Socialist Press no. 105

WITCH HUNTERS

COVER UP BALLOT

PRESS

Whilst top officials of the

TGWU

Midlands Regional Committee prepare to victimise 9 Cowley shop stewards at the meeting of the committee on July 12 for allegedly bringing the union into disrepute, it is revealed that they have been covering up extensive ballot rigging by one of their own Regional Officers, Alan Law. The ballot concerned for three positions, was one on Committee, negional one the National Committee and one for the General Executive Law rigged the ballot in his capacity the

COT

secretary Ot 4,500 strong 5/35 branch which covers road haulage in the Midlands. Since . being discovered he has admitted to casting "block votesl in the three elections.

word black frequently used by bull incrat to make ballot rigging sound mapye.. ... -Block voting Block voling meard that the ecgetary branch officers simply cast all the votes Tum- setves for candidates of their choice instead of allowing the members the right vote as provided under rule. Law's actions, which first came light last November when the ballot was scrutinised, recently became national news when. two shop the branch took the mistaken step of making a complaint to the police. This result of months of frustration as union officials blocked their attempts to take the matter up within the wrong IselT-Is principle. brings since the forces of the capitalist state into the labour movement. Detectives of Birmingham's commercial squad visited TGWU Regional Office in West Brom- wich last Friday and questioned Regional Secretarv Brian Mathers. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Pickard said alterwaros that the officials had union s ""cooperative" been inquiries were continuing.

Own choice the ballot was scrutinised last November it was found that Law had personally cast nearly all of the 4,500 votes allocated to his branch in favour November, ballot null and void and to ask or twc candidates of his choice. And this for committees 'Law To which an entire union oi They (WO • Mition members alsc When break said that he had done this because he branch into three branches, action which was more connec enough time, and office staff, ted sutticient send with the out the ballot branch was playing at that time г• the dispute than the irregularities oy members! Lannel

TGWU

Yet branch secretaries receive up to 15% of the secretary. Law, contributions commission, however. which in a branch such as the to continue in his key job as a 5/35 could amount to hundreds Regional Official, for 14,000 ot pounds a week Branch Haulage drivers. secretary's commis- the Yet sion is biggest sinale expen. ted disciplinary diture of the union, and is paid precisely same Miglande carry out such duties as conduc- threatens to remove from office entire ting ballots. lactory only recent t Null and void' strictly. scrutinised It is not the job of full-time Deputy, paid office staff to do a branch Thornett secretary's duties. expulsion from the The of the Regional others, including convenor Bob action Finance General Purposes and two river Committee-the convenors with same TIVe people who conducted the hear- includina Cowley 9-when

THES

IFTO

the for oTTIces informed the incident last 'crimes' walking

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 105 * 21 June 1978 * 15p

RIGGING!

Guilty official keeps full time position to declare the meeting without permission of the chair, circulating details of resign. as branch finances including the This Law promptly did. size of the secretary's commis- took the oppor- sion) members, up the 5/35 Jones opposing Jack the of the social contract "campaigning against militant the unlicers otine union Presumably considered serious rivers more in the officers, than rig the ballots order was allowed corruptly to determine who the officers should bel лесост no Red handed Road Militants and threatened n witch-hunted Cowley. unpreceden- with because they oppose the policies action by this Regional

F&GP

officials; but officials Tne caught red committina leadership, one of the worst crimes in the elected union movement, shop. udde floor rigging, a slight get ap or trie Alan con venor here is now clear evidence is recommended that Regional Officials intend to proceed against the Cowley. 9.

and The last nimate. Ine other deputy of the Region 5 Com- meeting disciplinary mittee held in April, which have banning from only Just veen circulated, state life such that the reports compiled on the Cowley 9 by the two Regional

PLEASE RE

Mathers (left) with Regional Chairman Davies arriving to sit in judgeme Law inquiries held in February and March will be "considered" elections at this, no disciplinary charges the meeting of next the being laid against Regional Committee.

TGWU

Although hearings Inose undertaken. stand whilst the go lourner status of the "evidence" sub- in the matter, that the ballot the officers of the Oxford out carried Trades Council is investigated, capacity as branch secretary.

• these minutes Cal interpreted as a deciaration that been recerved they intend to act against the 9 position as on July 12. haulage-therefore his Regional A 140 strong meeting of the Officer's posițion Cowley Assembly Plant shop question! stewards, numbers of

TOWI

But Branches, and nearly 150 treatment is being meted out to nilitants within the TGWU hav Cowley 9 victims Alan Thornett backed the demand that these and Frank Corti. trumped up charges be dropped The at once. them concern their Regional officials officers ot ignoring these demands proceeding with their victimis expulsion and Corti TOr ation. his steward's card as well as his the •Law case, too, the branch position!

TGWU

officials are flouting the Mathers has said that neither views of the membership. the union or its mass drivers thing to held in Birmingham last Sunday gation since the ballot has been unanimously demanded rerun and this investigation branch matter right" and national officers members into the conduct of the recent used when allegations of ballot

RAT. LIBRARY COF

FIGHTING FOR

WORKERS DEFENCE

p.4-5 on the Cowley 9 in Febru rigging on an even bigger scale were widely raised in the British Leyland Cowley Body Plant in December 1975. There Regional F&GP claimed that there had simply been a "technical infringement" of the rule and ordered a fresh ballot on this basis. The "technical infringe- ment" Mathers identified as the destruction of the ballot papers before could be Ine) scrutinised! If Mathers is right, it means that union bureaucrats can rig ballots with impunity and when they are caught, simply oec are null and void and hold the ballot again! Law affair again calls into question aspects 01 TGWU ballot procedures in Region 5. Despite Great parcels of and completely Law and no unidentified ballot papers are sent to branch investigation secretaries and it is left to two Whilst accepting Law's guilt or three branch officers to fill to Region sheets and send them Mathers argues rigging was only Law's this discredited corrupt union bureaucracy that No complaints, he says, have is now attempting to hound out regarding political opponents through the Cowley 9 victimisations.

i a negotiator in road The answer must come loud and clear. *Drop the charges against very different the Cowley 9. *For an inquiry by branch members and national officers into Region 5 elections-with allegations against the results open to the member.

positions as ship *Keep the law out of the Thornett is recommended unions. to lost *For new ballot procedures within the

TGWU

with numbered identifiable alat ballot papers. : Otticers has any. *For the right of the individ.

fear from any investi- ual member question and scrutinise the ballot. set the *For the election of all is the same technique officials democratic procedures. -

Chad guerrillas confront Page 2

_INTERNATIONAL.

French troops undoubtedly have collapsed Flown in by the US

FROLINAT

as the troops from force, air for the National Liberation reactionary pro- the of Chad advanced. of imperialist regimes and Senegal in complete Morocco, mountainous begin- Gabon are now region wnien makes up tne replace the ning to northern third of the coun- and Belgian French LI y paratroopers in Zaire. for foreign French The grasslands, its legion com pietea developed mission of brutally crushing of south *ane one phase of the continuing support of the rebel armies against Mobutu's rebellion in • past. dictatorship. regime partial with- • But the principal of French plier of the FROLINAT. drawal from central Africa does not military the direct end Giscard's of intervention conti- in the government nent. Central role western Sahara, In the French troops continue to alongside fight Mauritanian Moroccan and At least forces against occupation struggle led the liberation by the Polisario Front. the by Farther east, attempt Republic of Chad, French forces are playing an increa- prevent central role in prop- singly up the military Dule Felix General torship OI of the Soweto uprising. French bourgeoisie The Over a million has a long history of stren- this uous involvement a massive former sary colony. is sparsely Black territory populated and deeply im- and off poverishea. Popular uprisings De Gaulle sent in troops to preserve the corrupt and dictatorship brutal Toumbalbaye President uprisings against popular and threats from the mili- automodild tary. After a brief display of pique when this regime was dictatorship. toppled by a military coup, The strikes the French government has assistance to the given its WIth MOSt of dictatorship wage increases or neW ing to Malloum. Without this vital aid, the military dictatorship would liberation fight revolu- The Eritrean The tion is now facing the itself was greatest threat in of fierce history long feudal As and heroic struggles. military The repressive the colonial junta of Ethiopia is massing the border the its armies territories to launch an on- annihilation Alrica slaught Eritrean war of against the British liberation. The Derg has fabricated them historical evidence to justi- fy its claims to the Eritrean feudal. nation. certainly true But it is dictators that these brutal humiliating seek the first to are not alanin me over tue coast In exchange for this help, dictator seized Libyan (Front the the chance of expanding his along the lengthy territory border with Chad. The FROLINAT now is control of the Beyond control and But now it has become

FROLINAT

clear that the the passed beyond has As its forces are fighting control of Gaddafi. control of the central The Muslims of the north uprisings nave have been joined by Chris- throughout tians and animists from the country, struggles their south against Malloum. Gaddafi's rebellion in Chad The the Libya was longer be fitted to sponsor and sup- can no any schema of racial or reli- Soweto anniversary police crackdown checkpoints and road-blocks set black 600 militants have been arrested The authorities had support in the last few days in an attempt racist Ntnatos • the leader of authorities in South Africa Motlarid, tne umber of priests and other self.

with 10", "Soweto mass mobilisations on the second styled black leaders. anniversary of the outbreak Hymn singing olacks "leaders' tried reported to have taken part in nese of the demobilise the anger commemoration of the anniver- masses by organising a series of singing hymn cordoned church areas were and sermons, to mourn the 600 thousands Brazil pay strikes to act against them directly.

