Socialist Press no. 181

rFOR AN INDEPENDENT-

SOVIET AFGHANISTAN!

SOCIALIST

PRESS

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 181 * 9 January 1980 * 20p Over the last three weeks the of the. Soviet army Union has moved ruthlessly and decisively to reinforce the position of the Moscow 'bureaucracy in Afghanistan: Probably as many as 50,000 Soviet soldiers are now in the country. They have moved rapidly the countryside movements, which are fighting central • government in Kabul and which are various.

supported Chin the

CIA,

Iran ad in Kabul #self, where overnment of Hafizullah out these changes Soviet Union Karmal-leader conster of the Parcham (Flag) faction of Peoptes Democratic (Communist Party) of Afghanis- tan-to murder Amin Header of the Khalq (Peoples) faction.

Qualitative change And in the aftermath of the gangster-style coup Soviet have barracks or killed in open fight- inerious protone of te Afghan army, sizeable sections of which continued to be loyal to Amin.

SHE OIC

contradictions in reports now coming from Kabul, seems change occurred the nature of the Soviet presence in Afghanistan.

USSR

no longer une simply the dominant influence and support the local state power; it has virtually establish- state power itself. In this sense the Soviet army in Kabul. Bottom right: Islamic guerrillas.

occus lon or ure county costa movements among the national complete more even than within the

USSR-

that of Czechoslovakia in 1968 or Hungary in 1956. of Soviet Central Asia-is in the course, the i olltically minds of the Moscow bureau- motives for the occupation are cracy as it moves to suppress the different. rebels но а я! Afghanistan not, like Afghanistan. Hungary and Czechoslovakia, a The Soviet Union has said deformed workers' Salt officially ¿lal to an imper- army in response is in danger of losing control.

ialist threat to the legitimate backward capitalist state in which the Soviet-backed regime It justified the intervention danger 110 under the charter of the United defeat at the hands of imperial Nations and has said that it will ist-backed rebel forces. withdraw ally wick extemai treal das passea.

Hard to quantify The bitter divisions between the Afghan CP factions. how At least in immediate terms Soviet Invasion tune t0 evel, the Soviet army's presence the Soviet Afghanistan to be created appears condon. related both Soviet army any objectives of the Kiemlin and to withdrawal in the combatting possible internal future only result threats to the rule of the Soviet immediate by pro- imperialist forces. Though it is hard to quantity The Karmal has, there seems no doubt that the therefore, less independence danger of the rise of nationalist than any of its predecessors.

Top left: Karmal; top centre: Brezhnev greets Taraki in Moscow; Top right: Amin. Bottom left: Russian tank The political positions it has put forward (obviousv Soviet backing) are most of all designed to calm and mollify the Islamic sensibilities Which may have been provoked by the Soviet action. "Holy war" Karmal: has ho sy wat in the need "a Wal istan enemies, hansas than- was duced television on by member of the Muslim clergy, "Tespect kee sacred principles of spoke need oi the Islam" some message of greeting to the Iranian government. exact aomestic policies are still unknown d thạt the radio announced objective of the regime is no but to open up the way towards by eliminating feudalism course puppets of the Karmal regime, their Stalinist puppeteers in Moscow are canable of estab.

lishing socialism in Afghanistan.

But the basis of any regime even scull autonomous oi lo now looks extremely thint is more probable than ever that the military occupation of that and ratit be semi-perma- and the bureaucrac WIll De once o seek aorti by nationalising the limited capitalist property in Afghanis tan and (as in Eastern EuroDe after World War II) establishing a new deformed workers state through assimilation to the Soviet Union. the imperialist povert ments this possibility raises the of Eastern Serone not much urope 1947-49 but rathe Cuba in 1959-61. Because, like Cuba, Afghan- was not a country alloc- by the USSR's "sphere of intluence by the reactionary post-war Trotskyist International Liaison Committee formed See page 2 settlements. imperialism and Stalinism in the Soviet Union's march post-Vietnam era into Afghanistan, therefore, This redivision provokes real highlights the worldwide • DUSLi commicts between the usk ane the imperialists as the USSR (with help from ism in relation to the Stalinist- • Its errand bor ruled states Luoa) extenas Is innuence None of Carter's much-vaun- Africa and parts of Asia ted retaliatory measures, though But central to this redivision mark significant move of WOrK back towards Cold War politics pact _ counter revottonari : real damage on the between Stalinists and imperial- Soviet Union. as the post-war settlement ism That even applies to the ban on wheat towards the Then USSR, well warned, bought ur forward movement of the work- millions of tons in the class and other oppressed before the ban was imposed and classes will be able to buy more on the Both stand opposed to the world market. struggle for democratic socialist society under proletarian leader shipsuch a struggle threatens on Redivision The shelving of the SALT II _one Mane rivate in the Congress property of the capitalist class mav even be a relief since it war internationally, and the in any case heading for failure other bureaucratic tilt owe So USSR's ability the parasitic and privueges or the Afghanistan with occus relative impunity is part of the Continued on page 2 redivision of the world between

Trotskyist International Liaison Committee formed Afghanistan... from p.l Page 2 The International Pre- hosted by the conference Workers Socialist League on December 28-31 was resounding success. At the end of the four days' to establish a new international organisation -the Trotskyist trotsk vist internationai Liaison Committee. This is an historic decision- not only because it establishes internation? grouping comprised of organisations oper- countries-but because of the degree of pro- grammatic agreement reached between the organisations which united to Torm ine committe: at the end of the conference.

Development •The conference resulted at the WSL from developments held in. July summer SChool 1979. That school represented an in important development

WSL,

. with work attendance of six international reflected in particular the sharpening of the political the

USF!,

and the crisis emergence of a number of small groupings of The Sett

USFI

holding anti-Pabloite to

DOS LICITS

arowina international impact o' the WSL itself. school decided The convene an international confer: ence of those groupings interes formation them ted in discussing the of a new international tendency document The Transitional Pro- Today's ? Class Struggle. 11 organisations A target date was set for the Christmas cecision taken this with the publication of Discussion International sulletin. Both or tnese acaditnes wore met with the first edition of the Bulletin being published early in December. The attendance at the castes in those Stalinist ruling states where the means oi pro• duction have been expropriated.

The Soviet move in Afghan- one group of Stalinist gangsters in place of another (who are now glibly dismissed as 'fascists' and 'CIA agents'), as rebel, against this Vail overal! conte remane strategy of the Soviet Union.

defend Even when forced to of the USSK and The nery nationalised property relations against Stalinist leaders havea sime

LEC

have and again themselves incapable of doing so through revolutionary methods.

Lucre Nas succession squalid and diplomatic compromises imperialism agreements with high Stalin-Hitler 1939- pact coupled, in response to imperial- denaves handed bureaucratic/military moves to secure strategic buffer n consolate e go n such buffer areas the Sovie bureaucracy has in the post-war Deel

JOICOU

vally through the historically progres of policy rontțac nroner v ano t.e pre-conference fully December •ot the decisios summer school. There were eleven organisa attendance-some -o Tentarine •etalea "•seus sions with the WSL, for the TR conference The convenad which: -been in political collaboration with the WSL for time-ine SLDC, the

TAF

of Denmark anda group of Turkish militants.

in addition conference was ings, by delegates from the attended Italian GBt and their nucleus in France, and the Chilean LOB.

Observers came from the

IKL,

Hustrial Fourth Spartacusbund, une Internationalist Tendency, Tine United States, TOC. from the Workers Power from Britain and landowners, and the estan ish. ment of a planned economy.

such changes imposed upon anese countries from above, and com- of im position Dined will ruthless dictatorial S1a1103S1 been impede regimes, has rather than develop the develop- ment revolutionary among consciouspess alasses. Not indifferent Trotskyists thus in no way advocate the export of "social- ism" by armed invasion of the We condemn Red Army which invasion of Afghanistan. involves trampling under 1001 the national the and Afghanistan, which will blacken Ine name ol Communism in the eyes of the multi-millioned Muslim masses The tne struggle for socialist revolution.

But in the situation arsen we dic not the question or the cerene o nationalised property Union. the We stand uncorullollauy the defence of the USSR against imperialist attack, from what- ever quarter the Stalinist

NOW

1021| invasion has taken place, there- Trotsky: the struggle renewed for the principles and method of his programme political andr economic the Irish Workers Group. malol Messages to the conference the world since the adoption of from the Spanish CarTie Transitional Programme as the FMB and Lo ano ton of the which is based in Germany and Fourth International in 1938 It was followed by extensive amendment Defore tot Discussion and discussion The main: documen These stressed that they had conference-The : rans tonai the Programme Today's Class attend pre- in wanted conference but "nad ocer • Tructe. prevented by practical problems The secona section presentation. on the with Tron coine so method and application of the They urgeo discussion soon as possible on the outcome demands, TinE . ransitionas Programme in. the fight for of the conference The agenda was divided into leadership in the class struggle.

included three main sections. This dIsC •opened with the presentation. of the GBL'S The conference Programimatic Basis WSL Execu- nine-point tive member John Lister on the document. which is designed to world political situation and the.

encapsulate The •verences between Trotskyism and oppor- crisis of the Fourth Internation- tunism in the struggle for revol- al. This sketched in some of the utionary leadership. economic and technical aid that , we must assess what would fore, conditions for the be the impact of an immediate Cal Cicale planned, withdrawal Red Army sociais economo troops. fight The such a pro- Such a policy would in our gramme will, we know, brin vacuum view open Afehanistan the masses into head-on conflict into Dowel with the Soviet bureaucracy and which would step the imperial- under the guise of support armed forces. We also raise for the anti-communist guerrilla Thererore. the context of the occupation forces. of Afghanistani, demands on the The establishment of a pro- regime in Afghanis- Soviet Red Army soldiers.

