Socialist Press no. 127

THORPE CASE AND PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY

Stalinist hand on the trigger- The Thorpe case at Mine- head is far from being just another scandal. Evidence at the hearing- which will determine whether Thorpe goes for trial for incite- ment to murder and three other others oin him in the

COCK

jointly charged with conspiracy to murder-has already gone tar beyond the confines of those charges. Names being drawn into the case take in eacine bourgeois politicians in all parties, and leading establishment figures at the very centre of state power.

Ano watever the innocence or guilt of defendants (which

CUCH

uncontestee evidence al reacy presented producing shattering blow at the concept or barnamentary democracy Whatever outcome the Of this hearing and any subsequent trial, ot the imoncations evidence being presented Is near-Watergate proportions. The case could present the class with malor oroblems how to sustain illusions democratic and laws Annihilation If a trial of the defendants should coincide with a general that could spell for Liberal the anninuation junior party Party-the and party for capitalism, which the capitalist class has a particular use. But the implications go well beyond confines of the Liberas. A reav the names oT Henry Kisink oskice Reginald Maudling, Frank (now Lora DoW hili wave bleel ancavic onas Minister oT Social Services have come up at the trial. Falkender, LaoV orivate political secretary to Harold been named as has a letter from former receiving _heral MP Besse describing nis interviews with two journalists Lord Goodman-a figure at the very heart of the capitalist political establishment-has Deen orouent nearsay evidence. ne

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 127 * November 29, 1978 * 15p

A GLIMPSE

INTO THE

SEWER

Andrew Wiard, Report was he also snows ine wav tna creeport Havware's Party persuaded home, referred to later in Thel leading capitalists to support it letter from Thorpe 'the as on an 'anti-Labour' ticket, and Freeport project'. Here is Thorpe's attitude to wav ThaT IT Woule Thorpe's coalition mate possible for any outsider to his electors: buy' a coalition government.

Callaghan Your extremely generous contribution of £50.000 made i immediately went to the extra- The during the Liberals possible for to have the Closed circuit which able 1977-78 coalition with orainary Tenorns or statine unaT recent Goodman was nothing to do Ine Laoour leaders neo more with the case. me to sew vo vorin bevon tor over political decisions sway good while doing a national TV Parliamentary Labour but mne most startine rever- than the campaign" ations were contained in letters rarty or tne vational executive from Thorpe millionaire Anons atttuce to election of the Labour Party. Yet the expenses: 'patriot' Jack Hayward. Liberals completely Hayward is not a member of indebted to one businessman.

Delicately I would like to the Liberal Party. He is the man internationa meetinos witn ask for two cheques! My reasor who the 'I'm Backing Kissinger-far from conforming is this. Each candidate is limitec tall to the media notions of diplo- for his individual britain campaian or ingoism in to a total sum and now runs the macy-were concerned win une cam dalen. ine exceeas to business in the Bahamas. one panthe can be oned ssoulsne to vonseno bios arou A letter from Thorpe on 10 case | fought £100,000 April 1974 says: national and a local campaign Kissinger: We had an Trom barnstable. nere is there He was the single biggest extremely useful and friendly fore overlap some to Liberal Party talk at the American Embassy.

expenditure which would contributor Cheque: I gave him a full brief and he has argue Tunas in recent years ПОТ (ZO nave for more than £100,000 were shown definite interest about! Ironically I had a session with referred to in court. "Accordingly Nadir Nixon Dinshaw, who is Rupert's god- norge s letTers nave not al une recestion Tollow- been challenged by the defence.

father and who is conveniently memorial ing Pompidou's shows complete service but didn't think I could resident in Jersey, has agreed to them quite Freeport contemor or erection expenses raise Onl sette onis which tan Into tis ambigous category. occasiona Fures. The latest offensive by the reactionary Ethiopian military against the Eritrean national beration struggle began on 18 November and was briefly reported in the last issue or Doclalst rress This offensive, Amdemichael Kahsai of the Eritrean People's Liberation cront tole a London oress con.

ference last week, is aimed at destroying of crops Eritreans auring •Ine harvest season. also large includes contingents of Cubans, mainly workine neavy artiervaneou Russian advisers behind the front line. The phosphorous bombs, napalm and other anti personnel devices have already oeen resorted. The main claim during the first week of the fighting from Te cogan coverament na been the capture of the road from Eritrea's capital to the Eritrean child victim of Stalinist-backed napalm bombing raid Accordingly will be immensely helpful if vou could send me two cheques, one for £40,000 for the Liberal Party General Election TunC ana Dinshaw " payable: Nadir 208OU tor backers were aise approached: "Eight of us are going to see those companies who nave beer lite lory Party's chiet backers financially and suggest that they pressurise Tories COmE round Tavoul •OT electoral reform the next general a) since it would mean that there would never again be SOCaIIS right and b) it gives Liberals next time a powerful incentive return a Tory MP where no chances are remote. Marks and Spencer are the first converts.

in otner woros the caoitalists most firmly behind the Tories were nevertheless prepared Tinance a coalition designed to ensure that any of Massawa, road seaport the liber entirely controlled by ation forces since 1975 Amdemichael Kahsi made it clear to his London press con- ference that the

EPLF

was cute arepared to negotiate witn government but the-thionian only on the basis of the recog nition of the independence of Eritrea Disgusting role Drawing attention to the dis gusting role of the Cubans ana hussians emichael Kans said that the South Yemenis who had previously helped the Ethiopians, had now withdrawn this support and criticised their He called previous position the Russians and Cubans to do the same. It is be hoped that this call will be taken up throughout the international workers move.

ment.

BIRTH OF

AMERICAN

MARXISM

Centre pages Thorpe under police escort Labour covernment was totally carrying out neutraliser trom any reforms or socialist policies.

1977 that codition came about Given the way that Thorpe collected finance, coura easily nave been the CiA that was building the Liberal Party in Britain. ine evidence emerging in the hearing is little more than glimpse into the sewer of bour- geois cemocracy ano institutions. eviden caref this case should carefully anur tnorouaniv tollowee workers. Illusions The state builds illusions in Parliamentarianism to persuade the working class that its interests can de oursuce unrouen the ballot box and that gains can be won by. peaceful means. The Thorpe case is providing a concrete examoe or what Is avid Paro martinemely that Parliamentarianism method subduind working class-by fair means or foul. Just as the Watergate revel- ations were turned by the media sane us politicians - Into indictment of one man, so the Thorpe case is being focussed on one party and one or

TWO

politicians the former deputy of treasurer Liberals Marcolm Holmes is also charged with conspiracy to murder).

It already stands however as an ino ciment or all cabitalis politicians and the Parliamen- system which they fester. government workers would replace the paraphernalia Parliamentary —wich in any event is no more than a thin disguise for rule by employing class-with the direct and open democracy o a system of workers' councils, with elected representatives paid une average workers wade ane subject to recall at any time It is only through building a revolutionary party which starts from the need to take the work- class to power working class can sweep aside the sewer bolitics business and the whole Parlia- dealing mentary facade

- INTERNATIONAL-

Hi Chinese workers read Peking wall poster denouncing Mao as a fascist dictator A "Peking spring"? In Peking now, accor- appointing Hua instruction ding to American jour- Kuo-feng Prime Minister be rescinded but also... nalists, the only people.

*defences of Hua. wearing Mao badges are #attacks on Mao's former foreign tourists. bodyguard Wang Tung- political It is a measure ot how shing, police fast the brittle fictions of chief who betrayed and Stalinism can disintegrate.

arrested the "gang of four" The range and vigour of in October 1976. the *questions so obvious as wall postels nOW appearing the capital- to have been prohibited for and surrounded by crowds such "Ask yeals of readers-suggests that the yourself: is it possible that bureaucracy is so split that Chairman Mao didn't know its rigid control is slipping that Chiang Ching (his wife) fast. was a traitor?" (This last on The messages put up, and a poster reportedly written the circulating by a railwayman. During the Lulls include: cultural revolution railway *explicit calls for workers played a key role in "China's of spreading news and rehabilitation strike against Maoists action *demands Mao's throughout the country). that Zimbabwe: no secret deals! In atove wariuty endorsed by Tory leader Thatcher, Margaret Callaghan last week announced he was sending a apply benina-the-scenes pressure 'personal emissary on the Patriotic Front leaders Zimbabwe. and their backers, Cledwyn Hughes will be Smith govern.

LETITIS

LETE

ment Joined ote onen and establish "stable ambassador to Zambia, and Sir regime-stable that the Deputy Anthony interests of Western imperialism.

Secretary at the Foreign Office canadan Salo InE The role of this Anglo-US Commons last Hughes will be explore team will conduct his talks with "as much privacy as possible" DossiolITIes conference on the future of The capitalist press is once Zimbabwe. bubbling over with hopes messenger boys talks i nest that these will split in the Patriotic Front-the comprehensive round of 'fact- exclusion of Robert Mugabe and finding' which will take them to the inclusion of Joshua Nkomo lu di the "front line" states, Nigeria the Zimbabwe ot and South Africa. masses for the establishment of Their Will be to genuine national independence.

ISOLATED

SOMOZA

CLINGS ON

TO POWER

Forced for the writhe in moment to impotent fury and unable as yet to help a great friend in his hour of need, President Carter has turned to vent his frustration on those advisers who misled his administra- tion on the of state Iran. The CIA was apparently still claiming that the Shah's dictatorship firmly secure even while the mass broke ou the across country August . Such reports mav have resulted from simple incom- Ten after the independent calcull Vens political motivation or the "Prague spring" Stalinism of Chinese two factors combined. producing a "thaw" in this much vaster nation. At the Central Commit- expected this Lee week there will be desperate attempts close ranks. But be tnere can Soviet tanks coming to the rescue of Chinese Stalinism For this all factions of the bureaucracy Juan Pereda was military will tend be drawn dictator of Bolivia for three towards the protection months-a not exceptionally the army chiefs short time by the standards If the masses are to find of Bolivia's line of lONg dictators. for the building of workers In the 200th since councils as a focus of organ- of ised power independent incerencence early 19th century, V by was the bureaucracy is crucial.

