Workers Press no. 53 (25)

workers press The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League PRICE 6d.

NUMBER 52

PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY

DOn VIR

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER •

Stop Wilson's Washington visit campaign Briefly debate Borea Cement Hay

SCANLON SIGNS

year following a farce

BY MICHAEL BANDA

BY 196 VOTES to 57 the Labour 'lefts'' steppe and motion to adjourn the House was defeated. As

OUR PETITION

we predicted yesterday the debate was a farce.

The agony of Vietnam By a Workere Prose reporter was buried under a pile of demagogic platitudes But Wilson's policy de- so the Labour Te and eitusions of simu ratner because lated sympathy and stabs mained inflexibly nrm of rhetoric. He first attacked Greece to get the Labour benches HUCH SCANLON, president of Amalgamated

PETITIONS

on his side. Union of Engineering and Foundryworkers, has A.E.C. steward If you can take a petition Motor around your factory, school, signed a Workers Press petition, together with three college, soop, university, or executive council members-Ernie Roberts, assistant sacked for it tom the wherever you work, please torogreate stewards send for copies to: general secretary, Bob Wright, and Arthur Hearsey plans yet more into opposing in Belg and a Stop Wilson's visit campaign -which demands the cancellation of Wilson's visit blames the de 186a Clapham High Street, reject Losucs London, S.W.4. war. to Washington. productivity

DEFENCE

They signed the petition piece- neffectivene vesterday nforce the bu of the AEF national com- THE SHOP stewards' negotiating committee at petition The work LOndOn. the AEC Southall factory decided by a small

MAN-

states d of right-wing stewards not to call a majority slaughter of inno stewards' meeting yesterday to defend victimized child in changes transport steward Tony Richardson, well- army All Trades Unions known supporter of the cupied Eurpe. Alliance. DIllIS. for

BY DAVID MAUDE

transport Testerday the By our industrial corresponden out on strike will he afternoon. over the that

SNOR

"I ransport and for mid-Tat Nazi S5. mate of tier ned to rec man is cas General workers SnOD sacking. stewards from Considering all opposition to suc engineering factories in No. «fermed he spent

UNCONVINCING

About 2,500 aMid British Road Seribes British-Leyland" they car a mama mere hi n Monday, the joint ashes tightening motor markets.

attempts to najority ti the le sac is th of Tony fichich nore but wit version of procedure and attack piece the sackibe foren

• PAGE 4 COL.

ry arat thei are Place. cabine

STOP WILSON'S WASHINGTON

retreat or in fought touck, th schemes easured-Day

VISIT!

a high pica in many сполссть anu wasts

FOR THE DEFEAT OF US

Enthusiastic car plants. o or Nation as

IMPERIALISM IN VIETNAM!

This campaign around this

LONDON

Drop in ward Measured Day Work

DEMONSTRATION

2,000 teachers es students and luanon Rishardson is Know

SUNDAY JAN. 11

gold prices march for £135 tions have been circulate peti- throughout the factory for ASSEMBLE: Speakers' Corner (Marble Arch), 1 he response from is teren 2 P.M. of the res TWO THOUSAND striking leading to teachers marched MARCH: via Oxford Street, Regent Street, he disco Wester Warsaw Pact- afternoon to the department Trafalgar Square past Downing Street.

Education ent's prostration at Nixon's

(DES)

treble the MEETING: Lyceum Ballroom, near Aldwych, new crisis London, ofitability the Lila and for curzon 4 P.M. N.A.T.O. meeting a matter pressed their to struggle for a full 4135-a- much level totally he Londond executive unacceptable. ycal pay lisc They would agree striking time

GREET

ook part in by 1972

WEATHER

since the two-tier gold poly it they

WORKERS PRESS

O5 Branch; system was adopted Trades ocal levereedom of action a price The marchers were joined ondon area, SE and centra gold our Counten arrer. dropped has and i she Home