Inversi Such demands form part of tan woula represent Trotskyist danger to the Soviet Union and East and programme of political revolu- masses of ine tion against the Stalinist bureau- Nor would it in any way claly The of struggles of the advance the eenents self-deter- programme for Afghanistan are: for mination-a right action by the been denied for centuries by the Afghan masses and Red Army immediate expro- monausts. Secult priation of the Critical support industry and the major land without compensatior For this reason we do not elected under with- COnO remane miculalt committees of workers and poor drawal of the invading troops.

peasants! support give the formation by worker/peasant army against imperialist aggres

CHICIS

(soviets) in each area as the basis representative workers politically we must at in pro. and develop a peasants the same Afghanistan walde neelo te decas the guarantee of un- of the Afghan workers, peasants rights and and nomads. . mpedeo cemoclam for genuine freedom of religion for the fight

DUSO

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980 • The third the tee, in the form of a bilateral ot revolved around the discussion bulletin. amended version of-the becaration for the WSL by John Transitional Lister Frocramant was which spelt out the basis for the Today's Class Struggle the support of all with Tormation inter atod Carrica liaison committee. the organisations task is to present, and a similarly unan undertake the vote was taken to › adopt the ground WOrK oresarino

. WIOU:

of Intent anc within a maximum or two year: wec aration for the establishment of a demo- establish the TILC international While pre-conference centralist

COLIC

is only. a first step in the process strugene for the reconstruction struggle ot political dedate and clarica of the Fourth International: tion required to establish inter- national democratic centralism, Motion There 1 no cover mal voc ents a major step forward in the It was repeatedly stressed by struggle for Trotskyist program matic principles. mittee that its purpose, and that A report of the projected International proceedings, together proclaim Tendency not itself artificially will be published in next week's alter lid tive, ready-formed "Fourth Socialist Press. Rather its task is to coordin- Further ceeder struggle for principled dis- withing the fragmented and contused world Trotskyist reading movement • Tne storica problems that have since 1953 effectively destroyed the Fl as a revolutionary centre. With this in view the pre- The basic conference unanimously, adopted a motion calling on the document Bolshevik Faction/OCRFI/LTT proceed Parity Commission at once to organise its promista e Foerth Inter- struction demanding the parity Commission restric itsetf to this task alone; its doors to full participa

"TOS

pledged to • tight tor the recon struction of the Fourth Inter: nationai Campaign The task of practical solidar- No. 1 Nov. 1979 ity was raised centrally, with an

INTERNATIONAL

aareement to launch a coordin-

DISCUSSION

working 60p

BULLETIN

"Don't slogan around postag o teres de contene Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 IHR from eagerness to final session theil develop a written dialogue with newly formed Trotskyist The Liaison Commit- International Poisoned Well national minorities within Algnanistan. lor tae separauon of church and state. *For massive Soviet financial 20p and technical aid to create the basis for a planned document socians The discussion under workers and economy Workers For Socialist League for submission crash • programme discussion prior + to • the provide industrial WOrkS the World coneles. communications.

USFI.

education, • S0C7| Price 30p incl. p&p Beatan edmaket por esmal health care. credit policies it would increasing!!

Special possible to develop become to liaise with and • provide 10] workers and militias of the needs of the peoples of Afghanistan! peasants, unaer me contro.

the soviets in each area, , which *Anll political mahts for thi could mobilise the masses to and for the Red Army Afghanistan against assem bly and free speech for all troops! imperialist counter-attack.

The fight for such a pre anti-imperialist gramme, which would pave the decided by the Afghan soviets withdrawal of *Against bureaucratism! For fo1 troops and the establishment of soviet officials to be subject to an independent, soviet Afghan recall, and paid no more than plainly hard one Istan the averace ware. Indeed struggle *For a programme of agita- against Stalinism elsewhere in the Red Army rank tion among in Africa or in In Europe. for maximum the the TIRe Amencas links with construction conscious 0I a the formation of soldiers' com- leadershir in each Trotskyist and elec- soviets; to defend the gains of and political Coulti omicels, the working class and lead lis revolution in the Soviet Union.

for the political over of the parasitic bureau

LILW

of such cracy: In the context

Turkish generals throw down the gauntlet SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980 political crisis in Turkey reached a new level last week after the declara- tion of warning issued by the armed forces the political parties. Signed all the heads of the armed forces, the declara- to Prime Minister Demirel and Ecevit by President Koroturk.

Karamanmaras It goes into recent develop- ments in Turkey and cites left fascist slaughter carried out in Karamanmaras the a goal singing of the internationale' it place or tne national anthem by students Middle East university: 'dangers national minority; factionalism.

in the state apparatus which has brought the and various teachers, other institutions into opposing camps"; and 'sterile bickering between ine pollical parties all of which regarded Party against "terrorism".

nevil has promised they will be them. evidence of the need for a firm series of "anti- •Indeed terrorist" policies devised while nana on tne nelm. disciplined. The generals place special But though Ecevit grovels to.

scovil was i power were passed emphasis on the developments through Parliament last week by the Justice Party the capitalists the Justice Party. know that there is no real solu These are: ure war' police New powers crisis short of a full scale offen- key "anarchists and separa anyone and any place sive on the working class- also wan without a court order. poses an end to the trappings of tists preparing * An increase in police pay.

palaculary acmocracy uprising" "An increase in discipimar declaration this, measures within little more than a declaration political parties are told bluntly forced ban on members of the that the generals recognise the o find solutions within rapid task on the agenda. he principles of parliamentary police force joining any associa- patience with the Thei or else. tion or union other than sports politicians is growing a little declaration clubs. carefully couched to Of course it is certain that read: like 20 left' RPP members voted sabre-rattling will an attack on both left and right against some of these the new produce clearly reflects the of still further crisis from nicasures. despite • binaing concessions imperialism in the Middle East Confusion reigns in and the dilemma of the bour- geoisie Turkey itself- especially the wake of the Hamlan revolanon and events in Afghanistan. The balance of power estab- lished in the region by imperial- Isin m une post-war perioa nas Indian ruling classes been profoundly shaken. bonapartist threats of the Turkish are absolutely linked to the main strategy of imperialism. 'A week betore the declara.

tion, erupted between

TOW

Demirel's Justice Party and the If effects and consequen-

NAP

fascist Lenalee ces are ignored, the story of Ecevit's

RPP

and the andi the politicians India religious

NSP

the in other. today, resemble, most Carter envoy closely, the semi-fantastic goings-on of the TV serial The cause of the dispute was "Soap'. the

VITE

envoy rom President Carter, which. accord- The government falls in July ing to the RPP-NSP had brought with Charan Singh ostensibly because socret aarcemen the

USA

committing not resolute enough in attacking the Gandhis. Turkey to support US policy in The deposed. PM, Desai, lan and new economic and military alliance attempts to continue by presen- being for by the US ting President with entirely fictitious imperialists-to lIst or would and the Hindu-fascist party, the Pakistan, Israel and Egypt.

be supporters in Parliament.

Mobilisations on warfare against bases Han which The NSP argued that to join Gandhi the the lower castes! would

SUCH

he The Congress Party, The not to unacceptable, since would attempt fails and so be left behind, also split into alienate Charan Singh lays his own claim Turkey from to the premiership, seeking election

IWO

autel Ganoels defeat. military declaration an alliance with none-other than Ihe But on the basis of therefore can be seen as a move enemy Inera alliance Gandhi. Delveth ano to pressurise an alliance beieen Mrs G. agrees- in the South, -up to the day une Deriaj Urs, eclipsed its rival, produce a united pro-imperialist betore the vote or connidence, effectively reunited, when she withdraws support!

policy united wattack Charan Singh is thus denied bout into two coal because dre Turkish une and Gandhi have now fallen out.

working class. his ambition. But then be gets It And Urs-need one say-has default, 'caretaker PM'. since no faction could tolerate alliance with Alliance Charan Singh! moves Ene has to be this added decided that he To all President, who Of course both main parties should really be the PM. the local chiefdoms- denied that the declaration was who cannot identified veanwhile, Ram- being in almed against them. The fascists deputy one camp at any erstorie ally denied his right to premiership and right wing calmed it could

ONC

deTections anot not be a reproach the because counter-defections individ. said-ne uals, at all levels in the hierarchy only naugan unouchaoe caster. been in office 52 days almost by the hour. This fact, however. appears to pose no , to the sub- Singh has acevit other hand failed to extend said it could not be a criticism alliance which his the stalliva now •evone of him, since he has been seek- Indian kulaks and will Torms une rump or ine vanata Turkish state forces in action against militants the bio geo has and persual • poutica support . Stalinist and reformist leaders in Turkey redouble his back the workers' movement st as not to "provoke" the army Wretched arguments Such wretched • arment beer cynical reformist Stalinist leaders They paved the way for the 1973. Chilean catastrophe of All years or such cass colabot ation have allowed the Turkish fascists to consolidate a mass party, to wage unceasing provo- 10 (1) Party-sym Election symbols: Janata; CPI(M); and Congress (I).

Ram found no • ran son Hids for his existence, other than formal olas million Harijans and his promise the business community to be 'super-administrator (his giving them a econemism Tor free hand). Butcher •However, Gandhi will make sure she gets a foothold in the next covernment Manoeuvring within the state machinery is her forte. Whoever she governs with, her formidable aci ties in this will see at tild Path to power That would be her bath to power and fit in with what is demanded backers India's industrial bourgeoisie.

• crisis

I NE

ruline casses leadership is exacerbated by the Ecevit cations against the labour move- ment and minorities in Turkey, and demoralised and politically powertu

SUIT

Now even after the army declaration, none of the workers The -TLP, i pucations. declaration main Maoist • party, the

TIKP

well 1al • conceut "the warning must remain as a warning and should not be developed further" witt side enory saraces an passive acceptance of the actios military there is no way lorward lor tne lurkisn work• ing class. section demands heavy state Intervention and tunas, to allow them profit on grain. Hoarding The petit-bourgeoisie oppose intervention state general, since their tortunes are madi and distribution noare ine grain-although they benefit from artificially high wholesale prices. But the interests the industrial bourgeoisie are served and cheap DesT consistent supplies from the rural section These material divisions have the exoressed Themse ves current political mess and weakened the classes ruling the Commo on Haunch concertes attack the working class and poor peasantry. Achieving this will charac terise the next phase of Indian politics, and will be done under the domination of the industrial sourceo se Gandhi looks most suitable for this task, but only relatively.

Irked She has irked them in the occasional populist past by her her cunteersom •ureaucraev ane the sucoicion- with the continued vile atten- dance paid her vile son andy. mar she is more inter ested in establishing her dynasty rather than theirs. However, more serious than Page 3 the fact the new move is the beginning of an all controntation Lint and Kurdish working Cass movement in Turkey It is vital tha the working class breat from baerit and the RPP and make the political and organisational to reparations t this threat lobilise agair be formed by workers' organis ations which must establish front defend the working class against fascist and military No Demi 'through the Demirel and the establishment of a workers and peasants government in Turkey.

Gandhi • to defeat the working class during the period of the 'Emer- gency' The militancy Indian workers worst 'muted" wa: ourine tre to montos under the draconian powers of the state during the Emergency and since itself thel Lne will resist the •Torce Which attacks the oppressed sections in India generally.

is in their weakness leadership, invested in Stalinist parties, the CP! and the CP! (Marxist). The former, though still the larger 600,000 enters election members, this with no nationally coordinated •states The CPI(M), posing as more 'radical' than refused to the basis that refused to the • Congress Party the disas. ole —continues wIth trous Stalinist strategy of the "popular front'. CP|(M)'s The power-bases in Kerela, Tripara are Bengal, and North Bihar, and the parti undoubtedly will make gains through this election; (though onslaught from Indira's Congress.) However, as they • 88 their national „torce developing image as incorrupt ible administrators and trace unionists meant that whichever personality the ruling class consolidates, accom- occuon vrom boss sides in tne name of 'austerity' is entirely

CONFIDENCE SLUMPS!

Page 4 By John Lister Prices have been soaring weeks, and, recent OVer most spectacular of them all by a long chalk, the price of gold has hit new peaks in the international markets.

the flurry of •spocula-l Ton Wire Tolowe The eno ot the Christmas holiday period the price rocketed to $630 pe easing

HURCE

sightly to a still colossal $590.

Instability What is the ' sianificance of this for the average British or European Taking place the conicatence of a profound part of confidence important stability of the capitalist system; it damonstrates continuing the US lack ot comance aollar, and a tack or contidence that hope too stent the tride on tide can hope to stem struggles ThAT Torearen control in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

gold Money in vested no interest payments: acquires gold, unlike paper money,

STOR S

concentrated and universally axchangeable store of value, embodied in its production.

In a period of slump and decline, when other

BIVOOL

Another price rise that sent capitalist stomachs sinking has been the rise in

OPEC

prices to an •I1 average $26 per barrel from January 1. The Organisation for Econ- omic Development and Cooper- would produce a sharp deterior- ation in the already ailing world

GOLD BOOMS!

machinery, plant, markets makes it impossible to MenTS-in land and materials for discern whether the run on gold auce*coll ulisale

UKA

able or depreciate rapidly, anc when productive industry face: their British financiers opting out of intensified competition. , raton and increasing problems in realising ing a hedge against mounting gold offers a store value But it shows unmistakeably

WHICH

we remain universally acceptable as long as capitalism that sianificant sections within itself continues. the capitalist class are losing The confidence in their own system.

of the gold Secrecy Oil prices fuel slump respectively during 2% unemployment and balance of 1980. payments deficits. But the prospect facing the underdeveloped Growth cesenc UDOn even more horrific. The latest Economic growth the

OPEC

increases add 58 will

OECD.

countries total oil bill- billion to expenge chibed in 19%9 the 925 TO• bitton 1979: average achieved in increased oil bills during 1979 With n

TAIS

averade noure boto This amounts to 12% of the Britain and the USA face total expons or tae unceroeve.

oped countries. means ruin for these ing of the plight of the working class peasantry bruceconce Nations. expected to carry the Wil be brunt of the crisis. Carry costs But the OECD is insistent the advanced workers in capitalist countries must also be forced to carry a share of the Higher oil prices must on no account be compensated for by wage increasts, It warns So if the capitalists have their own way, the prospect seriatin and done de ot stagnation destruction she forces of production unempioyment Trom m to 20m in the OECD countries) and plunging living standards.

On the up and up-oil prices New York gold dealers Tories at work Vacancies down, unem- ployed figures Tory up: policies are starting to work! figures mecein bet rèvealed the way in which the decline in the British economy Drougit about o economic strategy now. definitely beginning create ployment. The itself government unemployed of 300,000 in. the year-and closures all DuDle CULDaCKS CUN tmuig mel breakneck courst every part of the country there to believe this is Is reason While dole queues lengthen inflation in' Britain at 17.4% continues to outstrip even the • ere wage settlements being achieved by many sectors But a maior factor holding back the wages struggle appears to be the refusal • of reformist employers who plead "bank. ruptcy" recent of firms, two- said that they had been

DICSSUEISC

SOLEIC

referring ments downwaras by to their in i other words union •cas a over mie comery are starting not from defence of the independent interests and living standaras or tnel members, but from the supposed problems of the employers. wil certainlv be she nex of each pree forecast forecast next year. anticipates stancern drop in industrial and commer- cial profits in 1980 Thatcher that these Does this mear reformist union leaders are going recommend wage reductions to their members? It Is plainly continue pressing for piecemeal improvements in a system which can be seen to • towne CH development of the productive torces into reverse Either must be devised to defend the gains and the action Cass- LOUL leading to the the deleat

COT

Tory government, national. isation of basic industry and the compensation banks

WALKOUT

the estatement of a planand establishment of a planned socialis Coolully l UmOL even mus become secondary arm forcing through management in closures. wate Cuts up on the shop floor. SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980 Irish war defies repression A New Year's Day the relative of a republican was held for reaffirmation of the hours-24 hours of determination of the which she was left naked in Irish defeat people to her cell. British imperialism She assaulted and was discovered that offered by a Sinn Fein on release her flat had been left in a march through Belfast. filthy state by the police But the last few weeks raiders. have also further She been charged of evidence intensified with no offence British of anti- repression raid, like so many I ne imperialist forces.

PTA

others under the wa: The pre-Christmas police simply a device to intimi- rajds in Britain which led to of British date 18 people being held under imperialist repression the Prevention of Terrorism Ireland Act were followed up by The fight for the immed- raids in Belfast which iate withdrawal of British brought the troops from Ireland must be Provisional Sinn Fein vice- linked in the British workers president Gerry Adams. movement the struggle Only last Adams against the PTA was held without trial for seven months on a charge of membership of the IRA until a judge finally ruled was "insufficient that there Last weekend saw more evidence" to proceed with harassment of anti-imperial- the charge. This time he was held for ists, when three Hands Off days' three interrogation Ireland sellers were arrested before being in Bristol released centre and without charge on January held for seven hours before 5. being released, charged with Meanwhile a campaign "wilful obstruction". has been by the winched They had been selling on a

RCG

Off paper Hands spot sales of left-wing where Ireland to publicise the literature have been established police violence against Va for the y cals Greene one the dav police in London broke un arrested in the pre-Christ- a peaceful Hands Off Ireland meeting in Kilburn Square.

raids London, Illat Manchester, Birmingham nave. veer called for Saturday 12 January Southampton alie 12.00 Kilburn Square, Kilburn Liverpool. High Road. London Greene was allegedly 2.00 St. James Barton Roun- arrested for the "crime" of dabout, Nr. Marlborough •St. giving food and shelter to Bus Station, Bristol: Conterence of double talk The Atkins talks on the ment are slim. Paisley holds his dominant future of Northern Ireland position precisely because of his intransigence.

opened on Monday with a Waiting to pounce on any of two prospect months outside the weaknes : talks are double talk in store. Official

NO GISTS

Wind oppose any steps towards The SDLP, growing 'Ulsterisation' ate to regain some credibility with its Catholic diminishing snoch rowell in a speeça t Dundonald. Orange Lodge four

OSSE

Is seeking an agreemen days before the talks begin which will leave reality Britist › will make unchanged but which savately сосков те Foreign Office for • trying to 'weaken the union' direction 'an Irish the what threats, agents provocateurs can Paisley and the Democratic Whe achieve for • that in Ulster you Unionists are oresent to ensure bottom dollar on that the British government may put your makes concession in this the Foreian Office' The British government may malleability confidently expect The Ance rary is there to make numbers and to from SDLP encer vonn•numi but the Orange whatever devious formula politicians have back seen too many of their predeces ine british government will us in an attempt to paper over this sors tosceo asice • on tre ater o divide comphe only to belt anime only likely outcome of any rospect Tacical success for the British govern- talks une nererore either a breakdown followed by "local government' Stormont or the destruction of SDLP as a major political force Meanwhile outside the talks the Provisionals campaign con- Tinues unaired *A report from . indepen- dent' academics published in the Deltas magazine rortnignt into 350 Diplock Court cases declares that interrogation •ractices render contesions uce less. About 94% of those brought before nosury courts art and of the 25% convicted contested cases the vast majority are convicted contessions alone But the report's conclusion- restricting interrogation to four sessions Atkins aimost a parody of bourgeois liberal 'solutions' for Ireland

Why does the Foreign Office back TUC International work?

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980 Six questions for all trade unionists nite to asist and vet 1) The TUC now spends department? about £600,000 a year 3) Why does the TUC still official international work. maintain Most of this is trade links with Latin a union money, but some American and comes from the Foreign Carribean regional affili- Office. Why don't TUC ate-the Inter-American conference Organisation of Workers reports (ORIT)-named by a US explain who overseas Senate receives this cash? Committee the TUC 2) Although being associated with subscribes to the idea of of the downfall "free and independent" number of democratic trade the that unionism governments depart- international and. region since discovered ment appears to relate te in the have more closely to the played Foreign Office than the downfall Allende's membership. Why have government in Chile? recent TUC reports to 4) number of past A conference failed to and present members of the TUC international report that two mem- bers of the international said committee have staff have been publicly that because of seconded to the Foreign they don't their jobs Office or that it was have the time to planned that properly administer the someone from the Foreign Office TUC's •international the Why be seconded to programme. TUC's international there no advisory com-

LETTER

Dear Editor, At present the TUC over- Thete is growing concern seas bill amounts to about trade £600,000 a including within the union movement about the TUC's an annual £180,000 from Foreign Office. No the international programme. These involve allegations details are provided to the that, some cases, funds membership about who have been used to oppose receives this cash and for what purpose. and representative worker movemculs overscas.

There is also concern about Foreign Office links with TUC's the international This makes

SOCICCY

impossible even the idea of department. So far the TUC has failed worker to make a detailed reply to solidarity. At the same time charges. the recession and giodal for main cause concern, consequent unemployment however, which and erosion of trade lion is not In is TUC failure to dispute, rights makes it more imper- make its overseas work ative than ever that workers accountable to the member- link across frontiers. ship. As a result a group of

SOUTHALL

Saturday 19 January Nationwide day of activity to raise £10,000 for the John stumock Renom Southall Defence Fund Support local activities Sunday 20 January Picket of Pentonville Prison Free the Southall prisoners March from Euston Station Assemble 1 p.m. Police in Southall work similar to that which exists for other TUC departments? 5) In 1975 the TUC Foreign Office and CBI met to discuss jointly funding an overseas "labour" programme. Why was the TUC mem- bership not informed about this scheme and what are its implications for the idea of worker international solidarity?

6) The relevant standing order detining the pur pose of the TUC's inter- national work reads- "The TUC shall enter into relations with trade unions and labour movements with a view action." to , united Is this longer any sufficient? which helped pave the way for Pinochet?

A-new campaign has been launched to soothiaht the shadu being played by

TUC

bureaucrats on the international

PRESS

are critical of the political limitations of the campaign, we fully support the struggle to open up inese ques- tions in the British labour move.

ment. unionists

GANG

' conce ee are planning public meeting in London in February to launch national labour movement make the campaign 'TUC's overseas work accountable to the member- ship. As the pages of the A number of prominent figures within the labour flicked calendar over movement, well known for into 1980 the self- their campaigning work on appointed arbiters of international issues, have everything from class agreed to sponsor the meet- ing individual wartare to hairstyles- capacity. the press empires-tried They include-Reg to persuade us we were Williams,

(CPSA

entering a NEW ERA. Jack executive committee), Superstition mysticism Collins (Kent NUM), Tony and entrail reading are soph- Ayland

(TUC

South Western Regional Council), isticated compared with the Heathfield

(NUM

dogmatic adherence to the Peter calendar shown by the national executive commit- modern day soothsayers. Roberts tee), Ernie MP Every Ken Coates (Institute year new Workers Control), Joan dawn; every decade a new MP Maynard

• CORLEY

IC W

MacLellan (CPSA), George historical epoch. Anthony (North London Sadly for the prophecies

AUEW),

Newens MP crisis, the economic Stan the and Roland Sherritt (Secre- class struggle and the prob- the lems facing capitalist Stirling tary, Trades and working class alike fail Council). The meeting will take to run on such predestined tracks. on Sunday, February place It was old problems and 10 in the Conway Hall, Red crises which filled up old Lion Square, London, start- the between those ing at 2 p.m. spaces May I appeal articles in which bourgeois through gave their worth- your paper for trade union less opinions of the years support and participation ahead and ask that all inquiries Leyland signs a deal with about the be Honda (muted directed to: Edwardes relaunches the Don Thomson, 1 Cambridge Backing Terrace, London NW1. reactionary Britain' split campaign (a

SOLIDARITY CA

Union leaders behind Chile Solidarity barner: why does TUC maintain links with ORIT opinion the judges) …trom and the bureaucrats of the

TUC

and ISTC failed the. steel prevent strike Priests from played Christmas Carols to looking bemused staff held in Iran (dewy eyed religious fervour) and Commonwealth troops trained their guns on the Zimbabwe guerrilla fighters (jingoistic pride). British soldiers shot each other Northern Ireland (an incident the Telegraph reported under the headline death 'Army's ambush "effectively carried out" political opponents of and British imperialism in Ireland continued arrested (loud applause).

The symptom crisis which best illustrated the gap between reality and the Fleet fantasy world Street, was the panic rise in the price of gold. confidence the As dollar began to collapse the financial wizards of the city pages were given full rein on the front pages to demon- their strate mystical approach this material of phe same the The Sun said: world gold Well CaA Page 5 yesterday. Everyone from sheiks housewives 01 joined in a massive buying and selling spree." The Express: "It could in the mean bargains January sales shops whos gold ware • was bought at lower prices. Advice those about to get married by Mr Ken Pollington of jewellers Garrards: Royal "Buy 22 carat - quickly. ring at £50 to £60 now will probably double soon." Roy Assersohn, city gold fetishism has not been demonstrating that dented, wrote: "It gold's eternal store of real quality as. a value which has sent the • world crazy for the precious metal again." expression of lack This of confidence in interna- tional capitalism its crises was boiled down to the 'fact' that the plain man and woman is supposed to be able to understand: how mụch tooth costs, a gola and what your family heir- loom might be worth Already the new era has begun to have a tarnished Not all that look about it. glistens turns out to be gold.

When will a radical film tell the truth? Troops gather in an improvised arena as a helicopter flies in some show girls to a remote supplies camp in the Mekong Delta Page 6 Hailed as the greatest war film of all time, Apocalypse Now is certainly a finely powerful portrayal of America's imperialist adven- ture in Vietnam. With brutally vivid realism director Francis Foid Coppola SHOWS USa is less a military operation than a grotesque carnival of the sick, sult valist. lancin psychotic. crazed colonel in a US cavalry hat leads his helicopters ‚into a bombing taid oi a vllage Walkyries', oi. the afterwards throws a beach party amidst the corpses. Ihree go-go dancers, landed on an imbro viced stage, narrowly the hands of a drooling audience ot sex-starved GI A whole US base marooned in the middle of nowhere goes beserk, collectively with trigger- happy soldiers sinking rapidly into 'savagery'. 'Savagery', indeed, the ideological keynote of the film, and a deeply suspect one it is

LUV.

'Dark' continent Apocalyse Now is a modern version Joseph Conrad's famous anti-imperialist tale Heart of Darkness. in which the narrator embarks on a grisly up the river Congo the heart vikvullet. ghastly contment. Ene •Mr. Kurtz. Kurtz model Belgian colonialist who has succumbed to the lure of the 'primitive' and sunk into obscene, unspeakable files: lulume ll as a foca acil over mesmerised natives. In this film, Kurtz (Marlon Brando) is a model US colonel war has driven beyond the brink sanity into pure 'evil'

OLUCK

somewniere up with his worshipping colony of loin-clothed, spear-wielding former GIs, he wades between smoking aas a sea oran blood and reads aloud to himself T.S. Eliot's gloomier. Pubills 'Primitivist' The ideological meaning of Conrad's tale is cléar: scratch a civilised' imperialist and tind a savage beneath. in one sense anti-imperialist, another sense racist: "they" savage as but deeply the primitivist' mythology Conrad's text. Beneath the surface rational- ity of civilised society lurk dark, irrational forces which war-any war-releases; the Vietnam war was essentially a lorm of savage This makes for compulsive viewing, but it is unfortunately bout vietnam, least 'insane" about whereas this film converts the ist nightmare. Pointless The happens point of same Conrad: for him, imperialism tially voltex -crotesone v ausululy unca as enigmatic as the 'heart of dark- nesswalch reduces kurtZ to a hollow phantom of a human being. the significance of seeing Airca as dark in any case?) Certainly Vietnam drove and women mad and was men experiencel chaotic unreal- ity; but the political determin- which caused wholly intelligible, Teal anu which is why Apocalypse Now has to leave completely them out or account Despite that chaos, the offered cinema audience contala pole or security.

There's no chance that we shall lose our bearings because the film provis wIll whom we can спатастет WITn consistently identify: the hero- Captain Willard Hailalul.

CIA

*(Martin Sheen). agent sent, secret mission to assassinate Kurtz. US troops participate in Holy Communion as the battle rages around them Willard There. is something of this hardly Enid Blyton's idea of a he the • Willard Kurtz relation- brutally ship, but Willard shoots a defenceless increasingly fascinated woman so inat mis Kurtz mission won't impeded.

WALES

-wavels up- But significantly, -river, but not to the point where critically distance our- about positiviely alien. 'tile onc • selves from him ating action he performs in the entire film. film's endings, anyway) he spectatorest the figures butchers mad and blank, the colonel strides off bloody farce, just as we are in back home. bushing the cinema. way through a mob Narrators in art always have which about transplant the political • someLand Comor partly because provide -overview' less, primeval zone the OI removed from this or any other sulualok. because fact that they are telling century. story retrospect means that Monster tney must nave come out alve.

Ambiguous Where the film suCCeeus , is the ideol InIs. netter nowever 11S ogical function handling of the hulking, shaven headed Colonel Kurtz prevent the audience from being Kurtz the enter subverted

DOWN

a Doul bestial fantasy it presents.

(Conrad's too) isn't just that he In this, Willard differs impor- is mad. • Much more disturbingly, has deliberatel lanty mom comrads narrator, Marlow. pressed the butchery of the war centre of Conrad's to an extreme limit, as though the eerie tale lies an uneasv. deeniv for Wildl ambiguous relationship between He has calculatedly turned Marlow and Kurtz himself into one set in monster, motion long before the two mer savately carialulc meet. Matside because of the and expose, the monstrosity of MaroW 1s in safely imperialism. effect Kurtz allace ve Lullal s which the idea of Kurtz has on Pease see has been chero at himkurtz's 'evil" finds a reson- been consistent enough press logic velled bv imperialisn ance lat as a

MOTION

character Marlow is called into to its ruthless, unthinkable • and can't be wholly limit In Conrad, this has a danger- lusicu vy tue Icaucl SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980

VIS

АРОСА Francis Ford Coppola's film Apocalypse Now press and mass media, and a trio of reviews subm it raises and the diversity of view of those who three alternative reviews by Terry Eagleton, Tony 'Only "In my vision, when he broke the sixth seat, there By Terry Eagleton a violent earthquake was and the sun went as black as coarse sackcloth; the moon turned red as blood all over and the stars of the sky fell the earth like figs on

•OUS

dropping from fig tree better be 'authentically' murderous when a high wind shakes it: than hypocritically the sky disappeared like leaves Kurtz with a scroll rolling up and all the considerably more complex mountains and islands were a mere lunatic When Coppola's Kurtz shaken from their places argues that human beings must Then all the earthly rulers, learn to kill without compassior the governors and comman- is a real there for all the soLD ders, the rich people and the bloodstained ne raises an isten, in which men of influence, the whole raises central population, slaves and relevance to revolutionaries citizens, took to the moun- playwright Bertolt tains to hide in caves and Brecht once shrewdly commen- among the rocks. They said ted that you can't lau all thing about capitalism by por- mountains and the to the traying stage "fall on us and hide rocks, What he Ill Call wan Clal us away from the One who in art has severe limits: rea ism grippingly sits on the throne and from immediate, but at the same time the anger of the Lamb. For underlying •Can concer Then the great day of his anger structures, the forces has and determine them. come who can survive it?"" certainly true Apocalypse Now, wnich might The Book of Revelations well convince someone that the (Apocalyse) 6: 12-17. Americans shouldn't have been The introduction to the in Vietnam, but is hardly likely to tell them why. The film evades all political 'Ultir questions: its implicit answer to Americans causes behaviour in vietnam is. in twe words, 'human nature' In this has much common with disgusting that tim it dotsou unlike altnough that film go to the of actually glorifying The only Americans for Nature whom the Vietnam War was are still waiting for a completed experience 'radical' film about Vietnam to tell the truth. destiny, those who died in it-and in them, of the experience simultaneously vanished. For those who survived it, this includes nowever -an‹ those who • saw the experience through home, Via lovers Or Dan or who were there, simpl through the newspaper and tele.

• Was a a marked finally and above all, by its incompletenes! This all whether victory. defeat or . stalemate- persists in . the survivors and the bereaved: as : • maiming or memor nightmare or absence continues But perhaps no war has been viewed generally by those who were involved with such a high consciousness of its utter incon.

and clusiveness waste as abortive American involvement in Vietnam Is me rat or 11s c that, structural problems the that of critics a number nave commented alicauy WALt reference to Francis Ford

a revolutionary could end this film' nately an apology for US invasion SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980

ONS OF

YPSE NOW

iow on general release) has triggered a range of critical assessments in the ted to Socialist Press. The importance of the film and the questions that ve seen it have persuaded us to take the unusual step of publishing these Richardson and Duncan Bush.

