Socialist Press no. 109

DEFEND USSR!

The huge press cam- paign over the trials of Anatoli Shcharansky and Alexander Ginsburg, and the state- "human ments about rights" from Jimmy Carter, James Callaghan and other leading imper- ialist politicians, amount to the most naked hypocrisy. Only last week a 16 year old youth was shot dead by Callaghan's army torturers, thugs and murderers in Ireland. Kesh

LOTS

concen- 300 Repub- tration camp lican and socialist prisoners, "criminals for branded their resistance to British subjected al e to the most barbaric treat- tor demanding their status as political prisoners.

September, Aubrey, Berry and Campbell face a frame up "spy" trial under the Official Secrets Act face jail which each sentences of up to 14 years "crime"

TOT

defending the freedom of press collect Tn e published information the state's military apparatus. Agee deported Phillip Agee, the former agent who set publicise the outrages the

CIA

was Carnes deported from Britain by Callaghan's government and 1s now being hounded out of every capitalist state in Europe because he insists on his right to free speech. In the USA itself, the Wilmington 10 along with hundreds and thousands of Diack activists and victims of biased racially COuLLS jails that languish in the witnessed the brutal murder of George Jackson.

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 109 * 19 July 1978 * 15p

NO TO THE

TRIALS.

particularly those in Africa —are becoming harder to control, this section of the bourgeoisie is urging a more direct

SUCH

of use imperialist

UCCE

troops in Zaire, and a return to the tactics of the Cold War. Carter's "human rights" charade is connected with this pressure, and is in no way move towards any form of liberalisation. US prisoners Indeed US as soon Young ambassador Andrew Young an advocate of more devel- Carter's regime oped collaboration with the And Kremlin props up some of the most bureaucracy, let vicious, dictatorial govern- slip a remark on thousands of political prisoners in the ments in the world-includ- ing that in Iran, and a chain

USA,

immediately savage military regimes called for a retraction. throughout Latin America.

But while the imperialists The anti-communist are struggling to control the human campaign working class, the trials are around the Russian show- indication that within trials result from the the Soviet Union itself the pressure of certain sections Stalinist bureaucracy feels of capitalists impatient with that the workers' move- the of collaboration ment threatening its the Stalinist power and privileges.

WIL

bureau- cracy in the ussk known as Dangers 'detente'. Recognising that the The dangers in this situa- and tion are very real. workers peasants internationally- i portall see The unstable Kremlin bureaucracy rests on the isolation of the October Revolution * that in the CurrenT economic crisis of imperial- ism it is no longer sufficient for the US capitalist class to take steps to avoid ally more Vietnam-style defeats.

Desperate for markets and for workers to exploit, they are drawn towards the idea of recapturing the lost Eastern Europe, Cuba and Asia. They end the nationalised property relations in those countries reintroduce exploita- ana tion, through private enter- prise. As Trotskyists we begin from the aelence of the historic gains of the work- ing class. The greatest of these gains was the October Revolution in Russia which the capitalist exploiters. Isolation But defending the Soviet Union against imperialism does not mean we detend the actions of the Stalinist bureaucracy which emerged the harsh period of in isolation that followed the Civil War and the death of Lenin. This bureaucracy usurped political control from the working class in Russia, and ensured in the post-war period that the working class was held back from the seizure of power even in those states where capitalist property relations were overturned. Counter-revolutionary While this bureaucracy's power rests on its admini- stration of the nationalised of economy state, its actions internation- ally are thoroughly counter- revolutionary, aiming simply at preserving 'peaceful coexistence' with imperialism. call for a political we revolution to overthrow this bureaucracy and for the building of workers councils to reinstitute Soviet demo- cracy. The show trials of Inside Spanish Popular Front Centre pages SWP Role in Speke p.4 New lies from Newsline. p.8 Statement by Polisario Front p.9 Carter addressing NATO chiefs- including Callaghan Shcharansky and Ginsburg ment in the USSR do nothing to defend the healthy workers Soviet Union. state such individuals could They hand a propaganda easily be dealt with through weapon to the most anti- the education and mobilis Soviet sections of the imper- ation of the working class.

ialists, and further sully the Even Stalinist Ene name of communism in the such trials eyes of. the international rarity, must indicate and workers' movement. acute among jeopardises the the Kremlin leaders. even collaborationist policy of detente, so much loved by They knew from the out- the Kremlin leaders. set that the capitalist media This would certainly be a would launch a huge if the heavy price to paign pay on this issue, and trials were simply that publicity would

SUCH

punishing Shcharansky and reach into Russia itself.

Ginsburg, hold they decided

DOTA

wing views make and are example or two part of a group set up to relatively right assist imperialism Continued on Page 2 monitor the Helsinki agree-

GRUNWICK - THE

FINAL BLOW

After 690 days of campaign by the strike com mittee against this action.

bureaucratic sabotage by Meanwhile, safe from attack

TUC

officials, the valiant APEX and TGWU bureaucrats struggle of the Grunwick handed over the whole of the strikers for union recog- itiative to ArAswhose task of defusing and demoralising nition was given the death struggles blow last week by leaders was successTuly carried through. of their union APEX. Eight weeks ago a confer- ence on Grunwick did no more Socialist Press stressed from than talk of the strike in the the earliest davs of the strike past tense that the crucial point was trade No proposals for winning the union action to force the APEX action were allowed to be put Dromey announced he would leaders to demand that the ue black all services to Grunwick out of walk this dispute with including postal services, regard- head held high"

-HIS

less of court injunctions.

While the Grunwick battle has turned out to be a defeat, it was obvious straignt away that such policies would be the lessons it has to offer on the rejected by the right wing. But Pet talking bureaucracy in and of both right wing Inev were neacec or also ov the left talkers such as Jack unions must be taken seriously.

Dromey who claimed to be Jack bromey nas already begun to play his distinctive tedding the Grunwick struggle As a result, even at the role, helping to head off inde height of the mass picketing and pendent struggle in the Garners the influence of the Strike Com- Steak House strike. mittee there were no calls for Now we hear he is movinc mass mobilisations against the In on the cast London dockers TUC bureaucrats to force them action committee, to to implement blacking. fight the closure of the Royal And when the strikers group of docks hunger strike on the steps of The lessons of Grunwick the TUC was broken up by fines must be learned bv these work and suspensions ers if they are not to face a sim moosed ov APEX leaders, there was no ilar fate.

More Janata jockeying Page 2

- INTERNATIONAL-

The struggles tactional tunist tactic to adopt is there- within the parties of the fore inevitable have Indian bourgeoisie Minister Singh's aim Tome Tollowed some sharp tarts has been • to oulle u• nis own over recent weeks. base amongst the peasantry by threats of resig- • the development 01 Sackings, araulne vor and reconciliations have village crafts against large nation scale industry, and follow up followed one anotner confusing pace. this outfianking of Gandhi on a populist tack by a show trial But this latest episode of the of his opponent the crimes for power struggle within the ruling Janata the pattern of earlier, smaller crises.

ine torces nave not cancel.

Sultes the target her selves with greater on Prime Minister Desai and his quarrelsome cabiner The only parties ever Janata is their in the Together determination Kee • Gandhi out of power. The huge revival of support TOr To me actator powerful deterrent to those ele- split seeking But the arguments that inave out over economic broken the prosecution of policy and Gandhi must not be seen principled disagreements.

leaders i ne Janald are alarmed by once the genera loss of support for the whole and seeking coalition, own positions. The declarations of the crisis or steel production inter new military regime nationally. Mauritania have already At te came time tacks ov Polisario Front on the the shown the force of the and installa. mining transport dilemma nat meters le wreck these new bonapar- further crippling blows. tist rulers of the impover- Restricted ished north African state.

The French-owned company For the years,

TWO

Mauritanian troops have been which holds the wittie conces- sions has alongside Moroccan der are that it can pay no taxes to the Mauritanian forces in the attempt to conquer and the former Governmen to ear Spanish colony of the Western I hese taxes amount to 10% of the country's entire budget!

Sahara. Military expenditure has The burden of the war alsc been colossal in proportion restricted funds to offset the catastrophic Tne •iminative economy

DUL

problems of agricultural produc- the war has also increased old problems and created new ones.

LION.

foreign 83% of Mauritania's Mass starvation currency earnines are carived iron This trade has Inefficient techniques, been severely hit by slump Croute and ders dave combined result mass in wore demand. caused ov tne DEFEND USSR-from front page elements through a show any further such trials must Ginsburg trial, be opposed. was accused of having: _ine bureaucracy the hostile opponents tinanced that all their criminal must capitalist including profes- But the events restoration. elements sional members of gangs and of 1956 in Hungary proved German henchmen workers the fascists who took part deformed workers Stales shootings during the lass enter all-out struggie agamsl war". the Stalinist bureaucracy None of these "criminal they seek not the return of elements" was named. But capitalism

GUI

Line dutifully of the organisa- Tne Cadets the official tions of working class rule- pubiciseu news agency TASS. the

WOTKOS

Coulicus. Yet the Kremlin leaders soviets-that were know that these [wo mental "in the Russian individual dissidents cannot Revolution itself. Themselves Challelec threaten their position: Ended privileges The onlv motive for such trials the show must In Hungary workers anxiety of the bureaucracy councils set up joint militias to head oft growing oppos- and Workers.

SLUUCTILS

tendencies within the soldiers. THOf inside working They destroyed LIe Soviet Union, Stalinist police and wilch ls in a position to challenge their ended bureaucratic control, their privileges, privileges. shops, their The full might of the their special Russian army was needed to • country nouses, umousines perks and patronage. crush the rising. recently food The tuals and the long mots and strikes in. Poland have shown that the same designed sentences forces remain as a threat to intimidate. opposition forces, and to link them all the bureaucracy. The Workers Socialist with imperialism It is all for this League tignts tor the recon- trials struction of reason and of the 'Emergency'. While the Janata is locked in Gandhi has internal surite, nel own problems. miserable i ne failure of the coalition to brin relief the any poverty and miserv of the indian masses to for radical support decked out populist plattorm with attractive range of 'socialist' promises., Janata leader Desai Coup leads to ceasefire starvation, and a huge exodus to the already overcrowded shanty.

capital,

TOWNS

around Nouakchott. intolerable conditions, there emerged wide.

spread opposition to tne one party regime. But the toppling of President Wu ban was accomose by a group of army officers led Colonel by Mustapha Ould The "Committee for NEVi National Rehabilitation' has proclaimed its desire for peace in the Sahara. It could scarcely do anything gain else ant credibility with the embittered masses of Mauritania, or within The army tsar. demoralsed as it by the humiliating, defeats inflicted by the Polisario Front.

