Workers Press no. 1097

workers press

PRICES EXPLOSION

AS TUC SEES HEATH

BY JA

THE ELECTION of del the All Trades Unions at Belle Vue, Manchest swing... And it is not a

YESTERDAY'S:

post brought in £37.50-an in- spiring effort when one considers the tremendous fight which was waged over the weekend. Lewisham £20; Totten- ham £11.50; Swindon £1; Anonymous £5. The fund total is now £51,211.51—well into the £50,000, due by last October 31. Post all donations to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG. on Watergate FORMER Secretary of Com- merce Maurice Stans was being questioned at the Senate's in- of the vestigation Watergate scandal yesterday about a secret $89,000 contribution from Texas that was 'laundered' through a Mexican account. Some of this money was found on the Water- burglars when they were gate caught red-handed on June 17 last year. SIX liberal Congressmen, led by New York's Bella Abzug, a Democrat, reserved three hours of House of Representative's de- impeach- bate time to discuss ment of the President. GOVERNMENT requests for radio and TV to be banned dur- ing the appearances of John Dean III and Jeb Magruder be- fore the Senate Committee have been denied by judge John Sirica.

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER WED

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTE

BY JACK GALE

of delegates and the campaign for ions Alliance conference and rally not a moment too soon. Today the TUC leaders troop obediently into Downing Street, while the Tories' Phase policy lies in ruins at Two 'price control' their feet. While workers wages have everywhere been held down to the Tory state pay limit of £1 plus 4 per cent and Feather, Scanlon, Jones and the road company advance further along Phase Three collaboration, a prices explosion has begun. This week the Price Commission granted the biggest round of price increases so far on food and household products. See our list on right.

But all this is only a hint of what is to come.

For the most serious increases of all have been in raw materials 23 per cent above the now level of June last year. And the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin yesterday warned that this has not yet worked its way through to retail prices.

The bulk of this increased cost must be passed on in the form of a higher cost of living. Already food material costs rose 3 per cent in May. Significantly, the first month of Phase Two of the so-called 'counter-inflation' policy pro- duced an overall 1-per-cent rise in the output price for all manu- factured products. This compares with a rise of only 1.8 per cent over the entire five months from November to March. The fruits of months of TUC collaboration with the Tories are now going to be reaped in the form of a drastic lowering of living standards for all sections of the working class and lower middle class. This must be answered by the demand that all talks with the Tories be called off immediately.

(See page 11). Trade union leaders are paid to protect their members work- ing and living standards, not to Heath's smirking into creep parlour. The Stalinists who provided a left cover for this class colla- boration, and the revisionist groups who sought to head off political opposition to Feather and company by calling only for 'more militancy', would leave the working class leaderless and ex- Tory posed to these latest attacks. Only the ceaseless struggle for revolutionary leadership the 1n unions can meet the requirements of the working class today.

Everywhere, the employers are intensifying the drive for speed- and discipline on up more the their Tory job, while govern- Pickets were ou their fight again:

TURN TO BACK PAGE

I • WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 1973

MMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST L

agreed this QU Increases week include:

CANNED

and bottled ove puddings foods, soups, and spreads: H. J. Heinz granted increases of 2.88 per cent. This will mean shopkeepers will pay 1p extra per can or pack from Monday. Tesco Supermarkets Immediately announced increases that all such would have to be passed on to the housewife at once. BISCUITS: United Biscuits granted a 4.5 per cent in- crease over the whole range of biscuits, potato crisps and nuts, with effect from June 25. CAKES and pastry: Spil- lers French Baking gran- ted average increases of 13 per cent over its range of packaged cakes, and over 6 per cent on its puff pastry. These come into effect immediately. were out again at Ford's Dagen ht against the closure of the blast

DOLLION

73 • No 1097 • 4p

ALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

this QUAKER OATS: Increases averaging over 8 per cent over the whole range of bea breakfast cereals with effect from July 2. IN ADDITION to these food price rises are: Ever Ready batteries (70 per cent of the radio and torch market) up to 2p dearer. ICI petrol will go up 0.8p fro per galion. British Road Haulage charges will be 5 percent higher. Car and aircraft com- ponents made by Hep- worth and Grandage will cost over 3 per cent more.

Slumberland has been permission to granted charge 5.3 per cent more for its bedding products.

The Duport group will be able to raise the price of steel bars by more than puff 7 per cent. Vandervell (a member of the GKN group) will be s Dagenham, Essex, plant yesterd • See story pa he blastfurnace. able to charge over 9 per cent more for automative bearings sold as replace- ment parts and there will be a rise of 5 per cent on GKN Bolts and Nuts pro- ducts. The National Coal Board is raising the price of its industrial and carboniza- tion coal by 7.5 per cent from July 1. This will hit the steel electrical goods in- and dustries. British steel is already under severe pressure to fall into line with the much higher prices charged by European steel producers.

And the Central Elec- tricity Board has announ- ced already that higher coal costs must mean an application for higher electricity charges - in addition to the request for a 5-per-cent rise already lodged with the Prices Commission. t yesterday seeking support for story page 12.

workers press

PRICES EXPLOSION

AS TUC SEES HEATH

THE ELECTION of del the All Trades Unions i at Belle Vue, Manchest swing... And it is not a YESTERDAY'S post brought in £37.50—an in- spiring effort when one considers the tremendous fight which was waged over the weekend. Lewisham £20; Totten- ham £11.50; Swindon £1; Anonymous £5. The fund total is now £51,211.51—well into the last £50,000, due by October 31. Post all donations to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG. Cash questions of Com-

FORMER

Secretary merce Maurice Stans was being questioned at the Senate's in- of the vestigation Watergate scandal yesterday about a secret $89,000 contribution from Texas that was "laundered' through a Mexican account. Some of this money was found on the Water- burglars when they were gate caught red-handed on June 17 last year. SIX liberal Congressmen, led by New York's Bella Abzug, a Democrat, reserved three hours of House of Representative's de- bate time to discuss impeach- ment of the President. GOVERNMENT requests for radio and TV to be banned dur- ing the appearances of John Dean III and Jeb Magruder be- fore the Senate Committee have been denied by judge John Sirica.

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • WEDI

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTE

BY JACK GALE

of delegates and the campaign for ions Alliance conference and rally chester, on July 1 is now in full not a moment too soon. Today the TUC leaders troop obediently into Downing Street, while the Tories' Phase Two 'price control' policy lies in ruins at their feet. While workers wages have everywhere been held down to the Tory state pay limit of £1 plus 4 per cent and Feather, Scanlon, Jones and along the road company advance turther Phase Three collaboration, a prices explosion has begun. This week the Price Commission granted the biggest of price increases on food and household products. See our list on right.

But all this is only a hint of what is to come.

For the most serious increases of all have been 23 per cent above the in raw level of June last year. And the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin yesterday warned that this has not yet worked its way through to retail prices.

The bulk of this increased cost must be passed on in the form of a higher cost of living. Already material costs rose 3 per food cent in May. Significantly, the first month of Phase Two of the so-called "counter-inflation' policy pro- an overall I-per-cent rise duced in the output price for all manu- factured products. This compares with a rise of only 1.8 per cent over the entire five months from November to March. The fruits of months of TUC collaboration with the Tories are now going to be reaped in the form of drastic lowering of living standards for all sections of the working class and lower middle class. This must be answered by the demand that all talks with the Tories be called off immediately.

(See page I1). Trade union leaders are paid to protect their members' work- ing and living standards, not to Heath's smirking into creep parlour. The Stalinists who provided a left cover for this class colla- boration, the and revisionist groups who sought to head off political opposition to Feather and company by calling only for 'more militancy', would leave the working class leaderless and ex- posed these Tory to latest attacks. Only the ceaseless struggle for revolutionary leadership the in unions can meet the requirements of the working class today.

Everywhere, the employers are intensifying the drive for speed- and more discipline on up the job, while their Tory Pickets were ol govern- their fight again:

TURN TO BACK PAGE

1 @ WEDNESDAY JUNE 13, 1973

MMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST L

Increases agreed this week include:

CANNED

bottled and puddings foods, soups, and spreads: H. J. Heinz granted increases of 2.88 per cent. This will mean shopkeepers will pay 1p pack extra per can or from Monday. Tesco Supermarkets immediately announced that all such bicreases would have to be passed on to the housewife at once. BISCUITS: United Biscuits granted a 4.5 per cent in- crease over the whole range of biscuits, potato crisps and nuts, with effect from June 25. CAKES and pastry: Spil- lers French Baking gran- ted average increases of 13 per cent over its range of packaged cakes, and over 6 per cent on its puff pastry. These come into effect immediately. were out again at Ford's Dagen nt against the closure of the blast 973 • No 1097 • 4p

ALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

QUAKER OATS: Increases averaging over 8 per cent over the whole range of breakfast cereals with effect from July 2. IN ADDITION to these food price rises are: batteries Ever Ready (70 per cent of the radio and torch market) up to 2p dearer. ICI petrol will go up 0.8p par gailon. British Road Haulage charges will be 5 per cent higher. Car and aircraft com- ponents made by Hep- worth and Grandage will cost over 3 per cent more.

Slumberland has been granted permission to charge 5.3 per cent more for its bedding products.

The Duport group will be able to raise the price of steel bars by more than 7 per cent. Vandervell (a member of the GKN group) will be s Dagenham, Essex, plant yesterd he blastfurnace. See story pa able to charge over 9 per cent more for automative bearings sold as replace- ment parts and there will be a rise of 5 per cent on GKN Bolts and Nuts pro- ducts. The National Coal Board is raising the price of its industrial and carboniza- tion coal by 7.5 per cent from July 1. This will hit the sitel and electrical goods in- dustries. British steel is already under severe pressure to fall into line with the much higher prices charged by European steel producers.

And the Central Elec- tricity Board has announ- ced already that higher coal costs must mean an application for higher electricity charges - In addition to the request for a 5-per-cent rise already lodged with • the Prices Commission. t yesterday seeking support for story page 12.

Andreotti goes Labourites favour European security PAGE 2 Workers Press, Wednesday June 13, 1973

BY ROYSTON BULL

A LABOUR PARTY plan for 'people's capitalism' is the latest move in a concerted campaign to try to bury the question of nationalization before the gathering econo- mic crisis makes it the major demand of the working class. The growing confrontation between workers and monopoly employers in the car industry, for ex- is already posing sharply the question of ample, and barrel expropriating the owners lock, stock the industry over under workers' con- and taking trol and without compensation.