BRAZIL'S FIRST strike. for And the officially supported 10 years, which four weeks ago General spread like wildfire through the Presidential Baptista Figueiredo, head JUde police, Paolo, has ended, but not before SeCUrILY himself forced electric shock

TO LE

favour of a change in the law to permit collective bargaining.

strike, The success whole looks likely to spark however, ended in at least partial victories working class actions granting off furthel outpace any which will at least ayloo military- "reforms" which the consider them. backed Though the regime declared the strikes illegal, it did not dare Eritrea's historic David Whitfield traces the history of the struggle of the Eritrean people for self- determination against both imperialist powers and a succession of repressive regimes in Ethiopia. Part One. Ethiopia and the Red Sea its barbaric exis continue Ethiopia state The borders of the im- formed only in colonies form the perialist the late nineteenth century.

present-day of the tribal wars basis and states in the region. racked the region in a pro- unites Somalia cess of violent unlicaton and British of Italian expansion while the French territories, European powers enclave of Djibouti has now stretched into the "Horn of become the Republic of the French and Alars and lue issars The Italian, Eritrea separate was imperialists seized Italian bour- colony of the the coastal areas and divided Five years of resis- geoisle. themselves. amongst tance had ended with defeat the But the armies Menelik in 1889. Emperor It was from here that the (who now controlled most armies of Mussolini's fascist of the interior) inflicted a invaded Ethiopia state defeat His 1935. in 1896. army SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 21 June, 1978 It is these glous tensions. which developments have alarmed Gaddafi. WRP's hero of the This daily Newsline is now des- working to arrange perately come to Libya for talks. the between negotiations and dictatorship Malloum nest the FROLINAT. struggles of the Chad masses He has been supported in must be supported and de- this by the governments of veloped by and Niger neighbouring nationally. Sudan, Malloum and former vital the resistance of thousands of workers who leaders who, have made their com- fortable peace with the dic- tatorship the present But • leaael- ship of the FROLINAT has so far refused adamantly to hit snags more black South Africans police killed by Tn E Soweto clashes which began in A in June 1976. * crisis, has arisen as a result of himself, Min Potlana vised speech, demagogically pro difference struggle for claimed Premier • That Lne black liberation Christian struggle" to be fought not with "moral weapons" coalition guns but with fell flat But Socialists the cemacuu and his large audience remained regional parties: unimpressed, , under- silent ano Tory-Labour need for the The lining the crucial is split over construction of a Marxist leader- aside these ship public to the overthrow of obstacles unemployment apartheid. percontast Maoist Western Europe erously cuts, pro quo quid murdered regional the in commies A MEMBER of the pro- the

UDP,

Albanian party, was murdered by the police the quarrel is in Lisbon on June 10 "democratic" Portu- The police were attempt guese

UDP

a ing to ansocise counter-demonstration an officially authorised 300- of demonstration

SUDAN

fascists.

'GOJAM

ambitious lessly autoclal finally gained who had

KENYA

power after Menelik's death flee forced -was England, and take up exile in Bath.

NAIROBI

the Italian occupa- the But tion was never able to over- the mass come which continually erupted any more than it had been able to subjugate complete- and ism, the resistance of Eritrean people. In 1941, the armies of the British state "liberated' Ethiopia and Eritrea. Des- popular opposition, pite Haile Selassie was restored year. But as Emperor. rule was His despotic by the solely maintained ruth- demonstrated in recently Paris against French impert- anti-imperialist fight alism now take _up a the labour throughout movement for the immedi- workers inter- ate withdrawal of all French troops from Africa. that those European coalitions full-scale government between Tine Tindemans' Social and its Party Tindemans the partners the Belgian capitalists' fear of small two the explosive consequences of a break in the class collaboration.

ist coalition. Goalt on Holland, In neighbouring economic poncy problems have also wants new cuts in economic caused major problems for the government. already Tory The mainly covern. terms the highest in week ment announce, as it had promised to The Socialist Party is treach- do, a new austerity budget.

prepared to accept the a reported obvious redsull wants. some some split the torn members fearing that the excep.

autonomy "TO tional harshness of the measures and Flemish speak- Financa proposed Minister could provoke a wave undeman. • protest whict of working class resigned. King Baudoin's request would unseat the already rela- to him to stay on and patch up tively weak government. an indication

* SAUDI ARABIA

ERed Sea:

MASSANA=

SOMEN

ASMARA.

TREA

ASSAB

EGulf o

WADEN

TIGRE

Aden

BEGEMDIR

-DJIBOUT

BERBERA

ADDIS

HARRAR

ABABA

ETHIORI

I OGADEN

O MALIA

MOGADISHI

250m Greater Somalia to delegate the patrolling of strength of British imperial- vital Red British the strategically was Sea coast, even to so servile troops and bombers which Selassie a client as Haile savagely repressed the most and still had the power to upri- serious of the many enforce its naked rule. sings, in Tigrai in 1943 and in the Ogaden in the same Continued next week ruled Eritrea was directly as a British colony Imperialism was not willing

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 21 June, 1978

INTERNATIONAL

Mao's heirs develop Stalin's line "One theme emerged How is it then that the particularly clearly. Our bureaucracy OlIC (deformed) state workers shared outweigh views can nave arrivea al differences. We our situation as to endanger the both oppose efforts by existence of the other others to seek a mono- workers states? be Neither of also lithic world. remembered revolu dispatches inter- US was lullal! national marauders who considered by many to be masquerade as non- less bureaucratic and with a less Stalinist leadership than aligned advance big to existed in the USSR. ambitions in power Many contradic- Africa. Neither of tions and pressures on the the Chinese leadership enforce seeks to are not peculiar to China political obedience of our neighbours through Most experienced military force Stalinism internationally (Applause). balances between the Ine speaker. not surpris pressures of world imperial ingly was Brzezinsai. chiet nationalised and hawk oi the Carte: 30min. property relations. istration. When it comes to making But he was not speaking deals with imperialism Mid-west in two-bit SUllIC holding back struggles town in the UsA but at a the the working class, banquet in Peking. Stalinist bureaucracies Hua in reply call al the and most calculcu denounced not only "social- vicious force in the workers imperialism' the world, but also The reactionary Vietnam's role aiding 'theory" of socialism in one USSR expansionism in S.E. imposes insoluble Asia. contradictions on the devel- make opment towards a socialist clear that in no way would society. they support the struggles These states are forced imperialism-and its arallist Huang agents Atrica, making concessions Foreign Hua, imperialism. Minister, rushed out to see of China, Case Mobutu the dictator the USSR is which unlike assure his regime of Chinese not, depen- Trounced

CD V

support and to join in with dent buffer states and still the growing anti-Communist has a predominantly peasant witch-hunting currently economy, the problems are directed against the Soviet Union and Cuba 75% of China's 950 million people live in the Not new countryside. Unmechanised but intensive production Huang also mounted the is the rule. the rostrum United Total production of Nations session on disarma- foodgrains, great aespile the denounce efforts, has remained USSR as the "most danger- about 0.3 tonnes per person ous source of a new world per year ever since 1952.

war" This is about the lowest Now, it is true that these possible consumption not new keep people alive and in salemelts al c coming from the Chinese reasonable health. bureaucracy. During. the struggles in Splendid isolation Angola they supported the African forces pro-South Industrial production the Cuban-backed although far greater against

TOO.

MPLA liberation fighters.

than developing •WeT the countries, has not provided What new growth of a cold war situa- the material basis on which he Chinese bureau- to bulla socialisin Both steel and coal pro- cracy makes Latest SLait- ments now under conditions duction, for example, nave had a growth rate of only of the developing economic of capitalism 1.5% per annum and increasingly methods adopted Dicudlory i ne towards the by Mao and expounded by advances "Gang workers states. the so-called Four" were ones of splendid The actions of the leadership, Chinese and moral exhor- only to aid imperialism and Chinese tations masses as during the "Great are used as a weapon against the developing struggles of Leap Forward" class inter- The bureaucratic clique around Teng and Hua nationally. iavour capitalis: style oi material methods mcenuves bonuses dila heavy penalties for any dissenters. Aiong with these the measures goes emphasis on training technocrats and a party and military elite The chauvinist,

THOS

aspects anti-foreign Mao era have been of the discarded. Enshrined But agreements made out of have been

IICUEOSILY

the level of exilaittu great components com- munism. Thus, for example, piece- work enshrined the constitution, adopted March 5 this yeat, as a as is the right to accumulate personal wealth. The new official "the fight that for production takes prece- over the struggle of _aence the classes" Because the new bureau- cratic clique has continued "ultra-left" Mao's line thai "social- fascism" and "social-imper- ialism" are the main enemy, they turn the Calliot other developed MOTe workers' states, especially the USSR, for assistance.

They also reveal their Stalinist position by placing no confidence in or reliance the world working class. Instead, following the his ot Stalin 1939 pact with Hitler, the Chinese bureaucrats turned imperialism looking for favours in return for their anti-Soviet diatribes. First pay off Trade have agreeilenis lately made Japan, Britain, West Germany, France and the USA -who agreed only last week to supply the People's China Republic witn for sounding equipment mineral deposits which could be put to military use No doubt this is just the first pay-off for the bureau- Petty bourgeois refugees from Viernam wade into China pro-imperialist cracy's stand. The crises brought about by the national positions of the Hua-Teng clique become more and more and acute. The present conflict with the Vietnamese CP leader- ship stems entirely from an stand- polnt. Two million people of live Chinese origin Vietnam, particularly in the

SOUTA

Many of them fled after the 1949 revolution ann set up businesses in the town of Cholon. Vital measure The flight of 70,000 Chinese from overseas Vietnam, some to China, and others capitalist to began atter the 27 March measures in the south. Clearly this step was a vital measure in the organ- Isation or a plannea econ omy in Vietnam. But far from supporting state in this and taking class position, the Chinese leader- ship has attacked the Hanoi regime as being the same as Ngo Dinh Diem's. They further accused the Vietnamese government of "Chinese people" and forcing them to Page 3 Dominican Republic: Reaction's new mask There is still no of- is allowed to become presi- ficial result of the presi- dent only on certain condi- tions dential election in the These include no changes Dominican Republic. in the senior military staff, This is because suppor- no changes in the anti-work- ters of ex-dictator Balaguer class economic policies ing all appears, of Balaguer and multarv ap.

expectations, to have lost, of cabinet proval major appointments. nave oaced numerous

•PIO

tests about electoral fraud Guzman has gone along by the apparently victorious with this with relish. It means, he hopes, that Antonio buzman oi tne so called Dominican Revolu- he will have the support of tionary Party. the army, the CIA and even Balaguer, and he can treat Conceded defeat with contempt any pressure trom the masses who elect.

But, after receiving ed him the to carry firm est instructions from reforms he promised. Jimmy Carter and the CIA He has already made several to call off the military coup speeches squirming "self-sacrificing DeTOre Balaguer armed forces" ing of the votes, has conceded defeat to Guzman "Counsellor" It is now becoming clear far that • Dictator Balaguer, no wever says Balaguer and losing power, Guzman. will be "a coun- the most reactionary sellor ot my sections of the military have cabinet will anarne gained in political strength.

composed of "the best men because all parties, including Irom exercise power through the the Reformist Party". "revolutionary" new Presi- for the dent revolution' is the same The CIA has organised a extreme reaction wearing a filthy deal in which Guzman new mask. US imperialist hawk Brzezinski poses with Chinese sailors flee, general protected its own.

and they have even sent boats to "rescue" On the Political Committee, "Four" only Wu them! besides the Kuei-hsien has been "elimin- ' Purges ated" In the provinces and the Chinese television time military regions only six of has abounded with the sight First Secretaries the forty of fleeing pell-bourgeols have disappeared from after stripped of the booty they have been political life. of vice- On the level tried to bring with them presidents of revolutionary At the same time as these committees in the provinces international position. however only one-quarter "develop", internal of the 380 have maintained conditions show the their posts since 1976. consolidate Obviously as Trotskyists pragmatic, rigidly controlled we do not differentiate as society. one regards supporting The Monde China section of Stalinism against correspondent A. Delain another. claims: the new leading Leadership team manifests a liking for This latest squabble concrete, the order and between bureaucracies hog- discipline. They show more realism in their projects.

bound by national interests merely highlights the crisis The credibility in this counter-revolution- regime has been enhanced by this, and by increases in ary force and the crisis in wages and the cancelling of working class leadership.

The Sino-Soviet split some taxes, e.g. those on does not pose a major threat bicycles." to the struggle of the world Alongside this has gone the purges, the reintroduc- working class and makes more urgent the task of the

TON.

ol ine aeatn penalty and the Trotskyist continuing attacks movement on the "Gang of Four". bulla a revolutonary leader.

ship in China and the other Protected its own degenerate workers states for the political overthrow of the reactionary Stalinist These purges. however the been notably more bureaucracy have of defence the progressive numerous in the lower levels nationalised property of the party. bureaucracy has in

Let us protect you' Page 4 workers A of wave racist shootings and knifings in the Lewisham area in S.E. London has resulted in proposals by the local black com- to set up self- munity defence squads. move came at ine Thursday, last meeting chaired by David Foster, chairman of the Lewisham 21 Defence Committee David Foster's son Chris, is one of the Lewisham 21 a group of youth arrested in a dawn police raid early last year and still awaiting trial , at the Old Bailey on Clarzes of conspiracy to steal. David Foster's other son, Carl, who has in the vast been active in the Lewisham 21 Defence Committee was of three blacks who have been shot in the last He needed an operation removed a pellet, fired

REDS ON

CARPET

The British Monarchy last week received one of its periodic visits from the Romanian head of state. The affabilities surround- ing President Ceausescu's visit were, however, marked the sort of frictions by which Romania's ruling families generally seem to bring in their wake. One of Ceausescu's pre- decessors as head of state, King Carol, visited London for the funeral of George V 11 1 930 of The solemnity the however, was occasion, regrettably marred. Hung-over King Carol, finding the of fleshpots London SO much superior to those of was too royally Ducatsi hung-over to walk erect in the funeral procession. Hustled from an over- resuscitation Turkish Bath he had to he supporte! along the route *white coated masseur appeared cuter -police chief tells black from high rifle, from his intestines.

The response the police to the proposed defence squad was to condemn it as immediately "gross irresponsibility Lewisham's police com- Taylor Maurice mander said: 'These matters should be left to the police. We are the people charged with the of preserving responsibility of Carl Foster said: the shooting law order in the "Whether it was a racist streets But in the words of Mr. a personal feud matter 'Foster: we don't know and will not «You can say we are know untl ine person wnlo taking the did it is found".

1ALO

own hands but the situation In other words the police desperate that have no intention of finding from requires racists responsible for now" this and the other shootings and are prepared to invent Racist matter "personal feud" "alternative explanation" of if to the shooting to divert from underline And as the need for the working the real search. Time and again, com- Cass mander Taylor, commenting Grunwicks, Lewisham, So when Madame Ceau- sescu decided to add further person -an Honorary Degree Polytechnic Central Embassy passed tessace ist First Lady walk on nothing but red carpet everywhere she went in the Polytechnic-a total (No red of over half a mile. Thus when Nicolai flags were requested!) Ceausescu (who is, among many other things, not only Pomp head of state, but President of the State Council, The worthy Poly admin- Secretary General ot the Party, Com- But this Communist extravagant pomp. mander Chief of the seemed steep espec- ¡ally while they were trying Armed and forces Honorary President of the students and convince staff of the need for econ- Romanian Acadêmy) came to visit along with his wife, Ollies. Elena, (who the So Buckingham asked Politburo and the executive Palace -no less - was Committee of Com- graciously munist Party and also direc- the cause of moderation. tor of the National Institute of Chemistry) the Romanian rimbassy dignity conscious that the of a dynasty was at stake.

and After all, leading lucrative in the positions Andrew Wiard. Report Romanian state are held by C'eausescu's four Nicu (head of the sons, Communist Union of Youth), lon, (Deputy Min- Agricullure), Valentin his daughter brothers Loe. Marin, his brother lie and law Manea (Prime Minister) and his two lon and C'orneliu Prime Deputy Ministers) to mention only sclection closer Thinks. tenetiaries of nepotism. Hyde Ladywood and Manchester, the police have sho ant han heart of bis on behalf the capitalist state and against the working class This may mean smashing picket celerald fascists from the justified wrath of the working class.

And as the toll of racist mounts attacks every In major city the urgent need is for the establishment of workers defence squads based on mass organ- isations of the working class. Ceausescu President of Romania demanded red carpets, an open and his own carriage in Buckingham room Palace. He was clearly deter- mined not to miss out on of the traditional customs of the British "What a common little man lie is" SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 21 June, 1978 Police "protecting" black youth on Grunwick picket line Trade branches, Lewisham meeting. Labour Party wards, trades Through their organis- ation for black councils, tenants associat-

WOINCIS

Flame, they called for black and the political L01. parties of the labour move- se -derence all take up the Black Self Defence -No ment must Offence). question of forming workers The latest issue of their squads to protect Cerence the black population, black workers' paper Flame their call for defend picket lines like that also repeats at Garners which has been industrial action by black attacked by racists, and to workers against racist defend public meetings attacks. from fascist attack. The

SWP

continually This, not surprisingly, panders to the existing was not the position taken of the Consciousnes Socialist by the Workers working class and these two Party Thursday's that at demands lasl

7. PRESS GANG

ALL THE QUEEN'S MAN

The first Warsaw Pact working class as he arrived of leader to make a state visit his will! to Britain is praised for his international solidarity and international diplomacy, his his revolution. calls 'proud the Admittedly his solidarity nanondusa "romantic ring" to his name was reserved for the Queen and his vigour. and her state; the revolution police in on the was trade relations state are confined to a few between British business- vague paragraphs near the and Romanian fact- AneT end of a long article. •The ories. Daily Mail is aware of its It confused the British political obligations, not a little. Ceaus- press luding: escu's visit to Britain was 'Romania is in a vulner- spelled out in an interview able part of the world-and in the Guardian as part of it is this which makes Ceaus- the play by various factions intriguing visit of the workers states' bure-

COUN

The Guardian-having aucracies in searching secured its "exclusive inter- capitalist allies. Ceausescu in his own views-was less dererental Romanian right would have been mat- mocking the erial for leader's progress through pontical assassina motorists the fuming of bourgeois press ton in tne But as an opponent London. of the 'The arrangements Soviet bureaucracy has ne clearly pleased the President acceptable become waved like a windmil figure. at Victoria and was still Even the Daily Mail which (Bernard Levin apart) • going vigorously al lne gales of Buckingham Palace. The the determined 411( of the workers smearer vueen sal deside nim in nel landau, looking a bit frozen confined itself states. calling C'eausescu This hatt- presidential Anana whipped past. ling Balkan bear-baiter

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 21 June, 1978 tradition. By arguing only for black self defence and black strike the SWP action, condemn black the isolation from and encourage •movement illusions amongst blacks that they can. solve their problems by themselves. At the same time these demands permit the

SWP

and blacks those WIlO support them to ignore the urgent i mobilising OT of the labour whole Tale movement to build workers defence squads-class organ- isations that strike can blows at the fascists who are a class enemy determined to use their racist policies to bulld a party to attack and destroy the organisations of the labour movement. Because the fight for such mobilisation Workers' defence "difficult" and fraught with "problems" like confronting head-on where it laciansm exists within the organised labour movement, the SWP preter to aim their demands where they can be sure of a call suppressed sympathetic hearing. The Socialist Workers League will continue raise the class issues involved in the anti-racist struggles and in particular fight for the CLaus Cul of workers defence squads at protest to pul an end to tne rascist of which campaign Carl Foster is a victim. The Daily Mail noted last that Metropolitan Police Week Commissioner. David McKnee's meeting attacks on une ball system imply a presumption of guilt established by courts" do not let that Trev stand in the way of a little morale boosting tor the torces sialt Some 500 Tator thompon the freed on bail, who use workers and their conditional liberty to steal onsible formulating youth-black white and and mug and attack young girls, already infamous ghetto housing alike-flooded into a stormy according which Deme oermined public meeting, Spital- to this country far in In Bengalis should be allocated to excess of the actual crimes they fields last Tuesday to regi- special blocks flats from commit". ster their hostility to the white residents would I be wisch says the Mail, that excluded racist rampage by 150 youth has stung McKnee "a taciturn She attempted the futile task the previous weekend. nature", man by to his attack. of defusing the explosive situa by 'community tion by worning or course to do with Called the desire of the police action' figures to use and reformist miscuoted and Terrio v custody the media generally as a means of locking Immigrant leaders, the meeting treated by activists was hear

GLC

with regard to her desire to herd strikers. political intended and other undesirables on whom Councillor Tory and housing ether for their com protection: we mustar communi they are unable to make charges spokesman Mrs. Tatham.

