Workers Press no. 1049

workers press

YOUNG SOCIALISTS' PLEDGE ON REVOLUTIONARY PARTY

LEAD FIGHT

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

OVER 1,700 working- class youth and students pledged this weekend to build a revolutionary leadership to meet the Tory challenge in the im- mediate months ahead. Two special trains trans- ported approximately 900 youth from London alone to Blackpool. The setting was the Black- pool Winter Gardens and the occasion, the 13th annual conference of the Young Socialists-now a decade from their expulsion from the Labour Party by the right wing but still Britain's largest and fastest growing youth move- ment. The spectrum among the delegates and visitors covered the whole life and struggles of the working class-hospital wor- kers, engineering apprentices, building workers, youth from the shipyards of the Clyde, students and many others. All pledged their determina- tion to get rid of the Tory government and build the re- volutionary party of Britain.

THEY SALUTED the role of youth in the heroic struggles of the working class in Vietnam, the Middle East, Ireland and the colonial world against the oppres- sion of imperialism. THEY CALLED for mass indus- trial and political action, includ- ing a General Strike, to force the Tory government to resign.

THEY DEMANDED that the traitors in the Labour movement who want to talk with the Tories be given their marching orders.

AND THEY discussed and passed programme of a full socialist nationalization of all the major

MEETING

police raids

MONDAY APRIL 16

7.30 p.m. Conway Hall Red Lion Square near Holborn Tube London WC2 Speakers: Tariq Ali (International Marxist Group) Jim Higgins (International Socialist) Gerry Healy (Socialist Labour League)

INCORPORATING THE NEWSI

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

Conference delegates vote lo support May 1 strike-for report see page 12. industries, without compensation control, as an under workers' answer to the capitalist economic crisis. The conference was proof that youth are not the pawns of the Tory courts and the employers, or fodder for the dole queues, but a force that will lead the fight for a socialist Britain.

YS national committee member Maureen Bambrick opened the weekend's discussion by moving the main resolution for the trans- formation of the Socialist Labour League into a revolutionary party.

She started by stating that the crisis workers faced was inter- national. It is to be found in every shopping bag carried by a house- wife in the streets this weekend.

'If you are a woman in Tokyo will be going up your prices because of inflation. The same would be true if you were a housewife in London, Frankfurt or Paris. Tory liars said this crisis was caused by wages. But the govern- themselves major ment were culprits—as Britain's balance of payments declined, the purchasing power of the pound had declined and prices had increased proportion. Inflation was rooted in an international monetary crisis. Faper money was declining in value because it had lost all its gold backing. Maureen Bambrick went on to warn that this crisis meant one thing - the Tory government would deprive the working class of all their basic rights and drive down living standards to save their system. INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • MONDAY APRIL 16, 1973 • No 1049 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE They had been do able this only because of the cowardice of the trade and Labour leaders wno based tnemselves the theory that capitalism could be reformed. *This system is beyond reform,' she said. "The Tories have assumed dictatorship virtual over wages and living standards. The moment the working-class fights the government they enter politics.

*This is why we have always those argued against sd y Does — mee Syne casEs who talk about the "spontaneity" of the working class.' sand that Comrade Bambrick on all the issueshousing, ane wares une Working class required fundamental changes that demand a transfer of power the ruling 4l cases the TrOl these working Issues were raised in the present situation. 'You cannot solve these basic questons by protesung• *To get rid of the property No 1049 4p

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

speculators you have to national- ize the land. To get rid of the building profiteers you have to nationalize the building industry.

To get rid of the building societies you have to expropriate them. To engage in an emergency rehousing problem you have to requisition all available property for occupation. This is how you would solve the housing problem, and the same approach can rid the working class of all the other problems.' The movement had now reached the most crucial stage in the campaign for the party.

she went on. Large numbers of trade unionists and youth were being drawn into the discussion for the preparatory conference at the end of May. The miners' rejection of strike action emphasized the dangers that lay ahead if this question, of constructing the revolutionary party, was not tackled. Since last May the YS paper 'Keep Left' had been appearing as a weekly, and despite a con- siderable strain on its resources paid its way. This was a had remarkable achievement and showed that when the YS set out to accomplish a political objective they had the strength and knowledge to do it. Now these had to be utilized in building the party: turning into the trade unions and the factories, organizing the working class and progressive section of the middle class. The issues of the hour, Com- rade Bambrick stressed, were these: • Mobilize the full forces of the working class to create the in- dustrial and political conditions that will make the Tory govern- ment resign. • Fight to unite the working class in struggle on the basis of socialist policies. • Demand that the next Labour government must implement these policies. In the fight to bring down the Tory government, we simultaneously fight to expose the Labour and trade union leaders who betray.

workers press

YOUNG SOCIALISTS' PLEDGE ON REVOLUTIONARY PARTY

LEAD FIGHT

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

OVER 1,700

working- class youth and students pledged this weekend to revolutionary build a leadership to meet the Tory challenge in the im- mediate months ahead. Two special trains trans- approximately 900 ported youth from London alone to Blackpool. The setting was the Black- pool Winter Gardens and the occasion, the 13th annual of the Young conference Socialists-—now a decade from their expulsion from the Labour Party by the right wing but still Britain's largest and fastest growing youth move- ment. The among the spectrum visitors covered delegates and the whole life and struggles of the working class-hospital wor- apprentices, kers, engineering building workers, youth from the shipyards of the Clyde, students and many others. All pledged their determina- tion to get rid of the Tory government and build the re- volutionary party of Britain.

THEY SALUTED the role of youth in the heroic struggles of the working class in Vietnam, the Middle East, Ireland and the colonial world against the oppres- sion of imperialism. THEY CALLED for mass indus- trial and political action, includ- ing a General Strike, to force the Tory government to resign. THEY DEMANDED that the traitors in the Labour movement who want to talk with the Tories be given their marching orders.

AND THEY discussed and passed a full socialist programme of nationalization of all the major

MEETING

police raids

MONDAY APRIL 16

7.30 p.m. Conway Hall Red Lion Square near Holborn Tube London WC2 Speakers: Tariq Ali (International Marxist Group) Jim Higgins (International Socialist) Gerry Healy (Socialist Labour League)

INCORPORATING THE NEWSI

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

Conference delegates vote to support May 1 strike-for report see page 12. industries, without compensation workers' under control, as an answer to the capitalist economic crisis. The conference was proof that youth are not the pawns of the Tory courts and the employers, or fodder for the dole queues, but a force that will lead the fight for a socialist Britain.

YS national committee member Maureen Bambrick opened the weekend's discussion by moving the main resolution for the trans- formation of the Socialist Labour League into a revolutionary party.

She started by stating that the crisis workers faced was inter- national. It is to be found in every shopping bag carried by a house- wife in the streets this weekend.

'If you are a woman in Tokyo will be going up your prices because of inflation. The same would or Paris.' Tory liars said this crisis was caused by wages. But the govern- themselves major ment were culprits—as Britain's balance of payments declined, the purchasing power of the pound had declined and prices had increased in proportion. Inflation was rooted in an international monetary crisis. was declining in Faper money value because it had lost all its gold backing. Maureen Bambrick went on to warn that this crisis meant one thing - the Tory government would deprive the working class of all their basic rights and drive down living standards to save their system. INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • MONDAY APRIL 16, 1973 • No 1049 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITȚEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE 223 this only because of the cowardice had been able trade Labour leaders who based themselves the theory that capitalism could be reformed. "This system is beyond reform, she said. "The Tories have assumed dictatorship virtual over wages and living standards. The moment working-class fights the the government they enter politics. "This is why we have always those argued against who say DONUS _ Ce Sve caus who talk about the "spontaneity" of the working class.' Comrade Bambrick said that on all the issueshousing, Jobs wares-une WOrR CaSs required fundamental changes hat demand a transfer of power Slass the the ruling these working cass. Issued were raised the present situation. •You cannot solve these basic quesuons by protesting. "To get rid of the property • No 1049 4p

IE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

speculators you have to national- ize the land. To get rid of the building profiteers have to nationalize the building industry.

"To get rid of the building societies you have to expropriate them. To engage in an emergency rehousing problem you have to requisition all available property for occupation. 'This is how you would solve the housing problem, and the same approach rid the can working class of all the other problems.' The movement had now reached the most crucial stage in the campaign for the party, she went on. Large numbers of trade unionists and youth were being drawn into the discussion for the preparatory conference at the end of May. The miners' rejection of strike action emphasized the dangers that lay ahead if this question, of constructing the revolutionary party, was not tackled. Since last May the YS paper 'Keep Left' had been appearing as a weekly, and despite a con- siderable strain on its resources had paid its way. This was a and remarkable achievement showed that when the YS set out to accomplish a political objective they had the strength and knowledge to do it. Now these had to be utilized in building the party: turning into the trade unions and the factories, organizing the working class and progressive section of the middle class. The issues of the hour, Com- rade Bambrick stressed, were these: • Mobilize the full forces of the working class to create the in- dustrial and political conditions that will make the Tory govern- ment resign. socialist policies. Demand that the next Labour government must implement these policies. In the fight to bring down the Tory government, we simultaneously fight to expose the Labour and trade union leaders who betray.

PAGE 2 Workers Press, Monday. AprIl 16, 1973 'Pressure' won't defend steel jobs

BY IAN YEATS

open-hearth steelworks it was principally "Fight, group, who succeeded in posing no to be askea to taly to ine support or the threatened 'location' delegates thls that The pinned their hopes the future. Union tions to angry demands for 'action' with- High hopes are pinned on the first con- NEITHER the British Steel Corpora- prodded to pressurize the Tories to out ever qualifying what they meant.

ference since the oi the iron and tion nor the Tory government will up Steel Trades Confederation (formerly 12CK production

TONS

The idea that boom is on the way and a year 'in with the TUC's recommen- BISAKTA) in London on Wednesday. But fear the decisions taken at the first- that if thev behave themselves.

dation for 6 per wnne res cent annual growth leaders will not respond ponsibly opposing any rundown, the steel- sort of pressure. The most they : will do is ever national conference of steel- men may yet get to share in it, effectively The concept of pressure politics domi- to pay lip service to the steelmen's de- works action committees in Connah's delegates from taking. naling the conterence was Dalled ally 'mands. Shotton steelman Del Hopkins who said: action. Anderson from the Michae The policy of defending one works at Quay at the weekend. •We need doomed Newport in Mon- to unite what is left works save a. time can onlv fragment the struggle and of the thev steel mnouserv. yve nee• co unite moulesure Lold concrence The lead to disaster. The illusion that more 85 delegates set up a national to pressurize the effect already lost a third of their men and had committee to fight the Tory plan to axe output reprieve the doomed works rank-and-file only three more 'to live'. But the national months Lall committee 50,000 jobs by 1980 and they called a elected Stan e accales relaine nom commune unem.

43m tons could be achieved simply by one-day strike on May Day in protest behind official union leaders in their dis selves to even token action in their de- adding of number converters cussions with the

BSC

fence. And spokesmen from East Moors to int to make sure none against redundancy. Scunthorpe or Port Talbot with verv little works. Carditt, insisted on putting a reso of those of wanting suspected May 1, said Shotton action committee extra labour. actually take a step backwards in the fight luton separate from the main one stress.

