workers press

The daily paper of the Socialist Labour League, 1969–1973: a searchable archive of the scans

Workers Press no. 1030

24 March 1973 · 14 scanned pages · about 19,304 words of machine-read text

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workers press

INCORPORATING THE NEWS

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTR

BY ROYSTON BULL

The traitors in the TUC and union leadership have dealt a grave blow to the working class's fight against the Tory government's pay laws by getting the gasmen to call off their industrial action by means of the secret ballot which loaded the question in favour of accepting the Phase Two pay offer, sweetened by a few pence off The TUC must now be forced to end at once the treacherous postponement of co-ordinated action in support of the hospital workers and other unions in struggle. It must be made to carry out the special Congress decision to lead united trade union action to defeat the state control of wages.

doubt There any He that clearly. knows the if given that the working class, economy is in such an appalling be ready to en- a lead, would state that the government dare gage in a mighty mass strike not make the slightest conces- movement to create the neces- sion for fear of a British finan- sary industrial and political con- cial collapse. ditions to force the Tory gov- Feather, Jones and the rest ernment to resign. General Council of the are Now there is even more determined head off the to evidence from the struggles of General Strike movement hospital workers and the down the playing present others and despite all the be. and struggles getting them trayals, the resentment against called off the blatant class bias of Tory reason for the That rule and the determination was the imposition of a secret ballot on get rid of the government is despite their the all daily becoming more powerful.

Gasmen delegate conference decisions t) Following the arrest by police reject the offer and go for all- of two shop stewards from the Pad- out strike action. picket line at St Mary's, That reason for de- came a flood was the dington, of deci- laying for two months the special other hospitals either sions by Congress decision for a one-day immediately or to to come out come out if the court chose to stoppage. That was the reason for the punish the two men. Sheffield, blatant stalling that has gone on In there was ancil. over co-ordinating action in sup- massive demonstration by 30 port of the hospital workers and lary workers from South Yorkshire hospitals supported by others. That was the reason for the miners, engineers.

TUC

futile talks at the about Among civil servants, more would dare to strike after than who strikes ever before were the Phase be- reported, and Newcastle, Two legislation in April 1, ignoring 15,000 civil stopped comes law on servants the clear fact that thousands are to coincide with Heath's work millions striking, and visit to the city. more strike if would only But while all this action was given lead, regardless of any laws.

taking place, Victor Feather Is Feather interested in lead- was flouting the wishes of the ing the trade unions to beat the trade union movement yet Tory government and its again by getting ready for still pay Congress wishes, laws or is another forelock-tugging visit he opposed to this policy? It is to Downing Street to ask the flouting

TUC

obvious he Prime Minister next week if kindly policy. he would agree to a hos- This brazen betrayal is all public inquiry into the pital workers' case. the more for trade reason Even as this totally futile ex- unionists to mount a massive being prepared, ercise was campaign for calling the Heath's hard-line Health Service Sir Keith Joseph was General Strike and instruct- henchman repeating for the umpteenth ing their leaders either to time that there will be carry out the call or to make inquiry. way for new leaders who will Feather. of under- abide by union decisions, stands this point absolutely

HE NEWSLETTER • SATURDAY MARCH 24, 19

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

Ancillary workers' shop steward, Peter strators outside Maryiebone Magistrate's

BY IAN YEATS

HOSPITAL workers, teach- ers and London Transport workers chanted outside the Marylebone magistrate's court yesterday as two hos- pital porters appeared on charges of obstructing the police. The demonstrators sang the pop song: "You won't I'm part of the union, Bet me.

as the men were remanded on bail until May 7. Don Steadman, NUPE branch secretary, and Peter Barker, a shop steward, both of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, were ar- rested while on picket duty on Thursday afternoon. When they emerged from the courtroom demonstrators the erupted into cheers and gave clenched fist salutes. Two other hospitals in the St Mary's group—the Samaritan and the Western Ophthalmic, both of Marylebone sent delegations to the court and will come out on strike on Monday. A third hos- pital, Harrow Road, is still to take a decision. Shop stewards and branch secretaries from all London hos- pitals were meeting last night to decide what further action to take following the arrest of the two pickets. Mark Palmer, NUPE branch secretary at St George's, Hyde Park, said: Our people are furious about this. •We are calling a branch meet- ing immediately and in all prob- ability our branch will be com- ing out indefinitely with no emergency services covered.

Fred Kaler, secretary of the stewards' shop joint committee at the London Transport lifts escalators division, led 15 members on strike for the dura- tion of the court hearing.

CH 24, 1973 No. 1030 4p

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

d, Peter Barker, and NUPE branch secretary, agistrate's Court after being remanded on bail.

Mr Kaler, an NUR member said: The way police are picking on pickets is disgusting.

•They're picking the on weakest unions.' He said the TUC one-day stoppage was 'not enough'. A General Strike was needed, he said, to get rid of the government. Terry Murphy, a NUPE steward at St Mary's said: I would strike if necessary for no other reason than to get rid of this government. "The feeling here is very high and there is anger against the police for harassing us. We've pulled the emergency out services. Earlier pickets at the St Mary's Hospital where the two men work accused the union leaders of doing nothing about police harassment. The 300 ancillary workers at

FREEZE

the

STRIKE

VER

APD

Don Steadman, with demon- the busy central London hospital have staged a total strike in protest against the arrests in- cluding a ban on emergency services. Management are using medical students and clerical staff to maintain a skeleton service. NUPE shop steward Dennis Molloney said yesterday: I am very disappointed with reactions from other hospitals. They should have walked out immed- iately on Thursday. I think it is because of the response from the heads of the union. They are not doing any- thing at the moment-just leav- ing it to us.' At Basingstoke Hospital, where an all-out strike is in pro- ancillary wor- gress, a woman ker was knocked down and injured by a van at the gates.

Scan page 2

workers press

INCORPORATING THE NEWS

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTR

BY ROYSTON BULL

The traitors in the TUC and union leadership have dealt a grave blow to the working class's fight against the Tory government's pay laws by getting the gasmen to call off their industrial action by means of the secret ballot which loaded the question in favour of accepting the Phase Two pay offer, sweetened by a few pence off the men's pension contributions.

The TUC must now be forced to end at once the treacherous postponement of co-ordinated action in support of the hospital workers and other unions in struggle. It must be made to carry out the special Congress decision to lead united trade union action to defeat the state control of wages.

There was doubt any never clearly. He knows that the if given that the working class, economy is in such an appalling a lead, would be ready to en- state that the government dare mighty strike gage not make the slightest conces- movement to create the neces- sion for fear of a British finan- sary industrial and political con- cial collapse. force the Tory gov- ditions to Feather, Jones and the rest ernment to resign. General of the Council are Now there is even more determined head off the to evidence from the struggles of General Strike movement b: workers and the hospital down the playing present others and despite all the be- struggles and getting them trayals, the resentment against called off the blatant class bias of Tory was the reason for the That rule and the determination to imposition of a secret ballot on get rid of the government is despite the all their daily becoming more powerful.

delegate conference decisions Following the arrest by police reject the offer and go for all- stewards from of two shop the Pad- out strike action. picket line at St Mary's, reason for de- came a flood That was the dington, of deci- laying for two months the special sions by other hospitals either Congress decision for a one-day immediately to come out or to come out if the court chose to stoppage. That was the reason for the punish the two men. Sheffield, blatant stalling that has gone on there was ancil- over co-ordinating action in sup- massive demonstration by 30 port of the hospital workers and lary workers from South Yorkshire hospitals supported by others. reason for the That was the miners, engineers. futile talks at the

TUC

about Among civil servants, more would dare to strike after strikes than who ever before were the Phase Two legislation and Newcastle, be- reported, in 15,000 civil stopped comes law on April 1, ignoring servants the clear fact that thousands are coincide with Heath's work to millions striking, and to the city. more visit if would strike But while all this action was only given lead. regardless of any taking Victor Feather place, Feather Is interested in lead- was flouting the wishes of the ing the trade unions to beat the trade union movement yet Tory government and its again by getting ready for still pay Congress laws wishes, is another forelock-tugging visit he opposed to this policy? It is Downing Street to ask the flouting

TUC

if obvious he Prime Minister week kindly policy. he would agree to a hos- This brazen betrayal is all public inquiry into the pital workers' case. the more for trade reason Even as this totally futile ex- unionists to mount a massive being prepared, ercise was campaign for calling the Heath's hard-line Health Service Sir Keith Joseph was General Strike and instruct- henchman for the umpteenth leaders either repeating ing their to will time that there be carry out the call or to make inquiry. way for new leaders who will Feather, of under- course, abide by union decisions.

stands this point absolutely

HE NEWSLETTER • SATURDAY MARCH 24, 19

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

Ancillary workers' shop steward, Peter | strators outside Maryiebone Magistrate's

BY IAN YEATS

HOSPITAL workers, teach- ers and London Transport workers the Marylebone magistrate's court yesterday as two hos- pital porters appeared on charges of obstructing the police. The demonstrators sang the 'You won't pop song: I'm part of the union det me, as the men were remanded on bail until May 7. Don Steadman, NUPE branch secretary, and Peter Barker, a shop steward, both of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, were ar- rested while on picket duty on Thursday afternoon. When they emerged from the demonstrators courtroom the erupted into cheers and gave clenched fist salutes. Two other hospitals in the St Mary's group—the Samaritan and the Western Ophthalmic, both of Marylebone-sent delegations to the court and will come out on strike on Monday. A third hos- pital, Harrow Road, is still to take a decision. Shop branch stewards and secretaries from all London hos- pitals were meeting last night to decide what further action to take following the arrest of the two pickets. Mark Palmer, NUPE branch secretary at St George's, Hyde Park, said: 'Our people are furious about this. 'We are calling a branch meet- ing immediately and in all prob- ability our branch will be com- out indefinitely with no emergency services covered.

Fred Kaler, secretary of the stewards' shop committee joint at the London Transport lifts and escalators division, led 15 members on strike for the dura- tion of the court hearing.

CH 24, 1973 • No. 1030 • 4p

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

rd, Peter Barker, and NUPE branch secretary, agistrate's Court after being remanded on bail.

Mr Kaler, an NUR member said: 'The way police are picking on pickets is disgusting.

'They're picking the on weakest unions.' He said the TUC one-day stoppage was 'not enough'. A General Strike was needed, he said, to get rid of the government. Terry Murphy, a NUPE steward at St Mary's said: "I would strike if necessary for no other reason than to get rid of this government. "The feeling here is very high and there is anger against the We've police for harassing us. pulled the out emergency services. Earlier pickets at the St Mary's Hospital where the two work accused the union men leaders of doing nothing about police harassment. The 300 ancillary workers at

SMASH THE

FREEZE

STRIKE

ER secretary, Don Steadman, with demon- the busy central London hospital have staged a total strike in protest against the arrests in- cluding a ban on emergency services. Management are using medical students and clerical staff to a skeleton service. maintain

NUPE

shop steward Dennis Molloney said yesterday: I am very disappointed with reactions from other hospitals. They should have walked out immed- iately on Thursday. 'I think it is because of the response from the heads of the union. They are not doing any- moment-just leav- thing at the ing it to us. At Basingstoke Hospital, where an all-out strike is in pro- ancillary wor- gress, a woman ker was knocked down and injured by a van at the gates.

Scan page 3

PAGE 2 Workers Press, Saturday March 24, 1973

WHAT WETHINK I.S. BLAMES THE WORKERS...AGAIN

criticism was that there had AS THE union leaders permit sections which the revisionists had shilly-shallying tactics tions of the unity of action of the work- officials, strike of the working class to fight in iso- against the state pay laws and keld and company Lnel Lake In class March been insufficient discussion and from and explicitly to nont The mobilization

OT TRA

unions against the corporatist-style in unison with health and civil General Strike to the conditions enough meetings. workers measures of the Tory government, it 1llass to force the Tory government to resign.

