Socialist Press no. 195

AT LEYLAND?

PRESS

Affiliated to the Trotskyist International Liaison Committee

WHY DID

EVANS

SELL OUT

There have been few humiliating betrayals recent years to match last week's capitulation of Moss Evans to Michael Edwardes.

Within 4 nore ot theki management threat to sack any carworkers still on strike after Wednesdav Aon. 23. Evans thi talking leader of the ett' million strong

TGWU,

was on his knees pleading for arsettle ment. He emerged from the talks 'having given in to management

OS N

•on every iront. ano caling for an end to the strikes by 18,000 were reatening bring the whole of BL Cars Lo a lat Encouraged "work constructively" with the umons and to drop is treat to The sack strikers on April 23.

week Yet in withdrew the sacking threat: from oTeSSure his members BL, had Etal actually encouraged return work strikes by before Wednesday

SUD DOE

plant or section that took • sacknes. against Edwardes' 5%- The question asked by with-strings pay package.

is why Evans' miitant speeches I a succession o mintant statements, Evans went so far as drop ding or managements 92- that surrender on the Thursday.

even still leave the 5% pay offer as an Leading the pack

DOOK

issue in dispute. Yet face of BL's Why did threat of appeared so different to Duffy

SUCKLES

collapso ike a prcked balloon and emerged with the Hallar cullet which: accepted. the unchanged leaders who last week signed the that deal conditions would become document? "status quo" in any subsequent aude disputes. precisely that "Agreed a ten day discussion trade union period for the introduction of simply major changes, the within the capitalist system are in a shee would ne tref pursue their own course of international slump action-including defend management the imposition of changes. merests or mier members. m exclane. avans crimed management had promised to the falling rate

SOCIALIST

Weekly paper of the Workers Socialist League * No. 195 * 23 April 1980 * 20p

TUC

CAMPAIGN

ANO SOCIRL ROVANCE

Evans sounding off with a left' speech driving the emplovers OnLO offensive against the working class fact Edwardes never Wholesale rationalisation, all plant, COSuTe oI Introde speed-up and redundancies are was agreea was inal li a took place being carried through at a break- there would

пCCK

Testore "viable" levels of profit at the expense of the workforce now being thousands of workers This already under- DOCess. way under the Labour govern- to abject ment, has gathered pace under Ted Thatcher's gang ol bankers and strippers, who see the crea assel pool ton ot s z million unemployed as means f disciplining and breaking th Evans-who stengel or tne working class prime target for this AnO his fostering of resistance to treatment has been BL, the only British car manufacturer.

leading the pack of 11 union ane car mouserv internation- ally faces a major crisis • as a accepted the 92-page result the slump world trade and fierce collection over the remaining markets.

answer to this question Labour and leaders who seek Chrysler peried of The impending bankruptcy and crisis to of Chrysler USA. and billion Ford, along with massive layoffs and closures in the US motor Throughout British industry indus- profit is indicate try the scale of the Leyland workers march against closure Asset-strippers: Josepl: and Edwardes problem. As such BL is both a iest-bed for strategy to tame and available" pay offer. Crust

• UNIONS.

crucial element in their fight to restore the profitability of the leadership the British engineering industry as a Will last whole redundancies, Profit their had Enev precipice' Yet reformist leaders like th nrougn Evans and Duffv start out from thousallus the need for accentance Jobs be saved production to be based not on Yet social need but They accept that the employers have the "right" to a is continuous of the profit-at workne class cycly sacrince They will not even challeng every figures the which like Edwardes employers base their blackmail.

their appetite for more ing demands. It is no accident that Evans Opposition emerged from Edwardes declaring that: want maintain • The 'we interests British motor manufacturer.

We employers will do all we properly. Come ter 11101 BL Cars Think me hove and living stalluarus From the documents shown Yet him by BL management, Evans and trade

MAY DAY

MARCH AND RALLY AGAINST

THE CUTS

Assemble 1.00 p.m. Malet Street, London WC1 Thursday May 1 March to Hyde Park for rally Duffy decree himself more ed they continue to peddle the illusion money common interest in which management and workers are united His words echoed those of Hence luwu kecore the for instance last week, gave over free page to packed advert an Edwardes' demand for 25,000 import and informed drawn up by BL management!

scandalised members that "seen over the Collaboration and only sallilice The reality is that far more could any o1 joos British jobs have been lost from the collaboration between unior reality is that the capitalist crisis is an ongoing and employers IvauCIs annu been wiped out by tnan nave "foreign" competition speed-up and to rationalisation Indeed it is only through the struggle against the anarchy and As recent years have proved, exploitation the capitalist retreat, ever system both in Britain and inter concession to employers nationally, and the fight ior a simply whets planned cocaist economv tha the interests the working 01 class can be defended. Evans inke his felow TUC bureaucrats has proved time and against such a hight! again that stands firmly the anel Nor is it onv in Bi that he has opposed the mobilisation o interests the full strength of th working working class in defence of jobs class in struggle against the Tory reformist Labour Continued back page leaders

MIDDLE EAST CAULDRON OF

ANTI-IMPERIALIST STRUGGLE

Page 2

- INTERNATIONAL•

The effects of the libera.

struggles in Palestine tion and the anti-imperialist fer- ment in Iran on the world balance of forces have been seen in developing violence the entire Middle East BIll region, and in the changes in international politics that come in their train. The brutal murder on Friday tact x Abriar orvetes banell and Smallhorne from the Irish army serving with the UN forces has served in some way to bring home the character of the forces.

at work in Southern Lebanon at the moment. The fact that these men were not only sexualy assaulted and thrown into but also ditch, were Westerners has done something to increase the horror in certain quarters at what has been going they there. However, say' not in any way artercu lne dally of such murderous incidents. 'Christian militias' 'Christian so-called militias of Major Saad Haddad which operate extreme racialists, and reaction- elements with attitudes openly adopted from European These people who take on the very phrases and postures of the Spanish falange and the Nazi actually •alc and supplied trained Imancca. the Israelis. They could not by exist ouncr wise collaboration with SuCh fascism is of course not new for the Zionist movement. however, LIlS ties in with the desperate efforts Palestine to bolster itself against regime occupied pressure by any imperialists and the Egyptian • petty bourgeoisie with the Palestinians and mise the Arab bourgeoisie generally.

The Israeli invasion of South Lebanon on Apru and In attacks on murderous refugee camps and elsewhere are Pne desperatel o thee in desperately weak Begin regime to expand the power the Zionist state in the negotia- tions with the Egyptians and the Jerusalem his latest Four Us on the same day TrOI visit to the the Irish soldiers, made Begin hold ce it be acres the city of Jerusalem, grabbed in the war of 1967, and to all the other so-called occup territories' taken time. traqi hangman Hussein Zionist leader Beigin with Carter in New York For Begin the poncy for the Palestinians' "autonomy. means setting up in the territor- 1967 elective occupied bodies with rather sess. DOWel than English local councils at the moment the However, Zionis 'even allow elections ot mayors in the area. Inis is occause. uicy well that those would most elected their vigorous •boonels and supporters of the liberation move- Palestinian ment. Such attitudes are typical of the Zionist method of negotia- when they are tion, particularty under Dressure rom ue movi to make concessions to ialists the Arab bourgeoisie of regime Sadat whose ideas about Pales autonomy? correspond closely the form of 1510/1- South African bantustan, is also "Good riddance to the the layabouts, the loafers, lumpen and the scum.' Havana in the last two weeks has echoed to that apolitical and crowds nyster Ical which have been bureaucratical- ly mobilised and demagogically aroused by Fidel Castro and the Cuban Stalinist leadership.

epithet has Another dousive frequently . been added - queer one or two of the -though, as less uncivilised bureaucrats have conceded challenged, when well as bad good homosexuals as "there are this recipients 1s,000 Cubans I ne who for two weeks have picked themselves into a tiny area-the Servant cultuassy reportedly grounds-under barbaric hygenic Con• tons the possibility of a way seeking out of Cuba to the USA a any capitalist country Lall America. Bizarre It is pacier to' exoal wily the 10,000 have sought to-use Latin American tradition of the country's embassy thanto excan way Cuban leadership has allowed the bizarre event The 10,000 are self-evicently enemies of the Castro regirne.

and the hostages crisis in wal they have support from some sections of the bourgeoisie in ine Arao countries This they aim to do in part through concessions Palestinians-which they cannot easily wring from their Zionist proteges Despite the great propaganda taunting value • might of American imperta means of the holding of the the confused and hostages divided leaders of the iranian Revolution have consistenty the political limitations shown of their stand against imperial ismAt the end of March, launched another bloody of it a in thick dishs of Iran, Kurdish villagers are said to have been killed April, similarly During reactionary and chauvinist cam- paign has been developed by the the basis mann or vr of their traditional rivalries with ra The sharpening of the propa- ganda battle against Iraq Is part aimed to deny democratic - Israel hat conces- desperate Arab minority in sonne and in part to bolster th sions. from might appear to show benefits for the disintegrating

'LIC

Palestinians Iranian state itself by whipping Not only has Sadat become up anti-foreign sentiments.

the outcast of the Arab world; definite signs of grow- Ba'athist agents internal opposition to regime. Already a number of violent Egyptian authorities The have been incidents in Tehran within the last week attributed to "Kaainist agents announced the breaking, up of and the General Secretary of the the umpteenth 'communist con- Islamic Republican Party, , which spiracy' to overthrow them.

has the largest number of seats have shot dOWn forthcoming Tanial provided the has assembly. presence of the following analysis. down country, handed ano allied ISrael is, notegie but prison sentences , inose to Israel, nothing months ago involved manipulated the puppet against. rising cemnonsulations United States food prices. *The Baathists have always For the United States, the used revolutionary phrases course much stakes counter-revolu- their their apparent With Cove ar nonet. face of the impotence mn le Already in the 50s and 60s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Black hole of Havana that there are only 3,000 in the Some are dispossessed petty- opposed to the bourgeois layers, others workers which other tired of material shortages: 400 ex-political observers agree. prisoners recently released; and But it does not explain the decision remove surprising are certainly sections Cuban society persecuted by the the embassy guards in the Tirsi no doubt autors wanted for criminal activities by the police. Repression They tomic situation are worsening economic and an intensification of police a new repression unde of the interior, Ramiro Valdez.

ed them pete for a pretext use• unem series of hysterical mass mobilis.

ations in which hatred is a sub- stitute for and 'queers in 1 NE have their uses for Castro's hary- in this wa em bassy pressed bureaucracy nonetheless, what

• DUE LC

views, bear Thest that buria to ther 20 years bureaucracy over 20 years widespread discon To cuate tent-in : the fact that hundreds thousands people in a similar position have leave since the open allower revolution of 1959. Remove guards explains why . the bureaucracy continues to insist SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 23 1980 thousands of citizens of Iranian they supported American imper- and Arab origin. Nasse 1218m of Something of the spirit nationalism. une Iraqi campaigni •can the trying to provoke the overthrow statement of gathered from republic. of the Islamic President Saddam Hussein on 5 become the ,Bagaad April that centre of all the activities of the in Bagdad attempts were part supporters of the Shah and their of the efforts by the Khomem American allies." avenge The appeal of the Ayatollah Kaddishieh Chirazi was clearer. He told anti took place in arans he Persians.

This imperialist demonstrators that with Iraq, dispute Persians against the Iranians feeling: Similar of the wishes have been built up by the arrest over the forces of the devil."

of the Shi'ite Muslim In Iraq, meanwhile, the reac- •Wal Mohammed al eace tion not been any JeSS Baki al Sadr. chauvinist. Large demonstrations and The Iraqi regime has its own reported from strikes with the Kurdish minority war Lebanon on 15 April as a result and its own internal dissentions.

of this arrest, and the consistent Recent attempts to assassin- but yet unfounded rumours vice-president Aziz ate that have been routinely killed. the Iranians, but they Considerable difficulties are come from the methods regular faced by those hav employed Baathist decided to support one or other settle anti-imperialis covernmena section their own differences petty bourgeoisie. Meanwhile the isolation.of If like Gerry Healy's News so-called 'Stead the Iraa tron uncritically sup- line vou have fastness Front' of Lybia, Syria, Al has at cased roblem dealing with the rivalne also caused problems for those who do not t appear to between them is to ignore them much to aid the in your paper • Going SO. are likent Sotte bureadacy the other hand, you Palestinians Iraq's only response to the recent conference of the 'Stead- weight and its decision Lestess roll set UD a

CEVU

the 'poipt Syria stronger -at has been

CXM

Popular Democratic Front from Iranians. The anti-colonialist struggles Daguau the Palestinians and section of the PLO anti-imperialist and the claims …gonerenci Iranian Marxism-Leninism' used mobilisation work very closely with the Iraqi people continues to scare every and upset imperialist authorities calculations of every bureaucrat.

Faced with these difficulties the Iraqi regime has built up an It is only the fight to present policies revolutionary anti-Persian campaign which has socialism and mobilise the work.

definite racist undertones.

• battles that Not only have there been ing casts their bellicose noises on the question will eventually of islands in the Gulf seized by success. the Shah in the early 70s. There -Free- been widespread expulsions from Iraq of many Uruguay prisoners allowed the place which URUGUAY (population 2½ retucees to enter million) holds 34,000 politica The situation suggests that surprised I prisoners in its jails. It ha: i beer Castro number of those who rushed to estimated that fifty one seize what they saw as a chance Uruguayans have passed througt the dictatorship's prisons Tory Tine covereil Britain has refused to gran prisoners an many to Visa. dange from orners repression The Committee for Human has callec Uruguay Riahts individuals, particular community groups, trade union , etc., to adopt prisone orantics and Alma Rodriquez Vignan press for her to be allowed into this country Jailed for seven years, Alma has been severely torturou Although embassy British staff told her in prison that the British government was doing al her release

CONGTO

Timothy Raison, Home one said on • March 10 that he had "reluctantly decided not to give her a visa". The Uruguay Committee is for adoptions calling Ridley Nicolas minister or to the Home Office fo America details from the Further Committee for Human Rights it Cambride Terrace Uruguay, 1 4JC NW1 or Solidarity Americar 107 Harehills Avenue, Leeds Castro

Turkish workers fight French state racist law SOCIALIST PRESS, ednesday 1 pri 23 1980

•INTERNATIONAL

24-day strike by Turkish and Kurdish workers Paris has focussed widespread atten- tion on the plight of illegal immigrants in France. Tne seventeen nunoe. strikers-'travailleurs sans papiers' (literaily 'workers with-

OUL

vaucls were protestinc nor oniv tor the riant to nave work permits but also about the conditions of super exploitation carment ana lanorino industry which employs a high Paris's 8,000 Turkish community. High fashion behind. Parisiar ine reality 'high fashion' and typical of the conditions which exist in the multitude of overcrowded. one- room sweatsnops, are a working of tr5 co urs and payment day 10 francs articles which will be sold at 500 francs.

baokground of declining markats and falling profits the industry Wilni Comelic lu intensify the employers' offen- siv the larger capitalists look these smaller production for ways to force out ot busi.

UnItS Though London's Comeriors

WICA

east undercut their operations.

textile industry raids and depor- As they turn to the tations are becoming increasing- govern- ment step-up in Paris things alt couy dl t harrassment JOULIne on a much bieder. scale immigrant grants, Inis nas iet internation. w thin a szege ally to fresh attacks on workers population, the French state's

TROTSKYIST INTERNATIONAL LIAISON

COMMITTEE

INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL

TROTSKYISM

AND THE MASS

MOVEMENT

Eight days of lectures and discussion on basic questions of Marxism and the fight to reconstruct the Fourth International.

JULY 20-27 1980

*TROTSKYISM AND THE TRADE UNIONS: USA in the 1930s. France in the 1930s. The postwar struggle to build Trotskyist parties in the working class.

*TROTSKYISM, STALINISM AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY.

struggle for the Fl against Stalinism in the 1930s.

the Lessons period of entry into social democracy in France and the USA

*TROTSKYISM

AND THE FIGHT AGAINST SEXUAL

OPPRESSION.

*TROTSKYISM AND PETTY BOURGEOIS NATIONALIST

MOVEMENTS

*THE FIGHT FOR A TROTSKYIST YOUTH MOVEMENT

*RECONSTRUCT THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL

Evening mootings on additional topics, films and social avonte. The school will be attended bv delegations from the to the TILC and members of the Hunkarons attilaten

WSL.

SL to ciak i artin ie discu sion and earn more about the

WSL

take part in the discussion and learn more about the WSL and the TILC. Details are available from any WSL branch or from: WSL.

3M Box 5277 London WC1V 6XX Cast: £12 including accomodation for the eight days.

cheap ucar wuu de eroveeo ar lunch time ano there will h.

a pooled fare arrangement. Creche facilities.

SP leader Mitterand visits the hunger strikers latest racist moves have been through the Bonnet notorious •Lavis passee in ine MOOlE year the hast ane named atter Minister of the Interior Chris- tian Bonnet. They are a familiar package for mE oato ov rm- arants witn barticular emonasıs on denying the right to political and activity giving sweeping on

DOVVCT S

exousion 'security' grounds. The system policed by a vast back-up recudnyud- datea computerised Ties It was a French TV 'expose' of conditions the capital's Lanot ne mestv vcar the hunger strike beginning in a small church in mid-February.

Additionally, aeCIsIOn Was Tne hurkish join the Socialist Workerc Party-led CFDT trade union.

Harmless With sections of the media latching on to what seemed a protest. public laiby natiess ity began to grow. of Barre government's increasing embarr- the assment over ene Issue was despatching the vigil of Labour Minister Lionel Stolern widely hated for his imposition ana rerinemen ou me bonnet Laws. Stolen's tactics were defuse the struggle with offers

AN DO

of work permits and documents and to the 17 participant: oromis symoatneti consideration for other 'deserv- ing cases! It was the throwing out of these proposals and the strikers' insistence rights TEll safected thar led to a major escalation SuNOL As welt as a strike commit tee, supporters' group had this and now mushroomed

. OULCIS

organisations pledging assis- tance Trade union and press cover- age boomed with reports on the

SANITAITE

SIGTH

* front pages of Turkey's daily papers. T kept its wisch ce, ib egan its distance. began delega- senolno nen-bowerer tions of bureaucrats to oversee operations. Careerist 'left' deputies from ine socialist rarv touont identify themselves with the strikel wite and chidren along bringing as well Not to be outdone, SP leader Mitterand himself paid a visit.

Bigger premises were found cope The Turkish new the com- demands. Their new-found confidence ensured enthusiastic supoort fol a campaign of mass leafletting of the city centre and Metro Seizing the opportunity to Page 3 capitalise this movement, enhanced by its main supporters

CFDT

organised a public within the Cotan) navili. meetme i support inree Thousand crammed into the hall, with a thousand But strike's leadership une more unable to get in. problems did prevent the not The mood of the maltanl relection covera ment attempt crush the meetine was summe uo oy toe slogans shouted -All or nothing!

action. We will win, by force if we have It was proposed that a work- party 10 ! enquiry Shoue oe Thousands took established to be composed of the streets solidarity government ministers, and rep- demonstra- the tus taoun une larkisa areas resellatve. «ГОЛ

SLEIKE

committee, the

CEDT

ot central Paric the Within itself, employers-and Turkish strike the changes were taking ambassador to France ace. ne pro-maoist forces pulled out to Correctiv seeino it as a civer sion, the strikers refused e t tio the dropping accept demands as a precondition and tnel subsequent boycott meant it never got off the ground by and exhaustion were making the nunce SIrKe OTTUl confirmation the continuing support and growing political character of the move- ment iu nao cenerated came ald benefit rally called in solidarity with exiled Chileans. Internationale Again, thousands of Turkish workers and their families the out and Lurlico ended with chants _oT bowI with Pinochet! Venceremos! and singing of the Internation- On March the strikers decided to call off their action.

statement from Stolern on the government's position auscdita lwo weeas lalt contents were recidi i i Thani wisen de vaste- ambiguous evasive anouade. une messade was cied -there would be no real conces sions on the granting of work begin their own hunger strikt flop) and conflict and divisions began to appear.

in tine witn ine covernment Clashes in the Strike Com aims to 'reform' the industry mittee and its support commit- letter referred repeatedly tee centred on moves to accom- to the Labour Law and a host oi and tall-end otner legisiation CFDT bureaucracy. Its stress on the need to strictly impose Health and Meanwhile the Communist Party-dominated union

CGT

Safety aimed reculdtlorl. increased its attempts to gain •oviousv aisqualitying ini influence vast majority of workers ; who Just as in May 1968 it had have alternative their initially dismissed the students tenement room workshoos struggles as 'ultra leftist', Insisting on these provisions their first reaction to the Turks' automatically excluded these protest to brand tron worker: oele euvel gauchist' and ignore it. employment contracts by the bosses, yet • having contract vesperate to make up tor this bad miscalculation they was made an absolute conditior even -by or bisk invoke the • ove tora work oermit authority the Stolen's letter wound up by Mids. in Turkey run by sayit uthe prodem mad corian trace union Stalinist counterparts in their that country wav arier indications of a th The CP's : credibility among Turkish emigres had not been dency sections leaders worKers • LO Comoroms WItT UnIo oureauerar were confirmed at the meetin salled to conside the statemen The workers had elected 35 shoo stewaros as themr reoresen tatives and these were joined by former strikers bureaucrats from the CFDT • Although the meeting ended without clear decisions, any significantly only morIL) comed str sely tt that complete . their demando truggl •now for principled leadership within th group of workers. Formerly their turn to T castormer Uniont HACUITEX textile workers sec- tion from little more thar inactive rump into a potentially strona torce ot thousanor But to take things any furthel demand head-on • the collision WIt retormisi bureaucracy who aim to strangle the workers' independence effectively be Cannot done fight sharo WItBOUI amongst the workers themselves against the confused petty-bourgeois who up

TAH.