Friday the overthrown last army colers or stam neaded Dy of Within the Patriotic Front, Making Hughes its Man militants the Week the Financial must watch out for Huahes wa TUl •T oralse TO r any Turmer signs or caottulatior who in his position of Chairman by the leadership. Parliamentary Labour They shole option so ir by the reception Party played largely unsung part in securing the Lib.

presiden _Kaunoa ano InE Lab pact, which guaranteed the leadership of Nkomo's

ZAPU.

As we have recently pointed out dunca Is articulary ront compromise Rhodesia to zig-zags of position under Hughes is the man to find it pressure. will entnusee The ri remembered oreviousl Come to aid denied he had spoken with Smith and later admitted that working ne nad. He nas already agreed to meet Hughes must come to the aid of their The slogan of 'No African brothers and sisters.

secret be and MUsT raisel Party branches must repudiate Africa South as well as this latent imperialist mission.

Britain. No secret talks! No deals There

MUSL

a condie for the recall of Hughes and the WItN •im berialism: intensity inf removal of the right armed struggle! For a socialist wing Zimbabwe! Labour leadership. Last Wednesday saw the should stay or a new national government be formed. deadline for Nicaragua's Carters nenchmen nave alse military dictator, Anastasio proposed a package of phoney the Somoza, to quit liberalisatior measures and the Presidency leave. accompany the reterendum country. United front The deadline had been fixed Opposition Broad The Broad Opposition Front Marxist guerrillas made nave vadi who maintain close connections •conditions for acceptance of the proposals, firstly that Somoza witn TOTCeS Broad Opposition Front. leave the country and secondly The

FSLN

having drawn in ThaT The rean saton offensives fresh layers after American States the send a large August and September delegation of observers mounted two successful bank supervise the referendum.

raids and armed attack an of popular No combination the National Guard near fronts or bourgeois alliances border with Costa Rica. US referenda Soonsarda bal protect the the _interasts Referendum Attempts at "mediation' by workers orcanisations must o the US (backed by Guatamala Strike and the establishment al establishment Dominican Republic) strike and and the nave resulted only in tentative councis oraction combosed proposals for a referendum early elected representatives whether Somoza workers and peasants. next year on CIA flop shows Iran dilemma Not smiling now-Carter But Carter's complaint to State Brzezinski Department the

CIA

anu that he is 'dissatistied with the quality of political Coup no. 200 in Bolivia General David Padilla se zed oowe from Hugo Banzer in July after the anullment of the fraudulent orestoend elections he had emerged as "victor" The immediate occasion for capital Friday was expected to result from a mass "march for • demo- стасу oreanised former nationalist president Siles Zuazo's Democratic and Popular Unity (UDP). against Pereda's announcement ten days ago that the postponed erections would not lake wlace until May 1980. Pereda himself had tried to line up a mass counter acmon stration and had ordered the It was largely tears that this would provoke a new revolu upsurge that led the army chiefs of staff to dethrone reredd and announce da would oresicentia eection! place so could that the new president TaKe once dates yo But the new coup, giving the imoressior makind concession to the mass struggle and reflecting the political dis armeo, torces wil almost certainly unleash a new upsurge of mass struggle The urgent task before the souvian workers Cane leasants this struggle "left" nationalist leadership and „replace with Headersnin which represents their indepen dent interests, Sandinista guerrillas intelligence') shows cleary dilemma enough the imperialism. Anxious to preserve their dominance over Iran almost any cost. the imper ialists have no desire to find placed all that they their bets on a loser. Advance warning Perhaps the CIA was able to cleat its name a little by giving advance warning on of Saturday's sCat in Frankfurt demonstration against the Shah's dictator- ship 10,000 Iranians Some and Germans Turks marched to the US Frankfurt to Cullsuidle the full protest against for biooded support the by American Shah given imperialism As sections of the march moved to attack the build- 500 police 1n1g sent in smash the up demonstration and over 200 protestors were injured. the new itself, iran military government has carried on the full tradition ot even more brutai attacks mass against demonstrations the major cities While General Azhari was describing the strike in the oil-fields as a 'crime against parliament outside were sent the In Dy armed with machine guns up by packed Chieftain tanks, to control' demonstration by youth in the bazaar. Limited strike In recent protes killings the bourgeois nationalist leaders oI ine and National Front the Ayatollah Khomeini called for a limited general strike on 26 November But the development of with the struggle points increasing urgency necessity for the formation of armed workers defence protect strikes su udus and demonstrations against Such a policy and the necessary socialist and democratic demands mobilise the masses the fight foI and 'peasants government in Iran can only fought through the construction of Trotskyist leadership opposition to the bourgeois Stalinist and Islamic misleaders

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 November 1978.

• INTERNATIONAL •

State terror chief Villa

DIA

CONSTITUCION

TU dERECHO ES VOTAR. VOTA LibREMENTE. Hypocritical government poster urges workers to vote freely "while demonstrations urging boycott are banned Portuguese fascists mobilise--workers' The wave right wing activities in the last Spain in weeks has also reflection in Portugal. In the northern city of Oporto last Friday night crats", not publicly known several armed, as members of any political black-shirted fascist thugs party,

MOST

marched through the streets solid with reactionary attacking and setting fire to pedigree. offices of the Socialist and particular Sr. Vaz Parties and Communist Portugal lingers on from the shouting for the return of previous government, ene aictatorsno rejected by the National This serious development Assem bly October, 1n reveals the acute dangers Minister of Agriculture. which have been produced by the deliberate demobili- Return of land ot the working class by the Stalinist and He has been responsible for trying to step the Teror ener up same thing And is the return of land occupied by reflected in nature the 1974 and Tne peasants in the new non-parliamentary 1975 to its former owners government formed by the This. counterrevolu- military President Eanes.

tionary policy was legislated the Socialist government Reactionary, of Mario Soares which fell The composition of the in July. cabinet announced last Attempts to implement under the week by rremier designate Carlos Mota Pinto (former Minister were met by mili- state industry official under tant resistance from the the Salazer dictatorship) the southern confirms the of reactionary region direction of recent political While refusing waves. Mota Pinto's cabinet is a mobilse the wnole working government of "techno- class against these reaction- Spanish coup bid: the plot thickens Numerous sedative state- weekend's plot is that it is the by the Spanish ments work ThIs well-Knowi "dissident" and a handful of and government army friends "crazy and powerless authorities have failed to who supposed are nave solve the alarming mystery plotted "Operation Galaxy" in a of last weekend's attempted cafe of that name. there is arowing publi coup d etat. suspicion that this "crazy" banc Officially only two officiers is the officially revealed tip of a Have ocer dirtsled ine orincibal iceberg. Lieutenant-Colonel number of reports speak Molina of the Civil Guard (the of up to 200 military and police vinca bad tac in the OTTICerS being involved who dismissed few plot. Civil Guard months ago been also have Commaned JUlDUZCOc supposed to coincide with the most militantly the demonstration Basque nationalist the Franco supporters who met ir •rovinces. the Plaza de Oviente in Madrid Notorious the day after the arrest of the the third plotters honour Teiero Molina was notorious Guipuzcoa • for encouraint The size ot ine demonstra the men under seems to have been delib of exaggerated examples #1L0 elately 300,000) by the Madrid police repressive zeat He was removed to merely spokesiliail duties One of the main activities of bureaucratic publishing an open letter to the the Francoist was armed polict TaSCIST paws doe cheering El Imparcial protesting against sent to "control" the demon- "democratisation' which stration-an enthusiasm The official version of las was creams rec orocated leaders betray the government when was. presented 1t the National Assembly for confidence vote on December 9 Undoubtedly this new oppositious stance o of the accounted its 53% surprise victory in elections municipal Alentejo last week. Hollow threat This profound was a shock to the government and military make: President Eanes' threat to call general elections if the new government is not confirmed in office look a CP leader Cunhal little more hollow. The CP however, has governments

LALE

just as much to fear in an Portuguese Communist Party has to a limited degree election in which it might the side make gains, as one in which taken : of the Alentejo peasants. it might lose. Election victories would And it heard the of enormously increase the composition on the CP leaders Cabinet, the proposed CP

VICSSUIC

began make critical to take action to defend the to rapidly eroding gains of the noises, eventually it would 1974-75 revolution. announcing that many of the police. In Barcelona the same week- eno an army general was placed under house arrest for publicly the Defence Minister attacking outerrer venicoo And there were new reports of unrest among the armed police and Civil Guard especially basque region where last Monday

ETA

members shot a further twelve one raid Doncernel on tner (Bilbao), barracks killing two of them. The government couceo hea desperatior over the growing success ETA's present terrorist cam- valen avainst Ine doricel Repression The Interior Minister, Francoist butcher Martin Villa •nas made a rush visit to britair to consult Mertyn Rees and Roy Mason regarded Europe's mentors when it comes militant repression armed nationalist movements All these developments point • of a new tone crowine cancel counter-revolution in Spain.

The charged with reassumine une nation dolost tal obvious danger is army Chief of Staff. He is the man who in Julv Mastor vas in A genta, military Agentina, implying that C earN necessary Spanish armed forces would not hesitate assume Jower iT some ot the army deneral were, as is rumoured, implicated in last weekend's plot, then they decided seem

TOW

to nave delay any • move until further after • the constitutional referen. dum on December 6 ine covernment nas imposer a ban on all public demonstra tions until after the referendum attempt repress the growing opposition to the reac- constitution, tronary esoecially in suskadi ana Catalonia This reactionary ban has met with not so much as a whimper ot protest from the Communist : Page 3 Party and Socialist Party leaders. In fact leaderships, orconise lut recent "anti-terrorist" demon- strations, have greeted the new warnings of the possibility of a nautary coup witn new move: to demobilise the working class.