BY ROBERT BLACK

onds, Channel Islands: Mainl 35 dollars an De oW bright dry, some sar hormal. Mali ACCORDING to the latest reports from Washington, In appearance this would the security conference proposed to NATO by the Oxford seen lo be une carect oppo Warsaw Pact powers at their conference last week may Insistence the sile markel • Retail Branches An et, modest, cloudy narci well take place by 1972. precealng the two - te rece deputation led by NUT sisted that the shorters Near system. normal, maximum 9C (48F) 91 signed Though official the eyear have guarded countries within the next two infatiothough the price Central Northern England, W years at public meetings join warsaw only

• PAGE 4 COL. 5

Pact See the film of the first issue being prepared and five stewards yesterday. printed and the film Young Socialists, 1969' members Three Theatre journalist sacked areaucracy England Man becomin with showers

LIVERPOOL

Bates saline in the Soviet Union mum /C (45F). burkers Pree in is But a stepping stone to the Sunday, December 14, 7.30 p.m.

Shaftesbury Hotel, Mount Pleasant condary school, Bangi Baby cour heMajor issues sh te westerly, IT HAS just By our forelgn correspondent une to now

SHEFFIELD

vealed in

IOSCOW

Chal

TUBE TRAINS

Gorky cent order tion as normal. Maximum 6C (43F).

he cancelled. The or ne bovier attasion • or arition and on

BLACKING ?

Sunday December 21, 7.30 p.m.

Union's Heading theatre last year. Industries Exhibition Centre been journal "leatr strIKe. ports the campaign. dismissed from his post. repression of The sacking of Rybakor is

LONDON

and deards on raie Carver Street (behind City Hall) been one Yuri decide "to blacke te Speakers hard-line Stalinism in important 115-29 passed Soviet Union. working-class MIKE BANDA (Editor of workers Press Wilson visit, SHEILA TORRANCE (National Secretary of the each and teen and are nee ally tories to prepare potic. have already sinted en peter.

Young Socialists) ance men at the Acton depot.

south. Showers in

PAGE NO

The 'black

COLOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA'

THE Communist Party of South Africa has never, nor can it ever, shed the collaborationist influence of social democracy and of white liberalism. The former remained an element ingrained of the Party, as it receded even Bantustan defence of 'native from the surface, while white present parla- represelll ments' by Cecil khodes in nis Walca •uscriminated liberalism became a more pro- notorious i Glen Grey Act. politically against Africans.

nounced, 'indigenous' in- The social base of this latent They, The cane tran fluence upon its thinking and che , we apartheid system.

parts of were integral was nationalism not the African workers, but the small, actions. albeit In 1926 the CPSA was still European, would-be bourgeois.

For just as the essence of defending the of apart- social democracy is collab- reform it And the latter was arall and again to prove an segregation oraton with imperialism, so apartheid (apartheid) itself, as its policy system the essential CPSA policy re- Vulslings' to regiment clearly snowea. mained collaboration-on one It was the rise of the Inter- une Auricans. level or another— with the Coloureds Union nauional. ana modus operandi of imperial- contine Strikes ana struggles strican National congress and The CPSA and ism in South Africa: apar- theid. rganiz ations, And it was for this reason a small policy, its basic acherence to collab.

oration- -that it rejected organ- alla Coloured members izations which later, into the CP. 1940s, openly proclaim the policy of non-collaboration And, in 1927, three Africans met the executive as paramount. were electeo tor the nrst time of the Third (Com- Marxism onto the Central Committee.

the science of class struggle. Its antithesis is munist, internanonal. includ- One of the Coloured recruits ing Bukharin. class collaboration james la vuma, a delegate to This was during the critical other In the Popular Front period Krucce s and conferences of

CPSA

neriod in The persecution Trotsky's Left Opposition and 943-1934 une self-determination princible by co. for the Africans. the rise of Stalinism. laborating with two sections of the oppressors- -white labour Whether he knew it or not, Bukharin was nassing through and the white farmers. a phase process and he was expressing, in an early in this later to be liquidated "right-winger' by the Stalin La 30 cal But at the time of the Guma-Bukharin meeting, bureau- rising ana usur pine in the Soviet Union was cracy on the noint of a ett turn' known as the 'Third Period',

ILEGS BLANKES

when 'anti-imperialism' was on the order of the day. It was also the period of the forced collectivization similar drives against wing elements like the Kulaks.