SLICK

Mark South-called for Council of Action and workers defence squads Broadcasting YS bankruptcy WITH THE final offending by these so- Labour party At no point, however, did footage snipped from the film called Marxists. these so-called Marxists point to The instructions broadcast maintained a on the of the right any of the attacks launched by boaus image by stringing the Lib-Lab coalition against the wine. Tne Labour rarty young oTT Socialists' own 10-minute party together fow facts on Working Cass avanan political broadcast on behalf of ownership of wealth by a small men costhe labor paris of Labour Party was screened minority and then proceeded to constitutional policy last Thursday night. explain that the Labour Party iş On the theme of Youth "democratic party Not a mention was made of socialist committed by its constitution Callaghan and Healey's attacks The occas was a recrunting exercise aimed to the of the nationalisation • me co ereccaron or the Britain's youth to join 1½ million workers on the dole wed or we la. Labour Partv. Tories were (correctly) three ine. years wage The

LPYS

is dominated fingered the of the enemy COnTOIS the self-proclaimed "Trotskyists National Health Service. further proof , placks. of state education and the working total bankruptcy of the Militant Nil tant group, would have in general. who class grouP s were necoco. believe that they are opposed to this was it. were urgeo the right wing "13 cheerleaders for Labour leaders The ranks i

OT TRA

the anti-working class million strong labour and Ther Labour bureaucracy they help policies. ment" and the LPYS National provide the necessary left cover But once the broadcast got to deceive layers young Decre Was nerwewer going explain the importance we were tre:ter to tem placing their minutes of illusion- the Labour Party in voting for confidence in the Labour Party.

mongering the order to change society Part of last Tuesday's meeting Arrogant and reactionary to thargarer Thatcher was met wit's marrow, man Si bitter hostility by the overflo.

wing 500-strong com costa ПОТ Bengali community, but also of white workin class families in he Spitalfields are A riaht wind Labour Coun. tenants correctly violence of fascist thugs chronic facial tension housing conditions, lack of amenities and dead end prospects of their area of East London, which centred heavily on the sweat-shop clot hing trade. Betrayals All these conditions nave been worsened Labour under and Lib-Lab governments. An Asian youth denouncec the betrayals of the Labourite leaders and the attacks of the Tories, explaining that the fight not drainst racialism involved only the destruction of the divi.

sive ghetto plans but a struggle for an end to Spitalfields social problems. Contrary to the

DICTUTI

painted by the press the meeting showed the hostility working for clas. Titt National who

TACRISTS

have exploited the frustration of sections of youth ared The traitors ane cass ene mies the platform On howled down time after time as they offered feeble apologies fo their systematic attacks on the working-class. Mark South. a supporter o' Press received stormy rounds explained the need to organise a applause when against the Labour right back traitors and the Tories. Council of Action He argued that the meeting called as a protest and was only must do turtner The police protected the fascists from the working class and had done nothing to track down fascist thugs who The murderer Bengali Ali in the Altab area. It sard A Council of Action, based on the white and immigrant class oreanisations the area should be established to lead 'a struggle for jobs for youth, decent housing and livin‹ standards and to organise def.

guards to deal with the fascists. At this point the organisers the meeting snatched away the microphone, ensure tar resolution on this question could be taken. Then began their practice of suppressing speakers who showed any sign of militancy by claiming that they came from 'outside the area'.

LABOUR

PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report In this they were assisted by a self-styled 'libertarian socialist' . who warned the meeting group radical 'community types' called 'East London People's Alli- ance' whose stal bertormer raged about Barbel 'outsiders' and 'troublemakers from the sidelines of the mee tin The enormous frustration let loose meeting demon. the the Sulated readines working class to fight and to to revolutionary policies. Tame protest At the same time it demon.

strated . the crisis working Clas leadershio. Tine Torm of the tame protest resolutions put from the platform, , and the coldose ourserenders to revo- lutionary politics like the 'Soci- Page 5

PARTY

Housing conditions in Spitalfields alist Unity' and the Socialist Workers Party whose speakers refused to take up any call for workers defence guards, or any.

thing else that could lay down a challenge the class enemy.

CTISIS

plans and is over Its ghetto unable to face of massive them the massive rosulty Party wards and Labou GMCs must press resolutions denouncing the ever Labour councillors Sir Ashley Bramal and Ken Livingstone tory ghetto policy, and calling for the removal of its defenders.

But the struggle will not end there. The material conditions remain for the explosion in Eas London that will terrify all those who wish to chain down • class to retormis protest politics.

- BRITISH

MEDIA

210P

STIRRING

RACIAL

VIOLENCE

Ghetto advocate Tatham

Page 6 Mitchell Banda As a result of the Open It is characteristic of Letter at the end of 1953, political tendencies that the International split into an openly revisionist Inter- adopt opportunist an national Secretariat-led by in current position Pablo and Mandel - and the struggles that they light- International Committee, their mindedly turn attempted the which backs on the lessons of orthodox defence of the past.

TOLSK VISI

Cannon, in the course of This has particular irony the spellede out tendency con- the when the Spill essence of Pablo's attack on with cerned-as is the Case Trotskyism: Workers Revolutionary Party-was formerly a deter- "And if our break with mined defender of program- Pabloism-as we see it now matic principles central to clearly-if it boils down to continuity of post-war the and is concen- one point trated in one point, that is Indeed, until 1975 (when it: the question of the party General Secretary

WRP

• Pabloism aims not only Healy and his Gerry Trotskyism; it followers to overtnow swunle aims to overthrow that part for the uncritical support Trotskyism which Vietnamese Stalinist Trotsky learned from Lenin.

at the time of the defeat of "Lenin's greatest contri- the US regime puppet. bution to his whole epoch leaders of the Saigon) the and his deter- WRP and its forerunner, the was his idea mined struggle to build League, Socialist

LADOUI

of capable deviations, vanguard had, with Dally leading the workers in revol- established a 22-year record of consistently emphasising ution "That is written into the necessity the Transitional Programme, Trotskyist constructing that Leninist concept of the parties in every country to decisive role of the revolu- struggles lead tionary party. .And that is imperialism against

DOLE

Pabloites the are Stalinist the bureau- Wall and in throwing overboard cracies. conception this of the had been TavON that the ideas will somehow correct basis that 1n British filter into the Healy atel the Stalinists bureaucracy, had followed Trotskyists or reformists, and in some American 1 rotskylsi Icaucr "In the Day way or another, James P. Cannon in signing of the Comet" the socialist the famous Open Letter. will realised revolution and carried through to con- Open struggle clusion without revolu- of this letter Marxist, that is, a The gist tionary party. was that, sooner than capit- Leninist-Trotskyist, of longer to the That the essence ulate any political line of the Fourth is Pabloism. Pabloism the İnternational leader Michel substitution of a cult and a Socialist revelation for a party and a Pablo, the Workers orthodox Party called programme". on Trotsky- to the Party, other Speeches ist" forces throughout the pp.181-2 world to join them In al open factional struggle. This initiative was not and wholly adequate, certainly belated. But it was correct challenge had first invited rabio such a response as early as began he to liquidaționist advocate policy of "deep entry" into the mass Stalinist parties of antici- Europe, which would be forced by pated "objective processes" to break from Cullets role revolutionary and "project revolutionary orientation This view, which flies in Trotsky's the face of Stalinism, analysis was shared by Pablo's henchman Ernest Mandel, who argued 1951 that particular the mass CPs of France and could be forced Italy pressure into breaking from counter-revolutionary and leading revol- nature utions (a false position that Mandel as the present-day leader of the United' Secre- tariat of the Fourth Inter- national, has recently revived in his assessment of "Eurocom- so-called munism"). Marxist party. Healy Cannon's final sentence has added sign if- certainly in relation to icance WRP's line on Libya today!

Capitulate Pablo's But while of the Trotskyist revision abandon- programme and ment of the perspective of Trotskyist parties building independent lead 1949 on struggle began in the question of Stalinism, colonial of the upsurge struggles in the liberation demon- late 1950s soon the strated that same "Trotskyist" leaders were equally prepared LU to politically capitulate emerging spontaneously bourgeois nationalist petty particular the forces-1n leadership bourgeois petty Cuban the 1959 revolution 'Natural Marxists' the describing 'natural Castroites Marxists', and 'unconscious [sic!! Trotskyists', and in the looking to them as of extending revol- throughout Latin ution Pabloites America, that their showed clearly approaching excludea workers struggles the element most vital to Trotskyists: the sharp fight for the building of Trotsky- ist proletarian parties as the only conscious force able to reformism, _combat Stalinism, and nationalism and assert the independence of political the working class. But in this capitulation to Castroism, the Pabloites found themselves rejoined by Cannon and politically the

SWP

leadership, who correct aside their tniew Pabloite liquid- attacks on ationism, and thought they James P. Cannon: right in 1953, wrong in 1963 on role of 'Newsline' of September 14 last year summed up the liquidationist line of the WRP in a short polemic against the WSL: "The Workers Revolu- ționary Party has openly declared its political alliance with the revolutionary move. ments in the Arab world, Africa, Ireland and Latin America. "These represent the continuation of Trotsky's struggle to resolve the crisis of leadership in the working class and build the world party of socialist revolution" But the task of the Trotskyist movement is to construct Marxist revolutionary parties, not to fuse with or tail in behind spontaneous petty bourgeois groupings or bourgeois nationalists.

saw in the emergence of the a short Cuban revolution cut around the difficulties building orolclaridl the

USA

and parties in elsewhere. While the SWP and the Pabloites crawled to Castro world for searched further Cubas (with dreams of similar developments in and prepared Algeria) reunite their formally the British Socialist forces, Labour League (forerunner of the

WRP)

was equally unable to analyse the Cuban place of the Pabloite In Cuba had been view that transformed by the Castro- a workers state ites • 180 and that therefore Castro Healy and Marxist, was SLL argued that since the Castro was not a Marxist, could not be workers' state! Certain virtue Both positions were false in their approach and false in their conclusions The

SLL

position how- did have certain ever, virtue in that by ignoring a real change it succeeded in apparently political independence from the Castroites and retained old the insistance need for a Trotskyist party.

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 21 June, 1978

EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

GADDAFI

'Our Libyan Arab people on this date,

SPEAKS

the date of the eighth anniversary of the upsurge of the Great Revolution, stand with power in their hands, with wealth in their hands and with weapons in their hands...'