"Remote" Socialist Party leader Felin Gonzalez, greeted the news with a statement i echoed the fic or tre ouarez covernment "The possibility of a military but it is coup comote exists Carrillo santiago aenera Secretary the Communis Party, (whose newspaper Mundo Obrero last week went dailv) a usual went much further. The CP Galaxy Plan "an attempt at mallory insuooro natior carrie added seriou military coup and the Socialist Party unions would put themselves on the side of the and wouk call a general strike. added that the "Basque problem" could not be properly solved

TORTO

give refuge to Continued known terrorists. There is evidently no limit to lengths Ine Stalinist leadership is prepared give unequivocal Tine successors Franco The CP leaders of course, wish to avoid a new Francoist military coup. But their political plan is to avoid it by a totally subordinate with the "democratis. Francoist bourgeoisie and by an uncompromising fight to prevent the working class from any expression of its indepen- , dent interests. In this way the Stalinists of Spain today, fike the Stalinists in the Germany 1930s, or the Stalinists of Chile the 1970s pave the way for unter revolumer Portuguese SP leader Soares

Long Kesh 'like NAC pressed to fight the cuts of the most One bourgeois prominent journalists the

USA

in has caused a storm by Britain's denouncing repression in barbaric Ireland. 'in Jack Anderson, an article syndicated US papers, number declared that Britain was: "trampling on the rights of Irish citizens in a manner Oliver reminiscent iron-fisted rule Cromwell's three centuries more ago." conditions in the Long Kesh Catholic leader concentration "worse than Saigon 1968" staff British diplomatic Such were forced to respond increasingly which also article, prominent Catholic quoted enter including who had compared: leader "the horrors of H Block Gleason. [Long Kesh with the tiger Vietnam, of where cages Trade n South American-trained Vietnamese captors interro- gated prisoners, Vietnamese North torture prisoners. cells, whére American PoWs were brutally mistreated."

Peter Jay, Anderson's article drew heavily on reports from two release capitalist Republican politicians, had been and Fish Hamilton convicted bombers claiming that: Democrat Joshua who recently visited British- "Political occupied Northern Ireland.

justified agreed that Both mel proposals", In an important turn into that the the trade union movement, rights National Abortion the 'is inseparable brought some Campaign

NHS

as 350 delegates should be conference last weekend. al occupation of simply But to services the oan provide a plattorm tor "lett sympathetic elected from Sootones union bureaucrats did not quite go according to plan. health service A WSL leaflet which pointed workers' running of the NHS" out that the star speaker, NUPE eader Alan Fisher, is a bureau. betrayed discussed who and time again, mem car. Marsland of attacked by support in spite of the Tobacco Union, opposition workers said it made her "upset putting opposed WIld to see him described this way.

the But was the platform.

OTEY

WSL

leaflet which

[NIS

planned cosy gathering of lefts', Socialist and

IMG

Eventually members Party feminists. Cocaine inseparable were also dismayed at

1HBY

the cuts the WSL amendment to NAC's otherwise meaningless strations, pressure groups the carliBI rank Weekl blame the decision the conference PHOTO: Labour 'Rank one thing leaders) THaI leaders had decision of the White

VOLB

ments to the resolutiol Huckfield Saigon 1968' -US Congressman victed under the law". The bloodstained Labour and its agents governmen internationally are forced often and more reiterate such statements as of the increasing workers' movement and capitalist ponticians wake up to the fact that a war of national liberation is Mason the North of going Ireland were Call b Oppressor views are Those that take up arms shared by in the struggle for an end to Irish Americans, oppression must Longshoremen's obviously stand in breach of Tommy the "laws" drawn up by the recently who imperialist oppressor nation.

proposed a black on British solidarity with the I neir igni-nowever lis guided its tactics-is not. a struggle in the North for the criminal act but part of an full restoration of Prisoner legitimate struggle of War status for republican entley for the right of the Irish whole people British ambassador, determine their own future.

hit back at these The criminal role is that damaging statements with a British by the alleging that Labour leaders who, in the the conditions at Long Kesh te tobry narty and with "self inflicted" by Party and. with and Tory murderers Uneashed polite ansi Ulster unleashed the savagery of the British anny have status

NO I

Irish population the criminals strongly on the need to force which pointed out simply adopt abortion unions but to do abortion, once from ther cometaine about fight to defend and improve the Dr. Judith Gray (MPU/ And ASTMS) spoke on the campaign based on policies of abortion facilities threatened for day CAre on the NHS using the dangerous argument that such facilities are b) supporting strike action committees trade unionists and users of the 'Conduct because nquiries into the safer they performed earlier. as • part of was must when the amendment health care the WorKShOd expansion substantial necessarily won Invoy ville concerted expenditure. from

THOSE

WITC

any form demands on the bureaucrats on Carried the section abortion issue the from perhaps TIGhT It was was carried as silences that said most proposals International the about which included calls tor demon- Marxist Group at their rally day schools and last week. Not that the speakers were conference had not loud and proficient. heard NUJ National Executiva Not they failed member Aidan White implicitly the almost and file of the Imoress the scandalous middle the cas. Camden Centre of its NEC to oppos But the speakers, supposedly topic and file demand adoressine

• NUJ

40th they anniversar ot tAe lond tion of the Fourth International Ignore" declared falling to explain how unable were practicat

NUJ

examination the problems and actually

TOTTER

splits in the International since union's Annual order to 1938. Meeting And there was no mention oppose the NAC conference.

fight being carried out of any went on to speak and

IMG

the WSL amend. today Ine ally section of the Secre. " ЛІТРО the Fourth Mel Read of ASTMS spoke

SMASH

PROTO: Derek Speirs IFI openly the six counties all this is Prominent in immediately Scargill's Arthur who bid lIo. Mason. all left' sponsored MP acts as chief and the leaders into for torture in minister North. serious tight on US fact that Congressmen Irom tne twe ist cabinet. bourgeois parties have now No such concessions will be Cline had forced trom the capitalist class facilities nursery their Labour agents by NUPE conference! method advocated by Tribunite the away from One step Turtne succeeded in preventing action than even NAC'S committing proposals" he suggested a cam. paign of letter writing to MPs to TOr against struggle ward off possibe demands private member's bill! in the final session of the Press conference supporter Ron Giles spelled out a very different perspective for the fiaht for tree demand. and shot «he anortion down Alan Fisher's demagogic champion claims to 5's by women and the IMG's significant silence section)i for the demands and ranian mas. see demands The section, Tol between , his principles of Ine ransitional Programme Dresenter

USFI

leader Ernest unstead the Mandel ottered ine prospect of Stalinist international campaign for a 35 hour week (which would win tated and who from instant endorsement Rritich Cl Party speaker actedatiol offered simply an endless Dalies and democratic Mandel demands without sincit mention of a socialist policy.

out the the role Odd man platform was an Iranian speaker, parties who offered a cogent analysis development of mass nor did he attempt the Iran, a clear call for struggle in the building rOTSKY IST and a ringing denuncia- Such tion of international Stalinism.

Yet this speaker, who clearly approach some of the most represents within the layers determined

IRELAND

STROOPS OUT

NOW!

CINNEGIN ARD TERENG

The recent Sinn Fein Ard Fheis. Opponents of imperialism must obviously break British laws.

*the condemned

WORKERS SOCIALIST

repression in Ireland should

LEAGUE

be used in a shame the Labour Perspectives on Ireland British Price 20p plus 10p p&p taking up this issue From WSL, 31, and fighting for the removal Dartmouth Park Hill, of Callaghan's pro-imperial- London NW5 1HR the way Fisher the last at hardened block teminists itself any fight the Police: cuts, The advocated by the WSL won considerable support in the workship discussions, and point the only serious way forward in abortion on Fisher USFI hoping to find political leadership, they movement, failed impressions and simply Contraction organised opportunism analysis and that Mandel-who A high point of this method is the British IMG dwelt at lengin on the tact Indi sensibly The platform French and Spanish reference the parties have "rehabili omitted any IMG's work in the British clas: Trotsky and Bukharin though veteran struggle, boasted Trotskyist Harry Wicks showe attendance of a Stalinist union the how far he has moved in recent conference of the Spanish USFI Socialist opportunist 1930s early Challenge thi US issues Trotskyis paper The Militant. Inese While the rally attempted to relation to the class chow me or as tie Colli in their own countries Trotskyism, its silences and any assess combined ment of the role of international noint once again to the need to reconstruct the evasion •ПОТ the of national isolated mistake; it typifies thi practical and theoretical reaffir The the mation its metnoc resutes mar whe revolutional programme elements are drawn towards the

The price hikers SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 29 November 1978 Currency dealers at work-inflation has fallen due to stabilisation of the pound Four and a half years of house lourna Labour a right wing Labour govern- carry implementing Tory ment latesl policies have doubled the "The insists that cost of living. anitam government's own, ine Index, warped, Hetal races which (by lumping together all including prices relal services) luxury and coOs the understates

OICC

most affect the that increases a 97.7% class shows WOrKHIC rise since Labour came to power in 1974. followed the example of co- is four times This increase and Brian Germany thinker that yvest as in the USA, twice as much and resigned Japan and France. Callaghan's government. And it has taken place in a For this successive Phases period when himself from limited wage ConTrOl nave

LULU

over pay increases to £6, 4½% cooperative and now 5%. -he will no doubt be wonder workers fail to Small renewed 'left' credentials.

ne eve iner eves of ears writ!t by the oress anc The planned use with claims that media enforce the 5% are now Ineir living standards SOmoLu. improved. decision.

