Socialist Press no. 178

LEYLAND BETRAYAL

of the treachery The right wing leadership of the AUEW in knifing the strikes Derek defence Robinson has handed Sir Michael Edwardes and the Tory government a much- needed victory on a plate.

At a time when workers by the tens of thousand are show- ing their readiness to fight the Tories' spending

CHES

and BL management has closures sack the chair- been alowcu lu man of the Combine Committee for simply putting his name to a Dam one wich lains or occupa tions prevent ластогу ClosuTes. Arrogance Already employers, strength- ened by this, are displaying even greater arrogance in announcing wholesale closures- British Steel and nuge cuts in no-notice sackings Meccano's Merseyside plant.

major AT a mae wren Cvery employer taking steps impose speed-up on shop floor and looking for means to weaken and aestroy trade unlon strength in the main industries, has been allowed to Edwardes

TATOW

COWI

challenge to the unions-and win. And as union officials, con- venors and stewards in BE and in other industries come under pressure-on the one hand from members demanding action to wages delena J00s, COl ditions, and on the other from employers bleating about falling victimisation Robinson carried out with the support or umon oricials stands as brutal deterrent them designed to scare away of from any SnOW resistance The treacherous role of the AUEW leadership in this dispute Is no acclucil from their earlier support for Edwardes' plan to 25,000 jobs in BL and close 13 plants. Resistance Like every other section of the bureaucracy Laut they accept without question that the need to make capitalist industry "viable" comes above the interests own members. Robinson, however, though completely ana inadequate basis, stood, along with the vast majority of Com- against that

COLVCHUES.

plan and called for resistance to clear that was stage-managed Edwardes the "ballot to have any ValuC shop floor strength of the unions had to be confronted.

Prom une oursel. welcore. it was in the interests of the

AUEW

Edwardes in the victimisation of Robinson every and The T action took place in this light: *Official support was held trom me immedate sunke in Robinson's defence; * AUEW officials deliberately support for withheld Calecure the struggle for a whole week in the teeth of a full-scale press work" "back to cam- and media paign -while

SUWU

OLLICIS

made all thenning;

AUEW

engineering

SOCIALIST

PRESS *

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 178 * 5 December 1979 * 15p

PREPARES

MASS

SACKINGS

Robinson sacrificed to deter convenors any prospect of continued strike blocked a motion calling for mass lobby of the AUEW EC action in his support, the still- been the next day while Robinson has Robinson artfully put on full pay.

only appealed to those from He now says he is "bitterly BL plants still working to go in disappointed" by the

AUEW

and "collect money only certain- Executive's action In reality But if anyone peddled the politics of the Com meals Parry was that Teacionar! illusion that these right wingers trade over recent years have inevitably defend Would unionism ratner man collabor- created conditions or aulacks Robinson him sela with Edwardes, it was on BL workers. Robinson was eventually knited in the back by those he Certainty thought were his closest allies.

On the one hand stood the From the moment of his sacking onwards,

SUIT DIISC

Robinson never issued a clear call for all-out strike action He did not even criticise the Edwardes

AUEW

officials when they Does BL chairman the eared on the failed to support those strikes officials at all Michael Edwardes already of Birmingham that were called. Nor did he know the outcome of the rally in Kobinsons support or nis tellow Actions speak louder than Communist Party members on "inquiry"

AUEW

into With this record behind fight words. Committee Robinson? tin Tuesday does anvone believe that conterence of

TOT

Ine This intriguing possibility is really convenors, Howardes held next a clear call for a to closure of day, to revealed letter from threaten Edwardes to the Times of BL in order to strike in all BL plants. CP member Jack force the AUEW leaders into a was week in which he refers to the squalid betrayal? Adams who argued for the unofficial pay strike in Long vague resolution calling on con- bridge reluctantly led by Robin- form of the maceu betrayal-setting up simply can and son in January, and publicly Un10 1 venors wilal Robinson's they to do custom-built nothing sooner than risk losing activities -is provide a vote! the materia witch-hunt when it Nor did Robinson campaign trade union bureaucracy with published in several weeks time.

mass lobby whom he has worked for years for the necessary to force corporate-level bargain- the AUEW national executive to Full pay demand al-OUT ine ana workeis participation On the contrary, into BL the "inquiries" Sunday before sell-out, Right behind him were his Similar by "Comrades" from the Com- the

TGWU

BL's Cowley Robinson blithely intormed sup- munist Party on the Combine Assembly plant have led to the porters in a meeting in Wednes- of mili- ury that official backing was a Committee 2n0 plants throughout BL, who also management but tants-not uy Certally believed official support was a rally, And on the Mondav by the union bureaucracy itselt!

Stalinist chairman Len Brindle In the meantime, to knife formality and WIlO Robinson at the Birmingham rally - not waving but drowning Does Edwardes know? attacked by General Secretary bove me sudy Journal. Edwardes writes: "Because this caused a disciplinary warn ing his actionsed that te forth- fully exposed in the forth- his union." coming inquiry em phasis added) How doe howardes know what the AUEW "inquiry" will expose? perhaps has ne wíth them a deal, hereby the AUEW leaders us held back so as not to antagon- ise the bureaucracy And on the other side was Michael Edwardes for whom Robinson himself had led the shameru stared convenors shoulder-to-shoulder with managers) when Edwardes 10,000 redundancies in February 1978.

The wretched, compromising politics of the Communist Party

TIONAL

THE

DE November 28 demonstration against the cuts-Report p.5 Duffy the "inquiry" to find Robinson "guilty positions, enabling BL generously to reinstate him - as a shop floor worker There is a recent precedent such a squalid AUEW sell for out in the case of BL Service Combine convenoi Executive member John Power from Cowley, who was victim- eventually "reinstated", stripped of union

DUSELUIS.

have now helped strike a blow at the fabric of trade unionism But though Robinson is still and Edwardes is riding sacked, all is not calm on the BI shop floor. The sacking of Robinson was at least part move bludgeon workers mio accep- Cont'd back page

Turkey: fight for workers' Page 2 Stalinist methods bring on crisis 1979 will the see slowest growth of indus- БАМ -ГОРД USSR sine try in the the end of the Second World War. That one of the W ds many facts revealed at last week's Supreme meeting of the Soviet In fact this year's growth rate (3.6% place ot 5.7%) planned was embarrassing that they did not even announce it direct- ly but concealed it within a tigure covering a number of much used years, Stalinist іссилсис statistics. Industrial failure "There more dramatic shortfall in agriculture. Grain produc- Brezhnev: keen to take credit 179 tion last was. ytal million compared to announce all these dire tonnes.. 227 facts. with target These failures of produc- million. announced only a The industrial failure will tion are shortages weeks after huge price cause more lew increases for a wide range of already scarce consumer and will hold consumer goods. These back goods reflected both the internal the growth of the failures of the Soviet econ- ing the production of heavy the intlationary

OISV

increasingly being industrial goods. pressures transmitted from But the grain harvest ine capitalist world. failure will have to be made The Soviet bureaucracy good, is being forced in this way past, by a massive increase that, despite its to admit in imports-paid for either grandiose claims to by back needed run Cultie planned imports of industrial goods "socialist economy" and despite 50 or by going deeper into debt to the capitalists, vears or experence or rva Year Plans, that the Soviet economy cannot be con- Heart attack trolled by them his speech the In fact recent years In 11l supreme Soviet the econom- chief, Nicolai given the present anarchy of planning Baibakov, said that the world markets and finances, overall targets of the present have been more accurate in Five Year-Plan could not be their predictions of capital- the anything like achieved. economies His direct boss, Premier/ Soviet bureaucracy have Economics Minister Kosygin been in even predicting, let preferred to suffer a heart alone planning, the Soviet attack rather than turn up economy. united front! purportedly aimed repress- ing terrorists' there is no doubt inal. lIke orevious such moves. their full brunt will be felt by working class socialist and hillalits. Encouraged by the electoral successes of Demirel and the right, fascist terror cane Have murderous attacks the Turkish workers' movement.

As the economic crisis OI Turkish capitalism worsens, becomes increasingly solluallly call vali international The return of right wing taken up in the labour movement Justice Party leader Suley- Turkish workers of the necessity man Demirel as Prime Min- tor inaependent class action to ister in Turkey is the signal of the class capitalist resorting for still further repression Turkish lascist-backcu mulary couv i d of the workers' desperate bid to resolve their movement. problems. For this reason the Workers daw restacions im posed by 'liberal' capitalist Socialist League has invited Prime Minister Ecevit are to be other movements on the left in supplemenieu Dy System Drilall participalt special courts, and new restric- solidarity cam paign which intends raise these issues While before the British working class SuCH measures are

CON

- but leaves subordinates to carry the can for failure just further of resources, vast losses in one piece of proof of the agriculture due to bad tech- way which the Stalinist niques and so on. act What was a bit new was bureaucracy as an /Brezhnev's naming of guilty obstacle to rational ministers and demands that economic planning and as a permanent threat to the the culprits be "punished". established forms roberty Inevitable after the 1917 revolution.