• DOINT

anel Demonstrators in support of hunger strike struggle political leadership.

Students' union in conference.

REFORMISM ON THE ROCKS

AVENGE BLAIR PEACH:

BRING DOWN TORIES!

Page 4 duck out of any campaigns not With a display of leader- relating ship rarely seen since the problems General Custer demise ot reasons TOl such a blank cheque for retreat Left Alliance

NUS

TENe were obvious. Unfortunately for arrived at Blackpool bereft newly elected Stalinist President of policies but hell bent on David Aaronovitch enforcing control. assortment of The motley alread Stalki outside wing labourites tine Stalinists, right and "Young Liberals talking shop. who came together to form the from the sought Lent Amance beginning of the conterence to commit NUS to tne political equivalent of suspended anima- WIth

LION

from duly taken all the maving sabbatical posts on the first day Imperialism they then proceeded to railroad through on a card vote a motion Jimmy Aely mounting which erective a te c Support Chix mass picket the The link between laws. However, unorganised of struggle pointed out by especially and the fight cajoled immigrants, Employ- the Tory against ment Bill ing their other attacks. made at a House of Commons lobby the government this week. load coach CoiX families made workers and their the lobby though it was be resolved. up called by the Camden Com- for Community millet Relations as a "mass lobby" Under high Spirits are Cically the strikers who among Nave governel, picketing the bubblegum major • strike Of ocen factory in Slough for six months betrayed. now. At the meeting in the plush The committee room. strike Mohammed Yassim detailed the agreed with tarily to conditions strike-such as low wages of 950 DIcKets an hour for the women, no sick Joan Lester by pay nor pension scheme, etc.

this pointed Mohammed Anwar that if supportive pickets arter arunwicks

OUL

Employ- are outlawed ment Bill, strikes such as at Chix point. ponsibility would be impossible to sustain, most strikers and la Doul especial y are continually mobilise are women wi support harrassed by the bosses. win the most assured the meeting. to that they would con- pickets, call tinue defiance of the law. Prosecution learned some things past bitter struggles. The their Also picketing Support weak. such as the cash and carry in Hayes and the Holly- stop A VICTOry wood warenoust stories of of Chix and LITt immigrant, its products Coule them to prosecution canised a so open unions. under this Bill. the "You can't se parale Employment Bill trom move- More attacks d stated Jim Thakoordin of ment the GMWU Education Depart- ment. man Park, Slough. He placed it in the •ConteXE 1971 Immigration of the Act the use of the SPG and the SUS

AT BLACKPOOL

students it was from overseas only a matter of time before the "students' whole house of cards began to wanting cave in. day the tne happened, and the inevitaole the bankrupt retormists found their Executive blank and before their politics was corridors eyes After a graphic description hall chandeliered treatment meted of the ready to gatecrash their peacetul prisoners in OUt Ireland from Liz Lagrua and Marie Louanrar Pressure Against Imperialism, a Women move was made to hold a collec- campaign. guest speakers booked tion towards their NUS executive this the strike, Chix Ine could stomach no more. Friends of Blair Peach, Women denounced Pearmain the the whole campaign in defence and Campaign, 5! political prisoners pressure IRA conspiracy" and said be ourselves cannot associated with this. the ensuing uproar unofficial collection went ahead in defiance of the platform and the Left Alliance, facing a split conference were left helpless.

That evening, at their caucus meeting, after a series of dreary apologies for their inability in the colleges, base Dulla any Alliance split the Len had • to De a speaker from the floor that the Tories cannot InTO Employment Bill or of abandon- ago six known A year thugs carried out an organ- The urgent task was to kick West attack ised gang out, using May London, clubbing to death a 14 as the first shot in this fight.

young teacher-yet no arrest This was not to say that the struggles for unionisation would has yet been made. The thugs were part of the Betrayed Special Patrol Their attack was on anti-fascist the last LabouT young teacher, murdered for example, the blow to the head from a weapon 18 months was Blair Peach. the union at Garners had been had Cover-up TGWU leadership cabotaged the struggle and even the cover-up by Coolet The the number shielded nas murderer: and the police license responded kill has been underlined saying the outcome of the inquest into that LabouT should have brought in new laws Jimmy Merseysiat mall Liddle Towers and Tynesider This completely missed the both of whom died in CUSTOd The real issue is the res after receiving savage violence at of the trade union the hands of the police to leadership Meanwhile the Tory govern- their come to memoersi ment weak, isolated sections once implementing its electoral basic right of pledges to increase spending on the police and army, and relying It is this which has led to on these rebressive defeate ottoo steers have uphold their planned anti-union Chix strikers have laws and racist legislation as well from mass pickets maintain existing harassment of employer working class youth. now very the mass picket. the security corner UnIC Send money to the strike curtain that shrouds now will give the surveillance and phone Layout network has been lifted-reveal- bit intost to the paid utor paid, unor ing a central monitoring unit in trade into concon Witn simultaneously 10,000 telephones. More than protest from information support and dona- tions to: M. Anwar, 271 Good- conditions the Under of the mopter of Blair Peach murder of balT requires far more than even the the left. The 'more question of overseas students Tees.

YOUR LOCAL

Crumbled Under intense pressure from Turkish students Aaronovilen the Executive was argued that right to remove all reference to Emergency action tron Motion on Overseas Students attacks on other as his and students present became more crumblec neiling to follo the logic o the Aillance his bankrupt politics overseas resull, students motIon wvd. on the final day ove age of time" But when Ireland was finally Conference debated

LINE

majority voted to condemn the of Republican despite Armagh, orisoner. rabid attacks on the Republican movement from Tories and Lett Alliance alike. Jubilant The conference trumpeted its victory over the new readersus The exposure of the reform- mass protest that will certainly be mobilised on April 27.

The Tory government have already shown themselves to be impervious to protest: they are the acute by driven of the British economic crisis capitalist class. There is no way allies of in wnich Incy bodies weakening OT men that form the back- armed The bone of their power the April 27 supporting the demonstration Socialist League Inne polities the Friends orotest vague orotes clauses Peach' or the pacifist Anti Nazi League state fascist fight againsi the violence and the struggle for the of the police disbandment the standing army both point to the necessity to develop workers Kelly squads based on and answerable to the labour move.

cerence ment. Labour leaders the But at the same time to end organised fight violence demands mass working action to bring down the and drive out Labour's orle right wing leadership wing-led and Labour's Мет1 Executive National Whic officially backing the April march, has offered no challenge hatever to then Home Secre Rees-who Merlyr nas Tar y subsequently spoken out critici- sing Bristol police for not being to more aggressive in their response mass clashes with recent to The and workers in the St youth Pauls area. leadership prepared Only to struggle for • the independent warking of the police appardiu: mobilisation class and a workers government wing expected want • reaci fight: serious struggle for the disband- SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 23 1980 a political struggle against the ist leadership was not, however, present leadership. due to any principled stand by 'Socialist Student And mutely . on remained Alliance' the side-lines unable, despitt paralysis of the Left the clear SWP's student Coroul real any confined itself to another round organist A lance struggle speeches around an alternativ militancy programme. which offered no perspective for

ANNIVERSARY OF SOUTHALL

PICKET

DISBAND THE SPG

WEDAPR 23m

POLICE STATION

DEMONSTRATION

SUN APRI 27%

Arch nble lom S March vie Scotland Yard to Roll

REMEMBER BLAIR PEACH

Police in action at Southall for of the ment of even a section of the CoUTS them. workers

TES

'left' talkers selves whether the It is clear that Labour's right are prepared to put forward any opposed lo

SUCH

necessary in in alternative

BEHIND CARTER'S

SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 23 1980

WAR

AN IMPORTANT POLICY

SWITCH

The very series of events followed that have the Soviet invasion of Afghanis- tan at the very end of 1979 indicate a substantial shift of policy by the imperialists in their moves to repress the growing tide of revolution- ary and national struggles.

this shift taken Why has place? (...) The Soviet invasion AIgnanistan-wnich ance long been 1955 has clearly influence as a surprise intelligence networks well must have been aware, a vance. such a major military operation) dramatic change in the nor as a ‹ But it ala serve to undere unmistakeably 'the relative political and military weakness and it offered the US imperialists in particular for launching a large- a pretext ideological offensive scale aaest une dovet mon as une back-drop to a major military build-up. was the dramatic and Ta0e worsenng or ene overal plight • of imperialism in contain struggle to masses or a wone scale. lalner lan cre specific events in Afghanistan, which has caused a substantial by top military and political chiefs, and precip- itated the latest "turn" Indeed, though 1979 saw the mass struggles that toppica the •nan as a manstay imperialist strategy the Gulf Somoza US imperialism's chosen despot Nicolasua past year must be understood in relation back the chain of events the launching Nixon and Kissinger of the none or detente mn tae earl 1970s. and even as far as the massive revolutionary upheavals

OI S08

The class battles of May- 1968 France and of 1968-9 in Italy, together with the macg Czechoslovakia that was crushed by the Stalinist invasion in 1968 served

SICILE

both. Tne importantly, the Stalinist bureaucracies long break-up of the TAne post-war economic DOOm uneasy balance of piss forces forces class unleasy Valalice estan ished on Yalta, Potsdam and Tehran and reestablished in agreements, of the the wake so in the promine both is.

proletariat Coultie and in the cetormed workers states called for new measures political an chanence m wmen revolution or

COLD

OFFENSIVE

We reprint in these four pages an abridged version of the document Behind Carter's Cold War Offensive, which formed the main resolution on International Perspectives at the recent Fourth Annual Conference of the Workers Socialist League.