PRESS

GANG

.or Had: it been the NGA, one avi writes the NATSOPA or SLADE that threatening to shut was machine room chapel Times Newspapers from to- whole until morrow (Thursday) agreed management answer TAt 50% the work- increase force, every Labour Cabinet Chairman still at liberty Minister uniet. paper by now 'inter- would have report of to save manage- vened villetl ment's neck. Cente to the Is ot n course a Tantasy his own farewell. beyond the wildest dreams the leadership Nanill tol Unal nostalgia waet street orint unions wourd members to go onto the permit his for

LIOTT

oTtensive 'young' management who intend to shut LOrO Sunday Times, Times, Literary the stale licil: interested „one ccr hds givet all maximise opportunity for oress displays whether demon. charity

TOT

to NomISOn IW04, intends to throw out ot work strate obecvity oclaci ment, etc. those working Where now are the najoe Snoule hysterica. • Shrieks aoUT right KnOW! thought that they About the freedom of the Press?

nalo-cane Socialist Press is of course swept away. not the eat ol SuToristu Dy absence. Those weapons arsenal

SIUR

for kept in the They must be dealt with are against The l

WOKIO

Class. capitalist. But the taise playing press ot the mace history inceseneent Sote r wc tvveels capital and labour is so carefully ton writes and endlessly peddled, not least itseif, that Ine ores: still carries some weight among confused workers. resist hand set type". When machine room

LAS

paper attempted chaper closes TO ditch". Nor does the Labour Party's Weekly Big business much conviction with its headlined section Walen "Labour is pulling "Britain" that is benefitting is out of the economic of course big business. The rate Cryer sides out/ But Cryer is not planning a Tribunite Bob Cryer has against serIOus policy. His resignation is strictly Sedgemore, him sets ant ion, donad thie from clear while himself actuallv allowina the Callaghan cabinet to cruise on regardless.

Se•—condlnc the decision the Merseyside

KME

Like Sedgemore is one thing he •nivaue baustey awardec Ghown Tna there more unpleasant government policy: the prospect He even hinted that Healey's of an all-out fight in the labou Sancton. pohn had movement with the Callaghan-Healey leadership. Freedom of the boss fleeting images something one week, who few conflict the the story Certainly not the Father of the Vimes, It took the torty view ol "a plague on both your houses, especially that when the mandement sauts group - indefinitely workers" who then writes the story? The On radio later in the week, of the Times Victor Matthews, dundal (November 26), is Denis Hamil- Express, standara ano sa. wa role Editor-in- and how the owners pr recisely (Does ooes carry maximist the negotiations Hamilton this. consicer mall cious nonsense?) journalist, but handed Two weeks ago the Editor of Dact senior management for The e venino •rancare resoneu Matthews instructed that with affairs writes Lord old a•out mne Snoule and gushing admira- unless he had personally vetted present boss the In a fit of daring the Sunday - nonIson. describes as 'malicious nonsense Times permitted Foot, wau Thomson that Socialist Worker Editor, 'Ine papers d déd vs c cnnc his profits Panorama programme, the 'balanced' length lofty by the . WorKe: piece ITOm ro domsul Tory Party's second favourit natural that the - oot drew no lessons except dismayou that the struggle retiected even understandably outraged at antagonism' ano

LOTG

and their Thomson is extremely rich.

craft should Capitalism is a social system individuals cannot and ownership and on private be swept away. wastu . wage labour. It is tor that reasor

I MOST

that the privately owned press finds no contradiction between Dispensing with 500 years of shut nvsterlt wier

WOTKC:

ane ever chande

TTOM

down newspapers, ano oritu feudalism to capitalism, Hamil- management carry out the same action.

could no more resist of 'ince bendence press is the independence of a •The doctroni „vanee înan rof books could dog on a lead. It can go as far as does not providing It Panorama It. Kes want to go too tar. oortrav of profit British industry. though still chronically low, has according Toures markedly increased over geen the last period by Callagnan : cuts controls, and laughable "price SuOSIOIC contros mat toke es mc ar criterion the 'right" 01 Tne employer to a guaranteed profit.

Subsidies Meanwhile over the last four miltions of years hundreds of pounds nave been dished out ir subsidies by Labour leaders food hire the wallets monopolies and attempt to keep bread and

DIGES

artificially low. That charade has now come the fraudulent to an end talk of price controls as a means workers living protecting standores carries on The only way in which price controls could operate would be were Ene nationalised unde: ine manade ment of elected workers com.

part of à planned, uittees. socialist economy. Without such planning, CInE You unprecedented successful impos- may got financial problems. ition of price controls on partic.

would private uar emolovers affect profitability intertere poor. old Labour Party. While with cash flow, and could ever training every to Domst cusies credibility The unsuccessful imposition elections of price controls on the other proposais, its coffers are all but agaid has be noh more than and cityl again no more thar To De week Las undercover device used to slast Executive votee workers' living standards.

€85,000 on campaign work Scotland and Wales and in Wage controls ettort to get the necessary voles the make leades Edinburgh much out of the current fall in assem ories attribute inflation-and And £100,000 wate Controls Rut the reality is that the European the cutbacks in government spend.

elections services and educ- ing on social the alion. comomee Witl im proe sred martes coling the money. markets-cutting conditions. imports-and the slump in world traat ¡causee by the recession) have had the -Duomo. Chris Davies, Report decisive impact on prices In other words the low infla- Labour hand, is in re ality based "given" one tion ine stashile OUDlid • services, the forcing through and the creation . speed-up, mess other. worker living standerds in such defence only a crisis is through the struggle ir this pay round for every section to break 5% limit, and increases their pay orotec •808 taroucl. fight for a sliding scale of wages.

Under the sliding scale, cost- of-living increases would be met by automatic wage rises, calcul.

ated in each case on the basis of index drawn by Fase yousu now and rise elected committee. trace April unionists and housewives taking taxation and other factors into militant account such a system or payment ol Labour Weekly. course runs directly counter to of the capitalist class need counte exploitation 01 T• noerse une journal the working class through cuts in real wages. Party that it is a policy AS SUeT workers forces ooK tor problems solution the confines bevond capitalism, towards the struggle for the revolutionary overthrow and a planned System socialist economy. Where the failed … TO flicker of life him into action. Well, not quite action! Challenging the OT Jalt Jackson collective iain ost ae to your point of view!): Healey

LABOUB

PARTY

LP minions challenge Phase 4 to mention the total lack of any think you've perspective from the Party leadership) is a key factor But spare a thought for the In ensur no mar me ral o lcd membership only nerve and that only 77 agents ove employed to cover 624 constit the European the Devolution _uencies What is the answer, accore the reformists? For ing the National basically to Ledin for state aid to assist nuckuela. lu droufls soene Labour Party in building up The curobean erectuls Lamenting the fact that "in formation of the new many constituencies the Labour and Cardiff Party nas become so protession- Allom adle cotato worn how to talk to working consider a expenditure people" , he proposes the setting Assembly up ot tactory brantiles The fact is that no matter how it is organised, the Labour But, though bad enough, this is not all. Labour Party staff are , remaln. . noo-ted lu up in arms over their wages and savagely anti-working cas of Callaghan and policies ricaley Its growing alienation from the working class could oniy Dt reversed by a decision by some so-called "socialist" it: wing lau acl camargi throughout Party the and int unions for removal of the Callaghan-Healey leadership and the adoption of a programme of socialist policies lacking But, any genuine al ternative polícies tó put forwaro ane trianteneo ot a conwict wilt Callaghan the erts oritt lurches while their party towaros bankruptcy Europe supremo Jenkins They have already rejected a offer of a 5% another And they have begun to take action-walci hit the production Les Huckfield poit sourin hee parl that .parlous wages and conditions of Labour tull-time worker: Heffer flickers 5% has been mass move- policy broken. We ought to get back to ment of the working class the sensiote position _ ov urd produce even collective bargaining, and at the from left' same time the recognise MP Eric Heffer, the decision caims OuAlt reasonable bounds" by the TUC bureaucrats to Heffer conveniently omitted reject a new pay deal with would what bounds he Say the government has prodded detine as reasonaole -wiette bounds are related to living workers detence standards, maintenance Almost capitalist profits thing we can

. I NE

corTin oTIS lia ReTaRIRO Bac ondry Tom figure in the leadership of any chairman the policy. mace cereTu suu ie aramisl Pree edelli er barge is ag osr At BacTne •rauc grumbling bargaining and prevaricating behind the movement control-according NOKdO CC

THE BIRTH OF

AMERICAN

MARXISM

1978 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the emergence of the Trotskyist movement in the United States. The Socialist Workers Party which today claims to represent that tradition offers no more than a hollow mockery of the fighting spirit of that early movement. This article is the first in a series in Socialist Press which will examine the early history of the SWP, the party so central in the 1930s to the launching of the Fourth International.

By Graham Bond 1917 The October Revolution Russian marked a turning point tant son for the American Radical movement. had The Bolsheviks proved the possibility of the conquest working of power by ine class and the validity within the class Marxisin struggle. 1917, Before the American Radical move- ment nad who had tendencies turned their backs on the Marxist struggle and theory. The Lassalleans had split on the eve of the Great Rail Strike Working Men's Party of the United States and the First of Marx and Engels, seek reform by to The salo Dox. The Anarchists, (disciples of Bakunin and Nechayeff) had also split from the First International

WESTER

ana the Anarchistic Internation- al Working People's Associa- as the "Black tion-known International". Collapsed Under the leadership of John Most, who prefered

2 INDUSTRIAS

anarchistic terror tactics and Marxist discarded theory,

WORKERS

this grouping collapsed after arrest and hangings of the

DE, THE WORLD

the Haymarket martyrs. International Workers of the World (the "Wobblies") who advocated Anarcho-Syndicalism had led great strikes and carried out tremendous struggles of unionisation. They had hundreds of thousands of followers but rejected They Marxist theory. were unable to grasp the political tasks involved in overthrow- ing capitalism. By 1912, the Socialist Party left wing, which stood for industrial unionisation, had lost its majority to the who saw opportunists, an political electoral road to The right wing- change. just as their forerunners the Lassalleans-turned away from the class struggle, in their quest for votes. Painting of striking coal miners, metal miners, steel workers and railroad workers.