Bible describes message. cusaieu Though ostensibly about Revelation senne

CECIV

ymbolic and so allusive that the vermam. The mim s menl o in relate-in more general terms-to be interpreted vssagc vali "civilised encountering the the more ways designed to raise the primitive". morale of the persecuted Chris- And, while Coppola himself has a record of opposing the US Coppola's message intervention venen InIS Now theme implies à hint of Apocalypse can racialism. UI cc IWOre than one way. In fact he himself Tone made three alternative terms of the moral collapse and ndings to the film. decay erialism From this JS imperialist the is angle, reLieels changing political pressures Which loses the war, rather than Coppola himself, since the film the ve nam ere DRESLVeSY white by- their" sacrifice and planed 10 years ago, struggle, actually win it.

that took five years to "Apocalypse 2 Welle te Coppola's .would have to the Vietnamese be made Techniques also shows his complete fallure recognise that it was. Tine Vietnamese people who actually Indeed most people who see the film will respond most created Avocal ose oW. size defeating the imperialist armies!

mediately sheet io ine Far from being "primitives"; and of the "

CIASTV

the cenes of the journey down the Vietnam ese

WOIKCIS.

river to Cambodia. peasants and soldiers were play- ing the most progressive multi- wille mOSL lalxe. they million dollar produtions today them were

ODCII

space épics, Coppola has trugglin a50S ised vast resources ($30 million) efeat US imperialism, which, as the mainstay of a crisis ridden and modern Technicues the brutal realities of portray calo tast sy stenl, sunas as. ue major roadblock on the historic Wal development mankind Kame e æ occ of the film alone makes it worth nesauson or lie to look productive forces. seing, it is important But Coppola is blind to such Coppola's more Coppola's film Apocalypse Now® hallucinatory or surreal sugges have to be seen. tions to the film's visual imagin- '.The cucneit task virtuosity. eliminatig Colonel Kurtz is entrusted Vietnam was a war where a Willard, a war-shocked captain, lame mumber of Ameran com bastants vere under the ¡waose narrative voice is analz- gous to that of Conrad's anec- cace of drags fox a cresid infl dotal Marlow, proportion si ie WIss CrEt consciousness of events-or, at Coppola's mi their implications- fact ways ambiguous, passive ailt «r lian ToTAl This lack of a firm perspec- - Coppola Pileh onde O Cer "moral" questions attempts to pose. Iso be identified in anotlc aspect. the fim. 21. • a cinematic, or styl that is, in what can te "hallucino the fin's vision". and stu from the moment explosions os tard sits in a Saigon Underpinniog, room hearing Lie watttg the electric fan as an Army opter's rotor-blades, to th. finally sables upon kurz amie us ay of doped out Montagnards into up-river was obris bor Smhdia is a bad trip mn more sezes than one. entirely is the This is underlined through- the sinister brilliance of gratuitoes OnKe Je Coppola soundtrack and the delic i The Doors and Jimi political questions-even though Tne Teet or enconters unci ..he used for the film, .on loan the Phillipines Air Force, from repeatedly vere taken back, resprayed, and used active Sol vild guerrilla forces opposing the Marcos dictatorship! For all Coppola's inability to Vas not lapped to the racet he Lapsed racialist not that diabolical film depths The Deerhunter Rather he sees the Vietnam war simply as a moral question, and ex pose Laulunls CIA 'hit-man' The contradiction is revealed in the film's hero -CIA 'hit man' Willard. He is first seen arunk. Having been on leave, ne action: ye thie in the ku inte, cannot wait The very way of life of an valtes.

• HOW

murders? "And if this is true of Willard as an individual hit man, assassinate the renegade Colonel with a gang of ex-eis and patier insisted by the critics-can thought a sub-text fairly prove direct and accessible implicz- for sim ple -oppo

LUEN

which work thread ar Te( forces to form his own private What angers the US Chief of Staff is not Kurtz's continuous

OUVUS

insanity. Rather it is the fact that his operation is outside US mieT conor uers couay as insane as Kurtz, are free to play a leading role in the frame-

WO O1

HORES loca Lt. Colonel Kitgore, brilliantły Hayed b instance his heli Robert Duvall, leads Coole mado dic ia Gavin troupe-complete with cavalry smell .of napalm as "the smell of and talks of the time he napalmed a whole mountain, not a living thing behind.

cavl "legitimate" US force fellow fanatic Kurtz who is out- side of its control, and therefore to be eliminated This hypocritical division is of Willard's boat massacre ininking This double-standard is too much for Willard, who kills the vith a machin • JessIe L. weston 's rom ritual to Romance-books which Col.

Kurtz possesses and which deal various mytologies concerned with the "fisher- king" an ancient and recurring fertlity-calt INTONVIe Ece of aa old, sict and impoten:

ШDT E1С3

of word one of process- tich is sot chat in of a continume dalec cicai struggle which is constant- the conditions of itself it that struggle for proceeds but one of fixed and utable given ad static postures, like those ol the figures on an ancient vas Page 7 Francis Coppola (right), discusses a scene with Marlon Brando.

Meanwhile Willard discovers Willard kills Kurtz —1 Wille that Kurtz had a brilliant record and goes back • version has him kill oror to ms assenmcul.to cover A noTAeT operations (Nixon's whole war Kurtz and take over; in the third in Cambodia was a covert opera version he has Kurtz's followers US napalmed. concert

ITOM

people). But the any cvet And he hears that a previous with Kurtz suffers cucounic en o æbee æ x Trom the act toa ures SaRe Kurtz had ended 'up joining ment of position amounts to a things already repeat of many CInTE TCHI Anti-climax Kurtz Indeed •echoes Coppola's political Kurtz, in other words, along when he longs for an army with with had the strength of the vietnamese OI Valt stepped over the bounds of the liberation forces, "permissible" in war, and made ignores the fact :that thei barbarism. while US troops were forcibly .Wilard's Following al this drafted into the war, or simply eventual encountet with Kurtz the hired mercenaries of imper has widely • correctly Vietnam been ialist oppression, ateise asau ancllas. ece toment wine tee terese This is partly because of the an expo ee ople badi 20 problem the portraying homeland. actions of Kurtz's private army murera was driving force behind the Viet- as more barbaric than inose of the US imperialist forces already which their brought Halli vso. historic victory in the spring of oboicied Coppola attempts get :1975. around this with a set involving This is why the Vietnamese bodies and hanging severed war can only be understood lt 11 lighting careful is seen as a class question, and heads anne Kurtz himself. But it all appears not a question of morality and false compared to stagey For this only ICasul camel seele revolutionary coun produce al The second problem adequate conclusion ( now ever is the hardest: what :is to Coppola's in many ways magnif- happen at the end? icent film. The conclusion that I saw By Tony Richardson was Coppola's "humane ending deal with a subject that is still Myth, historically speaking, represented secesie id thich real history e history those not finished for America itself alone Cambodia, Vietnam, about few which mstory as process-nac nol yel begun: beginning breakdown if American films show much marked by the concern)? neatly round mic Lamuon, te closures Cal Ol shich myth subsists: that is, th something that was national experience as well as an u ui oiclany zirk soca Movietal anu uldt persists in the nightmares Isi titory ost bogins in disabilities of those victims who Je apo so=: amalism. suvived close contact with the suit :: je iaes

TIT=

ISET! I izs . u uc gri ar azoric oranec onlo ano were

TAI!I

bereaved by it? Myth gives the whole sordid enocidal problematic inconclusive bas is represents a final compro- naka aborw *.2.'- anu caloodd in the close Suil 1 US Apologist of real lived cence AStOIy that myth his up) its message in film, Litimatcly T1n2 the American literary "twist" that apologist 'SE Asia, stagiess hides the bankrupt and of and geopolitics were committed it ernes lon t att that cause, in that it exonerates that lay Denne Altlal the politics capitalism and well problem private Sufer. Yt continuing the

KULS

which it was all fought vinlence in the mythic makes appear "destined" istic and eternal light of its own innate" invitability need, and Yet Coppola's difficulty wàs never have been. real, for how can you find ar By Duncan Bush appropriate conclusion oi art that purpors

WORK

Nicaragua and the crisis Page 8 in the USFI December 13, 1979 nationalistemovements or other non-Trotskyist forces as occured Comrades of Socialist Press, in Vietnam, Cambodia (at one On behalf of the Bolshevik other), time would China, etc. . Britain PacTion appreciate your publishing the very brief answer to these to article Dor Comrade •Nicaragua ana Ine urisis i te Usec". printed No. 178 questions and (5.12.79) of Socialist Press because brief. There are a number of ques which wil! tions not even was touch and just refer you to our your article 1, 2 and 3 (plus slanted version outerin vos. everything else in Spanish). ments in te is obvious that the information ment around revolution? vou have. based vour article on is we brief and yat al. analysis our positions regarding tor example: the government slogan, Ene workers dual past record organisations, military disci- plethora of positions similar the LMR currently pline and political independence -even the actual objective situa- opponents. inaccurate tion -is extremely is these no esconse Your interpretation of the oreanisive Permanent Revolution itself the regroupment to be done in the same careless way since Trotsky's position the in such terms" You the seizure possibility by petty-bourgeois We reply: SP Don makes no attempt to correct the 178, cited by the comrade of position. Faction did the Bolshevik Inc 000 ed statem bris and uhe plain.

allegations 8oRinst statements Workers Socialist League, whict Nahuel Moreno-all ot wnich occured in one paragraph, which read as either the article concerned or the actual policies of our move.

follows: his 8s herence noon. method of Pabloism, Moreno the guise Castroite (his support the

TOP

Fidelista 'Organisation of Latin in Bie guate saying hat Solidarity the Red Guards), and a Peronist (his paper Palabra Obrera at one arms his is Somoza"'. This 'organ of revolutionary workers' , nor is it. Peronism' issued 1e•08. discipline of General Peron!)* serious revolutionary tion in world. the was any event of Socialist Press to

NOU

withdraw this paragraph, which not basing our analysis though unargued-position on a number luestions which ar the different organisations exist.

