Socialist Press no. 111

NATIONALISE THE

OIL COMPANIES!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 111 energy spokes- Tom King man raised no protest last Labour week as ministers proposed to slice of take a larger North Sea oil profits Rushe from the multinational corporations. "We accept that there is clear scope for adjustment that tax regime", he declared. This does not mean that the Tory front bench has been won over to socialist Thatcher policies. their capital expenditure It means that the against the tax! proposal to increase the This concession has now government "share" of th been cut to a more modest collossal profits from the 135%! North Sea still leaves at least But such are the com- 25% of the profits in the plexities of the tax set-up in hands of the oil monopolies.

North Sea Oil that the whole package of measures 31% return is only designed to raise oil Even after the new taxes revenue by 10%. The Tories are well satis- firms are devied. would obtain a 17% rate of fied this approach, with return on investment in the which avoids any challenge to the "right" of these mult fields and 31% of billion pound concerns to staggering rate return in the smaller fields.

extract profits from the oil, And it emerges that the profits from refining it, Government oil- has not yet from retailing received a penny piece in based products, and further revenue from the Petroleum profits from retailing petrol.

Tax have Revenue since the stage each working class is exploited companies been allowed to charge 175% of both as the labour force * August 9, 1978 * 15p employed by the oil firms and as the hapless consumer confronted by price- Tne rings and the anarchy of monopoly capitalism. the only exchange, real "risk" taken by the oil firms involves the hazards faced each day by the work- force on the North Sea oil themselves-who rigs al c often denied basic union rights, and viciously exploit- ed in the most trying con- ditions. Rather than seeking few more crumbs from the oil monopolies' loaded the table, workers' move- demand- ment should be that the companies' books be opened to elected trade union committees, to reveal the scale of the plun- der they have carried out.

Planned economy The information revealed would prove beyond doubt the case for the nationalisa- tion of these concerns with- out compensation, and for them under be workers management as a central part of a planned, socialist economy. But the Secretary, former Tony Benn, or the open right wing-have no whatever of challenging the oil firms or any other section of capital- ism Indeed one of their most significant moves during the public spending cuts was to sell off a substantial section of the state holding of BP shares, effectively denation- alising it. Labour strategy on oil is the she mat or bustrategy the motor industry, the steel industry, the ship- yards and the docks. to attempt to manage capitalism and make it profitable at the expense of imposing wage cuts, and speed-up closures

IFL

ce Sparham PHOTO: Laurer Benn and Callaghan together at Durham miners gala Strike needed to defend Bethnal Green

BACK PAGE

McNee's police state ... Back page Corvalan on his mistakes .. p.8 The Plutonium Cycle. p.9 Ireland.... • p.4 Leyland Slush. p.4 'Lefts' hide from pay struggles Work-to-rule action, blacking and token stop- pages are continuing as 180,000 industrial civil servants attempt to press ahead with their demand for the working and, a Phase 3 pay settlement in where possible, grant piece.

excess of 10%. meal and petty "reforms" Lorry drivers, miners and within general frame- the power workers and others are work of exploitation. now drawing up pay claims far The fight to nationalise in excess ot the so rnase 4 limi oil, the banks and other decreed by Chancellor Healey.

Yet nothing but an empty major industry can only be carried through as part of silence on the wades strugale is heard from the eight the fight to throw out the "left" Labour MPs who Callaghan-Healey leadership abstained the on (VoTe a principled anu construct Healey's latest pay policy.

revolutionary leadership in Arthur Latham Dennis the labour movement. Skinner, Arthur LeWIS. David Until that fight begins Eddie Loyden, Joan Ginsburg Maynard, Ron Thomas and Star the Tories and the o1l Thorne could not pluck up the monopolies will continue to courage to vote against Healey's laugh at Labour's pretence plan for permanent wage of socialism-all the way to controls. the bank. So in order to remind their increasingly restless working class supporters that they claim to sana for socialist policies these eight did not vote at all.

But now, having made their as workers GEStUre OT oroTesT engage practical struggles against pay restraint, the 'lefts' usual nave reverted to their passive role. Trade unionIsts. disputes must Those pav demand that these "lefts' take up a serious fight within the against wage con- Labour Party trol and for the removal of the right wing leaders. will workers quickly see the differenc between the verbal "socialism" Labour reoresented Tne "lefts' and the necessary princip.

led struggle for the independent interests of the working class.

Shoot-outs hamper fight Page 2 The lengthening list of violent shoot-outs at Iraqi and Palestinian offices throughout the world does nothing to aid the struggle against Zionism and imper- ialism and shows vividly the failure of petty bourgeois politics divorced from the interests of the masses. Some of these incidents. like the murder of the former Iraqi Prime Minister on 9 July LOne on methods of settling poutical differences on the part of bourteois reoime water also specialised in show trials on TV and public executions.

The South African government has now United approved the Nations ecolden authorised its special repres- entative to go to Namibia to begin the implementation of the independence plan. The future of Walvis Bay has however been ett ooen. with the Vorster regime rejecting the Council's Security which cared Tne early re-integration" of the strategic-

HILU

Namibia. Friendly regime South African Clearly the strategy will be to "stand firm" the Walvis Bay while on issue Triendry recime within Namibia, a regime which can be depended come doreenent use or ine port. As we pointed out in last week's Socialist Press. the tront line states have played a crucial role in bringing SWAPO into the setentent In Angola, the 'left' national- of Neto (the ist MPLA) continues to declare its transformation into a 'Marxist- Leninist while in the flow of keenness arms to uNia torces inside Angola it is at the same time key role playing in the cam pain or secret orolomacy lead- ing up to the SWAPO capitu- previously reported in Socialist Press this campaian of secret diplomacy had led to the

SWAPO

release one titie militant Andrea Shipanga.

Shipanga, imprisoned by leadership Tor nis criticisms oT of democracy inside the movement, has now become a clear collaborator. Popular front Shortly after his release he declared support tor imperialist plan and announced

SWAPO

LTIC

Democratic party isUrI. Almost immediately the SDP allied Namibia itselt with the National Front (previously Namibia National Convention) a popular frontist formation exploiting the support wor before his arrest and his traditional co touncer OTOWArO. onloanda has undoubtedly enhanced the support of sponse to the respons to eth of this imperias and imperialists and the tront-line states "• nonour recognition afforded the

SWAPO

by UN and the Organisation of Atrican Unity.

against Zionism Ba'ath 'socialist' party, whose the workers and More recentiv nowever the peasants o murder of Palestinian represen- Lebanon, Iraq byzantine manoeuvres are not and the other tatives in Paris, Kuwait and else- always even understood by the Ara• counties which www in tne students of Arat end provide the where. and reralations MOSt active against Iraqi diplomats and politics. challenge to Zionism and imper. For Palestinians to take part missions them is Karachi and elsewhere seems to Telek pared to sell out to f Those who fight for the ¡noncate very cancerous tner own weakness at this stage alliance of Palestinian rejection.

following their defeats at revolution will ists and Iraqi Ba'athists.

of UN troops not direct shoot-outs at toreigr embassies nor act cheer Compromisers Leanton and une conser uent ability restrictions their leaders for every move by the directly to confront the Zionist PLO leaders, the Iraqi regime or with Thev are in conflict those within the Palestinian enemy any otner bourgeois Torce Revolution who seem prepared fights between They will fight to mobilise léaders and the Arab masses on the basis of

WILT

been imperialism and Zionism such as Lobanon Mdy nave socialist cotcies toucht tor o by setting up a Bantustan on the reproduced embassy step: true to the around the world, but they will of revolutionary Dani such boodlettino is more di not de resolved tnere. Marxism. less traditional within the Iraqi It will be the mobilisation of Angola assists Namibia - fall out The nationalist and reactionary content of sell-out "Euro" Communism is thrown into sharp relief by the row between the French and Spanish Communist Parties. Each side lines up behind sections of their own ruling class, and marches into the fray under the banner of 'national interest' George Marchais' French CP, for years a supporter of capitalist 'European integra- tion' has joined the ranks of those in France who oppose Spain's admission to the Common Market. Important French capitalism fear the results of additional compe- tition from Spain, especially SWAPO leader Nujoma Neto in food products and agri- culture. Militants civil service. Namibia The French CP also fear must fight for the following *Build armed struggle the of loss demands:— through workers' militias.

the various sections bovcott tre elections wo secret coiomacy peasantry they don't establishment of *Maximum material support I he defend protected and sub- from the international working Constituent Assembly. sidised farms. the state class. At the end of July the apparatus-police, courts and Sithole backs raid - The Smith regime last of the measures in November.

concone• ine action Muzorewa and Sithole Despite the blustering nature week launched a major raid both at pains to insist that the of on guerrilla bases inside Lavies attack Javie a close examination oi settlement Mozambique. ground. the latter's role in the negotia The They attack claim that former almed at ove TUTU. e Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe shows that the basic cuerrla. nave come over their side and at present difference between Owen ATrIcan Nationa uneration and and policing areas of Zimbabwe.

Army according the Tories is simply one of the Mozambique tactics. 1 success tor one settiement is growing significantly no one

SCHOO

was destroved informed the four raid. the majority of Black of Muzorewa's i lever condoorationist se members Rhodesians at the moment Sithole has come out in support united ATrican Nationa counci would argue that no of the raid. who resigned a few days ago.