Class struggle of the middle class invasion.

used his influence in the conflicting programme, Debs, Eugene B. which expressed conflicting They left the Socialist Party internal struggle against the voiced the opinions of the in their thousands. class interests.; file right wing. rank and more than As James P. Cannon said Workers who had joined stood Debs did not believe in else, anyone alwavs Socialist Party in good in his pamphlet "E.V. Debs factions. Yet the left and the for the class struggle. But all Socialist Movement of right wings of his party were faith were becoming his energies were devoted to demoralised by the growth His Time", page 25: perpetual fight over external agitation; he never "The strength of capital- ism is not in itself and it: own institutions; it survives only because of barriers of support in the organisations of the workers. As we see now in the light of what we from learned Russian Revolution and its of aftermath, nine-tenths the struggle for socialism is against the struggle bourgeois influence in the workers' including the Party" At the 1912 convention right the Socialist Party led witch-hunt wing radicals against wing pushed through alle amendment to the consti- tution: "Any member of the Party who opposes political advocates crime, sabotage, or other methods of violence as a weapon of the working class to aid shall be emancipation expelled from membership of the Party. "Political action shall be partici- construed to mean and administrative pation work along the lines of the Socialist Party platform."

Sharp divisions Russian Prior to the these •two Revolution tendencies had thè American radical move- ment. They had been organisationally separated and had sharp divisions in their activities and fields of work revolutionary left wing of the Socialist Party was strengthened overnight Bolshevik Revolu- the tion American Socialist The found its ranks Party of swelled by thousands men came trom the wo Many militant workers. Sotiet Republic which had with their out of Scotl capitalism's system of wage slavery All the genuine militants rallied behind the writings of Lenin and Trotsky. They had their own "The official organ called Age" Revolutionary which expounded the works of Bolshevism. was Louis Frainer John Reed, an American journalist, took socialist the Russian Revolu- part in tion, and reported its events in a • book called Ten Days World. That Shook the popularised Reed also the revolution to a much wider public field in The Liberator. of The majority the membership of the left-wing of the Socialist Party foreign Under the born. impact of October 1917 the socialist language • tore1gr movement within the USA grew rapidly. The Red Guard detachment The foreign born of the Socialist Party were organ ised into Language Federa- which tions were autonomous. There • were as 30,000 Russians, many as Ukrainians, Finns Poles, etc. At their head was Frainer, N. Hourwich and C.E. Ruthenberg Because of their auto- nature the Federa- tions did not want centralised Party, or even to organised into local branches without a national structure autonomous Minority • Such arrangement an would they would mean lose the block votes of the Federations and thus Socialist the Party left wing. The native Americans a minority which were was led by J. Reed and B Eitlow. September 19.19 underground national Tne convention of the Socialist Party left wing a three-way split took place The Federationists wanted control formed the Communist Party of the Native born United States Americans who stood for a more party Americanisea with an indigenous leader- ship, formed the Communist Labor Party This split with the Socialist 'cut the Party two Com- Parties off from of thousands socialsts wno were revolu- tionary in their sentiment but not yet ready to follow the left wing in a split.

These forces did not stay with the right wing either.

They discouragement at the three dropped way split. Communist Parties emerged with identical To matters worse they make now both felt the brunt of the of persecutions the American bourgeoisie. Deported During the Palmer raids thousands were arrested and imprisoned thousands and. of revolution foreign-born aries were deported. The Communist two Parties were ground, which cut them off from the working class with the decision of the Executive Committee of the Commun- two ist International parties held a joint under- convention

HOUNG

Bridgeman Michigan in the Spring of 1920. CPUS united with The the CLP to form the United Communist Party, and sent a declaration to the Second Congress of the Communist International:

Putilov plant in action du the "1. To work together at he Congress group. refuse to a to complete unite on the To selves on the unication to of the ECCI." class in

LACIC

Was tary 1920 convention The of it salte "Any member who had

AFL

should join Tne work in It as a communsi worker congress-not to build it but to break it up. of these ideas were Many inspired by Frainer who was spokesman influential and with the Dutch German ultra-leits. Third International. Lenin launched an attack upon these concepts with Wing Left pamphlet Communism, Infantile an which, sho tha the Disorder, • 1n chapter Werk Revolutionists in Trade Reactionary Unions?" | he said: The struggle against Messrs. Gomperses, against Jouhaux, Henderson, Merrheim, Legien and co. in Europe much Western difficult the more than struggle against our Mensheviks who represent an absolutely homogeneous social and political type.

be "This must and social opportulsil chauvinism completely ascented unifica- The tion, on in the the year, Gitlow Frainer, were and leading Kend at the members of the Second James Cannon, convendon the Jay Winstone leadership This began

.TOT

the legalisation move- ment. Hillall class. But the resistance of born members for this to was greal happen overnight. Diego Rivera's mural showing Lenin and Trotsky with delegates to the They formed legal groups for holding lectures. these the vIrallise party was affiliated to the Alliance, Aurenical LaDul which became the legal plat- form for the UCP. Z. In 1921 William Foster joined the UCP. He was a former IWW syndical- ist and secretary treasurer of the National Committee for Organising Iron and Steel Workers. Foster had practically led the steel strike great 1919. He had also gained much influence in the AFL.

Party? The Communist leader- They not. Sulp as the became League, financed by tion Cannon, Lovestone, ing the and the Goose Bittelman Winstone the of the by meetings) to the Socialist left wing of the who formed the Fourth Communist International form Workers afforded the Workers which and were The American of the UCP. Bukharin and could not accept legal Radek. 3,000 of form the them left This was chair- a strong • intluence Trotsky managed in the ranks which for one to put developed "GOOSe for the case forward Caucus' gave liquidators. support the great Cannon the long munist Party. the Party 1921, In of the At end of the under the . said he meeting Benjamin Workers supported Gitlow and the After same. on the sion was They that the advocate construction In John arrived from the Communist Party work Hungariar Hungarian board assuming was complete Pepper February American dominated CP. manipulated Pepper In mus He way. most of by the defeated undergtound. and them Vid. he was ruled off the ballot together the Board of Elections, because he was serving a jail With behind sentence. him, American economy position to with the Ine was now on the upturn. other the beginning of of Ruthenberg period oi boom which wai accompanied by a political relaxation. Persecutions liberal more Comintern. mood prevailed in the USA.

With of 'the Communist Party, the The third national Workers Party came to tne forefront as the real CP in convention Com- the Party was held on 7 fact, if not in name.

MURISI

April 1923. The question now arose- A formal communication did they need illegal William Z. Foster They even sent some of was sent their members posing had Arrangement Communist Party howe itself delegates decided to Society delegates from Health and because ice into the had was Communist (It the that the not until

AFL

tes Party of changed Communist representing in Party). red them legal This of disguised by communists repudiated the been Com- the for hic send victory "Farmer chastised back the with the to join to Communist While the Party had for for lich

AFL

had legalisation, Labor Party organised escalaut threw into question the and 1919 had 50,000 Workers should American approach Chicago workers. protracted struggle National for on this question was to last six years. It reflected tne different of ConnecTors class forces and political factions. The struggle was one November took the between the petty bour- calling for and the proletarian initiative in in tendency. Pepper, national of which Ruthenberg and Lovestone Chicago American represented the New York emerged intellectuals, without exper- ience in the class struggle 1922. was in Severe consequences Foster and Cannon, how- leftist and trade both formerly ever, were

IWW

members representing Party The workers of the mid- the west. tion in But no sooner had some 1923 headway begun to be made years of on this front, with the grow- ing dominance Cannon-Foster camp, than the Party the went over developments within board towards international class struggle adventurism. Under the intervened Within the isolated Foster-who influence Soviet • a bureaucratic with had caste around Stalin was con- Fitzpatrick steel the solidating its grip on political power, In doing so the these bureaucrats set ou Farmer Party also to transform the convention. a tool for Comintern into By crook their opportunist manoeuvres-with severe. consequences for American communism.

FURTHER READING

"The First Ten Years of American Communism" by James P. Cannon, Pathfinder Press, 1962 • of American Trotskyism" by "The History James P. Cannon, Pathfinder Press.

"Trotskyism Today" supplements 4,5 and 6.

WARTS AND ALL

The Hayward Gallery currently is showing stimulating large and exhibition called Neue German Realism Sachlichkeit and German Realism of the Twenties'. This is just one part of an presentation sponsored by the Goethe Institute major cultural facets of the ill-fated Weimar Republic.

the Following

STION

film massively populat 'Cabaret', this whole of visual arts,

•TOTTERRO

architecture, music, theatre, poetry and llins may yel elevate the thriving Weimar cult to a full-blown fad.

While avoiding simplistic (and defeatist) parallels, there is no doubt that the capitalist CrISIS, governmental instabuitv and growing political polarisa- tion serve to induce interest and of "Weimai comprehension Culture' than hitherto. Distrust of novelty While in Weimar's grim austerity, the romantic, idealism messianic, Expressionism was rejected for a concern with everyday tangible now the Op art, Pop art, kinetics and Hockney of Britain's swinging '60s have turned to a distrust of the headlong pursuit of novelty.

The Whitechapel Art Gallery's exhibition 'Art for Society' uneven way to the growing concern of artists to direct their social work in ano directions, Dontical stimulating a re-examination of past political artists, par- ticularly of the twenties.

Last year's exhibition of the photo montage work of John Heartfield at the ICA was a milestone this rediscovery process. Study of people The terms 'Sachlichkeit' 'Realism' (objectivity) and are useful only for differen- tiating this movement from earlier modes: the central tueme or most arusts in tus exhibition is a study people. But the meticulous atten- tion paid to details and generally serves to has a central panel of jazz- reinforce a denigration of high-life age decadent bourgeois values encap- flanked either side sulated individuals py in and their surroundings, and war victims on crutches and venal leering prostitutes.

statement of bestiality as a Most of Dix's depiction norm. of A giant of this exhibition women rests on this is Otto Dix, at last receiving stereotype, suggesting hardened and a the prominence he deserves His large canvasses record in Protestant element to his social criticism. stunning detail the bloated, the the Stylistically, the mean the putrefying linear quality and waI- grotesque Dix, plus his concern cripples. for detailed An early work of his representation reminiscent of Grunewald's depicts soldiers three composed of artificial limbs 'Crucifixtion'. and virtually held together Sheer ugliness spart pant surgery, noll- But chalantly playing his scorching cards, portrayal of sheer ugliness, their strap-on appliances rendered (see the old man's varicosed more shockingly 'Mismatched by the montage method of Lovers'!) him the work itself. places "Drawing for Grosstadt", category of his own

WEIMAR:

Tom Winters reviews the art exhibition 'Neue Sachlichkeit and of the Twenties' currently showing at the Hayward Gallery, South Bank, London until January 14, 1979.

