Socialist Press no. 92

DEFEND PALESTINIAN

REVOLUTIONARIES!

Conference called to Palestinians protesting in Beirut against the Sadat peace talks The campaign to defend Cowley militants the nine against a McCarthyite witch- hunt by TWU officials is proceeding. Sponsors of a national confer- for Gwu members tobe held on April 8 in Oxford have now produced two leaflets, one of which appeals TO! adaitional support and carries the names of 90 leading TGWU members. sponsors-including hese several senior stewards as well as branch chair- branci secretaries. men, otticers or stewaras com and prominent shop mittees broad stewaras-inaicale response to the victimisation.

Strong representation has from Support come with the industries, range docks and the car inousty to une fore, and with strong represen TGWU Region from Cation the Reaional Finance and General Purposes Committee of which is carrie outerstand chat TGWU that unaerstand members are circulatine UnIS most branches material Region 5 and to union commit-

SOCIALIST

PRESS

* Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 92 * March 22, 1978 * 15p As Zionists blitz camps fight witch-hunt Meanwhile employers gave wite

WITN

exe anator further evidence of the motive for information produced jointly the witch-hunt of Trotskyists anc with management-giving a strong militants as Leyland management chance or acceotance stepped up their offensive last Committee at the Come As rais The Joint Stewards week. biv Plant however has called fol Incentives opposition to the ballot, and for decide individually at plants to All Leyland workers received mass meetings. a joint management/union docu- This is the leadership the the Job Evaluation

TGWU

bureaucracy want Scheme which contains moves destroy in cowiey by expulsion towards introducing job compar- from the union or by banning key militants from office. The objective is to drive down fight the comerence working conditions witch-hunt will be neld at ipm on April 8 and is open to TGWU common level, for songre parity" wage payments.

members only. The second strina to manade ment's bow is an incentives plan Delegations designed to use the union appara tus to soeed to ine worktorce.

We urge all our supporters to fight for delegations to attend this Opposition conference, union bodies to condemn the witch-hunt and to Leyland senior stewards have build the campaign to torce the in theory opposed this but they officials to drop the trumped up agreed to put it to a company charges. The racialism savage and the utterly reaction- ary nature of the preda- Zionist regime in tory Israel has been clearly revealed by its 14 March invasion of Southern Lebanon, which marks a sharp new turn in the Middle East situation. The full-scale invasion is said by the capitalist and pro- Zionist press to be in retali- ation' Fatah for the commando raid on 11 March which killed 32 Israelis and 7 commandos. The 'retaliation' story however is obviously nothing but the flimsiest pretext for a huge military operation which has been planned long in advance. Detonator the began, As Israeli defence minister Weizman was quite open about its real motive. "It is true that the carnage of 11 March served as Under threat of expulsion- Alan Thornett This issue Crisis in Italy Back page .p.8-9 Mourning Stalin. .. p.4 WRP on Cowley witch-hunt p.9 Deakinism, part two... that they will always support the "legitimate" state power of the Zionist colonialists The capitalist class must accept all this because the extreme right Begin wing regime Centa

LUCI

strategy for dividing and sup pressing the working class and peasantry of the Middle East -not least the Israeli working class which even as war broke detonator, but an object is to out was engaged in a massive mop up for once and for all strike wave on by spurred the concentrations of terror- galloping intlation. the South Lebanon Spectre who had received important Begin offers nothing to Tenorcements months". Jewish workers The Zionists need to settle To resolve their problems matters in Southern Lebanon those workers must turn their because this is the only area guns not on the Palestinians left which the

-HOW

South but Lebanon Palestinian forces liberation Begin Zionist and the can operate next to their exploiters

DOTCCES

The spectre of the inde- Fascist forces pendent mobilisation of the Palestinian and Arab working The Zionists' friends in the masses also terrifies the Arab Arab world, like Hussein in bourgeoisie. This is why they Sadat in Egypt deaf to have remained allu have long pleas of PLO leader prevented Arafat since Palestinians from for assistance. using tael territory base, after As socialists and bloody battles and opponents of all racialism and Hial protests colonial exploitation we The Lebanese government, unconditionally support the aided by fascist forces and Palestinian liberation fighters also tried to their justified struggle

LOODS

drive out the Palestinians last Zionism and all its against year in the most bloody civil bourgeois allies in the Arab war of all. world and internationally.

However, with the support Incapable socialists, of Lebanese the Palestinians have remained in Every kind of moral, polit- South Lebanon, a thorn financial help must ical and the flesh of the Lionists be given to them. Even before the But we do not consider it commando raid tensions had principled to give uncritical building South been up support to the means used by Lebanon, with fascist and the Palestinians to pursue this Lebanese militia right WIllg struggle or to the particular men crossing the border into leaderships thrown up at this Israel, returning with artillery stage. bombarding Palestinian and The PLO policy of calling on the bourgeois Arab leaders Invasion -including even Sadat-is not the way in Zionism wnich This set the scene for last and its allies will be defeated Tuesday's full-scale invasion These leaders are incapable 30,000 by heavily armed of Palestinian waging amounts troops, huge of revolution. The central appeal artillery and the most sophis- must be to ine Arab masse.

fighter planes throughout the Middle East dropping cluster bombs to overthrow these reaction- civilian targets. ary regimes and come to the describe Latest reports aid of the Palestinians. Zionist troops as far as the Leadership Litani river, north of Tyre.

The Zionist butchers have Nor can the PLO leader- destroyed every village and ship be said to be the sole settlement in the border area representative of the Pales- those supporting the except tinian people, since (MO fascist Falange. Trotskyist believes that such Refugees have been a leadership-however much bombed and shelled from air, support it has-can carry out sea and land as they fled from the tasks of the Palestinian taxis. broken area tne national revolution. down lorries or any transport Such require the LaSK. they could find destruction of the racist state There is no doubt that of Israel, and carry over into "liberal' bourgeois the struggle for social revol throughout the ution throughout the Middle world may blench at these "excesses" of East, create which religious as they have with Palestine in Zionism racial discrimination each new grab of territory, in allu the end class interests dictate ended.

The haunting of Soares Fascists bomb student Page 3

•INTERNATIONAL

GIANT UNION

HELD IN CHAINS

West Germany's ments over the wage claim "socialist' Chancellor, that have provoked this deter- Schmidt, Helmut has mined resistance. now openly given his sup- Workers are also demand- to the powerful port ing security of jobs and pro- forces ranged against the levels tection strikes by print and metal before they will agree to the workers. ( introduction of new technol- This precisely In a television appearance central question in the print- he pleaded for a re-opening of workers' struggle. had which negotiations During the long boom, and already dragged for on the first years of the current betore montis class gence of employers and the crisis, Germany West enjoyed militancy of rank-and-file Schmidt relatively privileged economic members pressured the union Wuerttemburg-North Baden!

bureaucrats to withdraw. the West German This Now, 1s despite tne nuge

NOW

verv same pres- capitalists frustrating Loderer and his need to force sures are their through a wide-ranging attack strenuous efforts to contain companions in • bureaucracy members received from on workers to preserve their and suffocate the strikes.

With 2½ million members, this region and North Rhine- profits. Westphalia. It is their ability to intro- IG-Metall (the metal workers' employers have duce this 'rationalisation' union) is the world's largest Already responded with the threat of which is being disrupted in trade union. from these two strikes that hold a Yet only 60,000 workers general lockout been called Monday. crucial significance for every have out on the German much the worker strike-all from selected

HOL

trifling disagree- Federal Republic. relatively factories in one region, North Soares no longer talks of a the Portuguese people Mario Soares, the defend "Socialist with

GILS

Socialist Party leader CDS personalities" but of the tions and objectives whatever who heads Portugal's new the circumstances may be" complete unity of purpose of the government" coalition government Ever since April 1974 the In this situation the atten- the right wing with Portuguese CP shown tion of the working class is has Social Democratic and itself expert at posing in this once again sharply tocussed Centre, is a haunted man.

champion leaders of the Com- the on the way while reality One of the lesser spectres munist Party and of the main workers Com- betraying of its federation, the every which bedevils him is a press interview given to a British munist-dominated

CGTP-

struggles. And Cunhal made it clear journalist at the end Intersindical. later his speech what In rebruarv in which against a Demagogy background of virulent anti- "opposition really Soares meant. Communism save the These bodies of "The government has a graphic picture nave, been making a lot of dangerous political compos- economic damage which his course, ition and a bad programme.

austerity noise about the new govern- government s fight this would inevitably will ment. we and governmental formula In the vote of contidence witak Despite repeated denials of in parliament for the "second the policy which agallist government" announced in its the content of the interview constitutional don't by Soares, it has been widely the CP voted against. programme. We publicised and has increased take up-we never have taken It rejects Soares'. charge the up-an attitude of systematic felt by outeness 'historic that this Soares opposition. As always we will working was class agamsl error" and his clique at the head of judge concretely every The error would have of the Socialist Party. decision and act the CP been, leader Alvaro government. Cunhal said last week, to let Liquidation makes it clear that This such a government with shred of there not the support of the CP. principle involved in the CP s The new right wing coalit- 'The CP's vote against the intensified anti- opposition to the coalition ion and the Government" he went class Only two months ago the working demagogically, "Was the only measures has put the finish to CP itselt was correct vote for a party which which has been broad national coalition a process is proud to be the : party of underway for the last two government. years-the breaking of links the working class, of all work- The CP's "opposition" of head-off between the treacherous designed to the DeovIC. Dally agrarian reform and of the resistance of the Soares leadership ana farmers, some of small and medium Portuguese working class and masses of workers, the party which always has still peasantry to the pro-capitalist years ago

LWO

looked to the Socialist Party been and will always remain pro-landlord government. faithful to its undertaking to The CP is obliged to offer for leadership. Soares and his clique have presided the virtual

OYCI

liquidation of Socialist the Party as mass workers' alLy . branches Local of the party do not meet. The party organises actions 110 even of the most diversionar character. Six students died and His main message was to Soares and his henchmen call on the bourgeois state to wounded leadership without 44 were lett di d "measures' against the take base. last week as fascist gangs fascist party. This is why in the govern- staged a bomb attack on ment crisis of December and Collaboration Istanbul University. January, the Socialist govern- well aware that it had Immediately afterwards lllcill, refusal lost the confidence of the the university was occupied mobilise workers in indepen- for class, turned of 0 v to usanus dent struggle against the the right wete by assistance to wing Jomed tascists capitalist party, the CDS.

thousands of workers in mass by all the reformist and funeral demonstrations Unity of purpose Stalinist parties. Istanbul and Ankara. Their calls for bourgeois his fellow Restricted protest Soares and Prime Minister Ecevit to take traitors now see their role as action are clear continua- Abdullah Basturk, leader hanging onto power with the tion of their line of Popular of the 'left' wing trade union CDS for as long as they can Front class collaboration.

confederation DISK has con- stick it out. until they are Ecevit's response, predict- demned this latest fascist forced into holding elections restricted ably, was to do no more than in which they would inevitab- atrocitv-but las President Reports on Carter's attempt to force US back coal miners WOrK of the strike- through use Taft-Hartley breaking laws indicate that only about 100 of the 160,000 who have been on strike for over 100 have heeded days

COUTU

injunctions and returned to the pits. This disastrous Tan ure coerce the United Mine Workers union back to work has undoubt- edly played major role forcing further concessions from coal bosses-some of the most hard-bitten wealthy and reaction- ary employers in the USA.

contract new submitted last week by the bosses abandons attempts #corcorate ausciouary measures against unofficial strikes.