John Atkinson would joint secretary for jobs. ing that they accepted closure provided The lories , and the BSC are determinec

BSC

fashioned, labour intensive, ansaster plan ena Stalinist speakers occulycals was ziven an aaca and completely shattered'. In deebened low open-hearth steelmaking conscousv im con works was pnasea in fact on

BSC

the reformism the right-wing social point May chairman the lavour of prontable

HOLC

democrats collaborating the Many delegates by openly spoke in this way of Lord Melchett will go oxygen process at five heritage sites. Only illusion the individual problems and prospects for national campaign force leaders of unal boom is on une way conditions which responsible action can safeguard the steel- their plants. Thus pressure politics became the steel unions l duool ponces men's share in The only challenge linked to the. concept of every works fol Cole Ener al forcing lne lories to resign so that a closures. where the jobs Labour government pedged olsonous Cablas point socialist porters of Sean Matgamna's 'Workers" axe looked set to fall. Then steelmen are policies can But conference discussion, dominated by be returned will stop them.

Labourites right-wing and Stalinists pers- even Tinis

SHOT TOR

pective deep-rooted and utterly mis-

TELWO" SHOTTOM EL WORUS)

British economy placed belief that

STEL WORK

'SHOTTO.

DEESIDE

SAVE

the astailworks BACKTO

STEEL!

avour co indeed, speaking

SHOTTOM

"HE, WORN

policy proposals drawn up by Shotton

•NO STEEL

1930.5 action committee, Mr Atkinson said: SItE WÜRKS 'All

NO MEAL

the signs are that we are entering a boom which may last two or per-

DEATH TO BS-C PLAN

Delegates were told a word snorlare o1 steel was aeveloping and tuat steel demand from other Common Market was 1o ensure that British sce was n me dest Dosition to cash in they were urged to press for a ban Imports ana on all export of cheap home producea scrap.

Although the BSC has persistently and great scotched the belief that raised output coula mean a reprieve lor Pay talks in Italy tense after the shadow grenade killing of the club

TWO

YOUTHS, both Greece militar camps in thetallan alps.

para-

BY JOHN SPENCER

BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

members of the fascist The murder has created movement Avanguardia up by a hand-grenade thrown situation NEGOTIATIONS on a return there is a long history, of anti- from a crowd of fascists who clashes in parliament llaiy. Nazionale (National Van- trade unionism and to work have opened at the where and warnings from veteran the were defying a ban de- fascist-backed yellow Oll about the imminence of Peugeot the factory in Lyon, union, guard), have been monstrations and attempting CFl, is active. Civil war. where company strong-arm to stage a rally in the centre when the Later company arrested in Milan in con- The men last week tried to smash funeral of the fascists' of Milan. wanted extricate its thugs victim by sit-in strike for higher from Was acrenceo some the plant, nection with the murder 100,000 people, with the Stalinists Avanguardia Nazionale 1S wages. difhculties. big lacod senous them. The of prominent among force of police was required of a policeman on Thurs-

MOST

extreme deputies Iwo 'commandos'- linked denounced the of 40 Lascist -enen workers lynching the the Italian Social Movement, the parliament assassins men in khaki and blue uniforms 'commandos'. day. between with helmets, body carrying iron Dal Cull lascist The of thugs at Peugeot the two sides of the chamber.

use 56 MPs. Members of Avanguardia culs came directly after the strikers The policeman was blown Nazionale have been trained in strikers from USeC Pietro Nenni, warned Sosa ist at the Renault Paris, plant the factory. Party leader, out for three weeks demanding They consisted of Peugeot the squadrismo, wage surcence wholesale revIson bre yens ater Word Par The.

organized bands thugs which parts scales, were forced to end their enorovees rou All Trades Unions Alliance meetings brought France, brought together for the strike. sole purpose breaking strikes The factory leadership, domin- and intimidating militant workers.

EAST LONDON: Monday April 16, WANDSWORTH: Monday April 16, ated 'Enough of conventional lies, une communsi High Street, Build Councils They smashed through the reached a compromise with the • D.M. bromiey ruonc hall, bow 6p.m. sala this man wno nas Too tar Road, E.3. 'Fight rising rents and S.W.18. 'Build pick on Aprit t2 an id the :morn- state-owned firm gave the more than his share in the Build Councils of Action'.

Action'. on April and drove the workers small the power vacuum we talk about wisco. Wart LIsC

TOTTENHAM:

Tuesday April workers out of the factorv bulld.

burying their basic demand.

TOOTING,

Tuesday April 17, so olten Is nol a menacing

NISK

'Bricklayers Arms', High ings. The company admitted that p.m. Tooting Baths Tooting any more but a reality which has were p.m. weekend there they were 'guards belonging Hart Lane. White us in its grip. more strikes in the Paris factory real S.W.17. 'The crisis of Divauway. the Peugeot nrm the lay-off capitalism': There is every sign that the абано. vayllicillo

CRAWLEY:

Tuesday 8 April 17, the This is only the latest and most Andreotti will fall necoulated Robinson Road. MIDDLETON, Thursday April 19, covernment blatant use p.m. AEU Hall. of strong-arm men considered by the workers to be very shortly. It narrowly survived 'Make Scanlon Retract'. 8 p.m. 'Assheton Arms', near the at the Peugeot factory, where insufficient. completely confidence vote last week but Middleton Gardens. was outvoted on aspects of policy FELTHAM: Thursday April 19, 8 'Make Scanlon retract'. 'Three Shoes' Brandt defies left' Horse High PADDINGTON: Tuesday April 17, There is talk of a new attempi TUC must call a Genera form a centre-left coalition 8 p.m. Prince or wales corner Strike to make the Tories resign'.

preceded the of the type whicl of Harrow Road and Western Scanlon Road. 'Make withdraw present covernment. out wing already clear that no amount Farn- Ris proposals. reshuffling of the parliamentary THE NATIONAL congress of with the Tories'. ham must West Germany's ruling WOOLWICH: Wednesday April 18, can guarantee any degree Social calus General make of stability. Democratic Party ended on Tories resign'. Gastie.

HOWIS

Saturday with a of the organized workers' collaboration with the lascists — as the Mian pieuge rom Pay Board'

CROYDON:

Thursday April 26, grenade murder shows- -are ruth- Chancellor Willy Brandt ment despite attempts to broaden to Ruskin House, Coombe the base'. Wednesday pom Marxism lessly determined to establish continue his right-wing policies.

MALHANSON

Road. Brandt treated with contempt p.m. "The Bell, Hoe ana the April 18, ner octatorsoo o lan Brandt, who was returned as unions' can be defeated only by the the 'left' noises made against him TUC must call a General Street party chairman very large united force of the working class.

by '435 yo leaders of the WILLESDEN: Thursday April 26, malorite coneress comprising FULHAM: Thursday 8 April 19, The biggest obstacle to the 8 p.m. Brent Labour and Trades delegates, declared his party all party members up to age so.

'The Swan'. Fulham Broad- Hall Willesden High Road, would to the 1959 •Hil moonizanon orude masses aransı stick pro- The Jusos chairman, Wolfgang way, S.W.6. 'No collaboration with the fascists San CP. These N.W.10. 'Build which all Councils

LICW

the Pay Board' doctrine of the Italian CP. KOTh. descripec me chancelors Action'. mention of socialism. speech declaring he would con- 19, talking of April Inursady, men alc Brandt said the

SPD

would the SPD's right-wing Cobourg Taverne, Wood- April 26, defending democracy when every- p.m. HolLowaY: inursday Lillus remain a party of the middle.

Speakers from hos- Co-op Hall, Seven Sisters one can that the Italian nouse Lane. 8 p.m. onentalion as imoressive 'The parliamentary system is a hollow The much-vaunted opposition economic crisis and In fact, draws its support pital workers and clothina indus- nuau turned out to be mainly talk.

try. the rising cost of living.

trom the Snal. overwneming-y 1alks

Another face of Toryism came to light last week with a decision taken by the National Insurance Commissioners in the case of a miner suffering from pneumoconiosis. Mr Jimmy Dean, a pit wor- ker since the age of 14, gave his job at the coal face up at Brodsworth colliery, York- shire, because of failing health.

An official of the National Union of Mineworkers said that Mr Dean would be 'dicing with his health if he returned to his old job. For some time he has been a 'button man' and recently appealed to the local insurance tribunal for a £9.90-a-week hardship allowance. The National Commission upheld their decision to give Mr Dean nothing and recom- mended that he go back to the coal face to work in the Board's dust-approved condi- tions. Pneumoconiosis is a com- mon, painful and lethal dis- among miners and can ease only be aggravated by perpe- tual exposure to dust which settles on the lungs. It is common knowledge in pits that the Coal most Board's drive for profitability through increased output often means that dust regulations applied less than enthu- are siatically under conditions where modern machinery creates even more of the 'black death' Brodsworth NUM president Mr Tom Ellis has publicly alleged that the system used to in dust Doncaster measure mines is 'unreliable' The Commissioners admit- ted that 'changes in machi- nery, breakdowns and systems result in faces being approved at one particular period but not at another' But they still sent Mr Dean back to work. On the same day, Coal Board chief Derek Ezra (be- low) said that output from in Yorkshire and the mines Midlands must rise. Manganese Bronze and BSA are still working out merger terms to save the Birmingham engineering firm from closure following the company's insol- vency and the suspension of all trading in BSA shares.

Birmingham Small Arms was first registered in 1873 in order to acquire the business founded in 1861. It later re-registered in 1896 as the Birmingham Small Arms and Metal Co. Ltd. and then a year later changed its name to the Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd. This is now the parent company of the BSA Group. The Group consists of 19 sub- sidiaries and is supported by two research centres. Most of the factories are situated in the There are other units in County Durham, Coventry and Redditch. The last year has been one of unparalleled attack on the trade union move- ment and on trade union- living standards, ists' George Elvin, president of the Association of Cinematograph, Tele- vision and Allied Tech- nicians, said on Saturday.

Elvin, who has now retired as president, was opening the union's 40th annual conference in London. A ruby anniversary should be an occasion for celebration and in some ways it was, said. But generally speaking attack which had been the launched on the unions was the most severe since that on the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Said Elvin: 'Not only are we legally forbidden to do our legitimate job-if we are too difficult, jail is around the as five dockers dis- corner, covered. 'And meanwhile our living standards are eroded. Prices have continued to soar whilst wages have been salaries Phase Two of the govern- ment's pay control policy could be even more 'one-sided' than Phase One, the ACTT president told delegates.

If it succeeded in restrain- ing pay increases within the limits set out, it would open the way for a big boost to profits at the expense of salaries and wages. collective - bargaining Free had been taken away, along with the right of unions to serve their members under their rules and to rectify the gross injustice which led to their creation. Turning to the Common Market, Elvin pointed out that just two days after British entry, Dr Sicco Mansholt, out- going president of the Euro- pean Commission, had admit- failure to improve ted con- ditions for the mass of the people ana the severe need for 'an injection of democracy' Mansholt had revealed that the disparities in living stand- ards between different areas of the Market had become more marked rather than less. Elvin said: 'He went on to say that it would be impossible for a future government to renegotiate Britain's member- ship. 'It is a treaty forever, he said, and if Mr Wilson won the next election and tried to take Britain out of the EEC, he would be taken to the European Court in Luxem- bourg. It is a pity that Dr Mansholt reserved these re- marks until the end of his terms of office. 'But I am sure the British people will not accept that any government, if it is so-minded, can be dictated to by any out- side authority whether it is a member of it or not.' The Market also posed im- The BSA Group's main pro- duction headings are motor- cycles, central heating (oil-fired hoilers, radiators and valves), metal components (sintering of metal powders, zircon sand and shell moulding, industrial plat- investment ing and precision casting), and general engineer- ing (car and commercial vehicle bodies, small arms, hydraulic transmissions and materials handling plant). BSA also has substantial in- terests in machine tools, small bore circulating pumps and vending machines. According to the Group's turnover in 1969-1970 the man"- facture of motorcycles contri- buted 72 per cent and the pro- duction of metal components and light engineering contri-

YEAR

SALES year ending July 31 1964 £33.11m. 1965 £40.34m. 1966 £46.59m. 1967 £35.49m. 1968 £36.54m. 1969 £33.85m. 1970 £38.30m. Above: Elvin speaking at the ACCT cont mediate problems for trade unionists in films, television and the laboratories, the ACTT president went on. • National aids would lose their protective benefits, Common Market films and programmes would be deemed British, the closed ranks of the British trade union mem- bership would be at risk be- of free mobility of cause labour. • Hard-earned conditions of employment would be chal- buted the remaining 28 per cent.