There is no solution outside of this because of the insoluble conflict caused by the inflationary The owners must cut costs to survive the crisis. Workers must get more sharpening trade war. wages to survive the relentless rise in prices.

trade union leaders, The reformist labour and who are an integral part of the capitalist system, several fronts. While are rushing to the rescue on the right wing tries to kill off nationalization as the major principle of the movement, the left, backed by the Communist Party, puts up a sham fight for 'workers' control'. 'public ownership' and Taking shares in capitalist companies, putting workers on the board, or setting up workers' com- mittees to 'control' the activities of private firms, does not alter the capitalist economic system itself, which operates through a million pores all the 'free market' and 'private enterprise' are time the allowed to continue. Inflation, monetary and credit crises, trade war will remain unaltered while capitalism and slump labour and capital lasts. The conflicts between speed-up, and unemployment in over wages, general all the problems of exploitation - are a fundamental part of the capitalist system.

and trade The purpose of building the labour the private union movement to expropriate owners and end the industrial conflict by winning "Tribune' the Stalinists, and the it. The 'lefts', from this problem group are just running away spurious argument about naming or not with the companies to be taken over, 25 major namıng and with the abstract talk of 'workers' control.

The Communist Party has made a further shift latest campaign on behalf to the right with its of the Labour Party's new programme. The Stalin- create the impression that a ists are trying to battle is raging on behalf of socialist policies be- tween left and right in the Labour leadership. But the battle is a sham. The 'lefts' have no more idea of what is required to carry socialist policies into practice than the right wing. Without exception, they are steeped in bourgeois parliamentarism and will be firmly on the side of 'democracy' and law and order in any revolutionary confrontation be- tween the working class and capitalism.

The 'socialism' of Anthony Wedgwood Benn and Short, with their pleas for far more parti- Renee cipation and control by the 'people' in the economy is, in fact, a most dangerous move towards the corporate state. Transport union chief Jack Jones' industrial democracy' into the same comes have nothing in These ideas common category. the working class taking the power and end- with ing the capitalist system for good.

Latest CP mouthpiece put up to do this pro- 'left' propaganda is Jimmy Reid. He told a Welsh meeting last weekend: The labour move- miners' ment was founded not to manage capitalism but to end it and establish a socialist society. We don't want an alternative to the Tories based on ignorant presumptions on the part of some Labour leaders that they can manage capitalistic measures better than the Tories.' Yet it was Reid who led the retreat when the Upper Clyde yards were handed back to capitalist owners after hundreds of thousands of pounds had been contributed by the working class to keep the alleged 'work-in/occupation' guing for over a year. In one case, trade union officials went scurrying to Houston, Texas, to persuade a capitalist to come and take the Clydebank yard over as Marathon Manufacturing Company. Reid's 'socialism' is as phoney as that of the Labour 'lefts'. The only way forward on the Clyde, to spread the demand for the elsewhere, was as and under nationalization without compensation control of the UCS yards and the whole workers' shipbuilding industry. There will be no stable industries in the future without this. There will be no development of a socialist society without this. All there will be is more endless 'left' talk from Reid and his Labourite friends. The reformists of all kinds are as bankrupt as the system they depend on for justifying their reformist policies. Revolutionary policies are now the only answer to the crisis of capitalism.

ITALY'S 34th post-war government yesterday announced it was resigning. The official announcement followed a 90-minute meeting Andreotti, following which the Prime of the cabinet of Giulio Minister called on President Giovanni Leone and handed in his resignation. His departure opens the way for reconstitution of a centre-left coalition, like Andreotti. a which will almost certainly be headed by Mariano Rumor, will be Amintore strongman Christian Democrat. But the backstage veteran Fanfani, the president of the Senate and secretary of the Christian Demo- crat Party. The new coalition would be composed of Christian Social Demo- Republicans Socialists. Andreotti's cabinet the Socialist Party, cluded included the Liberals. The final decision to return centre-left government to the Christian Was lakeli al Democrat conference last weekend. Italy ruled for ten Was by a series of centre- years until Mar when premature election-the first since the Andreotti war-brought power. The wel- move has been comed by the Italian Com- munist Party as a step along road to a Popular front which the Communist Party actively want establish both the Socialists and with …Len conside This parliamentary juggl takes place under the ing combating fas- sioral cism, but in reality lt plays the fascists' hands. The ministerial reshuffles Continual crises only make cen that the system of capitalist democracy bankrupt minence of civil war. Andreotti (foreground) . . . handed in resignation.

George consult the Americans. Why

KING

Constantine colonels' his Papadopoulos visited the did you not consult Greece preparing was with his The regime trying d'etat against together own discredit inform the monarchy parliamentary democracy the colonels stage Constantine of the coup when had staged, forthcoming they the King referendum on CIA-backed coup the decision to establish a April 1967, according to The statement quoted the official statement issued in docu. King having said: has Coroners have the mentary evidence of Con- would staged The

GOAK

• overnment plot 10 stantine's own statement said the few days that on Ten oilton dawn of April 21, when the but previously wanted to

THE LABOUR PARTY

themselves. The Labour Party's chair- which re- delegation Bill Simpson, told man, Mr turned from Moscow in Mos arress comerence earlier this week came cow that the delegation had out strongly in favour of found 'an optimism concern.

forthcoming the the confer- 111k reactionary which terence In European secu- share: the Labour Party Cuce vul rity which is due to open "The secu- in Helsinki on July 3. Simpson said: conference rity This conference will bring for Europe to of rocerner communes. framework construct cluding the fascist states will re and Portugal and the Spain move Europe for ever from dictatorship the list of regions which colonels Greece. Its purpose is to en- be deemed cal. dorse the Veron of or the Threat peace. Europe division It is worth noting that Duestill the last time such an all netween ine capitalst Class SIMPSON .. • Optimism in the west and the Stalin- Europear gathering ist bureaucracy in the east.

the Labour prisingly, hails hea (without This delegation's visit as an im Versailles confer- portant step forward citly aimed against was at the internațional relations' ence of 3919 which was als‹ European class to the Star' which in the eyes proclaimed by the Labou- both the capitalists and the of rites simpson s statement renecl the outlook of millions and ever Stalinist bureaucracy europe the balance change in the the biggest 'threat to peace'.

the trom regions world'. backed by the bureau- of forces It which can be deemed cracy, Labour and Stalinist, world peace, In fact it reflects nothing threat to more than the subservience Party's even Communist more enous asucally of the Labour leaders to the than the imperialists *Morning Star', not sur- i war THE UNION leaders' col- laboration with the Nixon administration the in United States is threaten- ing the basic rights of the American workers, includ- ing the right to strike. Top American trade union leaders attended a recent New York forum alongside officials of the Nixon gov- ernment to discuss the ques- Is the strike out- tion moded?' Among the participants at this gathering were I. W.

president of United Steel Workers of America; Lane Kirkland, secretary of the national AFL-CIO (US equivalent of the TUC); Matthew Guignan, workers' leader; transport Albert Shanker, teachers; Weisberger, leader of the Sailors' union.

recently signed a five-year no strike contract with the steel employers in return for a 3 per cent wage George Meany, head of the AFL-CIO, and other bureau- crats hailed this as a model deal. Nixon's representatives in- cluded John Dunlop, head of the cost-of-living council and W. J. Usery, head of Federal Mediation. Also on the panel at the forum were James Hodgson, Nixon's former Secretary of Labour, now personnel direc- tor of Lockheed Corpora- tion. The day before the meet- Dunlop was ing began, closetted with Nixon and a select band of economic ad- visers plotting to take a huge swipe at workers' liv- ing standards in the name of 'counter-inflation'. The Press statement issued before the forum baldly stated its purpose: 'Out of this forum may con- ceivably come the beginning of the biggest change in labour relations since the Wagner Act of 1935. If the discussion leaders can show that strikes are not necessary, it is certain the findings will be carried across the nation.' Clearly the union chiefs are doing their utmost to protect Nixon and his gov- ernment at a time of enor- mous political crisis. requirements interna- tional imperialism at a time unparalleled economic and political crisis for the capitalist system. The purpose of this en- tire campaign is to pres- surize the imperialist reactionary governments of western Europe to get on better terms with the Soviet bureaucracy. As the 'Star' 'One way to follow up the visit would be to strengthen the campaign to press Heath's government to play in making a positive part European Security Confer- ence a success'. Note that the Stalinists are not demanding the re- signation of the Tories, or the election of a Labour government, but only pres- sure on the Tories to change their policy towards the forthcoming conference. They totally subordinate the interests of the working class-both in Britain and in the USSR-to the foreign policy requirements of the bureaucracy in Moscow.

Mock horror from Labourites at Lords' decision Blackmail or deportation choice for immigrants BELFAST schoolchildren are being waylaid by British troops and forced to go on terror rides on to the bonnet of a Saracen personnel carrier. of Ferret the top Parents in the Falls Road area armoured cars speeding also enraged at Ferret cars which speed along the pavements at up to 50 mph, accord- forcing children to leap to ing to a report in Eolas, safety. A spokesman for Lower Falls Dublin journal of the parents said: 'Our children are Irish Republican Move- going through as much as Jewish did at the hands of yvunsolels ment. Nazis. the Men, women and children are risking arrest by simply being on the streets even The Civil Rights Associa- during the day. tion investigated one authen- 'This isn't confined to the ticated which case in It Falls is happening in 12-year-old boy was strapped every Catholic working-class area

BY A WORKERS PRESS REPORTER

A JUDGEMENT by the Law Lords could mean that as many as 10,000 immigrants face instant deportation from Britain. The immigrants, all of entered Britain illegally since whom 1968, can be arrested at their homes, in the street or at work.

There have been cases of immigrants being picked up and expelled to their homelands within 48 hours. Frequently, they haven't had the chance to tell their relatives what has happened. Monday's vicious judgement by Lords Wilber- Kilbrandon will force, Hodson, Pearson and create fear and anger among the immigrant communities. result of the The first and most obvious Press has highlighted the fact that many of the immigrant smugglers may now start to from people they have illegally extort money landed here. No one has mentioned, however, the likelihood of being involved in this sinister corrupt police trade. Yet it is known that in many northern towns the police have 'backhanders' from been acquiring families who are living in the shadow immigrant Immigrants now face of deportation. Following the judgement, the South Bucks, and of chairman ultimate to authorize the Monday Club's anti-immigra- Dower demanded yesterday: deportation rests with the tion Home group, i Secretary, Robert Carr. It was 'The clear intention of parlia- railroaded Carr's Act, through ment has been upheld by the House of The Home parliament last year, which Lords. and Secretary the approved this other savage now faces acid test.' on the immigrant attacks com- The Tory Press yesterday munity. anxious to say that Carr would The judgement plays directly of 'humanity' and that into the hands the anti- show there Tory would be no immigrant lobby in the 'general round-up' Party who want to use racialism of illegal who immigrants are demoralize and divide now settled in Britain with their to the working class. families. Ronald Bell, QC, Tory MP for But what are the guarantees ALTHOUGH the extreme right-wing National Front did seats in last not win any week's Leicester council elec- A. L. Hamlin 1,965, D. W. Ful- tions, their was of vote a ford 1.842. significant size. Bramley National Front: A. Reed-Herbert 758, 982, P. F. This fact is in direct contrast A. J. E. P. Robson 729. the impression given by the BBC and pres Tory-owned news Charnwood (three seats): media. The NF made an all-out Labour: W. H Scotton 1,821, bid to capture they Leicester; J. Catterall 1,784, H. Shah 1,418.

stood in every ward and spent a National Brakes Front: 5850, H. considerable of 856. T. P. Matts Fall amount on anti-immigrant propaganda.