Committee also recares its intention oT main taining Mauritania's links with Fourth International to provide conscious leadership the forward 1U1 of the working class both in the states in the Cavildus struggle end capitalist and for revol- exploitation the utionary parties In deformed workers states to the parasitic Stalinist bureaucracy. As part this we demand the rehabilitation of all the of the victims Moscow frame-up Trials, through which Stalin liquidated many of the Old Bolsheviks that had led the October Revolution. But our fight has nothing with the hypo- in common crisy of capitalist politicians the the position "Eurocommunist" Parties. CP Even while these leaders the trials are lining they themselves capitalist parties in up with Popular Front formations- in Italy even supporting the Tory Christian Democrats in office. Meeting with Vance criticisms And in their they line up with the imper- themselves. Mrs. ialists Shcharansky went hom. French CP demonstration meeting with straight There can be no doubt thai Gandhi-like Singh himself-is looking for the time when discontenT cal channelled into violent demon.

bring down the strations government But …the maor date oi Maharashtra (centred round Domedys Gandhi's Congress (!) party and the old Congress (R) appears to be breaking up nice IS part of the realignments of the bourgeois professional that are so tic ans cartart to the cracking ot the Janata This situation threatens massive anders Tne masses. Without the building of revolutionary party, WOrKers ana •easants tace an immediate future where repres- sive 'democracy will give birth To tne crowth or fascism ano the menace of military dictatorship.

The fight destroy been Threats has

LOO

tasks which lie before the proletariat of India are clear; if thev are not tackled. bruta repression and savage attacks will be methods by which the bourgeoisie secures its class dictatorship. and imperialist ivorocco allies. Again, they had little choice in the matter. 9,000 Moroccan i nere are troops in Mauritania-ostensibly part of the war against the Polisario, but in fact to prevent tain a client government.

King appetite Mauritania as part oi swallow "Greater may MoroCco have fallen off of late, but it could whetted again by basily 0b display of Mauritanian indepen- dence. Hassan has in fact already pronounced his 'full support while retime Unle Picario Front has a arena temporary ceasefire 'as a gesture of goodwill'. willing or (more likely

BUT

not, there is little chance that the officers will advance right of the Saharoui people to self-determination. Italian CP leader Berlinguer US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance! Build parties The greatest blow we can strike against the Stalinist through bureaucracy building revolutionary parties in Britain and inter- nationally for the overthrow of capitalism, thus ending the isolation of the workers states on which the Kremlin parasiles lest Defend the USSR! For political revolution!

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 19 July, 1978 Hands off South Yemen. Last month's coup d'etat in South Yemen, which brought to powe the power most pro- of Soviet section the National Liberation Ali Nasser Front led by Ali Nasser, these events it is clear from be appears to encoun- well attested statements fierce tering political Arabia that Saudi and li friends in North and even military attack reactionary Yemen will have no scruples from imperialism and its the destrot agents. South Yemeni government At the beginning of last and imperialist week the new South Yemen puppet in its place. government in Aden Fifteen members of the announced North that aircraft Arab League (meeting in the Yemen had absence of Libya, , Iraq. and

1IOH

bombed the South the other members of the had captured troops "rejection front") decided of villages; other "freeze" number all relations with South Yemen and cut sources claimed that Saudi Arabian forces were massing a economic ad do orad the South Yemeni ties with what the North border Yemeni delegate called "the The band of lawless Marxists in Aden government said defiantly would power in Aden". protect "every grain of sand movement of the national territory" whatever must take Two days later the South measures of solidarity al t Yemenis were reported as possibie to assist the masse: that the Northern of South Yemen who saying invaders had been repulsed.

threatened with imperialist Whatever the of truth invasion.

"SOCIALIST" FILLS

ITALIAN BREACH -

The curtain has been working. class in order to defend the capitalist order dropped at the end of A 'socialist' President of yet another farcical the bourgeois state will not in the black scene for bring advance ans of, Italian comedy workers in Italy, but act parliamentary politics. the growing battery When President Leone repressive measures that the was forced to resign because capitalist class will need if of the massive bribery and they are to preserve their corruption scandals the ability to rule and exploit bourgeoisie was at a loss the proletariat for their The obvious candidate own profit. Aldo Moro, was well out of the running, unfortunately detained in some region of the afterlife, pending trial.

After no less than fifteen ballots electora still college stand-in no could be agreed on to fill this attractive role But at the sixteenth Sandro Pertini attempt, emerged as the most satis- factory specimen on the list of available understudies.

Respectable An aged veteran of the Socialist Party, Pertini has suitably respectable Pertini history of opposition by long lascism lonowed

USA

immersion in the Chamber National Guardsmen are of Deputies. being lined This gives him up to scab on : ideal credentials to preside strike of 600 firemen Louisville, Kentucky. The histori Over COlLIDIO mise' between the Christian firemen are fighting for and have only Democrats and the been offered 5.5%. Stalinists. But this savage farce has In another strike workers in Phila- been municipal mounted expense of the Italian work- delphia, 19,600 blue collar, and • ing class. professional The presidential crisis has workers are out over pay grotesque been and layoffs. merely of the The background to both political crisis of Italian these strikes is the attempt society-the inability of the cut back on state expen bourgeoisie diture as a measure to help to maintain their 'democratic' dictator- solve the economic crisis of US capitalism This will be ship without the support of the labour leaders. and the the subject of an extensive . those article in the next issue of Socialist Press. traitors attack the

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 19 July, 1978

•INTERNATIONAL'

liberation struggle It would be naive to expect that the Stalinist bureaucracy would act with any less self-inter- est, with any less cyn- less icism, or any hostility to • revolution, in the case of Eritrea than in any other area of the globe. Although the Soviet dele- gate to the UN proclaimed in 1950 that the USSR had 'consistently supported the proposal that Eritrea should granted independence, this was a blatant lie. negotiations, earlier had Soviet representatives proposed at different times colonial "trusteeship' (i.e. masked by legal rule US, British fiction) of imperialism, Italian inter- finally conlective national trusteeship. Twists and turns Proletarian international- principle the 1sm was not that directed the Stalinists' In 1951, twists and turns. its Alarmed by the arrogant Asmara, the disregard for international FOr their demands, the Moslem Eritred with the the Liberal League and colonial administration. Party Progressive Their aim smaller organisa- "pacify' the tions to form the Indepen- dence Bloc in 1949. break all resistance lo The Bloc could claim to represent the aspirations of the majority of Eritreans.

At the United Nations its Sultan, Ibrahim leader, Assembly in 1952. declared that Eritreans refuse and reject any form of annexation, dismemoer return ment by this time. hated colonialism no matter would be, what type into the whatever form which gained 18 seats. which direction The comes'. again

ONCE

independently, Defeated seats. was the General Rut debate of 1950, Unionists Assembly the draft constitution. motions from the USSR and This provided Poland, proposing Eritrean independence, were defea- ted. The powers the imperialist and sank their differences rallied behind a motion pro- intention posing that Eritrea become no that the imperialist 'an autonomous state fede- rated with Ethiopia of the sovereignty Ethiopian Crown'. Workers Socialist League Public meeting The Eritrean Revolution Showing of the EPLF film 'SAWRANA' ('Our Revolution') Thursday July 27, 7.30pm.

OCCR Hall, Princes St

OXFORD

Admission 50pence Eritrea's historic David Whitfield traces the history of the struggle of the Eritrean people for self-determination imperialist powers and a succession of repressive regimes in Ethiopia, the latest of which is now backed up by military support from Cuba and the USSR.

PART FOUR

the UN 1952, and sent tember and admin- Commissioner to British troops istration withdrew. capital city. 1953, • 19 months he laboured On 22 May Defence Pact was British Mutual. signed between the US and.

first to Ethiopian governments. was agreement, and Under this country 'fed- the US established what was 1977) ‹unti its closure in largest military base • 11 Kagnew, Autonomy Eritrea. the US also Elections were held to an Later, base at constructed a naval Decamere, again in Eritrea. The Unionists won 32 of • state was Zionist the 68 seats. The short-lived and facilities on the Independence Bloc had split allowed coast for its inter- with the Eritrean national spying network. majority forming themselves But this military exploi- Democratic Bloc, imperialist the tation reveals only one League, powers Moslem aspect of the oppression of standing the Eritrean masses. won an alliance of Unionisation the Moslem League and the approved wIlICI the Many elements paper supposed constitution were for Eritrean autonomy and never implemented. simply considerable restrictions on Those that were, all met the power of Haile Selassie. same fate over the next. ten was a constitution that yvais the Ethiopian emperor had Through the last years of British rule, the urban powers proletariat had entered into never intended to entorce.

a process of unionisation. In The "federation' began its December 1°5r Labour the official existence on 15 Sep- of General Union Syndicates was formed. The General Union was Ethiopian banned Dy state in the next month. Its physically attacked all and of workers meetings forbidden. Strikes demonstra- and were tions prolesl the repressed by viciously and the labour laws police. repealed. Later that year, Voice of paper of the Eritrea, the Bloc, was Democratic and editors banned its 1954 imprisoned. By all trade political parties, unions, professional associ both the against The Eritrea was economic as well as political and military means. As a result of the decades of Italian rule, far more developed than Ethiopia. Its new rulers continued the British the mantle systematically. transferred to Ethiopia, the port of Massawa run down as a was permission development industry. Low wages (mostly US Italian capitalists) were able exploit barbarically trade

• SLICC

strikes were both banned.

starved 1710 ployment People's militia thousands of workers were independent ations forced to been newspapers Ethiopia the banned. Middle East and Europe. This direct repression mounting went alongside the workers of the Ethiopian abuse Eritrean constitution General Union In the Svndicates - now courts and legal system had underground subordinated to been steadily. Three Ethiopian Workers years later the Chief Exec.

students utive, demonstrations in Ethiopian interests Ethiopian domination. suspend Eritrea, moved to the electoral laws and revive General strike of the the procedures British colonial period head The Supreme Court ruled general strike that any assembly formed 1958. For by these methods would be towns and unconstitutional and unrep- brought to a standstill resentative The judges were prompt- thousands marched through ly replaced! Asmara, ine deputies to lie new elected Ethiopian Assembly were by the community theory This in pendence. meant practice an Assembly that reacted would offer not the slightest resistance to the advance of violence. Ethiopian oppression hundreds more injured and suppression imprisoned enforced by throughout the country. As the Ethiopian regime pressed on in its determin- Eritrea was ation subjugate Eritrea industrially entirely, so une momentum of the liberation struggle fast gathered pace Amharic (the language of moves dis- the dominant nationality in Economy Ethiopia) im posed Plant was ecucation system. books Tigrinya and new Ethiopian outlet Arabic were burned. created at Assab, and, The of the power refused for the Assembly was reduced even of new further and became demoted to the status of an 'Administration'. After the crushing of the Those employers allowed general strike, there was no production mass resistance • these Israeli and blows for some ten years. Students staged aemon labour strations with increasing fre- the major wazes quency, and unions ceveo omen was to CHeC beyond the towns The Eritrean masses were November 1962 'federation was ended ana bealen the As unem- by imperial decree. Jets flew increased over the towns to intimidate while troops protests any to emigrate of moved into une session the Sudan, the Assembly. Battered by these attacks 14th province in the themselves Ethiopian , govern- of ment proclaimed this 'unan- operating imous decision' that Eritrea and growing should become the '14th of the Ethiopian province joined with Empire': of SeaH But by this stage TA f against Eritrean masses had no illusions in the good inten- tions, let alone the power of the Assembly The armed struggle had already begun.