Speaking on radio and TV, They blamed the failure of really work unless Joshua Nkomo enters into it. Sithole said: Une transitiona covernment ce The wiser "Sometimes we have to do end the war and eliminate racial • would sav discrimination as the reason for they feel an opportunity must things don't like. It is our also be given for Mr. Mugabe to Ineir resionation majority rule which has been Outside Zimbabwe the US come into I conceded. Senate we have Owen's mere strategy sanctions at the end of the year in a nutshell. His onl Is not a matter of agree.

strikes into Mozambique. disagreeing with the "freely elected" govern • opposition to the internal settle- ment is installed. He clearly continues his aim yV8 nave created in aritain the lories oressed cratic process but there forward their open support for ∞ solit Nkomo ano Vldane ano forces thus force the latter into a nego outside this country who internal settlement tiated settlement would like to disrupt that demo debate on Zimbabwe held two days before Parliament closed cratic orocess He aim ot british imopria Although Sithole's statement for the summer ism is to establish a collabor. first example of ationist black the Tory leaders regime which is above as yet demanding the all stable.

VICIOUS

are not attack, comments earlier in the lifting of sanctions, their spokes- the opportunist petty bourgeois week by Bishop Muzorewa left of leaders Patriotic Fron Ian. Lavles, maicalcu too that they might oppose renewal

•OU•T

ENOT

nave to de involved. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 August, 1978 PLO leader Arafat 'Euro' thieves Party went to the lengths of organising a day of demon- strations and 'action' (such as free glasses of wine!) in rural France against Spanish admission to the EEC The Spanish CP, no less passionately devoted to the 'national' interests of their bosses, responded own angrily. The French Communists, said leading Spanish Stalin- ist Manuel Azcarate, using false and demagogic arguments. They were "re-awakening around wil turn tomorrow against the French left itself" Warming to his own line of 'internationalist' rhetoric, Azcarate declared: "It revolting to see that the French Commun- ists and Socialists can have low, and be Tallen so irrational in face of such a serious problem. Have they forgotten, by any chance, that obsession elections with leads to opportunism? Are they now aware they playing the sorcerer's alc apprentice?" This inter-Stalinist clash all the pretence explodes that "Euro" Communism is a new, progressive, "liberal- ising' international trend.

Like the social demo- cratic parties, Marchais and Carrillo line up not together but opposite sides of on national frontiers As a French CP spokes- replying it, Pul Azcarate "We have adopted and we shall adopt our decisions conformity with the national interest

THE

IN

WAKE

last monus cous in vauritania. the Algerian government is forging ahead with achieve • Stabily in north-wes Atrior handon of p port struggles danaroui deodie The basis of an international deal to dispose of their right to self-determination Mas certaini been agreed at the recent flurry meetings, included the Spanish covernment ColonIa rulers of the western Sahara) and the French government the liberation of the ally Polisario Front). Portugal: call for military rule Portugal's new polit- ical crisis shows that over four years after the of fascism overthrow Portuguese the bour- geoisie has stili not found any stable form of rule. Soares' Mario class coalition collaborationist with Christian Demo- (CDS) has broken vials after only 8 months on the issue of how fast the gains of the revolution were to be undone. Both politic- sides seem ally unable immediately to coalition which renew leaves no majority in parlia- ment. Sections bour- oi the geoisie are openly demand- the reestablishment of 111P military rule Presi- dent banes One form of this which is being widely proposed is a "government of non-party personalities appointed directiv bv canes Meanwhile the Stalinists and reformists opportunis- tically refuse the only prin- cipled this

1 COINC

pollind danger for the working class le formall old social ist Party-Communist Party government defend, restore and enlarge the gains of the revolution They stand aside to let the bourgeoisie pass-and to slavishly hold up its coat- tails if they are asked. Shah promises 'elections' next year A new wave of anti- agitation has swept Iran in the weeks-the last two fourth such outbreak this year. This time there were even according to the Shah's violent VW 11 clashes between the police and anti-government demonstrators in 13 cities including Tehran. This the present make outbreak of agitation prob.

ably the most widespread yet. It has been with the usual savagery. His police admitted killing six demonstrators, but press put the death toll of the last two weeks at over 40. all the Shah's this bar- enemies at home, barous criminal has many friends prommen among whom are the British especially the "Labour" Defence Minister Fred Mulley who gleefully sells the Shah the weapons he uses for his repression.

In an attempt to stop the of growth the opposition dictator Shah was forced last week to announce "100% genuine" elections next year.

AFTER THE ELECTIONS

-INTERNATIONAL-

IN PERU

By Enrique Alvares support the The interview which ship supports the "Bolshe- groups which vik Tendency" of the USFI.

majority of the USFI. The we print below is with

UDP

won 4 seats • in the Fernandez, Enrique assembly. He stood as a candidate Peruvian worker and a The largest party in the of the Workers' Peasants' leader of the Peruvian assembly, with 37 seats, and Students' Front nationalist

(FOCEP),

union, electoral metal-workers' an Dolleeds

APRA

led the veteran alliance led by the PST and a Torre who was elected in June Haya de who is another party which claims as a member of Peru's now President of the Assem- to be Trotskyist, the POMR Constituent Assembly.

APRA

bly in which has linked the French OCI Some Maoists been forced into open Long experience with the far-right

FOCEP,

alliance also joined the Enrique Fernandez, who 12 out of the Popular Christian Party, which won has had long experience of 100 seats in the assembly.

which has 25 seats. the trade union and political The Socialist Revolu- But the of he socialist struggle tionary Party (PSR) referred Peruvian Maoists stood as member of the to in the interview was set part ot another electoral Workers' Party Sopathising sections of the front, the Democratic Popu- up by supporters of deposed military Velasco, President lar Union (UDP), along with CP the CP (Majority) and the has The and Sals Fourth International, (Unidad) also won 6 seats.

Tone FIR and FIR(CI), two small majority of whose leader- Part one of an Who is Ledesma? He is theoretically No. 1 interview with a of the FOCEP list, though Hugo In terms of votes, Blanco was No. I. And that metal workers' of course, must change the relations within must reflect the votes cast.

leader And Ledesma ilot opposed to that. Politically Ledesma is a The Maoists wanted What is the composition of He legal 1s much broader front which FOCEP in the Assembly? counsel for the minework- might include left sections We won 12 seats which In Cerro de ers. Pasco of the And are divided more or less as bourgcoisic. which is the most important they formed separate follows: the PST 2 seats, the miners' centre in the coun- front (the UDP) which was POMR 3 seats, the Maoist try, he had a large majority.

also joined by the two small seats, and the He got something like 70 or groups sympalnelic other tour 80% of the total FOCEP moe pencel- majority of the USFI. some of them linked to us Cerro Pasco. voTe Inl ae Their point of agreement and others to the Maoists.

Though some other The the "democratic important thing is and Ull mining centres it was Blanco popular government' that all those who were who won the votes rather than on the putting elected were as a result of It's important that the received by forward of independent tie huge vole enormous muners workers and peasants candi- to FOCEP support given divided according to candi- dates. They sala that in theory the secretary necessary to put forward a dates only after the total for general of the mineworkers' revolutionary the group has decided how programmit union was the No. many seats they get alto- that the onlv revolt- of the UDP. But tionary programme was the gether. didn't get as many miners As to the agreement with "democratic and popular There votes as we did government". the Maoist group, it joined discussed, something to be So the incorporation of phase of the since it was the UDP before the

FOCEP.

Trotskyist groups sup- the elections who called porting the majority in this The first stage was the themselves the miners' collection of signatures. We front was •a conceson lo representatives. positions. This front, their 47,000-more than the got the operated 40,000 officially required to UDr. In mining areas they got It applied special The regime be on the lists. way. far fewer votes than we did democratic centralism 28,000, which even though supposedly the left us with 19,000. mineworkers federation an electoral front (in which we started collecting So supported the

UDP.

We there should be general sup- again and that's when the also, however, some port for a defined number Maoist group joined us. In mineworkers' leaders who of points and outside that their separate campaign up were elected they programmatic indepen- to then had only dence). obtained 500 signatures. But there everyone had the what majority voted. So without any real problem they negotiated So the Trotskyists in that front had to the

FOCEP.

accept their entry into only had to agree to and popular They four points we had all government. the the electoral accepted no compromise ATeT process these groups got with bourgeois politi- any only four seats, of cian or 'patriotic' military; a none them gained by the Trotsky- political class candidacy; ist the

UDP.

support independence Comes They entered of the list of the demands in grave crisis and are now trying to had been made by which enter our front. workers in the national the strikes of the previous year.

Why didn't the other Maoist groups join FOCEP? Their behaviour has been When we put forward the opportunist. may slogan of class independence be true they have done as a basis for participating in everything possible for elections. but they having as unity; certainly axis of "workers struggle haven't done everything peasants and candidates" "demo- possible against the we began to hold a series of cratic and popular" govern- unity discussion with all the conception of the tendencies of the left. Maoists. Do you expect the FOCEP to last? The

FOCEP

has been considerably weakened by a number of internal develop- The

FOCEP

ments. was never homogeneous group; it was formed speci- fically to take part in process and it be seen whether it mains to will last single front. That for us 1s a It will have to be question. oscussed But the, concrete thing is 'that there is a manoeuvre at out the Trotskyists, the present Maoists to throw which they can't succeed in outnumber them 3 to 1. So though they have tried to take advantage of the

POMR

declarations* about the deportees, we have sala ll ls a matter oi principle not to expel any group from the front but to maintain its unity as far possible. We are certainly not going o pernis that tot this kind any comrade is expelled. If there are differences on things of this kind, let's make the necessary public self-criticisms, but we not for the expulsion of any group. What is your reaction reports that sections of the

PSR

the want join The PSR is the Party of military. the This is the wing of 'Velascoism' which, after the Morales Bermudez formed coup, separate At the beginning ValLy seemed that there was they would Chance much as 20% of the votes But our own campaign, which made absolutely no support for the military, and our insis- tence on the independence of the working class and its allies, robbed them of many

VULES

the same time they had a lot of internal divisions about how to conduct the electoral cam- paign. They in fact behaved like any other bourgeois spending huge party « Crowds at the airport to welcome Hugo Blanco Hugo Blanco on his return to Peru from exile amounts of money on their They bought television time during breaks in Peru's world cup matches, just like APRA and the PPC So with this way of trying win people they showed themselves be bourgeois one more party. all these What's more, people have lost a tremen-.

dous of prestige had had their since beople experience of Velascoism.

