Workers Press no. 1067

workers press

CORPORATE STATE

graspearerence with solartieresident of the Centre and An invitation to readers: Join the discussion

INCORPORATING THE NEW

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

By Royston Bull TUC CHIEF Victor Feather opened a campaign in favour of the corporate state at a conference on the economy yesterday. He was sharing the platform with Tory Chancellor Anthony Barber and former Confederation of British Industry president John Partridge.

ator Feathe In one fell swoop the TUC general secretary: DENIED there was an economic crisis.

IGNORED the fact that basic trade union rights have been taken away by the Tories' new corporatist laws on pay and industrial relations. CALLED on the trade union movement to subordinate itself still further to the re- quirements of British capitalism under the guise of fighting inflation.

Feather "Trade went unions have Victor Feather speakin on: representative and accountability Figgures, capacity chairman of to the membership and that, bureaucrats for the lessons of above all, what will keep is history. us on the rails; and it is the It is precisely the tendency real answer to those people towards absorption of the trade who worry about the corporate the capitalist state unions into always state. that precedes structure the establishment of fully- 'When people talk of the cor- fledged It corporate state. was porate state, they often think of so in Italy, and in Germany dur- Mussolini. But I don't need to ing the Weimar Republic. remind anybody that Mussolini closer the collaboration The banned trade unions of as one between the trade unions and the the first things he did. That is the the capitalist state, greater exactly the opposite of a genuine degree to which the working class negotiation between a democratic is disarmed and the easier it is trade and a movemen for the ruling class to make its democratic government. for the preparations corporate Here, Feather simply reveals dictatorship. state as a the usual contempt of trade union Once Tory laws restricting On March 11, the greatest day ON October 2 let ye Trades 2,200 in the history of British Trotsky- delegates the Alliance over 10.000 trade Unions conference in ism sO far, Birmingham voted unanimously unionists and their families the transforma- crowded into the Empire Pool. to proceed with to see the Pageant Labour tion of the Socialist Wembley, of History which the League into the revolutionary presented of the working party. great struggles the beginning of February, class in Britain. At published Workers Press the This rally Was a gathering to- gether of the representatives of draft political perspectives and programme the the that will build the for party e strai sub- forces SLL's revolutionary party. mitted by the Committee. Since then we have launched

THE NEWSLETTER • WEDNESDAY MAY 9,

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

ANOTHER good pr Socialist League branches clude: Southampton Leicester Tottenham Bristol Dagenham Portsmouth Cambridge Brixton • • • Willesden Lewisham Watford . . Battersea er speaking at yesterday's conference with J airman of the Pay Board. workers' standard of living and curtailing basic democratic rights are accepted, the trade unions quickly become the civil servants for the capitalist system and begin to police their own mem- bers in wage restraint and other things. For Feather to talk about the democratic procedures of a trade which has union movement already been stripped in law of its most important rights, the right to free collective bargain- ing and the right to organize, unrestricted by police and courts, is in fact to enunciate the prin- ciple of the German Labour Front under fascism. day our £100,000 Party Building Par sky- Fund (see rigit). And in every area the Social- ist Labour League is holding meetings and conferences to t of discuss, amend and improve the resolution on the party. The task is becoming more urgent every day. The

TUC

to- leaders, left and right, have dra , of capitulated completely to the tion the Tory state pay laws. Behind the backs of their members-and hed protected by the Communist to l

MAY 9, 1973

• 4p No 1067

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

good post. Paddington . . 5 Basildon . . 25 Labour anches in- Reading . ... • 7 East London 1 YS Collection . . 14 10 J. Ridler sent £30 8.20 and UCATT Skelmers- 24 dale sent £5 with a 5 most welcome letter 5 from the branch: 13 The above branch 19 takes pleasure in 7.86 forwarding to you £5 37 donation for your 25 special fund. 8 2 It does so in appre- ce with John Partridge, vice-president of the Feather continued: We have much to gain on behalf of the working people of this country in terms of our involvement in running the economy, including taxation and pensions and all the rest of it, if engage in we can these sort of commitments with the government. This is a grave illusion. The more the state draws powers into itself, including the co-operation of the trade unions, in a period of rapidly-increasing monopoliza- tion of the economy, the more the monopolists take the power into their own hands. The capi-

TURN TO BACK PAGE

Party — they hold secret dis- cussions with Heath. We urge all our readers to join us now in the campaign to form the revolutionary party.

Starting on Thursday, Workers Press will publish the views of workers from all parts of the country and all industries on the draft programme for the revolu- tionary party. We urgently ask all our read- ers to study the resolution and nist to participate in this discussion.

ciation of the prin- cipled and truthful opposition of Workers Press to the Tory gov- ernment, anti - working class legislation and the policy of betrayal mers- being pursued by the present leadership of the TUC. The total is now £11,400.83. Post all donations to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High St. London SW4 7UG i of the CBI (centre) and Frank LORD CARRINGTON, Defence Secretary, has admitted that allegations that the army tried to blackmail a 16-year-old youth are "broadly correct, an MP claimed yesterday. Mr Gerry Fitt, Republican Labour MP for west Belfast, said the youth—a Belfast hotel porter —was taken to Hastings Street barracks recently, and told that if he did not supply the army information with about the hotel's staff and guests they would distribute leaflets among the Provisional IRA saying he was having an affair with the wife of a Long Kesh detainee.

Mr Fitt alleged that troops read the boy a form apparently signed by him, in which he admitted having this affair whereas in fact he knew the woman only slightly. Mr Fitt said he had seen Lord Carrington about the allegation.

'He has admitted that what I have said has been broadly correct in almost ever detail

workers press

CORPORATE STATE

An invitation to readers: Join the discussion

INCORPORATING THE NEW

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

By Royston Bull TUC CHIEF Victor Feather opened a campaign in favour of the corporate state at a conference on the economy yesterday. He was sharing the platform with Tory Chancellor Anthony Barber and former Confederation of British Industry president John Partridge.

In one fell swoop the TUC general secretary: DENIED there was an economic crisis.

IGNORED the fact that basic trade union rights have been taken away by the Tories' new corporatist laws on pay and industrial relations. CALLED on the trade union movement to subordinate itself still further to the re- quirements of British capitalism under the guise of fighting inflation.

Feather "Trade went unions have a Victor Feather speakin on: Figgures, chairman of representative capacity and accountability to the membership and that, the lessons of bureaucrats for above all, what will keep is history. us on the rails; and it is the It is precisely the tendency those people real answer to of the trade towards absorption who worry about the corporate capitalist unions into the state state. that precedes always structure the establishment of a fully- 'When people talk of the cor- fledged It corporate state. was porate state, they often think of and in Germany dur- so in Italy Mussolini. But don't need to Weimar Republic. ing the remind anybody that Mussolini The closer the collaboration banned trade of unions one between the trade unions and the the hirst things he did. That is the greater the capitalist state, exactly the opposite of a genuine degree to which the working class negotiation between a democratic the it is disarmed sand easier is trade and a movemen for the ruling. class to make its democratic government.' for the preparations corporate Here, Feather dictatorship. simply reveals state as a Tory the usual contempt of trade union Once laws restricting On March 11, the greatest day 2,200 in the history of British Trotsky- delegates Unions over 10,000 trade Alliance conference in ism far, SO Birmingham voted unanimously unionists and their families Empire Pool, to proceed with the transforma- crowded into the see the Pageant of Labour tion of the Socialist Wembley, to History which the League Into the revolutionary presented strugales of the working party. great the beginning of February, class in Britain. Workers Press published the This rally a gathering to- draft gether of the representatives of political perspectives and the the that will build the programme for party strai sub- forces mitted SLL's revolutionary party. by the we have launched Committee. Since then

THE NEWSLETTER • WEDNESDAY MAY 9,

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

ANOTHER good p Socialist League branches clude: Southampton Leicester Tottenham Bristol • • Dagenham Portsmouth ... Cambridge ••. Brixton Willesden Lewisham Watford ... Battersea or speaking at yesterday's conference with J airman of the Pay Board. workers' standard of living and curtailing basic democratic rights are accepted, the trade unions quickly become the civil servants the capitalist system and for begin to police their own mem- bers in • wage restraint and other things. For Feather to talk about the democratic procedures of a trade union which has movement already been stripped in law of its most important rights, the right to free collective bargain- ing and the right to organize, unrestricted by police and courts, is in fact to enunciate the prin- ciple of the German Labour Front under fascism. £100,000 Party Building Par sky. Fund (see rigi.t). And in every area the Social- ist Labour League is holding join meetings and conferences to of discuss, amend and improve the on the party. resolution The task is becoming more every day. The TUC urgent leaders, left and right, have of capitulated completely to the the Tory state pay laws. Behind the backs of their members-and hed protected by the Communist / MAY 9, 1973 • No 1067 • 4p

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

good post. Paddington 5 »ciation of the prin- Labour Basildon 25 cipled and truthful Reading 7 in- opposition of Workers East London Press to the Tory gov- YS Collection . 14 ernment, anti - working legislation class and .. 10 J. Ridler sent £30 the policy of betrayal 8.20 and UCATT Skelmers- being pursued by the 24 dale sent 25 with a present leadership 5 most letter welcome of the TUC. 5 from the branch: 13 The total is noW The above branch 19 £11,400.83. takes pleasure in 7.86 forwarding £5 Post all donations to: to you 37 donation for your 25 Party Building Fund special fund. 8 186a Clapham High St. 2 It does so in appre- London SW4 7UG ce with John Partridge, vice-president of the

CBI

(centre) and Frank 'We Feather continued: have behalf of the much to gain working people of this country in terms of our involvement in running the including taxation and pensions and all the rest of it, we can engage in sort of commitments with these the government.' This is a grave illusion. The more the state draws powers into itself, the co-operation including

LORD

CARRINGTON, Defence of the trade unions, in a period Secretary, has admitted that of rapidly-increasing monopoliza- allegations the army tried that tion of the economy, the more to blackmail a 16-year-old youth the monopolists take the power are 'broadly correct', MP an hands. The capi- into their own claimed yesterday.

TURN TO BACK PAGE

Gerry Fitt, Republican Labour MP for west Belfast, said the as then to Hastintel Street Hastings -was taken barracks recently, told and that if he did not supply the army with information about the hotel's staff and guests they would distribute leaflets among Party they hold secret dis- Provisional IRA the he sayıng Heath. cussions with was having an affair with the We readers to urge all our wife of a Long Kesh detainee. campaign to in the Join us now Mr Fitt alleged that troops form the revolutionary party.