BSA has a standing authorized capital of £10,703,150 and an issued capital £9,125,086. There are about 10,000 share- holders. The USA subsidiaries contain approximately one third of the Group's profit, but again it is mainly in the motor cycle divi- sion. It can be concluded from and the pre- this information, viously mentioned 72 per cent turnover in motorcycles during the period 1969-1970, that BSA relies heavily on its sale of motor cycles. However, even the most casual glance at the Group's past five years of falling sales, rates of profit and prices of shares, pro- vides an dexcellent example of a deteriorating company.

PROFITS

BEFORE TAX

Well in excess of £3,000,000 £846,429 £821,058 Workers Press, Monday April 16, 1973 PAGE 3 CCT conference over the weekend.

lenged from those countries worst of those consequences whose standards were below retrogressive steps, Elvin said. those of Britain. On the issue censorship, • Because the imposition which has hit ACTT members of of Value-Added Tax there was, in television particularly hard Tory in effect, the return in the since government 'de- cinemas to taxation even more came into office, Elvin plored' than the entertain- and 'deprecated' the onerous film- ment tax which the banning of programmes. industry, Television, he said, employers, suppor- must ted by the unions, succeeded operate 'on the broadest pos- in having repealed some years sible canvas, even where at ago. times it upset 'the squeamish, 'It will need all our ingen- the cowardly and the do-good- uity and strength to avoid the ers'. By LEON TROTSKY Paperback. £1.00 Illustrated Sharp pen-portraits of leading figures of the Second Interna- tional in Russia and Europe, for. the first time published in an English edition. The translations were first commissioned by the Socialists' Young 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- lished Soviet Union the in 1926. It provides the vivid most picture available of the historic figures Second of the 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

PAGE 4 Workers Press, Monday April 16, 1973

BREWERY

BRINGS IN

THE LABOUR

RELATIONS

MEN

Scottish and Newcastle Breweries hard are at work trying to turn their inte a micro- company of the corporate cosm state. of labour-relations score specialists have been brought in to make sure that informa- tion flows smoothly from the top aown and Ine boucom up Employees are sent letters and shop. stewards are called explaining the position of the company and needs. The firm even pays for com- bine. meetings shop stew- ards when they gather to con- sider what new pay and con- ditions claim to submit. Personnel director Mr Allan Blacklaws has lot ex- perience in his line of work- he is a member of the National Industrial Relations Court.

Not that he believes that industrial relations can be all milk and honey. Indeed, quite the reverse. He told an Industrial Society lunch in London last week that what was needed was 'a whereby the parties, system having failed to agree on their are forced to own, put their independent body Case lo all for a decision based on merit rather than power'. He suggested that should be the purpose of the institute set up under the anti-union laws. Earlier, commenting on the TUC's the Indus- Relations Act, he said: trial 'Surely as a matter of principle, it should not be possible for any section of the community to opt out of any part of the Act; the law of the land should be obeyed by all.'

Blacklaws warned that the statutory system has 'not even begun to function properly be- cause, for the most part, ployers refuse to use the visions of the Act while the main trade unions are de- from doing barred so by presen went policy A He better

WHAT THE RICH

LEAVE BEHIND

The 11th Duke of Argyll, the Chief of the Clan Campbell, of has died leaving a mass titles and estates to unravel.

his titles Among WelC Marquis of Lorne and Kintyre; Hari of Camobel and Cowal: Viscount of Lochow and Glenisla; Baron Inveraray, Mull, Morvern, and Tiry; Campbell; Baron Earl of Argyll; Lorne; Baron baron Kintyre; Baron Sundridge; Baron Hamilton; and the 35th Baron and 45th Knight of Lochow. His Celtic title was Mac- and Cailein Mor, he was Hereditary Master of the Royal Household in Scotland, Heredi- tary High Sheriff of the County of Argyll, Admiral the Coast and the Isles, vyestern and Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland and of the castles of Dunstaffnage, Dunoon, and Carrick and Tarbert. He was formerv a captain day April 16, 1973 Jack Jones, T&GWU chlef whose union has Issued credentials to shop stewards which state: Shop authorized stewards are not continue industrial Initiate or action on behalf of this union."

method of resolving disputes only desirable, but is not essential, if the country is to advance and employees at all levels In other words, as far as concerned, the bosses are nothing has been solved yet with the trade unions. There appears to be some in the trade unions who might not object to co-operating in this attack on the rights and conditions of organized labour.

Among those listed as guests at the lunch were John general secretary of Vickers, the Civil Service Union and K. R. Peplow, general secre- tary of the United Kingdom Association of Professional Engineers. Labour Lord Shackleton, director of Rio Tinto Zinc Development Enterprises, chaired the luncheon. If the actual operation of the anti-union laws gave Mr Blacklaws no particular satis- faction, one aspect of trade union response did. He told businessmen that the Transport and General Workers' Union has now issued credentials which state: 'Shop stewards are not author- ized to initiate or continue industrial action on behalf of the union. "This authority is vested only in the General Executive Council, its Finance and Purposes Committee General and the General Secretary?

He concluded: It cost £55,000* obtain this to change.' *The NIRC fine on the T&GWU last summer. in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. At a ceremony at Inverary Castle in 1967 the Duke re- ceived the old colours of the 8th (Argyll) Battalion the • Sutherland High- Argyll and landers (Territorial Army). The year before the Labour government decided to disband the Argyll regulars. He critic- decision as 'cata- ized the strophic. But the 'patriotic' Duke had for several years lived in Paris.

The decision to move abroad of 'increased was because taxation'. In the early 1960s he was involved in a notorious divorce petition with his third wife, the Mrs Charles Sweeny, former wife of an American financier.

The Duke's first wife, the Hon Janet Gladys Aitken, was the daughter of Lord Beaver- the founder of the brook, 'Express' group of newspapers.

By our industrial corresponden There was an embarras- sing incident renctly dur- ing filming for a Thames TV documentary on Frank Chapple, right- wing boss of the electric.

ians' k and plumbers union, EPTU. When the television cameras accompanied Chapple into the St Helens branch of the EPTU in Lancashire someone got up started asking: What and about the IRO?' Now the IRO - the Inland Revenue Office construction site at Bootle, not ten miles from St Helens—is something of a sore point with Chapple.

For 105 weeks, 16 of his members have been battling it out there in a bid to bring their wages and conditions in- to line with those of other workers employed on the site.

And though the site has at the moment been closed, John the strikers' leader, Byrne, said this week they were determined to continue the fight until their demands are met. "The only way we can lose is if the labour movement fails to give us sufficient backing to stick it out, he said. Despite the length of their struggle, and the widespread they have received support from EPTU branches, the IRO strikers have had the never backing of their union. It was as far back as May 1970 that the EPTU's national contracting conference, meet- ing in Southport, called . for 'negotiations to proceed at once to establish a 40-hour week by raising the basic rate to fl an hour as a minimum skilled rate in all areas.

The conference also called pay, for four weeks' holiday with pay in 1971 and for clauses to be inserted into providing for the agreement give local negotiations to shop stewards more rights.

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Tat the midly, that this was s rather mildly, that this was the democratic expression of of the rank and file wishes through their delegates' and that 'we feel it is time the officials whose wages we pay took notice of our de- mands'. "To Adds the statement: ignore us means we nave no alternative but to take matters into our own hands.' The approved rate for elec.

tricans fixed by the Joint In- dustry Board, which the EPTU electrician thorking 45 hours backs the hilt, £27.78 gross. building By comparison, a 44 labourer working hours can receive £48.35 gross. Reinstated It was in a bid to change this that Feb-

SELVAL ON

OU 1971, the IRO elec. ruary 11, 'took Locats mallels lILO their own hands' and struck.

The firms involved were Lee Beesley and lames scott. Duncan and Watson. The electricians were de- 25p above the

JIB-

manding approved rate, an end to black- listing and the right for stew- ards to negotiate at site level.

On July 26, after 25 weeks on strike, the men returned to work understanding on the that talks would take place to resolve these claims. But seven weeks later they found them- selves 'sacked. Solidarity by the action the electricians' reinstatement, but they re-submitted wnen it was their claim, again re- jected and the strike resumed October 25 1971. on In March 1972, after a tour of union branches in London and the south-east, John Byrne was disciplined by the JIB for breaching its rules. disciplinary Present at the hearing were five committee JIB officials, uve manacencil representatives and five union including Chapple and men, EPTU executive members Eric William Blair. Hammond and Byrne's 'sentence' was six months' loss of benefits when

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he returns to work, which he cannot claim sick means pay and his wife cannot claim death benefit if he is killed.

There is no right of appeal against this decision. On June 30 last year, the two electricians employed by Lee Beesley returned to work after being told that the JIB Frank Chapple, EPTU chief had altered its structure and a test case could now be ar- ranged. But after five months going through procedure, the elec- tricians, who had been laid off during the builders' strike and not allowed back to work, were told that consideration of their claim had been deferred until they could prove they were prepared to abide by JIB working rules in tuture. The IRO site, established under the Labour government to house the computer system needed to operate its direct taxation plans, closed on January 19 this yearbelieve it But the strikers must open again within 12 or 18 months if it is to be com- pleted in time to fulfil its rumoured new role in the Tories' tax-credit system.

'If they ever want this build- ing completed the only men they'll ever get back on this site are ourselves', , John Byrne insists. 'No matter how long it takes, we are determined to win this one' Trotsky—a documentary by Francis Wyndham and David King £1.65 including postage eet, London SW4 7UG able, free, on request.

JOIN THELEGION..

A FUTILE LUNCHEON DATE

BY JOHN SPENCER

Italy is the pool of sur- plus labour for the Euro- pean Common Market. From all over the coun try, and particularly from the impoverished south, men are driven by lack of work to move to the in- dustrial towns of Ger- many, France, Holland and Belgium. Common Market statutes provide for the free movement of labour, which in practice means the enforced migration of hundreds of thousands of men and women from one country to another. The 'free mobility of labour' is being given a sinister new twist by the French authori- ties, however. Over the last few months thousands of young Italians received the following have sinister communication through the post. Honoured sir, Here, in a few_words, is all that the Foreign Legion can you. If among your offer friends there is someone who already has some problem, I think it will be worth their while to read this letter.

At present you are certainly without personal or family worries and your job is per- fectly secure. Without doubt your life is satisfying and your work interests you. But to- morrow, who can say? can happen in six What months? In a year? Will you be facing problems then? Will you perhaps have lost your job? Or will you be unhappy in your work? Too monoton- ous, too dirty, too tiring? Per- you will have family haps worries... or problems with the law. You can never be sure of anything, isn't that so? If you were in trouble, you would be happy to find a roof over your head, a hearth, a refuge. To group of friends find who a would look after you and help you to solve your problems.

