Workers Press no. 43

DON'T BE BEASTLY

workers press

NUMBER 43 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1969

PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY •

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER

Labour 'lefts' say

TO BROWN

£1,000 fund We still need £570-14s.-3d. THE REFUSAL of the 'left' MPs to demand the re- for November moval of George Brown as deputy-leader of the

BY MICHAEL BANDA

Parliamentary Labour Party and their decision to tund stands at 1429 5% deal with 'policies and not personalities must surely need Monday go down as the 5g mostabject capitulation in their whole lug- would place us an hine tor ubrious history. your dona tions to us at once. Without honour, dig- igh Street 186a Claph nity or principle tnes wretched defend men Wilson with consist- a Wills More schools redly strike dillazing. Their refusal to fight Teachers Brown Wilson has nothing to do with must fight ference 'policies' opposed to 'personalities.

to win! A review of the record of these people and their NAMES of those SCHOOlS called out on two- learly that week strikes in SunDort of Wilson the teachers ten cal ca cases. are pay claim nounced by the National Graeco- Union of Teachers' 'The response, by striking Houn mber that the rir enem your It's all a part of the and that B.S.R. workers Improved Support W. German leadership are 'In 20 agree terms Principles? —Polish Listen tour hets, Maharishi relations for return men of By our foreign correspondent BSR WORKERS, meeting in East Kilbride yesterday German govera. THE West seste formally p morning, acreed unanimousy to me terms lor a rul return to work put forward by their strike committee.

and the Polish govern- The to work is a read then agreemene B.B.C.—union return link-up urged "The choices it wend ed to a any one per- organization sob back the will com on strike again. unions was called ee her ster ousid person is to be left as pubicy Brated that to prepared as being in. too more chee intension alone Josef Winiewicz. were still told mould be tunist precisely too or- twilight 5-9 shift be offered inistry of Poses West German mad be fee munications

• PAGE 4 COL. 4

• PAGE 4 COL. 8 -•

No victimization

FRENCH

THIS WEEKEND

A.T.U.A.

POWER

conceded meetings Young Socialists

STRIKE

today, were 450 strikers begin

GRAND XMAS

LEICESTER

Fight Education Cuts' By a foreign correspondent Monday, December

BAZAAR

November 26 Weanesday, serke ye ray in super a 8 p.m. union restations top ne strike yesterday Silver Sorel Saturday, Nov. 29 This follows recent strikes

BIRMINGHAM

RACE BOARD

Hang to a in 200 100 stations teachers meeting

REPORTS

'Fight the attacks on make something for none with de continues Dazaar • give somerning towards our Dazdar i THẸ eaucaton Have vou a tin of grocery? jumble Thursday, November 27 Help us make this the best bazaar ever held!

operation,

O D.M

Help us raise the money for our daily paper- SEeding en bee points The Wellington

THE WORKERS' PRESS

and Brot Foxed he very near usure. Corner street The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League

1, NOVEMBER 26, 1969

PRICE Gd.

BY ROBERT BLACK

ne illatured below e died in - VIllage PAUL MEADLO, a former US soldier from Indiana, made a television statement Monday night on the March 1968 massacre in the Vietnamese Pink ville carl village of My Lai (Pinkville'").

Meadlo not only saw the actually took them, shooting village the foot tosavoid taking part in about 10 Massacle My Lai wanted this entering William walley ordered the mel round and kal ever. person. comply with this orer, call re on tier up Cated: efforts eedy determined attacks joined t Ashter hind it seth th about 570 were killed in dia, this brutal village. whitewasnt no scapegoats or

EYE-WITNESS

ate strike action. Nev game Agent an ave details of the nine survivors at My the few of us survived the dried and rth y 40-knot wind. Rotte 19 transferred shorary be efo mile soldier shot himself

GREET

Calley : Gave thee • order for purposes com- it is to are deeral use the imperi the

STUDENTS

SOLIDARITY

Tal of at to re • represen ton of See the film of the first issue being prepared and soldarity or Teal al printed and the film 'Young Socialists, 1969' enacation

NEWCASTLE

an all-out Sunday, November 30, 7.30 p.m.

talked "oppositiorilson's County Hotel, Neville Street government official his official i at the invita matest isth invita-

LEEDS

Wednesday, December 3, 8 p.m.

Foreign The 'Old Bar'

WEATHER

Student's Union, Leeds University CLIFF SLAUGHTER (Central Committee member, with vecay wal ry shore else.

Socialist Labour League) JOHN NOLAN (Young Socialists)

CANTERBURY

Soviet strong, locall fresh or cold. Make nea 4c (3tt). Monday, December 8, 8 p.m.

The Cornwallis Building ent lidlands: Sunny University of Canterbury fights / showers. Win

LIVERPOOL

Very Core Maximul my

TANKER

ADRIFT:

tanker Sunday, December 14, 7.30 p.m.

Shaftesbury Hotel, Mount Pleasant rough seas off Formosa yester Speakers at Newcastle, Liverpool and Canterbury will members sold. Maximum 6C (45F). be n MIKE BANDA (Editor of Workers" Press) Northern Ireland: rescue SHEILA TORRANCE (National Secretary of the dereste or Dese cold. Maximum 6C (43B) Tonna Sociate

DON'T BE BEASTLY

workers press

NUMBER 43

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY • Labour "lefts' say

TO BROWN

£1,000 fund We still need £570-14S.-3d. THE REFUSAL of the 'left' MPs to demand the re- for November moval of George Brown as deputy-leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party and their decision to WITH four days to go ou deal with 'policies and not personalities' must surely till need $570 next go down as the mostabject barely capitulation in Our their whole lug- fall us i noW behind place ubrious history. your dona- Without honour, dig. Monthly Fund these nity or principle 186& Condon Sigh Street men wrerened Wilson and the right Wing Willa More schools ency that really strike allazlig. Their refusal to fight Teachers Brown Wilson has nothing to do with pre- must fight 'policies' ference opposed to 'personalities'.

to win! of revIew of these Beoble and then NAMES of those schools DaDer "ribune' shows alled out cleariv that their opposition week strikes is as phoney Wilson teachers' £135-a-year their claim to be socialists.

pay oman wres in a no- couple Roman of Teachers' Union execu thand uve toddy. cluded the yesterday. all a part of the par B.S.R. workers that end cipes Support ave never en of teaching I agree terms have never Principles? for return integrity m BSR WORKERS, meeting in East Kilbride yesterday that cecile the terms for a full morning, agreed unanimously to return to work put forward by their strike committee.

naura ano The rete nasis beth out agreemen B.B.C.—union recommended all those promise Their link-up urged about end choice: o or son cron the Be aratio stabe will come on strike again. сед 10 р ouTSide person is to be left general secretary. E Smalley conceded 1968) reture these December 13, operation. London runtst precisely this oppor shift Pendao the Maments o sere and Telecommunications. work