Starting on Thursday, Workers read the boy a form apparently him, will publish the views of signed by in which he Press admitted having workers from all parts of the this affair- whereas in fact he knew the country and all industries on the only slightly. draft programme for the revolu- tionary party. Mr Fitt said he had seen Lord We urgently ask all our read- Carrington about the allegation. ers to study the resolution and 'He has admitted that what to participate in this discussion.

I have said has been broadly almost every correct in detail

Jack Gale examines the so-called Militant' group PAGE 2 Workers Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973 ONE OF the most opportunist groups in the Labour Party is a 'Trotskyist', which claims to be but which in practice group provide 'left' cover for the right sets out consciously to wing. This is the self-styled 'Militant' group, led by Mr. Ted Grant. In the 1940s Grant was the 'theoretical' leader of Mr Jock Communist Haston's Revolutionary Party. When Haston deserted Trotskyism in 1950, and later joined the Labour Party, Grant- -who at the time was a member of the Political Committee of the Trotskyist movement-refused to vote for his expulsion. Haston subsequently became a right-hand man for Les Cannon, late president of the electricians' union.

In the early 1950s, Grant drifted further to the right. This cul- minated with his joining hands with the right wing and voting for expulsion from the Labour Party of Bill Hunter, a Central Committee member Socialist Labour League. By this act, Grant made a pub- lic break from Trotskyism satisfy of the the WIllg North Islington Labour Party. The April 1973 issue of 'Mili- tant' carries an article by Grant hich purports to deal with the General Strike of 1926, but whicl fact, white-washing of is, in the Party and and attack the Socialist Labour League. Grant assures his readers that the attacks of the capitalists on working-class standards will be resisted and that. therefore 'the possibility' of a General Strike still exists. He says this does not require 'the what he calls crude and hysterical mud-slinging of the ultra-left which infect the sects movement', hut instead friendly but implacable criticism' of the 'left' leaders in the unions and the Labour Party. According to Grant, this means 'a skilful criticism of the woolli- ness, the vagueness incon- ana sistency of lefts and their the failure to the sharp and clear class lines'.

NONLAY KAY. 10°.

This woolliness, ete. is caused, Grant says, by the fact that the Tory 'lefts' 'do not see' that the attacks flow from the objective of British capitalism. position The Communist Party cannot this because it has corréct ceased to be Marxist: Philistine Grant's article is a reactionary centrist mish-mash from start to finish. The real lessons of 1926 can only be grasped through a study of two important works by Leon 'Where Britain Trotsky is Going?' and Problems of the British Revolution'. The Philistine Grant nowhere books-because to These to do so would expose his oppor- tunist role within the Labour Party. First of all, to say merely that Grant's article on the 1926 General Strike Is a l the possibility General similar strike today can be pursued by Strike still exists because of the movement, Grant says-conveniently forgetting development of objective con- found revolutionarý ditions is to disarm the working processes class. taking place in the working class conditions c It has alwavs been A General Strike will not just which has cloaked and continued irreconcilab 'happen'. will occur because to cloak the sins of opportunism quasi-left le the development of the objective with solemn references the their situation leads to the conditions objective tendencies of develop- promises an under which side the Expressed this decides create such a alleged revolutionary objectivism cized' strike. merely an effort to shirk Trotsky revolutionary tasks by shifting But if a General Strike occurs tives them to the shoulders of the so-called historical process: Tory of them! on terms, under circum- chosen them, the There is no lack of objective working class will be grave fundamenta developments. danger of being defeated.

to the 'lefts The Watergate scandal in the people who Only a working class prepared United States, the accelerating and organizationally and politically, inflation, ferocious 'friendly' cr trade war, launching such struggle on The danger is not soaring prices. terms favourable to itself, can be that revolutionary situation successful. But the since events might not develop, but that the Union Congress the building of the revolutionary September that the have shown party might lag behind it.

union leaders will not make such preparations. The central question, therefore, over contro Objective developments left to is the construction ot the revo- right lutionary Without that, themselves party. contain

CATIONS

nan- gers for the working class. Only General Strikes and even revolu- tarian a conscious struggle against the lead onlv to the Tong Can they hander terrible defeats, they did opportunist leaders of the labour as and 1926 movement and those who protect the Britishi strike and the German revolutions of 1918- conditions the them can create The for working-class victory.

1919 and 1923. Trotsky had very harsh words What precondition for the 'friendly the construction of such a party for those who spoke of objective cism'? developments in the that in Britain? Trotsky spelled it way Grant does: Where "It would be the i utmost dis- 'The ideological and organiza- people, grace to brush aside the struggle tional formation a genuinely cratic the basis opportunism in the revolutionary party on critical against leadership by alluding to the pro- of the ruling class of the criticism forgetting the same 'lefts' cold conceivable only Inger una nditions of a perpetual, system- inflexible, untiring their The 'lefts' are not to be 'criti- unmasked here uses. many -but 'friendly' not What is involved here are two ndamentally opposed attitudes the 'lefts'. To Grant, they are not see one wro mere who can be corrected by riendly' criticism. Centrism But in 1926 the 'lefts' handed control of the strike to W10 belaveds , With behind handed over power to generals to murder the re- What place was there then for but implacable Grant sees misguided Trotskv saw social stratum which times capitulate 1ling class and brings defeat an independent policy. cannot be the leadi

*ITT

job of the Stalinists' role. The possibillty of a of the 'lefts' in the Labour and trade union efts' sold out the 1926 struggle.

ıder the untold suffering to the working class: and "The left muddleheads are in- capable of power; but if through the turn of events it fell into their hands they would hasten to pass it over to their elder brothers on the right. They And would do the same in the state as they are doing in the party."

And again: 'Centrism is in- capable of an independent policy.

Centrism cannot be the leading party in the working class. The essential. thing about centrism is that it does not make a decision decide except where events to seize it firmly by the throat.'

At a 'Militant" meeting during a conference of the Labour Party Young Socialists, Grant de- clared: 'The election of Scanlon, Jones and Daly was an enormous step forward for the working class because it reflects a change in the working class.' Of course, the election of lefts against rights to union positions is a limited gain and does reflect a change in the working the re- class. But the anti-Trotskyist Grant sees things always in his one- sided opportunist way. The working class seeks a change from Toryism and the right wing. It turns, in the first instance, to the 'lefts'. In that sense, the 'lefts' reflect a move.

ment in the class. capable of an leading party in But they fight to hold that movement back. Scanlon and Jones have done all in their power to prevent a struggle to bring down the Tory government. They have conducted secret talks with Heath behind the backs of their own members. Explaining this role of the lefts in relation to the working class, Trotsky said that they 'convert its as yet vaguely defined but profound and stubborn aspiration to free itself from Baldwin and MacDonald into left phrases of opposition which do not place any obligation upon them. They convert the political feebleness of the awakening masses into an ideological mish-mash. They represent the expression of a shift also its brake' but (Emphasis added.) It is their function-as it is that of Grant and all the centrists —to transmit the will and the ideas of the bourgeoisie into the ranks of the working class. No- where is this more so than in Britain, with its long tradition of 'liberal' politics, parliamentarism, compromise, national 'pride' and so on. In conflict with the right wing, the lefts have always proved the weaker. This is not a matter of personalities but, as Trotsky ex- plains: . ... the weakness of the lefts arises from their disorder and their disorder from their ideological formlessness? (Empha- sis added.) Capitulate Even with a strong movement behind them, and even when they have a majority (as they did in the Labour Party H-bomb row in 1960) the 'lefts' invariably capitulate to the right. Trotsky explains why this is so. The rights win, he says, be- cause 'a cannot confine party itself to isolated left campaigns but is compelled to have an overall system of policy. The lefts have no such system, nor by their very nature can they. But the rights do; with them stands tradition, experience and routine and, important, most with them stands bourgeois a whole which society as slips them ready-made solutions' Today the right and left come together. Jones and Scanlon join and Chapple in with Feather isolating workers' struggles and in capitulating to the corporatist plans of the Tory government.

This inflicts setbacks on the class, for which the working centrists blame the class itself.

It is, in fact, a crisis of leader- ship. All-political shades in the leadership fear Labour today working-class action, not because they 'don't see' the acute nature of the crisis, but because they action today means do. Class that every problem of the labour as Trotsky said of movement, 1926, must be faced 'at point- blank range'. It is this confrontation which Grant seeks to avoid in 1973 which he glosses over in and 1926. He says of the Communist Party, for example, that in 1926 'not only the rank and file, but also the leadership were en- deavouring to create a revolu- tionary party'. This is deliberate deception.

Between Red Friday in 1925 and the outbreak of the strike in 1926, the Communist Party- under the influence of Stalin— changed from warning the work- ing class of the limits of even 'left' trade unionism to uncritical acceptance of Stalin's slogan 'All Power to the General Council'.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

CYCLE FACTORY IS 'NEAR STRIKE' Civil

OVER MAY DAY WOMEN

Raleigh's

WORKERS

Nottingham cycle tactory are near certain to strike if two women who worked on May Day continue to defy their union. Mrs Betty Holbourne (42) and Mrs Dorothy Harrison (50) have defied all requests either to accept a fine from their union, the National Society of Metal Mechanics, or to hand over their £4 May Day pay to charity. Mr P. Jarvis in the carton

FUND NOW

AT £178.28 WE ARE still a long way from our £1,750 target and although we are only at the start of the month, we know we cannot let any chances go by. On top of our monthly target we are deter- mined to complete the first £50,000 stage of our Party De- velopment Fund. We know it Is going to be a tough fight.

also know But we that on every occasion you, dear read- have won through magnifi.

ers, cently. We have completed every Fund and in some cases even raised over the top. Only our paper demands that the talks between the TUC and the Tories be broken off. Phase Three means even greater at- tacks against the working class.

So help us in every way you can this month. Give a bit extra If you can afford it. Make sure we raise both our funds by the end of May. Post every donation immediately to: Workers Press May Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High St, London SW4 7UG

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NEWSPAPERS FI

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8103 ManE

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| Monday to Thursd Fridays (late night opening) Saturdays 9 a.m.— knock down section is also re- fusing to co-operate with the Workers 50-strong service department have already withheld their labour for three days after returning on May 2 to find that the two women had ignored the union's strike call.