Now 'Socialist Worker' says that what torward. Ila Ul sued is essential to assimilate the lessons went Ford's was lack Only Workers Press warned that the wrong' of the current struggles. The central be revisionists denperate renan seni refusal of Stalinists allow of leadership. on the decisive question Conlact betweet Talk lesson of every conflict the since General Strike and file'. It goes on: 'Between success All Icsorulion Calls .10l that according Tory icessary: government assumed and the Ford and militants once is convenors oi: ail unions to bring down the lory Tren Is ro Duno that it is only the treacherous nature government to be to the confer- heht stood socialist militants in every plant and WIlO Walteu LO that leadership was of the working-class leadership that —lack of organization and lack of pro- ence every section fighting to build the con- permits the Heath gang to joint deliberately the political impli- survive. paganda. proper alcing hidence of the rank and file. fonting to cations of the struggle. shop challenge the company and the gov- All hose ade the vital question st the Dagenham or Halewood.' When Ford's had first made their offer ernment at the level of ideas. who evade vital question with the Tory laws Nowhere in the entire article is there a line pay The only way: to build the confidence corsurucuon or a revolutionary leader- on rebruarv i there suse menon one toe o me con- ship in the course of a campaign to fidehe win treir posem le theis con- Party. Neither does it mention outs Halewood™ and Swansea. yet the Tories to fidence their resign, mislead the present leaders. instead of™ 'extending this movement, the political implications of waste class workers resent Worker anassist the off: DroDoses which clear involved a con.

stewards " held struggle leadership to dissipate ener- against either the union leaders or the flict with the Tories' state pay laws. conference February 18. The the on gies in piecemeal, isolated This Stalinists. This is because the IS group actions. Yet these were the central same day the strike call was questions. made, the role the revisionist. anu- meeting

WOIKS

nana mn lano wild mue slannists Dagenham engine plant 1uc rora leurcal. was ine result. or te International Socialism' and the 'left' reformists in the Liaison Despite refusal of the reformists and Stalinists against any form. action. whose 'Socialist Worker' Committee the Defence of Trade group for in the leadership of the unions and the this clear warning- -not of a 'crisis has once the blamed asalli confidence' in Unions. retormiss ana combine the but of dell Lo ical a pol- part of its Stalinists have one thing in common- COSS Or emer against government leaders, particularly the Stalinists. implacable hostility tongthe building over the claim. the combine stewards February i8 and cam. This all between February of a revalutionary leadership week's issue 'Socialist Worker' at The task was not to break Ford's but to break the Tory government. It had been March 1. Caltes colaose inat is wny, on every major struggle ol posed strike Ford workers over the refusal, above all the Stalinists working the International Leading stalinist Sid Harraway-as re heir £10 due wage claim was to fight which Socialism the lead sucil enables vealed in workers Press our enoree Ir disco swift of confidence in 'Socialist * Was early as february 21 telling local spontaneous militancy but never and deep CuIsIs jones ana scanlon to sell out the 19/1 raises When the dockers Ford struggle and which laid the basis the role revolutionary leadership Ine rank and ne newspaper as early that sold by Jack and the for in 1973. Victory for the working class, out Jones collapse 'Some however, I his was the issue be une posiuon reviewed. Communist Party Ford and conference form industrial action' would Jas!

LAIS

The specai coventry ot •evero

UDON

Tre Constructor Worker declared that it has this cos tele on Feb- Harraway declared the leadership around the central task of sale 'the dockers were not their the fight to bring down the Tory gov- worthy ruary this conference which Advertiser', Dagenham Dalkils alla stewards'. When Communist the Party call for issued the all-out strike to That requires the ano it mightne sporadic strikes. n Construci abandoned every start on March 1. this way the Stalinists- -like the leader- tion of the revolutionary Party which leadersn• ship of the T&GWU basic principle of trade unionism and *Socialist Worker' and the AUEW- the Socialist Labour League is pledged greeted this decision permitted 2,000 workers 'The deci-

WILL

lablurous jobs, the only sion by the Ford shop stewards to which would have raised all the ques- Stalinism and its revisionist allies.

LILOWA

Nixon: Dictator of Big new price increases loom PRESIDENT Nixon's re- world trade port to Congress on his forthcoming Trade indicates that BIG INCREASES in food not housewives who will have States Given the size and importance to pay the higher prices. big business has An international agreement prices in the Common Market of The the allowing trading countries to have already Amen cad marker Lene barely begun its trade countries be expected powers Nixon is seeking would adopt temporary been condemned as inadequate measures (tax Call make him the dictator world representatives of European war offensive against relief, in 1973-1974 as a result of subsidies. salecuare and Dutch industries hurt by imports. tarmers peasants. Europe and Japan. whole sa- the recommendations made tional economies at the stroke Support for the concept of want larmers averade by the Market's executive 7.5 Nixon of crease of per cent instead asked Congress, in pen. so-called developing counts of the 2.76 cent Brussels this his report for complete dis- It so-called countries, commission in proposed nonsense ror newsozners The whole Common like 'The Times' to try and con- as those such negotiated the cretionary aaripo on all imports week. sole their agricultural policy has been torn readers that this Volo aker WilL courtnes lower on all imports apart by the currency chaos and elsewhere It said that beef prices should

DOLL

ANTICA

weeks. The into the United States recent new prices for tionism. It is in fact the most But council said the US by 10.8 cent and milk ork cent, calculated five years. could not extend preferences to 4.7 al C Collec salt the down- larmers …TOr to the discriminated per cent. These recommendations countries subtitlea coneress, ThaT ward float of the lira, leaving US exports US delay favour of will forward to the nine against of other industrial coun farmers in the Benelux countries member countries. Germany and Will These are guaranteed prices ti increase. US to destroy the troop ThaT farmers, while in the Farm policy prices price has always shops will rise still more steeply been issue over which bitter all result of the keeping out connels nave raged between tne cluded by the EEC, including its withdrawals expense of cheap imports and the mark- members of the Common at the different stages of Market. These have been made distribution llas DeCI still more opposition for many months rates.

THE

Americans de- Commenting Common chance exchange have on the In fact the agricul- Market farm policy, the British manded the release of nine aide dent wants Congress to give hin tural policy cannot work without representative, former Labour prisoners held by the Pathet drew Thomson, slable currencies Delore Ene George Lao the dismantling of present proposals come into speech in Renfrew effect the Common Market may missile sites in South Vietnam Thursday that British food have broken up: mastern would inevitably before they will complete the prices rise has trade agreements. from organizations The report shows that the US described withdrawal their continental troops, several countries are expected the new farm price proposals as originally scheduled for next is not bluffing at the GATT talks to call a European demonstra- balanced package the com-

SNIS

Wednesday. plex which

ICAL

circumstances the ties of the con- Have orotest Wi21 The North Vietnamese commass on raced. sider to be the injustices change compensaton Ior made it clear release of that Significantly he The National Far- was speaking new prices. held prisoners audience LaOS HOUSt De of farmers, who mers Union will not support negotiated with their captors and stand to gain from the changes, Gold price rises, was not covered by the ceasefire agreement. Their Press officer, Lieut-Col French police Bui Tin said: "This is absolutely unacceptable. confidence sags "You cannot conduct diplo macy like this. une amencas attack students blame for this are enurev to artificial crisis over the prison• ers.

THE

world capitalist Now the price has again begun by the Release of prisoners rise: yesterday class is showing sign morning protest agalso the allen th every POLICE used truncheons and When students ondon it was fixed $82.50, streamed into protest against the failure of complete lack of confidence 62} the the up on Thursday's observe the Paris CeLs tear gas to break up a huge alca wnere •was Americans to in the international monetary closing price. found hundreds begin lnes peace agreement. ne americar demonstration of high-school 'settlement' agreed between The gold of the ara-militar:

CRS

drawn market is not the and South Vietnamese counter- the only up for battle and raring to go charges of infiltration South main industrial powers where lack and university students against Dale con. Vietnam show the fragile nature the future being noence When they did so they acted a week ago. the abolition of the deferment shown. On Wall Street, the Dow their accustomed brutality, oi une accord with Their attitude this deal, has dropped consistently for the industrial share already of military service in Paris on striking ou in all President Nixon has avcidst directions, which in reality settles nothing, threatened to resume bombing pounding their Thursday afternoon. helpless

VICTIS

if the other side Is demonstrated by the continued last six trading days. does not carry discriminating : between ano …not rise in the price of gold, standard The fall, which wiped over demonstrators and passers-by.

OUT

abreement. There were scenes reminiscent of value under capitalism. State, Under - Secretary > per cent of share values in of May 1968 as riot police moved the Big demonstrations took place William Porter, repeated Throughout took the stock market latest

CASIS

week. French in other cities and Thursday would gold has remained over average from 978.85 to 925.20 provoke clashes. Many there at Lilt that ounce and =. is only 53.65 million drop and injured students were taken into dulmontes stated mar l 'serious consequences' if infiltra.

high school students had stayed marginally less than it was when 1972 tion into the South continued.

level since October private houses for attention.

lowest away from classes. attribu- drawn, thousands of us e Even with- 'Financial Times' exclance MacKets 1 ne closed on March 2. unfavourable Mustering 50,000 students, the The military Communist Party ab- On that date gold was fixed including demonstration dwarfed still stained dovisers Will une voTe laken $86 remain in the country. Massive July 1970 which ended deferment ounce. our me

DUCE

Tates. Lest marce organized DV The supplies of arms and equipment fell within days to fluctuate swelling food prices, Socialists on the previous day for and socialist around the $82 higher in co-operation with the authori- deputies an ounce mark. international supported into south it. It is now Have Even rumours that central banks ties Thursday's recent monetary uncertallll. ucmustralion. • movement of previous accords strengthen the corrupt and tot- might support, was at ins head law by placing itself sell gold _ Talen to •rive the collapse WolCO had mass of President the fixing price below $80 an imposition of a patchwork first banned and then subject to it dis wid the stres in %68.

head regime same currency system'. police violence. Nguven Van 1hieu. vulne

Scan page 4

How a broken

BY JOHN SPEN

PRODUCTION workers at British Leyland's plant at Cowley, Oxford, are being prevented from working by the com. pany's moves to disrupt existing agreements with the unions and introduce work-study. The dispute, which began on Monday, has vital impli- cations for the car industry as a whole and for the struggle of all workers against the Tories' Phase Two pay- control legislation. For the work-study men went onto the production lines at Cowley within days of the com- total rejection of the pany's union's demand for a 14p-an- hour wage increase. increase, The part of the union's submission for the annual wage review, was turned down summarily by management, which iș sticking rigidly to Heath's El plus 4 per cent formula.

They offered a wage rise of only 6p an hour and made it conditional on acceptance by unions of work-study aperations on the shop floor. instantly re- This offer was jected by stewards and their decision endorsed. at a 10,000- strong mass meeting on March 15.

The following day all direct workers at the factory received a letter from management setting out the company's intention to introduce work-study men (they term them industrial engineers) onto the production lines.

This was a unilateral attempt change conditions mutually to agreed between the management and the unions last August, when Leyland abandoned its attempt

HN SPENCER

at work-study in the face of opposition from the workers.

On Monday afternoon, at two o'clock, in an operation organized the in- with military precision, dustrial engineers moved into the plant. The 25 work-study men moved and recticembls opint, Work rectification shops. stopped instantly in line with shop stewards' committee policy.

This policy was endorsed on Tuesday by a mass meeting of over 4,000 day-shift workers who had walked again that out morning when the industrial engineers reappeared. workers' The attitude has hardened since the stoppage be- gan, despite threats and cajolery from the management, who have claimed that their work-study is intended to create redun- nut dancies. The company has told the stewards that industrial engineer- ing techniques are essential to the factory's continued operation.

•Even if it means turning Oxford into a depressed area this factory will not open again unless these techniques are introduced,' man- agement say. Their desperation reflects the notorious financial weakness at British-Leyland, whose manage- appointments ment are now closely vetted by the chief creditor, Barclay's Bank.

The company has tried for two-and-a-half years to introduce work-study techniques to supple- Measured-Day its Work ment payment methods. October 1970 Leyland brought the MDW payments system to Cowley at the cost of substantial rises, pay on an individual basis and without any agreement with the union.

was finally signed Agreement a year ago, accepting MDW on the basis of 'fair effort', and the introduction of accepting industrial engineers. The Trade Unions have declared their determination to at least ro-establish in future nage roriers, the present nage relationships between Skilled A and the rest of the Deynorkers corered by the Indirect Demoriors Agreement.

The Company have stated that whlle they understand the Unions position, they cannot regard either the present mage rolationship or the new relationship which will result from the Company's current wage offer to Indirect Deymorkers, as being fixed or permanent.

The Company have uncertaison hoverer, to make positive proposals on this subject taking full account of the aspirations of the Trade Unions as stated in Para.1 during the next wage revier Peb 2nd 1973.

The Company and the Trade Unions jointly agree to honour the spirit and intention of this statement.