Also they didn't even of have all the support Velascoism. If they had popular maintanned which Velasco had support (shown by the huge turnout at his funeral they would have got a fair quantity of votes. There was a plan in this party to go to the elections "left front' part Only the CP and the democrats Christian were interested in this. We were never prepared to join such a front since we character- ised the party as a party of the right because the 01 composition of its leader- ShiNow this party has split in two There is one wing which is the working class which there are wing, 1n number of workers' leaders which has broken with all generals presently trying to join the FOCEP-or rather there are open discussions about incorporation in the

FOCEP.

This wing three of the seats which the PSR won in the elections.

The others are military people. footnote *A representative of the POMR was widely reported calling in June for the replacement of exiled élec- ted deputies if the regime did them not permit The return.

POMR

later issued a denial of this and reaffirmed support for the unconditional return of all the deportees.

NUJ RUNS FOR COVER

AS ABC TRIAL LOOMS

Chile Solidarity woos bosses Page 4 As the September 5 Official Secrets Act trial of Crispin Aubrey, John Berry and Duncan Campbell looms closer, NUJ leaders are pulling further back from any call for strike action to defend them against possible 14-year jail terms. The three defendants are journalists, while

"LWU

John Berry is an ex-soldier) are charged under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act- so-called "spying the clause". Useful Yet not even pro- tne claimed secution has that acted in way they ally spies. The Act simply makes illegal "receive communicate" any informa- "may be direct v useful to indirectly an enemy". Duncan Campbell has additionally been charged with collecting informa- tion-all of from pub- lished and publicly available Behind the charges lies the support given by Aubrey and Campbell to the The smell of rotting fish hanging over the Leyland. slushfund' case at the Old Bailey has reached such pitch it is surprising lead- witnesses prosecution ing have given evidence without choking. Officially Graham Barton and his wife Fatma are facing charges of forgery decap- we Have don In reality it is British Leyland itself that is in the dock-with aure straining every nerve to clear its loading executives of corrup.

TION.

No corruption When Lord Ryder-former head of the National Enterprise Board-was first called to give evidence in the first half of July he was adamant that no whatsoeve TIon covered at Leyland. only say that no com. can which have cany Witn been connected in the public or private been engaged in such would countenance nor one moment. I think the whole idea is deplorable. investor tons revealed that no corrupt payments have been paid to anyone whatever".

the But worms William Mr. Howard, detending, Come that no nee British Leyland chief execuTive. Alex rak. oecausd n had been putting the interests of Leyland those of his before Changed story From worse for things steadily Leyland Lora Ryder now changed story. There were "four or five' payments that had not actually •con deane or to lion. closer examination that one of those had been a £700,000 payment to a foreign пановало was one -™н the commander of national guard of the unnamed country. A letter written in 1974

NUJ

the trial ann circular calling for a mass picket of the Old Bailey on September makes

DANLEY

GOB

no mention whatever of strike action.

LEONARO

And NUJ leaders have

PHOTO:

HOOPER

MILITARY

done next to nothing to

INTELLENE

mobilise other

HIS JOB

IS A

of Aubrey, Berry support

CONTRADKT

Campbell, whose IN "crime" was to attempt to

TERMS

assert basic press freedom holding by a private-still undisclosed -conversation with John Berry, who seven years beforehand, had been anna come cher the top Signals to secret

'SIGINT'.

Intelligence unit The issue is one affecting and threatening all sections the Labour movement. ABC Defence demonstration at Cheltenham Labour parties and union prevent the effectively strengthen it and campaign to branches should at once deportation of ex-CIA agent curtail. democratic pass resolutions demanding Philip Agee by the Labour rights. Secretary Home Merlyn government, and deter- kees order the dropping of military Strike action mination by top the charges, and immediate and civil service officials to repeal the Official preserve the full strength of At April's NUJ. Annual Secrets Act. the Official Secrets Delegate Act, meeting an over-

NUJ

chapels in London which Labour pledged itself whelming majority voted to and should elsewhere in the 1974 manifesto to support those sections that discuss strike action repeal. action the September solidarity took strike • aL start of the trial in Sept- with the three defendants, Cast aside ember, and right wingers to as a part or ine ment vied with lefts' in defiant broaden the action to other That demagogic speeches unions. pledge has now been Official And the biggest cast and possible aside Secrets Act and calling for Labour White Paper should prop- delegations attend oses changes only to Section its repeal. the mass picket of the Old 2 of the Act, which will Yet now, a mere month Bailey September

LEYLAND TRIAL SINKS

FURTHER INTO SLUSH

John division in 1977, Strowger said Champion treasury of British manager the £16 Loy lalid

MUOT

figure was more likely the LOre and AAY rark was read out. was headed amount for the whole strictly confidential': Commis Leyland. The described how under oath, so that he could not MoNO payments were made to distrib.

be examined, and so that cross after bills utors bank ''pandora's box" he had hat seen armchaiv intated.

on the described special opened. pay- "ex gratia The ments payments case end this week. The Crown will be mor made to dersons woo nave beer Barton particularly helpful in obtaining relieved and Than particular contracts" Leyland will continue to keep The memo stressed the need to keep the payments quiet, the truth about their 'special pay- that could be ments', Ryder embarassment truth came out and causte w tue the risk of financial loss if the the countries governments involved found out what was going on. It said that there was a Over the last few threat of blackmail from people committee recommended months have seen disaffiliation the we Knew doout the aments

CROI

and that some of the accounts Chile ' Solidarity the natonal campaign might actually belong its stormy leadership debate Campaign were cash- which followed, the popular making sickening over- Ing in on the gravy train.

frontist arguments to the Chilean fake lefts Strong language tures right wing and Tories (the Christian were defeated and the strong practical work of the Clive former Democrats), the Church Leyland finance director suo-commitee In lne oca. and British business movement vindi- International. Wine tad asked Barton to prepare his report on circles. cated. arrangements said non-routine' This was the logical out- The report was narrowly reat aaron steports in come of the Popular Front- carried. This decision of the good faith and assumed they largest active Trades Council ist policies passed but had been true, Wold last national Chile Solidarity committee in the country to surprised at some of the strong disaffiliate marked the first language'. Campaign conference Strowger refused major defeat for the Trades it had Lne Council leadership for years.

whether passed were calls to attend •gen knowni meetings bank share- the company that irregular pay.

holders and to lobby local ments were being paid. It presents a real threat Rotary clubs in order to to the bureaucratic strangle- no squirmed to avold having 'human the rights' 1alsC hold to admit that ex gratia" the since issue in Chile. ments and corrupt payments Stockport and other Trades Protests against were one and the same thing, this Councils have already dis- course have developed from comolated "partially assumption in- the of the local OT majority It was no surprise, there- formed" people. committees. fore, to hear a false report Barton's Pressed This reflected growing report Strowger was forced to given to nearbv kotherham hostility among activists to admit Trades Council the follow- the continuous bureaucratic terms of details it is accurate" ing month congratulating domination of CSC by the Sheffield for remaining but refused to accept that it was national leadership. the CSC! enough to substantiate Barton's This conflict A week later at the next came to a Concusens head at the Sheffield Trades meeting of Sheffield Trades When Mr. Howard, defend- May ing, suggested that £16 millions Council meeting Counci won when near, unanimous reference back and succeed- we can on sode ameri Leyland Bus and Truck report from the Chile sub- ed in forcing through New exploiters for Ireland Taking advantage of the massive and chronic unem- ployment created by capitalist rule in the North of Ireland, the depressed levels that flow from wage this factor, the presence of British imperialist troops to protect the "security their investment and huge British grant. and tax concessions, a new US car firm is to build a major factory in Belfast.

Centuries of British colonial rule has ensured that conditions in Belfast compete favourably for the caritaust WitH appalling poverty prevalent in Puerto Rico And the Labour leaders have awveco to orovide stare Tinana to cover nearly two-thirds of the £65 million investment in plant and equipment i ne tactory will be sited ir Belfast, where Catholic ghetto thought anything up to 50% unemploy.

international econ- As the omic crists Torces the capitalis class into further attempts to exploit workers under- in the cave sed colonia countries, there is no doubt that -North and South of the #wordst craw remain a tempting target.

The struggle against unem- ployment in reland must in ne on arrival of The "benevolent" capitalists or the charity of the British imperialist rulers It must take up the struggle to open the books of the multi.

motion call a special 10 Trade. Council meeting In July (immediately prior to the holiday) with the aim of reversing the decision This meeting was 60 attended by less than people, many of whom were Stalinists with no record ot attending Trades Council or anything else in the labour In spite of spirited defence working class

CHILE

PHOTO:

SOCIALIST PRESS, H'ednesday 9 August, 1978

IRELAND

TROOPS OUT

NOW!

Irish capitali nationai firms and banks that reap supe profits from the misery of Iris workers. and snow nationalise them, without con pensation This must be connected wit the struggle on both sides of th "border" 'public planned pre gramme works jobs th under control or trade union commi tees, with the perspective of a all-Ireland soclailst anne At each point the exploit tion of Ireland must be show be linked completely to th British military occupation o the North buttres and counter-revolution fight taken for sel determination Iris the Hope cannoe as nort fight for a workers' republic.

FEIN has

SINN

cared London demonstration Mugust. ine sevenen anniversar Tory policy of OT ThA ment in Ireland. Though internment itsest nominally dead and gone, lives on in the kangaroo court remands against republican USeC socialist militants in the Nortt and triC Destla condition inflicted on the prisoners in Block at the Long Kesh concen tration camp march

AUCUST

leaving Speakers Corner. at 2pm based call release ot those imprisoned fo their fight against British imper ialism.. As such it should be fulis supported by the British labour movement. independence and the nee tor socialist policies in Chil the outcome was a formal ity The fact that a meetin of 60 had overturned th decision of a full meeting o over 100 delegates : was no lost on many delegate however, and the fight to working-class based solidar Chile Ity will b

WOTK

stepped up in the Sheffield labour movement.