Narrowly endorsed reduces the amount payable by miners for health care from a proposed 1 $700 maximum to a proposed $200 maximum semblance of oppos- ition because in their relation- ship with the mass of workers and peasants they are atraid of sharing the same fate as Mario Soares Their problem was high- lighted two weeks by ago the important stakes public services. On March 10, 300,000 public service workers, nurses, and teachers all staged a one-day strike. Despite the lame attempl of pro-government news- label the strike a very widely tallure followed and has had protound impact. Called around a series of demands on wages and conditions this was the irs national strike in the public service since April 1974 and symbolises the frustration and anger felt by all Portu- the anti- guest working class policies of the government. In many other sectors of the Portuguese labour torce new struggles have breaking out. The disastrous condition of Portuguese capitalism Soares cannot means that hold out any material reforms to appease this rising tide of protest. Soares is haunted now by his own words- more than he is haunted by the working which he still professes class to lead. enforced by the army if necessary. Behind the fascist attacks preparations of the the are capitalists big for a major confrontation with the work- ing class as the only way out of their desperate economic crisis, which has already led to a 32.5% currency deval- uation, price increases and cuts in state spending. devaluation, The com- bined legislation will demanding importers pay an extra 30% to the central bank has hit companies hard. Defence squads Ecevit is now planning a US miners force - back coal bosses The wage increase remains 31% over three years and some concessions are made on levelling pension payments for retired miners. The were new proposals narrowiv endorsed by the UMW!

Bargaining Council by 22 votes to cy nese Dureducial. welC doubt anxiously looking over their shoulders at their militant earlier ballot in a memoers wil voted 2-1 This monti out an earlier proposed contrac that the Bargaining Council hac endorsic Gives up rights And yet once a to defuse attempting at all costs to the longest-running coal strike in US history UMW bureaucrats have put their names to a contract that gives up substantial rignts to tne the proposed deal, Under miners would lose control of the health and welfare funds that guaranteed them a unique have 1947 nealtu Sile They would begin to pay for a

HE IS NOT THE TIRS

HE RELERSE OF REL

LEADERS AYATOL

SALEGINI

MONTAZER

PHOTO: Mark Rusher Iranian hunger strikers protest against conditions of political prisoners oil on credit. But the latest provocations Turkey in show that the sharpening crisis demands the establishment workers defence squads wage armed resistance against the fascists. The Stalinist and reformist forced Dare.

MUSI

from Ecevit. The break demand must be for them to form a workers and peasants independent the bourgeoisie and its pallies. privately-run service. And the employers wouk given the go-ahead to introdu divisive 'incentive" schemes on t basis of maiority support in a aled Labour party These provisions must reiected and all unions caller join the miners in a gene strike defeat move: Taft-Hartley enforce the Intunctions But whichever way the res thing goes, one certain: minions or oreansea worker.

the USA who have witnessed assisted the UMW inflicting a s stantial deteat on tne coal bos and on the Carter government learn substantial lessons for tl next struggles on pay and jobs.

The task for Trotskyists in dran United States political lessons trom this strug -pointing to the necessity for building of a mass working c • repeal all a political barty to union laws and fight for a socia programme maor maustry

Racists put theirtame critics W.imis. FRESS i ired: : March. 19'g

- INTERNATIONAL'

ANGOLA-THE

WAR STILL

GOES ON

Iwo and a half years for the Liberation Cabinda Enclave (FLEC). aiter its declaration of independence trom Portugal, the Cuban- harboured backed

MPLA

Govern- ment in Angola is still regime of President engaged in a war against In Laire and possibly also by Mobutu's pro-imperialist forces. imperialist In south the Washington, country the right wing Unita and London. organisation, supported by African the South racists, Oil reserves control some _onuoues zo -emole areas ol the country and, through guerilla opera- lists na ve tions, are still holding down interests in Cabinda. For one of Angolan a UmA DelS thing the and Cuban troops. Angola Recent reports also claim Sives both sides of Zaire's crucial :hat ine militarv control of RaITO" he leto government is also through the Congo estuary.

still threatened the the

KUTI

:erritory of Cabinda. Cabinda,

FLÉC

Separated the count on imperialist support, This small enclave of terri- is its reserves :ary on the coast north of the richest in Congo separated coludy Africa. :com rest of Angolan When the :erritory. Cabinda During the civil war which they LOn are geceded Angola's indepen- produce a quarter of a million the fought

MPA

DalICIs worL Carinda against two Cabinda dollars) a day. ser aratist groups both going Portuguese -- ter the name of the Front administration useful most continued capitalism, 'peace- fully reformed', were wheeled out for the job. Lucy Mvubelo, a long-time trade union supports the struggle provided it is peace- fully negotiated. Pride of place J.N. Reddy, functionary of apartheid who wants reform African Cavla sm black capitalists like himself De t of white capitalists. Buthelezi Chief Gatsha was given pride of plage The South African half the page devoted to his gorernment reponded to picture and statements. the No sooner did the advert- international trade isement anon week of solidarity appear Buthelezi was bs placing adverts in and name anous papers which drawn atempied to show that Socialist Press has continu- :bik maskes in South the tr ::: tuppirt dis- of the 1970s allowed the American Gulf Oil Company to begin Nowadays there is only the exploitation of this oil.

one FLEC group left and it is During the independence and given and civil Gulf wals was assistance by the right wing forced to close down its Mobutu operation. Aiter independence more distant the "'socialist' nowever, government of the

MPLA

VaLIOl Brussels, Paris welcomed back Gulf, though it claims that it intends length to nationalise the American Company. This "nationalisation", Mobutu and the imperia- however, which will Is one full number of give compensation Gulf and probably allow Cabinda enclave the company to retain a share the control of of ownership and profits and its Haldsemenu the prerogatives.

SCC

Nonetheless Gulf, and the main interest of French Elf Company which and the reason that also has some exploration Cabinda, contnue to COnCesSons are probably still fearful enough of oil, future find ahil ll. Inemr „ 10 sub-Saharan worthwhile continue to finance the

FLEC

they as oilfields of reportedly have in the past.

are in full produc- Executions cn octen four million The MPLA says that the FLEC now scarcely exists and colonial that the whole of Cabinda is the 1n early securely under government Cuban troops on manoeuvre apologists for outspoken and regular critic of South African government policies" (to quote the South African government advertise- ment). bureaucrat On occasion these enemies liberation ot the working class take tıme out of their usual activities- suct strike breaking, running businesses, du ms tering institutions of apartheid, a capitalist conniving with 'progressive' . white capitalists and imperialists-to South show their concern for the welfare that of black workers. 'Protect the welfare of the more equal partners black worker increasing capitalist investment' Buthelezi they say. The answer to capitalist with unemployment, exploitation oppression anle •iles "expansion capıtalism' not its destruction. than ucmanaing nis Only solution picture be with- Unemployment, ation and oppression are the tonabora- of consequences ing C3P:3.- Huge pictures of Neto, Castro above Angolan rally control. both The

FLEC,

however, claimed two weeks ago. Ic captured and executed na ve 136 Cuban soldiers captured in Cabinda. Unprecedented of these countries. The FLEC statement said presence that the took executions programme of technical assis- place after contacts between lance wncn in many the FLEC and the liberation involves the dominance of the movements in Eritrea, and Cuban advisors in the bureau- against the cratic state apparatus. wantotesı sending of Cuban soldiers trom Angola to Ethiopia to scale is the torces ol the cedented. It is crucial to the

DUDDUIL

Mengistu regime. Kremlin's strategy of gaining Apart from the

FLEC

influence in, and controlling statements, there has been no revolutionary LT eN independent corroboration of of the African continent.

this report nor any informa- The alliance tion as to whether Kremlin liberation Havana has Eritrean Is o ve- ments either knew like about or situations supported the executions.

enormously expanded bility in pursuing a policy to Whether or not the claim slowly redraw the lines is true, the fact that it was demarcation made at all highlights the un- imperialism and Stalinism.

precendented role which The Cuba now playing in stood back, Africa, in particular in Angola prevent this-but at the same and Ethiopia. time, perhaps, Imperialist sources claim conscious that Soviet/Cuban that there are now 25,000 support Cubans _Mozambique and regimes like that of Neto in 10,000 in Ethiopia. Angola figures are Even ll these ciniopia has been exaggerated, it is clear from year a powerful obstacle to other evidence that the the Solas esasstraton is not very great.

on display lies the for suruste entacllon Central socialism. this profits, can act to obstruc struggle will be the bulding real acts of solidarity. of independent organisations Revolutionaries, unlike the of the working class-in com- Stalinists and reformists munities, • factories and approach 10 | schools, and the construction struggle by seking of a revolutionary sive' sections of capitalists to dily to lead that struggle through v cos uRse. programme democratic the question of what capital and transitional demands. It should should O1 must involve the preparation Our task is to seek every of the working class for opportunity struggle dimed seize independent power, capital forces of the working class.

