The book is an attempt every means possible" SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 12 July 1978 of Comecon conception changing fast. Members like indeed Cuba Ethiopia-and which became a member in 1971-cannot have the same relationship to the organ- as the cast europear sattelites of the Soviet In these cases Comecon ceases to be a framework for allocating industries and controlling trade between • of a geographical- Countne ly contiguous bloc framework for becomes the allocation of economic aid projects and important increasing y of the spread of symbol Soviet political influence.

Capitalist market New members or near members like Ethiopia and Angola are still much more a part of the capitalist world Eastern that the market European countries. But new looser the Comecon also reflects the extent to growing Eastern European countries recent years have developed their trade with the capitalist countries, wel investment in their comed by imperialist countries the firms encouraged regrowth of small-scale national capitalist sector.

US delegation of some is perhaps significance that it was in the week the Comecon conference that Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader chose to announce to trom Visiting delegation the United States that Cuba too would soon be offering facilities for foreign capit- He therefore published the book in West Germany, on August 23 1977, and, was interviewed West on German television. following day he was by East German amested security police. eight year sentence with the resur- coincides rection of the ghost of Ulbricht, leader of the SED from 1950-71, at a grave- side commemoration attended by • a tul turnoul of the SED political bureau.

Butcher Ulbricht, of the worst butchers in Eastern Europe, slavish MOs follower of the Moscow line and responsible for the ruth- less suppression of the Berlin uprising in 1953 has been a forgotten name since his death in 1973. ten months lIUW since Bahro's arrest. So fa Euro- none ot the main communist parties has come of him or out in support taken up the political issues raised by his book After Stalinist individuals have sponsored the Rudolph Bahro Defence Committee, the silence of their parties shows the. hollowness of Eurocommunist 'liberalis ation'.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 12 July 1978.

INTERNATIONAL

Eritrea's historic liberation fight David Whitfield traces the history of the struggle of the Eritrean people for self- determination against both imperialist powers and a succession of repressive regimes in Ethiopia. Part Three The British Labour government's policy of

LEBANOT

SYRIA

sabotaging and plunder- of ing • une Eritrea produced imme-

JORDON

diate and predictable results. Already by 1944 the cost of living had increased to six

LYBIA

times the level 1940, OI wages had only 60%. To add to this uncontrol- able intlation. massive un- employment and wide-scale starvation developed in the towns during the post-war years. This was intensified by the arrival of thousands of and

ERITREA

landless labourers from the

CHAD

ASMARA•

rural areas, where the pro- ceșs of change had been no

SUDAN

less dramatic. During the period of industrial growth, the flight of Villagers from rural poverty to the relative bene- fits of wage-labour had been the

ETHIOPIA

than oftset MOTe growth in popula- internal

C.A.R.

of tion and the arrival nomads to settle. Intense strain

UGANDAS

KENYA

CONGO (LAIRE

The land originally Eritrea... holds a strategic location in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

seized by the Italian settlers had been greatly added to formed. Patriotic administration by the concessions of the ted by the promise of British. was orginally the Not only were more Eri- created comfortable in Italian rule, state bureaucracy of an ex- treans concentrated on less land, but that land was the the party clear panded Ethiopia. large numbers poorest for cultivation. Secondly, of the feudal aristocracy weak assisted Haile Selassie's rural economy was intense, in the imperialist designs plans, particularly and a great mass of peasants Eritrea, incompatible western lowlands. became heavily indebted to money-lend- landlords and terests Cereal bourgeoisie sections ers. Rebellion By 1944, whole villages. its and the Here the total power of had mortgaged their crops the landlords was broken before they were even sown.

1940s by during the the As unemployment came extended rebellion of the ¡o the

TOWNS.

no longer came back to the serfs. The families in the villages. Pov- considerable gains made by the serfs, and the debt and starvation Mahber Hager was British colonialists' policy held sway. exposed by the gathering of appeasement, drove the With the colonial society forces of class tension such feudal landlords to the ravaged by crisis, Ethiopian autocracy upsurge as ine pontical only force that could development was inevitable

I CO

tore their former might. But the speed at which 00 Ca LeT- It was this powerful anti- had trans- the dencies feudal movement that gave formed the old, divided the Moslem the Moslem and the base to society, Liberal League the efficient of League, founded in 1946 repression Italian rule, made it equally Party was inevitable that the Eritrean had almost population Ethiopian its organised experience of aim, was the political activity. government Banned Trade and all unions strong Tne labour organisations had been banned by the Italian honour not be The proletariat young beginning to was only now emerge into self-conscious- and to grasp for its

ICOS

political identity. Workers looked to the rich and the its intellectuals of the urban return petty bourgeoisie for leader- them. ship. Despite their massive the ancyances. Ocasallls were still politically domina- By every bishop ted by the feudal chiefs and and priest had become an landlords. energetic agent of Ethiopian Neither peasants nor pro- imperialism. letarians were to dictate the The Unionists had two political development of the other main bases of support.

at this Firstly, those sections of the movemen! stage. urban bourgeoisie petty the Mahber In who had gained privileges Fekri had Hager been by services the Italian

ARTO

IRAN

SAUDI ARABIA

• YEMEN

P.D.R.Y.

SOMALIA

INDIAN,

under the leadership of Ibrahim Sultan, petty bourgeois intellectual. The League supported the serfs' demands for land proclaimed that Moslem and Christian Eritreans were brothers, and demanded national independence. In the next the iyea Party Liberal Progressive formed of was 'Eritrea for Eritreans' move- ment. Although this could count support from the urban pro- letariat, main strength lay amongst the rural petty bourgeoisie. After some wavering in the earlier period, the intel- leadership gectua. Ane came out in 1947 with the demand independence Eritrea, for to be united with the neighbouring lands of the Tigrai in Ethiopia.

These developments were major setback the to Unionists. Previously they had been present unity with the 'free non- of Ethiopia colonised state opposition to the continuation of European colonial rule. In fact Haile Selassie had been installed entirely by the power of British and American imperialism, and could not have survived for month Emperor as without it. As American finance Ethiopia, poured the into

BBC

British garrisoned troops there brutally crushed the opposition of rival auto- dissatisfied liberals, and above all the risings of the masses who had no desire to see their struggles against Italian colonialism end in neo-colonialism and a despotic dictatorship. The Unionists' propagan- da tasks became more diffi- when the cult allel national liberation struggle of the Somalis the Disease-the legacy of imperialist exploitation Page 3 Ogaden was suppressed, and the Tigrai revolt of the smashed by British fighter- bombers from Aden. Even in their own wildest flights of exaggeration, , the Unionists never claimed the support of more than 40% of the population With the rapid spread of the independence ment, their mood became desperate In Unionists Asmara launched terrorist attacks against leading figures of the Moslem League and the Liberal Progressive Party.

Escalated Over the next few years this violence escalated in the rural with areas, savage attacks on the lives and property of those support- ing independence. Amongst other murders five Eritrean men had their heads cut off with swords in front of their families. Iwo faces of repression: Attlee (top) and Mussolini the was Ethiopian government which financed the barbarous atrocities of the Shifta, they were known. Only false charity could describe these gangs of hired thugs as guerillas.

But they found a bizarre ally in Sylvia Pankhurst. Her had chequered career by now led Pankhurst into dedication to Haile Selassie.

New tne pages ot the Times and Ethiopian News, which she edited, the Shifta were deserbed as • patriots For most of this period, the Victorious imperialist and the Soviet Union were engaged in argu- ments over the re-division of the post-war world and the establishment of balance of forces. Divided • The disposal of the former Italian colonies was one aspect of this bargaining which the Allies agree-their not fate was later to be imposed by the United Nations. The imperialist powels were divided by their own interests, variously sing at different times a vast range of solutions' But they wnetne. proposed the partition of Eritrea, its federation with Ethiopia, a return to Italian wnalevel, people, the were Eritreans them- selves.

The sky's the limit for Page 4 As if deliberately the fact that flaunting "nationalised" the industries in Britain are capitalist run by managers for capitalist the enterprise at of shop expense the floor workforce, the Callaghan government has decided to imple- ment astronomic pay increases for top nation- alised industry exec- utives. of And whole string of key servants the senior employers-Judges, and Armed civil servants Forces officers-are also to benefit from a salary hike which Callaghan described essential prevent "crisis of morale" in nation- alised industry management.