This movement came to The Eritrean Liberation the nationa Front had been formed on March of 1 September 1961-a group days the tour of 13 fighters led by Hamid cities equipped

LOTT

Awalt only with old British rifles.

Then a demonstration of

•ELF

1963 250 Its tactics numbered condemning were those of guerrillaism- of oppression attacks on government Eritrea and demanding inde- buildings and officials, raids on small military and police colonial rulers Arms were outposts. with furious captured in these incidents 88 Fritreans were brought along by killed in Asmara alone, with and deserters from the police.

Violent conflict In the next year, the ELF engaged directly with Ethiopian soldiers regular for the first time the Ethiopian troops were heavily defeated at Togoruba. the scale of the As rapidly guerrilla war expanded, it became more than every necessary for the

ELF

political programme to mobilise the masses in civil war. Under this pressure, violent conflicts developed within the ELF and were to lead to its splitting To be continued

SWP's CYNICAL

ROLE ON

SPEKE FIGHT

seeking stunts Dear Editor, become the hallmark of that As a postscript to your on the role of the organisation. article Socialist Workers Party (Socialist came

(SWP)

at Speke crunch 108) let me add did Press they not few facts. member in the plant and it years ago Two was too late. October 1976, ten members The final South Liverpool was enacted by them as the the of the SWP were branch SWr expelled in a most bureau- mass fatal manner because we Robinson had refused to drop our work in now une aver. around The DeKe alca and devote our Triumph energies to recruiting unem- for the Right ployed Work March from London to Brighton We had sent one member only to the march-he being the only unemployed mem- this we were ber-and loi PHOTO: John Stumpock of sabotaging the accused Right to Work Campaign. felt that since We had all employed, our we were main contribution should be devoted to organising resis- tance to closures and public from within spending

CULD

the organised labour move- ment. Delegate bodies This we had done by our work around the Speke Area Trade Union Commit- with Defence of Jobs tee for te plated the and the Liverpool

A CROI

would Education for commitlee their both being Expenditure, London! delegate trade union bodies which have done a lot of campaigning in the area. had that helped initiate these satisfaction recount all this I feel I must bodies which were the only bodies fighting to organise also mention Right resistance to unemployment labour the which they within Hotel a few Vines was the ignored. So was the fact that we'd oot both to atilate to the attended. As Right to Work Campaign. we Totally failed Since our expulsions it is fair to say that the SWP has meeting' totally tailed to any Pushing Triumph for work. around the whole ot the two vear period and have been quite over Tony Triumph carry out the content of pathetic publicity type PHOTO: Laurence Sparham (IFL, Speke workers on their long struggle against speed-up prior to closure

READERS

LETTER

meeting the that have us about tne previous day had After Ryan Needless to say when the the bemused explained doorman that he had invited at Triumph that was from have one received Vauxhalls, muttered apology and were allowed into grisly comedy begrudgingly the meeting. Throughout the meeting circled Tine of John Deason, Secretary after meeting Work Right to the them SOId Campaign, never once made Deason Robinson any attempt to argue the They rubbed their hands and occupation glee as they contem- case

TOT

content seemed quite many recrullo the have for the 1AC! noW would happen and funeral procession to that we had to get on with organising the the job "Public" meeting march. The important-point, he said, was to get trade union While it gives me no great to while sponsorships because have would perfectly be "public" possible to get 50 or so kids ine Work up" meeting for a march and have a good "protest" held Lne better WeeKs woud be mass meeting "some connec- and make wife and tion" trade union with ine area by movement _ in une the entered means of sponsorships. The fact that this would meeting room our way was be only a token gesture and barred by the burly shape of that no shop stewards com- the Merseyside SWP "organ- who informed us that mittee could ever refuse to we "were not invited to the such a march was sponsor not questioned. him aside Yours fraternally entered the room and called Chris Erswal Ryan, Liverpool at steward the meeting, who had told

JOINT STEWARD

COMMITEE

SITEL

*TROOPS OUT

NOW!

Ireland killing: no mistake! by The murder of 16 year "yellow card" were effectively old John Boyle by British abandoned. imperialist troops is being Since then branded "tragic "shoot first, ask questions after- mistake" by the Tory press culminating of and by every defender shooting of John Boyle the continued military occu- pation. in Ireland has now reached the mistake point But there is • ПU workers involved. The heavily -crime forces that uphold British rule tionary result been remain ludicrous lies conscious capitalist class and their servile army. lackeys in the Callaghan cabinet.

killing is not simply one isolated Secretary for Mason outrage or 'tragedy' but part of And Ireland Secretary barbaric ordered a turner intenstication of the under cover activities of squads the The Labour murder which Special servites. meant that even the notional Deat. intimioete. intero. restrictions on the use of rifles and muzzle those elements that ments of his Viscount Rothermere Daily the of -owner president of Mail, Associated Newspapers, sacker of thousands of Newspaper the newspaper workers and Association of the most one closing down unpleasant products of papers. had British capitalism the grace to drop dead the last week. Nevertheless at 80 years personal whims. of age Rothermere had lived - several decades too long.

him for most yet in one of the Kotermere displays of the convincing futility of trying to rid the receive world of individual capital- book review columns 'Honour- ists his son, the In his Vere Harmsworth able' became the third Viscount nasty. even as his father croaked his last. chairman There is indeed always a Mirror and cloud to every silver lining.

Cecil Esmond business Harmsworth had a hard life.

refused to Born the son of a modest bed death of several national owner stressing had he to mediocrity of his talents.

outlive his father before he This earned his right to tell the nation what to think. He was the youngest MP Street painted the House of entering and Commons from ator Royal Marines in 1919 the world of as a Unionist. Alter ego newspapers. as his There he acted father's alter ego clouill sickening sycophancy. that the Harmsworth family had a leading voice in three estates of the ber first of the four realm-the House of Lords, the House of Commons and Lotds, speaker, a the Press. The outstanding achieve- attempt-with whatever limita tions-to draw out such lessons and advocate a struggle againsi imperialist rule Block of the Long Kesh concentration camp over 300 Republican oriconers remain held naked in conditions and filth nose edelt brutality result as a refusal to accept 'criminal' status In May of this the year officer board of Belfast Fein Chardo consoiracy rite Car Keady pacing member Republican News has also • bC8l remand"- the imprisoned "on latest for formal substitute internment-chargec WIll membership of the IRA. lod Irish harassment paper Socialist ranoite Republic which was printed on the Republical same News Frightened printers , seeing jailed Kennedy have not orawn

TUNE

COn clusion that to print anti-imper.

ialist material in the North is to the invite arbitrary arrest and deten set out on TOn Ine hands of mason's armed thugs. Support demand led to a Last weekend 2,000 workers Tine and vout marcuca to condows British imperialism's baroaric use of repression role in Ireland and support the the Republican police prisoners •TO| oricone and status pending a withdrawal of demaroone can raisiey British troops and an amnesty. forced to expose the Now aach ou these marcherd • the put out by ensure must that the struggle force the withdrawal The task is to show that this troops from Ireland and British ensure the self-determination o1 the Irish people is taken up with continuing historical outrage renewed throughout the vigoul enforcement Labour and trade union move colonial rule on the Irish poople.

ment. leaders have These demands be must coupled with demands for shown themselves determined to the expulsion narass autone Mason from the Labour Party.

PRESS GANG

Nice one, Cecil 30 years in man and tennis player charge of one of the biggest "He loved the Clues world were his vicious and stubborn control in 1955 of Publishers Fleet the The article went Street strike and his role in describe his 'sympathy' several news- His newspapers reflected which he could presumably not just the business needs Rothermere family and their like but also his moment of the day that he When his second wife left not a night he can call hi lan Fleming, ordered that James Bond books should scant space in the personal habits Rothermere was mean and Even Cecil King-former of the Daily note under his or her plate" himself no on the £5 notes slouch when it comes to big anti-charisma- pay any compliments, instead the the Daily Mail, that stalwart not quite the supporter of Moseley in the picture his faithful lackies in the editorial chairs of Fleet of Rother- mere. The Times called him a "dominating figure in the journalism" although he was rarely seen at the working end of his The Daily Mail gave its tougher stands against the readers two whole pages of the Daily Mail and those "He was a forceful mem. of the House of .the Rothermere in the dustbinof public gifted connoisseur 1s ine lask o painting and a fine sports-

"I agree with Taria" SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 19 July, 1978 Kinnock Labour 'left' Neil Kinnock and "Trotsky- ist" Tariq Ali made fitting couple on the platform of the Cardiff Carnival last anti-racist Saturday 2,000 joined the march, which called by the was Cardiff Committee against Racialism (and obviously backed by the Anti Nazi League). Its stated aim was to provide a peaceful show of Kinnock solidarity and opposition to Trade union banners well as to have included the

NUM,

racialism as NALGO, CPSA, AUEW and a good time" The march started in the Cardiff

NUPE

plus Trades Únion working class area of Bute Council and Welsh TUC. and was loined by manv of the black and white youth 'No politics' of was course the aim of the organ- who live there, some with isers and both a steel band their whole families. Conference draws teeth from fight in Labour Party A conference entitled Chaired by Ted Knight- the one-time Trotskyist who "Socialist Campaign for is now the 'left' leader of Victory" Labour Come- do which excludes any dis- addressed by prospective cussion on programme, candidate left' Ken any examination of the Livingstone and by victimised Clay Cross role of the 'lefts' within David Skinner councillor the Labour Party and the conference steered well any reference to actual clear of any analysis of the of wretched struggles within the record betrayals carried trade union and labour out Tribunite MPs obviously every movement major issue of government does not have much to policy. offer the working class. Far from minds Such was the case at the 150-strong conference, jointly inspired Livingstone certainly U v supporters of the Internat- spoke of the need to expose Communist League Labour's "traitors'-but and the Chartist group, that centred exclusively on the was held in London last role of the right wing of Saturday. the Detour Pae Partner It had been hailed by the completely NUM 'left' Arthur tary support given to them in a message conveying his by the 'lefts'! "best wishes" And while SCLV speaker

CONSE

COHSE

A 001

ALL

ritains NHS trade union Workers have consistently shown readiness to fight cuts but Chartists argue they accept Healey's policies band and jazz were drafted in. the music wnenever the spon- stopped, in fact, taneous shouts of "Smash Front" the National generally megaphoned out "One Race, the Human by "Equality Race" In" or from the stewards. At the rally which launched the Carnival proper Ali, fresh from the Richard Baker chat show in the week and Calill Neil Kinnock added their non-political comments. Although Ali did mention real EnAT capitalism in problem was crisis-at which Kinnock clapped-he to well! U11 the that draw conclusion what was needed were more the carnivals all over that the ANL. had country been "vindicated" and were partly responsible for the decrease mn une rascist vole.

The other people Ali saw referred Mike Davies fleetingly to the "ultimate aim" of removing the right wing MPs, this objective was far from the almost every speaker. So too was any fight for consistent socialist programme. Voted down A bid by supporters of the Workers Power' ing amendments specitying pIckist programmatic plattorm tor the SCLV was overwhelm- ingly voted down-with ICL supporters arguing that the itselt was Can Dadd "compromise" to link up with and organise others "don't who share conception". The amend- even discussed. An IMG speaker, surpris- ingly professing concern at this failure to discuss referred Co trade lennie to the work Ernie Roberts N. Hackney CLP, and was welcomed to the fold on all sides. Another speaker referred to the fight against the cuts, stressing his view that there should not be too much emphasis mobilising health workers-who are not experienced enough, organised 'enough, possessing enough muscle to win! Blaming workers Graham Bash, a Chartist supporter, declared it was "build the party"-meaning of course not a revolutionary combat party, but the Labour Party 'We must create the con- ditions in which the left can progress' , he went on. Chartist supporters were unanimous on this view, and insisted that the last few years have seen a victory for reformism over the working class-effectively blaming four years workers tor OI wage cuts and unemploy- ment.

CABOUB

partly responsible were the Tories who were poach- Ing tne racist vote! Kinnock happy man when he got to his feet.

No speaker-least of Tariq Ali-had fingered the

SLAPOUT

responsibility for maintain- ing the conditions that breed fascism. Tariq", "I with agree began on to blather about going mobilising "beauty, joy and equality" against the forces of ugliness which of course alien to the "British

WELC

people". smiles, Judging by the claps Kinnock laughs and was getting from his fellow Tariq platform speaker, formally agreed with him too. Nothing was said against the Labour leaders or their 'left' assistants; not a word was breathed about worker.

self defence; and good dropped time was had by fakers of all descriptions. Butcher Mason-Scargill's 'socialist' campaign has not gone so far as to fight for Mason's removal in his Barnsley mining constituency!

"Callaghan and Healey PHOTO: Chris Davies (Report have found an echo in i the movement", labour one Chartist announced. Under these conditions he felt the

SCLV

had to play the role of "nuisance" to Callaghan. If this were done, then, this according to same Chartist, Callaghan would "be forced debate Healey openly" reférred to a fight within "Then", he went on, "we her led own right-wing will have achieved a great Labour Party ward in which deal indeed!" she had lost vote a resolution calling on Silence on 'lefts' the local MP to wage a cam- paign for a PLP motion of It took a WSL supporter confidence the to pinpoint the conterence's Callaghan-Healey leadership, resounding silence on the and for a new leadership.

'lefts' and to Tole If the forces of the SCLV the notion challenge that took up such a fight and "debate" on socialist ideas struggled to end union would change things. sponsorship for right wing Years of Labour Party MPs they could play a real conferences should surely role. have taught people that the But if there is no plan for leaders pay no right wing an actual fight against the attention to the democratic existing Labour leaders of wishes of the membership- right and left' the SCLV and must be removed will end up like the tame Only the of struggles cat Militant group-stooges workers would provide the for Callaghan-Healey, collec- forces to expose the lefts ting votes for them while have who consistently fight waging no the refused to fight and remove Labour Party. the right wing leaders, she argued. Ingredients was essential to take up the main policies of the There is no doubt that Callaghan leadership-wage all the ingredients for such a control and unemployment.

degenerate body were present at the SCLV confer- No confidence ence, and the refusal to spell out any particular line of By challenging the 'lefts' intervention or turm ally to kick out Callaghan and programmatic perspective Healey the fight could gave further proof that this taken up simultaneousiy ad-hoc grouping of debaters against both right wing and will act as little more than the 'left' fakers 'left' recruiting sergeants for The

WSL

Callaghan. supporter Page S

PARTY

Secrets pledge As the time set for the Official Secrets trial of journalists Crispin Aubrey and Duncan Campbell former and soldier John Berry draws closer, Prime Minister Callaghan has formally announced the abandonment of Labour Manifesto pledge to scrap the Official Secrets Act. Replying to a Parliamen- tary question by Barbara Castle, Callaghan replied he that while had the Manifesto pledge "in mind", "I regret that I cannot come to that conclusion at this time". Labour policy is to call for the repeal of the Official Secrets Act and its replace- 'freedom ment with of information' Act placing the onus on the •State io1 proving that information should be withheld. Four years office in in close liaison with all of the most reactionary' heads of military intelligence and the professional Civil has Service clearly persuaded Callaghan and the Cabinet that these bastions of capitalist class rule must Irom the eyes of the workers move.

ment. Like every other pledge in Labour's manifesto which threaten capitalism, it has been cynically jettisoned by 'the Callaghan-Healey leader- ship. Suffrage climbdown By express order of a Labour minister. Margaret Thatcher's photograph is to be given greater promin- ence in the Westminster Hall exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of women's suffrage. Baroness Kirk was yield- ing accusations from to Tory MPs that show revealed 'political bias' and 'intended to give the was for women were entirely trades union and •Labour performance.

SPANISH POPULAR

TO REVOLUTION

Posters in the 1936 election in Spain

FRONT: A

ROADBLOCK

France Spain and through the Popular Front.

It is impossible to under- were the settings for the stand the crucial role in the last great confrontations history of the European of the interwar period working class played by the between the working Popular Front Spanish class and the without seeing the bour- objec- possibilities geoisie. tive material which existed for the Span- Spain In during this ish working class. conflict on more than one working class Actually occured came close to the seizure of power. First of all, not only was In July and August 1936 social reaolution Posible in in large parts of Spain, Spain 1936, including the largest cities, occurred actually large the bourgeoisie was parts of the country. propriated and the working In April 1936 Trotsky o class succeeded in setting up observed: its own organs of revolu- "Both the profound tionary power. ferment in the masses and By this time the working the continual violent explo- and its allies in much Caos sions demonstrate that the of the rest of Western and workers of town and coun- Central Europe had been decisively crushed under the ENTe pOO: peasants, deceived over and mosi savage reaction. again, are continually over directing 'all their forces "Impossible" toward a revolutionary solu- tion And what role does Stalinist historians claim the Popular Front play in that this their powerful fact meant that the lace of movement? The role social revolution in Spain in of a brake, built and set the years after was in moti serie scum by motion traitors and / impossible and that all y attempt at was revoluton And he later rightly dangerous Spanish concluded that: of the isolation "In its specific gravity in working class. the country's economic life This interpretation, however, is a conscious lie.

in its political and cultural level the Spanish proletariat Culvarec oroen justify the stood on the first day of the treacherous revolution not below but a policies of class collabora- above the Russian proleta- tion pursued by the Stalinist and other working class 19173t beginning of leaders, diticulal Objectively the balance sources of international of forces Spain support. witnin favoured, the working class.

The distribution of arms to Not defeated the working would class The French working class have made it invincible in defeated; it the short term against even was not was attaining the full military might of new heights of the Spanish bourgeois state.

militancy June and …trom 1936 its leaders were in the course, bour- geoisie had access to strong government And French international aid -especially support from Germany Nazi and , could have been crucial to the Spanish working class in Fascist Italy But the working class, many ways. too, had important possible Also there was the Soviet Azana with his Ministers. From left to right, (front row): Albornoz, Giral, Azana, Lerroux, Casares Quiroga; (second row): Prieto, Marcelino Domingo, Largo Caballero, de los Rios, Martinez Barrio, Nicolaù d'Olwer.

Union -the world's first workers' material development was making it capable of prov- iding important material assistance any major working class suruggie another country. Spain, therefore, all the objective material circumstances made working class power a historic possibility.

And if the working class had succeeded estab- power in Spain, Isning Is the impact of this event in France indirectly and SO Europe would have been tremendous. was not too late in Spain in 1936 for the long tide of working class defeats in Europe to be decisively reversed. All this could have happened. None of it did. But unless a successful •Spanish revolution is seen as an objective historical poss- ibility, the responsibility for its failure cannot be under- stood. There can be no doubt where that responsibility lies with the leadership of workers' organisations and all the parties who-some time, others only at crucial moments puested poli identifying and fighting for the independent interests the working class and the poor peasantry but of collaborating with a section of the enemy capita- list class, 'Left bloc' Such alliances took many (forms during the tumult- years between the fall .UUUs of the Spanish monarchy in 1931 and the end of the civil war in 1939. But they culminated in Popular the Front (also known at the time as the 'left bloc"). This was formed late in 1935 between a group of 'liberal' repub- bourgeois lican parties (the main ones being the Republican Left led by Manuel Azana, the Republican Union, , and the Esquerra of Catalonia, led by Luis Companys), the workers parties (the Socialist Party -PSOE-and and the much smaller Communist Party- and the self-styled "revolutionary" party, the Workers Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) by renegade former supporters of the Trotskyist Republican fighter dies in action

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 19 July, 1978 other parties of the Popular Front. of the prototype Popular Front government

FRENTE POPULAR DE IZQUIERDAS

had already ruled Spain from the fall of the mon- archy through the first parliamentary Al pueblo sevillano: Consultel elections in 1931 until the right-wing VICTOry Me han le derechas ra su madro monaquias a fascistas lo Sentira disculen anlagónicamente la Cortes elections of 1933 ineros, el fronta Papalar de Exçalerdas ha quedado In these governments the Socialist leaders held mini- 3 a los obreros. Rivalidida na prCora dile d- stries alongside the bour- me parece a lo geois republicans. This immediate encama cuando menos todos aurios the desired it. El Frente Popular de Izquierdas, lucha the socialist Por la Amnistía; por la admisión de los scgresaliados; por la exigencia de responsabili lados iadividuales por los excesos cometidoc an la represióa de Asturias; Por la exignue de responsabilidades yor los nucios y ercandaloros nesocios; contra la inmoralidad, la dar with "catena de ide por e le topolico dil be lorato por lo en pa ladela y a la

PAN, TRABAJO, CULTURA,

That, Largo del FRENTE POPULAR Sevillanos: DE IZQUIERDAS y las odiosas y sur intenticias intenciones de las derechas monárquicas no admiten cipled, comparación. Cumplid con vuestro deber de ciudadanía votando al for any the republicans bourgeois Frente Popular de Izquierdas elections. Por Valie Rezciliasas Mignal Merciola Pos el Prosido Sartallato tecó Estrado Por lapalida Rozubicanes Parcual García Santos Por el Partido Cocotiles lasia Butsa DalL Sevilia z de febrero de 1935.

the Popular icipants in Traprenta del Carmea -Regia, Regisa, Sevilla Front. Popular Front leaflet, February 1936 formed the Alli- antes aim of this significant section of the International Communist policy, of which Largo Party, Andreas Nin and Juan bourgeoisie-they were, Trotsky the bour- put lt. Anarade This Popular Front geoisie's shadow. divisions differed the French fell right from which in the Popular Front in a number the land- workers' across bet- pollical of details. Its leading names scape. Nonetheless was came not from the Socialist this tiny group of "politica

U.G.T.

the anar- Party but from the bour- who-because, phantoms geois parties; and it recelved Trotsky said, they formal of both "the adherence incarnated principles the Stalinist CP and a party, of the 'democratic revolu- the POUM, which, despite that is, the inviolabi- The however, its own denials, was widely lity of private property"- regarded in spain as 1rot- gave the popular tront its Asturias. ances skyist and even in its own political colour. "revolutionary eves was and anti-Stalinist. "rebel" were the Front The Popular agreement signed January 1936 and became manifesto of

CNT

the election Front of the Popular the Along the Left in the February elec- 'the group

LIONS.

and the (led by Communist of Spair "Trotskyists' led by quite the mani- alliances Popular of the work for sound the issued a Azana explicitly ITOl election was entirely ten th the parties strikes and for, They followed Asturias, "peace and order shape in ment In they were But before their was not new evel saying to defeat by the through it was. com- Workers were promise workers' failing to develop

HELO

been since the through republicans Azana, ution and private Cacares and property. Popular Companys, The The tenders hope of even the also lor an included on their posing right and would had they carried electoral revolunonaries, weight. from revolution. could prob- ably have got nearly as Alliances. the revolu- they the could of the should strengthened workers them, right-wing brought with towards The leaders parties by Gil class approach fascist groups. respect- alli- pollical they were ances was lo any Seventh CP workers' thing other CP ence" "the time throughoul inists and politicians. Despite (though tical Acting with the model to set up. The for struggle The recognised

IOICES

In places in The CP vote it To two days "The the difference utionary in of the of the step when, from : 1m0 0 the Stal right-wing of bourgeois their small growing) accordance established Secretary-

OUN

republic democracy of the the other of nearly candidates to win , writing just Franco's tor the fage on the side of Menshevism- "an authentic govern. of ment of the Popular Front collaboration, with the direct (ministerial) betrayal of the independent participation of the Socialist revolutionary interests of parties." the working class and peas- and communis This the POUM imagined •antry. The first of these would "complete the demo- were of the the anarchists of the CNT.

masses and esce bring the The traditional position and so of the Spanish anarchists revolution closer but significant had been to advocate A small abstention in all elections, section of the revolutionary masses looked to the POUM compromise with the bour- their leaders. Millions looked towards the

CNT.

geols stale In spite of the "official" Reactionary alliance

DOCIT

did many And yet, at a time when vote though O1 the bourgeoisie thousands the pre- paring the blackest reaction, both these organisations Adaptation told their followers in effect to put their faith in a reac- But this ultra-leftist the tionary alliance stance now transformed shadow or tne bourgeolsle itself into a wholesale adap- 'Unfortunately for the tation to the politics of the revolution," obse 1 rOISKy Popular Front. "between bitterly. rved The anarchist leaders did handful of Bolsheviks and not join the class collabora- the revolutionary proletariat tionist But they bloc. the counter-revolu stood reversed T.ne posture by calling for a vote Front" Popular for the Front The handful of Bolshe to without CanibaltI viks were in no position to the cross-class. alli- nreak made a direct appeal to the ance. masses. This change was to be A small number of Trot- later when skyists remained the consumated 1n POUM where anarchists loined the Ponu cessfully attempted to fight Front governments-first lar Catalonia the liquidation of the Madrid in November 1936.

POUM

the Popular

LILU

The other "revolution- Front. aries" to go decisively onto Only in late 1936 did Pore TOCORI ROlE POUM demonstration The had been between as Maurin's Workers Communist Left-the national Opposition. the Popular claiming electoral made it so difficult to that: technique less. Socialist party leader Prieto of betrayal they manage to establish an independent group, the Bol- shevik-Leninist Group the which after few The signed only a months of existence was to destroyed by state and Stalinist repression. Among the anarchists and in the Socialist Party, too, there resis- was some tance to the Popular Front.

lism call in its In a lew areas attempt. were made to set up "rebel" propaganda break the the coalition the bour- Cancuales witnou of bourgeois participation candidates. But in no case did they achieve success calling for: Continued next edition

FROM

After when Trotsky was exile following the defeat of the first Russian Revol- ution, he had discus- with a German sions Socialist called M.I. Helphand who used the Parvus. penname 'Parvus' was famous in the circles of international socialism, wrote a number of books and articles which appeared on the front page of Iskra. Before any other Marxist world had the 1n grasped the significance of the fact, he developed the view that the international character of the capitalist system and the proletariat the struggle made possible for workers power before the completion of the bour- geols revolution Originator Parvus was thus the orig- inator theory of _une revolution', 'permanent taken up and expounded by Trotsky his pamphlet Results and Prospects 1906. Such a view is essential to explain the primary role of the Russian proletariat in the utionary upsurge a decade later, provides the basis and of the fight method socialist aims in any nati- onal bourgeois revolution today. Now an interesting point about Parvus is that he did not have an entirely reput- dole career. By Ann Evans Since the signing of the internal settlement in March of this the Smith year, regime, now propped up by his black stooges, has been concentrating his efforts on selling agreement to tne western imperialism. Muzorewa, Sithole and Chief Chirau, the three black members ot the new cxecutive council realise the importance of

TUV

international recognition -a pre- condițion for which is that the agreement snould seem accept able to a substantial section the black population. »itnoe. mimse. stressee this at one of the 'negotiations' prior to the settlement: the police, the army, present prison service and the adminis- talon are commay we at the top. Should they remain difficuty ine they this will cause selling the

NEW LIES

NEWSLINE

In later years he became obsessed with money- making, and later still imperialism of German arguing "progressive

•TOT 1S

role during the First World standing on the war and wing of the German Social Democratic Party. 'Proof' In the 1920s,, when the Stalinists wanted to discredit the theory of and permanent revolution attack Trotsky as an agent of capitalism, they referred to the career of Parvus as "proof of the falsity of the views he had once put torward This argument was not only illogical, it was mixed with an 'amalgam' tech- nique that culminated in the Moscow nigntmare oIne Trials, when revolutionaries with different opinions were lumped humil- together, iated, murdered, and called spies, saboteurs, fascists and so on. It might be thought that those who to be Claim against Stalinism would shy well away from such methods of polemic, for fear they would tar them with the Stalinist brush. 'Agents' This, however, does not the ex-Trotskyists concern of the WRP leadership who become well have now steeped in the technique of

IN REVIEW

Inside the 'internal settlement' ment,. • While we are deter- mined To SeD settlement, we must face up to the problem of selling that settlement* The efforts of Smith and his black

SLOOCES

persuade

ENE

imperialist powers that they are ine sette men this section and Have •een •uite trenzied The statements made by the security forces and government fully repeated as fact through. out the bourgeois media in the west. ne severe restrictions or theorters are stil in force.

movement foreign of control publicity is used by the govern ment to try to show that that the soliciell being liberalised and reame is By John Docherty Parvus calling their political oppo- 'From Labour Party Towards CIA Position. Far- ot the Stal- or imperialists, right renegades' inists and move by attacking others who and, in a bid to link it to the

WSL,

includes a picture of reject this view as in some imper- way supporters Alan Thornett. oI ialism, Stalinism, or Jenkins, in two letters to dil! other that readily Tribune called for agency opposi- Soviet and Cuban ton to very worked-out involvement in Africa. of this was seen in veron the WRP's daily News Line Greater support of 1st July last. This, as our readers well Here know, has never been the letter to Tribune written by position of the WSL Mark Jenkins, who We have consistently former member of the supported liberation Bulletin group (a group of movements in Africa British supporters of the aflu called for greater French OCI, support immersed for them from the workers the Labour Party) is used states. to attack anyone who has We have drawn attention ever agreed with Jenkins on to the counter-revolutionary anything. Stalinism, role of for Picture their support example, for the war against the Eritrean The article is entitled liberation movement. WRP leader Healy-adopting Stalin's technique These villages sympathetic guerrillas where movements that the guerrillas are losing the are severely war restricted. Curfew All these propositions are regulations have become since •ure taise ever STrICTeI The March-in some places they have covernments need crack been extended down on the rural areas hours a « TO day. currews villages, proves that the Anyone seen in the tieids or African peasantry fully support the countryside shot the Front curfew sight-and Patriotic and the guerrillas are becoming Inest reovations Which more, not less, successful.

Smith and Co. claim are for the 'protection' of the villagers!

The presided regime. Executive Council, over by an in which effective power is con- Detainees centrated in the hands of Smith and the Rhodesian Front, has 'way which the Une stepped up government has tried the war against to estab. liberal' ratriotic rront since une settie indee ment was signed. well-publicised Inrouon tne increased release of political detainees.

repression However, Joshua placing Nkomo, by Tulai dicas

ZAPU.

Turtner restrictions on protect asserted ed villages". that the authorities often release with the policies put forward publicly 3½ of Socialist Press. years second statement has been refuted in detail many times The third is part of the WRP's now well-known and particularly vile efforts to political diff- deal with erences by conspiracy theories. Moved to right To Mark return Jenkins. It is quite true that Jenkins for several years has put forward positions with which we strongly disagree.

He has long since broken from Trotskyism and moved sharply to the right. But this is no reason to say that he Trotsky has the past argued • not in for points of view which were correct In the early 60s Jenkins Where

WRP

was a leading member of the has the WRP's forerunner, the Soci- stood these questions? Have they criticised alist Labour League, in the the Paddington area ambiguous and 'concilia- ot London In the early 70s he made tory role taken left nationalist Gadaffi in rela- numbe generally criticisms the the correct of t101 French colonialism in Chad, ultra-left sectarian and anti- Trotskyists policies of the not lo menton ine war 1r Eritrea?

WRP.

Have they evel "Amalgam' attempted to explain how Cuba-which they appa- His subsequent evolution rently still define as 'capi- is a matter for explanation talist'-has become part of and regret Stalinist the world system But to attempt to asso- of workers states and position ciate his present counter-revolutionary with the positions of the alliances?

WSL

logical as 1S equate the positions Sordid purposes taken by Parvus with those of the Left Opposition of The

WRP

the 20s; or those of the of course. does not feel it necessary extreme reactionar explain of Trotskyist Jame : Burnham this. Its sordid purposes are with the present-day Trot- served by maintaining skyist movement. The use of the 'amalgam' without any basis in fact or the following the repetition stale lies pro- to be the only

DOSIONS

aved *Alan Thornett agreed in answer that the WRP feels the WRP that the crises of make to the series •aole co capitalism would force of articles the that recently Labour government to the appeared in Socialist Press left' dealing with the utterly *Thornett and his supp- unprincipled role of the orters 'flouted the discipline

WRP

in the trade unions Workers of the Revolut- and the rejection of all the ionary Party over and over principles on which some of them again. once stood the *Joseph Hansen 'has national and colonial been proved' to be a double agent inside the Trotskyist If the Healy School of movement. Falsification is all that WRP The first of these state- leadership has left, is it not ments has been 'proved WRP members begar time only be ot invented to ask where the principles and falsified WRP minutes, of Trotskyism are being and ha defended and fought for in never been snown have the workers movement? any relationship Rhodesian soldier preserving the 'settlement' prisoners: "only rearrest Political executions havt time despite attempts by continued without any legal proceedings" the black internal leaders to per- Detainees suade Smith that such moves are required sign a slaltinct in supoor ol not like! convince the black settlement majority of his sincerity.

T nE interna condition of Many

IDAF

pamphlet Patriotic Front supporters Have oves a rundown or ine term!

settlement and the Terusco to sior ano remain in the jail. activities security forces since March 1978 The State of Emergency, and Intormation on the extent o repression that that imprisonment, murders and implies, , remains in force, so that beatings carried the released detainees

OUT

securit Torces Iscistorted o same climate of absent from most of TIne in Britain, political repression. bourgeois press The International Defence are pam oniets such and Aid Fund pamphlet Smith's useful and their contents Settlement* , contains the names deserve to be publicised of over 200 people Southern arrested on aner Africa No. 6. Smith's Settle. security grounds in the tirst two months of the agreement. ment-Events Zimbabwe The full number must be far Since 3 March 1978. Publisher International Memorate Serent greater, given the unwillingness of the authorities to disclose Aid Fund 104 such information. London EC1. Price 50p.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Hearedat i9Jait.19

POLISARIO

DENOUNCE

FRENCH

STRATEGY

IN AFRICA

Sahara. In February 1976, Western imperialist aggressors, the Saharan Democratic Arab Republic was declared in opposition to this enforced partition.

people against the occupation armies despite the forceful military support of the French state.

for the reactionary monarchy in Morocco. Almost the only concrete support for this libera- Algeria, where the tion struggle trom COne eagerness to be rid of this cumberso me commitment.

of the Polisario Front) and translated from Le Monde 23 June.

We hold no orer lor tue pontical while with opportunism, flavoured principled demands. But support we n determination, and the demand that all imperialist troops be withdrawn from the Sahara.

It is the revolutionary duty of the international working class to fight in solidarity with this call as one battle in its struggle for socialist revolution.

outbreak of The fresh events themselves are only the end-product French military interven- Africa shows oraanised prolect which we tions in now confronting. being random signs of •Or There Troops had unprepared. this project been kept ready on a state (see -rance ference of of alert, and were plainly tha countries on tasks equipped for is marked out by its high which before them; lay activity local co-operation had been caution. perfectly co-ordinated; the After some propaganda triving neo-colonialism, campaign began stir publicity and OnCe countries least allied with the gushed out in full spate.

west, treatened to break out ol Everything indicates that the the conditions of isolation that 1'1 The Polisario Front was formed in May 1974 to fight Spanish colonial rule in the when Morocco and Mauritania took over the role of Since then, the Polisario has continued the war for the independence of the Saharoui which have been unable to subdue this resistance, The war has in turn provoked a major crisis within Mauritania and increasing problems bonapartist regime is making clearer its We print below the text of a statement issued by Aini Sayed (from the Political Bureau methods of the Polisario Front, where naivety is and reactionary positions jostle progressive Saharoui self right of the people to the imposed on had been duly thoroughly And then the Portuguese Them colonies seized are their Inoe within a few months pendence . It was the whole bigger than nen caoitalist OT that had neen recenl the profit of changed-not

TIVA

western Africa). But Paris power, but as some Toreler gain for degree Africa. fack Political blocs 20 years Africa Taine a he years Those dudın then French African state. anxiou. game reserve, has heer

OUSV

drawing up the general plans for display of energy a new on I he plan inn bose Africa a division into political Our continent has

DIOCS

escaped

EMIS

тате

HOW.

wiesen the me torm of uniti framework of the within very strong resistance-even least revolutionary countries-means that this policy can only slowly be put into errect. But several actions, that have had highly dramatic conse- quences for the show that this concerned, is now being put into firs shaba: operation —the trench Moroccan the war the complicity seneudiese French attacks the Sahara and against Chad; Shaba with second vvd! ine arriva Ivioroccan troops this way the will find cold battlefield ATrICA witn ine probable outcome that we saw in southeast Asia. Pretences These policies are : danger ano nantal interests of the peoples of the We take them for world. up what they truly tearestil These policies niocen behind of pretexts France and tellets constrained To intervene mere there. is-says France- with a humanitarian aim, to save Or Moroccan deneral staff. becaust again to French nationals. the monarchist troops had been agree respect the co-operation placed ments concerning the security of allied country Ur ye again, to protect Africa from a foreign invasion and to defend No alibi liberty' in the continent.

All these arguments don't convince us at all: however.

country-ne the eyes of some people they which the sanaroul people are can give a semblance of legiti- fighting Mauritanian invasion. But where macy to some actions. but now can there be even a semblance then are these French who need bombarding a saving? of legitimacy in small people like the Saharoui people. and arming The!! Claim tual triere from Morocco and Algerians, aggressors representatives of some foreign Mauritania? 'Legitimate' enemies and continent, know full well that it Take the example of Chad, is our people who are fighting, where there is-formally -a ano them arone which government hold good for Shaba or Chad, has the 'right" friends. But in the Western ooes the Sahara. Sahara, what is the legitimate justification nor authority, or even quite simply authority, which could alibi the legal appeal for foreign intervention?

vention in our country The culpable Ine most recent legal powe was that of the UN, since our media on this subject is signiti under cant. territory and 23, national jurisdiction at the time children armed invasion and Mauritania And detention having been seized ar the only legitimate power is that El-Ayoun Their added to the hundreds of others through the representatives who nave never been seen dudl which it gave itself: the Polisario of Front one trie vet tale the Saharoui Arab Democratic Republic. Neither the UN, no Front could have The rollsatio appealed to the French army to bomb Saharoui civilians and fighters! No, it is neighbouring Morocco made this call. Yet these have two countries are the aggressors our people nave violated our frontiers since 1975 although here France Try lo cover wu triese labls vIl!

every means at their disposal.

Aggression And it is in a state of legiti- mate defence that the fighters of the Polisario Front are going to carry ine war back into ne homelands of their aggressors France therefore cannot hide The Saharoui fighting the raci rescue these two countries, nationally France is participating directly pendence shall be . Ene dooression chains UNt Saharoui people, the and In carving-up of their land remains decolonisation Zaire affair, more Do over, it was possible to 'iustify the French intervention fact that the putting forward humanitarian it not an item aroungs-the _ rescue oi Tew hundred Europeans next But in the Sahara? Once the meeting rrench eections were over. ine Jaguars and Breguet-Atlantiques confirmed Its bombed on several occasions in right of the the very neart western Sahara, hundreds of kilometres trom any place where there are interference? suoposed rrencr nationals. On May 4 and 5 it was the community responsibility and Jaguars on june the Breguet-Atlantiques

OT OU

intervened at the demand of the policy Polisario Front fighters endon utar against the directed the in difficulties by our France sanarou civilians shamelessly turns its back on Canese committicalls Not onlv does France dens its own principles (France has voted for every resolution stipu- Yes, there Is a war in ou war of liberation latina our mont to setterer!"

nation), but also obstructs the that international against the Morocco controllon processes or justice could makt 10 just and lasting solution based on the right of peoples to Further, nobody will dare to settle iner own late. Cubans dit. vietnamese Plot Sahara. Our Even more France has laid whole an enormous threat against the peace and stability of the whole A region. like that by trance creates the danger of accelerating the inter.

So what could apparently nationalisation of the conflict which has been avoided unti not in any case apply to now. possible It is no longer possible t conceal the gravity of the ver the French real against OU! against silence of the the paoples or Arica forces democratic Ine France must. more firmly thar Morenver on way l several dozen women ever before, declare themselves still this policy of domina- against genocide, without for- tion and names are getting inaT also damages the interests of the French people. If thev have ti Who dares to talk about it?

pay the cost of the war, the French President Giscard are gains of the plunder will not be thei that worn away. This recoon sel hiberties are self-determination and to inde shows how true it that you respected. For covernmen Sahara peoples without oporess oine suffering in turn oroblem We declare the whole need to point to the wore inat Ine danaroui deoole • UN and the OAU once sovereign within their are still discussing the question?

frontiers, will not threaten the , the agenda interests oi any otner country

OAU

and that they intend to work summit at knartoum! At its last towards their ideal of torming Havana, , hasn't the trienesnte and • CO bureau ot non-aligned countries operation between all peoples.

the TOr Saharoui people to self-determination and to inde.

foreign without any See article on Mauritania on page 2. Internationa has very great the guarantee intervention

INDUSTRIAL

sympathy strike 100 drivers who drive Vauxhalls -Vau hall's Elles- they the allowance as soon as the pay Port inter-plant code expired fleet trucks are on strike would drive the 32 tonners for a tohnage allowance. in the meantime. This the They have been negotiat- all ing with the company tor done along company is stalling. several vears sınce tne com- pany introduced new 32 ton claimed by the drivers who trucks which were lu tons say they will consider any heavier than previous ones.

company offer. All the way through The these negotiations-which crunch gone right up to have the ena or tle negoualions last week national level-the company has claimied that the govern- codes torward with an oler and pay have ICIll prevented them from paying the men any money. 32 tonners: leaders Trade Union ment" Herberts, Alfred at which 800 Coventry, where fact that redundancies have been obviously have announced sackings, GORs adopted policy to the DiLeL interests fight the sackings which concerned. is bound to fail. While the first step they Work sharing taken-opposition nave redundancy-is 'voluntary correct. no redi suralegy lo jobs has been put defend forward t.ue Instead they are demand- removal of the ing the Herberts chairman and

LIC

appealing to the NEB which management. owns the company to inter- The what they vene against "bad British regard Hilallarl

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.

fights at every step against The "'SL zaders of the trade unions and the Party-now firmly harnessed to Pourgeois politicians of the Liberal Party in an unspoken coalition arangement.

Against their policies of class collaboration put forward instead a programme which we points to the independent class interests of the working class, its need to organise to overthrow capitalism, dently repressive state machinery and 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 WSL and its work, fill in the form below. Name. Address Send to WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 IHR

NEWS

Vauxhall workers in declared that threatened disciplinary would introduce action and the drivers came out on strike. if the men of the 3,000 rest

TGWU

the members at plant voted to go drivers have shortly sympathy and the afterwards. This magnificent No exact figure has been gesture of solidarity since it is almost holiday time and no one wants a strike at this time of the year. after The remaining callic

AUEW

members are likely the wiiell To ne ao olanl company still had not come this strike. So far the strike has not the men refused to drive the been made official. he company

FIGHT HERBERTS SACKINGS

reflect the general' industry crisis of British capitalism This short-sighted policy, The workers at Herberts misses out the basic information

NEB

have must use T.ne planned the they get from an investiga- company's tion independent books to draw up a plan for nationalised British the workers a lully machine tool industry under workers manayınclil The fight for this policy of the course Tanses what sort of There must be an immed- questions of and economy iate fight for work sharing guvertenl protect needed on full pay and the opening Herberts jobs. books. Conn Dally A full investigation will Kut iris te ony realaclc policy in the face of the show the basis or otherwise bad employers determined drive charges of and Herberts sack elsewhere. problems of the tool macune

ADALIST

АРГА the

OUT NEXT WEEK

the

TROTSKYISM TODAY

NUMBER THREE

WSL Theoretical journal indepen- its destroy Contents include establish WSL British Perspectives The Poisoned Well The Spartacist School of Invention Background to the Current Crisis in Turkey plus Left in the Limelight Order now (price 60p plus 20p p&p) from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

NHS

IN

CRISIS

Bethnal Green day of action called Workers occupying there has the Bethnal Green Hos- response pital in East London, and petitions of against the closure finance. the casualty department of continue their fight. gualallcc They have now fixed 1st Delilila. could stop worrying. August as a 'day of action' This has been backed by the Not enough Stewards Com- Area' Shop mittee and calls have been for token protest mn 200 'strikes of up to one day's Hounslon proved, duration on that date The for the sympathy struggle in the local working and the fact (reported Hass. last week's Socialist Cluu1 towards that ambulance Tss y drivers continue to deliver crisis of capitalism. hospital patients despite contrary

VIOIE

tions, stands as an example determination strength the cuts made by this Lib- LaD governmenl Total support On the picket lines it is extremely rare Colle for response any by total assers This means support.

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

5 issues 10 issues 25 issues I would like to receive ... issues. I enclose the sum of f.. Name . Address 31, Send to: Socialist Press, Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Subscribe! leaders the In factories in the area against who have not lifted a finger been a strong circulated to use the enormous power appeals for of their organisations to defend the hospitals. and support were sufficient The August day of action can be a step forwar victory if the demand that all-out Green workers strike action be called in the of any attempt to close Bethnal Green is raised and carried into the wides However, as the ruthless layers of the working class attack by management scabs Hospital A fight must be taken up drive out those union well-intentioned leaders who refuse to protests and sympathy, even commit their unions to such the broadest layers action of the working class, are not halt the drive Starting point destruction of the In this way the hospital health service caused by the occupation movement point for than become a starting m borlarli ever now is the fight for the bulding a new leadership in can lead the unions which political mobilsation of the struggle force the workIl: Lilt opening of the books of the classhe fight to defend the health authorities, the drugs Bethnal Green Hospital and companies and other para- sitic firms as a step towards Te genin service musi lake the establishment of the form of a sharp struggle socialist plan for the health all-out strike action in service that can the struggle needs of the working class.

Have you read it yet? Revolution .£1.10 ains, £2.20 .£5.50 .£10.00 'Communists' Against Rev- containing the olution little-known Theory of Assimilation' by Structural Tim Wohlforth, is the book on post-war Stalinism that Dartmouth Mandel and Healy, would not publish or discuss. Make sure you get your at £1.75 - available copy plus 20p p&p from :

WSL,

31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

- Union leaders aid BL SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 19 July, 1978 Rough ride for do-nothing NUPE bureaucrats of complete boycott of these members Three proposals Taylor remained

NUPE

executive the non-commital, merely council and two

EGA

that the full time regional stewards would "probably officers left reiect it" were did any shocked and speechless Nor he nave plans for the future defence last week after two He seemed of the ruA. hours of ruthless attack relieved that

NUPE

150 by been "edged out of a con- over frontation" on July 21. militants determined to against hospital fight Repair litt closures. It was left to Arthur This took place Caxton Hall on 11 July at a Churchley, an EGA steward, spell out what policies conference called by the LU were needed save the

NUPE

London Divisional EGA-a complete rejection Council to discuss strategy of the working party, and a over pay and further moves Elizabeth defend the dem angl should Health Authonty Garrett Anderson Hospital.

repair the lift-and it was his it became clear irom tne the NUPE's

NUPE

trustration at outset Lile apparent unwillingness and leadership plannea lo lake no further steps to defend inability to hospital that led a massive

EGA

and that they attack on the NUPE exec- ence into yet another "dis- utive from the floor of the conference. cussion of the situation", delegate from without initiating Service Ambulance in the action agalist culs condemned the executive nean service. for not giving lul backing the ambulance drivers Non-commital Health Authority's * Regional ATen official Mike instructions by continuing the Taylor, reporting on take patients the into

EGA,

revealed that the of Bethnal casualty ward DHSS's proposed structure Green Hospital. of the working party-set up to discuss alternative sites Visibly worried for the hospital after postponement of the July 21 closure date-was to be a Delegates from St. Barth- party of ten consisting of hospital-which only two trade union repres- one of was Hosollals that staged a one-day strike.

culatives to defend Bethnal Green- Instead of calling lot a attackerras In September 1976 Jack and Hugh Scanlon Jones appeared British front page Leyland management's journal Leyland house Mirror to call on their members to 'Keep Working', no matter what management may make. A vear ago officials from all unions involved Kritich Leyland went further still and agreed nele increase Leyland's profitability at. the expense of their membership.

nev ceciceo to moement a three-fold plan of attack: An end to plant bargain- ing. handled nationally, by selected and officials senior stewards; everv November from 1979 ation, Leyland again set out to 2) Job evaluation and parity.

in the union bureaucracy.

draw All jobs throughout Leyland to First of all persuading De ardde on a singre structult.

NJNC to agree to a method ot and each grade paid the same evaluation and to set a couple of nationally. jobs for each plant to evaluate.

Fringe benefits be to

NOW

oInt union manade. equalised throughout Leyland.

ment committees in the plants Working with the selected are being set up to evaluate all representatives of the Ivallolldl oos in a canis ano ten sou Joint Negotiating Committee them into the national "bench- the company then organised a marks" force company side with convenors ano stewaros inrough these genera principies.

drawn into working this now Contained the "fringe section of workers scheme, any benefits" document was a clause тлат resists or outs forware d grading claim will have to fight null and void. their own factory leadership and As a result, since the ballot, Leyland have been attacking all ine

INJNU

well Ine company. The that ballot •eciare fronts. noma Dareamina arrangerents would operate for 1978. in torcing nome Job evaiu- to ACAS and plans to go through the courts-seemed have met with little LO success He immediately was Stan attacked by Hunt Branch Secretary at the West London, who pointed how the managementwere obviously break the attempt an militancy of one the strongest branches in London -plans have been transfer patients made from two wards Western Hospital, nearby which shows that the AHA are set for a major confron-" tation. and from Tower Hamlets branch both continued tne Disgusted attack on the executive for Hunt pointed out that in fight in defence of jobs and an active nis nine yeats trade unionist, he had never services in tne pubne sector The executive members been so disgusted with the leadership,

NUPE

and present were by now visioly worried that the conterence resolution was passed was not going according to the executive, conuellnlig plan. calling a lobby of the for

AHA

Bob Pincher, from the full aem ананя executive, attempted financial and organisational defend himself by claiming support. to The conference ended that nis lob was only report to the executive what with the

NUPE

officials London-a job went on 1n visibly squirming

VOLUTE

which he thought he did such a show of militancy.

quite well. proved conference He went on to say that to that T.ne fight the cuts exists amongst any action must be millateu from a local level, and then the rank and file, and all the leadership would lacking 1s a strong "full support" from the union leader- This bluff called was ship immediately by a aclegare Hammersmith Obvious need Hospital pointed out who If they are unwilling or That tne wes conco ros this incapable giving pital had gone on strike for lead, then they must be three days over the closure with leadership replacec ot Hounsow Hospital. and that will fight the cuts all have stayed would out the way, mobilsing tne lut.

longer-except that no sup- strength of the labour move- port whatsoever was given ment. by the NUPE leadership! The final message from the current It was over the conference is that there dispute at the West London is an obvious need for an all- Hospital that the strongest London Joint Shop attack of all was made on Stewards Committee to the executive members. by Health formed Service Full time officer Harold Stewards. Wilde outlined the dispute- will bring together where members the the elements strongest Branch who refused to use the fight against hospital "clocking the system and co-ordinate closures naa tnew pay docked fight which the bureaucracy He reported that the itself shown 11di adopted far by tactics SO incapable of taking up. NUPE-which include going tage of the wages struggle, and voted to submit a plant level But already impatient right wage claim. Other Leyland plants should follow suit, and there must be a Longbridge, the wage claim has Tignt cooper been intermingled with talk ation trom los evailation and levei to pull union representatives out preparatiuli national

"TAIT

joint union management settlement. committees the Plant Cowley Body has defended independent Ine rent made specific moves towards a interests of working class corporate claim. demand the opening Leyland's books and policies tovaro. Complex control preparation for management workers' of car " ne oroceoure tor such a olanned nationansed industry, claim is astonishingly complex- not union collabora- tion with capitalist managers indicating how far such a national chalms are removeo trom maximise Ene OrOTIS shop floor banks components firms and claim drawn up by that feed off British Leyland the the Body Plant union branch leader Such reguire ship put urgent construction ot a revol stewards meeting, to go then as utionary leadership within the Leyland stewards' movement.

XO Automotive comitee to go from there to the Oxford the District committee ClOT District committee it will referred to a meeting of TGWU senior stewares Leviand a recommendation tor lywil representatives on the NJNC.

were Then encorser ov ine whole NJNC it would then go to the company! Tooesn t lake a cenius to recognise that such a procedure puts all the power in the hands •i une union oureaucracy. rur ben coroate a fini as been continuously fought Cowley. Cowley the Assemos Plant,

TGWU

stewards have Body Plant convenor Roche taken a stand against this sabo.

Garners kept Cyril Margolis's Garners Steak Houses protected last were Saturday from the mass the picket which had week success- previous his fully closed down Haymarket restaurant. A huge number of police turned out to harass pickets With

SPG

thugs present and bus loads of police in at the top of the Haymarket, it was clear that the police were determined to stamp out any threat of In asi Central London. forces Without enough the challenge police on Saturday, pickets dispersed onto of the London Garners Central restaurants and mounted an effective picket all night.

Not mirrored The determination of the police was not mirrored by leadership of Region TGWU who have continual- ly refused to mobilise forces from their 500,000 members onto mass pickets which would threaten the and challenge harassment, police intimi- dation and attempts to limit picketing to six at a time.

Further evidence that the

TGWU

has oucaulaci killing every intention of strike rather than mobilise the necessary forces to win it, this week with the ence of Hotel and Catering workers called last Thursday discuss ways of winning the strike. Abortive After their failure to bring a single delegation of workers along to last Satur- picket, day s modie Officer Catering George Abrahams and Hotels Stephans lofficial John managed to get a mere two members at what turned out to be an abortive meeting We have also learned that Committee the Regional still refuse (after 24 weeks!)

the circulate membership with the strike committee's policy. that the strike committee continue mobilisa- to turn into tne tion of the TGWU member- ship around their policies- by fighting to force Region- al Organiser and Staden to take measures such circulating the Regional membership. Page 11 Garner scabs and friend open by SPG- The result of this fight so that Shorter has far produced a lengthy list of TGWU-organised factory meetings for the strike com- mittee At these meetings the strike committee must fight for resolutions to be poured into the Regional Commit- tee supporting their policies of: *No to work return without reinstatement and recognition *Full secondary blacking of supplies. *Mass picketing every Saturday with delegations from the TGWU organised regular basis all Steak Houses. *Regional Levy to raise a weekly minimum strike pay of £36. From these meetings the strikers must directly organ- ise factory delegations onto the picket lines. Sandwell struggle looms A major confrontation looms in Sandwell, West Tory Midlands, over the Council's attempts to break the trade union organisation of the direct labour depart ment and give contracts for modernisation and mainten- ance to private builders.

Question mark The closed shop agreement was signed just betore Labou lost control of the council in into Mav and is due • LO effect on August 1. The Tories have already council. a forced through the decision to end the agreement, with the statutory six months

MOLICB

But big mark hangs over their response to the under agree menT members on August 1 Decisions for strike action if been taken. The Tory policy is to starve the awarding contracts private builders but this has met oppos.

have previous experience private builders' workmanship.

LUTE

NEGO

opposition to the Tories' attack should tenants , forget that building workers to it is preciseiy the tallure or thi Labour government and Labour defend workers Curtil interests which has allowed this situation to arise.

ASIAN LEADERS CALL FOR

SOCIALIST

PRESS

PHOTO: Dave Evans, IFL

'SELF DEFENCE'

In a bid to retain control But simultaneousiv with this call, the immigrant leaders urged of the thousands of militant Asians Anti join Asian youth who have gone whose pacitist policy of Ledout. onto the streets in recent aistributing posters and propa ganda against the fascists makes weeks to demonstate their call provision for self- willingness to fight fascism, three Asian community Businessmen Headers have issued a state- of for the

SO OUT

And they further urged forming of self-defence Asian businessmen money to the ANL, thus joining groups. list showbusiness The Federation of Pakistani Organisations, the Federation of Courtes areas vorticids and trade union bureaucrats Organisations and banclacesn "support" for the Indian Workers Association

ANL

Southall declared jointly Tight tor the torming ot genuine that for workers defence or the squads past „the decade the adoption of socialist policies as Asian welfare organisations have resisted encouraging pressure their members 10IN seIT- defence vigilante groups in the face of such attacks and in spite forces of law and order. We now believe that the time The struggle against has COme Trust the growth of fascism in our people to look to their own defence". Wolverhampton took a backwards step on Sunday when the Anti

NEXT-

Fascist Committee rejected the policy of

EDITION

forming workers defence groups.

SOCIALIST PRESS

committee Instead the is taking a break for one has decided to hold a meet- ing around the pacifist and Socialist Press week. propagandist policies of the will therefore not Anti Nazi League. Wednesday appear on The situation in Wolver- hampton could 26 July.

TO L

HOTe clearly show the need for „ext edition of The workers defence. Socialist Press will appear on Wednesday now unsafe for blacks to walk alone in the 2 August. cily centre al highl Two months ago two fascists launched a shotgun Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist Leagut, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Printed by Anvil Printers (TU), London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

an answer to the conditions that the Anti Nazi League have spawned the fascists.

This is why the Asian leaders called only tOI "cet detence rather than turning to the wider i ne oasis or tae formation of workers defence taking

VUT ACTS

which both white unite and uo tnis call. asiar workers and youth must insist that the local fascist attacks was demonstrated takes labour movement this weekend with defend responsionly anti-fascist against the common

TASCIS!

Cardiff, enemy. moolisations Manchester and in Brick Lane Divisive in East London. press, even 1,000 workers and youth Meanwhile, whether they are making the divisive and adven- engaged march through turist call for black workers' to action against the TAKe strike fascist attacks, calling for more class action Trientens the bourgeois Asian police action leaders as much as it does the National Front, or simply failing Liberals and famous names in to make any call for workers Wolverhampton - the wrong road attack from a car against a Marxist Group and the Workers group of black youth. Socialist Party But the Anti Fascist played have

CHOSE

Committee is a classic class shameful role. alliance of reformist black Never once have they stood out for the indepen- and white workers with an organisation amalgam of vicars, commun- dent of the working class to combat the ity relations workers, Com- munist Party Stalinists, shop fascists. keepers and do-gooders, Petition Its response to the attack was first to call an inquiry In many cases they them- police wert Then it proposed selves have been the source invited. of these pathetic proposals.

joint patrols with police.

Next it suggested a call (This has been paralleled requests for system wnere in East London where IMG assistance would be passed members touting on to the police. al c the drawn un Home Secretary Tower Hamlets Movement Against Racism and Fascism which calls for more police Finally it called for the Home Secretary to in the area to patrols and meet immigrant leaders.

protect the black In all these developments community!) the "revolution- The most aggressive response of these revisionist of the International Francoism reappears Asian youth and workers in Stetchford last February defence squads whenever they Anti Nazi sutak di Tallies , Lilt League peacers are olaving criminal role in heading off the development possible struggle born danse ne lascist.

and against the Labour leaders and union whose betrayals have opened the doo for them. Now is the time in key areas mobilise every workplace, factory, working class political and trade union body UNIteC detence squads trained to combat the fascists. groups has been their oppos- ition to those who put forward a policy of defence based on the trade union movement and who the notion of alliances with the police It is not that the basis tol of workers self policy defence does not exist. Black youth earlier this year organised their

OWI

group in the citt ucience centre which was, of course.

met with a chorus of con- demnation from the local press, police and priests.

It is absolute v • essential for socialists to take up an immediate fight in the labour movement for these moves towards defence to brought under the umbrella of working class organisations It is this fight which the

WSL

will be taking up in the coming months. The face of d' violence lt wee and the violence Francoist state that was unleashed in Euskadi last week. On Saturday 8 July, the Basque of emons anon nationalists Pampiona bullring was attacked with by Claractensel the not ponce The for demand political am nesty was answered with smoke grenades and rubber bullets.

subsequent demonstra tions and riots, one militant was killed. and more than a hundred injured San two Al days later, a demonstration called to protest against the battle police o usice Ene headquarters. Here the police assassin- ated a leader of the LKI Communist (Revolutionary League, the Euskadi section USFI to which the ot the British IMG belongs). Navarra and Throughout the other Basque provinces, 700,000 workers took part in a general strike condem- nation of the killings. erected Barricades were in all the towns and traffic halted as industry was para- But Thursday, on after , the nanced. riot police moved in again This time their target was the small town of Renteria.

where they rioted, vandalised and looted The 'liberal' government of Suarez issued statements expressing polite shock, appealed for calm and sacked a few police chiefs But the replacement of a few officers will do nothing transform the character to of the Francoist state appar- atus. Fascists Many riot police are well- known members of fascist who fulfil Bangs of their duties more violently in off- dutv hours The army itself still holds intact. power In Miguel Salas is barcelona, shortly to court- Editor martialied La (paper the Aurora'

PORE,

Revolutionary Workers Party the part with sectarian LIRQI-the Inter for League national the Reconstruction of the Fourth International), Salas with publishing is charged 'attacks and calumnies' against ter which -an allll y offence the

OVCI

military courts diction, Socialist Pres has reported in similar cases Calls for the "retorm" oi the army, the expulsion of for the settine ponce, for the setting 'national' Basque police of the Francoist state The workers and other militants of Euskadi must all Spanish with workers offensive around demands which can lead to the overthrow of the heirs of the destruction of the repressive machinery of the capitalist state and the of establishment the dictatorship of the prol- which ¡alone guarantee the Basque people their national rights.