Principal sections omitted from this version are: a historical account of the initial 'Cold War' period of the 1940s and 1950s; a statement of the WSL's published position on Afghanistan (which has already appeared in Socialist Press); and an examination of the mounting economic and political crisis of the Stalinist ruling bureaucracies in the USSR, Europe. Asia and Cuba political revolution would be

STALINIST CRISIS

m a last-ditch were uneasned. following the posed. bid by imperialism to stem the : of mass struggle in Czechoslovak invasion had Pooren sales period at rio I of crisis semi-colonia • be a and in the advanced capitals! Continuing unresolved econ-

IMPERIALIST RESPONSE TO

countries Nixon's escalation and 1968 ancultural bombing raids, defoliation exer- the ever-present fear For the imperialists, the first class discontent working towards increased steps cuses. navall allacks repression of colonial liberation chemical warfare, in addition would erupt once more in anti a further huge build-up of bureaucratic struggle US struggles, combined with ca In Poland this took place in forces, proved and economic measures to cut occupyle December 195k. Gdansk uprising working class living standards at Devone doubt une unsoeakabie barbarity of imperialism face nome. • Stalinists or scan, tos, with This attack was both driven major threat its themselves, on, and made more difficult by economic But it also proved the enor- uneasy balance of class the crisis forces imperialism mous with

WICE

Tall oppressed masses of Vietnam in their power ind privileg leading by August 1971 to the devaluation the dollar and tnel struggle for nationas noela- ending of its 27-year link to tion. growing multaney ol mass anti-

LIC

and revolutionary goid struggles. in the underdeveloped econ- Within many mass Commun- anti-imperialist struggles Ollies. And, as the continued resis including those were met ov toe most savare of the

NLF

forces, com spectre of tance Europe the measures puppet bined with the regimes-bringing the revoluuonar Structis the war served to destroy the WATi a Deranot Dallaid morale of the US conscript elements Desh, and a vicious crack-down Popular politics on the workers' movement b so the devastating econ- Frontist army, omic consequences of the war designed to sap the independent Bolivia octatora in the US itself made themselves strength of the working class and Sri Lanka in 1971. unmistakeably home and political turn, developed In these conditions the mass ana owners In Chile. the foot-dragging anti-war movement had a sub- rationalised in the reactonars anti-capitalist stantially increased impact.

of Eurocommunism moves the Unity" Chile to the Allende "Popular Nixon was forced to look for led rapidly in cata- Coall- increasing came under alternative means or controling stro bre imperialist onslaught in a cam- the Vietnamese masses and of Pinochet. paign world proletariat. conscious economic And in this sabotage and reactionary search he found was to lay ine basis common cause with we tamist the Pinochet bureaucracy the TOt hoth CouL China too the Manist September 1973 Kremlin and Peking, who like- bureaucracy feared an escalation But it Vietnam and wise saw the Vietnam war as a Was of class struggle in Asia tren campoola Ine most threat to the existing balance ol They recognised instinctively savage and barbarous measures class forces. under conditions political and economic instabil

SUCH

could flow over to mobilise the Chinese peasantry in anti-bureaucratic struggles Accordingly they began their own moves towards establishing : "detente" with imper- a form of expense masses, and feted butcher Nixon in Pekin 1972-at the height of the US bombing lalas. on Hanoi and Haiphong. In short, the weakening grip of imperialish the early 19/Us and the mablity of ever the most unbridled savagery to tame the struggles of the masses, connect prolound insecurity in the Stalinist bureaucracy. This situation brought together these

IWO

pinacies counter-revolution in a renewed attempt to stabilise the existing balance of forces Polish riots 1970 Thus began the period of "detente" -launched by Nixon's advances and 1972 visits Moscow and he 1973 metron and grow through the "European security ence _the at wazen was to ensure the security of imperial control-and initia the Strategic to walls In the train of these more came general overtures deals succession offering fat profits to capitalist monopolies, and much needed commodities and technology to tne slalinist bureaucracy.

1973 saw the Paris cease-fire signing the Nixon arcement. made the first moves towards US armies from Vietnam, looking principally to Stalinist leaders to restrair regime in the South. aacement made withdrawal of the North Viet- namese troops. Yet the profound instabilit the Thie regime itself- 01 runaway wiracked economic crisis and politically discredited by rampant corrup- tion-leit it no room for man oeuvre At the same time the NLF forces in the South fighting fo survival, contact against the massively superior fire power Saigon army, whose morale plummeted daily the dynamic - of material namese struggle In conditions created sible or any am next to round amount of round Labic south vietnam in tne imperal ist orbit. "detente' The moves in essence of this to umit the scope or tne loss te imperialism. It at : least enabled Nixon to withdraw the US army prior to the eventual defeat.

And 'detente' imperialists was attempt by the seek a political accommodatior with the reking and. kreml leaders in order to redefine and uphold peacefully coexisting "spheres of influence' The eventual failure of thei approach ; due not to any breach of agreement. by inexorable rise in the militancy the international working Cass • But there is no doubt that the dramatic blow struck to struck imperialism •by the April 1975-and the subsequent of the Khmer, Rouge e in i shift the Cambodia. servec of class forces on a naance world scale

PORTUGAL

This effect was heightened

the how "left" its THe

DOW

matier stability and rhetoric, Communist Part Western ishat followed offers workers any alternative or independent road. massive upsulse But for the imperialists the Ine Portuguese events showed once in April 1974 risks involved in the scope of placing reliance on the labour bureaucracy as last alten defence. overEnrow fascism back: to the There in such a capitalists 1968 General strike. once Portuguese and reformists be swept under apparently suddenly attempting control breaking all restrain. cherished their factories. worko act commutes. thousands, capitalist

AFRICA

new 1974 Dank accounts. 101l112 also. committees students and 1211ST control and jointly Ethiopia movement against the armed protect grew against fascists. Selassie Emperor The • was needed terrified. (...) this mass Dollical answe

ACTE

throughout the country the of ally power found in the ot imperialism labour ally alla

VIT2

visibly runs ed had begun still the question licking from the sellously

CIES

Vietnam and partic- the capitalist ularly provoke the stability and West

USA

the by Masses engaging vention was forced (.) Selassie simply Indeed, sep. WalS eventually Hun OCT might about to une Forces Com- lOse mittee, known masses. With. talking came "socialism". The revealed of the nOSUlEY pro-Moscow to the preser- strikes and of "peaceful Ine utio nary practice. demonstrated Portugal Eritrean liberation fighters the young officers of the such a solution held few attractions for the Stalinists. would lose They on comed DOSS Oly vital opportunity months of establish strategic further outpos 1975 brought succession t any banks, and Credli In Do se suCH institutions, companies would prolonged Angola wa owned which they upon support and land might well radicalise the black masses more blow to profound revolutionary inflicted struggles. Ine alle US interests.

BRESE

DUt lucy irom above, imperial- and the the alemDica funnelling of then the support • sell aid and to arms, tanks and minimum assistance, for jet fighters But the this Cuban the Dergue to im Derat national This by further the allu Ollie valea against Neto been halt. have cultivating particular the vation scale in it! Silly. Cial had Mengistu ‚Deroue promptly struggles the Kremlin Zimbabwe rekindled into Ene Wan outpost dramatic concessions ola lo stabilist compensating growing internal within of South since the flex the unpredic Soweto begun to Warsaw Pact South capitalists and uneasy the Kremlin Cuban com- pine their power every lik to the by • Illasse into

WOTACIS

class the stale Peaceful co-casic this crucial the watchword bridgehead way tions without any Patriotic leaders $8. ialism: seen in the of imperialis war-in

SUVUULL

ence on sciously rather edi in Angela dant sellement Angola ment occurred ialist orbit. Mozamor uc South too, the imperialist Stalinist/ANC of consequence of the Portuguese 1974 and sporadic revolution of where fare linked to popular frontist talmust backed major liberation forces stood ready for all aniles the drive to eno Angola the presence ao vace or une the But seemed to offer the imperialists and the South African imperialist rebral against the should outricht defeat bv intervening- Under rest install a cover

FNLA/

brought dictably Lallic who pledged Kremlir government throu Attempting a carve-up their 'stabilisation support for and the struggle agaust subver sion.

WEAKNESS

Zaire also the by the the wake The more than supply and transport themselves These ist and the Soviet would unde support or rebel forces. with the But even here, mobilisation took to the place, the class yards Hand with called only a few chance have imperialist through

LINE

trolling vast continent by of unease a parent own massive machine political objec- beginning by that the Long-Term ho Des through moving their links with link-up with revolu- moves North Vietnam into incursion une leadership incapable mounting For tne wal renewed hand On the military with only Soviet possible seeking economic im berate balance of TorCed of the semi colonial Lațin of 1979

BLOWS:

NICARAGUA

in the already the in Nicaragua. both armed teeth-were within months immediate widespread The Centre into the most acute political and social crisis Central South Salvador Panama from from Brazil t Guatemala, oppressed arams Somoza's Nicaraguar strength from the W d

LITOUCH

SOCIALIST PRESS, Hiednesday April 23 1980 72 hough on the very doorstep of such STore he American imperialists.

treachery. After all, Moscow Unstable military and 'demo- Havana could not regimes of the Shah or prevent any une sus contmem. somoza; can they here is alarming evidence of the similar overturns in El Salvador strength and combat- or elsewhere? the Chilean since the imperialists AnO cannot convince themselves that • Pos. o workers in brazl, and he resurgence of mass struggles answer "Yes', they a Bolivia and Peru. forced Consci feel ute employed to combat and defeat revolutionary and liberation Central alle

DOULE

•unes or ene America-in tne Miadie cast, in licaraguan Leatersh of Africa and in Asia. imperialism has acted oth 2100

1979 BODY BLOWS: IRAN

develop the the ir politica aero tes major political blow imperialism in its own backyard among the rovoke Stalinists of Moscow and the threat that would be posed • avalla to US and Western capitalism forces should a workers and peasants ave various government emerge from the tumultuous struggles in Iran.