"Calibre" would, he declared, "of suit- enable executives able calibre" recruited Such bosses of qualified at need be enlisting the aid bureaucrats imposing swingeing cuts in manning and The levels plant. "strain" they encounter the strain of continuously maintaining attacks on the working class. government A workers' would take steps to estab- union elected workplace, committees at regional and national level, with full access to the books and plans of the national- ised industries, to develop the basis of a planned use successful The closure by British Ley- land management of the Triumph factory at Speke, Merseyside, did than add more another 3,000 workers to the dole queue in an of chronic area unemployment. It marked a turning point for the employers' moves towards rationalisation allu With the aid of closures. union officials, Leyland Speke convenors and stewards the entire work- was held back from torce the slightest practical move to resist the closure No steps were made to of prepare occupallul the plant. No call was issued for the opening of Leyland's books to show the urgency of combine-wide action to defend jobs and conditions Speke part of the as moves to stop the Edwardes plan dead in its tracks. Derisory This was not because there was no mood of among resistance the workforce. Leyland When announced their derisory Such committees would at first have exercise control over the existing but would mallagellicut, eventually replace altogether. would They composed of workers paid the average shop floor wage And recallable at any time. would take as their they profit but criterion not need. As workers in steel, ship- building, railways and other nationalised industries run up against attack, TOev musl such demands alongside and occupations in their fight back. Sturrock, Repor

SWP CONCEAL

TRUTH ABOUT

SPEKE

planned voluntary dancy payments thousands who had been of workers, held back and demoralised by weeks of bureaucratic and deliberately haggling created confusion, came to to ready Ta calle follow any lead given by the platform. They found none. Leyland Combine Chairman committee Longbridge Convenor Derek leading Robinson, Party member Communist and part of the 'participa- tion' set-up that planned the Speke closure, took the stage, in •a conscious and display of completely hollow rhetoric on resisting the closure steered the meeting away from any pracuca action whalever Speke stewards, Robinson's following lead, omitted any call for occupation. This lack of leadership at turning point crucial proved the key to the even- tual closure of the plant six weeks later. At each point Socialist Press stressed the need to parasites' pay! Front Police scorn National piece- for the payments work picket-busting thugs of the Group and Special Patrol 40% handout the : police assigned to harass Irish and black workers and youth. In line with Govern- This proposed "Special problems" he crease ment policy of provid- on top of the 10% comes ing cash rewards for the Phase 3 increase, which the But the does

IC DOL

police received last Septem- most parasitic and anti- recommend extra rises for ber. It would London working class sectors of police In Northern Ireland because of police constabits an increase the special society, from £3,600 to £5,700 the "special problems" they Edmund-Davies report year, and Chief Constables face in defending capitalist an extra £5,500. police pay recom- on property relations and com- mending average rises of batting the workers' move- There appears to be no to be discussed ment. 40% is suggestion of special bonus However Police the this week. for protecting the lales Federation seems likely 40% regard the thumping insufficient to increases as of resigna- stem tions from the police force.

Their claim is for rises of between 78-104%! Strike breaking Edmund The Davies report is believed to recom- payment mend immediate the increases -which of for problems valovo Healey's Phase 4 pay limits!

Callaghan The govern- ment, however, has rested as preceding much any on police and government strike-breaking; and army have

TUC

leaders-who often been grateful for protect police escorts them against the hostility of members-will th - .+ own alu. st certainly arrive at an agreement to regard police pay as a 'special case'. FBU Executive member grateful for police protection at January's Bridlington conference

LING

EMPLOYED & UNEMI

UNITE & FIGHT

35 HOUR

By John Lister dod.

WER

combat this crisis of leader- ship. But all of these lessons have been deliberately con- Socialist by Cedieu Workers Party, whose members and supporters, of their front "Right to Work" organisa- tion, failed at any point to take up the call for occupa- and whose paper tion, Worker

DOCTORAI

gave uve. front page its entire on offers of redundancy pay officials, or even con- April 22 to an uncritical In eulogy of Robinson and the about bringing venors and combine comm- Deason sell-out, nowhere ittees. abortive mass meeting, des- cribing it as 'A match to fire even mentioned Robinson's But anyone peddled role or the lack of any call such illusions was the the Mersey'! for occupation!

SWP

with its talk of the Cover-up as if the "brilliant" Astonishingly, mass meeting at closure had not taken place derailed Robinson which From that point onwards as the sell-out took shape, according to plan, Deason any real fight! claims that: Deason's talk of Right to virtually Socialist Worker Work bulletins "The most important trying dropped the issue. So wretched is the SWP thing it proves is the work- "win people's minds" to the ers' strength" idea of nationalisation record in the Speke struggle 1s a deliberate distortion John And, hinting at opposit- an Tual The Right to Work bull- Deason in the July 1 Soc- ion to the union bureau- etins at no point called for (which was never lalst worker had to attemp shown by the SWP through- occupation and a cover-up. himself advised stewards not Blaming the 'ruthless- out the struggle), he writes: "Nothing the to call for too much 'all at ness' of the company; the saps confidence once' but to go "first' for a of the media; the workers' more activity than blind faith in Minister; union general statement of oppos- Prime and LIlt SOCLALIST PRESS. Wednesday IS Juis 1978 Bethnal Green fights on The fight continues Bethnal Green at East Lon- Hospital in don, where workers are the occupying against plans to close the casualty department. Wednesday any false hopes that protests July to the government would were dashec when a delegation from the nospital s acuon commiller reported that commitments or had been guarances the given preserve facilities at Bethnal Green.

Following the one day strike and demonstratior last weeks' reported in Socialist Press, the most development important of action has terms been among ambulance drivers. Despite instructions that the Bethnal Green casualty department is to be treated • as closed, admissions have increased to well above the average. The threat to Bethnal Green must be answered by stepping up the fight in the unions for the calling of all- strike action, the opening of the books of the Area Health Authorities. Alongside the fight to nationalise, without compensation, private and who bleed profits from the this hospital services road to a remains the only for socialist plan health service under the control of the working class. Right to Work marchers-militancy but no politics ition to closure. That was as far as they got. The road to hell may be paved with good intentions but Speke shows that the road to the dole queue is each side with paved and political opportunism confusion Deason's squalid cover -up of this sorry episode is simply further proof that for all its size and preten- - neither the SWP nor Sulls its 'Right to Work' camp- offers lead aign. workers fighting in defence jobs and conditions against the combined weight of employers and union bureaucrats.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 12 July 1978 A right wing candidate is born in St Pancras The selection of scene of a long running anti.

Frank Dobson, former closure battle. Dobson-certainly the leader of Camden right wing candidate Council, as prospective available-was steam- Labour candidate for his rollered position 111T0 the St. Pancras South against the protests of most of the left within the con- constituency has come profound dis- as failure there is much to be appointment to socialists and left- change of leadership within wingers throughout the the wabour rarty. The selection process Camden labour move- went through the wards and ment. affiliated union branches in This battle recent weeks with all the was choose a successor to Lena etticienev of a bureaucratic Jeger constituency sledge-hammer. which stretches from Dobson, the main right wing Camden lown to Holborn. including the area of the big candidate, received termila. ralway Marceu votes mom severu felt stations at Kings Cross and union meetings. He

EGA

also the Hospital, compelled to emphasize his Prentice's old seat Newham North-East battles, manoeuvres, witch- hunts and court actions is Labour Party has finally completed the process MP Dickens, (previously an of reselecting its parlia- in South London in the late candidate, mentary 1960s), has been given begun over three years ticket to his parlia- ago in the fight against miculary carcel On the final short-list the the turncoat traitor Reg Party General Management Prentice. Committee interviewed six of The result contenders; every one apparently endless political Labour 'left'.

PRESS GANG

Wimbledon racket Naked except for a will doubtless soon rout the and the political forces of communism blanket double fault the red devils of Northern prisoners keeping her apart from her Ireland's Long Kesh family. concentration camp The Daily Mail in a front would look out of place her page on story hardly among the strawberries mentioned its enthusiasm tennis, for and and thirty cream about the Duchess of Kent's guinea tennis shirts. bid to back the liberation of really: On pity ner parents.

