Workers Press no. 1015

workers press

PROGRAMME TO HIT WAGES AND LIVING STANDARDS

CRISIS ELECTION

BUDGET BY TORIES

APE YOU BOOKED UP FOR SUNDAY'S PAGEANT?

INCORPORATING

DAILY ORGAN OF TH

ONLY 24 HOURS after the TUC capitula- ted before the government's state pay laws, the Tory Chancellor announced his crash programme to further hit wages and the living standards of millions of workers.

In line with Common Market policy Value Added Tax (VAT) is to be introduced at the end of this month at 10 per cent.

BY WORKERS PRESS

This attack in- was

REPORTERS

cluded in Anthony Bar- ber's early Budget by of outright de- means government to try to shore ception. On the one hand its tottering system. up The effective devaluation he shed mock tears of the pound by more about 'consumers' hit by than 10 percent since last inflation and then tried has directly put summer blame to wage-earners up the cost of living by for the rise in prices. making all imported foods and materials cost This deliberately ignores raw from 10 to 15 per cent the fact that the majority of more on average. consumers are wage- and that their earners And not once in all his wage demands are made about meanderings the precisely because they are international economic being impoverished by in- Barber admit the crisis did flation. simple fact which one everyone knows: that infla- But much more impor- tion is world-wide tant, it uses a gross lie to.

stand reality phenomenon caused by on its head. United States political and The greatest immediate economic imperialism. single cause of price rises the floating of Overshadowing the whole is the pound last July, Budget speech, which since a was deliberate act of the Tory listened to in utter per-

APE YOU BOOKED U

Next Sunday (March 11) at Pageant The Road to W Power'. the Empire Pool, Wembley, the several Socialist Labour League and workers and youth Tydfil, South Wales, Mid Young Socialists will be pre- senting the anti-Tory rally and Manchester, and Jarrow

ORATING THE NEWSLETTER • WEDNE

I OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

CHANCELLOR BARBER

plexity by both Tory and Labour benches, was the which is economic crisis threatening the very sur- vival of vast areas of the economy (see European page 12). Barber could hold out not a glimmer of hope for solution to the crisis a which has caused world

ED UP FOR SUND

toad to Workers' north-east several weeks London have be outh in Merthyr episodes from /ales, Middleton, history. Last Su id Jarrow in the casts got togethe

• WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 1973

AMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LA

money markets to remain closed all week and will be the subject of bitter battles at the international finan- cial conference at the weekend. Spelling out the need for attacks further on the working class, Barber said: *As for confidence abroad, there would be no soft options for an economy which allowed itself to be- come uncompetitive. *Pressures sterling on would be intensified by lack of confidence and would lead in one way or another to a depreciation of the exchange rate which in turn would exacerbate the inflationary spiral. Give-aways But with the confusion in the international currency situation making it impos.

sible for the Tories to predict how things will out, the Chancellor turn also included in the Bud- get a row of paltry give- away items in case of the need to call a snap elec- tion. Towards this, Barber said the Budget would be "broadly neutral' and an- increased prizes nounced

UNDAY'S PAGEAN

and actors In ing and , have been rehearsing working-class from • Last Sunday all four jot together for an inspir- 3 • No 1015 • 4p

LIST LABOUR LEAGUE

premium bonds and on such items. (When this was announ- ced the House rocked with laughter). Also, North Sea oil pro- fits are to be taxed. There has been a grow- ing clamour against the giant oil corporations be- ing able to offset these profits against losses in the Middle East and else- where. But the danger for the working class in this dis- play of the Tories keep- ing their options open is the warning from Barber that many "mini-budgets this could follow year when the situation de- manded it. The basic Tory taxation strategy remains the same: To reduce direct taxa- tion on the wealthy by abolition of surtax, plus hefty reductions in taxes on profits and corpora- tions. This will be replaced by indirect taxation on mass consumer items bought by the working class by im- posing Value Added Tax. VAT is to be levied at 10 per cent from April 1.

This will mean an extra 1 to 2 per cent directly onto

EANT?

ing and exciting rehearsal. Be sure you see the whole rally by booking your ticket now.

For fuller details and a contact telephone number, see page 4.

prices in addition i to the current price inflation of nearly 10 per cent a year.

With an eye to an early election and. as a sop to the trade unions, Barber announced a range of VAT exemptions: children's clothing, confectionary, ice cream, crisps and soft drinks plus all food sold in shops. But this does not mean that there won't be a mas- sive round of price in- creases on April 1. House- wives must expect a repeat of the experience with decimalization. Derision The Chancellor pro- mised the establishment of special surveillance mea- sures-which prompted roars of derisory laughter from Labour benches. He added £1.60 a week for a married couple for pensions, and El for un- employment and sickness benefits and took 4p a week off workers' insur- contributions and ance added 14p to the em- ployers' share. But the pension increase will not be paid until October 1 and will not compensate for inflation.

Single persons' rates go up £l for pensions and 60p for unemployment and sickness benefits. But the real steel of the Tories' intentions came in Barber's closing remarks viciously attacking the trade unions. Poll scene It sets the scene for a possible General Election by offering some sweeten- ers and laying all the blame for continuing un- controlled inflation onto wage demands. The squalid manoeuvres of the Tories to attack the unions and court the middle class must be utterly exposed. Behind this Budget smokescreen lies the pro- foundest economic crisis which British capitalism has ever faced. This crisis inevitably compels the Tory govern- ment savagely to attack the standard of living of the working class and all its historically won rights.

No amount of Tory pro- paganda about a 'broadly neutral' Budget can hide these economic and poli- tical facts.

workers press

PROGRAMME TO HIT WAGES AND LIVING STANDARDS

CRISIS ELECTION

BUDGET BY TORIES

INCORPORATING

DAILY ORGAN OF TH

ONLY 24 HOURS after the TUC capitula- ted before the government's state pay laws, the Tory Chancellor announced his crash programme to further hit wages and the living standards of millions of workers.

In line with Common Market policy Value Added Tax (VAT) is to be introduced at the end of this month at 10 per cent.

BY WORKERS PRESS

This attack in- was

REPORTERS

cluded in Anthony Bar- ber's early Budget by of outright de- means government to try to shore ception. On the one hand its tottering system. up The effective devaluation he shed mock tears of the pound by more about 'consumers' hit by than 10 per cent since last inflation and then tried summer has directly put blame to wage-earners up the cost of living by for the rise in prices. making all imported foods and materials This deliberately ignores raw cost from 10 to 15 the fact that the majority percent of more on average. consumers are wage- and that their earners And not once in all his demands wage made about are meanderings the precisely because they are international economic being impoverished by in- crisis did Barber admit the flation. fact which one simple everyone knows: that infla- But much more impor- tion is world-wide tant, it uses a gross lie to.

stand reality phenomenon caused by on its head. United States political and The greatest immediate economic imperialism. single cause of price rises the floating of Overshadowing the whole 1S the pound since last July, Budget speech, a which was deliberate act of the Tory listened to in utter per-

APE YOU BOOKED U

Next Sunday (March 11) at Pageant 'The Road to W the Empire Pool, Wembley, the Power'. For several Socialist Labour League and workers and youth in Young Socialists will be Tydfil, South Wales, Mid pre senting the anti-Tory rally and Manchester, and Jarrow

ORATING THE NEWSLETTER • WEDNE

1 OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

CHANCELLOR BARBER

plexity by both Tory and Labour benches, was the economic crisis which is threatening the very sur- vival of vast areas of the economy (see European page 12). Barber could hold out not a glimmer of hope for a solution to the crisis which has caused world

ED UP FOR SUND

load to Workers' north-east several weeks London have be outh in Merthyr episodes lales, Middleton, history. id Jarrow in the casts got togethe • WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 1973 • No 1

MITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LA

money markets to remain closed all week and will be the subject of bitter battles at cial conference at the weekend. Spelling out the need for further attacks on the working class, Barber said: As for confidence abroad, there would be no soft options for an economy which allowed itself to be- come uncompetitive. 'Pressures sterling on would be intensified by lack of confidence and would lead in one way or another to a depreciation of the exchange rate which in turn would exacerbate the inflationary spiral' Give-aways But with the confusion in the international currency situation making it impos- sible for the Tories to predict how things will out, the Chancellor turn also included in the Bud- get a row of paltry give. • items in case of the away need to call a snap elec- tion. Towards this, Barber said the Budget would be 'broadly neutral' and an- nounced increased prizes

UNDAY'S PAGEAN

and actors in Ing and rehearsing 1 have been working-class from Last Sunday all four jot together for an inspir- • 4p 3 • No 1015

LIST LABOUR LEAGUE

premium bonds and on such items. (When this was announ- ced the House rocked with laughter). Also, North Sea oil pro- fits are to be taxed. There has been a grow- ing clamour against the giant oil corporations be- ing able to offset these profits against losses in the Middle East and else- where. But the danger for the working class in this dis- play of the Tories keep- ing their options open is the warning from Barber that many 'mini-budgets' could follow this year when the situation de- manded it. The basic Tory taxation strategy remains the same: To reduce direct taxa- tion on the wealthy by abolition of surtax, plus hefty reductions in taxes on profits and corpora- tions. This will be replaced by indirect taxation on mass consumer items bought by the working class by im- posing Value Added Tax. VAT is to be levied at 10 per cent from April 1.

This will mean an extra 1 to 2 per cent directly onto

EANT?

Ing and exciting rehearsal. Be sure your see the whole rally by booking your ticket now.

For fuller details and a contact telephone number, see page 4.

prices in addition to the current price inflation of nearly 10 per cent a year.

With an eye to an early election and. as a sop to the trade unions, Barber announced a range of VAT children's exemptions: clothing, confectionary, ice cream, crisps and soft drinks plus all food sold in shops. But this does not mean that there won't be a mas- sive round of price in- creases on April I. House- wives must expect a repeat of the experience with decimalization. Derision The Chancellor pro- mised the establishment of special surveillance mea- sures-which prompted roars of derisory laughter from Labour benches. He added £1.60 a week for a married couple for pensions, and fl for Un- employment and sickness benefits and took 4p a week off workers' insur- contributions and ance added 14p to the em- ployers' share. But the pension increase will not be paid until October 1 and will not compensate for inflation.