What does the So, •as usual, the vast bureaucracy have? The only problems caused by Stalinist one it knows-lecturing the rule will be dealt with by workers to work harder and more pressure on mud-slinging within in the workers and purges the bureaucracy itself. higher echelons of the Brezhnev's speech to the bureaucracy. Supreme Soviet was But all these problems, typical sample of this. perennial in the Soviet econ- inevitable in omy, are "Punished" Stalinist-ruled police state by dominated a parasitic criticised He sharply and unresponsive bureau- carelessness, "shortage, irresponsibility and The potential of the bungling" the "unforgive- Soviet economy will only be able" absence of basic items realised when the creative soap, and force of the working class is needles and thread from the liberated by the revolution- shops, fertiliser plant overthrow of the ary before DulE Stalinist bureaucracy. was realised there were no available supplies of fuel and unfinished projects starved fascist and military reaction. Socialist Press urge we In demanding an end to all readers to move the following through their model resolution such TeDTeSS Ol declare support for a campaign of inter- national solidarity with Turkish student: unions and Labour sent to Turkish workers versus a vorl And we call on the Turkish workers' and students' organisa- Communist Party the Turkish and in Turkes DonS m bitall other working itself along with the British Labour Communist Party. political parties and the trade union confederations to 'This union branch break their political links with Lidut (or other lalour movement of torme ate capitalst party body) recognises the increasing Prime Minister Ecevit, and to form instead a united front of near to demociduc Turkey. wulKers In particular we note the including workers defence of militias, defeat both military rule many states fascist terror campaigns and the of the and escalating repression repression of repress government it wing. attack:

AUTOISI

peopie. workers organisations assassinations militants and the trade unionists by mass

CAMPAIGN

are a Organising meeting These developments result of Turkey's acute Sunday December 16 at 2pm direct Artists Room, Conway Hall and deepening As with Chile in the days Open to all organisations in prior the military coup support of the campaign. 1973, Parliamentary democracy has come under increasing strain is growing of and the danger crumbling power The mounting confronta- between US imperial- tion ism and Iran was set up by the Ayatollah Khomeini as a ploy shore the up of crumbling power his reactionary regime. to impose his dicta- Unable torship : through on the Iliaoses mecim othe weakened armed forces, or with the auth- ority and terror of the Pasderan Guards') contonar Khomeini : been forced to resort to mass mobilisation as a anti-imperialist

TOCU

demands. Clearly such a method fraught dangers-not with least of which of course is the threat Suitary intervention from the US Within the divisions Iran, of between the ministers the total loss of direction shared by the religious leaders-a con- fusion highlighted by the sack- or homers closest advise and until last week responsible for foreign affairs. The anti-US and pro-Khom- eini mobilisations coin- cucu. vy a nappy chance. will the referendum on the new constitution But again, the fragile nature of K nomells Dowel Was revealed by the response of the oppressed within the nations ooratis ol lal violent connets oroke OU! among the Baluchis and Turk- while the polling reached omy no in some areas The militant anti-imperialist posturing of the regime has been ent bioyed feelings of Iranian 'national this been unity and has extended to Kurdistan evel The regime's loss of author nowhere ity was shown more clearlv than in Kurdistan A fortnight ago, Abdelrah man Ghassemlov. general secre- Tarv or ine curaish bemocratio Party of Iran, made his trium- Mahabad, phant entry into capilar or nuralstan The Kurdish nationalists control all now towns provice. except paraach The Pasdaran have been forced give the to way to Peshmerga (militia of the KDPI and a truce has been in force for 3 weeks. In these conditions the

IRAN

that the greater is probab v countries concerned have been cauțious in order to avoid pro. ducing a sudden collapse in the dollar's value or more blocking moves by the US government.

Iran's responses to the US were equally move dramatic and threatening to financial stability. place it has . The TirsT demanded that from now on no from waywiches companies to the iran govern ment should be made in • US dollars; all must be in some orner currency This itself will substantially cut demand for the dollar and the resulting tall in value coulc countries wentpersuad d to do the same. The extent of Iran's other move nas sit not decome cea most important this dramatic series of events Sensational Finance Minister Abd Hassan Bani-Sadr reportedly announcer that Iran was going to default all debts- -alleged be to billion-to the duvalictu cabitalist countries This would be a sensation- financial leaders of imperialism development since 25 years nave spent the last falling over backwards desper. ately trying to prevent a success.

Any agreed delay or resched- uling of payments is preferable SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 December 1979 Khomeini's government's delegation has been forced to talk seriously o sell government 1UL. 'autonomy'!) for the Kurds But the regime's retreat has been covered by the betravals ol Ene KNI wo nave recoonder to the threats of US imperialism Khomevnis appeals for national their giving support powe against the satanic super.

The the tatiaye continue Fedayeen or the without Maois nonlara wild wilt willing to participate but were objective' agents of rejected as Us imperialism bv • Khomeini: delet the same the Fedayeen in Tehran have shifted their stance. These 'Marxist-Leninists' have now joined the left Islamic Stalinist vuanecom Tudeh Party in giving "critica support to the guide the in the name of the anti-imperialist struggle But the struggle against imperialism is not a struggle to led by reactionary religious leaders such as Khomeini.

the Collidly struggles against imperialism necessarily involve the struggle Khomeini and overtion replace republic with and peasants committed the to arian internationalism and fight- ing expropriate capital and build socialism in Iran Scapegoat: the butcher Shah From Back Page and frequently • nas to Di ariance 4 тант tnev теат wou an example to the whole underdeveloped world now in debt to the imperialists (banks governments and the IMF) tr the tune of at least $250 billion.

The tremors of the default severe announcement that the Iranian Central Bank President countered Bani-Sadr's announcement „ salt lid most debts repaic All the same a group of US banks declared million overove last week of that The result was another astonishing develop. Chase Manhattan Bank courts seizee

TNE

West Germany the : 25% Iranian share of Krupps steel and engin- eerine in west Germany This immediately raised the fury of the West German which seem incapable of guaranteeing safety of foreign-owned assets its borders ne contact thererore sharpening the existing tensions between the main imperialist Countries No series of events has mor severely rocked the imperialist system - since World It is almost certain that they but the opening tremors are betore what could be a massive financial earthquake which would immeasurably sharper te economic Crisis

Zimbabwe: bitter fruits of petty bourgeois SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday S. December 1979 The struggle of the Zimbabwean masses, whose strength and combativity has with- stood the continual murderous onslaught of the capitalist state now stands threatened by the connivance with imperialism of the petty-bourgeois reform- ists and Stalinists of the Patriotic Front. The development of the struggle inside Zimbabwe disrupt lids Luredienco To capitalist stability through- out Southern and Central Africa. New agents As Ine inadulty or the Muzorewa regime to contain mass struggle became increasingly clear, so imper- ialism has been forced

CLU

culll agents In lts desperate ettorts to protect its interests. the Patriotic. base The Lancaster House Front leadership has zig- talks have been merely the zagged opportunistically public face of Ungullg from the socialist rhetoric process of secret diolomacy aimed at its supporters, to and collusion between the diplomacy mouclale Patriotic Front leadership aimed imperialist and its Tne imperialist masters. bourgeoisie. Mugabe and Nkomo now the Beneath with a set to emerge the underiying posturing, deal for the reform of the the politics of the Patriotic capitalist Stale Front leadership has consis- their reformist petty

_ DONT-

; been the politics of tenv geois has always

DOTECO

petty bourgeois reformism.

impelled them. Caught up in the struggle Diplomats between capital and labour, the petty bourgeoisie must Increasingly removed one or from contact with their own tne orner as an ally in and file and supporters LaNK quest to secure reforms in the Patriotic Front leader- its own interests. ship are more closely linked Balancing between its imperialist diplomats imperialist masters and its than to the working class. Unemployed blacks in Zimbabwe leadership To control opposition mass struggle from develop- within the guerrilla ranks, it independent Ilg depends on the state forces organs for the seizure of of the Frontline puppets of power and the exercise of and the on control in the interests of techniques political workers and their deception developed by peasant alles Stalinism. Only the building of the independent Recognising that the con.

organisations tinuing development of the of the working class and break mobilisation for the summege unreatens through its own petty bour- smashing the capitalist geois perspectives, the state can lay the basis for a Patriotic leadership Front workers government and' the has been and willing planned socialist economy.

easy Only such a regime could prev to a "solution' which offers the prospect of power from defending the in a capitalist government.

interests of the workers, not Even if, at this late stage, the profits of capital. Nkomo both and Mugabe perform a new Mobilisation manoeuvre and walk out of the talks, their open collab- But it is precisely the of building independent deep political organisations and confu-

SOWI

working mobilisation, sion amongst militants and clas. which layers of the oppressed in the Patriotic Front leader- ship and struggle. reformist tael blend of The Muzorewa regime guerrillaism and and its South African diplomacy have refused to backers have been quick to undertake. this disorientation Drawing on the historical struggle, of the experrence of the working masses class in struggle, Trotskyists launching massive attacks on guerrilla camps and on have consistently pointed to militants inside the country.

the reformist politics under- lying "revolutionary The effects of the the betrayals far rhetoric the Patriotic have oI Front leadership allowed • Muzorewa regime, under full imperial- calling for while and mobilising all support, a new lease of support for those struggle against In Ille. Trotskyists imperialism Full endorsement have persistently pointed to the working The indications the at class to build independent moment are, however, that organisations and party the Patriotic Front leader- ana programme based on its ship will surface from the independent interests slime secret diplomacy reliance its and deals, to announce its strength. full endorsement the OI Tory plan for capitalist stability. Bitter price Whichever section of the nationalist leadership comes The bitter price of to govern, will do so on the entrusting the leadership of basis of the existing capital- mass struggle to petty bour- has been ist state structure geois nationalists The Zimbabwean masses paid for in the suffering and now face the threat that the blood workers and Patriotic aront peasants lime and again The Patriotic to power on the Front coming strength of leadership is set to use its will "authority" direct own 1ts energies imperial- precisely that ist-officered troops, its prevent Patriotic Front leaders Nkomo and Mugabe bourgeois frontline backers, and the Rhodesian army to attempt to disarm and demobilise those in struggle.

There can be no doubt that any restriction on the • operations of the Rhodesian army will be circumvented - the existence of clandestine and semi-official armed terror already „sulaus well-established fact. It is crucial that workers and militants resist efforts to disarm them and bring them under imperialist "supervision" The task, in the face of state attack, is workers self- detence-through the development of elected committees of the workers and peasants. It only by IS placing under themselves the "supervision" of such com- mittees that workers with military training will be able to put it at the disposal of the struggle *No handing. over of arms! *No surrender to imper- ialist control! *Cadres with military • Page 3 Carrington training to build workers militias inside the country!