843. The Party romped Belgrave (three seats): Labour home with 37 seats to the Tories' 1,980, Labour: E. Marston But although the NF failed W. E. A. O'Neill 1,859. to gain a seat, their vote in many Tory A. S. Watson 1,798. wards was high. National Front: Beryl Anne 783, Corbett 778, Latimer ward (three seats): Brakes Joan Labour: A. H. Berridge 2,024, W. K. Sanders 720. in the city. We have been told that this hounding of the Catho- lic population known army posts as "Paddy British hunting". 'If the British army controlled by General Sir Frank King and responsible ultimately to Mr Whitelaw believe that they are breaking the morale of the people, they are due for an eye- opening. 'We have been discussing , every man, woman and calling child in the Lower Falls area into the streets in a demonstra- tion that will not be forgotten for a long time.' now faced with instant deportation.

that such a round-up is not on the cards? None whatsoever.

On the immigration question, Carr and the Tory Cabinet are prisoners of the right wing.

It was the Powellites who originally demanded that new legislation was necessary to shut the door on British passport holders who faced expulsion from countries in Africa, i.e. Uganda and Kenya.

Because of this pressure, the government brought forward the 1971 Immigration Act. Now Bell and his followers want wholesale ees deportation notices to be issued.

It is utter nonsense of the Labourites to throw their hands up in mock horror about the Lords decision. Mrs Shirley Williams, the shadow Home Secretary, said yesterday she and other Labour MPs who participated in the committee stages of the Act had it would lead to no idea the threat of large-scale deportations.

This is completely erroneous.

It was the clear intention of the Tory Act to impose these savage orders on illegal immigrants, even though they had settled here.

Labourites only The can pathetically attack the Lords decision because they took part in the parliamentary deliberations which allowed the Act onto the statute books. The next Labour government be pledged to repeal all must racialist legislation. In its place must be legislated a charter of basic rights for the whole work- ing class. Workers Press, Wedne THE ARMED forces are to get the maximum pay rise allowed by the government's Phase Two pay laws in a £48m deal announced yester- day. All ranks above brigadier are to have their salaries re- viewed by a special Top Salaries Review body. The latest pay rises are part of a campaign to increase recruit- ment to the forces. Despite an intensive drive this

LET YOUR BOOKS. PEI

NEWSPAPERS FR

PAPEKBACKS

28 CHARLOTTI

LONDON

Open Monday t ss, Wednesday June 13, 1973 PAGE 3 year only 7,668 were attracted to the three services in the first This compares with quarter. 10,060 in the same period last year. Many serving men will be bitter, with the government de- cision to increase charges for food and accommodation. The food charge is increased from 42p to 46p a day-bringing the total to £3.22 a week. And married charges are quarters increased by an average of at 50p a week. least THE FRAUD SQUAD in- vestigation into the Poulson case is spinning out into a five-year mammoth port. Detectives are apparently making heavy weather of the inquiry because of 'unforeseen opposition in Scotland and the north-east' The report adds: 'Some officers local councillors and say that officials in both areas are reluc- tant either to answer questions or to provide. other assistance that may help their inquiries.'

One very sensitive and delicate police officer told 'The Times' reporter: "A few councillors have been downright rude ... If The Times' article is cor- rect, it seems that this rudeness is obstructing the crack squad of detectives headed by Com- chief of mander James Crane, the Scotland Yard fraud division.

According to the report, the original two-year inquiry may now stretch to four or five years.

All this is very hard to swal- low. The police, particularly the Metropolitan Police, have never had any difficulty in the past in in getting people to talk.

The long-winded investigation can only mean that the police, backed by the Home Office and the government, are not inter- ested in a swift and efficient con- clusion to this year-old matter.

The Poulson bankruptcy hear- ing will reopen in Wakefield on June 25. Last week a mystery witness was summoned before a closed session of the court. No details were disclosed.

OKS. PERIODICALS AND

PERS FROM THE

BACKS CENTRE

ACID

LOTTE STREET

NDON, W1

nday to Saturday

TRANSFORMING THE SOC

INTO A REVOLUTIONARY

PAGE 4 Workers Press, Wednesday Ju leaders are trying to sit John (26) and Bev (22) K., a London marketing assistant and a nurse joined the League about three months ago. Bev is a member of NUPE. Bev said: I came into politics be- cause things we could afford six years ago we can't afford now. It was the housing shortage that affected us first. When we first got married we decided we would buy a house, but we just can't afford it. The rise in prices has been terrific. I used to be able to manage for a week on a fiver but I get through £13-£14 a week now just on food. Steak on a Friday night was a regular thing and we were very fond of good cheese, but we can't afford it now. It's as much as we can do to buy half a dozen eggs at 16p.

We had to take a conscious decision not to have children because of all this. Could we have bought a house when we hrst got married, I wouldn't have started training as a nurse and we would have started a family. It's impossible. You can't have children in a situation like this. It's all right for two of us, but with kids it would be just too bad. Things have got very much worse in the last three years since the Tories came to power.

Before there seemed to be some control over prices, they didn't go up in such amazing leaps and bounds as they are doing now. As a nurse you see a lot of things happening which shouldn't happen and that was another thing that made me start thinking about politics.

In the last election 1 voted but I distinctly re- Labour, member thinking 'They're not going to do a lot of good'.

they Last time they were in didn't do a lot of good. I remember Barbara Castle's wage laws and thinking it was iniquitous. And if you can't strike you're going to be driven back to the sweat shops.

I don't think anybody has illusions about the Labour Party any more. They are try- ing to sit on the fence. They are trying to keep the working- class happy and they are trying to keep the capitalists happy as well. Wilson's just said they won't nationalization of allow the major firms. They don't seem to have the courage to follow their own socialist policies. The left are not left wing at wingers all, they just make left noises.

Michael Foot was on television the other night talking to Enoch Powell as if they were great friends. nesday June 13, 1973

WHERE

HAVE ALL

OUR WAGES

GONE!

If he was genuinely left wing he would have come out against Wilson and the right wing and the nationalization issue. But he didn't. I never thought of joining the Communist Party. It was always connected with Russia and Stalinism in my mind.

The IMG? I listened to them speaking at the joint meeting in London about the defence of democratic rights and I think they would have us out fight- ing on the streets for no reason at all. The League thinks things out and they take the trouble to explain Marxism and the crisis very carefully to people. They do a lot of educating especially through their own classes.

I think the League's analysis of the crisis is correct. You talk to people who study economics they all seem and to think there is going to be crash, that America a was minting dollars left, right and centre when they hadn't got the gold back them up. to We hadn't just got to rely

ALL

MAY

MAY

Powell and Labour lett', Michael Fool television. Above: TUC march on May on the bandwagon. Right: Massive de jailed dockers. on what the SLL said. It seems to be borne out dy by what is happening with the going up sky high. gold price The Tories are part of this crisis and they've obviously got to do something about it.

The working class's second line of defence in the TUC are frightened to take on the

ON HIGH

PRICES

chael Fool. They appeared together on • on May Day. The League didn't jump lassive demonstration In support of the Tories. They think they • can still get reforms without having to have a real political fight.

They keep saying they are not political. Jones and Scanlon are sup- posed to be left but they are not left in their actions—only in words. If the League isn't trans-

WHERE

HAVE ALL

formed into a party I think the standard of living of the working class will go down an awful lot. Even the numbers of the working class could go down.

I don't think it's entirely coincidence that birth control is now free on the National Health. I don't think there is any way forward for the working class today without facing the central question of taking power. As long as the capital- ists have got the money they are going to fight to keep it.

I don't even think they are going to give any of it up to buy time. The League doesn't jump onto bandwagons. It would have been very easy to join the May Day demonstrations, but they didn't. The League seems to have really worked things out on the basis of history and showing the work- ing class what has happened in the past and what can be done today. Marxist-Leninism is obviously

CIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

vital for the working out of the programme of the party. People have got to learn it for themselves, otherwise they won't know •what they are doing politically at all.

Problems? I think there is a lot of apathy still in the working class and a lot of illusions. People still believe in the Labour Party and the

TUC.

How can they be broken from it? Wilson coming out against nationalization should help. Also they didn't put up a fight against the Tory pay laws. I think the League is right to call for the return of a Labour government. It will give us time to build a mass party and also help the work- ing class to shed any illusions they have about the Labour Party. Building the party is going to be hard work, but with the crisis and with rising prices it's the best time to do it.

Things have got to such a state now that the working class are

KIAL CROUP OF DOCS

SHOP STEWARDS

WHITTEE

YE MORKERS

far more ready to believe what: we say. I think is the it one of strengths of the League that it isn't led by any one person. It's committee and that i committee is elected. It doesn't do to rely on one man at all.

And it's democratic in the sense that everybody has and a chance elect to. Day delegates to conferences. I think explaining to people that the League is not the

USSR

China the very hard one. It comes 1s a up all the time when you're talking to people. did Stalin terrible dis- the

SCI VICC

communist cause. 'Workers can stop Tory attacks' < The is way society run affluence with such now and poverty side by side shows something radically were wrong. I got to know of the League hat: through seeing someone selling the Workers Press in a pub.

It bad been to college and studied economics - and I thought I'll soon sort him out' But we argued and discussed and the crisis seemed so serfous I thought Id got to do something. and that if didn't do anything no. one would The first thing that struck me was how the League has grown even since l've been ina associated with it. The League has got to be 're : expanded. it there is going to thi be a crisis we can't just wait lis- until it happens. People have got to be argued . with. But at the moment it seems an uphill task. Is it getting easier? It's very difficult to tell with only two to three months experience in the League. Lots of people are not in- terested in politics. They don't involved. want to become They want other people to get on with whatever has to be done. Workers Press, Wedne But perhaps when the time they'll their change comes minds and even if the League is a few people, those few people will count. What the League has said about inflation and the price of gold has stood the test. The price of gold has kept going up.