caviDridic and destroy capitalism. Workers in Britain attemp- Among other ting to solidarity with actions we call on workers in the South African the printing industry to black woKers should reject the disinvest- advertisements from the ment campaigns. South African As we have pointed out. and its agencies. campaigns based on boycott- Io guard •nad captalsts in fareu? 200d •nes Page 3 CPs join forces to stab freedom struggles Other tactics in the Kremlin bureaucracy's global strategy of counter-revolution are proceeding while even the Stalinists ponder how best to fulfil their designs in Ethiopia. They have now signed a major trade deal, which they have long craved, with tne regime of King reactionary Hassan II in Morocco. Central to this is an agree ment on the exploitation of the world's richest phosphate deposits in Morocco and the Western Sahara. For years the Saharoui have been fighting under the leadership of the Angola and Polisario Front Ethiopia the Cuban presence against Moroccan Mauritanian is largely a military one. And duld troops that have in both cases it seems that the ortupic an Soret sunepeni for the Cuban military presence has Soviet

SUSDOLL

saved the very lives of the Saharoui liberation struggles self-styled "socialist" regimes nas been coniinea in the past to guarded expressions back- In Angola too, the Cuban ing their right to self-deter- lives a massive mination, so this latest action make little material case difference to the situation Token gesture The move is a predictable, Such an operation on this cynical addition to what has historically unpre- become long contorted trail of twists and turns from the Stalinist leaders on the war in the Sahara. potential Along with their fellow- Irallors in the socia demo the

COI

cracy, the Communist Parties Stalinists with France anc Spain have given them, in offered verbal support to the Africa, an Polisario. flexi- For this token gesture they have been abused as 'colonialists' Ali Yata- between who is none other than the secretary-general of the im perialists have Moroccan CP. powerless ic Yata's argument against Marchais and Carrillo is that at least hait thev carrv on the traditions imperialism of by allowing nominally left their vision to be restricted by the Mengistu arbitrary political frontiers imposed on Africa : in the last by the European colonialists.

This family bickering with- revolution 'in Stalinist ranks may soon come to an end, thanks to the unlikely intervention Spanish foreign minister. During an exchange on the Sahara in the Spanish parlia- Oreja ment. read Ou1 to Carrillo from declaration the Polisario in support of the liberation forces the Canary Islands. Repudiated Characteristically the Spanish Hicnıı a Stalinists have entirely this icDuualed struggle for self-determina- tion. Keen to any

I CCOS:

the class opportunity of breaking any 'progres- with revolution- assoCkuon ary struggles, Carrillo quickly nor do they pose said that if this was true, the CP would obviously have to do. re-consider its support for the Polisario Front. develop the The fight of the Saharoui struggle and has always been carried through with virtually no international support. blacking These moves only lalesI clarify this failure of revol- utionary solidarity, and reveal the bankruptcy of the government bureaucratic leaders of the workers moremen against obstruc- The

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CLEAR LINE

NEEDED ON

LIB-LAB

COALITION

There is widespread confusion on the left on the question of the Lib- Lab coalition deal. This confusion has been assiduously cultivated by defenders of the Callaghan-Healey leadership and also by those who pull back from any serious fight against them.

For this reason we have decided to publish and reply to this reader's letter. MPs that they fight for the adop- Dear Comrades, We would have out to come pleased it vou socialist programme #would uneolvocal Tor the overrow questions could clarify some of the present government.

(i.e. a Marxist programme).

If you believe this government This opportunist call from reading your which arise of for of a wing paper. demands

YOU

TalK Ine LIO Coalton. Then vOU pact being equivalent not come out without hesitation counter revolutionary socia the for its being kicked out of office?

democracy that carry out a transtorm ing programme which only Marxists "coalition ernment InTO Ludicrous government". can carry out adapts to the belief of This seems to me to be oby- This The answer seems to me to lie that socialism reformist workers wrong. Where are the min

IOUSIV

in the tact that it would be ludi- isters from the capitalist parties?

achieved through Parl- can crous to demand the overthrow The policy of the Labour gov- iament, by the Labour Party.

of this Labour government simply If you do not really mean that •caltro ine return with or without the support vou are fighting for the overthrow labour government! the Liberals. of the present government, then it Such a position would be sub- with acceptance of the i conitionist inconsistent wer taily. ject

DOTI

contemo ala in which case I would pact has created a dangerous pre ridicule in the labour movement.

cedent which the right wing will suggest that if you do not "over- At the present time there is no throw this conception, you will utilise. at a later date, when they other covernmenta aternative Tor want a real coalition. find that the loqic of such a pos.

for the workers' movement exc- However, I believe your use of ition will drive you along the road This government. ept a Labour travelled by the WRP. the term to be unscientitic, theor.

means we are centre eticalv confusing, and downrignt Praternally. attack breaking the dangerous. This confusion is evi. John Ford Lib-Lab agreement, by both a pol dent in the pages of your paper.

(Thames Polytechnic) and by acallst ye You talk for the most part of struggling to smash the 10% limit.

breaking the pact | or breaking It would be the most criminal prefer it), Socialist yet on other occasions other for- call for the overthrow of a Lab- mulations appear ist Press there our government when was 30 Socialist talks of the need of the firemen save for a Tory government.

"get "coalition Press ricot • the Having made the mistake of government" , in your issue of Jan- •esionatino inis cover nment ds d Turner "coalition government" , you app- uary 11 you report the defeat of ear to be caught in the horns of a a WRP motion ( at the conference - replies: in support of the firemen called - If you are to be consistent, by Liverpool Trades Council) and fight to kick out the govern- calling for • a "campaign to bring ment, then you obviously could down the conspiratorial coalition not simply demand the return of government". vernment (otherwise Labour Our reader manages to pack whatsoever this motion. a that would be necessary woul a number or contused points into be to break the pact). letter. We will try to answer Does this mean vou suoported it.

Consequentiy you would be each in turn. Are you for kicking out this gov- pointed in hadir on or dam.

have consistentiv termed ernment, yes or no? vve anding government the Lib-Lab deal-struck last t aris were a coaltion covern- March in the wake of the Leyland then that would impose ment, carry to the one it is - a socialist pro- obligations on Marxists, toolmakers strike-as unde Col Lalu gramme? clared coalition which the who stanc The com olete undertake independence of working class The danger sians are there. At leaders the time of the Labour Party con- implement more than organisations from the bourgeois nothing ference you demanded of the left Liberal policy will allow. state and bourgeois parties.

In return tor sutticient parlia- mentary support to enable tem to force through a third phase Labour leaders Ware control, trie conceded Liberals Ine which Liberal politicians are consulted more on DOlICY questions Enal anybody PHOIU: Sonn within the labour movement.

Unscientific Because of the relative balance forces and of parliamentary Sturock (Report) off necessity nede class resistance by retaining the that govern- ment renalis Lilt Labour leaders Themse ves TiTI • But, as Liberat liaisers, Steel Liberal leader Time ane canne out there prospect of this implementing even coalition vaguely socialist porcies longer remotely no subject 1a00l movemenl vet every every policy, decision before it is even raised in parlia- In our view, it is unscientific to describe such an arrangement It is not only political bankruptcy that stares the Labour Party in the face, if the in report Service' 'Press Labour's bulletin is to be believed.

Apparently work has now begun on the Party bureau- a new head- crats" dream Walworth on the quarters, Elephant Road, near the and tastie. The Party's complete inab- ility to satisfy the demands or the problems answer

LABOUR

continuously the betrayal those lefts' committed ov Parliamentary votes facilitate this coalition actually arrangement. Isolated error Our policy, that TroN

THIS

analysis order to fight for the socialisi necessary to defend jobs, policies wages •ane standarus workers must fight hreak the Lib-Lab coalition, and for Labou to take Ine bower The phrase "aet rid" of the coalition government clearly error-and obviously ¡solate• one. since it is une ory instance quoted between Septem- ber 30 and January 11! heavilv-edited report o OUr the Liverpool Trades • COUnCI originally contained conference our position in opposition to both the campaign the retusa OT The acknowledge the Lib-Lab deal is a coalition. Political independence We for "bringing are down" but oreskino

TAI S

order assert the independence the pontica working class from ine cabitalist Liberal Party, and to create the the Labour conaltions to expuse leaders, right and 'left' wing alike, in office Tho WRD'e uitimatict demand £60,000 for Labour's white elephant Atkinson

PARTY

Labour Weekly in fact diverts from the struggle reformist leaders, expose

•LIC

and is a simple continuen call the It is not necessarily true that Marxists are obliged to call for the ment embracing workers parties.

This was not the position that the Trotsk!

TOOK IT

relation French Popular front in for example (see centre pages for a more detace account Oust bourgeoisie The central question assert the po tica ndependence : of the working class. The main thrust of our work is theretore to oust the bourceoisit from coalition-in order to sharpen all the politica questions within the working class move This is completely in line with the line of Trotsky's Transitiona Programme which a vocate systematically addressing the reformist leaders with the demand Break with the bourgeoisie, lakt the power!" Demands Our reader then moves on to discuss the question ot demand: the a covernmen. insist that it is necessary to place ment-not because believe that suct a government working class supporters could, they hope, be better concealed in a grand building All but the front facade of a Georgian Terrace is to be demolished to provide the basis of a new office building - just as all but the facade of socialism was long ago demol ished within Party create sufficient elbow room for Labour's crypto-Tor! leaders to continue their bet rayals. Labour Party members seem to be recognising this fanfare of pub Despite a licity for a 'Pound a Brick appeal, and constant remind ers in the Party's paper Lab our Weekly that the building project is to cost £1.6 million the not exactly money flooding in to Party offices.

Anguished pleas Anguished pleas from Treasurer Tribunite Party Norman Atkinson have now been supplemented by a ren- ewed from General plea Secret has pointed ou pointed out that has only £60,000 has so far been This collected. is 3.75% of the required total !