WRP LEA

JUNK THE

TROTSKY

Spring 1964 in terms which But the SLL clung onto a heavy irony in the these notions under bear light of Healy's current conditions clear confusion. The politica theoretical and the anti-com- problems that Healy's anal- Gaddafi ysis of Cuba created for an munist Iraqi regime understanding of the post- Adaptation of capitalism war overturis Eastern Europe under The

SLI

correctly had to Stalinist leadership showed that Pabloite capit- be brushed aside. had ulation Castroism And the partial attempt led to a wholesale adap- Tim Trotskyist Wontforth within the Inter- by Pablo to the talion nationalists of the Algerian national Committee

FLN

the independence come to grips with some of fact struggle. Despite Tune these contradictions in his that the International Com- Theory of Structural Assim- mittee's record had been far ignored and ilation was

SLL

exemplary, the

ITON

suppressed nealy -and correctly pointed out that Wolforth abandoned by then turned "Pablo himself. certain of his sections into This work has only now little more than errand-boys republished by the national-bourgeois been for the League leadership Workers Socialist of the Algerian (see" page 9). FLN, turning away from the In the wake of the Cuban industrial working class the itself in Western Europe.

International, Secretariat was Fourth national reunited" politically with Spring 1964, p.9 Workers US Socialist phrase is not the Those have Party in 1963 (though the enough! who drafted

SWP

remains barred by Reconne US legislation conduct their 'defence reactionary fact from of the Algerian Revolution mic atolle affiliation). by subordinating themselves to Ben Bella, by saying and The joint document that doing nothing about the they produced at that time construction of independent The Dynamics World of parties Today revolutionary in • Revolution was colonial Algeria and the extensively criticised by the countries..." (p.10). Socialist Labour League in

Here abstraction general a ponlcal, Like the ation the class political bourgeo is also (P.I1). emphasis. upon the independent revisionists, gice or utionary (p.12).

DERS

OLD

ISM

'the words meaning, an practical far too for any bourgeois "colonial geois, ment. Cuba. Any Sadi both the International Review and national specifically who organised isation opposing. this is just of proletarian of senes quite contals because of obtained these When revolutions occur, Marxists Renegades line have alternative but to participate in them 'whole up with Sadat heartedly', ie., they must not abpear as opponents oi Libya the petty bourgeois leader- ships. In Cuba, for example they Castro's must enter party and work loyally But this within it Algeria they must work for Ben Bella, and jo in with him in denouncing and imprisoning any opposition Right Left movements, or .)It is precisely the Kurdistan. revolutionary situations of Algeria and Cuba that the editor building of the independent party has been most blatantly abandoned, on the that the petty. assumption leaders Zionists and bourgeois leaders will revolutionary become Marxists .. " ((pp.20-21). 'plot' regime. We still agree with all of these criticisms the Pabloites made by the SLL 1964-though

SLL

the itself was not without blemish. of But how do these correct considers with the crawl- points tally ing capitulation by Healy and the Newsline staff to question Gaddafi, to the murderously

WRP

anti-Communist Iraqi Kurdish to the PLO leaders, regime, today? rep 'Stalin -most of demand Bro in set secession tha a capitulation And but 1964: atio only person one un e Donrceon w hich bur modern Thornett dep come produce, amongst polemical their actions the last two to of history vcars OrLe of party Libya the very And, the

WRP

itself SLL's against the towards Pabloites not frenetic enough" ment" the of UVUlL independent around oroietanan not only days admitted executed His of the measures suspect up Communist against L.Ne Party. today, petty-bour- movement "Trotskyist" Newsline coveni- carried accoralg example, was ever ference of the General

SWP

Socialist following including the Pabloite Kurdish into Nasser's and 'Central the lies jostle denend independent the Arab class and struggle. At every petty bour- union the (Emphasis Traqi added). ary party conc usion We challenge the WRP to factors' come clean. Do they see the Ba'ath Party as a Trotskyist there Party! then how not, does talk of the There this 'socialist plunged ever downwards. In 1975 they launched wsi tor suadatence of the vicious attack uncritical the record of the Vietnamese OT and. Chinese Vietnàmese Trotskyists murdered by the workers' Stalinists Stalinist under Ho Chi Minh in the post-war period.

Fourth The WRP in reply came out

ISSUC

unprincipled By early 1976 the But year old paper and the ional the peasants of an apology Mitchell was year of the stating the article was by no Banda's expressed the but by 1974 Shah of the sharper ever lurch the lraqi Healy witch. hunted expelled all those that ship the PLO Some members, including Central revolution whole"

WRP

the apply to the

WRP

aoes have struggle cash to support Transitional 1c ult Programme One which had Yet they even forces have been so called fight against unable to show any basis in Healy the was the principles of the growing Trotskyist towards movement for the Kurds within their political adaptation to the

WRP

bour- bourgeois and petty most As leader geois nationalism. Since then the

WRP

journalist leadership, now composed "Members was the almost entirely of petty-

WRP

the by the the forces Transitiona in the political to his rapic where the turning was into recruit- Thornett 'Natural Marxist' Castro with Ethiopian dictator Mengistu.

recruited after few bourgeois forces with little of the • IC aw arenes. historical positions oi their own movement. (let alone and The the Fourth International as vast majority these recruits a whole) have not cast so still will never much as a gance back ai the principles of the Com- form munist movement. them impossible One after another, News- line reporters, WRP leaders theories able. "drive out- and film crews have made meek homage to the Middle Anti Nazi to join Libyan cele- Lasl been brations on the anniversary powerful different circumstances, of Gaddafi's bonapartist became coup or to crawi unasham. luwarus liquidatión" edly to the PLO leaders. Such positions are struggle ism, p. 24. equally as crude and liquid- A as many document - ationist of those brazen formulated in the 1950s and back ward by its defenders 1960s by Pablo himself.

WRP

Those

DROI

conier witnin tne themselves among who see the orthodox Trotskyists must •WRP's other. begin to draw opportunist positions •a real line of ot the assessinent and the United their and Sulln lcduers Nations. conclusions as to where the point in this None points continuity of Trotskyism revisionist lies: whether it is with those by the the

WRP

who now in the WSL who fought Healy's liquidationism 1974 and were expelled; or brazen anc campaigns with Alex Mitchell, the order head off Recgraves and the CuaCl of the

WRP

who discussion. seduers know nothing. of Trotsky- the ism and are blown by every breeze that wafts in from The having oil-rich Middle East trampled those who nationalist regimes. of that course, Ism, has By John Lister

PSEE

essence of Stalinism Against Revolution'-Two Wohlforth and Adam Westoby, published last Thursday by Folrose Ltd., 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR, price £1.75 plus 20p p&p. revolutionary struggles' and It is significant that publication of this the stabilise a tence' volume should coincide and imperialism with a sharp new turn in in the 19 /US relationship the Crate between Stalinism and CPs of Western Europe are the being drawn. imperialism in direct continent and African 'own' Luel with further lurch irrespective of the wishes of towards Stalinist class Moscow. collaboration in Europe. Unease Both the essays contained in 'Communists' To a certain extent, Against Revolution start, as Kremlin did Trotsky, from the neces- remain sity to analyse Stalinism as a Dallies al c counter-revolutionary inter- carrying out their struggle operating prevent any on a world scale, and shot ary overthrow of capitalism.

through with all the contra- Certainly dictions of the degenerated task Soviet state. Brezhnev to In Europe the movement cow Portuguese Communist of the mass the struggles of 1974-6 Parties towards "Eurocom- munism" is part and parcel there must be unease in the of their move into Popular Kremlin Front formations with bour- which These geois parties in which they to urge now play key role defusing and containing the publicly have of working militancy the themselves class. confrontation Smokescreen Soviet Union. The In Spain, towards a veteran Stalinist and arch Eurocom- War propaganda Santiago Carrillo imperialists munist "left' talk of reveal the combines 'rehabilitating' Spanish centrist leaders murdered by ed. 1930s the Stalinists in the But, as and of Trotsky's role in the any Revolution as well Kussian as criticism of the repression Eastern class of working occueds Europe, with the practical ally, and unable to act of signing the wage- cutting Moncloa Pact with Stalinist parties the Francoist and Spain and the abandoning pretence of Leninism. the instance In "Eurocommunists" use CPs Uy smokescreen of left talk and bridgeheads in Africa apparently open attitude to with "Trotskyists' of the USFI to help cover the most reactionary collab- ary rather than oration with their own ary crisis-ridden bourgeoisie.

means Eurocommunism is not a have sought new phenomenon, but of the version

DOUSEUS

leaders Front betrayals of In Popular the 1930s in which, under collapsed (Angola, Stalin's orders, Communist bique) and 'left' Parties used the pretext of the 'anti-fascist' Ethiopia, form struggle CoulLel• chainpion revolutionary political blocs anti-imperialist struggles and alliances with Africa. "progressive sections of the Elsewhere bourgeoisie". Drawn closer such a way offending But whereas in the 1930s and to hold back off revolutionary such colaboralon of the place as part took Kremlin strategy to head off Probing the JOHN LIStER concludes his two-part review of Communists Essays on Post-war Stalinism, by Tim Patriotic Front. of these Any analysis "peaceful coexis- country-by- changes on Stalinism event-by event country or in Europe, futile and basis must _ne oureau" for revolu- disorientating leaders of the mass tionaries. Stalinism in the post-war ever closer to and acts .as with collaboration of world system bourgeoisie, counter-revolution cratic which seeks in its own way to defend both its privileges and power, based they as are on nationalised property the "peaceful and its relations bureaucrats coexistence" with imperial- Call content that these • 1518. tenaciously The political, military and economic processes revolution- through which the policy of 'defensive expansion the that was capitalist brought allotted by to be overturned relations the pro-Mos- under Stalinist leadership in CP during European "buffer cast states' and in North Korea, and China the same time North are the main subject matter of Tim Wohlforth's Theory the extent to CPs their of Structural Assimilation.

fully He shows that these over- collaborate only with their 'own' bourgeoisie place turns

LOOK

committed side with imperialism in the event of a the

WILL

present move of Cold revival by the further will extent to which this separation has develop- rejecting ever, idea of defending the USSR through the revolu- tionary mobilisation of the internation- way around the entrenched of France, the Italy, Stalinists have attempted to compensate for this loss of influence on the European strategic securing overall strategy part of an Alliances of peaceful coexistence with involved imperialism wICa Again bureaucratic-milit- Stalinist complicity revolution- upholding-even capitalism in the remainder been adopted, and the Stalinists of Europe and Asia Wohlforth explains out Anu that because these overturns nationalist planned where neither fully areas nor executed by revolution- imperialist rule had virtually ary means, the pace of the with the reac- process enormously varica tionary military dictatorship within the butter countries than themselves and, in the case sooner of Austria and Finland was and proclallal actually reversed despite the exercised after the Contro Stalinism's war by the Red Army. "left' face in Africa is shown But his account is not without its weaknesses and as to avoid the imperialists which must understood if the approach or head struggles Theory of for national liberation, as in applied with any success to the case of the Zimbabwean an analysis of events today.

DALL CALD.

the Take for instance question of Cuba. the states: of the The decision difference Kremlin Europe —important, nureaucras use Cuban absolutely not chosen intervention force in Africa highlights the way in Soviet Union". (p.134). which the Castro leadership Tracing has been absorbed into the Stalinist system military 1959 period following the petty bourgeois bour- revolution leadership on by petty geois forces. whose Explored and But this points the finger weak- clearly at the major blockade, ness of Wohlforth's Theory: that: not come lo grips GOeS "Taken as a whole with the Cuban revolution the Cuban first which was confirms, instance the reason why the 'exceptional' essay was begun! actually Wohlforth assimilation'". (ibid). declared in his introduction Another that: far easier to •t is now lighted last see than it was in 1961 that the same the limits of the expansion proclaimed of Stalinism were essentially played no reached with the victory of Katangan Chinese Revolution, recent invasion another cracy -the actually was ialist puppet regime. The splits coulill y even since Westoby's melLary late. 1976 reasons "real, if independence each nureaucra The old Stalinist monolith is now visibly cracked originally dependent the Kremlin, was this expansion that its develop in essentially roots: not going bevond nature, buffer areas on the USSR's bureaucracy Eastern and Western ronmers .. In Adam Westoby's commentary On critical revolutionary Wohlforth's Theory of Structural Assimilation, this attempt to error and its background are examined and the events of interests". (p.140). Revolution the Cuban al c explored in the context of the strategic requirements It of the Stalinist bureaucracy this line defensive moves its contradictions against the superior weapon ry developed by US imper- emerging Stalinism ialism. "During 1962 Kruscher be sought, in the most direct way possible, to use Cuba as a military point of pressure zone"- 'buffer -like for defence and deterrence producing Soviet troops liberate Romania in World War I!

sistencies in the actions of against the main imperialist various wings of the bureau most obvious Eastern [with cracy. Westoby's but essay which important aspects of so -is that Cuba is not adjacent to the Wolforth's Theory stand in need of correction, amplification growth of and the SIOr political and the light of more recent dependence of the and objective events Castroite analysis of the International which the Kremlin, ' Committee WIll Wohlforth was then politic- military

DOWCI

shielded the Castroites from ally aligned. Santo Domingo-style US econ- whose omic aid sustained Castro in the face of a US economic Westoby shows revolution precisely features, the general thesis of 'structural with problem Wohlforth's essay was high- week when at Castro time that Cuba had role in assisting their rebels in of Zaire, bureau tallis! Peking regime- proving its Mandel-shot to ribbons support for Mobutu's imper- But it also draws out the the inner strengths ot Sharpened Theory, which provides us with a key to understanding world the complex process o post-wat Stalinism brought about by of development the logic of 'socialism in one Stalinism. sharpened have And in doing so Westoby demonstrates clearly why CoN- was completed which this essa v contains sufficient to shoot Westoby investigates the to ribbons the impressionist why Wolforth USFI and of the schemas the underestimated the wooden and self-contra- limited, political of the dictory "orthodoxy' of both the Healyite International Com Chinese and Yugoslav CPs" mittee, has been suppressed -and stresses the fact that by both sides for 14 years though In publishing these two upon essays and fighting to stim- tends ulate the widest discussion own national problems they on analyse and illuminate, the each national Workers Socialist League which, in

CHILD

continuing own right, takes or begins to stated aim of fighting. take state power does so not an objective assessment as part of the international the historical problems and movement ol the present disorientation of the working class, but in the the international tendencies secure, protect calling themselves "Trotsky- and extend its own national ist', and for a serious turn to resolving the theoretical and practical problems that Contradictions dogged have for Ju year. the Fourth International.

is particularly enquiry-the Now Trotskyists can freely obtain the text and splits suppressed by "Trotskyist within world today-that leaders for 14 " vears. decide further work needs urgently hopefully undertaken with us in undertaking the by overdue task of developing Trotskyists in order accur a comprehensive analysis of ately to assess the changes that are taking place and the evolution Stalinism. apparent incon-

Tne 13 month strike of coal miners at the Brookside pit in Harlan County, Kentucky, 1973 and Juring 1974 was marked by a series of phenomena which will be familiar to anyone who has partici- pated any similar battle. First there was the memory of battles fought and won by the generations that had gone before. Harlan was the County scene of many violent con- frontations and at least five 1930s, deaths the auring and some of these are recor ded in films and still photo- graphs. Then there is the sense of deteriorating conditions and accumulated grievance which, as always in mining, was particularly harsh and violent. Determination There are the disasters ana deans, and in ine ena the realisation that matters only improve the Can recognition of a union that won better conditions nac national level than •Ull prevailed at Brookside. As the Harlan County strike developed, and the employers grew more intrac- shared libie, WorKers the same determination that they always will when faced Limits with such a challenge. ne strikers were. then confronted with the usual panoply oi courts. and scabs and WUll Cularly Lelatious

SUDOUIE

from an auxiliary organisa- of the straight • i woner Te anons. and deve- who maintained lopea tne picket une As the struggle: dragged on, same nere battle that there always is to maintain the continuity of documentary the picket push ane aside and deal with the divi- sions and differences that inevitably intrude. and to ensure that was maintained until the end.

Reform candidate and realises that she can't miners. stand the scabs at all" The Harlan County strike Annougn ine event pro- also the The find it vided the pretext for the sa w inevitable women bureaucrat necessary to be armed. not settlement of the strike. the union fin inis fresh from his victory just with the clubs shown in case. film is less certain about the as the "reform" the picture but also taking precise terms of this settle- canaluate

UMW

presidential scos to rolec themselves election) lead hundreds of Those familiar with the the original aims the hics strikers. demonstration around the nistory of class struggle in the United States will not town. "Left" Dynamic bureaucrat be surprised by this, No Arnold Miller, with all the employer in the The tactical panache of world Hally

USES

Organiseu the American Grand Old Duke of York, vience more v cousv and was elected as the "rank and blatantly than an American coalmining industry which are depicted in the film and file " of the he Andrew opponent

DOSS

Carnegie, Henry Ford or the which later culminated corrupt and murucious the national strike this year.

Tony Boyle but was deter- faceless men behind the Power Company indicated clearly that the Duke mined to isolate the strikers battle of Harlan County was behind words and of the Brookside pious by no means the end of the militant phrases. mile. war. Besides so many details Scabs The film shows success- whose form will be familiar fully the feel. the image of to any participant in such a In this particular strike.

struggle. the Harlan County the struggle of this group of the employers first of all strike had some special fea- used court injunctions and

WOIACIS

It goes heyond this to tures of its own. state troopers, whose con- One of these was the show how the dynamic of frontations with the strikers this strike fitted into the sacrificeve price toman. are vividly portrayed. context of a bitter battle for sacrifice the They then brought in as which than ade- leadership within •is more vicious and anti-communist miners' union with the quately portrayed bunch of In scabs as you film. murder of Yablonski could hope to see women are shown Some bourgeois 19 / during his ctforts 1o 1 ne secure election as President.

not only arguing for proper reviewers have said that it is picket duty and carrying it one of the strengths of the Disillusionment themselves film to show how "human" against in

OUL

timidation and violence. theshis peare fair Barbara Kopple and her This very and Armed 'liberal" view of the matter collaborators even go so far the inade as lo polllay They are also to be seen "left' Miller shown of pictures bullet quacy or inc arguing out and rejecting leadership which emerged in holes in strikers homes, that they the view the union the next

I USE

shooting on ine picket une worry first about their per- period. and the disillusion- itself. finally the and "holding on to of soldier younger murder of a young miner their hushands" and with this called Lawrence Jones forth. ships s role in the Harlan The film shows palpably Movingly portrayed County strike. how it is the struggle itself Yet it must he said that that This death seizes hold of these is movingly the film suffers from great women, and shows the portrayed in the film. along political inadequacies physical revulsion of one of with the of The fact . that • it has anguish his them when she is arrested.

taken wite, mother and brother heen by Scene from Harlan County USA, miners go to work by conveyor belt

IN REVIEW

directed London W1. " radical chic" sections the establishment and even awarded Oscar. shows an this clearly It has even received the ultimale accolade or being praised in Socialist ine Worker for its portrayal of militancy However the form of the film and the political views of its creators make impossible for it to show workers a way to go beyond their own spontaneous militancy The documentary form certainly makes it possible movingly the bitter struggle of the miners and of the wonut although the makers of the film do not choose at Review of Harlan County USA by Barbara Kopple in 1976, distributed by The Other Cinema and now showing at the Scala Cinema, 25, Tottenham St.

random what to portray in une ena tney snow only images of the struggle itself at its own level. Harlan Count! has been praised hy the middle class and the syndicalists who see alternative this no to bureaucracy in its lett right" form except spont: neous, non-political militan cy and heroism. Spontaneous The film . venes as an outsider deeper and deeper into the consciousness the but workers. never tran- scends this trade union. bourgeois consciousness. the of spontaneous struggle. The intervention of a conscious disciplined force such • struggle simply raising the questions of leadership but diso seeking to answer them. something film that the cannot show, and of which we assume Ms Kopple does not even dream. The of class be- trayal is nowhere mentioned except corruption, or wickedness. UMW 'left' President Arnold Miller The politics of the alter- native, with dedicated disci- plined understanding of the rhythm of the class struggle, and a determination to rais that struggle to a political leve in conflict with illusions, workers nowhere to be seen One reviewer said that it is notable that the film does not mention socialism To us it does not seem surprising, because such a concept is outside its terms of reference. Could a film raise such questions about the course of such - struggle. about the for revolutionary alternative and how it could be built? New methods Within its pure documen- tary form probably NO | Such issues were more effec- raised Roy livery Batterby s Leeds United and Allens Day's of Hope JIm though often simply in the form of discussion trom the real action It is only as revolutiona- ries themselves begin to workers struggles to fight for them to transcend the trade union level that artists will be able to conceive new methods of portraving that on tilm. In the meantime see Harlan Counti for its por trayal of this heroic struggle, and think of what it has missed in terms of the next questions to be raised.

By John Docherty Miners wales confront the scab.

Garners: TGWU stand and deliver Page 1!

TROTSKYISM

TODAY

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TODA.Y."

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INDUSTRIAL

of the On 22nd June, twenty-

SYL,

31, Hill, one weeks to the day after Park the beginning of the Garners strike, p&p (tor Steak House support conference meets at Transport House to discuss (Regular Socialist Press to win further action This vital recognition battle is now stronger than ever before with picket and less and ton busines for the firm and iness picket line, easingly active blacking.

at the Oxford pickets I ne Street, Argyl! Street, Haymarket Whitcombe Street and Trafalga branches are continuous So uare now during the main business period • scabs inside increasingly need to resort desperate measures to win cust.

omers. Physical assault At most branches, the man.

physical agement has taker possible customers assaults of and at Haymarket to rows of the and large anti• flowerpots a vain notices communist harnessed to the attempt to attract custom.

Deliveries,post and much turned back and else nas been the employer has been forced afield to get supplies. further bran. More and more union ches and trades councils on the picket line, appearing though many other unions have been stronger tuew dance than the TGWU. and establish a MP's picket On Tuesday 13th June, the appearance of four left' MPs or the picket at Haymarket for an hour shows that this strike has now really 'arrived" in terms of national prominence and publi- citYMPs Audrey Wise, Jo Rich- ardson, lan Mikardo and Ted and retchel press cameramen appeared like bees round a honeypot. How- ever, suCh apocalaries. alone will do no more tran al Grunwicks guarantee the striKes success The bia auestion being asked the strikers at this stage whether the

TGWU

and wuer colla the struggle with the immens resources it has at its command.

of these Without USt resources this strike can soon .£1.10 During the last week. £2.20 reasons for Health the £5:50 Ennals' post- Minister . £10.00 ponement of the closure of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital the Eston Road, until July have after 21 become clear. He has been forced to make a temporary retreat, but only in order to try and Dartmouth movement defuse against the closure; to try to get the closure more easily and to absorb the EGA as a unit into some other part of the hospital system.

NEWS

leaders must

SONERS

PHOTO: Mark Rusher, i u

HOUSES-

YOUR SUPYUKI

ISOUR STRENGTH

the othel similar way done-drowning struggles nave congratulated for support, and their r militancy. action. two previous occasions now the bureaucracy has beer forced out into the open in the course of this strike. heard At the last Transport House The conference 13th provide Council Executive membe Bromay dichne StRegion Tuk Nicholson those on Strik! leaders who promised a great deal in terms for pic. eting blac vital but who of support besides. possible to win it. kingAnd on 20th May Nicholson and much

BUSI

former Regional Secretary Ron Boycott Ennals'EGA post mortem On June 15, Ennals said the that Parliament enquiry he now proposed to have was not about whether EGA should be closed, industrial the should be but on moved elsewhere This statement is in clear action contradiction lo the recol- lection of the stewards who campaign. him week met when the postponement was on InIs announced. Camden stewards The saw the enquiry proposed by Ennals Pancras as a method of arguing for the Closule. extensicl provided by the important facilities direction. hospital and the long-posi- poned mending of the lift.

Garners restaurants? the Why is it that the strikers only tb t continue to receive week from the Union? How is it that no. Tull-tie official can be found to devote problems of the time The strike and its development-with officer George Abra 'somerwhere else' hams always from eth wiere in of interast elsewhere in the bureau. cracy? Shouted down At the support committer 13th June those meeting who said that the conference is needed to discuss such questions as these were shouted down and told that one oureaucracy only be got to move if everyone is politer to them! • is no evidence for the truth of this statement. Little proof understand that We found little certainly StriKer polite proot of ini conversation with Les Shorter, Official) June (Regional It is not possible to persuade people like extreme right-winger Shorter and 'left" Nicholson possible and support mobilising But in drawing out their real possible to is however rose force thes much further than "nev gone already and in doing so to the within win wice TGWU for the endorsement of a organise a further levy and to demonstration accompanied by strike action. Stewards Todd and many others appeared demonstration on the striKers refuse to clear what was less they intended to do themselves, and since 20th May neither they hearD or around nestre bow to aroun recall conterence wil for bullying and their active supporters to call to account the agree the strike is as little as THE PRINCIPLED stand Bed of the Emergency Why do TGWU members still turn up with deliveries of goods Services members in contin- uing to send patients to the EGA after Ennal's original of closure announcement demon. produced large stration on 14 June in their support before the disciplin.

ary hearing Most of those involved received warning had following on their suspen- thus making it more They must now boycott likely they will be sacked Ennals' enquiry, organise to take further should ger ruriner support for Int EGA's facilities and prepare activit The EBS stewards remain the action however, and next inevitable closure date unrepentent, are determined the to do The importance of trade same in the event of other be closures at the emphasised throughout the threatened Bethnal Green Hospital and elsewhere passed resolutions *During the EBS dispute in the get Shop management Joint but Ansaphones installed Stewards C'ommittee and St they blacked by strike Executive of the of in ine Post Office Engineering clearly represented the ordinary Union in be phones have had to manned by supervisors.

OFFICIALS BLOCK SPARKS'

REINSTATEMENT

"Treacherous and bloody After EETPU leaders rubbish", Chapple and Sanderson electrician intervened in a strike by his described at electricians leaders. Box Winsford's amongst the more printable comments. could not This through have been by the that the the

TOTAL

management OI was trade movement, offensive General Frank unionists Winsford. doubts that his national Chapple were officer culprits fact the also ment, wIld imposed Metal Box, has supporting and them appeared conditions the had threat to speed-up rejected. flatly reinstated." unions. At a meeting of sacked plant, Press Socialist electricians was told of their bitter three huge month battle against the Metal Company's attempted intro- duction of preccucul setting points and the shifty manoeuvrings of the EETPU officials. The determination of the Desalill. only was electricians determin- by the matched ation of the EETPU bureau- other Metal crats to see them victimised.

of The great danger €70 on trade witch-hunts against nosota organisation in the £60. made health service clear in the disputes which rumbling years. Finally. last week in broke during the health service. The threatened over selective strike action by the electricians, commence industrial action.

called off late last Friday Was For two ased on about the most justi that could were claim TUll fied 'patients will imagined. • tricians took in 1973 an incependent promised the hospital enquiry electricians parity with those in hospitals elsewhere. electricity contracting. This sudden witch-hunt nationally had Tory pay Since that time policies both from Tọry Labour ministers have prevented this coming into effect. т.U ofishal

YOUR MAN AT THE TOP

unionists at the treachery of be leadership must was how developed towards the con- John Smith of conscious national struction revolutionary alternative, the "Clear the lot out" was leadership based struggle for the independent of the working interests class. Offensive Workers Socialist League attack by and union Public meeting "Trade union demo- prepared all trade cracy and the fight Metal Box, for revolutionary leadership

TGWU

by Sanday 2 July at 7.30 Wheatsheaf Hotel Delamere St. manage- immediately Winsford less than speed-up

AUEW

on by led down be both by closure the climbdown by оссиру The of Leyland toolroom British last of leaders four-week strike crippling worktorce, signalled much more than a sell-out of that one struggle.

The refusal of Fraser and the press without com- unotticial Committ home their advantage and wil workers claim has opened their parity attacks by the The way to nev legitimate frustra- employers, who have introduced tion felt by electricians and corporate bargaining and made trade job evaluation moves

DOX

ToWards - Hospitals witch-hunt

EETPU

delegates, but Contract gectricians are now bureaucrats Frank Chapple and a week basic and the to the under electricians get pressure without as far as can be discovered, achieving anything.

This dispute has thus been at least five remains to the can break the alectricians 9 June a government's policies to achieve meeting of delegates represent- demdands. But the ing hospital electricians from all TuBW firet can must be the recalling voted of the conference of electricians discuss the renew- celerates newspapers ing days ine ustral of their claim statements support die' While going the else' limited action another dispute broke out at the four London Hospital. Greenwich

DISLICE

rule the and working to there was unusual spectacle of nurses coming out which its and ferocious ove origins in the attempted cut the in the service, efforts to backs desired effect of bringing about their jobs to less trained a 'postponement' of action, not further meeting

WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT

WORKERS' DEFENCE SQUADS?

CHRIST! AREN'T LEAFLETS

ENOUGH FOR SOME PEOPLE?

FIGHT RACIS

ATTACKS

NALGO juggernaught runs into opposition In response to the Chair- aftermath of In the man's report the special pay confer- had employers a week which ence, 9½% wage rise supported had idation, the SWP-dominated earlier wage

NALGO

Action continuing abandoned NALGO's controls, demand and annual conference was marked by NEC efforts less than strengthen its class consolidation'. to posit- collaborationist Collaboration ion. process met only Nobody This when the bureaucrats agreed high- occasional resistance, to this. bankruptcy of lighting the NALGO's various oppos- contributions was to be one ition movements. the of was collaboration Nowhere government as a solution to inability of the opposition the problems to formulate

NALGO

members, programme more dent insistence that the members evident than in the

LOCA

Group would reluse Government pay and conditions. meeting. BL craftsmen blind alley and company-wide pay structure But because the toolmakers I from their strike gained nothing unofficia remained under oressurt the action-and bitterness, reflecting the feeling on wages among other sections workers, has been other Leyland crafts among unions. In each case the leadership of these unions is right wing, and determined to avoid a con frontation with management.

tool- one-day week's Last the members in that fight.

room strike therefore saw Fraser This complaining of his problems in workers to accept unions as an the company's wage structure Now a similar one-day strike is planned by craft unions wing Phillips. Best paid But in each case the leaders are deliberately avoiding naming important a figure for a pay claim, merely insisting-in line with company should craftsmen similar be best paid. craftsmen's meeting exhibited at the Cowley Body Plant a call President, was raised for a claim of £90 per week-only to be opposed by the leadership. Meanwhile AUEW President- elect Duffy has attemoted defuse any possible danger from this rank and file movement by He €90 promising to achieve week craftsmen omic November.