Something which offers you an active and interesting life; which-can offer you a future as a trained specialist; which will enable you to discover exotic countries you would never otherwise get to see.

And all this in an atmos- phere of free comradeship, without any worries about It was a lavish luncheon.

The guest of honour was Mrs Jean Barber, wife of the Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer. She wore a sort of feathered cap and a checked dress. There were dozens of other Tories present too. Sir Kenneth and Lady Parkinson.

He is chairman of Yorkshire Post Newspapers, who were giving the luncheon, and is also a director of the National Westminster Bank Limited.

The other main celebrity was Mikis Theodorakis, the Greek composer and erstwhile member of the Greek Com- munist Party. The occasion was the 'York- shire Post' Book of the Year awards. In a speech to the luncheon Theodorakis said: 'I come before you as a patriot and also as a composer. I know it is not fashionable to be a patriot, but with us Greeks it is always fashionable to be a patriot.' Recalling World War II, he said: 'We are only a small nation of 8 million people and sacrificed 1 million for liberty.

We are still ready to sacrifice another million. 'Our nation was united. When we said Greece we meant democracy, we meant Mr The French Foreign Logion, which is a money. The Foreign Legion offer you all this! No, can don't throw away this letter even if the name of the For- eign Legion frightens you ...

or makes you laugh. Read it right to the end to form an opinion even if it is unfavourable. I'll take that risk. And after ali, reading it doesn't commit anything. you to The letters have been sent out only • to selected young men, whose age, social class and police record makes them likely candidates for member- ship of the French Foreign Legion. Naturally, the French auth- : committing a flag- orities are rant violation of Italian law, which does not permit any othér country to recruit Italian nationals to its armed forces.

Opinions differ, but it may n. liberty. 'You can imagine our sor- row when talk about we Greece-we find that now in Greece we have got prisons, concentration camps and a divided nation. I know and realize what is happening in Greece now is part of an international con- spiracy' He added that people in the British government were also involved. Then he said: 'For- give me for being so frank-l think that when you are among friends it is necessary to speak frankly and sincerely.

'Perhaps this is the wrong time to talk about this-but I do know at this moment there are people in Greece who are suffering and being tortured. I would like to appeal to you here and now to play your The report of the luncheon in the 'Yorkshire Post' does not reveal the reaction of Mrs Barber and the rest of the Tories present. It is difficult to believe that it was taken seriously. Theodorakis then stepped to the piano and gave a rendition of one of his songs. When he finished the Refectory at Leeds University echoed with cheers for his speech and impromptu singing.

A guest at the luncheon was int Mr Dimitrios Karas, a Leeds mich Is at present waging & recruiting campai even be in breach of French law, as well. But that does not appear to bother the authori- ties either side of the border.

When the matter was raised in the Rome parliament by the Communist veteran Party senator Umberto Terracini last August, he had to wait six months for a reply. Then he was told by the Interior Min- ister's under-secretary that the government would see it didn't happen again. The letters are still flooding into the country, however, as Terracini pointed out in par- liament on March 14. The Italian government claims to have made representations in Paris and yet the recruitment letters are still arriving com- plete with brochures setting out the Legion's terms and conditions of service in the most attractive light. Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis with businessman, who is honorary Consul for Greece in the city.

He was brought to the lun- cheon 'at the last moment' by Mrs Eunice Soul, wife of Mr David Soul, managing director University of Leeds of the Industrial Services, a consult- ancy company. Workers Press, M ig campaign across the border in Italy.

Any desperate young Italian -and there are many, many desperate young Italians-has only to make his way over the border into France (he can cross with his identity card) and sign up at the nearest Legion recruiting office.

Italian The government makes no effort to put an end to this infamous traffic, though it has every reason to know the real facts about service in the Legion. From the Legion's main base on Corsica, dozens of disillusioned soldiers have tried to swim to freedom and land in Sardinia. Their efforts are often un- successful-some drown, some are recaptured. But the condi- tions of service are so appal- ling that they are prepared to risk it. If they are not in some Corsican barracks, the would- be legionnaires are likely to rakis with Melina Mercouri.

Karas, an honorary envoy of the colonels regime, said he was at the literary luncheon 'as a private person' 'Mr said later: Theodorakis is entitled to his views, although I do not share them. I found his speech very interesting.' Press, Monday April 16, 1973 PAGE 5 themselves the find in hot desert of Djibouti or Chad or in the steaming forests of Madagascar. They come back to Italy after three years or five years in the service of French im- perialism trained for one pur- pose and one purpose : only: the suppression of colonial re- volt and the use of modern weaponry. Their heads filled with the ideology of reaction inculcated by an officer corps which in- cludes many veterans of the the veteran Legionnaires Italian fascists. Perhaps that is why the Italian government is prepared to turn a Nelson's eye on the flagrant violation of its own constitution by a supposedly friendly power. One of the biggest post-war increases in consumer prices has been reached in Tokyo, underlining its unenviable position as the world's most expensive city. The Prime Minister's office has reported that the price index rose an incredible 2.3 per cent in March and was 9 per cent above the level of a year ago. Both figures were the highest since the years immediately after World War Il when a defeated Japan was gripped by rampant inflation. The Prime Minister's office also reported the national con- sumer price index rose 0.8 per cent in February and stood at 6.7 per cent over a year ago.

In the wake of this roaring in- flation the Bank of Japan has decided to raise its official dis- count rate by 0.75 per cent to 5 per cent. Sam Houston Johnson, younger brother of the late President Lyndon Baines Johnson, has filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition against himself.

He disclosed debts of more than $22,000, nearly two- thirds of the debts coming from medical fees. It demonstrates the need for a national health insurance like my brother programme favoured, Mr Johnson said.

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Monday April 16, 1973

BY ROYSTON BULL

Tory The Communist Party Nixon; praised the government for its 'progressive' of Great Britain sub- attitude relation trade in ordinates itself to the Russia; signed treaties with with fascist Spain; established foreign policy require. friendly with the relations ments of the bureaucracy Greek colonels; and welcomed which rules in the the Common Market for creat- the of Kremlin. new ing possibility 'understanding' in Europe Peaceful co-existence with In line with these require- imperialism is one of the main ments, and meeting their own planks of Stalinism's revision reformist inclinations entirely, of Marxist revolutionary theory.

British Stalinists the pre- It flowed of the basic fall in with these paring to counter-revolutionary policies. COnCeD- new of single in a The chief need is to avoid tion socialism country' by which Stalin revolutionary confrontations in adapted Soviet policy the the at all costs so that west strength of imperialism follow- charges of 'subversive influence' the failure of ing revolutions cannot be levelled against the in Germany and elsewhere.

Kremlin and the new 'treaties' This reactionary theory has torn up. been justify used to every The British CP has the task heinous capitulation the to of making sure that the strike of forces imperialism ever against the Tory movement In the course of it, the since. government's attempts „to 10- movement has revolutionary troduce a corporate state does and time been betrayed time lead not revolutionary again throughout the world.

crisis; and if such a crisis does There have been no more occur, to head it off down some enthusiastic followers of these harmless wage demand path as policies counter-revolutionary the French CP did in the events the British Stalinists. than of May-June 1968. accepted They the revisionist Simultaneously, the Stalinists "socialism in a single country' in both countries are meant theory right from the start.

be quietly ditching their to 1926 General Strike, In the anti-Market stances. Moscow's line of they backed British CP leaders went to 'all General support to the Moscow late last year to hear of

TUC'

which Council the bureaucracy's de- the Soviet certain that the made it re- and mands these issues, on would be volutionary crisis French CP Georges secretary headed off and the movement Marchais came to Britain soon hind quarters of tied the to after synchronize policies. to the reformists. of heading off The work In World War II, they loyally the strike movement from de- supported the Churchill govern- veloping towards revolution is helped and the state ment already well under way at King authorities to break strikes in Street. various parts of the country.

The Stalinists have covered After the war, the British for transport union sec- up CP adopted the 'peaceful road Jones and retary Jack socialism' programme, dic. to engineers' Hugh president tated personally by Stalin.

Scanlon, 'lefts' while these 'British Road to Social- The have haplementingrate TUd's special deliberately ism' was the logical outcome policy of peaceful of the Congress decision of March 5 Having consistently existence. co-ordinate action in headed off revolutionary move- of unions struggling port ments in practice, as in China against the pay laws. Spain in 1936-1937, in 1927, The CP covered for up France 1936 and throughout Tones and Scanlon when these Europe following western 'lefts' for foiled moves World War II, it made sense of General Strike at the special idea to extinguish the Congress by proposing their from revolution altogether 'day of national protest and party theory. stoppage' motion after the Despite all the disasters that defeated delegates had the the foreign policy requirements General Council's attempt to Kremlin of the bureaucracy out resolutions from the rule have inflicted on the world floor altogether. 50 revolution the last In the various wages years, the King Street Stalinists Stalinists struggles, the have are still loyally carrying them of either tried to get groups out. workers to accept the fi plus Soviet The latest turn in norm, or else conclude new per cent Dav policy to 1S and have gone along with the re- disarmament and trade of Phase offers Two friendship treaties with the jection where strong feelings have been of imperialist most reactionary circles, the US, West Germany, aroused, then done nothing to lead a real fight on France, and Britain. The Kremlin leaders have the issue. In the docks in London and welcomed Nixon's re-election the Stalinists have Liverpool. they had been able because recommended of 'understanding to reach an acceptance Phase Iwo settlements. with him: put enormous pres- the Union of sure on the Vietnamese Com- Stalinists on

(UPW)

Post Office Workers munist Party the to end war executive have remained silent in order that they could please of the about acceptance a Phase Two deal and an appli- cation to the corporatist Pay Board. At Ford's, the Stalinists have abdicated almost completely giving any leadership whatso- ever, with the result that the carworkers, while not wanting to accept the offer, are reluc- tant to follow the half-hearted calls for overtime bans, selec- tive stoppages and the like.

In the coalfields, the miners are equally reluctant to em- bark on a strike struggle to the finish with the government because of the capitulation of the 'lefts' in the TUC leader- ship, covered up by the Stalinists. And in the fight within the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) itself, the Stalinists let right-wing president Joe Gorm- ley make all the running and trying to put the are now blame for the lost ballot on getting too far Gormley for out in front of the troops.

In words, the Com- other munist Party is once again, and by its own admission, try- ing to hold back the working- class fight. But the logic of the world- wide Stalinist strategy of get- ting peaceful co-existence at al; costs between the Kremlin and Above: Hugh Scanlon, whose speech to the Parliamen the imperialist powers demands been repudiated by the Stalinists more than just this negative Below: French CP secretary, Georges Marchais on t leadership. The Tories' only sure way of preventing tha crolemata between them and the working class the attempts to over smash the unions from break- ing into a fierce all-out struggle at any moment is to formalize a defeat for the working class by establishing the corporate state. This would involve a mas- sive and blatant retreat by Communist Party. The Stalin- ists first step on this tortuous road is to quickly get in behind Hugh Scanlon and the other "lefts' the who same way. Scanion's speech to the Gallery Parliamentary Press lunch advocating acceptance in Common principle of the Varket. the Industrial Rela- tions Act and the state control of wages in return for some from Heath concessions once been repudiated by not the Stalinists. They have been covering up Scanion - for them- for selves-by was and that ther still the themselves are of the Act rather than amendments to it But they refuse to denounce Scanlon.

The industrial correspondent the Communist Party's of 'Morning Star', Mick Costello, is one of the main vehicles for the "peaceful policy, road which leads to covering up for Hugh Scanlon's overtures to the Tory government Reporting from the AUEW national committee meeting in Torquay immediately follow- ch to the Parliamentary Press Gallery has not once ing still further retreats from right: Mick Costello the 'Morning Star'. the rges Marchais on his visit to Britain.

Scanlon engineers pesy ca the next claim, support fer the hospital work- 'victory' -and conceding the Tories without an analysis of his own and other "lefts' responsibility for this- Costello wrote: 'Clearly Mr Scanlon did not want to see his members em- broiled in a battle for better pay and conditions against the government's incomes policy, backing of without the the rest of the trade union movement? (April 10, 1973) No Scanlon's mention support for the begging letter Keith Joseph behalf of which hospital the workers, was the sum total of the Fin- and General Purposes ance Committee's 'full backing".

•In he return, has on occasions argued numerous

TUC

within tor al-out backing for other sections of workers fighting for better Costello conditions, when was this done Again, on behali of the hospital work- why gas workers and ers or has the world never heard about it? Costelo then quoted scan- *the militant lon defending stand taken by his union Inductrial Rela. the To conca come lad blow No mention by Costello ol complete the canitulation the National Industrial Rela- when tions court Scanlon allowed £60,000 exacter from the aury will.

continued: Costello Scanion again anothere the cont der provided that British there government that the talks fruit- than last time. Not a word of criticism Scanion is nronosing that the trade union movement does a deal with a lory government that nas letters a mile nign cleal wage ndependent trad sell movement at the time of the of the gasmen's strug- defeat he stalinists gle. tried persuade workers that the trick pulled by the right wing in the secret hallot was a c- to or other Work ros strue even in to vould have got far less. Th got far less. Their dont in Ilanth'c policy? inpomac editorial on Satur. March 24. Workers Press, Monday 'On Wednesday,' added Costello, 'the union leaders will pursue their demands for restructuring the whole wage structure, talks on which were offered by the employers as an the in- inducement to end dustry's dispute. 'Mr John Edmonds [General Workers' and Municipal Union national officer] said they will be seeking changes to alter the current situation where basic rates are too low, workers are forced to work too much overtime in order to be paid average earnings in while industry as a whole, differentials are too low, and where there are too many out- side private contractors given work in the industry. 'This last point is of crucial importance if the industry is protect employment, to on which a further concession has already been wrung from the Gas Corporation and its pay- masters in the government.

This promised that there would be no forced redundan- cies before the autumn, by which time it is hoped that those threatened with loss of their present job will be re- trained for other work. •Mr Edmonds made it clear that these concessions had been won from the employers in the course of the six weeks action, of industrial but he added that two days of proper without govern- negotiations ment interference would have secured them without the dis- pute.' This whole passage, quoted verbatim. including the pas- sages of uncertain meaning. reeks of dressing up a miser- able defeat as a victory.

The point is that the Stalin- ists do not want the gas- workers learn anthing to from this setback. The only way to understand the ballot defeat is in terms of the con- fusion sown by the gas union leaders' refusal to conduct an all-out strike struggle in the first place, and the further kers Press, Monday April 16, 1973

PAGE 7

confusion caused by the TUC leaders' refusal to co-ordinate the strike movement of all the unions against the pay laws.

The Stalinists do not want these questions gone into be- cause it would expose their own role in covering up for and the rest, Scanion, Jones, while these 'lefts' were taking no action to turn the gas- workers' strike into a General Instead they allowed Strike. the right-wing gas union lead- ers quietly, but effectively, to gasmen's down wear resistance to a settlement.

Therefore, they present the gasworkers' defeat as a vic- tory. The reality of the situation is clear. The Communist Party is in complete unity with the consciously 'lefts' decision to head off any development to- in Britain. wards revolution All of their policies are sub- ordinated to this fundamental All of their requirement. policies, therefore, are con- sciously together, with put counter-revolution as the aim.

The trade union movement would surely stifle under such policies. A major defeat could be inflicted on the working and class a corporate state imposed if there was no alter- native leadership. However. this is not 1926 and the Stalinists no longer speak in the name of inter- Marxism they national as claimed to do when the General Strike was sold out.

powerful Unlike then, Trotskyist party, the Socialist Labour League, is able to ex- pose the betravals of Stalin- ism in the daily struggles of the working class. and to give leadership to the masses. The SLL and Workers Press fight. The are winning this monstrous conspiracy of the the Scanlons, and Feathers. the Stalinists to carry out the demands intandse af capitalism to a corporatist struc- ture into Britain will be ex- posed and destroyed.

EVIDENCE REACHES THE OUTSIDE WORLD

Above: Con Son prison, South Vietnam. These prisoners and three others were in one cramped cell. Age is immaterial.

PAGE 8 Workers Press, Monday April Above: Con Son prison, South Vietnam.

Despite the dangers of rearrested, being some ex - prisoners are pre- pared to talk of their experiences. Nguyen Van Tho (25) was arrested four years ago along with more than 20 fellow stu- dents during an anti-American demonstration at the univer- sity of Saigon. He was tortured for a year in Chi Hoa prison, he re- Saigon, because near fused to confess to being a member of the National Liber- ation Front. His fingers show scars where sharp wedges were driven un- der the fingernails up to the occasions quick. On six soapy water was forced down his nose and mouth, causing his stomach to swell, where- upon it was jumped on by his torturers. On release, he was unable to walk for three months and any physical or mental exer- tion can still cause internal haemorrhages. Since martial law was de- clared last year (1972), he has been in danger of immediate re-imprisonment because of his inadequate papers. His life • nightmare of has become a shifting from one place to another in Saigon's many over- crowded rabbit warrens to avoid the dreaded 2 a.m. knock on the door by the police.

Four months ago the police broke into his hume at night and, frustrated at not finding him there, took away his 22- year-old wife and their one- year-old baby. He has heard no news of either of them since then. Le van Phuoc leads a simi- lar existence, having emerged a year ago from three years in the dreaded 'Tiger Cages' on Con Son Island off the south coast-an infamous prison used originally to detain anti- French nationalists. His hair is falling out, the day April 16, 1973 Vietnam. These prisoners and three others wer skin on his desperately thin face is sallow and pasty. His eyes look at you as if he isn't really seeing you. His voice has a grate and lack of inflec- tion which is almost frighten- ing. He is 25 years old. Phuoc was arrested in 1968 when the police broke up a meeting of the students' union of Saigon's Faculty of Letters, of which he was a member.

The tiny, dank cage in which he spent his three years was so crowded, he claims, that it was impossible to stretch out his legs. The only form of exercise was to stand up, but even this was painful because the roof of the cage did not permit him to straighten his back. 'The air was permanently grey, Phouc says, 'and the stink was. • it drove me mad, the stink. It was in my hands, in my feet, in my head, in my lungs, it was everywhere. It was a physical part of the cell and everyone who was in it and it was unbearable.' Twice a day, a meal of rice and old vegetables would be thrown in through the roof.

'And if we ever complained,' he went on, 'the guards would throw lime on us. It did ter- rible things to our open sores and it drove us mad when it got into our hair.' Several of the people in his cage had been there since Ngo Dinh Diem's presidency over ten years ago. Many of them, says Phuoc, were completely insane and could no longer speak coherently. Deaths rom claims, were frequent diseases and malnutrition.

'An old man-hie had lost all his hair and teeth-died in the night. His body was left there for a day and a night before the guards removed it.'

Nguyen Thi Mai was only 18 when she was arrested dur- ing her first year at the Bud- dhist University of Van Hanh the in Saigon. When she re- others were in one cramped cell. Age is immate emerged two years later, she was so weak that she had to have emergency medical treat- ment to survive. Her right arm had been broken during inter- rogation a year before and had never been properly set. Mal- nutrition, physical exhaustion and a lung infection had done the rest. 'But I was one of the lucky ones,' says Mai, who is now 22. 'In that I had friends who knew a doctor who was willing to risk his own freedom in looking after me. 'Many doctors are afraid to have anything to with people who have been in pri- son.' Four months after being re- leased, she was back in prison again. So was her younger sister who was still at high school. First she was put by herself in a totally dark room.

'It felt like a year, but it may have been only a week. It was impossible to keep track of time.' She was then taken out and given a list of names about whom her interrogators wanted information. 'Many of them I had never heard of,' she main- tains. I refused and they hit me again and again and again and finally they said that if I didn't agree they would tor- ture my little sister.' Though free today, Mai is still haunted by nightmares of 'But the being taken back. worst thing is that I can no longer respect myself for what they made me do, she adds.

Ba Nam is nearly 70. She lives in abject poverty in a tiny shack-about the size of a tool-shed in an English gar- den-made of planks and old beer cases in a slum area only a few minutes walk from the American limousines and plush hotels of downtown Saigon.

Four years ago she owned a house with a spare proper room which she rented out.

One night the police took her • is immaterial. away and accused her of put- ting up a member of the NLF in her house. The penalty: three years in prison without trial, first in Chi Hoa, then in Con Son. During her interro- gation, the old woman was tied down and jumped upon by her tormentors, resulting today in a stoop and racking pains in her back. Some time later, lime was thrown over her head • several occasions causing on total blindness in both eyes.

Ba Nam's husband died many years ago and she lost all contact with her two child- ren during her imprisonment.

She lives alone, blind and in poverty. Letters smuggled out of Con Son prison a few months ago told of some 1,500 people who had been rounded up in the area near Hué during the height of the offensive and dumped en masse into putrid cages, old women, pregnant women, babies and all. The smuggled letters des- cribe the chaos that reigned in Con Son in recent months as the fighting dragged on. The writer seems to have been some sort of official, who may been seeking to insure have himself against the possible arrival of the Viet Cong. He wrote to friends in Saigon to get them to send money and medicine and to tell certain people that their relatives were alive in Con Son. "This afternoon I visited one of the prison wards' he said in one letter. 'I was surprised to see a good number of women and • old people and 50 children from nine over years down. They're all from Hué, Phu Cam, Phu Loc, Cau Hai. Some of the women are pregnant. They don't know why they were brought here?

And in another letter: "The women-over 1,000 of them— are undernourished and have started to suffer from paraly- sis, not to mention those who have lost their minds (from missing their children, missing home, not knowing why they brought here, and are were wandering around aimlessly in camp: And the the prison whole situation is made worse Many of the prisoners, the letters recounted, suffer from paralysis, amnesia and insan- ity from diseases contracted there, and receive no medical treatment. The food ration was 600 grammes of rice per day for each adult, with no allow- ance for children. 'A three-year-old child with , says one letter, a high fever' was frantically running around the camp like a madman until it was beaten up by the ward- ers, many of whom are mur- expelled derers and robbers from the army.' Another description of tor- ture was supplied by women , were confined in Con who Son. 'When the women cried out when they heard cries of pro- test coming from the men's tiger cages, Nhan and Sum, "I give shouted: shirtless, orders to throw lime on them until they die." The trustees rushed towards us, throwing bags and buckets of lime upon us which had been set on the iron bars above. Buckets of followed. We water were choked and burned by the lime mixed with the water.

Many fainted, others vomited blood. One woman was ser- iously injured when a block of hard lime fell upon her head.

At the same time they went into the dispensary and threw lime onto the patients four times until all of them col- lapsed. Despite that, they stuck the rest of the lime into the nose, mouth and eyes of the patients so that some were and blinded, others vomited çoughed out blood. After the repression, our bodies as well our belongings were all as covered with lime. Yet they did not allow us to wash our- selves and clean the cells. So for two months, we kept lying in the lime .. American 'advisers' were stationed in all prisons-par- ticularly in Con Son (Poulo Condor) which holds 50,000 men, women and children. The 'tiger cages' notorious were discovered here in July 1970 when a delegation led by journalist Don Luce and in- cluding two United States Congressmen went through a forbidden entrance. It was this prison which was described by Frank E Walton, Director of the US Safety Public Programme in Vietnam as 'like a Boy Scout Recreational Camp'. Following an international Saigon announced outcry, that the tiger cages were. be- ing abolished. But in January 1971 the US Department of the Navy placed a $400,000 contract with Raymond, Mor- rison, Knudson-Brown, Root and Jones to build 384 new "isolation cells' - and these were two square feet smaller than the cages they replaced.

The reaction to the tiger- cage horror has probably wor- sened the fate of many of the 100,000 - 200,000 political prisoners in South Vietnam. It is likely that Thieu will eliminate the worst cases to prevent their stories reaching the outside world. Yet the courage of these political opponents of the US- backed dictator is a blazing symbol to the oppressed throughout the world. Luce tells of an 18- Don year old girl factory worker whom he saw in the Con Son tiger cages. Asked by a guard: she replied, defiantly: 'No! I will not salute your flag which represents all the things you have done to me.'

Before departing for a visit to Netherlands, the President Nicolai Ceausescu of Rumania was host to a gathering of top- level businessmen from the capitatist countries who held a in Bucharest starting seminar on April 4. Representatives of more corporations and than 50 banks were present at the gathering which was organized by the Business International Corporation. It was intended, in the words of Bucharest radio, to 'make it possible to seek and examine real possibilities of collabora- tion and co-operation between the firms of the Corporation and our country's enterprises, based on a better understand- ing of economic developments and Rumanian • legislation, as well as other factors that regu- late economic activity, especi- ally foreign trade' expressed to the Ceausescu assembled businessmen his desire to improve relations and develop trade. He hoped Rumania's president, Nicolal Ceausecu expressed his desire for more trade. that out of the meeting would come 'an expansion ot concrete between Ruma- co-operation nian industry and your com- panies. On behalf of the assembled businessmen, Alonzo B. Knight, vice-President of the American Rockwell Cor- International thanked Ceausescu poration, Inter- anu sald lnal ous ness national was interested in ex- panding relations economic with Rumania. Alonzo's company is an American multi-national giant in aerospace and motor com- which ponents up ls bulldng a huge industrial empire in western Europe. has aso South important interests in Africa. The Rumanian bureaucracy, the first to friendly open up relations with President Nixon, going all out to win are now favours from international big business.

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'OUT OF TOUCH

Soviet industrial research has come under heavy at- tack in an article in the trade union paper 'Trud' by an industrial manager in Leningrad, G. Kulagin.

The length and tone of the article suggests that it backing and con- onecal IS with the recently- nected announced reorganization of Soviet industry into large Cl . porations, each with its research and design secuolis. Kulagin attacks the existing being resedren Insulules out of touch with the practical problems of the shop floor. New machines designed were considering without their ex- or what economies they Dense would provide in practice.

developed DOme macie after as much as 15 years' re- search and at heavy cost, to be completely turned out unsuitable. He instanced

THE OLD

REVERENCE

FOR STALIN

REAPPEARS

Stalin is shown in a favourable light-taking decisions which had ARTEDOTCHSDeAOnSO Union's preparation the Soviet the auto- war-in biography of the famous plane designer A. Yakovlev. Yakovley says nothing about the purges which were ordered by Stalin in the 1930s. Instead he shows the bloodthirsty dic- tator taking a personal interest in the development of new air- craft for military purposes. In April 1939 he Was bull moned to the Kremlin in con- nection with a twin-engined reconnaissance plane which he had helped design. Stalin was so impressed that on the spot Yakovlev he ordered that should be with presented roubles, 100.000 new Zis and the Order of Lenin. car Shortly afterwards he was to Stalin's again presence and taken to a meet- ing of the presidium concerned Yakov- with aviation matters. lev's design was selected as the basis for a strike bomber.

Again, according to his account. the wartime

SPALTNIS

Yak fighter which he designed followed from a suggestion by intimately Stalin, who was concerned questions with of aircraft production. While the new plane was be- ing got ready, in October 1939, Yakovler was sent, on Stalin's orders, as part of a trade dele- Germany to study gation to

WORKERS

NOTEBOOK

SALVATION

help Just the thing to you troubled times. through these A few words from Don Stew- fatth evangelist. known 'the dynamic He's appearing in the north- "Com- present on his west dl passion explosion' tour. Adver- the local tisements news. Citizen that papers promise bring Stewart can yOu spiritual happening to change your life salvation - heal- prosperity. in with prose great tidings, we Workers Press, Mc new turbine blade and newly- designed textile machines.

"The complaints of customers about unstandardized, expen- id'. sive and unreliable new trac- tors and farm machinery are well known,' he added. He suggested that the finan- cial autonomy of research in- stitutes should be ended. Under the existing system, he said, they were too keen to make a profit by turning out as many designs as possible, regardless of whether the equipment actually worked once it got beyond the drawing board. He accused the institutes of aristocratic ways and scorning actual problems involved the in installing and testing new machinery in the factories.

The big industrial change now beginning is a desperate attempt to overcome the crisis in the Soviet economy which is responsible for the slowing down of growth as the current Stalin inspecting limousines at the Moscow. In recent books, particularly th Stalin is portrayed as a wise man and gr aviation engineering. He does not mention that by then the notorious pact with Nazi Germany was in force. The trade delegation was evi- dently part of the implemen- tation of this agreement.

Yakovley's memoirs, which are permeated with all the old reverence for Stalin and con- tain no word of criticism nor suggest he rushes to Downing Street. Having been converted from all his previous policies, there's every reason to suppose that Heath is now ready to accept miracles.

READY CASH

item A from Down news Under: 'Australian banks have so much ready cash they are advertising loans. One is offering up to $4,000 (about $2,000) without security All we can say is -- stand back and wait for the explosion!

INTEGRITY

When the South African police were under heavy criticism recently for the bru- tality they used against stu- dents and other opponents of the racialist regime, several ministers sprang to the defence of the police. They were praised for their dedication, integrity and cour- age and a call was made to Press, Monday April 16, 1973 PAGE 9 Plan enters its decisive third year. In vital fields of advanced technology, Soviet industry has been unable to close the gap with the capitalist coun- tries. Enormous sums have had to be spent on imported equipment and know-how in an attempt to bridge this gap.

Nevertheless the productivity of labour is admited to be still only about 54 per cent of that achieved in the United of States. However the bureaucracy reorganizes its control of in- dustry or technological re- search, it will be unable to which solve the problems result from the Stalinist policy of 'socialism in one country' and its own arbitrary • rule and mismanagement of the economy. "Stalin Automoblle Works', in icularly the autobiography of A. Yakolev, an and great leader. even a reference to the trials and which were then • purges Soviet society apart, tearing political obviously have a meaning. They suggest that Stalin was a wise man and a great leader after all and should be restored to the place which he occu- pied in the history books before 1956. white public to back them.

Little mention has been however, of another made, news item involving the police.

Pretoria, In 19 officers have been convicted on 64 charges of housebreaking and theft. One of them was found guilty of stealing goods from his own police station.

SILENCE

A welcome piece of news from Shelter, the band of middle-class liberals who pro- test about homelessness. They have designated April 'Hush- in' month. During this month they are sponsoring a national series of sponsored silences. The longer participants remain speechless, the more money they raise.

The target is £50,000. It is not known whether Des Wilson, the outspoken and long-winded ex-director Shelter, is taking part.

PAGE 10 Workers PrOsi Monday April 16, 1973 tons, Detente in Europe bet- 200,000 half the or butter stockpile, have been ween the capitalist coun sold to the Soviet Union for tries and the Soviet bloc 8p a pound. The is at last beginning to pay butter is being sold at a thumping loss. The Russians paying about £17.5 are per Common Market interven- 22016 compared with the EEC tion authorities have been busy price to producers of £93 per for months starving the work- 220lb. ing class but keeping • prices But Commission as buying huge by quantities up spokesman said: 'It would cost of butter. even more to keep the butter More than 500,000 tons of in store or give it away in it is accumulated in ware- aid.' houses all over western Meanwhile, with EEC butter Europe. prices revealed to be twice as problem was that the The high as in Britain, the chair- of butter represen- mountain man of the Milk Marketing ted subsidies to

EEC

farmers Board, Sir Richard Trehane, which had to be paid for. denied there would be a 24 People in Britain are paying per cent rise in UK prices by a pound for butter about 22p the end of the year. and in Europe 44p a pound.

The most that could be ex- Dumping has long been an he said were rises of pected established practice in times between 7 and 10 per cent.

of trade war, Even this means that house- but the problem in the advanced industrial likely wives are to over pay world has more for until noW been 2p a pound butter where and how to dump with- in the near future and few can out one's neighbours doubt that the intention is to com- plaining. bring all European prices into A solution has been found.

line as quickly as possible.

Do you get WORKERS PRESS regularly? If not, why not take out a subscription now? {20.28 for 12 months (312 issues) {10.14 for 6 months (156 issues) £5.07 for 3 months (78 issues) If you want to take Workers Press twice a week the rates are: £1.56 for 3 months (24 issues) £6.24 for 12 months (96 issues) Fill in the form below NOW and send to: Circulation Dept., Workers Press, 186a Clapham High St., London SW4 7UG. I would like to take out a subscription to Workers Press.

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LABOUR

LEAGUL,

186a CLAPHAM HIGH ST, LONDON SW4 7UG Name.. Address.. In three weeks' time Trans- port Minister John Peyton will open a bypass and spur road designed to help un- registered Felixstowe dock win even more trade from the struggling ports within the National Dock Labour Scheme. Felixstowe, which by 1975 aims to have doubled its pre- sent capacity and to be hand- ling more than 5 million tons of cargo a year, is the apple of the Tories' eye. It pays nothing to the run- ning of the Dock Labour Scheme, which the Tories' close friends the port employers hate. It is not saddled with the same debt problems as many of the older ports within the Scheme. Speed-up is con- tinuous and its dockers, unlike registered under the men Scheme, work under threat of immediate or at least rapid dismissal. The National Ports Council survey of non-Scheme ports and wharves found that profits Warwickshire main- tenance worker who was dismissed by the Marquess of Hertford is to appeal to the National Industrial Re- lations Court. Mr Neville Figgett (26), tather of three, was awarded for unfair z75 compensation dismissal at Birmingham In- dustrial Tribunal last month.

Mr riggett was dismissed atter 11 years' service in January this year. His friend, Mr Philip Glass- pool, a personnel manager from Redditch, who appeared for him at the tribunal, said they will appeal to the NIRC against the amount of compensation. They will also ask for redun- dancy payment. But Mr Figgett's case raises a host of other ques- tions as well. For example, the Marquess sacked Figgett because of illness.

And he learnt of his employee's sickness before Mr Figgett him- self had been told. Mr Glasspool has written to the Ministry of Health asking for for the five main unregistered ports-Felixstowe among them -showed an 11.3 per cent return on capital employed as compared with only 7.1 per cent for the Scheme ports.

This Felixstowe, month whose Port Users' Association is now more than 100 strong, extends its container services westwards into the St Lawrence and eastwards to Taiwan and Hong Kong. Its trading areas to the north and south are also growing. More than 100,000 con- tainers pass through the port each year by rail and road and the newly-won Canadian and Far East traffic could add at least 30,000 to that figure.

Besides boasting about its expanding trade, the top brass the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Co are also given to occasional quiet gloat about what they think are new successes in forcing up the rate of exploitation of their 850 dockers and staff even further. Managing director Stanley Turner, formerly industrial an inquiry into the fact that Figgett's doctor told the Mar- illness—multiple of the quess sclerosis-before he told Figgett.

During the tribunal's hearing the Marquess said he had been informed of Figgett's conditions about midsummer. Mr Figgett was not told until November.

Mr Figgett said: 'If it is true that Lord Hertford heard from the doctor that I had multiple sclerosis before I was told, then I am most upset. I think an inquiry ought to be held. I was first told about my illness when I was in hospital but it seems that Lord Hertford knew about it long before then.

The Marquess told the 'Birm- ingham Post' the tribunal had found him at fault for not giving Mr Figgett more warning that his employment was to cease.

'As his employer 1 think it was very necessary that I should know of his illness, so that I could avoid putting any pressure on him to carry out the hard which his job usually en- work tailed.' Hertford is the eight Marquess of the 18th century title. He is the eldest son of the late Brig Gen Lord Henry Charles Sey- mour and Lady Helen Frances Grosvenor. Marquess mar- The 43-year-old ried Comtesse Louise de Caraman Chimay in 1956. He is chairman of the Fleet public relations com- Hertford Public Relations pany, Limited, while at the same time he maintains a keen interest his inherited estates. Mr Figgett worked since he left school on Lord Hertford's estate at Ragley Hall, Alcester, in Warwickshire. John Peyton, Transport Minister.

Above: The unregistered dock, Felixstowe. relations director of the Port of London Authority, has just put into operation a scheme for supply of labour on a con- tract basis from warehouse operators and other employers in the port. I had no mandate to insist on such an arrangement, but it cuts out both poaching of labour and leapfrogging de- mands, he explained.

ARMY

Things are not going too well the army - especially in for Scotland. With about 140,000 un- employed, sometimes over long periods and most of them crammed into Glasgow and the surrounding towns, army re- cruiting has until now been good. Thousands of youth parti- cularly responded to the lavish 'Join the Professionals' posters which dominated scores of prominent hoardings in all Scotland's most depressed areas. In 1971 some 19,000 soldiers and 9,000 juniors flocked to get into uniform and lay hands on a reasonable pay packet.

Many of them ended up sup- pressing workers in Northern Ireland. Scotland's economy is every bit as bad as it ever was, but the old lure of the army has sharply diminished. Latest figures released by the Director of Army Recruit- ment show that last year only 14,500 soldiers and 1,000 juniors opted to leave civvy street.

out- secretary of Luton branch of the Provisional Sinn Fein, whose home was raided by police but who was charged, told Workers Press: These raids were for the harassment and intimidation not: only of Irish people but of the working class as a whole.

*Although the police did not physically harass my family the aim of these raids is to bring anyone involved in the working- class struggle into conflict with their neighbours, their work- place and their social relations.

"The Tories are pushing through laws in every way to keep down the workers, and arming the police in an effort to deny wor- kers their basic rights. 'I endorse the call of Workers Press for the bringing down of the Tory government through a General Strike and the election of a Labour government pledged to socialist policies, including the withdrawal of British troops from Ulster.' A TOTAL of 1,009 people in Northern Ireland have been' charged with 'serious crimes' since Operation Motorman last August, when the British army moved into the former 'no-go' areas. William Whitelaw, the Tories' Ulster secretary, told northern Young Conservatives at the area that March had been weekend a record month for charges and 'April looks like being even better'. Some 48 people had • been charged in the first 11 days of the month. Whitelaw's repressive Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Bill is due for its Second Reading in the Commons tomorrow. This would virtually abolish jury trial for 'terrorists'. Meanwhile, there were 16 shootings in Northern Ireland on Saturday, and at Lisburn gun- men carrying the Union Jack and the Ulster flag fired on a child- ren's band. A teenage brother and sister shot by British a shooting incident nearby, the army has admitted. The youth, 15, and his 19- vear-old sister were both Roman Catholics. The youth has serious chest wounds and his sister in- juries to her leg and side.

The officer commanding the Third Battalion of the Paratroop Regiment in Belfast, Lt-Col Gordon Lorimer has been sent home for medical treatment.

But the army has denied there is any connection between this of brutality by the and reports in the battalion Ardoyne,

BY JACK GALE

SIX MEN appear in court in Coventry today charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion. They Father Patrick are Miles Hamilton Fell (32), assistant priest at All Souls Roman Catholic Church; Anthony Roland Lynch (46); Herbert Francis Kelly (27); Thomas Gerald Rush (26); Anthony McCormick (17); and - Frank Stagg (31). The six were arrested when over 500 police raided homes in London, Glasgow, Coventry, Manchester and Birmingham in the early hours of Friday morning.

Four men detained in London following the raids have been pending further in- released quiries. In Manchester Stanislaus Corn- although it refuses to give any details of his illness. Sean Keenan, said to be com- manding officer of the Provisional IRA's 3rd Battalion in Belfast, by soldiers was arrested on Friday. Jimmy Drumm, husband of Provisional Sinn Fein acting president Maire Drumm, has been arrested in Andersonstown.

Mr Drumm (53), has spent 13 in prison. He was years released from Long Kesh-now the Maze prison-last June.

, her Mrs Drumm, who took up post in January after the jailing in Dublin of Rory O'Brady for six months, says her family is being victimized to make her down' 'tone her Republican activities. One of her two sons, Seamus,.

is in jail and she has served two six-month sentences herself.

In Dublin the new Minister Cooney, for Justice, warned of a new offensive against the IRA. The Irish government, he said, would not tolerate two armies would use all the powers and available to them to operate the rule of law'. Mr Cooney declared that Eire could for those fighting , the British in the north. was remanded in cus- ally (39), tody until Thursday charged with unlawful possession of a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver and 12 rounds of ammunition. men were charged in Two Liverpool on Saturday-one of them, Edward Patrick Collins (27), under the Official Secrets Act. Collins was charged with 'having in his possession or control a sketch or plan relating to a Ministry of Defence estab- lishment at Catterick, Yorkshire, in a manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the state'.

Jeremiah Brendan Harte (21),

BBC 1

10.00 Magic roundabout. 10.05 Banana splits. 10.35 Swim with Rolf. 10.50- 11.00 Captain Pugwash. 12.25 Cywain.

12.55 News. 1.00 Pebble Mill at one. 1.30 Joe. 1.45 Pets and 2.00 vets. Philpott file. 2.55 Collectors' pieces. 3.10 Expedition North America. 3.35 Holiday 4.00 Huckleberry Hound. Bile Peter. S.15 Yao. 5.40k sir Prance Blue Peter. lọt. 5.45 News. Weather.

6.00 NATIONWIDE.

TOP OF THE FORM.

6.45

STAR TREK.

7.10 The Paradise Syndrome.

8.00 PANORAMA.

NEWS. Weather. 9.00 9.25 SEARCH FOR THE NILE. The Secret Fountains. 10.15

BEST IN THE BALLROOM.

10.50 MILO O'SHEA. The Bitter Pill' By Hugh Leonard.

11.20 NEWS.

Weather. MAN IN HIS PLACE. We are 11.25 What hap- the masters now. pened to the miners' dreams of the Jerusalem. new 11.50 BEYOND PERSONALITY. Mak- talkand Begettin Lewis red or Lewis read by talks David King. 11.55 Weather.

REGIONAL TV

CHANNEL: 1.15 News. 1.30 London.

2.00 Plus Tam. 2.30 Women. 3.00 Lon- don. 6.00 6.15 6.45 London. of motor racing. Sta2e Protec 10.33 tors. WESTWARD. As 9.30 London. Cartoon. 11.35 London. 12.37 Gus Honeygun.

12.40 London. 12.57 News. 1.00 London. 6.00 Diary. 6.20 Sport. 6.35 Date with 10.30 News. 11.03 Happiness Danton. business. 11.50 Epilogue.

SOUTHERN:

9.30 London. 11.10 11.35 London. 12.00 News. roga. 2.05 London. 2.00 Dick Van Dyke. 5.20 3.00 London. 5.25 5.50 Lon- Cartoon. don. 6.0 Day by day. 6.45 London. 10.30 Out of the red. 11.00 Theatre 11.55 News. 12.00 Farm pro- of stars. gress. 12.25 Weather. Guideline.

HARLECH: 9.30 London. 11.15 No 11.30 London. 2.00 At your short 2.30 Dateline. 3.00 London. service. 5.20 Chuckleheads. 5.25 Crossroads.

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE MEETINGS

Make Scanlon retract! No collaboration with the Industrial Relations Act!

No acceptance of Phase Two! Force the Tories to resign! Build the revolutionary party! South London

TUESDAY APRIL 24,

8 p.m. Clapham Manor Baths, Clapham Manor Street, SW4 North London

WEDNESDAY APRIL 25

8 p.m. Woodlands Hall, Crown Street, Acton, W.3. Liverpool Transform the SLL into the revolutionary party Monday April 23, 7.30 p.m. 'The Mona', , James St (Entrance at back in Moor St) Workers Press, N also remanded custody in Liverpool until Wednesday accused of stealing postal orders and two Post Office franking stamps. intensive During security co-ordinated : operations from headquarters by their London Special Branch chiefs, 40 house- holds were raided in London, 27 in Scotland, five in Birming- ham and 35 elsewhere. As Workers Press revealed on Friday, the homes of members of the International Marxist Group were broken into, but Fleet Street editors were told to 'play the story as anti-IRA'.

ITV

9.30 Out of school. I1.15 World War I. 11.35 North Sea oil. 12.05 Rainbow. 12.25 Skribble. 12.40 First report. 1.00 1.30 Emmerdale Mr and Mrs. farm. 2.00 Jokers wild. 2.30 Good afternoon.

3.00 Doing things. 3.25 Public eye. 4.25 Pardon my genie. 4.55 Clapper- board. 5.20 And mother makes three.

5.50 News.

6.00 TODAY.

6.40 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

7.30 CORONATION STREET.

8.00 LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR.

8.30 WORLD IN ACTION.

9.00 THE RIVALS OF SHERLOCK

HOLMES. The Mystery of the Amber Beads.

10.00 NEWS AT TEN.

10.30 WILD, WILD WEST. The Night of the Vipers.

11.30 DRIVE-IN. 12.00 WORLD WAR 11.30

1. 12.25 Epilogue. 5.50 London. 6.01 Report West. 6.22 6.45 Report London. 10.30 «The Film: Torment'. 12.00 Weather. HTV Cymru/Wales as 2.30-3.00 Hamdden. 6.01-6.27 yedyda: above 8.30-9.00 Yr wythnos. HTV West as above except: 6.22-6.45 This is the West this week.

ANGLIA: 9.30 London. 11.10 Car- London. 12.04 News. 12.05 2.30 Houseparty. Russell Harty. 11.30 London. 12.00 ATV MIDLANDS: 9.30 London. 11.15 Aures 12.85 London. London Your service. 2.30 London. 6.00 Today. 6.45 10.30 Romantic versus classic suitcase. 12.00 Stories worth telling. Weather.

ULSTER: 9.30 London. 11.30 London.

1.32 Shirley's WomeN. 2.30 Women 3.00 6.00 UTV reports. 6.15 Dick 10.30 Mon- day in Holy Week. 10.40 Film: "The

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 workina class—and it: 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 "ốf the Crisis.

01-622 7029. s Press, Monday April 16, 1973 PAGE 11 THE NUMBER of policemen in England and Wales topped the 100,000 mark for the first time last month. Home Secretary Robert Carr told the Crime Reporters' Association yesterday that 'there • is some satisfaction at the Home Office. This, he said, was because the police forces have increased by more than 7,000 since the Tories won the election. The annual growth of the police strength improved from about 1,000 in 1969 to about 3,000 last year.

TODAY'S TV

BBC 2

11.00-11.25 Play school. 5.25 Open University.

7.05 PARENTS

AND

CHILDREN.

The trouble with reading.•• 7.30 NEWS SUMMARY. Weather.

7.35 INSIDE MEDICINE. Love Thy Neighbour? Mentally subnormal patients in Britain. 8.00

ALIAS SMITH AND JONES.

The Man who Broke the Bank at Red Gap.

8.55 CALL MY BLUFF.

9.25 Young Generation and vince Young Generation and Tell withe guests he music ot Leapy Lee and the music Glenn Miller. 10.10 PRIZE EXHIBIT. Six museums compete for the title Museum of the Year'. 11.00 NEWS EXTRA. Weather.

AR 11.30 OPEN DOOR. Black teachers criticize English education.

Hound of the Baskervilles'.

YORKSHIRE: 9.30 London. 11.10 Mr Trimble. 11.30 London 6.00 Calendar.

2.00 At your 2.30 London. serviçe. Weather. 6.45 London. 10.30 Emmer- dale farm. 11.25 Outsider. 12.20 Weather. GRANADA: 9.30 London. 11.15 Chess.

London. do A our service. 2.05 12.00 Cartoon. London. Yoga. 3.00 London. 6.00 News. 6.25 This is your right. 6.40 London. 10.30 Film: 'A Woman's Vengeance'.

SCOTTISH: 9.30 London . 11.10 World 11.30 Report. 12.00 , Gustavus.

fishing. 12.05 London. 2.00 At your service. London. 2.30 Dateline. 3.00 4.55 Superman. 5.20 Crossroads. 5.50 Lon- don. 6.00 Today. 6.30 Cartoons. 6.45 London. 10.30 Late call. 10.35 You pays your money. 11.05 O'Hara.

GRAMPIAN: 9.30 London. 11.30 Lon- don. 12.04 News. 12.05 London. 1.00 Ed Allen. 1.30 Avengers. 2.30 2.30 Lon- 5.20 don. Emmerdale 5.50 London. 6.00 News. 6.05 Strictly Scot- 6.40 Romantic tish. London. 10.30 versus classical art. 11.00 University challenge. 11.30 A kind of living 11.50 How things have changed. 12.05 Meditation.

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: tic rights today means prepar- ing for working-class power.

Basic reading: Perspectives for transforming 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.

e Post Office. Published by Workers Press, 186a N4 7UG. Printed by Plough Press Ltd. (TU), 180b SW4 7UG. Newsdesk: 01-720 2000. Circulation:

Cinema union rejects witch-hunt PAGE 12 Workers Press, Monday April 16,

BY ROYSTON BULL

ATTEMPTS to introduce a McCarthyite witch- hunt against Trotskyists were decisively rejected at the annual conference of the Association of Cinematograph, Televi. be sion and Allied Tech- nicians in London at the weekend. The attack was launched by the right wing against mem- bers of the All Trades Union alliance and the Socialist Lab- our League. But conniving in the attack International Stalinists, were reactionary moves. Alan Sapper, ACTT general secretary and prominent 'left' on the TUC General Council, also failed to repudiate the witch- hunt. And he added fuel to the reactionary campaign by agreeing to the rotten notion behind it— that the union should be pre- served from a 'political takeover'.

The attack came from a right- wing shop steward at Shepperton whose Studios, Jim Johnson, excessive' motion deplored the use of union funds for political purposes. He claimed that "political cou AFTER a disappointing Friday it has been a most encouraging weekend. The following SLL branches res- ponded immediately to our appeal - Tottenham £20, Wandsworth £30, South- ampton £25, Swindon £10 and Brixton £56. London readers sent £10. The 13th annual confer- ence of the Young Social- ists collected the magni- ficent sum of £410 and donated it to the party building fund. This brings our total to £1,890.89. We need £109.11 by tomorrow to qualify for the special offer of a Work- ers Press reader to double the sum of £2,000 if we reach this target on time.

May we hear from you at once? Post all donations to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG

APRIL FUND NO

WE ARE haltway through the month. With our total now at £354.89 we need to rapidly step up our campaign for raising the April Fund. It is a long • from £1,750 way our target. At our most successful Young Socialists' conference enormous feeling among young people to fight the Tory gov.

1 April 16, 1973 trash' was sent to stewards in union leatiets, and then blamed 'some alliance' for running down the general secretary, trying to control the union's general coun- cil and attempting to start a UCS-style sit-in at Shepperton.

we've Despite their efforts, kept the studios open, Johnson said. •But it is time the general membership woke up. If we don't do something now it is going to late. be too Members will branched if they fall out of line with the decisions and require- ments of the Trotskyists.

'Life will be hard for some of us. Soon the union will be con- trolled by people who can't keep your funds in order.' Roy Battersby, a delegate from the freelance shop and member of the general council, won the conference's approval when he "This replied: and slanderous crude witch-hunt is unworthy of debate in this union. "The attack against the ATUA and the Trotskyists is worthier of Senator McCarthy. It plays into the hands of police spies and provocateurs. 'We are living in a period where police recording a conver- sation in a cafe in Euston Road between Bert Ramelson and Law- rence Daly is a normal event.'

Battersby went on: 'Politics is the extension of the class strug- gle, which unions were built to fight in the first place.

"The movement learned that not just trade unions but a Lab- our Party was needed to detend trade unionism. 'Politics and trade unionism tical could not be separated in the

BY A WORKERS PRESS

REPORTER

LEADERS

of 220,000 hospital ancillary workers have decided to end their campaign of selective strikes and accept a pay offer under Tory Phase Two terms. The NUPE executive, after acrimonious four-hour an session, also decided to take the ancillary workers' case before the Tories' Pay Board together with management.

The statement issued after the executive meeting said the de- made 'under cision had been duress and protest' to recom- of what they mend acceptance described as an 'improved' offer.

The improvement is minimal- nearly 150,000 woman workers will get a 2p an hour increase brought forward from October to April 1. This is still within the limits of Phase Two, and as NUPE leaders admitted 'paid no regard to the economic needs of ancillary workers or to the social service they provide'. Three other unions-COHSE, G&MWU and T&GWU-are ex- pected to follow the NUPE decision.

NOW £354.89

ernment. Workers Press is the paper they look to for a poli- tical lead. We must therefore do everything possible to raise our fund and keep our paper out in front in every district.

Post all your donations im- mediately to: Workers Press April Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG. fight against the property specu- ned lators who wanted to make a own killing out of closing down Shep- , to perton. "The studios only kept open t a because of that political fight.

"The supporters of the ATUA and Workers Press, who helped win that fight by bringing out the issues involved, only did so on the basis of policies agreed at mass meetings of the workers at Shepperton and approved by the general council.' Sapper's attempt at fence- sitting came at the end of the debate. 'It would be a great matter for concern if the union was to be used as an industrial arm for the political activities of any group. But this is not the case at the moment, and with the general The ACTT conference yes- terday voted for TUC- organized industrial action to force the Tory govern- ment from office and re- place it with a Labour pledged to government socialist policies. By 149 votes to 115, con- ference approved an amend- ment moved by Roger Smith and seconded by Roy Battersby of the freelance shop which declared: 'Conference totally rejects all legislation contained in Phase Two and all subsequent Tory phases of the govern- "Counter ment's so-called The council of Equity, the actors' union, was accused of ignoring decisions of the mem- bership at a 1,500-strong spe- cial meeting at London's Adel- phi Theatre yesterday (above).

Moving a resolution calling on the council to resign, Tom Kempinski said: 'I believe what we are here to decide today is whether we have a union at all, what this union should be like and whether it is demo- cratic. 'We are facing a situation in of the which the decisions membership are held in con- union. by the council of this tempt He accused the council of ignoring crucial decisions taken at a democratic meeting on January 28 to fight the Indus- trial Relations Act and the Tory pay laws. The debate continued late yesterday afternoon and a ser- ond meeting called by the council was scheduled to fol- low immediately after. The council were seeking to make it impossible for special gen- eral meetings to be called by anyone but themselves. council acting on your behalf it fight these threats. It was in the will not become so? FPA's interest to casualize studio workers if they could and des- But the whole McCarthyite troy strong union shops. tactic was booted out lock, stock Other speculators would try to and barrel conference, tne make profits out of EMI, Pine- which also rejected proposals to by wood and Twickenham by drop- decide controversial issues referenda within ACTT and ping all obligations to the work- end the union's recruiting within ers there, just as Bentley of Bar- the BBC. clay Securities had sought to do at Shepperton. freelance Richards, yvonne Roy Battersby again repudi- shop delegate and union vice- warned delegates that ated attacks on the president, used to fight the terrible' who threatened the tactics people to occupy Shepperton. Shepperton closure would have kept ready to be because The Bentley plans for land 500 casualize grave threats speculation and studio closure workers at EMI studios, and also were only defeated by the threats at Pinewood. to occupy and to black the work of British Lion directors if they She said Sapper was wrong to Producers' did not continue to use Shep- Film rely the to help the perton, Battersby said. Association union Inflation" Act, introduced as a By 182 votes to 62 conference conscious towards the also 'recommended that all move corporate "This de- page of May union therefore work mands that the

TUC

motion moved organize an emergency immediately industrial by Roy Battersby in support of the TUC's special Congress this government to for decision. from office and work the return of a Labour government In the election for president committed Sidney Cole beat Stuart Hood by 145 votes to 112. anti-union repeal all Yvonne Roy Bat- Richards, legislation; Stuart Hood were tersby and "To nationalize basic • the successful in their election for land, industries including vice-presidents. and insurance, without banks George Elvin was given compensation and under wor- honorary life membership and kers' control; a standing ovation on his retire- ment after 40 years as president "To restore all democratic the union rights taken away by the Tory and secretary of which he founded (see page 3).

government.' A CALL for full support for Special greetings came from the Union of Arab Students, the the May I strike was carried Desh Students' Bangla Associa- unanimously yesterday by the tion and a delegation from the Young Socialists' conference.

Sunderland factory, Coles Cranes.

Fraternal greetings from the An resolution said emergency Socialist Labour League the that the May Day strike should to brought by be seen as the first step in the conference were Gerry Healy, preparation for united national secretary action to force the said that the Trotskyist to who government resign. defend to the movement would that the But it pointed out death every single basic right and TUC were trying to make it an gain of the working class.

*inadequate protest' that could A campaign was going on now not defeat the common enemy. defend the rights of to groups The ended: 'This resolution within Labour the movement conference all-out cam- urges an paign to make the TUC mobilize against police attacks and intimi- dation, but comrade Healy said whole working-class move- Strike to General that this appeal should not be for a ment desire for Tory confused with any force the government to unprincipled basis and unity on an resign, to return a Labour with these groups. government pledged to socialist 'We will always tell the truth policies. to the working class, no matter 'We call on every member of this and how unpopular this might be, movement to go out Healy. "The working class campaign for the biggest action said possible on May Day. liberate itself will never unless During the morning session the has a leadership| that fights it conference heard fraternal greet- fearlessly Stalinism and against ings from members of the Trot- reformism to build a revolution- skyist in Germany, ary party to bring socialism to Greece and Ireland. America, Britain.'