*For the nationalisation without compensation of all land, tactories, banks! *For workers' manage- ment of industry and large.

scale agriculture For land to the poor peasants who demand it! *For constituent assembly of democratically elected delegates the and peasants workers linked to the dissolution of the capitalist Sualt apparatus! *Build the revolutionary party as part of a reforged Fourth International. As the reality of the retormist of Patriotic Front leadership comes and dangerously into the open, the task of build- ing an alternative tionary leadership becomes even more urgent. Workers and militants

ZANU

within and ZAPU and outside, must draw on lessons to be learnt from the international working class struggle as well as from their experience, in order effectivèly act against the dangers posed by the imperialist plan is not to • ine task now • replace reformists by organ- isational manoeuvre, but to destroy politics Lael revolutionary politics and struggle the of stidleg. the talent revolution, unshakeable principle of working class independence, revolutionary pro Tne gramme of democratic and transitional demands which alone can provide that revol- utionary alternative This the building of Trotskyist party-for unlike Stalinists and reform- Trotskyists ists, have their task the goal alu development, not the hold- of those forces back, ing and politics on which the dictatorship of the proletar- iat will be built. Muzorewa

LABOUR'S RIGHT WING

Page 4 A further humiliating set- back was delivered to Labour leader Callaghan last week as the National Execu- tive voted 13-7 to reject all proposals for changes in the make-up of the Inquiry into the Party. Callaghan has insisted notonout that tre nonevine dominated Parliamentary Labour Party should be repres Bated nont on ine Inquiry-thus ensuring that the left wingers the nominated by Ene •ossibit union leaders would be numbered by reliable pro- vananan arm disers. Uncharacteristic But this has been consis tenEV Telecteovane which last Wednesday threw out proposal from GMWU leader discussed with the shadowy bureaucratic body known Unions for a Labour Victory". The NEC then rejected pro first two, and then even one PLP representa- tive to the Inquiry. sten a scheme to ada party chairman Lena Jeger to the Inquiry was thrown out. The comoromise was A major crisis within the leadership and the ranks of the National Front exposed this week in docu- ments leaked to Labour Weekly. An opposition, headed by expelled vice-chariman Andrew the commane Calle "Constitutional Movement" circulated the entire membership ot the • Nr with a letter, a aocument usting inter nal wrangles within the two-page manifesto signed 28 NF members, and a ques познате. Collapse The campaign is designed to of NF force the resignation

JOLL

organiser Martin Webster.

Fountaine that the Nr has suffered "a collapse 1r morals, in finance, in acminis tration and in political credibil- lly Ill tile last Iow yvals.

mem persoo ne reveds is 5,500-considerably less than many other estimates. And the NF's claws allention signitican! 12117Te electoral support, with a vote that has dropped to a "meaning- *es No dentat to the horror of NF rank and file thugs many ada lascists, 1or whom gays late a close second to immigrants as

HEDGE THEIR BETS

Callaghan speaking at last Wednesday's rally in allowing Labour's chief whip combination of manoeuvres and Michael Cocks, to sit in, without the right wing are preparing meetines The ground to over There is little doubt that the the limited demo- display forced cratic reforms through rigidity left-wing led tITC Tas veer sror comerence But while

NCU

retection The mounting militancy the way, the right wing are certainly Party's rank and file, and grow- not placing all ot their eggs ir tears one basket. NF youth Fascists in crisis for in such key areas as Hackney targets persecution and Islington. Fountaine's 18- violent attack, Labour Weekly

DUE

ly on the homosexuality of lead- correctly Cometimes dots out, neither ing. NF members. exaggera "Supermole' problem northelet cades a movement faces But it goes on to make lull workers into a false confid- ence that the fascist menace is ballot-rigging, ment" "incipient socialism* 2e even NoI should reliance against the lyndall placed Webster leadership. There elaced former CP that a highly former CF Front. He bel Ene

TOILS

echelon is a 'supermole' respon- Violent attacks for continual leak 40. confidential documents noeer the laurure ol tneu antriascist journal seurchnol excursion into electoral politics The NF's electoral fortunes now heightened by the Tories Fountaine, plummeted, claims immigration policies, as soon as campaigus such as lit stealing potential NF supporters Anti Nazi League began driven elements of the publicise openly fascist the and the British Movement into positions held by Tyndall and renewed violent attack on immi- Webster, who played around and the grant workers, gays costumed clins in the 196kg cranky movement -in partic

WUIKCIS

fighting 1191.

TOT

because this is true, roun solidarity with the Irish war of aine points out liberation. They'i stuck with it and defence squads wete stuck with them-unless organised wherever must the party face Is preparea to such dangers arise, prepared reality and do something about the it" Lake drive every fascist off the streets In another effort to prevent and back into the sewers where Fountaine and co. from doing they all belong. about the NF anythin Directorate already disbanded oppositional branches •On the contrary. Callaghan's former Transport Minister William Rodgers has among the first to respond with a statement ecnomo ine recent rallying call from Eurocareerist Roy who appealed to Jenkins, extreme ront winders to break from the Labour Party Rodgers promised the left wing "naro liners a Tent "to the finish" and declared his that if the party did split, view the left would not necessarily be well placed to take over are cave the Labour party a year, "not much longer" to save itself by which undo progressive limited steps taken in October But if he and the right wing fail Ilalid efforts and extend their crypto-Tory policies in the Party, Labour Rodgers already declaring himself willing to bale out: "I do not believe that many ot us wall passenger on such a gravy train to disaster" While deciding "quite exceptionally" not to deport a seven-year old Bangla Deshi girl, Khatun, Ayesha to destitution, the Tory Friday government on cracked the racist whip and barred the entry of three Indian children deported in August. Jayesh, Sanjesh and Dip- deported, tesh Patel Manju and mother Patel went with them August, after Home Office minister Timothy Raison argued that they needed a proper application for entry But that proper 110 W application has been refused despite the fact that Manju Patel has been given custody of children the by English and their court, father has ottered a sworn statement declaring that he desire to keep the has no children to England. There is no doubt at all that these three boys-at a convenient distance of several thousand miles-have been victimised by Raison as part of the Tories' racial.

ist crackdown immigrants. As the Tories drive home their attacks on the whole working they possible exploiting every of aspect backwardness, chauvinism and preiudice to drive wedges between differ- ent workers. secuons witch- Anti-communist hunts, nationalism (over the Common Market issue), brazen sex discrimination (in employment protection laws) and and immigration anti-Irish Sultanell being consciously stoked up their obedient press lackeys.

Tory spokesmen and Now racialism expressed in the Tory Party SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 December 1979

LABOUR

PARTY

What is it that so scandalises idea ot Rodgers and his fellow would-be all the bluff and tor Prentices and Tavernes, who all bluster of these right wingers that the currently tongues ur lue uncoll- genial surroundings the wing is very far from in control labour movement? of the Labour Party. idea that ver workers should seek to "clip the And while showing a certair wings of MPs"-in other words on the composi intransigence instruct them carry out tion of Callaghan's Inquiry, the policies adopted by the Labour NEu nant enthusiasm for the necessary rarty fight to take control-by It is the unthinkable notion e cousting or a that a workers' Party should be paigning to able to demand that its leader Callaghan/Healey leadership.

the Party line and remove The Labour Party .TOe him if he refuses to do so the decades proved thought of it is the

TOP SESSE

traitors and bourgeoise rank ane members ot ine Labour rather than serve che interests of capitalism.

Rodgers the extreme • right wing leader interests the sio controline ine oratine The the Party's election manifesto working class can be served in Rodgers What the long term only by the con Gill struction of a principled, revolu- short even Ene hint democracy- leadership that Labour Party has which in the fight today's prepared and bureaucracy -'left' nevel reav •eve o•e• even to the level of a fully worked out right alike. Tory Raison cracks the racist mated by Tory cuts. whip Only a week ago 10,000 workers through London opposition not immigra tion restrictions but to the already existing Immigra- be given conference, is to tion Acts full rein, through the intro- It is clear from Raison's duction of new restrictions actions in the wake of tha immigration which will demonstration that protests on have only a marginal impact will not be : enough to stop on the trickle of immigrants this planned Tory offensive.

but which Mass action vital-to now allowed in Tory of bring down the wil unleash. new waves racial prejudice at a time government, and create con- when social services, for government responsive to the needs of housing and employment prospects being deci- the working class. di C O'Fishall's Year

SOCIALIST PRESS 1980

CALENDAR

Price £1.00 plus 20p p&p From Socialist Press, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

CALLAGHAN SURVIVES

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 December 1979

WHO'S NEXT

FOR A

BY CU Ton

TGWU

A striking display of arm waving by NUPE's Alan Fisher baffles Neil Kinnock; but wasn't it also to divert attention from the small size of the NUPE contingent?

Benn: playing to the gallery, not fighting Callaghan something to It comes leader of the when • the Party warmly Labour congratulated for surviving a minute speech to Party rally. climate But such was 40,000 demon- who marched the Tory cuts London against well- that ever MaST weanesday rehearsed "left' speeches

ITON

Eric Heffer, Stan Orme and placate Frank Allaun failed to the crowd that ilea central Hall. Heffer and Allaun did what they could to by larding their speeches with vague calls to "bring this govern- back , and bring mell down will Labour government Enlal the policies of our conference I ally refused to

BUT

offer any means whereby either could toppled or Inatcher the right wing Labour leadership defeated, such naster carried little conviction, and they were subjected to merciless heckling Increasingly rattled, hoth and Heffer cited the Allaun 1971 demon- stration against the Tory Indus- trial Relations Bill as proof that by Ilas. "move working class mountains" avoided the They carefully fact that despite the demonstra- tone eventu bey repeated aft eventually repealed after of the Heath Ine •owilal government by a Labour leader- Hopes of a quiet Novem- ber 28 in Leicester were rudely dispersed when over unionists and 1,000 trade youth turned up to lobby the County Council over proposed new cuts in spend- ing. striking Hunoreds students and school students joined teachers, nursery nurses, nosota an wortare woracts fr a show of determination which of the local made a mockery union bureaucracy's plans for a "dignified delegate lobby".

Instead, they subjected the speakers assembled by the joint

HERE'S A NICE CUT

/CHOICE L

HESELTINE

"T, eft) The head of the 40,000 strong march and (right) typical slogans on display

MASS PROTEST

ship threatened with a national greeted by a wave of booing which drowned engineering strike Such lessons are plainly lost cheers Labour's 'lefts', who workers to grabble through place Kali marches and lobbying stunned aftermath of a punch- "particularly Tory MPs"-rather he in sihad upon foreisy than the all-out industrial action hecklers which alone can defeat the cuts etectea trom me nai anu wit and bring down the Tories.