The balance of forces and most the the oken military voltical situalon enroucn' final out the Midale East have been completely transformed by the guerrillas Iranian revolution. Indeed, It would be difticult to over.

geopolitical impor- stress Tine tance of this region. As the rolonged of the world's and "peacefal 1102 b-existence' the a pullave ou reserves. me uu right-wing area crucial international 18 0ł economic importance IlavC But the military significance les in its position at the very borders of the Soviet Union, with Turkey, The Iran and Afghanis- rofound and lan ranking the soutnern under- Cuba itself now the degenerated belv workers' state. akes it even cortall tilal Throughout this century, the Middle East has been an area of evolution / in period turbulence immen se no tica ill which has constantly challenged contain it with- the hold of imperialism. the Ш0n81SH assiste struegies against

SLN

the military crea- colone of the masses tion the state by imperialism continua- ouca crane oi neo-colonal o boresson and exploitation all have their living today's struggles of the Palestinians and Most of all they, together As to ame e cerermina the Moscow tion for their peoples. bureaucracy, The overuntow ot the shan usal to attempt to spread the pitched this state of permanent volution to the other tension into a new level of crisis untries of Central America.

and inflicted a such a development would while simultaneous- dealing blows against political , Stalinist bureaucracies (in but also disrupt the entire ba, Moscow and Peking) of class lance brought 1 10 revolutIon problems to the rulers of every Yet the imperialists can state in the region and objective strengthened opposition to their power within a very wide spectrum. In the Shah the imperialists

JOST

trusted captain of the principal police Gulf-or regional and force and a reliable merchant of Ine of his over- drawn more disturb- the throw imperialist Ine utionary Islamic clergy petty-bourgeois US Embassi 12ST zez of. pation example to workers At ine This was Staliniss theo thad long who had achieved ever, Afghanistan comiortabit undaelstanaıng Mass against orgy tyranny imperialism, jingoism, leadership Dendent from the alarmed Indeed the Kremlin mUCO euca petty for the lords and dictator- by the (...) 'Soviet

TURNING

DETENTE

.(...) In this world At situation for invasion- the 'Islamic' allu Wal ne ped applause from and the instead. Tne of revolution It has through tions where ana multary ganos cam foreign policy. And wins the particular more This has and wea ness alles insecurity of Inus Mobutu's Has Hillcascu.

. IL LIC

contain move- episode this time Une so-called Sabie rattling steps prompt results Zaire was working class part of Dondoarust The by their a rapid state- that a military supposcul

DUL

talks, trade and other the Red resumed conquest also their Us military corulton. witch-hunting missile Europe, new the 101 missile and for intervene fall gunboat to impress tu taman cate Western oil supplies and abroad. peak. The first Anti-American demonstration in Tehran the loss of Gulf East fanfares to accept still seemed all point that the invasiol TRen alll pretext over the and time the drive a wedge created condi- the Last unlike the with turning opponents as forces have anti- amilance. WIll advantage is bulld-up that is towards world political

WITHIN

a me ano and foremost Page 7 problem the fact that imperialism by the mass struggle Soviet invasion not Was ul ue workers anu ocasalls o development, cabrev new Me long carotively an indication what been the the revolu- balance of force. DOEn Afghanistan and in Central Asia.

and •the No matter how much the imper- necessity leadership ialists might like to restore their capable that potential prestige bi aummisteris a thert back to the soviet Union in this De respect, there is no illusions such defeats, nationa whie lall.

DIOI

Invasion ineir intervention •nac been limited to the surrep- peacefully graduall (with from arming aged the scenario depicts oi reacuonary Afghan guerrila bands of the landlords, drug traffickers and handing over the feudalists working class deadly who masquerated as "Islamic' freedom fighters.

And while this was the state Marxism and by the of play in Afghanistan, thing are not brighter working class 101 greatest when most threatened b Massas all d CrIST The revolutionary imperialism its most national struggle. that the US its most sunke torce is hkely to nave to barbaric ane combat if the new turn is actu the means of ness ally implemented rest solidly on f need be by a ilass Dase or support -In many cases involving wide layers of

INIC

the proletariat (El Salvador) retain power. And the global nature of the threat anti-imperialist struggles lifted atrocites every continent means that the through the social US warmongers mus STaN ready to intervene in several widely separated simul areas taneously, and to wage what ir many cases wil turn out

TO DE

prolonged, colonial deformed vars on the Vietnam lese pattern WOrKers Suates wars (...)) and manDower macainer! money in huge quantities-with more ultimate certainty the lital) vietnami but with the certain-

OF THE 'CARTER

o the in immediate recurrence

DOCTRINE'

immense social tensions In the 1980 Cold War there that US being aestroy TD e alt

ITOODS

ces American war effort then patched Korea-style to fight th Even Carter's talk of estab in Afghanistan; and Arm! lishing a register preparatory to threat onc brought the re-emergence of the nuclear holocaust along the lines embryonic of the Cuba missile crisis.

movement, demonstrations number of US universities.

immense adalton, "ine financial cost the oI weaponry expen diture in the military build-up al cauy complett abandonment of many of the social promised Carter in the last election to double-digit a ruruner

TWIST

inflation in the US itself.

There is little doubt that lurther moves towards miltari adventures at the expense of the class will (as during the Vietnam wal) mas. possibly even a break towards political independence-from the trade union movement imperial- ist leaders seem little daunted these problems and deter attempt repress the _new movement of the masses is reflection the fact Toppled: Somoza inal Thev are aeterminea-nc matter what the odds-to clin the moves taken by to their crisis-ridden system of Carter reflect serious exploitation and oppression.

shift of policy and amount to a course

MATXISTS

MUST

moves backast ottensive objectively recognise the against both the USSR and the successive setbacks inflicted on world's working class The sanctions conome taken include embargo on grain sales and agri cultural goods that

COUC

seriously disrupt Soviet agricul- ture; a suspension of licences for high technology

CAPOTE

at setting production; hack drastic restrictions on Soviet fishing rights; and of course the summer Tnf Olympic Games, which will not simply create acule assment ior the Kremlin bureau.

an economic Crats

DUT

sanction-leaving them holding a huge bill for specially-built facil- witnoul te compensatins tourist boom have There been limited moves by , Carter's fellow imper- up these blast leades o back particula the sanchons_in Olympic boycott and the grair embargo. the question of and . tecnological other industrial trade that the ranks are most clearly split- with German, • Japanes ind even US capitalists relu tant to sacrifice lucrative

Page 8

US S R

~Badakhshan KABULagram Kunar. Herat Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD

Paktia

IRAN

Kandahar Baluchistan akis

INDIA

Karachi Gwadar than 50% in government hands strategic advantages Soviet bureaucracy may Soviet at tne time or tne invasion have derived from the them This see pontical that worsened by of Afghanistan have only been control factional strife between the two obtained considelabic political, economic and military main elements of the Afghar CP, and the massive and rising coSTens of thousands of men, popular hostility to Amin, who problems. tens of millions of pounds from Moscow's man response nad acposcu already tightly stretched Taraki less than a year earlier.

line has come budget, scarce resources in food- With the threat of an imper- from states eventually ialist-leaning regime stutts, and tons or nighly sopus ticated military equipment hav the Amin government committed possibly as assistance. difficulties, and instaling itsen in las vildi Whatever open-ended military strategic cross-roads nation ano that has ing on in a countly of acute whole

USSR

history reven. and Itsell-at a time of invaders from every quarter.

anti-Soviet instability in lan and signs Should be mOIC invasion unrest among sections or la followed up by moves to assim- USSR's own 30-million strong Muslim population - the Kremlin ilate the terribly backward Afghan economy into the Soviet leaders options weigned borders that for restoring stability. the system, to defend

USSR

The already increasing signs would effectively be extended thousands of miles. Yet if had made ratification the relative the In

SALT

Il treaty and any further such moves are made strength of imperialism, unlikely moves to 'detente' mantall , ally ind of stability in Afghanistan And an imperialist military could well prove insuperable ine enemily ruled out a nor entirely ruled out-a move make conditions would tual even worse in Alghanistall The Stalinist leaders moved The yous. And with customary The therefore bureaucratic/military measures

COUL DO

to im pose an authollanal stau ility on the peoples of Afghan- istan-with of tanks frame- rockets, helicopter gunships and headed work of unlimited military manpower.

into recessiollary themselves are talist Another factor surface in invasion may well have been the breakdown talks WIEn Peking Stalinists which had been tension reducing USSR's borders stantial area their The Atonant ninese Donou revenue reputedly close to key Chinese trade workers' missile sites. But it seems clear that the Stalinist leaders were surprised by the scale of the imperialist response to their invasion.

Though was- tion along according to the reactionary present lines carve-up of the world post-war extremely between imperialist and Stalinist leaders-theoretically A To nancial imperialist sphere of influence, it had been n practice largel and Lilall ominated by the Kremlin fo wtich Is by no over 25 years. Moscow leaders appeas to fore- All dr alley! have genuinely approached prolonged radicalisation invasion might as a routine bureau that cratic policing exercise, though Muslim spread to the the spelt out the USSR, the Moscow point to within bernaus one unal has risked status ano in signy more col bureaucracy suCi crete terms. might that invadon In circumstances other than produce exactly that easy to coming the present acute and worsening period. actually worsen its internal political and economic crisIs of political problems. may will hahe , the Kremlin leaders judge, there We Can well been right in that in such Illdy the invasion of Afghanistan was corallons their attitude that nothing very unusual had happened, and that aggressive, but a defen- observers for some time ahat the been 1Ui al. unexpected changes shot move of last resort for ise from Afghan Soviet-backed nf both Taraki and then Amin the struggle

TOT

motives would

USSR TRY TO

But no control the countryside explain a Soviet move into imperialist-backed

CONQUER IRAN?

azallist Iran has since World War II whatever "Islamic'. guerrillas-with clear Afghan right wing guerrillas and without -whatever been explicitly erupt within the Iranian borders. e on he ta key oil clearly What imperialists stalt could not allord to allow to be вителистас captured by the Soviet Union.

from Any attempt to do so would : order provoke an open military battle would certainl towards a Third Worl develop itional Stalinist bureaucrats struggle of War. will and recognise m realit under no conditions move milit- arily into Iran drawn streneun nom egres in raniting Indeed, the mass struggles in Iran.

distin Such a Kremlin bureaucrac guished itself at the height the demonstrations and strikes tan-with sending the Shah bl access to birthday greetings much-leared butcher 'king of 'kings' as he shot down workers and students Ocean. predict 1s too in the streets As the ConITO. faltered and came to an end, the shifted their leaders world to the new opportunist attentions reactionary same eaders-a an analysis Soviet strategy willingness tral weakness, and do must 'WE • workme cas deformed and degenerated mperialisn the Stalinist their power the working privilege cass.