WHERE

ARE

THEY

Recent Chile protest mar

St Pancras dust settles SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 August, 1978 The any individual discussion of Even if their resolution confused fight would had been passed it inside Holborn and St. ЗАЛІКААХА АНО short list, or of those left only meant re- have Pancras GMC over the off the list. election of GMC delegates recent selection of the This was proved to be a and a new EC. Labour candidate to rule invented 1101czcz contest the next lor tne occasion by irans- Such a move would in no port House. election has predictably have reversed the way But the majority of the fizzled out. outcome of the selection while resolutions, even result and Holborn and St.

This followed condemning selection Pancras South would still the Executive oeuvre by endorsed right- have been saddled with right Committee who managed to winger Frank Dobson winger Frank Dobson. MP and the numerous resolu- prospective

DUL

tions the were passed easily. Socialist Press

SUCCLION

, No confidence sotion calling on the NEC forward proccaure as one composile • Done resolution, rendering them worthless. to announce the result of controversial Delegates opposed this resolution was put by St. nul mcellng Pancras branch. This called because of „the but without move strongly ana void Most of the critical for a vote of no confidence undemocratic procedure.

DULESSON

EC. This comrade argued that resolutions called for a re- the GMC and the on this was as most of the resolutions selection exam on Ine voting that procedure and deplored the very passed agreed close: Iu lor and 1z selection had been action of the representative but the resolution from Transport House, who, itself completely in- undemocratic, the only way was 'a democratic decision could adequate, inougn tne chan, loroade No need for Tories to fake dole queue photo fact that Secretary A £2 million Tory pre- seized on the "dole queue" in the comp- Meg election publicity campaign Tory dramatic step of complaining to osite picture highlighting Labour's policy the Advertising Standards Auth.

is in fact a group advertising of mass unemployment has employees. Happily struck a raw nerve for both the synthetic picture Unemployment, Albert Booth, that even right and 'left' wing bureau- amounts to only the smates went Turther, and attacked the fraction the 1½ million Saatchi and Saatchi, Devoid of any political workers currently consigned to for using their existing answer they photograph, …The lories, The cole queues oy Labour doll-

PRESS GANG

TURBULENT PRIEST

Barely since Henry II ‚against the IRA-not only lies in the inflexibility of condemns conditions but the Northern Ireland sent his soldiers to that appears say the government in response to a murder Thomas Beckett prisoners are political pris- justified demand-all this in Canturbury Cathe- oners, then the British Press serves to retard the slow dral has no longer has the option of process of rejection by the priest • silence. managed to get so community the far They answered fire with resergence of the IRA, its the noses of the up fire. But they also printed indiscriminate violence, ruling class. their first ever detailed des- ververted criptions of historical claims." conditionsin Doctor Thomas O 'Fiaich, the torture camp. The Mirror ("Lost in the is about as progressive as a The Archbishop was not Maze") put it more sharply: dinosaur, and a representa- for the reintroduc- "They have done these calling tive of all Michaeld tion of political revolting things them- organisation that His role is not dissimilar selves because they want to misery, poverty, I morance to that plaved by the trade and savagery In other union bureaucracy in econ- war'. Free to wear their own words, he is Primate of All clothes. Answerable to their sunkes-surving Ireland, and a future Card- wring concessions own 'officers' cnougn inal of the Roman Catholic from the authorities to take "Though they have mur- Church. the head of steam off the dered bombed, knee- and His pronunciations on H which campaign capped and they Block prison conditions demand special privileges. 1s now bullaing up Kesh Long These considerations did

CONCCHLEAOT

the gullible Dr.

ANOI

camp have been made, no not spare him the scorpion O'Fiaich support them The gangsters in the Maze doubt, to restore his posi- whip lashes of the British tion inside the Catholic Press. are criminals and should be belly of the republican Fleet treated as such." Like every Ornet. movement but the impact Street paper, with the sole of his statement was dram- Express told of the Sun- The "Dr. caccolion aLl. which spared us its hysteria Fee" that he should "take "The stench and filth in only because the journalists silent opportunity the to be some of the cells, had shut it down-the Times with the "These took its editorial tone from remains of rotten food and are not in the Northern Ireland office.

the Maze for holding their human excreta scattered In a leader headed 'The political convictions. There around the walis was almost is free speech in Northern unbearable. In two of them Prisoners' Friend from Ireland. Armargh" (Wednesday 1 was unable to speak for fear of vomiting." August 2) the Times said: 'They are in prison for their criminal acts and there O Fiaich forced the "The Archbishop's is no reason in law or mora- conditions in support for the stand being that prIson lity upon the consciousnesses of taken by Republican thev should prIs treated any differently from British the working class oners. his impled endorse- and indeed internationally - of their claim other criminals." to •The response from Fleet represent other statements Cane could have done. Street not a jot diffe- militant Irish republicanism, was When the Primate of all his view that blame of the Henry I: "Who Icul lom will rid Ireland-previously admittedly conditions me of this turbulent reli- tom! priest?" able in parts of the Maze prison propaganda weapon be reached was that the whole process should begin again. comrade also condemned the position taken by the delegates from St. Pancras branch resigning from all positions on the EC. she said, let the 1 nIs right-wing off the hook and would give them even more and room to manoeuvre manipulate the GMC. received 5 This motion votes and the Socialist Press supporter was accused of.

GMC

taking the the "edge of an abyss" seems it is pertectly alright verbally to the obviousiy undemocratic procedures 'inside the Labour Party, as long as no concrete action is proposed against it! vatich might have helper to att, than hiring extra staff, unemployment-even if only for one day! 'left' Jeff Rooker bitterly complained of the irony Saatchi and were for the working Tories the time holding a Government

TOT

creation" the Manpower Services Commission The fact none of these "leaders" will face course that the lories would bi completely unable exploi mass unemployment if Labour had implemented a programme of socialist policies to put an end to it. Public works Such policies would involve the Nationausation without the major compensatior industries and the banks under committees workers' man- acement. imojementa tion of a programme of useful public works to create new jobs.

Im dement

SUCI

programme the teeth opposition from the employers means d accisive ordak tom the parliamentary reformist prog. ramme advocated by the Labour rarty. means mobilising the working class in each factory each comeine. each ine ustry or the struggle to open the books of the employers and reveal the Waste capitalist system the exploitation, , and show the need for a socialist planned economy the means craving

OUT

present right-wing trade union and Labour leaders who seek to reserve them cosy relationsals with the employing class at the expense of their members' jobs ana vine standares.

WHICH ADVERTISING AGENC

DO YOU WORK FOR ?

ENTRANCE C

LABOUR

That age-old fake left rallying of the cry Labour leaders 'Abolish the House of Lords' certain to be seems wheeled out again in the next election. The wails of opposition from Labour peers who claim that the Lords can be "reformed" and "democrat- ised" are unlikely to prevent the Callaghan-Healey leader- ship call for adopting the abolition as their attempt to substitute for complete absence of socialist policies.

week in Parliament

LOOL

Callaghan claimed that to had of the lords been aspiration "of

PHOTO:

Callaghan And it means outlining programme whose objective is reforming the capitalist including State apparatu. force and the standing police , whose task is to preserve capitalist rule, but destrovin them and instituting the dict to basis for hostel cha the establishment ot socialism Management In decisively rejecting and any such programme the Labour and trade union leaders 'left' and must inevitably find themselves Page 5

PARTY

-Bringing the- House down of us" for many many years Yet everyone knows there has been no effort by • successive Labour admin- istrations to take steps to eliminate this tiresome anti-demo- cratic relic of feudal rule Even when challenged by Thatcher, Callaghan insisted that the Lords was "indefe- nsible, and lined up with "left" Dennis talkative Skinner who described the "the Lords biggest quango of them all". No trembling So the House of Lords hare-coursing fox- hunting, beagling and deer- hunting on the Labour list for abolition. But the arist- will be ocracy scarcely trembling shoes. While they already know that the new anti-blood sports policy will be excluded from the Labour manifesto, they also know that there is no prospect of Callaghan government taking action to sweep aside their age-old discussion club They would all prefer to see Callaghan promise abol- ition of the Lords than any socialist policies adopted and fought for the .tr Labour Party. drawn into the management of capitalism, the encouragoment profit, ovivatd attacks on their own members.

For all Labour's bleats and whimpers abou t orles "foul' tactics, only revolutionary socialists can provide a decisive answer to unwooyment Meanwhile, a trip to almost any of Callaghan's depressed could areas produce photo- graphs of dole queues ensilv as striking as Saatchi and Saatchi's composite.

CLOSED

BEHIND THE PEKING PUR(

Page 6 Since the overthrow of the 'Gang of Four' in the months after the death of Mao Tse-tung, a substantial reorientation of the Chinese economy has been introduced by the 'capitalist roaders' who came to prominence.

What do these developments represent? Are they a setback for the Chinese workers and peasants? Can either wing of the Chinese bureaucracy offer a way forward for the 800 million Chinese workers and peasants.

Godfrey Webster examines the developments which have taken place since the purge of the Gang of Four and sets out to answer these questions.