The 'black mooted by Guma ana by Bunting, echoed. temoor- arilv suited the rising Stalinist bureaucracy's foreign policy.

The Simons are silent about this and many other aspects of Stalinism. On hand. the other the wing', "right led An African woman scrubs the steps leading to a (white) 'Ladies'.

Andrews, was opposed to the 'black republic'. 1930s, to be collabora, in form, the politics of what was This eyes. the "black In its collaboration the public' stood for an attack aluable agency of imperialism: sections white labour colour-bar

WITO

ouper tne African nationalism oppressors, such as wnite in- were still interests U0- dustry commerce, and and The authors of this book held by Andrews and others imperialist mining- succeed this finance, represented—in supporune

CISA

(nIS was the creed. combining it with their period when Andrews rejected social reality—by the liberals'.

was Refore thic there the 'black republic' period in the CPSA story. In 1928 the Party's spokes- like Bunting had clared government pre- charac connanty nauve 386.) Ter. D. By the

CPSA

had advanced' oniv demancing abolition certain colour bars, not the entire colour-bar system.

Its policy at that time was for the reneal of certain racial laws. for extension Cape franchise to other pro- for segregation politically, because denied franchise conl the non- curopeans tne TIgOt to vote and non- Euroneans the right to sit in parliament). pronosed "the right also nt Atricans to elect renrecent_ atives to "native ('South African August 13, 1926, p. 388).

These 'native councils' were workers journey home: The big the end of the ride set the nuclei the up narrow orit aster

B.B.C.-1

and Skinheads? 1225 Or The need : Vera 9.15 a.m.-12 noon Schools.

Zindari Nay 1.30 Watch Disc A 1.45-1.53 3eW anl Lynn and guests. 9.55 .. And Wel- With Mother. come To It. 2.05-2.50 Schools. News Summary and 10.20 Webt Ten Years After. 4.40 Lackanory. 10.25 Weathery, Naioneride. 11.37 News om T Cuba- 11.05 5.50 Line Up. ecews and Weather. National North, Weather: Nationwide: 11.3k

I.T.V

6.00 London-Nationwide. The Doctors. 7.10 Laugh Parade: 4.15 p.m. News Headlines.

4 1 7 The Club. martin 11030-112 M 4.30 Crossroads. Off. 4.55 Lift 5.20 Sexton Blake. 5.50 News.

6.03 Today. 8.50 News and Northern Main Weather. 6.30 The Ghost and Mrs Muir. Peei 7.00 Vednesda' This is Your life. 'The ortex 7.30 Coronation Street. Coward. y, Spotlight News Healther, 11.37 8.00 The Chamnions. 10.20 England v. Portugal Football : Special Branch. 0 00 News At Ten. 11.00 24 any

B.B.C.-2

11.35 Weatherman. Lonnie. 10 z0 11.00 Professional Wrestling. all engimes BBC-1 except at the 11.00-11.20 a.m. Play School.

11.45 The Papers. Expecting A Baby. 7.00 D.m. Question Of Mila. Mend stAy, Look 645.

midnight 7.30 Newsroom and Weather.

Human Rights.

WORKERS' PREI

the ICU application to join the TUC.) Bunting being in- was by Gumede and fluenced others in the reformist, 'nationalist' African National Congress. But he had' a paternalistic./ speak (i.e. basically a white liberal).....

attitude towards the Africans and did not believe they could make a revolution 'yet', be- cause of 'the extreme back- wardness and widespread apathy of the native masses' (p. 393). came out, at first, against a 'Negro republic'.

say: 'As in The Simons 1922, he tended to equate end of the ride when they have to wait up All Independent channels as London ITV except at following times: CHANNEL: 11.00-11.57 a.m.

Schools. 1,40-3.25 Schools. Puffin's Birthday Greetings 6.00 Channel News 6.10 The Pursuers. 6.35 and Weather, 6. Crossroads. Treasure 8.00 Hunt. The Saint. 10.30 Results: Jersey Depu- 11.45 Epilogue, News ties Election. and Weather In French, Weather.

SOUTHERN: 11.45-11.57 a.m. Schools.

1.40-2.55 Schools. p.m. 4.00 House- Desk: 6.35 Day by Day and Crime 635 Castle Haven. 8.00 The Baron. 10.30 Facing South. 10.50 Southern News Extra. 11.45 The Weather Forecast, The New Liturgy.

1.40-3.25 Schools. Town. 4.13" Westward News Headlines. 4.15 Open House. 4.40 The Gus Honey bun Show. 6.00 Westward Diary.

Crossroads. 7.00 Treasure Hunt. 8.00 The Saint. 11.45 Faith For Life. 11.51 Weather. 6.20 Batman. Crossroads. Marcus Welby MD. 11.45 Weather.

Harlech (Wales) as above except: 2.55 Interlude. 3.05-4.18 Sherlock Holmes Festival. 4.29-4455 Crossroads.

6.01 Y Dvdd. 6.26 Castle Haven. 6.51- 7.00 Report. ING255 D.1.43-S.hOOs:M1.05 Schools. Schools. Katie p.m. Stewart Cooks. 4.30 Anglia Newsroom.

4,35 The Romper Room. 6.00 About 6.35 Crossroads. 8.00 The Anglia. Avengers. 11.45 Reflection.

WORKERS' PRESS

workers' power with white power, and refused to credit possibility majority African rule' (p. 394). (The last phrase of the Simons sounds like present-day British Labour - imperialists alistic. speaking on Rhodesia.)

Bunting and other opponents of the 'black republic' argued not from the Africans' view- point, but from the white workers', using the argument that the slogan would antago- nize the white workers. Roux, who sympathized with Bunting, and later wrote the Bunting', biography 'S. P. accused the Communist Inter- national of 'forcing' the slogan on the Party. But this was later (1949), and was made from a liberal standpoint, not a revolutionary one. La Guma defended the 'black republic' against Bunting from a bourgeois-nationalist view- point (and later became a "nationalist, often militant hounded by the CPSA). He had a hard time fighting for his slogan in the CPSA, despite the fact that there were 200 Africans in the Party in 1927, by 'Third swollen, Period to 1,600, recruiting, out of a total of 1,750 by 1928.

The adoption of the slogan was followed by and Purge of Bunting, Roux others, although they upheld the policy in public. It is significant that they took the slogan to the first major Bantustan - the Tran- skeian region-during an 'elec- tion' in which Bunting stood as a European to be 'elected' by a handful of 'Cape fran- chise' non-Europeans, who themselves could not sit in parliament. But even during the 'black

MIDLANDS: 11.45-11.57

ATV

a.m. Schools. 1.40-2.55 Schools. 4.00 News Headlines: 4.82 Houseparty.

4.15 Halls of Ivy. 4.40 Tingha and Club. 6.00 ATV Today. 6.35 Tucker Crossroads. 8.00 Department S. 11.45 Pulse, Weather.

ULSTER:

11.45-11.57 Schools. a.m. Schools. 4.30 Romper 1.40-2.55 p.m. 4.50 Ulster News Headlines. 6.35 Crossroads. 6.00 Reports. 8.00 Marcus Welby MD. 11.45 Weather.

a.m.-2.35

YORKSHIRE:

11.45 p.m. 4.00 Houseparty. 4.15 News Schools. Headlines. 4.17 Hatty Town.

