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American demonstrators in solidarity with struggles in El Salvador or a full discussion on the crisis of the world Trotskyist movemen discussion on the crisis of the world Speakers from the WSL and TILC Caxton House, St John's Way, Archway, London N.16.

Published by Folrose Ltd for the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX. Printed by Anvil Printers, London Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist League week's assassination of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero by rightwing terrorists was reputed in the bourgeois press to have taken the 'centre' out of Salvadorean politics.

In a fit of collective amnesia the 'serious' papers omit to say that Romero, despite his past as a reactionary cleric and his continued denunciations of violence, had been forced by events to side with the left, to denounce the junta, to exhort soldiers to disobey orders 'contrary to their conscience' and support "the struggle for liberty"

Romero was liquidated precisely because the "centre' had long disappeared and he, more than anyone else, embodied the radicalisation of the petty bourgeoisie as class conflict polarises and El Salvador reaches the edge of full-scale civil war.

Insurrection

In killing the prelate the right aimed to provoke the Popular Revolutionary Coordinating Committee fan alliance of the leftist, mass organisationsBPR; FAPU; L-28 and the UDN) into calling for an immediate insurrection, enabling the army to unleash its long awaited pogrom -its "pinochetazo"-and physically exterminate the left.

One small but critically important step along this path occured last Friday when rightists gunned down Juan Chacon, general secretary of the 70,000strong Popular Revolutionary Bloc (BPR).

Chacon, one of the prime movers behind the Coordinadora, was recognised as …a staunch opponent of the adventurism of the left; and one of the strongest advocates of the strategy of "prolonged people's war' Chacon was by no means a Trotskyist; influenced by the FSLN and the BPR's strong peasant base, his polities were those of petty bourgeois radicalism.

But there is no doubt that his personal bravery and commitment " to the struggle against imperialism deserves the respect of all revolutionaries.

Despite the death of over a hundred people last week and constant troop movements there *Reconstruct the Fourth Interna House, St John's Way, Archway, Tickets £1 not tional! sections London has been no call for an uprising.

The Coordinadora has instead declared itself on a "war footing" and brought its 300,000 union members out on an 8-day general strike.

Mobilise

This political action, like the general strike of March 17 in which 150 workers lost their lives, is intended to further mobilise the proletariat of San Salvador while the left builds up its military strength for the impending war.

While Cyrus Vance-with nauşeating false piety-repudiates the slaughter of Romero (in fact Vance is one of those primarily responsible for this VIr and countless other killings in the country, the imperialists are pouring in military aid to the Junta long before the official credits of $7 million receive the formal support of Shiny new tanks are much in evidence in the city and US mobile training teams (MTTs) continue to direct the white terror' ('agrarian reform) in the countryside.

Even the Sunday papers have now felt constrained to make nervous references to Vietnam.

Cuban arms?

Washington has attacked Cuba for shipping arms to the left through Honduras-but the Junta itself has denied this, and there is little evidence that Castro has performed this elementary internationalist task.

Equally • the FSLN leadership, which itself received minimal military support from inside the Constituency Labour Parties could be felt at the Conference held by the Labour Committee on Held in Islington on Saturday 29 March, the conference attracted delegates from CLPs and other visitors.

Jock Stallard MP led the discussion with particular reterence to the 1921 Labour Party Commission on Ireland which recommended a clear _ sell-determination position (long since abandoned for Tory policies of imperialist brutality).

Stallard correctly pointed out the massive discrepancy, not to say hypocrisy, that has separated Labour policy on say Guatemala from that on ireland.

The 1921 policy followed on from the policies of self determination accepted a year earlier by the Independent Labour Party, and the Scottish TUC, and achieved by mass campaigning.

This led to even the Parliamentary Labour Party demanding troops out and for a Constituent Assembly. 'The current PLP must take such a stance" demanded Stallard.

In the ensuing debate, a Socialist Press supporter took issue with such a perspective.

'The Labour Party is already committed to Clause Four and all kinds of wonderful things in principle, but never in practice. This " is not a question of developing and updating Labour's policies, but involves making a complete break with its anti-socialist and imperialist record.

"Mr Callaghan at election meetings, refused to discuss Ireland and accused hecklers of being paid to disrupt"

Sanction busting

He reminded delegates of the record of sanction-busting in Rhodesia, supporting the Shah of Iran and in Ireland its removal of political status for political prisoners, its concentra tion camps, Diplock Courts, torture, murder, censorship and computer files, etc.

"It is a question of identifying with the oppressors or the oppressed: it is crucial that we fight for troops out now", he stressed.

In summing up, Stallard claimed to support the troops out now' demand, but argued that the conferencé had to initiate a debate and be sophisticated enough to agree to just one settle for an and therefore policy or withdrawal"

When the issue was raised in the form of amendments to the LCI Draft Statement of Aims and then the Draft Model ResolWSL in Tı inclu Box. position was emphatically endorsed by various delegates including all the speakers from the Troops Out Movement.

"We must campaign on what we can win!" exhorted one delegate from Battersea North CLP to the TOM's explicit approval.

However in the vote on the "troops out now, of Aims, the won by 38 votes to 31. [Only Labour Party members were allowed to votel.

Lost

But the same policy was lost on the vote for the Model Conference Resolution by a wider margin.

With other agreed amendments the LCI Statement of Aims concluded with the following demands:

*A break with bipartisanship.

* An end to partition.

*Greater understanding of the views of Irish labour.

*A policy and commitment by the next Labour government to the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all military and economic involvement in Ireland.

*Opposition to the policy of criminalisation of Irish political prisoners, and support for their campaign for political status. Opposition to repressive legislation measures like the PTA.

This conference represents an historic turning point on the question of Ireland within social democracy, and the massive political gains made against ım perialısm must be brought home to every section of the labour movement.

Particularly, Labour Party GMC's must endorse the campaign with resolutions for next Labour Party Conference.

*Troops out now!

TURKEY NOTHER Gr pamphlet on the situation ırkey. Available, price 30p ling p&p, from WSL, BM ;277, London WCIV 6XX.

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Liaison Committee Public meeting Saturday 12 April at 2.30

LIBERTAD TUAN CHACON Y SU FAMILIA

NOW OUT