At first sight it might favour the children of intel- Or was it just a leader- appear that the defeat lectuals and bureaucrats.

squabble among sulp of the "radical" Shang- The changes bureaucrats who rule Čhina?

certainly met with fierce resistance The answer must rest on an hai group in China by from sections of the Chinese understanding Hua Kuo-feng and Teng the working class. problems of Chinese econ- Hsiao-ping was a major omic development and the Production lost setback to the Chinese relationship of the classes in Chinese society. working class. Reporters from the The Chinese economy is Hua's slogan "Bring great Economist who recently still dominated by the agri- order across the land' is a visited Manchuria in North cultural 75% sector. catchphrase for re-asserting China were told that the China's 950 million people managerial Harbin turbine factory

CULLIOI

live in the country industry, teachers' authority 10,000 workers Unmechanised but inten- employing in schools, and for strength- lost 50% of its production sive production is the rule ening the army and police.

in 1976 owing to industrial Increases in production have As part of this policy the disputes by. the caused been achieved labour workers' militias in Shang- political struggle. intensive hai and Peking have been Wuhan in Central China scuiemes TO. improve irrigation and bring disarmed. was the scene of continual new land into cultivation.

contlict from 1975 to 1977.

Differentials The giant Iron and Steel Yield increased Complex was on strike for Similarly the shift away months from January Yield has from acre the outlook "Better 1977 pel at the

DIOLESI

increased to about double red than expert" means the strengthening of managerial that in other parts of Asia restoration of wide differen- authority and discipline.

and Africa, but is still only between workers and But although numerous half that in Japan and the technicians in industry, and cases of armed conflict have

USA

will probably mean bringing been reported the back payment by results. but in spite of these Chinese press. there is no efforts production has only mears entry to higher record of co-ordinated resis- just kept with the 23203-- Casis of walk tance by the workers growth of population. Total Millas production of foodgrains ances for class and educa- Did the "radicals" really has remained close to 0.3 tional background. nave an alternative to offer person per year This will tonnes per obviously Chinese workers? ever since 1952. This is about the lowest possible keep people alive and in -casonabie nealtn It allows no possibility of net agricultural exports, and makes the production of meat products a large scale impossible, because as foodstuff is grain wasteful of nutritional value. Production is organised largely on collective lines.

Work-points Peasants allowed are individual plots of land for scale production of livestock or vegetables But they are members of work leams wnich are res- ponsible for the production of foodgrains and commer- cial as well crops, Irrigation schemes and small rural industries Members of work-teams are allocated work-points on the basis of the number of labour they contri- bute to team work. They are paid a propor- tion of the total revenue of the work team according to their work points. Much has been made bourgeois • v commentators of the capitalist nature of this payment system. Creamed off But there is no way peasants work- Call points to accumulate the Labour intensive industrial operations are the rule in China to this day. Here workers are ownership of land or capital, or to employ other vasaills Equal for équal work, although slogan much endeared to capitalist ideologists, can in fact only be implemented if property is collectively owned. radical group also the allacked

WOK -001

system, saying it should be replaced by the communist principle "from each his ability, to according to according each his needs" This sounds very fine in SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 August, 1978 principle, but the peasant: no doubt remembered th attempt thi LasT policy the "Great Leap Forward" of 1958 What was interpreted as "need" was the very bares necessity possible to live on The surplus was creame off by the state to financ the industrial adventures o period such as back yard steel furnaces The peasants were expec ted work these industries of their "voluntarya contr contribution to the Great Leap Forward. A showpiece moder

seen constructing a reservoir.

GE It was no longer possible for them work to additional hours and use their extra work-points to buy consumer goods. Capitalist sector In other words the policy of the radical group stripped of the fine phrases meant production by moral allu physical coercion rather than by economic incentive.

The struggle over this question was about how to increase the production of the when both peasantly miam-plating process SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 August, 1978 capital and consumer goods be are scarce: all al It is impossible to define one method as capitalist and and eggs at other can afford. socialsu looking at the overall devel- the vollell probiens society. the other hand the the U1l private plots do represent a modern clear capitalist sector of the tractors Chinese economv. fertilisers. Without sector entirely subject market forces TO and outside the control of

LI V

proposals group was on their plots. But bureaucracy secondary which growth they can individually control. Although million

LOW.

ing class away their to the Under Of the bureaucratic planning work this doubt

SMOO

owned

UTOM

these for their collective work, they will set by strongly any to take However, from the workers' decide deny them olivale This pigs, and vege the takes Chinese bureaucratic worker seven mes tion rupted by shortages five long as all times an the Soviet carrots! what commenta- tors regard "highly because plots. and state plan. was by However, omy as ture. tion Modern scientific methods including the use of tractors is essential British the market but does that open Chinese of collec- large the booms slumps. of of the world, and methods chemical and ism which other much more prevented. group's ution most peasants Workers had little working trade precisely stifling been most Add to that pay differentials 200 between (vel live unskilled in Halidee as high WOKeT. only which between workers and the bureau- working cracy. million some privately but The work in large resentment of the similar bureaucracy And they aware were with in industry a major was to engineer turn this target against allows into participation manage- The class. planning eges of and to. between raw material used to anc replace remark. Abolishing incentives would lower Ill call con• sumption Piece was largely have 11U the colonie would be entials in grading produc- Promotion from one grade became very much of Page 7 political tide, banks have been announced i.e. co- operativeness. in the last few months. The new pulicy was also Shanghai The Four reflected the considered that some degree recanical field. Drawing workers into of mass involvement could that be retained by continuing to management meant reliance could be send the most troublesome IMOTe placed on creating ways of youngsters the to making primitive equipment and using the army to inter- vene if the situation in any work and less on the import of modern machinery. particular arca got our "Better red than expert" hand. was They also put slogan representing forward their programme for increas ing agricultural production At lts worst it became a reactionary and chauvinist at the expense of peasants living standards. contempt for foreign tech- In the nology event industrial But at its best it did save production stagnated or fell because of continual strikes on scarce capital resources.

and promoted against local management healthy distaste for the authority of Steel production in 1976 technocrats. and 1977 failed to reach Local bureaucrats and level 1973 (26

TANA

at first fought million tonnes) managers against the under- Both steel and coal pro- of their mining authority duction have increased by by Red Guards and so-called only 30% 17 years, an Revolutionary Committees.

annual growth rate of 1.5%.

Pitched battles The agricultural reforms were fought in Chinese also not be imple-

COUC

mented because of peasant cities. only when resistance. But it The swing of the centre faction in the bureaucracy around Hua Kuo-feng behind Teng Hsiao-ping and took fright «workers the managers is therefore began not surprising. tc that the obstacle However the new leader- to development ship has no new policies to not the local offer the masses. continue bureaucratic planning will to system. develop industry serve the needs of a military and bureaucratic regime. Agri- culture will continue to be nothing change the LU of state stifled by the slow develop- planning, were not ment of the crucial areas of industry that serve it. The Chinese working class may have been forced the to retreat as a result of the protect the Shanghai extena Chinese power group. the But that is not to say the huge resources radicals had anything offer the working class shows. Indeed was precisely the realisation growing the began to class of working the inadequacy of the radical which forced the finally • burcaucracy to Millions of young the power ot the radicals. far" What the whole struggle underlines is the need for an countryside. independent revolutionary leadership in the Chinese Mao Revolutionary working commit- class which can tees had their sting removed draw out the real lessons of Cultural by appointing previous man- the Revolution, agers as vice-chairmen and perspective But discussions for throwing out the whole still remained in the bureaucracy bureaucracy The fight must be for a about what aspects of the Trotskyist party fighting on policy could new retained without danger demands The group around Teng directed towards the form- Hsiao-ping considered that ation of independent soviets only the of workers and peasants as a counter to the bureaucratic could Previvas power of the Stalinist ensure stability Complete managerial authority had to be restored On the basis even if this meant bringing struggle of these soviets the back Peking bureaucracy can be incentive and an increase in wages to and the way buy co-operation. opened up for the planned If a slower rate of growth expansion of the national- resulted this could be com- means of production 1cec pensated by foreign loans under elected committees of selling oil to Japan workers management. and by Developments Only in this way can the confirm this policy decision.

creative of the The agreements to exchange Chinese working be new machinery from released and the scourge of EEC for oil and coal, and to economic backwardness be German finally overcome.

TOMI

Page 8 Pinochet's military terror: Branchero talked of the armed forces taking no part in political debate.

'Moscow-line' and 'Euro' CPs agree on In August 1977 Luis Corvalan, General Secre- tary of the Chilean Communist Party, gave a report to the first Plenary session of the Central Commit- tee since the military coup of 1973.

The speech has since been published as "The Chilean revolution, the fascist dictatorship and the struggle overthrow it and create a new democracy

TONY

RICHARDSON examines it in the light of the supposed policy differences between "Euro Communist Parties and the adherents of the "Moscow-line". of the Chilean Central workers' movement, Corvalan talks Corvalan. Pinochet. Indeed every had been SiX had died and remained missing. Party echoes These must have nositions "national retlected the sion of the Yet this tragic despite lesson report

COLLIES ROL ON

road in Chile Christian and elsewhere the Democratic government, arguing Communist In Chile, tells the mistake of parties Unity Alente government was that, though to the CP brought top military into the Democrats. turning his And calls past, IOI a Government provisional Christian and the schema: "Unity Pinochet be built Chilean road the moves by ipation of anti-fascist Carrillo Berlinguer of forces towards Catholic moral and omic, of cultural that activities" 'Euro" Com- Junta's] simply policy reaffirm in unisin the and exceeds "Euro" every (p. 149). OI Communist strategy of workers parties anti-socialist If the of concept and the "progres- apes involvement