• PAGE 4 COL. 8 →›

No victimization

THIS WEEKEND

A.T.U.A.

principle of no Young Socialists meetings

LEICESTER

GRAND XMAS

Fight Education Cuts

BAZAAR

• December 1. Wednesday, November 26 8 p.m. embers of the side co strike Silver Street Saturday, Nov. 29 factory stewards are elected. Canninor Town Duolic Hall

BIRMINGHAM

12 noon

RACE BOARD

Teachers' meeting

REPORTS

nake 'Fight the attacks on towards our education' Board Thursday, November 27 of Help us make this the best bazaar ever held !

operation, p.m. nelp us raise the moncy sor our dally paper~

THE WORKERS' PRESS

eithdra of the Mere Corner and Brons a Street

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBE

BY MICHAEL, BANDA

Improved W. German -Polish relations By our foreign correspondent THE West German govers- ment yesterday sent a note to Warsaw formally proposing improved relations between Bonn and the Polish govern- ment. West Previous German governments have refused to open up diplomatic relations on the grounds that her western frontiers with East Germany — the 'Oder-Neisse line'—are based on the for- cible annexation of German territory. The new Brandt coalition has publicly stated that it is prepared to consider these frontiers as being final.

On receiving the note, Polish Deputy Foreign Minis- ter Josef Winiewicz told reporters that his government would be replying very soon to the West German proposals.

FRENCH

POWER

STRIKE

By a foregn correspondent FRENCH gas and electricity workers began two-day strike yesterday in support of union negotiations for a new This follows recent strikes in power stations eatomagainst plans to abolish overnment Rural unrest also continues to rise with large and angry farmers in Normandy, Nantes, Lyons and Aquitaine. Everything in France points towards big class battles in the very near future. The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League U.S. seeking scapegoat for Vietnam massacre

BY ROBERT BLACK

PAUL MEADLO, a former US soldier from Indiana, made a television statement Monday night on the March 1968 massacre in the Vietnamese village of My Lai (Pinkville').

last Meadlo not only saw the actually Briefly part unem shootins oot to avoid taking part about 10 to 15 villagers ranted this uter entering Mv Lal the do it officer in charge said of the war.' William Calley URT REPORC• Tocal to round national union living every person. men refused He was just one woo head ant order, Cale! impression is no into a den erate the Amalgamated is were kied a the earnings

EYE-WITNESS

Ve want no scapegoats bitewashin ate strike action precipit- North Vietnamese Ager gave oes od ther Republicans in the nine survivors at massacrew being winds • Americant above fo after attacked na dynamites, suns, tear ga Another participant in miles TUC POST: The TUC general soldier int a montin today chiet tor no.

GREET

betinar Calley: Gave the order fos

WORKERS PRESS

general purposes mittee post is regarded asra "left' British labour m stepping strip. stone to tne cener British

SOLIDARITY

moral of all us troop tree Vietnam must be based on th Both Britain and the United Senate of th at public meetings See the film of the first issue being prepared anc printed and the film Young Socialists, 1969'

NEWCASTLE

That must mean an all-out Sunday, November 30, 7.30 p.m.

demonstrate County Hotel, Neville Street Craven support for it.

LEEDS

now nades joe tale Foreign sente certain in the future. Wednesday, December 3, 8 p.m.

The 'Old Bar'

WEATHER

reflects the Student's Union, Leeds University ties thạt the Cola Thursday Filowed by wintry showers CLIFF SLAUGHTER (Central Committee member, Socialist Labour League) JOHN NOLAN (Young Socialists) S.E. England, Channel Islands: SOVIET SATELLITES: Tas:

CANTERBURY

Saun earth of tell 311ch First near cons old. Maximum 4C (39F). tin Monday, December 8, 8 p.m.

'con- The Cornwallis Bullding whethe University of Canterbury widely separated orbits.

LIVERPOOL

tanker, Sunday, December 14, 7.30 p.m.

Shaftesbury Hotel, Mount Pleasant Speakers at Newcastle, Liverpool and Canterbury will be: MIKE BANDA (Editor of Workers" Press) Ireland: SHEILA TORRANCE (National Secretary of the Young Socialists)

PAGE TWO

Trotsky described the ILP as the "Three-al Stalinism or from reformism. Although thi in 1932, Jowett, Kirkwood and Maxton we way to rejoin the Labour Party on favoura and McGovern at & Battersea tea party.

THE COMMUNICA.

TION of Liddle and Turner is interesting only in its ability to express in a few paragraphs the poisonous essence of British centrism. The long history of this tendency in the workers' movement is especially asso- ciated with the Independent Labour Party. Once a powerful organiza- tion, the ILP today is best described not as a sect, but as the ghost of a sect. But as Liddle and Turner show, it continues to express the struggle against Marxist theory and principles which it carried on when it was still alive. violently these However people may denounce the right- wing Labour".. ders, they start the reformist from same method. Since they have no intention of challenging the right wing for leadership of the working class, every pious reference to socialism only serves to cover an opportunist retreat. Theoretical principles can never be taken seriously by them. Hence follows their devotion to slander and gossip in their fight against revolutionary leadership. This is illustrated by Liddle and Turner's slimy allusion to 'intimidation'.

While tickling the middle- class appetite for scandal, this type of remark is well adapted attempt by the to every bourgeois press to portray 'violent', revolutionaries as 'unscrupulous', etc., etc.

We are certainly 'guilty, however, of carrying through the struggle theoretical with the greatest principles energy and passion, for on them depend the future of the working class and of humanity itself. While it would not be diffi- cult to expose the distortion of ILP history contained in every sentence of this letter, - we must restrict ourselves to two main questions: reformism and Stalinism. Opportunism Of course, both Engels and Lenin understood the working- class basis of the ILP support, but both recognized the funda- the mental opportunism parliamentary leaders. 'Independent of socialism, but dependent on liberalism' was the phrase Lenin used more than once to describe the ILP. If Liddle and Turner try to conceal this opportunism, it is because they, and those like them, want it to continue to the labour move- dominate ment. Thus, referring to the 1914 war, they exalt the ILP's 'anti- theoretical' opposition to the war. Let us see what role it really played. The ILP leaders MacDonald, Snowden and Jowett de- nounced the war as a crime of capitalism, but they managed to maintain their unity with the Labour Party leaders, who joined the very cabinet that perpetrated this crime. ILP chairman Fred Jowett could sign anti-war manifestoes and still declare his belief in 'national defence'. Brockway says of him: 'He acknowledged that the government, having made its as the "Three-and-a-half" International, as they refuse m. Although they disaffiliated for the second time fro and Maxton were aiming to build a second reformist arty on favourable terms (From I. to r.) Kirkwood, B understandings with secret France, was bound to inter- vene in the war,, but argued this did that not require acquiescence from those who had opposed this policy'. ('Socialism over 60 years'.)

This was the 'banner' upheld by the ILP. The IL''s response to the Russian Revolution was as in- consistent and vacillating as its attitude to the war. When MacDonald spoke at the Leeds Conterence in june 1917, it was in support of the February Revolution, and of Soviets under Menshevik leadership. But while there was tremen- dous rank-and-file sympathy for the October | Revolution, the leaders were terrified by it. To turn towards Bolshevism meant breaking with oppor- tunism and parliamentary illusions. Their carefully placed reser- 'undemo- vations about the cratic' character of Soviet rule and of the leadership of Lenin and Trotsky were essential to the political careers of the ILP leaders. Despite all its left phrases the ILP remained a reformist party. In 1924 and again in 1929 its leader, Ramsay MacDonald (above), became His Majesty's Prime Minister. When Liddle and Turner applaud the "foresight' of the ILP on this question, it is its opportunism they are backing.

With the founding of the Third Communist International in 1919, the issue was squarely naced i workers move meet placed either stay with the right-wing leaders of the Second Inter- who had national led the workers into the imperialist slaughter in 1914. The ILP did neither. In April 1920, it disaffiliated from the Second International.

It sent a delegation to Moscow to inquire, in effect, whether it could affiliate with Third International and the still remain a reformist party.

At the same time, it decided to look into the 'possibility of the re-establishment of an all- inclusive International, for the of formulating the purpose basis of International, an which, while making a quite definite announcement of our socialist objective, would allow the national sections to adapt their policies to the different political and industrial con- ditions in their various coun- tries'. The reply of the Third Inter- national was made, not to the ILP leaders, but over their heads. It called on Marxists in the ILP to break with MacDonald and company and help found a British Communist Party.

After the attempt to form the half-way house Inter- national, decisively referred to as the 'two-and-a-half", the ILP returned to the Second Inter- national. al, as they refused to break either from • second time from the Labour Party econd reformist party, while seeking a r.) Kirkwood, Buchanan, Stephen, Maxton Throughout the 1920s, de- spite all kinds of left phrases, the ILP remained a reformist party. In 1924, and again in 1929, its leader MacDonald became His Majesty's Prime Minister.

The 1925 ILP conference ap- proved the actions of the 1924 Labour government. The attacks of the second Labour government on the workers and its final collapse in 1931 made it impossible to paper over the cracks that time. But as Geoff Pilling showed in his 'Newsletter' article on the question (August 19), the programme of the ILP was incapable of preparing the workers for the economic and political crisis or the betrayal of the government by MacDonald. Maxton, Brockway and Jowett were themselves as far from taking up the real issues as the Labour Party leader.

That was why the split be- tween the ILP and the Labour Party • was on the incidental issue of the rights of MPs and had nothing to do with the fight against reformist betrayal.

In 'Where is Britain Going?'

in 1925, Trotsky had written : 'The left-wing of the Labour Party represents an attempt at the resurrection of centrism within the social-imperialist party of MacDonald. 'It thus reflects the agitation of a part of the Labour bureaucracy for a connection leftward-moving with the masses' (Pages 130-131.) Radical After the betrayals of the 1926 General Strike and of the 1929. Labour government, the ILP left was freer to play with radical words, confident that the right wing would always save it from the responsibility of matching them with deeds.

After the disaffiliation from the Labour Party, Brockway could declaim at the 1932 conference : 'We must become a Party of militant Marxist socialists'.

But he had no intention of breaking with Jowettt, Kirk- wood or Maxton. These gentlemen were now aiming at building a second reformist party, while search- ing for a chance to rejoin the Labour Party on favourable terms. The ILP had formally dis- affiliated from the Labour Party; it never broke with reformism. This is what gave the dis- putes in the ILP in the 1930s such a dream-like quality.

Many on the left argued for revolutionary a programme. But they could re-elect Jowett Maxton advocated abstentionism when Mu on their way to Abyssinia.

WORKERS' PRESS

A REPLY TO THE SOC

IN ITS issue of August 1969, who later proved to be traitors, "The Newsletter', organ of the praised the Party itself often.

Socialist League, Labour And when the first im- carried an attack on the policy perialist world war came, of the ILP during the crisis of was the doctrinaire, dogmatic 1931, entitled 'The ILP's 'Marxists', Hyndman and Counter-Revolutionary Role', Quelch, who the became Party was and the present-day social-chauvinists, the while dismissed as 'a sect'. 'anti - theoretical', 'centrist' We would be the last people

ILP

the and opposed war upheld the banner of working- to defend the ambiguities, class international solidarity.

vacillations and compromises of ILP policy in the past.

In 1917, the ILP welcomed But The Newsletter' article the Russian and Revolution is distorted and biased. Worst played leading role in of all, it fails to look at the forming Councils of Action to role of the ILP in relation to defend it. But the at same history of the British time, like many others in the the revolutionary the working-class movement as movement, whole, preferring to take one Party was critical of the strong historical episode in isolation.

undemocratic, bureaucratic Bolshevism. tendency in Let us look at history. When the ILP was founded, Engels And the criticism proved welcomed its formation and correct! ( All too easy, as the urged his British comrades to Trotskyists would have naive join it. Lenin, while correctly do, blame everything us to leaders, attacking some ILP wrong in the Soviet Union on to have Maxton with a false point of view than a correct point of view without Maxton.

'That is the fate of centrism - to consider the incidental John and the serious thing serious incidental. That is why cen- should be trism never taken seriously' (In the Middle of the Road'.) If Liddle and Turner imagine they can brush aside such a record of treachery and capitu- lation with brief apology, their chairman, who as an- their attitude to our policies swered them at the 1933 Con- today is not surprising. ference with the following theoretical pronouncement: 'We are living in a country Alternative where you cannot carry without revolver licence; what chance would an un- We have fought to prepare armed mob have against armed revolutionary alternative to authority?' the Wilson be- government's (We surprised to trayals. are nOT learn from Brockway's approv- We have refused stand 'Socialism over ing account, in 60 years', that Jowett remained aside from any of the struggles which the working class has friendly Philip on terms with engaged brought it Snowden right to the in, which end of into collision with this govern- his life. Jowett, like Kirkwood, ment. and in advance of Brockway, ended his days in the House In these battles we worked of Lords: three 'independent' to develop the theoretical basis barons.) for Marxist political leadership The sneers of Liddle and in the trade unions. Turner at theory are typical Continually form of the unprincipled nature of reversing and content, Liddle and Turner ILP politics. condemn these actions as 'left- Perhaps the clearest example ist bravado', while in calling of the LP's attitude to prin- workers to the ciples and their subordination not pay political levy, trade union they to the personalities of leaders, ape precisely the worst features was seen in the dispute on the third-period Stalinism. 1935-1936. Abyssinian war in Maxton held the sessie since At the they same time as Mussolini Haile and declare the Labour Party were both dictators, socialists 'capitalist they party', oppose should stand aside the when our campaign to make the 'left' fascists invaded Abyssinia.

MPs fight Wilson. It is worth Brockway, other on noting that many of these MPs hand, supported the Trotsky- learned how to cover adapt- ists' position that international ation to the right wing with working-class action must be the ILP left talk from itself. Italian mobilized against im- But even worse than their perialism. distortions on the question of The

1936 ILP

conference decided in favour of this line reformism the are remarks by 70 votes to 57. Liddle and Turner make about Maxton and the other three Stalinism. handed MPs then in their resignations. leaders who Brockway, faced with the opposed the workers' revolu- choice between Maxton and tion in 1917, predicted the rise socialist principle, did not of Stalinism is a downright lie.

hesitate. To pretend that the ILP fought He capitulated, at once Stalinism is a joke in bad taste.

of the familiar banner under 'referen- unity, proposing In 1933, the ILP disaffiliated dum of

ILP

members and for the second time from the guaranteeing a majority for the Second International to facili- pacifist parliamentarians.

tate its negotiations with the Only 39 remained votes Stalinist shell of the Third.

firmly against this climb- For five years these discus- down. When. As Trotsky explained : continued they sions 'He [Brockway] believes it is began the CP was at the end of its ultra-left period. By the better for the British workers onism when Mussolini invaded Abyssinia in 1935-1936. Above: Fascist troops

E SOCIALIST LAB

the wicked Stalin and his capita successors. As scientific social- ists, we saw the seeds of Why Stalinism at the very outset.

For where did the Bolshevik distortion of democratic cen- tralism end up? In Stalin's murder of Trotsky and the rest of Lenin's old comrades. And what of Bolshevik theory? See how it has degenerated 50 years later!

On the one hand we have "The British Road to Socialism', and on the other so-called Trotskyists who, despite their bombastic oratory and leftist bravado, aping third-period Stalinism, always end up urging workers to vote Labour and 'make the left MPs fight'. And if the ILP's criticism of the Labour traitors was only verbal, why did it disaffiliate from the Labour Party? Why today do we condemn the Labour Party as an open

MINICAT

1 - The ILP leaders were negotiating = popula Spanish opposite numbers, were being mus Madrid 1936. time they finished, it had swung over to the right. The attempt to evade the issue of reformism versus revolution in 1920 was echoed 15 years later in the evasion of the struggle between Stalin- ism and Trotskyism. Appeal Trotsky's call to the Marx- ists in the ILP to join the Fourth International was coupled by him with the appeal to turn away from the Stalin- ists and towards the reviving movement in the working class. Instead, Brockway and com- formed the London pany Bureau, with similar groups abroad. 'three-and-a- This quarter International' was characterized by Trotsky as 'the International of squeezed lemons'. 'But the centrist does not take anything seriously, he 'Even when he now wrote. admits there is no longer a proletarian international, he nevertheless hesitates to build one. 'Why? Because he has no principles, because he can't have any. For if he but once makes the sober attempt to adopt a principled position on onlý one important question, promptly receives an ultimatum from the right, and starts to climb down. he think of a 'How can rounded-out revolutionary pro- under such circum- gramme stances ? 'He then expresses his spiritual and moral helpless- ness in the form of profound aphorisms, that the new inter- national must come from "the development of socialist move- ments" that is from the historical process which really ought to produce something one day? ('In the Middle of the Road'.) The Moscow Trials brought out the real nature of the ILP's refusal to face the issue of the Fourth International. When Zinoviev and Kameney were tried in July 1936, the ILP 'New Leader' denounced the trial as a fraud. But at this time, the leaders 'popular front wotiating were a with Stalinists and Liberals. And so it would have been 'tactless' to make a direct defence of Trotsky against the international flood Wednesday, November 26, 1969

Г LABOUR LEAGUE

capitalist party, and call to stop anancing 07 as different from the ILP o workers 931 as that was from the IL] Why do of 1893. we urge workers to strike and We admit our demonstrate on mistakes and May Day while "Trotskyists' attempt to rectify them. We do trail in the wake of the Labour not pretend that we were Party on the first Sunday in always right. May? The ILP, unlike the Socialist If the ILP of the 1930s Labour League, was does not in- counter-revolutionary, why timidate its former members, did Trotskyists take such the or comrades of other pains to enter it? socialist tendencies. Unlike the Could it be that they sectarianism of the

SLL,

we favour recognised the mangificient unity in action, and role played by the ILP in the fraternal discussion dis- to fight against unemployment, cover the correct path to our the Means Test, and Fascism?

common goal. Or the The ILP sprang not from the part played by the ILP in solidarity with revolu- of textbooks, but from pages tionary Spain? A part which the hopes and aspirations, the included ILP comrades giving day-to-day of the struggles their lives in the struggle working It is people. these against both Franco's fascists hopes and aspirations the ILP and the Stalinists. today seeks to serve, this Unlike the pretenders to struggle it seeks to further, the throne of Lenin, the ILP until the final goal of a has not stood still, petrified in Socialist World is reached. 1917 or 1938. The ILP of 1969 Terry Liddle and Bill Turner. tiating a 'popular front' with the Stalinists at the same time as the POUM, their were being murdered by the GPU Above: A 'popular front' demonstration in of Stalinist slander and murder.

opposition to the Fourth Inter- In 1937, the Stalinists in national and its defence of the Spain began the persecution of gains of 1917 essentially was POUM, the Spanish opposite means of avoiding the number of the

ILP,

and struggle for revolutionary the murder of its leaders. leadership, that is, for Bol- shevism. Even when ILP members fighting in Spain fell victim to the GPU murder machine, the Theory

ILP

"lefts' restricted them- selves to routine protests.

This is the tradition upheld Brockway himself says : by Liddle and Turner. Against it, Trotskyism, the continuator 'We restrained dis- our of Bolshevism, for appointment about what was struggles the development of theory, of happening in Russia for many revolutionary consciousness, in of it months, speaking only the working class. among ourselves, because we did not want to encourage As a wave of struggle sweeps Russia ; capitalist attacks on masses of workers into class we could be silent but at last throughout battles Europe, no longer. The imperative urge this fight for leadership based speak to out came to me on Marxist theory is the vital whilst at an international con- question. ference in Paris in May 1938: ('Inside the Left'.) When Liddle and Turner hit at this fight, strike they blow, however puny, at the Federation heart and brain of the working class. Having refused in 1937 to No what they may matter the Dewey Com- say about 'the final goal of a serve on the socialist world', their hands are mission to investigate allegations of the Trials. guided by the ideological pres- Brockway now wrote an appeal sures of capitalism. to Stalin to stop his policy of prizing to Hear that these very means sur- murder. And when the 'popular front' individuals were to found negotiations collapsed, the ILP last month engaged in a debate 'workers' 'lefts' with the National Front. proposed front', federation of Inter- The ILP but cen- is dead, nationals to include everyone trism remains a tendency to be from the anarchists the fought in new forms. Labourites. The cowardice of the Labour The of Trotsky's essence 'lefts' and Union leaders in fight Bolshevism for after refusing to fight the treachery Lenin's and for death, the of Wilson, derives from the Fourth International after same tradition. 1933, his analysis of was Stalinism petty-bourgeois as a tendency hostile to the October Power Revolution. The revolution had been But we fight these tenden- betrayed by this bureaucratic cies under different quite caste, but not destroyed.

conditions from the pre-war Ultra-lefts and opportunists period. alike argued that nothing The massive strength of the mained of October and that working class in the midst of the degeneration of the USSR the deepening world capitalist was the inevitable outcome of crisis makes it Bolshevism. much more difficult for centrist phrases to Trotsky plausibility fought them with retain their for all his power. For these very long. of revolution enemies were But there is no automatic striking at the very heart of victory for Marxism. the spread the struggle to October Revolution. constant struggle for Marxist theory and a conscious They were capitulating both battle to draw on the historical to imperialism and to Stalinism of experience the workers' itself. movement is the only basis for For the centrist ILP, com- overcoming of centrism features of for bining the worst and the preparation the sectarianism and opportunism, working class to take power.

Wednesday, November 26, 1969 LIKE Women in Love, reviewed last week, 'Kes' (directed by Ken Loach from the novel by Barry Hines, shown at the London Film Festival) is set in a mining com- munity. Photographed on location in Barnsley, it is the story of Billy Casper, who trains a inoffensive kestrel; an enough subject one would think. Good safe Disney terri- tory. Yet 'Kes' is one of the most moving and passionate indict- ments against capitalism made by a British director. In following the last few months at school of Billy, the film poses over and over again human creative wastage, talents stunted by a system that demands nothing more than that they provide fodder for exploitation and industry.

For in this school, like thousands throughout the country, the unspoken recog- nition by pupils is that their ultimate destiny is to join the ranks of the labouring class, to time become slaves to the clock, to lose their liberty in a life sentence, where weekends and holidays are only fleeting respites from jobs that have no meaning or human reward.

That is education under capitalism for the vast majority, that only a few escape, and that is the future that is as certain as the pits that violate the landscape.

This is the context of 'Kes', and it is in retreat from it that Billy trains the kestrel, to discover, in the free flight of the bird-a bird that for all its training preserves its own predatory instincts as bird of prey-his own • private world, his own outlet for what he thinks and feels. Rarely does he communicate publicly, yet there is one he holds his class moment spellbound by explaining to them how he trained Kes. Hesitant at first, with the usual suspicion towards the teacher and class, he becomes totally involved and eloquent about his passion. It is the only time in the classroom that everybody is completely absorbed. Otherwise he is constantly shouted at for paying not attention, for being late, for being elsewhere-and he is— for school is something mean- to him, is ingless where he made the butt of the masters' aggression. is a marvellously There filmed where the sequence boys are playing football, com- pletely uninterested game. It is cold. They shiver while the master plays out his fantasies of being referee and Bobby Chariton all rolled into one. This is a brilliant comedy sequence which reveals an eye for detail; it completely re- creates those nightmare com- pulsory games periods. at times lyrica rimit avoidd sentimentality by its honesty.

It has a genuine respect for reality, for the authenticity of working-class life without glamourizing it. Its detailed observation is absolutely echoed in the per- formances, which are of a kind that have never appeared in British films. They straightforward, are rooted in reality, not people that live only on celluloid, but with all the rawness, sudden With Ken Loach has found himself as a film direc- tor, and one of enormous talent at that. He has broken from some of the documentary jerkiness that marred his earlier film 'Poor Cow', has achieved , and a style that is direct, controlled and fluid. There is nothing explicitly political in the film, yet it is a political understanding that underlies the selection context of the action. By insisting that 'this is how it is' with a relentless truth- fulness, 'Kes' poses also that it must be changed. There can be no questions of reforms in education, be-.

cause the relationship between education and class exploita- tion is a direct one. The one teacher in the film who shows some interest in Billy remains against his will a do-gooder, who can make no real change for Billy, for problem involves totality of society. It is with the Billies acting as a class in revolutionary struggle that the future resides. From all accounts it is un- certain whether 'Kes' will be given a general release. It would be an outrage if this film is not shown and the strongest possible pressure must be applied to ensure that it is.

ANOTHER

film the But Tontan has to cash the in postal order first and it is here Festival again probably will that his nightmare begins, for not be seen by mass unless he can produce an audience. Card the Post Office Identity will not hand over the money.

'Mandabi' It is called (the He begins his long trek 'Postal Order') and is made by around the various officials, a Senegalese director. completely at the mercy of the To my knowledge it is the petty functionaries who speak first film made by an African to him in French, who show director specifically about life him forms that he cannot read.

in Africa. He is hustled, conned, It is a far cry from much of cheated at every turn, until the western bourgeois rubbish finally the local schoolmaster has appeared that in this promises to cash the order for festival. him. For this is a film from the By now Tontan is even more grass roots of Africa that lays in debt; the creditors bang on bare the glaring inequalities of the door, his nephew's mother the back- wealth, economic demands her money, and the wardness, the raw need of sur- final straw comes when the vival, financial and cultural that schoolmaster announces impoverishment. pickpocket has stolen the Its story is simple and its money. style presentation is direct Tontan breaks down, crying: Similarly and un- varnished. It is impossible to be honest in Seneral'. Tontan, a Senegalese in his fifties, a man who lives by the Mandabi gives insights into life in book, by his religion, by his underdeveloped culture, who has. two wives tries that are rarely glimpsed and a family as decreed by his in the West. religion, lives in a shanty For what is foremost in the community in Dakar. experience is the total

DI C

Like most of his neighbours occupation with money, with he has been unemployed for survival. Everybody is driven to it, years. One day a postal order where hustling becomes a full- arrives from his nephew who time occupation. The has Paris to find a film reveals whole job. The job he has is sweeping layers of exploitation with an and the roads and just from the unpretentious honesty lines of the letter one glimpses often humour. the isolation his family For us it from should be a re- friends, the loneliness in minder that this is life in the and the metropolis, that unemploy- colonial and semi-colonial ment has forced upon him.

countries, that this is the price Immediately the whole com- imperialism paid munity is curious. The trades- total impoverishment, that on men he owes money to see a of the the backs Tontans chance their imperialists have plundered other and massed their wealth. debts; the unemployed Two thirds of the globe live see a new source for survival; like this, in poverty, illiteracy his wives see the chance of stocking up food and buying and sickness. some clothes. 'Mandabi' reminds us of it.

Ken Loach talks to the young Barnsley schoolboy who plays Billy Casper, shooting a scene for 'Kes, shown at the London before Film Festival and still doubtful for general release.

B.B.C.-1

9.15 a.m.-12 Schools. noon 12.25 Apna Hi Ghar p.m. Samajhiye. 12.55 Disc A Dawn. Watch With Mother. 1.45- 1.30 1.53 News and Weatherman. 2.05-2.50 Schools. 3.45 Represent- ing The Union. 4.20 Play School.

4.40 Jackanory. 4.55 There Was This Dog. 5.15 Tom Tom. 5.44 Hector's House. 5.50 News and Weather. 6.00 London-Nationwide. 6.45 The Doctors. Sus Weather 7.10 The Laugh Parade. P.M. Ireland News, 8.50 The Main News 11.27 and Ireland Weather. Ivews neaulines callel South and Points 6.00-6.45 D.l. Spotlight South- 9.10 The Wednesday Play : West SOOoky Double Nationwide Bill' starring West

SOUTO

and News readlines. Marty Feldman. yearner. 10.24 24 Hours. 10.40 Sportsnight With Coleman.

B.B.C.-2

11.25 Weatherman. BBC-l except at the regions 11.00-11.20 Play School. following times: a.m. 7.00 Expecting A Baby. Midlands Midlands 5 Today: Anglia: 6.00-6.45 Weather. 7.30 Newsroom and Weather, Look Man Alive: 'Cease Fire'. 11.27 Hallulwac News 8.50 Know Your Onions. Summary vy eatner lor Tae

NIC-

Show Of The Week: Vera 9.10 Look Northern England: 6.00-6.45 D.m Lynn and guests. North. yv earner 11.27 Nauonwice. 9.55 My World ... And Wel- Northern News Headlines. Weather

WORKERS' PRES

WHEN

BETTY REID

wrote her pamphlet attacking British Trotsky.

ism, she used the classical Stalinist tactic of com- bining political distortion with slanders on indivi- duals and organizations. But within this long- established Stalinist frame- work there are important changes. Until at least 1956, all tendencies claiming to be Trotskyist were slandered with equal vigour. Before and during the last war, even groups such as the ILP were roundly condemned as fascist together with the Fourth International simply because certain individuals within these organizations came close to Trotsky's views on specific questions of policy. But as we pointed out in part four of our reply to Reid, the crisis of Stalinism and the revisionists has created a situation where anti-Trotskyist hacks such as Mrs Reid are forced to discriminate between genuine Trotskyists and those that use the name of the Fourth International as a cover for their own capitulation to Stalinism. Politely The only organization singled out by Reid for this special type of Stalinist slander is, of course, the Socialist Labour League. The anti - Soviet 'Inter- national Socialism' group and openly anti-Marxist "Solidarity' are treated quite politely in comparison with Reid's series of slurs on SLL methods and leadership. With one exception, the National Secretary of the League is referred to as either 'Mr Healy' or just 'Healy'.

But when Reid turns to the various revisionist groups, her tone softens. Instead we have Ted Grant (twice) and the highly familiar Ernie Tate (also twice). A small point? No. The style is also the politics.

Mrs Reid's politics are Stalin- ist, and cannot but be full of hatred for the principles of Trotskyism. This hatred is expressed in a subjective form through the habit of addressing her re- visionist allies by their first names and her most bitter and 1ong - standing Trotskyist enemies as 'Mr Healy'. come To It: The world of James Thurber. 10.20 Doubts and Certainties

USA:

Interview with Senator Edmund Muskie. 10.45 News Summary and Weather. 10.50 Line-Up.

I.T.V.

11.00-11.57 a.m. Schools. 1.40- 2.55 p.m. Schools. 4.15 News Headlines. 4.17 The Tingha and Tucker Club. 4.30 Crossroads.

4.55 Lift Off. 5.20 Sexton Blake.

5.50 News From ITN. 6.03 Today. 6.30 The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. 7.30 Coronation Street. 8.00 The Champions. 9.00 Special Branch. 10.00 News At Ten. 10.30 Lonnie. 11.00 Professional Wrestling.

11.45 The Papers. 12.00 midnight Father D'Arcy's Friends and Contemporaries.

'ORKERS' PRESS

Betty Reid : Still uses old Stalinist Standers against Trotskyism.

SMIS

Reid also seeks to draw a other representatives of the contrast Stalinist class enemy. between methods of political We take per- our opponents which 'by and therefore suasion, operate seriously, con- argument and discussion and duct our internal affairs with a and corresponding participation in struggle', sense of re- those of the Socialist Labour sponsibility to our membership League. and the working class a whole.

According Reid, *its to As for our funds, all our finances, rules, conferences are financial support comes from all private. It faithfully main- members and supporters tains the atmosphere of con- in the working class. spiracy, feuding, public attack upon individuals and blow-by- blow accounts of controversies No secret with rival groupings'. (p.

22.) This is perhaps the most impudent slander of all. The This is no Reid secret, Stalinist Reid, who endorsed as make out. We all the crimes of Stalin, has the tries to have published all the relevant audacity to lecture the Social- details of our funds for the Labour League the ist on launching and maintainance of conduct of its internal affairs!

our press. The political struggles that Collections held at were have developed between public rallies and the opposed tendencies within the both collected announced Trotskyist have movement and the meetings in the always revolved around ques- columns of our press. tions of basic principles.

Donations from the Young As far as our conferences Socialists towards the develop- are concerned, they are private ment of our press have also for the obvious reason that we publicly announced and been prefer hammer to out our published. strategy free from the scrutiny of By reviving the old Stalinist the capitalist press and

ATV

Independent News channe s London TV except at the following times:

O.IN

Headlines. 4. 4.02 Houseparty. 4,15 Halls Ivy The Tingha and Tucker

6.00 ATV

Club. Today: 6.35 Crossroads. 8.00 Department 11.45 Pulsè. Puffin's Birthday CHANNEL: 4.50 p.m. Weather Greetings. Walthe 00 Tink pant Cross- 6.1O Treasure 11.45 Epilogue followed by News nd Weather in French. Weather.

YORKSHIRE:

4.15 News Headlines: lendar nee 4.30 Survival. 600 Day By Houseparty; Hogan's By Day and Crime Desk! 11.45 Late Weather. Castle Haven So then 10.30 Facing S.45 The Weather Forecast. the 10.50 Extra. Churches' Television Centre.

WESTWARD:

5. 4.75 Trueman. 8.00 Westward weather. Nemy 11.45 easter Crossroads. Castle Haven.

GRAMPIAN:

8.00 The Baron. Avengers. bogey of 'secret finance, Reid harks back to the days when taking their cue Stalinists, Trials, the Moscow from accused the Trotskyist move- ment of taking money from Hitler. We warn Reid and company that any attempt to peddle an updated version of this myth around the labour movement will be dealt with in the same way as we dealt with the futile Stalinist attempts to exclude the Workers Press from the CP Congress. Remember, Reid, Gollan and company, this is not 1937.

Unable to take on the SLL politically, Reid has to resort to slanders such as these: No truth "The techniques of keeping members at. a high pitch of activity and excitement, promising them the leadership of the revolution as an im- and mediate perspective, launching them into battl ttle against a sea of enemies, has its own hazards. The casualty rate is very high, the average length of membership very low, the effect upon leading figures totally decimating, as is seen by the high rate at which these names disappear, and by the absence of any influence in the adult move- ment.' (pp 21-22.) There is not a truthful statement in the entire quota- tion. We do not mobilize our instant medition the bie id admits elsewhere in her pamphlet, we won the majority of the Labour Party Young Socialists to Trotskyism during the period from 1960 to 1964, and successfully launched an independent youth movement in the midst of the opportunist stampede surrounding the election of the Wilson govern- ment. The Labour Party bureau- cracy cannot be defeated on its own ground by the mouthing of a few crude slogans and cliches, and Reid knows it.

We had a long-term per- spective of building a revolu- tionary youth movement when we broke from the Labour Party in 1964. From that foundation have come the Trotskyist daily paper and all our advances in the trade unions. Rapid growth When Reid claims that we have no influence in the adult movement, she is whistling in the dark to console herself and her Stalinist friends.

. rapid It is precisely the growth of the League in the trade unions that has forced the Stalinists to come out with this latest attack by Reid.

But the slander most calcu- lated to discredit the leader- ship of the Socialist Labour League and divert attention from its policies and away principles is Reid's reference to our allegedly high 'casualty rate'. The opposite is the case. Especially since the split from 'state capitalists' and Pabloite revisionists (the the Socialist Lawrence) Labour League has built up a basic cadre that is constantly being strengthened by political The Labour Party bureaucracy was defea on its own ground. In 1964 at the height o hunt 4,000 Young Socialists march in an al

PAGE THREE

developments in the Young Socialists and amongst our supporters in the adult move- ment, now organized in the All Trades Unions Alliance.

There is in the leadership of the League a combination of many generations and layers of the working-class move- intel- ment, blended with lectuals who have broken social from Stalinism and democracy. It is the political striking power and principled firmness of this leadership that Reid hates and slanders. When she lyingly refers to the decimation of leading figures', she is really protest- ing against the principled way in which we have always carried through our splits with revisionist and oppor- tunist elements. Lawrence was one. He joined Mrs Reid and the Stalinists. Cliff became an apologist for imperialism by adopting a 'neutral' position Korean War. Brian Behan became an advocate of the type of policy Reid asoribes to us-'instant revolution'-and openly went over to syndicalism. In each case, the break came on questions of principle, in which the membership were educated in the struggle against and opportunism encouraged to take up the fight for Marxist theory.

Splits and unifications have always been an integral part of the Marxist movement. When Stalinism undergoes splits, the result is not greater clarification and the develop- ment of principle, but greater confusion and the further debasement of Marxism. The great split in the inter- national Stalinist movement between China and the Soviet Union was first of all dis- missed as the creation of 'Kremlinologists'. Moscow line Then, when it could no be concealed, the longer leadership of the British Party did all it could to secure the membership for the Moscow line. When the Kremlin began to slander Mao, Gollan and company chimed in with their own special variety of abuse.

As the principled always, basis of the crisis was obscured from the membership.

So when the defections to the various Maoist grouplets the degeneration of began, those looking to Peking for an alternative to Gollan and Kosygin if anything was accelerated. The real test of our principles comes with their application to the task of building revolutionary leader- ship in the workers' movement.

This is after all their sole purpose. Reid sees something comic in Trotsky's claim that the Fourth International is the only revolutionary current on this planet worthy of the name. The most effective answer to this, and all her other attacks on Trotskyism, is to build the British section of the Fourth International, the movement that Reid and her fellow Stalinists fear above all else. cracy was defeated by the Young Socialists 4 at the height of the right-wing witch- ts march in an anti-Tory rally in London.

PAGE FOUR

WORKERS PRESS

Vauxhall's, Luton Enfield smelters Stewards warned reject TUC in union letter ruling THE MEASURE of the Trades Union Con- gress's Croydon betrayal can be gauged from its IN YESTERDAY'S Workers Press, we dealt with disputes committee's ruling on the dispute some of the actions of union officials in helping to Johnson Matthey's smelting works at Enfield,

BY DAVID MAUDE

push through Vauxhall's latest pay and productiv-

AEF

The lue told Ity proposals. members-on strike since support. strikers and the fion June 9 for union recog- Since that article was written, a duplicated letter nition-to return to work Scotland greets sent out to several of vauxhall's Luton Amalgamated and join the Iron and Steel Liverpool men compromise Union of Engineering and Foundryworkers (AEF) shop Trades Confederation stewards has been brought to our attention.

(ISTC).

join B.R.S. " Donations This illustrates very well many of the points made Johnson Matthey is in yesterday's article and also emphasises a point made strike i the largest processors o.

previously in this paper: that attempts by union officials

FROM M. SHAW

precious melals. to discipline shop stewards may well become a feature WE HAVE launched the Ton mantis of tin rade Road of the new deal in practice.

workers press, wachwill

AS IS

well known, an hen us to win the revol at the tionar leadership the proposed " Liverpool voted to oi the Banda told an editor initie Waukhall deal agrees that will exchanged The Banda fetters trike started on Mon- between union district ou in tere "niy in the milands daily officers company's Partick and paper Burgh Halls, down November mp Drivers' delegates Sunday Torming strikes. depots n dusties i and down the The letter says the follow- has even support from other Ware ine the Origial. More trade group secretary, Editor Mike Banda ductivity deals. Political issue mine ages polica chai Terence at the end of the year.

Near future members What country. se he wore is as i The when 13 w of no Genes... only memoer. Following Instructions' Fused and sited

AEF

a beginning recog- ith, heir l our States School m vard Medicale sists on There have been numerous a warning carmed ered in the tie! enes orating a group escorted An understanding drivers through 'the therefore, 'We and I Shortly after the strike be- policy as Shysicaent idisabilities achievement which t supplies. so pro sean restin recogr it to or brancer bar en World in stewards to strikers foe- feated Thursday, December 4. E135-d. on the or cial or distric connoitel Coventry Radiators they Guard mounted Is this the shape of things member to come? suspend press Crabtrees, Leeds Teachers against Engineers strike n the thige

FROM PAGE ONE

operators of united action for against shifting This teacher s TWO HUNDRED press operators at Coventry Radiators Monday suspended for • various allegedly going slow on their daily schedule.

pay award come The men claim that the Reasons By a Workers Pres firm is violating an agree- No confidence

ENGINEERING R

Hounsion be teet ont orresponden workers at Crabtrees, Leeds, with them ment made he hai acon is laced one placing on strike against the management's attempts to when they accepted a new and engineers' pay award onto productivity deal. said he could our tre Duk o use Workers must toes mrot heir pace tot the meet today. on is n the way onus instead of basic earnings, lne productivity deal is I understand that of the along Measured-Day Work By our Industrial reporter lines. A standard quantity 25s. the due In other words production Rail productivity phase the national blacked all work from Crab- Love and created teachers involved if more than yields a wage of just over engineering agreement, the offered derstand los on The have mena employers wish to allocate this standard Howsons 19s. onto bonus earnings.

deal on January 1 entirelyst en rosen a attempt to meeting came Monday (November

NOIREL

THE NEW

them and their win the deal for CoMore and more cher unlammousiy rejeclec productivity Committee formed rate of 16s. an hoverase ne omniving will soa plan and gave seven aays vorkers whic comes way noOnly a firm decision on!!!

nouce or strike acuion. leadership Anot strikes because orb The men claim th se oat treis 1oICC january Cational sealed Principles daily 1>/U, Is a declaration 0l Wa he stone to te commitres nat to vest to the basic s on ine rank change for skied machist and management and union quantity an hour nus nationa leaders. teachers mean nen claim making ward Press une the opposed productivity e fore its daily or trying to The Man in so is and that if bois More backing for Le shallowede in Same issue Lash this Grangemouth boilermakers three day spense last No concession dress orator and BIRKENHMAD Nated Society Without adership mus Boilermaker • were car- or l deship that is bring- meast АДО the desire of the men to ing on't let them get away orangemouth B.P site strikers desquash this productivity suspens onl Man factories support of thi FiCet for ne basic var Prob claphan Es I London, manning a picket which ickers Crabtrees, Liverpool's areave The ry neith cut string Wednesday, November 26, 1969 By a forelgn correspondent

ACCORDING

to Lieutenant-General Julian Ewell of the US forces in Vietnam, the war there will go on for the next 50 to 150 years'.

After making routine boasts that the liberation official line for at least the forces were on their last last four years-Ewell gave legs - this has been the his own view of the real prospects for US imperial- ism in an interview at Long Binh on Monday: 'In my personal opinion, if you have a cut and run in Vietnam, it is going to be awfully tough sledding for the next 150 to 200 years, whereas if you manage your way out of it with some reasonable arrangement your future problems may be much less.' Ewell's 'reasonable arrange- ment' to be the appears creation of Saigon-based pup- pet forces that can take over the war. But everybody knows, most of all the Saigon leaders them- selves, that the of such a force is impossible.

Nixon also knows it. That is why he has elected to main- tain 500,000 the troops In South to bolster up his Saigon puppets.

LIE TO

ILLUSION

When leaders the US begin to talk seriously army of a 200-year war against the YS secretary Sheila Torrance Asian masses, this really gives the lie to all pacifists, Stalin- inter-union dispute. was an ists and liberals who spread Only the Workers Press had illusion the that this given real support to the be ended by negotiations.

struggle and a lead to the men US imperialism the dispute. cannot involved in Viet- afford to retreat from Shona Stewart, chairman of the Gorgi, Edinburgh, Young It be Socialists branch, said she must defeated, both had joined the Young militarily and politically, by Socialists and supported the the international action of the Workers Press because working class. she wanted to fight the anti-union laws, and because she didn't

AMBULANCE

much wages, get The film showing the launching of the daily paper

STRIKE

enthusiastically received was by the which audience in-

BSR.

SEVENTY

cluded strikers from ambulancemen at BP, Grangemouth, Stoke-on-Trent and Rolls (Staffs) are Royce electricians, as well as holding a one-day strike today Young Socialists and trade £2 to back their pay claim. Glasgow, They unionists from were answering only Edinburgh and Aberdeen. calls. emergency

FROM PAGE ONE

the fence has a most important role to play pediency and contempt for 'An announcement that the principles and theory which border had fence now been has kept the labour move- completed and was per- ment shackled the forming its function so well capitalist class and makes 'left' that the movement of the and

(SIC)

betray over Northern troops and Russian over again. and Chinese supplies the It the cretinous to same South had been belief that led 'Tribune' in its "reduced to trickle" would the editorial 'January 6, 1967) to provide President with convenient state: "justification" for stopping the bombing thereby Sincerity? clearing the way for eventual settlement. After writing and advocat- 'There is no need to doubt ing such incredibly reaction- the George sincerity of ary rubbish, is it any wonder Brown's desire to see the that the Labour 'lefts', despite Vietnam war brought to an the so-called victory end' Scarborough in 1967 How touching! Vietnam, remain impotent, Nobody, of doubts course, the of sincerity Mr Brown. All his beliefs- -support of the H-bomb; attacks the on of unions; support immigra- tion control are sincere.

PTO

The question was-and is—on whose terms does Brown, and for that matter Mr the Foot, want war concluded? On this fundamental issue very little separates the right from the 'left'. They all agree that 'peacé' only through can Conne negotiation and through the good offices of the UNO-the thieves' kitchen of im- perialism. None of them ever con- of ceived the possibility that Foot will enduring turos peache come the military only defeat of US imperialism as nay, paralysed, in the face of result of the solidarity of the Vietnam and the massacres in Vietnamese, European and the crisis in the Labour Party?

American workers. Socialist only the Rejecting the path of class League Labour the and and active solidarity struggle Young Socialists who have Tribune' 'lefts' and the now been not caught unawares find themselves the blind in because they remained true alley of imperialist diplomacy to proletarian international- and Soviet subterfuge. ism and the programme of world revolution. Electric fence We insistently the warn working class to place no Nothing this trust in the Foots and exemplifies Kerrs the Labour Party and urge cynicism better than the in of Russell Kerr MP. all workers article to demand that 'Tribune' (September 29, Wilson and Brown be made to in called A 1967) resign and that Wilson should glimmer hope in Vietnam' in which he be allowed not to go to Washington. supported unreservedly the creation of an electrified fence We say once again: across the de-militarized zone.

Stop Wilson's visit to Kerr, arguing more like the US! logistics for Johnson All out on January 11! expert Victory than a Labour MP, concluded to the NLF! Down his article in the most sinister with secret diplomacy. way: