Workers Press no. 1045

workers press INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 1973• No 1045 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

KEY DEBATE AT AUEW CONFERENCE

£100,000 PARTY

DANGER OF

BUILDING FUND

NINTH DAY £1,237.90

A SLIGHT improvement. Paddington of the Socialist Labour League branch sent 250. A group of six readers in a west London engineering works £8.90. Many

ENGINEERS'

thanks. Now for the big break. A reader has the offered to double fund if we reach £2,000 by Tuesday April 17. This is a real challenge. Can it be done? Post all dona- tions to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG

PAY CLIMB-DOWN

From Stephen Johns in Torquay Electricity Scanion A KEY BATTLE on pay is likely to pay talks break out at the engineers policy- must are lobbied making conference in Torquay today.

retract Twelve of the union's 26 divisions represented at the AUEW national committee want the union to demand a £15 wage increase and a 35-hour week CHISWICK No 5 branch

NALGO

after August this year. of the Amalgamated

INDIFFEREN

Union of Engineering But the Birmingham division union is leading of the Workers has a revolt against what NO

SHOCKS

unanimously to call considers 'unreasonable' The "hardline' president pay claims. resolution union Hugh

N.J.C.

ELECTRICI

JUSTICE

makes of last Scanlon his to retract They would like to plant-by-plant wages veat's

STAFF

offer of a deal with the £5-a-week increase and other struggle which led to

R. I.P.

COUNCI

Tory government. areas merely call for the claim collapse "substantial rise'. Da y and Shorter The resolution states:

NEVER

working week. total of eight divisions This branch calls upon are in favour of these more It outlaws all productivity 'moderate' demands, a further strings and demands that a president, Brother Our

ACCEPT

Hugh Scanlon, to retract the uncommitted. special committee SIx dre statements made be called to discuss pay be- The revolt follows the

TAKE

LOtt Tory Press last week. fore any offer is accepted. warning from engineers

LOW

president Hugh Scanlon on These statements are no- If this claim adopted, attacked thing less than a blatant Monday when he the union would be demand- betrayal of our union's over-ambitious ing £40 a week for a skilled Day clalls

GOVERNMENT

ACTION

because of the government's engineer and pro which hundreds cata

POLICY.

thousands our members state pay laws. creases for lower-paid grades have loyally supported. issue is, how- The whole Key political questions

OFFERS

To offer talks on amend. ever, somewnat academic wnich such a pay onensive ments the Industrial would raise, left In August workers in the off the agenda for the AUEW

~ NOW

all the Ke atons act after engineering industry W1|| actions our members have to £3 on their national conference later this receive up been engaged in before and year. which is the final DasiC TaLe alter unese ant race umon stage of the pay agreement These include a resolution measures became law, is an signed last year. from the south-east which insult. for a campaign within Under the government's calls While food prices are the TUC to force the resig.

ay laws no further increases nation of the Tory govern- rocketing our president talks will be allowed. ment and its replacement about "going into The main issue therefore.

Europe'. is whether the union-what- to socialist policies. Our union has suffered claim it decides

CYCE

heavy financial loss Two other key issues have do aue Wi De LO still to be decided. our fight against the lory battle with the Tory govern- union laws and our mem is the ment. One union's policy bers have understood and the this reso the government's pay "hardlinen But accepted this price Ine laws. resolution of principled opposition.

leaves a loophole for the Motion positedi were bee Now our president has leadership. composited surrendered the Tory Committee merely calls for pursuit public campaign slanals last night. This be Tenter of the claim to mobilize the One resolution, again from

MEMBERS

the Na- Industry, has put in tional electricity com- membership for national in- the Kent demands that area, claim for a 'substantial' tional Association of movement mittee dustrial action if necessary.

off con- union leaders break Offi- rise. They said that at a Local Government destroyed anu rebaccas meeting of the commit Demands for national Tact with une nearn covern- employed cers the The claim has come Ine corporate state wherein ment so long as repressive on February 7 strike action if emplovers do tee the government will deter- electricity industry yes- under the hammer legislation' remains the on meet the claim in been mine all workers' not decision book. pay ine ories state See composite ely se SLaLULC by conditions and pay. borders better Yesterday premier Heath wages Increase above Embank- Hugh names NALGO men in the in Sents Chrisineers from the welcomed conference Scanion's Stancini plus 4 per cent. ment. Committee shared between conciliatory about dustry. resents engineers from speeches the Party

NALGO,

The lobbyists spoke They simply decided giant CAV plant at Acton Communist with the Torie! (aIKS 50,000 and bitterly about the to 'play it by ear, one and clerical union Engiheering ert-wink Laccon

DUTTCY

200

TURN TO BACK PAGE

leadership the said. London Transport. right wing. staff in the

workers press INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 1973 • No 1045 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

KEY DEBATE AT AUEW CONFERENCE

€100,000 PARTY

DANGER OF

BUILDING FUND

NINTH DAY £1,237.90

A SLIGHT improvement. Paddington branch of the Socialist Labour League sent £50. A group of six readers in a west London engineering works £8.90. Many

ENGINEERS'

thanks. Now for the big break. A reader has offered to double the fund if we reach £2,000 by Tuesday April 17. This is a real challenge. Can it be done? Post all dona- tions to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG

PAY CLIMB-DOWN

From Stephen Johns in Torquay Electricity Scanlon A KEY BATTLE ổn pay is likely to pay talks break out at the engineers policy.

must are lobbied making conference in Torquay today.

retract Twelve of the union's 26 divisions represented at the AUEW national committee the union to want 35-hour demand a £15 wage increase and week CHISWICK No 5 branch

NALCO

after August this year. of the Amalgamated

INDIFFEREN

Union of Engineering But the Birmingham division of the is leading union Workers has a revolt against what

SHOCKS

NO unanimously to call considers ' unreasonable'

JUSTICE

The 'hardline' pay claims. resolution union president Hugh

N.J.C.

ELECTRICI

mention Scanlon his Hakes to retract They would like to wages vear s plant-by-plant

STAFF

offer of a deal with the £5-a-week increase and other struggle which led to

R. I.P.

Tory government. areas merely call for of claim

COUNCI

collapse the 'substantial rise'. shorter The resolution states:

NEVER

working week. total of eight divisions ( This branch calls are in favour cot tnese more It outlaws all productivity 'moderate' demands, a further our president, Brother strings and demands that a

ACCEPT

Hugh Scanlon, to retract the uncommitted. special Six dic committed he made be called to discuss pay The revolt follows the staticall lott

TAK

Tory Press last week, fore warning from engineers

LOW

president Hugh Scanlon on statements are If this claim adopted, attacked thing less than blatant Monday when the union would be demand- he betrayal of our ing f40 a week for a skilled over-amoluous Callis

GOVERNMENT

because of the government's engineer pro in- which hundreds

ACTI

thousands our members state pay laws. creases for lower-paid grades of have loyally supported. The whole issue is, how- Key political

OFFERS

questions To offer talks on amend- ever, somewhat acduellic.

wnich such a pay •tensive would raise, have been left Mells maustral In August workers in the off the agenda for the

AUEW

NOW

after all the he allons Act engineering industry W1l! actions our members have £3 on their receive up to nauona conterence later us been engaged in before and year. which is the final basic lale alter these an race union stage of the pay agreement These include a resolution measures became law, is an signed last year. from the south-east which insult. Under the government's for a campaign within Calls While food prices are pay laws no further increases the TUC to force the resig.

nation of the Tory rocketing our president talks will be allowed. ment and its replacement about 'going into Europe. in man sue. Thererore a Labour government pledged is whether the union-what- to socialist policies. Our union has suffered claim it decides on- CYCl heavy Two other key issues have hnancial loss out

COMMLLCO

LO T

fight still to be decided. Tory

OUT

• against the battle with the Tory govern- laws and our mem- ment. One is the union's policy bers have understood and the the government's pay But on this, even this price accested Ine laws. 'hardline' of principled opposition.

leaves a loophole for Motions on this were be- Now our president has leadership. composited by the ing surrendered Tory the Committee calls pursuit Standing merely UrucIs last night. public campaign This be

THISE

One resolution, again from

MEMBERS

ot the caim to mobile the Na- Industry, has put in tional electricity com- halted or the entire trade membership for national in- the Kent area, demands that claim for a 'substantial' tional Association of movement will be dustrial action if necessary'.

union leaders break off con- Offl. rise. They said that at a Local Government destroyed meeting of the commit Demands for national cers employed the The claim state wherein has come Lie corporate ment so long as 'repressive tee February 7 strike action if emolovers do the government will deter- electricity industry under hammer legislation' the yes- remains on

TUTE

meet the claim in been all workers' not mine the state pay book. ores She compositing by the taken to london for Slalulc conditions and pay. by Tower for Yesterday premier Heath increase above Orders Hugh NALGO men in the in The Chiswick branch rep- welcomed conference Scanlon's standing 4 per ment. plus cent. Committee shared between conciliatory speeches about dustry. engineers from Communist Party and

NALGO,

The lobbyists spoke They simply giant

CAV

plant Acton, the with decided at Lorie! Laks 50,000 and bitterly about the 'play it by ear', one and the clerical union 10 and Engiheering lacuo

TURN TO BACK PAGE

the said. London Transport. right wing. ministrative stan in the

What we think Palestinians unprepared for imperialist attack PAGE 2 Workers Press, Wednesday April 11, 1973

HUGH SCANLON,

engineers' president, is talking a lot, but underneath all. the verbage, Scanlon is deliberately avoiding dealing with two most vital questions. The first question is: Who handed the Tories their 'temporary victory' which this 'left' has conceded to Heath? Secondly, just in what way has Scanlon been 'distorted' about the proposals he is making for a deal with the Tory government?

Scanlon is a great conceder of victories. About 20 months during the fight against the ago, Relations Bill, he pronounced: 'It's Industrial too late now. We've crossed the Rubicon. The Bill will become an Act.'

At the heart of this tactic, there is just one basic Defeatism. Scanion will put up a show content. of fighting for just so long. After a decent interval, he then thinks it opportune to throw in the towel. This is never put forward in the form of a direct challenge to union policy. Always, Scanlon is careful to repeat what the official line is and to will remain so until the members that it say decide otherwise. But then comes the thinly-veiled suggestion that the position is 'a hopeless one and that the union would be best advised to seek a com- promise solution. It is a deception by Scanlon to talk of the Tory say no more about it. He 'victory' and then does not want the important questions that this 'victory' raises to be analysed because he has no interest whatsoever in changing the situation.

Scanlon does not want to fight the government.

He said 'It's too late now', , even before the Bill became the Industrial Relations Act. Later line with the Act' 'complete non-co-operation bent sufficiently to allow the National Industrial Relations Court to exact £60,000 out of the AUEW coffers without a murmur.

Now his proposal is that, given a couple of trivial support a deal with the amendments, he will Tory government even though the Act remains.

The same goes for the Common Market and the state control of wages. to fight showed clearly Scanlon's unwillingness through his remarks to the national committee on pay. 'Our own agreement expires in August. this body will have the responsibility and of not only the type of application determining which is to be made, but to recognize that we will inevitably be involved in a fight with the government if you insist on a settlement irrespec.

tive of the limits of the present legislation.'

Scanlon concedes the victory to the Tories, and then proceeds to spell out its significance to his members. But not a word on how the fight of the state control wages has been against the mistakes have been that conducted; what have caused this fight to be severely handicapped; what needs to be done to reorganize the struggle to win. does not want to know. Not least, of Scanlon because his has been the key role in course, organizing the defeat of the strike movement.

Jack Jones, and Victor Feather first of all He, tried to settle a voluntary wage control deal with the Tories. Then they delayed recalling Congress when this failed and laws were introduced. Next they sabotaged that Congress by first of all not amendments and then, allowing resolutions or when they were repudiated, introducing a soft- protest motion to head off the line, one-day General Strike call. Scanlon's role can now be seen for what it is consciously to head off any revolutionary develop- ments before they happen.

That was his role during last vear's engineering when, instead of coming out pay dispute on the which strike at the same time as miners, would have brought the government to its knees Scanlon spun negotiations very rapidly, out the all spring and summer on the fraudulent local- bargaining' tactic before conceding yet another 'victory' to the employers and accepting 8 per cent. Scanlon's latest capitulation is to the Tory pay laws in respect of the hospital workers' dispute. He supports the sell-out of the March 5 Congress to "co-ordinate action' in support of decision unions in struggle against fl plus 4 per cent.

'victory' (See hospitals story D. 12.) Another easily conceded. As for the 'distortion', let Scanlon categorically repudiate the proposals to accept the Common Market, tolerate the Act if it is amended, and live with the principle of state control of wages.

'distortion' He cannot. His Torquay speech at once again carefully left his own position out of the discussion. All he said was: 'We must reiterate our intention, duty, to maintain the rights of the indeed our rank and file to determine the policy our union will pursue, and the right, under free collective bargaining, to establish by voluntary means with the employers the fruits of that policy.

That merely states the rank and file's rights under rule. union But what Scanlon wants to do is limit the next wage claim, accept the Common Market, amend Act, and make the hospital workers the the last exception to the fl plus 4 per cent pay laws.

Scanlon's is a policy of complete capitulation all along the line. All the time he remains an influential trade union leader, the Tories will get any number of easy 'victories'.

ELEVEN people, among th the Palestinian guerilla mo by Israeli commandos who Beirut early yesterday morn The Israeli troops dressed as hippies, made a night landing and drove to the homes of their vic- tims. They also struck at the Beirut headquarters of the Popular Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and blew it up. The dead Palestinian lead- ers were Kamal Adwan and Mohammed Youssef Najjar (Abu Youssef), both senior members of Fatah. Kamal Nasser, official spokesman of the Palestine resistance movement, was also killed. Thieu here to thank the Tories SOUTH Vietnamese presl- dent Nguyen Van Thieu, in Britain yesterday to thank the Tory government for supporting his dictatorial re- gime, is a creature of American imperialism. Since he took office in 1967 Thieu has unfailingly carried out the requirements Washington, bombing, of burning, torturing and mas- sacring his compatriots to maintain the rule of the al- mighty dollar. He is on his way back to Saigon from a visit to the United States, where he fought hard to ensure that American aid will continue to flood into South Vietnam's coffers. Thieu has no popular base in the country and rules by THE VISIT to London of Abbas Hoveida, prime min- aroused ister of Iran, has protests from Iranian stu- dents and from a group of Labour MPs. The MPs cited the death sentence passed on student Mostapha Khosdil, the mas- sacre of 16 students on uni- versity campuses short a time closing of the ago, Iranian universities and the detention of 100 students.

The protest, supported by 18 MPs, including Coventry MP William Wilson South and two frontbench spokes- men, Mrs Judith Hart and Shore, invited Mr Peter Edward Heath to tell Hovei- da 'of the abhorrence with which such acts are received in this country. Heath is not going to say anything of the sort. And neither, for that matter, is Labour Party leader Harold Wilson. The Press Association diplomatic correspondent re- ported yesterday: nong them three leaders of illa movement, were killed los who drove into central ay morning. Abu Youssef's wife was shot and gravely injured and the Israelis are believed to have abducted his 15-year- old son. The terror raid is the latest of a series of attacks against refugee camps and Palestinian organizations in the Lebanon. It came hard on the heels of the unsuccessful guerrilla attempt on the life of the Israeli ambassador in Cyp- rus, in which two guerrillas were killed and three cap- tured. The Israelis regarded the Thieu in the US with Nixon.

manipulating the strings of gue cash and intrigue which supply the various military chieftains in the provinces.

His visit to Britain as Government spokesmen the great import- stress ance that Mr Heath attaches to Mr. Hoveida's visit. Iran is not just a major trading partner-British ex- totalled ports last year £117m--but she is a major supplier of oil which is ex- pected to become increas- ingly scarce over the next 15 years. Iran has also placed an order for the supply of sev- eral hundred Chieftain tanks —one report is that the total order is for 800 tanks worth more than £100m. She has also provisionally ordered three Concordes valued at £60m. Mr Hoveida who leaves Britain on Thursday was lunching with the Queen to- day and was afterwards due to call on the Opposi- tion leader Mr. Wilson. Iranian students are plan- ning to picket Downing Street this afternoon against Hoveida's visit. BY

JOHN

SPENCER

Nicosia attack as the pretext for another arrogant demon- of stration their military capability aimed at destroy- ing the leadership of the Palestinian movement and breaking its will. Their imperialist aim of complete domination in the Middle East is evident in every action of the Israeli government. Every day it demonstrates its role as the mailed fist of imperialism in the area. But it has to be said that the Palestinian guerrilla leadership is proving totally guest of Edward Heath and Is the testimony revolutionary war, which is

THE

UNITED STATES

has gained a substantial trading : advantage from the devaluation of the dol- lar and its goods are now more competitive than at any time since the late 1950s. Figures published by the Morgan Guaranty Corpora- tion demonstrate that the Nixon administration has overcome the trade disad- vantage which contributed to the large US payments deficit. By the end of the 1960s American goods were 10 per cent less competitive on world markets than they were at the beginning of the decade. Since then the position has been more than reversed. The Smithsonian realign- ment of December 1971, to- gether with the savage wage controls imposed on the US workers had entirely abo- lished the American trade handicap by the end of last year. Since the beginning of ta inadequate to meet the re- quirements of the struggle against Zionism and im- perialism. Guerrilla leaders like Yas- ser Arafat, whose second in command was among the Israeli victims, are paralysed by the fact that they still hope for some assistance from the Arab bourgeoisie.

They have no policy to mobilize the broad masses of Arab and Jewish op- pressed people in the Mid- dle East against their op- pressors along revolutionary lines. It is clear that the Israeli terrorists' attack was made easy by entirely inadequate security precautions on the part of their victims. This over-confidence is a symptom of disorientation of leadership for which the guerrilla movement is pay- ing a bitter price. still being waged against the workers peasants Indo-China by Thieu and the other paid of the agents Americans. this. year the dollar has undergone a second devalu- ation and the major curren- cies are now floating against This has given the US an 7-per-cent ad- additional This has been achieved primarily at the expense of France and West Germany, which are now considerably less competitive on world markets than they were five years ago. The Japanese have also been hit, but have con- trived to keep down their export prices. British goods--thanks to the substantial downward float of sterling-are prob- ably as competitive now as they were in the early 1960s, though at a colossal cost in in the increases terms of cost of living. President Nixon's mes- sage to Congress on the Trade Bill, published yester- clearly indicates that day, Washington intends to main-: tain and enhance its advan- tage in trade.

The day the Duke and Feather visited Industrial Society For Edinburg nce LAST WEEK, the corporatist In- dustrial Society went into a panic over the visit of the Queen Mother to open their new subsidized head- quarters off The Mall. Journalists and guests were locked in rooms for up to two and a half hours so that no one should stumble into the Royal Presence unbidden as HM did her walkabout. This week, the Society had yet another at which the the the royal personage premises, Victor Feather : Duke of Edinburgh. This time there was slightly less panic, but but read from pre- there was still fair nothing hand-out prepared material amount. which was of the usual The red carpet was gone inspiring kind. from the pavement outside, •Come com come! said the director-general Tohn and Duke. have be to Garnett did a solo bowing quick with questions your instead and. scraping of will be or the cameramen being accompanied by his of film.' running out sundry grandchildren and Victor Feather, that pillar assistants, as last time.

of the establishment, had al- the general nervous- But ready tried to come to the ness in the face of the Royal Royal Dynasty's rescue and Presence was soon at work breathe some life into inside. rapidly dying by situation The (Lord) journalists were recalling that Jack hustled out of the drinks Cooper, of the General and to be in their places Municipal Workers, had once room good time for the Press conference. Everyone leaped to their feet the moment the Duke appeared on stage. Prince And after Philip had read aloud the seven- Press handout, paragraph the first questioner jumped and attention cue to on THE PRESIDENT of the 'Your Royal High- began: National Federation of ness .. The only trouble was that Professional Workers, following more just one Mr Terry Lacey, leapt to journalist leaping to atten- the defence of the gor- tion and beginning 'Your Royal Highness there ernment's pay laws in his were no more questions. speech to the union's So far, the Duke had only annual conference seen going about four and London yesterday. half minutes and had don‹

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Frdays Saturdays 9 am -_5 p.m. inburs Sir Ja es and gloom at Monday's four-min h the Duke of Edinburgh and TU eather shared the platform.

attended one of the confer- ences the Duke was there to promote. But it raised not a flicker of interest on the journalists' faces. One of the problems with the audience may have been the fantastic draught that was blowing up everyone's legs from trouser several wide-open windows immed- iately behind the platform speakers. It bitterly cold was a wind. The Duke must have been freezing. It was a wonder he did Mr Lacey said that be- fore the pay plan, public sector workers were sub- jected to an 'undeclared incomes policy. Meanwhile, said Lacey, in industries workers with high bargaining power pushed their wages up and up because it was cheaper for employers to give in than to suffer a long strike.

He told the conference: *When public servants go on strike their managements actually save money.' He added that the nature of a worker's employment determined whether a strike would , be a powerful lever or a pitiful protest. Clearly defending the Tory pay laws, he said: 'Is it better to allow free RIO TINTO-ZINC, the Bri- tish-based international min- ing corporation, received a High Court apology yester- day over in comments Kenneth Allsop's journalist column in The Sunday Times'. Mr Brian Neill, QC, for the company, said that Times Newspapers, pub- lishers of the newspaper, accepted RTZ's assurance that its profits since UDI had not included any profits The Duke of E / Conference 'd 6-20 four-minute Press conference and TUC general secretary not ask why some silly bugger did not pull his tinger out and get up and close the window, but he didn't. He was probably too cold to quip. Anyway, the audience didn't warm up either and so the farce only went on for a few moments longer.

"Thanks for coming,' said the Duke, and went on his stopping way, not for a drink. As he was leaving, some of the journalists were still arriving for the Press conference. rein to those who have power to use free collective bargaining though even many other important sec- tions of workers cannot do this? 'We must reflect that this free-for-all has produced the £100-a-week . bricklayer and the £18-a-week hospital porter.' Mr Lacey went on to say that many trade unionists would doubt that a rational approach to incomes, prices and profits was possible in motivated by economy the merits of free enterprise.

There was an inherent contradiction, but despite this some kind of middle way must be sought to suit a mixed economy. Plainly Mr Lacey believes that Edward Heath has found it. from Rhodesia. It had not been intended to suggest that RTZ had been guilty of any infringe- or other impropriety ment in relation to sanctions or similar legislation,' counsel told Mr Justice Bean. The article appeared in the newspaper under the heading 'Keeping an Eye on RTZ' on December 17, 1972.

Three days later the com- pany issued a writ claiming libel damages. Workers Press, Wednesday April 11, 1973 PAGE 3 The Duke of Edinburgh's due 1974 Sir James Dunnett Friends all round THE LABOUR PARTY'S organization has decided that three organizations on the pro- respectable and acceptable scribed list are now Society, the British-Hungarian Friendship Society and the British-Rumanian Friendship Society, which have on the list for nearly 30 years.

Further con- Scarton being Friendship Association and the British-Czecho- slovakia Friendship League.

Censored Poulson film to be shown A REVISED version of the 'World in Action' film on Yorkshire architect, John L. Poulson, will be shown on Monday, April 30.

The was recreated by two Independent Broadcasting Author- actors, one playing Poulson, the other play- ity headed by Labour Mr Muir Hunter. peer, Lord Aylestone, QC, for the creditors. arbitrarily banned the This has been drop- film in January. ped. place, -th of obeat at political In its two act blatant political whose narrators, faces censorship, members film same passages from the tecanicians union,

ACTT,

blacked court transcript. the ITV screens in many The authorities have for areas of the country cur the courtroom scene because of its explosive The l CuraTion 'World in Action' slot. effect had it been shown This the hirst was mons or viewers. time workers it was a precise re- industry had taken in. enactment of has dustrial action to inter- on at rupt field court for the past cause of political cen- nine months — but to show people sorship. five During the would. presumablv. DasL weeks there have been "subversive'. and The film constant comings being Granada goings between

LOT

Television and the IBA only transmission ne. censors the and the There have been two tear main chances Iner inaustrial arrest in film: the television union. They also that changed lite has behe the Poulson case changed 'run out of steam'. wriende and Anonymous business- John L. Poulson' and 'The industrialists Rise and rall o money nave pala back John Poulson'. to the creditors to • In the original, the make sure that the dis- earlies are of Poulson at Wakefield continued.

WHERE IS EQUITY GOING?

Gerald Croasdell, Equity general secretary, with other members of the executive at the Press conference which followed the January 28 meeting.

PAGE 4 Workers Press, Wednesday Al

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

The right wing in the actors' union Equity has launched a campaign to strengthen the bureau- cratic arm of the national executive. The showdown will come on Sunday when the union holds two of the most important meetings in its history. At meeting number one Equity members will vote on resolution demanding the resignation of the existing for twice ignoring council democratic decisions of the membership. At meeting number two, immediately afterwards, the executive will make a last ditch attempt to ban once and for all the Special General Meeting where the rank and file can decide policy on key issues like the Industrial Relations Act and opposition to the Tory pay laws. Sunday will be the culmina- tion of a long and bitter strug- between the gle strong militant wing in the union who want Equity to take its place in the trade union move- ment and fight the Tory plan to impoverish wage earners, and the right-wing, dominated by the Tory Party, who want peace at any price. The immediate cause of the special meetings is a demand by over 240 Equity members for the resignation of the leadership. They say that the executive, steered by general Gerald Croasdell, secretary have capitulated to the Tory pay laws and have blatantly ignored the members' wishes.

The charges arise out of an Equity Open Meeting of Jan- uary 28 when over 350 mem- bers considered the Tory deci- sion to outlaw a West End • pay increase. Under Phase One of its plans for state wage control the Tories robbed actors of a £7 pay increase agreed before last November and cancelled a further £5 rise due in January.

The meeting, held in the decisively Adelphi Theatre, defeated an executive plea to restrict action over the £12 wage cut, to verbal protest.

passed an Instead they amendment by 145 votes to 136 which called for strike action, a wage claim for every section of the membership, de-registration under the In- Writings af

TINGS

OF Leon Trotsky

TEON TROTSKY

10857-38 (1938-9)

WRITINGS OF

LEON

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TROTSHU

11933-341 (2834-35 Six volumes of Trotsky's writings during the years 1933-1940 £8.00 including postage Please tick those you requi Name Address Complete form and post to: New Park Publications, 18 A New Park Publica nesday April 11, 1973 Gerald Croasdell, Equity general secreta dustrial Relations Act, and a campaign with the rest of the trade union movement to force the Tory government out in favour of a Labour govern- ment pledged to repeal all anti-trade union legislation.

The success of this motion, carried in the teeth of right- wing opposition and a bid History of Russian Revolution -special gift pack of three volumes - £1.70 including postage ou require. Amount enclosed £ post to: tions, 186a Clapham High Street, Los Publications Booklist is a vailable, fro al secretary, with other members of the exe (orchestrated by the Tory Press) to launch a witch-hunt,' was a blow for the council.

Undaunted Mr Croasdell held an immediate Press con- ference where he announced that the Equity Council-a 45- strong elected body-would almost certainly ignore the decision. Trotsky—a documentary by Francis Wyndham and David King £1.65 including postage reet, London SW4 7UG able, free, on request. of the executive at the Press conference which follov This proved to be the case.

Tory Two days later the right-wing heard the good news that the Council had turned down the resolution. There was no com- mitment to fight for the claim, no promise on deregistration.

The legality of this move under Equity rules is now under some doubt. As usual the rule book hedges both on the powers of the ways executive. On the one hand an open meeting can decide po- licy, but on the other the leadership is given the right to 'best interests' the of act in the union if it publishes its reasons for doing so. In the case of the Industrial Relations Act however this is the second time the leadership has ignored the call to de- register. At the Equity annual general meeting last June members reversed a decision to register after they had wit- nessed the anti-union laws in against action railway the workers and the dockers. The executive has consis- refused to recognize tently this decision and has been out of the TUC be- thrown cause of its intransigence.

Clearly Croasdell and the right-wing consider themselves wiser than the majority at the meetings. The upshot of this blatant arrogance has been a bid to remove the old leadership. The first Special General Meeting on Sunday has been called for this purpose.

The executive has countered with their own SGM-to be held immediately after the first.

hich followed the January 28 meeting.

Here they will ask for a mandate to change rule and membership's castrate the ability to decide policy.

Their rule change aims, so they say, 'at preventing future organized exploitation of outdated rule without diminishing the genuine demo- members' cratic rights of Organization, the basis of trade unionism, is : here equated with subversion. Rules which permit the rank and file to challenge decisions of the leadership are 'outdated'; in place of such bogus demo- cratic rights are to be sub- i the council's version stituted of 'genuine' democratic rights, i.e. an appeals board which will decide — always 'in the best interests of the member- ship'-whether to permit the calling of SGMs. picture is further The complicated by dark hints the council that con- from stitutionally they cannot be removed by an 'unrepresen- tative minority' anyway. Un- fortunately that 'unrepresen- tative minority' appears to win the allegiance of the bulk of members at Equity meetings.

This is Croasdell's big pro- en blem. The scene is now set for a major struggle. On Sunday actors will attend a meeting that will change the course of their union. They can decide to accept the policy of capitu- lation, and lapse back into the vicious pattern of mass unemployment, low wages and Tory attack, or they can com- mit their union to a fight with the rest of the working class and professions for basic de- mocratic rights.

WHITE POWER

IN ANGOLA

BY TOM KEMP

A vast scheme to harness the waters of the Cunene river which runs through the Portuguese colony of Angola the South and African-heid territory of Namibia is being under- taken by the govern- ments of the two coun tries. It is intended to generate hydro-electric power and to provide water from the river for irrigation purposes cost of over £250m. The scheme will require the construction of a total of 27 and dams power stations, together with canals, powerlines, pipennes, roads and towns. It will the complement better-known Cabora Bassa project on the eastern side of Africa Mozam- southern bique. The aim of these schemes is consolidate imperialist contro and exploitation over the whole They will region. enable agricultural and mineral to be resources plundered more effectively and attract in- ternational capital with the The aggressive Japanese sales drive is creating an unfavour- able image for her business- men overseas and has brought the into country disrepute bewails a report issued by the Economic Japan Research Institute. It says that 'the rate of in- crease in Japanese trade, twice that of the world average, had a flood of brought Japanese markets, goods to external which in many cases have been seriously disrupted'. Businessmen have marched droves into one market after another aiming at con- quest and they have had The re- good deal of success. noted that there was

POIL

growing wave of anti-japanese criticism around the world but particularly in South East Asia which has already known the prospects of cheap labour and high profits. The Cunene River Scheme ne is planned exclusively for the benefit of white farming and industrial interests and is part of the strategy to bolster up Portuguese colonialism and the apartheid regime of South Africa. Thanks to the power and rn- irrigation made available by the Cunene River Scheme the Portuguese hope to open up settlement by new land for white farmers. The Africans will be forced to end their traditional way of life and work on the farms or in the mines and industries of the area. South Africa intends to ex- tend the apartheid policy of so-called African Homelands to the territory of Namibia, or South West Africa, which it controls illegally. Africans will be confined to certain areas.