Labour Party stewards looming over would-be interruptors.

not been ther forgotten many militant who throughout the ignored one heckler demanding workers, readily length of the march had responded to shouts of "Tories une victimsation Out for wen earlier speakers Bad whom declareu lun suboole Time-worn And wole vaguer that Nor are workers any longer hard so ready as in ine past to accept vague calls for 'unity' with when the Labour's right wing fighting task nana is remove "mor Tory government Stan the Tribune Group's former Junio chief in Ireland, taler ment hecklers with ably to silence responses that ine Time wom "you just helping the '"go, and shout at and Inatcher, not al us And he brought uproar when attempted argue that given Lallarnal hearing. Left' chairman Alex Kitson attention while alsa pleaded for Send e gives his address". heckler shouted back "Which address? his

LONGOR

dulless Sussex farm?" Callaghan's entry had been School students lead Leicester lobbyers public sector action committee continued barracking, and school youth place without a fight. wing Shouted ••WI Labour MP Greville when he tried to justify Labour cuts The continued was you going to do the gates in "when are something? walkout the only sian of a students in tact fight coming from the platform to join the demonstration!

the young

NUSS

speaker was pressured

NUT

officials into allowing him onto platform, urged direct Beaumont action and asked what use an two leading Mr was wo sale ne subported you but wouldn't do anything.

Hardly surprisingly expulsion, speech got the biggest round of applause: action. Page 5

THIS IS THE ONL

• ACCEPTABLE CU

BLOC

HAN

THE

IS R

in the direction oraction la handful of one cow ne doles But while certain lefts'-in Dennis Skinner and particular And he was finally able to adept his speech-at Benn-are in the speed-only trotting out speecens to • matcli the mood of such mass protests.

they have shown no more inclin forcibly ation tellow incl Tribunites to mount a campaign in the labour movement for the ousting or the callagnal/neale.

leadership. obstinately platitudes about that he declare where he stood pledging next "implement government BL decisions" conference earlier speakers had mean notning unless tne presen right removed and a genuine socialist wing leading clique • declaring "we shall fight the cuts as internatonat procratic can", Callaghan fought for by those claiming to , speak for the working class.

Uppingaaaa

CHIT TADIES

A visit from the ruling class firm. But They stood on The impressive turn-out 01 Thursday and Friday the head- had not taken master hit back, and held 80 hall, the main sus- In two schools youth defied threats of expulsion to take part pendea trom all lessons The willingness of Leiceste NUSS-organised strike, youth and of trade unionists to and in one as teachers manned a bid to stem the Tight must now be taken back of school the union branches and dozens into the directed against have bureaucrats to the cuts to no more than protests and publicity this step ir Leys school would be the building

NUSS

at Leicester Poly on members conference December 16 on how to fight were ordered, under treat ou call school the cuts the focus developing for programme students not to take part in the

Page 6 Nicaragua and the crisis in the "'United' Secretariat The dramatic events in Nicaragua which brought the downfall of the reac- -tionary Somoza dictatorship and put the petty bourgeois Sandinista National Libera- tion Front in control of the country has not only had an impact in weakening imper- ialism's Central grip on America. It has also produced a maior upheaval in the world Trotskyist The biggest movement. self- proclaimed Trotskvist current internariat of the tourth hited United Secretariat of nauionar, sor into inee com ponent parts on the eve of its long-awalted XIth World Congress. therefore well worth examining some detail the of the two main USF: tendencies ón Nicaragua. which range from opportunism to out- capitulation to right the FSLN leadership. Capitulation Why do use se term 'capitulation? Because, as every USFI ideologue recognises, the

FSLN,

wourdeols nationalist formation, is not a proletarian thus carrying through Castro: gathered into the embrace of Stalinism in aftermath of 1959 revolution necessary Ine interests the The lessons of Cuba have, obliged to admit, inoeoencent are dutros Movimiento working class however, not Maoist been learned by de Under the massive material Popular tencences or zoe anor

USFI.

Frente Obrero (FO) and the •ressure or impertalism, such a formation-whatever It was acutally formed Trotskyist' Marxista Lig as an 'left' : rhetoric- eventually finds international Revolucionaria (LMR) Nicarag the basis of common adulation uan section of the USF!, have iser reabsorbea into the world framework of capitalist exploi- for the Castroites appreciable support, and have been tation. belief ment" on the Cuban revolution ista regime from the left, and I ne sole exception to this in the period has wiped have been openly repressed previous disagree- post-war he Cuban revolution, ments and divisions. Muronv ano caneo out tor- bourgeois with the 1979 ward two main arguments. Gastro s DeTTy Unly nationalist regime emerged at a proibiems ben Brought forcibie has the extent of thest First, they since the say, Kremlin when military PSLN heads outpost government' its opponents have stralecy recutreo to ine sumace: Let us examine the opposing to be ultra-left and sectarian close to the USA As the US economic block- The

FSLN

views. ade Cuba developed, On November 12. the Inter these grouns are • counter-revol offered continental Press, reflecting the utionary'-is concealed by the economic, political and military majority line of the USFI SWP, since the LMR and claims aid to the Castroites, which over in particular the politics of the •e a symoatnano secton o tni a period of years succeeded in American Socialist Workers USFI and a good deal of embar.

assimilating the Castroite move- Party* carried assment could be caused. by ment into the orbit of Stalinism.

Pedro) and blece reter now •econory Camejo and Fred Murphy of the Camejo argue that the FSLN is Deformed

SWP

entitled "How now mending experiencing 'an evolution in its sectarianism Nicaragua". Vet this alliance with Stalin- thinking'. coupled with the absence The article was designed as a ism, from Recent reboris proletarian revolutionary defence of their party's conduct Nicaragua indicate that the mili- tants have indeed been released party in tuba, ensureu tral ever i lace ou ine concrete evicenca that of the prestion of let- The overturn trom jail, in line with the pro relations, destruction weeks of the repression of nouncement or vinister of the of the old Cuban capitalist state wing SWP's Interior Tomas Borge that jail is LITe machine and introduction of political allies-the not the best place for dialogue' •Choser economy based

FSLN.

and reouest Tine tion, produced only a deformed The article is necessarily long the people te guideires to which the workers' state, and painstaking since, the people 'the guidelines as exerese remane *The American Socialist Workers Party; while in political sympa- throughout in the hands of the thy with the USFI is barred by reactionary legislation from afiliat- Castroite bureaucracy. ing to that body. By Don Flint social participation'. evolution clearly reflects the pressure of the masses on the FSLN leadership.

But in no way does it represent , a halt in their reconstruction o the bourgeois state. • tne MAr-rU and LMH were now to fight for a Trotsky- Ist programme they would. no imprisoned very

••VOT.

rapidly once again, this since would entail struggling. for the soviets (as ConstructIon opposed to cross-class organs of popula administration under hegemony

FSLN)

Tne combating the FSLN's reformist turn to imperialism, fighting for the expropriation of alf capital and demanding the expulsion of bourgeois forces from the government. For the SWP, and indeed for the majority of the USFI, such demands now simply represent sectarian sm However, on the day that Somoza flec , Inter- to Miami. continental Press actually itself called for the rejection of all military, political and economic with pauli tre imper alis powers and repudiation of the foreign debt. It went on to call for: "expropriation without com.

under oensation and

WOFKET

control of all the property 01 Somoza, of his family, of all , of High orticials of the regime imperialism, and the Government leaders (from top) Robelo, Chamorro, Ramirez and Ortega 'national' capitalists ony government that can carr Out such all representat excludes representatives of the ruling classes ana imbersa mere seven weeks later, according to IP. that •OWe

PXIST

today in Nicaragua is a revolu tionary power." (IP 3/9/79).

has happened in amate v ack the meantime? lhe propertv of the Somoz: clan has been nationalised to be sure, but capital as a whole is regime that figures amongst its members such leading owners of capital Alfonso owner planta. tions and a larg cooking-oil business) Violetta Barrio and de Chamorro (whose familv ha.

extensive financial interests and controls only bourgeois daily paper La Prensa). Rescheduled Aid has been directly sought from imperialism; debts are not but merely reoucater rescheduled; workers control exists only in those places where

•LIC

workers are •strona enouen to enforce it against the dictates of the government; military aid from the US has been requested l wu • a •rotessona our army to counteract the deols threat of the militias; left-wing opponents are sub ected aliack ano arrest. ano the revol ution in the countryside has been suppressed for a capitalist autaria retorm Yet far from of criticism such retreats, these policies have won the FSLN yards of free and incritical column inches in 1 alongside Fidel Castro IS In Lis context tha USFI support for the FSLN's attack Simon Bolivar Brigade and the subscouen USFi split with the Bolshevik Faction must be understood if the FSLN is 'revolu- "All activities which create divisions between the mobilised masses and the FSLN are con.

trary to the interests of the revolution". (IP 24/9/79).

Camejo, eyes tne SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 December 1979.

Murphy, SW Barnes and the leadership, the Brigade-sent t Nicaragua Bolshevi Faction of the USFI in the fin Civil War-ha weeks

COT

the created division an should, , therefore, be disowne metate v. However, there are plenty o that they indications

VVCT

turther than thi: cated to the FSLN in advano that they would lool not unkindly exous or and even that they effectivel!

encouraged the physical remova of their 'comrades' from the centre of a political revolution In this the USFI's actions are on

WIEN

Ine donorren attacks on the Iranian HKS by Healy's International Commit time when thes militants are suffering force of the mullahs' drive to dictatorship The USFI did not immed lately protest at the expulsion of the Simon Bolivar Brigade preferring - thi very Ot toe bridade a formation authorised by the UsFi since it had: "nothing whatever do with ( fotskvIsm tionary socialism". (Militant 31/8/79) The British IMG proclaime fraudulen Brigade • to Di and irresponsible (Socialist Challenge 15/11/79) Limp protest However, when the

FSLN

followed the expulsion with an ill-tempered tirade against Trot- skyists' it became necessary to issue a limp protest in orde save fact and cheer up the Ust current which follows Mandel, who had begun to edge nervoys- avayton une more orel formulations of the SWP whils continuing to support the sub stantive political line, i nus. Ine exouision deoan ti exam the

FSLN!

(See Socialist Challenge 15/11/79). There seems little need to draw the implications of out this idiotic formulation as a tes timony to abject adaptationism'

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 December 1979 and capitulation. This adaptation is perfectly not uchueralary musicauinc language employed IP and Socialist Challenge. In its four pages on the split in the USFI, Socialist Challenge over two to mne cuestion of Nicaragua, where we are told that the "fights contin lu organise une masses certainly does, but how and to what end? Ambiguity We are never told, but left to suppose that it is for the over- throw of capitalism Nicaragua. It seems, however, that such stark statement might not tally with every known detail- so the formulation is dest fert in its comfortable ambiguity!

gains of the Elsewhere the revolution are outlined in detall: "A Sandinista Army has established. drawn been It has InEO Tanks many Ine militias which arose in the civil war."

USFI

professional superior Do pular militias for purposes of

HULIC

back to workers to the losses they donation oer secuted MAP-FO-and trenchantly resisted by regime, who The

USFI,

fact, offers veduers streamt TensIon becomes too and to bor of dual power

DULT

bourgeois would competely far-reaching break that has en place in terms of military tue location ou tue rea entre of power, the character the government measures up and the cancilence • The concciousness organisation of the masses op. " (Socialist Challenge 11/79 p.8) Challenge Well then, does dual power * exist Nicorala vien the contending forces Marxists have moonally seen dual power situation which the pendent organisations working Class

DESERTE

the FSLN revolutionary reconstruc- So the power must exist within government- we must everyone and lets the myster. Cut out nice and Work Itse i smoothly Indeed than calling interests of the workine class. active. Nicaragua calls have bee. ular cease all Includite the organisa- activitie. U.Sec. Nicaraguan adopted by oval framework of overthrow and Somoza revolu- TIon revolutionary Marxism." alone this is a the Well. anu beyond, the continues politics. and made programmatic Consolelly Dutta that of the Brigade- Moreno's acting •Dolsnevik through the.

PST

El paper, I ne ready orialiste opportunistic anaturas 'brigades solidarity with the In Ilass June hidden away Sandinista cose In July, the call for ants government based on tne i Sandinista guerrillas: guns and the overthrow of, Somoza do not add up to socialism

TOI

FSLN!"

the the of the under Platform of Bolshevik the the intensa evident Vol.

XVI,

the widest political suasion. political boishevik tained and concrete the form of a programmatic content, the that military iviorentst Could nave oirected begun intervention but the likes the and the Liberals, spiritualists was

TOLIV,

truly pluralst they even quoted, But in were thrown into the open on only few days before the start Bolshevik education that: headline Power composition brigade nas a heterogeneous Inal Ine the land thus ting different of military) the one from a Sandinista fall into donolnistas government because maximalism." Socialista Although of the in fighting, 22/6/79) Brigade

LIOTI

sovieLs, back-peddied furiously, and and implicitly the Brigade painted defines the Sandinistas The awful revolutionary By such call that in placed himself vvd the right

USFI

stage references to ivajority. at tis never to such elements logic of the under of the Eneir an end.

FSLN.

the weeks that Before call for the Nicaragua, the worker Brigade on build. the brigades fight from the shoulder"

•PST

volunteers formula- and attackin LITt Juffle fight "under tion leaders some ship ourgeoi

POLIV

and name of: new

LUTT

and eternal of working amongst "the programmatic and culled discontented Simon Bolivar point Brigade mass Tne Brigade independence made a move little The i

•TAP

was ele- relation to its base in the work- vale above une can or orolet , ing class and inevitably led to ar Further reading International The Poisoned Discussion Bulletin Well For the Reconstruction of the Fourth basis of the disitigue of the Iot acad WSL's critique of the The first ot the International. issue Bulletin, whose aim is to take forward LIF and the formation of a new Majority the discussion on the principled basis for leadership, submitted to the ill-fated 11th the formation new international World Congress of the USFI.

"The tendency carries the document Price 35p including postage Transitional Programme in Today's Class Struggle" adopted recently by the WSL.

Price 75.p including postage Available from WSL, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Page 7 all-out confrontation with command •that already showing considerable hostility. This was the demonstration August 15 in Managua, supported 3,000 some "Power to workers ta no for ¡the Proletariat!' Expelled The other major slogan was "The Revolution is in the hands of the Bourgeoisie!' Within days the Brigade had been broken up and its leading memoers exoeree as counter revolutionaries" and "foreign provocateurs" Howeve conceived the demonstration might have been and whatever metnoo planning, , the expulsion consti- tuted a major setback for revol.

atonaries Following the failure of its project, the

PST

explained events in terms of the bourgeois mem herchie the fact that the FSLN was i not a workers or socialist party but revolutionary natonas movement (EI Socialista 24/8/79). this only and total : every bit the emerged from the Nica fiasco defending 'Bolshevik illusions that he scientific oraclea a sprightly 'winning by the same method the Leninist

"TOLSKYISI

tion for

LITE

(OCKrI) has question tellis him Nicaragua August 1979 onwards But what occurred before Nicaragua isolated past record indeed, positions In his the of Morenc method aoo oted une outse Castroite (his support for the Fidelista 'Oraanisation of Latin American solidarity Maoist (he eulo gised the Red paper Palabra (his paper reronist Obrera at one point described itselt as an organ of revolution.

workers' Peronism and issued 'under • the discipline of General Peron') These are 'mistakes' which Moreno is now happy to admit.

alone the is prona alone the not defended and developed by Constant damissions or errors a: one gaily jumps off and on the carousel of history. Struggle Blithe self-criticism no escape simply another method of avoiding the lessons of history. Nicaragua has added to these lessons ano SolE asunder

USFI,

which for sixteen years together on the basis of This split creates new and for conditions of LilE rOUTEN international But the way forward consists choosing between not positions held ovel opportunity now

OUT

The opened up to intervene with acainst the bank vot nistor ame liquidationist method of Pablo ism and opportunism.

"LAW AND ORDER'-

WHITELAW STYLE

Page 8 'sortęd out'. The movie Scum is now on general release. IveXT morning, me routine

IT IS

day-to-day life inside the Borstal about the life of inmates begins. and officers of the Borstal I ne venera para-mutary marching, screaming and drilling system. : continues break down any The film was originaliy com missioned initial resistance the BBC's Play Ine attempt to make youth or r oudv ocoartmen! stope commando is uros ary lle was • jater decisior commands reversed from above by the BBC is necessary to Director General land thereiore run tese types or institutions.

The Borstal is run the media-censorship state s collaboration the inmates" machine) wher was uta. eventually completed. redders with ine brother Governor, who heads the hier- t ne resultant orocuci was archy of screws. decided to be "too much" for our TV screens, dilu vvds 'Daddies' choboed Ihe makers were torced to take a choice of either scrapping Next: are the house-masters, the movie. or reproducino it for tollowed bv Tine wing heads the cinema, where it would be who are the ex-cop type. certificate, The inmates are kept in line and lose the by their daddies unsenool eaver ane uven. delinquent' audience it was the hardest and nese aimed at. most brutal inmates in the The plot is indeed interesting wings for They, with their props, help rerevance to conotions the younger cigarettes, food, Tacec hv Contro of today, money-in fact the whole lives the and of the inmates aclivities oi ine reoress ve torcec of the state. "daddy" is used as an t ne Three working class inmates agent of the Borstal screw hier- archy control the hatred of various chilel cune borsta :offences. mne evo omares Carlin| wusts bus tn cal "daddy' the who, helped bi Insults his two props, beats up Carlin in the night. Two are first offenders (car The problem is that Carlin thefts, eIC! wille one is not scared awav from takina hardened, tough youth who other new over-as • are The for beating up a put there inmates. prison officer. Angel is attacked and beaten As soon as they leave the car they face a barrage of insults, At once and by arrangement and physical harassment. the wing officer enters the cell Thev are thrown from wal.

Atter several racist insults Anoe to wall, punched and subjected report for having a Is put on 8. threats further 'dirty cell'! intimidation He is screamed at and intim.

The thothardest youkh, and officers pick idated not as a person but as a.

Carlin,/ number. put most hassle on him. will be

TO O

Put on report "broken". Then they are forced to run The Incir cuarers. oack other borrow a radio by the inmate youth Angel is told the inmates asked to don't like "jungle bunnies' and is 'daddy', He cannot refuse-but put in his own cell. promptly put on report by This the screw for having stolen a nappens To The other small and frail youth who, being radio! white is at least Cárlin decides to spared However retaliate to these provocative laesit Carlin placed into He chooses his time where he is to be attacks. dormitory werore looking tor revenge.

'Trainees' refuse to eat breakfast following a suicide Then he finds the 'daddy's" thug friend. Placing two billiard balls into cracks them over the a sock he Tnoe s nead. Meanwhile the youth in the play social .room continue to pool or sit around and depressed. They appear not to notice anything as Carlin smoothly walks leaving the thug away, cordosco on tne woor This the most amazing pure violence and the stot snodaers even ine tougnest audience. Carlin repeats this vicious treatment on the daddy. It is worth describing these events to illustrate the nature of the violence that takes place Blank silence He l approaches him from behind, and breaks his head into Whitelaw kicking and punching a sink, him below the belt. The result blood ever v where and a near-dead daddy who cannot move Then ironically the film's comedy comes out. Wanting to Carlin, the pin the blame on screws receive a blank silence from the props, who both claim while the navl " Talen'' youth in the pool room "saw nothing" new leadership has been eștablished. The consequences are both good and bad. At the realisation of the new balance of forces the screws pull Carlin into the system. charge,

NOW

receives perks and power -but in return for his active coopera- tion Onlv a: : fong as ne remains on top will he maintain his post In this way the system itselt selects the

HIOSI

lUnner Cano its chosen

VIC OUS

vOut- agents of control The film also shows the SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 December 1979 Officer Taylor beating up Carlin on arrival Socialist Youth League member Neil James reviews the film Scum which is at present on general release.

development of the divide and Home Secretar\ whitelaw rule strategy in progress introduce a new "short sharp boys are separated in shock" for youth. Ine basket ball into and .For orutalty will unteash against youth, the WILeS film shows how such treatment Inen they frustration . ano release erdalcate merery anger against one anther.

strenge capitalis stende ies.

valve aCTS Castty capitalist systel for the inmates and weakens the torced to destroy existing force youth by reinforcing backward of production and create mass unemployment incapable б. allal urt uuides. developing utilising the Individualists potenta skill • or working clas: youth, or fulfilling their needs.