STALINISM

AND

IMPERIAL

ISM: THE NEXT PERIOD

We have tried to show the which the various limited moves in the 1970s b the Stalinist bureaucracy Brezhnev embracing Taraki only days before his overthrow extend its world influence have been taken under conditions of maintained they have posture with the aid of the to this day, the densie overall Stalinist Tudeh Party. in which Kremlin no doubt that if it There is Cullleal through diplo- readers cane m mer own way were possibic their Peking colleagues) have economic matic manoeuvre, safeguard their attempted and other means close bond own unstable and parasitic rule consolidate Kremlin leaders preserving a global balance betweet forces with imperialism-and and stalinists would eagerly simultaneously this • end Stalinists would eagerly seize the opportunity to secure restraining une struggies or lis and working class supplementary • 01l supples neutralise potently As a political current and as powerful anti-Soviet force in the a key matera orce m siaom Gulf. the international class struggle, Stalinism completely But it is absolutely excluded counter-revolution- such objectives would be that Insofar as the bureaucracy sought through military invasion SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 23 1980 driven that measure developineu class ting Trotskyist liberate peasants from slate. of 'bureaucracy Unlike national Socialist progressive attack-the the and the ialist colonial Sahara repression. any reactionary Stalinist une pourecon restrain masse and struggle oppression element perspective interventions Only a truly vanzuard reconstructed national. througt conflict proletarian battles and workers Stalinist-ruled dictatorial the opportunist tendenc. "Hail the

LIC

• attributes m role to the its either nationalised the of unconditionally semi the Eritrea imperialist : or with struggles the their cerene. extenu develop im Derais and Stalinist programme anc gulat today's class approach can part Fourth

HOW SCURRILOUS

CAN THEY GET?-

1. WRP publishes burgled documents 2. Sparts set up opponents for the sack SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 23 1980 Early in December 1977 highly sophisticated staged burglary was Oxford. files Trade union an entire of persona Tiling cabinet correspondence and other belonging Cowley material Alar i hornett SnoO stewaro were stolen burglary his house. amounted to about 2 cwt of The continuing campaign by the Spartacist League to slander and discredit their opponents on the left and set them up for victimisa- tion has taken a new turn at BL's Rover factories several Birmingham-where Sparts have managed tc obtain jobs. move towards. "exem- This work", how- ever has not led the sparts to attempt to establish any basic among Rover workers, support in the union booles in te plant. Rather it has been seen as from offering a vantage point which to launch vicious allacks on lett wing opponents botn in Rovers and elsewhere in BL.

Height of struggle With this in view, the spart carworkers attended last week's Birmingham meeting of the Ley- land Action committee-at Ine height the struggle mobilise strike militants against Edwardes' ulti- action matum. There they denounced Pat Hickey, deputy senior ard at the Rover SD1 plant on the Solihull site as a "scab".

asked to They were quickly principled role played WRP leader Healy twenty cocuments coverne years of trade union activity.

The raid took place at the point where the right wing very oureaucracy national level was preparing the ground Thornett anc ouel militants, barring them from union office, expelling them or, from the union. deprived ine ouralary Thornett of a wealth of docu- struggle: ver Solitudn the same three.

same Rover plants site. and Range Land Rover Rover were the Tirst to SIrIKe The SD1 plant however voted narrowiy not to strike and to cross the picket lines set up by material that would mentary assisted have disciplinary charges him by raised against oureaucracy. But also included among this political were material ments datina back to the perioc the expulsion oT nornetl and 200 other members from Workers Revolu- Gerry Healy's 1974 and the tionarv Party in formation

COTI

Socialist League, Following the raid

WSL

have closely memoers monitores the oress ano ornel for evidence to the whereabouts of the files.

none of the une stolen material has been pub- lished, in subse- used quent TGWU witch-hunt against the "Cowley wa. successfully defeated campaign), Nationd WItA Ine octante orepatallul that was clearly involved in the pointed clearly to this burglary work of the 'dirty the tricks desarment ou ue state.

No clue as. reported in Socialist (January 25 1978), 'Press Oxford surprisingly

CID

failed to turn vo ine siontest clue as to the culprits. 2½ years Yet from ater-materia

INIS

has last begun at in the pages surface: pages in the the so-carled rotsKyIst dally paper Newsline! In a series of six articles of almost unparallelled dishonesty that supposediy and stancel the oiners stewards from the Militant in with them SD1 decided to go -both to avoid what. would be nevitanle victimisation ta mert handful took isolated action, and to fight on to reverse the Sparts on the march Page 9 are tormer leading SLL the Workers robbery! tee characterist WRP supporters who have been cover themselves, the Socialist League, Healy's paper week unashamedly hacks , resortec recruited to our ranks News ine reprinted a facsimile document Friday to the crudest of double oast vear layers of WRP Under the And new been manoeuvres. have that coule onry and "Thornett's members obtained from the material nedolite by movement's burgled from Thornett's files.

tion", they complained bitterly repeneo positions on dated 16 that the Mucole cas and abstention from the "Thornett . is publicly Januarv yo to nornen tom and British class struggle Dr. G. Picton Davies of the calmine inal documents Police College-invitins information used towards the WsL tor inest

IOOK

stolen from his articles were principied alternative Thornett to take part in all Meantime the WRP's biggest home in Oxford in a burglary.

film. ever slander • complete lie and a the late American deliberate frame-up attempt !!].

World Ignored SWP leader The it he possibly coke tha invoke the Joseon mansen as au

FRI/KGR

police, couole agent -na: totally collapsed in the face of raid (...) The letter was ignored at the evidence from the newly-opened We take this opportunity to time. No copies of it were made all members

: WRP

warn • rotsky archives. and the wider labour and trade Danger signal union movement about une toul was subsequently stolen in miet ando th maint organisa. maintain their une fala Yet (April 15) But Healy's desperatjon wewsline Vouchee reproduces the original letter- signal. The WRP's also a danger ne carav aticie coes on to with Police College has leadership the ludicrous hypothesis complett pose canostel adopted a setternead! thai une bast lu Newsline laughably the WRP "out- violence against oolitica position that that material and to collaborate side the labour movement. and from the series of articles was all

TGWU

wing that this is supposedly "to ore WIth : of

WSL

nembers for violence bureaucracy , the witch-hunt ootained TrOM pare Thornett's

WRP

and ing of WSL members arous. TeL NO leaders ayaltis l nembers or ex-members of th against the wies of articles members" Their NSL would have possessed tha . seem timed to Crisis letter of the lọng struggle and from then on it was in the attempt tc comrades in British Leyland for up the WRP's members hands of the extreme right wing whip 5%. Edwardes астат and supporters into a subjective or the state! with-strings union-busting pack- the characterstic age-and place a welter of infor- Trenzy

DOSEIL

WRP that even in a non-political

WSL

hands of and every other tendency every matiol seeking left its roots in the on the right series or articles wind ano mandement crisis now "provo witch-hunter. Drofound positild manipulated We leave it up to the objec.

benino tacing the Healy leadership, ane by growing impact the scenes police Tine tive reader Eneresore, alleged KGB/FBI agents and by fight carried through who engaged maro revisionist politica currents. ov tne vou provocation. they themselves brazeniy utilise Two members of the newly- obtained by daylight elected WSL National Commit- material strike action on the SD1 was the Sparts have developed their and pull the SD1 plant being carried insice une plant by the very stewards lates ultra-synarcanst vetish oul on surike. branded "scabs" by the over picket lines as a desperate They were successful in this as bid for self-preservation.

struggle, and three days later •parts. These provocative positions the plant was out With their tirst excursion union work during into trade engaging in this struggle -wiich coule on fede to tu the steel strike having proved ar wholesale sacking of the Sparts' the mutants were orangea political opponents-must be with "scabs" by the Sparts. unmizicatee TIaSCO and I as highly dangerous to But this was not the vorst of their demoralised forces hated regarded and despised by workers where- it. the workers movement Une si matanı com the meeting to declare that he The Battle individual, refused to had, as line-but hac

CTOSS

been completely wrong to take such a stand Not only should he have been inside fighting Tor strike action, but he had suddenly for realised he was wide victimisation He was promptly answered Spart who proudly by declared that he had not crossed Ine line, and nad been victimised. Trotskyism The cynicism oT tus argu ment was at once exposed when was The Soan • тогсео то that he had taken steps to cover getting a sick note himself bi Trom nis doctor! In other words tnis granite hard, programmatically trained iron-principled Spartacist had Second edition of the opposition documents Ener presented inside the WRP by the present leader- haranguing militants as "scabs"' for going in ship of the Workers Socialist League and calling on them to risk With a new introduction sackov stavine outside-vue Price £2.50 plus 20p postage and package from having taken care of his own job note saying that BL management a Workers Socialist League, 31 Dartmouth Park Hill was not on London NW5 1HR strike, but on sick leave!

Meanwhile the real fight for

Campaigning against the cuts in Hammersmith

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

It had Recently: demonstra- tion of nearly 400-mainly not done. women and children-took West was a plan to transfer place outside the beds to the London Hospital Hammersmith. This was protest own board of governors. against the proposed closure of the '60 ‚Ine bea maternity unit at the hospital. the discussions ended. Press interview- Socialist On ed one of the organisers of that demonstration, Val day last Gorter. made-the effective from January 1, 1981.

How did you Can you tell us something about the fight to save the beds?

the proposed closure West London nosoital wrote to the materity Unite London the closure west the obstetrics of the Charing some Cross Hospital which •es not letter. nave one.

JOIN THE

WSL! -

With workers by the trade* advance thousand taking the streets to oppose Tory alism can be policies there is plainly no parliament lack of militancy the Workers League organised working class. ment fighting day Yet the existing trade union out build to bureaucrats eduership in the working class right 'left'-have no perspective to offer those • Internationally, workers prepared fiaht in affiliated to living stan- dorence ooS. dards, social services and demo- Committee, which fights for the cratic rights. reconstruction • nose can only be detended waternational ano policies which start of revolutionary parties in every from the independent interests country of the working class, which, against the wich natural class warasitic ПОСЛЕЛО gain and everything Crates Toe the pre fitability of their restore degene indie ker states. the profitability of their invite employing class. Socialist Pres in d vertoo wnere ine contra details of the WSL and its work, of the anarchic capit- and to join us in the struggle for octions alist system force the wholesale socialism: and destruction of the calive lorces socieTV planned

NOW AVAILABLE

cocialist economy on a world scale offers forward. a way Ireland, with a perspec- " • acnieve such ground articles leadership needed TIVe hunts. in Oxford and Tame- which, in today's struggles fights side. 25 р from

WSL

BM London WĆIV 6XX. Please send me more details Workers the Socialist Witch-hunts: League.

OXFORD. T

Name

WAR!

Address.

WHAT

WAR?

Send

WSL:

BM to Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX. planned ocen to organise we decided against the closure of include an obstetrics unit in the petition new Charing Cross but this was ine unit.-ano we thouse no of senate so have We then decided A couple of years ago there have a the demonstration outside the hos- Queen Charlottes protest Wild followed but it had only 30 beds available the South Hammer march to Community Health ana It is not directly under the control of the AHA but has its Council to hand in the petition on si viarch. eno от agreement had been reached and now did you work to get such January a good turn-out on the demon.

notice was stration? given of the proposed closure of everything has ine unit and 3i March was the happened for objections be

QUICK V

up a committee or closure naven t set organised ourselves. lot ot work was done Dy phonina mothers, who phoned get involved in their friends We put up notices in mother • nao my second child at the ana child clinics. contacted oni ago o'clock clubs and persuaded the local paper against local paper to put in a notice advertising it. other mothers got in touch with me as a result of the there anything particulal about this maternity unit?

Yes. In fact it was voted the equal best maternity unit in the Facilitie in Oxford along witn ine Jonn It uses what is known as the modified Leboyer takes a more humanist approach caraorin ane treats it more rather than a TAmIVi hospite affai is The aim to alleviate the traumas It Is so popular that they have had to restrict area from which it will receive patients were 6-700 74 there births and in 19782,000. workers acyone protest militancy, Where would mothers go politics and illusions that capit- this unit were closed? abolished through to West- have the hammersmith Socialist minster-or the is a Trotskyist move- Charlotte Hospital which and day far too away men n for such a principled part of the borough. we How much money does the une newy tormer Trotskyist International Liaison AHA estimate it will save?

710000 115,000 they wel costs on the _rourtr special baby unit at the Charing building The vross wnich would nave to close struggle as well. and against bureau- otalinist deformed and of readers more seek Labour movement bulle- back- including p&p Box 5277 Six issues.. Three months (12 issues).

Six months (25 issues).. One year (50 issues)

EUROPE

Six months (25 issues).. One year (50 issues) ..

REST OF THE WORLD

Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) .. It is now seven weeks since the workers who joined the National Union and asked for of Tailors Garment they . and Workers at Klein Brothers, Liverpool Street, Salford, all been sacked walked out. They would run the West / Have you had any contact with London as a geriatric unit at : • unions at the nocowar cost of £500, Jou so tney dim save doout sov wou Variety Club of Great su alors.

OUT

Britain has money worked

OUT

to transfer the special baby unit approaches. some discussion to vest London Are there other cuts being made controlled Council. in the who localy? Yes, there has ; even been What 20% do you plan child cut in the tamous development centre run by Dr.

to lobby Jolly. 21 May They have stopped micro- filming the medical records at thing the Charing Cross as ver There is an AHA proposal to meeting, close the 18 bed psychiatric unit get at Temple House; 79 beds were closed at St. Stephens last Sen tember as were 20 female plastic hospital beer "temporarily' theRE chai man have met closed. but ine Maternity Hospital closure years ago was also meant Tormed: be temporary-and it is still West London closed! nity Unit • Hospital is to The Western be sold off. Perivale Maternity Hospital is also threatened with in May. closure, dong wn enree wares in the Hammersmith Leaders of the Scottish money involved. teachers' union the ElS have is no pledge been forced to recognise the mounting militancy of their membership as a series of May, walk-outs took place last week at the failure of the be almost irresistable. Clegg comparability board to make any recommenda Amount tion for Scottish teachers' pay. concern Spontaneous walk-outs began last Tuesday in 34 schools increase to be recommended br Figures InTe I2-day strikes blegg. throughout Scotland.

EIS

for Teachers who first-year primary teachers may have waited awarded a car or a settement o their 1979 review were raising increase. Genera demands that

EIS

These Secretary Pollock received a f408 interim rise in John lant advance of the Clegg inquiry: by action on boen ene timine ot tne the end of May, therefore, they Clegg award and the amount of

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SOCIALIST PRESS, Wednesday April 23 1980

KLEINS PICKETED

Seventy, the majority of the be a socialist and to be exercis machinists out of a total work- ing his democratic right run force of 120 joined the NUTGW his factory the way he please recognition. When without an were retused they walked workers rights. out and have been picketing the Won't talk factory every since. They have Mr Klein, the boss, claims to He won't talk to the union official who has taken the dispute to

• ACAS.

Mr Klein has said he ACAS ruling if it doesn't stit aoice ov him The strikers have no ilusions that ACAS can help them. Salford Trades Council organising

TOI

picket Wfic alic • correcting Tinance tor the strikers has : stopped all Ine pickel lorries. The day a driver with a load ot laminates delivery tried to cross the nicke• The convenor of fine dockers was contacted and said The NUPE branch chairman • ТІГ ! came out to support the demon- lorries beino loaded The boss of the delivery firm nave then phoned Klein and instruc more formal ted his driver not to deliver. I ne There has been only van to cross the picket line in th LdooU now is the bosses van in which on Hammersmith's Tory. ferries scab

CIOLA

finished articles and rubbish.

as the nex1 Blacking step? For example are you going

AHA

meeting on The solution to the dispute We have not organised any.

lies in stepping up the picketing and stopping bosses we will brobabil of the

AHA

Strikers asking

TOT

is difficult company s goods to be blacked men's trousers They make over and under name of Bendyk Donations are desperately Since this interview a arour required as none of the strikers, of mainly parents, together with mostly women, are being paid London Hospital Please send donations Cane Klein • Brothers Dispute •Fund Campaign Save c/o John Catterall Hospital Mater 39 Fir Street, Cadishead, Man- They are organising chester. stickers, leatlets public meeting to be held early Scots teachers angry could find themselves actually Indeed it is clear that if there owing the employers £94! trom employers ai At une oiner eno ot the coal headmasters on up to £15,000 per year could expect to pick up half the Clegg award by the end the presen the Else cal, originally agreed a cool £2,800 pc crease. last year's claim 1980 widespread industrial action wil April 1, is stildeadlocked, with review due settled Having overed on the rate of 1070~/70 inflation. But at the same time there is clear Scottish the amoun teachers must demand that their Clegg's spurious icacer. relect 'leaked' via the "investigations" and take up the instance that fight for €4,500 salary, with Tal rate percentagi only £597 rises for all those on higher rates inflation by pay-protected teachers have already • cost-of-living claust providing increases in fine with rising prices.

DON'T GO INTO

THE FIGHT BLINDFOLD!

SOCIALIST

For a £2.00 GE] clear

PRESS

£4.00 lead in the struggle againsi £8.00 wage control, cuts £14.00 and redundancies £9.00 Send cheque/P.O Socialist Press, BM Box 5277, your £16.00 London WC1V 6XX £10.00 £18.00

NUJ vote to withdraw troops the

NUJ

Any hopes series of anti-imperialist policies a full investigation; Ireland, of which *called for the repeal of the have on were bureaucracy may Prevention of Terrorism Act; entertained that the union's vallica respectavlc tie Resolutions - were *caled for the withdrawal of Annual Delegate Meeting in passsed British troops from Ireland.

Portrush could escape. dis- that: addition the

ADM

*called for an end to censor- placed on record the cussion on the Irish war of soccurcally ship of news from Ireland; Tact inat boone une comerence liberation were rudely *called for access by journal- in Portrush in the six counties in dashed at the weekend. NUJ recogni- signified ists to the republican prisoners and again issue engaged Again. the in the blanket protest Nortnern ireland the fore, and the union the 'H' Blocks of Long Kesh statelet: rose to concentration camp to facilitate And a resolution tabled by

STEELWORKERS

O1ST09

TEEL

Steelworkers on March 9 TUC demonstration

ALL OUT MAY 14!

essed on by their mem- of "%unchtime meetings". West of Scotland Shop Stew- hership to take. at least ards, National Union of Jour- In fighting for action on this and action against the token

TUC

Day Socialist Union supporters must stress the trades, National Tory goyerment, a growing Press ocamen.

LUNOD.

1UWU

list of local and national all-oul National Committes of buildin.

deret not onv ine union bodies finding are anti-union Employment Bill but group, vehicle building and themselves forced to sanc- the Tory government itself.

tion or organise one-day Unions alteady in support of Yorkshire

NUM,

group. action are: strike action on May 14- 'obacco Workers Union, FBU ASTMS, National Union the day Len Murray and the

SOGAT

Railwaymen,

GMWU,

TUC first talked of as a day

NUT,

NUTE.

Clegg: NUT must reject calculated The size and distribution of the awards to swindle Pay the teachers Clegg trom comparability commission have been shrewdly calcul- ated. they are parable" rates of pay wound up prevent an first suggesting increases large enough up to 87% for the lowest paid imme late outcry and demands for strike action. Leachers But they are small enough to Such embarrassing figures ensure that teachers remain rela- were hastily scrapped and sums done to produce the final aveLy

WOISC

OLI

wil smallest increases for the most recommencanons exploited layers of teachers and Meanwhile the 1980 due-with review to {3.147) Ior larges (up 20% well-paid headmasters large seckine • Turne secondary schools. increase. Ine size oi the Cleg and the systemati attempts by the media to inflate Stageing Ils value sonne IPorts suggest ing increases of up to 41%!) are clearly designed to minimise Indeed teacher on the chances of a fight this bottom seales 14 receives more pay than a 19% increase as against year and bayt une mal

: NUT

claim 38.5% vage-cuttins settlement in the an vicinity of the 13% figure won rostore the relative values , estal lished under the Houghton award. collar workers. The stageing of the. Clegg Tory minister Carlisle Spending cuts incrcaseg-Which 1979 to settle the. pay claim- looked after living amounts to a crude standards in general are allowed At the same time, with to have been Teachers must demand that entited the delays have cash limits now biting in educa- their leadershp •reject the Clegg suits the Tories well i to findings and the average pay up ost a leac in excess of €1,000! divide resistance by on the 1980 review to establish course the Clegg among themselves are com teachers and among low ted against inflation through Sures The and increases keep pace spurious. protrac- with the cost of living. investirations into that professional staff are being CUll the Oxford branch calling upon NEC to organise a the national • the labour movement on meria censorsa of the Irish war was also carried despite •opposition from.

NEC.

But it was perhaps outside of the formalities of the order that the question paper Ireland alose most the conference. der surped ont that thivited invited leadership White, • Councol 10Ca Official. Unionist councillor and member of the Orange Order, give a welcoming address to the comerence Socialist Press supporters res- ponded by handing invitation, and condemning the demanonse union de provide platform for White s loyalist vieps. left, nopled howarer, diben the walkout planned by the Elections for the CPSA President and National Executive Committee are taking place in the three period between 11 weeks April and 2 May. The elections are being run accorol SyStC11 0l individual voting branch/ workplace meetings. Block vote The election system replaces at branch meetings committed block vote. the whole branch method of voting is more democratic and results from a rule change put forward Tories duck fight on rail Union officials and Rail British management both emerged exultant last week from talks pay which a 20% deal emerged.

of the Leaders three • Tail

ASLEF

unions-NUR TSSA were delighted at getting so close initial target ligure without even a hint strike action or controntation with hoPe that government They size of the the settlement will be sutticient to case the pressure of militancy the membership, partic- among the WalLy over Issut threatened by the cutbacks of the British Steel Corporation. It which above •Was rompte Sid Veighell to warn in January o the danger that the steel strike might spread to general strike action. Well pleased Yet the employers, The 20% deal is well pleasea. barely adequate to compensate rail workers for galloping infla non, management have secured commitment from union leaders has publicly and official told the Financial Times tivity commitment drawn up so AŠLEF leader Ray Buckton bers and supporters remained and remained supporters White the "'maligned"

RUC

his view that ana holding the NUJ conference Northern Ireland "proved' things were 'now" "normal".

Banner • ATTeI this. however Tint remainder of the conference banner took place unde • Troop The irish Pup president "Determination • TO and Smash H Blocks. Jake Ecclestone ruled that the banne could remain victimise Attempts Oxford delegate Peter Mclntyre

TOI

, Learing

COWI

support of the RUC put up by two individuals from the Belfast branch proved unsuccessful.

But in the last two hours of Witch-hunters out in CPSA elections by the left and passed at last year's conference Each candidate is entitled to circuate a sur wor cechot address However, not content with a democratic internal procedure Nan-ing mouciale group have seen full-scale anti-communist elec- campaign in the capitalist tion They have been ably assisted in this by Bernard Levin m al The Times last week entitled "The civil way to run a Levin believes that the new will bring a victory for system ates" who will then be able to bring in the reactionary system pay welgneu abandoned his initial opposition to the productivity concessions, Lita was problem" with the deal. The "problems" will of felt not in the plush course be oi the bureau once crats but among rank and file railwaymen whose and conditions are now under fire the Tory government has clearly connived at the 20% deal, which their strategy picking off those sections of workeis that vulnerable,

SOCIL

LOSI

placating powerful sectors such as the power workers and water workers The months ahead will show railwaymen the real cost of this deal and the face of Tory "concessions" Ecclestone the conference a majority was obtained lor the removal oi al Out banner was ten the Lroops. A fuller report of the conter ence-which also saw a decision to withdraw the

NUI

I from the the election of union officials- will week's "next Socialist Press of postal balloting favoured by the Thatcher government. 'More representative" He also claims that the "moderates" more repres present Ine which he describes as "a coalit- ion of Communists, Trotskyists, the :Militan annects •entenev ameou taverers Levin goes on to give readers a check lis of the 28 WIlL quotes minutes of a CPSA NEC meeting where the Broad Left voted right the Soviet invasion of Afghanis- tan and the treatment of Soviet The right :wing have been publicity the given much their election but

PICSS

have about their actual policies sective sport to the fory ripioyment Bil and the accept government financing of also favour of Pay Telaise Research Unit and Whitleyism She member of the Christian Trade ment and has been associated the employer-backed

YRU MID.

Court action In 1976 she took the union of an article criticising ber for article in Readers Digest which attacked the CPSA the right wine pressend to thi alleged Mote ging (most of which proved to have been carried out by right-wing CPSA members must not be conned into voting for the "moderates' and their anti-unior poncies out shoblc voltor tE Broad Left despite their betrayals over the last year.

WORKERS SOCIALIST

LEAGUE

: Public Meeting "The fight for jobs against the cots" Wednesday 30 April 8.00 p.m. Kings Head, Grangetown, Teesside

Published by Folrose L.td for the Workers Socialist League, BM Box 5277, London WC1.V 6XX. Printed by Anvil Printers Ltd., London

SOCIALIST

PRESS

IMPERIALIST

HANDS OFF

IRAN!

Imperialist knees will be in Febraury 1979. But despite his election by a knocking like castanets as staggering 80% vote in the presi European ministers sit down Bani-Sadr has dential elections, in Luxemburg this week to incapable 5. ultelly commanding the support of the discuss further moves along- Iranian masses for his reaction- side President Carter against -and thus plans al y the Iraiian regime. students who con- Contront • At stake is far more than the tinue to hold the hostages.

freeing of the 93 Us nostages continued detention has hthow room symbolic becorne between the of conflict Now, after hanging back on for nearly three months an- monasi action Iran and the US, Japanese and Bani-Sadr the elbow allow European capitalists. room to The conroma only tion to an end, . Carter has been Dudle sl Europe but even in the US fear failure, recognise lorced. to that excessive Khomeini bring despee knows sures. JIl'Uves tU regime to heel could produce a knows of course that his kong-term disruption diplomatic

TA G

economic ana and unstable already tense measures are no Deless y ouny. in the Gulf this is why he is forced publicly palance the arms of his Europ- to twist a bid to press ear ales Disintegration gang them into solidarity action while increasingly hinting In the US, top Carter advisor possible military action Brezezinski has warned that the imperialists I ne suropear complete isolation of Iran could are reluctant to get involved lead-under because growing pressure of struggles by national the with rather more situallull minorities in Kurdistan, Baluch- Khuzestan. Turkestan and in election year. 1ST311. Azerbaijan-to a disintegration They recognise the danger single state as will drive Thal sanelons created and preserved by imper- Iranian regime towards

TNE

Soviet and Eastern Europe: already there is talk of evident newly- new on contracts along lines. erected President hous rasisall Bani-Sadr to carry trough Contracts projected strengthening the power of central government in At the same time France and Iran. was on Bani-Sadr. that Italy are Impotened Carter had pinned his main major contracts in Iran, as are both hopes of achieving the Japanese crisis, it seems likely that resoluton or tac Hostage howevel, and or re estabilsning economic the been policed links. that have with some kind of nackage o the and political measures economic only events since the tall oi the shah against

FUND

The fight to get the Special Fund in on time seems to have hit the Monthly Fund rather badly with the result that we only have £258.50 towards our total of £750 and only a week to go to the end of the month.

So clearly an enormous effort is going to be needed by our readers and supporters if we are to achieve this fund target on time. We cannot stress enough the importance of securing this fund in full everv month if we are to be able to maintam Socialist Press in there days of 20% inflation.

without some of our costs going Hardly a week goes by price increase only gave us a limited up and our recent protection against inflation.

So send us a donation, and help us reach our target on time. Our address is: Socialist Press Monkhly Fund BM Box 5277, London WC1V 6XX Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Workers Socialist League.

US warships in the Gulf attempt to prevent Carter using outright imperialist ouch at attack on Iran-whether through blockade the of Iranian ports-would create nuge oressures Gulf states at present aligned behind Iran's appeal for isla min with imperialism solidarity. Even Saudi Arabia, whose oil production is a increased government. roughout une 1< week steel strike Evans turned a deaf ear to appeals for action to and to growing calls for General Strike action independent • bv the working action Cras. the only means of defeating the employers' such knows full well that in struggles his own bureaucratic control over rank and file would be called into question yet, paradoxically even l Leyland struggle Kille Evans has prompted a new level debate political Inousands ol workers who Know they have been sold down the now g.i. leadership look for interests. Revolutionary This requires the construc- tion of a revolutionary fight shit committed mobilise the full strength of the workers' movement in action to bring down the Tories, drive i the opponents of socialism that form the present Labour leader- ship, carry Carter major reason why the imperial- ists can hope to weather further sanculon. colu driven oppose aus intervention, which would raise parallels with the embarassing DovIel tan. Chauvinist Yet Carter's efforts to stoke up a chauvinist frenzy in the US

EVANS SELL OUT

struggle for a workers govern.

based on the nationalisa- of without compensation

LIO1

ane maustries Danks anu trusts, and the establishment of a planned socialist economy standpoint that the WL fights throughout the workers' move- ment for policies of: *Defend all jobs and con ditions! No concessions bosses' bosses or bankrupt and othe bankrupt' and other firms, thei allu bankers to elected trade union committees! Expose the of capiati teds and the that off profiteering 'nationalised" industries!

*No For work- sackings! under the sharing full pay control or elected workos coll mittees *Defend living standards! For pay claims to catch up with increases, protecter based clauses workers' price index! Оссиру *No closures! threatened fight for supporting strike and national part of the struggle for a General Strike to bring down the Tories! NUPE knifes 'troops out' strike Victorta Hospital, The solid and united Royal Belfast, foundered last week strike by 1,200 Protestant

NUPE

and Catholic under pressure from pro- imperialist members against British union bureau- the and rabble-rousing army occupation crats loyalist politicians. the Coulthard organise: John

DOLECS

included an attempt to launch a new county political party with UDA leader Glenn Bar was opposed NUPE's National Executive which declared its committmen of British Deservalu! impenalist rule by oracring let members back to work. Pressurise At the same time strike leader Sullivan was accused or vene a caune 11 ner or the A ammoac • Protestant paign strikers into a return to work —with slavish backin rausey The gation at the whol allegation that whok orchestrated" Provo strike • War whe loval Mr Kobert brad ford branded the Protestant anc "IRA com Catholic pickets as munists" Eventually the witch-hunting Protestant pressure on the strikers brought a break in their ranks and a drift back to work recognising leaders voted to call off the seek an action but Iis battle was troops the-albeit -example • Protestant/Catholi in a struggle against British military to the necessity for rule points principled revolutionary develoD leadership • TO gramme of anti-imperialist and stansitio to mobilise the working transitional demands class independently from thei reactionary bureaucrati loyalist leaders drive out the occupyi rish worker and an

SUTURLIC

101

DONT LET TURKEY

the prerequisite for possible

" BECOME ANOTHER

military intervention have

CHILE

plainly had some effect-and he A Workers Socialist League pressure to take Is now ulue. Pamphlet desperate acto American youth have already demonstrated in their Price 30p including p&p thousands against the war From WSL, BM Box 5277, London WCIV 6XX movement in the US and every to block any miyary of fel any military or econ one ollenve aralist Irall From front page Callaghan/ *Drive out the to press it is clea Healey leadership and AS We go the has eite cively sabotaged th while Evans' the TUC traitors! betrayal a

"KUNC

revolutional trikes then under way, Leylan leadership in the labour move- mentReject import controls! For workers are wron oodle • Rover In particular, though workers at Solihull voted 4-1 on international working Cras. al return to work Action to end capitalist exploita- paint sho came

RINK

workers in Longbridge, who had • *For a workers' government!

not been involved in last week' Nationalise basic industry with- and walked compensation under out dispute For picketed the plant in a workers management! the imposition of the 92 planned, socialist economy!

page document, Even TGWU convenors (in a meeting skullully timea to come after mass meeting votes for a return to work) felt obliged gesture a. belater Wake the opposition particularly in the absence Grenvill Hawley. The son Secre an adopted a resolutio from Mathers describing the deal "unrealistic", proposing furthe management and calling for official action of them ' ec down. and calling on the TGWU Automotive Group to withdraw from the Confed Hawley