BLO ROW LISA DUB

Workers Socialist League: But, comrade Yet this Nicaragua bad the Crisis in the Monica does not challenge paragraph, focussing instead on other questions.

lists that: doing she in a In "The dramatic words a series of Bolshevik

TEW

Faction positions on which our making downfall Somoza inaccurate and extremely irresnonsible"' statements Unfortunately. the comrade Nationa LIteration offers us no hint as to what she control of the country has only nad delevas we nave got wing, and equal sign between it and the Usec without even mentioning the political basis on which the Yugoslavia, Conference is being cared are what your dic differences with it. Is it that you do not regard because you be detormed workers states? Unfortunately, I will not refuse to accept that you and !

be able to take on any of these the points , agree on applied orincible must Nicaragua? it be that you refuse the purpose of to accept reality as you do when •resentane of the develop- FSLN was not the one who led - arms in hard, to Trotskyist. move. the Nicaraguan defeat Somoza? The main point your article Since you do not base your attempts to make is that the Faction split with analysis on ine class struggie and the USec to continue "Moreno's its effect on the different organ- existing

VICIUS

IS0LI0S

working class. ine exolanation his which you arrive at for the split machiavelian Meaning to say that since it oeuvres. "opportunists" who are "Moreno has:

USFI

wide open on Nicaragua Conference and for him therefore Nicaragua reconstruc tion) of the Fourth Internation- has been the world trom August al, it "cannot be reconstructed 1979 onwards" The facts, comrade, are that argue for the rejection has Toeen Ene caracuar tood the revolution which has or ine conterence by outu. ar FSLN leaders Borge, Ortega, Ramirez, Chamorro and Robelo ing imperialism's grip on Central Americ has produced world Instead she goes on to make major the valubi WhaT positions the for interpretation of the Permanent to Have tre to do wil Hevolution

WINCH.

Sile claims, Trotsky's nationalist movements other Flint's Extraordinarilv. for instance.

Don devoted less than seve Nicaragua the FSLN was not LUt polly defeat bourgeois regime neither Nicaragua. , to our know. organisa- after Castro's of the It certainly which clack We are similarly accused of "on the eftect or overturn within the working class" state in cuda Secretariat' bogan with

SOLOWEL

na, Vietnam which events liberated all by reactionary act bourgeois Sandinista of not an impact in weaken- SWP and USec to American totally capitulate to the bour geois Government of Nationa in the Declaration and Castroism thus supporting the repressior members who of other USec national's were there precisely to build a of the Fourth Inter- ship section understand your natonal. organisation agrees with this).

and of the So the expulsion Brigade divided Simon Bolivar ° Doctor waters; the USec agreed with it and the Bolshevik Faction, have passed into history Trotskyist Tendency, Lennist On the Brigade

•ICL

workers intended to It is on this and the political shoulder' with anaves or the government National Reconstruction formula" FSLN's the class collaborationism Castro's Press support for these, etc--that the FSLN as guerrillaist, possibility of regroupment or But what ClE. reconstruction exists A new situation has emerged your positions? which the BF

OCRFI, LTT

in ICL have fight the USec's Castroism and organise democratic confer- ence where the entire Trotsky.

the OCRFI and the LTT Yet this is not the

DOSITIOT

we have taken either in comrade Flint's article or in other articles From the start we welcomed the convening of the conference opens up the possib. insofar as it ¡lities of a long overdue discus Trotskyist post-war movement From the same position we criticised moves whic have also • TO us to sucrest that in conference might not be as first indicated by the wonder -and convenin organisatio might not even be held at all.

amount TO 8 only brought But we have consistently positions of the SWP/USFI the position- War Wed the surface also argued in comrade monica s In reality letter-that a conference restric.

emerged not in 1979 single of the issue been carried Nicaragua, whole period of organisations appear be agreement, compromise and cover-up to could in itselt provide a sound the basis of basis for "regroupment single issue of Cuba-in 1963.

reconstruction' of the Fourth If Monica the Comrade Bolshevik hat it is "very eas backward Faction and defend ictarian to seize on ever the" recoro leadership and atal a88oe differences on questions which event. have passed into history."

tency But it is even easier in the welcome most opportunist way simply to brush aside past differences thi SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980 Somoza before the fall We welcome the fact that ist movement can participate on now you have a correct one. We the basis of our principles poseo understand the class strug gle ha: people and can The way forward is by inter- change them. class struggle Trigged of all sorts of The Nicaraguan constructing the Fourth Inter.

leader- internațional politics. and sections with those Fl has split with whom we have principled The reconstruction-will be through agreements regroupment-through leaps and It is very easy, backward and sectarian to seize on every detail bounds as the theory of unequa and combined development and deepen existing differences on questions which to regrou! . our outy Trotskyist programme and pein.

for those who defend the example, une oricades were fighting fight 'shoulder abandon them. It is through this the FSLN which and its daily application in the in itself is an absolutely correct that shall struggle reconstruct the FI. Before Somoza fell, Socialist Monica Chances atackine ene sectarian, our attitude toward this and other changes in Sandinista guerrillas without discussion, in a hasty str Drive discusthis an core.

discussion can structive recrouoment that would take place without plac genuine political agreement, and Tardical TobelLiol of the "Reunification" of 1963.

discussion method and assessments of the revisionist montrea evomion or tendencie which • today themselves forward voice those osition orthodox Trotskyism theory of unequa out nav "the over from the and combined development' of political really has relevance to the ally since fight for the reconstrucion o the USFI itself was formed-on Fl, it is possibly in the fac agreement on the -far larger that other tendencies.

WSL

than have been far slower than us to recognise the the necessity to bast comrades wish to

SUCH

objective discussion of the post Nicaraguan crisis : of Trotskyism, war and to argue the consis. which and correctness of their positions tnat break decisivery slogans and orientation, they are from the opportunist deviations submit their cas of the past can and must be account presented derived

OCCUPYING TO STOP

MECCANO CLOSURE

Xmas bombardment SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980 As the struggle against in the closure continues occupied Meccano factory Merseyside, Liverpool of the Workers members. Socialist League tape recorded the following interview the factory

GMWU

with convenor Frank Bloor. What is the up to date position?

We are trying to arrange a meeting with Airfix to further of points. One of the major points is that there two companies interestec in takino over ano we want to clarify how far the with these two companies have gone. We are also insisting on our 90 day rights, corsuitatul which they are refusing. In tarms of blacking. what are the latest developments‹ un mersevsoe were sarie for to expand now. This morning Unions. •ne we are having a meeting with all another, have decided to stay in the background. our. snoo stewares stal our the campaign, especially now most OT • Tone holiday period is over. officials but it must be said that G&M and APEX officials have One of main things we been in the factory every day will be doing will be torming flying pickets get around all since ive occupied. Are you receiving any union ARMIX actones tute courtlly and start to hit them at the right time. Well first, the Social Security have said what we are doing Do you teel youre getting tue support from your ane Ener erore dre union officials? going to give us anything. after the Xmas holiday pay runs some of the officials, rrOM • 011° it's been 100%. APEX have also 'ine mem ders nave nothing. involved, but the other The cominercial ideology The viewer can presumably of Xmas maintains it firmly imeoned as sitting through fairly brief-or "'fast-moving"" - in historical vacuum. routines in a According to this, the only defers the That contmudily event ever to occur at Xmas cecison to switch on oover n case a more riveting one should almost 2,000 took place happen to succeed it. years ago in Palestine. Kings & Queens Since then. the date has, of course, become overlaid with a of othe profoundly Another "seasonal" feature, variety i unhistorical is an almost total absence trom Englande world mufflers, the stagecoaches serious TV Journal or or a cumentary yesteryear conferring purity to current illusory past: that of a this and social problems had agreed from, for abstracted Worlo convenientv to susoene Tnem example, selves for the duration of the

TOP

•sty round public expenditure holiday. massive steel closures, What is noticeable, however,

CUIS.

threatenes strike Herter conn and other trouble. suspend history that not all Is evacua contemporary not onl 6aato compensatory em •ness on bast has not met all man's worldly history (often British) which is very much a matter of kings and 'needs. In the absence of newscapers oreens. over the actual Xmas period, it rather than classes and falls to television to become the elations of production Thus in Xmas week'. on BB( malor mattalio and promulgating this annual TV alone, viewers could watch deception, the paternalistic Mary Queen of Scots, VIll and Six Wives and A Lild (particularly cannot Man for All Seasons presented bear too much reality. as "major features". seen most Given this project, apparent #nIS Call clearty, pernaps, in tne proutera• anachronisms suCh "INt tion of the so-called "variety" Queen's "informal" Xmas day Xmas "spectacu- speech (from her "front room" or stallile to yours and the persistent and imported from America. irrelevant, •UT almost Cally What do you see as the next stage in a campaign to raise the the formation of As 1 say pickets-this the big flying to insist have that these negotiatións with Airfix are not kept secret from informed have After all, fully. the Airfix dis- cussioris are with two entirely •hueren comeanies. his seem.

to be our main hope, both of them are very interested.

Do you draw any conclusions Trom ine enormous increas unemployment, factory By Duncan Bush incursion into the "national": news •y various memors or tie Royal ramily, can be put into a tion throughout, like us" audience (and subjects) and that all is basically still right in a world of given and preordained normality. one imagine, however, that the Royal Family are BOlITICS usually claimed on their behalf: their embodies caistolice key to the stable continuity of the unequal society, and their occas- tonal. Caretawace bursts" -always headlined the media-such as the Duke of conourels welfare "spongers" union. militanc,, and Prince Charles's televised speech against the IRA memorial Mountatten c service, conferred with a unique "authority" Warfare What is ceany noticeaoid about the television fare allotted to us tor xmas this year, now ever, is that despite the usual 'peace" emphasis and "aoodwill"' entente epidemic at such a time, war and warfare themselves are not, decen succes Thus, Xmas this some week, on BBC had films Bridge We've one junior scen and that's been this minister, government's help so far MPs Merseyside have on but for this been great, government they'll just let it gc through because they are trying to rid of the Acts brought get in by Labour If this goes intough every company in the land will use it they will just close as a weapon, 20 before

VOU

you finish on a Friday. What percentage of the work- Tore, &re wener. some are part-time, some would two-thirds- full 'twilight' small time ano shift, with the men working the night shift. So women wil feel the financial problems particularly acutely. Yes, the only way a married woman receive Social Security if_her husband is on the dole It realiv is hard: We have a lot of families, one-parent widows and divorcees and they are in a worse position. it vou like, than woman whose husband is working. of cases with one or two kids women the ss for help but • to seno let We R had to try and help them from Frank Bloor with women stewards from Meccano the fund closures, cuts in public expendi- We have even had cases of ture with the advent of the Tory • Torentenin то таке governmenti • you know- Yes, as far as we can see it you but can't look this is a new stage in manage- well take your kias into care ment worker relations. This is only to frighten, but of the Thatcher government, it will not work-half the money because they are trying a new we recerve coes stunt-no 90 dav notices fund, the rest is our fighting If this goes through and this.

fund. company does close then every. body Have you approached the union InIS country, whether they are in unions or not will be officials for heip? wary of their jobs been as high as Thatcher has only paid the National Officer.

MITS

lip service when she said in the And what did he say? House of Commons that it We're still waiting for wrong not to give us our 90 day decision. corne unons are notice of redundancy. hardship money except paying the G&M how much is that? £8 a week. What of the work- percentage force is in the G&M? About two-thirds Noone, senior female steward: This question or our treatment by the dole is impor.

Tant. What nev are rey say if you give up your oil "We'll give you social security iver awar. mere cales are The Blue Max Five Graves to well starve TOl Cairo, etc you into submission" the programme Naturally FB: That's right, they are saying planners yet they doing in presenting this depoliticised "history

STOCCIS

Wdl struggle between Conticine imperialist economic (in which individuals iterests tigure at all only in and becaust of their utter dispensability) but -to abstract : the key ingredients Trom sucn hims-as a matter o individual "courage" 'ingenuity" "gallantry", nerve Wars closer current interests or britis imberlalis on the other hand, for example Northern Ireland the Government Censored, banning ot a recent documentary of the IRA took part, sufficient- ly reveals. The complicity of the TV heads with the Government-or (what comes to the same ining in this case) with the Army of fact almost occupation total, and this happens not only at Xmas. One these discovers "doubles the fronts varlou. pronged but movement characteristic of official ideology: it works they only the actively tell us but also through the alternatives to it that they suboress Page 9 "accept redundancy"' because it seems that this government just want three quarters of the work- • force to be on the dole Yes, their policy is to attack the working class I agree, three quarters on the 'and the Cole otner subsidised. The other quarter on low wages!

Exactly! We're going back to the 1930s, back to the means many There will be that unemployed that trying money out of the government will be like winning the pools every week; you're just not going to get it. I'd like to ask the senior female steward. particular housewives occupiers of the tactory?

AN: well it you re married you just don't know where to spend more time here now than when we were getting to make paid. You'r trying Time to coan or sooon keep the home as comfortable and everybody fed as possible and clothed, (you know, in clean clothes). It takes its toll. Then you've got The worry •i me money. because you don't half miss it earning If our husbands were good wages. we wouiah have to work. You are working for nocessitias?

again, when • you're home you the factory are worrying about • whether the other shift to occupy have turned •up happened to something toll health-wisa We are pretty lucky because we have our families standing by us.

finalise, what do Frank, just you think of this Tory govern.

ment? We haven't got a government of -all have a carou people sitting in the Houses o smashing Parliament awS Whic! relate over the past few years. What they're after is massive unemoovment. for the rest, and no aggro That's their policy, and they wil connue with that boney a long. as we, the working class allow them continue

OTTACO

Frank, Socialist Press wishes you and your occupation forces maximum success Thank you very much. Inside the Meccano occupation

Page 10

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

beds fight Last summer the leader- cullectly ship of the National Health mendations Service Unions were in a

MISSION

quandary. the As the Tories' axe slashed on private beds within the NHS.

the open left Labour's axe, and following the 'low-pay' sell-oul or the winter battles, they faced with prospect. of having expiain their actions for lack of hostile memberships Them) : Io at the Annual Delegate Confer- cules. With

EGA

and Clegg the resting uncomfortably over their in desperate nicaus. ucy were need of some formula to help their tarnished credentials and to divert atten.

from the more away obvious exposures. of their position. Decimated With the Health Service being decimated, they needed to sound militant without having immediately selves to anything so awkward as action-a difficult task! How- Sper son or Coit and both Fisher NUPE and the same solution: as cut on cut in the

NHS,

, they huffed and puffed private So they thought they a00 ul on safe ground, Spanswick, moving an emer least. resolution for the COHSE Board and the Central Health xecutive Services commutee sale tne ..oppose the committice to a poncy oi phas introduction pay-beds ing out pay-beds, and it would any legal With legislation Ill cals

TAIS

built-in get-out clause, his waffle those bodies about blacking went on to grab could move to increase private the national headlines. facilities. Fisher, however, was caught An added differently. rather for blacking of pay beds motion bureaucrats was that their blasts calling rhetoric was carried wouldn't IrOL January through NUPE's annual confer- will despite the opposition of ence administration the NEC. against the cuts might. Spanswick and Fisher

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Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) NUPE drops pay predicted the recom- ment Health Services Bill pub- • the Royal Com- ushed last month abolisnes the Enquiry the HSB and the

CHSC

seeks to Into organisation of the NHS which expand private medicine within abolition NH$ ease and moves restrictions on the private sector What do we do next? COHSE delegates were as an alternative to the NHS.

The time the comporary al nas come tor Health Fishers and Spanswicks to live Services their words, or Val Council them welC fuele was little doubt as to December NUPE called off its start _ocore tre orec blacking three days later. No action at all has been taken by COHSE bonus for the patients would undoubtedly bring the pay beds unions into Collect bring them into con Nursing WIll Labour Council, which recently circul- such as action ated hospitals the that industrial action leit nurses Now, however, the Govern open to charges of gross profes £1.80 £3.60 • £7.00 . £13.00 Send . £8.00 . £15.00 .. £9.00 £17.00 A belated but neverthe- less for is calling correct campaign members at the Crown Hotel union recognition is being And the GMWU pressed by by calling on fellow unions to conferences boycott Scarborough. The struggle centres on the

'NUA

TUC

have • plans Tor conterences. In borough. ful one be asked: why has in conference towns? i ne lack sional misconduct and liable to be struck off! past the Health Unions have always defended the role of the GNC which they have tendea to regard as an im partial body. But while union leaders the capitulate _ or Dan boost pay beds, they have done nothing to fight the cuts in the NHS itself The Health Services Bill also seeks to make it statutory for Health Authorities- Districts -or keep expenditure within the limits as directed by Secretary State-therefore, • Health Telowine the read on in refusing to imple- Lambeth ment cuts would be committing making omence "liable individual members to prosecution. his comes al a le wnen lt alone 2,815 beds are due to be lost by March and ten : unions. never hospitals

CLONE

commerely management The reply of the

COHSE

NEC?

They have asked their members to fill in a coupon in to be sent to union members. Health Ministe Gerrard This followed Vaughan, protesting British armist lit Rail branches

CHES

ask Forv Cash ppoint m'onitors to register an afford to fulfil an agreement ollate the effects of the cuts consolidate the The fight must be pressed basic rates in every health service union for While union policy occupations stated their trike action to defeat the cut other alle alongside workers bring down to Tory government. With workers thousand Health Minister Vaughan streets to policies there. is plainly no lack of organised working class. bureaucrats and Labour leaders right

DON'T GO INTO

sective done prepared to

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

defence jobs dards,

TARTA

cratic rights These can only through policie from the independent interests of the working class, international To cain to lose from attempts to restore the profitability of their "own" a see dess

SOCIALIST

For a Please send me more details

GET

clear of the Workers lead in the League. struggle against wage control, cuts Name and redundancies Address. your cheque/P.O. to Socialist Press, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Send to:

WSL

mouth

NW5 1HR

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980

UNIONISE HOTELS

AND CATERING!

hotel industry where the GMWU spends tens of thousands for recognition of its pounds a year on conferences tressed option kich of funnelled into the pockets forthcoming it has appealed to viciously anti-union notches other trade unions to hold their ane caterers elsewhere Yet both the TGWU and the the Boiler. • Conted have repeatedly shown makers Society and the Womens adamantly opposed unemselve already to an all out national campaign canceled Scar- unionisation in this viciously exponed sector or workers.

The tactic is clearly a power- while supporting the GMWU's the Crown , but the question musi stand on ; it taken Hotel Tract many years for the GMWU and unionists must demand that this is made of . a serious orner unions to wake up to the need to unionise hotel workers struggle to bring trade unionism one or tne country socces and most profitable industries UnIon movement TGWU sold out Garners recognition strike Unions OK pay cut Leaders of the three rail ensuring, that the money noted for backdated to January 1 when the annual pay review their tenacity in the face of is settler railway attacks-have expect tha readers woo loa successfully. negotiated a £2 management their wages to keep in business one month per week wage cut for their will not scruple abandon • legitimate wage claims the next pleas from Instead of crawling to the tha because BR Board the

SHOUTO

limits it could not Have Drougnt torwara their pa' demands alongside the steel wiccast

HIEC

workers defence unel members' living standards.

leaders have

YOU SHOULD

JOIN US!.

dictions of the anarchic capital- by the ist force the wholesale the to taking and destruction of th oppose Tory society productive Torces only a socialist planned econ omy on a world scale offers a militancy the in way forward achieve such a berser Yet the existing trade unior tive leadership needed which, in today's struggles fights 'left'-have beyond advance workers trade union militancy protest fight in politics and illusions that capit stan living aulsin • can be abolished througr social services and demo parliament. The Workers Socialist be defended Leagui

TOISKVISI

move ment fighting day in and day Which start out to build such a principled which, leadership WOrKING class and internationally Britain and everything We all readers of Socialist

MOT

details of the wol and its work and to join us in the struggle for In a period where the contra- socialism

STILL AVAILABLE

Socialist

WSL MANIFESTO

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

NW5 1HR

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday 9 January 1980 Robinson fight puts AUEW EC on the spot The collaboration of the AUEW leaders in of victimisation BL combine committee chairman Derek Robin- son has brought a wave of revulsion from the membership in branches across the country. A staggering total of over 300

AUEW

branches have condemned the Executive's sell-out of the struggle. The number that have supported the Executive barely reach double figures. Over 100 branches have now endorsed a resolution originally passed by the Bir- Longbridge-dominated Northfields mingham Branch which states: "This Northfields Branch of the AUEW censures the

AUEW

Council Executive for: 1) Failing to defend one of their leading shop stewards; Brother Derek hold an immediate ballot on was victim- removal of the entire Koonson, ised by top BL Executive manage- Council as per completely un- ment in a Rule IS, para 3. constitutional manner, Were this resolution confiried by the local full- to be endorsed by around 250 time officiat Brother B.

AUEW

branches (10% • of Benson. the total), General Secretary 2) For failing to defend would obliged Boyd the most basic -hard won under rule to hold the ballot rights of their members-the on whether to remove the right to free speech. entire right wing Executive 3) For failing to support Committee. the thousands of members "who industrial Major blow had taken of that action in defence to make their strike right, Irrespective of whether official in spite of the unan- this ballot won the neces- imous full recommendation sary majority,

TWO-TOS

West Birmingham this would strike a major District Committee. blow at the authority of the 4) For dividing the trade right wing. union movement by instruc- Meanwhile, the ting their members to return uncritical reports in Social- to work by crossing the ist Worker are to be believed of official picket line 500 delegates have Oval another union. credentials for the

SOLICIA

national conterence Disrepute discuss the Robinson case, held due this We believe the Executive weekend There is no doubt how- Council has brought our that this into complete. dis- ever conterence

WHO'

repute and we therefore call comme ov Communist Party of which on the General Secretary to

AT. THE TOP...