Yesterday union and company 6,000- representatives at the strong factory were meeting the see if they would change their minds. district secretary Mr Union Jack Hallam said: 'What these two women are doing is com- pletely wrong. THE DECISION of the T Workers' Union docks trade creasing use of "casual, suppl industry has already run into Shop stewards at Liverpool, o ing the recent decision, have accep to 250 'supplementaries' by a powerful Ocean Transport and Trading group. The hirm, Liverpool Mari- time Terminals, had yesterday still not decided exactly how many men it will seek clear- ance to recruit. But it is ex- pected the final figure will be between 150 and 200. these When LMT take on men, it will bring the ratio of supplementaries to permanent- registered dockers nationally to just over 7 per cent. This is a serious threat to dockers' hard-won job security a big lever and solidarity, and for speed-up, since "supplemen-

OKS. PERIODICALS AND

PERS FROM THE

ACKS CENTRE

to Thursday a.m.-6 p.m. pening) 9 a.m...7.30 p.m.

: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. When people join the union they make a statement agreeing to the rules. Our executive has the authority to call a strike and they called a one-day strike on May Day. All my members knew about this. 'If you join an organization you have to stand by the rules.

If you don't like them, there procedures for changing are them. 'In my opinion those people who failed to come out on May Day want all the benefits from the union and none of the dis- advantages. the Transport and General trade group to fight the in.

, supplementary labour in the in into trouble. erpool, one of the key ports back- ave accepted the recruitment of up by a firm connected with . the

OUR INDUSTRIAL

CORRESPONDENT

taries', unlike their permanent colleagues, can be fired at a week's notice. The Liverpool stewards say, in defence of their decision to accept supplementaries, that they were caught between two fires: the increasing loss of trade from the port because of labour short- age and the refusal of the Tory government to allow recruit- ment of permanents. And they have pledged to make sure that the jobs of those men taken onto the supplemen- tary register will soon be made permanent. They will face powerful oppo- sition here, however. Maurice 1 Macmillan, Secretary of State for Employment, John Minister for Transport Peyton, and the influential Industries, Steam Ship Owners' Liverpool Association have all come down heavily in favour of this new growth 'casualism' against any increase in the per- manent register. THREE MEN from North- ern Ireland arrested during border checks security around Dundalk at the week- end appeared before the Dublin Special Criminal Court yesterday charged with membership of the IRA. They were James Savage, of Gardens, John Martin Newry, Henry Fagan of High Street, Newry, and Michael Brannigan, in conference POLICE chiefs from Belgium, France, Holland, Scotland Yard and forces in southern England met at Eastbourne yesterday to discuss drug smuggling and 'other interest. After entry into the EEC, police chiefs thought it more than ever necessary to estab- lish good communications and methods of exchanging police intelligence. Representatives of Interpol were also attending the confer- ence to help to improve liaison and distribution of intelligence reports. The conference ends to- day. Workers Press, We 'One of the women recently got £100 compensation which she would never have done with- out the union and both had rises higher than the men as a result of our campaign on equal pay. 'We are faced with a situa- tion where we have done all we can. There is nothing more we can do. If they don't reach agreement with up. "e are heading for a blow added: 'The Mr Hallam company has brought this on its head. The factory should own have been closed on May Day as we suggested.' Hetter ... saw stewards. In fact, it has now emerged, that Eric Heffer, 'left' MP for Walton, attended the meeting of the stewards: crucial execu- tive before the decision to accept supplementaries at LMT was taken. He told the meeting that he had seen Peyton, and that his line remained the same as in a March speech 28 which on 'greatly welcomed' the increased use of the supplementary re- gister. Heffer's attendance • at the meeting has given rise to • a strong suspicion on the docks that some leading stewards were already committed to accepting supplementaries, since they knew the alternative was a fight with the declared policy of the Tory government. of Tulloyvallen, Newtown Hamilton. They were refused bail and remanded in custody until May 22 when a trial date will be fixed. Earlier, three men who were bail on Monday on a charge of possessing five tons of explosives, were allowed bail of £3,000 each. Young Socialists Stud Supplementary cash Fight rising pr Defend the right to hig Forward to the revolu

„SATURDAY MAY 12, 2

Lecture Theatre A, Mechanical Engineerin

IMPERIAL COLLEGE

Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973

PAGE 3

COMMENT BY

DAVID MAUDE

FRESH EVIDENCE of the way TUC cowardice pro- vides the Tories with to attack the weapons working class emerged yesterday. Both the 'Daily • Mirror' and the 'Daily Express' led their front pages with news that the civil servants' union, the Civil and Public Services Association, may refuse to pay out pension and increases social security from October 1 until its own pay demands are settled. 'Civil servants ban bonus for 'Mirror'. needy, whined the 'Pensioners ransom', at screamed . the "Express'. In proposing this action, which was carried by 356 votes to 348, Merseyside delegate Bill Callard made clear that the civil servants have been forced into taking it. He said of preparatory work for implementing the increases on October 1: If this work is allowed to go ahead there will be nothing left to fight with if we do not get a favourable decision from the Pay Board to cur current pay research unit claim.'

The fact is that the civil ser- vants have been forced into this action and to go to the Pay Board by the refusal of the TUC to back their first- industrial action over ever pay. When their leaders asked the TUC Finance and General Purposes Committee, including 'lefts' Hugh Scanlon and Jack 'co-ordinated ac- tion' turned away empty- were handed. The committee used the failure of some right-wing civil ser- vice union leaders to call their members out to renege on the promise of the March 5 special Congress that there would be 'co-ordinated action' in support of unions who asked for help in fighting the Tory pay laws. laws Now the Tories, whose originally provoked the civil servants' action, have been handed another propaganda weapon to whip up the middle class against the unions.

To say this in no way implies any criticism of the CPSA conference decision. Every trade unionist will back the civil servants' pay fight to the hilt. But the headlines spell out the fact that the TUC leaders, who refuse workers aid but rush to clandestine meetings with , the arch-enemy of the working class, Heath, are now a positive danger to the labour movement, They must be removed and re- placed by those who will fight.

See letter p.l0. alists Students Society tary cash grants now! t rising prices! ght to higher education! the revolutionary party! IAY 12, 2 p.m.-10 p.m. eatre A, ground floor Engineering Department

COLLEGE, LONDON

ON CAR WORKERS' CLAIM

PAGE 4 Workers Press, Wednesday M

DEAR EDITOR,

As a Transport and General Workers' Union shop steward at Vauxhall and having at- tended three joint meetings of shop stewards to discuss pay and conditions, I feel it is of the utmost importance to stress the attitude of the mem- bers of the Joint Negotiating Committee, and the convenors of the T&GWU, Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers and Electrical and Plumbing Trades Union. I myself spoke at two of the meetings against the pay offer because it was in line with Tory policy and because acceptance would help to com- mit every other worker in the country to the corporate Pay Board. All workers face the most vicious class laws as the gov- ernment fights to save its capitalist system. In Vauxhall's case the convenors have at no time done anything or even spoken out against the Pay Board. Neither have they led their along with other men car workers — the country's high- est exporters - against the government to force it out of office. •Even more despicable was the ballot conducted by the Luton district committee of the T&GWU. Its main feature was to take the offer as it stood, disguised by the word- ing — £2.40 across the board and no additional conditions.

This, in effect, meant ac- cepting three shifts, producti- vity, losing 20p a week to pay for holidays at Christmas, and other strings. Coventry At the recent joint shop stewards' meeting, a resolution was passed pro- posing mass meetings at all

REFORMISM ON THE CLYDE

TREFORMISM ON THE CLYDE

'Reformism on the Clyde' the first exposure of Com.

munist Party tactics at the UCS work-in. It shows how a powerful challenge to the Tories degenerated into a reformist protest. It exam.

ines the records of the men who led the struggle, James Reid, James Airlie and Sammy Barr. Price 30p, 128 pages, illustrated.

Available from: New Park Publications 186a, Clapham High Street London, SW4 7UG or the Paperbacks Centre 28 Charlotte Street London, W1 (Enclose 10p for postage) nesday May 9, 1973 Car worker at Fords. Acceptance of 1 worker in the country to the corporate three Vauxhall plants to deter- nine the men's attitude on the Tory legislation. By holding this unofficial ballot, the T&GWU tried to commit their members to totally unacceptable pay offer.

We must never forget that the original demands by the unions were for parity with the Midlands car workers, a 35-hour week and an extra ard week's holiday. The Tories banned these demands under their pay laws.

The lengths to which the capitalist class war has driven British capitalism to, in a final attempt to save the philosophy of profit, is now being ex- perienced by the working class. science advances, the As A recent article in New Society' reveals some in- teresting details about the Rochdale magis. trates' bench. The effec- tive choice of new members of the bench is made by a Magistrates' Advisory Committee. The identity of those who form this committee is offi- However, cially a secret. 'New Society' revealed that the members of the • Rochdale new English edition of the 'First Fiv A Years of the Communist International' ir corporating hitherto unpublished materia from Volume XIII of Trotsky's 'Works'

THE FIRST

FIVE YEARS OF THE

COMMUNIST

INTERNATIONAL

ance of the pay offer in line with Tory policy helps 1o commit every other corporate Pay Board. workers are supposed to earn and be swallowed the up In and of Heath more work less with corporatism and company. machinery to do the graft. But the opposite is true. The need for leadership in need Machines are tended by less the unions and the to and less manpower. Men form revolutionary are party has never been more urgent.

condemned early retire- to the dole ment, queues This means a fight against living lengthen, standards the Stalinists in the unions. drop and redundancy in- The Stalinist leadership at creases. Ford's must be forced to join up with all car workers and By dint of time-study, the other sections of workers.

last drop of sweat is extracted which makes pro- We need a General Strike from men, ductivity deals favourable only against the Tories, and the to the employer. election of a Labour govern- ment pledged to socialist Because of the world mone- policies and the repeal of all tary crisis, the impending col- anti-working class laws. lapse of capitalism, the work- ing class is being made to pay Vauxhall shop steward, bill being forced Luton. the to work (Name and address supplied) harder, take cuts pay Advisory Committee bers, in their 30s and 40s.

are: Norman Woolfenden (69), (2) that the bench should be Liberal, Rotarian and broadly representative of all who has been a magis- of mason, sections the community for trate Albert which it has to serve years; Golland (65), a Conservative, The Rochdale bench has a Rotarian and 45. a mason, only one member under for 21 magistrate and The of the 43 years; average age Derrick Walker (56), leader of. members is 54 and 20 of them Labour Group 55 the and are or over. magistrate for As for being 'representa- ten years. This committee is virtually tive', Rochdale has only one self-perpetuating as it nomi- employed manual worker on for the bench, not a single Roman nates successor any Catholic and no one from the member retiring. Society' 'New quotes the town's 6,000-strong Pakistani Central Office of Information community. booklet on desirable composi- Some sections of the Roch- tion of benches and shows dale community, however, are how far Rochdale complies. well represented. extremely booklet Twenty-one JPs (49 per cent) The suggests: should be (1) that there a are members of Rotary or its proportion of younger associated Inner Wheel. mem- 'First Fiva national' in- The First Five Years of the Communist International This first volume of Trotsky's writings and speeches for the Communist International covers the period of its first three Congresses when the post-war revolutionary upsurge reached its peak and then began to recede. It establishes, without fear of con- tradiction, the important role which he played in the foundation of this, the Third workers' International, and in the formation and early development of the French, German and Italian Communist Parties. At this time the theory of "socialism in one country' had not been invented and Joseph Stalir was still a second-line Bolshevik leader who played no part in the international movement which he was later to pervert and eventually destroy.

IF THE

Price: £1.50, 421 pages. Available from: New Park Publications 186a Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UG or the Paperbacks Centre 28 Charlotte Street, London, W1 (Enclose 10p for postage) The first sizeable industrial dispute in the industries sur- rounding the North Sea 'oil boom' took place at Nigg in Easter Ross recently. Five hundred men walked out at Highland Fabricators the after management had locked out two shop stewards who took time off to attend a Press conference. The conference followed the men's action in sending tele- grams to Prime i Minister Heath, Labour leader Wilson, and local Tory MP Hamish Gray to complain about the management at the rig-building yard, owned by the Texan company Brown and Root. Bitter scenes took place on the picket line during the three-day dispute when a car tried to force its way through.

Police reinforcements were called but the car was per- suaded to retreat. Boilermakers' convenor, Bill Lindsay, said that the manage- ment was trying to undermine the unions at the yard. 'They refuse to acknowledge the shop stewards and reject any meeting with them' A settlement was reached after an intervention by boiler- makers' official, Communist Party supporter, Jim McArtney.

He said: 'We have thrashed lot of outstanding out a difficulties and have gone a long way to eradicating the things which have been causing the problems.' McArtney is a leading light on the North Sea Oil Action Committee, the Stalinist re- formist-led protest group which bases itself on the conception that North Sea oil can solve the economic problems of the North East. It has recently adopted the slogan-for which it awarded a prize of £25--'British Oil for Britons.' Highland Fabricators' en- gineering manager, Charles Reynolds, claimed that the problem was one of communi- cations. In fact it is almost certainly the first indication of what could become a major fiasco, shattering any illusions in a peaceful road to Scottish prosperity via the 'oil boom'.

Highland Fabricators was one of several firms which have gained massive government concessions on the ground of providing employment locally.

They had taken on 641 local men to train as welders. Last September they • began work for BP on an 18,000-ton, 400 foot-high, oil rig "jacket' It was to cost £10m and be ready to go to sea in August.

Informants at Highland Fabricators and its British junior partner, Wimpey, say the rig is a disaster, needing 95 per cent of the welds to be re-done to make it seaworthy.

The company now • says it 1s impossible to train local labour to an adequate standard, given the stress which the rigs have to withstand.

Imperialist in strategy the Middle East sees Israel as a key link in the chain of reactionary states which keep the oil magnates' profits safe. The Israeli military chiefs willingness and capacity to carry out counter-revolution beyond the boundaries of the Zionist state. Their attacks on Palestinians in Lebanon and their encour- the reactionary agement of King Hussein in Jordan have endeared the Zionists to the powers who fear revolution in the Middle East. The imperialists see them as a bridgehead between the two alliances NATO and CENTO.

LINK TOGETHER

In this connection the in- formed daily 'Haaretz' com- mented: 'The Israeli forces are actually part of the NATO structure in the Mediterranean, despite the absence of formal treaties between Israel and the latter organization'. The plan to link together the two organizations through one or another reactionary mid- East state having joint mem- bership is not new. rourteen years ago the main candidate for this task was Iran. The then Secretary-General of CENTO reported that 'the main thing is to establish a link between CENTO and

NATO.

These plans did not mature at the time, but they have lately been taken out of file and dusted off. According to 'Al Anwar' of Beirut, citing well-informed diplomatic sources, NATO has to include Iran decided membership. This decision has been taken after a careful examination of the situation in the middle east, especially in the Arab Gulf. Here the imperialists are about the mounting worried national movement in Dhofar and the other Gulf States.

Concerned about the SO- called energy crisis hitting the United States, Washington wants at all costs to ensure the free flow of oil from the Gulf at the lowest price. This was the main purpose of the tour of the Arab Gulf undertaken last year by US secretary of state William Rogers. The Turkish paper 'Taswir' commented in October after the visit that 'the US has be- come sufficiently convinced of the need for joining Iran to

NATO'.

To implement the imperialist strategy in the area, Iran has islands in seized the Arab Gulf, building up a strategic base on the island of Massira which dominates the narrow Gulf entrance. Further south the imperialist powers are building air bases, equipped with nuclear bombs and extensive naval facilities at the islands of Mauritius and Garcia in the Diego Indian Ocean. The Shah of Iran is spending over $2,000m to buy arms from Europe and the US. He aims to dominate the Gulf and keep the reactionary oil sheikhs in power as his vassals. Iran and Israel already have military links: Israeli troops training the enlarged are Iranian army in secret bases close to the Pakistan border.

As allies in NATO they would form a bastion to pro- tect imperialist interests in the Middle East.

BY JOHN SPENCER

The American Central Intelligence Agency is still active in Vietnam assisting the Saigon gov.

ger areas of the country under its control. A large army of 'civilian advisers' has been recruited for service in South Vietnam maintain the American to presence. Stories of violations of the ceasefire agreement by North Vietnam are fabricated and fed to the foreign press. In order to understand the in Vietnam today it situation is instructive to look back at the role which the CIA played in the past in preparing the way for massive intervention by the forces of American imperialism. The CIA has been active in Vietnam since the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. In June of that year Colonel Edward G. Lansdale arrived in Saigon as Assistant Air Attache, the cover for his CIA activities. According to the 'Pentagon Papers' one of his first tasks was to organize a rumour cam- paign in the North about 'a Chinese Communist regiment Tonkin taking reprisals against a Vietminh Village whose girls the Chinese had raped'. Soldiers_were trained, dres- sed in civilian clothes and sent out to spread the rumour.

They all deserted to the Viet- minh. In September 1954, after the Geneva Agreement which brought the war with the French to an end, CIA men tried to blow up the largest in Hanoi. printing works Rumours were also spread to panic North Vietnamese people into taking refuge in the South. CIA men did succeed in con- taminating the oil supply of the Hanoi bus service before the victorious Vietminh troops marched into the city. The first steps were taken for a long-term sabotage of the railway system, which re- quired co-operation with a special CIA technical team in Japan. It also wrote detailed notes of potential targets for paramilitary operations. The CIA undertook the training of groups in guerrilla warfare in a secret camp in the friendly Philippines. It had support and co-operation from representatives of the US press in Vietnam. In the first months after the Geneva Agreement the

CIA

smuggled in large quantities of Some arms ana equipment. went to agents in the North, the rest was hidden in South Vietnam for future use. When the guerrillas and Us troops leaving Vietnam last year-b agents sent to the Philippines had finished their training they were flown back to Vietnam by the US air force. They were slipped ashore in Haiphong before the Vietminh took over in May 1955. The report printed in the 'Pentagon Papers' says: 'It had taken a tremendous amount of hard work to beat the Geneva deadline, to locate, select, exfiltrate, train, infil- trate, equip the men ... and have them in place ready for actions required against the enemy. It would be a hard task to do openly, but this had to be kept secret from the Viet- minh, the International Con- trol Commission with its sus- picious French, Poles and Indians and even friendly Viet- namese.' The 1 methods employed by the CIA to win a foothold for the US in Vietnam after the defeat of the French throw a flood of light on American tac- tics since the ceasefire.

Workers Press, Wi st year—but the 'advisers' remain behind to trai In December 1972, column- ist Jack Anderson exposed Pentagon plans for maintaining a paramilitary force in Viet- nam after the withdrawal of American troops. According to the ceasefire agreement bases were to be completely disman- tled and both sides were to begin talks. Instead, a host of so-called civilian advisers arrived or re- in Vietnam nominally mained employed by US corporations such as International Tele- phone and Telegraph -- whose relations with the CIA in Chile and Argentine are notorious— Sperry-Rand, Leard Siegler and others. They have been recruited through the US army and, al- though out of uniform, are still Pentagon's the payroll. on Most of them have already been at least a year in Viet- nam. They receive 25 per cent they were getting more than before, plus a right to a job with the firms they allegedly Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973 PAGE 5 ind to train men for Thieu.

serve at a later date. The regime of Nguyen Van Thieu to throw continues South Vietnam wide open to American penetration through the corporations with. which the 'advisers' are linked. In the meantime they mostly work on military projects hav- ing nothing to do with the re- construction of the country after the ravages of war. If need arises they are available for combat duties. The 'advisers' work in areas close to those controlled by the Provisional Revolutionary Government. If captured they would claim to be civilians.

American imperialism does intend to relinquish its not positions in Indo-china al- though it has been forced for the present to abandon its pre- military tensions of outright The CIA implanta- conquest. tion, which dates back to 1954, is an indication of its long- term intentions. The final blow of the fascist censorship has fallen against the Spanish newspaper 'Madrid'. The paper was considered too outspoken in its criticisms of the Franco regime and it was summarily closed down by the censor on November 25 1971. The debts mounted "Madrid's, up and eventually pro- prietor was forced to sell the paper's offices and print-shop.

The photograph (left) shows and symbolic the spectacular end of 'Madrid' as property speculators began the demoli- tion of the paper's offices.

PARTICIPATION IS

ASTAB IN THE BACK

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Wedneaday Ma

BY ROYSTON BULL

Jack Jones' philosophy of achieving some eternal harmony with the employers through 'parti- cipation' is so contra- dicted by the enormous sharpening of class strug.

gle taking place all around him. The working class is facing the most colossal onslaught on its democratic rights and its it has living standards that experienced since the dark days of the 1930s depression.

Jones' propaganda on behalf of co-partnership in such a situ- can only disarm the ation working class. The transport workers' bien- nial conference this summer at Brighton will see the biggest ever challenge to these dan- gerous illusions which Jones is neaday May 9, 1973 putting forward on behalf of his members. The challenge covers the policies on the National Industrial Relations Court, the state control of wages and many key sectional issues. But one of the most funda- be- mental disagreements tween Jones and the new forces which are coming for- ward in the movement will be on the question of indus- trial democracy. Jones himself has a motion down in the name of the exe- cutive council. It reads: 'That this conference wel- comes the steps taken by the union to extend the participa- tion by members in the con- trol of their wages and con- industry in ditions and of general. 'Conference further declares that the growth of the size of industrial undertakings, both multinational, national and makes this policy even more urgent and calls for its inten- sification. 'Conference reaffirms its support for the extension of industrial democracy, through effective and democratic trades union organization. "In this direction confer- ence would welcome workers' representation on management and supervisory boards and other decision-making bodies, based on the shop steward system and on a basis of 50 per cent or more involve- ment: provided (a) that these representatives are able to re- tain their trade union func- tions and remain responsible to the members they repre- sent and the trade union movement; and (b) the fore- going approach is at the ex- wish of the membership press directly concerned.' Many of the points raised here are answered in the very al, next motion, number 200, London from transport a drivers' branch. It reads: 'That this conference main- that there is tains sufficient experience and expertise with- in the union to train shop stewards without the help and assistance of major industrial enterprises, and feels that the concept of worker-directors under a capitalist system is a blind alley which will in no way give workers more con- trol over their destinies.

'There can be no true con- trol in industry by the work- ing class except under a socialist where the system means of production and the profit ensuing therefrom are owned by the people as a whole; therefore, any other concept in our ranks can only be a diversion from the main struggle. "The worker-director ex- sed periment initiated by the Labour with government qualified success in the British Steel Corporation has not prevented the government from closing many steel-works and causing large-scale redun- dancies. 'Conference feels that the experiment worker-director "Bevin and the so-called plan" for getting on better should be rejected and that in future our leadership should consult the membership be- fore committing them to any with big such association business interests.' motion, Jones' and the whole approach of the pro- ponents of 'workers control', completely ignores the actual confronting situation the It is Utopian working class. dreaming which not only diverts from the main strug- gle, but spreads totally talse ideas about how the workers' struggle can be conducted.

The working class is faced with laws restricting their pay increases in a situation where their traditional methods of struggle of a wages fight be- hind remote union leaders who eventually get a compro- mise settlement are virtually powerless. Workers have to find new ways to fight .. and they have to find them behind a new leadership. The old re-

formist leaderships still are determined ent io reach compro. :ks mise deals with the employers and Tne government. period of capitalist crisis, this he can only mean which aeals drag down ent the working class vin in step with the decline of British capitalism.

LCI

With struggle for in

CICIY

ild wages now a political struggle against the Tory government, зе- abolished ny tree WiNCO big collective - bargaining, the working class must learn how the fight political battles to directly. To win them, it must ro- ol', fight under the mayolut revolutionary ual leadership Wiro the understand how to prepare for the struggle for power. Only an nly the revolution can social carry out the policies to end 1g- the Ise

COSAS,

rs' derive ters aective sis of tle This perspective can objective situation which working class finds itself.

the Calling on workers to ask in this period for an extension of 'industrial democracy' com- pletely misses all of the issues that directly concerning al e the working class. be- ers It mere v urges workers on to dust down some reformist hobby like noTse (wolkers control' ride around ew the movement conter- ley ence halls. course real point about these reformist cam- paigns and the calls for more militancy for own sake is that Jones and company have adsolutely no desıre to realiy the capitalist challenge tem for its power. The idea of the working class standing and deciding that it will up have nothing more to do with the capitalist system and will end it, appalls them In his famous pamphlet on participation, Sones States Working people are practical peopie, anc tney can be arawn the tasks of management, into and into a new interest in the success of industry, only on a practical basis." of Jones, course, is talking about himself when he talks about being drawn into man- agement and the success ol UCuSLIv. He 'But they contales. ir we ignor the gronene feel.

not golng lo acmeve unis ing that the nature of work industry is repetitious, so soul-destroying, and in many cases so very unpleasant, that it is something that has to be escaped trom as otten as Dos sible and as soon as possible.'

This is a clear l examnle ot Jones having a Utopian dream …lee one industry could be run, and on the hand coming up orner the harsh of against reality relationship to their workers' jobs in practice His completely static un- derstanding of the political is nowhere situation better illustrated than where he talks about an apparently end- less period of negotiating con- frontation between the two sides in industry. He goes on to say: 'Given, of course, that we do not have restricting new laws forced upon us, I think we may well be at the crest of our strike problem.' This was uttered in November 1970. It betrays an abysmal igno- rance about the new escala- tion of the class struggle that inevitable following became the election of the Tory gov- ernment in June 1970 in a period of deepening economic crisis. Jones may not have been able to predict the arrival of the state pay laws to back up the Industrial Relations Act, but what could he possibly have been thinking of in sug- that Britain had gesting "crest" reached the of its strike problem? Is it, once again, wishful thinking by a about how Utopian dreamer nice things would be if there were no strikes? It is hardly the way to lead the fight on behalf of the working class.

The next comment reveals Workers Press, Wer his present attitudes. 'The truth is that the whole concept of what managerial prerogatives are is something that has to change. If man- agement today seeks to act on attitudes of the past, it will produce conflict, not acquiescence, but Jones just cannot wait to "acquiesce'. For him now, the reality of the class struggle is completely hidden by a mess of confused ideas: 'It has always seemed to me to be absurd that one could mutually agree in the end on divisive issues such as wages, but only consult and not have an agreement on a whole range of matters which we were supposed not to be in conflict about.' As though it was just a question of someone having a good idea at the right time and every problem then being solved. People have had good ideas about reforming society along ideal lines since the first • socialists 150 Utopian years The objective develop- ago. ment of the class struggle has totally ignored every one of them, from Robert Owen down to Jack Jones. 'Units of industry should eventually be seen as a series of self-government commu- nities, within which working people increasingly assume Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973 PAGE 7 Jack Jones (left) with Tory Home Secretary, Robert Carr and (above) with leader of the Port employers, Lord Aldington. By such collaboration with the employers, Jones leads his union members into the trap of corpor- atism. the role of policy-making and controlling, and that means the fullest participation in the unions.' Such day-dreaming is dan- gerous in a period when the Tory government is preparing for the biggest class confron- tations in history in order to capitalism's deep- deal with est-ever crisis. By these tactics, Jones is his union members leading right into the trap of cor- poratism. That is what has been put on the agenda by the Tories. Nothing less than corporate state controls over the trade unions will enable them to steer through the eco- nomic crisis and emerge the other side with their capitalist system still intact. Nothing is more threatening to the working class in the Jones' than present about industrial de- mocracy and participation.

Transport workers must re- ject reformist illusions and demand that their union gets back into the fight against the and the Tory government capitalist class.

PAGE & Workers Press, Wednesday I it ruit dail A serles by Bernard Franks Part eight Many family shop- keepers are turning to membership of the so- called voluntary groups (VGs) as some form of combination against the power of the multiples. This involves linking to a wholesale service which can buy in bulk from manufacturers or create its own brands. The main VGs are Spar- Vivo, VG Service and Mace Marketing Services. In fact, the VGs often demand strict control of products, brands, sales promotion, equipment in the shop and even layout. There is little left to feel 'independent' about. Today, 15,000 family shops are in VGs in Britain. The Spar-Vivo Group, an international company based in Holland, operates in west Europe with 300 wholesalers and 54,000 retailers through- out the Common Market. The second largest undertaking of its kind in the world, it has almost 10 per cent of the market in every EEC country except Britain, where it has 4,000 shops. Another innovation of the wholesalers is the cash-and- warehouse, a kind of carry cut-price supermarket for re- tailers. Members take a trolley round and choose their goods, pay cash at the checkout and provide their own transport.

The average amount spent is £38 a visit. dnesday May 9, 1973 ruit dally!Presh fruit dail Fresh fruit d Shopkeepers are nervous that these stores may sell direct to the public. One esti- mate puts the number of • users who are not entitled to be there at 10 per cent and it is clear that many cash-and- carry owners are quite happy to let them degenerate into discount stores. There is much exaggeration in the talk about the conflict between manufacturers the Often, and the retail chains. in any case, these are the same firm, or joint subsidiaries of a third linked in group, or some way by agreement: The suppliers much prefer the huge turnover of the supermarkets and the ease of supplying large stores which have back unloading bays for container lorries, to the pro- blems of small batch off-load- ing to small shops in narrow streets. Family shopkeepers are now especially worried by the on- Tax, of Value Added which came into force on April 1. This new imposition seeks to throw even an greater burden of tax on the working class while using the of shopkeeper as a tax collector.

For the multiples this will be no great strain, with their computers and comprehensive accounting systems. For many it will be back-street shops the end of the road. All traders with more than £5,000 turnover a year are required by law to register and apply a 10 per cent tax (actual range 74 per cent to 12% per cent) to a mass of goods and services. All taxable goods supplied to the shopkeeper will include h fruit dally rest

SALAD

an input tax. He, in turn, must Slap on an output tax to his customers. The difference be- tween the two is what he must work out and pay to the Cus- Excise Office. To toms and compute this he must preserve for up to three years all in- coming orders, invoices, de- livery notes, correspondence, balance sheets and invoices to 'taxable' persons. Also he must record daily gross takings, goods applied to personal use and goods sup- paper work has to be available for the visiting Customs and Ex- cise officers. Anyone who should register and fails to do so can be summoned before the courts, Writings of

WRITINGS OF

Leon Trotsky

LEON TROTSKY

1831-38 (1338-8)

WRITINGS OF

LEON

LEON

TROTSKY

1933-34) 11834-35 Six volumes of Trotsky's writings during the years 1933-1940 £8.00 including postage Please tick those you requi Name Address Complete form and post to: New Park Publications, 18 A New Park Publicat

H.CONDC

TITT

"Ta

"TOMATOES

TOMATOES

but in any case may be bank- the products it is applied to.

rupted because: The tightened scrèw can be (1) they will not be able to and the range of products so back any claim far excluded can also be taxed.

purchase tax the stocks on they held A member of the Tax Com- on April 1. mittee of the London Chamber (2) they will not be able to of Commerce forecast last back claim the paid of 20-25 tax to year top. rates per their suppliers, cent and "The but they will commented: be liable Cus- harmonization of to pay to the eventual and Excise the full 10 toms taxes within the EEC will in- per cent on all their sales from evitably lead to food being included.' April 1 onwards. The 1.5. million business The enemies of the family today people operating the system shopkeeper the are referred to 'taxable powerful, all - monopolizing are as persons' in the official litera- manufacturers, wholesalers, Presumably, the retailers and banks, who seek ture. cus- tomer who is having to fork through the capitalist state out the extra cash, is then a laws, institutions and the 'non-taxable' Tories to destroy the standard person. Unless the measures are de- of living and rights of the feated be working class and the small nothing there can final about the rate of tax trader. or History of Russian Revolution Trotsky—a documentary by -special gift pack Francis Wyndham of three volumes and David King £1.70 including postage £1.65 including postage u require. Amount enclosed VAT Registration No. 235 9135 59 ions, 186a Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UG Publications Booklist is a vailable, free, on request.

I WAS LUCKY... AND WHITE'

Peter Niesewand, recently released from Rhodesian jail, speaks of the countless political prisoners who remain behind.

BY DAVID MAUDE

Peter recently released journa- list from Rhodesia, told reporters: I was lucky. I am white and my case Others was publicized. black and are no one knows what is happen- ing to them. Niesewand said that some of the prisoners the same jail as himself had been there for more than 13 years with- out Some of these prisoners had been with detentior orders after they had already political Served sentences offences, but the majority, some of whom have been in detention for more than ten have never been tried. ycals, Detention is ordered by the Order Minister of Law and 'the and Justice interests of the public'. The detained person can then be held inde.

finitely under the Emergency Powers or the law and Order (Maintenance) Acts. mainly delanees are distributed between the Salis- bury Remand, Gwelo and Wha Wha prisons, Gonakud- and zingwa Detention Camp. At Salisbury Remand Prison Raymond Chiwashira has been detention for seven years; Moton Malianga, Robert Mu- Edgar Tekere and for and Morris nine years Nyan- gumbo for 13 years. Salisbury, is a security pri- son where inmates are cosev confined in small cells and a small prison yard. The political prisoners there recently wrote to the Minister of Justice demanding an im- provement in their conditions.

bad They complained about food, inadequate clothing, bed- and cell de- ding equipment, grading regulations regarding

VISILS

Call

OLIV

oCC detainees in the the or coclice of prison guards, and through partition and severe a glass censorship of mail, newspapers and reading material. Nine long-term detairees in Gwelo Prison were recently joined by further 12 transferred from Salis- were bury. These prisoners also have complained about worsening conditions, including arbitrary by the prison punishments autoniues. result of their com- As a plaints, unev were sen- tenced to 25 days solitary con- finement with reduced diet.

further 90 days was imposed they during which may

HOL

send letters, receive re- or ceive visitors study. The Gwelo political prison- ers include eight men were detained last year after already completing a sentence for a political offence. These are: Jairos Chadoka, Robert Charles Casunanda, c. Onias • Mhanda Zvikaramba, Mutema, Shame Linos Mukaro, Stephen Zvina- Kufa veshe and Langton Banda.

WORKERS

NOTEBOOK

INDIAN PROFIT

Desperately searching for new 'angles' with which to sell the tenth-rate Steall films pouring out of Hollywood, major production com- Lne panies think they have found a winner. The occupation of the town of Wounded Knee by militant American Indians, and Marlon Brando's refusal of the Oscar Award because of the insulting and racialist way which Indians are usually portrayed on film, have given them an idea. After a meeting with the Screen Actors' Guild, which was asking for Indians, as well Mexican-Americans and as Peter Niesewand, recently released fror Walter S. Mbambo com- pleted a sentence for a politi- cal offence in 1971 but has been detained in Gwelo ever since. Other Gwelo prisoners and the length of time they have already been detained without trial are: Kenneth Chisango, one Edward Bhebe, three year; years; Elias P. Moyo, Moses Thusi and Grey Matsikasimbe, four years; T. G. Mwanjiri, seven years; Elisha Chigudu, and Simon Fred Dube Marembo, eight years; James Chatagwe and Clark Mpofu, nine years. The political prisoners at Wha Wha jail belong to the group that were served with detention orders last Sep- tember on release from Khami prison where they had served sentences for political offences of up to ten years. They include: Wisdom Chimanga, Reuben Chik- wanda, Watson Chiota, G. Mandhiza, , Shepherd Maringe, Emmanuel Masango, Asians, to be shown with greater dignity, it was an- the producers nounced that would be looking into the possibility of exploring other aspects of Indian life. 'We should show a race of people with problems, with wives and children,' they said. They added that they were looking for ways of making this into 'a sellable commodity' Look out for a series of Indian Love Stories, Indian 'Sounders' and Indian 'West Side Stories' The tribes are about to be massacred again — all in the interests of profit.

VISITOR

The great saga of the QE 2 continues • • the ship has now docked at Haifa and, as we predicted, the docking arrangements for it have re- sulted in disruption of grain ship unloading. The resulting cost of this will far outweigh eased from Rhodesian jail, speaks of the count Obed Mbirimi, Andrew Mu- chenje, Shadreck Rambane- pasi, Garikayi Virukai and Caphas Musakasa. Detainees Gonakud- at zingwa are confined to fenced camps which are situated on the Mozambique - Rhodesia border, in the heart of a forest. Thirty-five political prison- ers have recently been trans- ferred from Gwelo. Prisoners include here Joshua Nkomo, leader of ZAPU, who has been detained for 11 years, and Daniel Madzimbamuto, now entering his fourteenth year of deten- tion. … A 70-year-old man, Ernest Chilimumhadzi, has been de- tained here for the past three years. Many of the detainees at Gonakudzingwa had hoped for release at the time of the Pearce Commission, especially in view of the promise that during its visit 'normal tical activities' be allowed; but the Pearce Com- mission came and went, and any benefits to the Israeli eco- nomy from the tourists. It will no doubt be remem- bered by many Israeli workers that when dockers in Israel went on strike last year they were labelled 'Al Fatah' agents by Golda Meir's government.

They will wait to see what is said now about the author- ities responsible for the dis- ruption at Haifa harbour!

Meanwhile the fantastic- and highly expensive-security the OE arrangements on came to nought last week, in the face of a determined in- truder. Fortunately, the man who penetrated the highly guarded vessel was not a Black September guerrilla armed with explosives, but a young Israeli who had joined up with crew on a night out in the Haifa, and came on board with them afterwards for a party.

There is to be an inquiry to find out how the unauthorized visitor managed to get on board! the countless political pri Gonakud tical prisoners of time they have detained without Neviel Prince Gumede, Meshack Agrippa Ishuma and four years; five years; Stephen Kanhema Charles Dhlamini, raim Clement Sibande, Peter N Ravmond Charar Chagadama, B. M. Miles range, Canaan Moyo, Major Mpofu, and Amos M'son years. M. C. Kayende, Norman Manyika, Amos W. T. Mukarati, Joel rurwa, Nkala, lazarus are still there. poli: Gonakudzingwa and the length trial, are: year; «one three years; John Edward Ndlovu, six years; Eph- Jack Golo, Cephas Njini Sibande, Solo- ana George Ma- Elijah Moyo, Joseph Msika K. Mabachi, Thomas Mkwananzi, Willie Musa- Ndlovu, Enos Nkala and Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973 PAGE 9 • remain behind. Abel Siwela, nine years. Aleck Ishabangu, 10 years; Welshman Mabhena and Mi- sheck Velaphi, 11 years. Kanyasa has repeatedly had his detention renewed, the last time three years ago, and George Kawenda is at Gona- kudzingwa after completing a sentence for a political offence last year. Detention orders continue to be widely served. In February this year Kil- lian Bhebhe, Sylvester Bogoni, Charlton Mngsebetsha, Arthur Chadzingwa, Gabriel Chigwida and Katsande — all Peter officials of the African National Council - received detention orders. In addition to the detainees, there is an unknown number of persons in Rhodesia who restricted to specified are areas—usually within a three- mile radius. A socialist government in Britain would immediately arm the Rhodesian Africans to en- able them to overthrow the repressive brutally Smith regime. Where is Britain Going? Paperback 37łp ¿ Problems of the British Revolution Paperback 35p Lessons of October Paperback 60p In Defence of the October Revolution Pamphlet 15p Marxism and the Trade Unions Pamphlet 25p Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International Pamphlet 10p Postage: 10p per book, 5p per pamphlet.

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

PAGE 10 Workers Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973

BBC 1

ITV

**10.35 Yoga (London 12.30 Nai zindagi naya 9.38 Schools. 9.30 Schools. jeevan. 12.55 News. 1.00 Pebble Mill 11.00 Schools. 12.00 Cartoon. only). 1.45 Made 1.30 Barnaby. in 12.05 Rainbow. 12.25 Cuddles and co.

Britain. 2.00 Television top of the 12.40 First 1.00 Scotch 4.00 Peter. 2.25 repoll. Chester races. 1.30 2.00 4.10 Play 4.35 Crown school. Jackanory. Comer. Harriet's back in town. 2.30 Good 4.50 Boss 5.15 Expedition WaLi 5.45 Sahara. 5.40 Hector's afternoon. 2.55 Looks familiar. 3.25 house. News. Weather. Hine. 4.20 Sooty show. 4.50 Jensen code. 5.20 University challenge. 5.50

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6.45 ASK THE FAMILY.

6.00 TODAY. 6.35 CROSSROADS.

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7.00 THIS IS YOUR LIFE.

7.30 GORDON

PETERS

SHOW.

The Visitor.

7.30 CORONATION STREET.

8.00 COLDITZ.

Bribery and Cor- ruption.

8.00 SHUT THAT DOOR!

8.50 SIX

FROM

COLDITZ.

Inter- view with Dominic Bruce

FATHER,

8.30 THE

BEST

OF Colditz escaped from DEAR FATHER. Proposed and crate. Seconded. 9.00 NEWS. Weather. BRANCH. Red 9.00

SPECIAL

9.25 SPORTSNIGHT.

International Herring. gymnastics. Russian gymnastic exhibition.

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ONITICAL BROADCAST ® T

10.00 CONSERVATIVE

PARTY

POLITICAL BROADCAST.

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10.10 SPORTSNIGHT. Soccer action.

11.45 DOLLY.

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NIGHT

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IDEAS IN PRINT.

Weather. 12.50 "with cas Do

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DEAR EDITOR,

The agenda for the annual con- ference of the Civil and Public Services Association contains no motions from the Central Lon- don Area Branch of the CPSA.

Though posted with other mat- ter received well before the deadline, this branch's list of motions has mysteriously dis- appeared. By amazing coincidence, this branch was the only one to offer a motion calling for a political fight with the Tories: 'Conference instructs the Na- tional Executive to call upon the TUC to organize nation-wide industrial action to force the 9, 8 LE HULL: Wednesday May p.m. (Please note date change).

Windmill Hotel, Witham. "After May Day-What next? HACKNEY: Wednesday May 9, 8 p.m. Parlour Room, Central Hall, Mare Street. 'Stalinism and struggle to defend demo- cratic rights' HOLLOWAY: Thursday May 10, 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Seven Sisters 'Stalinism and the strug- Road. gle to defend democratic rights'. de KINGSTON: Thursday May 10, Road Forward Norbiton Hotel, Clifton Road. from May Day —to remove the Tories.' WILLESDEN: Thursday May 10, 8 p.m. Brent Labour and Trades Wiliesden High Road, Hall, NW10. 'Stalinism and the strug- gle to defend democratic rights.'

DARLASTON: Thursday May 10, 7 p.m. 'The Nag's Head'. 'Fight Measured-Day Work, Laws and State Pay Robert Wagner Fit-Lt Phil Carrington tries to persuade German private Heller (Kelth Buckley) to turn his back at the right moment during an escape attempt from 'Colditz'. This is the second showing for six of the episodes from the BBC series.

Heport Wests above except: 6.15-6.30 News. What's 6.30 on? challenge. 7.00 London. 8.30 Anna and 9.00 king. London. Hamster. o.Uu 8.uu snort GRANADA: 9.30 London. Thompson do3s London. NetS Medita- bureaucracy would easily guillo-

LETIER

tine it, but to get it printed on can be the agenda which seen by the whole membership resignation of the present gov- mandatory meetings before con- ference. ernment. Members well to the left The Central London member- are and the dele- of their delegates, ship is typical of urban branches, of the NEC. but untypical gates are left The in that

NEC

dreads raised the question of a General discussion of the General Strike Strike. strategy among ordinary members. The main objective of propos- G. B., London, W.I. ing the motion was (Name and address supplied.)

it to conference, where the p.m. Per Hotel, Boar Lane.

May 16, 8 p.m. 'The Crooked Billet,' Peel Hotel, Boar North Circular Road. Building the revolutionary party: 'Force the Tories to resign.'

EAST LONDON: Monday May 14, Copland School, Bromley Public Hall, Bow ad. Stalinism and the struggle Road, defend democratic rights. WANDSWORTH: Monday May 14, WOOLWICH: Wednesday May 16, High Street, 8 p.m. Kings Arms, 8 Powis Street, p.m. The Castle, SE18. 'Stalinism and the struggle to defend democratic rights.

SWANSEA:

Thursday. May 17,

YMCA.

7.30 'Defend p.m. wor- kers' basic rights. General Strike Tories to resign.' Force the to rights.' Wednesday

WALTHAMSTOW:

cratic

Darlaston workers have doubts over return Conflicting views on Rubery

BY WORKERS PRESS

CORRESPONDENT

THE FIVE -week - long Rubery Owen strike at Darlaston, Staffordshire, is over, with conflicting views of the return-to- work agreement. Mr Doug Peach, Transport and General Workers' Union convenor, claims it is 'a victory' and Mr complete Fred Griffiths, Wolverhamp- ton district secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, says: 'It achieves everything we set out to do But this view is not shared by all Rubery Owen workers. A

T&GWU

shop steward told Workers Press: 'It was a victory when we all came out on April 2, but it is not now, after five weeks of strike action. 'What we have won is a breath- ing space until October. The firm wanted to implement high base rate on April 2. Now it seems they will have to wait until October 1.' The settlement terms are that that Rubery Owen will pay wage increases ranging from 50p for trainees to f4 a week for indirect workers, subject to approval being granted for the increases by the Tory government's Pay Board. In return, the unions have agreed to start immediate nego- tiations to devise a new wage These discussions structure. should be completed by October 1973. The strike started on April 2 because Rubery Owen had in- formed workers that those who clocked in for work that day would be paid on a revised wages structure. This meant that about 700 pieceworkers would be trans- ferred from traditional piece- work to the compary's high base wages structure (i.e. Mea- rate sured-Day Work). This involved a wage reduc- tion of between £2 and £13 a week. The question of a general wage rise was secondary issue, a although negotiations had been going on since the previous (cto- ber, and management had linked the general wage demand with the transition to high base rate.

As Doug Peach told Workers Press on April 17: I'm out on strike because the management said, "from April 2 you're on that [new wage struc- turel": And Harry Littlehales, T&GWU organizer had Wolverhampton said: 'No one in his right mind would accept a substantial reduc- tion in his earnings' But the first turn against the principles of the strike came on rational officials were called in.

April 27, when only hours after 1,400 workers had voted unanimously to con- tinue the strike into its fifth week. Moss Evans (T&GWU) and Bob Wright (AUEW) met the management for seven hours of talks in Birmingham's luxurious Albany Hotel. All Trades Unions

LIVERPOC

No supplementary Defend the dock lab Force the Tories A Labour government must nat transport industries under

SUNDAY MAY 13,

Mona Hote James Stre (near tube sta The Rubery Owen workers vote to end Afterwards Brian Mathers,

T&GWU

regional secretary, an- nounced: "The management has agreed to separate the claim for an immediate pay increase from its long-term policy of reform- ing the pay system on a high base rate. That's what the unions have been pressing for all along.'

(Emphasis added.) On the basis of this separation, Evans and Wright recommended a return to work, and in return for the promise of a f4 rise for lower paid workers and fl for higher paid, they committed the unions to immediate discussions on the new wages structure.

When local officials met management the following Mon- day, it appears that the talks broke down because management wanted a definite commitment to high base rate, although cash was put forward as the official explanation. Mr Fred Straw, director of production said services, on Tuesday May 1, after a mass meeting had voted unanimously to continue the strike: 'We agreed in principle last week to a union proposition. When we came to identify de- THE THREAT by Anthony Wedgwood Benn that a Labour government would nationalize Rolls-Royce Motors without compensation has produced screams of rage from all quar- ters. Company chairman Mr lan Fraser fulminated: 'Rolls-Royce Motors has been and never never will be in public owner- ship.' Tory Trade and Industry Secretary Mr Peter Walker called on Benn to withdraw yesterday and claimed his re- marks would be 'deeply resented by the creditors and sharehold- ers of Rolls-Royce, for whose benefit the flotation has been arranged'. es Unions Alliance

IVERPOOL

lementary registers. dock labour scheme! le Tories to resign! must nationalize the docks and ries under workers' control MAY 13, 7.30 p.ni. Mona Hotel ames Street ar tube station) te to end their five-week strike.

tails, this would have put us beyond the government's limit of El plus 4 per cent." But the company was clearly prepared for a showdown to reach its main objective of lay- ing a foundation for the long- term pay structure. It seems that certain words may have disappeared from the proposed agreement at about this time. A T&GWU steward told Work- ers Press that the Birmingham agreement meant that no trans- fers from piecework would take place without the agreement of departmental stewards. That con- dition disappeared /in the fifth week of the strike. Then, according to the 'Bir- mingham Evening Mail' (May 3): 'The union claimed [that] Owen's only course is to make an offer outside the government limit and fight the case ... at the Pay Board.' The •Birmingham Post' on May 5 quoted Fred Griffiths as that if the Pay Board sayıng ordered a reduction of the award, the unions had agreed to pro rata decreases of the graded pay de- increases! Walker called Labour on leader Harold Wilson to 'make a statement disowning Mr Benn for his mischievous comments'.

Rothschilds, merchant bankers handling the sale of Rolls-Royce Motors on behalf of the receiver, said the firm had always been private owner- 'most people con- ship and cerned, including the workers and the union, seem very pleased that is the situation which is to continue' Right-wing Labour MPs are of the is a member, and the matter is also likely to be raised at a Labour Party meeting as action damaging to MPs' constituency interests'. All Trades Unions Allian

CASTLEFORD:

Thursday May 17, 8 p.m. Sagar St Rooms. Speaker: G. Healy (National Secretary SLL). Workers Press, Wer er return But how did the officials get the termination of this solid strike? At the meeting that ended the strike, Doug Peach said: 'This is going to be a wage structure that we can be proud of. You don't want to come out here every 12 months. We are going to nego- tid never sell you kig in a pois: The Communist Party's Morn- ing Star', having failed to notice strike for five weeks, re- ported on May 3 that it was over 'how wage rises, within the gov- ernment norm, should be distri- buted'. And the revisionist 'Socialist Worker' ', in its issue sold at the May 4 mass meeting, said: It looked as though an important victory had been won for organ- ized trade unionism in the West Midlands' What will determine the next round of the Rubery Owen fight in October is whether a new leadership can be built. Rubery Owen workers want to fight wage-cuts. But they need the Tory government out so that all attacks on their living stand- ards can be halted. Benn's statement is in line with Labour Party policy, speci- fically with a resolution passed at the 1971 Labour Party con- ference. It also conforms to Clause 4 of Party's constitution, which calls for nationalization.

His call is correct, but it should not be confined to in- dustries which have been 'hived off' (though Benn was mistaken in thinking that Rolls-Royce Motors was one of these).

Before workers much place confidence in Benn's words, however, he ought to explain why the last Labour government, in which • he was Minister of Technology, never touched the car industry nor any other sec- of big business. tion Alliance Public Meetings overnment BARNSLEY: Thursday May 10,8 p.m. Red Lion Hotel, Worsborough, n ear Barnsley. (Please note change of venue.) Speaker: Cliff Slaughter (SLL Central Committee). Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973 PAGE 11

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE LECTURES

Given by Gerry Healy, National Secretary of the Socialist Labour League Wednesday May 9 The materialist conception of History Wednesday May 16 Dialectical Materialism— a Marxist theory of knowledge Wednesday May 23 Theory and Practice of Marxism Wednesday May 30 Role of the revolutionary party at St David's Church Hall, Church Street, Merthyr 7.30 p.m. Jarrow Given by Cliff Slaughter SLL Central Committee member Civic Hall, Jarrow 7.30 p.m. Mondays May 14 and 21 The Socialist Revolution in Britain: 2. The roots of capitalist crisis: Marxism and the contradictions of capitalism. Britain and the world crisis. 3. The state and revolution. Reformism and revolution in Britain. The fight for democratic rights today means preparing for working-class power. Basic reading : Perspectives for transforming the SLL into a revolutionary party.

Marxist Analysis of the Crisis.

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

All Trades Unions Alliance meetings

TEACHERS' MEETING

The way forward after the NUT conference Thursday, May 24, 7.30 p.m.

Conway Small Hall. Red Lion Square, Holborn (admission 10p)

HOSPITAL WORKERS'

MEETING

Hospital workers and the fight against the Tory government Tuesday May 29, 7.30 p.m.

Norfolk Room Caxton Hall, caxton Street, London SWi (admission 10p)

BUILDING WORKERS'

MEETING

TUC must break off talks with Tories! Build revolutionary party!

Wednesday, May 30, 7.30 p.m. Tudor Room Caxton Hall. Caxton Street, London SW1 (admission 10p)

POSTAL WORKERS'

MEETING

Break off secret talks with the Tories! Force the Tories to resign!

Sunday, June 3, 10.30 a.m.

Conway Small Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn (admission 10p) Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Published by • Workers Press, 186a* Clapham High Street, 70G. Printed Plough 01-622 7029.

NOW IT'S BRAZEN 'TRICKY DICKY'

PAGE 12 Workers Press, Wednesday May 9, 1973

ELLIOT

RICHARDSON,

is answerable only to of son President Nixon's nominee the President. ment for the of Richardson's parti- Nixon vacant post Attorney-General, has ality is considerable: he is with the at last promised appoint one of the few Republicans ging, an independent investigator Nixon it and had n around who have touched into the Watergate affair. not so far been subsequent The by the Watergate cover it up. only is that directly slas Richardson won't name his scandal. This investigator until the Senate Until he takes office as doubt aimed his Attorney-General he evidence has confirmed own re- by John Dea nomination to the Attorney- mains Defence Secretary in House General's post. Nixon's cabinet. his And he is Richardson made sacked once con- announcement in the wake days firmed in the job, Richard- ago. LEBANESE Prime Minister Amin Al-Hafez resigned early yesterday after his government declared a state of emergency as fighting continued between troops and Palestinian commandos.

The resignation came amid threats from neighbouring Syria that its armed forces might intervene to protect the guerrillas from further Lebanese attacks. The Syrian government accused the Lebanon of wanting, to destroy the Palestinian

BY JOHN SPENCER

fighters. Hafez resigned few Dr stepping up its military prepara- hours after a government com- for tions action against the of muniqué announced state Palestinians. It sent tanks with the army taking emergency and planes against the refugee control of internal security.

the camps to applause from An army spokesman said later Zionist Press over the border.

Ranged the Pales- that a state of siege-a more against form of a state of tinians the bulk of the intensive are emergency-had been imposed Maronite Christians and many to the of the wealthy Lebanese busi- giving sweeping powers Christian military. both and Yesterday there were renewed The extreme right-wing Moslem. Phalangist Party armed efforts to mediate a settlement is and very hostile to the Palestinians. between the Lebanese authori- ties and the commandos. They demanding that. are Sabry of Hassan administration the refugee handed be the personal representative camps •Var Egypt's President Anwar Sadat, government and taken out of the called at the presidential palace hands of guerrilla organizations.

in Beirut to see President Sulei- Despite very heavy casualties Franiieh. caused by aerial bombardment man Previous media- attempts at of the crowded camps the Pales- *ring refused tinians tion to about a ceasefire have to give have faileu: each agreement has way. Both Driven out of Jordan, tightly lasted only a brief period.

'third controlled in Syria and Egypt, sides say mysterious force is firing on them to keep the guerrilla organizations have and are fighting the conflict on the boil. nowhere to go The possibility that Israeli with desperate heroism to hold trying to inflame the on to their positions. agents are They have the support of the battle and disrupt any attempts Lebanon, ceasefire be dis- organized workers of at turned out their thou- counted. The fighting in the who in of the victims of Lebanon is a direct result sands to the annihi- the Israeli raids and pledge ven- Israeli ( pressure for leader- geance on the murderers. lation the guerrilla ot The in ship. government crisis İsraeli commandos landed Beirut underlines the weakness without resistance in Beirut just of the Lebanese bourgeoisie and over three weeks ago. They mur- the growing power of the army. This represents the most con- dered three leaders of the Pales- tine Liberation Oraginzation and servative sections of society and that escaped without meeting any has repeatedly made clear it would rather fight the Pales- serious opposition. The Lebanese government res- commandos than tinian the ponded to the Beirut attack by Israeli forces.

FROM PAGE

Heath's formal invitation to talks Phase talist state in Britain, today, is on Three - knowing of the state of the monopolists and that Tones. Scanlon. course and the bankers. rest have already attended secret talks-Feather added: 'This sort of agreement, entail- "There are and divergences control ing a ioint a joint strong far better than of and opinions [about commitment is

THRONG

imposed, Phase Three deal] but that is part something which is Feather added. of the democratic procedures, The of the National Industrial Rela- part trade union ment.' tions Court, the state pay laws, harassment of This the the increasing completely ignores pickets by the police, and the fact that the corporatist laws on police raids pay and industrial relations have growing number of all the already begun whittle on leftist elements, to away lie to that. precisely these democratic rights acquiescence', which are the heart of the modern From "reluctant Feather seems to be moving to- trade union movement. wards joyful acquiescence'.

Feather said what a good thing it would be for the •For trade unionists to re- government channel some of their bargaining to get the agreement of the TUC power into TUC negotiations with Then set proposals. government takes added: some timo to become acceptable in the face of It is talk about wrong to of government policy which for two overcoming CrISIS. based on disengage- We are not in any crisis situation.

years was ment, Feather admitted. disarm The attempt to the Then, announcing in advance The working class is complete. of todav's Committee bandwagon towards the corporate Economic meeting that the TUC will accept state moves on. Dean told 'News a White House state- it flatly denying that that the President on had anything to do direct responsibility f h the Watergate bug- cover-up job followin Watergate burglary. ,, knew nothing about nd had no part in the There can be few l attempt to left who believe that . did not know avou 'his statement was no whole scandal from bt aimed at countering start. lence brought forward His lame explain his 'ignorance John Dean, the White ise counsel who. was served only to in red out of hand eight suspicion. Nor has his cred GIORGIO ALMIRANTE, head of the Italian fascist party, has his party is warned that if legally dissolved it will only emerge more powerful and in a different form. A special commission is due to rule on May i7 whether his parliamentary immunity should be lifted so he can face charges of reforming the banned fascist party of Benito Mussolini.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 12 years' jail and, if proved, would involve the dissolution of the Italian Social Movement (MSI) which gained nearly 3 million votes at last year's elections. MSI chief Almirante. The MSI has been implicated in death policeman killed by right-wing in thugs Milan and in the later burning fascist dissident's house of killing two of his sons. The MSI chief told the Press he would be the first to vote for lifting of his parliamentary immunity. 'our But he added adversaries are joking when they talk of dissolving our party.

Id 'Newsweek' been enhanced by had blanket claim that 'execu- tive privilege' covered all nsibility for the b following the communi- statements and cations between himself 1 be few people and any of his staff, which lieve that Nixon could not therefore be used now about the in court. has alluded to a idal from the Dean box of papers mysterious to in a strongroom which may excuses 'ignorance' have even implicate Nixon in the y to increase bugging plot directly. revelations While the his credibility continue to emerge, the US OVER 100 students occupied the London Polytechnic north-east administrative block at Barking yesterday in support of their campaign for higher grants.

The National Union of Stu- dents has given the Department of Education and Science until May 21 to make up Its mind Such a step would be un- "my friends democratic and would form another party with the same views under another name, and it would only be re- inforced'. This forecast is un- doubtedly correct. Almirante is simply enuncia- ting the historical lesson demon- strated in the 1920s by Adolf Hitler, who was imprisoned for his part in a coup attempt in 1923 only to re-emerge from the UNION leaders showed no two anxiety yesterday to call an official pay strike of their Ford members, recommended by as union negotiators. The executive of the Amal- gamated Union of Engineering Workers broke up - yesterday morning without having discussed the issue. Ken Baker, the General and Municipal Workers' Union officer responsible for Ford's, was asked by his executive to have 'further consultation' with union members in the company and report back.

There is still an estimated PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' leaders were told yesterday to embark incentive bonus on new no schemes, except where the bonus is for giving a better service, and to honour existing schemes only where they suit union members. This decision was carried by a three-to-two majority against the executive of the National Employees. Union of Public partially is government paralysed with a vacuum around the President filled only by General Haig, the new chief of staff. However, Nixon's latest move makes it plain that he intends if he possibly can to brazen out the Watergate scandal and rely on the great powers vested in him by the constitution to try and escape the con- sequences of his involve- the US ment. the about their demand for an end to discretionary awards; for more grants for married women students; and for an immediate increase of £65 on all grants.

The students at Barking told Workers Press that they also wanted a cost-of-living index to be applied to their grants, in line with rapidly rising prices.

eec Weimar regime's comfortable jail with improved prospects of eventually gaining power.

The Stalinists of the Com- munist Party have been in the forefront of the demand for Almirante to be tried. They continually foster illu- sions in the ability of bourgeois democracy to 'fight' fascism, ignoring the lessons of history and playing into the MSI's he hands. two-to-one majority among the 52,000 Ford workers around the against accepting the country company's £2.40, government- controlled pay offer. Hostility in the factories forced the union chiefs to proceed some- what carefully in efforts to avoid but yesterday's a confrontation, moves indicate clearly that this is what they are doing. Support for such efforts can be expected from a leading group of Ford convenors, whose spokes- man,_ Communist Party member Sid Harraway, said on Monday: ed 'No one wants a showdown.'

in conference at East- meeting bourne. Supporters of the suc.

cessful motion argued that bonus schemes increased unemployment, caused divisions among union members and were of real benefit After a only to the empioyers. long debate, the executive was instructed to 'revert to a policy of pressing for maximum in- creases in basic rates without regard to bonus schemes'.