Max Herrmann Neisse in the background-by Christian Schad Three other portraits are Dix during this period in the cooler but razor sharp Rote Gruppe) is well repres- in their characterisation, ented in tais exabiton will bordering on caricature. many large aggressive brush- drawings of war cripples, Sinister night-life protiteers and sullen unem ployed. The ashen-face of He brilliantly used "journalist futuristic scrambling of Harden" casts a cold and forms to dissect penetrating from the political realities of the gaze marbled table against a lurid Weimar Republic. Of partic- red background-with ular interest were his water- monocle, and coloured drawings, which viraller dubious gender, seen directly, are as bright Berlin's monument and dynamic as early works sinister night-life. by Kandinsky. In a strikingly different Schlichter Rudolph shares with Grosz a sharp anu expressions work. une "Poet draftsmanship, but tragile i Ivar von Lucken" is wafted focussing on resigned and like up by the window's angle to burnt-out "Unemployed Waiter" ethereal heights. Four portraits display a George Grosz (who bold and free use of water- worked in close liaison with colour wet on paper; his oil- however heavy like "Oscar Maria portraits Graf" are less successful.

Of particular merit are the many drawings by Max called Beckman simply 'Hell'. Executed in 1919, and highly condensed compositions recount almost journalistic- ally the instability, depriva- tion, criminality and social that revolu- Deacon on tionary year. Electrically charged and angular, they relate than other artists the .LO Expressionist tradition. Some, like the depiction . of Luxemburg's torture the hands of the Freikorps, were used as the basis for • larger paintings, but without significant improvement. 'Snap shot' near-photographic sense of realism is achieved Chris Schad. In a series by of portraits, individuals isolated crowd, stare out grimly without illusions, while other figures are cut off the as picture so pnoto• graphy. (Full circle since the early photographers who rigidly adhered to conven- tions of painters' composition!) An artist who perhaps most approximates the label New Obiectivitv' is Hans Mertens, who is represented 'still life' severa near •v monochrome paintings of household presented in a rigorous and satisfying composition The concern for surface appearance; the belief that appearances can instigate a potential for visual greater drama than abstractions has led many of these artists towards photography as standard of representation Disabled Soldier-by George Grosz point of departure for or their work. is therefore pertinent of the organisers of thi exhibition to have included a substantial section of con- temporaneous photography Much this concerned with patterns and everyday life, lexiures l and some landscape photo- graphs that dramatically contrast the metropolis with the countryside, have their painterly counterparts. book and some magazine covers designed by John Heartfield for the Germa Communist Party While not all artists associated with Neue Sachlichkeit were 'left wing the overall direction of the movement certainly was. The exhibition leaves no doubt of the artists' inten.

tion of producing a popular and form accessible communication concerned above all with man himselt and his created environment -the industrialised city While the form of this and work concerned with innovation, the content involved language consistent with philosophical materialism and the experience of the working class. This approach or move- ment has scarcely advanced Since its decisive eclipse by the fascists taking power ir 1933. Unique opportunity This exhibition offers unique opportunity to both study the • man tin style and the Weimar that stands behind it-warts and all. The exhibition closes on January, 1979. On 14 Mondays the price of admis.

sion is reduced to only 20p R. Y fift Unemployed Waiter-by Schlichter

SOCIALIST PRESS, wednesday 4y wrovember soro The family as we know it today is often being suggested as of the representative natural order of things. This myth has been ably exploded by Engels in his of Origins the book-The Private Property and the State. clearly, He ouite Shows the family unit and that within it are roles taken up not rigidly fixed but change line the develop. with and requirements of society. "nuclear family" in married parents in which isolated house- each single full hold undertake the responsibility, for child-rear- ing and domestic labour has developed in response to the capitalist requirements of economy. Social waste The social waste of such which each system-in needs household .then cooking, owi gardening cleaning, entertainment• than relying rather planned, amenities-is obvious. protits to be So is the made by whole sections of capitalist industry perpetuating the arrange- ment. But more important for the way capitalism this by oppression of women within household, the isolated means of provides a cheap male labour for providing exploitation in the produc- tion process. Thus basic chores, such and washing, cooking child-care are given women in order to liberate men for production. The burden of rese mundane tasks on women is today evel one, as the effects of public spending CUTs TOrCe more and more social and health care problems back into the home. has in This meant that women have practice become doubly oppressed. of Under conditions of the general exploitation working class, women also the in oppressed domestic situation. Complex question of The question the family and the role played by women within it is a very complex one. inter-related Two basic have to questions tackled: the oppression of women and the disciplining of the class. 4. Neither can be compiete its own. ly resolved on Although it is necessary to challenge the backward ideas of many wOrKerS including women as to the role of the 1n the thrust family capitalism must be against itself. material and tech- nological for liberating women from their daily chores certainly exist. It would be a very simple provide state SLeD communal nurseries, catering and laundry and an Ood Glorious Food - ong . Live School Meals

HAPPY

FAMILIES?

strengthen the family. improved health-care In a climate of worsening system. of and for conditions pay But for change remain tied employment the such a class, the class up in the system of private working begins to increase its aware- which today, in ownership. process fact, in the ness of its own strength and 01 dismantling even the limited revolutionary facilities which do exist.

could well fulfill leadership There is no way in which its role of any of these facilities can be capitalism, this capitalism, extended under Developments direction have to be halted.

particularly capitalism One method used by the defenders of capitalism- whether Tory or Labour-is Socialist economy propa-

SENTENCI

ganda on the subject of the of The oppression family. women, as with the general capitalist oppression of the working moving class can only The question of pe overcotic offensive. the means of by liberating family being production from private linked to that increasingly establishing and ownership of 'law and order'. planned socialist economy. Central plank hardly surprising that this period A number of Tories have economic crisis, there are taken up the question and a being made to moves Thatcher-leading priestess of the cult of the family conference is being held to discuss them in detail. Labour Party members are not far behind and often make proposals just as reac- tionary has made the Callaghan family and law-and-order a the next central plank and his campaign election is echoed every voIce level of social democracy.

One working party of Sheffield consisting Councills py predominantly Labour members produced a have report dealing with the subject of vandalism. This report raises number of important points worth quoting: examine the family unit and "There need to ask whether in the later stages of the 20th century beginning to breal down. What measures. eny, can be taken to restore family unity?" for by sections of fought the feminist movertent where it has been applauded progressive develop- ment. In fact, it is a reactionary demand. which in practice would only reassert that the women lies in the IOle OI domestic situation, of one the of oppression and accepts their permanent isolation from the organised workers movement use dek, sed of a pro- housework, seemingly HI! gressive" becomes diversion away from the real source of oppression, and, by shackling the woman more strongly to the home and labour, has domestic effect, the opposite what to 101g Lenin, dented Penalised from The report Sheffield, however, places the demand in an even more context, calling for those who refuse to stay The report goes on to say that the parental role is of importance . paramoul The full burden of cuts falls on working women "fashioning and forming minds' opinions and that logically, therefore parents should have overal for responsibility the problems of vandalism and including actual sharing punish- 01 By Ron Steel ment with young offenders.

As already stated, the order family are two topics on the lips of many a prominent Tory. The fact that the cry is Q00O widely taken up by now highlights social democrats the fact that the Labour Party or government offer nothing to the working class. from the beginning that vandalism assumption is a problem stemming from and not the family of symptom massive youth with unemployment and low Labourites see wades. A number of possibilities being in the The first suggested family suggestion is that mothers This suits them very well paid a salary to snould It enables them to duck, stay at home to look after yet again, the real issue at their children, bring stake--what kind of society families closer together and resolve problem. hopefully to keep an eye on hall facing the working class!

the potential vandals The report goes on: Day to day struggle "But surely the role of a the most mother For men and women to important of family part be fully liberated life is felt that the working class must present child allowance overthrow capitalism. its should be ended and in day the day to place the mother would be struggles for women's rights if she wished given a salary the reformists of the Labour stay at home to continue be challenged Party to look after the children.

and and a removed Dal Li "On the other hand, of built capable of leading the course, she could choose to working class to power. go out to work then Social revolution alone would child there be no can liberate the resources to allowance nor state salary."

provide

TOT

progressive which the change Reactionary demand . claustrophobic DourgeoI: will little by family unit raise little be replaced by a wider These suggestions social unit, in which human the question of whether or paid relationships are allowed to not women should be from the "wages for housework" develop JECt fetters of domestic labour This is a demand which has taken and and exploitation. up DeCI HUT. Andrew wiard, deport Also campaigning in defence of the family, Callaghan

NEW MASS PICKET CALL

rage 10

INDUSTRIAL

by duplicity 11 has December Iul-time ornicials now been named by the dispute began House of Holland Strike months ago. as the day Committee for the next mass picket recognition of the firm's strike-hit typical within the warehouse. bureaucracy's The success of the first around V100 some beating. such action two weeks ago Following has given the strikers much needed encouragement victors beforehand following week after week and of bureaucratic evasion and started frankly, Quite we're socialist revolution. this unique! We're only movement that fights patiently and relent- lessly Tor Tand Trotskyist capable mobilising the working class in In me jobs by the strugale for state power and struggle against the establishment of a socialist society. Unlonisition the fight against In doing so the WSL alone does not enrink trom batties with the existing leaders working class whether of the these be left' talking Labourites form or Stalinists of the Communist Party. these battles we set out to or stalinist bureaucracy prove to workers both in theory only new leadership tor transitional the niSL which, starting from issues the demands today's the Only consciousness within the work- workers liberation ing class, lead workers.

MORE

DETAILS

Please sond me more information about the Workers Socialist League. Name: Addrass. Send to: WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NWS 1HR

NEWS

The House of Holland mass picket

HOUSE OF HOLLAND

sacked, this turned into out- their TGWU right hostility to the strikers over two company's The recog- 'agreement' nition WRAt time Although such treatment

USDAW

one correctly derided strikes Geoff Hulett (the

TGWU,

missed by union's Oxford District manoeu- a ploy to keep Officer) this one taKe out union organisation, was subsequentlv siezed on as a the usual of all out support for now saying the reason "inter-union once the strike issue was dispute" the Why join the SL? ionary struggles such as those in strucale to oraso the need tor ran an• southen

ATTICO.

•OUL

reason, though we also the necessity for the recon.

are smaller than some self-styled Trotskyist struction 'revolutionerv' aroups. the WSL Fourth International as the org has featured in the forefront of anising centre World struggles in British Leyland, of socialist revolution. party of WSL is not the biggest the on the left in Britain TUC leaders, movendent. is it the easiest to be the cuts, in nor member of. But in its approach and strucates. to both theory and practice it is revol dictatorship within the unions.

the only restiv gone us utionary movement. This method of approach the Whan you look rejectine any descent to simpid and trade union militancy, and any way the problems faced by the reformist concession king class the nocessity for leadership is urmis principled course essential for the working Take se

NOT

JOIN US? Fill in Britain but

WHY

the form below for more approach your local details, or who will gladly supply points out not branch of British information about our obligation more and per. the policies, struggle and revolut- spectives.

THE KEY TO THE CUTS FIGHT!

Picket blinded-£25 The TGWU's scandal- treatment of the ous strikers Garners was further highlighted by several Region I's agreement events last week. police the right to picket. With heavy fines being and imposed strikers their for such suppoilers heinous crimes as obstruct- alongside line the highway, Mrs ing ment with Garners Margolis wife numbers boss Cyril) received a paltry £25 fine at Marlborough St.

on Monday. official sanction adjourn- several After and arrest the strikers. ments because of her refusal the hearing, she attend pleaded guilty to common incident assaull which her blow had caused a striker to lose partial sight refusal to pay the fines in one eye. those the Daily Telegraph As individual week, the pointed out last the financial nature of the. charge pre of such fines. cludes any chance damages being extensive the Regional won by the injured striker- Jalil Khan. Martin Audrey Oxtord Street Tuesday than the agreed limit. Flannery's police's arbitrary picketing was TGWU's The shopworkers union, however, could produce no evidence of any members in the company. Another tactic has been to deliberately confuse the which of the question of union's districts the responsible, leaving strikers stranded between and the Northampton Oxford offices. In addition, the officials have instructed the workers' union branch secretary to calls to meeting, from isolating them the further machinery. A strike committee dele- gation confronted Regional Secretary Mathers a month but his reassurances have proved to be worthless.

Meanwhile, officials bitterly oppose the pickets call. Owner House of Holland's owner, Mrs van der challenged by •pickets last week, said she would rather join them on the dole than familiar give in, a phrase to many involved in recog nition strikes over the past few years. If she is to be made to eat those words the campaign for blacking must be stepped up for the next Support mass picket can im prove the conditions Can valli. The booklet which spells out the policies for all-out necessary struggle against the cuts, drawing on practical ex- perience at the

EGA

and the Oxford Nursery Occupation. Name : 30p plus 10p p&p Address from the WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NWS 1HR. Dartmouth London NWS IHR Fine! Whilst an example among many of the class nature of British justice the incident is indictment with to curtail the of the Morning Star, took a The refusal of the TGWU position to the left of the Communist Party. to mobilise a single substan- The day of mass picket- tial delegation to the picket Greater this ing called by agree- of London Association the police six Trades Councils to an restaurant, has disarmed the represents strikers and given the police important step. • Although not decisive in to harrass itself such a mobilisation provides a valuable morale Tribune picket booster to the strikers and attention the of focuses The final act of treachery labour movement on the strik large lavers of the wider in this process is the union's of supported arrested-leaving it will numbers to supporters effective- challenge by its burden the union's refusal to mobilise pickets, mass To the embarrassment of organise secondary blacking strikers and pay eight "left" MP's including adequate finance. Flannery, Dennis Because of the potential Skinner, Jo Richardson and threat of such mobilisations Wise picketed GLATC, headed by Stalinist Garners Stiller, and Region 1 headed lunchtime-more by Stalinist Staden will do best by planned their protestations inaction ensure that the (TO action on December 8 is a intenaed as tne usual loxcl gesture of support) that the flop. limits Success on this day will 'intimidation' therefore help strengthen pinpointed the depth of the strikers fight not only betrayal and, the but against company the obvious embarrassment against their own leadership.

Communists' Against Revolution key The book for únderstanding post-war 166pp, £1.75 Stalinism. plus 20p post and packing from WSL, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR Right at

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Ambulance drivers fight 5% major sell-out wages is being hatched in British Leyland. Despite the the vote. OT Comoine committee a mont ago and the two eak strike re and the two-week strike by Ine brews Lane plant aemand- ing blant madai to tratter attempts are being made negotiations to national level A meeting of the Bl Cars Joint Negotiating Committee

(LCJNC)

was held last Thursday sworn to secrecy. Full advantage company took full At it, the of the willingness of do vantace the right wing and Communist Party accept a deal at any modified made offer. This includes an offer to pay agreed premium the nationally rates over time dilu shift) from February 1, 1979.

Yet the company are obligated pay these rates from November 1. 1978 quite irrespective of the pay review!

they will pay hey also say a 5% increase on the basic rate,

NUJ

Journalists on provin- cial papers have stepped sanctions in their up campaign against the five per cent pay limit. But the inadequacy and divisive nature of the action already becomme awaitill Already journalists Bolton have been dismissed by management for operat- The only ing une sancuons. advice they received have the

NUJ

hold trom . 1s to fast, sit at their desks and refuse to accept' that they are sacked. On some papers the sanc- tions are being Suncely operated and biting. In Britsol the evening paper been reduced to has an edition emergency management concentrate on the prestigious morning paper. On others the sanctions are being operated in such a way that management little inconvenienced.

UNION DUES

Convenors hatch BL pay sell-out backdated to November "offers" But both of these would be conditional on full acceptance, by all BL car plants the co-called proposals and the highly conten- tious new grading structure.

Hamstring The new grading structure involves acceotanct rigid corporate wage set-up which would future, individual plants in the and put negotiations

INTO

Ine hands of national officials.

But the LJNC voted 26-1 again this Wednesday meet and receive the same proposals in written form. decision flatly contra- dicts existing combine mittee policy, and has effective- enoce Heculld tions. Plans are clear his wipiease Ene Lond bridge convenor, Stalinist Derek lọng who. Robinson advocated corporate bargaining ine richt windl ano ine cr are clearly determined to avoid Sanctions divide The pattern suggests that those chapels which argued strike most strongly 101 action are now the chapels implementing to the best effect. These include a ban on an end to night telephones. work and all flexibility and stubborn insistence on finishing each lob to the satisfaction of the journalist before the next one begun. But the employers-who have applied for permissior from Department of the Employment (!) to pay 7% Ambulance crews in the been W. Midlands have suspended following the imposition of sanctions in of their claim for pursuit the solution of pay anom- alies dating back to reorgan- the isation service 1974. Of Shall

AT THE TOP...

a strike at any price. on pay Wednesday's LCJNC is likely the for a BL convenors' way predomin- ance or convenors Trom sKilled sections is likely to produce a further endorsement. The whole miserable sell-out will then be put to a ballot oT the entire : BL cars workforce. plot fought. This bargaining HAnT must defended. Strike action The plant claims now submitted must be answered by the company-and separated the "parity" plan and from remium rate creases It there is no improvement on the 5% action must be taken common offer to all BL car plants must answered by common strike 4 Phase and defend jobs and conditions.

rises have been pay not shifted by

SE CLL011S.

Only all strike an out with a call •to punters Io1 support is likely to shift one of the most intransigent sets of employers substantially.

Sanctions could the offer which will not bring shift the living decisive

NUJ

standards the members concerned. The employers' proposals weight' offer to any better paid favour ot the be journalists musl alsO rejected. negotiations ConSUCTed differint stations had resulted id differing Want conditions. Now W. Midland ambulance for a general crews asking rounaine wace. and conditions to the best obtain- ing in the area. Health Authority lhe Area caim inat this would break Ine government's pay limit. In a direct move to step up

HA! THIS BRANCH WANTS US TO FIGHT

FOR ABORTION RIGHTS! WHATEVER NEXT?

CHRIST-ITS

A BIRD

BL workers at the Cowley Assembly plant who submitted the first plant claim

DEFEAT AT

INK FIRM

The militant six week strike at the Usher Walker printing inks factory in East London ended last Tuesday.

not re-instatement. motion for strike action. was And the sell-out arranged defeated by 34 votes to 26.

that NATSOPA bureaucrats certain by benefits such as sick pay and Disciplinary action ensured that two days later hoi day were lost because chapel the entire •new HicH The three sacked men have leadership was sacked from employees, to enter since said that they do not wist had period their jobs. monta roamonary to return to work aiter a vote employment. which effectively endorses their Reinstatement The chapel decided to fight sackinos when The strike began tor re-instatement and asked tol Nevertheless as a Tight individuals not to do any over- temporarily elected FoC met acaose tareatene• reouroancies time scab

NATSOPA

official for money the company An official withholding after a previous overtime HutChInson the tollowing day without the Executive Com he pressed for official backing oIseuTe mittee's approval breaks Rule for their re-instatement.