With work already under site, the clearing the way Labour could bureaucracy well find themselves with a big space near the Elephant.

but no Castle! London Labour Party conferenc satisfy workers' requirements, bu because that wid we see lavers of workers believe it Only in the struggle to foro their existing leaders act Their •enal and seeinc Ine refusal to do so wil! such worker recognise the need for come to revolutionary leadersnio Our demand that those MF who proclaim themselves oppor ents or callaonan neaev ment te Socialisterolent i capitali ton government's capitalist aramme is theretore a ban or tr fight to expose the impotence o these fake Labour Part conference we have consistent referred to their refusal to figr in that conferenc the ront wine Buffeted The sharpest of demor : way to workers that straline Laun cannot introduce socialism majority Labo government is forced into por name ane inar buffeted sides demands and problems working class-problems whic cannot solve, and demands s a government tied to car :: it cannot fulfil. in such a situatior. i tionary alternative boldiy = attract conscious layers o ric"e open the road to

IN DEFENCE OF

A REVOLUTIONARY

ORIENTATION

Against sectarian abstention Gallacher "How many times have we met a smug centrist "realist" to reckons himself a merely because he s out to swim without any ideological baggage atever and is tossed by every vagrant current. He unable to understand that principles are not dead last but a life line for a revolutionary swimmer.

*The sectarian, on the other hand, generally es not want to go swimming at all, in order not to his principles. He sits on the shores and reads tures on morality to the flood of the class struggle.

*But sometimes a desperate sectarian leaps head- € into the water, seizes hold of the centrist and Ips him drown. So it was; so it will be."

Trotsky Writings (1935-36) p26.

eitarianism-the refusal tight for the kitionary programme in a way into the mass e-ent of the weakness nOt ired to middle class ele- * in the revolutionary .-ent, any more than is ... opportunism. Proletarian e Left Wing Communism, t. antile Disorder, Lenin ised against sectarian exes among proletarian ers. new to the Com- novement, including Scottish trade ess around Gallacher in eacher had stated that impermissible to give Henderson 5. port whatever to the the I:s: parliamentarians of proletarian revolution in Great Britain, or in any other LP. since it would simply country for that matter. put power into the s :: the "hopelessly reac- People can give WinO Henderson, Clynes, expression to this temper of Dirald and Snowden. masses, can rouse ane wno pointed that such a temper (which is very out cass letter: often dormant, unrealised excellently expresses and unaroused) among the emper and point of view masses, must be valued and e young Communists, or every assistance must be given mk-and-file workers who them. only And at the same time we just coming This temper is munism. must openly and frankly tell gratifying them that temper alone is not and must learn to enough to lead the masses in e i: and in support it. for great revolunonary :. gould be hope- siruggie... Background to Gallacher's ultra-leftism - crowds raise the Red Flag in Glasgow, 1919.

Part two of an analysis of the struggle against sectarian revisions of Marxism which resulted in the split of 22 members of the Workers Socialist League last month. By John Lister a science, and that this objectively analysing means the balance of forces state of consciousness of: "all the groups, loIces. parties, classes and masses operating in the given count y He insisted that: ... policy should not be determined only by the desires and by the views. degree of class consciousness and the readiness for battle of only one group or party" Lenin went on to confront Gallacher's ultra-leftism head- by insisting on the need on, to force the Labour traitors to take the power in order to expose them to the masses: "That the Hendersens, the Clynes, the MacDonalds and the Snowdens are hopelessly struggle. The petty bourgeois ten- reactionary is true.. . But it by no means follows, that to dency regurgitated many of the of support them is treachery to positions unscreece the "Left Communists", revolution, but rather the that in the interests of the tellingly refuted by Lenin 60 revolution the working class vals dru. should Unlike the "Left give Communists", however, they gentlemen reflected not the strength o amount of parliamentary support." the most determined layers of the (Left Wing working class, but Communism. pp.79-81) characteristic petty bourgeois Of course the only simil- quailing before the difficult arity between Gallacher, task of constructing a revol- utionary proletarian mass-fighter, and cadre within the mass workers' organisations.

the petty bourgeois opposit- ion that emerged within the Imagination Workers Socialist League, working in liaison with the While Gallacher and other "international Spartacist ten- proletarian forces that dency" adopted ultra-left positions that both snared a similar the had arrived views through their experience of a convince the necessilv LO of the for mass sentiment amongst need revolution in the advanced, militant layers of course of the working class, their experiences in the class this is not the case with petty bourgeois struggle, and Collion sectarians. inability distinguish They arrive at their between and Draco es left dogmatism 35 Lacuics 13e3040:283i.. One-sided inJ unending ar strac: i:s- And the! are In each case the confusion forced in these false costiors flows from a one-sided. sub- by their very :.: Trotsky For them ideas are departure and Doll the conclusion -while for the Marxist: "dialectical materialism.

takes experience as its point departure and always returns to it" Again and again the sectar- ians' leadership of the Workers Socialist League boiled down to no more than an attempt substitute their own subjective wishes, feelings and frustrations for the struggle to win the mass of workers to understanding their bureaucratic leaders. This led the sectarians to denounce the WSL's tactic of using critical support for fake 'left' Labour MPs in union peacers in practice. expose Their opposition document claimed that: "The central strateg! of the leadership relator 1o the existing lest:: ihe phrase Make the Fight" Lefts The slogan derives ill-tormed trom an conception tha: the Les P==: SOCIALIST PRESS Wednesda: War.:: seen by the [WL] leadership as in some way representing the proletariat and the bour- geoisie respectively. Hence the 'critical' support given to the "lefts'." (Opposition document, Defence of the Revolutionary Programme') This passage contains one deliberate falsification and epitomises the inability disO of the petty bourgeois sectar- ians necessity to raise workers in practice to a revolutionary level of consciousness. Tactic 'Make the Lefts Fight' is not of course a strategy Not a single aspect of the WSL'?

suggests that any left-talking bureaucrat, either now or in will necessarily tne luture wage a fight against the right wing Rather is means of mobilising workers in such a way as to enable them to learn the objective "left- their wing' leaders. It is not the WSL leaders that believe that the Labour Party "falls into quite two distinct wings"- it the working Class Workers demonstrate time and again by their votes for Labour's National Executive and the completely different that struggle 'left'

MPS

give 'lefts' they regard the as, however inadequately, representing their interests against the open right wing agents of capital. If workers are to break from these long-cherished illusions recognise the and need for leadership, then they will need to see the treacherous role of the 'lefts' revealed in practice. Refusal To focus workers' atten- tion on the refusal of these 'lefts' to wage the slightest fight against the policies of Lib-Lab the coalition against the right wing Labour through the slogan 'Make the Lefts Fight' is an of part essculld educational work Urging workers to demand that their leaders put their "left' talk into practice, support workers in struggle, and wage a fight against the right open wing, enables revolutionaries to expose every retreat and betrayal, and counterpose the necessity revolutionary 10: programme and a new leader- ship But the sectarians carica- tured this approach as serving 'to lend our authority te the left wing' credentials of the thoroughly counter-revolutionary parlia Tribune group and this serves the political develop- ment of the working class to a wing of social democracy".

such a statement shows how the sectarians complete.

ly tail to come to grips with the real problems within the workers movement. The most pernicious force binding the working actually class to left' reformism at the present time is the Stalinists of the Communist Party. Assist Stalinists The Stalinists tie workers to social democracy precisely by arguing that the 'lefts' are fighting the right wing-and opposing any attempt to put real demands on them.

The sectarians, from their ultra-left standpoint actually Stalinists in this the Eric protecting Herters and Dennis Skinners- for us to put talkers *at instead Eihrough

SOCIALIST PRESS Wednesdal March 22, 1978.

Lenin insisted that the mood were unable, throughout the fighting who turn 11-week discussion the in Workers Socialist League, to much the hasty produce UrEC practical instance of the WSL manoeu- the vres"-can injure any way capitulaling lo Their allega- of the left reformism. work Not tions proved as empty as their ridiculous proletariat enlarging

SILS

witnarawn Equally characteristic was forces". (Left Wing Communism, fact that the disdained to offer the WL or p.73) this comerenct the working class any alterna- Lenin passage live means or aemonstallig: ing under living well right of the the course struggles, the bankruptcy Workers of League leaders that

WOLKCIS

and falsely believe are an 'alterna- demands 'left' ing 1930s. tive' Callaghan or to to TUC right wing. has made concessions of the The problem tactical oI "solved" for orientation the sectarian by avoiding any Spartacists, real intervention at all, and But the by simply levelling the accus- "opportunism'' ation against those forces that take the question seriously. method abstrac- tions denuncia- tions today's "left com- the workers' munists" vote for Radicals had babes refusal place the the Lib-Lab govern- ment. bourgeoisie. "The with the Liberals candidates this period Trotskyists' from the heeded. coalition, to the and thus Heffer protected by those Front won who oppose raising demands is a breach support lo seats to expose him. of principle". of real history «The sectarian sees an Trotskyism the question in who cycl yule explain to him that an active participation in class of the the workers' movement demands a constant study of the obiective conditions and not haughty bulldozing from the sectarian rostrum". Writings 1935-6. Trotsky, ( p. 26. faction, In doing so, the sectarian noutnoices for formula any turns his back on the invalu- Spartacist dreamed up able heritage of experience this discussion was Lenin and from trom not enough. Trotsky, who both insisted revolutonates must to divisions remain sensitive and shading within reformist and centrist organisations.

new any "The petty bourgeois (including democrats the Mensheviks) inevitably between the bour- than support for Popular Frontism! geoisie and the proletariat, bourgeois They went between demo-

WSL

"Menshev- the cracy and the Soviet system, ism" for position between reformism and revol- of between love-for- vote utionism, calling on Labour Tories the and tear of the proletarian dictatorship, etc.

oust The proper tactics for the Communists must vacillations, utilise these not establish programme socialist to ignore them: and utilising them calls for concessions to policies. They elements are turning towards the prolet- ariat-whenever and to the he class as a whole. for advance protel- Popular of these while was Were Ene LaSCISES proof that close called for elected Party in the for no class in the "We and fight them Front bourgeois this whom these 1n «We from the and and thus gramme "When was not that out of 598 the Radicals. Chamber of marked personalise the workers government, staged em plovers be _ concer- tact- necessal y and the the People's the conceal nOl that always be "The say, Page the government by striking blows the heaviest the Radical and by The

MUNICI

explaining to the Socialist ments and Communist workers that gusto and all it is Daladier, Delbos, Rucard solemnity. etc. who sabotage and cannot but sabotage everything that is progressive in the Perhaps the clearest ment programme. (...) of the Radicals are the line ex Issul "The faction's of least the resistance revolutionary critique. By fire concentrating your movement their insis against the Radical ministers, WSL should with really concrete examples you will easily get the ear of demand tue the Communist and Socialist for a workers. (...) "a for the as "At any rate, our slogan dictatorship the cannot be "Down with the ariat" government!" Blum but "Drive the bourgeois Radicals handed the Blum out the govern- gullible ment!" That is where the slight difference of meaning lies. It is extremely important Marxist for this period, but it does doggedly "Protect all that not we mcal through- Blum govern- the ment". of mountain face p.163). evidence prove no rigid

CLO

that way But further argument was Quite there were differences fundamental and al of Trotskyist record movement are applied by ol- government the living which such working class Isallulls propaganda. ganda that revolutionaries -but to mobilise sible does Tallie! Sow more strengthen Consol ds "common The continues propaganda of apply Sectarian We proudly defend the can be this kind nd and serving ary as of grip bourgeoisie's oration agents in the of the mass on however,

NEXT WEEK:

Trotskyist were International questions and the politics of the Spartacist be a beataval. tendency. They had scented the prospect of a way out of (Final Part) routine work, , and an escape from patient attention to the

Page 8 he replied: live somewhere else." Do 'you get a sense of unreality, don't you need a lifeline of sensibility to hang to?' asked the on of fund-raising column Star® the 'Morning ('incorporating the Daily Worker") on Monday 6 March. Reading the rest of that on the twenty-fifth callion, anniversary of the death of Joseph Stalin, you easily could have done. factual very

SHONE

from the despatch paper's Moscow correspondent reported that the anniversary passed unnoticed here yesterday. No national paper mentioned it'. For its part, the Morning Star is not usually one to pass over important anniversaries.

But on political signifi- the cance of Stalin and his life it offered-very prudently-not one breath of comment of its own. 'Classified' left to was individual advertiser to ep ly for insertion the In Memoriam column: "Stalin J.V. In memory of of defender Uncle Socialism... fine political judge- With Star's the Morning ment his advert editors squeezed into the 'classified' section, the bankruptcy between and the 'Situations notices Vacant. The leaders of the British Communist Party seem have forgotten their promises of the time. March 7, 1953, they On the of the headlined vOW

CPSU

Central Committee WHat! 'The immortal name of Stalin will live for ever in the hearts the Soviet people and progressive man- ol all kind" British Party leader Harry Pollit tribute

MOURNING

STALIN

By Paul Stein "Rabbi, is it possible to build socialism in one country?"

The Rabbi frowned, scratched his head, and thought very hard for a long time. Finally "Yes, my son. It is just possible. But then, unfortunately, you would have to go and Hungarian cautionary tale.

"Moscow banner headlines: and a grief we have not the deathless leader language at our command to mourns unity"_"A describe" spirit of deeper Pollit pledged his of Mankind party and its newspaper never Great Servant the Ages" who belongs to to forget Stalin: (this the effort wnose miracies In Rothstein, the Party's special- Communist construction are of a character that even Marx falsifying Soviet history) - "Such a man cannot would never die"- "Stalin policy will believe possible" on -building or a happy lite March 7, Daily Worker, for the people" 1953. "Long live the immortal 'Deathless leader' proclaimed the memory lead article of the It would be possible, but "of the greatest same issue. tedious, multiply such leader, genius working-class examples almost indefinitely.

and creative thinker that the world has ever known!" Similar articles saturated Hungarian Stalinist secret police gunned down, 1956 Not to be outdone, the the Stalinist press for weeks.

And yet, in these same pages, leaders main ollne ornel 'deathless delivered the name of the Stalinist parties similar judgements. render nas now amost col- pletely faded For the French CP: "We have lost Comrade The moral is that a short professional Stalin, but Stalinism will live is and last eternally d necessity for political Palmiro Togliatti, leader of scoundrels. the Italian CP, announced in Specialist of the Rome Chamber seoutles It is instructive today, to ''My soul is in anguish look back few of the death at today of claims made by Stalin's choir- companion and teacher, my reality the my friend. Our century will bovs-and bear the name of Stalin" behind those claims. For almost a whole week Mr Monty Johnstone is nowadays one of the Com- Budapest 1956- Stalin's statue pulled down by eager hands.

without bothering to study specialist eticians', has said that 'critiques' of Trotskyism and the evidence, they are not guilty". a suave apologist for the more "regrettable' 'the ('Monty Johnstone writes aspects of men who sell their friends' cult of personality'. [sic!], in Challenge of 10 early 1950's, In the January, 1953). bries having and sent later few weeks period inside Challenge felt forced to run a Trotskyist movement), he headlined article a leading propagandist front-page was 'There is no Jew-baiting Communist for the Young Russia'. League. of Stalin in His obituary Suppressed their paper Challenge (March 14, 1953) claimed (among Is it possible that (as they many other exaggerations) "People of Johnstone and his claim) that every race and colour are today mourn- fellow CP propagandists were innocently misled? Hardly ing the death of their greatest leader, teacher and comrade" When the former Bulgarian One group who may have vice-premier Tracho was tried on similar charges in some solace their found the Jews of December he repud- SOrIOW were Eastern Europe. iated his written "confession' in open court. Jews indicted immediately was and the trial silenced In the last years of Stalin's adjourned for him to 're-read his confession in the privacy life he carried out a series of murderous purges in Eastern of his cell. 'fact' wholly Europe, in which Jews were This was suppressed the massive explicitly singled out 11

TOT

Bulgarian coverage the victimisation. At the end of 1952 the press. And the Daily Worker had Jewish former General Secre- Czechoslovak more important things to do of the tall in pursuit of 'democracy' and Communist Party, Rudolf 'socialism' than Slansky, was framed, 'tried" awkward, hanged Prague obvious, and In on included questions. charges which "Tascisky is' zionism Titoism', Personal courage 'fascism', and conspiracy with western intel- Briskly approving Kostor's ligence services. execution, its correspondents Of the thirteen who were pressed on, during December tried with Slansky (all were 1949, with reporting the convicted and eleven Bulgarian general election executed), ten were also Jews ('97% for Fatherland Front!') and were described as such in the universal rejoicing that the official indictment! apparently erupted through- The trial, based on 'con- Stalin's Bulgaria oul OI fessions' extracted under seventieth birthday (21 torture, was a clear, racialist Buiemba Today 1949 and has been frame-up, exhibition 'Bulgaria admitted to be fraudulent by off Bond Street: the Czech authorities. "Happy Bulgarians! . Yet Johnstone wrote that: Socialism is now growing "These people unwillingly confessed their crimes in the there so fast that can almost see it unfurl-like one face irrefutable of of those speeded-up films of a of facts, testimony sprouting seed!" documents and other evidenc Kostov was, in fact, a man evidence of witnesses Yet, all the of considerable personal this in Eastern courage. similar trials He had led illegal Com- British Europe-the press, suffered munist work (and torture for it, as police of which he result was permanently crippled) before and during the war. His treatment by the Stalinist which unan- press, accepted imously acceptation he as coin the alleged to have made just his execution (and before which was admitted, in 1956, to be a forger) made it certain beyond any doubt that all those Stalinist publicists, like Monty Johnstone, who obed- iently swung with every shitt political wind from ot the could be Moscow Stalin writing dishonestly As well as daily dishonesty the Stalinist publicists western Europe also resorted to the most shameless A famous libel in case France 1950 of there the issue whether illegal was any political in the Soviet imprisonment Union. Labour camps The Communist Party there was none; maintained estimated Jean-Paul Sartre (accurately enough) that there perhaps were ten detained million people in

labour camps, and added the comment that one citizen in camp scarcely called could A key. witness in the case Alex Weissberg-an was Austrian, Jewish physicist and Communist who had tled to the Soviet Union after the Nazis took and became head of th Kharkov Institute of Physics. during In neate he the great purges, was arrested and quite falsely aicused of Trotskyism. 'Goodwill' Then, in 1940, during the of Stalin-Hitler period tne he was one of those German and Austrian Communists handed over to the Gestapo of as a sign 'goodwill' to Germany! Weissberg, by a miracle, survived the war, and was prepared to testify. His eridence, naturally, promised to be extremely damaging to the Stalinists. Thus, when he entered the box, of siness one the lacing Stalinists in the case ir errupted with His grounds? He objected to in a French German ('Boche') soul be allowed to give in German against te: USSR! French Stalinists took the Isional honour of France seriously, just as do all tr.= Eurocommunist' parties o: western Europe today. The Eurocommunists' are ai: eager, now, to obliterate t.= own Stalinist history.

ficording to the official 'Stalinism' was ended Kruscher's 1956, with tiet speech' at the 20th Cingress of the CPSU. Aruschev's 'revelations' only the tip. of an of that the Trotskyist movement had krown and fought against for de:ades. His 'secret speech', how- was accepted only reluc- tantly and formally by the leaders of British Stalinism, no feared the repercussions They gave unhesitating airport to Kruscher in 1956, wut! imself most completely the disciple of Stalin: in his war c crush the Hungarian revol- ation. The fighting in Hungary began the political when ice fired on a mass demon- Slansky stration-of Communists, workers and students-de- manding the full rehabilita- tion of Rajk and other Com- munist leaders killed Stalin's purges. 'Justification' ended November after Kruschev's tanks launched the of against workers Budapest killing twenty thousand of them before the Red Army regained control of the capital. The official justification' -accepiea inen ana now by the British Communist Party was that the Hungarian revol- ution was the work ot.. fascists! December 1900 Challenge (to which Mr. Monty Johnstone was still a contnoutor) a major feature 'ex- carried plaining' the Hungarian events. It was by James Klugmann campaigner Seasonica Stalin's "Tito- day against Trotsky-Fascists' and the man now officially in charge of telling the truth about the Party in its own 'history'.