10th Hay 1972 e Toragon and gaustriad Conley Operations Management brought the engineers into the plant last year under this new agreement to of the Marina car. the for changes prepare out-

DUL

management wanted line-speed from 32. to These plans explain the com- 35 cars an hour day and night pany's denial on Tuesday, March According Iwo lacks

TO ITS

. that the work-studv operation study the work line could be will lead to sackings. 'The com- speeded at the 20P per same time pany has never of any intention cent of the men as UVCI industrial cancels were taken managing cause recuncancies. This would have meant director John Symonds wrote 33-per-cent increase in effort by letter to employees. the renaille in the letter he quoted Sallic declared to be totally stewares a previous communication unacceptable. stewards that warning They successfully demanded Leyland intended introduce to that the Manazement necovate uncusual cozineers the line changeover by traditional letter, described by stew- methods, which manning ards as 'misleading', stated 'cate.

would be licaullalcu gorically' that changes in manning stewards Jolenes eves wore de made onv asa the introduction of industrial result of changes in work con- engineers. tent involving, for example, After weeks of negotiation, rebalancing of the line following sit year is shit the bas engineering changes, September methods, model line for year basis speed, changes, manuine ano eror ar.wre cowe Such stewards plant. It plainly supersedes the were quick point out, can signed in the spring of 19354d previous take place every week, giving and subordinates symonds No new product the Do 91 111S The ••port to recuce man. of a new product,

ADO

ning levels almost at will. medium saloon, Leyland want to opportunity prime to 're. balance the line' well occur could in preparation for changeover to in ine autumn when The Marne volume manufacture of this new is likely to feel the impact of car next year. from Ley- competition for sales speed Their condions where he talkers land's new model ADO 69, which beginning from the workers conditions where Coms These albrided toon on displaced from existing lines car from displaced De Onerea continuea employment varina on the new ADO 71 lines. oflered work ön the ADO 71.

Such a timetable would enable Cowley workers vote to strike the realize company ambition or increasing enort and cutting manning without paying the government norm and without provoking the occupation that would surely follow mass sackings at Cowley Leyland's Stewards regard WOrK• study engineers as carefully provocation aimed calculated existing mutua. destrovine agreement interests exploitation. particularly shoulan re al c that the comoan, trying to implement an agreement which itself breaking increases to due On (reoruary unaer current annual review. The company not only refused on the due to pay ine increases date, but also offer to the government's fl ceiling for wage plus 4 per cent increases under Phase Two. 'If we can't have free collectivi should bargaining they will 'We one senior stewarol asked are tied to shouid they y be cent, why able then demand increased effort? 'They are telling us that they required break this aereement but that we must even aanere rigiaiy al all costs, Press, Saturday March 24, 1973 PAGE 3 8t 98. 8t пт. /to sections that have been super- seded, when it comes to negotiat- members' ing away our con- ditions. 'This is a complete double standard. 'We had all the arguments a year ago about legally enforced agreements. Now what we have something new - the legal is suspendability of agreements.

"The company have no answer on this question. To test them out we even asked them to offer a wage Leyland's Lord Stokes increase, as they are legally able to do, and then refer it to the Pay Board. They didn't want to know. •They even want to make it a formal requirement that if we accept their government-backed ofler we must accept their industrial engineers as well.

"This is entirely unacceptable.

Even if we were going to sell effort for money-and we're not -we would be barred from doing under the present SO legislation. 'The Tory government has put an end even productivity to bargaining which was at one time the employers' method of wring- ing profit more from their workers. Now they want in- creased profits without even pay- ing enough to keep up with living costs.' believe it is The stewards because the Tories want at all costs to hold workers to MDW- style deals, while keeping an iron grip on their wages, that the Cowley stoppage is being suppressed by the mass media.

'Normally have to we only sneeze here and it's front-page news, one steward said. 'Now after four days on strike we make page Il of the "Oxford Mail". "The national Press has virtually ignored They this stoppage. know this is an extremely ex- plosive issue. In addition the company is on very shaky ground and not keen to publicize the strike. + 'They have no answer to our.

position on the question of Phase Two and their refusal to imple.

ment the pay clauses of the works agreement. "They have been severely shaken in their confidence by the solidarity and determination of the workers.'

Scan page 5

THE SOUTH LONDON BOMBINGS

PAGE 6 Workars Prose, Saturday March 21, 1873

REBUILD UNITY

CENTRE

WITY CENTRE RETULD FIND

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT WAS YOUR INTEREST AND CONTRIRUTION THAT BROUGHT I'NITY CENTRE INTO EXISTANCE, FiPE CAN DESTROY THE MATERIALS, BUT NOT THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT THAT BUILT IT. IT WAS OURS, IT REPRESENTED US, AND WHAT WE STAND FOR. A FUND IS OPEN, YOUR SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL SINCE NITY STANDS FOR US, OUR COTIUNITY.

CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO: 38 SHAKESPEARE DAD, LONDON, .24, lEL:" - %'h*

APPEAL FUND

WHA. GO

ON

A FI WE TING DAT

Community Weekend Benifit at the

METRO YOUTH CLUB

panther Youth Collective

ST. LUKE'S ROAD, W.II

Brother Roddy Kentish Calling All Young Black People To organise now!! Who is almost at the end of an eighteen Months Prision sentence after Delno AlIACARD at Youth collective activities his Work Place by the POLICE Vlondays Oval House Harleyford. St. S.E1 (Nr OVAL STATIO 1. 30pm - 10.00pm Serious Political & Cultural Activities on SATURDAY 1 7tCh 17th MARCH '73 Fridays 38 Shakespeare. rd S.E.24 Brixton 7.30pm- 10.00pm SIR CONSONE No. 2 Sound Creative worksbop His Lordship SOFERNO B. for a Night of musical Leisure The black panther youth collective brings young black people to in collective activity to fren us from the dependency on SUNDAY, 18th MARCH, "73 the neaningless activities provided for us, And to irvolve • "o'clock ourselves in the daily strugglus, that black and opfressed Culture of the Black Experience people are waging here in britain and all over the world Nice, Mice Man-A Play with Stephane Muscaphe Frim, moving roerry to the sound of Drums (Brothers All & Clearence) Plays, Films, Black Art & culture, Brother Westedlord Priate and Moans he wrate in Ashlord Prison. Poetry reading

GOOD CAUSE SUPPORED

ener Brother Edda An investigation by lan Yeats Fortuitous coincidence Some of the me the council rents out Asians whose no were damaged referred accommodation Railton shops in is out.? obviously ruled to "racist groups'. Road and that the letter had That was Tuesday's verdict not been sent by them. At least community Press' by the "South London relations officer, Charles Boxer, Unlike the other Asian the second spate of attacks on and West Indian businesses Wandsworth. has told the on immigrant shops at Brixton Press the attacks have attacked, the Unity Centre, may and Tooting in a month. which is partly owned by been planned "right-wing Although all those involved Black Panthers, has been extremists'. the believe that the petrol bombing from the subject of considerable A statement pub- of 11 premises was 'organized' Front said: It is National licity. no one knows whose hand lit matter of record that the Two Tory GLC candidates, Club the fuses. National Front utterly repu- Monday member John of It could have been part all of terrorism Pritchard and Nicholas Ben- diates acts nett, both wrote to Tory Home premeditated campaign by directed individual at 3uDN- grants and Siaret aBout a 6i50 anti-immigrant groups has always done Secretary Robert com- could have been the work of grant isolated fanatics. Such denials do of shop Lambeth not, Five immigrant shops were actions Community course, rule out the Council for Re- attacked end of last of individuals acting alone who lations (CCR). at about lice month, but Tooting either be members of A joint letter said: 'We are may the have no clues very worried about this dona- organizations or in- extremist identity of those responsible.

fluenced by their propaganda. tion not only of the because In the case of the six latest ease with which public money Anti-immigrant been active can be handed out, but attacks they they may be have more say claimed the work of a scooter raer. in the bomb-blighted boroughs importantly because the bearded man aged between 25 They looking for some time. harm it will do to good com- munity relations in the area' Recently a number of white and 35 municipal wearing goggles families living

TORY

Ulster Defence Association- accommodation at Brixton re- style jacket who may ceived purporting Helles

PUBLICITY

have ridden a stolen Lambretta have come from the Greater Council telling scooter to deliver the bombs.

London them Police have now found the they would have to move out It -added: 'The grant will Square scooter Leicester to make room for Pakistanis. cause ordinary people to lose In and it is being examined by The letters were proved to

CCR.

Public credibility in the be a hoax. opinion is bound to take the experts. the ll raids, windows On February 28 the Boo- pro- view that extremols ed shed, destroyed stocks were of the Unity ting help from public money.' were prietors and received Without exception damaged shop, Brixton. the burned. unsigned letter GLC note- migrants we spoke to in south premises were on whose The Black Panthers, paper telling them to quit by London claimed relations with Road bookshop March 5. Railton was whites were good, yet both A GIC spokesman assured gutted, blame 'fascist groups. Tories said the bomb alcas

BRIXTON

for intorsation and Action: PUBLISHED B

PANTHER

unity centre bon Unitycentre!

TIS ITY CETOR

nast 4 years in Prixton the Black Movement has been workinn to mobilize cormunity around nur hasic needs.

i an empty shell at 74 Pailton Road de our own hands the first and only ural and political centre serving the black workinn corrunity in Brixton.

e was an inmediate response from black and Every day people would dron the shop to offer assistance, express their ort or discuss their daily sufferation at hands of the Council, the Covernment, loyers, nolice and other Depressors.

no had 'serious race relations problems. Panthers' spokesmen told me they thought the publicity given to the complaint to Carr could have been 'the spur for the attack' on their bookshop.

They claimed there was 'Daily little doubt that a Telegraph' report pointing out that 'public funds' were being 'Black given to Panther militants' had exacerbated the situation. Nobody who has given even a cursory examination to the aims of the Unity Centre could conclude it was set up to foster black extremism. A poster over the shop's doorway shows black and white people together, and in paper 'Black Life' the their Panthers say: "There was an immediate response from black and white sufferers' to the setting up of the centre. Every day people would drop into the shop to bu offer assistance, express their support or discuss their daily sufferation at the hands of the council, the government, employers, and other In an editorial the paper said: "The Centre and book- stall outside Desmond's Hip City distribute information about the history and resistance of black people and about the struggles of the English work- ing class.' Spokesmen said the com- on: PUBLISHED BY THE BLAC bombed bined bookstack included black histories of the literature, working British class and Marxist publications. The "Telegraph' report de- of this material scribed some as 'anarchistic' , and cited books by Angela Davis and Malcolm X. A Panthers' spokesman told me: You can't isolate yourself from what is happening in the country where you live. 'The Panthers support British workers in their struggles. We are British workers.' The three-storey centre housed a multi-racial centre, the Union of US Exiles (Viet- nam deserters) and the shop selling 'radical' books, poetry and music. The Panthers are clear. It was a political bombing,' they insist. But Asians whose property was damaged are not so clear.

Most of them are middle-class businessmen and they are eir puzzled by the attacks.

Pakistani Muhammed Saleem has lived and worked in Toot- ing for nearly 20 years. Suddenly, out of the blue in the early hours of Thursday, March 15, raiders threw petrol-bomb into his corner store causing over £200-worth of damage. At about four o'clock in the a passing motorist morning spotted flames behind a shat- tered window in the large grocery and textile shop.

Scan page 6

Lott: Newsheel published by the Black Panti bove: Muhammed deleem (lelt), owner of th Pub, Drixton, another bomb targel The fire was put out before it could do any serious dam- age, and police took away the remains of a milk bottle with a fuse still attached. Mr Saleem told 'We me: have had our windows broken about five times in the last six years but this was more serious.' He said that Tooting was a very peaceful and friendly area and that people of all nationalities shopped at the Pak Food Store. Said Mr Saleem: 'We have never had any hint that. any- one had anything against us, although racialist groups are very active in this area.

'Other people have had their windows broken but they have not always reported it to the police. 'This time there were about six attacks, all against coloured people, and last month there some more. For things were to happen like this I think there must be some organiza- tion behind it. 'In Germany it was the Jews they did not allow to have Now in shops and homes. Britain it is the immigrants.

But it must be some group organizing it because com- munity relations here are very good.' lack Panther Movement on the fire bombing of wner of the bombed grocery store in Tooting. I Asians and West Indians agree in their belief that the bombings were the work of "an organization' The Panthers say they felt their shop was watched by men in a parked car for some time before the fire which destroyed it and stock worth £7,000. Mr Boxer, the Wandsworth community relations officer, similar tactics at suspects shops in Tooting. He Asian pointed out that one of the blitzed shops in Mitcham Road, Tooting, had no outward sign of being run by immigrants.

He added that only either patient watchers or local people would have known that Tooting's 'Classic' cinema showed Indian films on Sun- are day. The cinema was slightly damaged The police are said to sup- port the theory that the attacks were the work of local people.

Few of the owners of the 11 premises attacked believe the police are doing enough to catch the culprits. There has certainly been a conspicuous lack of mention of the incidents in the Tory Press. Some people remarked that had it been the homes of white people, or of a government Minister, the front pages of Tory newspapers would have boiled into hysteria. Many are also puzzled that after a dozen fire bomb attacks ombing of their 'Unity Centre' In Brixton.