There are a lot of things I don't understand, but I know that if the system went, I could be out of a job because I don't have a trade Even without a crisis, I believe in socialism. The way organized in this •to things are society-for profit and money —and not for what people want and need, is wrong. I wasn't really interested in politics until 1 came across the League and I could see it was a real socialist party. When I first bought the Workers Press I thought it was terribly biased and I didn't know whether it was all true.

But I've checked when I can with other papers and I can see that it is. Another thing: if the Workers Press printed ess, Wednesday June 13, 1973 PAGE 5 anything that was untrue it would risk being closed down.

As far as the Labour Party is concerned it dawned on me that if they kept capitalism going they wouldn't have the.

wealth to share out because they would have to make a profit for the capitalists. And whatever big reforms they tried to bring in would be squashed by the system. The League seems to be the only party on the left that is real. It says get rid of the Tories with the General Strike and change society. It's not trying to make reforms within the existing system. We are in a situation today where the Tories are making the most serious attempt to keep wages down that I can remember-while prices go up and up. Can the working class stop attacking basic the Tories down living standards? think they will. Look what happened over the jailed dockers

y June 13, 1973 Workers Press on May 12 and May 19, Royston Bull re- viewed 'Workers' Control', the recent book written by Ernie Roberts, assistant general secretary of the Amalgamated Union we print a letter from Mr of Engineering Workers. Below Roberts, and a reply by Royston Bull.

an armistice. The class woul still goes on until socialism is.

won. But a 'revolution' will not solve all the problems: "taking 'The working class power" 1S the point at which they tip the scales their Most of Royston Bull's in The method by which favour. criticisms of my book, this done depends wholly 1S 'Workers' Control' on the workers and the prob- lems they are trying to solve (which, he omitted to but there will be an up- hill struggle mention, is published by both before and Allen Unwin, after at the balance of power changes.' (p. 29.) £2.25), concerned are Nowhere have I suggested, with the ultimate attain- as Royston Bull says, that the ment of socialism, and working class can achieve political without revo- ignores the fact that there 'Revolution' lution. means is much fighting to be ' hangh the cha the complete and the method by which done before socialism can carried out depends on be won. the time. circumstances at My book concerns the im- The of force which amount well as will mediate aims, necessary the be cannot be of determined in advance. It will ultimate objectives social- although Mr Bull dis- ists, depend upon how much of a torts this into my desire not struggle is put up by the have to from the and to budge capitalist class their trade unionist reformist 'state machine. swamp' I am not naive enough to and makes a number of irrelevant personal attacks will suppose that capitalism instead of dealing with the die without a struggle, nor do facts in the book. I underestimate reaction- Socialists choice of the armed have ary strength before of deal- forces. A change in the them: either ing with the immediate prob- balance of could not winning lems which face workers (and be achieved without don't some control over the armed mean merely econ- omic problems), and explain- forces. But the working class is not ing socialist principles in the enclosed or of simply shout- an community, process; relations in the armed has from the sidelines Ing forces; also the armed forces 'Revolution!' 'General and Strike!', not immune from the in the hope that, are the working class political awareness which some day, grow throughout the will respond. must working class before a revolu- life have spent my tionary be carry out the situation can attempting to reached. The armed forces are first of these two methods. part of the whole-one of the The degrees of success of the because of second method can be illus- important parts, and trated the circulation their size and strength, by of the difficult figures the newspapers one most parts, because of their history which daily call for revolu- of blind obedience, but cer- tion, tirror March with the (which daily tainly not insuperable. sells Bull's about 5 million copies to the Most of Royston diatribe, however, was level- working class) and othel organs of the capitalist Press.

led what he calls my at 'criticism' Social change and of Lori slandered I have revolu- not 'criticized or 'in the tion is always process of becoming. As I said in the criticized Lenin, but have will be no neat those who claim to apply book, there 'Leninism' problems of dividing between work- to line control and the system today. ers' I have ventured to say that which exists today. The prac- change, and tical demands of today are as circumstances much a part of the process of some solutions which were valid Lenin's developing a 'revolution' as perfectly in and situation may well the handing out of guns, be- time not apply to Britain in 1973, successfully solving to- cause the later. day's problems prepares years for exampl Ar Bull refers to 'the need t round for more and stronge demands by workers for all secret func- con- concentrate lives. Every tions in the hands of as small trol of their own settlement in battles in which number of professional possible'. workers are involved is only revolutionaries as At the time Lenin writ- was ing, this was he necessary, was fighting against illegality, and secrecy was of the utmost importance. In our own situa- tion, however, secrecy leadership only causes dis- and hostility trust amongst the workers. Again, Lenin states that the development of class political historically not possibl is not possible by the efforts of the working "The theory alone. Cass of socialism grew out theories that were elaborated by intellectuals, while the class itself develop- working ed only trade union conscious- My is that- contention 'historic- while that was true alle British working cass have and in Lenin's time- now enough experience to develop i political conscious- ness as a result of their own struggles, warco are mereds ingly expanding to encompass far more than a narrow econ- omic sphere, e.g. the struggle against the Industrial Rela- tions Act. Of course, this development of class-con- sciousness must take its et Marx basis ine neories Lenin, Marx and and but Lenin were ready admit to take that praclice

MUSL

theory. Lenin priority over wrote: 'It is not enough to explain to the workers that they are (above) proved politically oppressed of Top: Despite the protest policies which taken Advantage must be of his union the AUEW sophy, the executive every concrete example of this Scanlon. one oppression.. headquarters, to say the fine would not be paid.

FIGHT

that the workers themselves can not to say that they can do without revolutionary party, and do without social intellectuals said as much in my book: "The working class cannot transform society alone. They which need a has a real revolutionary theory of Marxism, and it must have Marxist intellec- unity with tuals and with some middle- be class elements over to socialist beliefs.

won (p. 217.) But it will not be the job merely of 'intellectuals' churn theory, we need out based analysis and theory, Marxism, but not pro- philosophers pounded by from their armchairs or ivory towers in universities. It must be theory which is applied by both workers and intellectuals overcoming problems. Theory day-to-day for theory's sake is not suffic- ient. It must be revolutionary Marxist theory - the theory dialectical materialism, which is a method of reason- ing applied to the every day problems, practical dill unchangeable mechanistic blueprint for revolution.

have hostility no Royston Bull theory, as (in fact, I have claims in- cluded a good proportion in class for not being strong enough-yet the 1972 book, although may my 11 lie. The problem reformist leadership. not be to his Theory form the core of Roberts's political philo- but people essential,

NIRC

only theorize are not. I agree steps of one stage, appeared on the

AUEW

with Lenin that 'all distinc- tions between workers and intellectuals must be utterly obliterated'. (Workers can be intellectual). I am also in wholehearted with Lenin agreement that 'the decision to remain in the ranks of the Labour Party is decision'. really a correct (Presumably, Mr Bull does not with agree Lenin this on point; can I, then, accuse him 'slander' of and heresy against Lenin?) I believe that the role of a revolutionary is within the mass Labour Party, using his Marxist methodology and political class-consciousness to change the party into an instrument of socialism and conduct a struggle against the bourgeois elements within the party. To use parliamentarian- ism as a means of struggle as far as possible, and never hesitating adopt other to finish the fight means to against capitalism. At the moment, the work- ing class decide who their leaders are to be. Unfortun- ately, and to their detriment, they then leave the leaders to get on with leading. I don't believe that it is 'patronizing' to say that the working class have suffered because of their blind faith in the leaders they elected-MacDonald, Bevin, Deakin, Wilson, etc. This is working 'blaming not class for the failures of the union Labour and trade leadership': it is simply say- ing that being passive and uncritical permits false lead- ers to remain in control of the party. (Loyalty and faith in principles at all times, but qualified loyalty only to leaders.) As for Mr Bull's allegation of 'backwardness and coward- ice' on my part, I leave trade unionists to judge for them- on my record in Coven- selves try and under the "leadership' of Lord Carron. I am not arrogant enough to believe that if I personally shouted 'Revolution!', the immediately workers would man the barricades. But I am aware of the need to give leadership present in the situation, which includes call- ing for action to remove the present Tory government, to Labour elect a government committed to socialist policies to point to the ultimate workers' of solution prob- lems, which is the establish- ment of genuine workers' con- trol in a socialist state.

In his book, Roberts writes: 'The weaknesses, the reaction- ary tendencies, the bourgeois leadership Labour of the Party, as well as its successes, are the responsibility of the working class.' And: The political educa- tion of the working class has never been of such a high standard as to enable a Gener- al Strike to be successful. The apparent strength of "them" Workers Press, Wedne -the employers, the govern- ment-has alwavs seemed too great for a working class not yet conscious of its own strength' And 'The Chinese workers had not simply failed to "win over" the but had army, allowed control of the army to remain in the hands of a bourgeois élite.' And: 'But the essential problems remain Ipoverty, slums, unemployment, neglect of the aged] because Labour governments have been allow- ed by the rank and file to play at capitalism instead of getting down to the job of eradicating it' Roberts can boast as much he likes about what he as achieved in Coventry, or any- where else, but it will not alter the fact that he blames the working class for past defeats.

What is involved here is not just a question of his- torical accuracy, but a whole political method. The working class develops within the capitalist system and is dominated by various forms of idealism, the philo- sophical basis of bourgeois rule, which conceals the real relations of capitalist produc- tion. Developed out of the class struggles in the 19th century, dialectical materialism became of the theory of knowledge the revolutionary proletariat which alone can systematically combat idealism and break the working class from the illusions created by capital ism. 18 Press, Wednesday June 13, 1973 PAGE 7 The ultimate responsibility, therefore, for winning the working class to scientific socialism rests with the Marx- ists themselves. To break workers from idealist illusions means to take up the sharpest conflict with them over their support for reformism and other illusions.

But no Marxist would ever BLAME workers for being to these bourgeois- prey ideological influences, which is, after all, how they start out in life from the cradle on- wards. All those in the labour movement who say that the working class by "being pas- permits and uncritical sive false leaders to remain in con- trol of the party are nothing but idealists trying to blame the workers for their own failure. previous The conclusion not only stands but should be repeated in bold type. "There is nothing quite like the sight of a trade union working leader blaming the class for his own backward- ness and cowardice.' To say, as Roberts does, apparent strength of that the the bourgeoisie has always seemed to the working class to be too great is to say that working the has been class afraid of getting beaten.

This is a despicable slan- der. Only someone who has never really understood the strength of the working class could make such an error.

the fighting The courage, determination, the capacity, and the inventiveness in struggle of the working class of Britain is unparalleled. It is a matter of historic record, from the fight to build the unions i earliest trade and the against Combination Laws, the revolutionary to struggles of the Chartists for political power, and the later building of mass trade unions, the Labour Party, and the rights. winning of legal No Marxist has ever been in doubt about this. The al- military precision and most discipline of the 1972 miners strike, when just one section workers brought the mighty British bourgeoisie to weeks, knees in seven showed that the fighting capacity and inventiveness is higher level than at an even ever before in history. All that was lacking last year, as always, was a Marx- ist leadership. The Socialist Labour League is training that leadership, not by shout- 'revolution' ing from the sidelines, as Roberts con- temptuously puts it, but by the most determined fight to build up the Workers Press and the Revolutionary Party.

Roberts's sneering remark that the 'Mirror' sells millions more copies to the working class than the Workers Press betrays once again the only real contempt he has for the revolutionary movement and his ignorance of how it develops. Roberts, fellow-traveller a Stalinists' on the reformist socialism, road to sees gradual development only in line and ignores the fact that in a revolutionary situation, the development of the work- ing class takes place in leaps.

The dividing wall he erects between 'immediate problems' and revolutionary tasks is an- other example of his failure to grasp anything of Marxism.

notion of tipping Ditto the the scales' instead of revolu- tion and the taking of power, of which, not surpris- both ingly, he writes in inverted commas. For the rest, Roberts either mistakes of the his repeats book, alrealy dealt with in Workers Press (May 12, May 19). or else commits ever worse new the most remarkable being materialism is a method of reasoning applied to the every- day problems'. No practical wonder Mr Roberts has diffi- culty understanding Marxism.

THE FIRE LAST TIME

Workers Press, Wednesday Jur

PAGE 8

BOOK REVIEW, PART TWO

BY MICHAEL NOLAN

*The General Strike, May 1928' By Christopher Farman. Rupert Hart-Davis. £3.50. Faced with the deter- mination of the Tories to engineer a confrontation with the working class in 1926, the trade union leaders, even the most 'left' and 'militant' of them, found the ground pushed from under their feet. Since the Tories were quite unprepared to make any sort of concession, the union lead- ers were deprived of their usual role of manoeuvre and compromise. Thus Farman re- cords how on April 13, 1926, Arthur Cook, general secretary of the Miners' Federation, told Tom Jones: 'While a lot of won't agree with our chaps me, we shall have to have a national minimum not only with plusses above it, but with minuses below it.' This astonishing statement is quite different from the slogan 'Not a penny off the pay, not a second on the day' that Cook was constantly to be heard repeating in public.

So the most militant of all the trade union leaders of the day was prepared to make compromises with the Tories, in turn which the Tories would not accept. Arthur Pugh, the General Council chairman, spoke to assembled delegates on the April 29 in terms which Far- man correctly summarizes as amounting to saying that 'the Genera! Council was prepared to countenance wage-cuts'.

But the Tories wanted capitu- lation, not compromise. While the negotiations were on, they had already going published posters proclaiming the State of Emergency. No amount of last-minute man- oeuvre was possible. For the Tories, as for the working this had to be a deci- sibility of compromise either side. The whole situation of struggle without quarter ex- posed the position of the trade union bureaucrats very clearly.

revealed in Davidson's It is memoirs that in October 1923 Ben Tillett, one-time hero of the 1889 dock strike, was ap- parently prepared to help Baldwin and his Cabinet to fight communism' for which the payment of £1,000 was suggested. The attitude of those still in leading positions in the movement was also revealed.

who was both R. Clynes, union and Labour Party leader at the time, said: am not in fear of the capitalist class. The only class I fear is my own.' A characteristic combina- tion of confusion, compla- cency, and fear, emerges from statements of Charlie Cramp, industrial secretary of the NUR. He told the 1924 La- bour Party conference that they should 'work and ask for the co-operation of all classes' and later claimed not to have 'the slightest 'fear' of the strike-breaking organizations that were being prepared.

It is not surprising that the strike actually be- when gan, he convinced that was 'we can't win'. Having utterly failed to prepare for the General Strike, the TUC leaders did much during its course that pre- vented it being run efficiently.

Farman's account describes nesday June 13, 1973 Ramsay MacDonald (front, next lo dri utterly failed to prepare for the Gener many obstructive actions of union leaders. Owing to the the lack of preparation, there was confusion about who was being called out, and about what goods were to be blacked or moved with the approval of trade unionists. Building workers were sup- to stop work except on posed hospitals and homes, but local union secretaries found that 'differently had they all worded instructions' on the interpretation of this order.

Workers in power stations were told to negotiate with the authorities about emer- gency supplies, but this rarely happened in practice. Engineering workers were come out in a supposed to second wave over a week after the beginning of the strike, but long before that many of them were on strike in This happened anyway. most of the engineering shops in Leeds, and in Coventry those in the car factories claimed to be 'transport wor- kers' and came out soon after the start. The policy of the 'second wave' did much to weaken the impact of the strike and helped to demoralize some of the most militant groups of workers. When the struggle actually began, the union leaders tried desperately to retain control over it in ways which directly impeded its effectiveness. They set up a National Transport Committee and a London equivalent, which were sup- posed to issue instructions about the movement of essen- tial goods. Leaders of the railway and ext to driver), Ben Tillett (standing in back) the General Strike, the TUC leaders. then did transport union set up sepa- local committees just rate consisting of their own mem- bers • interpret these deci- to This was not only a sions. very inefficient way of organi- zing things, it was ignored in virtually every town where there was a council of action joint strike committee or strong enough to speak on be- half of substantial groups of the strikers and their sup- porters. Davidson's memoirs make it clear that it was precisely these local joint committees that worried . the Tories both before and during the strike.

The Tories made efficient and decentralized arrangements for movement of goods, which 'never seriously threat- were ened' by the TUC. the General Council Since proposed only 'joint' arrange- ments, the government could afford and to ignore them carry on with their own plans.

Local organizations strike usually followed this lead and tried to 'share power' often particularly on policing.

towards However, steps 'dual power' could be seen in the efforts of councils of action to control the move- ment of goods. Lack of pre- paration and the absence of political perspective any meant that within three days of the opening of the strike nearly all such efforts had broken down. On May 7, the National Transport Committee decreed that all permits should be re- viewed', which, as Farman was usually taken to says, mean 'revoke'. After this, the nd Tories were largely left to in back) and Arthur Henderson on their then did everything possible to sabotage it.

their own devices, even when they had to negotiate with strike committees, hap- as pened at Newcastle. the struggle was on, When main concern the the General Council leaders, be- sides retaining control of what happened in the districts, was to find somebody to arrange a settlement with. This was no easy task, since the Tories were quite adamant in their desire to crush the miners, and were not prepared to negotiate about anything.

Thus Jimmie Thomas of the NUR took part in a number of discussions with coal- owners and minor Tory lead- in which he perpetrated ers, 'a persis- what Farman calls tently wilful misrepresentation A. d. Cook-on April 13, 1926 proposed compromises with the Tories. of the miners' position', claim- ing they • were prepared to enormous cuts in concede their wages in return for vague promises about the organization' of the industry.

Ramsay MacDonald also n their way to Downing Street. Having made a desperate little secret visit to Downing Street, offer- ing, without any authorization whatever, 10 per cent cuts in the wages of the miners. Baldwin showed him the door.

Before the strike was a week old, TUC general secre- tary Citrine wrote that it was 'hopeless to continue' unless the miners accepted substan- tial cuts. Since the miners as well as the themselves millions of workers on strike were clearly not prepared to discussions accept this, the were undertaken by the TUC leaders in a spirit which Far- man describes as having some- thing of the atmosphere of 'Wonderland'. Viscount Simon, the former Liberal Cabinet minister was prepared to write down a for- mula which was supposed to be the basis for a settlement.

Simon 'made it clear from the outset' that he was acting en- tirely on his 'own • initiative' that he had received authority from the govern- 'give ment', and could no assurance on their behalf'.

There are none so blind as those who will not see, and most of the General Council leaders simply closed their eyes to the fact that all that was actually agreed on May 12 with the Tories was that the strike was off. Baldwin said he could not 'say at this moment what would happen'.

The union leaders thus simply abandoned their members to their fate. They abandoned the miners also, refusing to put an embargo on coal, and thus hastening the collapse of the whole struggle.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

RIOTOUS

A contributor to 'Probe' ma- gazine has discovered the real reason for civil riots. ('Probe' is the journal of the General Dental Practitioners' Associa- tion.) The writer—one F. R. Bert- rand-has discovered that there has been rioting over the years in 80 per cent of Ameri- can cities with fluoride in the water, but only in 20 per cent of American cities without fluoride in the water. The conclusion is simple: fluoride causes riots. In fact, it can even cause riots in advance. In Detroit the water was artificially fluori- dated on August 1, 1967, and serious riots broke out in July.

But our intrepid author insists on the terms of his brief.

'In the terms of this survey,' he declares, 'Detroit up to January 1, 1968, had fluori- dated its water supply and had had a riot.' That's only a minor diffi- culty. And our determined dentist doesn't duck major ones. Take Ireland. There's a lot more rioting in Northern Ire- land than in Eire. Yet Eire is the only country in the world to have mandatory fluorida- tion. Northern Ireland doesn't have it at all. But it's all quite simple: The trouble is caused by people sneaking over the border from Eire where they are all high on fluoride! 'Such are the ramifications of fluoridation' says our pro- ber, 'that it would be impos- sible to fluoridate the water of Eire without substantially increasing the amount of fluo- ride consumed by the people of Ulster'.

EFORMISM ON THE CLYDE

REFORMISM 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)

BY ALEX MITCHELL

Robert L. Vescoe, the head of the $2,000m fund empire, Investors Over- seas Services (IOS), is alive and well and living in San Jose, Costa Rica. He has a magnificent bun- galow on 'nob's row' in the own private suburbs. His backed by the local guards, constabulary, • keep the joint under constant watch. Vescoe is a fugitive from the police of the United States and Switzerland. It is an in- triguing position for the head of the financial conglomerate 'the finest once described as money-making machine ever devised by capitalism' It is even more bizarre when we recall the words of one 'Within of his colleagues: a few hours of meeting him, I knew I was in the presence of one of the greatest financial geniuses of the 20th century.'

The Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States takes a different view.

Six months ago they issued a Vescoe's 53-page report on activities. They accused him of 'one of the largest frauds ever perpetrated'. The investigators reported that Vescoe had 'looted' $224m from the IOS mutual fund empire for his own personal use. The Swiss police have a string of questions to ask him about the Geneva-based IOS group which he acquired from Bernard Cornfeld, the flam- buoyant founder of the firm, two years ago. 'Bernie the mistake being Switzerland late He nabbed by was as he prepared magnificent villa now awaiting trial on ser charges. He could jail sentence. When the SEC IOS was released la ber, Vescoe 'not immediately There were dozens ours: his personal a sighted in a number bean and Latin countries It's sports fitted out with a sa Cost S600, 0. CosT communications another feature He can comment. air conferences branches of his operation. So impressive is ment that Donald administrative President Nixon's n said jokingly that it Force One, the to shame has Rica as his country's presiden José Figueres, is pro him there. Or so he says, why And Vescoe is contr mightily to He economy. made the lured back April. the police red to returr to his situated of Lake Geneva. prison ial on serious fraud could get a stiff

SEC

report leased last rendered himself locatable' of dozens rum- ersonal aircraft was of Carib. a number American vehicle that be missed. Boeing 707 with a sauna and a bar furnishings alone The bane system draws ature that hold mid can all Will world-wide his this equip- Nixon, his and assistan Vixon's nephew, has that it puts All presidential chosen Costa and haven president, Senor es, is proud to have anyway. shouldn't he, contributing the CoulLIy. has invested support the There alt minded other philanthropy- buying his Rica. These sident. Rican mittee into the Europe, the sum of placed This side sent ing enough world. Sinking, world. But connections of the

LIC

around from Apart Nixon his on Vescoe has links with ana, inevilably. Federal with Re-elect the (Creep'). So the Workers Press, Wedn overnment bonds to National alllng astitate ana tne san system those suspicious- idividuals who say donations have an- ive other than pure Vescoe asylum in Costa also detractors nother curious deal escoe and the pre- this year the Costa Com- ongressional unched an inquiry Vescoe was com- Shortly after, $300,000 was President Figueres ank account in New nvesument purposts of Vescoe's pre- is fascinat. to students of the fund offshore which make him it at the moment. rom having Donald staff, important White House Watergate. dicted him

CON•

a secret gift of o the Committ resider Vescoe has refused the charges. One brothers, ixon, is said to have 088, Wednesday June 13, 1973 PAGE 9 asked that Vescoe's donation to 'Creep' be made in cash.

In the event of a trial, Edward would almost certainly have to testify: Vescoe's influence among Nixon's closest aides has been considerable. When, in 1971, he was arrested and jailed by the Geneva police it was Attorney-General John Mit- chell who fixed his release.

Mitchell phoned the US Embassy in Geneva and made the arrangements. Mitchell also intervened to help Vescoe during delicate negotiations to take over a Lebanese bank.

This seemingly close relation- ship with Mitchell deserves study. Until the 1968 presidential election, Mitchell and Nixon were partners in the same law firm. In the 1968 race Mitchell Nixon's campaign man- was ager and his most intimate political adviser. Shortly after the election he made Mitchell his Attorney- General and automatically in- cluded him among his inner- executive. It seems reasonable to suppose that Nixon him- self was familiar with the Vescoe situation, and this is a view certainly held by a number of Washington corres- pondents. It is against this explosive situation that Vescoe has de- clared that he will return to the US and testify before the Senate hearing if other charges against him are dropped. There is little chance of such a deal being struck.

There is a $224m fraud at stake and who could believe what he testified anyway?

Bernard Cornfeld, the IOS king —now awaiting trial in Switzer.

Left: Robert L. Vescoe, land. present head of IOS. He's alive and well in San Jose. Nevertheless, there is a real camp that fear in the Nixon multi-millionaire might the start to sing. It is for this reason that the administration is not pressing for Vescoe's immediate extradition. This highlights a glaring class bias in the judiciary: had the fugi- tive been guilty of left-wing political offences, Attorney-General's Depart- the CIA and the FBI ment, would have spared no energy in getting him back. But everyone from Nixon down is happy to leave him in the faraway banana republic.

Even they seem happy. A member of the Costa Rican ruling class gloated the other day: 'Who can doubt the impact on our body politic of the presence of a man who con- trols perhaps $2,000m. This is 16 times our annual budget.'

The purpose of recounting this bizarre story is to empha- size the utter demoralization and decomposition of the ruling class. Vescoe is not a maverick of operator uncharacteristic the system as the Tory Press assert. His business likes to and social connections run to the topmost echelons of the White House to the Bank of the world's largest America, banking institution. He is true representative of capitalism, a system which has outlived its social useful- away with the ness. To do Vescoes of this world means a political struggle against the capitalist state which will mean the expropriation of the bourgeoisie and the establish- ment of socialism.

PAGE 10 Workers Press, Wednesday June 13, 1973

TODAY'S TV

BBC 1

ITV

·2000 9.38 Schools. 10.55 Cricket. Benson 9.30 10.35 Schools. (London Cup. 11.40 Schools. 12.00 Schools. cartoon. and Hedges only). Lovu 12.25 Cuddles Cricket. News. Weather. 1.00 Scotch co. 12.40 First report. Nai zindagi naya jeevan. 1.30 Barnaby.

corner. 1.30 Crown 2.00 Play 4.40 Cricket. Good back Harriet's Marco Polo. 4.50 Boss 5.15 We cat. 3.00 International anenoon. Hector's the champions. 5.40 tennis. John Player tournament. 4.20 are Kids Sooty 1.50 47A. 5.45 Weather. NeWS• 5.50 5.20| University challenge. News.

6.00 NATIONWIDE.

6.00 TODAY. 6.35 CROSSROADS.

6.45 WHERE IN

THE WORLD?

7.00 MAJOR

PATRICK REID-THIS

7.05 TOMORROW'S WORLD.

IS

YOUR

LIFE.

7.30 SON OF THE BRIDE. A Hostile

730 CORON

STREET.

Engagement.

MOTHER

MAKES

8.00 AND

8.00 SUTHERLAND'S LAW. The Sea.

THREE.

And Father Makes Five.

8.50 ROBBIE.

In search of Fyfe Robertson.

8.30 THE BEST

OF FATHER, DEAR

vanity.

FATHER.

The Cardboard Casa- 9.00 NEWS. Weather.

9.25 PLAY OF

THE MONTH:

"The

9.00 SPECIAL

BRANCH. The Other Millionairess.' By Bernard Shaw. Man. Maggie With Smith, Tom Baker, Peter Bark- Angers,

10.00 NEWS AT TEN.

worth, John Garrie, Charles

10.30 ROMANTIC

CLASSIC

Priscilla Morgan, Donald

ART.

The Romantic Rebellion. Pickering, James Villiers.

11.30 THEATRE:

'Susan.' With Kim

11.05 MIDWEEK.

11.35 NEWS.

Michael Kitchen. Hardy, 11.40 LOOKING TO EUROPE. Prepare for the Wurst.

12.00 TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

12.05 Weather.

12.45 IT'S NEVER

TOO LATE.

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Name. Address.. Maggie Smith as Epitania and Peter Millionalress' on BBC 1.

REGIONAL TV B

CHANNEL: 9.30-12.00 London.

1.15 1.30 London. News. 2.30 Galloping gourmet. 3.00 London. 6.00 News. 6.10 Hogan's heroes. 6.35 London. 7.30 London. 7.00 Treasure hunt. and the king. 9.00 Lon- 8.30 Anna don. 12.45 Epilogue. News, weather.

WESTWARD.

As Channel except: 12.05 London. 12.25 Hammy Ham- 12.37 Gus Honeybu London. 12.40 ster. 12.57 News. London. 1.00 6.00 Diary. 12.42 News. 12.45 Epilogue.

SOUTHERN:

9.30 12.00 News. 12.05 London. 5.20 Cartoon.

3.00 London. 5.25 5.50 London. 10:30 6.00 Day by day. London. Smith family Weather. Guideline.

11.00 London. 12.15 News. 12.25 Party. 3.00 Londondos.20 2.30 House- 3.00 London. Chuckle- barly. 5.25 Crossroads. 5.50 London.

heads. Report 6.01 West. 6.15 Report Cuckoo Wales. 6.30 the nest. In 7.00 Protectors. 7.30 London. 10.30 Miss Bristol 600. 11.00 London. 12.15 Weather. HTV Cymru/Wales as above except: 4.20 Miri 4.35-4.50 Cantamil. mawt. Y 6.01-6.15 dyda. 10.30-11.00 Odd couple. HTV West as above except: 6.15-6.30 Report West.

ANGLIA: 8.30

London. 12.04 News. 12.05 London. 2.30 Houseparty.

ALL TRADES UNI

ABERDEEN: Wednesday June 13, 8 p.m. The Trades Hall, 24 Adelphi. 'Forward to the Belle Vue conference'. MULL (Special meeting of engi- neers' section): Wednesday, 8 p.m. "The Windmill June 13, Hotel', Witham. JARROW: Wednesday June 13, Inn, 7.30 p.m. Golden Lion Ellison Street. SLOUGH: Wednesday June 13, 8 p.m. Community Centre, Farn- ham Road. 'Force the Tories to resign' SALFORD: Wednesday, June 13, 8 p.m. 'Kings Arms', Whit Lane.

'Forward to the ATUA Belle Vue conference.' SOUTHALL: Wednesday June 13, 8 p.m. Southall Library,_Osterley Park Road. 'Force the Tories to resign. Return a Labour govern- policies, Pledged socialist ment to

WALTHAMSTOW:

wednesday June 13, 8 p.m. 'Crooked Billet', North Circular Road. 'Stalinism and the struggle to defend demo- cratic rights'. WEMBLEY: Wednesday June 13, High 8 p.m. Copland School, 'Build the revolutionary Road party.' WOOLWICH: Wednesday June 13, 8 p.m. 'Queen's Arms'.

. Bur- rage Road. 'TUC and Stalinists —supporters of corporatism' GLASGOW: Wednesday June 13, 7.30 p.m. Woodside Halls, St George's Cross. WYTHENSHAWE (Manchester): Wednesday June 13, 8 p.m. th' North, Portway. Cock 'Forward to the Belle • Vue Con- ference.' BASILDON: Thursday June 14, Community Barnstaple p.m. Centre. 'Make the Tories resign.

Force a Labour government to carry out socialist policies.

CROYDON: Thursday June 14, 8 Ro Ruskin Houst'Tories Coombe p.m. Road. Force the to resign'. and Peter Barkworth as Alastalr

BBC 2

Play 1.00-11.2: school 5.25 Open 7.0s HOSS. To Ane Future.

HOME-

7.30 NEWS SUMMARY. Weather the Pennine 8.00 MAN ALIVE. Why Pick On Us?

6.95 London. Your 9.30

MIDLANDS

London Tsars: i. London. Londos. 10.30° Citizens Lots London Adventurer 1000 do London. 10.30 falls. 11.00 London.

YORKSHIRE:

Houseparty weather :30, London. 3.00 68° London 6.00 dendprotector oo Londndon. Comedians Weather.

ALL TRADES UNIONS ALLIANCE MEETINGS

P.M. HAhree Horse Shoes June 14, 8 'Three 'Labour to power, pledged Coolces ization of land and property'

LUTON:

14, p.m. Recreation Centre, Old Bed ford Road. 'Stalinism and the struggle defend democratic

TIONS

SHEFFIELD:

Thursday • June 14, 7.30 'The Hallamshire' Was Cel Tories'

WILLESDEN:

Thursday June 14, 8 o.m. Brent Labour and Trades Hall, High Road, N.W.10. 'Force the Tory government to resign'. TONBRIDGE: Thursday June 14, 1. Full 'The Quarry ITTe Dolle Vue ATUA conference.

CENTRAL

LONDON:

day sur 17, 7.15 p.m. dune cil Chamber: Holborn Town Hall, i ne big Cobe entertainme Chairman union.' Roy Battersby and from speakers the relevant unions. Bells' High Street, 'Build revolutionary Carly Defend democratic rights'

LEWISHAM:

Monday June p.m. Deptford Engineers Club New Road must

LOSS

break off Phase Three talks'.

COVENTRY:

Monday June 18, 'The Elastic ann. Cos l.Ju p.I. Street. 'The Tory government and the trade unions.

CRAWLEY:

Mondav June 18.8 Council for Social Services p.m. lall, 19 Station Road. 'Force resion Labour government must nationalize major industries' Wandsworth pleaged

SOCISI

seenden in G. B. Sham's 'The The people of Canvey Island talk about their fight with the oil giants. 8.55 FILM: 'Mine Own Executioner.'

Burgess Meredith, Duicie Gray, Kieron Moore. A psychiatrist reluctantly takes on a young ex-nghter pilot who has been a prisoner of war in Japan.

10.40 EDITION.

11.10 NEWS EXTRA. Weather.

London. 5.50 6.00 News. 6.30 challenge. University 7.00 Police 7.30 surgeon. London. 8.30 Here we go again. 9.00 London. TYNE TEES: 9.25 Forgetting and re- 9.30 12.25 membering. London. Hammy Hamster. 12.40 London. 6.00 Lond. 8.30 7.00 Mr Moday 7.30 6.35 and Mrs. London. Comedians. 9.00 London. 10.30 Hawaii hive-o. 11.30 Tennis. 12.15 News.

SCOTTISH: 9.30 London. 2.30 Date- London. line. 3.00 5.25 Crossroads. London. 5.50 6.00 Today. 6.30 University challenge. 7.00 London. 10.30 Odd couple. 11.00 London. 12.15 Late call.

GRAMPIAN:

2.45 News. theatre. 5.50 London. 6.00 News. 6.05 Lucy show. 7.30 London. 10.30 Scales London. 12.10 Meditation.

NCE MEETINGS

1, 8 BRIXTON: Tuesday June 19, 8 Centre, p.m. Training Control Room. 'Force the Tories to re- nal- sign. Return a Labour govern- ment policies. Pledged 1o socialist DAGENHAM: Tuesday June 19, 8 p.m. Barking Co-op Hall, Fan- shawe Avenue. 'Force the Tories to resign. A Labour government nationalize major indus- must 14, tries' CLYDEBANK: Tuesday June 19, p.m. Co-op Hall, Hume Street, •Fight the Clydebank. rent Act. Throw the Tories out.'

orce HACKNEY: Wednesday June 20, gn'. 8 p.m. Parlour Room, Central LIVERPOOL: Wednesday, June 2nn. 7.30 p.m. 'The Westminster Westminster Road, Walton.

'Defend democratic rights! For- un- ward to the ATUA conference!'

The SWINDON: Wednesday June 20, 7.30 p.m. Co-op Hall, East sby Street. 'Down with the pay laws.

rom TUC must break off Phase Three talks' .m. FULHAM: Thursday June 21, 8 p.m. 'The Swan', Fulham Broad- way. "Trade unions and the Tory government. , 8 GOOLE: Thursday, June 21, 8 The Station Hotel. 'The p.m. Revolutionary Party and the Fight against the Tories'. HOLLOWAY: Thursday June 21, capitalism'. KINGSTON: Thursday June 21, 8 p.m. Norbiton Hotel, Clifton Road.

'Force the Tories resign. to Labour must nationalize the major industries' LEEDS: Thursday June 21, 8 p.m. Peel Hotel, Boar, Lane.

re 'Defence of Trade Unions and ern- democratic rights. Forward to ATUA conference.' Speaker: the Cliff Slaughter.

"Deal with would-be wreckers in expert way' Right-wing group to organize THE FREEDOM Under the Law group, a right- wing organization con- nected with the Monday Club, is to recruit a heavy mob made up of brawny young men trained in unarmed com- bat'. The follows student fessor Hans Eysenck at the London School of Economics and Professor Samuel Hun- tington at Sussex University.

The proposed squad would 'deal with would-be wreckers in an expert way, said Freedom Under the Law co-ordinator, Miss Joan Wimble. The newly-appointed director of the group, Mr Gerala How- arth, said: 'The Eysenck and Huntington incidents have shown that there are determined people resolved to exert force to pre- vent speakers they dislike being heard. 'They should be met with stronger force or else they will prevail and our liberties will be lost.' There was nothing political in the plan, Howarth added, and the squad would be ready to step in whatever the subject of the discussion. this non-political' Behind smokescreen the real content of the Freedom Under the Law group is obscured. It was formed in 1971 with Francis Bennion, a constitutional lawyer, as its leader.

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE LECTURES

given by Peter Jeffries Sunday June 17.... Marxism and the study of history Sunday June 24 Trade Unions and political struggle in Britain Sunday July 8 Chartism, yesterday and today Sunday July 15 The Revolutionary Party and the British working class at Stanley Halls Upper Parliament Street 3 p.m.

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE LECTURES

Given by Gerry Healy National Secretary of the Socialist Labour League Sunday June 17 The materialist conception of History Sunday June 24 Dialectical Materialism-a Marxist theory of knowledge Sunday July 8 Theory and Practise of Marxism Sunday July 15 Role of the Revolutionary Party at The Red Lion Worsborough Near Barnsley 7.30 p.m. Their first big prosecution was against the Young Liberals chair- man, Peter Hain, for his part in Stop organizing. the Tour against the racially chosen South African rugby team. In 1970 Bennion first emerged on the political scene when he launched a potential scab force among teachers-the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT).

All members gave a pledge not to strike. In September last year Ben- nion's outfit was behind the establishment of 'Youth-Ful', an organization to 'fight subversion'.

group's The first magazine WORKERS are sitting in at the Eccles, Lancashire, diesel engine plant, of L. Gardner and Son.

Over 2,000 workers have been sitting in for 13 weeks over a bid by the management introduce a new bonus system.

Talks on the dispute were tak- ing place yesterday between the " Employers' Engineering Assocla- tion and local union officials after dispute from a report on the the Pay Board. This morning a picket due mass was mounted outside the plant.

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE LECTURES

Manchester given by Peter Jeffries Sunday June 17 Marxism and the study of history Sunday June 24 Trade Unions and political struggle in Britain Sunday July 8 Chartism, yesterday and today Sunday July 15 The Revolutionary Party and the British working class Black Lion Blackfriars St/Chapel St near Salford Bus Station 7.30 p.m.

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE

Leicester lectures given by Cliff Slaughter (SLL Central Committee) The Socialist Revolution In Britain: 1. Political tasks facing the British working class. Marxism and the revolutionary role of the working class. Lessons of of the working the history class in Britain. 2. The roots of capitalist crisis: Marxism and the con- tradictions of capitalism. Britain and the world crisis.

3. The state and revolution.

Reformism and revolution in Britain. The fight for demo- cratic rights today means preparing for working-class power. Basic reading: Perspectives for transforming the SLL into a revolutionary party. Marxist Analysis of the Crisis.

Próblems of the British Revolution (Trotsky). Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International, Communist Manifesto. Sunday June 17, 24, July 8 Stockingfarm Community Centre, Stockingfarm 7.30 p.m. attacked dockers and other mili- tant trade unionists for 'endan- gering basic liberties'. of 'Youth- The chief function Ful' is to spy on students and teachers and to monitor 'subver- sive and disruptive activities'.

More recently it has been announced that the data collec- by Youth-Ful' is always ted available to the Special Branch.

In January this year Bennion resigned as founding director of Freedom Under the Law to re- turn to the civil service as a parliamentary counsel. This is a well-paid and very influential post. LEADERS of the technicians' and supervisors' section of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers should attempt next week to swing four sections of the all union behind a demand that 'economic talks' with the Tories are discontinued. A motion submitted by the section, for discussion at the third conference of the com- bined, 1.5 - million strong AUEW, rejects Phase Two of the Tory pay laws, saying that TUC-government talks must stop, and urges la clear lead ... in the struggle against all government measures directed against the working class.

It spells out the need for talks vigorous opposition to with the Tories and co-operation with the agencies of its attack 'to any opposition on workers, form of "revolutionary" incomes or productivity agreement and support for any section of the working class which comes into struggle against the government.

And it goes on to call on members to involve

AUBW

other trade themselves with unionists at plant, branch,, dis- divisional and national trict, levels, to build a campaign of industrial action designed to its defeat the government and policies of legal restrictions on the trade union movement.

But the motion urges these militant-sounding policies in the context of 'the decision of the 1972 TUC not to accept wage restriction in any form', and support for the Communist Party-led Liaison Committee the Defence of Trade Unions. Last year's TUC decision did prevent AUEW president not Hugh Scanlon playing a leading role, with the right wing, in the round of talks with Heath. last His get-out for participation was the TUC vote, in which CP members and supporters of the Liaison Committee participated, General which endorsed the Council report spelling out that ne talks would continue. Workers Press, Wednes It means that Bennion, a noto- rious reactionary, is engaged in preparing legislation Tories. Students and trade unionists must all take very seriously the Bennion's plans of self-styled group to set up a heavy mob.

This is not the first right-wing outfit which has recently shown signs of turning towards more

BY DAVID MAUDE

Were the TASS delegation to press their motion with its full, original force next week this would certainly be a power- ful blow against continued col- laboration by Scanlon and for the talks to be broken off.

For this very reason, there are already fears that the motion be considerably watered may down before reaching the final agenda. Two years ago TASS simply withdrew controver- a sial General Strike call from the agenda of the first four-section AUEW conference. Scanlon and his supporters can be expected to mount big the TASS delega- pressure on tion to soften their line, since neither the other two motions on the agenda, which deal with talks, challenges the president's

AUEW

continued participation. A motion from the No 7B district committee of the foun- 'any section • dis- opposes cussions with the present Tory government or employers' rep- resentatives that would restrict the freedom of unions to bar- improve- justifiable gain for ments in wages and conditions'.

The London division of the section constructional simply 'continuing opposition declares to any form of wage restraint', and 'calls upon the trade union withdraw from to movement dealing with the government on any prices and incomes policy.

Neither motion would prove a real barrier to Scanlon. After similar formulas become policy of the AUEW engineers' section in January, he obtained dele- gates' approval for the general principle of going ahead with talks. Motions which would consti- tute a much more serious chal- lenge to Scanlon's collaboration- ist policies have already been under a completely set out separate heading, which is likely to be reached much later on next week's agenda if at all.

The north-east division of , Wednesday June 13, 1973 PAGE 11 regimented and physical forms of confrontation with their oppon- ents. This has been . particularly noticeable in the close relations between the Monday Club, led by merchant banker Jonathan Guinness, and the extreme right- wing National Front. Invariably these days NF stewards turn out to 'guard' Monday Club gather- ings. the engineers' section wants the to record its 'com- conference plete rejection of joint any meetings between the TUC and the present government for the purpose of assisting the Tory government to resolve the econ- omic situation created by them'.

Because the motion urges 'the • to obtain utmost pressure • the removal of the Tory govern- ment and establish in office a Labour committed government to socialist policies, it has been bracketed with motions on the return of a Labour government.

The Kent division of the AUEW is down to urge confer- ence to recognize that the wide- working ranging attack on the class can only be stopped 'by the forced resignation of this 'Tory government and the election a Labour government committed to socialist policies' The division's motion in- structs the executive to fight to halt the retreats of the TUC in a situation when workers have shown themselves ready to con- front the Tories and defeat them. TASS has a motion tabled under this for discussion sec- tion, which would commit the

AUEW

'to extend the fight to all sections of the working class to defeat the wage freeze and overthrow the Tory govern- ment.

SOCIALIST LABOUR

LEAGUE MEETING

BLACKBURN

'The Peel Hotel' (Town Centre) Monday June 25, 8 p.m. (Please note date change) 'Bulld the Revolutionary Party' Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office, Published by Workers Press, 186a Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UG. Printed Plough Press Ltd. (TU), 180b Clap- ham High Street, London, SW4 7UG Newsdesk: 01-720 2000. Circulation: 01-622 7029.

All Trades Unions Alliance Conference: To discuss defence of democratic rights

BELLE VUE

Special showing of the Pageant film 'THE ROAD TO WORKERS POWER' and songs and scenes from history PAGE 12 Workers Press, Wednesday June 13, 1973

BY DAVID MAUDE OUR LABOUR CORRESPONDENT

STRIKERS yesterday stepped up their blockade of Chrysler plants in the Mid- lands. Today they will seek the support of shop stewards from all the company's British plants. The strike took an even more bitter turn yesterday when stewards accused the compiling a company of 'M15 tactics'-photographing pickets with a view to blacklist. The strikers own campaign now includes not only picketing, but appeals for blacking by those still at work for the US. acuon owned car firm. Meanwhile more and more of the strikers, plant at Coventry, from the Ryton assembly are linking their fight against arbitrary lay-offs to the wider struggle in the motor industry against speed-up, rigid discipline and the Tory part Chrysler management, which faces a total Shutdown at all its main plants winin a few days, continued to insist yesterday that it in no formal talks until there is a would canad return to work. the 12,000 pickets force If the it to lav off workers at its second big Coventry factory, the Stoke engine plant, and at Linwood, Glasgow, near will tace a bill of t500.000 a week under Losel guaranteed week agreements. So attempts are being made to stave off lay-offs as long as possible.

Late on Monday, a lorry drove straight through Ryton picket at the Stoke plant to the foundry, which it had been deliver sand tor thought would have

SHUT

down that night. Commenting yesterday, Ken Walton, engineers' a one are said: now organizing to stop at source FORD BLASTFURNACE workers at Dagenham, the few vehicles which have Essex, yesterday picketed the factory in support of a broken picket, the prevent ween rom even selunz oul.

strike against closure. 'We have also asked for agree- The men, whose union officials are still fighting proposals ment the Stoke plant and other plants to shut down the whole blastfurnace and coke ovens division The stewards are Coventry. by 1975, learned this week that Ford's intend to close the their members pulllig

LIS LO

sinter plant by July 24 this year.

today. He said that at Hill's Preci- According to the company, sion, a Chrysler subsidiary mak.

this move has been forced be- plastic facias, door panels cause such a large number thạt other components, workers eir officials point and 1975 workers left their are still nego- arter had already agreed to impose a shut-down was announced that ac- black. the main blastfurnace Picketing is now in progress cevance employing 400 workers, closure would imply acceptance Stoke, not only al nylon,

JUS-

the whole plan. ford Green railhead, Baginton was put in jeopardy. despatch depot and storage faci- accelerated el Since the division Rolls- closure of the blast- ¡ties used by Chrysier at anyway, Ford's said, Royce, Ansty, but at a Chrysler want recruit labour to and could Turnace COKe warehouse Elmdon, near threaten the future of the Dagen- blastfurnace. Birmingham, where engines and decided to nad veer Close components small, self-contained sinter plant are scored. At and men from Together, the strikers say, the Stoke, Transport and redeploy General Workers' mem. foundry-blastfurnace-coke ovens Union miere. who But strikers, combination is prontable. Severed ber irom The Kon Doo. SnOD the Con. where the dispute started, linked plain they were not consulted from this combination the profit speed-up strike at Ford's that ability of the foundry might closure, suspect about the Halewood, situation too, hit and workers there „LO it may a ploy 101. Chrysler. ward the date of the main shut- nna themselves under the snadow Ford dispute of the axe. The similar down. IS Chrysler. respects other oke, and sher speed-up of shift against track the suncent

IT WILL

overtime Perkins diesel all out because ot an bal manning', he said. today the Perkins en- every hourly-paid will worker track, the distance "The and gine factories in Peterborough, an This will include those en- between each research man s WOrk Star gaged and planning on - tion eneraces Union Ulitai is too short Chrysler's yesterday. wine me company lao expelle speed the for the If the ahead would remain at work. company goes produce the The came from Dick

DOLI

with its threat close down warning and quality of cars. district factories until Shaw. secretary, notice. between workers •Relations management are •Toe tory, and en I have seen in a car fac- All Trades Unions Alliance Conference: To worked for all have the other car emplovers besides Chrysler. think this is a deliberate attack government alic They peta stat call oreos ars.

that carworkers getting too much money. *What they want do break the spirit of the unions in the car factories. industry McCORD, of the

JAMES

one imprisoned Watergate burglars, is planning to sue president Ivixon Special showing of the Pageant film 'THE ROAD TO WO for $1.5m, claiming the presi- the force in Tickets £1: Available from R. Smith, 60 Welli dent was Party headquarters.

STRIKERS

at British-Leyland's Oxford, assembly Cowley, car plant have been called to a mass - three meeting this morning days early. The strikers - 80 plant atten- switch production dants who lines on and off — are fighting be upgraded craftsmen. to as grant this demand, Rather than ABOUT 100 building wor- kers from the Higgs and Hill, ILC and Lovell's sites in central London, and some from MacInerney's in Hollo- way, yesterday pledged 'full support' for the 'Shrewsbury But Jim Kemp, chairman of the London Joint Sites Com-

PRODUCTION

was at a standstill at Ford's Halewood, Liverpool, transmission plant for the second day running yesterday. 1,000 day-shift workers Some were again on strike in support suspended of gearbox workers over a speed-up row last week.

A similar number night- of joined the shift workers, who strike late on Monday, were ex- pected to be out last night too. But normal working is due to resume with the end of the suspensions this morning.

Ford's is to attempting 'balance up' the speed of the gearbox line from 78 light car to 104 units an hour. • A walkout by about 30 drivers at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory led to 2,500 night- shift car assembly workers be- ing sent home early yesterday.

drivers Stacker-truck em- ployed in the assembly block complained that should they been found have alternative work when a night shift last Friday was cancelled because of a strike in the press-shop.

who met shop stewards yester- day to report back on Monday's abortive meeting with top Per- kins management in London.

A meeting of all 5,700 Perkins workers was called by the ste- wards for 8 a.m. today on the company sports field. e: To discuss defence of de inchester-Sunday July 1: 3 TO WORKERS POWER' and songs anc , 60 Wellington Street West, Salford 7, Manche Leyland laid off all 12,000 workers at. the Cowley assembly and body plants. Leyland is now offering 2p an hour on their present semi- skilled rate, at the date of the next annual pay review, plus a union-management investigation of whether to pay another 2p.

mittee, called only for a 'day of agitation and explanation' on Friday, when 19 of the '24' face further commital proceedings arising from pic- keting activities during last year's builders' strike. may take strike The sites action when the accused come before the Crown Court at a later date, but_none is pro- posed for this Friday. Neither Is a contingent to be sent to Shrewsbury. Kemp was reported to have said: 'We can't send the lads up twice running on a thing like this.'

HIA

JUNE FUND

NOW £246

WE ARE now at the 13th day of June and we are beginning to be seriously concerned about this month's Fund. The cam- paign is much too slow. We are last-minute still relying on But we need this income regularly each week to help us the produce At a time paper. when Workers Press is vital to to workers every- reach out where and provide them with & clear political lead, we must not neglect this fight. Prices are rapidly rising yet the trade union leaders continue Three and to discuss Phase any confrontation with avoid this gevernment. Our paper must be used to provide an : alterna tive revolutionary leadership in So please don't this situation. sit back another moment. Rush every donation immediately to: Workers Press June Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG

FROM PAGE ONE

ment holds down wages and un- loads these enormous price in- creases onto workers' families.

A new leadership must be built around socialist policies to bring down the Tory govern- ment and replace it with a La- bour government pledged to the nationalization of all major in- dustries, land, banks and finance houses under workers' control and without compensation.

This would include nationali- zation of all industries connected with the production and dis- tribution of food. This is the only way that the cost of living can be brought under control. We urge all those anxious to take this fight forward to work with us for the maximum atten- dance at the All Trades Unions Alliance Conference. of democratic rights y 1:3 p.m.-9 p.m. ongs and scenes from history . Manchester.