Single persons' rates go up £1 for pensions and 60p for unemployment and sickness benefits. But the real steel of the Tories' intentions came in Barber's closing remarks viciously attacking the trade unions. Poll scene It sets the scene for a possible General Election by offering some sweeten- ers and laying all the blame for continuing un- controlled inflation onto wage demands. The squalid manoeuvres of the Tories to attack the unions and court the middle class must be utterly exposed. Behind this Budget smokescreen lies the pro- economic crisis foundest which British capitalism has ever faced. This crisis inevitably compels the Tory govern- ment savagely to attack the standard of living of the working class and all its historically won rights.

No amount of Tory pro- paganda about a 'broadly neutral' Budget can hide these economic and poli- tical facts.

PAGE 2

Workers Press, Wednesday March 7, 1973

WHAT WE THINK

All Trades Unions Alliance lobby of TUC special Congress Wembley, Sunday, coming wil be a big steD MarcoR towares. doe transformation of the Socialist Labour into revolutionary party and towaros me concor or me arenove leadership in the unions. The vital and urgent nature of this

BRITISH LEYLAN

Hal. Task Was demonstrated central Westminster, Monday when the union

SERVICE DIVISION

leaders tried to ditch the fight against

UNITY IS STRENGTH

une workin class defenceless against that govern- ment's onslaught on its most basic rights.

TELEGRAPH

Capitalist newspapers, television and

PERATORS

attempted raclo DOrITAV

MOONS

lobby of the TUC as just a few 'militants' with some strange ideas and representing nobody ne Star' yesterday treated it as routine only calls for 'a strong protest, reporting Stone and re- someone Nones-kent Important stages of tne congress. A resounding success _ 1s the ine lt stalinists played ine lobby present constituted no chal- helping the union chiets avoid the issues the workers resolutions or amendments to lenge to the betrayal inside.

document would be caed leading. the Tine ane •iverting Alan Conoonce 1o•• Central Hall, Westminster, on Monday. 'United action now', urged one placard.

lefts' and stalinists about their attitude 'Legal stop on prices now' Utners read: to the document. These were the politics of the Stalinists 'Prices racket packet, Monday's lobby. And will be on lobby, and certainly its most effective 'Tory law what a mess prices soar wages About the strongest they sections, were members and the politics of the March si conterence supporters could elicit was: of the All Trades Unions Alliance. The ATUA mobilized successfully for enough. but all of those questioned said Such reformist claptrap is indistinguish- The Alliance, the industrial arm of the would, analysis, vote

TUC

In lne linal on qulte opposite basis the Council's TrOM "Teneral

SLL,

called for the lobby as part of its in favour. it is now the only organization own worthless outdated document and build the work to alternative, revolu- movement fighting within the trade union Policy and Collective Economic Bar- With the signincant exception of the leadership nonary The in Inis 1973'. But very miners' union, not a single delegation in galning in sense the lobby was absolutely in line the working class is good why fake 'lefts' Stalinists the Congress much as the de- concened. preparation of Sunday's with the supporters should mand for an 11cal and their be The lobby indennite General strike to was a resolmelne

DONTICA

such placards outside Monday's TUC.

pre success. Let this Sunday's mass •elear mies roses. one The Stalinist-led Liaison Committee for conference policy-making meeting, that anti-Tory rally the. Empire Pool . deci- The reason is that inside Central Hall the Defence Trade Unions, whose cinema technicians the the union leaders and their sively answer 31 their friends in innuential positions among March conference be Stalinists united hangers-on. All those who want to force right wing to the union delegations were busy propping bigger vote down General Strike call and Tories out of office good- even Iraud than the special 1ul the General Council and up its policy. itse forces for me lob at And the slogane support for the General Council ensure

ATUA

Join the anaune forces for the lobby. And the Following the defeat, early Monday slogans So join the aners resolunion nad to

ALL.

supporters attempted to foist on morning, be withdrawn for lack of support.

Britain. 11s TeW platorm s rullng nonary party In

- LETTER

DEAR EDITOR,

Asset-strippers attack I WOULD like to inform your government and is not intended readers about a meeting of the In putting forward this call London Joint Sites Committee Lewis was cynically adapting to Leyland's Lord Stokes which took place on Thursday, the growing anti-Tory, feeling of the in the building trade February 22. Present was Lew workers Lewis, the secretary and leading order to side la me back.

member of the Communist Party The depth of this cynicism was man of British- results are istic return to shareholders?' shown Not achieved in the current year on the innov licet. British-Leyland he in the building trade. man Veale rollowers are only was his Committee not the Stokes manage- expected to receive a rough will cousiaer me possible break- with fighting for a General Strike, Under insure the comper pressure but because of the TrOM

AVI

declining reception when he Trades Unions Alliance (ATUA) greets uney were not even

NOI

partner in Pim, even a banner. shareholders at today's an- members at the meeting he put Vaughan and Company, has told share yesterday was only that he intends despite Stokes's forward call building Usually keen for publicity, nuhe mean behind the ciry ecitors to four other questions to publicized reports that workers support a Liaison they Let the tic appear- dia not Stokes ance so far They were Stokes Committee Defence Dally Wa. nOW

SCL

1O1 LICi Another asks: 'Will he reassure Veale. content to betray Trade Unions lobby of the TUC current already subo policy says: 'Over the past That asset-strippers eCause une outone one on special Congress on March 5 to sharply years shareholders gress, the national one-day of demned, have seen demand a General Strike to force protest, all that they want. bered sialllial expenature rescar co vate uner moves ment re- duced by at least 50 per cent and the Tories to resign and to return VieW. DUlL undertaken unless manage- the income reduced by the same a Labour government pledged to am with sise right wing me provide some protection in arm with the right wing.

ensure a more socialist policies. He said this was 1 cal. the Liaison Committee worker of thei policy.

MUSI

ward every provide treachery. VAT will hit hard Saturday, Press, workers Teamste February 24, 1973.) ments'. Every class-conscious worker Veale words, wants must join

ATUA

and the Of course, in saying this, Lewis

VALUE-ADDED TAX

hit of €5,000 a year must register wil wasn't telling the truth. As every- SLL in the fight to transform the hiving off small shopkeepers much mor

VAT.

Connoine Ilke ine League into This is the the Liaison Commit- Thornycroft's Basingstoke. than many of them realize. Cus Many Ole KIOWS. shopkeepers had way tee policy one-day One of Veale's questions to the

TOT

Excise thought they nad to regis national protest stoppage London building chairman nounced yesterday that shop- ter they made profit of could the Tory the chairman assure us keepers with a taxable turnover €5,000 a year. Spanish police arrest 'guerrillas' as Castro signs deal SPANISH Foreign Ministry the capital of Asturias,

BY JUAN GARCIA

According increase and the management wade issued the note on arrest oI figures only 1,800 of the 6,000 reinstated been 12 militants official Eduardo Pena Bizanda miners in the 13 sevelt menDers pits the sacked by the bie to, verarquina and ondaroa.

Amora- International Communist Party has renewed a commercial Nalon producer. 111112 valle

(PCI).

DICLO.

Marqulna rias) are working. treaty in Havana with Fidel Cordoba buses are being boy- The Twenty-five arrests were made Maoists were active Some 1,700 miners in the pri- 25-per-cent cotted following in Ondarroa, thus breaking up Castro's Cuban government.

the Philosophy and Science vate mine of in Turón igaredo fares rise. group which concentrated Faculties the University of are on strike following uve deals Oviedo and Uninsa Basque A member of the Civil Guard the and En- colecune There was talk, in a 'cordial miner José Díaz (25), Jesus movement. is riding in each bus and armed crushed under a fall of coal. sidesa actones. climate', of a rapid increase the The Civil Guard requisitioned guarding

DUS

stops. duplicators in Cuban sales to Spain: a and an archive Full-time Maoist? newspapers On most routes, the boycott is Shipyard lock-out target was fixed at $50m.

'Workers' Guipuzcoa and total- the only is like passenger 'Batazuna' the and pamphlets Dollecilal Spain will buy an extra 20,000 Fascist police claim that one 'Reformism and Revolution' their fifth day of Cuban sugar at a price Firemen tons of the arrested, Manuel Armenta an Inquiry into Basque national- which was officially described as of strike in Seville- -the town kers locked are after council has aspero. Miaols. organizer 'who had conducted Basques six weeks of stoppages for higher also caught Sevillian sidering the world market price.

orODer wart Increase clandestine Seville, wages. activity portraits of Posters workers are em bittered further In Spain, Franco's police have And 140 workers in 'Cadenas by the threat of the Peyre textile Darcelona ano ane was subversive opposi- now intensifying Guevara and Forjados' have been been rounding locked plant that it will have

• CIOSC

tionists- many of whom base action in Asturias'. police repression,

OUT ON

week lonowing a one That would add 500 themselves guerrilla day strike last Friday. The Civil Bilbao Guard in Spanish Der ed pe than aire any maployed i of Comandante Fide has imprisoned people con- In San Sebastian 800 of permanent unemployed in extras Police headquarters in Oviedo, nected with the Basque national- against the Franco regime.

working the film 'Papillon' soulnein opal

INTERVIEW BY STEPHEN JOHNS

'TAFF VALE is us. People need reminding it hap- pened in these valleys. It's their history!

THIS is why Margaret Cronin (19) and her twin sister, Joan, say they are taking part in the Pageant. They come from Merthyr Tydfil, the north- ern terminus of the Taff Vale railway which successfully sued and threatened the rail unions with destruction in 1901.

The Taff Vale incident made workers realize that they needed a voice in parliament to defend their basic rights. Now, 70 years over later, Margaret and Joan that both say only a revolutionary party can secure the rights gained in 200 years of struggle. Says Margaret: I think this is essential now. There point wouldn't be much in this Pageant without this aim. 'If we want to go forward and fight for our rights, we will have to build a party to do it. 'We have to go back into and that our history show ordinary workers built their organizations and it will have to be ordinary workers fight- ing it out now. No one will help us to do it." Margaret is taking a course local tech mainly be- at a cause she can't get a job.

First hand I started work in a local • factory. We had seen struggle at home, but this is the first time I'd seen it at first hand.

It was an eye-opener the way to defend its historic gains.

were treated and the girls 'The Tories are strong, but the pittance we were paid.

the working class is stronger I used to speak up, but That is why they than them. when into the we got to take our are planning office manager's often away-to make basic rights found myself on my own. us weak. The others sometimes sided 'It's already happened with with management, but only the National Industrial Re- because they were young and lations Court and the prices afraid.' laws. I really think we are towards fascism. Joan, who works in a local moving People don't realize this, but chemist working class has the power thinks have to show them. we ANCILLARY workers at the Whittingham Hospital, Preston, Lancs, are among those who believe that all-out strike action is needed to defeat the state pay laws. Thirty workers from the threatened last week to laundry are already out as bring labour in outside to part of a selective strike work the laundries. This leaving policy. This is provoked an angry response about 220 workers on a from other hospital workers work to rule. like cooks, boilermakers and They threatened porters. to National Ted Firestone, strike immediately. Union of Public Employees' has The management branch secretarv at Whitting.

retreated, saying told Workers Press but is now ham, that the fouled laundry is a strike that the workers health hazard. If anyone dies getting tremendous were as a result of contamination, financial suppor. from other held the union will be employees in the hospital.

responsible, according to One of the official NUPE management. Mr Michael Cham- pickets, The NUPE area organizer bers, has a wife and three- didn't said he think the year-old son to keep on his present strike action alone miserably low wage. hospital the would get With the rising prices and their f4 wage in- workers rents it means that his wife But it would crease. give work. has to go out to the ancillary workers a sense of their strength. The hospital's management Workers Press, Wednesday March 7, 1973 PAGE 3

PAGEANT DIARY

MERTHYR

The Road to Workers Power Greek We need a students back party to fight rally AN

EXTRAORDINARY

of for our rights— general meeting the Union of Greek Students London has voted to participate in and support Tory government at the Merthyr twins Wembley, Pool, binpire this Sunday. declared its "the wholehearted solidarity with struggle the strike of fellow-students in Greece sortier centree deans The meeting also • 'de- nounced the tri als, the call-up to the army and all the other PeONSI by the dictatorial break militant students and the

WOLA

ins asse common strugsle, masses . the students must i not remain working class. a

OIC.

most important agall force, must stand on their side. For this we the slogan shook the streets of Athens "Propis in essen eith as a "This, essence, the Communist Party call to to mibi cats po solidarity working class solidarity with the students and against the possibilities to materialize this mobilization. The Union of Greek in London Students repeats this Calle the bourgeoisie. Mobilize the working class the junta, on socialist gramme. "The students Land rae to Credit of nace m acect. essentially. becance is in every i resent imperialism revresenter Twin slatera Margarel (left) and Joan Cronin from Britain by the Tory govern. They have made about Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, are enthusiastic sup- milton Cullas Greek students under the Phase Two laws. porters of the Pageant "The Road to Workers' is.' London can fight the enemi senous Power', to be presented at the Empire Pool, Wem- students and the the Says Margaret: 'Neither of Greece by in fight- bley, anti-Tory rally next Sunday (March 11).

They been involved really the Tory govern- ing against us nave will be helping re-enact the Taff Vale incident- anything Delore. ment TS a nis sense 1и the Union You grow to school Merthyr, decides to parti- the 1901 legal onslaught on the rail union.

The you're cipate and support the you go and sisters feel that historical lessons will strengthen But rally against the Tory good life govern expectins the working class's present-day struggle to defend you when leave It nits you, menI orcaned. nothing decent for Socialist Labour League at basic rights. only Pool on Sunday ou can Empire March Il.' fight.' Liverpool rejects selective strikes THE CENTRAL Liverpool branch of the National Union of Public Employees has thrown out a union mendation for selective strikes and replaced it with a call for all-out strike action.

the After being rebutted by meeting, the official had angry with the hasty consultation stewards present. He eventually agreed that the start this strike action made it could not be week. out eston pickets discuss tactics omcial unul alter with the three other unions same hos- involved. THE NATIONAL Union of Public ancilarv worker in the Employees yesterday accused some pital can earn in a year, laundry worker ld workers of

NUPE

hospital consultants step- told is any senior consultant ping outside procedure 'A strike is the situ- total only making Press statements claiming what being put ation in his hospital, 1 ne patients were he would way to We Walll well advised to discuss the matter gasworkers considerable have causeu his hospital administration sO strikes star some attore going workers who reeling among anchlary Wild think raised for action. senior consultants the matter cards? General Strike is on much treating directly with the Department of almost

HOW

Call Health. the

WOCK.

PAGE 4 . Workers Press, Wednesday March 7, 1973

A POLICY

ATUA

TUCMUST CALL A

THE TORIES OUT

ATLA

TORIES L THE TR GENEROE

TO MEET

OUT !

THE CRISIS

THE TORY government is relentlessly pursuing its plan for a con- frontation with Each day new the working class. sections of workers are forced to become criminals — under Tory law - to defend their standard of living against government-inspired soaring cost of living. Large sections of these workers openly acknowledge that the only answer to their fight to maintain a decent standard of living is a General Strike. That is, the creation of the industrial and political conditions which will force the government to resign.

In its place must be elec- be guaranteed. This can only banded and fully exposed. The ted Labour done by breaking the grip Tory adminis- government secrets of capitalist ownership on which is pledged by the mass the tration in this sphere must be Employed and economy. un- published. All rights to assem- action of the working class to emoloved must unite to insist bly, free speech and the Press implement socialist policies.

Labour government na- on a guaranteed. must be We 'pledged socialist policies i tonalizing the main industries knowing and workers'

LACT

ore. banks, under dard or ht to at his not tane sent leaders of the Labour move- control and without compen- dard of living. ment have no intention intro- not the sation. ducing such policies. Indeed, living standards of trade The struggle begin the unionists, but the profit last Soone sys- now. No closures, no sackings, Will be prepared to join a coali- which tem, the causes tion government with Tories must be the policy of the trade The first step must be to ex- to head off the working class.

unions. Occupation of fac- propriate all the great fortunes But tories threatened with closure, the working. rich, close down the Class strong enough to force the Tories as part the fight to bring Exchange, Stock place a state out, it is strong enough to deal down the Tories. control over all movements of with traitors its capital in and out of the midst. This can only be achieved 3) The democratic right to country. by: exposing them in the fight for strike and to organize in trade an alternative socialist policy.

Nationalization of the basic Only unions. the organized industries and of all large com- The Central Committee of the working class can. lead man- Socialist Labour panies, banks, building and in- League Calls kind the the

OUL

will provide Cass to sup. sulance socienes Every every following policies the for

DORI

resources unified gain won by the working class, Wiser Feather eatership oh working class against plan to improve the living Tories every democratic right in Bri- standards of the whole people.

tain, has been won because Workers' control of these, labour movement: of the organized strength well the Here is the policy which the as Dresent the unions and the strike ized industries, will run them next Labour government must weapon. in the interests of the workers be forced to carry out. A Labour government must and consumers. immediately repeal Indus- 1) A Labour government must Again, the fight must begin trial Relations Act. This fight State control of now. immediately repeal the Indus- wares must begin now by forcing the must be answered by the most trial Relations Act, Housing TUC to break off all relations widespread fight for Pinance Act, Immigration Acts, wage in- with the government and Fair Trading Act and all wage to price rises vicasco mobilize the working Cass and improve standards. This control. After the repeal of all destroy state control of wages.

Tory anti-working means a fight to remove the class mea- Tory government and change sures, there must be legislation 4) The right to defend rights the union leadership. implement the Charter won in the past and change Basic Rights, along the follow- the system. All the changes in 6) The right to health and wel- lines. fare benefits. Every Tory gov- lezaloroccuures mdue 2) The right to work! Capital- Tory government must be re- welfare cut in bene- ism demands mass unemploy- secret police and fits, in the health service and pearea. All ment. The right to a job must MI5 organizations must be dis- spending must public I would like information about

THE SOCIALIST

LABOUR LEAGUE

Fill in the form below and send to NATIONAL

SECRETARY,

SOCIALIST

LABOUR

LEAGUE,

186a CLAPHAM HIGH ST, LONDON SW4 7UG.

Name.. Address.. CAFF Tae-

ATUA

AT T9T2

1 THE TR GENETES

•GENERAL IKE

STRIKE

GENE

STRI

be revoked. On the basis of the Common Market plans for nationalization, dictatorship. a crash pro- of expansion of gramme ser- Withdraw all British troops vices to the unemployed, the from abroad and disband the low-paid, the sick and the aged present standing army. be must undertaken as an absolute priority. Sign treaties The working with all ex- and the Labour class colonial countries for govern- pro- ment must take immediate and of equal trade and grammes absolute responsibility for mutual assistance, these victims of the capitalist Break from NATO and all system. imperialist alliances. For the carrying out of such 7) The right to decent housing.

policies the SLL fights for the Decent housing is not a luxury; of setting of up Councils it is necessity. People have Action to lead the struggle basic decent the right to against the Tory government accommodation at rents they in every area. These Councils of can afford. Nationalization unite trade unionists, tenants, the handful of building mono- unemployed, all political par- polies and building societies and tendencies ties of the will provide the basis for working class (Labour Party, of massive new Communist Party,

SLL,

IS, house building. The disgraceful etc.) to fight against the problem the homeless in main enemy, the Tory govern- the cities must be immediately ment. solved by census and taking- The SLL calls upon every of all unoccupied pro- over socialist and class-conscious perty. worker to consider this pro- and manifesto gramme very 8) The international respon- carefully, and to decide now to sibilities of the working class. take their up inescapable re- The working Class is interna- sponsibilities. The building of tional. ( We fight for the un- the revolutionary party is the restricted right of any worker burning question now, not in of any nationality some remote future. The SLL to move freely through the world.

is determined to carry through the troops from Withdraw its transformation into a re- Ireland. Unite the Irish and volutionary party. British working class to throw We appeal to all readers out the Lynch and Heath gov- Workers Press and of the ernments. Unite in the struggle for the our supporters to join the Socialist United States of

SLL

and help transform Europe, the only alternative to it into a revolutionary party.

EFEND ALL DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

Unite in action to make this Tory government resign Defend trade unionism and basic living standards I to power is through the building of the revolutionary party DAY MARCH 11, 3 p.m. AT EMPIRE POOL, WEMBLEY Speakers: gasmen, hospital workers, car workers.

Gary Gurmeet, Editor Keep Left.

G. Healy, National Secretary, SLL.

Cabaret in the evening featuring:

ALAN PRICE

JACK BRUCE

ELLIS

TICKETS £1. AVAILABLE FROM :

eant Office, 34 Hamilton Gardens, London, NW8 Phone: 286 3332

COACHES AND TRAINS LEAVING FROM ALL AREAS

TURKEY: MILITARY COURTS

BY JACK GALE

A law of May 15, 1971, extended the competence of the courts martial in martial law areas to try civil offences and some arrested journalists have been brought before such courts. The civil courts themselves have been severity since then. Under the 1961 Constitu- tion, Articles 141/2 of the Penal Code (which Ataturk adapted from Mussolini's Cri- minal Code in 1926) Com- munist propaganda was ban- ned. The terms of these articles were vague-the actual offence being 'to seek to establish the domination of one particular social class over other social classes, to eliminate a social class to overthrow or economic order social and established in the country in any of its particulars' - and have thus enabled prosecutors writers, to harry journalists and publishers almost at will.

Articles 158/9 of the Penal Code forbade defamation of the Press, the republic, the nation and institutions, and Article 146 makes it a capital offence to seek to overthrow the constitution by force. An additional Law of Measures passed in 1962 provided pen- alties of imprisonment for cri- ticizing the 1960 revolution (even by implication) or de- fending view that the Republic would not survive as a democracy. This law has also been used to prosecute irrever- ent journalists and cartoonists.

In November 1971 parlia- ment unanimously voted to strengthen approximately one- third of the of the clauses 1961 Constitution, which the Prime Minister declared a 'luxury' that Turkey could no longer afford. Clauses have been added to most of the Articles guaran- teeing rights and liberties to the effect that these are only to be upheld provided the 'in- tegrity of the nation and country' is not threatened. The autonomy of universities, asso- ciations and of the radio and TV association is also res- tricted. New Bills are being drafted to restrict Press free- dom and the rights of associa- tion. Trial by jury is unknown and criminal cases are usually decided by a bench consisting of one presiding judge and two civil cases by a assessors, judge sitting alone. The courts martial at present operating in martial law areas appear to work on a similar principle, the bench consisting of a senior serving officer (who, however, is not generally a lawyer) and two serving offi- cers who are graduates with legal training. In theory his assistants are entitled to overrule the Presi- dent on legal questions— though in practice they rarely do so. Military courts of ap- peal consist of military judges, all of whom have legal train- ing. The workings of the legal system are extremely complex.

Cases are initially brought be- fore a civilian (or military) Court of First Instance. The jurisdiction of these courts is subject to the courts of appeal, but should a defendant appeal successfully against the deci- sion of a Court of First In- stance, his case will then be returned by the appeal court to the same court for re-trial.

Public prosecutors have, in addition, an unlimited right of against acquittals. appeal These two facts mean that the legal process in any par- ticular case may be prolonged for months and even years.

Even if acquitted a defendant Studenta appoaring before a military co can never be certain that the charges against him have been finally dropped by the prose- cution. Criticism of the procedure of the courts martial has em- phasized particularly the res- triction of rights accorded to defence counsel. A number of the lawyers concerned in the defence of those involved in the TPLA and Dev Genc (a left-wing student organization) trials have complained of having been hampered in their At least 20 such defence were arrested in 1972 and charged with 'aiding communism' or contempt of court. Ill-treatment of prisoners was routine during the arrests which took place in the sum- mer of 1971 and in subsequent arrests. In June 1971 the car- Turhan Selcuk pub- toonist lished his account of police assault in the daily paper 'Aksam'. Defendants involved in the terrorist trials have also pro-. lav duced detailed depositions alleging systematic torture, prolonged beatings, etc, to ex- tract information and confes- sions during interrogations.

These repressions intensified after February 1969 when de-

TAX!

military court in Ankara. Trial by jury Is unkno against United monstrations States imperialism caused the Sixth cancellation of the planned visit to Fleet's Istanbul. The Turkish rulers have been particularly alarmed by the movement of the working class. There is at least 15-per- cent unemployment among the industrial labour force, am- ounting to some 1.83 million people-and this does not in- clude the chronic unemploy- ment outside the cities. About 500,000 Turkish workers have been forced to emigrate to western Europe to search for jobs. In June 1970, the workers of Istanbul and the nearby in- dustrial centre of Izmir marched downed tools and through the streets shouting 'Down with capitalism! Down with imperialism!' In February 1972 the semi- official Anatolian news agency said that 3,759 people had been arrested under martial ro-. law provisions. Some 441 were under arrest in An- kara and Istanbul and a fur- ther 900 had previously been dealt with by military law tribunals. Recent mass trials include 142 members of the banned Workers Press, Wedn Is unknow. Above: Three of Turkey's ruling G Turkish Teachers' Association : under articles 141/2 accused of the Penal Code with dis- seminating communist propa- ganda. Last December the union's president, Fakir Bay- kurt, its general secretary Dursun Akcam and 50 other members of the union were jailed for up to eight years ten months. Another 225 people were also accused of a 'communist conspiracy' in Ankara. In October the 60-year-old chair- man of the banned Turkish Labour Party, Behice Boran, and seven other members of its executive were sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment plus five years' exile. Eight other members were jailed for be- tween six and 12 years. In November the Turkish student unions were dissolved by Act of parliament as part of the continuing drive against the Revolutionary Youth Union, banned in 1971. On January 10 this year, 267 defendants were hauled before three army officers in a special courtroom at Ankara 358, Wednesday March 7, 1973 PAGE 5 & ruling Generals. barracks. They were accused of being members of the underground Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Party. Over 200 students and 400 other prisoners were also awaiting trial at the beginning of this year, accused of organ- izing youth demonstrations against the regime. The total number of politi- cal arrests between May 1971 and December 1972 was over 12,000. In that time many trade unions have been disbanded and strikes, union meetings and collective-bargaining are all subject to permission from the martial law authorities.

The Secretary of the Turk- Teachers' Association, ish Adni Aytan, was arrested for holding a union meeting with- out permission. Left-wing publisher Suley- man Ege was sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment followed by 12 years' exile for publish- ing the 'Communist Manifesto' and Lenin's 'State and Revo- lution'. Pictures of Ege chained to his bed in a military prison have been smuggled out of Turkey.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

THE LONDON PAGEANT

PAGE 6 Workera Press, Wednesday Ma On September 28, 1864, the St. Martin's Hall, just off Covent Garden, filled with a curious gathering of men. The meeting had been called by George Odger, secretary of the London Trades Council.

Poles, Germans, Frenchmen and Italians mingled with groups of British trade union- ists among the 2,000 present.

Great deference was shown to a large, angry looking man with a shock of whiskers. He was Karl Marx, the German émigré who had lived in England since 1849. He was well known to the Chartist leaders, particularly Ernest Jones and George Julian Harney. meeting that day was The a turning point in the revolu- tionary history of the inter- vit national working class: it was the day they founded the First International. • Marx, a fraternal delegate from Germany, was co-opted nesday March 7, 1873 onto the General Council and assumed almost unchallenged intellectual ascendency. When he attended the meeting in St.

Martin's Lane, Marx was mak- ing a relatively rare public appearance. He had published nothing since December 4, 1862, and his unusually pio- private correspondence lific was also sparse. It was the period Marx was living a hand-to-mouth exis- tence while he poured over books at the British Museum.

It is generally reckoned to have been the period when he was working with his greatest intensity on 'Capital'. In a letter to his life-long friend and collaborator Friederich Engels, Marx said he had attended because 'this time real "powers" were in- volved' and "therefore decided to waive my usual standing rule to decline any such in- er- vitations'. The history of Marx's role in the labour movement is the subject of one of the episodes in the Pageant at Empire Pool, Wembley, on Sunday, March 1l. The necessity to reassert Marx's position in the politi- cal development of the work- ing class can be swiftly ex- plained. It is absolutely necessary to important reassert Marx's political relationship with the the British development of working class, if for no other reason than it has been hor- ribly distorted and suppressed.

In 1925, for example, only 61 years after the founding of the International, Labour his- torian Herbert Tracey pre- pared an three- enormous, volume history entitled "The Book of the Labour Party-Its History, Growth, Policy and Leaders'. In the index Marx receives one solitary mention. The sec- tion dealing with the 'Work of the Marxian Socialists' ends with these remarks: "The insistence upon Marx- ian doctrine brought them [members of the Social Demo- cratic Federation] into direct opposition to the character and sentiment of the English people-a people practical, un- philosophic_and, at bottom, religious. Economic theories divorced from ethics are repel- lent to them. The class strug- gle, presented in an exagger- and misleading phrase as ated. the "class war" • was given a hard and repulsive aspect.'

More recently, in 1965, two objective historians, more Henry Collins and Chimen granted a little Abramsky, more credit where it was due: "The foundation of the International in London on September 28, 1864, was a turning point in the history of the European labour move- ment. The International was the first working-class organ- ization to make a decisive impact on European politics.

If it helped actively in shap ing and moulding the early of labour organizations Europe, this was largely the Scenes from the founding meetings of the General Coun- cil are being recreated by a group of actors in a warehouse only a few hundred yards from where the International first met and where Marx had a room in Frith Street, Soho.

An arrow in the foyer shows you the way to the Pageant.

Down half a dozen dark stairs and into a cold basement. Just some muffled voices coming from behind a partition made of tarpaulin. It's like a badly cut and You made army pull tent. back the flap and step inside the warmth. Roberton, the Matthew director, is in the chair. Script on his knee, both hands gestic- 'We've got to make ulating. improvisations here. some We've got to have some inter- jections, discussion. It more must be like a trade union meeting with everyone putting his point of view. Any sugges- tions?' When new patches of dia- logue were agreed, it was back to the beginning of the scene for another run-through. Marx is being played by Matthew Rober Kempinski. is Tom a Odger was chr undertaking and courageous Mike O'Sullivan he plays the part splendidly and who wrote

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POSTWAR

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS

nal had ho. ant. airs ust ning ade and pull side the ript tic- ake ere. ter- It lion ting ges- dia- ack ene by the director. Above left: G Matthew Roberton, Odger was chairman of the General Council a and Mike O'Sullivan who plays Bakunin in rehearsa idly and who wrote the script.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POSTWAR

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS

with the wit, the sarcasm and the sagacity. Marx's most vociferous opponent at the early meeting Bakunin, was the a nicks, Suluvan. by Mick growls and complains at Marx's policies to bring the working class towards parlia- ment, politics and, ultimately, power. Like his middle-class follow- ers in the anarchist movement today, Bakunin wanted an immediate uprising to seize power. In one of their confronta- tions on the General Council, the following exchange takes place: Marx: On a point of infor- mation, may I say through the Comrade chairman, Bakunin, that you are a fool. Odger: I must ask you to l'ast withdraw that remark, Brother Marx. Marx: I bow to the author- ity of the chair, and withdraw what I said... but I still said the Mike General Council Kellan, a young actor recently drama school. graduated from He is one of the many talen- ted actors who has come for- ve left: George Odger (centre) and associates.

ward to help in the produc- Council of the First International.

Above riaht. London Pageant tion of the n rehearsal with Tom Kempinski who plays Marx episode. Workers Press, Wedne "The background to our play is history, it's politics.

But it's the politics of today. I can't think of any theatre or drama relevant as the as Pageant. It is the only state- that is worthwhile in ment today's situation. There's nothing I'd rather be doing.'

If Mike wasn't working with the Pageant group, he'd be hunting for work in the com- mercial field. His profession is ridden with chronic unemployment and miserable wages, unless you happen to be among the handful of top stars. Some of his contemporaries are now involved in 'fringe 'street theatre' theatre' or which is involved in experi- mental drama. Mike doesn't have a great deal of time for these activi- ties. 'Some of it is very heavy Theatre of drama - the Cruelty, etc. But when it's all said and done, these shows are simply theatrical events. They are usually watched by other and actresses. They actors are not involved like us in the reality of today.' Another young member of the team is Jack Balchin.

His background is perhaps the most distinctive. He was road manager for the pop group Henry Cow. His links Un 2ca, Wednesday March T, 1973

PAGE 7

with the group are fragile at Jack is stage present because manager for the London Pageant and his group are trying to get it together in the pop world. from nowhere, I come Jack says, talking about poli- tics. 'I had no political align- ment whatsoever-to the point of trying to avoid it. I always He joined the Pageant fol- political lowing the tour of cabarets which were held dur- ing January in Lancashire, Tyneside and South Wales.

As an able and imaginative 'roadie', Jack is working hard to make Empire Pool a great success. It's going to be the best show in town on the day -it's got to be. We'll be ask- ing people to open their eyes and see what's going on-and then to do something about it' The rehearsal ended with a final run-through of the General Council meeting. An One announcement followed. of the actors was so broke he needed fare money to get to and from rehearsals. A hat went around; every- one else was broke too. Just over f1 was raised to keep the together until Sunday. cast ıks • Until Sunday!

THE FRENCH POPULAR FRONT

1936: The Popular Front strangles the revolution PAGĚ & Workors Pross, Wednesday Ma

BY TOM KEMP

A giant strike wave con- fronted Socialist Party leader Leon Blum when he took office as head of a Popular Front govern. ment on June 4, 1936. By this time most of the factories which had gone back from initial strikes after the victory of the Popular Front at the polls, were out again.

That day Renault joined in again and the workers took over the factory. Citröen followed the next day. By June 5 most of the big stores and chain stores had closed their doors. Newspaper sellers joined the strike and only papers favourable to the Popular Front were obtainable.

Many sections of workers not actually on strike threat- ened to come out if their not met im- demands were mediately. They included most workers in the public sector— gas, electricity, water, the Post Office, railways and buses.

In the occupied factories and other places of work, strike committees were elected which undertook the task of organ- izing security and discipline- protection of machinery, fire precautions, security guards and supplies for the strikers.

Social activities were organized and the strikers enjoyed ter- rific support from the rest of the population. There was no doubt at all the illegality of the about occupations, which were a nesday March 7, 1973 challenge to the bosses' pro- perty rights and authority.

One reason for them, of course, strike-breakers from among the unemployed. There the was no attempt to run factories nor to turn them into armed fortresses against the government. But, beginning in a defensive way to win rights of bargain- ing which few bosses conceded at this time, and to use them wages and con- to improve ditions, the strikes with occupation took on a more offensive On the character. other hand they suffered from lack of leadership and policy No General Strike cal was issued and it was more a case of 12,000 more or less separate strikes in the factories and other workplaces affected.

With thousands of firms closed and the economy vir- tually paralysed, by late May or early June the whole country was in a ferment. The em- and the bourgeoisie ployers were badly shaken and many believed that the revolution had come. The strike had be- come the dominating fact in the lives of working people and solidarity with the strikers the factories was occupying organized in every area. It is important to stress that the strikes were not called by the trade unions or by the Communist Party. They were very much a spontaneous res- ponse of the working class and evidence of a powerful striving for power which, although not taking conscious form, had NO *31

RA RACE

been developing ever since the iza threat of a fascist dictatorship had loomed on the horizon in February 1934. put it: The As Trotsky French Revolution has begun.'

But it could only be carried through to completion if a revolutionary • leadership came to the fore. The Communist Party did everything it could to block and limit the move- ment, although its members necessarily often in the were lead. The party had a strong position in the leadership of the Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) which had been reunified in March under con- communist ditions where officials held a decisive position in the unions concerned with large-scale and mass produc- tion industry. However, the CGT was still dominated by confirmed re- formists at the head of whom stood Léon Jouhaux, who had given his full backing to the in the CGT was Benoît Fran- chot who remained in complete solidarity with the right wingers during the strikes. Most of the leading militants on the factory floor belonged to or were influenced by the Communist Party, which they saw as a revolutionary organ- the ization. They played a leading part in the strike committees.

No doubt many of these communists saw the strikes as step towards revolution. Others, closer to the apparatus, in the only put themselves leadership of the strikes in order to keep them under con- trol and because otherwise they would lose all influence over their fellow workers.

Party members Moreover, were generally the most ex- perienced and best trained in dealing with the organizational problems which arose out of the strike. They were able to impose the discipline so neces- sary for the success of the movement, but also capable of stifling it on orders from the Party leadership. The journalist Alexander Worth, who was on the spot, that the Communist wrote Party leaders 'were becoming greatly alarmed by the extent of the strikes. Communist deputies could be heard complaining "Nous sommes débordés" [we have been out- flanked]. Others blamed the Trotskyists for it-though as a Socialist deputy from Mar- seilles remarked, in attacking the communists a few days later: 'There aren't ten Trot- skyists in the whole of Marseilles"' Meanwhile the Blum govern- ment had concentrated units of the militarized police units, 'Gardes Mobiles' in the the Paris region and the other main strike centres. The Communist Party called for negotiations Provisions are hoisted up to strikers_ occupying a factory in Parts. The strikers got massive support from the rest of the population. between the employers and the strikers. It was relieved, there- fore, when Blum proposed that the two sides should be brought together with the government as a mediator. A meeting took place be- tween the trade unions and the employers' national organ- ization the CGPF* at a govern- ment building, the June 7. A leading part in the by negotiations was taken Benoît Franchon, acting for the Communist Party. Blum took this step follow- ing a call from an old friend, Lambert-Ribot, who repre- sented the 'Comité des forges' the powerful and sinister trade association of heavy industry.

When on trial before a Vichy Blum explained the court, circumstances and said that the initiative for the meeting big come from the had employers who were ready to grant a wage increase if he could succeed in getting the workers out of the factories.

That was the purpose of the famous Matignon Agreement signed in the early hours of June 8. The only question was how much the employers were prepared to concede to get the strikes called off. They knew they had to offer something in order to prevent the move- ment developing into a revolu- tion. In this they made com- mon cause with Blum and CP secretary Maurice Thorez.

At Matignon the employers agreed to an all-round wage increase of between 7 and 15 per cent which should not increase the wage bill oI any firm by more than 12 per cent.

They also agreed in principle to accept wage contracts at by trade union arrived bargaining. In return the unions agreed to call off the strikes.

union leaders The trade refused to agree to end all the strikes by a given date because they knew that they couldn't guarantee that the workers would accept the terms and they needed time to get them out of the factories.

So the strike in each factory would not end until an agree- ment had been concluded. The Communist Party, to- gether Blum's with own Socialist Party, hailed the Matignon agreement as a great victory for the working class.

reformist leader, The Léon Jouhaux, declared that it opened a new era and showed that gains could be obtained by negotiation and bargaining.

The working class did not see it that way. In fact the strikes began to take on a new form, reflecting the feeling of strength which it had gained in the previous week or so.

The strikes were still gathering momentum and sweeping in new sections of workers such as shop assistants, clerical workers, clothing workers and previously noted others not for their militancy. The trade union leaders could come to an agreement with the bosses in the course of an evening's discussion at Matignon. To get the workers out of the factories, to sell them the agreement which they had brought back with Blum's blessing, proved to be another matter. Even with the government's undertaking to legislate for the 40-hour week and holidays- with-pay, the working class looked the package in the mouth. The workers were still In the tactories, obeying the discipline of their strike com- mittees with the red flag flying.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

*Confédération Générale de la Production Française, later to change its name, and its policy, but at this time in favour of.

negotiation.

The betrayal of the working- union leaders on bodies inside class's opposition to the Com- the EEC? mon Market by Victor Feather, The taunt drew giggles from Jack Jones and the rest is around the table. giving the extreme right wing With some difficulty, Feather labour movement kept his cool. enormous comfort. No, he replied, he would Both Feather and Jones have The two situations were not. recently returned from frater- just not the same. nizing visits to the Common Market, Feather was there to become elected president of the brand Another stronghold of Labour new European TUC. The over- 'lefts' and their Communist whelming majority of the trade Party allies, the National Union unions taking part in the Mineworkers' executive founding Congress were pro- committee, has also got itself Market. into a complete tangle over Introducing Feather, Heinz the flirtation with the Common Vetter, German TUC president.

Market institutions. Because a really principled opposition to the Market has never been put up on the NEC, the right wing pushed through, by the narrowest of majorities, a proposal for the

NUM

to start finding out directly what the experiences of other mining unions were inside the

EEC

now that Britain was a member.

To do this, decided to they join the Coal and Steel Com- munity bodies on which unions had representation. Because of the corporatist nature of the EEC, they dis- covered that they would have to be members of far more and organizations committees than they could possibly cope 27-man with, having only a executive council. The

NUM

discovered Frank Chapple: wanted to know staggering bureaucracy await- why Feather wasn't right inside ing them in Europe. If they the

EEC

institutions. played a full role, they would his speech that all the have to delegations said in send off

ETUC

should parti- • nearly every fortnight to unions one cipate in the of European work the capital city or an- Common Market. other throughout the year. Having identified himself so One of their earliest ex- thoroughly with these periences was in Luxemburg cor- tendencies, Feather and poratist Brussels recently where was sitting target for it took two full days merely to elec- tricians' and plumbers union decide that now the member leader Frank Chapple countries were nine instead of at the last General Council meeting six, it would be better to re- of the

TUC

write the policy • document Since Mr Feather was willing Common Market trade union relations. to serve with the pro- Marketeers on the ETUC, why, At such a rate of decision- Chapple wanted to know, take making, it might about would the general secretary not five years to actually write European serve with the same new policy. Where is Britain Going? Paperback 37$p • Problems of the British Revolution Paperback 35p Lessons of October Paperback 60p In Defence of the October Revolution Pamphlet 15p Marxism and the Trade Unions Pamphlet 25p Death Agony of Capitalism and , the Tasks of the Fourth International Pamphlet 10p Postage: 10p per book, 5p per pamphlet.

Order from: NEW PARK PUBLICATIONS 186a Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UG

BY IAN YEATS

"To Take Arms'. By Maria McGuire. Macmillan £1.95.

Maria McGuire is not, as her confessions con- firm, of any special in- trinsic interest. And her book is, in many naive — ways, politically especially her ceaseless blam- ing of ex-IRA Chief-of-Staff Sean MacStiofain, as an in- dividual, for the movement's major failures. It may be true, as she des- cribes him in "To Take Arms', that he is a narrow-minded, ruthless, Catholic — with a capital C. But if he was always ready to 'go with the movement' in the north, it was not merely because he 'knew nothing' but the bomb and the bullet. There was more to it than that. In the Six Counties, IRA militarism was a direct con- sequence of the character of its political programme. Miss McGuire's book makes it plain that the short-lived truce of June 1972 was the beginning of the end for the Provisionals in the north.

The southern leadership thought violence could be used to force the British govern- ment to agree to a political solution in the Six Counties which would favour them. Until the June truce • the northern • command, " believed Workers Press, Wed the same thing. But every- thing was changed by Belfast Twomey's his- leader Seamus toric statement in the middle of the lull that the British had nothing to give. MacStiofain, Twomey, and Sean Keenan in Derry, saw that they could either settle for what they had (which was broadly what they began with or fight. They chose to fight.

But in doing so, their tac- tics increasingly achieved what the political wing in Dublin feared all along - the had erosion of their power base by alienation of moderate the Catholics. Ultimately Miss McGuire with those who took sides were prepared to see violence used in the defence of their homes but not as an instru- ment of mass terror. She discloses that one of the key factors behind the Provisionals' seeking frantic of after the political deal which • was supposed to follow the June truce was the perpetual fear that terror alone would lose the IRA more supporters than it won. On the eve of the truce, brought about by visits and most of all telephone conver- sations between David O'Con- nell and Tory •Ulster chief William Whitelaw, the politi- cal wing looked poised for a coup. ..O'Connell claimed, to have ress, Wednesday March 7, 1973 PAGE 9 Marla MeGuire. Left: AbOVe: Sean MacStiotain. received from • Whitelaw the promise that in return for a cease-fire, which the British would reciprocate, there would be a place for the IRA at any conference on the future of Ireland. The discussions and the alleged deal followed the visit to Ulster of Labour leader Harold Wilson, who had talks with O'Connell, Joe Cahill and John Kelly. But then came the Twomey bombshell and the announce- ment that shooting had star- ted again in the north. With no solutions to the old problem of votes, jobs and houses in sight, and with the need to defend ghetto areas from attack greater than ever, the predominance of the bomb and the bullet - and with them MacStiofain's wing of the IRA-was inevitable.

The political solution Miss McGuire and her friends sought was always a possibility in theory. But at no time could it be brought about by the essential sectarian nation- alism of the IRA and Sinn Fein. In the light of Miss Mc- Guire's disclosures, . the 1972 Ard Ffeis (Sinn Fein Confer- ence) must be seen as a des- perate last-ditch bid by the political wing to recover the position by holding out olive branches to the Protestants.

Inevitably they failed. From beginning to end the missing link was the party and of revolutionary programme Marxism which could alone unite both sections of the Ulster working class together and with their fellow workers in Britain against the common enemy-the Tory government.

The remainder of Miss Mc- Guire's largely anecdotal ac- count of her year in the IRA does at least perform the in- valuable service of stripping bare the political oppor- tunism and military amateur- ism of the organization she served.

increase in the PAGE 10 Workers Press, Wednesday March 7, 1973

IT IS

very necessary to the present run on gold in the light of the 1944 Bretton Woods con- ference. Bretton Woods was in- spired, above all, by political considerations. The capitalist class was not able to deal with the working class as it had done in the years following 1918. It was ob- liged to retreat before the working class. The form taken by this re- treat, as we have insisted many times, was inflation. The Euro- rebuilt by pean economy was means of the inflationary dollar.

The essence of Bretton Woods was the attempt create 'managed' The dollar currency.

BY ECON

was to be tied at a fixed rate to (The price was established gold. $35 gold, at to ounce of an the level first set in 1934.) In other currency turn tor be exed in terms of the dollar and currency values could only within narrowly defined LOVe limits. This was the system of "fixed parities. But in this attempt at "managed' lay an in- currency escapable contradiction, con- tradiction which is now break- ing surface in the most violent manner. Money and commodities are bound together. This we have shown. There can be 'man- no aged' money system without & "managed' commodity system.

BLIND AVERAGE

But, as Marx stressed against all opponents, commodity production cannot be consciously regulated. It operates only through the blind laws of the Woods conference of 1941 As Marx says in market. con- The Bretton with the law of value, nection talist system by an average of appears 'as a blindly working five or six times. Meanwhile the average.' gold price was established as the treated with Marx always means of inducing the amusement and derision all those only rest of the capitalist world to hold 19th Utopian schemes century dollars. which wanted to abolish the A direct result of this was felt anarchy of the money system upon the quantity of gold enter- maintaining capitalism in- while the world They ing money system. tact. were as naive as Pope By the late 1960s well under 20 abolish the ttempts : to gold while the Catholic newly-mined Found its way into world money ceeDin! Church. The rest other words, gold is the was privately In essential and of hoarded by speculators. only regulator the of social production process

GENERAL LAWS

under capitalism. Every com- modity has to be accountable to inescapable fact is For the this 'universal equivalent'. that gold production must obey What the consequences were general laws of commodity Woods at- of the 1944 Bretton roduction, even though Brettor tempts at a system of 'managed' currencies? Woods tried to ignore them for of Basically this: while the dollar a long period. As the price gold fell the of gold pegged, steadily as against price was in prices of all other commodities, temporary defiance of the laws producers switched from of the capitalist market, at $35 SO gold mining to other more pro- an ounce, all other commodities fitable lines of business.

were allowed to obey these mar- attempt at a 'man- ket forces. The very aged' currency thus reduced the from 1934 to August 15, So 1971 prices rose within the capi- supply of gold which forms the

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ECONOMICS CORRESPONI

of 1944. necessary base for all trade and credit operations. An ever-growing volume of credit was erected upon an ever narrower gold base. What are the immediate im- plications of the gold crisis? In 'Capital', Marx showed that the supply of money (gold) depended prices the total of all upon commodities which it supported. Of course economies' are pos- sible in the use of gold as a payment - the with- means drawal of the gold backing for domestic currencies in the capi- talist economies is one example.

But the room for these econo- mies is strictly limited and in any case gold can never be te- from its pre-eminent moved place in world trade and finance.

If we take the increase in world trade which has occurred since 1945 and compare it with the increase of gold production, we can see that the two have moved completely out of line.

While prices, stimulated by government inflationary policies, have risen, as we have pointed

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1.30 London. 2.30 Gourmet. News. London. 6.00 News. 6.10 3.00 6.35 London. 7.00 Hogan's heroes 7.30 London. 10.30 Treasure hunt. Life in France. 10.40 London. 12.05 Epilogue. News. weather. Channel except:

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ANGLIA: 9.30

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SPONDENT PETER JEFFRIE

out, five or six times on their gold held pre-war level, was dow is in this crisis that gold is enacting its revenge for all these which the Keynesians years tried to tamper with the law of value as a means of keeping their intact for a decaying system little longer. products can- Without gold, not enter circulation and become commodities. The rush into gold and the flight from all forms of paper—the feature which now everything in the overshadows crisis-means a collapse of com- modity production for the world which has immediate market implications for every economy, especially the British.

CREDIT DISRUPTED

The law of value can only be restored through both huge in- crease in the gold price and a collapse commodity prices. But a collapse of the magnitude which the law of value now de- mands means a total disruption of all those institutions of credit which have sustained the ex- since pansion of world trade 1945. This is no passing crisis. Only the International Committee of the Fourth International has in- sisted, against all brands of re- imperialism vision, that is capitalism's highest the stage, epoch of wars and revolutions.

Many middle - class sceptics doubted the truth of this char- acterization the boom. • during But now the crisis is here, open- ly for all to see. The theoretical Marxism, that is struggle of Trotskyism, is being vindicated in the great objective develop- gripping the capitalist ments system. Now is the time to go boldly and resolutely forward to build the revolutionary party, which alone can lead the working class to power and put an end to capitalist chaos and anarchy.

DAY'S TV

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Anna London. GRANADA: 9.30 London. 12.00 Songs.

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Just one word. 2.30 News. 9.30 London. 2.31 Lon- 3.30 Champions. don. 4.20 London. 6.00 Today. 6.35 London. 8.00 Anna king. 11.35 and the 8.30 London. News. 11.45 Edgar Wallace. 12.40 Lectern. SCOTTISH: 9.30 London. 2.30 Date- Crossroads. line. 5.25 5.50 London. 6.00 6.30 Uni- versity challenge. 7.00 London. 12.05 Late call.

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10.58 London. 1.38 News. Schools. 2.45 Cartoon. 2.52 3.00 London. 3.25 Women today. 3.55 Harriet. 4.20 London. 5.20 Sur- News. 6.05 vival. 5.50 London. 6.00 Thompson. 6.35 London. 8.00 Adven- 8.30 London. 10.45 Untouch- turer. 11.40 London. 12.05 Kind of ables. living. 12.25 Meditation.

EFFRIES

Fight rising rents and prices Defend basic democratic rights Force the Tories to resign WATFORD: Wednesday March 7, 8 p.m. Trade Union Hall, Wood ford Hall, near Watford station. SOUTHALL, Wednesday, March 7, Southall 8 p.m. Library, Osterley Park Road. 'The Road to Workers' Power' WOOLWICH: Wednesday March 'The Castle', 7, 8 р.m. , Powis Street, SE18. 'Support the gas- and hospital workers' men WEMBLEY: Wednesday March 7, Copland 8 Secondary p.m. School, High Road. HACKNEY: Thursday March 1 8, 8 p.m. Parlour Room, Central Hall, opposite Town Hall, Mare Street. 'Support hospital work- ers'. SLOUGH: Thursday March • 8, 8 p.m. Community Centre, Farn- 'Support the gasmen ham Road. and hospital workers'. STEVENAGE: Thursday March 8, 8 p.m. 'Red Lion', Stevenage Old Town. 'Forward to the Pageant'. LEWISHAM: Thursday March 8, 8 p.m. Deptford Engineers' Club, New Cross Station. 'Marx- opp ism and the trade unions' WILLESDEN: Thursday March 8, 8 p.m. Labour and Trades Hall, High Road, NW10. 'Support gas- men and civil servants'. HACKNEY: Thursday March 8, Parlour Room, Central 8 p.m. Hall, opp. Town Hall, Mare 'Support gasmen and Street. civil servants'. WANDSWORTH: Monday 12, 8 р.т. Street, S.W.18. 'Forward to the revolutionary party. HARROW: Tuesday March 13, 8 p.m. Labour Hall, Harrow and Wealdstone. 'The fight against Stalinism'. TOOTING: Tuesday March 13, Selkirk Hotel, Selkirk 8 p.m. Road, Tooting Broadway. 'For- ward to the Revolutionary Party'.

CLAPHAM: Tuesday March 13, p.m. Clapham Manor Baths, Clapham Manor Street, S.W.4.

CAMDEN: Tuesday March 13, p.m. 'Prince Albert', Wharte- dale Road, Kings Cross. ACTON: Tuesday March 13, 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, High Road, W.3. PADDINGTON: Tuesday March 13, 8 p.m. 'Prince of Wales', of Harrow Road and corner Great Western Road. 'Forward to the revolutionary party' KINGSTON: Thursday March 15, 8 p.m. 'Liverpool Arms', , corner of Cambridge Road and London Road. HOLLOWAY: Thursday March 15, 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Seven Sisters Road. WALTHAMSTOW: Thursday March 15, 8 p.m. Royston Arms.

Chingford Road, E.4.

OVER 2,000 London teachers are expected to take part today in a march from Lincoln's Inn Fields to Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park. They will then lobby par- liament and deliver a petition to Downing Street in support of their claim for a £182-a- year increase in the London allowance. The government's state con- trol of wages has limited the managements' offer to £15, al- claims they though the union were prepared to give £82.

London teachers The are campaigning to separate the London . allowance from the global sum for increases in all teachers' salaries due in April, and to secure free negotiation on the allowance within the Burnham negotiating committee.

Third wave Some 2,470 teachers working in 212 schools in the greater London area yesterday began the third wave the National Union of Teachers' three-day strikes. As estimated 75,000 children have been affected. Twenty-one areas in greater London/ have been hit. They are: Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Cam- den, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, East Herts, Hillingdon, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, east London, north London, west London, Merton, Newham, Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster.

SLL PUBLIC

MEETINGS

BASINGSTOKE

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7,

8 p.m. Public Library Speaker: M. BANDA (SLL Central Committee) 01-622 7029 01-720 20.00 A BUTCHER and ship's pro- vision merchant, who is also a magistrate, is one of four men who have been sent for trial in a corruption case in the north west. The case concerns the supply of provisions for British Rail ferries. Allegations have been made that falsified accounts for meat and other items were used to defraud British Rail of sums of • money, and that the Morecambe firm of Mrs J. C. Altham and Sons obtained favours as a result of gifts given corruptly to British Rail employees. The four, who appeared at Morecambe magistrates court last week, are Ernest Leslie Ashby, of Warton, Lancashire; Thomas William Akroyd, of Halifax; Maurice Raymond Woodward, of the

HDLATMAS

20334 7109912 Students have taken over the entrance lodge at Wor

GRANTS SIT-INS WINNING MORE

TEESSIDE

students their action for another London and the prov have occupied their ad- week. ces are expected meet this ministrative building in week Members of Wool- support of the Thames cide whether wich Labour Party have Polytechnic, Woolwich, mount sit-ins in suppe jolned the students on students sitting in since of their colleagues picket duty and the last week. Woolwich. tenants' local associa- Last Friday an emer- A spokesman for tion is giving ac- also gency general meeting publicity tive backing. of part of the 1,200 stu- said: 'We decided dents voted to continue Other colleges in press for another IN A memorandum to the cessor, Geoffrey Rippon: 'We are Secretary of State for the disappointed that the government intend to continue with its pro- Environment, TUC leaders posals for metering.' have called on the Tory More sinister, however, is the government to legislate Com- TUC's complaint that the Bill mon Market-style 'worker- does not provide for regional participation' in the water negotiation machinery on the lines of that already industry. existing in and local gas, electricity supply The memorandum sets out government. the views of the

TUC

Local The local government Government Committee on the mittee calls for 'urgent Tories' Water Bill. sideration' of this omission. 'We Proposals for the metering of think that our case on participation is strengthened water supplies are criticized by by the recent from the the union chiefs in the mildest probosals European Commission possible terms, despite the horrifying pany law harmonization, which implications that families will have to pay for the that workers' represent- suggests should have volume of water they atives a statutory use. right In on supervisory letter to the then Sec- boards of companies.' State, Peter Walker, cretary or

TUC

last year, the pointed out No doubt the Tories, in their that 'pricing could discourage turn, will welcome the

TUC

the of for leaders' full-hearted acceptance of use water domestic dangerous, and that this could corporatist pro- prove harmful on health grounds'.

posal despite their verbal oppo- Now they tell Walker's suc- sition to the Common Market.

Awsworth, Nottingham; and John British Rail ships the on Carr Heysham-Belfast service. Altham, Norton Road, Heysham. Each of them has been John Carr Altham, of Mrs J. C remanded bail of £1,000, to Altham i and go for trial at the Crown Court. named in the account allegation, local magistrate. It is alleged that Ashby and 1s a Akroyd It is alleged that in September faked an account for 1970, and again about Christmas crew meals so that it read £1.250 that he instead of £1,089; and that Wood- year, corruptly gave and bottles of money spirits ward and Akroyd falsified another to Woodward, as inducement for account for crew meals as £1,583, favours. should have which been for £1.358. Proceedings are to be taken under Prevention the oi Cor- Both Ashby and Woodward ruption Act. alleged to have enabled Mrs are This case follows similar cases C. Altham and Sons to have recently involving provisions obtained of from sums money supplied to ships of the Royal British Rail by falsely represent- Navy. During the proceedings in ing for account meat as ' the Royal Navy case it was accurate. claimed that arrangements of this Further allegations concern sort with ship's suppliers had supplied the 'Duke been going on in the Navy since curtains to of Argyll' and catering 'the days of Queen Anne' and stock on the both Duke of 'Lancaster, were accepted as normal. Workers Press, Wednesday March 7, 1973 PAGE 11 STRIKING storemen at the tractor plant at Massey Ferguson's, Coventry, will return to work today.

They took the decision yesterday after hearing in- structions from Transport and General Workers' Union officials that the strike must end.

The men are to accept the additional work which had been the cause of the dispute pending negotiations with management. 'We're going back with "but no money, one of the mises- mensaid bicial Norman Local official Evans has told the 180 storemen that the Tory government's state pay legislation does not allow the company to meet their claim. He recommended the men should return and accept the extra work.

The storemen's strike caused 1,200 the lay-off of assembly workers in the giant tractor plant and machine-shop work was also interrupted.

THE

WORK force at ICI, Hud- dersfield, is expected return to work tomorrow following to week-long Workers stoppage. on strike for have been the duration of suspensions against of colleagues three their for alleged 'time-wasting'. the suspensions Imposing the ignored the management unions' conciliation procedure. In addition the management said that of the shop ge at Woolwich one men, steward, must be transferred to another department. This would

MORE SUPPORT

mean the automatic loss of his shop steward's status. Workers firmly believe that the the provin- in occupation here be- He steward is being victimized. to cause with all the instrumental in securing to strikes de- last week we acceptable working arrangements will did not get as much. both in his own area and in the In support publicity as we would factory as a whole. at have liked. This, along with other benefits The students are he has negotiated, has inevitably hoping to push the NUS nan for the brought him into conflict with committee leadership into more management. line with their to militant 4 bulletin put out by the craf other week policy of sit-ins. shop stewards committee said "This sarcastically: is the price of being a good steward for the men.'

UPTO THAMES GAS BOARD

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Worse situation the longer markets stay closed Crash panic hits Gasmen want all-out strike PAGE 12 Workers Press, Wednesday

MARCH FUND

REACHES

£105.44 IT IS EARLY yet, but we are determined not to leave this month to a last-minute spurt.

Keep up a steady pace and we know you will raise a record amount. More than ever, Workers Press must provide alternative, an Last revolutionary leadership.

Monday, the special conference of the TUC decided not to chat- lenge this government. A one- day, national strike is not enough to defeat the Tories. But defeat the Tories we must.

They have even greater attacks in store for the working class.

Our paper must be used, there- fore, to prepare for the struggles ahead. Help us therefore immediately with a very special effort to raise our March Fund. Our target is {1,750. Let's go all out now and see what we can collect. Post all your donations to: Workers Press March Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UG

BY ROYSTON BULL

THE GASMEN'S

union has finally given in to mounting pressure from workers to esca.

late the campaign of strikes and other industrial action. But it has still refused to call an all-out strike as demanded by several areas. The Gas Corporation will be told this week that either it cuts off a whole new number of in- dustrial users from natural gas supplies, or else further restric- tions will be imposed on town gas production from next Mon- day. The town gas cuts would mainly affect domestic consu- mers and thousands of house- holds throughout the country no more gas in- would have shut-downs definitely. The will be carried with all due out safety precautions. Spokesman for the General and Municipal Workers' Union, the union John Edmonds, said to its original wanted to stick and hit industry intention • and commerce rather than house- holders. If the Corporation agrees to ANCILIARY workers at 263 hospitals up and down the country were on total or par- tial strike yesterday against the Tory pay laws. The campaign built up particularly strongly in the north, and in Northern Ireland. Hospital workers in Manches- Press: ter told Workers should be all out. at eight Liverpool Workers hospitals walked out, although not scheduled to do so by their union. Late yesterday afternoon a sit- in was still going on at Bradford Royal Infirmary over attempts to bring in volunteers and contract labour to carry out laundry work.

Earlier workers at seven York- shire hospitals had sat-in.

One hundred men and women Resistered as a newspaper at the by Workers Post Office. Published Press, 186a Clapham High Street, London. SW4

TUG.

Printed Plough Newsdesk: 01-720 01-622 7029.. adnesday March 7, 1973 THE DANGER of a commercial also a rush to buy silver, base copper, metals, commodity futures, properts crash which would rebound other form of wealth which migh anu ally conceivably retain some value.

through the entire system of inter- It is already The high-point of the inflationary crisis clear, nowever, inal ever with the Americans and the Japanese the Euro-currency its expression national credit and trading rela- nnas presented at the talks, they can produce a1 which some youn tions is creating panic among the temporary stop-gap paper currency held by international Coll is no possibility banks panies, and institutions outside its capitalists. countries of origin of this monev is dollar. the biggest slice of individual groups of countries.

Their currency system is now so held by the big US multi-national corpora- unstable and so deeply undermined by tions. Euro-dollar market It was from Confidence in baser culicacy das cvade rated following of the inflation that it can no longer be con- he third devaluation week which forced the German government trolled the most powerful even by to close the foreign exchanges in mid-February to fix parities against capitalist countries. The Financial Times' (March 5) refers The fear of a commercial collapse is August 15, 1971, the international quite openiy to the prospect Since tial default in medium-term bank being fuelled by the indefinite closure monetary system hạs been maintained en- market sector. of the world's foreign exchange mar- confidence or the long-term bond tirely own by inertia, quotes buro-currency expert troressor A. A.

kets. The markets will remain closed at in paper money which no longer had the Walters as saying it is remarkable there have slightest real justification. remaining least until Monday. been no large-scale failures so far confidence has been undermined by the de The The paper quotes him as saying that 'one terms which they wil then re govern- mode do nee

AROUS

open depend on the outcome of a series ments and institutions involved to find any large collapse could hit confidence a severe top-level meetings culminating solution to the crisis. blow, falling on the US banks and in practice being transmitted back into Trust in paper money, in credit, has now the Federal Reserve system'. The Group was convened by the Common been replaced by frantic scramble to Market Finance Ministers who failed to acquire gold, the universal standard of value other words, the US banks are so In should do in reach agreement deeply implicated bankruptcy what they that a major Where Capitalism. co-noarens illegal, as in Britain and the US, there the seven hours of talks on Sunday.

Euro-currency Walker

WOLO

threaten a string of bank failures in the most powerful imperialist Country. wonder US officials No talking in terms of another 1929.

lucy кЛОЙ international scale cannot long endure having the foreign ex- change markets closed. that the Euro-currency market com- the

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

ing of shop stewards pletely north-east yesterday Monday mic political of questions ar stepped their strike meeting up. Hossweare were omicials concerned. Until now strikers at Walker Gate which wil almost severely criticized. -••t been fighting certainly mean The uncertainty of the Frenc tne alad Have Yesterday's But meeting ting off of home sup- with one glove on. election, the mounting class expressed universal gas. from now on there will struggle in Britain, the effects of plies in some areas. holds barred.' determination to gas stop Pressure ar the the lorv budget on the working Warl ahead for a natlonal the whole reductions town station throughout Outout class all have a direct bearing strike All eyes were on Hartlepool was slashed area. We want Hartle- Hartlepool and the outcome of the on inter. talks at national pool and Blaydon could threaten by 15 million cubic feel national monetarv talks level in London. to 3,500 homes with shut down. development of the crisis moon aner a call

THA

The national Joint for national strike action have this itself. Tole complete cut in sup today by shop stewards management and we plies. counci The TUC decision to stage a delegates told officials. The militant action and all gas Gasworkers delegate have our meet again on Friday. of protest against the Tor off follows a stormy meet- aav Joe are government will undoubtedly fuel the panic on the market.

Behind the phoney poses of why the executive had would have a considerable effect Asked off natural gas supplies the lefts' and the Stalinists. the on industrial production, strike the union will give down Finance Ministers money- OUT Cat turnco all aul-uul union not yet announced Edmonds said: We think we car market about maintaining sudialilees in achieve sufficient effects safely supplies officially sup- how large a cut the

CONCOC

101 bounds of within the present duration. wards the General Strike.

much they cut town gas policy. Will Most industrial and These crucial political ques- contact supples as an alternalve 'We would not necessarily cial town gas tions are merged into a single consullicis much more with an all achieve but Any plants closed will be sept have aredv been

CUT

noT Winne they are not numerous. Most in- down out strike. posingent the worst on be natural gạs, condition, ready to be reopened unpostponable dustrial • users are on Several hundred urgent quickly. for heating tactories workers usce citie necessity revolu tionary leadership tith aep lice directly in producuon. rew Thame. A namona celerate comerenc these been affected so far. begin a one-week strike from to- and programme meet consider the proposals on Major cut-offs this area Friday. The Council of the Socialist Medical Association has voted to TENANTS in the Greenwich are going to go up again.'

support in full the wages strug.

gle the hospital ancillary He said that many people did area of south-east London will was the Tory- not realize that it workers and has written accord. stage a march and rally on Hospital, Hope Manchester, Board ingly to all the unions involved.

Scrutin, apported men against the Tories' which was now setting rents. In Saturday ave been our on selectve sunke since last Thursday. the next three years ents • More hospital news, page 3.

Housing Finance Act. , as much as £2 or £3 Arthur transport drivers are driver, said: •We out We can't Supied Thames Polytechnic indefinitely. pussyfoot nOw. • Left-wing Labour councillors planned for occupied cutbacks around. I agree with loe Gormley.

Woolwich and delegates from in Camden, Wales, will mean north London, have one-day stoppage not Shotton. north and Man- joined Camden but it's better than the closure of the whole WOrKS part. and associations all 13,000the chester will take be employs urging the task force studying tenants uke• the gasmen snould De.

The has the 85p rent rise introduced when Gemonstration Bill Memory, Press a loo wantee support of local tenants' associa- Labour-controlled Camden the yesterday. believes that tions, political groups, the Trades

OLICI

Council capitulated to the Tory will be the finishing processes propaganda. our aments trade miners and henl Tell AdE With £14 a week kept going indefinitelv if the union branch he being of us are. steel-making and hot-rolling Pickets were out at rent ofice take-home some Greenwich organized ody, closed", stated the in the borough this week and and Residents' Cam- should al c Tenants the Camden Committee Action stoppage." works branch of the Steel naus.

paign committee. distributed 20.000 Management Association. The workers had believed that try Icalicu 2,000 off-duty calling the steelmen A spokesman for the campaign …TOr withholding Almost Tne porters

OUT

rise. train strike next Thursday but Eddie said: Will eave rHol Our ultimate aim is to des NUPE district secretary, to lobby a meeting of the Tories' Housing Finance Lawson, Steel Committee Sheffield. this Saturday's telling see yesterday them not take to unlateral acierales to support demane cal no tenders deede eas at the best it could national steel workers' con- all tenants ted for refusing to pay the in. ference March 13. very much business-rents crease. only be a failure'. on