ILS SDOLLS

Winning Wimbledon page, the tennis took second wonderful advertisement for place to sentiments such as: a political cause "During a break in play Take Martina Navratilova she looked longingly into the sea of faces wishing with -the poor stattiess wollall who left Czechoslovakia in all her heart that her parents search of the streets of gold and and even the United States puppy she left behind in in the found them. Prague were among them. On her "The that the surface faint hope victory Wimbledon something big winning as appeared to be about sharp might make Wimbledon volleying, strong serving and the Czech Government for- give if not forget her defec- Beneath the naTe the keen to the United States surface where tion minds of the sports writers and allow her to meet her see the real forces at work it family was a giant incentive was the victory of liber- on her way to the top". US reported that ation over repression; Ine sun Czech capitalism over Czech had carried only the result of collectivism. The bureaucratic regime the semi-final, but in truth in Czechoslovakia has com- match report, mitted many worse crimes many of the British papers Martina's forgot the tennis among the preventing columns of political colour.

her play parents walching on centre court at wimble.

Rit at least the Duchess don and will worse should defend her from the ao deeds again. fate that could await former But armed with the Soviet chess grandmaster British Press the Vikto Korchnoi. and Duchess of Kent, Martina Unlike Navratilova, past battles against property he speculators when was Council leader in 1973-5.

The

COLNCI

Mills, currently was Joll deputy leader of the Council, who runs an export and firm and strongly supported increase in Council rents in During the pre-selection 'left' candi- iockeving two dates emerged. ex-councilor David Offenbach for well known lo cally opposition government policies including the presence of British troops in Ireland. The other 'left' was Chris Mullen, a former Tribunite MP, who was nominated by the two largest wards in the Six charlatans in bid for Dickens emerged as the most competent charlatan ot the evening. Like all the others he had about lit of the "lefts" role Parliamentary Tround who have accorded Group consistent, grovelling to Callaghan's the working aLKS OIl Class. He made no mention of Korchnoi holds no truck political' with 'non approach to his art. He announced that if he beats the present Soviet champion Karpov Anatoly world champion- month's ship match he Will bumped off by the KGB. Impressed by the obvious this claim - evidence for 1l altnougn no was actually reported - papers which usually rele- chess matches to the gate 64, small print on page blazed the news across their pages.

• KGB

had accoll Manila- pained Karpov to down orch noi's queen it it doubt ready looks dangerous-and the autonues welc trying to ruin his concen- tration on chess by refusing his family permission to leave the country. With all this fire power tennis courts avallabit of and chess boards alike, those in Long Kesh who are still determined fight should imperialism take heart. If they can just get their hands on a tennis racket or a chess set and practice hard enough, the capitalist press will take up their cause like a shot. The British army will be top spun out of Ireland in straight sets.

CABOUR

Somers Town and St. Pancras. Town and St. But the GMC Executive disposed of Mullen by dropping him from the

PARTY

of the shortlist favour 1n Keith Morrell, a unknown personnel from manager vansoury. this When decision was referred GMC for the consideration, the delegates with Secretary Assistant mere were prevented rom reconsidering the list on the Peter Swingler. In the week before the basis of a quite non-existent

GMC

election conference rule the St. Pancras branch voted The reaction of St. 22-0 to boycott the meeting Pancras ward Chairman Tommy Lee, and his wife and on other called al delegates to do the same.

Gladys, was to tear up their party cards and walk out.

This was a foriorn and Deputy Chairman Jack hopeless method of protest, Firestein who tried which the right wing the EC ruling, everything they wanted. challenge resigned, his position along Socialist Press supporters epor Chris Davies. the treacherous coalition "pact' with the Liberals except in so far as he made excuses

TOT

LaDOU leaders betrayals, pointing Dunno. to their 'difficulties' in not parliamentary fldville majority. of his militant Boasts record opposing Wilson's Prentice Vietnam and policies socialism on the struggles of during his spending

CUTS

the working itself Cass previous sojourn the Rathe he announced Palace of Westminster failed that if elected he too would miserably to disguise the the 'Tribune' group fact that here was another *to ally myself with those fake "left" looking for on the left' ", and in reply career on the backs of the to questions his anOu working class and its labour supposedly "revolutionary outlook declared once again his centrist delusions that Undeserved socialism be brought call about by working class pressure up backing His most radical Government intro- Labour opponent among the sorry Enabling Act ducing Nick Bradley, through capitalist parlia- Young Socialists representa- live on ine Natonal Execu It is clear that none of Committee and tive these elements be W1l. supporter of the 'Militant' capable of giving the deter- which has newspaper, mined leadership spurious and utterly needed by the desperately undeserved reputation British working class. 'Trotskyist'. Though The fight must be differing with the others on redoubled in the unions and the question import the Labour Party against the controls, there was little else coalitionists Tory stooges in for the driving to distinguish Bradley save out of the 'Marxist' his more Labour's ranks. vocabulary. The demand that He avoided the Dickens and the rest of the central question of the need 'left' pretenders turn thei to begin purging the Labour words of sympathy for the Party of the traitors in the workers into action can do leadership, break the to nothing but expose their and to coal. utter bankruptcy. for base the perspective HE

HUD

LEEP TORY

PRENTIC

INSOUT

WRITS-

LEWIS

MCORMIC

WONT.

BOUR PARTY

BIRDS OF

INTIMIDATE

US 'Militant' supporters during one of the many legal wrangles Page 5 in the local labour move- ment, argued strongly that of was not •a matter arguing grounds of on 'national justice' or for par ticular personalities, but of against developing a fight and the right wing challenging the 'lefts' break wage freezing and coalitionism, to and kick out the right wing When the selection meeting finally took place on July 2, the "boycotters' were out in force asking people not to cross them 'picket line' and giving out a leaflet which argued that any result of the vote would 'hollow victory and be would deliver to the party, a "mortal blow from which it may never recover". Questions The leaflet contained no policies for fighting the right wing, and Jack Fines against the right wing did not even turn up. However, many left wing delegates. were persuaded that fight right wing had to be taken up, enough to get 16 votes against proceeding with the ballot and only 25 for. In the selection meeting, many important questions were raised particularly Dobson. compelled to express opposition to the lin-lan Coalition and to troops in Ireland. On this basis, he received 23 votes in the final ballot.

The second highest vote obtained 10 was by 'left' candidate David Offen- bach. Impotent protests Since the selection conference, further impotent protests have been made. sparsely attended meeting of the St. Pancras branch the following week the a resolution

GMC

merely protesting about 'undemocratic the procedures which had been followed and announcing its intention of canvassing in General Election for 41ly 'left' candidate Ken Living.

Hampstead, two constituencies away. Invited Tory An even more dangerous form of protest came from a of Central meeting the Camden Tenants and Resi- dents Association which refused to invite Dobson to a forthcoming meeting and instead asked his Tory opponent Robert Key. The right clearly will not be defeated by such will methods, and be the fight inside the South FEATH St. Pancras Labour Party on the basis of clear policies removing Healey, almed Callaghan and all those who stand behind them.

In June 1936 a mass strike wave was un- French leashed by the Communist Party in a bid to gain the upper hand over the Socialist Party. But rather than develop this growing mass move- ment, the main tnougnt or the Stalinists was on how to bring it to an end While the centrist leader Marceau excitedly Piver1 declared "Everything is now possible", CP General Sec- retary Thorez proclaimed: "One must know when to end a strike." The CP pursued its well- worn theme: would only alienate impor the petty tant sections of bourgeoise The Popular Front must be responsible

JOH

security of France against Hitler's menace. Blum installed was President on 4 June and his was to make a As alon radio appeal for calm. Sell out A Popular Front meeting on June 5 called for a rapid end to the strikes and led on to the sell out, the Matignon agreement of June 7, which increases of granted salary 40%, union recog-

CLU

nition and a return to st nour weck. L 'Humanite, (the CP called daily paper) tor a to work and these return particular strikes were called off. More strikes broke out almost immediately, but the confidence of the capitalist class strengthened by was the Matignon agreement and employers Well offensive. By July 10 police were stationed round the suburbs. The CP response to this was to rv lo dooed more respectable than ever. L Humanite Carned headline on July 14, the day commemoration the storming of the Bastille, declaring the CP the as party of order, speaking out campaigns of fight duals. and panic. Productivity called for next 'French Front' based law, for the including the Matignon defence the OI national economy, including TO e muddle classes and a commitment to high levels of productivity In exchange for job security liberty and national independence on Dased "indivisible peace and collec- tive security' Even the Socialists were reject this Tory- forced to idea which they condemned as nothing other than 'sacred national union'-and obviously foreshadows the class collaboration of today's so-called 'Eurocom- munists'. August 4 Generat On Republican fighters in the Spanish Civil War Badajoz Franco captured and the Civil War in Spain began. Spanish workers' movement was fighting for its life against fascism which had strong military backing both Hitler and his was the verv sign of from softening towards Germany Mussolini. which the Comintern most Best placed feared. leapt I horez denounce the invitation The French working class "not in conformity with the the best placed was dignity of our people", and the Europe within days was calling on Republic one might and French workers to strike.

expected the well have If the

SFIO

could be pretending carry wally lured conflict with the banner of the Bolshevik and Italy been Germanv have Ovel revolution then collaboration Spain fighting for social revolution between and Blum in France and Spain. could probably be The French CP howeve prevented. considered that its prime task must be Strike continued the 'unity' of internal France, to prevent civil war It took the French bour- there. • geoisie two years to regain of In the autumn Stalinists control. of the

HULUSL

1936 they unsuccessfully made obligatory arbi- Parisian policy, and the forcible tration workers engineering of factory ending the Blum 100 textile factories in Northern france were occu- pied at that time. Strikes and confrontations

COH.