Tooting. Below: The Coach and Horses in which people could have been burned to death no mas- sive security operation appears to have been mounted. Ostensibly all that has hap- pened is that the police have advised immigrant shopkeepers to put wire grills over their windows. The Panther spokesman said: 'Any time the left do anything they find someone, but now they can't find anyone' He accused the police of 'playing down' the attack on their bookshop. A spokesman for Brixton police assured me that as far as he knew the damage there was purely the result of an accidental fire.

Panthers' The spokesman said: 'The police are not pre- pared to say it is an organized attempt and to have a proper into right-wing investigation elements in the area.' Community relations staff say the National Front has intensified its distribution of anti-immigrant leaflets and stickers in south London.

Nobody has accused the Front of responsibility for the bombings. Last week Battersea Rotary Club published a poem in their magazine about Pakistanis living off the dole, washing in detergent and eating dog food.

Said Mr Boxer: 'It is all part of a general atmosphere being created. Inevitably, prejudiced people become more aggressive in their attitudes.' Workers Press, Saturday March 24, 1973 PAGE 5 The reactionary and of to the basic requirements the workers and the people'.

nationalist character of This can only mean a sharp the Communist Party's reduction in foreign trade and a drive to make the economy economic policy is shown more self-supporting. In fact in an article by one of he also advocates subsidies its leading economists, to agriculture — which means John Eaton, writing in higher profits for the farmers and their suppliers, such as the 'Morning Star' for the big fertilizer companies.

March 13. Completely abandoning the perspective of centralized plan- He puts forward what he Eaton ning, proposes pro- calls an alternative economic grammes for regional develop- policy to that of the Tories ment with 'each locality' work- which is, he admits, 'not un- ing out its investment pro- like the used by measures gramme. capitalism itself during war- 1 his is not surprising. time. Eaton's alternative is an in- Heath,' "The fight against sular, nationalist and extremely Eaton says, "is not only about reformist programme for mak- wages and a few extra pounds, ing British capitalism work.

It which will soon fall in value. is completely Utopian and is It is also about the way the merely an up-dated footnote • He has, economy is run 'British to the Road to he believes, a better of way Socialism'. 'the economy', that is running Nothing is said about the British capitalism, than Heath international struggles of the himself. working class. The Communist He puts forward proposals Party out to appear as for what he calls 'an immediate alternative' They resemble fact, similar very much those which the current in certain reformist Communist Party supported and trade union circles and during the last war and the do differ fundamentally not period of the post-war Labour those of

TUC

trom the government. Economic Committee His 'simple' policy, he says, Policies of this kind make is to supply the main needs bedfellows. Eaton's strange of the people controlled at thought runs on parallel lines prices, driving the speculators extreme right-wing [pending their complete defeat] National Front. In a new State- back into the area of super- ment of Policy this group fluities and luxuries' — pre- proposes what it calls 'a policy sumably economic the black market nationalism', is a likely accompaniment to which makes some of the same the kind of policy he proposes.

points as John Eaton. Completely It says "that Britain should neglecting the strive for the maximum depth and intensity of self- the world sufficiency in economic crisis of vital goods of capitalism, he appears to think which her resources are capable'. that there is some solution for Britain in isolation from Like John Eaton, the Front the world market. So he suggests wants controls over capital exchange controls, the rigorous movements, is opposed to foreign control of speculation and control of British in- dustry and advocates the capital movements. pansion of agriculture. Balance-of-payments prob- No wonder lems are no more than 'a by- the Communist Party and National Front con- product of the sacred freedom tingents could march of capital and its merchandise in the same anti-Common Market to go wherever it pleases in London recently. pursuit of profit'. He does not rally in The working class see them reflection of cannot as be mobilized against the Tory deep contradictions arising from the development government on programme uneven of this kind which of capitalism. says no- 'solution' thing about nationalization His is strictly or expropriation of the capitalists nationalist. after the Stalinist of landowners. It pattern 'socialism in one and is re- country', though actionary which this time it programme fosters the illusion is a reformed and crisis-proof that the capitalism in one country. He working class sub- can win advocates control of stantial gains without over- strict imports 'in the light of a home turning capitalist property policy that gives first priority relations. Where is Britain Going? Paperback 374p i 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

Scan page 7

ON THE FUTURE OF JOBS IN STEEL

Next Tuesday the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers' steel committee meets to discuss action against the redundancies that are facing its members in the industry. What are the real prospects over a fight against sackings? Stephen Johns reports.

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Saturday Marcl Next Tuesday the Amalgamat facing its members in the indi The most serious initia- tive to fight closures in the steel industry will be made at Shotton in North Wales on April 13. Nearby Connah's Quay, the Deeside steel town threatened with destruction under the Tory 'plan' for the industry will be the venue for a rank- and-file conference of steel- men—the first held in the his- tory of the industry. They will be considering some grim evidence. Apart from the 50,000 re- dundancies announced by the government, which mean death to Ebbw Vale, Connah's Quay and a host of smaller indus- trial communities, the dele- gates will take a hard look at the campaign so far—or rather the non-campaign so far. There has been a lot of offi rday March 26, 1973 algamated Union of Engineering Wo the industry. What are the real pros shouting by MPs, marching by men, banner waving, clashes with police and general argu- ment-none of which has im- pressed the hard-faced men in the Tory. Cabinet who are determined to carry out Common Market policy and cut steel down to the size suitable for capitalist West Europe. But perhaps the most devas- tating happening of all was the grand steel conference organ- ized by the TUC two weeks ago in Sheffield. This drew together the official worthies of the steel unions-dominated by Sir Dai Davies, boss of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation who stands on the extreme right of the trade union political spectrum. Geoff Hett, member of the Shotton action committee most outspoken of the un- official bodies that have sprung ring Workers' steel committee meets eal prospects over a fight against sac up to defend jobs—fairly sum- med up the conference at his Connah's Quay house. 'It was a total shambles,' he said. 'Absolutely nothing was achieved, no one was prepared to commit themselves, every- body was waiting. Meanwhile we all get nearer the dole. It was a terrible disappointment for somebut for some more than others.' Anger at the Sheffield be- was sharpened trayal at Shotton by the realization that far from opposing outright the Tory plan for steel some of their officials seem prepared to accept it in principle. The capitulation to capitalist policy for the industry goes under the guise of 'recogniz- ing the need for moderniza- tion'—in Shotton, moderniza- tion which means 6,500 men on the dole by 1980 and per- haps double that number as an e meets to discuss action against the inst sackings? Stephen Johns report: indirect consequence of steel closure, is a dirty word.

Ken Monti, action commit- tee chairman-firmly expres ses the resolve of Shotton.

'Our spirits are high. We don't talk about alternative employment-this is a myth, everyone knows that it is im- possible to get that number of good-paying male jobs out here on Deeside. 'Men who talk about "modernization" in the con- text of this government are deliberate illusion - mongers.

We have one policy and one policy only. Steel will not leave Shotton' Everything, therefore, is staked on the Shotton con- ference. Delegations from wide cross-section of the in- dustry are already scheduled to attend. The central talking-point will undoubtedly be a pro- posal to take industrial action .. inst the redundancies that are s reports. throughout the industry when- and wherever the axe ever falls first. The date of the first exe- cution could be July and the place could be Newport, South Wales, where the tubes fac tory is earmarked for closure.

Despite the conference there enormous problems are still facing the steelworkers. The official leadership is weak- obviously an enormous ness. Talk about modernization and alternative jobs serves to weakest sec- strengthen tions of the industry, those who want to slip quietly onto the dole, from the younger element who want to fight. It also a nationwide promotes split between the plant not facing closure and those in the redundancy plan. Such a split is based on the illusion that everything is fine in the plants that will remain

Scan page 8

Scan page 9

gUR

SIN

* SHOTTON

MAKING

re

A PROFIT ANE

SAVE

SATE

en-

CKTO SHOTTON

BC.s. TEELWORKS

NO STEEL

the ith ire. ere ms ak- to

FLEC

ide not in the thel: demonstraton and Shotton steelworkers

SLIE

lobby Parliament. left: Ken Monti of the action committee. The Shotton steel- Above right: WOrKS Wnich closed Tory plans for rationalization.

SAVE

fact there will be a open-in future of continual redundan- cies even in places due for like Scunthorpe. expansion', This will go side by side with a fierce drive for higher productivity. But there is no attempt by the leadership to unite workers in the industry on the basis that they face a basic common assaul rights. Tuesday the steel Next of the Amalga- committee Union of Engineering mated Workers meets. This plays a key role. Some

SAVE

of the most militant steel men are in the AUEW, but so far council member engineers John Boyd has been keeping

SCOTTON

low profile, talking very about welcome moderniza- letting Davies's tion general union make re

TEL NORNS

ning. But there are crucial meet- coming up the ngs in Trades Confedera- and Steel tion too. Workers Press, Saturd This year is remarkable for the ISTC because it is hold- an annual national ing con- first for 25 ference-the years. In June the delegates will get together and the talk- ing point will obviously be the crisis in the industry.

Militants, however, look to- conference with wards the some gloom. The ISTC rules on elec- tions to conference are curious to say the least. The union membership is divided into six categories, depending on their class of work. Each of these categories has a set number of delegates at conference. However when it comes to voting the total membership any one area can vote on all the candidates in every sec- tion. This tends to load the con- ference heavily in favour of Scunthorpe and Port Talbot the country's two largest steel-making centres, which not noted for militancy are and not facing any outright closures. One Shotton action com- mittee member speculated on possible outcome: It the could be that the plants facing 188, Saturday March 24, 1973 PAGE 7 closure get no representatives at 'all-this would allow the officials to sweep the whole issue under the carpet with some fine-sounding platitudes.'

All roads seem therefore to point to the key unofficial meeting on April 13. Here the steel workers of the country will have the reality. opportunity to face The Tories are not going to be persuaded with arguments.

Industrial action certainly will have to be taken. But alone industrial action will not be enough. Steel closures are part of the general offensive against the working class. The work- ing class must fight them as a class. As well as proposing their own action they will therefore have the opportunity to send out the message to all unions create the industrial and to political conditions for forcing the Tories to resign. interested All steel workers in attending this meeting vital to their future interests should contact: Ken Monti. 25 Chester Close, Connah's Quay, Flintshire,

Scan page 10

STALIN'S FELLOW TRAVELLERS,

PAST AND PRESENT

PAGE 8 Workers Press, Saturday Mar

BY CLIFF SLAUGHTER

A new book by David Caute has touched some people on the raw, and they are squealing. One of these is Victor Kiernan, a historian, who wrote a full-page review of Caute's book in 'The Times' Higher Education Supplement (February 16, 1973). Kiernan was himself once a Communist Party member, but like many others resigned at the time of the Khrushchev report and the Soviet inter- vention in Hungary in 1956.

His review, of The Fellow Travellers' (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, £5.75) apart from a few gentlemanly references to it as interesting and in- formative' in parts, is pure venom. Kiernan claims that 'regret- tably, a great part of it could scarcely be worse. It reeks of prejudice against the Soviet Union'. He concludes: 'Mr Caute has little to teach us.' The fact is that Kiernan goes to work to whitewash the Stalinist fellow-travellers.

Caute's book has its faults —it is too anecdotal, and it does not explain the essential question of how and why Stalinism is the opposite of Bolshevism—but it has done a very important job. Caute has documented the way in which a section of the 'left' middle-class intellectuals prostituted themselves to the counter-revolutionary Stalin- ist bureaucracy. This role of the fellow- travellers was indefensible, from the working-class, Marx- ist standpoint, and Kiernan's decision to defend it against Caute is a warning that, for "liberal' all the noises some ex-Communist Party members may make, they are ready to play the same game again.

Kiernan himself is an inter- esting case in point. He is acknowledge willing to passing that it was a perilous to 'identify the mistake advance of socialism and of socialist countries too closely with their leaders ..., but he wants above all to avoid any real facing up to what he is es- this meant, and pecially concerned that those who begin to examine the his- should not turn to the tory genuine Bolshevik tradition of struggle against Stalin, the tradition of Lenin and Trot- sky. Hence his complaint that Caute neglects the case of Isaac Deutscher • ... a fellow- traveller whose life and work proved how a communist could turn against Stalin with- out either turning against com- munism or taking refuse with Trotsky! urday March 24, 1973 Deutscher conducted for many years a necessary and important defence of Trotsky at a time when that con- demned him to isolation and calumny from the Stalinists.

He did not at all share Mr Kiernan's apologetic stance in favour of the 'left' fellow- travellers of Stalin. This Kiernan chooses to ignore.

We in the Trotskyist move- ment_had deep differences with Deutscher. We consider • that his ex- pressed hope of a future com- 'neither munist movement Stalinist nor Trotskyist' was not only wrong, but opened the door to a whole genera- tion of intellectuals to run away from their revolutionary responsibilities. Mr Kiernan this in Deutscher, has seen and nothing else! But let us look at Kiernan's statement once again. What does he mean by 'take refuge with Trotsky'? Here is a very peculiar expression.

Kiernan knows well very that for a socialist intellectual to go to Trotsky's theory and the Fourth International was the very opposite of 'taking refuge'! Trotskyists were on the re- ceiving end, not just of vili- fication and abuse, but of a campaign of physical liquida- tion. In the years of World War II, this campaign was carried . im- out by the fascist and perialist states well as as international Stalinism. It ill befits Kiernan, for so many years himself a Stalinist, to refer to Trotsky as a 'refuge'!

What is called for, from all those like Kiernan, is some political humility, in the sense of a revolutionary and class- conscious accounting with their own past from the Marx- ist standpoint, in order to prepare as revolutionaries in the future. Kiernan cannot do this because, like so many who joined the Stalinist parties, he shares the very characteristics of the 'fellow travellers' which have been exposed by David Caute. It is simply not true that Caute's book reeks with pre- judice against the Soviet Union' It is Kiernan who identifies Stalinism with the Soviet Union. This enables him to 'anti-Soviet' dismiss as any- one who criticizes the intellec- tual handmaidens of Stalin.

RUTHLESS

The vast majority of the fellow-travellers made a 'com- mon sense' identification of the economic achievements of the first workers' state with rule of the bureaucracy the and Stalin. Caute exposes this ruthlessly. It is because Kiernan does the same thing that he reacts so sharply. Thus it is remarkable that in a very long review Kiernan at no time says where he stands on the basic question: the struggle between Stalin and the bureaucracy on the Trotsky and one hand, and Opposition on the the Left other. Caute's summary of this is too short, but it demands an analysis from the reviewer. And he demonstrates irrefut- ably that the 'fellow-travellers' made a conscious decision against the revolutionary line of Trotsky. Kiernan chooses this, the most im- to ignore portant question of all. Sidney and Beatrice Webb, eminent Fabian fellow those travellers of Stalin (they re- cognized him, they said, as a good Fabian!) opted against Trotsky, explaining that 'patient construction' trium- phed over 'flamboyant icono- clasm' (Caute p. 88). Anna Louise Strong repor- ted that Trotsky had advo- 'adventurous escapades cated among the nations whose workers were not ready for revolt'. Harold Laski burbled about the 'fire and audacity' of Trot- sky, but considered Stalin right against Trotsky in the 'theory' of socialism in one country. He thought Trotsky Stalin's skill in party lacked management. These are the people Kier- nan chooses to defend. What Caute shows is that they 'fellow-travelled' not out of sympathy with or under- standing of the October Revo- but through identifi- lution cation with the bureaucratic 'planning' of Stalin, and were prepared to justify or ignore atrocity committed by every him along that road. The be- trayal of the proletarian re- volution in one country after another was a means to this end. In their books and speeches the fellow-travellers sustained the lies of the Kremlin about 'socialist construction' in Rus- sia and made themselves avail- able to justify the purge trials both pre-war and post-war.

In their own countries they graced the platform and edi- torial boards of the 'Popular Fronts' after 1934, instruments to disarm the working class of any political independence.

Caute neglects this ques- tion, and makes the most utter confusion of the problem of united front and 'popular front'. But Kiernan, predict- ably, does not complain about this! There is no contradiction in the ability of the Webbs, bitter opponents of the 1926 General Strike, to become en- thusiasts of the Stalinist re- gime in the early 1930s. Sidney Webb, eminent Fabian fellow brought out, with his wife Beatrice, Communism, a New Civilization?'

As Caute says: 'Trotsky's judgement was rough: the Webbs, he said, found in the

USSR

neither Chartism nor the October Revolution nor communism, they found only an administrative mechanism bureaucratic plan.' and a (p. 263.) Kiernan sweeps aside the real Stalinist past (and his own) with nice phrases. He "Only his end review: can principles are beyond doubt' Presumably everything else is shrouded in obscurity, and no one need take any res- ponsibility. Thus: 'Perhaps the peasantry underwent tor- ments. Perhaps?! Kiernan knows the results of the forced collectivization in millions of deaths and the near-ruin of Soviet agriculture. His choice of 'perhaps' is surely a retention of the fel- low-travellers' permanent get- need not acknow- out: we ledge criticisms of the USSR, there are plenty of capitalist spokesmen to do that. ..

DISASTER

It is not a question of opposition to collectivization.

happened What that was Stalin and his clique turned empirically and brutally to collectivization in their ultra- 'Third Period' left because they had brought the workers' state to the brink of disaster with their earlier right-wing course to the peasantry. 'ex- Kiernan wanted to plain' Caute's comments and the basis for a more ob- lay jective criticism of the fellow- travellers, he not why did refer to these historical ques- tions? fact is that Kiernan The fellow-travellers' shares the agreement with Stalin against Trotsky, against the prole- tarian revolution. He caricatures Caute's case in order to maintain this stand. Consider for example this sentence, supposed to summarize Caute's version of the fellow-travellers gulli- bility: n fellow traveller of Stalin. In 1936 he two volume work, 'Soviet Beatrice, a 'He depicts a long proces- sion of men and women, some with the finest endowments and highest ideals of the age, simplemindedly taken in by the cunning Bolshevik show- man' Here it is Kiernan, who, by sleight of hand, identifies Bol- shevism with Stalinism. Caute does no such thing. 'fine But what were these endowments' :and 'high ideals'? Hundreds of lawyers, priests and writers, poets used their 'endowments' to endorse and embellish and even bless the torture and forced confessions and judi- cial murder of the flower of Russian revolutionary the movement in the Moscow trials! Kiernan knows he is cover- ing up when he says they did not know what they were doing. Many of them reconciled themselves to their actions with the excuse that it was necessary in the face of the fascist danger. We are not concerned with their 'sincerity' or otherwise.

The essential question is that they provided the sustenance of bourgeois ideology to Stalinism which enabled it to politically betray the working This is what class. their 'endowments' and 'high ideals' were used for. Even the Spanish Stalinist leader Dolores Ibarruri ('La Pasionara') is defended from Caute by Kiernan, who com- pares her with Joan of Arc!

This same 'La Pasionaria' as Caute records, said on August "The 9, 1938: Trotskyists must be exterminated like beasts of prey (p. 171). All this was justified (and is justified by Kiernan today) in the name of a Popular Front alliance and defence of the Soviet Union to 'save democracy'. Caute's book confirms what was clear to every Trotskyist at the time. The fellow travellers wanted to preserve their own place in bourgeois * demucracy-. against fascism if they could, but their working class! And world Stalinism ensured them against that, by dealing (like Pasionaria') with the Trotskyists. For the internal politics of the USSR, then, these 'Popu- Front democrats' sus- pended their democratic con- sciences. The Webbs participated, in a manner reminiscent of Ed- mund Burke: 'An indulgence in unlimited freedom of dis- cussion if accom- especially panied by unlımited duration of debate, has the drawback that it is apt to militate against effectiveness of corporate the action' It was this attitude which led Trotsky, years before to warn: In the sympathies of Soviet many lefts for the Union (alongside hostility to their own communists) there is contained a good deal of the deference of the petit- bourgeois towards a strong state power.' ('Problems of the British Revolution', p. 15.)

Lincoln Steffers (the Ameri- writer) is quoted by can Caute as saying: 'I am for them to the last drop, I am a patriot for Russia; the future is there. .. But I don't want to live there.' This was uttered from the Italian Riviera!

CONTINUED TOMORROW

Scan page 11

HAYDEN WON'T SUPPORT VICTORY

TO THE VIETNAMESE REVOLUTION

In November last year 58- year-old Wilfred Dodd was made redundant. But his pro- blems didn't end there. He was then told to move out of his cottage so that it could be 'modernized'. Mr Dodd went to the near- by Bridgewater at Bollington, Altrincham, which was a favourite fishing spot of his. He was depressed, a fellow fisherman said, and he smoked a lot. When his companion left Mr Dodd threw himself into the river and drowned. His body was found lying face down in the water which was frozen over. Why don't the workers of Stockport wake up to them- selves? The Mayor of Stock- port, Alderman Jack Crow- ther, has given them a dress- ing down for not dressing up.

He says they are snubbing civic occasions and they won't dress up in their best suits.

'No one from the trades council seems to attend func- hall, tions at the town groaned Ald Crowther. 'But they expect to be re- cognized on other occasions as an official body speaking many local workers. for "They ought to come to one or two civic affairs at least— especially Smith, secretary' of Harry the trades council, replied: 'We just haven't the time. functions Dressy social, are low on our list of priorities.

We are busy getting on with important work. We just don't like evening Ald Crowther is boss of a local fuel firm. Watch out, here comes the rent man. Lewisham council, London, is to use armoured cars to collect its rents. It will hire two 'rent office vans' from a security company and pick up rents from collection points. Door-to-door rent collec- tions will be stopped except for pensioners in council bed- sitters as it is felt the rent man's call gives a useful con- tact with old people' The security follows several assaults and robberies on rent collectors. The economic situation is critical-but this is ridiculous.

William Arethyn, an invest- ment consultant, has found a way of playing the stock market. his He sits down with shaggy sheep-dog, William, 2nd reads share quotations from the 'Financial Tires'.

If William wags his tail after hearing a namé, Mr Arethyn buys the share for William's account. four months In the past William has built up a bank account from zero to £10,000.

There is an added bonus— Mr Arethyn claims that be- cause William is not a person he will not have to pay capital gains tax. By our own correspondent Tom Hayden, former SDS activist and 'Chicago Seven' defendant, appeared jointly at the Claremont Colleges Monique recently with and Jean Pierre Truong Debris, a French teacher who spent two years in Chi Hoa prison for participating in a Saigon protest demonstration.

meeting called The was publicize the ostensibly to plight of political prisoners held in General Thieu's jails, but its real significance was unveiling Viet- political namese strategy in the coming period.

Miss Truong is the daughter of Truong Dinh Dzu, a lawyer who ran as a vague 'neutralist' against Thieu in the 1967 South Vietnamese presidential 'elections', , thereby providing a cover for L.B.J.'s propaganda line at the time that its 'free elections' proved that South Vietnam's government was 'turning toward democracy' Despite services rendered, Thieu threw Dzu in prison where he remains today. Dzu represents that thin stratum of Saigon intellectuals who have vainly waited, along with former generals like Duong Van ('Big') Minh, for a nod from US imperialism should it decide to dump Thieu as it did his predecessors, Diem, Khanh and Ky. For the Vietnamese masses, the 30-year war has always been a class war between the working class and peasantry against the merchant and land- lord class, French and US iinperialism and Viet- namese mercenaries in their hire. The landlords want their rant—25 per cent of the peas- ant's crop, annually-and, in the words of President Eisen- hower — the US entered the war to retain access to 'the tin and tungsten that we so greatly value.' The great fear that lies at heart of the consistent the foreign policy pursued by Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon is the realization that a victory for the Viet- namese would provide example for the dangerous working class international which has grown steadily stronger since the end of World War II. of South The aspiration Vietnamese 'liberals' like Dzu is to compromise the bloody struggle of the Vietnamese within the framework of the bourgeois state, capitalist property relations and US The central imperialism. danger to the Vietnamese in the Revolution critical weeks ahead is the coincidence of interests between Dzu and the Vietnamese Stalinists and the respective forces behind them. massive Only after the mobilization of the Vietnamese in response to the horrors of the Japanese occupation of World War II did the present leadership in Hanoi reluctantly assume the responsibility to give direction to the struggle.

Under Hanoi's tutelage the was repeated in same pattern 1950s the late in South Vietnam by the several thous- and cadres left behind when the Viet Minh moved north of the 17th parallel—this time after Diem's massive repression and the defensive mobilization of the South Vietnamese peasantry. In 1973, as was the case in 1954, under pressure from Moscow and Peking, the native leadership is forced to contain the mass mobilization at the moment of victory through class collaborationist conces- sions to imperialism. is i Tom Hayden with Tom Hayden Fonda, a nationwide Stalinists. cance assertions Vietnamese but munism government, the US The china Peace picting the opinion ciliation', Thieu, under namese to attempt ranks Programme Liberation the Government. This is ous policy tion endear Revolution. It policy which bureaucrac of port led and the Such mations preparing and ism to rightist forces Jane Fonda. Hayden's Jane ana were recently upon based signifi- complete 'the South com- coalition that 'the him alone'. Indo- con- pro-capitalist or without Viet- would their as they the National and, NOTe treacher- collabora- the bourgeoi- Spanish the same 1S the Peking in sup Sukarno 1965 the people the party out- Front' for- the France Vietnam for the necessal y overthrow and destroy the peasants. By issue in tion of rather than Vietnamese Socialist vides for the and Fonda. In Accords have US and the on Nixon to accords.' Miss Truong, and students should Nixon to agreements those of 150 over namese' can ment sentatives However, International's Vietnam, clear, the world himself, ional ists could of manting Army and cadres to of the of action' is nothing more than organiza- and is the ques. for the the party pro- Hayden words, been signed, in Vietnam, working class abide by the Vietnamese should enlei government, in the 'to force the 1973 unlike January's strengthened 'extending repre- the

PRG

to the Fourth Slalement in the shifting une imperialism of class, its Nixon, gladly 'prove Provis- Govern- the dis- Liberation of their the mass is the purpose ross, Saturday March 24, 1973 PAGE 9 lothing more than protest politics.

in Washington and channeled through Moscow and Peking.

However, unlike the 1930s, the present period is not one of working class defeats upon which Stalinism grows and prospers. It is the boundless courage of the Vietnamese masses which presently makes it impossible for the world Stalinist apparatus to complete the deal with Nixon. Their willingness to sacrifice their lives by the hundreds of thousands, in military offen- sives which have shaken the Saigon to the government core time and time again only to be halted short of immin- ent victory by the Stalinist leadership in the hopes that such "pressure' will produce the desired political coalition in Saigon, continues to be the major obstacle to the designs the Washington-Peking- of Moscow axis. Only a complete victory for the Vietnamese and the utter destruction of capitalism in South Vietnam can assure the release of the political prison- ers whose conditions were so vividly described by the French teacher, Jean Pierre Debris. Their continued torture and assassination is a consequence of the spring offensive being stopped short of its obtainable goal. That is why Hayden was forced to cut short the com- ments from the floor of a sup- porter of the Workers League who asked why all US prisoners have been released while only a few hundred of the estimated 300,000 to 650,000 prisoners of the South have been granted their free- dom. Despite Hayden's 'pro- gramme butcher nor protest letters to Thieu the increasingly impotent national leadership of the Democratic Party can insure a victory for the Vietnamese and a defeat for US imperial- ism.

Scan page 12

PAGE 10 Workers Press, Saturday March 24, 197:

BBC 1

10.00 Repondez s'il vous plait. 10.30- 10.55 Avventura. 11.00 Croesi'r bont. 8.30 11.25 Weather. 11.30 Camberwick 9.00 green. 11.45 Motor mouse. 12.05 Outa- 9.50 12.35 Foot- space! 12.30 Grandstand. preview. 1.00 1973 Grand ball 1.15 Ice Toronto National. * York Rangero 11.35 Maple New Leafs I 11.40 1.40 Rugby league top try competition.

1.50, 2.25, 3.30 Racing from Newbury. International 2.10, 2.40 boxing. Frankham Charlie Green. ohnnie 3.50 Leeds

ITV

Rugby Salford. 4.35 Final score.

Euro- 5.35 vision contest Se Dr. V. song News. Weather. Who. 9.00 Time 9.30 Explor 6.05 Peyton

FILM:

•MASTER

6.25 11.20

WORLD'.

Vincent Price. 12.00 Flaxte mad inventor plans to destroy World the entire armed forces of the 1.05 world.

SOUND OF PETULA.

8.00

THE

Racing fror Petula Clark with guest Sacha Racing national sp 8.30

THE

SHOW.

ics. USA v

IRONSIDE.

9.00 A

MAN

CALLED

news. 4.00 His Fiddlers Three. 9.50

NEWS.

Weather. vice. 10.05

MATCH

OF 6.15

PARKINSON.

Michael 11.05 6.45 son and guests. 12.05 Weather.

BBC 2

8.30 8.55-1.30 Open University. 3.00 Film: Broadway'. Fred "The Barkleys of Musical about 9.30 Astaire, Ginger Rogers. and dance 9.40 a husband act. 4.45 Play away. and the peninsula. vets. 5.25 Storm in

MAN

Possessed.

ALIVE.

11.00 6.10 Mysteries of the occult. 11.50 7.00

WESTMINSTER.

11.55 Weather. 7.25 7.40

RUGBY

SPECIAL.

THE Tory government has admitted the existence of an 'Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce' em- powered to buy up commodities as a safeguard against falling prices.

has its headquarters at The board Tothill Street, Westminster. It was set up in November but began operations proper from February 1 when Common into Market agricultural policy came force in Britain. spokesman for the board told me A that from now on if the European Com- mission in Brussels decides production is too high for such commodities as beef, sugar, butter and cereals the board will intervene to keep prices up.

So far it has only bought up to 3,000 tins of skimmed milk which is being stored in private warehouses. The board has no storage facilities of its own, but rents warehouses and refrigeration • facili- ties from private firms. They have already drawn up lists of stores throughout the country in antici- pation of a growing business.

They may not have long to wait. Only this week the European Commission re- rises of 10 per cent commended price for beef, 7 per cent for pork, 3 per cent for cereals and 5 per cent for milk.

Agricultural economists expect cereals and butter to begin to move into govern- ment warehouses in the next few weeks. Food bought in this way can be released back to the market at a later date when prices begin to rise. is empowered to mix But the board dyes with farm produce to render it unfit for human consumption, though appro- priate for animal feed. The effect of these operations is to ensure that whatever the technology, agricultural tech- state of niques and output, produce is permanently in short supply. This 'guarantees' farmers their annual income. It also means that working-class in- families hit from all directions by flation will increasingly go without high- protein farm produce. Tory government which is The same screaming about the need to force prices down and check the upward movement of wages is in fact consciously keeping food vigorously fanning the prices up and flames of inflation in the service of agricultural profits. ch 24, 1973

SATURDAY TV

Wales. Gloucestershire v Lanca- shire.

ASS WORD

BEL-AMI. Clotilde

BEST FRIENDS

SOME OF MY

of A look at the state some current British prejudices.

NEWS ON 2. Weather.

JOHNNY " APOLLO.

FILM:

Tyrone Power, Dorothy Lamour. An embittered college graduate a mobster. becomes 9.00 Time off. Music in the round.

9.30 Exploring mind. 9.55 Return to our Place. 10.20 Sesame street. 11.20 Cartoon. 11.30 Partridge family.

12.00 Flaxton boys. 12.30 News. 12.35 5.15 of 12.40 On the ball. sport. International •sports special. Cycling. 1.20 ITV six. 1.30, 2.00, 2.30 2.15, 2.50 Inter- Racing from Doncaster. national sports special. Indoor athlet- ics. USA v USSR. 3.50 Results, scores, nices 5.00 News. 3.5 Blackbeauty.

5.10 News. Black beauty. 5.45 Doctor at large.

SALE

OF

THE CENTURY.

"JASON

AND

THE

FILM:

Todd Arm- strong, Nancy for the Golden Fleece.

THE JULIE ANDREWS HOUR.

Guests Jack Cassidy. Smothers Rich Little, Brothers, Alice Ghostley.

NEWS.

HEC

RAMSEY.

The Green Mystery• Feather Richard Boone.

PRIORITIES.

Howard talks to Nigel Calder. DEPARTMENT S. Les Fleurs du Mal. TUESDAY'S document- ary 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' gave a confused and inconclu- sive but nonetheless shat- tering glimpse into the bankruptcy of the so- called 'American dream' -in its current form of the Vietnam veterans returning to the land of milk and honey where milk's sour and the there's no honey left. For the past two or more years the GIs have been coming home to cash in on all the promises that have been made to them of the the pick good life ahead, of the job market, the great future set up the government for American 'her boys'. The promises were hollow mockery. With more than 5 million unemployed in the US in its 'up' seasons, the rate soon rose amongst the veterans to a conser- vative estimate of ll per cent unemployed. The programme showed us Dempsey, black ex-military policeman, roaming th streets of San Francisco with the thousands of others un- employed—out of work over a year and still, hopelessly now, searching for work. And as he implied, there's a kind of stigma attached to the GI now. A subtle in- fluence is at work to sug- perhaps that in some gesi way the giant failure of the US to wipe communism off the face of south-east Asia is attributable to the 'boys' themselves; that they are dope fiends or deserters or mentally incapacitated and down, it's really that deep all their fault. Other distinctions are made, too, in the form of being PoWs who are th used for petty propaganda Unlike the ordin- purposes. ary 'vets', these men return to tickertape parades, bands, cheering crowds, $50,000 back pay in the bank, new cars and holidays. Grim farce is played out in the welcome-home cere- monies where the officers run through their speeches and ring through all the old sham phrases: "The President, your Commanding Officer, wishes to express his deepest thanks to all of you who have fought But the ordinary men, those who do not receive the full treatment, and in- deed many of the fattened up, smiling, apparently, un- scarred PoWs who have been drilled in the return pro cedure down to the words of their welcome-home inter- view as they step off the plane, have suffered a vital blow.

REGIONAL TV

11.35 12.30

CHANNEL:

London. 5.20 Tarzan. 6.15 6.45 Persuaders, 7.45 Film: "First Men in the Moon'. 9.30 London. 9.40 Julie Andrews. 10.40 Parade. 11.20 Spyforce.

12.10 Weather.

WESTWARD.

As Channel except: around the house. 10.20 Jobs Foreign flavour. 10.45 Joe 90. 11.10 Gus Honeybun. 11.35 Cartoon: 10.30 Bonanza. 12.10 Faith for life.

12.15 Weather.

SOUTHERN:

9.15 Jobs around the house. 9.40 Foreign flavour. 10.10 All il.Osyesterdays, 10.35 Wildlife theatre.

11.35 Cowboy Stingray• Africa. 12.25 Weather. 12.30 London. 5.15 Tarzan. 6.10 7.05 Persuaders. Sale of the century. 7.35 Film: 'HMS Andrews. 210.40 Ned 10.45 Film: 9.45 Andrews. 10.40 News. •Monkey on My Back'. 12.30 Weather.

Guideline. 9.55 Time HARLECH: 9.00 London. to remember. 10.20 Bugs Bunny. 10.30 Once upon a time. 10.45 Grasshopper 11.00 Sesame 12.00 Island. street. Osmonds. 12.30 London. 5.20 It takes at do 145 Sumer.Come Woo de 7.45 Film: to the Stable'. 9.30 London. 9.40 Julie 10.40 Parade. 11.20 Name Andrews. game. 12.40 Weather. of the HTV Cymru/Wales as above except: 5.20 Upper crusts. 5.45-6.15 Tra bo dau. ANGLIA: 9.00 London. 10.00 Hammy 10.15 Rovers. 10.40 Film: hamster. •Stop' the World I Want to Get Off'.

12.30 London. 5.20 Tarzan. 6.15 Who do you do? 6.45 Film: 'Beckett'. _9.30 9.45 Julie Andrews. 10.40 London. Parade. 11.15 Man in a suitcase. 12.20 At the end of the day. They do not believe any nes more. Like Jerome, the young 'why captain who asked $2.5 billion to Vietnam this year and in my town they can't afford to build a new high school', and who sees that the war was fought for nothing. the American Like as apple pie' family which has been ripped apart by sons whose have been lives broken by the war (Gerrard the alcoholic, Eugene the mentally-disturbed loner who attacked his parents). Like thousands more who are faced with the reality of the war and return to see the sham played on, these men drift dangerously and without direction in violent disillusionment and despair.

Change has been unques- tionably wrought in them- but they need a direction in their lives or they may fall fodder to the worst kind of influence. People like these wandering in utter bewilder- ment over old ground and finding it does not hold up any more can easily find satisfaction in all sorts of diversions, including fascism.

The wife waiting at home, • who, as it was suggested by programme had been 'politicized' • the tragic by absence of a husband for of the many years, spoke firm stand she would take on all questions in the future, of her new awareness and concluded with the remark 'what I really feel is that if there has to be another war — let it be a whole- hearted one and not for a handful of Americans'.

A drug problem, huge unemployment, a maimed or permanently disabled exist- ence, a giant currency crisis imminent trade war— and these are some of the harsh facts facing the Vietnam veterans on their return to America. clear issues. These are The war itself was, and is, a clear issue. The pro- gramme (Tuesday 9.25 p.m., BBC 1) and its reporter and director, Julian Pettifer and Frank Smith, seemed to add only confusion with all kinds hints of and suggestions: surely this war should never surely it have happened? was the wrong kind of war?

surely it will not happen again. This is dangerous con- fusion. There was no accident about this war, nor any of the others which have killed millions over the last cen- turies under capitalism. As long capitalism endures, and as the con- frontation with the working class emerges stronger each day, the danger of further persists with all that war this implies. There can be no more 'Peace with Honour. The legacies of any further war could only be indescribably worse than those of this last.

ATV MIDLANDS: 9.15

Jobs around the house. 9.40 Foreign flavour. 10.10 10.35 Skippy. Jackson five. 11.00 London. Abbott and Costello. 12.30 Bonanza. 5.15 6.15 Film: 'Fort Apache'. 8.30 Longstreet. 9.30 London. 9.40 Julie Andrews. 10.40 11.35 11.30 Gordon Bailey. Film: Sheriff'. Weather. ULSTER: 10.10 Look up. 10.30 Sesame street. 11.30 Thunderbirds. Beverly 12.30 London. 5.15 Sports. 5.45 hillbillies. 6.15 Who do you do? 6.45 On the buses. 7.15 Film: *Dangerous Crossing'. 8.30 London. 9.40 Long- 11.25 Kreskin. street. 10.40 Parade. YORKSHIRE: 9.15 Looking at Tom 10.10 9.40 Foreign flavour. 10.35 Elephant boy. 11.05 foolery. Abbott Costello. 12.30 London. and 5.15 UFO. 6.15 Who do you do? 6.45 7.40 'Geronimo'. Persuaders. Film: 9.30 London. 9.40 Julie Andrews. 10.40 Parade. 11.20 To see ourselves. 11.50 Dr. Simon Locke. 12.20 Weather.

BBC 1

9.00 Nai zindagi naya jeevan. 9.30 Repondez s'il 10.00-10.25 vous Avventura, 12.50 Farming.

believing. in Britain. 1.30 Parents and children. 1.55 News headlines. Weather• Lewis 2.00 Along the river. 2.15 Shari show. 2.25 Animal game. 2.55 French way. 3.25 Bird's eye view. 4.15 Film: "Devil on Horseback'. Googie Withers, McCallum, Jeremy Spenser. NEE SUNDAY DEBATE. The 6.15

THE

SUNDAY

Distribution Wealth. Frederick former Catherwood* Anthony director NEDC and Oxford Quinton, tutor, put their views. 6.50

SONGS

OF PRAISE.

7.25

THE

BROTHERS. A

Marriage is Arranged. Emrys James, Ronnle Barker in 'I'll Fly Y

BBC 2

8.55-1.30 Open University. 4.25 Money at work. 5.25 Horizon. 6.15 NEWS REVIEW. Weather.

6.50 NEWS SUMMARY. Weather.

6.55 R. S. THOMAS. Priest and Po et. 7.25

THE WORLD ABOUT US.

Through the Gates of Hell.

Transnavigation of British Columbia. SEVEN OF ONE. Ronnie 8.15 Barker. 8.45

THE WEISS DUO.

Sidney Weiss (violin), Jeanne Weiss Suk, Vitali, (piano), play Beethoven, Walton. THE PEARCROSS GIRLS. Sad 9.40 Helen. With Penelope Wilton.

THEY SOLD A MILLION. The Young Generation and Vince Richard, Julie Hill with Cliff 11.15 NEWS ON 2. Weather.

REGIONAL TV

CHANNEL: 11.30-1.00 London.

2.13 Weather. 3.15 Film: 2.15 London. •Prince of Pirates'. 4.40 Golden shot.

5.35 Flaxton boys. 6.05 London. 7.25 "Dingaka. On the 7.55 Film: buses. 9.30 London. 12.10 Epilogue.

WESTWARD.

As Channel except: 9.30 London. 10.30 All our yesterdays.

Tom- 11.00 Gus Honeybun. 11.05 Talking hands. 1.15 foolery. 1.00 Branded. 1.45 Farm and country news.

1.55 Acres for profit. 12.10 Faith fol life. 12.15 Weather. SOUTHERN: 9.30 London. 10.30 Farm 10.55 Weather. 11.00 World progress. War One. 11.30 London. 1.00 Super- man 1.20 Lucy. 1.50 Jimmy Stewart. 2.15 London. 3.15 University challenge.

3.45 Cartoons. 4.00 Parade shot. 4.50 Parade. 5.30 News. 5.35 Flaxton boys.

6.05 London. 7.25 On the buses. 7.55 Film: "Return to Peyton Place'. 10.00 London. 12.15 Weather. Guideline.

HARLECH: 9.30 London. 10.35 Farm- diary. 11.00 Angling today.

11.30 ing University London. 1.00 challenge. Bunny. 2.15 1.30 Drive-in. 2.00 Bugs The Huggetts London. 3.15 Film: Golden shot. 5.35 4.40 7.25 On Flaxton 6.05 London. buses. 'Carnival of Thieves'. 10.00 London. 12.15 Weather.

Cymru/Wales as above except:

HTV

6.40-7.00 Swn y jiwbili. ANGLIA: 9.30 London. 10.30 Circus.

10.55 Doris Day. 11.20 Cartoons. 11.30 London. 1.00 Champions. 1.50 Weather trees. Me 1.55 Farming. 2.30 Film: Show'. •Meet After the 3.55 Match of the week. 4.40 Golden shot.

boys. 6.05 London. 7.25 5.35 Flaxton "The Con- On the buses. 6.55 Film: Altona'. 10.00 London. demned of 12.15 Bible. ATV MIDLANDS: 9.30 London. 10.30 11.00 Farming All our yesterdays. today. 11.30 London Film: 1.00 Champions. •Dangerous 2.00 Socrer. 3.00 Moonlight'. 4.40 Golden shot. 5.35 "around

GRANADA:

9.15 Jobs the flavour. 10.05 You house. 9.40 Foreign and your golf. 10.35 Sesame street.

11.35 Follyfoot. 12.00 Huckleberry Finn. 12.30 London. 5.20 Big valley.

Film: Big Deal at Dodge City'. 6.15 8.00 Who do you do? 8.30 Longstreet.

9.30 London. 9.40 Julie Andrews. 10.40 Parade. 11.20 Film: Night Monster'. 12.40 Seaway.

TYNE

TEES: 9.15

Wildlife theatre. flavour. 10.10 Tom- 9.40 Foreign 10.35 Joe 90. 11.05 Abbott toolery. and Costello. 12.30 London. 5.15 UFO.

6.15 Who do you do? 6.45 Persuad- "Gardres: 10:30 9.30 ers. 7.40 Film: London. Andrews. 9.40 Julie Parade. 11.30 Challenge. 12.25 Lectern.

VAT 73.

GRAMPIAN:

10.45 11.15 friends. Jackson five. 11.45. Ron and 1.30 London. 5.20 UFO. 6.15 Who do Sky's the limit. 7.15 6.45 you do! Dakotas'. Film: "The Black 8.30 London. 9.40 Longstreet. 10.40 Parade.

11.20 Lucy show. 11.50 VAT 73.

SUNDAY TV

8.15 FILM:

"THE GRAPES

OF WRATH • Henry fonda, ane Carradine Charley Grapewin, John Charley Dorris Bowdon. John Ford's adapta- the John Steinbeck tion novel about a family of share- croppers forced off their land.

10.20 NEWS. Weather. 10.30

FIDELIO FINKE, WHERE ARE

YOU NOW? Omnibus investi- gation of musical unknowns who were considered geniuses

KENNETHY HARRIS

11.25

KENNETH

INTER-

VIEWS.

million- jero bassetti, ire member of Italy's indus.

trial aristocracy. 12.10 Weather. n I'll Fly You for a Quid, BBC 2.

ITV

10.35 AF? 11:30 9.30 Were you there?

10.35 UFO.

Weekend world. 1.00 Thunderbirds. 1.50 Look up. 2.15 O'Hara US treasury. Big match. 3.15 4.35 shot. 5.30 Parade. Ye Golden Mountain. shot. 5.30 Rain With Japanese percussionist Stomu Yamash'ta.

NEWS.

6.05

ADAM SMITH.

6.15

THE SUNDAY

QUIZ.

6.40

SONGS

THAT MATTER.

7.00 7.25

WHO DO YOU DO?

7.55

FILM:

'REVENGE'.

IlmShelley Winters, Bradford Dillman.

young couple are imprisoned by deranged woman a dun- geon. 9.20

POLICE FIVE EXTRA.

9.30

THE

UPPER

CRUSTS. A

Tradition of Service. 10.00

NEWS.

PLAY: •PLEASED TO MEET

10.15 YOU'. Barry Foster, Janet Key, MicROST PROGRAMME. 11.15

THE

FROST

David Frost.

PRIORITIES,

Howard Root 12.15 talks to Bernard Heyhoe. 12.20 The

JUSTICE.

SCALES

OF Material Witness. 6.05 London. 7.25 On Flaxton boys. the buses. 7.55 Film: 'Life at the Top'.

10.00 London. ULSTER: 11.00 VAT 73. 11.30 London.

1.00 Foreign flavour. 1.30 Jobs around Pebbles the house. 1.55 and bamm bamm. 2.15 London. 3.15 Film: 'Cruisin' Down the River'. 4.40 Golden shot. 5.35 Flaxton boys. 6.05 London. 7.23 Sports results. 7.25 Film: "The Hallelujah Trail'. 10.00 London.

YORKSHIRE: 9.20 Chess masterpieces.

9.30 London. 10.30 Untamed world. 11.00 Partners. 11.30 London. 1.00 Farming 1.55 Calendar outlook. 1.25 'State Fair: 4.45 Soccer. 2.50 Film: •State Golden shot. 5.35 Flaxton boys. 6.05 London. 7.25 On the buses. 7.55 Film: 'A High Wind in Jamaica'. 9.50 Cartoon. 10.00 London. 12.15 Shirley's world. 12.45 Weather. GRANADA: 9.30 London. 10.35 Un- tamed world. 11.00 Time to remem- ber. 11.30 London. 12.55 Saint. 1.55 On the line. 2.25 Football. 3.20 Film: *The Name of the Game'. 4.40 Golden shot. 5.35 Flaxton boys. 6.05 London. 7.25 On the buses. 7.55 Film: "Sands of the Kalahari'. 1.00 London.

TYNE TEES: 9.20 Chess masterpieces.

9.30 London. 10.30 Jobs around the house. 11.00 Ugliest girl in town. 11.30 London. 1.00 Farming outlook. 1.25 World War I. 1.50 Where the jobs are. 1.55 Big match. 2.50 Film: "The Lady is a Square', 4.45 Golden shot.

5.35 Flaxton boys. 6.05 London. 7.25 On the •Murderers buses. 7.55 Film: Row'. 10.00 London. 12.15 Dr. Simon Locke. 12.40 Lectern.

GRAMPIAN: 11.00

Farm progress. London. 11.30 1.00 Foreign flavour. 1.30 Jobs around the house. 2.00 Sport. 3.25 Film: Tarzan and the Amazons'. 4.40 Golden shot. 5.35 Flaxton boys. 6.05 London. 7.25 On the buses. 7.55 Film: 'Bonnie Prince Charlie. 10.00 London.

Scan page 13

STEELWORKERS at the Craig- neuk steelworks at Motherwell are to stay on strike indefinitely.

The 1,400 men are out in pro test against a proposed rundown in the works. Tom Robertson, secretary of the trade union combine com- mittee, which 14 represents unions, said: 'We are against the transfer of jobs. 'We have been waiting for three months for a document

SLL LECTURE

SERIES

The Socialist Revolution in Britain Middleton (nr Manchester) Langley Community Centre Middleton 4 p.m. Sundays: March 25 April 1 and 8 Lectures given by Cliff Slaughter • (SLL Central Committee) The Socialist Revolution in Britain: 1. Political tasks facing the British working class. Marxism and the revolutionary role of the working class. Lessons. of of the working the history class in Britain. 2. The roots of capitalist crisis: Marxism and the contra- dictions of capitalism. Britain and the world crisis. 3. The state and revolution.

Reformism and revolution in Britain. The fight for democra- tic rights today means prepar- ing for working-class power.

Basic reading: for transforming Perspectives the SLL into a revolutionary party. Marxist Analysis of the Crisis.

Problems of the British Revo- lution (Trotsky). Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth Inter- national, Communist Manifesto.

'Forward to the Revolutionary Party! LEWISHAM: Monday March 26, 8 p.m. Deptford Engineers Club, Road. 'Build New Cross Councils of Action'. WANDSWORTH: Monday March 26, 8 p.m. Kings Arms, High Road, SW18. 'The Fight against Stalinism'. WATFORD: Monday March 26, 8 p.m. Trade Union Hall, Wood- lands Road, near Watford Junction. ABERDEEN: Monday March 26, 8 p.m. West Front Room, Music Hall, Union Street. DUNDEE: Tuesday March 27, 7.30 p.m. YMCA, Constitution Road.

DEMONSTRATION

• Halt rising prices and rents.

Force the Tories to resign.

• Elect a Labour government pledged to socialist policles and to restore democratic rights. • Victory to gasmen, civil serv- ants, hospital workers, teach.

car ers, railwaymen and workers.

SATURDAY MARCH 24

Assemble: 10.30 a.m. Corner of Cray Avenue and Orpington High Street. Socialist Labour League

PUBLIC MEETINGS

The Road to Workers' Power Build the revolutionary party

LIVERPOOL

Sunday March 25, 7.30 p.m.

Mona Hotel, James St (entrance at back Moor St)

PRESTON

Sunday March 25, 8 p.m. Windsor Castle Hotel, Egan Street which the BSC has promised us.

It tells us the future programme for the forges, foundries and engineering group' They feel management should immediately stop the contracting- out of the accounting system which they are proposing to transfer to Sheffield. THE expected announcement from liquidator Patrick Gran- White on the ville fate. of Briant Colour Printing's Old Kent Road factory has been postponed. Spokesman H. B. Blandford Baker disclosed he had that further talks with potential buyer Peter Bentley this week but that there were still matters requiring further discussion. Last Thursday he warned that his patience was becoming ex- hausted and said that a deal would be completed within 48 working hours. The difficulty appears to be that the liquidator is not satis- fied with the financial backing Mr Bentley has obtained. Yesterday a spokesman said that negotiations had reached a delicate point and that Mr Bent- ley was not in a position to comment. Firmer action planned to win

WOMEN

workers at the Empire Pool, Blackpool, today enter the seventh week of their strike for union recognition.

The girls, about 80 of them, are out solid and only four have gone back since the strike began.

The management refusing to talk to the strikers and every weekend are bringing in scab labour of students and civil ser- vants to check the pools.

with dogs The police are down at the factory every Satur- day to protect the scab workers as they enter the factory.

The striking women are de- manding to belöng to the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers. from Duple's, the Workers coach builders, come down every weekend. Following the regional conference of the Labour Party in Blackpool recently a total of two delegates came down to join the picket line. Mrs Barbara Fitzpatrick said: "This ladylike business has got us nowhere. The time has come for firmer action. 'The USDAW officials say they have tried everything they know to make the strike succeed.

'On Saturday students from Poulton College are going to join the picket line in opposition to the students who are strike- breaking'.

ATUA

Central London branch Censorship, the media and the Tory government. Chairman : Royston Bull Speakers: Stuart Hood, David Maude and other speakers from Fleet Street and ITV to be an- nounced. London Film School, Floral Street, Covent Garden. Sunday April 1, 7 p.m.

PAPERBACKS CENTRE

is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today -for all your books, peri- odicals and newspapers. 28 Charlotte St London W1.

DVID BRANCH -

INPUT CLERICAL

ON SIR

CIVIL SERVICE union mem- bers at the motor vehicle licensing centre in Swansea are in the second week of their selective departmental.

strikes against the Tory pay laws. This week the members in the data conversion section, and the computer operators, are out in dispute. All mail (estimated to be 10,000 items a day) is being turned back by the pickets. This action has received full co-oper- ation from the local postal work- ers' union branch. Last week management tried to use the union's policy of sel- ective tactics to break the strike.

They asked union members working in the centre to do work of the strikers. These members refused and were promptly threatened with suspension of pay and dismissal.

Officials of the Clerical and Public Services Association threatened to call everybody out unless the management with- drew the notices. The manage- ment then backed down. Nevertheless the lack of strong leadership from the CPSA offi- cials shown in the dispute has left its mark. Not one member of the picket line would be individually photographed or have his name quoted for fear of victimization. Civil servants are angry at being behind the national stan- dard of living for the past two and their last rise only years, being 74 per cent. 'I'm 22 years old, married with a heavy mortgage and I take home : £94 monthly which in- cludes the shift allowance,' one striker told Workers Press.

'My wife has got to stay at work and therefore can't we afford to bring up a family. The government's offer of f1.48 is out of the question.' PULVIO GRIMALDI, editor of the Italian left-wing daily 'Lotta Continua', is on trial in Milan. The newspaper is accused of slandering the government, armed forces and the judiciary.

The prosecuting magistrate calling for a sentence of seven months' imprisonment for Grimaldi. His defence has been prevented from presenting evi- dence proving that government ministers have links with the Mafia and the Italian fascist movement. Workers Press, Saturday March 24, 1973 PAGE 11 Civll servants' pickets out at Swansea Subscribe now!

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SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL 14 & I5, WINTER GARDENS, BLACKPOOL 'PAGE 12 Workers Press, Saturday March

STEPHEN JOHNS

at Lofthouse Colliery THE MINERS' union may call for changes in regulations which control mining near abandoned colleries because of the Lofthouse pit disaster. Arthur Scargill, area secre- tary of the NUM, told me yesterday: "There are a num- ber of disturbing features about this disaster which must be avoided in the future.

'There are many other pits in the same situation as this one but no one knew about these things until this happened here.

'We will be making a full statement when the facts are fully - known. Our own mining engineers have been investigating all of this disaster for aspects this purpose' The from • Mr statement Scargill-made minutes before he went underground to join the final stages of the rescue opera- tion-was the first public sign of concern from the union over the circumstances surrounding the disaster. Up until now they have said little or nothing, leaving explan- ations to NCB officials. But as the shock of the disaster wears off miners at Lofthouse are be- ginning to ask why the NCB was 'stealing' so dangerously coal near to old workings. Because it is now clear that FOR Gordon Brady, Loft- house pit disaster was a personal blow. One of the missing Colin men, his Barnaby, close was friend. 'He was a nice lad—not a lad really, a man. We were drinking mates. who has worked Gordon, Lofthouse underground at since 1968, was at home when he heard the news of the dis- aster. I ran out to the wife in garden, "There's been a ', I said and disaster at our pit" we went in the house to listen to the news. •I didn't know what to say.

I was upset and tears coming into my eyes when I knew. ' I thought, "What must the relatives be feeling"? Gordon told me about the DAY and night shifts on the engine assembly plant at Ford's Dagenham walked out yesterday over their claim for doubled rest periods. At present they get a ten-minute break in the morning and another ten minutes in the afternoon.

The workers were incensed when stewards told them that the management was treating their claim 'with contempt be- cause the engine assembly men had refused to take action in the past. Between 1,500 and 2,000 involved and they men are remain on strike until will

SATURDAY AND

day March 24, 1973 the board decision to mine in an of inadequately mapped area old workings was the main cause of the disaster. Experts now say privately that the flooding seems to have occur- red when "pillar' of coal round a disused shaft collapsed into flooded 19th century work- ings. Water was displaced and the massive increase in pressure burst open the S9B face on the seam where miners Flockton working on Wednesday were morning. The NCB say they were min- ing well below the old workings.

But this has proved incorrect.

One of the five shafts which have now appeared on the sur- face near Lofthouse goes well below the Flockton seam, which is 750 fect below ground. Norm- ally test drillings are made when approaches old workings a face but this did not occur on S9B.

One miner who would not be named summed up the feeling yesterday. "They tried to hide the truth from the men about low earnings by getting wages boosted by high productivity and overtime.

'You drive out the face-no really where it cares one long as the coal is going SO fetched up. Then something like this happens. 'But it's too late to get the facts now. The horse has already bolted.' • Miners and families at the pit- silently watched yesterday head premier Heath, flanked by as police and security men, visited the colliery. He spoke to officials and relatives before leaving in an RAF jet. conditions at Lofthouse. 'Some of the faces are awful. There's by the old one face over Ardsley pit-that pit's water- logged to. And they're work- the other side the ing Flockton seam near to it.

"The worst face I've been on is the Beeston. It's very rough.

They've hit a fault and the roads to the face are steep and the ceiling is low in some places. 'Lofthouse is a dry pit. This means there's a lot of dust. On the Beeston it's very hot and so dusty you can hardly breath. You sweat buckets at the tailgate. 'I don't think we get enough money at all. We should get just as what we do now danger money. You can under- stand why the miners went on strike last year when you see things like this? Tuesday when they morning will begin an overtime ban.

Meanwhile Ford unions met management again over their £IO claim. • Vauxhall Motors kept strictly in line with the state wage control guidelines when offering 27,000 workers a £2.40 a week increase and no cut in hours or extra holidays. , The unions have demanded a 'sub- stantial' wage rise, a 35-hour week, and four weeks' annual holiday paid at time and a half.

rates at Vauxhall Current according to management are £29.60 a week for labourers, for production work- £34.00 ers, and £38.60 for skilled men.

Lotthouse Colliery miners wait at the pi IN A tersely-worded state- ment-and after two days of talks— the Provisional Sinn Fein yesterday categorically rejected the terms of White- law's Ulster White Paper.

They repeated their call for Ulster parliament based an on the historic nine counties of Northern Ireland, and said the Republican movement would continue to work towards that goal 'by means of political action'. If the British government were serious in securing a political solution then it would remove all restrictions forth- with on the Sinn Fein political organization,' the Provisionals said in a statement issued by their publicity organization, the Irish Republican Publicity Bureau. 'British soldiers continue to shoot innocent people, homes are raided night and day and the jails and internment camps con- tinue to fill. 'In the face of such oppression, the Irish Republican Army has no option but to continue the campaign of armed resistance in the North. "The British White Paper leaves us with no other choice.

We regret the British govern- ment did not avail itself of the many opportunities presented to it to bring the conflict between our two countries to an honourable end.' Two main arguments emerged in the discussions between mem- bers of the leadership in Dublin and Belfast. One side wanted to continue the campaign and said any cease- fire had been used against the in the The movement past. opposing wing of the movement considered it was time to trans- fer the battle from the streets to the political ring in a bid to gain Catholic power through the proposed new assembly Northern Ireland. The This statement says: generation has endured too much to settle for a solution which disaster of would repeat the 192l. 'We owe it to those who have died to complete the task they nobly served. Previous genera- tions have failed-we must not.'

It went on: 'The White Paper demonstates once more the total inability of British politicians to understand, the aspirations at the pithead for news of the rescue operatio the Irish people as a whole, and the deeply-felt desire for self- determination manifested by the major communities which con- stitute our nation. Acceptance of Britain's proposals will ensure a continuation of strife in our country and a strengthening of British rule.' The Provisionals said that 18 months ago they asked Britain publicly acknowledge the to right of the Irish people to self- Britain had determination. But refused the White and Paper proposal giving the Westminster parliament_ legislative powers Northern Ireland 'alone nullifies the whole British initiative'.

The Provisionals said the White Paper came nowhere near the 'realistic criteria for a last- peace laid down by us and Ing consistently adhered to', and as such 'must be rejected'. Proposals for a new Stormont 'artificiality' highlighted the of signed to secure poker-sharing.

to secure power-sharing required the acceptance of an English politician virtual as dictator of the six counties.

The Provisionals said a united nine-county Ulster of the type they sought was feasible and meaningful for both Loyalists and Republicans. It could establish a new society ensuring a way of life where people could live with- out the threat of violence and sectarianism. Just as predictably the Provos opportunistically welcomed the new loyalist front led by Paisley and Craig. What they hoped to gain from such an improbable alliance-except a common dis- like of Whitelaw-they did not state. The Sinn Fein statement com- bined with the truculence of the loyalists could well render Whitelaw's plans abortive.

At present Whitelaw has to rely on the collaborators of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and a Unionist remnant led by Faulkner. By relying on this motley Whitelaw can be assortment certain that the next executive and will be unrepresentative completely powerless and obedient to the will of White- law and Her Majesty's army.

FOR DETAILS

TELEPHONE

01-622 7029

DENS, BLACKPOOL

e operation. The utterly Bonapartist nature of the new constitutional pro.

posals paradoxically, was, Capt John re- vealed by Brook, Unionist Chief Whip,. who ex- plained that no provisions had for the been made dissolution of the legislature if it failed to sustain the executive. The British Labour Party's attitude to the White Paper— announced by Merlyn Rees in Cardiff yesterday-is an exercise in hypocracy. announced they Mr Rees would support the White Paper way while scrutinizing all the "carefully' the Diplock Com- mission's recommendations which will replace the Special Powers Act as well as other aspects of the legislature. Party The British Labour leadership is determined to use the resistance of the Republican opposition even if this means strengthening the Bonapartist around their own necks. noose Rees' statement reveals the urgent necessity to step up the against the right-wing Labour traitors and to fight for the election of a Labour govern- ment which must be forced to withdraw troops from Ulster -unconditionally.

MARCH FUND

NEEDS £997.57

IN ONLY

THE FIGHT is on. This Is our very last weekend to collect most of the remaining £997.57 to complete our £1,750 target.

It must be all stops out be- tween now and Monday to raise most of this amount.

We must do it! At a time when feelings are growing amongst hospital workers, gasmen, teachers and miners for an all out fight against the Tories, the TUC can only offer 'warm support to these struggles. Only our paper fights for such a policy every day. We appeal therefore to you, dear readers, do not let the cam- paign for our Fund slacken for one moment. We still have eight days to collect our So - raise extra target. amounts, take special collec- tions at work-light in every Rush way for your paper. every donation Immediately to: Workers Press March Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG Rost orde Published the a newspaper at Workers Post Office. by Press. 186a Clapham High Street, 7UG. Printed Plough 01-622 7079.

← no. 1029, 23 March 1973no. 1031, 26 March 1973 →