But it soon turned into a into fight Sze A bore rue book Hutchinson replied by saying On Wednesday trouble flared that the three men had both

NATSOPA

the dici firm's and again when the three legally morally "sacked bureaucracy strikers; and a fight for the jobs truck onivers reTused Themse ves without NATSOPA supervision He also said that any strike then Usher Walker threatened their behalf would action sacked. These demands appeared to instant dismissal desoile Inelac last that the three men were desper- union. have been won ately trying to find a solution to More expulsions the union bureaucial 'remaining militants would give Dave ToIC

TOE

i the problem strikers that the man bad te On Thürsdav the company üsne Chanci bothi carried the and totally destroy union organisa- out astated ever sacked all three men tion on the site NAURA ane to Theods of the remaining I nis situation was mact Lask Probationary doubly serious by virtue of the to Tactory Is mutants in tne fact three to the the men-Burton,

NATSOPA

Although the original bureaucracy barratt ano burnam-were ine demands of the strike had not FoC, Deputy FoC and chapel support ine Three sacken mer been won, the strikers agreed to and to begin • to re-organise the scuitary. return to work, with a number _ o nave contronte manade union in the lactory ment in this way so soon after a The last week has seen an cemoraised week defeat for the But when the men returned work they found that what workers at Usher Walker Christma: was a grave Delore agreed actually been tactica mistake It is the job ot mutants ir Many of the workers in the the factory to ensure that it is between walker and NATSOPA was re employment, chapel were demoralised and a only a temporary defeat. Secretary the Birmingham but NUPE' did noi Trades Council who as chairman has deprived the W. Midlands of suit. In last week's ambulances. The crews demands Socialist Challenge former of the AHA was responsible for the suspending ambulance nave been relecteo and without

NUPT

Tull-TImE oTTiCIal waiting for the dispute to reach Adamson explains that having crews the strike action

NUPE

stage failed persuade crews nave stuck firm for over a week now in the face told follow the TGWU he resignec of this intimidation It is impor- men sanctions his job. •to oron Their (which report back to base by radio and included refusal Stark contrast that of other workers in the W Midlands area-especially the sheets) suspended. as orinciped action siane.

wakely WorKels. The TGWU made the dispute in stark contrast to that of the

HELLO-THIS MUST BE THE NEW FULL-TIME

NEXT THING YOU KNOW THESE WOMEN WILL

OFFICIAL... COME IN BROTHER!

WANT 24HOUR NURSERIES -THE BLOODY LOT!

WHAT ARE THESE HUSBANDS

TO, LETTING

CARRY ON LIKE THIS?

PLEASED TO MEET YOU O'FISHALL -

....YOU COULD GO TO SATURDAYS CONFERENC

I'VE

EM A ROUSING SPEECH ON

OFF THE

AND GIVE

WORKEL

OV AN IDCA I0 CCI VO

-THEN EVEN

HOOR ON HE Low rAtriGnt.

THE SH

WILL BE EATING OUT OF YOUR HAND!

?

Marches defend PoWs

SOCIALIST

PRESS

BLACKING

VITAL IN

BAKERS' FIGHT

Determined steps have scroungers, spies to the most profitable aspect of intactAr deserted by betrayed the employers' operation.

by the Bakers been taken scabs, bled by Union a bid to force every ared in sold out by their leaders com- oranches employers to concede to notwithstanding mittees in particular should their £10 pay demand. this, it is today most vital take up this fight and pressed to potential power Last weekend, in an almost this planet has Te camore their cocosmo one recall known and historic road transport and docks' evel unprecedented emancipating stewards immodiate organise delegate conterence voted unan workers.of the world from the expel 2,000 blacking of grain ana lotal been flour shipments until the £10 who have Thradom The ages che setong of ate sina Yours claim in full, pay setting without strings, the satisfac This has challenged

SEC

by fraternally Sam Maddox." tion of the bakers' union head-on threats the The example of the bakers' * Supporting action emo overs to ear Ho • Ene closed be struggle must taken into shop agreement if strikebreakers were expelled. Bakers have already shown TIeNT NUrS ano ornel public sector unions on the out clearly that their And it spells and capacity supposed "Low Pay" campaign.

the union and cetermined witstanc police scab break from its history of right violence. Now wing collaboration with manage- they must. intensify Fisher's hope demands ment nas

IOTT

MaKers secuous o1 wages and conditions as some of workers tor supporting action- the lowest in the country particularly blacking dem agogue Alan "Letti Fisher and his less-left cronies immed- the docks, which could rapidly This stallu ida iate effect sitting on their hands on a ot pulling nait • SHOoter grain additional 400 workers on strike flour mills, and thus put a stop claim „tor over 1 millon in retaroovouet. Flying pickets At ine some time the union leadership has freed for stepping up of flying pickets on tour mis mdouto cut to supplies that have enabled scabs continue substantial production. that increasing smaller num ders bakeries for union claim in order to revert to norma oroduction. Meanwhile last week Bakers Union president Terry O'Neill, a cakine to vocorters denounced the way in which other union leaders left struggle Their isolated.

I OO

many nationas unior wining dining, in trips Europe and America " nev are more interested in fancy meals than they getting down to looking after Results of IRA bomb campaign: 64 shops wrecked in Dungannon the interests of their members ... some union leaders are siding with the employers, hoping we will be smashed.'

wvewsines low paid other sections workers in the texthe trade ano in the hospitals to take action In a massive show of During the same alongside the bakers. weekend the deputy opposition to the of the notorious Firm call governor British military occupa- Kesh Long concentration tion of Ireland, General Sam and screw in Secretary camp Maddox has issued a firm call in demon- thousands of. of Block-in charte which over 300 republican • leter to every strker. graine marched strators last solidarity and renewed efforts and socialse to force the employers to their week through the being subjected to barbaric streets of London, while

KUCES

torture-was klica by inA *Ten thousan• times nas the thousands more defied a gunmen. trade union movement stumbled and fallen and bruised itself, and These events, coupled government ban to join with renewed bombing risen again To De caIZed ov tha similar march in throat and choked into insensib.

campaign in the six counties ility: Armagh city. enjoined have brought home clearly that war of charged by The marches centred on the fact the military powers, , shot down by the demands for the restor- liberation in Ireland is very discriminated regulars, against ation of political status to much alive. •the boy Irish republican prisoners of The London demonstra- public opinion, deceived by politicians, repudiated by rene. war and for the withdrawal ton, callea by the risoners of British troops. Aid- gades, Committee, was by Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Printed by Anvil Printers (TU), London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office: Maddox local authority manual workers while mere 25,000 Bakers forward the fight agains Cally Fisher's hope is that he can postpone action until after the bakers' action is over-and thu: take the steam out of the tbu 45-hour week claim for his own members. Councils of action Public sector workers mus fight this sell-out and discuss of linking alongside up ways bakers and other sections in th struggle against wage control. This should include the setting up of local of councils action orawn deledles wom movement loca organisations and bodies, with and spreading strendtnenino Ene SErUCOLE against government pay policy and the TUC bureaucrats whose actions now tacitly defend it.

substantially bigger than the last such mobilisation on 9 July of this year. But still a there was marked shortage of banners from the organised labour movement. The fight against British Ireland repression clearly still not being taken up within the unions by many of the left groups who mobilised their

OWI

members for the demonstra- " Without such a turn, the propsect of materially the attecting stance of the Labour leaders fight force withdrawal of

LINES

DRAWN

Plans to shut down the Times, Sunday Times and Literary and Education Supplements were well advanced we went to press. The NGA refused to enter into negotiations with the Times manacement under quress out have left their members rudder- less. Other orint unions have been talking hard conceding ground fast. But nothing lookec to sail of une mandoe ment lock out of close on 4,000 workers-and no strategy for this has been tighting Torward by any of the chapel: concerned If Times Newspapers do shut then it is likely to be a long time before they reopen. Jake Ecclestone The employers are trying in one doune to rumo over the too the technology introduced into provincial newspapers-not adopting more dovanced adopting a Technolovut ov more complete destruction jobstimes Newspapers demanding single stroke kev boarding' in which the journal- staff type their stories directly into the _computer. Although therefore the cutting Times proposals tor iot are 10% overall, their effect in the NGA compositors. would be than 50% ot the axe more worktorce The

NGA

slower to are respond management of carrot Trassive redundancy payments simply because tol this ultimate betrayal. Once single stroke keyboard- British troops from Ireland is minimal. lnis in mina. the

WSL

carried contingent placards and shouted slogans directed at the need to fight British imperialism Ireland by fighting for the removal of torture chief Rov Mason and the about leadership. In this way the necessary fight for the restoration of political status and for the self-determination ine Irish people can be seen in its proper connection with the struggle for a revolution- ary leadership in the British working class.

THE TIMES

BATTLE

ing becomes widespread the composing becomes small dealing service with coov which comes into tne building from outside sources only The will have notine tent to self. Programme to defeat the lock- buildings: Times throw out management. Produce a labour movement papeCall supporting strikes throughout Fleet Street work sharing on •Demand full pay-no loss of jobs *Open the books of Times Newspapers to elected commit- lets or wade amonst " semano natonas zon o the Times under workers control with no compensation

TOI

Lore nomson are otte owniers The unions are now divided ane in retreat. downere nass al single call for principled oppos- ition been raised This does not mean that the collapse once the Times have Journalists on declared themselves behind NUJ's inadequate policy of not input necotiatino oirect (another for single key boarding) the NGA has sen

OUT

own jobs. But Jake Ecclestone, Times FoC and the nearest thina Flee Street has to a militant in the NUJ, is contaminated witn comoromist 'reasonable' deals. At union's annual conference this year, , discussing new Tecano oey Ecclestone who spoke for the National Executive against call for workers means or brocuction. Now the unions are faced with precisely that choice. The wedool There against a management lock-out is to occupy the plant and to print a doour movement babel under. the direct control of the workforce. Unly im mediate occuba tion of the Times, with manage- excluded from the build ment ocan to slow tne way Torward Tor mes workers. i ne question is not so much new fangled technology Tastioned attack.

ETTE

employers Once in occupation Times forward workers must put procramme chasenone mandoe ment's right to destroy their jobs and leading to the expro •riation or Ene newsoaders trom Lord Thomson and his ilk.

Fund The November Fund now stands at £584.51-just £15.49 short of our target for the month of £600. With day of the month to go after this issue published readers and last supporters have opportunity to ensure that weo ver oee o• Donations should be sent to: Socialist Press Fund, 31.

Dartmouth Hill Park London NW5 1HR.