Dictate the Popular Front tinued. Government struggling Once again this turnabout derived, not from maintain control, prepared full repressive considerations use the any of the state France but from the dictate machinery of the Comintern. against the workers. The consequences August 26 • O1 German the included the Schlacht, Thene Clichy and the massacre of Minister of Foreign Affairs had been invited by Blum to Tunisian Metlaouvi, both in 1937. a banquet in Paris.

LESSONS

THE FREI

POPULAR

Final part by Pru Cha to fend off fascism by Blum was finally forced 'democratic alliance' of th to resign in the autumn of 1937 middle classes and th Radical" favour the OI Chautemps. proletariat just policies Chautemps then, also unsuc- fatal as 'social fascism' in the thir cessfully, tried to introduce the work statute foreshadowed Petain's war- Obstruct growth • time 'charter', lengthening the working day and What Stalinism di increasing the power of the between 1935-8 was hol em biovers The full reassertion of obstruct growth of the independer bourgeois power strength achieved until the autumn of the workin class at a time when it w of 1938 with the Daladier- Reynaud agreement. poised for power; prop u It was accompanied by an ailing bourgeois syster long enough for the workir legislation placing immi- class to become thoroughl grant workers virtually out- side the law, bereft of civil weakened and demoralise and then allow th rights. This bourgeoisie, itself exhauste final blow came battles with after the formal ending of Front workers' movement, the Popular when hand itself over to fascisn both Communists and which then set about th Socialists abstained in a vote systematic of confidence in the govern- the workers' movement in after failed alla six year world war. by the All along the CP COn movement to stage a general point to its massive suppo strike demonstrations and Just as fatal elections and its increase i membership as signs of th popularity of its policies.

One month later But Trotsky interprete Franco-German pact was the support differently. 1940 and in June said that the election resul Paris by the was in May 1936 and the ou Nazis break of strikes immediatel showed the Stalinist and afterwards th class saying, Social Democratic attempt Working

SOCIALIST

PRESS, Weanesday 1< July

FROM

ICH

FRONT

berlayne want you to do the same France that the thing 1n Bolsheviks did in their country in October 1917".

He pointed to the enor- mous numbers who turned out to commemorate the Paris Commune on May 25 as confirmation of the revol- of that College support. much of The fact that the CPs 'support' was revol- not make the did Popular Front less ally dangerous. which apply In words just as directly to the liberal Anti Nazi Trotsky League today, pointed out: "Joint meetings, parade processions, Oralis. of the banners of the Com- and of Versailles, HUle bedlam, demagogy,

TONSE.

all these serve a single aim; to curb and demoralise the mass movement" Conspiracy He also considered dupe workers into regarding Radical Party as the party the petty OI bourgeoisie rather than as the democrațic of party French imperialism. Far from being an alliance progressive "allies' of the working class, Front was the Popular conspiracy between the lahour bureaucracv and the worst political exploiters of the middle class to kill the faith of the masses in the road. The revolulloldly duplicity of this might well be to drive them towards fascism. Careful assessment In fact Trotskv wrote very little on France in this period. But what is striking from the articles in Whither France and in The Crisis in the French Section is the of careful assessment Ene objective situation confront- his and Ing workers drastically paredness to change tactics if necessary.

On June 10, 1936 in the preface to the full collection entitled Whither France he wrote: February days of first 1934 marked the offensive of the nier The May-June days of 1936 herald the first mighty wave, proiclarial These two milestones show Ine way In advance to two possible roads: the Italian or the Russian. Parliamentary in whose name democracy, the Blum government now functions will crushed powder between these into must be built. His method of pushing workers beyond the policies of the Communist Party and the

SFIO

while avoiding revolutionary • is illustrated in his proposals for the French Trotskyists' the Lille intervention workers confectionary strike. They could: for example, address a manifesto to the workers of France, explain- entirely ing possible for the workers to run the factories themselve provided that the banks and the industries are hands of the people corresponding 'Some from the quotations and Communist Socialis programmes could then be and a given in drawn up pointing out the direction of a workers d peasantse overnourge and the bourgeois Radicals oppose it, then it is neery to see on real the support the four five people or million trade unionists. "The manifesto need not criticise the necessarily government. It should make Torthern France in 1936 positive proposals to some the government in the name factory of one going through a great experience".

two great millstones". Opposed The day before, in an article, "The French Revol- ution has begun ne urgec Trotsky was opposed at immediate calling of' this stage to calling directly soviets of workers' deputies.

for the bringing down of the "Whoever vacillates, Blum Popular Front govern- whoever loses time, ment. traitor". He pressed the paper to be called not La Commune but Le Soviet and for work to be concentrated around Communist Party members. Unworthy He mercilessly castigated "sceptics, those snivellers and phrasemongers" who held themselves aloof from the struggle saying It is not yet time. "That organisation is un- of worthy name OI Tne revolutionary which will fail to find a base for itself in the present move- strike which will prove unable to fuse itself firmly with the struggling workers The place of revolution- ists is in the factories".

Throughout period the from 1934 to June 1936 he assessed the period as a pre- revolutionary one requiring offensive, which the party one to should give every possible impetus. Defensive tactics But within days, THen parties of the with all the Popular Front gunning for the strikes to end and police forces stationed at the ready the threat of counter-revol- raised its head and Trotsky wrote urgently that the revolutionary party Rather • the call should must adopt more defensive be 'Drive tactics. of the Blum Radicals out 'If we call the first wave government', for this was February 'the revolution' the way to get the then it is the July events eat of Communist Socialist and which are being prepared now" workers and expose the way their leaders tied themselves He considered a partial to those like Daladier who of the for such its first were responsible rather ne ween the policies two year imaginary Victory and final victory' draft, the banning • of aerinitive . the socialist papers almost inevitable barracks, and such like. At this point therefore it would be wrong to accel- Counter-revolutionary erate second The strike. task was lo This careful strategy of prepare for it and to prepare strengthening and preparing for the WORKeRS

OLE UNAC

the workers' movement against betrayal within their defend itself the azallist own ranks. counter-offen- employers' prepare sive and for ine Participate next stage in the onslaught for power figured nowhere strike wave it a new of the then party nroke ou. Stalinists who merely called it, participate in DU in a counter-revolutionary the precondition for way for a return to 'order'.

success of new genera One can see how follow- was factory commit-

SUING

soviets and these tees and ing through the experience Pivert had taken a post in of the workers' movement Blum's government in 1936 in France in the 1930s, led and when he resigned Trotsky to conclude: 1937 GR "All this implies that the ana Wa dissolved by the SFIO he proletariat will drawn continued inside the SFIO into the imperialist conflict not only without the leader- •nune 19& however the Pivertistes were expelled ship of its traditional organ- isations, as was the case in and immediately formed the Workers and Peasants June but also against Socialist Party (PSOP). them" This resulted in splits in both the

PCI,

of

• MOST

whose membership wanted to join, and in the POI, two of whose leaders, Rous and Craipeau wanted to join. Strong current Trotsky himself refused to attribute all these of problems • French the sections to leadership and organisation. The main explanation, he said 1939, lay in the general nature uninterrupted period: the of international series defeats, the spread of fascism, the degeneration of Stalinism, the demoralisa- tion created by the People's Fronts combined difficult create extremely Trotsky objective conditions for small The need break boat -it was a very small their workers strong in an extremely and Stalinist reformist current. leadership and build an Certainly could a great deal independent leadership have been more central to the method of the achieved. "ransitiona Programme In June 1936 he wrote: published in 1938 at the "If after the Mulhouse founding conterence of the Fourth International congress, the French section of unleashed the vigorous That document, international- distilled the exper- revolutionary ist offensive that all circum.

of Trotskyist ience the German troops enter Paris, 1940 fighting for dictated, would movement now have a very much larger revolutionary policies and at points in Trotsky's membership and an many the 1930s one infinitely authority writings on the foreshadowing and capacity for struggle".

wall Nevertheless the Trotsky- of its main points of ists were a steeled cadre un- programme like any other. Demands Many of them wet handed over to the Nazis by The Programme of Stalinists in the war, but for written Action rrance they played extremely al by Trotsky in June 1934 role the Courageous of the already uses many resistance and were the only demands such as the ending section on the left to spread of business for a secrets, revolutionary propaganda to workers and German troops and ir une government, workers the concentration camps militias and demo- It was on the strength of Illally such cratic demands this record that they equal pay emerged relatively The Trotskyist move. strong and solid section of France, although ment the Fourth International split, did continue to after the war. newspapers and to produce continue on a clear position of exposing the betrayals of Next week: Stalinism. The Popular Front in Weakening towards the Spain centrism of Pivert continued to be their main problem.

Better red than dread

PART TWO

The Rastafarian movement staited in the of Kingston slums where its appeal amongst the poor grew in response to its theme of the black nian return- ing to Africa. At this time Jamaica was like most of the capitalist world, in the throes of the Depression and the Great black Jamaicans dreams of escape trom this. Indeed, Howell, in order raise finances for island-wide evangelical cam- paign sold pictures of Haile as passports belane Africa. In December 1933 Howell at an open air meet- ing advocated six principles of Rastafarianism: 1) Hatred of the white 2) Complete superiority of the black race. 3) Revenge on whites for their wickedness.

BONANAC CITERAN

and humiliation of the government and legal bodies of Jamaica. › Prepare to return to Africa. 6) Acknowledgement of Emperor Haile Selassie the Supreme Being and only ruler of black people. Within weeks of making Howell this speech was arrested and charged with He was convicted and jailed for two years.

The state then very quickly moved to arrest the Manley's Gun Court As it grew it curled into locks and the style became known as "dread locks" or "natty dread". In 1954 a second police raid forced the Rastas out of the hills and back into the slums of Kingston where continually weTt Jamaica tutions and saw "Zion" - Africa many were tempted to Britain in of work anu a living. to this in was England No, Haile had had tinancial aid invasion in 1936. "Living God" The Rastas argued that the blacks would be given if land more was other leaders of the Rasta-

TRIS

properly used. farians, jailing them too.

By 1960 the Rastafarian The was movement had developed an forced to continue in secret beliefs, from

CALCISIVO

SCU

SUSA

rituals and symbols. prison Howell established Central to the faith were cult commune, known six basic beliefs. the Pinnacle, in the hills of 1) Haile Selassie is the St. Catherine, overlooking living God Kingston. According Rastas, to It was during this period Jesus Haile was Selassie in the hills that the smoking transformed a white of ganja (marijuana) became man for the Christians. The one of the rituals of the God devil and Haile Selassie since Chalice 1975, lives on nis aeain in in spiritual form 2) The black Israel Biblical person reterences the reincarnation herbs and weeds were used ot who hands of the at the ine unclogical Dasis been exiled adopting this and to Jamaica (Babylon). Rastafarians communally smoked ganja from "Inferior" (chalice) before meditation or prayer. This exile was a punish- The commune was run in God through the the style of the Maroons form of God (slaves who had run away slavery has and forced the colonialists long since pardoned the blacks but they are kept in their accept indepen- Babylon through the dence from slave society).

trickery of the whites. Howell took 13 wives 3) Whites are inferior to and the neighbours were blacks. instructed to pay their taxes to the commune and not to 4) Jamaica is a hopeless ine government. hell but Ethiopia is heaven.

"Dread locks" Ine Ethiopia is arranging for the At this point the police return of the blacks. 6) In the near future the raided the commune arrest- ing 70 Rastas, of whom 28 blacks will rule the world.

were imprisoned. Howell eating of meat, raid but escabed finally especially and given a or alc Caven alcohol. They second two year prison oppose the use of physical term. By 1953 the violence and the causing of re established and it is was this period that the from Rastafarians began to grow subordinate to that of the their hair long. men-their stay look after at nome. While elements of whites that appeared Howell's formula- beliefs nonetheless to end. often of its attacked despot, Haile Selassie. the point. Rastafarianism is a religion. It is the fact that Rastas choose to deify any- one at all, rather than the reactionary nature of the individual they deify, that immediately condemns the Rastafarian movement as a diversionary movement in the struggles of the Jamaican masses Ethiopia is not seen by Rastafarians the as paradise on earth. Rather it 1s seen as a state of mind. a representative

ITALIAN

The in appearance the Italian • Stalinist paper Unita on 16 June The an article on Case' Bukharin by the historian Paolo Spirano has political and historical significance out of all proportions to a few columns of news- print. Nickolai Bukharin was a long-standing member of the Bolshevik Party, a major theorist and populariser Marxism and a leader of the Russian Revolution. It was Bukharin during the 1920s who invented the "theory' of 'socialism in one country' and became assoc- iated with the continuation the New Economic calling well-oca Policy the more peasants to 'enrich yourselves'. Bukharin also was an active opponent of the Left Opposition led Leon by

GUN COURT

island powerful black culture that capitalism on their is about to be reborn and expropriating the yall the basis of which the monopolies with their blacks will rule the world.

stranglehold the ove and fighting for The reactionary role of economy Rastafarianism is in essence the establishment of socialist federation in the the same as in all religions.

Instead of starting with the Caribbean. The reactionary position material I wond the class of Rastafarianism the nature the society in they role of women, similarly which live and the bolsters capitalism through need to develop the class the strengthening of consciousness the concepts of the proletariat and bourgeois oppressed masses through the building family. of a revolutionary party to overthrow capitalism, the Rasta programme Rastas start from a Black is going to God who The current role played give black people the strength to by Rastafarianism will throw off their (inferior) discussed more detail white oppressors and rule once we have examined how the world. trom a perseculcu To offer the prospect of minority into the powerful a return to Africa, which is force that quite impossible today. since regime would be willing to Three major events influence immigration transformed the of Rastafarianism within all from Jamaica into already stretched economies on the levels of Jamaican society. African Firstly in • 1961 Ras Sam Willal divert the Jamaican masses Brown stood as a candidate for political office on a 21 from the real struggle they face of overthrowing point programme entitled

STALINISTS CALL

TO REHABILITATE'

OLD BOLSHEVIK

Trotsky, and of their calls plot to crimes mciuaing a also to for He inter- murder Lenin was nationalism and the found guilty and immed- need for a drive to indus- iately shot. trialisation. Though at his trial Bukharin, He thus played a part in had been who the building of the bureau- for thirteen under arrest cratic clique under the months, pleaded guilty leadership of Stalin, which as his script no after 1928 doubt dictated, denied moved sharply he to the left with the policies virtually every detailed forced collectivisation charge. and ultra left attacks He also left a testament on social inter- democrac with his widow addressed nationally. To Future This bureaucracy then Generation of Party had need of no Leaders' which rurtner Bukharin's theories, and expressed his helplessness abandoned him. before hellish machine Show trials which has acquired gigantic power, fabricates In March 1938 Bukharin boldy and confidently. The Slander organised appeared in the third and great Moscow last ofthe police were now a degener- the literal ShOW ate organisation of bureau embodiment of the violent crats, without ideas, rotten, break Stalin's bureau- well paid" by cracy from all the traditions In appealing to future of Bolshevism 'sweep the generals He 'confessed" filth head to from my enormous range of prepos- Bukharin concluded with and "Know, terous impossible the words,

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 12 July 1978 of the "The This programme determined uncom- against promising ostracism Black allu recovery of of blacks; sovereignty and brown against (half supremacy; social exploitation and Despile African" the that he is the blacks Jamaica Blac itself. this level But Rasta three is complete- offer a way save the Jamaican forward to from -their and society the being Rastas nO W they by the cynically Manley their Jamaican the attacks lasses 1966, Rastafarian with came Jamaica ("th butory do with the 100 area ol Kingston Back the O 'Wall. In mischievously government tare invi attributed Rastafar- offi ians, ment House. that comrades, Ull be carrying in march price lives show the participation trial, have their own not release 20 years in time, A.M. Since widow, and nIs son. numerous have legal appeals TO in the and other reply was said that the mittee who 1978, Yuri BuKnarın him Berlinguer Ior his father's support During rehabiliation. The Unita trial OI Communist a coly. Secretary This important of battle over of progress" to three noW Jack and falsi- warus expose ine still fications the notes to bureaucracy. wrote March of 8 rehabili- However, the Tne of power made, tation has 'individualistic minds'. will not Since speech to the roots such tain opinions ground Holy Day. The talks leading Rastas Selassie that reported tc

OSI

homes, they not seek few had they the Since period slogan Rastafarians dubious Migration" this has movement activity. visit Selassie Rastas but sects and Lanci move- and the nationally ment • with to of some the Bukharin's traditions and ideas of that Revolution -Leon Trotsky.

the monstrous and it perfectly Bukharin, British of scoundrel Party General and Monty Pollitt Harry 'mistakes' wrote that it represented protest "new triumph in the history Shortly after- who Linasdy, Why contributes marginal the Morning Star, one of Bolsheviks tion of Tribune murdered, 1938 hailing as showing the What forces lay masses' system? behind this 'secret' Kruschev's the ZUIN DOVICl who was February Leon energies to devoting it is no longer neces- sary for stalinists lo. Mam up the outrageous nationa. struggle Many of revolutionary as these. conditions hills controls and enormous price and live increases on basic items.

And the Rastafarians and Rastafarian other on reggae. groups involved by within of cultural campaign unity" to boost production Jamaican and and put an end to the gang particulary radical politics. warfare predominant The ghetto life in Kingston for of ity S0 I0l the concert"* recent to end of the -claimed by the result many of the reggae slogans adorned the arena singers who Calling work Reggae Marley their reputations songs social about inequality justice Africa and

PNP

leader Ethiopia

TOLUCITE

with an rod 'this took 1971 throughoul Manley subsequently Manley sympathy stars gave their support to expressed "national unity" supposedly the Rastafarians towards symbolised by militancy opposition off hands snaking while Marley sang-not. "Get up tand up stand fee left partic- relations rights" ular

VOUT

Love"! with Cuba In the cut across

JLP

"de- spectacle whọ berated stabilisation" campaign depose the length for his attempt bring social justice to the ever poor. won But according majority. Manley has the solution Since talk with economic replaced

IMF

acceptance Purge victim Rykov Stalin against the Stalinist bureau- cracy? No Stalinist can answer more recent vears a these questions or ever will.

and Spiranotakes up the 'case of theory Bukharin. Bukharin' in Italy at a time CP in the open wici alliance with the Christian Democrats in opposition to and demo- increases Want cratic rights let alone revol- utionary struggle A which openly paper takes part in the defence of 'order' capitalist call neve. leaderers In fight of soo the degenera- leaders. the socialism international workers' movement. from within Bukharin was the only ¡cracy itself. of the other oppositionist besides Trotsky to 1930s build international up all following, a movement. Supporters of the 'right view that the fairly opposition' were can be changed. for time numerous rollen Germany and Lovestone in ary bureaucracy United States Europe, the the Bukharinite organisation takes up going into the 1940s before becoming a functionary try LO imperialism- The American Union International Trade utionary. traditions, effort to move- Although these sale for export in order to including wage finance social equality. "peace concert" the all it revealed anything at was the complete bank- have been Rasta. of radical Manley ruptcy farianism. "national 'Babylon'-the State Jamaica-is on a thin wire the Rastas say And indeed been it is. feature of The number of killings may well have declined and the that "peace political tension the 1976 the existed prior to elections may to a certain warfare extent have evaporated. But the overwhelming majority of Jamaicans con- grinding Jamaicans tinue to 1n under conditions harder and produce poverty which can only worsen as the world crisis of capital- ism deepens and the mono- launch fresh attacks poles of the conditions on Jamaican workers. As workers begin to see clearly the real role of so- Social- called "Democratic ist" Manley as a supporter and defender of the capit- youth alist many may be tempted to turn to Rastafarianism can no problems to and turn- rement Rastafarians and reggae women spend lives in a Manley and leader Seaga and stage on be by the government in its attacks on but the working class on behalf of imperialism. The only reggae star to The fight for a revolu- this obscene tionary party Jamaica Tosh Peter must therefore take place in • Manley at implacable oppostion to failure to and every- thing it stands for. to Tosh, to Jamaica's the By Winston Smart crisis lay in legalisation of ganja and its how bad they ments have long since dis- seem. inis bureaucracy can be reform- appeared, there has been in ed' recru- The Italian Stalinists take descence of interest in the from Bukharin not his good practice of years of propa- Shut ganda for socialism, his Not working class as an sym bone importance old Bolshevik. Instead they The basis for this cal. broken by a partly be seen from the last take a all edifice whose bureaucratic appeal of Bukharin already first bricks he himself had quoted. This addresses itself built. not to the working class, or All efforts for the rehab- ordinary party ilitation Bukharin and but to party of other victim every other words, Stalin's crimes against the reform, regeneration, oppos- working class must be sup- ition to Stalinism can come the end, how- ported. the bureau will only ever, these crimes avenged by those who be Thus many of those who politically against his fight pick up Bukharin's case now for their own successors. purposes, to emphasise the • continuity of that The bureaucracy struggle is the struggle for The most Trotskyism, and not for any counter-revolution- of compromise with form in Western capitalist exploitation or Italian CP, bureaucratic reform' the cause Bukharin in part at least to revive their OWIl utterly compromised revol- By John Docherty in an convince thost around them that no matter

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

New sackings at Alfred Herbert bound to be revived in the If 700 sackings coming period announced by machine The example of Herberts tool manufacturers graphically the illustrates Herbert fraud of the NEB so beloved Alfred are carried left-fakers such successfully Wedgewood Benn. the workforce through, over Haling at the Edgwich plant in Herberts' millions Coventry will have been management, the NEB now halved since September with the new along round of sackings. of last year. for "An instrument The was company defending profits not rescued by the government -the NEB summed in 1975 amid great ballyhoo up in a nutshell. "benefits" of the about the National Enterprise Board.

Low levels of orders have by been manage- and with stagnation ment, in the economy the demand tor machine tools is Doulu to have decreased. Following the sacking computer of 17 oper- Incapable Stoke at GEC's ators Coventry, some However the union plant, leadership at Herberts have 1600 of members snown tnemselves incapable

ASTMS

TASS

and of dealing with sackings on staged a token strike this scale. and one-day mass picket last October 460 Only were announced, last Wednesday. sackings and, after initial opposition, The sacked operators had union leaders caved in. been threatened dis- witn facing Herbert The task 27 June when missa fight for the workers 1s to they refused to accept the of the company opening management oiel books and work-sharing on response to their pay claim.

full pay. the On strike for 19 weeks, They must resist for demand they have Teacuonal y controls which import joined by contract engineers

WSL

The Workers Socialist League is a Trotskyist organisation fighting to construct a principled revolutionary leadership in the working class in Britain and internationally and for the recon- struction of the Trotskyist Fourth Internation- al on the basis of the Transitional Programme.

The WL fights at every step against the leaders of the trade unions and the existing Party-now firmly harnessed to the Labour bourgeois politicians of the Liberal Party in an unspoken coalition arrangement.

Against their policies of class collaboration put forward instead a programme which we points to the independent class interests of the indepen- working class, its need to organise overthrow capitalism, destroy its dently to repressive state machinery and establish a socialist planned economy.

Only in this way can workers resolve today's living standards, mass problems of tumbling unemployment, slashed social services, racial, national and sexual oppression.

For more details on the WL and its work, fill in the form below. Name. . Address Send to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

NEWS

• OLOF

GEC SYMPATHY STRIKE

who have been locked out following imposition At the mass picket one told

ASTMS

worker Socialist Press: of GEC are "The tactics not negotia- intimidation tion" The company, notorious for its low wages, has decided to hit back at ihe who have workers submitted a number of pay the last few Ovel months. One feature of the GEC pay fights has been the insis- tence by union leaders that the claims within the 10% limit. For example the • 3.

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

SUMMER SCHOOL

July 23-30, 1978 "The Reconstruction of the Fourth Inter- national" Classes on Stalinism and the National Question Open to WSL members and supporters For further information write to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

NUJ JOBS FIGHT

CONTINUES

NUJ picket line at the Kingston print works members still at work operators claim is for extra «This is to show that we responsibility. have got strength and will come out if they won't talk Key sections to us" said one picket. The tenacity of the told Socialist different groups of workers Pickets Press that all out that giver

EL SOWS

support of those correct leadership important activil sacked had been rejected for can made. hallid the The lessons unless the time being. However, strikes of heal problem of wage control is other workers, starved tackled head on the work- support and leadership from force will remain vulnerable.

the trade officials, All possible support must union given operators have collapsed atter be to the wecK. on strike have led the GEC whose sacking provides the workers to think in terms of with

GEC

pulling certain key sections battles manage- out and financing their ment which are looming in the the next few months. strike by dre vies

SOCIALIST

PRESS

5 issues . £2.20 . £5.50 25 issues ..€10.00 50 issues I would like to receive... issues. I enclose the sum off... Name. Address Send to: Socialist Press, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Subscribe! The continuing strike 45 to save jobs by

NUJ

members of the Herald, Richmond and Surrey Comet Middlesex Chronicle, (Trident Group), • was by recently attacked police. Friday night, peaceful picket outside the Church Street, Kingston printing plant was halted by force by a 15-strong team of police Several of the 25 pickets were violently nunica lo unc and trade ground three unionists and the husband NUJ journalist were bundled into a police van, later charged with and obstruction. the journalists However to be have resolved not intimidated and are making renewed appeals tor mass pickets-particulariy on Tuesdays and Fridays until late evening Sympathetic

SOGAT

drivers sympa- thetic to the strike, upon union telephoning their leadership, have been con tinualv instructed to cros the picket line. NGA mem- And worse, bers at the plant continue to written by print material non-union executives, their FOC, Les Head, while personal protessing sympathy, has not organised any supporting action. Support Strike headquarters is at 162, London Road Kingston to which messages of support should be sent Donations to NUJ (Rich- Dispute mond Herald) Fund, Williams & Glyns Street, Bank Thames (Account No. Kingston 12031434). Have you read it yet? Revolution Communists Two Earaya on Post-me gainst 'Communists' Against Rev- containing the olution Theory of little-known Assimilation' by Structural Tim Wohlforth, is the book post-war Stalinism that on Mandel Healy would and not publish or discuss, Make sure you get available at o copy plus 20p p&p from: Dartmouth Park

WSL

31, Hill, London NW5 1HR.

BOSSES SPOT GARNERS' ALLY

Cyril Margolis "must now feel that the entire world is against him". says the Caterer and Hotel Keeper of July 6. an editorial relating the building on Margolis from all up sides, this trade magazine the bourgeoisie, for omits the fact that to mention editorial itself reflects the growing hostility amongst the largest sections capital in the industrv to Margolis's stand. 'We feel that this unhappy episode is develop- ing characteristics which should concern the industry whole". The • strike valuable "represents confidence• booster and training ground for future militant action in this indus- try The fact that trade maga- zines such as this and the Catering Times over the past "Unless lead two weeks tave "ye danger strike us- mise dispute will the strike pro- longed shows how sensitive escalate. The TGWU has the Margolis's stablemates are to power (though it has beer of unable or unwilling to use it the danger for them recognition gained not yet) cripple with the through through • a a deal supplies". bureaucracy but a victorious (Catering Times, 29 June) struggle of workers fighting The much mobilise the working class in picketing and black- day ing. increased This fear has that unless the Margolis, Regional continue

DUL

contals to union allellots bureaucracy itself. working Cowley jobs in danger The Cars Council, launch British Leyland's top 'participa- ine management tion' committee on bureau- which union by and Bus, crats sit side side with managers, was in- formed last week of Last at Leyland's further production cuts and job losses in its Cowley factories. cater No information has yet been given to workers or to reach the shop stewards move- August ment, but it is known that loss of jobs. plan to cut management 800 Marina production by per week and Maxi produc- tion by 140 a week. This takes place at a time when 32,000 model old Marinas remain unsold, and Cowley preparing T.U. ofishal!

YOUR MAN AT THE TOP

TGWU officials hold back support!

TGE

3 BRANCH

LEY ASS

AGITATE ORCANISE

'NIT

COUCATE

• Saturday's poster parade-TGWU banners brought from Oxford measures (mass pickets and some compro- secondary blacking) that the is reached soon, the bourgeoisie so fear. undoubtedly Supported no one around the except strike strike committee chairman this intended the group Nailall the blacking of all mobile picket turned out to be a repeat performance of the series diversionary vaunted marches organised by West- minister Trades Council in "Poster Parade" last Satur- February. further evidence tought, this Back streets bureaucracy WIl block • all With Nicholson of the mobilise the

TGWU

Executive Com- around class Abrahams, the

TGWU

full time catering officer Gordon allu McClennan,Secretary of the leading Communist Partv. the march around the back West End, streets of the from the restaurants away until finally being dispersed the Garners Steak publicly House in Oxford Street-the intended bureaucracy

CLO

clearly show that they were com- mitted to winning the strike. Truck Unfortunately for them, large sections of the march by delegations from the TGWU in Oxford management Steel and the large

WSL

contin- gent exposed this fraud by wanetu raising demands for "mass picketing", "effective black- 2370 and ing" regional "financial levy for the target strikers"-policies of the strike committee which the been bureaucracy has implacably opposed to. Empty gesture That this "poster parade" present was shown by the gesture

HELLO, GORDON, O'FIGNAL HERO... TACEXTREMISTS

HAVE GOT US ONER A BARREL IN THIS GURNERS

MARCH TONIANT... CAN YOU HELP OUT?

WELL WEVE BEEN WORK

BLOCK THEIR CALL FOR

CHRIST GORDON WE'RE REALLY

OUTNUMBERED... HOW THE HELL

ARE WE TO GET RID OF THEM?

E TWE WAN

This picket is of immense signif- icance it open v the attempts of the police the picket ations. OI SIx numerous demoralising challenged leadership's refusal to organ- such Ise Garners and picket line. bureaucracy's parade this mass picket basis for escalating support for the strike. Deserted : All this was lost, leading members London area fact that only one branch

TGWU

Region the OT desert the strikers' (the 1/647) own. 8.45, thus had been mobilised to remaining support it. This scandal was com- pounded at the end, by the potential refusal of the leadership to mass picket. lead the marchers onto In a completely picket of Garners Illabi Steak Houses. authority Despite this sabotage mittee, and large section of the march, support all

WSL

including supporters and members, despite the fact tnat only and numerically larger before minutes SWP mem- ot member bers, set up a picket of 100 mittee had asked the mass outside the Haymarket Garners for (notorious and vicious attacks by the scabs closing down a and persistent police harass- ment). the support committee. Plessey sackings- The new planned Plessey The ings would cut Lane workforce from 5,100 Edge workers to 4,500. is There here for the available work in to be shared whole Edge Lane workforce telephone equipment If Plessey made refuse this 1,800 redundant redundancies it when plants to the Sit-in at all planned plants but leaders took place, other the layers be compensation took place.

(THE ONLY GOOD TROT SKYST IS

AN UNCONSCIOUS TROTSKY SY

BUT IF YOU NEEL

A HAND TO KGEP

DOWN THE TROTS

WE'LL SRE WANT

WE CAN DO...

O.K FOLKS-IT'S QUARTER TO NINE

/ /

LET'S ALL LEAVE TOGETHER!

GARNERS ST

successful In spite of the combin- ation of bureaucratic sabo- and unserious challenges the 'the SWP tokenism of the control picket line succeeded line with limit- all turning customers self-confessed pickets and (except six arrests; it was a the awa

ITOI

blow to the restaurant and by 11.30pm when was finally called the

TGWU

off it still mustered about 40 people pickets to close *Organise regular mass the protect pickets of Steak Garners Houses Coming directly after the *Organise regular dail token poster delegations from the TGWU effective first to the picket line. has laid the *Organise a regional levy to finance the strikers. *Ensure effective secondary blacking. these Support 1O1 policies must be fought for how- in all labour ever, on the SWP. Unable to Dones grasp any of the important turning points in this strike

WORKERS SOCIALIST

of the

LEAGUE

Public Meeting membership of the SWP to on unionisation struggles picket line at includes showing of the leaving the film "Look Back at forces open Grunwick Speakers from Garners endangering the strike committee and gains of this first BL shop steward in personal capacity. oppor Thursday 20 July at 8pm tunist way they invoked the Southall Town Hall of the strike com- Garners No lead committee justify this act of sabotage; in docks leading of the strike com- The national port picket to stay until 11pm; shop stewards commit- knowledge tee held a meeting on picket line Saturday in which has never been discussed on according to the Morn- "they pledged ing Star, full support for any strike call issued by the unions and decided to call a token one-day sack- national in stoppage the Edge solidarity the with London men" clearly scope This clearly represents a continuation of their bank- between the rupt policy of pullulg forward "alternative plan" for profitability, coupled with reliance on the should union bureaucracy who the have no intention of leading

JHIUS

fight jobs on save London's Royal Docks. to open Nicholson, Brian chair- man of the London Docks Committee attacks on Joint Union even went so far as to argue and the for unity of unions the churches, community organ- without

MPS

and local Isations. councils around an alterna tive plan.

HERE WE BO AGAIN-IF WED BEEN MORE

RUTHLEES AT FIRST WE COLLD HAVE SIAMPED

OUT THIS NONSENSE WEEKS AGO!

MASTERFUL EH MCLENNAN? I DOUBT IF

EVEN YOU COULD HAVE PULLER THAT!

"COMMON CURRENCY" WILL

PRESS

The Cowley Defence Campaign-the ad hoc grouping set up fight witch-hunting

TGWU

moves by Midlands. bureaucrats to victimise This 9 BL Cowley shop stew- the intends to ards-has called for the biggest possible lobby Convenol by TGWU members of the union's Midlands Committee, Regional now scheduled for July meeting 19. The Committee meeting support has been put back from the One for currency Europe-an end to the enormous plunges of the pound and the lira- an intérnational effort inflation and to cut and unemployment to boost growth The claims coming out of last week's heads of state meeting Bremen were anything but modest. Chancellor Schmidt of West Germany and President Gis- d'Estaing card of France prepared to hail the were summit as the most impor- tant event for Europe since the creation of the eecas a prop to international capit- Even Callaghan, who did his best to have the plans at the summit kept secret, The new was prepared to share in the glory of the success But side by But all the EEC leaders full know well the international crisis of capitalism that ram- capitalism-cheered pages through Europe will former Labour traitor Roy not be resolved by ringing Jenkins-want to set declarations and carefully worded formulae. fund. Nothing signed member countries to pay in 20% Behind the to prave painfully speeches bigger • was that nothing it is this body decided; actually neen would nothing had been signed. currency to handle. The towards one move currency for Europe-which that such a body, controll- would displace eventualv ing so much of the member francs, pounds, deutch marks and the rest has been become a new permanent of the dream and massive tool to impose capitalists. If there is one

CULS

be controls- Currency sudden plunges of exchange plinary force to back up the rates between

EEC

capitalists in each country.

countries which damage Enthusiasm trade and profits. When

EEC

the 'snake' was created-by which all In their were supposed to speedy results the heads of Cur cucies be kept within 2.25 per cent Germany and of each other-it was seen as calling for the final details a first step on the road to ot this vague Within signed at the next summit in unity: Inunclaly months arance. Italy December and implemented and Britain had pulled out.

in part on January 1, 1979 It was impossible then as Not once in it 1S summit euphoria have any of the EEC paper over the enormous some econ- that matter weaknesses arbitrarily omies and to U1 Cos declare them as strong as of the

OECD

West Germany. which week Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, Printed by Anvil Printers, London. Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper:

SOCIALIST

Lobby to defend Cowley customary second Wednes- day in the month, and now falls in the middle of works holidays throughout British Leyland and much of the warning sign Committee take against the 9-who include elected deputy convenors in the factory-has been antici- Buckle pated by TGWU stewards in the Cowley Assembly Plant.

further meeting immediate- ly after the holidays if any OI stewards voted unanimously should the lobby victimised. July 19, and to convene a Meanwhile one of the

SOLVE NOTHING!

categorically that the econ- Europe were bad state structurally such unemployment was remain at least at going to present levels for the next decade, even it there is a slight and temporary decrease Anarchy Nor have the heads of state even the given vaguest outline any idea they plan to dispense how with the anarchy of capit- Callaghan has created alisin plan is little butter and wine mountains different in its early stages.

as a result of the Common side with the Policy. Agricultural Nor the towarus unily have they •even hinted supporters of on by giant new European central This fund would require In a week where the

NUM

passed unan- pool imously resolution the Mr opposing any renewal of which the social contract, the given the new Britain's leader of biggest white collar The heads of state hope union has made a call for permanent wage reserves would the public controls in sector. and wage General

NALGO

Secre- -an external disci- tary Geoffrey Drain did not distinguish between Tory and Labour governments. In either case, he the public union decared enthusiasm for leaders should "thrash out" the amount of money avail- France able for aLC avnacases. decide divide how to plan be among the workers (TO involved. This policy -which would abandon anv the post prospect of a trade union challenge government LO heads, spending cuts or pay limits, or to the capitalist and leave the defence of the reminded themselves living standards of millions of workers report last the tender stated mercies of Labour bureau- , 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1 HR.

key figures the witch- hunt and the District-level "inquiry" kangaroo court into the Cowley 9, District Secretary David Buckle, has been relieved of his respon sibites as of a coering firms transport Cowley. He has been replaced by his junior official, District Organiser Geoff Hulett. This switch follows the successful reinstatement of Cartransport convenor Brian Preston after a year-long battle bv transport drivers- blocked every inch of the way by Buckle. will which countries cut Ism back their steel production US try to agreed levels everyone Nor have they solved a American. has manifestations capitalist crisis that caused them to embark on their its vast search for the new Golden Europear goods-and Fleece. Some idea of the gap pressure off between the fine words and ments of these countries.

the banal reality behind But when the the might Sultels glimpsed the Bonn they strenuously summit this week where the any imports that EEC states will be joined by their markets. The result?

the US and Japan The Germans Here the will their for less cast

EEC

protechonisil will communess as a wale press for more protection- Embassies 1n Drain calls for permanent wage controls crats or Tory politicians- paid', entirely is line the scheme new being Party and TUC leaders. Labour hatched the Labour 'lefts' A new draft joint policy "Into the 80s. this right wing Agreement" An was dis- cussed at last week's TUC pre-election period. Labour Party liaison mittee meeting. Even timid 'left' Eric Heffer felt obliged to raise Labour passing whimper the trade al and • complete absence of even a veneer of 'socialism' in this plan for permanent press ahead with straightjacket on wages. up Dav caims in deriance of But there no likeli- Phases hood that this will deter down motions Heffer, and every other Labour 'left', from giving the plan their tacit support in the same way as Phases who will. 1,2 and 3 of wage control.

With ensure that a full Labour without garnish Party conference to decide phrases about 'redistributing the manitesto wealth', 'priority to the low to the election. countries; and $1 billion on paintings by old masters!

certain that every single one of the heads of state Bremen will attack the class of his own working country. Whether the capitalists can bring them- selves to a degree of unity against Japan and the heralded persuade statements last week is an else to buy different question. already been agreed that Japan should be prepared to spend some of surpluses on

FUND

American take the the Jápanese Well we're nearly there capitalists heard of the plan This week we stand poised resisted would hit go over the top on our £2,000 Special Fund with Japanese a total to date of £1994.27 govern- ment has decided that it will donations Among grate- spend currency in the west fully received BH, were on: two Boeing jets for state 20 and BS £50. use; buying outright all its With two half and a the relevant weeks to go to the end of the month and the closing the Fund Special we are well placed to go well over our original target.

How much we do so is up to you. Every extra penny we receive can be put to good use in developing the work of Workers Socialist League and Socialist Press Let's see how much extra we and nonsense about remaining days of the fund.

'helping' old age pensioners All donations should be Callaghan is shrewdly confi- sent to: dent that TUC leaders and WSL Special Fund are incapable 31, Dartmouth Park Hill of waging a fight to remove London NW5 1HR cabinet wage-cutters as he enters the Press ahead Party members unionists must wait around for action from these 'lefts': they must catching 4 and put demanding that Labour MPs éither fight the Callaghan-Healey leader- ship or stand aside for those There must be a fight to is held prior Drain