UNION DUES

Not needed: another jamboree of standing ovations Robinson is himself a lead- ing member. The CP has intervened to oppose resol- the utions condemning for the Abcw Execulve sell-out, and encouraged Robinson to tour meetings speaking as it action to win his reinstatement is a fore- 'gone conclusion Yet the

AUEW

leaders have made it clear that their "inquiry" will report produced until the even be end of January. And chairman Michael Edwardes has dropped a broad hint knows the that he already report will criticise Robinson The chances seem to be on a deal being cookca will the

AUEW

that get leaders off the hook while stripped • Robinson of his elected trade union position. Conflict The struggle for official BL action throughout force Robinson's reinstate- must prepared therefore be

NIN TA SEE SRISS SEWLED:

AUEW

conflict with the bureaucracy would take such struggle forward no way for Sunday's conference to be turned into yet another jamboree of platitudes and standing ovations like that held in Birmingham Town [all onl days before the UEW sell-ou Instead, attention must turned means of be linking hostility the bitter within BL to the company's 5%-with-strings Insuillig pay offer to the struggle to defend trade union organis- ation through the reinstate- ment of Robinson And mass lobbies at the AUEW be aimed Executive to maintain the for all out official pressure strike action. Support for - Feb 18 The February 18 general strike called against the cuts Yorkshire ' the South by of Trades Association Councils is gathering a con- siderable body of support.

The Yorkshire Area NUM, stewards' and Sheffield shop expected to committees are back the call, which is explicit- attempts to forestall action until opposition 14-when many of the cuts May will area nave taken eurect This important initiative supported as the basis must for and further strike action occupations to stop the cuts.

Meanwhile there are signs unar ine conterence _ canet ov the Stalinist-run Liaison Com- mittee for the Defence of Trade Unions evene co wii one together large numbers for lead in militants looking struddles acainst the Tories No such lead can be expec- ted from the platform of the LCDTU-but should attend the conference where bringing for concrete action calling deteno union ronts ano ecreat the Tory offensive.

SHAT? ARE YOU THREATENING ME,

POMPOUS, BIG-MOUTHED HULE KUNI

WADDYA MEAN "TROUBLE"?

SION IT AND

Page l1 mUCZ

NUPE

says: 5% : allout agains insults ew pa

NUPE.

theLow PHOTO: Ian Mackintosh, IFL a says: Paic £60

NOW

Low pay demonstrators last winter Clegg no answer to low pay The fraud of "compara than industrial action to win bility'" exercises as a means Now the find that not even the promised of raising low wages has will materialise this once more been exposed by month-let alone a pay increase!

findings of the Clagg the commission into nurses pay.

I grades get a

* ME - USI

STEEL

settlement of 259 only a few the From back page percent from adequat into compensate compensate adequate to where convenors meet this week • or veers onlow wades to consider the company's 59 But nursing auxiliaries wage-cutting 4.3 take offering action ste receive only a alongside steel than the —14.40. rist-lai rate of inflation. And stucent workers are to get only a 17% Councils of action should be steel mic case TormeC Luit drawing delegates Trom Trao Blind alley union and political bodies to co.

• maximum support fo oralate Health unions and the Royal mass picketing and of Nursing, and seek to extend and College whose action directed aeneralise the struggle in comointe nurses into the blind alley of frontation with the Tory "comparability" in the first government. The Welsh TUC is correct to place. have now issued a chorus of hypocritical. condemnation.

call for general strike sortel But the fact is that in the and

NCB

against the local • closures: but this tight must be nealt. service authorities, the carried into the full TUC, with a any means o living call for all-out strike action achieving steelworkers through a sustained programme alonaside thi of strike action. • bring down tnis anti-union, jok This lesson must not be lost slashing, wage cutting, socia leaders have Tory govern Their service-wrecking on teaches been relying upon Clegg, rather Ment

(THIS IS NO TIME FOR YOUR MOCK HEROICS. SIDNEY.

O-ETA P

YAN TALK FOR TRELADS, SIR

Us OUT, SO SIGN THIS!!

271ATM

ANOTHER DEAFENING BLAST OF STEEL SOLIDARITY!

KEEMEN

SPREAD THE STEEL STRIKE!

BRING DOWN THE

Guerrillas shun 'peace' plan:

SOCIALIST

PRESS

TORIES!

As we go to press, a tility to this official sabotage workers; steel *the greater the contidence renewed attempt by was shown in the vote tor relec tion of these instructions by the will develop within the steel leaders sell union to Yorkshire Regional Committee unions that they have the power their strike has pay of the ISTC on Monday. crumbled result of and therefore the power to act defence and For the steel union bureau- their-jobs management's refusal offer cracy incee toe brosec or a workine conditions even token conces- "short sharp strike" is receding *the more steel workers and sions. rapidly, and all their worst fears of the working ather sections The strike; which has para- are denne caused.

KROW

class •Will arav . corica lysed that, the the longer the conclusion that living standards steel • DrooUCTIOn ane • strike lasts. of une shippe the dready.

'the chance of and jobs only be defended shiprents, already full scalé mass picketing, through bringing down the Tory classic mustaton o .cond- scare to recio!" covernment wada is ecce re diction between tate confrontation series of attacks on The Tory government and the state; And in draw the working class. the *the greater the chance that union leadership ana. the ing inis conclusion ane recur their class workers never snoozoor workers other sectol workers determined to defend their jobs particuarly those h Rail -wih British could also impatiently Lull and British and living standards. Leyland a0C1es . Vitor action on pay Labour leaders that oppose such Top level Take •Ine alongside the steel a perspective, would delight the officials ot the National union leaders more, mollising mp level solidarity than to achieve by a show mobilising. top race-saving • anion readers vation- which would . enable them ally and internationally, which call off become a considerable which successfully imposed a con- already blacking Sociat pontica emoarassment to them action-though steel

SLITI

But this is not the perspec- moving. tive of BSC management. But at the same time union Backed the Tories, sent out

HAST UCTIONS

that insisted to restrict the scope Corporation make itself profit- docks, stockholders, pickets on able by next April, they ano orivate steelworks. only overed Scargill of. And offer Arthur by additional forces to been

SUO DOTT

las rejected. Yet the rank and file hos- Scargill

WORKERS SOCIALIST LEAGUE

PUBLIC MEETINGS

In a clear indication of kind "democracy

NO SELL OUT OF THE STEEL STRIKE!

the ushered into Zimbabwe by

BRING DOWN THE TORIES!

settlement between imperialism the British

SHEFFIELD

Smith/Muzorewa regime Tuesday 15 January

MOTHERWELL

and Patriotic Front leaders, Station Hotel Monday 14 January Muzorewa last week called YMCA, Brandon St. on the Wicker for the Patriotic Front to be 7.00 p.m. 8.00.p.m. banned from the coming elections. pretext? His not all of them That

FUND

18,500 people, guerrillas, heeded nac! treacherous appeal from thei leaders to come out of the bust surrender Rhodesian state forces. Estimates suggest that up to The December Fund closed at £686.10, well 50% guerrillas of £750. Our allual short of thanks to our target remain

INCON

Denmark who generously vinced by the blandishments comrades in again of their leaders and diplomacy contributed to the fund and to an anomyous Mugabe and Nkomo. comrade who donated £60. The January Fund has got off to a slow start Weakness with only £106.50 received in the first seven days Muzorewa's moves against We are going to have to pull out all of the month. the PF clearly reflect a feeling the stops if we are to reach our target by the end of weakness run-up rally of January. electons Illass addressed by Salisbur All donations should be sent to: Sunday attracted a crowd Socialist Press Monthly Fund smaller on lar despite 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR campaign by his United African Published by Fobrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR tions to the initial derisory 2% increase, each alteration has been And related further allacks. or jobs conditions through productivity and strings InC craneca week agreement union leaders recognise that cannot send their they win nonnal 1t)% hough phas already i ginal claim already tor discaract out ganda purposes. The employers and the Tories i however recognise tha National Council. Meanwhile the British Lord Soames has dis- Governo patched remaining guerrilla units in the bush.

• Their enorts will be assisted by 2.000 South African troops have which British spokesmen statoncu inside Rhodesia at Beitbridge.

Little confidence The e success her dinger lares have herding large numbers Patriotic guerrillas into the thirty-nine collection points, provides them wart nue connaenet There is no doubt that con- siderable sections of the most and politicised guerrillas nave female l le bush with their weapons, thereby reflecting the wide- spread spontaneous opposition the imperialist-imposed which settlement, may respects is identical with the Smith/Muzorewa agreement of last year. Workers and militants within The ratmonic storE must mans form their abstention from the star in th settlement into imperialist apressive Suralony the defence of the independent interests of the Zimbabwean any real increase conceded ove and above the 2% would spur on tens of thousands more workers take up the tignt to detend their living standards a Welsh General HiTO strike called Tor JanuarTe protest at the impact of the steel closures, a sign of weakness trigger widesorcad struggles. Connected to jobs The militant response to the pay strike from even older workers at the "doomed" plants working class. While urging their comrades not to hand over their arms or collection points move to the unev masses by creating independent committees of the working class • in the factories on ule lanes. mines, townships and protec- of By making the defence the working class the iirst task of armed struggle, , tney wlli be able to protect the masses from intimidation and mobilise them around demands for democratic Looking for a way out-Bill Sirs 2

PER CENT

OFFICIAL STRIK

Pickets at Rotherham way in which this pay strike is each level to the connected issue onces It is essential that within the steel unions the fight is taken up or democraticany teetee strike committees have Water the final say on any offer made And ement ar in BSC reservation must be made condition settlement of this pay claim: jobs must not be sold In other sections of industry -particularly British Leyland, Cont'd p.11, col.6 the defence of living rights, standards and the expropriation 0l mil d capitanst noidng: the basis planned socialist eçonomy in Zimbabwe.

DY imperialist elections need _ the for a genuine constituent assem bly,

WILL

Suali for the whites and the free oper; ation of working class parties and by WOrKCIS S01l defence squads they able to prepare the Zimbabwean working class for the inevitable «truege ma ca ensue aner toe elections. Whatever black petty-bour- ov. ine election Tine need restore capitalis profitability will bring it into violent conflict with its vistwawe subbortels Struggle to take It is thus necessary the struggle now

TOT

ndependent organisation and class of the working

LCICSLS

threa order to when it comes mobilisation of the and workers in the towns struggle will always remain the the PF petty-bourgeois tool of