ANO

OI linguer's for wage ists is not all- "austerity" and embracing vuls idea of struggle nucasues. proletarian revolution, duction" Allende's that the Demo- can be govern "ultraleftist slogan that separate with regard to country's tne shall do future. we everything possible to Santiago Carrillo ist puts Christian have forward of forces to the cause by armed Ine their candidate of socialism, call on to a regime solve -includ- simply future ing sell-out, attempting to Corvalan's 'road to Contal potentially by socialism room struggies workers are Spanish Engineering Employers Federation! This bankrupt Echoing working in Latin America. of the ty" of capitalist state in Chile indicates that defeats but government was of a Popular Front, Socialist the Com- but He in the Front the power, the But of the course in police and "power" by the workers' was no Stalinists the be opposed He declares: "The the Government and Popular doubtedly by erroneous conceptions SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday y August, 1Y /8 Berlinguer (right) with Spanish CP leader Ibarruri Carrillo (left) with colleague Ibarruri Castro (right) with Allende deeply rooted in the Chilean mentality (!) which, in one way or another, to a greater or lesser extent, affected all Parties "Obviously we are refer- the belief that, the ring to Armed Forces of Chile were distinguished by • their sub ordination the Civil Power and by their absten- tion from politics and sense of professionalism." (p.28) Loyalty Who peddled these "erroneous conceptions"? Why, none other than Corvalan himself and his fellow Stalinists! Only days before the coup, Corvalan mede arisech published in the British Marxism Today, in which he described the defeat of the coup of June 29, abortive 1973 which: "was quickly contained thanks to the prompt and determined action of the chief, commander the loyalty of the armed forces and the police, and the manner in which the work- ers. entrenched them- selves in the factories, ready to take part in combat if the situation needed them." Institution In the Stalinist journal, World Marxist Review, which was ironically lished the after coup, Chilean CP spokesman

THE PLUTONIUM

Branchero pronounced that: "A discinctive feature of the revolutionary Drocess M began and Chile is that continues within the frame- mork of the bourgeois insti- tutions of the past.... we have essentially the old state retained machine. Government offices staffed mainly are with the old officials. forces, armed the status of observing (!) professional political take part in submit debate and to the lawfully constituted civilian power. cooperation "Bonds of have and mutual respect evolved between the army and the working class in the name of a patriotic goal of shaping a free democratic advanced, and land." This view was elaborated further by Stalinist poet and Chilean ambassador in Paris, Pablo Neruda. "As for our His words, It is the we love it. people in uniform", should serve as a watchword for all Stalinist time against Tne road" "peaceful to Pinochet-style dictatorship.

the refusal of was CP allies and his Allende to mobilise to tne masses confront and destroy the capitalist state or exprop- riate the capitalist class in Chile which left the door open for Pinochet's coup.

Disarm Allende, along with the Stalinists, opposed the dev- elopment of any opposition to the officers in the armed forces, and of course fought the formation of against soviet-type organs of power which could have instituted the dictatorship of the prol- etariat in Chile. In acting with jointly Allende to disarm workers prior to the coup, Stalinists effect helped open up Pinochet's road to power. Corvalan's speech. sold in England by

COLON

the 'Moscow-line' New Communist Party, clearly shows that neither wing of Stalinism offers workers from break the reformist "peaceful road to socialism" independent programme. Opposed Both sections of Stalinism stand firmly "to opposed proielallan revolution and for peaceful coexistence with capitalism a world scale, and both on on a national level. limited Moscow's

MOSCOWS

of the "Euro" criticisms Parties centres Communist not , any way on the in Popular Frontist policies of these parties but solely on Kremlin fears that the CPs have become more respon "own" sive to their bour- geoisie than Brezhnev and the Kremlin. The period which in Moscow could manipulate the CPs France, ot Italy and Spain will in al interests Stalinis tone world diplomacy seems at an end But for workers in turn- ing from the class collabor- CPs to seek ation of these a solution in the "Moscow- line" alternative offers but nothing further confusion and Chile-style defeats. Independence The answer to Carrillo, to Berlinguer or to Corvalan must be the fight in every to Trotskyist revolutionary parties of a recon- is pal structed Interna- ourt) tional, through a to carry consistent struggle tor tne political independence the working class.

CYCLE

Plutonium is first pro- duced artificially in conven- tional thermal nuclear reac- tors, as a waste product.

Naturally occuring Uranium fuel thermal is used these reactors, and contains

TWNC

isotopes of Uranium U238 (97%-98%) and U235 (2%-3%).

U235 part

WHICH

fissions, producing two fission are anything resulting Trom , e.g. lodine 131 ughly by tw Every time the U235 splits hall neutron about one and a which bombard neutrons, U238, and change that atomic structure. becomes Plutonium 239 Gradually, there is a build up ot Plutonium 439 Stored Roughly, a 1,000 Megawatt power station will produce 250 kilograms of Plutonium 239 der annum. or doout to or tue put into it. This Plutonium is associated' the fission products and will unburnt Uranium, highly radioactive One of two things conoe NO

WINDSCALE

NOW!

Demonstrators protest against Windscale reprocessing plan.

done with these: But will constant , as it could groups. However. limiting • of dumps, thermal reactor. The •e usea, after either last reactors 5-10 years, where Pluton- lum. vranium ano remainine fission and separated. The then then mai Uranium cycled into back reactors. ane une rutonium is stored at the reprocessing plant until it is required for use.

NUC

INDUS

YOU

NEEDS

BUT WHAT FOR?

HOTO: Mark Rusher Cathy Sherlock replies to the critics of nuclear build power and argues that in the struggle to basis of the advances achieved socialism on the there is no alternative but to use under capitalism, though necessarily as part of a nuclear power, planned socialist economy.

run out before very long.

While we have such resources we should put them to the best

USP

can usine Ther manufacturing plastics, nylons and chemicals. i wou make more sense t use diamonds as fuel if they could burn, than to waste such valuable and limited resources as oil and coal by burning them up. Aiso the pollution given off •v tossi tue dower stations Is a major environmental hazard In fact, a coal fire power station aives off over 10 time much radioactive waste as the permitted by maximum nuclear power station "Idyllic" If this countrv alone were to resort to wind-, , wave- or solar it would require 12,000 power of pontoons bobbina mastes and down around our coastline one pylon with a propellor the top of it every square mil ane solar cels on too or ever building. One good storm and the whole country wou come to a juddering halt. "Alternative" sources powe ShOuld continue to be investigated, and their possibilities exploited.

ivevertneress. Would quite impossible maintain a tO industrialised which was solely dependent on This is what will happen at considered because the nuclear Windscale. When the fast reactor Them ¡noustry nas envisdeo a period Environmentalist expanding • use fast the 'Friends of way, then the Plutonium will go reactors. to be used immediately Earth' advocate the • use of thesi sources, because they have no When used, the Plutonium is wish to preserve an mixed with ce•etec Uranium Each would reactor and fabricated into fast reactor seu society fuel which is then dispatched to need seeing industrialisation sim one, plistically as one of the evil Ine reactor. , so also would they During this process, which capitalism, product. three months, would like to see us revert to an can take about farming using the Plutonium is not accompan- Plutonium, • reactors and ied radiation of any appre- ov tecH ciable amount. nology. tneredy amount What must be understood is Such Fast control the ridiculous, but it is actually the That Ine test reactor incinerates the Plutonium all the time that it is on v occa one to noo tor te opponents of nuclear power.

in operation. less as recuireu Reactor core does not Workers state "breed" contro leo thal rabbits it also produces Plutonium.

breed It is the alternative we will and that possibe dee it either produces „tace oreed power. more less the full of birth The than it incinerates. fast reactor has a reactor if the fast socialism core, In which surrounding it, and can absorb the blanket which development, comeete neutrons which escape trom ine arising cortine fuel which is put into enterprise, but will Enel Ine come contains a rentall possible for the : case Plutonium nuclear fission using mixed with Uranium Oxide te revol than 20% Plutonium Oxide ary takeover typically production proletariat During the of the of the Clearlv reactor used only is incineratec fast and some the U238 reactors converted to Plutonium 239.

Since heavy i nese

TWO

processes arE hydrogen

•COT

ТГОЛ Water. ation reactor would solve our for Tuned with ine use or contro problems next few rod fine core of the fast reactor rather than to

• DOWNCT

The nave a crasi produces sliahtly less Plutonium than it incinerates. an uneer blanket present, the standing the nature of the surrounding the core is made of 'half radioactive

ATOMIC STRUCTURE

the course oT soloves Electrons round the operation of the reactor is con ine more radioactive a com verted to Plutonium 239 nucleus of the proton and some- the shorter the half- pound is, times Neutrons ife, therefore the less of a long Control have no charge, but have mass in the stable torm ot atom The longer the half-life, the Therefore when the blanket the number of electrons orbiting less radioactivity it emits removed it contains slightly matches the number of particle: terrifying Plutonium' thar more was

OUT

In the nucoug hatf-life of Plutonium (approx- In unstable the atom 12,800 years) imately In practice, the rate at which number of electrons exceeds the the most

TOTA

See in the me danket oreouces rutonium particles harmless aspect of it. exceeds the rate at which the nucleus therefore they core incinerates it Long term sources a sultable time, knowl as the "doubling time " enough they arrow or parte. s) or Plutonium throw The accumulates particles. This problem also negos to breed another reactor be looked at in the context of MOST Unani one the need to find long-term nium and plutonium CoUC control the composition of the heavy and have ot energy and the alter suites blanket of the fast natives that are available protons, noutrons and electrons.

Fossil fuels cannot that overal it dia not produce be a an excess of Plutonium. viable source of power for long in practice, this optior

DUL

because inere is oniy a tinite has not been seriously amount of them, and that will

EAST END STRIKE VICTORY

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL

dig in Pickets at the Hep- suggest and taking it worth Iron Company in tions there. Management refused.

