Labour NEC 'no' to war plans

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Failures

The giant new Chrysler M-1 tank-to cost $2.5 million-has been rushed into production despite a long and humiliating series of failures in the most elementary tests. Its shortcomings include a tendency to lose its caterpillar tracks on rough ground, gearbox failures, a refusal to start in cold weather, repeated failures of the turret to rotate and the gun to operate.

Meanwhile the Reagan administration faces the crunch decision on whether or not lo procerd with the colossal extravaganza of its $56 billion M X-missile system (a hupe underground complex of 200 mohik In a further move arising from the growing anti-war feeling within the labour movement, Labour's National Executive has issued an Advice Note to councils on Civil Defence.

Drawing attention to the fact that as part of its anti-Soviet military build-up the Thatcher government is calfing on local authorities to increase their efforts on "home defence planning" the statement declares that:

"The Government's proposals are a fraudulent waste of scarce resources-resources which could be much better used in expenditure on education, housing and peacetime emergency planning, such as improving the fire service."

It points out that:

" 'Civil Defence' in the sense of protecting the civilian population from the effects of nuclear war does not exist. The government's plans are in fact more concerned with 'Home Defence' designed to protect a small government and military elite."

In reply to the Tory propaganda, the Labour statement insists that:

"The only effective civil defence is to ensure that Britain is not involved in a nuclear war, and to oppose all nuclear weapons and nuclear war preparations by Britain any other country."

It reveals that over 60 Labour-controlled " councils have so far made the gesture of declaring their areas "nuclear-free zones" , oppos ing the manufacture, deployment or positioning nuclear weapons.

And it suggests _ that Labour councils make facilities (including school halls and other facilities for film shows and public meetings) available, to "educate the public about the dangers and effects of nuclear war"

Anti-war campaigners should press for the implementation of this advice by all Labour-controlled councils, and ensure that the fullest possible use is made of public.. meetings and council publicity machines to campaign against the Thatcher war-drive.

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