PLL NEED TO MAKE

Á FEW PHONE CALLS...

AND WELL MAKE

UP THE NUMBERS!

TUG

Lade

WELL BROTHERS, WELL

HAVE TO BUILD TASK FORCES

IN EVERY TOWN TO STAMP

•THE NAZI MENACE

ONCE AND FOR ALL!

call for He went on to "moderation" as that the continued a solution to inflation. The offered heckling was continuous and consol debate on The central pay policy was based on ar Group attack by the Stalinist dom- £15 their inated branches which was moved an beaten for Oll tour unau resoluLIOn the

NEC,

difficulty by 10% and the skilled oratory despite and eloquence of the oppos- Technique is no sub- ition. stitute for programme. surprised was On what conference regarded as more basic trade the NEC had union issues The theme of the NEC's more difficulty. Wit! Smaller majority facing They held off attacks on of the fire- an ana their betrayal but with strike men's fight for than they majority expected. by cracy was determine ed its right industrial policy the OI case notorious In the mood three scabs expulsion and voted from Nazi was Comiciole the when conference This •wai Phillips crimination. They forgot to point out picture that they have consistently emerged of the bureaucratic avoided the duty of leading juggernaut beginning to run into serious opposition from view of the trade the membership but of no of alternative leadership being state was central to the available Presidential address by right Glyn Platform of the Stalinists The

NALGO

"Progressive Alliance", tail-ended by the government preparing

IMET

employ- but national organisation for policies without clea approach would scare fear that they year's next off supporters who Action

NALGO

The unionism las on Group struggles the burden of SWP centrism syndicalism with and inadequate hopelessly programme. ripe for The time building a Trotskyist oppos against ition platform.

I THE LORD

FORWARD

WE COMRADES!

TO DEMOCRATIC

PRESS

RIGHTS

It has been a bad week The for the leaders of Italy's called heale ''historic compromise" powers between the major political parties of the bourgeoisie and use of powers of and the working class, the tapping and arbitrary arrest.

Christian Democrats and the Communist Party: Arrested Through campaign for Several the reterendum of June 11 the CP has forced to expose have lost their lives 088n even further its gross betrayals of the interests of the working three years class Reale law. For And as a result of the sudden instance. Lorusso was and ignominious resignation of President con firming the truth of accusations him of tax fraud no action was taken. accepting Rome, bribes TrOm Christian Demo- Locknees. the crats' deserved police has been as the party of film records. corruption ana aisnon• pating esty, nas deen reintorced.

l devotesu Mavor's demonstrations. Referendum and These events have led to the Mutan political have willative sidoing even in other from the hands of the been raided. CP and Democratic leaders, some of it passing to the when this duced the Italian CP criticised it smaller parties of the left and "bad the right. as a lavy The referendum support it in parliament.

was laws should be whether "Mistake" removed from the statute book or maintained.

TIYST

ot these was the law which grants state finance time parties with "rejected the parnamentary allows disorder and representation lane parliamentary The ties party leaderships more indepen- DUct Ideas, Jence from their rank and file).

"a serious mistake, because they Oxford Fete brings £400 Fund boost THE FIRST EVER Workers Tim, cartoonist Socialist League summer rete, €20, while a darts stall offered Saturday, пею in oxtora last workers was a huge success. to win a Cuban cigar by spearing An 400-500 Margaret Thatcher came through the gates Healey. •eoble of Redefield School on the large Blackbird Levs council estate to a portable TV in games and amuse- take part and the tota offering We extend cakes. plants gifts, books, jumble and refresh- thanks to all those members and ments. An outdoor disco, ice cream, and generosity helped to create this successful event. pony raing, nelium balloons, a fortune teller and a bottle stall were attractions £429.85, most Oxford fete, been by the WSL Oxford banned last days, Area Committee. A special feature was the sale final target of of a number of original cartoon end of July. drawings Socialist Press Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Printed by Anvil Printers (TU), London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

SOCIALIST

CP VOTE "NO'

second law was the so passed 1975, which granted increased foression The ponce-it tacitated the carryin‹ arms, increased search, telephone militants of the left demonstrations in the las as a result of the -ran cesce killed in Bologna 3,000 demonstrators demanding a 'Yes' vote in March 1977 by a policeman called Tramontani against whom are obstacles to the Giorgina Masi's research into the real causes anc solutions that can really Into armed aisguised safeguard democracy". confirmed by for the But She was last few weeks partici leadership campaigned ac duust Le alongside its Christian Demo ban public cratic allies in favour of keeping Hundreds of other socialists une neale law, Just as during the kidnapping of Aldo Moro, Tract unionists CP was the outstanding support- been arrested or harassed ways. Party offices have stronger moves . even towards the police directed nominally at the Red law was Brigade: used

OUT

alreat v against other left-wing organis ПОТ ations and ! militants. the CP JK8 smalle Party, gave a hypo- Socialist critical reason for its support the "No" vote /'No' CP Secretary Berlinguer said rescinding the law). the party They claimed it was still bad

TRET

idea that law but it was in the process of economic difficul S8Hte amended in rarliament- the referendum was redun- vesuit vow impertect laws he said, were The referendum took place that we will meet this doubt target on time providing all the and youth the chance money promised arrives question is how Denis: over top we are going to A prize draw, with first prize Advanced sales of our set, raised £170, mem 'Communists' Against Dook Revolution, have gone very well our and we plan many mote buois cations in the next few months.

So let's see how far over the wiese time. enerov top we can get by the end of July readers and supporters grand total of Socialist Press are invited to of it from help collected over the • In 10e raisine or tols TUnG: Totar now Donations should be sent to: towards a Socialist Press Special Fund £2,000 by the 31, Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR now Hill, London NW5. 1HR. The coveral seemed in doubt. The question for the main parties against Reale 90% the able to lam on party finance. the Reale law significant political defeat.

also campaigned the 'left' because •geois Radical Party (an amalgam cal. of feminists "ecologists", etc) - That means groups, the hysterical campaign for • oined ov especially supporters of the and I order' newspaper Continua- collected 700,000 signatures to electorate abolition of the Reale law.

demano reterenda on • oitteran laws. those Majority supporturs of and Socialist Parties Some of these proposed referenda un. ism of their leaders were constitutional; others made unnecessary by a change voters and in the law by parliament.

attended the Radicals and the far left against importantly, Most against the opposition of the Christian the law. Democrats and the Vatican, a is, law was passed last month per- which has been mitting abortion. as a result of the referendum On remaing The party referenda the Radicals and the L'Unita tried called "Yes' VOtE while all the "'extremely positive parliamentary majority Sounding for paigned for a "No" vote. • like a Tory 2,000 workers and youth Dan marched through the East Bethnal Greer End of London on Sunday and sponsor thanked the 18 June. Patrol Group fol Their aim was to protest the march against the fascists.

against fascist attacks on tne immigrant community organised Insult by the National Front the previous weekend This cringing march were forefreds of Asian the forefront 'of gang vicious class thugs was an insult to the youth, had many whom determination and militancy marched only a few weeks ago to protest the fascist murder tight dcainst Tascism Bengali machinist Altab Ali, 25 in the same area. of the march blocking off side The demonstration wound streets its way along

WHICH

Brick Lane groups of jeering NF supporters.

the fascist where The role of the rampage had occurred , through certainly Bethnal Green and Tinal. for the fascists. returned to a rally at Brick Lane for the But via Whitechapel. vermin It was at this point that the laste or thell own medicine that Anti they would not Nazi League became clear to forgotten. many youth who had marched.

• Berlinguer result never article went on: "The decisive victory of was the actual those who VOTed against majority and in both cases this abolition of anti-criminal legis turned out to be a major shock lation is particularly and of signif In an 81% poll 43.6% voted icance for the abolition of the law on "The great majority of the party finance while 56.4% voted electorate has demonstrated agreement with the need for And on the abolition of the strong and tough measures Ravalr and 76% ve agains.

23.1% voted the ensure preservation public order and to safeguaro the rights of citizens' Abolition ir reality, however, the results confirm that a growing The parties of the "historic number of in Italy compromise" gained well over realise that the citizens whos vote in the last CP is protecting an general election, but were barel rights thi the capitalists and the polic t a maorry tor thi The CPs i so losing, its worst But the larger majority o -that to the left-is being is perhaps a mor realised very likely explains why this week added voice fascist MSI (though discretely) for a "Yes" the vote, it seems certain that many several weeks of its electoral supporters votec Radicals "No" with the Christian Demo wing TOUr MPs and the Republican Party for the resignation of President that despit Leone after charges Tne against hin corruption levelled alter moros kiling by the "left wing" bourgeois nearly a quarter of the Italian magazine L 'Espresso voted for the No Democrat Caristiar leader dared to tarnish his own probably the majority reputation by defending Leone were normally So Leone had to go the Communist But his going contributes to in revolt a further worsening of the crisis against the lies and opportun- of authority for ruling Stalinis its Many CP and Socialist Party cas and reformist allies even members The only agreed replacement rallies called by the for Leone is dead (Aldo Moro) The next most likely candidate is the Prime Minister Andreotti therefore, the CP But if he becomes Presiden smarting most a new search mus begin for hold Prime Minister able newspapel the historic compro tocetner to conceal the mise without running the risk o setback by declaring the result.

file of the col. mass revolt by the rank and all the world backbencher, the

ANL PRAISE FOR COPS

Jones of Stepney and The Workers Socialist League Socialist Youth Leagur i CoUnCI ana tue of the

ANL

in the demonstration made no police Special apologies for the need to organ.

ise workers and youth political.

+ ly and where necessary on the streets fascists. Despite the protests reformist immigrant leaders tribute to larce conundent or asian voutr took up the siogan "Drive the antworking defence" protect the Nazis" those who wish to seriously This fact and the good i res The SPG had lined the route ponse to the first issue of Rec of Youth paper the

SYL

showed that wide layers of contained youth • can be won to the build police ing of a revolutionary leadership was that can crush the "protective" but only fascist. part of the preparation of the cops these working class tor power. i would have been given a See pages 4-5 have easily