Verdict Klugmann's article was headed 'It stopped Fascism People chance of and gave Free Choice'. For their part, the Hungar- ian had workers already verdict denvered Klugmann's lying diagnosis.

In November the workers of Czepel, Budapest's main industrial suburb painted their defiant, sarcastic response to the Stalinist shells the walls of their 'The forty _actones. thousand aristocrats and fascists of Czepel strike on!'

Their teelings, like SO Eastern many others from Europe and the 'Soviet Motherland' reported in the Daily Worker. Stalin's spirit lives on mallers in the CPGB. Reflecting the of narrow, reactionary caste of bureau- crats, the politics of Stalinism form an organised system of cringing, lying and hypocrisy.

is this spirit that allows the Morning Star's journalist to reach the ludicrous con- clusion that, because Pravda not mentioned it, the nas of Stalin's death anniversary has 'passed unnoticed' Moscow. Deakinism By Di Parkin and the TGWU witchhunters Last week's article looked at the early days of witch- hunting inside the TGWU. was the early 1950s however. under General Secretary Arthur Deakin that witchhunting by the union had its heyday.

understand communists been should have barred from office and expelled trom the union at that time, it is the necessarv looK •evone mere confines of the TGWU.

Communists are witchhunted because thev represent a threat to the bureaucracy's attempts to coerce and hold down the working class. today communists itnough no longer members the Communist Party) and militants who nave opposed ine ves government complicity incomes policy and plans for soeer vo bose a threat to tne bureaucracy's collaboration with ruling class It is tor this reason that they are now singled out for attack.

Opposed strikes Equallv in the late 1940s it was those who opposed wage- freezes and class collaboration who were allacked Communist Party had to 1947, been singled not, prior Deakin it had not waged any fight likely General Secretary of the British readiness to fight back for the to disturb the bureaucracy.

-announced that: achievements of its demands and in appreciating During wal perioo. ume ve were are Its solution ot ine crisis Communist Party had supported the full scale of the drift to the The Communist Party there. Coalition National fore turned Govern- right in the Labour Government • to mass work in the mainly and clung to traditional formulas and ment and nac been Tactories became „TO! TEnf concerned to boost production.

after had first time since the 1930s and approaches obstacle the continued Ine CP had been opposed to revealee usem as an inswument o the imperialist camp" strikes throudnout the war and coladoratior trade unIor continued this position the leaders and Labour government.

supporting the drive for immediate post war period.

productivily. me went on "In our anxiety for increased Witch-hunting

DUT

sav imperialist powers consolidating production have sometimes an anti-Soviet alliance and laying In direct response to this done far too little in the fight for of the 'Cold War wages and conditions and lne basis Morgan Philips, secretary of the Moscow began the occasions have placed ourselves in Labour Party sent a witchhunting Communist Parties towards a left letter affiliated a position wuere we seemca to be wingý policy. Cominform holding back the struggle.

tions: He "Now is the time to go allout was argued need established October co- in a great campaigt _exoose Social cemocrac anu a dust t the finally terms so appropriate Communist Party intrigue and orainate acities Ine European CPs. the CP today, declared that: infiltration inside the Labour And in December 1947, in an "Our movement". underestimation of the strength This a signal for Deakin important soeech. ine eve obedient Harry Pollitt-the of the working class and and other bureaucrats to begin

IN REVIEW

"Only a Game?" by Johnny Burne reviews Published by Kestrel Books in a Eamon Dunphy, hardback edition at £2.50 "Deep down in all of us imposed Professional Footballers Dunphy attacks this attitude resides this spirit of with there ASSOCIaTION IPTAI suD ecTIvE

OUT

coenetrating Dunphy was clearly something class consciousness which sets this rebellion, but all we book far above the usual horren.

İndividol working from isolated political 'loner' an isolated rebelled, if we all took up the dous gnost-written pap that passa: cudgels in support of a com- socialist convictions but without for football literature: the the support "You plete revolution of a group in rootball throu rarely through to to give present order of things, there conerent airection nis people stan principled struggles talking about this ties fit they would be only one result- The strengths and weaknesses People

CHAOS"

of his book all stem from this know what they are doing wher is a straight- they come into it'. But do they?

I nis quotation coula well nave Unly a Game! been taken from any Fleet Street forward diary of his last three At fifteen, I didn't know what I hack's ritual attacks on the inde

MONTES

viwall.. were was doing wuen i went the stayed for eight years You come from a working class •encent movement working class. Apart from brief home with future except period fact comes from the with manchester united early ir Tactory Toader. No real education his career he was always propping pro. and no choices open to you".

one week after Chaston, Reading and til aro struggling York, gramme departure from Dunphy's The sport • ceve orment

COT

under capitalism has tended to Clud • his experience sharpened nis Dunphy, now retired, was a of the class nature of follow a clearly defined historical awareness gifted milied players coper battles within the sport-the pattern skillful Put crudely. crassinar role or tae arrectors. me oosition international ex-players who become of rapidly regular v Daver form football for Eire. and coaches, and assimilated by the bourgeoisie and His skills and dedication exploitation of young apprentice a commercial transtormed Into enterprise shoule nave ensured nim orotessionais. career in the First Division Success with feet or with fists In some sports this process he was quickly recognised by the has long been one of the mythol is so Inorouen that eventuall escape the players themselves are largely autocratic soccel establishment occa routes oTTered "militant" "trouble. capitalism to working class youth.

recruited from the middle-classes and a as d prepared become maker re.g. rugby and cricket) bourgeois The hungry Football has become the most uncompromisingiy ideology. in Britain footballers' trade union in oppos fighter is best all lucrative sport to move against Communist Party militants Deakin declared that: "The Communist Party stands indicted as the declared enemy o the British working class" This, he claimed, was because It encouradeo peoole "to believe that they can only being progress make constant state of conflict with the employers" far cry from CP policy today!). Deakin of course stood for collaboration and wage freeze.

CP members At this time • nine of the 34 members the Executive 01 Council

TGWU

were

CPGB

memoer. including the busmen Papworth Jones who were again, desoile inel , In a commanding positior the Central London Bus Committee The CP also held key positions in the London docks. Deakin moved inside the TGWU against the background of cold war and anti-communism which had led civil already servants being dismissed in Britair for membership of the CP and to blacklist CP in against the private was such as vonn Lewis s store Imperialist agent In 1948 and 1949 the TUC published two pamphlets on th Communist unions arty Detenc Democracy caned aric The Tactic of Disruption in which they argued that 'Communist as the actile abject and slavish agents of forces working incessantly to intensify Socia misery conditions Conditi were detaine he chaos LIaoe UnIon Supporting this view, Deakin break the World to up Trade Union contained representatives which from the workers' states.

Deakin President of the Federation and, acting entirely as the "abject and slavish agent" of imperialism Britain Federation Trom the world walking out of an International Conference in January 1949.

(Walking out of meetings now used by the right wing a an excuse for witchhunts).

'Honoured' For this and other attacks on communism, Deakin was made a companion or honour Once the atmosphere of anti.

hysteria had been communist wedkin wd. doie lo Biennial Delegate ine 1949 Conference of the TGWU to pass the motion that membel Party shall be eligible office within the Union" by 426 to zuo votes Deakin however, did not have things all his way and next week's article will detail the resistance to the witchhunting. Foul play off the field to maintain its recruitment and audience drawn from the work- ing class. The • financial rewards for the tew wno make it are great tor ten or twelve but this years, superficial gloss the Conceals Tuncamental CoNTICIS • em booler in the system as a whole Dunphy's book provides some vital insights into those conTlicts.

It is significant that Only Milliwall's Game? should have "Den" as its backaround Recent press hysteria about crowd trouble and violence at the ground ignored the fact that the Den was first closed in 1930 after and has beer Persistent rougit closed three times since it emerged that the Last year National Front rect urti wal tans in some numers Capital has traditionally provided forms of institutional Isea Cant tuausea vioienci soak uo the unoirected ander and frustration those brutalised by inadequate housing unemployment ecucatIor ane That such violence now centred round football accident for, as Eamon Dunphy's book shows, class conflict

EVERY JOB SOLD MEANS

A WORKER ON THE DOLE!

INDUSTRIAL

Thousands of jobs in the steel industry are being auctioned off by union leaders at a time of in mass unemployment effort to make the an shoulder class working the cost of the industry's million annual £520 losses. Following the agreement for the early closure of plants at Hartlepool and East Moors, Cardiff, BSC is now offering well-publicised cash handouts for steelworkers in Ebbw will Vale they depart quietly for the dole queues.

Collaboration Saddled with union leadership that is dedicated to with British collaboration Steel Corporation manage- involved at the ment, ana "worker highest level participation" steeiworkers offered no real Rave OCCl alternative to management's "voluntary" plans. While press reports welc orchestrated to maximise the involved for figures service workers in the pay-out has emerged no leadelsip among the threatened steel- workers that is prepared to spell out the realities of the situation -that every job sold by an older worker today is a job snatched from youth and unemployed in the No concessions for The starting point principled leadership in the steel be the

ITORS

LU defence of all jobs-no con- cessions to the profits crisis of British capitalism or the international recession. While shipyards, Tne car industry, the railways and a host of other industries slash and attack their production to workiorce an enorl their profitability, salEgudiu of course there is less and less work in a shrinking capitalist market. There is no answer making concessions management: after every of "voluntary" redun- have the diminished dancies work number remaining and further lace speed up rounds of wage control, while the employers draw up new mans lor cutbacks.

NEWS

ting to continue their strike.

by challenging the right' of suppliers, manufacturers, bankers and hauliers? the to impose employer steel redundancies-insisting that hoW much MOTe ir a socialist pla gra utie od to be shared available a socialist programme WOrK useful public works was between the whole workforce launched? at no loss of pay. challenging the is by employers offensive from Open the books such standpoint, and pointing to the necessity for a This must be combined by socialist solution that steel- the election of trade union to workers can steps LaKe to the strike a blow in defence of books of the employers and their own jobs and those of uncover the facts behind the thousands more counties, enable a real workers in other industries.