Penistone Yorkshire, who walked out when made it clear whose side he management sacked 239 was on wnen as a means ol workers for attending a ending the strike he asked the convenor union meeting are clear himself forward that the issue involved is election-a of not simply one refused to accept. defending jobs- agement have offered to Unilateral decision reinstate all the workers "condi- under certain Today, tions"- tions but one of the announcement of a uni- basic trade union lateral decision principles. gement to end the The involvement of shop agreement ACAS in the

TGWU.

alspule predictably resolved nothing. determination strikers. Barred of the ACAS talks and man- An agreement was made agement's refusal to talk to wiin management and trade MaLe nicer officials which was the dispute it to be stepped rejected by the men up. Management have Delegations insisted that four stewards strike committee are to go be barred from holding Henworth union office at the Burton-on-Trent plant. change in this Nottingham position is the reduction in supporting action. It number stewards being openly victimised. avliuli immediate result of 128 Hepworth I ne depots and that blacking of inis announcement was loI the strike committee the products, which consist

WSL

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

The WSL fights at every step against the existing leaders of the trade unions and the Labour Party, whose reformist politics offer no independent programme or way forward for the working class in its struggles.

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

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

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

NEWS

Penistone strikers. mainiy of ceramic pipes, is stepped up. While fighting themselves for this perspective, strikers essential that the demand that their local and call officials the supporting strike action.

holding fresh from It is also important that The local TGWU official the £6 strike pay be supple- mented by raising a levy on all TGWU members in the region. not to put The perimeter of the for factory to be picketed which about four miles and deleg- position ations from union branches lo tomorce. lue picker wil be welcomed. At the moment, scab labour is running parts of further implica- the plant and

TGWU

with members are in some cases driving lorries through the by illalla. picket line. closed Message of support and the with financial donations should Brother Terry sent to: This has only fuelled the Wright, Martin Nest Farm, of the Lower Common, Hepworth, Holmfirth, HD7 1TN As a result of the failure Brian Cox, About 100 workers from the at the Usher-Walker fac- works near tory in Stratford, East and London, have comp- call for leted a successful week long strike in defence of is hoped that strike Trade Union principle. will be called tor in plants and The dispute began when management attempted suspend Brothe Barett Red Youth

FIGHT RACIST ATTACKS

pite

BUILDI

WORKERS E

its establish a

DEFENCE

RED YOUTH

monthly paper of the Socialist Youth League Available on to readers or socialist Press Annual subscription is £1.50 for twelve issues to current subscribers of Socialist Press From WSL mouth Park Hill, London

NW5 1HR

Bosses' Echo After being on strike Hertford for nearly a month at and Vauxhall's manor of factory car services to King John. on Merseyside it must have come as something a delightful surprise to more than one of the lady and do 10,000 carworkers to house learn in the Liverpool south bank less gay Echo that this year is occupied" Jubilee' the 'Diamond emblem of Vauxhall Motors Ltd. mythical of (subsidiary General eagle The site Motors). came to A full page article surr- "Fulk's ounded by lots of juicy later Was advertisements from the 'Fawke's Vauxhali agents COCa tually to presented a glowing account of the firm, and past Company, present. Whitewash badge and pany moved A more nauseating svco- making operation to phantic whitewash of the in 1905 it was company's grubby "Fulk site of sordid history was not even spoils of war! to be found the 1n company's public relations fell from rag, the Mersey Mirror. poor exile There was, however, one Normandy of informa- priceless piece tion in the midst of all the which garbage must have tickled a tew workers. It was the story of how shed we Vauxhall Motors, Vauxhall got its name The origin, apparently, was with adventurous brighter Norman soldier alicial y of humble birth, known as all the "Fulk le Breant" who was achievements. deputy Father of Barett, for cleaning the NATSOPA chapel had refused to allow his men to from ership dirty conditions

NATSOPA

WOrK with inadequate toilet faci- lities. concede this demand. He had rejected manage- The Sunday attempts to make threatened if ment

I TOOT

make printing inks used by This strike several Fleet Street news- possibility 5074213

ESUE

SOCIALIST

*

PRESS

5 issues 10 issues 25 issues 50 issues I would like to receive... issues. I enclose the sum of 2... Name Address Send to: Socialist Press, Park Hill, Lo Pron NWS THR -Subscribe! SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 August, 1978 made Sheriff of Oxford and This must have been granted the heartening news to the 100 Luton for his drivers presently who are at the centre of the dispute OVer allowance Griffin and who like the rest of the

TGWU

membership at After marrying a well to Vauxhall's are having to sit acquiring out their summer vacation the London U1. the at the which our rest- pIckel gates of the plant. dog "sometimes he took his Mercenary the Griffin-a lion, half They have must been equally grateful to the Echo of the house for reminding them of the be known feudal and mercenary origin Hall", then this of Vauxhall Motors Ltd. altered to But the carworkers at Hall" and even- Vauxhall's need such "Vauxhall". likes of reminder from the The Vauxhall Iron Works the Liverpool Echo that formed in 1857, Vauxhall Motors was and took the Griffin as its own thieves and of band when the robbers living off the spoils its car- of war built on the Strikers le Breant's' The feudal and same mercenary mentality has Fulk le Breant eventually always the pervaded grace and died a Vauxhall (not to mention in his native General Motors') the sometime after management's thinking and King John's death in 1216.

is guiding their every word and deed Brighter future • even now in this dispute, as the striking car- doubtless But before any tears are will are informed that vouch for. however, Fulk le Breant may well can look forward to a much have died a poor man future and the Normandy in 1216, but his fat and spirit article goes on to catalogu alive and well and living in company's recent Ellesin ere Port! papers) take responsibility conditions the in many out toilets. firms linked to the news- Despite absence of lead- paper industry which full time would never be tolerated for officials, by the highly man- forced workers on Fleet organised Street itself. Times wa. printing inks from the firm did not arrive.

shows the improving Have you read it yet? lution Revo Tro Eonay Lon Poal-man . £1.10

LISA

. £2.20 . £5.50 £10.00 'Communists' Against Rev- olution containing the little-known Theory Assimilation by Structural Tim Wohlforth, is the bool on post war Stalinism that Dartmouth Mandel and Healy would not publish or discuss. Make sure you get your available at £1.75 CluS 20p stap from :

WSL,

31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

SOCIALIST ERESS

435Mes: YES! PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report mise" settlement offered in the union's struggle for a 35-hour week. The "compromise", hatched by the McCarthy mediation report, offered only a two-stage reduction from 40 to 37½ hours a week, linked to increased flexibility. Meanwhile the work-to-rule action now underway has begun to hit postal machinery as well as telephone equipment.

SHIPREPAIRERS MARCH

the workers Over 200 ing to behind the marched MPs like Dell to fight inside Shiprepairers Western the Labour Party to change banner through Birken- the government's attitude.

head last Saturday, in a 650 campaign to save action of the workers them- jobs and nationalise the selves must be mobilised by calling for an occupation of yard. the yard This followed a demon- machinery the previous week moved Birkenhead outside management hall where Government Min- carrying out maintenance.

ister Edmund Dell, MP for a action local constituency, was extended to the other places holding a "surgery where the workers are faced Dell had told the workers.

away and find another job?

gentlemen and struggle must be to unite all But instead of campaign- for Dell's expulsion ing from the party the leaflet the 'Militant' out by Dul Group called on the workers to join Labour party and "force Dell to fight"!

Lack of action MP Eddie Labour 'left' Loyden, in his speecn at the beginning of the march tried his lack of action to justify. claiming that the House of Lords had excluded ship- repairing from the ACI lO nationalise the shipbuilding industry. There is no possibility of winning this fight to SavE jobs by the kind of policies Loyden and by aavocated T.U.. grishall

YOUR MAN AT THE TOP

As we go to press, Post Office Engineering Union leaders have rejected the "compro in the fight 'Militant' Group-seek- these forces persuade right wing against unemployment. The for demand the opening of the books of the Laird Group by an elected committee of workers Instead the independent central to this strategy as a part of the development of then workers'

CONCTOI

alu management of the firm as a stop the nationalised enterprise. from "Left" MPs like Loyden being and to stop must be called upon to fight from scabs on such policies and to fight Callaghans, expel the be must Healeys, and Dells from the Labour Party. in they refuse to ust be redundancies and the then they, too. m UsI removed and replaced.

HELLO MOSS-THIS IS O'FISHALL HERE

CAN YOU JOIN OUR T.U.C. WORKING PART

LET'S GO

WITH FOR THE LABOUR

ELECTION CAMPAIGN?

/LABOUR

YOU KNU

iT MAKES SEN

NOT SO FAST LADS-IF THE TORIES GETELECTED

WE'LL BE EXPECTED SO MOBILISE MORINDI IREM:

New support for Garners strikers Further evidence of the members in the branches they sell-out has Have visited threat OT d emerged this week in the strike is the will of the Regional Garners Steak House recog- leadership nition strike. Officer

TGWU

Catering Trom the Recional George Abrahams is reported in that the the Catering Times of 3 August General Purposes willing drop stuev ine strikers accounts and cemane tor union recontion u return for the reinstatement of the strikers and for a ballot of scaos and StriKeT: This echoes the call put out stooge Bernard Henderson in the previous ste ot the same daoer It is cleariy no coincidence Who can deny that secret talks have taken place to try to ge an end to the strike? This desperation reflects the weakness of the GWU bureau cracy and of the employer, not the Oxford Trades Council the strikers. was closed support has moortan recently been gained. The mem- right wing President, John bers of NATKE in the National Power, last Friday, after he Theatre blacked those Garners had refused to subollers who also suDoly Theatre restaurant. scared the action has of the previous meeting. Panaficio and bread company The Schweppes into stopping Cowley 9. It deliveries to Garners But the TGWU is organised meetin. Council had in many bigger places than the from the

NUT

National Theatre-Heathrow levelled for example, and Airport Chande Council officers taken Thornett Schweppes other Garners basis of their inaccuracy.

Wine and Coca Courtney Cola still deliverine di t Garners, and could clearly be secondary blacking STOOd OV organised floor that the letter be accepted throuen Region 1. Committee Regional given rude memders were reminder last for week strike won't go away, when they carried by a small majority.

and strikers were lobbied by

TGWU

memoers

TTON

Heathrow, Thorns and Central London ACTSS meeting had 2-hour stormy he gional comations and delegations Trom were to be seen on the picker lines twice last week! outcome of yve awall their promises to mobnise nell 500,000 members. to our Kers

TGWU

a good response trom The government

ACHIEVE WHAT

London's Upper offers no any dockworker. pletely with 7 35 000 0 r urgent all manning practices and productivity The Port AULnOTIL announced 2,000 jobs Western Shiprepairers demonstration

YOU MEAN-ALL THAT JIM'S MANIFESTO CAN OFFER

IS THE ABOLITION OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS?!!

NOT EVEN

(WELL COMRADES, IT'S SIMPLE... WELL

AFTER THE PACT, THAT'D PROVOKE

(SOME EMBARASSING QUESTIONS!

possibly give another miserable a none out Meanwhile CPSA members A tnat Isackine to wIn tAIs Catering Jobs Centre are still at refusing to service Garners and Secre John grant mr uncer of State for Employment The only concrete suggestion tary has said that Garners will no Committee Finance and receive any more new work Committee permits until the strike Power closes Trades Council When deletion of this section The monthly meeting of moved at the August meet.

was ing, Power refused to accept the down by the amendment. eventually was torced to put the minutes to thi vote "as a true record" this was allow an defeated then closed the amendment to the minutes Power meeting down Power's move closely concerned the the internal connece followed the July inquiry disciplinary the Trades against nou Cowly 9 received Although asking for those Hegiona Commitee nas nov Trades put the ball back in the court of against Alan the Oxford District Committee implicated the the door is still firmly open for the

TGWU

movE bureaucrats should the necessary conditions arise Out of order Power saw it as crucial that Alar anything which vindicates When it was moved from the hornet or any oT the orer • Power ruled the motion out of had to be squashed at any cost.

As Council failed to discuss urgent He then accepted a motion "next business" which was anion to continie ine xore Nursery Campaign, , or details of defence these public meeting in minute. events were circulated delegates Aubrey amazed to read that the which the Trades Council had "agreed" that the voted at its previous meeting t co-sponsor with the local NU.

branch. London docks jobs still threatened pre-election whether requirements decision the Royal Docks to not closed. provide £45 million to And the government aid postpone the closure oi will be provided only Docks condition that a satisfactory security level of speed-up and sack- to ings achieved by union 1S bureaucrats alle n andre ment. Indeed, it is tied in com- The fight to open the union books of the Port employ- promise of cooperation in ers nationally to elected of examination trade union committees and levels working for nationalisation without compensation to defend all of London be taken up jobs must at has already once and backed by all that by the necessary are surplus to dock unions.

WELL IF THAT'S ALL WEVE GOT- WELL HAVE

TO JUST KNOCK THE OPPOSITION.)

SO THAT LEAVES US JUST ONE THING... TO GO

FOR THE VOTES OF RESPONSIBLE ANTI-FASCISTS!

McNee calls for police Crucial point in fight to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir David McNee has a free hand to and up harassment step intimidation in the London area, to Home accoraing Secretary Merlyn Rees. Speaking in Parliament last week. hees cecared inat vic vet count on my support for whatever he does in this city".

matter had been raised as a result of a 166-page written submission by McNee last week the novalcommission Criminal Procedure, which he admitted that current police oratices involve numerous breaches of the existing law.

Rees consciously ignored Inis revelation. ana simuly said that Mr Nep s cocument contains interesting ideas "interestina mOne Inese ideas'" were calls for sweeping powers that would new police make the oritish corice the cuivy of state forces in almost any western democracy: "sus- to hold pects" for hours before charging them or bringing them TO COlLEC *the "sus- power to oblige pects" police answer tons by anown courts co araw inferences trom a decision to fingerprinting compulsory от tne wnole area m walchsa Only strike action by workers in London hospit- als can reopen the accident and emergency department at Bethnal Green hospital the Health and prevent Authority through gong with their plans to turn the small hospital InTO gertatric unlil. is the first Bethnal Green

FUND

Monthly August I he Fund has got off to a good start with £133.15 in at the end of the first week.

But be there can no room for complacency ir this month when holidays place big demands on the pay packets of our readers and supporters. This momentum must be kept up if we are to make the f600 target by the end of the month. Donations should be Sent tO. Socialist Press Monthly Fund 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR

SOCIALIST

PRESS

state powers crime has been committed.

against the state machinery extension of the working class. Even now, while imposing a police rent to search susports Phase 4 pay limit, *power to set up roadblocks vicious at the discretion of senior police TITe officers, the discovery or increase ment is planning to police pay by an astonishing prevention or crime *more power to use "neces 40%! sary force"' in legal searches But McNee's open statement McNee's admission that the also spotlights the criminal confusion peddled by Anti legal restrictions such Com Leacue leaders activities comes as no surprise to munist Party, who cAPk support police action against the countiess WOrKCIS over recent years have vationa Ine octe their suffered harassment that this could protect the nanos workers' movement. doubt that Democratic rights Could among the first victims McNee's new extended powers act inat pour nose black workers. Secretary Rees ready and demonstrators and pickets who consider McNee's suffer the brunt of present raTesT suodestions consisten police narassment. with the Labour leader's proven EnE attack democratic bombing of the Morning Star defence British last week, Stalinist Chris Myant capitalism.

OUT

lorward Call Whether it be the legislation special police squad to tract "Prevention of of the . so-called perpetrators of the Terrorism" attacks"

ACT

Ine oer detua- tion of racist immigration laws of the specially-trained Repression the use The the squad against cont is not elsewhere, the not Grunwick labour aliu movelicill bans (riont to cemon strencthen out to oiseano ine strate imposed Rees under police force which is simply a restricting the part of the repressive machinery the pretence of that props up British capitalist National ront. The usnoid. ing of the Official Secrets Act, rule. Themival ves assure tors Labour have class traitors removal point allied with the capitalist save E. London occupation 'of a fully function.

hospital "acuaty cenartment. East London hospitals on July 1 SUDOOrT deCISIOn keep the casualty department open despite the Health Author- tys plansto ciose fl able in casualty. This hospital is in an area of London where there is already One serious weakness of the defence has been its Accident sovere failure the central to recognise an• «meroenev and the decision keep the ispen had widespread Importance or toe mont tor thE accident and emergency depart- casualty the at Bethnal support amongst health workers and the local community. whole movement in condon anc to turn the struggle towards the Defying authority closure was The nol aven drivers health service Ambulance shop stewards' movement. Also,

SUDOOTEC

occuration continuing to bring patients into rOTE trade Union the casualty, defying the author- leadership in betraying the fight against hospital closures, preven- ity's instructions On 1 August, the occupation Tea any farce scare moouisations suffered a severe setback on 1 August. ordered Second class stamp! the nurses out casualty, informing them that they were sent out letter by the to treat patients there. south tast Region or the ou He then proceeded to stick calling for general action region hand-written notices aroune und LIle hospital entrance saying the defence of Bethnal Green on 1 now closed, August actually reached one was East ambulance crew who brought in London on August. carrving a second class carolac

CASE

morning turned stamp! seriousty endangering the life of The result of this treachery was mat on one union oraneu necessary equipment was avail- -the Tower Hamlets Published by Folrose Ltd. for the Workers Socialist League, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.

Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd, London. Registered as a Newspaper at the Post Office PHOTO. Andrew Wiard. Report Merlyn Rees such as Merlyn Rees and the Callaghan-Healey cabinet, and ine strucele for leadership within the workers' movement that spells out the dustmen-went on strike on 1 Auoust in cetence orme nosolu al, despite the fact that several to local hospitals were willing take action i any lead nad been shown. This setback in the campaign countered ov iate moves to organise London- wide action to reopen the strike casualty and prevent any turthe runo own of the nosolta-such as the threatened closure of the operating theatres. stewards have Bethnal Greer turned into a coats rence of conference • turned into a all London service neaith stewärds. It will be held at the London Hospital on August 17: vital that this confer- encE takes organising action, and the demand must be made that the Trade Union and official backing action. The fight to reopen Bethnal the central focus of the fight against hospital closures London. Eritrea faces Ethiopian invasion The peasant armies of the Ethiopian military dic- tatorship have extended their invasion of Eritrea.

Their attacks have so tal against the been concentrated areas held by the Eritrean Liber ation Front, which has suffered major reversals ELF forces are now reported to have regrouped in the rura areas which they still control so as to continue guerrilla warfare against tre occuation dirtly.

I nese advances nave made i possible for the Ethiopian armies to launch frontal attacks against the positions neld by the Eritrean Liberation rront total encirclement, threat but claims to have resisted thi Ethiopian offensive so far.

Withdrawn But EPLF forces have with.

drawn from the strategic town Dekamhare, and from those sections or une Massawa which they nad arguing that these ominous moves were necessary stronger defensive • organise lines and a purely represent lablical felical _Atter • tnese initial successes the Ethopian army will fiercer undoubtedly encounter res stance penetrate deeper into the strongholds which have been held for some years. But unis is tar trom ine onl problem confronting the Ethiopian offensive. The turbul itself has within Ethiopia a ready placec regime in a precarious position and now the resurgence of war

STUCK

further blow at the dictatorship Guerrillas from the West Liberation Somali Front last week attacked Gode-a base 01 crucial strategic significance fo control of the Ogaden. ' need to destrov and not retorm clair to nave wreckeo wate the capitalist state as the and power supplies, and left the essential part of the struggle for town burning. socialism

TOWER HAMLES

OLDPEOPLE SAY

WE DONT

WANT A

GERIATRIC

GHETTO

PHOTO: Laurence Sparham. Trotskyism Today

THEORETICAL JOURNAL OF THE

WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

Number 3 includes: * WSL British Perspectives * The Poisoned Well (document for submission to *Ith World Congress of USFI).

The Spartacist School of Invention.

Price 60p plus 20p p&p from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR.