Socialist Action No. 1, 18 March 1983
The scan: 001-mar-18-1983-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Socialists for Labour victory say: TORIES CAN BE BEATEN!
HOWE'S BUDGET marks the start of the countdown to the general election. The effect of his proposals is to widen the gap between those in and out of work.
The average industrial wage for a male worker is now over £160 gross. married man on unemployment benefit with two children gets just over 142. Women's wages are much lower, and benefits often nonexistent.
Over four million people are now unemployed.
With their families this represents a mountain of human misery.
The Tories are on the
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
MODERN
TIMES
HiL Guaranteed! Absolutely по pictures of Prince William in this paper!
No. 1. 18 March 1983 rampage. The measures they are discussing to carry out in a second term of oftice would remove most of our basic rights, and would provoke an all-out confrontation with the labour movement.
In this they will have the support of the SDP
STOKeRS have already voted for Tebbit's plans to smash up the They al C waiting in the wings with the Liberals to prop the THE WOMEN of Greenham Common have been in the forefront of the fight against nuclear annihilation. Their courageous and inspiring action has brought down the wrath and vindictiveness of the state.
Newbury Council, egg-
30p Unemployed and strikers
SociAlist
ACTION
Tories up if they fall at the last post.
That is why the Labour Party leadership must pledge that it will never enter in coalition with these watered-down Tories. Any equivocation on this point will lead to more VOLeS Alliance.
Pits The labour movement today is in retreat. But the retreat can be halted. Starting with une militant minority in the pits, in the factories, in CND and the
Defend
Greenham
Common
women
Led on by Thatcher's government and helped by the compliant Mr Justice Croom-Johnson. has got an eviction to drive them out of their peace camp His judgement could also stop the women from even speaking about cruise missiles. These outrageous and undemocratic decisions violate the right of political protest.
Every supporter of the
10p women's and black movements.a fighting unity can be organised. Policies
That needs policies, which the Labour Party and the TUC have already endorsed socialist
which begin open up the way for socialist advance.
But unity cannot come from the left alone. The right must be forced to stop their attacks on left wingers in the unions and the Labour Party. Only by building on the principled anti-missile campaign,
labour movement body, every student organisation and every women's group should demand the end of this sinister interference democratic rights.
socialst Acuon urges every one of its supporters
Back to une following actions:
mass blockade of men and women of the
Introducing
ourselves
Socialist Action is a new
weekly labour movement
The first objective of
the new paper will be to
support all those fighting
against the government stand of the constituency parties who have refused to expel Militant sup porters can this succeed.
These elements of strategy are beginning to be drawn together around the 'Socialists for Labour Victory' set up in the House of Commons last week. This campaign
constituency Dal Bes. MPs, trade unions, peace campaigners, black and women's groups. lead has been given. Now let's build on it!
Trident factory Burghfield on 31 March.
sune chain from Greenham via
Burghfield on 1 April.
The die-in' in Geore Square Glasgow and the -
Kelvingrove Park on 2 April.
Support the women of Greenham Common and SLUD the nuclear war threat!
GREETINGS
with the aim of defeating Thatcher and electing a Labour government committed socialist policies.
The fight to stop the missues are to come a future Labour government to unilateral disarmament is vital
Therefore we will support and help to build a socialist campaign for a Labour victory.
We will put forward a definite editorial viewpoint but our columns will be open to all those who agree with our immediate objectives.
Our editorial aim will be to act as a voice for the interests of working people world-wide from Poland to Central America inside the Ken Livingstone (Leader of the GLC) *A new paper, campaigning inside the labour movement to build support for radical socialist alternative is a welcome addition to the labour
HOYCHCHE al" moury.
welcome an open paper which will promote the debate and discussions vital for the left develop • strategy and move for. ward in unity.
Socialist Action has an important role to play uniting those forces in side the labour movement who are fighting against the Tory austerity offensive 388 -perialism's war drive.' Flashlight (Broad Left journal for ннр members. *Britain today is ruled by a thoroughly backwoods Tory government. . governs on the basis of primitive capitalist theories in its economic policies authoritarian in all fields
Workers
Solidarnosc
was in Gdansk
young people.
Memonstation
tinued government repression
from Gausk, who is currently on trial.
the so carnose union.
Labour Party and the trade unions.
Our top priority will ve to British labour movement should support the cause of Irish self-determination and freedom.
In the year of Karl Marx's death we will aim show the living relevance of revolutionary Marxism for socialists today.
We publish greetings below of those welcoming a new voice on the British left without always agreeing with our editorial policy.
Alan Freeman (Editor)
of social policies. It has knocked for six ideas of consensus policies and restored Victorian ruling class concepts of govern-
*One feels that almost a not so stealthy drift towards fascism is taking place. 'Any contribution towards uniting labour movement defeat this insidious development most welcome. We look forward to your new journal Socialist Action playing such a role. Best wishes and good luck.' its
Tony Benn (MP for Bristol South East) •We need a wider range of journals writing about socialism. Socialist Action, if it can be indepenof all particular view and can reflect the many initiatives that are occuring will perform a really useful job for the It whole labour movement.'
Now turn to page 14 to find out how you can help the new paper.
demonstrate for
DEMONSTRATIONS took place in Gdansk Warsaw and Wroclaw last Sunday to mark 15 months of martial law. The biggest demonstration
where gathered at the memorial to the workers murdered in 1970,
When the demonstration re-formed, following an order to disperse, Zomo riot police attacked the crowd with batons, beating and arresting many
watched by Lech Walesa from a hackyard 200 yards away. Walesa has promised not to stay silent in the face of con
The crowd chanted •Free Anna' - a reference to Anna Walentynowicz, a founder of Solidarnose
Reports from Poland say that anger with the continuing government harassment of militants is mounting inside the Lenin shipyard, birthplace of
Page 2 scan of this page
News
CND
EVENTS
THE FALKLANDS gravy train is well under way. The first reports are coming in of the scale of the contracts available to make the islands fit for prolonged British military occupation.
the contracts up for grabs could be well over £200 million.
The biggest single contract is to build a new airport costing between €100 million and €200 million and a number of the big construction companies (Costain, slide. Wimpey, Laing and Mowlen) have already flown experts out to start preparing tenders.
Smaller contracts include repairing the roads in Port Stanlev fic they now have to handle (£2.5m), a new jetty for the harbour (f6m), out the road between Port Stanley and its airfield.
A PROPOSAL to set up a home defence force has been proposed by a motley crew of generals and admirals. A home defence force of about 700,000 is proposed to defend Britain against invasion!
God knows who would possibly want to invade us. Perhaps the generals think it would be useful for internal security? Pretty unlikely usually begin to reflect the strains in society very rapidly.
The cost of this brainchild? £120m to set up and £60m a year to run. A snip!
LETTING the cat out of the bag dept. tempung to prove inal ine civi nacical programme did not produce materials for British bombs, Josh Moore.
slip that Britain had •rutollull lu Javail. Since nuclear weapons are illegal under the
Japanese constitution, we Japanese anti-nuclear campaigners will be very interested to hear of this ...
STILL ON the topic of parliament, Norman Tebbit confirmed that the government has been studying the feasability of including a military element
its proposed youth unemployed school leavers.
From the Concise Conscription Compulsory military or naval or air force service ...
AN INTERESTING row has broken out between the French military hierarchy and the Mitterrand government. The cost
ts conventional forces (sound familiar!). The row has already army chief-of-staff.
The 1983 budget calls for a 25% increase in the French military nuclear programme. Sounds like some urgent work for movement...
*7-19 March Distribution of Strathclyde Regional Council anti-nuclear broadsheet to every home in the region. (This covers half of the population of Scotland!) *Thurs Engineers for Nuclear Disarmament.
Thring (QMC) and Dr Philip Webber (Imperial Coll.) At Count a LONGOI CEND from Neil Dodds.
Wilkinson (Greenham 1.00-3.00pm, 34 Ravenscourt Rd, London W6
* 17-19 March GLC Bunker Party at the Drill Hall, 16 Cheries i wanted sallo ladl
*Thurs March "ne war Hargrave Hall. Hargrave Road, London N19.
* fri 18 March Meeting 'Cruise missies and nuclear
war'. Speaker Mike Pentz (CND vice chair) at 8.00pm,
Shrewsbury Technical
•newsoury.
*18-22 March women from Greennam common wn
be speaking in South Shields, Ryton, Hexham, Newcas-
tle and Darlington Details from
Newcastle 811668.
*19-20 March Oxford YCND march from Oxford to
Greenham Common. For details contact Oxford YCND,
to unatte close xore.
*Sat 19 March Demonstration in Kingston Surrey.
Assemble Kingston
from Ruth on 01-949 6008.
* Sun 20 March Faslane Peace Camp Festival
* Wed 23 March 7.00-8.00
Town Hall in support of the Peace camp and in opposi-
tion to Civil Defence.
* Wed 23 March Film: 'The War Game' and 'The Peace
Game? (The government propaganda film). 8.00pm
Jackson's Lane Community Centre, 271 Archway Rd,
London N6.
* Thur 24 March Aberdeen
Ecology Party.
*Sat 26 March Glasgow
Keith Bovev (Chair Scottish
and YCND Speaker. Film: 'Protest and Survive'. Starts
11.00am at Downhill Primary School
* Sun 27 March Ladbroke Grove CND showing of "The
Peace Game', at 1 Thorpe Close, London WI0. Starts
3.30pm
* Sun 27 March GLC Bunker Party 7.30pm at Lloyd
Park Theatre, Waltham Forest, London.
*28 March-2 April International Peace Studies Week
* Thur 31 Mar 12 hour blockade of Greenham Common
(women only) and Burghfield Royal Ordinance Factory
*mixed).
The total value
Taylor Woodrow,
- wrecked by the heavy military traf-
and a f3m contract to sort - such forces
While at-
Undersecretary tor Energy sold weapons grade
expect that
training
Oxford Dictionary: enlistment for
France's nuclear
caused the resignation of the French
French anti-nuclear
Civil speakers: Frol
6.30pm (More info about
Common
showing at Came
College, London Road,
Barbara Stabler
Penrhyn Road 11am. Details
Surround Wandsworth
CND discussion with the 7.30pm, 24 Adelphi (off Union St),
West CND Rally. Speakers: CND), Cllr Ian Davidson,
for International Women's Day.
labour movement, the Scottish TUC.
Defend
Greenham
peace women
bailiffs were given the go ahead to remove women's peace camp at Greenham Common. But the peace camp remains on the site.
who attended the hearing walked out in protest arter
that the hearing would not
Instead women out statements they had prepared for the court in neardy Fields.
Despite legal harassment the peace women are
be moved from Greenham Common. Last week the camp had moved fifty yards and Wal determined that whatever the courts would throw at them they would not beemoved.
One the first demonstrations of support for the Greenham women will be a march organised by Youth CND from Oxford to Greenham Common.
The march is backed by the Southern regions of the Labour Party and Labour Party Young Socialists. The marchers will be taking with them a message of support from ine cora Mayor or UxIvId and the City Council as well Oxford trades _council.
Jim Coutts, one of the
Three thousand women joined Scotland's biggest ever demonstration
"Peace' mass protest outside the Faslane nuclear submarine base near Helensburgh on 6 March. The feeling of solidarity showed the strength that feminism brings to the disarmament movement. support came from the Scottish anti-missiles movement and the
including the Women's Adivsory Committee of 'Women for Peace' want to build on this to defend the Greenham Common women, to oppose Trident and gain support for the women's strike day of action in Glasgow on 24th May. Contact Women for Peace: Tel. 041-221 1177. (Sat after lpm).
Youth march message
behind closed doors last week,
getting people
around
to held in Brockwell London on 7 May.
fordshire:
were. snatched from their peace-camp police
Newbury
the Cruise Sicily last
years COl victed. une Ilallani protest ợn , Further details from 01-226 1474.
This was the first 'Women for
Broad OXFORD ABINGDON
HESELTINE'S CONSTITUENCY
DIDCOT
NEWBURY GREENHAN COMMON
Join the
march!
Saturday 19 March Morning: Civic send-off it xore › own rall 10H0W ea by march througn Ux-
• all welcome!
Afternoon Rally in Ab-
March or
challenges him to a public Evenin Rally in Didcot
disco in Didcot Labour Club. Overnight Stay Sunday 20 March Evening: Rally at
Common Base Ureenham
Oxford. * Food will be provided
Friday and Sunday nigh accomo anon avaabe o those coming from outside Oxford Dotord CND March 83, 10 Cunliffe Close. Oxtord
Socialist Action 18 March 1983 By Joy Hurcombe (Secretary Labour CND)
campaign document?
dent programme and to refuse to allow missiles in this country.
This was the very least we could expect after the vote for Composite 51 al the Labour Party Conference.
this will fulfil the Labour Party's con-
commitment unilateral nuclear disarmament. It will not give us e clear commitment non-nuclear defence policy
The conference clearly voted nuclear weapons, both existing and new
To argue that we should keep Polaris, as the draft suggests, in order to give us a place in disarmament negotiations is totally contrary to the vote al the conference where our party voted to abandon nuclear weapons not bargain with them
We cannot have it both ways. This is a contradiction that will be exploited by er throughout opposition speaker the country and many Labour Party candidates will not
prepared comprolnise
It won't fool the elecLolalt either, for once again we will be seen as the
party of fudge and mudge
I for one will not fight on a platform to keep Polaris
Polaris should be taken out and replaced by a commitment to abandon all nuclear weapons in order to work for a non-nuclear defence policy for this country.
That should include nuclear depth charges, battlefield nuclear weapons and free
nuclear bombs or are we keeping those as well!
One other area alarms
ana alsappoints me. col
ference clearly voted to
COSC dowi all nuccal bases, British or American on British soil or in British WaLCID
manifesto campaign
the Labour Party conference
Gown
compromise or fudge
2
"This document
is not party policy'
WHAT SHOULD we make of the proposed policy on disarmament put forward in the NEC's draft
Labour Party members up and down the country will welcome the clear commitment to cancel the Tri-
Cruise
would depend on 'agree ment with other countries' and in 'co-operation with our the draft document suggests That would weaken the commitment beyond It would appear to be an attempt to sabotage the policy of the party fought for and wor at Blackpool.
The close down the bases has to be a unilateral act for it Is
Fact IN . OUr terest.
EEC
Clearly
docu-
the
for
NATO highly unrealistic.
develop non-nuclear
wait?
at all?
Finally, to wait until international
aims? be the ultimate
We to unite
party. document party will
Labour CND launches
Saturday 12 March, Labour CND launched a campaign to include the full policy commitment of Labour conference to nuclear disar-
Plans include a newsletter, meetings and a campaign to get MPs, PPCs, CLPs and affiliated organisations pledgd to the policy represented by the model resolution below.
THIS (CLP/ward/trade union) expresses its concern and alarm that the draft campaign statement leaked to the press does not contain the full commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament which. was carried by well over a two-thirds majority of
We note in particular that the proposal to keep the Polaris force as a negotiating tool is totally contrary to the spirit of the conference vote on
Conference clearly and unconditionally voted
American — on British soil and in British waters.
We demand that this clear commitment should be contained in the campaign document without
clear commitment should be made to support the position of Nuclear Free Zone local authorities. (* Note: this resolution can be used as a petition by alter. ing the first sentence to read: We, the undersigned, ex.
Page 3 scan of this page
We're not broken. We'll bounce back"
The doomed Lewis Merthyr pit, South Wales
WHEN IAN MACGREGOR took over the British Steel Corporation he declared his intention to make it 'leaner and fitter'. The closure of the Lewis Merthyr pit in South Wales has shown that whoever becomes boss at the MacGregor's schemes for profit and carve up will rule.
The butchery won't
USL aicei vool.
Whole coal fields will go.
Redaced will be
outoul concentrated in a limited number of super-pits and new computerised systems used to double productivity.
By Celia Pugh
In theory this could
for NuCaf Stoaler ROSIS miners and cheap coal for
Ivor England (Maerdy lodge 'secretary)
THIS IS a serious setback, and we shouldn't underestimate it. But we're not down, we'll regroup:
Lewis Merthyr was the first pit 1 worked at.
It was the first pit to vote against the 1914-18 war as an imperialist war.
This closure isn't about economics - it's our traditions they're
tryinhe boys
boys in some areas have false opImsi• lucre s a prolec• tionist factor . with the boys thinking they' ve got job security and investment. There is a barrier when people think of their JUICRARC and video.
But when the barrier is broken through, and it can be as we've shown in Wales, they say with it and the fight is on.
I mat is wily it is a trageds that we lost the momentum with the ballot.
National Coal Board, stead tie electricity. In-
the new technolog) will be used to squeeze more profits out of fewer miners.
This ucails almost total closure for the pits in South Wales, Scotiana and the North East. means picking off as many DIls as possible Lancashire, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Kent.
The NUM estimate a minimum of 70,000 JODS lost. They argue it is an at-
It'll be super-pits on super wages, then hiving off to private enterprises. South Wales will cease to exist. We've got to get a
LralcA LUPCLICE IU LULI
at this. We've got to ge
intelligent way of fighting back.
We ve learned lessons. Links have been made. There is a rank and file closeness that was never there before.
Links have been made with Scotland, Nottingham, Yorkshire This will stand us in good
future. was breathtaking how
noCIl was
buildi day's struggle
worth more than anything. The boys learn more from a day's strug-
gle than all the dialogue.
Young new leaders lare emerging. We have build on the rank and file links and strengthen these leaders.
strength of the miners' union and militant areas like South Wales. Arguments about safety and economy go out of the window as the government replaces coal with nuclear power and oil, which is 35 per cent more costly.
The NCB slimdown has involved investment starvation for the South Wales pits. In 1982, investment covering the 24,000 west workiorce Canlc lo £14.5 million, compared
£452.5 million for the 14,600 workforce in North Yorkshire
Talk of financial viability dominated the Lewis Merthyr closure. But the NUM disproved arguments about exhaustion and geology. When the adjacent Tymawr colliery closed last year, miners were transferred to Lewis Merthyr. The NCB promised them work for 8
15 years. But these bicares cvabulaicu as the Board refused the necessary investment.
Hope was offered of Margam near Port Talbot jobs new and planned nonpolluting system for smokeless fuel at the Phurnacite plant near Aberdare.
But the Margam project has been shelved indefinitely anete pilot system depends on a Government 1ccuila development grant and EEC neither
nuvelelt. of which have materialised.
Last month the NCB parcelled Welsh pits into three groups based on present profitability
'bleeder pits to be closed' 12 'pits of uncertain life', and 10 'possible Contributing pits'. This is the clenrest evidente vel lidi the NCB plan to decimate South wales
militant collieries avocal
the hit list of 22 'bleeders' and 'uncertain' pits. In 1981 the Welsh miners' strike forced the Tories to make a 'U turn' on closures. Many miners thought the return to work was premature and based on empty promises.
Job losses across the British coal field have reached 23,328 since 1981 as pits are picked off and starved of investment. December 1982, South Wales miners again voted
it trie NCB faled ro
NCB failed guarantee recruitment, £400 million investment, a survey of reserves and investment for the Margam new mine.
In the ballot, only 2 out of 33 pits voted against action. South
Dall Wales union executive proposed
oos ulcilcill of the January action on the thinnest promises from Area NCB director Weekes. Weekes didn't even turn up to consultation meetings
When the Blaengwrach pit closed at the beginning of the e yeax waten evidence exhaustion, Lewis Merthyr were worried about trade offs against pledges of investment elsewhere
Within days of their pit
1981 the South Wales spark threatened to ignite a national strike
• defeat has incales been a setback. But sup port for a jobs fight is still growing in South Wales
In February 1981 only
teree pits were against e
return January decision to
was opDUstoUlc acuiul posed by over ten pits
Leading militants are convinced they have drawn vital lessons for the battles to come.
Tyrone O'Sullivan
Paul O'Sullivan
We are defiant. We're not beaten because we're going to come back fighting. We've learned lessons the last weeks. We've used
we've got LIC CUCE do this, but words
without action are no good. The Nottingham people said they wanted a ballot but they wouldn't • What went wrong. p.12 strike following the results of the national ballot.
- The
conference accepted that the closure of Lewis Merthyr is now inevitable.
But rank and file ene ve ec . ing the next stage of the SALETe the future of their jobs and industry. DAI DAVIES from Penrhiwceiber and • Souh
of the NICHIOCi Wales area executive personal capacity) explains:
'We've lost the battle
Tyrone O'Sullivan (Tower lodge secretary) IT'S THE right place and the right year to take action, no matter what people say. And that's not just GM COOKSON to save pits and jobs It would good for the Labour Party.
The biggest mistake we made was go for halot. We were buding up the momentum when weni flat.
This defeat has taugh us many iessons, We'v
wedge of a rank and file who are go-
Trelewis Drift cross a picket line. We've been constitutionalised
We're not oul or acuon.
oing to win in South
with national ballots. When we went to
areas we shouldn't GLICI have gone on o-mission of diplomatic persuasion. We should have picketed them out.
The battle will go on
ON SATURDAY 12 March a conference of South Wales miners decided unanimously to call off their
over Lewis Merthyr but the fight aralisl pit closures will continue. At the Colici cuce speaker after speaker went to the TUSLI UIl to draw positive lessons from this strike.
'As Des Dutfield, area vice president said. "we're not broken, we'll bounce back"
'Next time we fight fol a threatened pit we'll go to every pit to ask them to COHC cout on strike im-
Socialist Action 18 March 1983
ing for changes.
We'll not win a ballot again. There are U HEI pits with a good life thes are being used against the
areas. Areas like
vottinghan don't see a threat.
want to stop picket them eut. This was closures we've the lesson of the unofficial strike in 1969
We won't go back with our tail between our legs We'll prepare for the next fight.
Paul O 'Sullivan
By Barry Wilkins
mediately. The secret ballot was the biggest mistake. Next time must spread the strike more rapidly by picketing and not rely on ballots
'The Coal Board is badly mistaken if it thinks this conference gives carte blanche for pit closures. Our vote went up to 6ö pe cent during the strike and this mandate for strike action against closures has not been called off.
'So when the next pit is threatened there must b another strike which has to be spread rapidly.
3
Page 4 scan of this page
Labour's campaign gets going
IRELAND
UNFREE
European
spotlight on the
North of Ireland
RICHARD BALFE MEP Labour and nationalist Euro-MPs support the setting up of the European Commission of enquiry into the war in the North of Ireland.
A group of us in the European parliament have
from the very the Irish issue. Our line is that it is not just an affair for Britain. A civil war is going on, and that's an issue for people everywhere.
This enquiry itiatives.
H-blocks.
Lady Ellis for the Tories said that this was intruding into 'the internal affairs of our own countrv'. said this was rubbish. because the wuropean parliament was fond of looking into the internal attairs of countries like Poland and El Salvador. and we must now look at our own house.
The resolution was tabled by the Socialist and Christian Democrat groups, the two biggest in the Parliament, which include the Irish Labour Party and fine Gae members. ported it giving it the backing of all the members from the Irish Republic. the British Tories and lan Paisley. No-one else.
We argued the others around on the basis that after thirteen years there is patently no solution, one a cool economic, political and social dimensions of the problem was not unreasonable. knock out the word 'political'. red back, but we have agreed to prepare a report on the economic and social issues -they're all closely related.
It is difficult to see how the Tories can block it. Thatcher has called for a withdrawal of the 60 British Euro-MPs. gets right down the European throat. But I don't see how she can stop an inquiry unless she is going to ban all the European Parliament from flying into Belfast.
I think it would be useful if we held some public hearings to be decided. One of the ironic things is that if we wished to interview, for rison, we would have to do it in Brussels as he is not allowed into London.
I don't think that the inquiry will come up with anything sensational. It will probably end up being done bv some iberal in the middle of the curopear spectrum. meone like that.
Comme rist MPS is basier for the Britis or Communist government to push aside or write off as the reds getting at them again. It's more difficult when it's someone near to them ideologically. Even it they draw up a report that is mildly critical, that's an advance.
I think this report will help to break out of the ghetto of no discussion on Ireland, because it will be someone outside of Britain and Ireland looking at the problem and examining what is basically a territorial dispute.
It's about a population that feels it is living in the wrong country and is fighting to get out.
One of the French communists quoted Teddy Kennedy saying that the North is nam. Kennedy was wrong. It is Britain's Algeria. Britain's Algeria.
Led explains why
early days to internationalise Cor example on plastic bullets and the several
Hal also sun.
it was only opposed by
calling tor a report on the
Paisley moved to This has been refer-
of course,
This is a typical tactic which
but whether this happens has yet
example, Danny Mor-
But in a way it is of value to send so-
British Britain's Viet-
News
DAVE CARTER reports on the election campaign in Darlington.
The doors were locked at two by-election meetings in Darlington last week.
At the first 'Norman Tebbit addressed a small audience who nad been locked in by the Tory stewards, who were alarm-
by a large picket of trade unionists and unemployed cyclists.
Tebbit's arrival between Special Branch
notitied the bevy of journalists in the pub next door. They then spent the next ten minutes beating on the door of the hall begging to be let in then retired back to drown their disappointment.
The doors of Darlington's Dolphin Centre were also locked at
addressed by Michael Foot and the can-
O'Brien didate Ossie because three times the anticipated audience turned up. The speakers spoke to the main meeting, overspill meeting and an impromptu gathering on me a Clove!
It was an emotional
Darlington LOI Labour Party activists marking the start of the real campaign by Labour.
Unemplovment is the main theme of Labour's material - which is hardly surprising in a town where at the last election Thatcher said the Tories offered the only hope reducing unemployment.
Disarmament has SO far of
OCCI Dall Labour's campaign,
Ossie O'Brien's
A MAJOR row has blown up over the decision of inte Norwood Labour Party general management committee to 'note' the expulsions of Militant supporters Clare Doyle and Lyn Walsh in that constituency, rather than actively dely the expulsions as in Islington Central and Hammersmith North.
behind the removal of Ted
of the #usticalor Norwood decision, from the executive of the London Labour Party. Clearly a majority of delegates at the London Labour con-
PIECE
BELIEVE ME!
longstanding support for
which in this campaign has been kept quiet. lowever, the arrival of the CND caravan next week should change that.
A lack-lustre and lowkey week with real doubts being openly expressed
Labour's chances
by Foot's meeting and the
last Saturday shine Wat the closure of
Works.
Over trade unionists backed probably the biggest demonstration ever seen in the town to save the workshops and the Wolsingham steel plant.
Suddenly the thusiasm started to flow again as more and more Labour supporters realised Labour could win if it drops its mealy-mouthed compromises cautiously uttered press conferences and takes to the streets with clear policies.
Applauded
ment's plans for the area echoed from the marchers
centre the the sed tows
shoppers stood to watch. Many applauded and joined in the march.
At last Labour was getting some vigour into its campaign. Roland Boyes the Euro MP for Durham summed up the situation at the rally afterwards say-
Norwood expulsions blow up
ference thought a more active fight from Norwood was needed
As a result of Knight's election defeat, secretary Ken Phipp has circulated a letter that Norwood had been on the receiving end of 'an insidious smear campaign of lies and distortion against our chairperson Knight'.
"This reached the gutter level of delegates being told in behind the scenes discussions that Ted has 'moved the expulsions of Militant members from the Labour Party and that Norwood was backing the witch hunt" 'Phipp says.
The letter goes on to
OF
YOU WASTE YOUR TIME BUT ULTRA LEFTST EROUP? ABILITY AND IRRELEVANT
Ossie O'Brien - campaign picking up
ing; 'It's like a boxer going into the ring.. you have to stand and fight. You can win or lose, but there is no middle way.
On Friday Michael Foot visited the Shildon works and told the 2000 strong worklorce Labour would save Shildon. But then added
reproduce Norwood's letter to the NEC, in which in addition to 'noting' the expulsions expresses Norwood's determination to campaign for reinstate-
of the expelled members.
In reply Clare Doyle and Lyn Walsh have circulated a long letter. This denies that there has been a smear campaign against Knight DUlL takes with Norwood's strategy or noung une expulsions rather than refusing to imprement inel.
Doyle and Walsh say: '.. have strongly argued that 'notes' really means 'accepts', and this,
practice, hicalls
THE ACTIO
WORKING FOR THE
Socialist Action 18 March 1983 'We can not promise to saVe cvery OU. This nonsense. Every job could be saved if Foot plements the policies of disarmament and expropriation which Labour conferences have already agreed.
The rally and the weekend demonstration capitulation without a fight
'Norwood CLP's renewed declaration that it will campaign to reverse the expulsions is complete. ly undermined by not taking the expected action refusing to accept the ex. pulsions..
•Today is not the 1950s and 1960s when the Gaitkelle non completely dominated the party. The overwhelming majority of (SURELY YOU WOULD
YOU'RE RIGHT LREADY APPLIED
PARTY!!
is here the enthuse in
there The people
Darlington are looking for
a lead
such a lead, the SDP Sive If Foot : fails to
didate,
Tory and cannot give a
political statement without
the aid of an auto-cue will
be the main beneficiary.
LABOUR
BRIEFING
CLPs and an increasing
number of active trade
unionists are totally op-
posed to any attempt to
trample on the democratic
rights of CLPS
determined fight
does not "play into the
hands of the right". It is
capitulation without
tight which will strenothe
the right, and encourage
the right wing NEC to in
tervene even more boldly
against left wing parties'.
CORMAC
#I
YOU MUST BE JOKING! WE'RE NOT LETTING PEOPLE LIKE YOU INTO THE LABOUR
"y PARTY!!
Page 5 scan of this page
News
Photo: GM COOKSON
THE THIRD march to demand a public enquiry into the death of Colin Roach, held on Saturday, 12 March, was attacked by police, who were determined to smash the demonstration and destroy the campaign.
As people marched to Hackney town hall, having held. two minutes silence outside Stoke Newington memory of Colin Roach,
DONCE alacked flat-backed van leading the procession.
By Tim Wright
They broke the van's windows and dragged out the driver, Labour councillor Twomey,
wire was subsequently taken hospital as a result of his injuries,
MALE
ORDER
Abortion attacks in Britain
ANTI-abortionists
Britain are planning
railles. demonstrations
and door to door leaflet-
ting over Easter.
They are giving out
two million leaflets
showing that two million
abortions will have taken
place since - the 1967
Abortion Act.
The National Abor*
tion Campaign
ting leaflet for
... and Ireland
ALTHOUGH abortion
is illegal in Ireland, this
isn't enough for Irish
anti-abortionists. They
are pushing through an
amendment to make it
unconstitutional as well.
The so-called Pro-
Life Amendment' reads
"'he
acknowledges right
to ne of the unborn. and
with due regard to the
equal right to life of the
mother, guarantees in its
laws to respect, and
far as practicable, by its
laws, to defend and vin-
dicate that right.'
The Catholic church,
Fianna Fail and Fine
Gael BLYO major
political parties) are
behind
Amendment which will
CHILDREN
NO
Police try to smash campaign
attacked those on the back of the van and leading the mar-
arresting others Colin Roach's. father.
There was no lustitiable reason for the assault. The march had been entirely peaceful and, until the police intervention, promised to remain sO. The police wanted to smash the march but they did not succeed.
Though temporarily disrupted, the marchers regathered and continued woman's right to choose.
Stickers saying 'Beware! Anti-Abortion
Agency' are available from NAC to counter the posters put
by Life and other anti-abortion pregnancy counselling agencies
Leaflets and stickers from the NAC office at 374 Grays Inn Road, London WC1 (Spare Rib, April 1983):
be the launching pad for
Sistinee attack
women's rights.
If the Amendment is adopted, it could be used
the courts to allow anyone to DEVC all. junction on a suspected of planning a trip to Britain to secure an abortion!
(The Anti-Amendment Campaign CUTE be CUr-
Box 1285 Dublin Tel Dublin 308636.
chains! Why you should oppose the Constitutional morton is a thorough
well-argued pamohlet available
Democracy Clanawley Killester, Dublin 5).
Independent Enquiry
NO COVER UP
to. Hackney Town Hall
There it was desisted i.
There was decided Wicker le can in wer the arrested were being held.
Over 200 people then set off to City Road police peaceful picket to demand station establish the immediate release those arrested.
At one point when the police tried to divert the march on a long aetour. the marchers broke free from the police 'escort' and sought their own, more rect, route to une station.
Unce al ine stanon a delegation managed naganise the Daneuv Lo Sunday 5 March in solidarity with women republican prisoners.
Celebrations
PACKED County Hall on 8 March listened 10 a panel of women speakers from EI alvador, Turkey, Iraq. Iran, Palestine and the Soviet Union.
On 1000 women marched through London and in the afternoon the same number ATI women piled into a conference to discuss
World Women's Strug Women's Struggle. World Mother's Day
YES, 'Mothering Sunday' was last weekend. 'Oh my god, I forgot' I can hear vou cry.
Or are you one of the principled brigade who thinks it's selling out to
release of Mr. Roach and a
picket, the police, without
through the hastily set-up riot barriers and attacked
teste picketers.
black activist and a leader
of the Colin Roach Camprimed an explosion..
In a crude attempt to
crush campaign around the death of Colin Roach, the young black man they claim shot himself in Stoke Newington police station, they
have achieved the reverse
The Colin Roach CamINTERNATIONAL Women's Day was marked with a 300 strong picket of Armagh prison on
Common peace camp were among a delegation of 100 women from Britain. Sinn Fein women's department intend to visit the peace camp at Easter.
The Tuesday events continued interna-
sessions •What nuclear to
Mone peace? by
from the Hamburg Parliament
Broadside Theatre
ed by the
the bourgeoisie to send Mum a card?
Of course, Mother's
Day is a sop to women, a rip-off by the greetings card and flower merchants but what the hell! Mum's anything like mine, she won't appreciate your radical stand.
If it slipped your
paign, rather than being
become a symbol of black
one which will inspire
black communities anc
anti-racists throughout
Britain.
On 27 March there is a
demonstration carea by
the Campaign Against
Racist Laws in opposition
to the mass of racist
legislation enacted UVCI
the past few years This
campaign, like the Colin
Campaign, has
wide significance.
It is about confronting increasingly racist,
authoritarian and vicious
state
•This march must have
massive support.
Photo: JOANNE O'BRIEN
Women from the Greenham
They also heard Polly Vittorini, a 17-year old school student and Revolution supporter, describe her arrest at Greenham Common.
She explained how important socialists to give active support to the Greenham women.
'We have a unique contribution to make to this struggle because we understand the important role the abom movement can play in supporting this
HOve ment or women. (Valerie Coultas).
mind, how about sending her an introductory subscription to Socialist Action to make amends? Compiled HILARY DRIVER. Send contributions •Male Order'
Street London N1 2XP 10 arrive not later than Thurs day a week prior to publication.
Socialist Action 18 March 1983
Self defence
protect younger boys on their way
ly abused them.
will appear in court in the summer.
case.
THE of our campaign Is 'Newham 8
We first
people and the labour movement.
VOSI importantly though the and
JOCA youths radicalising society.
When the 8 first appeared in court a school strike was called The response from Asian pupils the area was almost 100 percent. From this secure base we have launched a national cam-
paign with supporters like
Tony Benn and supporters groups
We have learnt from the Bradford 12 campaign in all this, but so have the ponce wio de ceremiane. to teach black people a lesson after that victory.
But the Newham 8 is not an isolated incident.
Racist attacks are continuing around the schools HOW
with Canto sit back rely on "leaders' traditional
They are
nections between
and
porters CARL
Sunday 27
March
12 n001
Assemble
Jubilee Gardens near Waterloo Station
• Unite the divided families now
5
is no offence
AFTER A series of racist attacks in Newham in September of last year, Asian youths gathered to
home from school. Plain clothes policemen attacked and racial.
Eight were arrested and charged with threatening behaviour and actual bodily harm to a policeman. All were subsequently charged with 'conspiracy' and
UNMESH DESAI, secretary of the Newham 8 campaign, explains the political implications of the
Young black people in Newham just the 8
on race, sex combined So
join and sup-
courts; if possible, l alst the
being against the Newham tradi
the liUS
The on the
the Police Newham the pian where fight should STATE should and canno:
office.
Black
NICO who has
repeal Immigration LaWS prospective candidates
sections the Labour
Repeal
DEMONSTRATE
CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACIST LAWS
• Repeal the Immigration and Nationality Acts
•Stop race checks Stopracist deportations
Page 6 scan of this page
WORLD
Jimmy with
the
wraps off
FORMER US Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski just published his memoirs of the Carter presidency. in
he reveals Carter's candid opinions of Begin and the Israelis during LIc Camp David summit.
Begin psycho'.
The Israelis? tional bandits' PCI wants
'unity'
Comthe 1970s which volved an attempted compromise with the Christian
PCI leader Berlinguer
and
WeCI
Such an
tion.
next day
PSI Craxi ap-
proposal
saying the
yet ripe'. Show trial
Starts
THE TRIAL started in
Italy on 7 March of 71
in Australia
THE ELECTIONS on
5 March in Australia
gave a clear victory to
Labour over the
Liberal-National Party
coalition, with a swing
of around 5 percent.
Labour won sweeping
gains in all states, with the
exception of conservative
Tasmania. and now nas
slat House of Represen-
Represen-
tatives. The vital Issue in
the campaign was the
people accused of being
'ideologica founders' of the Brigades.
The trial is a bizarre political show trial, with the being Charced purely on the basis of their ideas and writings.
Most
the ideol-
ultra-lett political movement
engaged In
Negri been in
The charges against were brought Rome Weapon after
weapon
THE PENTAGON has attacked the Soviet Union for
'weapon after weapon and wanting to dominate the world.
Meanwhile, the US
military budget this year is $9,200m (£6000m).
Main beneficaries of US military largesse are
well known bastions of freedom and justice
Israel, El Salvador, Hon-
duras, Pakistan, Jordan
and Egypt.
Military aid
Turkey is being doubled.
Anna on
trial
a founder
1981 In
the and the
ing to strikes
atter the
martial Many
appear LeCI
the film
Action will
know
them.
Victory for Labour
economy, During the seven year term • Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser, unemployment has reach700,000 ten percen the highest figure sina. the 1930 depression. Inflation is at percent.
The employer have seen on the offensive, cut ting wages through phoney indexation system,
like health, education and public transport.
International
BARELY A WEEK after the new post-war record been announced, the German stock exchange ex-
conservative-liberal alliance had won a decisive victory in the 6 March elections.
Düsseldorf and Frankfurt told themselves, at least we are rid of the dreaded socialists. where Ronald and Caspar Weinberger could hardly conceal their glee at the return of a government firmly committed to cruise and Pershing missiles.
last thirteen years of right
mne ever
N01
Krano
tempted to continue the basic course chartered by
The question mark was
federal government would soon have lea
unet
pressure on them from the
deployment the price for
makers
demand
The Liberal-National
Party coalition introduced
a series of sweeping anti-
union laws. The swing to
Labour undoubtedl
reflected the rejection of
erase s wing
policies.
But Labour is firmly
under the leadership of the
right wing. Their main
plank in the election cam-
paign was a prices and in-
comes policy wage
restraint for short.
Labour's new
'charismatic' leader Bob
Hawke was for ten years
the right wing leader of the
Australian trade no us.
specialising in rapid settle-
ment of strikes and work-
The agony of
Social Democracy
registered unemployed had
Share prices went through the roof. The Kohl
Never mind the worst economic crisis since the
Similar relief was to be found in Washington
10 DolICICs.
Kohl now has a clear
free hand to impose an
Pershings allocated to the
right wing policies.
see West German politics
(43.8 banners of 'social justice and 'peace'. It was not his
lost him the battle.
regions, had not forgotten that it was under the SPD
sides of thustryith both
This tradition is carried on in Labour's slogan of 'national reconciliation'.
The defeat of Fraser undoubtedly represents a vic.
Lookers and a blowto ta for ment will expect measures Interes Hawke.
Already one of the key building unions, the Builder's Labourer's Federation, has refused to call off its campaign of indistrial action for increaswages and shorter
Hans-Jochen Vögel, defeated candidate of the SDP. that unemployment started to rise.
They decided to gamDemocratic Union (CDU) Christian still popularly associated with the years of the postwar "economic miracle
Disillusioned vouth and the supporters of the peace movement did not trust the SDP. to stand up
NATO and voted for the Greens.
In some respects the situation of the SPD today is broadly comparable to that of the Labour Party
the Callaghan in 1979
Growing sections both the party and the trade unions are beginning
Right wing gains
show Mitterand's
problems
THE FRENCH
municipal elections on 6
March showed a strong
swing to the right — not
because of much in-
crease in the right wing
vote, but because of left
wing abstentions.
But in the second March the
round on
Socialist and Communist
Parties persuaded most 01
the abstainers to return to
the fold, pushing up their
vote up to nearly 50 per
irom a first round
total of just 45 percent.
Municipal elections in
France are an Dollarl
test of general political
opinion, WILl many
ministers standing as can-
didates for local councils
or as town mayors.
As a result of the right win sure third and
parties Chirac and
Giscard won a number of
major cities away from the
The Communist Par-
ty did particularly badly,
Socialist Action 18 March 1983 to realise that the era of social peace and prosperity and of painless reformism financed out of proceedings of uninterupted economic growth, are irrevocably gone.
While the of redundancies and closures and the populist rhetoric
the conservative government doubtedly lead measure of demoralisation and disorientation, many activists Will demand more radical approach b the opposition and search for new political answers
rebraci the old, discredited ones
The outlook is therefore one of intensified debate but the Socialists also had some losses.
For example, the
Socialists lost control of
Grenoble, , a town which
has had a socialist
ministration for 18 years
In Paris, Lione secretary of the
By Paul Lawson
Socialist Party and
of Mitterand
staunch ally
was heavily defeated in the
18th arrondissement
right winger Alain Juppe
Without doubt this
defeat is a judgement on
the policies pursued by the
government since it came
to power two years ago
The hopes of the left
that Mitterand would im-
plement sweeping
socialist change have been
dashed.
The government im-
posed a wage freeze
1982: savagely attacked
6 within the SPD DGB (the West German TUC).
For the first time since the immediate post-war years there emergence of an anticapitalist left wing in the West German labour movement
So the 6 March was not only a defeat, it was also a watershed in West German politics. year paralysis, of the isolation of an e left from the mainstream of working class pontics are uver
The period of debate and regroupment now opening up will prepare the ground for future victories.
strikes amongst immigrant workers and in the car industry; abandoned promise to reduce military
to 6 months and service ploughed building up French nuclear weapons.
In this atmosphere of austerity, the government has become progressively less popular
Mitterand is beginnin to pay the price for ad ministering the capitalist crisis rather than responding. it with radical socialist measures
In the 80 or so towns where they stood, the far
'Voice of the
And a sate supported by
and a slate supported the ultra-sectarian PCIreceived a total of around
percent
(although this is a much
percentage of the lower total national vote).
Given the rather large number of towns in which the far left was standing
this fairly result. 8000 people attend
Left campaign in Paris, ad
leading figures
on the slate Alain
Krivine and Arlette
Laguiller.
Page 7 scan of this page
« THE ACTION INTERVIEW,
Interview
KEN LIVINGSTONE'S recent trip to Ireland was a major blow against the media gag on the truth about British occupation of the six PHIL HEARSE CAROL TURNER spoke to him about his impressions of Belfast and the politics of Sinn Fein.
The main line of attack of the right wing press and the media was that you
restrict your visit Republican community?
Every political grouping except Sinn Fein and the IRA can come to London and put their case. I've heard the views of Paisley's Unionists, the Official Unionists, the Democratic and Labour Party St Alliance ordinate length in the press and on television
That kind of coverage is just no afforded to Sinn Fein. there just to resolve some of your own ignoran cad some on the Pro para-military organisations bably have arranged an event which would nave to gain publicity for themselves and smear the visit. We minimised the risk of that by letting only a few people know that we were coming.
wnat we want to do Labour councillors, MPs,
Inense ves. We're hoping that get that ban on Sinn Fein lifted, so we can hold an open conterence nere al the Greater London Council at which all five parties can put their view. What were your impressions of the nationalist areas?
The scale of poverty and unemployment is worse than anvwhere else in Britain. Added to that systematic discrimination Catholics practised for centuries, particularly during the period when Stormont parliament was run by the Unionists.
Manv of the utopian groups the British left make bland uniting Crevot Denie generally specious campaign. But no one can avold the tact that it you are a Catholic you are two and a half times more likely to be unemployed than if you're a Protestant.
Although unemployment overall is 20 percent, within the male Catholic population it is over S0 percent. Anc on some of the estates in West Belfast 60-70 percent is not
Northern
counties.
and
Why did
to the
Democratic
Social
You need to g
Protestant
known
is to get
Labour
we'll the against the
the
on
calls for Ken Livingstone
some tion and poverty. bad housing that Bermondsey
the area has beer needs of the military play areas and the lawns
uncommon. cars travelling over them
areas Their forts generally next playgrounds
So there is systematic discrimina-
There are tracts of make places like Falls look like monuments to imaginative architecture. Nothing can prepare you for just how bad it all is.
The effect of the war has been that
adapted to meet the Almost all the churned up by tanks and armoured
Each of the estates stands as if its move in the middle of a battleground. The British army have not, as we are told, stationed themselves between the two communities, but within the Catholic
there have been built to schools or hospitals Their observation posts are perched on top
working
KEN LIVINGSTONE
Free Derry corner
blocks of flats occupied Catholics. You can't walk down the
Road for more than minutes without passing soldiers armed and ready to fire.
I came out of the house we were staying in one night and collided with one of the troops walking backwards
It's an amazing situation just walk out of your door and you step into a gun. The nature of the more through is intimidatory
the estates cowboys from a film shoot-out.
This constant intimidation has mobilised the entire Catholic population against the presence of the troops
Anyone who says that there is support for the troops in the Cathol community is wrong. The only area of debate is whether they should be
withdrawn immediately or phased out over a period of time.
Is opposition to the troops translated into active support for Sinn Fein?
There can be no doubt that Sinn Fein has won the allegiance of the Catholic
class Belfast.
Fein will be the largest voice of the Catholic community in Belfast after he general election
luring ou visit there was no
"You step out of your
front door and you
step into a gun"
YOU
by doubting the enthusiam as we walked
around the streets. a lew tor us.
Fein; Danny Adams.
The people we talked to were quite clear that what broke the hold of the SDLP in that area was their position the hunger strike Sands.
I think the SDLP is probably they finished as the major electoral voice
like of the Catholic
thern Ireland. But it wasn't just that the SDLP took a mistaken position on the hunger strike.
People have around for almost a decade and Gerry Fitt for a decade before that nothing has happened except it's got worse.
On top of that you've had the emergence of a younger, leadership within Sinn Fein with a
much clearer conception of socialist policies. Ihat must be much more at. tractive to ordinary Catholics.
Sinn Fein are doing what I think is correct not issuing pure tracts, but going onto the estates and the areas of bad housing; taking up the issues around Carple and craving police people drawing lesson from it That's the most valuable way of Sinr building support for socialist policies:
taking up issues which face people on a car political
How developments
leftward
My
South.
presence.
and
presence.
and Cullie because
wiltone After
Protestant detached, but socialist party.
British Ireland. establishment.
This
'early'
the
withdrawal.
forced
And it wasn't just It was for the leaders of Sinn Morrison and Gerry
testants Catholics
unions.
and Bobby
about they Southern unions.
Aspect presiding seen the SDLP
- and Surely the
they're withdrawal from dynamic
issue
working class
of
ideologically military
the
I think a political
da! sass and drawing the
do you political after British
withdrawal. Can things be moved in a
direction?
guess Is lal nlish witnaraw
vould see a maior re-alignment in th
North in a very short period of time,
certain v within two • or Inree years
That would also spill over into the
The political balance in the South ence To certain that affected British the split
between Fianna Fail and Fine : Gael,
the monopoly that those
two parties have on the bulk of the • vote is a retlection of our continuing
If we'd been out of Ireland for 50 years those two parties would have
coalesced around a genuine Tory par
allowed the growth
socialist alternative.
There are major elements withir
the Labour Party, the Workers Party
and Sinn Fein in the South which
could form the basis of a new politica
grouping on the left. But that'll onl
about wher Britain is OUl now all those groups are
divided among themselves on Britist
Britain announced its deci
sion to withdraw some working clas
opinion would become not going into da rel perhaps forming paralle
How can we break the political log jam on Ireland in British politics?
Our problem here is that there is a
majority people for getting out The logjam is in the politica
is the result of Unionists work to ensure their own veto.
The Labour Party is moving ver! early into the proposal for talks in The insertion of the word the draft manifesto document reflects
building up the parliamentary party for
We may be nearer than people accept to getting the Labour Party committed to a withdrawal from Ireland
On most of the issues we face, the pressure is built up in the constituencies, ihen the unions and then it is
on the parliamentary leadership. This is one area where the major problem is the unions
We may find that we can persuade the parliamentary edeersio we can persuade the TUC This may reflect the fact that most of the trade unionists in Northern Ireland ure Pro
British trade nemployed or in Southern Treland either
When the Labour Pary talks talking to the trade unions. should also be talking to the
The pressure on the parliamentar! leaders is a consequence of the pro-
Labour government over another five years of war and bloodshed.
record of the Labour leaders shouldn't convince us that
thinking of an earl!
Ireland?
They're talking about accelerating the process of consultation arounc the
British seems likely in the manifesto is a statement that no grouping • NOTE can have a veto over the withdrawa process. That's the key
There's a degree of war weariness
exhaustion and gradua realisation that we're not going to see
solution. There's ove: whelming public support for a Britis: withdrawal admittedly on the basis:: a 'get the troops home' position
so l'm much more optimist re
lot 01 OLICI because I do think there's sense of despair among Lat:-. • VE and not just them e that we're go: 0ee: =
Page 8 scan of this page
By Jeremy Corbyn
THE PURPOSE of Socialists for a Labour Victory is to unite all active campaigning socialists in the party. Our aims are to fight the general election on the agreed socialist policies of conference, take
Photo: GM the campaign out into the
labour movement and not fudge the issues in the way that the party leadership is doing at the moment.
The inaugural meeting, on Monday 7 March at the House of Commons, considered a statement which laid out the aims of the campaign. That's now been redrafted in the light of that meeting, and will form the basis of the SLV campaign.
The statement will be circulated to all constituency parties, prospective parliamentary candidates, MPs, trade union branches, and other campaigning organisations - particularly black groups and women's groups. We are asking for their support and endorsement of the campaign.
Leaflets are being prepared. There will be public meetings and campaigning activities organised up and down the country. And there will be regional discussions of activists to see how the campaign can be taken forward.
The critical factor in our campaign is taking it outside, making it an out-going campaign. It won't be just an internal Labour Party affair. It must be a public campaign to regenerate the labour movement around the socialist policies of Labour.
The issues we'll be fighting on are: unilateral disarmament; a return to full employment including the nationalisation of the top 25 monopolies; a growth of living standards and no incomes policy; full campaigning and committment to all Party
c/o 28 Middle Lane, London N8.
Socialist Action
Socialists for
a Labour Victory
policies on women; the repeal of the Nationality Act.
There are several things Socialist Action readers can do to build SLV. First of all, get your wards and constituency parties to support the campaign.
Take it up in your trade union branches and any other community organisations you're involved in, and get their support.
Ask these organisations to donate some money to the campaign, and to take part in local SLV activities.
organise public meetings and activities in their area. We want to bring together all those hundreds of thousands of people in the community who will see any improvement in their position, any solution to their problems, by the election of a Labour majority in parliament.
convince that we're serious about carrying out our socialist demands. I believe this way we will rebuild the labour movement, rebuild that confidence and support for Labour that ought to be there.
This way we'll build a real fight-back against this oppressive Tory government.
Jeremy Corbyn works as a fulltime negotiator for the National Union of Public Employees. is a Hornsey councillor, and a prospective parliamentary candidate for Islington North.
Marchfor
the future
To contact Socialists For a Labour Victory write to: Mandy Moore and Andy Harris, Joint Secretaries,
18 March 1983 8
We want SLV supporters to These are the people we must
He
SOCIALIST ACTION has
been launched
traumatic time for
British labour movement.
The miners, in their majori-
ly, have decided to avoid a
confrontation
Their caution
understandable
remote prospect
of a Labour government
FOUR YEARS of Thatcherism have taken a tremendous toll. 'resolute approach' has laid seige to the conquests of a hundred and fift
The right to a job is no more. The spectre ot war stalks the country. Living standards are lowest in Western Europe. care, education, housing transport are threatened privatisation and cuts. cities are fast becoming wastelands.
Thatcher's assaull enough. But even more frightening is LICi lack of effective response from the labour movement.
In 1945 the Labour Party returned to government parliamentary majority of - almost fifty per cent of the vote. That government presided over a new 'consensus'; bringing in a new age of prosperity; giving working people in Britain fundamental rights that they had fought for since the dawn of capitalism.
Access to jobs, freedom from to be regarded as alaine. ame
regarded as inalienable. first challenge to these basic rights came from Ted Heath's attack on the right of the trade unions to organise independently.
But the trade union movement which crushed the Industrial Rela tions Act and turfed Heath out of office has failed on virtually every front to nall inarcher s advance. And now with the Labour Party in total disarray, the danger of another term of Tory office looms.
Battle after battle has been surrendered by the TUC leaders:
workers, ASLEF, the steel workers and BL. This is not to say, as some claim on
that the working solidly socialist and only held back by its leaders.
On the contrary these leaders are
SDP/Liberal general, elected.
Alliance
significant gains from the vote. Previous v a constant third of the working class voted Tory.
These political weaknesses are not new. But in the past, in tne baltie against Heath and in the trade union struggles of fitties and sixties, were not decisive for the outcome of the day-to-day battle against capitalist class.
This has changed under Thatcher. Thatcherism represents a new era for
SOCIALIST ACTIO
replacing at. general election. the mondsey by-election
Darlington prospect.
Socialist given the The jettisoned. will be learned ape. Heathe this debate and been won nave with ahead.
To start with the victories.
Stullill?
LOOL and cluding protest was culminating in with march called by the TUC. 150 fell
the US war mongers would pay the missiles ensuing war with our lives.
from South
delivery of the
What alternative
to Labourism?
ment over the last two years.
over of ber population Cruise missiles were evenly divided on the issue.
the WOR DaLLit minds.
class
arbitration Drawing healthworkers
the beginning and struck hard.
Hudut Labour
'Thatcher's assault is stunning
enough. But even more
frightening is the lack of
effective response from the labour movement'
they struggles.
opinions, action governes.
Thatcher in a
The result of the Berand
the opinion polls before
confirm that
Action editer
ALAN FREEMAN argues
that we are passing through
a crisis of Labourism - the
British capitalism, an era in which the old self-evident truths will have to be
The process by which new lesson
will be a hard one The defeats and set-backs of the last period have already begun to raise
amongst miltants Likewise the small victories that have
indicated the was
Two years ago Tory MP John Corrie tried to introduce a bill to restrict women's abortion rights. A movement of pro-
demonstrations began inindustrial massive The Bil
A year ago the Pentagon decided to grace us with an unwelcome gift of 156 Cruise missiles. The idea was that
we would pay for the
A small group of women marched
Wales Greenham Common and decided to camp out at Greenham as a physical barrier to the
missiles. The camp became a focus for the hundreds and thousands of supporters built up by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarma-
Against the entire weight of the media and the Tory propaganda machine the camp and its supporters were instrumental
cent of the to oppose the siting of Even Tory voters Of course the missiles have not yet been stopped, but a major victory has been
hearts ana
The water workers won a victory against the government after years of being tobbed oft with promises anc
the lessons of dispute they organised for a national strike from
The divisions between the lorer and the employers, and within the government itself were sprung open Through the resulting gap, the water workers won one of the few victories of a period of mounting trade union
The lesson of the few victories we have won is this: that action is what companied
Action is what changes what defeats The
dominant perspective of
British working class f
century.
Such a crisis shoul
the moment to jettison
approach and draw u
new strategy for the left
for the labour movemer
a whole which can begi
answer the grave probl
we face today.
Yet is this enough? Clearly not.
defeats of the last period.
for th balance sheet must pre-date the Tha
Page 9 scan of this page
1 - A STRATEGY FOR THE LEFT
cher goss eet. out fede Heak-
Heath UNC W through extra-parlamentary action. Fund and the Treastiry Yet within a year the policies that the resulting Labour (overment had been elected on had been dropped
and after two years Denis Healey was imposing an austerity policy demand-
the International Monetary
The immediate effect was that living standards dropped faster than at
WE
PE@PLE
DEMAND
any time this century and unemploy-
ment shot up to over a million
In the name
tract there was no resistance of any
significant type from
labour movement. Those on the far
THE
FUTURE
left who
wiet
this first,
with some
combine
native activity. sent
defeats which them.
an of the Social Con-
cerr within
were bulding support for Grunwick and the mass unal bult ine Anl-nazı beaguc werc denounced as prophets Callaghan-Healey gover they
government
pari tore wa fent hicen righ.
Men Win te or Discontent' that started in 1978 had the effect of halting the decline in working class living standard
But the failure of Callaghan to meet working class demands was not followed by the return of a govern ment responsive to those but by the advent of Thatcher.
Two alternative conclusions have been drawn from this experience. The
espoused by the right-wing, that the labour movement should not fight against a Labour government. This argument has been carried over nto the Labour Party in oppositiol
success. But concession made to the right wing leaders have only resulted in a ferocious purge and the dropping of conference policies
second is that the against the capitalist offensive must
mass action with political preparation for an
This means re-examining the olc debate on the relation between direct action and political action. Ever since the death of Marx these two strands of socialist activity have been forced to run in separate tracks — symbolised by the confinement of economic
to the trade unions political activity to the Labour Party
The time has come to redefine the relationship between political activity tion in the driving seat. It is time for
political representatives become servants of the mass struggle and not the other way round as at pre-
So what form would perspective take in the light of the
encountered under Tories? The decimation of the steel industry and of BL have been eclipsed in most militants' minds by the result of the miners' ballot
If the miners won't
got? qualification is necessary. The miners have not been defeated in battle They have refused to fight on terms
they saw as stacked against But how could an adverse relation of forces have been converted into a favourable one? The answer lies in the political implications of any serious action by the miners.
In 1981 a similar movement won
immediate step-down government on pit closures
. Unall Thatcher she threatened by a movement that could sweep her from office.
movement these type building doom
Station with them Such
policies
demands and fight for a
'A left wing should
simultaneously prepare for a
battle with the Tories and fight
for a government which would
take the labour movement forward rather than backward'
view within , struggle
the alter-
will be necessary
defeating and Labour socialist policies the paper such
the ing class as a whole.
of the
fight over unions. inin culdie paper
class,
by socialist
the It was was the labour
Photo: CARLOS AUGUSTO GUARITA
But the left was not prepared for
consequences. The o1 a icl labour movement that would launch was an urgent and indispensable part of preparing for any serious contron
.a left wing would inevitably play a full role in the batle inside the
•to render the leadership of the Party accountable to the rank and file, and win it to socialist
It would therefore simultaneously prepare for a battle with the Tories
government which would take the labour movement forward rather than backward.
Support for such objectives at present only commands a minority
the labour movement: judging by the votes for Tony Benn in the deputy leadership election bel
: variant are
government must begin now.
It will therefore be the first objective of this paper to actively support all those fighting against the Tory
with the objective of Thatcher and winning government committed
For this reason the paper will support and help to build a socialist campaign for a Labour victory. While we will put forward a definite editorial point of view our columns will open to all those whọ agree with this objective. The editorial view point of
will be that , of revolutionary socialism. In the words of the Communist Manifesto we will have no interests separate from the work.
In particular we will act as a voice
struggles of the oppressed from Poland to Central America inside the Labour Party and the trade
We believe that the name of our
expresses our guiding :principle: that the mass action of the work-
the only force that can liberate humanity, must be informed
consciousness and dir for us that socialsm is one which rejects Stalinism and bases itself or the principles of workers democracs - the ideals of Solidarnosc
It is this strategy which we believe represents the ultimate alternative to the crisis of Labourism which afflicts
movement today. The coming period will permit no other.
Socialist Action 18 March 1983 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Women's TUC - positive action needed
News
Photo: ANGELA PHILLIPS (IFL)
TUC women's conference shouldn't stop at resolutions
THIS WEEK, the 53rd TUC Women's Conference meets in Scarborough. A well researched report entitled Women in published by the Women's Advisory Committee to
It Alternative
brings together points
Calll paigns the Tories werre eccicd
ideological to
nome lust the time when
Women HCCO their jobs Today
CCaSIle ped.
time with little job SCuLIty or pension rights.
'that
out of 24 direct of lack of
employment in eutilc groups. West InCalis. 74 peI cenl ot.
Only 9 perCOll WULLC!. work
with 45 Moslem women
women do so.
are to home working and rates of pay.
Black are
the declining industry rates
for these
percent, 55 for white women.
what report tells
Betand 1981 among
the Labour Market has been
is a response to feminist
Economic Strategy views it.
percent.
In the East Midlands 272
this was a staggering
percent! When work
Scance voue Worlc al C
held back from breaking
with traditional jobs.
The report succeeds in WOnCIS ICCUN
and the TUC policies to
meet them. It explains the
main points of the Alter-
native Economic Strategy
(AES), sidestepping in-
comes policy with talk of
creating 'a fairer climate
for collective bargaining'.
will satisfy some
with its references to men
doing domestic work. But
it is unlikely to pacify sec-
tions of the feminist lobby
who want more than
Nurses
words. womens complaints about union officials who SLalC u LC way o acuol to change women's lot are IUL. however. lookea at And no mention is made of the hoovel WUlLICI who battled against local AUEW leaders to defend their jobs.
You'd never knot from reading the report the predomillantiy female workforce in the Whs was mised. tor seven months by the TUC.
Tuc is dressrd up. We
the TUC is dressed up. are told 1021 TUC 'urged the government to amend the Equal Pay Act and Sex Discrimination Act' and ran a 'concerted campaign to reduce the working week'. Funny, we hadn't noticed these mass campaigns!
The report is weakest on what unions should do The appendix on positive Secretaries añd Shorthand Typists
General Clerks Packers, Bottlers, Canners and Fillers
action explains: 'In the first instance positive action is most likely to suc ceed in a workplace which is strongly organised and has a tradition of joint union-management committees'.
True, unions could achieve a lot through collaboration with Labour councils and nationalised industries.
rent what abut the de
percent time women workers employer at firms with less than 100 people, and the bart time workers in concerns of less than 25? we rely veractie on the 'good employers to do the right thing here, particulary in a recession!
The TUC has to come behind a campaign to change the law to torce employers lo cicalo positive action programHICS Penalties should be im-
Lower paid groups where women predominate Proportion of women in ocupational groups with average earnings Other Typists Sewing Machinists
Costing and Accounting Clerks Repetitive Catering. Cleaning and Assemblers Hairdressing Workers
posed The those who refuse. TUC report fights shy of pushing the only measure that can ouauiducaly CSauCe things for women and black workers this country.
The gestures to feminism and facts in the pamphlet are not enough
We. need action. If this disturbs the cosy relationship between the TUC Women's Advisory and
the Tecihen so be " the
Feminists .Labour Party have noi shied away and neither should they.
start TUC'S the Women's should back the Association of University Teachers resolution.
This proposal would guarantee that five resolutions go automatically to TUC Congress every year. This may only be the start of the disturbance but it is an assault long overdue. Shop Assistants
ona BL'sR
For Long Kesh?' follows
BL homes,
night, by physical police.
BL's policy
even the of con-
stewards Derek HODINSOT and
workforce.
On March worker's
worker suspended the suspicion stealing sized firm
are Inel
tion
wally with
coln.
If successful, this would mean massive wage rise of 40 percent and a. boost for morale throughout the Leeds district.
No ettin gham
ON 26 JANUARY workers at Daleside Hadden, a Nottingham dying and finishing firm, dau anesooe mnei chime osiaono acept
imposition 168-hour continental shift system and the tear-
ing The scheme wonts
scheme would compulsors Ileall *weekend working, overtime ,payments, effectively lower wages fol hours ciorked an the destruction workers' social and family life.
The sacked workers have made it clear that they are prepared to negotiate new shifts. But negotiation not the style of Daleside Hadden's management who have paid no wage rise
THE LAUNCH of BL's new miade asto bas greeted by a walkout of
4000 neart WOrKe the Pressed Steel Fisher plant Cowley asi week.
The dispute caused by management attempts to 'de-man' 14 people off the Rover and Ambassador line, resulted in an overwhelming vote to strike, without a lead from senior stewards.
Demanning is vital to management attempts to control and break the organisation of the shop floor.
A PSF worker explains;
•We arrived for work Monday night but everybody knew the day shift had walked out. Demanning will affect all of us. They want more work :from less people.
'So our section would not start work without a meeting.
'Our steward recommenaca we go nome as well as the day shift. We
police found 'in-
couple car light bulbs!
The workforce
stacker and transport workers
by by the of
allowance ICOI dispute November 1981.
for the SECWarU.
year.
It that union
right • issues Longbridge
plans by the parent
close subsidiaries
La new con-
Ackroyd have OULIL CLENKS with trade unionists.
Strike 9 Anderson Street, Rd,
for four and employ
full for pockel LOLCY
The
blacking Daleside
CUDEUTICIS
official of
the Na-
• %111 Workers
tingham's Centre.
messages Daleside
tee, Eugene
Demanning and the miracle
voted on it and went home No one voted against.
'A mass meeting on Wednesday morning decided because the i4 back
blokes were put back on the line. This was a big vic1ory Management
were scared of the Maestro being stopped they tried it again on Thursday, • blokes were taken out of the paint shop and again the day and night paint shop shift went home
'We had follomins mass meeting the Monday which the senior steward recommended a return to work on the agreement that Lalk. continue with management. The recommendanon was ac cepted, but whatever the TGWU officials sf ree to, the mood .the workforce detinitely opposed to demanning.
'The trouble Is no over yet.
Page 11 scan of this page
Worse than the crash of 1929
News
HWV
economic
will 'revive British industry'
notebook
get 'leaner and fitter'.
In October
'Today we see British industry slowly but was sayllts. inexorably improving. 'But the devastation and disaster that has manufacturing since precedented.
The collapse of British manufacturing industry is TalI WOSC that happened in the thirties and even WOSt the great crash of 1929
setween the peak output in May November 1982 manufacturing production 20 198per cend At the
production declined" to the level 1967.
A collapse on that scale has no precedent in the entire history of olisoe me mousma coilapse of the thirties.
lu ust ovcl
per cent of the jobs in manufacturing have been wiDed OUL steel the output has fallen bv 43 ber cent. Motor vehi-
dle our cent drd red bes
per CCIL ana lexules production, metal goods production and manutac turing investment declined by 32 per cent, 29 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.
sule major dustries third workers have lost jobs. At firms like Talbot and Massey Ferguson, job losses total. 70 percent and over (see table).
Under Thatcher there has . been collapse manufacturing
worse
Talbot Massey Ferguson British Leyland British Steel Dunlop Tube Investments
•GKN
Philips
Courtaulds Caterpillar
Vauxhall•
Babcock International
John Brown
Chancellor Geoffrey Howe is claiming his budget
This has been the Tory theme since 1979 when Thatcher boasted that British industry was going to
anything that
Revolution.
The slumps
hit
industry place now.
Run-
By John Ross
than violent the economy of Great War
1979 and
fell by history, end after only had then of years.
capitalism did not get
Luice yeals
increases recorded by and ing industry.
manufacturing the devastation recession.
Since have turing has
after it's still on the slide. in-
of the
their return to the thirties' and her
tion. Sir
industry British industry'? going
Percentage loss of jobs: 1977-82 Source: Financial Times, 9 December 1982
roads. Now
scheme.
One
= men decided to go cheer saber Wson.
borish enthusiasm didn't knock humouredly door down.
surprise.
off that
space out
Pie , a little
has taken place since the Industrial
of 1920 1929 and the thirties are all eclipsed by what is taking
The 1921 slump was a
readiustment after the Although the intitial fall in production was the sharpest in British
recovery began one year and manufacturing output rose for the next eight
The 1929 slump lasted much lönger and recovery
underway for Inree years. But trom ther on the rest of the thirties saw one of the most rapid
of output ever manufactur-
Unlike other sectors of the economy in the thirties
escaped the
1979 manufacslid rapidly down hill, and three years
the recession began
Thatcherism is not 'a
She Caullci have presided over the, biggest and the worst decline ever in manufacturing produc-
Geoffrey Howe has got a lot on his plate if
'revive
73% 70% 53% 50% 49% 45% 45%
42% 33% 33% 32%
Helping the aged
Once the British copper was well known for taking old ladies across busy
they have taken solicitude further and started a home visit
night 12 West Midland's plain clothes
and the 77-year old In their the! but goor broke her The whole idea being to give her a
The police told her that they had been tipper
her flat had a store of pot. One kindly fuzz is rumoured to have said: "We just wanted to
with her and fun in her
For some odd reason Mrs Wilson just did not the appreciate being waken-
d up in the small hour by 12 boisterous copper
Index of manufacturing
130
120
110
100
90
80
19300 1979 1980 Posters Community and
and even expects them to apologise for trying to dc her a good deed
Some people are jusi never satisfied.
By Bob Pennington Anotest Midiands from
West decided to pop in and see two people in their sixties and a 90-year old lady. The cops decided a nice game of forfeits would be just the job for the old
trio hen the 64-year old
man did not answer his question right the police spreadeagled him over a bed and poked a gun at his head.
After all if you don't get the answers fight you
lavc lu Day lic tonells he could hardly grumble
Sir Pesi P Kdiands
West police boss has denied his lads against charges of 'running up and down
ng the recessions of 1920, 1929. 1979 100 = beak producton year of previous cycle
193 50p. each from Merseyside Trade
Unemployed the countr irearms like lollipops He is right have only been doing i on their own patch
being taken up. Not to be outdone two iverpool police slippe n to see 73-year old Ha riet Mellor of Edge Hill lads they insisted on giving Harriet a few and squeezes, which left her with bruises and cuts you ve Now people are mnoaning
Socialist Action
roduction follon
1979 recession 1934 1935
I0R
...and
Union Resource Centre, Hardman Street, Liverpool
WORM'S
EYE
VIEW
waving when tion
these But their example is
of the
Being loving types of
Thugs
guessed it. tion.
18 March 1983 11
1929 recession,«
1920 recession 19% 192 193
no buts
the police start showing a little affec-
Hace chae ia s moaners
policemen play their favourite game of cop and robbers as the Met did with Steven Waldorf when they shot for real.
comoled DEHBSPINN INGTON. Send contribu-
to Worm's Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street, London N1 2XP to arrive not later than Thursday a week prior to publica-
Page 12 scan of this page
ACTiON SOCiAlist
The miners -what went
wrong?
THE VOTE. in the mineworkers union against defeat for the whole labour movement. has opened the door for the whole scale 'rationalisation' of the mines on a similar scale to steel and BL.
It has closed the door on the possibility of a major industrial fightback to defeat the Tories before the general election.
So what miners did all they could to build on their militanbasis. But the strike from the beginning.
WAVERED
The national executive wavered. After first declaring that a national ballot was unnecessary it decided to call off the strikes that were due to start and go for a ballot
the necessary 55 per cent was not reached. The Welsh miners had 1,200 lobbyers campaigning throughout the coal fields for a yes vote.
Whatever criticisms can be made of the tactics of the executive no one can claim that a lead was not given or that the issues were not clear. Indeed Thatcher went out of her way to raise the stakes by her lavish McGregor as the best person to rationalise the coal industry.
In no other union and in no other industry has such a clear lead been given in the recent past. But they voted no.
The reasons why lie outside the NUM. Of course, there were particular reasons for not fighting now: It is not the best time of year. There are huge coal stocks.
But the NUM anticipated this by promising that '... we would not sit around waiting for coal stocks to dwindle. dispute straight to the relevant point. We would also call on the other unions.
Nor was the issue confined to the future of one pit. The NUM made clear that the fight was about EEC plans for the re-structuring of the European coal industry, involving the closure of pits in peripheral areas including Wales and Scotland, concentration eventual privatisation.
EXPLANATION
It is at the level of the leadership of the labour movement as a whole that the explanation for the ballot defeat is to be found.
The problem is not what Arthur Scargill did or did not do inside the NUM.
The leaders have failed to organise the forces at the base of the labour movement to deal with the right wing,
The NUM vote, the Tatchell vote in Bermond sey, Benn's vote for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party in the unions show that there is a large minority in the working class who will consistently. support left policies, against the Tories and are prepared to confront the sell-out policies of the right wing.
Scargill and Benn have not so far organised this minority for a fight across sectoral lines.
Inside the NUM the left is regrouping for a fight around the strategy that puts the interests miners and the working class before those of multi-national capital. the witch hunt, fighting for socialist policies in the manifesto.
It means controlling the block vote, man dating delegates to TUC and Labour Party con ferences, fighting to remove the right wing.
Broad Lefts are beginning to be built in the unions which take up the main policy issues -machines. The miners' vote has shown that sea Broad machines. toralism is dead; the relying on gut militancy is a thing of the past.
Understanding that the right wing leadership of the labour movement is a problem affecting every sector is a precondition for advance. This. is the new challenge that the left, strong and active minority in the class, must take up.
The future of the whole class depends on how we take up this challenge.
Socialist Action 18 March 1983: 12
fighting pit closures is a major
It went wrong? The South Wales
right wing worked against the
on the executive fought hard for a
But even in Yorkshire and Scotland
praise of steel boss It would be a short sharp 'super-pits' and problem is that the left trade union
will fight This entails combatting electoral Which is a
Reg Race (MP for Wood Green) 'Greetings to Socialist Action. I wish it a long life and success it crucial that the "labour movement develops new methods of exercising leverage over the ideas prevailing within the working class, and hope Socialist Action will enable the movement to be more successful in this respect.'
George Hope (Divisional Organiser AUEW-TASS No. 16 DiviSIOn
*It gives me gical pleasure to write in support of the launching of a new paper on the left of the labour movement pledged CLU fight for socialism, to fight for the return of Labour
pledged to Love acul socialist policies and to fight for the defeat of the present Tory government of Margaret Thatcher.
'Sometimes in the past, save had differences with • your policies and other times I have disagreed with your tactics, but I seriously believe that, if we are going to achieve socialism in Britain, all groups, tactions and parties on the left have got to learn how to work together -
immediate aims OUI should be as set out in your "launch' publicity.
'I wish you every suc-
Best wishes for the future! More power to your press!'
Ron Brown (MP for Leith) 'The Left can never have enough newspapers and particularly welcome the addition of Socialist
weapon for workers to use in the struggle against the Tories and for socialist policies.'
Dennis Canavan (MP for West Stirlingshire) 1 am delighted to hear
the • launch of Socialist Action. The labour movement cer-
addilany regules an tional voice at this particular time to the aspirations of workIng people and counteract the bias of the mass media.
•My hope is that Socialist Action will
GM COOKSON
make a valuable contribution to the fight for democratic socialism in this and throughout the world.'
es Hucktie
1P for Nuneatc 'Socialist greetings and all good wishes Socialist Action.
Allan Roberts (MP for Bootle) 'I very much welcome your are yat emergence of another paper to express the opinions of the left of the labour movement, and I wish won my
Robin Blackburn (Editor, New Left Review) I very much welcome
appearance
believe it is of the utmost importance to advance bold socialist politics al
Savart
renewed cold war
socialist party struggling to be born out of the impasse of the left and I hope that Socialist Action will make a creative contribution to realising
CARLOS AUGUSTO GUARITA
Peter Tatchell (Bermondsey Labour Party 'I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to all those Labour Party and trade INTON members who came to support us in the Bermondsey by-election.
'We lost a battle, but not the war. look forward to Socialist Action playing a campaigning role in order to Labour victory at the general election.'
Peoples Democracy (Irish section of the Fourth internatonal Meeting conterence 12-13 March we send greetings to Socialist Action. We hope you will build on Ken Livingstone's visit to Belfast and Owen Carron and John MacNulty's speeches the LCI plastic bullets conterence.
Links are being built between the
alltiimperialist movement in both countries. That can • only benefit both.
A nation. that presses another can never itself be free.
Joy Hurcombe (Secretary, Labour CND and prospective parliamentary candidate for Wor
'I welcome a new paper that will fight for the policies of the Labour Party. particular look forward to the opportunity for wider coverage of our paign for unilateral
Bob Strother (NEC NALGO)
I am pleased to hear of the launch of new
on the lett and wish you every success in spreading the message 01 socialism and encouraging working people to fight in these depressing times.'
Andy Harris (GL.C Councillor for
A member of the rulley CLPD Executive, and joint secretary of Socialists for a Labour vICtory,
'I welcome a new labour movement voice will campaign in favour of taking forward further democratic changes within the party and within the trade unions.
Ken Jones and Bernard Reagan (NUT Executive members - in personal capacity)
vur best wistes lo lie new paper.'
Walter Wolfgang Vice-chair, Labour CND 'In one sense there can never be enough socialist
therefore welcome Socialist Action. That is not to say I shall always agree with it!'
Dave Ward (Secretary of Horsham and Crawley Post Office Engineering Union, and a Natona mitter member the POEU Broad Left Vice-chair, nursian Constituency Labour Party and a member of the South East Region TUC)
'It has never been more important to have paper inside the labour movement which will unify the diverse currents there, and build a real fight-back against this Tory governmen
"The labour movement lacks an ideological
GREETINGS
the Tory SOISE LU onslaught. Socialist Ac-
will provide popular and crusading
forum in order to build a national, radical alternative to Thatcherism.'
Ray Davies (ISTC Branch Official, Llanwern PPC Cardiff
North)
new Socialist The
exciting
Thatcher
such we
an act.
of the
workers in 1980, the long of
1982,
by con-
the eyes of thousands of trade
see oppressive
is.
ings.
If Action
we can defeat the witchhunt, we can defeat the register, and we can go
• LU win the SOCAUS policies we've all been struggling for.
Ernie Roberts (MP TOI Насклеу . North and Stoke Newington) "The Tory Party with the aid of their establishment
- press, TV, radio and big business have brain-washed many
Write to us!
gratulations. But please be brief
letters over 300 words will be cut.
Write to: Letters,
328 Upper Street, London N1
workers into believing that the present state of affairs (unemplovment cuts in social services, the
dustry) is not the fault of Tory government policies but the result of some world crisis.
'Socialists HUS understand the nature and structures 01 capitalist and point out the inevitablity of such problems, as they are inherent in capitalist society. Socialism is the
Photo: GM COOKSON
only solution TOI the working class
wish your paper well in trying to spread the message socialism.
Nigel Williamson (staff-writer Tribune) 'All Labour Party members should welcome the new Socialist Action. Following the behaviour of Fleet Street during the Bermondsey by-election. the Labour Party needs a diversity of papers put-
left LilY more than ever before. Richard Chessum (PPC for Warwick and Leamington)
Best Socialist the launch
attack on
and
combine their
the working papers
portant.
"The antiquated,
Saxon leaders
alien philosophy must challenged throughout
socialist society won
I look
for unilateral ull. nuclear
and comand workers for withdrawal British
. the South write, but This is your page. Send us your comments, criticisms or even con-
Socialist Action,
2XP. (Tel: 01-359 8180)
Page 13 scan of this page
Karl Marx Revolutionary Politician
Surplus Value
The real originality of Marx and Engels lies in the field of politics, not in economies or philosophy.
They were the first to discover the historical potential of the new class that capitalism had brought into existence — the modern proletariat, a class that could encompass a universal liberation from all prevailing forms of oppression and exploitation.
The modern workers' movement, capable of self-determination and self-emancipation, able to draw on the best of bourgeois culture and science, would have no need of utopias or religious exaltation.
The political capacity of the proletarial sprang from its objective position within bourgeois society.
The analysis of capitalism, and of its historical antecedents and consequences, to be found in the writings
and Engels however necessarily partial its initial formulations - was a necessary underpinning for their political theory.
But the decisive contributon made by the founders of historical materialism was the theory of proletarian revolution.
Unfortunately, there has been an
tendency in century Marxism to identify philosophical method epistemology employed by Marx or Engels as their crucial contribution, and to represent these RS touchstone of Marxist orthodoxy.
In different ways this is done by the Lukics of History and Class Consciousness, the exponents of Sovlet Diamat and Louls Althusser and his collaborators in Reading Capital.
There is little equivalent insistence on the originality of the political conceptions of Mars and Engels. Indeed, often attempts are made 10 suggest that their political Ideas are essentially
development of са совитаниии those of Machiavelli or Montesguleu 583 80 curious since in no domeln bas Mars- Rousseau. This especially
ism been more original than in that of political theory.
Historical materlellsm
discovered or thoroughly reworked every Important political concept: class, party, state, nation, revolution, bureaucracy, programme and so on Such concepts have developed in conjunction with Marxist political prac-
of vigorous
political polemics.
Moreover, It is evident chat sll the divisions of Marxism here
arisen over directly political ques-
tons, which have thereby furnished
the critical determinants of Marxist
Materialism
This does not mean
philosophical or epistomological
disputes have had no significance for
swarism. It does mean that ther nve
emerged as secondary by-products of
confliets over substantive political
questions. Since Marxism adopts a
completely consequent and complete
prising.
No standpoint in philosophy can
aroduce. proretarian revolutionary
but in the long run only
materialism is fully consistent with
Marxist polities could not possibly
spring fully armed from the heads of
Marx and Engels,
ment of capitalism and of the class
was constantly presenting them with new problems and new SOUGHS
In those texts written by Marx or
workers' movement. it is possible to trace their increasing awareness of the gical struments of struggle that the working class would need if it was to carry through a successful socialist revolunion atalist such a powerful an-
These works by Marx and Engels lack the brilliant paradoxes of their philesophy, the literary polish of their
of their economics, but they are unsurpassed in clarity and vigour: they have proved to be the iron rations oi revolutionary socialism.
Although the encounter with the workers' movement was to be decisive for Marx and Engels, did not simply adopt its politics.
Within the workers' this time, it was held that the emancipation of the labouring would be accomplished essentially by some external disciples of Proudhon or the Owen, co-operative sehemes devised by enlightened reformers were to be the salvation of the workers: this was the resolution of the social' question. the
Followers
For the followers of Blanqui or Weltling, it was the conspiracy that would deliver the proletarlan masses from their bondage: this was the path of political reyolu-
None of these thinkers advanced the idea of the working class as the conscious, leading force In a revoluton that would unite the social' and the political'. Indeed, they lacked a precise conception of the proletariat us a elass: for Blanqui the covered all those who elther cluding the mass of the peasantry,
while for Weitling the most revolu-
lumpen proletarians or
For Marx and
emergence of the dustrial working class opened up the
possibility of a new type of politics no
longer subordinated to conspiracy or
elople. The workers were organised
Into industrial
capitalism itself. They participated in
a globel system of production and ex-
change,
consclous movement of this
class could alone destroy capitalism
and establish a new society, free from
exploitation and oppression, because
based on mastery of the new social that
forces
Engels first presented an integrated
account of these ideas in the Com-
munist Manifesto.
The class struggle could only be class and the suppression ng
class
capitalism.
The working class alone had the
collective co-operative character re-
quired to master the new forces of
rowuchoa anero ensure that ther
did not dominate those who
created them.
but required
Robin Blackburn
of bourgeois order, the workers as a class would be joined by la portion of bourgeois ideologists who have raised themselves to the level of comprehending theoretically the historical move-
would become the basis for a new type of political movement. All previous historical movements of minorities or in the la terests of minorities. The proletarian movement is the self-conscious, independent movement of the immense majority.
historical mission is to destroy it. Bu* to do this a revolutionary seizure of political power is necessary: the first step in the revolution by the working class is to raise the working class to they certainly the position of ruling class, to win the
political power, they would be forced classes 'despotic inroads on the rights of For the Robert
Framework
revolutionary
generalisation for the free development of all.
Engels the propertyless
armies by
Mark and suppression
the Communists
had Witte. "independently tionality',
With the accentuation of the crisis letariat
ment as a whole'. The working class "
movements were
parties.
For the proletarian over-simplified.
Without any stake in capitalist
these
complex
Once the workers had conquered
proletariat private property and the conditions of
slave or the serf.
bourgeois political framework was that of the nation state, 'the proletariat of each country
with its own bourgeolsie. But this was the form' not the 'substance' of the proletarian revolution. With the piecemesl...
forces developed by capitalism would
brought under social ownership and regulation: 'In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have an and
development of each is the condition
NORACLE
contained in the Manifesto are spare
sweep of the bourgeois revolution was clearing away all the debris of pre capitalist social relations and political Decisive forms. The bourgeoisie was creating a world in its own image. The state was but a committee for managing the Civen
peremptory fashion: Political power,
Marx organised power of one class for op-
The simplification of all social relations in the wake of the bourgeois revolution meant that the proletarian movement could develop in a straight •line from economic combination to gramme of the Communists could be summed up in one slogan: *The aboli- sold
quantity
distinguish themselves only by the fact that they see the future develonment of ine class struggle and bring to the fore the interests of the working class as a
all •na-
Socialist Action 18 March 1983
The Communists are practically *the most advanced and resolute section of the working-class parties of every country' and theoretically they have over the great mass of the pro- ог,
the advantage of clearly understanding the line of march, the conditions and the ultimate general results of the proletarian revolution'.
But since the forward development of the movement is prepared by the development of capitalism itself, the Communists will be cutting with the grain of bourgeois society in carrying through their tasks; hence, 'The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to other working-class
There Is little need to labour would the point that the Manifesto's abrupt formulations on the bourgeois state
movement were course.
Less evident, perhaps, is that each
formulations retains definite value on the basis of a more
analysis of historical purpose development and bourgeois sociery.
Some essential features of the capitalist mode of production were spelt out in the Manifesto Itself, but a more thorough account of Marx's views at this time was given in Wage Labour and Capital. It is in this latter the text that Marx defines the modern
.AS of 'free labourers, in contradistinction to the
together with his labour power, is sold once and for all to his owner, He is a commodity thei can pass from the hand of one owner to that of snother... The serf belongs to the land and turns over to the owner of the land the fruits. thereof. The free labourer, on the other hand, sells himself and, Indeed, sells himself
*The worker belongs neither to an owner nor to the land, but eight, ten, twelve, fifteen hours of his daily life belong to him who buys them. The worker leaves the canitalist to whom he hires himself whenever he likes,
capitalist discharges whenever he thinks fit, as soon as he no longer gets any profit out of him, or not the anticipated profit. But the
whose sole source of livelihood is the sale of his labour power, cannot leave the whole class of purchasers, that is the capitalist class,
without renouncing his existence.
that the capitalist class
owns the decisive means of produc-
tion, they will always be able to ex
ploit the mass of proletarians on the
basis of a free and equal exchange of
wages for labour power.
of course. only lo
develop the concept of labour pwer.
in all its implications, in his ister • writings. But already in Wage Labour
and Capital Mark was stressing the
vital distinctions quoted above bet-
ween the position of the direct pro-
ducer in capitalism and in previous
modes of production. Marx's later In-
sistence on the fact that the worker
the capitalist, not a definite and type of Isbour, but
rather his general capacity to work
during a given period, served to rein-
force the analvsis of the worker under
capitalism as a free labourer.
A crucial feature of the labour
process under developed capitalism
was that surplus value was pumped
out of the direct producer without the
use of physical coercion by the im-
15 mediste explolter.
This permits an increasing separaton of the organisation of production from the organisation of violence -
to put # in other of economics from politics. The slave
required teams of armed overseers, the feudal lord an armed retinue, If they were to extract surplus labour from the direct producer. All the capitalist needed, once the conditions of eapitalist production had been established with private ownership of the decisive means of produc tion, was a free and equal contract to exchange wages for labour power.
Under these conditions the worker
accumulate capital for the capitalist and reproduce the condltions of nis own exploitation. OI
capitalist private would itself have to be defended fron individual 0г collective ettacks against it and a specialised body of armed men would be required for this
but this specialised repressive force would not be at the command of the individus capitalist.
The essential function of the state was to guarantee the conditions of •capitalist production, In this context,
original formulations the Manifesto take on precise significancer The state was Indeed s mechanism for managing the com mon affairs of the whole ruling clea
and first and foremost the orgamis ed power of this class for oppressing another, Uprising
of the Parisise masses in 1871 in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian war was a decisive event in the development of Mark's
In a foreword to the Communist Manifesto wrltten In 1872 Mars wrote
while the politicel principles contained by the Mantesto, were
correct, the experience Paris Commune proletariat for the political pomer had renderso 'antiquated' in at least one impor respect.
The Manifesto, had giver по detalled account of the politicel form of the proterarien revolution and its consequences for the existing state machinery. The " commune gave vividdemonstration of what
meant by the dictatorship of the pro letarlet',
Above all, it had showa that the working cles cannot take hold of the ready-made state apparatus and wield # for its own purposes.
Mark and Engels could not complete their theory of the proletarian
revolution: This lask fell te
revolutionary Marists whe tearnt the
lessons of 1905 end 1917,
However, those who came after Mars and Engels did not start from scratch when it came to formulating
proletarian strategy and teeties.
They were equipped not simply
with A philosophical standpoint,
method of social analysis or
economic doctrine, but aiso with the
elements of a revolutionary political
theory premised upon the capacities
of the modern workers, movement.
• Robin Blackburn is the editor o
few Left Review. This article is
avaltable in full in Robin Blackburn
(ed) Revolution and Class Struggle
(Pontana).
Page 14 scan of this page
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Page 15 scan of this page
A real horror story
REVIEWS
DAVE PACKER reviews the film America - from Hitler to MX by Joan Harvey, now showing at the Rio Cinema, Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London. Distribution by the Other Cinema, 79 Wardour Street, London W1 ЗТН. 01-734 8508/9.
Unlike Atomic Cafe this film is not trying to entertain neone. Instead. as one reviewer says it wants to scare the hell out of them'. And it certainly does lilal.
It is the most powerful and anti-nuke
•ersuasive documentary made.
In the first 45 minutes I come ne nece over ment and trade union activists unravelling the connections between big business and the Bomb.
Interviews with retired NATO generals and senior diplomats lay Reagan's war drive.
The horror of the 'first VOICoware
tionale stal lillg nuclear war.
lot of the US leaders think it is possible to win a
prolonged but limited -limited to Europe that Is -nuclear war. the
behind Cruise and 10ed Pershing.
The next part of the film shows how the Nava-
OCCI criminally exploited to mine uranium, Decolnilig victims of cancer.
Bonanza
Even the US GIs have been used as guinea pig and deliberatel CxDUsCu to radio-activity for testing
We see •nOW nuclear stockpiling steadily
theoretical journal Lonel.
Socialist League.
Marx centenary.
Marx's thought, and Marx's
practice are diso aiscusseu The supplement relevance class and the oppressed today.
and Valerie Coultas discussing Greenham Common. At 95p this 56 page double issue is a snip.
polluting the USA as the arms factories kill off the people who live near their dumps. Against this horror there is no sateguara.
Joan Harvey makes the point that; 'Civil defence in the context of an all-out nuclear war is about as effective as re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic'. Powerful
the heart of the matter as, in Julie Christie's words, it
multinational corpora-
dard Oil, General Motors,
others sold good US effort in World War I Hitst's dardri dil
made aircraft engines and stalls
sold the Nazis poison gas which was used to exterminate the Jews In the Callies.
The war was a bonanza for the big who boosted their profits
vcar. these same firms are riding the gravi train of the nuclear arms
International
ntentional
Mal 383
DEFINITELY worth a read is the latest issue of Interna-
of the
The centrepiece is a 32 page supplement on the
articles by Ernest Mandel examining the centrality of the potential of the working class to
Norman Geras arguing for a bourgeois revolution, the Commune and on theory and women, Ireland, British
argues TOr the continuing of Marxism for the struggle of the working
Sutter analysis of the capitalise response to the
to animal liberation, to Helen John
The Navajo Indians got cancer when mining uranium
They are the roots of Reagan's America. In a world of economic reces• sion government spending on arms makes good sense
the giant tionals.
In showing that war is about profit and exploita-
15 March
A SIX PART series from
Prof. Asa Briggs
of British
valazull
liberalism.
carry all the scars of that
wrelched lacology
No doubt the good
Prof. will tell us how
Karl Marx 'was not. a
Marxist', how Engels
was a capitalist, and how
although the "socialist'
states bear little
resemblance to Marx's
vision OI society they
were inevitable weren't Widows
MIGHT BE better than
the average. thriller.
Three women tind
themselves with the plans
lor a ti millon roboery Now tup thing to rob a when their husbands
security van.
the
decided what a man can
do they can
tion - both of which are inherent in the system imperialism - - the film brings together the need for alliance between the and LOveLICH organised labour.
America from Hitler to Mx puts the
V CHOICE
Karl Marx — the Legacy,
Thursdays BBC2, begins
they?
On the other hand, if you really haven't got anything better to do on Thursday night, why
You could be surprised by what may turn out to be an entertaining glimpse of the life the grea revolutionary who (in his own words) "spent much time writing about money while seeing so little of it'.
Wednesdays at 9pm ITV
well so they recruit another female
to planning and training for the big heist.
On one side 1S vengeful copper and on the other side rival gang just bursting to get their hands on the plans.
socialist case against war and nuclear wcapulls does it in a much more
owerful way than: any
iberal, pacifist arguments
Make sure film does not suffer the same fate in the cinemas that the War Game did on TV. A Question of Power 8.30pm 20 March Channel 4
CAN YOU ever influence Public Inquiries or are they just whitewash.
Among those taking part in a discussion on their use or otherwise are Tony Benn's former political advisor France Morrell trom stop sizewel Association and Peter Wilkinson, director of Greenpeace.
Rising Damp Sunday's at 7.15 ITV
YORKSHIRE TV are doing all viewers a good
with a re-run Lunk Frank Chappell's
deserved award winning comedy series. Leonar Rossiter as Rigsby and Frances de la Tour as Miss Jones are streets ahead of all competition in situation comedy series.
Socialist Action
'Karl Marx
book about Marx than
with Deutscher's trilogy of Trotsky
of both Marx and Engels you cannot do without it.
bookshelt incinerated.
Joan Ruddock, tell the story
eighties.
what happened.
Both available from The Othei
ingham 4.
18 March 1983 15
GOOD
BOOK
REVIEW
A Biography of Marx
— The Story of his Life'
Franz Mehring (Harvester Press, £7.95)
ON THE anniversary of his death there is no bette
Franz Mehring's Kar
As a political biography this is comparable
socialist movement and a contemporary and friend
He brings to this work all the advantages that went with being an active thinker and worker in
Added to that he was a genuine Marxist scholar who combined knowledge with clarity of thought.
At £7.95 it's not cheap but if you want to know about Marx as a man of ideas and a man of action
To buy it get your credit card out, empty your
permaneu
The CND Story
"The CND Story'
Edited by John Minnion & Phillip Bolsover
(Allison & Busby, £1.95)
CND STARTED in the mid fifties when more and more people decided that they objected to being
This book tells the story of CND, starting from those early years of Aldermaston when Easter was not about Jesus doing a Peter Cushing but was a
people marched for the right to live.
Short articles from people like EP Thompson
Bruce Kent and Pat Arrowsmith or ine aemonstrations, music anc literature and how it started rolling again in the
If you lived through the period it will jolt your memory and make you think about what happened. If you did not, then it's a good idea to find out Bore sailed onom i and Dire 33
Page 16 scan of this page
WHAT is happening in Zimbabwe today is not, as the media would have it, simply a manifestation of tribal rivalry. The seeds of the present situation were sowed at Lancaster House in 1980, when Zimbabwe was 'given' firmly into the coils of neo-colonialism economically.
Even given the will, the Mugabe government could not fulfil the expectations
liberation armies for
from Illperialist yoke and the domination of their country by a small white elite.
The largely peasant armies fought for land. Today millions al c still landless while the big white capitalist farmers carry on much as before. In the ur-
which saw massive strikes immediate-
after liberation, the trade unions have been
corporated into the
ZAPU. Smith's Industrial Concilliation Act, which made strikes illegal, is still
It is this disaffection with the achievements of the Mugabe regime which is the main cause or tne growth political dissidence. This dissidence is by no means confined to
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political independence but tied very
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By N. 'Ndabeni
The campaign against ZAPU, the reign of terror which has been unleashed Zimbabwe WELCHI serves to distract the peo-
phe pro tees alich cao-
problems which cannot find a solution within the neo-colonialist conLcal The end of the war with the demobilisation of Ignitels. resulted in thousands of unemploved. Ially of them highly skilled in the use of weapons. such circumstances, the rise of banditry is inevitable.
But by no means all the trouble is caused by bandits, although that is the impression which the government would like to convey. It is largely an expression of the very real
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economic and discontent felt Brutal repression or the further violation of the people's democratic rights will not make these problems go away but only intensify the opposition.
Of course, as is to be expected, the white racist regime in South Atrica 1s taking full advantage of LIC situalloll Selous scouts and renegade Zimbabweans are being trained in the apartheid republic and sent back across the Limpopo to stir up trouble.
This is a heaven-sent gift for South Africa who is triumphantly shouting that this is one more proof that the black capable op seperale. not self-rule.
Bv his actions. Mugabe is making paganda plausible. this. lying pIo-
While holding no brief for Nkomo, the labour movement in Britain, must give its give right for de to tratie democratic rights Zimbabwe. establish links *WILl the organised labour the Novellell and rural areas and oppose all aliculos to suddess 1t ZAPU's Nkomo
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Nicaraguan militiaman stands guard in Managua to El Salvador.
guerrilas of the FMLN.
This is have launched the
-sustained offensive, briefly capturing the towns of Berlin, Corinto and Meanguera, and inflicting heavy casualties governel tops
The left wing victories have thrown the regime into crisis. A deep rift has broken out between the semi-fascist leader of the National Assembly, Roberto D'Aubuisson, and the more pro-American presiacli Mangana and his military leader General Garcia
At the same time the political front of the opposition the Revolutionary Democratic Front (FDR) - has launched a diplomatic offensive for unconditional talks.
Thugs
As rumours spread that the would talk to the guerrilla leaders, Magana regime War running scared.
Jean Kirkpatrick gave a gloomy report to Reagan after her 10-day stay. Without a massive injec.
military aid another $60m and an increase in US military 'advisors' the regime would collapse.
Reagan immediately appedica to une • congress for the extra _ money, and hinted that if they refused the US would pay
vul the 'emergency fund'
The reason for Reagan's panic goes far beyond his concern for the military thugs who run El Salvade believe
that the government of El Salvador is on the tront line in battle that is really aimed at the very heart of the western
TWO WEEKS ago President Reagan despatched his UN ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick on an urgent visit
Her mission: to assure the right wing military dictatorship that the United States would not allow the government to be defeated by the revolutionary
Hemisphere, and CVCHtally at us' ; he told an audience at the San Fran-
Commonwealth Club. . Salvador should fall I think Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama would follow'
Reagan's domino theory is of course part of his Russian plot' theory. But there is a strong element of realism in his concern.
By Phil Hearse
The whole of Central America is being turned into a battlefield between the corrupt oligarchies and the surgents. In Nicaragua the
oced SUC cessful, while the Salvador and are tottering.
Nothing better il lustrated the turmoil in the region than the recent visit by the Pope. The Pope's line for 'peace and recon-
Was Cerwice rejected — and quite rightly. Peace and reconcillation with the death squads is not a feasible project.
While condemning the bloody Vullazes of the Rios Montt regime in Guatemala. the Pope reserved his main condemnation for the left. Pope
*In Nicaragua he told the left wing priests to leave the government and denounced the theology of liberation nonsense 'dangerous
At huge outdoor mass in Managua he refused to condemn the murders carried out by counter-revolutionary US backed forces making incursions from Honduras.
US hands off
Central America!
He was heckled by the crowd something which Caused him •spiritua distress'. In San Salvador he had the affrontery to besmirch the name of Bishop Oscar Romero, murdered by the right wing death squads, by telling people that ideological interest' (read: the left wing) 'should try to exploit his sacrifice.
But Romero's sacrifice was made precisely because he, like many Catholic priests, sided with the poor and revolution.
PLACE: U.L.U. Malet St.
LOnd
ference,
What faces Central America, whatever the rOpe : thinks, is regional revolutionary war.
Last week in Washington government spokespeople were defining the precise conditions under which American troops might be sent to El Salvador.
The time has come for the international labour LOVE ICE step solidarity with Nicaragua alle revolutionary forces of El Salvador and Jualcillaid hand of US imperialism.
BANDA
TEPEUANI
FROM EL SALVADOR
MUSICA REVOLUCIONARIA
Labour Movement
Conference on El Salvador County Hall 14 May 1983 10am-5pm Speakers include: Judith Hart, Alan Sapper, Jenny Pearce, Salvador Moncada (FDR/FMLN
representative in Britain)
Trade Union, Labour Party, and LPYS branches are invited to send two delegates each. Fee $2 per delegates: send to El Salvador con
29 Islington Park St., London N1 (359 2270).