CULDaCKs. fight to take place. Break the. coalition How much of BrITISH £520 million "losses' Steel's They must fight through finds its way into the out- their unions and the Labour strelenca pans or lue Privale

FEEBLE PAY

CLAIM HIDES

WILL TO FIGHT

has called on the NUT Exec- As the Easter school utive call one day to the holidays begin, national strike in support of teachers' dispute pay the claim. remains unresolved The same move has taken other associations, Despite the limited nature 1n such as Enfield. of the industrial action being The mood of teachers has from laken-willulawal strengthened by been voluntary of Sir Astley resignation has grown rapidly. the Contrary to the wishes of Bramall from ment panel which judges pay the teachers reactionary leaders-who have union awards. always opposed developments Readiness like the But the central lesson of School Students-the closing the present move is the readi of schools at lunchtime in certain areas has also sparked ness of present teachers, not off a wave of radicalisation noted for wages militancy, to among youth. go forward even ine lead slightest hint Frustrations given. The NUT bureaucrats have recommended action, have only Demonstrations NAS/UWT has whereas taken place many areas, Tne instructed its members. particularly But both groups are ready and despite the attempts of to settle for the mere offer the capitalist to turn the of an extra 1% and not in the this against eachers least ready to break the 10%.

movement expresses the real limit: school They are concerned only which increasingly students with a certain limited protest spread into mintant delon Youth in Birmingham who which they can use to present Town Hall fight over salaries. marched to the The readiness of teachers raised demands calling on the follow meet the this lead gives a authorities of slight indication the teachers' claim. Inner response that could have been In London, the A major step forward in the seven-week union recognition strike at Steak Houses Garners Sunday was taken on when a 7-man strike com- mittee was elected. This offers a real oppor- the treachery tunity to fight of union officials. midst of Even the national press and TV cover- age TGWU bureaucrats LUll with their tinued last week preparations to sell out the strike. Behind-scenes talks It is also rumoured that behind the scenes talks have started between

LOO USE

officials and Garners gos. break the Party anil socialist coalition, LID-LaD for a programme that allu includes nationalisation of major industry and the banks compensation under without workers' management. Meanwhile every job must be retained, and attempts at compulsory redundancy must be fought by occupation. The slightest concession given to management at this point will not only allow jobs to be savagely attacked, but also open the door for an all- round onslaught on Conell ions. a serious struggle had been offered.

NUT

The conference which starts this weekend in resolve to Blackpool musi reject all forms WaLt control in the future and to base next year's claim on full restoration of the value of the Houghton award plus cost of on trade living based union figures.

MORE DETAILS

I would like more infor- the mation about Workers Socialist League.

Name Address Post

WSL,

31, to: Dartmouth Park Hill, Garners strikers elect committee TGWU membership forms. Margolis towards an agree ment along the lines proposed st mon bureaucrats are hostile to moves by TGWU official Abraham.

These towards unionisation by low- Determination oppressed sections and of workers He had offered, that behind in ar They know interview with the Tory press, the fight for union rights are to call off the strike immed- a flood of demands on wages iately if the employers would and working job the outcome which can only recognise conditions of an ACAS inquiry. inconvenience and embarass for Abraham speaks union officials. himself and not the strikers.

their Sell out have declared Ther determination fight Last week's meeting for necessary •- vears 1OT TUC Catering between the their demands, and that they Committee and selected MPs refuse to return to work with- clearly designed Wai discuss how to head off such Their lead is prompting a derail struggles and wide response. Other catering that might threaten approaching

WORKON

the Lib-Lab coalition govern- Garners pickets asking for ment. The of the officials is to prevent an unity between Garner strikers and other sections of catering isolating the workers. they create strike hope to the best conditions for a sell- Black supplies The new strike committee must now follow through the fight for the Region 1 Com mittee to implement thi following policies: *No talks, no return, until the the bosse. union! picketing to be * Mass organised every Saturday *Black all suppliers, supplies and maintenance.

* A regional levy to finance the strike. All messages of support to the strike and donations fund be should sent to:

TGWU

room 84, 12-13, Henrietta Street, London WC2. Bill Sirs Meeting during Dundee day of action against the cuts

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

£1.10 S issues £2.20 10 issues ,£5.50 25 issues .£10.00 50 issues issues. I enclose the sum of £..

I would like to receive Name Address Send to: Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR @henrihal.

Blind alley protests SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesda! 22 March, 1978 Reject bosses' inquiries A public mingham London firemen mittee Against wel Closures comed back four of their number last week who had been marked down for the unionists in axe by fire brigade chiefs. March hospital The four were among six firemen suspended after the proposed by the convicted them of Health Authority.

COURS

petty theft during the Fire On the Brigades Union strike The shop steward charges included one of steal- ing a roll of sticky tape.

munity But the reinstatement representative from far victory. Two Hounslow strikers have been effectively i mittee and sacked-they resigned during official. the management conducted inquiry. by the AHA When the sackings were closure OI first threatened soon after the end of the pay strike, only of the full weight of London Ihe beer at

FBU

cast bureaucrats prevented reprieved. the firemen walking out again in support of the victimised Since then the FBU has allowed Chief Officers to of decide the fate of the SiX. showed its Rank file and support

ULCOSUC

jeterred the management sub AHA in February. committee from going through with the four extra Closure on the sackings, giving the member- some of ship a partial victory. Vone of the FBU members of the list would have lost their jobs if hospital called Romsley Hill.

independent class action in The defence had not been inel clocked. Trade unionists in campaign and a number the fire service must place no proposals were faith management com- attending delegates. mittees.

STRIKERS

"HANG'

MANAGER

Nearly attended a meeting Thursday Workers in a Birming- Green, East ham drink warehouse called on defence of the faced the sack this week local hospital which faces after a month long strike closure. in defence of two sacked Conspicuously workers. from the speakers on the plat- They responded to the form were sacking threat by stringing up health service unions. an effigy of the manager of Fisher, Alan che Castle Vale

NUPE,

did not and Wine spirits depot they have shut to answer an invitation. :or the past five weeks. Unfortunately One of dismissed the have had little to fear from Keith Bradley-is the men- the majority of contributions.

son of 'Fox and Goose' pub No mention with no beer TGWU official Ken Bradley.

TGWU

officials have co- taken operated in the dismissal of unions for a pledge of area- Keith Bradley and a second wide strike worker. 37 of their fellow event of any attempt to close have refused to * orKers Bethnal Green, no mention of iccept this collaboration.

this was made Nishall Diary

... YOUR MAN AT THE TOP'S

FIGHT TO STAY ON YOUR BACK

ONLY STRIKES WILL

STOP HEALTH CUTS

the way forward for a cam- meeting called by BACHCCS (Bir- paign should be to hold inquiry Action Com-

WUIKCIS

IntO health service locally. Hospital Workers inquiry and Cuts in Services) was attended by Such an inquiry must start from the basic approximately 100 trade premise Inal the health service be run for Birmingham the needs of the working class 8 to discuss pitiful and the 1IUl closures finances supplied by the Lib- Lab coalition determined to Area slash public services. This suggestion Is lo De platform by a BACHCCS were a taken up from Lucas's, a representative from a Com- Area Council, from the Occupation Com-

NUPE

local The original plan proposed which entailed 14 hospitals has now been modified and some hospitals have now temporarily Pressure This decision is undoubt- edly due in part to the pres-

BACHCCS

which

NAI

wide base of PHOTO: Mark Rusher. lobby of the

GREEN

The AHA are still insisting

OSPITAL

ot at least the remaining hospitals including at the top KEEP Lobby a small geriatric mccling went Meet discuss future plans for the offered by IT. WSL members argued that Speaker 150 after speaker people turned the issue away from last the fight mobilise the in Bethnal working class in struggle London, through the unions, and replaced it with a festival of protest politics. Dangerous illusion absent Not a single new proposal any leaders of for action was put forward that was in any way different leader of from the petitions, protest letter-writing even bother lobbies and the last (much mooted at he would larger) public meeting. representative from Hounslow Hospital described the vicious scab violence used by Area Health Authorities to Whilst decisions have been destroy medical facilities.

campaign the But still there was talk of sufficient protest being able the 'embarrass'

AHA.

the This dangerous illusion was by the strengthened presentation of the Elizabeth

30,000 LABOUR BUREACRATS HAVE RECEIVED THE

COMMUNIST PARTY'S

"OPEN LETTER"...

WHAT GOOD IS

THAT TO ME?

OOPS... WHERE

DID I PUT THAT

OPEN LETTER?

and a steering group has been established which is to strike action workers' service and enquiry organse financing of into the support health service. the short the workers in hospitals threaten- ed with imminent closure are The AHA being organised to prevent a repitition of Hounslow. not change Workers at Romsev have towards already decided occupy persuasive the AHA decide to move against them. This action must be effec- tively backed up by a pledge in Birmingham. Bethnal Green Hospital campaign pickets the Area Health Authority Garrett Anderson Hospital in conscious fight North London as having been capitalist class "saved' by a dogged work-in Lab coalition and 'embarrassing' protest.

sugary

ROL UC

In fact the EGA's fate is still in doubt-and saved could the blind alley. be expense of other cutbacks.

The meeting The struggle to defend the Beasley, leader

NHS

as whole requires Labour council socialist policies and the mobilisation labour of the group movement behind them. out in a speaker from the Green hospital. Workers Socialist League pointed out this fight must however, that in his esteemed begin with a battle against the opimon, une matter would De present union leaders settled only occupations and strike action defend hospitals, and ities impose a system of health service spending

SWP

to ing inflation as assessed by trade union committees. rubbish ous step forward", puts in a nut- Conscious fight shell the huge crisis of leader- ship that workers. This struggle requires a Oh! Oishall... I've

WHAT! MORE RUDDY

PROBLEMS? LOOK

restrial Chad din

WHY DON'T YOU...

Ily the way...

YES SIR

THANK YO

VERY MUCH

SIR!

HELLO? IS THAT THE MORNING STALIN? I THOUGHT I'D

WRITE A GUEST ARTICLE... "LEFT UNITY, THE

ONLY WAY

Page 11 Shop staff prevent sacking from officials for supportive in the health the building of from industrial A lightning strike by workers throughout the area.

women working in Oxford's Mothercare store has ended in Strength complete victory after only a few hours with the reinstate- will certainly ment of a victimised union their attitude member and has given Closures employed tactics important boost to unionise so far by BACHCCS but only many other workers in similar by the strength of the organ- establishments. ised working class movement The Mothercare retail chain is typical of many such companies

ILS

concene wome workers, many part-time, and had formerly been able rely and mertoes getting rid of "awkward' indiv iduals Phoney "counselling", disci. trumped up olinary cessions charges and persistent harassment has that meant sackings dut commonplace and the chances o resistance nil. In this case, following such managemen move. arains number of the staff, an approach was made to USDAW, the shop- the workers WIll TeSUl that a group took the decision to join. Walked out At the same time advice wa supporters of the TrOm local Student-Trade Union Liaison Committee, a body prom marathon hotels BAen Tint unionisation struggles So, when the anticipated sack- ing took place last Inursday, the basis had been laid for the planning of an effective response of the workfora was organised for first thing following morning, where agreed to join the vamaude union. They elected a shop-steward and voted unanimousiy for strike action management conceded reinstatement within ar nOUr Despite panicked appeals from management for them to extend their deadline until the arrival o' senior management, when been received, the women walked out against the dispute second and its Lib approach was made to the unior office. Though they had been told government illusions of earlier in the morning that every.

one was 't00 until protest politics which lead so following week, many hospital workers into a this time of strike, the area full-time official appeared within heard Mr half an hour! of the local solid and with announce effective picket line that after months of silence increasingly determined member.

had finally come the bureaucrat's ship

UNDAW

favour of Bethnal desire to add their scalps to collection of sell out mementoes He hastened to point out.

was consoeraoy reduceo and ir subsequent negotiations the com.

pany agreed in full to the strikers by reasoned cemanas. As in catering and elsewhere argument' with the author- the unionisation of shop workers orus into une or anise• ranks ol That the chairman-lead the working class important new member David forces. Widgery-called this scandal- the strugle to hallene ace "an important is the struggle to challenge arch-class collaborators in Lord Allen s super-bureaucratic tortress and begin the fight for revolution confronts health ary leadership in the shopworkers We're having to 2,000 redundancies next weel

YES SIR... FOR THE

SAKE OF NATIONAL PROSPERITY!

SO BROTHERS, IN NEGOTATIONS I TOLD 'EM STRAIGHT-

NI A MAN MORE

THAN

2,000!

SULEN K

GO'FISHALL

1 MASS MEETING

ADS FIGHT

ITALY IN NEW CRISIS

PRESS

The moment that was mark supposed to the end of Italy's latest crisis, has government dramatically become the for occasion new political upheaval. Aldo Moro was being escorted by his bodyguards to the parnamento jom Communist and Socialist Parties voting confidence 1n in Guilio Andreotti's new ad- he ministration was wien kidnapped and his body- guards shot dead. Responsibility for this cunning v executed coup has like been claimed. many other recent dramatic terrorist attacks, by the "Red Brigades". Moro not just any Italian ex-prime minister.

Architect He is the main architect of the strategy of "Centre-Left" governments through which, from 1963 onwards, the Democratic Christian head-off the has tried the offensive of the Italian work- ing class. Moro was Prime Minister in five different governments and has occupied almost all the major government posts.

He remains as one of the for suspects cing "Antelope , ine coae name of the senior minister impli- cated in the Lockheed bribes publicly scandal identified. But such is the level of of Christian corruption Democratic politicians. Italy that these suspicions have not stopped him being President of the

OT COCAI

Christian Democratic Party and the most likely candidate to become President of Italy in the elections to be held in six months time. Threat to kill In Moro capturing ine "Red Brigades" have, as they "carried the themselves claim, attack to the heart of the state". Moro's chances of becoming President now look pretty slender as his captors have threatened to kill him if the state authorities do not release the 14 alleged leaders now kea brigades on trai in Turin. Kidnapping Moro, the "Re: Brigades" say they are

SOCIALIST

CP backs repression blow striking against The CP leadership is now "imperialist capitalism and being consulted by the state favour of the socialist authorities about how to deal following revolution. with the crisis captured Some of their Moro's capture alleged members have said While the CP members of that the group's strategy is to parliament rushed

VULC

fascist their support for Andreotti's provoke order to provoke the workers anti-working class new movement to break from the austerity programme, the organised reformism of the Communist party joint Party. demonstration favour Socialist Press totally con- "democracy" with the Christ- this demns dangerous ian Democrats. perspective It was with pride and not we we assume deeply mis- shame that the Morning Star come Irom guided sections of the ultra- reported the scandalous fact left-though the possibility of that: right-wing provocations "for the first time for cannot be ruled out. 30 years... there were there together with the red flags of the Communist and Socialist parties and the trade unions thousands of white flags with of the Christian the shields Democrats". Total betrayal At the same time in grotesque prostitution of the CP-led strike weapon, the unions joined in organising prolesi stoppages work in the factories-though organised in such a way that would affect they not or the bosses' production profils The calling of strikes But it is not the left but support of repression by the the terrorists of the right-the bourgeois state is appropri- fascist bands and sections of ately one of the first acts of apparatus - wno the CP in its new role responsibility for the carry as dl acknowledged party of the mounting atmosphere of governmental majority. which It is an expression of the dominates Italy. party's total betrayal of the Violence, arbitrary arrest class it claims to lead. and harrassment be Party theoretician Napoli- expected left against any tano once again made this wing or movement explicit when he said last Italy from militant in week: state repressive apparatus 'We do not want a Com- which is riddled with fascists.

want taiv: we Agalnsl inese allacks, unc and democratic progressive Stalinist Communist Parts Italy". has consistently sabotaged That, as he knows, 1S a any efforts to build indepen- for the Italy of euphemism dent workers' defence. corruption and It has done the opposite.

repression-Andreotti's Italy, It has been the most bellicose Moro's Italy, capitalist Italy, advocate of intensifying the the CP's Italy. repression by the bourgeois sidic appalalus.

BENN GIVES

BLESSING TO

CALLAGHAN

Aerospace, Lucas Industries, With production in British concrete courtaulas and industry still below the levels Cammell Laird have put over of the Tory three-day week, 7,000 jobs under the axe in an and almost daily where 11.3% of the work- announce ared force is already unemployed.

ments of factory closures and redundancies in every part of Still militant the country, the impact of The quick of Lib-Lab successior the government's announced Liverpool cutbacks anti-socialist policies is being much designed seems widely felt. aiscipline. demoralise and weaken On Merseyside alone closures a still militant section of the class and sackings by Meccano, British working rationalise capitalist industry in the area Leyland, Birds Eye, GEC, Lucas CP leader Berlinguer (left) French Popular Front defeated As we go to press, all their confident predictions but four of the results during the election campaign that the "left" would win a have been declared in the historic victory. second of round the French General Election. Assessment It is quite clear that the In the the event, party bourgeois parties hav which made the , largest gain maintained substantial UDF -a the loose was majority of some 90 seats.

coalition bundled together in This is a sizeable drop in support of President Giscard their former parlamentar d'Estaing but does not reflect power, Their progress largely com- the full extent of the gains pensated for the big losses of made by the workers' parties.

Chirac's Gaullist grouping, The French electoral the RPR. system small The next edition of karelalti majorities in a percentage of Socialist Press will carry a full votes cast to give a assessment French of the "working" majority in Parlia- elections and their signific- ment. ance for the international workers' movement. CP blamed The Communist Party has

WORKERS SOCIALIST

been blamed for these results Robert Fabre leader of by

LEAGUE

the "left" Radicals. Public Meeting Fabre also announced that his bourgeois party was now Thursday April 6, 1978 withdrawing from the Union 7.30pm at Mitre Hotel of the Left. Dale Street Both the Socialist Party Liverpool and the Communist Party the other two components of "Fight redundancies, this Popular Front formation fight closures-Our policy have gained 14 seats apiece.

to defend jobs But this is a far cry from But redundancies these just a part of the all-round attack on manning levels being waged by in every industry- from the railways to the shipyards Trom ca comeonents

TOOC

manufacture This is the price being paid by ine workino class tor tultiment ot the Callaghan government's plan the profitability private industry through stepping up the exploitation of the working class individual 'left' And wittle MPs, particularly from Laboul Merseyside, have raised isolated whimpers aspects of this conscious policy they have continued troop Parliamentary loyally into the loboles te

MOTI

subson Tol reactionary Lib-Lab alliance that is implementing the attacks.

Early election Now, with talk of an early election beino bandles aoout in Tory press, this "left-wing" Callaghan doubt intensify. The first signs have already appeared. Moth eaten "left" 'coal- Ition minister onv benn cecarer to a rally of supposedly left-wing 'Tribune supporters last Friday Inat ne and nis co-thinkers would work all-out for the return of a government Labour under Conner "Let no one suppose that the debates inside the party policy whichwilcontinue • Enrouon tni drafting of the manifesto and into the next Parliament, indicate any hesitation in working flat-out tor electoral Jim victory Callaghan". explicitly relectine intention of replacing Callaghan, Benn is merely stating openly the Labour 'left'. Sick joke His talk of a "debate" on the manitesto is no more than a sick joke, since benn knew when ne spoke that Callaghan had cynic suppressed policy paper: the budget drawn Party's National Executive-with clear objective of preventing alternative any discussion •on manifesto next election So while NEC member and MP Eric Heffer Merseyside twitters on harmlessly in Tauntor about the need to fight the effects greedy, selfish, capitalist society" and calls for a ministe made responsible Merseyside, unemployment valaonan tramplin even the puniest opposition.

Only socialist programme contre on national on otta major industries and the banks without compensation and under workers manacement can orovidi the planned programme of useful needed end public works unemployment. Inability But the prerequisite for such a programme Is to break tne hid Lab coalition deal that is the capitalist class' guarantee against socialism and Temovi reactionary Callaghan-Healey leadership. and his fellow lefts benn have time and again shown their refusal and inability to conauct suct a volut In demanding that they take a stand now against Callaghan workers must not in any way rely on tem conductine such ameliu Redundancies and closures • fought in each case by must be factory occupation and the demand for work-sharing on full [See further article, p. 10]