The When youth respond in frus- system also contains those ..tration thev are then met bv the Ine vidalsts wno want no trouble off the most savage repression Nor is it any accident that Archer is an example of this His atheism and vegetarianism the most reactionar • element. cause endless problems for the of sadistic cruelty (such as NF and UDR) are strongly represen- screws. ted has noneven TAOUOn laltks courage and intelligence he screws. refuses to take up The prison service also ha any struggle its own internal SPG-style elite daddy uesuy

CE SI

system. force of thuas which has beer He or arse be maer, used increasingly over the last piece year ¡lakers Most recently that ther representmo a statement were individual resistance can live on used against a peaceful sit-in at while the Wormwood Scrubs prison itself SyS!t aced ard baltu the ty than stops bretas ratnel hardened crime. attacked and beat up the This message is basically the occupiers (particularly the Irish aim of the movie republicanis. However the pressures and strain of life under the daily Connection hary regime-botn pnysically and psychologically-drive some beyond the brink. vimiar duta ataks nav One occurred Hull, Brixton youth commits sucide Lewes, Gartree and other by slashing his wrists. Another youth commits y SOTS after being raped. socialists we see suicide connection between increased climax is TeaCHIcu wael attacks by the time Thatcheritt in mates redel atnel Music is used to help build up jobs, social a•alsi the tension. services and wages and the build up and strengthening of thes Short-lived forces of state repression To us the task must be to All hell breaks loose, though channel the anger. hatred. and the screws escape the good kick resistance dut esco samens ing they deserve. Triumphantly into a mass communist youth the youth dance around movement which the •Cal hall LIC LoDouF tC torS ano mooiId and the victor for horte victory short-lived the working class to smash the capitalist state The ring leaders are given the machinery. This is the vital first and step to creating a classless social.

. MOST

nOTITIC beatings "order" is restored. ist society. The movie thus sharply this tilm. It shows toe way rigid wildever vOU oo .exposes the prison svstem and clearly raises some embarassing con orship has helped to create questions false lita e oE sons In particular it shows the , lukewarm and ludicrous as

SOTT

Tory meaning of pledges by the "Porridge" TV series.

Letter from Britain's concentration camp 'Sandinistas tortured me' claim by SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 Decemher 1979

H-BLOCK

KESHR

LONG

Concentration N Lamp/ released socialist Letter from Carlos Petroni written his release by the Sandinista Police in Nicaragua. "After 33 days in prison in Nicaragua, the Sandinista authorities suddenly set me free on 9 November 1979. My freedom was not a result either of Tomas Borge or of the Government of National Recon- struction's generosity. It was the international cam- paign for mv freedom which did Heading this were the Bolshevik Faction, the LMR of Nicaragua, the • OST of Costa Tendency and he cRET. Trotskyist ine Leninist October Was one the 0I Sandinista Popular Army patrols lead by Nestor Moncada. It had violent characteristics and the determined purpose of eliminating lic vy sically. the workers' and evenin or hunger, conditions humiliating which the Government National not

LUILLICS

wICk ате Keconstruction acceptable in a regime claiming waging. to be revolutionary. All this time I was interro gated-especially at night-about At first my life was saved my activities in Nicaragua, those by the and disagree of my contacts and friends.

between officers ment since l iclusea to give sucr but the is the information I was treated worse.

intense campaign waged in my always identified myself as IaVOHT 'Trotskvisi the During nine days I was ill- Fourth International-for which treated, eyes were covered I was threatened and insulted.

They ine polnt constantly threatened -with of taking my execution during death during the questioning.

one of the interrogations.

Au us occurer in ima ce It is important to stress that Mistampa in what used to be the energetic amorest moSt Somocist security headquarters. questioners were members Now® the Chilean MIR and Argentine

ERP.

uL-ll 1s the Chipote lali.

For 12 days I was shut up When they didn't get their in a cell three metres by two objective they proposed that declare myself à CIA agent and We condemned the point of gol This is an extract from a letter smuggled out of the H Blocks of Long Kesh, Britain's most modern torfure which contie, over 370 Irish republican prisoners of war suffer intol- erable conditions similar to the sewer pipe dwellings of Calcutta spoken of by Cardinal O'Fiach, because they refuse to compromise their principles and bow to Britain's criminalisation policy. "My cell is my whole world 24 hours of the day, seven days a week, in this concrete tomb, containing nothing only a stinking, overflowing poe, a piece of stinking foam for a mattress and three dirty rags for blankets. I see no-one except the screws, who open and close my door. I am denied exercise and Somoza's National Guard: Sandinistas persist with repression against left proposlig d would incriminate That of the prominent members International ourth Nicaraguan com- anel rades from the

LMR

as CIA agents. exchange for, this they promised immediate freedom totally retused and explained it written declarations which the Sandinist security forces nave that I detend

NO ESKVISI

and the mentioned leaders and I refuse to converted into instrument for attacking revolu- So they sentenced me to 20 years in prison. on 23 October | suddenly was taken to a more spacious cell, allowed Iood and Nicaraguan warelics friends had sent. the right to associate with my comrades, my thoughts are my only companions. I can't even see the birds or the sky as my window has been blocked with a steel grill of frosted perspex, cutting off whatever little of the outside world view that i had and stemming the flow of air to a trickle.

My cell reeks of urine and human which excreta, covers the four walls and a pile of inedible food in the corner, a rotting haven for and flies maggots which torture me day in, day out.

My hair and beard is long and matted and my body and filthy covered with sores am constantly hungry and sickness always at IS hand. I am refused medical attention because I refuse to wear the prison garb to see the doctor. It's two years now since I've read a book, looked at a paper, watched TV I also received medicine for sores from the torturing I my lad • been subjected to. All of unis was a result or tne sondarity campaign waged abroad. November 8 I was taken to the Augusto airport. under military custody and expelled to Guatemala without documents allu WILl purpose be atte that arrested in Guatemala In the Sandinista jails there are not only

" DOMICISTS.

i nere are also trade union leaders, Sandinist fighters critical of the militants, etc. mention Carlos Rico and Pablo Herrera: trade union leader Jingotega, and arrested tortured during the Somoza regime. Page 9 cigarette. Even smoked a before anóther yet

POW

tobacco is denied to me..

Republican dies, At least twice a week I which will inevitably come.

undergo special Please copy this letter as mirror search designed to humiliate many times as possible, send and dehumanise. it to..friends and relatives, At least twice a week let the world know of the I'm forced to straddle over a plight of the blanket men in mirror, naked, then I am the H Blocks of Long Kesh punched, kicked and pulled and help smash the the beard until I am Blocks!" made to squat over the Signed then my buttocks Matthew Lundy mirror, parted, at times my insides have been probed.

I am denied the very basic human rights, at times I think even death would be preferable these to conditions." "The blanket men in H Block suffer these conditions in the name of British Justice and Peace.

Can these men be allowed to suffer? How long can the H Blocks-a monu- ment to British rule and brutality-be allowed to stand? Help the blanket men While we have political differences with the author of this letter we reprint it here as an act of solidarity with the anti-Somoza prisoners held in Nicaragua He is in prison today because became popular in the oriental he doesn't totally agree with the market of : Managua due to the Government Tine popular Hilled National Reconstruction. rural controled Carlos Median: Sandinist sector of the insurrection.

Southern Front Ibarra was tortured many very ill. Detained for a minor times, expelled fault. He has been under arrest his own comrades. All this was 45 by the fact that 10] udys Nicolca one attention is given him shoulders had He has lost 20 kilos and like broken Weapon during seat at when struck with all the inmates oi Chipote he sleeps on the floor and is fed in There are also Trotskyist Zerda: anti-Somocist fighter comrades from the

LMR

in jail ed 0 days was imprisoned ago for anti-Somoza struggle. criticising the government LuIS arrested on October nwver and tortured for seven days with sandisad the Coordinadora Intersindical Granada which (picana electrica) before being wanstened to canoore. Ilas over Venezuelan militant workers belonging to 11 trade a socialist to belonging group union factory branches and 23 called Pietro has been in prison Among ranions. for having had a discussion on them Fernando • di Di politics with Rodrigo Ibarra Luis group Argentinians from the ERP.

Miranoi

MATIO

numerous Humberto Gomez. Gomez militants from Frente editor of "Red the the allu and MAP-aroun 50 have Black» magazine from Los been detained for the sole Angeles. magazine of defended the Nicaraguan revolu- reason not having accepted the FSLN agreements with the

LION

and was orented by the bourgeoisie. Sandinists. During my interrogations I was also told that the lives of A member Interna ot tha hernando tional Red Cross called ATA, secretary of and president of the Reconstruction Binifacio Miranda, who stood OI Managua

LCR

committee out during the insurrection for were threatened led a Sandinista battery naving A few days after I had been over clandestine radio stations is set tree a member of the perma in prison due to simple intrigues nent commission •for human between Sandinists. Tose Est Man was orient day Presently he was working as Esteban was the person responsible to INRA Estebans presence in the jail was for the rice cultivations in all of for the purpose of investigating Nicaragua. the inmates situator northern front fighter, a A long list of arrested leftist Commander, politician who not only WIll wal pseudonyn Maconar opposed Somoza in combat ar accused of treason for develop- PrIsor. ing . peasant mobilisations in the Chipote. other cells, away region of Jinotega. from where was there he nas been in Jan since the some 8u sandinist. first days of October • Another front and internat котлетт who shared the man cell with front fighters. They were there cauca ibarra for having pseudonym is Palomo. government.

Broad Left sell out in Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

CPSA

The political out of suspended civil ship of the Communist servants at the Department Party, Tribune and Militant of National Savings, supporters on the CPSA Glasgow.

NEC

Broad Left was Over a period of two weeks exposed by their recent sell 552 CPSA members had been

OUT NOW!

FOR

ROTSKYISM

THE

TILE

BA

• EXPELLED F

PARTY IN 197

OPPOSITON

Second edition'of the opposition documents presented inside the WRP by the present leader- ship of the Workers Socialist League With a new introduction Price £2.50 plus 20p postage and package from Workers Socialist League, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill London NW5 1HR

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

TY CATAL

SOCIALIST

For a

GET

clear

PRESS

lead in the struggle against wage control, cuts and redundancies Fisher suspended blacking work not enough money in the strike tor out in defiance of the fund carried suspended LDA national dans on overte memoers and temporary promotion. clear that suspensions It is

CPSA

could have been fought by all Terry Adams, full officer Militant TIme ano Out SIriKt action ane wantia supporter together with Stalinist support from the rest ot the Peter Coltman, union. Icootdct It is vital to fight for a new back-to-work deal with manage- , revorutionary readersnip In tne ment They then

CPSA

and. to this end a cam. put it to the NEC must be who voted 12 to 10 in favour of paign waged to with- the sell-out. draw Broad Lett support trom Peter Coltman and the other No consultation

NEC

who voted in favour of the sell-out. The deal allowed a return to work on day "cooling •ano TIve

C OT1

period" in which management agreed to offer no overtime, as one as oca onscussions were taking place with the union to identify areas where overtime going rate an• temeeray Domoren cove be worked. But there was no consulta- with the Glasgow branch tION 27 November Unte Arso?v when the deal was The acceptance by Ford -presented to a mass nicckiy ds and members workers of 21.5% Taz accomo pay forced to accept it. offer, and by BOC workers CPSA's retreat over the sus- of a 20-month deal giving a Dens ons now ives mandene!

30.5% increase, indicate the the right to offer overtime and temporary promotion, and sets kind of level which manage- Callcious oi cocucllt ment in profitable sectors of exempting the tme00 strong private industry are being Glasgow Department forced to concede in order National Savings Branch trom taking part cuts cam- avoid militant strike the to paign. action. In Fords, the deal, though Similar sell-out not sufficient to improve living It is also likely that the NEC standaras, and ollering no rea.

will now sell our ot on the shorter 39 sus- working week, will be just about similar the bended memoers au nennoton KeeL and Nuneaton offices. with inflation since the ever The NEC's argument nine week strike last November.

backing down over the suspen.

abandoned Icoolialuls sions was that they now had fight clause that would have provided cost-ol-living information that there would be no major cuts in DNS against inflation in piutelliull They also said that there was the coming year.

SUBSCRIBE

to Socialist Press

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Trial sub (UK): 10 issues, only. .£1.75 Six months £6.00 One year.. £11.00 -Europe: Six months. £6.50 Rest of the World: Six months... £8.00 Please send me trial sub/six months/one year of Socialist Press. I enclose • Name. Adress Send to Socialist Press, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 5 December 1979 Throw out councils' 13% offer! Public sector union officials are all set for an ignominious betrayal of pay demands for one million local authority manual workers. After tub-thum ping. speeches from NUPE's Âlan Fisher declaring that the of 17½% TaLOn Talo the "going rate" for

HO W

pay deals, negotiators came happily of talks out which employers offered 13%-Tinked to UlIl) redundancies and alt increases. Chief negotiator Charles Donnet (GMWU) said that "optimistic" he of W an reaching a negotiated settle- ment. The had employers initially offered only 9%0, which they claimed was the Ford, BOC set Nevertheless fact the that - rord workers are one of the tew seCtIons workers broken approximately even with inflation over Hil vacl workers In mne onenc secto and in so-called "loss making industries must take note: only catching a-octon

TOT

claims, linked d's cost Key living clauses provides detence oi tvine slanuaras The longer such action is put the more jobs, wages and off, WOLKEl! corunonswmcome under the Tory hammer.

YOU SHOULD

With workers by the thousand taking to the Tory oppose

SUCCI

policies there is plainly no militancy the organised working class Yet the existing trade union bureaucrats and Labour leaders -whether "left'-have perspective those otter workers pr pred, to fight defence livinc

TOUS

slal , social services and demo- •ares. cratic rights These only be defended start Taroucr , bolcies which from the independent interests of the working class, which international crass nothing to gain and everything to lose from attempts to restore the protitability of their "own' employing class In a period where the contra- Please send me more details Workers of the Socialist League. Name Address Send to:

WSL

31 Dart- mouth Park Hill, London

NW5 THR

maximum they could afford within the Tory cash limits.

But after a break they returned to table 13% offer, be financed to "either from increases in the rates or from cuts in man.

power" There is to be no short- .ening of the working week.

Union must be reduct called upon to settlement based on accep- loss or rate

OI JOD

tallul increases. cash limits imposed -ahe on councils do not act in the interests of the working class. They are part of the Tory drive to increase the pions ul pavale maust.y. Strike action To offer public sector workers a rise far below the increase in the cost of living and tie this to mass sackings is a bid to foist this profits of the onto some people in the lowest paid whitly the repeated It ls only the by Icllcals tuls public sector union leaders and their refusal to contront the Tory government, which has given local authorities the nerve to make such an offer accepted would leave union officials duty- bound to assist in imposing the cuts in manning levels sought by management. "he deal and those union leaders who defend it must be thrown out. There must be all national strike out action for a living wage in public sector. for the . InC rejection of cash limits and for bring liass actium down the lory government

JOIN US!

dictions of the anarchic capital.

ist system force wholesale closure and destruction of •roductlvt Torce society planned econ. oniy a sociale omy world scale offers a forward. vyay acneve saa tive which, in today's struggles figh ts beyond ae vane Norken trade union militancy, protest politics and illusions that capit- abolished through alsan C8 ni .parliament The Workers Socialist LeaGue

C COESK VISI

ment fighting day in and day out to build •caucusil worku. cas ale alteraties ly. BrIT8Ir We invite readers Socialist seek

ITUNE

details of the WSL and its work and to join us in the struggle for

STILL AVAILABLE

WSL MANIFESTO

A basic statement of the policies of the Workers Socialist League. Price 15p including postage from WSL, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London

NW5 1HR

Yorks against the cuts! Occupy to stop closures. The decision of workers out the countrv are facina the at the threatened Meccano consequences of their dithering leadership. factory Merseyside to on has been Yet occupy the plant to prevent taken at veccano inere reman its closure offers a lead to many weaknesses. of workers In particular it is not enough every simply facing redundancy. emeak ona wols- in", producing toys without The occupation began pay. dismissal handed out instant It is vital that workers use notices to the 940 staff.

the point for the fight for support- t pecan on ine same ady as the giant British Steel Corpora- ing action and for opening the tion announced another thump- glant Airtix Litt •oration Inat owns The bant. intends inflict the of this crisis upon its nationalisation without compen- 140,000 workforce, through sation ane formulatine on [nau and basis a workers plan for further cosures mass sackings speed-up. production. Though the Iron and Steel because, vita Trades Contederation has taiked . TerMS i capitalist world, the Meccano token strikes to fight the closure plant, British steel and of the Corby steelworks nothing not viable. nas vet geen cone ano corov workers still have not taken the A socialist planned economy vital decision is the oniy basis on which such productive forces can be utilised threatened •ant The ocal point for such industrial action.

and developed and jobs protec Now steelworkers through- icu. Talbot jobs retreat The decision of a mass wood plant would be closed it meeting of Chrysler/Talbot there was a strike. And, Talbot workers Linwood worse still, a stewards' stewards were calling tor strike reject action on v _in order „to brana mendation for strike about a system of work sharing against the sacking of 1,500 -in which every worker would workers is a setback which face a loss of earnings The necessary call was for a will soon be heartily specific policy of work sharing regretted by all those con- on tull pay, backed up by the cerned. occupation the plant

COT

prevent its closure There is no doubt that the Talbot the need for such But Was unael massive material and political policy has not evaporated with these sackings: Talbot manage- pressure to concede to manage- ment. ment. Inel aooelites wnetica by this retreat from the work- The financial impact of the 14-week lay-off at Lin- force, demanded that workers immediately demon- many workers-and the pros- strate ter reav wiinoness pects of a/long and bitter strike to increase productivity.

It can only be a few months over Christmas is always hard to before such speed-up to this the industrial trech rouno ot cackings or devastation in Scotland in which confrontation with workers ir tens of thousands of jobs have defencer of working conditions. CrISIS Tories, and in the midst of every surrender to management Talbot which management simply paves the way for further attacks. Challe

AT THE TOP...

, UNION DUES

UNITY 15*

STEL.

DELTER

WORKENS SAY:

ORDI.

"UMT BRINO

STEEL

ERS SAY:

Corby steelworkers NUT-conterence in place of action delegates, in Blackpool on In stark contrast to their December 8. absence on the 40,000 resoluton leecis all demonstration and notion that the Tories received strong a mandate at the General Elec- lobby of Parliament against tion for spending cuts in educ- the cuts last week, the NUT ation Executive is spending calls upon teachers to the effects of cuts £25,000 on a special dele- publicise gate conference discuss waerever Iner amounceu to and support all campaigns the union's response to the against them Tories' education cuts. wish, they say. to fight against all proposed "The NUT is a non-political compulsory redundancies in the organisation" Ine executve argued bynnot be seen to suporte de "and therefore teaching TeSOlu tion puts forward no strategy to carry this out. Throughout the country demonstrate against the cuts" Instead of doing anything seen now mne determination of teachers to therefore, the Executive has put and fight being confused consideration by the Conference diverted by moves similar to the Over 100 still Talleo to encourage stirtor workers to raise the : paper declara. even attended a public meeting tion by COHSE and NUPE organised by the Trades Council of the small York- ins to reent fos are. need programme shire town of Todmorden defend LIst last Monday. Interests or workers was stressed Opening the platform by Barry Conolly. Trades

NATFHE

regional Turner, chairman, spoke of the need for the Skipton trades council, Skipton Trades Council, workers to learn the lessons oT history-referring the General Strike to branch of local betrayals of Workers Socialist League In outlining the betrayals of -ano poseo the need tor organ- ised resistance to the cuts. . Jim leaders and the union Stirton,

NUPE

official Laboul 'letts'. he arqued tor ar Calderdale reneated the call fo action programme of demands resistance to cuts and all attack: and on living standards. strike action supporting . lU . However onvune unesıoi encourcolne gymnastic performances allowed workers to follow the example of the St. Benedict's occupation him firstly to avoid even a shrec criticism of the inactior in Tooting Redundancies, NUras nationa adershio anc said Turner secondly not to mention a single policy to defend under workers interests contro o pieceo trace union committees. from Halifax and Rochdale fight, stressed planned hospital ward closures needed in the trade union move-

...AND THEN, WHEN THEY'RE

AFTER ALL, WHEN THEY'RE UP

THEY'RE

DOWN...

THEY ARE UP...

LEYLAND

from front page tance of Edwardes' humiliating o pay orler, nea, as It 1s, lo "strings" set out in an 85-page would These strings effectively destroy every trade substantia. ment established in BL. And are bitterly they resented by the workers be noted that also the most solid strikes in Robin- son's support were at right- decision to ignore the November 28 demonstration. Protest strike resolutions to lobby local council meetings have been watered into 'delegate' strikes (one from eacl school)-as Hampshire ana Leicester-or even simply lunch- deals with the Council to allow time on-a in Nottingham. Talk about increasing strike funds is not sufficient. The NUT must immediately its deciare its mlenliol full strength in nationai strike to tracks and ment in its clear

ITOHI

intention to dismantle the state education system ment to open the books of the public the oronteeino ov orivate suposters bankers and contractors as part of a struggle to nationalise these compensation management unter workers In explaining the between attacks on workers in ano buDie • sectors Barry Turner stressed the need for councils action to coor dinate organise the overthrow of the Tory government. moved that the ne turne meeting send telegrams to the head offices of the AUEW and TGWU deploring their failure to •emare surike acion in berence of Derek Robinson, the victim- ised BL convenor, official ously by the meeting-called for immediate official recognition and demanded that the union national peacersnios organise strike action Bradford Trades Council memeer ano militant sucoorte Keith Nairey echoed the need to

FLING NEVER DID

DOWN.

and Castle wing led Canley Bromwich-the two biggest threatened with closure plants unaca te rawarces olar The reason that these plainly a hope workers Kobinson. Edwardes defeating and thus defending their own jobs It is crucial that this willing ness to struggle is given a clear In other words the fight for une rennstatemen Robinson can be brought back the field of into mass action

CD I

convenors to defy Edwardes blackmail and take strike action offer. Leadership union up the campaign to force the Duff and the removal

AUEW

executive E caceTous which has proved itself incap able of defending even the mos union rights. elementar A new. revontonary ener ship be built amongst workers which will not irom une Dronis casa the employers the anll requirements of capitalism but Itom mse neeos ano mieresis o] the working class. Such needs can be fulfilled only • through the deteat of the Tory government and the fight Noil carry national- through the of the Dancouse. and the banks, without compen- sation under manage- as ine vasis lor a blaillice socialist economy resist the Tory and onslaught for the building called ot cam paign Committees to fight the cuts However his further sugges. would revitalised Labour Party imbued with the spirit of Cla, would workers to socialism was met with scepticism by Perhaps this was in part due to Nairey's refusal to call for the leadership The Socialist Workers Party's ante vel tilt came via a leaflet which began • claiming that 'Anger is not and then went on enough occupation fight closure. leaflet issued by the Calderdale , Tt Cuts is summed up by an utterly confusing demand which reads "Job tareatened Witt redundancy must be opposed by industrial action if necessary"!!

OF THE HILL.

BANNERS AND DISPERSE 1

. THEN MARCHED

THEM DOWN AGAIN!

...BUT WHEN THEY'RE ONLY HALF WAY UP,

THEY'RE NETTHER UP NOR DOWN...

IND THAT'S HOW I AIM TO

KEEP 17

PRESS

Whatever the outcome of of the US the occupation Tehran, the embassy world's financial markets will never be quite the same again. The international banking shock has SyStem Ictive Trom It is not yet clear whether, as it comes round and realises what will hes naborned. lic caclus panic or something less dramatic. Major decline In any case it seems certain to lead to a major decline in the role Tint in the world role some currencies, the curocurrency voncavals markets (money currencies outside their country profound change tne concitions al ran scedosits in lending the banks both inside the USA and capitalist world. abroad. That is a minimum. What no regat challenge in condon to unt banker Tinanee minister freezing but privately are branches of American banks).

that it could bring Teering. move about something much worse-a threatening more financial panic and bankruptcies of the Ine scare feast Knoment's orienna toreat. in.

1930s. How did this precarious situ- peacetime, meant that officially ation arrive? in ine first pace me ramar government, as part of the cam- Shah extradicted, threatened to with- draw what 11 came was old billion official deposits held in United States banks. would have been the biggest short term movement of funds ever seen and would have Margaret are told, has been tirelessly the value of the already sinking fighting 'for dollar. Unprecedented assorted Dublin. For very that reason sne Iranians her efforts to have they would since excessive matec ineir own wealt in tne EEC budget. which, as the pres.

process and the pressure against tirelessly remind. from dollar-holding states would have been enormous. eurocean ere cares But Carter decided not to On stirring stuff, risk calling what was probably a bluff and

TOOK

tine a most tor the millions or britisn voters unprecedented move of freezing registered who

FUND

The November Fund closed at £655.13, nearly £100 below our target of £750. This was certainly a blow at a time when we face constantly rising costs in every aspect of the production and distribution of Socialist Press. It is something that we cannot afford to let happen indefinitely.

With the Christmas period now upon us it is more impor- tant than ever that any early start is made to collecting the December Fund. If possible we would like to see the fund completed before Christmas. So let's see if we can make this the month that we go over the top on the Fund target for the first time! All donations should be sent to: Socialist Press Monthly Fund 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Published by Folrose Ltd for the workers socialist beague, de vartmoula - at Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd., London. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

SOCIALIST

IRAN COULD

SINK DOLLAR

Massive anti-imperialist demonstration in Tehran held accounts in United States cAner can banks could no longer IIran is now making a regarded as freely disposable by their owners but could be use foreign only at the discretion of the US government was Under pressure to the system than This is a staggering change almost unprecedented in especiallv when the dollar is the largest reserve currency.

No to EEC jingoism. the EEC and all it Thatcher, we hostility to ctance tor ov mass aostention: European year's Britain" elections against a rapacious crowd of But, wait a moment! isn't this same Tory leadership in foreigners campaigned avidly for lids of Heath? nas spared notning reduce Aren't these the same Tories 'our" abolished the contributions who just Nave exchance controls bankers and industriaists profitable European marke tore their capital into anachronistic surface this may embarked costly commitments to the reactionary particularly NATO alliance against the work their bitter class of both East and Western Europe? same Margaret InE Thatcher who talks so passion- ately of 'national interest' •overnment ost cuts for the rich unemploy cuts and inflation for the ment, revealed more starkly poor have than ever ine tact that there Is not one on tion capital the capitalists, 'nation' oppressed WiLl Ine working class. While the : capitalists own the propertv and wealth, the British working class, in common with its brothers and sisters through.

OUT

capitalis Curobe. nothing but its ability to work.

internationai and which nas no country. common interests with Ene employers. is why, for European workers, the task is to reiect all forms jingoistic claptrap capitalist

EEC

and destroy for a Socialist United make wdy States of Europe. Hill, London NW5 1HR. of • witch-hunt launched in Oxford. four socialists who the Fein Sinn the march organiser. anton oranches. 'H' Block are demanding tne of political status rascisls To real Now ed HosiLt photographs, telephone will certainly of all almost places countries, espec- prompt other whip up

THOSE

the slightest future political con- political flict with the USA, to want to Them. and put withdraw their tunds them into some other currency.

There are already signs that the dollar is under pressure for Copies of the this reason. posted been The only reason it. is not TAci JOCd Cont'd p. 2, col. 5 companies according availabse Oxtorol 200 Limbless AssoCiaTIon In addition, butors of Workers Socialist League Anniversary Rally

SATURDAY

DECEMBER 8

2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

100 YEARS SINCE BIRTH OF TROTSKY

FIVE YEARS SINCE WL FOUNDED

New Ambassadors Hotel Upper Woburn Place London WC1 Speakers from WSL Executive Committee, plus film. Tickets £1.00 or £1.50 at door.

BLOCK

BRITAINS

CONCENTRATION

The raid at the end of the Sinn Fein demo Witch hunt against 'H' Block marchers A new and sinister form The poster asks the question has been "ou vou know these ocobics It goes on: "On of October the 20th Singled out for attack are through the marcticu streets of Oxford in support o participated the IRA. Most of us looked on 20 Provisional and amazement and disgust were these throuah the town, together with wondered wo sympathisers. we oven Backed by a number of local we would tell you" the 600-strong many of those who marchec march was calleo to suo•ort lat were blanket protest, in who did so as a result of support struggle and which Irish republican prisoners; Block tor the opposition restoration ism rather than from agreement with the politics and methods of who had threatened Unt wett The hA kept at bay by tight stewarding.

The Workers Socialist an expensively-produc- while fighting Lcayut bearing and Trotskyist policy • Ireland names adoresses never ine es defends the right of republican and work five has and socialist forces in Ireland to been issued in a clear attempt to struggle, arms in nand reactionary the military repression of British hostility against thoudh anony …ne boster produced by extreme forces, obviously Paid £10 wits relied on the aid of an poster have "finger man" with to neigh. knowledge of the Oxford labour movement. Oxford and Nor is it the first such anti.

to the poster, to arise from

IRA

witch-hunt 'Genera public Ine marcu davs of the demon battalion within - Parachute Regt., Aldershot, and elaborately printed Servicemen's almed at leaflets hostilly to branch leaderships • that hac paid £10 handed our also by paid arre march time to hand out thousands of copies or the poster on ine gale.

Council British Leyland's Cowley car Oxford's Trades John Power also President anti- coloni LIlt union Oxford Journal to give a denouncing lying statement Those same oranches are laut unionists and threatening action against them at Trades Council.

are attempting to incite violence people sole against "crime" was to participate in an anti-imperials. demonstration There is no doubt that as the attacks Tory government working class, witch-hunts of al kinds will increase-as the Blunt affair, the Robinson sacking and Charin stakeoreakind Cross Hospital have shown. war of liberation As the ire ano chaenees mulary rule those workers who correctly oppose that war the withdrawal of British troops for must prepare not oniv hard fight in , the labour they must now ment. guard violen the! acainst provocations orchestrated by right wing or fascist forces

SOCIALIST PRESS

We regret to announce tnal Int price of Socialist Press will be next week. ISsUC rOm The price mise nas seer by 1 a 20% increase ir bill. Socialist Press our on remained years and in that time we have increases in absorbed two • printing costs but we are unabl to do so any longer.