They will only be permitted to leave to work under contract in the mines. The People's Movement for Liberation of Angola the (MPLA) has opposed the scheme from the start and says: It is in no way aimed at the economic promotion of the he people of Angola, but at the mo Japanese as military con- querors. It admitted that 'our econo- mic policies and the behaviour of many individuals, corpora- tions and other private groups leave much to be desired and should be thoroughly re- examined and modified'. The report recommended improved public relations and called on abroad to pay businessmen more attention to the reactions ot people in the host country.

Japan is now poised for ar intensive trade even more drive, especially in European markets, but Japanese trade activities are world-wide. Wool buyers have forced up Austra- lian wool prices to unheard of levels. A fierce bid is now being made for the Latin American market Past successes in trade have endowed the big corporations with large liquid reserves.

Angola

*GOVE

'MATALA

MATUNTO

CALUEQUE

Cunene

RUACANA FALLS

Nambia Top: Mombers of the People's Moveme buttressing of white power and, consequently, of im- perialism in Africa. "The project must be fought with every means. All partici- pants will be held as enemies of the Angolan people, and MPLA will know how to fight them with arms.' As planned at present the scheme will take many years to complete. The first phase of construction will not be com- pleted until 1978 and involves investment estimated at £40m.

Half of this sum is being pro- vided by South Africa, the rest is being lent to Portugal by the South African Industrial De- velopment Corporation. In Angola the local African population is already being re- grouped in order to provide land for white farmers and cut them off from the guerrilla the movement. When electric These are now being used to set up branch plants abroad and undertake other forms of investment. As has happened with wool, Japanese business can buy up stocks of vital raw materials. Whatever may be said about behind their the Japanese backs there are many business- men in foreign countries who welcome them for their money.

Agencies for Japanese products are much sought after. It is the firms-British, Ger- man and American-concerned with the export trade which are feeling the relentless pres- sure of Japanese sales methods as the trade war hots up. Whatever their image may be, Japanese businessmen are de- termined to dominate the world market and open up new investment fields for Japanese finance capital.

. It is a life and death question.

Workers Press, Wednesday Aprll 11, 1973 PAGE 5 The interest which American business is showing in Siberia, with the possibility that the Soviet bureaucracy will throw open part of this vast region capitalist investment, is to revealed in the April issue of "Time'. A lavishly illustrated feature dwells on the area's resources in oil and It will gas: soon light Western Europe and may one day heat New York' The article reaches heights of verbal gush equalled only advertising copy-writers- 'the new Siberia, an eastern EI Dorado whose riches the Soviet 'Almost every day brings new discoveries' 'Geological maps are outdated as soon as they are printed.' The language of the share sustained for prospectus is several pages. Siberia has great mineral wealth, but needs vast outlays before it can be ex- ploited. 'Soviet authorities used to foreigners bar from the area for it goes security reasons,' 'but the cost of develop.

on, ment (a are SO staggering narrow road can cost $500,000 mile) that Moscow is now actively foreign courting in- vestment know-how: and technological The recent Soviet-US trade pact opens up prospects for participation by capitalist firms in the development of Siberian The article tells us oil and gas. that three US firms, Tenneco, Zambia Texas Eastern Transmission and Brown & Root are think- ing of building a 2,000 mile pipeline the Soviet across Union to Murmansk to ship liquefied gas to the east coast of the US The policy of the bureau-

= POWER STATIONS

calling on foreign cracy in • Movement for the Liberation of Angola.

capitalists to help with capital, the available, machinery and know-how power becomes in the development of Siberia's exploitation of Angola's min- natural wealth is eral resources will begin in apparently unchallenged. earnest. not going The ambitious article quotes a The schemes of "senior econo- mist' 'We Portugal and South Africa, of saying: should Cunene not be just any oil well or a which the River Scheme is a part, will require quarry for foreign capitalists' a big injection of international But it is, of course, just that capital, notably for the ex- which Siberia is in danger of becoming. The economic mis- ploitation of the mineral re- of and management of the bureau- sources Angola Namibia. policy cracy, and its of country, Firms from Britain, the "socialism in one United States means that Soviet industry and is western Europe, as well as from South capable of producing the not Africa, will be concerned with equipment and materials neces- sary for the rapid and large- this development. In return for to mineral wealth and scale development of the area.

access of The bureaucracy the use cheap contract is now bartering the riches of Siberia labour they will be expected to support the policy of white in deals with the capitalist hegemony in southern Africa. which the countries expose This means assistance in com- nationalized and planned bating the national liberation economy to the gravest dangers. movement. By LEON TROTSKY Paperback. £1.00 Illustrated of leading Sharp pen-portraits figures of the Second Interna- tional in Russia and Europe, for first time published in the an English edition. The translations were first commissioned by the Young Socialists' Keep paper Left' Their enormous success has led to the completion of the translation of the whole book, which is the first part of Volume 8 of Leon Trotsky's 'Works' pub- Soviet Union lished the in 1926. It provides the most vivid picture available of the historic figures of the Second Inter- national, their strengths and weaknesses, written by an obser- ver who was also a participant in the daily struggle of the Euro- pean and Russian working class.

Now available from New Park Publications 186a Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UG

Workers Press, Wednesday April 11, 1973

PAGE 6

Feather

BY ROYSTON BULL

Victor and Jack Jones Harold canvassed On Wednesday morning Wilson and Ron Hayward res- last week, the top half pectively to try to prevent the

NEC

Labour Party from dozen TUC leaders, sup. porting the TUC's May 1 'day Victor Feather, Jack of protest and stoppage'.

Jones (transport), Hugh This was a desperate last- minute bid by Feather in Scanlon (engineers), Sid.

long campaign to stop the May ney Greene (railwaymen), Day protest from becoming Alf Allen (shopworkers) political'. 'too The

TUC

leaders decided and David Basnett some time ago that they must (G&MWU) had a plea- at all costs prevent the strike sant discussion in a plush movement against the pay laws from turning into a poli- Millbank suite of the confrontation chal- tical to Tower office block by the lenge the government's rule.

River Thames. Jones and Feather have been speaking openly in top Their discussion pleasant labour movement circles about with Edward Heath, was the need to 'head off the re- Maurice Anthony Barber, volution'. Macmillan and Geoffrey Howe, The attempt to stop the La- and plus Campbell Adamson bour NEC's solidarity with the Michael Clapham of the CBI.

May Day strike failed Also present were sundry ban- and top- But Alf Allen, leader of the kers, industrialists, shopworkers union, imme- line civil servants. diately registered his protest the According to acting to leading Labourites, declar- director-general of the cor- NEC's the support 'a Economic ing poratist National wrong move and declaring Development Council, Tom that he was totally against the Fraser, all these expensively- May Day protest. suited gentlemen had an 'ami- Sidney Greene has made no discussion able and rational secret of his opposition to the in a spirit of constructive co- Congress one-day special operation'. strike decisions and his inten- precisely the At same tion to get his railwaymen's the TUC bureau- moment union to turn it down if he sitting round crats Wee can laughing and joking with the Tones and David Basnett of the top representatives (General and Municipal Wor- a document ruling class, was kers) have opted out of their

TUC

being out. from sent the matter by and obligations in headquarters on 'Prices telling their members they can The Case for the Incomes: strike if they want to. Unions'. And these are supposed to In it, the TUC states that be responsible the six most the government's 'plain inten- leaders in the whole TUC!

tion working iS to make off

PREPARING THE

people relatively worse they than are now in com-

WAY FOR

their landlords, with parison the who own shops people

THE CORPORATE

the and property, company they work for or those who

STATE

off income from stocks live Scanlon's contribution to and shaies. this sell-out of TUC policy has 'In this day and age that is scandalous. It is been even more important.

downright the Parlia- His speech to produce working people who Gallery lunch Press the wealth that is being shared mentary offering last week to accept out. But scandalous or not, it in principle the Industrial Re- fact of is an unchallengeable Common this government's policy?

lations Act. the Market and the Scandalous or it did state control not, of wages, in return for some not prevent the very leaders of concessions, opened the TUC enjoying their chat way the to the Tories on every impor- and then a sump- and coffee tant issue. tuous lunch with these pro- It prepared the way for the stocks and perty owners, shares sharks, and government corporate state. offered The deal Scanion ministers. still being discussed at The reason for all the bon- was Wednesday's National Econo- homie is that these pillars of Develoment Corporation which mic the capitalist state, (NEDC) meeting. the most important is the the 'Financial That day, trade bureaucracy, be- union discussing 'the reluc- lieve that they have succeeded engage in the in overcoming resistance prolonged confrontation of the working class to the a said with the government', harsh economic measures that May Day strike necessary for the survival of the "should prove to be the final Britain's capitalist economy.

opposition fling the TUC leaders have in to These six spared no effort to undermine government which has built up movement's since last autumn's tripartite the trade union Two and talks to the pay fight against Phase tree are way the state control of wages.

Hospital workers march in support of their cla Scanlon blurted the out 'opposition' truth about that when he spoke at the March 5 special Congress. They wanted to do a deal with the government at Chequers last year, but felt they could not get away with selling the terms the deal to the trade unions. 'We went out of our way to reach agreement even in the knowledge of the slings and arrows that would have to be faced if the Chequers deal had come off. 'We offered the government something that no trade union movement has ever offered before in peace time: to limit wages at a fixed level in return

SAYS

NiTY support of their clalm. The TUC has postponed coming to their ald. Below: Victor Feather, Jaci for controls all to be voluntary rather than prices. statutory. Employment Minister Mau- The trade union leaders rice Macmillan followed up would dearly like to get back that with a speech to to such a deal and avoid the night the Newspaper Society saying necessity of leading fight that a general desire for some against the government alto- of industrial form relations gether. Scanlon's speech opens legislation was shown by the way. Feather's call for the govern- The 'Financial Times' went the ment to jettison 'worst 'The way should then be features' of the Act and Scan- wide-ranging talks open for lon's talk of amendments to it.

between the government and The Communist Party daily, TUC--together the with the the 'Morning Star'. of course, embracing the Industrial came to Feather's defence fol- Relations Act as well as pay this Stalinist lowing speech. and prices. Mick Costello wrote: 'Feather 'Both sides of industry, yesterday strongly well as the government, would rebutted suggestions made by Macmilian Phase Three of that preter using policy starting in the autumn parts of the Industrial Rela- 1'1! Victor Feather, Jack Jones, Hugh Scanlon, Sidney Greene, Alf Allen, tions Act did this because they saw advantages in the Act.'

Macmillan went on to say that the TUC must leave be- hind the system of collective- to which it appa- bargaining rently wished to return. 'We do not need to des- troy, and must not destroy the concept of collective bargain- ing. But we must-employers, government, and unions-de- vise a system which reconciles the widespread desire in in- dustry for freedom of action with steadier and prices fairness both between greater and within different groups of workers.' In other words, corporat- ism and the permanent state control of wages. , Greene, Alf Allen, David Basnett, Edward Heath, Anthony But, boosted by the friendly relations with Scanlon and company, Macmillan went on confidently to invite the TUC and the CBI to 'join with us this summer and autumn in working out how, in the third stage of our attack on infla- achieve tion, we can our objectives common on voluntary basis'. 'The Times' commented: 'Mr Macmillan was taking note of non-committal waving of olive branches by Mr Feather and Mr Scanlon. So far, so good; but what comes next?' What comes next is accep- tance by the TUC leaders of Phase Three and the Pay Board. A week earlier, the ward Heath, Anthony Barber, Maurice Macmillan, Geoffrey 'Financial Times' reported that Basnett had called for the 'to draw up its own

TUC

formal incomes policy. Such a move would help prepare the TUC for talks with the gov- ernment'®

CO-OPERATION

WITH THE

TORY

GOVERNMENT

The TUC's prices and in- comes pamphlet, once the in- vective is out of the way in the first pages, gets down to this. 'Unions know that there can be no real lasting answer to Workers Press, Wednesday

NOT

R Macmillan, Geoffrey Howe, Campbell Adam sori, Michael C inflation until there is na- tional agreement on the pro- per way to tackle it. 'All this wild talk about "law and order" and "con- frontation" does not help anybody' And a little later on: 'Unions are not seeking to take over the economy. They know that British industry and the British economy can only be run successfully on the basis of co-operation.' The TUC leaders want to co-operate with the landlords, stock exchange speculators, 'scandalous' Tory and the government. workers, abandoned the gas- They fight, ignored the 3 Press, Wednosday April 11, 1973

PAGE 7

* -13 Adam sorı, Michael Clapham, Mick Costello.

civil servants and have post- poned again and again coming the hospital to the aid of workers, despite the clear in- special struction from the Congress that this was the the trade union wish of movement. The TUC leaders want to wear down the resistance to corporatism. What stands in their way is the insoluble nature of the capitalist crisis, the combati- vity of the working class, which has not yet suffered any major defeats, and the deter- mination of the Socialist La- bour League to win the strug- gle to provide an alternative leadership in the fight against the Tory government.

PAGE & Workers Prose, Wedroaday 1

PART TWO BY JACK GALE

On June 21, 1941, the British Communist Party Views' carried an item which John Gollan and Bert Ramelson would dearly love to have ex- punged from the records. It declared: 'The British and in general the foreign Press began an intense dissemination of rumours on "the proximity of war between the USSR and Germany" •• • 'Despite the obvious non- sensical character of these rumours, responsible Moscow have still found it quarters necessary in view of these to authorize Tass rumours, to state that these rumours constitute clumsily-concocted propaganda by forces hostile to the USSR and Germany and interested in the further ex- tension and unleashing of war.'

The very next day, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union!

Overnight, the Stalinists re- versed their position. The imperialist war became a war for democracy. Churchill, from being the enemy of the work- ing class, became its noble leader. 'Britain's Chance Has In Come' (July 1941), Harry Pol- litt, then the CP's general secretary, wrote: "The fact that the Churchill government has changed its policy or the ques- tion whether the Communist Party has changed also are small matters. These are interesting only abreaday April 11, 1973 'STRENGTHEN CHURCHILL' Bitsover Pacaims of

SAID COMMUNIST PARTY

gigantic living common sideration, to mean openly or to sabotage people. also line. In for support bitterly was This 'enters into territory. •tact onlv from Lve more transformed anti-fascism! The conference of May just as explicit: government is that making the of

OUT

people Hitler common vic- front means for a was the changed had de- Now he those opposing and re- said Dutt, dangerous could change far from Party's 1942 was 'The Churchill the representa- of national unity for the fulfilment of the aims of the British-Soviet Pact. "The weakening of the Churchill government would weakening of the mean national unity ... Our political aim must therefore be directed strengthening to the of the Churchill government? (Way to Win' p. 9.) months later, Pollitt Two wrote in 'Speed the Second ew, Front': "The people must be roused to support and strengthen the government. Sustain Churchill in carrying out the Anglo- Soviet Treaty and in opening the Second Front.' This was a marked contrast with Dutt's line of November 1940, when he had said, in 'Labour Monthly': 'The heaviest obstacle in the path of the revolutionary anti- fascist struggle against Hitler Germany is the British in Labour support of Churchill.'

In October, 1939, the Com- munist Party's 'Manifesto on the War' had called on workers to 'organize resistance to this combined attack of the em- ployers and the government'.

The role of Labour Minis- ters in the coalition govern- ment, the Stalinists had cor- rectly said, was to be a 'real Fifth Column against the working class and democratic rights and standards'. In 'Labour Monthly' of December, 1940, Pollitt had said: 'It has been the deliberate policy of dominant sections of the Labour leaders ever since the war started to damp down working-class activity' But, from June 22, 1941, this class collaboration was pro- claimed by the Stalinists in far more fervent than tones anything even Attlee, Mor: Bevin could muster. rison or 'Britain in the World Front' declared: "The speediest vic- tory of Britain and Britain's allies is not the special in- terest of one class or section of the nation, but the common interest of all classes ... in industry it finds expression in the co-operation of employers, management and workers for maximum production. 'In the political field it finds expression in the co-operation of parties in parliament and in elections, and in the support for a coalition government of National Unity, based at pre- sent the Conservative, on Liberal and Labour Parties.'

In practice, this meant strike-breaking and working for the Tory Party in by- elections. Speaking at the 1942 CP conference, Harry Pollitt de- clared: 'This wave of strikes in the coalfield cannot be con- doned by the miners them- selves. The trade union official who said "Let the strike con- tinue, it will help negotiations" was doing a disservice to his own union and to his country.

salute our comrade, a docker from Hull ... when the rest of the dockers struck work, he fought against it. Harry Pollitt who at the 1942 CP conference sald that striking miners were doing a disservice to the country. The German invasion of the USSR which prompted the Bri- tish Communist Party to reverse Its position overnight. What courage, what a sacred spirit of real class conscious- ness, to walk on the ship's gangway and resume his job.

To the same conference, Pollitt reported: "The stand taken by our Party in regard to by-elections has been firm and clear: to support the government candi- dates whatever their personal short-comings ... We want to deal with some of the difficul- ties that are said to stand in the way of our Party members when they take part in by- elections and recommend the people to vote for a govern- ment candidate who happens to be a Tory' (Emphasis added.) So, both in the Soviet Union and in Europe, the counter- revolutionary policies of Stalinism undermined the struggle of the international working class against imperial- ism and for socialism. Patriotism and class-collab- oration were the principal weapons of the Stalinists who teared revolution just as much as the leaders of imperialism.

It was this fear which drove Stalin, first into the arms of Hitler, and then into the arms of Churchill and Roosevelt.

faithfully reflecting terests of its Kremlin masters, sought to tie in the working class behind Churchill and Attlee. Today, the Stalinist bureau- cracy is as counter-revolu- tionary as it always was. Its servants in King Street are willing, as ever, to perform any carry out its contortion to interests. Hence its support for Scanlon.

CONCLUDED

A CASE OF HYPOCRISY

Left: Peter Niesewand, the journalist jailed in Rhodesia. Right: Peter Niesewand's wife and mother after the sentence was

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

The servile and malleable leader writers of Fleet Street suffered a serious attack of indignation last week. The spasm seized them late on Friday. It came from Rhodesia, where Peter Niesewand, a journalist, had been jailed by the racialist Jan Smith regime. This affair was especially upsetting. Under orders their Tory editors the leader writers had been •delicately rehabilitating 'traitor' Smith ready for a possible deal be- tween his government and their own. Now there was a nasty blot on the entente. But diplomacy • was cast aside. There were important principles involved. JUSTICE, for example. The charges against Niesewand were secret. His trial was secret.

The judgement was secret.

was FAIR PLAY. There Niesewand was a liberal yet he got hard labour and his wife was suffering. The pens raged into action.

"The Guardian': • • unbelievably savage. On reflection we can find no bétter words. His trial was held in secret so that neither we nor anyone without access to him can have any knowledge of the detailed charge or of the evidence. • In its political per- secution of Niesewand the Rhodesian government has once again shown its peculiar combination of ruthlessness and ineptitude.' "The Times': 'But even the charges brought against Mr Niesewand remain a Rhodesian official secret and the whole of the in a trial, ending two-year prison sentence, was held in which completely camera, abrogates the requirements of natural justice. •. • The development of judiciary the under the Rhodesian Front is not such as to allow any claim that the confidence should be placed in a continuing British tradition.

This has been a secret trial from first to last in quite another tradition.' 'Daily Telegraph': The Rhodesian magistrate's judgement, deplorable it as delivered in might be, was Left: Peter Niesewand, the journalist jail secret, and the charge itself under the Official Secrets Act never published. This was evidence of the furtive courses into which Rhodesian justice has descended must cause grave concern to all who have the good name and constitu- tional health of Rhodesia at heart. ... it is also difficult to imagine the national security required the degree of secrecy which blanketed these proceed- ings, than the any more ridiculous regulation that pre- vented mention of Mr Niese- wand's name when he was detained.' 'Sun': 'His trial was secret to tell the world anything at all about his alleged offences. 'Rhodesia is making new for a settlement approaches with Britain. We must not even talk.. 'Daily Express: 'And the manner of his arrest, his detention in solitary confinement without charge, and his secret trial for undis- closed offences falls far short of accepted of •.. falls far short of accept- able standards of British justice' this glib passage from the 'Express' fairly summed up the orgy of protest. The phrase also indicates another affliction Where is Britain Going? Paperback 37гp • 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 rnalist jailed in Rhodesia. Right: Peter Niesewar of leader writers-amnesia.

An imaginary exchange will illustrate the point. Question: What , country be- sides Rhodesia has laws for trials in secret? Answer: Britain. Question: What country can jail people indefinitely without trial or charge? Answer: Britain. Question: What country has set aside special concentration camps to hold people without trial or charge? Answer: Britain. Question: What country admit- ted men were systematically 'noise beaten, subjected to machines', , stood hooded for long periods of time in un- comfortable positions, subject to mental and physical cruelty and generally humiliated?

Answer: Britain. Question: What country held an inquiry into these methods, established they were being used, but passed them off as ill treatment and not torture?

Answer: Britain. Question: What country still holds people without charge or trial, holds trials in com- plete. secret and tortures prisoners? Answer: Britain. Question: What ruling class passed on the methods secret trial, torture and police brutality to Africa? Answer: British. A subtle plea for censorship from Major John Snook, divi- sional chancellor of the Salva- tion Army in Manchester. In a recent 'War Cry' Snook says that newspapers are print- ing too much 'gloomy' news.

He says: 'I suppose, in our society, the basis of any under- taking is profitability and the newspaper industry cannot be an exception, but how far must it stoop to achieve this?

'A good news service must carry the news of the day and the freedom of the Press is a cherished ideal in Britain, but surely it ought to seek a bal- between good and bad ance news? Workers Press, Wedn • Niesewand's wife and mother after the senten Question: In what country does the Press unanimously support these methods in the 'national interest'? Answer: Britain. Under the Northern Ireland Special Powers Act (recently revamped) the British army, police and judiciary have a brief to terrorize whole a section of the population.

Hundreds of men and women interned in camps, have been without trial or charge. They are tortured (or 'ill-treated' as the Compton report would have it and when they are 'tried', it is in complete secret.

Charges and evidence never ears outside the tin reach shack that serves for a court.

On August 9, 1971, the British army launched a pogrom against the Roman Catholic population of Northern Ireland.

Hundreds of men were dragged their beds and from their families in the small hours.

They were interned, without charge, without reason and, of course, without trial. And what did the British Press think about this massive 'abrogation of natural justice'?

On internment 'The Guard- ian' (Niesewand-'unbelievably savage') wrote: ' '... Inevitable ... it may not work quickly and it may not work at all..

it represents the only hope of preventing a total catastrophe in Ireland.' In later editorials It has been said that the news reflects the society which produces it, but surely our nation is not as bad as the picture painted by certain newspapers.' What is the "imbalance' which the censorious Snook is complaining about? He ex- plains: 'I do not believe that it is and feel that it is time the news media stopped pressing the views of an offensive Bc minority? Such language! Who is this 'offensive minority'? Does he mean the secret group of mys- tics who run around in black clothing with beads and icons around their necks and hold witchdoctoring seminars very early on Sunday mornings in empty buildings? Hospital workers in west Lon- don are furious that a top National Union of Public Em- s8, Wednesday April 11, 1973 PAGE 9 he sentence was passed. 'The Guardian' defended tor- ture saying troops—who were doing a fine jobneeded to 'unorthodox' methods use against 'terrorists'. "The Times' (secret trials against 'natural justice') on internment wrote: 'In our view it is absolutely necessary to combat terrorism in Northern Ireland by imprisonment with- out trial.' The 'Daily Telegraph' ('the furtive into which courses Rhodesian justice has de- scended') on internment wrote: 'Long overdue to the outraged citizens of Ulster and the hard- ... internment pressed army is the last real weapon... • The 'Daily Mail' on intern- ment wrote: "The introduction of imprisonment without trial could no longer be delayed.'

Not once has the national Press, outside the papers of the thun- dered forth JUSTICE im- name of the tortured, prisoned, oppressed people of Northern Ireland. So the Niesewand scandal showed the British Press at its most corrupt and hypocritical. To bourgeois journalists a principle is no more than phrase, a neat line, a debased verbal morality at the service of the capitalist ruling class they serve so devotedly. They excelled themselves on Friday. ployees official attended a sherry party given by hospital management. Mrs Esther Brookstone, West London branch secretary, accepted a hospital invitation to "cele- brate' the minimum amount of disruption during the one-day stoppages. The party took place at Cross Hospital, Ful- Charing ham, and was hosted by Mr Frank Hart, secretary to the Board of Governors. Mrs Mary Stewart, chair- man of the Board of Gover- nors, attended the party, as did union shop stewards at the hospital and Mrs Ruth Wool- lerton, branch chairman. outcry from Following an the rank and file in West Lon- don, NUPE has written to Mrs Brookstone demanding an ex- planation. 'We are getting repercus- sions,' a spokesman said. 'Some branches have said "she ought to be ashamed of herself"'

PAGE 10 Workers Press, Wednesday April 11, 1973

ITV

UVeN sifien 9.30 Yoga. 9.55 Film: "Tarzan's Peril'.

11.15 Galloping gourmet. 11.40 Car- 12.05 Hickory house. 12.25 loon. Cuddles and Co. 12.40 First report.

1.00 Scotch corner. 1.30 Crown court.

2.00 Harriet's back in 2.30 town. Good afternoon. 2.50 Racing from Newmarket. 4.15 Cartoon. 4.20 Sooty show. 4.50 Jensen code. 5:20 Univer- sity challenge. 5.50 News.

6.00 TODAY. 6.35 CROSSROADS.

7.00 THIS IS YOUR LIFE.

7.30 CORONATION ȘTREET.

8.00

SHUT

THAT

Guest

DOOR!

Dudley Moore. 8.30

THE BEST OF FATHER,

DEAR

FATHER.

An Affair to Forget. 9.00

SPECIAL BRANCH.

10.00

CONSERVATIVE

R T Y

POLITICAL

BROADCAST.

10.10

NEWS.

10.40

A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY.

Waddesdon. 11.10

ARMCHAIR

30. With Miss Doreen Fan- shaw's Story. Mantle. 11.40

FILM:

"Dilemma'. Peter Halli- day, Ingrid Dudley Moore guests on 'Shut Thal Hafner. 12.40

ONE POINT OF VIEW.

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Name.. Address. Shut That Door' on Independent channels

BBC 1

12.30 Nai zindagi naya jeevan. 12.55 News. 1.00 Pebble Mill at one. 1.30 Barnaby. 1.45 Made in Britain.

2.00 I like it here. 2.30 Great zoos.

3.00 Where is your god? 3.35 Television top of the form. 4.00 Peter. 4.10 Play 5. Event. Sack nor Prance t 4.50 Boss cat. 5.15 Event. 5.45 News. Weather. 6.00

NATIONWIDE.

THE FAMILY.

6.45

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TOMORROW'S WORLD.

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His and Hers. 8.00 BARLOW AT LARGE. Confi- dence. 8.50

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9.00

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O'CLOCK NEWS.

Weather. 9.25 SPORTSNIGHT. Amateur box- ing championships. association 10.00

CONSERVATIVE

PARTY

POLITICAL BROADCAST.

10.10 SPORTSNIGHT. Soccer. 11.00 MAN AT WORK. New 11.35

NEWS.

11.40

MAN

AT Start New Skill. 12.05 Weather. THE BRITISH STEEL Corpor- ation may lay off 10,000 men at its Anchor Works, Scunthorpe, Lincs, because of disputes.

TV maintenance men strike BBC television maintenance en- gineers will begin two-day a strike today in protest against a deadlock in their pay claim.

200 workers- The -members of the Association of Broadcast- ing Staff-will refuse to handle any BBC plant which breaks down. The men were given rises in 1970 as part of a productivity deal and promised that their grades would be reviewed in six months. The review was not com- pleted until last May when the BBC 'confirmed' their grades.

The strike is not expected to black although screens pickets will be out at BBC gates in west London. JARROW: Wednesday April 11, HC 7.30 p.m. Jarrow Labour Rooms, Park Road. HACKNEY: Wednesday April 11, Central 8 p.m. Parlour Room, Hall, opp. Town Hall, Mare Street.

The TUC must call a General Strike to make the Tories resign'.

KINGSTON: Thursday April 12, 8 p.m. The Norbiton Hotel, Clifton Road (off Kingston Hill). 'Make Scanlon retract! No collaboration with the Tory government!'

CROYDON: Thursday April 12, House, 8 p.m. Ruskin Coombe Road, Croydon. 'The fight against Stalinism'. BERMONDSEY: Thursday April 12, 8 p.m. 'Havelock Arms', , Bala- clava Street, off Southwark Park Road. 'Build Councils of Action.

Make the Tories Resign'. WILLESDEN: Thursday April 12, 8 p.m. Labour and Trades Hall, "Law NW10. 'Tory High Road, and Order" - Preparation for dictatorship'.

REGIONAL TV

L6.35 no loo Spoore: Pro-

CHANNEL:

1.15 1.30 London. ACtors. A 9.00a London. .50 London 2.30 Serenade. 6.00 News. ectors 6.35 2.35 Reflection net. 7:30 London. O.lu 7.00 lite: .003 London. rescue This is Cite, 0.10 10.00 Survival. 12.00 Programme .12.05 Life in France London. 11.43 London 5. 9.00 London. Epilogue. News, Angling. 12.10 3.30 Upper crusts. weatner. Citizens I. London, I.40 Baron. Weather.

WESTWARD.

As Channel Eskimo Kenojuak. ULSTER: 11.35 Report 12.05 London.

Dr Locke. reports. 605 London. Danger Simon Romper ¡liail. 12.05 12.25 Hammv Hamster.

UTV

LOnCOn. Anna 12.40 12.37 Gus London. honeybun. 9.00 London. 11.40 You allu 12.57 News. 1.00 London. 6.00 Diary 10.00 London. 11.40 News. 12.08 Faith Ed for life. YO.RS About Britain. Allen time. About 10.40 Last stand SOUTHERN: 10.05 Paulus. 10.20 Yoga. w 2icker Rovers. 12.05 10.40 Royal province. 11.10 Gilbert and the eatuse. house. around N3.50 12.05 London 3.00 London. Calendar. London. 6.35 London. 8.30 5.50 Lon Cartoon. 9.00 London. Protectors. 11.1 don- 6.00 Dav London 11.40 You and your golf. 9.00 London. 8.30 Anna and the bind 12.10 Adam 12. 12.40 Weather. Weathere. News. 11.50 couple. 12.20

GRANADA:

9.30 Enchanted house. Guideline. 9.45 Time to 10.10 Jackson rememoe. 10.30 Sesame street. 10.55 five. Galloping gourmet. 11.30 11.00 and Hop 11.05 Press call Cootoon.30 Scotland Yard case- London. 2.30 book Primus 11.50 Hammy .20 12.05 5.15 Nature's Houseparty. London. Hamster. ondon 5.25 Crossroads. 5.50 5.20 Crossroads. Chuckleheads. LOn willdow 6.01 6.00 What's 6.30 London. west in News OIl. 7.00 Restor M Wales. the University challenge. London. 11.40 8.30 Anna and the king. 9.00 London. Weather. 11.45 Evil touch. HIT Cymru/Wales 4.35.450 examit: except:

SCOTTISH:

10.00 No easy answer 6.20-6M5 maw: London. P. C call. 6.01-6.15 Report ondon valent

HTV

Vest

855-90 FOR 6015-6:30

3.00 Report Vest London. 6.00 Today. University challenge .00 8.00 It's 10.00 London. life. 8.30 10.10 Gilbert and Sullivan. couple 11.45 Late call. 11.5 11.05 11.35 Report London, Blue lignt. Gipsy. Houseparty. London. 12.04

GRAMPIAN:

11.40 Julia. News. 12.05 London. ,.15 Wildlife theatre. 6.00 Ns London! 6.05 Thon 5.50 London. 11140 Lealizilc Frighteners. 12.10 Meditation.

BBC 2

11.00-11.25 Play school. 5.25 Open University.

7.05 HOMES AND THE HOMELESS.

The House and th and the City.

NEWS

Weather .35

LOOK

STRANGER.

Design for Wilderness 8.00

MAN

ALIVE.

Herne Bay the Sound of Alive with, Milie

TEN.

8.50

ONE

Andy Roberts "Pinky'. Crain, 9.00 Jeanne Ethel Waters, Barrvmore. Negro nurse returns to her home

CONSERVATIVE

10.00

BROADCAST.

10.10

FILM

commated. Jeanne Crain Is 'Pinky'-BBC 2.

NEWS EXTRA. Weather. 11.15 Some 300 blastfurnacemen In a second dispute, members struck after the Corporation re- of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation fused to pay them higher refusing to rates accept molten metal into the new for handling the new 250-ton plant because of an inter-union torpedo ladles which transport iron to the steel plant. clash over whether the confedera- molten the rival Steel Industry tion The men say they are entitled should Management Association pay because of the to increased middle represent management higher tonnages produced by the grades. new plant.

BSC

the Over 3,500 workers have been cannot meet of the without breaking the Tory laid off so far because claim blastfurnacemen's strike.

pay laws. Senior Transport and General STRIKERS from the Coventry delivery firm, Silcock and Workers' Union steward, Ron car Collings, agreed to resume work Hollins told Workers Press: yesterday pending an immediate 'If at the inquiry the firm re- top-level inquiry into their dis- fuses stewards for time to pay pute over the refusal by manage- lost in previous negotiations and ment to shop stewards pay refuses to agree to payment in during in-company negotiations. the future, I have no doubt we The return to work was be out again. The stri- on the basis that the undertaken will all will be paid while at- kers deliver from stewards cars the this inquiry. Chrysler combine. tending HOLLOWAY: Thursday April 12, PADDINGTON: Tuesday April 17 8 p.m. 'Prince 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Seven Sisters of Wales' corner Road. 'Forward to the Revolution- of Harrow Road and Western ary Party'. Road. 'Make Scanlon withdraw his proposals. No collaboration

CROYDON:

Thursday April 12, with the Tories' 8 p.m. Ruskin House. Coombe WOOLWICH: Wednesday April 18, Road. 'The fight against Stalin- 'Castle', Street, Powis ism'. E 18 'No collaboration with the Pay Board'. EAST LONDON: Monday April 16, 8 p.m. Bromley Public Hall, Bow

WALTHAMSTOW:

Wednesday Road, E.3. 'Fight rising rents and April 18, 8 p.m. 'The Bell', Hoe Build Councils of Action'.

Street. 'TUC must call a General prices. Strike'. WATFORD: Monday April 16, 19,

FULHAM:

Thursday April Watford Trade Union Hall, p.m. Swan', Broad- p.m. 'The Fulham Woodford Road. 'Build the revolu- S.W.6. 'No collaboration with way, tionary party'. the Pay Board'

TOTTENHAM:

Tuesday April 17,

BRIXTON:

Tuesday April 24. 8 8 p.m. 'Bricklayers Arms, High Centre. Training Control p.m. Road. White Hart Lane. Room, near Matthew's Road. 'Make 'Make Scanlon retract'. Scanion withdraw his proposals. Force the Tories to resign'.

CRAWLEY:

Tuesday April 17,

HEMEL

HEMPSTEAD:

Monday AEU Hall. Robinson Road. p.m. 'Room 2' April 30, 8 p.m. Adey. Retract'. 'Make Scanlon Square. field Hall. Queen's ACTON: Tuesday April 17, 8 p.m.

'Defend basic democratic rights. Tory Six Bells'. High Street, W.3. Make the government re- 'Make Scanlon retract' sign'

£12m claim against Maudling and Hoffman settled out of court REFA gravy train

BY ALEX MITCHELL

SETTLEMENT will be reached shortly in a £12m civil fraud action involving the former Tory Home Secretary and deputy prime minister, Reginald Maudling. Maudling was one of nine defendants in the case which was brought in New York two years ago. The multi-million pound claim was made by shareholders now-defunct in the Real Estate Fund of America of which Maudling was the first president. All the including Maudling, denied allegations funds from REFA which crashed in spectacular fashion in November 1971. They alleged that the com- pany sold shares in the pro- perty fund through a prospec- contained tus which 'false, untrue and misleading claims'.

The suit also charged the fund management of the with deception, specifically in not re- vealing that the fund's founder, Jerome D. Hoffman, had been 1968 barred in from dealing in securities in the US.

GRAVY

Hoffman was sent to prison St Martin's Lane in London's in 1971 for mortgage fraud in West End. connection previous firm Its original board of directors which he launched. contained Maudling, Viscount Under the proposed out-of- Brentford, the head the of settlement, the fund court will Automobile Association and an over its assets to its share- turn ex-Tory Minister, his Cris- son, holders $78,000 together with pin Joynson-Hicks, and a number from Mr Robert Wagner, the of top aides in the White House Democratic tormer Mayor- of and the Pentagon. New York, and two other de- Maudling launched the fund fendants. at an international Press confer- This payment would not in- ence held at the Waldorf in the Maudling. clude Strand early in 1969. Asked about money received

BOUNCE

by the defendants, Judge Edmund Palmieri, who in charge of the case, said: A few months later, however, nobody of Hoffman's can assure you details

DIO-

worked for nothing. They all had blems with the Securities and their feet the Exchange Commission were pub- gravy The federal judge said that the lished by the 'Sunday Times' fol- 'over- fund's management had lowing an investigation by extended and over-invested' Charles and journalist Rae fact that 'their policies Raw. were not uncovered the that strictly according to the rules'. Hoffman had been engaged in a REFA was a Liberia-registered tricky and mortgage operation . which made its head- that he company had subsequently been quarters in Thorn House, Upper banned for trading in, handling PRODUCTION workers at shop stewards, told Workers Press that the dispute arose from the Aberdare Cables Com- the the annual pay pany factory, Glamorgan, agreement. This originally was deferred from October last be- have entered the third day of cause of the introduction of the government's Phase One of the their sit-in over bonus rate pay laws. payments. He said workers now wanted the they Overnight the same money received protest was for doing the work last staged by groups of 50 work- year. ers in relay. Workers in the dispute are Last Friday 180 workers who General members of the and had been working to rule were Municipal Workers' Union, warned that unless there was a though it will affect other return to normal working there unions if the sit-in continues.

be no production at the would plant. Arthur Probert, the Labour MP The sit-in began on Monday for Aberdare, was due to when the workers were told travel from London to speak to TO Management told go home. the shop stewards yesterday after- workers they were required to work normally before the dis- Aberdare Cables is part of the the pute Tore Coulay B referred to international firm, Pirelli General Pay Board pro- Cable Company, which owns cedure committee within the in- other cable-making companies in dustry. Eastleigh, Bishopstoke and John Jenkins, chairman of the Southampton. SIR SIDNEY GREENE and his national strike action on Maske union right-wing cronies on the execu- the National Union tive of of because this requires a one-third Railwaymen have received But it does mean that majority. decisive rebuff in their

NUR

attempts members stop can _nOW the TUC's May Day work on May Day and participate to ignore stoppage. in local demonstrations through- out the country. Greene has hinting heen privately ever since the March During the bitterly-contested Congress that his union would executive meeting the right wing the not take art in one - day resolution that the protest against the stoppage work TUC's invitation to stop Tories' state pay laws. should be ignored. But meeting execuuve Monday night it was decided AS has telecome the locomen's union, on . by a one-vote majarity to support still has action to take. the stoppage. To: J.D. Hobsman Reginald Maudling From: Dew Jeny. You have shown me a copy of a l that is being circulatod in one contains some extracts from about my resignation from the America. The purpose of the leaflet must damage to your business. there is no way on the face of as circulated it, but it appea his has been done by a competi I would like to put on record o • reasons for my resignation were set out in my statement and no statement by saying that I cons Estate Fund of America was investment and I set out quite personal position. I am delighted that you have ob of such a distinguished America Chairman of the New York Board lace together with other impor Jnited States.

TO WHO IT MAY CONCERN

Should anyone query the authent the above, they are free to wri Mr. Reginald Maudling at the abo

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE MEETING

Transform the SLL into the Revolutionary Party Manchester

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

8 p.m. Angel pub, Chapel Street.

01-720 2000 01-622 7029 as a newspaper at the Workers Claphag. Hirint Street, SW4 Printed Newsdesk: 01-720 2000. 01-622 7029. Workers Press, Wedn i costs. square, september 26, 8969 its on the Real Esthe Find of ou have obtained the service as Mr. Holmes Brown, York Board of Trade to take my other important figures in the

REGINALD MAUDLING

the authenticity of to write to , at the above address. POLICE were called last night to words between the Mayor, Ald Ron Kirkin and Ald Wilfred Chidlow. After allegations by Ald Chid- low about the council buying houses at less than market value the mayor said his comments had

SLL LECTURE

SERIES

The revolutionary party and the history of the British working class Caedraw School Merthyr Tydfil 7 p.m. Sunday April 22 Lectures given by Peter Jeffries The Unions and the working class in Britain. The Revolutionary Past of the British working class-and Its future. The Transformation of the SLL into a Revolutionary Party.

READING

Trotsky, Where is Britain Going? Problems of the British Revolution. Perspectives for Transforming the SLL into a Revolutionary Party. Marxist Analysis of the Crisis.

.... ass, Wednesday April 11, 1973 PAGE 11 Above: Hoffman Maudling. Left: Maudling's letter written after his resignation from REFA saying it was a 'good and sound investment. or selling securities within New York state for life. The irrepressible Hoffman bounced back-and formed REFA with the assistance of Maudling, the former Chan- cellor of the Exchequer. Maudling left the presidency after hearing about Hoffman's unsavoury past, but this not prevent him sending a letter to Hoffman in which he stated that he still thought that the 'a good and sound fund was investment'.

BANKRUPT

Hoffman printed thousands of copies of the letter and used it to solicit business. A year later the company collapsed. When he fled from London, Hoffman left behind a bankrupt company and management a deluge of creditors' letters.

to New York He returned where he immediately was charged with offences dating from his first mortgage business.

He received a two-year sen- tence in the state penitentiary.

When contacted this week about the possible settlement which the angry shareholders had agreed to, Maudling said: 'I hope it's the end of the matter.'

no relevance to the matters under discussion. Ald Chidlow persisted and said to the mayor: me to be quiet, Don't you tell The mayor then sent for the police. While a police sergeant and a PC waited at the open door of the council chambers Ald Chid- low withdrew his remark.

SLL LECTURE

SERIES

The Socialist Revolution in Britain Middleton (nr Manchester) Hollins Social Centre Tintern Road, Hollins Estate 7.30 p.m. Monday April 16 Lectures given by Cliff Slaughter (SLL Central Committee) The Socialist Revolution in Britain: 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.

An insult to hospital SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL 14 & IS, WINTER GARDENS, BLACKPOOL PAGE 12 Workers Press, Wednesday A

APRIL FUND

£195.36 STILL

TOO SLOW

WE MUST make a special effort to give our April Fund a boost.

So far the response has been a much slow and we need effort to achieve our greater £1,750 target. Yesterday's post raised {46.25 bringing our total up to £195.36.

We have now reached the 11th day of the month and time is slipping by. More than ever this Workers Press must be month, kept right out in front. It is the only daily paper to expose the and manoeuvrings retreats the TUC leaders as they try to struggle against run from the the Industrial Relations Act.

Our paper will continue to expose this treachery and bulld revolu- instead an alternative tionary leadership to lead thous.

ands of workers who are deter- mined to defeat this Tory govern- ment. Don't waste a moment there- fore In raising our April Fund.

Collect extra amounts wherever Imme- possible. Post all these diately to: Workers Press Aprll Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London, SW4 7UG. ABOUT 100 demonstrators No 10 Downing Street picketed yesterday protesting against the state visit of President official Thieu, head of the Saigon military regime. clash with But to avoid demonstrators Thieu's plans were changed. He was taken by RAF Heathrow to helicopter from meet premier Heath at Chequers.

During the talks Heath offered aid to assist his brutal Thieu regime. The demonstration at Downing Street was called by the Indo China Solidarity Conference and the British Campaign for Peace in Vietnam. See page 2.

SPOR

: NIXON S

GANGS

SATURDAY AND

dnesday April 11, 1973

STRIKERS

who physically obstruct vehicles or persons attempting to cross a picket line are breaking the law, Lord Widgery, the Lord Chief Justice, ruled yesterday.

The 1971 Industrial Relations Act, he said, permitted peaceful picketing. But the only methods of per- suading anyone not to break a picket were oral or visual-'that is to say the use of the voice or the exhibition of placards'.

Said Widgery: "The Act does AFTER NARROWLY avoidi hospital strikers in the north- Secretary of State for Healtl yesterday returned to his desk letter from the TUC. This is the only possible description of the statement on the hospital workers' pay "fight issued by the TUC Finance and General Pur- poses Committee last Friday.

For what the statement says, in the most humiliating terms possible, is that the union chiefs will hold down their members' claims in return for no more than a promise of special treat- ment for the hospital workers.

In a covering letter to Joseph, delivered by hand on Monday evening, Alan Fisher, the leader of the main hospital union, says the TUC statement 'points the way for further discussions be- tween us on ways in which an acceptable solution to the cur- rent dispute could be concluded'.

Fisher, this same was general secretary of the National

THIEU MUST

RELEASE ALL

200 000

POLITICAL PRISONER:

not authorize pickets to do acts, such as the physical obstruction which of vehicles of persons, would be illegal apart from the Industrial Relations Act'.

Mr. Justice Ashworth and Mr Justice Bridge agreed that John Broome, of Stockport, Cheshire, an official of the Union of Con- and struction, Allied Trades was guilty of ob- Technicians, struction under the 1959 High- ways Act when he stood in front of a lorry attempting to enter a site during last year's building national building strike.

avoiding a barracking from : north-west, Sir Keith Joseph, • Health and Social Security, his desk to find ... a begging

BY DAVID MAUDE OUR LABOL

Union of Public Employees, who was booed by some of his own members at Tower Hill last suggesting their Thursday for might be taken to the claim Tories' Pay Board. And again it was Fisher who actually put the idea of a beg- ging letter to the TUC the fol- lowing morning. 'It is reasonable for us be- cause we are the only ones left fighting' , he said afterwards. "It is for the TUC to decide if it is fair or not on other workers.'

Leadership of this kind is an insult to the desperately low- paid hospital workers. their union chiefs ig- First nored the overwhelming demand of national ballot votes for all- out strike action, adopting in-

NO BRITISH AID

FOR

SAIGON'S

CHIEF JAILER

RISONERS

TOd The court allowed, with costs, a police appeal against the dis- missal by i Stockport magistrates on October 3 of a summons alleging that Broome obstructed the free passage of Short Street, Stockport, in September 1972.

The case was sent back to the magistrates with a direction to convict Broome. But the court certified that the case raised a point of law of general public importance and granted Broome leave to appeal to the House of Lords.

UR LABOUR CORRESPONDENT

stead the totally inadequate po- licy of selective strikes, overtime bans and working to rule.

Then when their members have been determinedly pursu- ing this policy for more than five weeks they propose to wind it up and accept the pay laws.

But in condemning Fisher and his associates, hospital workers should not allow the great 'leit talkers of the TUC Finance and General Purposes Committee to slip by unnoticed. It was Hugh Scanlon and Jack Jones, after all, who four days after the hospital workers be- gan their industrial action won endorsement for the following formula from special Con- a gress of the TUC: 'Congress calls upon the

FROM PAGE 1

and their temporary vic- tory. The other big issue is the Industrial Relations Act. Scanlon may come under fire from two sides on this question. The right wing will de- mand a change in policy to allow the union to appear before the National Indus- trial Relations Court. On the other hand there are the tens of thousands of engineering workers who with bitter hostility VIew Scanlon's offer to Heath of amending the Act. From what has emerged during these first two days at the conference, it is quite clear that the policy of the Communist Party and the 'left' is to protect the pre- sident, who is considered an ally, from all criticism.

There was a move to defer the question of the Act to the national conference, but this is now not being pur- sued. The Act will be debated either tomorrow or Friday.

FOR DETAILS

TELEPHONE

01-622 7029

IS, BLACKPOOL

Lord Widgery. General Council to organize and lead co-ordinated action in sup- port of affiliated unions in dis- pute and who require such support.' Scanlon told the Congress that the rest of the trade union movement should say to the hospital workers, gas workers, teachers and civil servants who were in conflict with the gov- ernment: 'Your struggle is our struggle'. He specifically condemned the idea of 'special cases' under the pay laws. 'Our pledge is given in the sense that the whole conception of this government is absolutely false and must be blown sky- high, not by exceptions but by the uniting in action of the whole trade union movement.' Yet Scanlon has issued no statement repudiating the state- ment from last Friday's Finance and General Purposes Commit- tee meeting, which says quite the opposite of this. And according to Fisher thert was no dissension in the meeting - al- though Scanlon and Jones were both present. Here is the TUC statement in full: 'The Finance and General Pur- poses Committee expressed the willingness of the TUC to as- sist directly in the negotiations and to give an assurance to the if the hospital government that, ancillary workers' claim could be considered on its merits as an exceptional case, the TUC would its affiliated or- upon all ganizations not to quote any settlement on behalf of these in justification of a workers claim of their own.' This is the language of be- trayal, not of the hospital work- ers alone, but of all 10 million trade unionists in the TUC and their families. It exposes the March 5 special what Workers Congress as Press has insisted all along fraud on the working wa: a class. The May 1 'day of pro- test and stoppage, therefore, was always a cynical cover for this fraud. May 1, however, and can must be made a powerful de- monstration that workers de- cisively reject these policies.

• All out on May Day! • Mobilize the working class to force the Tories out and re- place them with a Labour gov- pledged to socialist ernment policies! SHOP STEWARDS at Barratt's, north London, sweet factory meet management this morning to discuss last Friday's shock announcement of closure within two years. Closure of the factory, which is part of the f7m George Bassett confectionary group, would kill 750 jobs.