4.30 Tales Carol'. From Christmas Dickens: 6.30 Hogan's 6.00 Calendar, The Saint. 11.45 Weather. Late Heroes. 8.00 Weather. TYNE TEES: 1145-057s 405 hors.

12.55-2.55 Schools. East Newsroom. 4.11 News Headlines. 4.30 Freud On Food. 4.53 4.13 Torchy. North East Newsroom, 6.00 Today At Six. 6.30 Police Call. 6.35 Castle laven. 8.00 Man In A Suitcase. 10.30 Theas Late News Extra. 12.02 Press: Face rofessor Miller. a.m. The Season Of Advent.

SCOTTISH: 11.45-11.57 a.m.

Schools. 1.05-2.55 Schools. 4.20 Scotland "4.30 Cr Crossroads. 6.00 Scotland Early. 6.30 The Legend of Jesse James.

Now. 10.30 Scotsport. 11.30 8.00The Saint. Professional Wrestling. 11.45 Late Call.

GRAMPIAN: 11.43-11.57 a.m: Schools.

4.30 Castle 1.38-2.55 6.0.0 Grampian Schools. News. 6.10 Haven. Week. 6.35 Crossroads. 8.00 Grampian The Baron. 8.55 Police News.

republic' period, the Party con- tinued to collaborate with the apartheid 'machinery of op- pression', as critics of the CPSA were later to call the racial elections. The CP took the lead in setting the League of up African Rights, with the slogan 'Long live the native republic'.

The idea came from the Comintern's 6th Congress and from the British CP's 'colonial commission'. It was negro- philistic. Roux later said that the League was dissolved on orders from Moscow (p. 421) in late 1929. Bunting appealed to the British CP against the order, but to no purpose. The propagandist League was to be replaced by the general strike. The inevitable result of this adventurist 'turn' the shooting down of was militants and demoralization in and around the party. One of the victims was the Durban 'Zulu' CP member Johannes Nkosi, stabbed to death and mutilated. 'anti-pass' An adventurist campaign had sacrificed Nkosi.

Again, the Simons are silent, when they are not justifying the 'Third Period', as they do on page 436. But more was to come. In May 1930, the Executive Committee of the Comintern (ECCI) indicted the CPSA for 'serious mistakes of a right- opportunist character' (p. 438).

The Simons make no attempt to explain this in terms of the Soviet bureaucracy's policy at time, the nor to relate foreign policy to its domestic policy. The ECCI proposed an anti- Leninist two-stage theory for South Africa: first 'capitalist democracy', then "socialism'.

The time was ripe, it said, for the 'national revolution' to realize the first stage. The ECCI condemned the League, the ANC and the ICU petty-bourgeois nationalist as parties, with whom the CP should not form a common front (the same CP which had formed a Popular Front with apartheid Labour and nationalist parties). While the Simons gently criticize the ECCI resolution, they fail to explain its causes.

Bunting came in for direct attack by the ECCI, together with Roux and Andrews, whose previ- chauvinism they had ously condoned. The ECCI called for a struggle the entire against system of imperialist oppres- sion', which had to be trans- lated there and then into action. The Party had to form 'in- dependent native workers' and peasants' republics as a tran- sitory stage towards a sub- sequent Union of Socialist Soviet Republics of Africa'.

The white delegate to the Comintern, Wolton, led the attack on the right wing. He held that the workers were 'ripe for revolution'. (This was at the height of a government offensive against the African workers). Bunting, Andrews, Sachs and other 'right wingers' were ex- pelled in September 1931.

Wolton, leader of the cam- paign, had himself stood for parliament as a white stand- ing for an all-white parliament.

But this was not 'right-wing activity'. La Guma was expelled. He had opposed Wolton in his 1929 'election' campaign.

Many of those expelled re- joined the Party and became expellers during the period following the 'black republic'.

In these expulsions, the right wing was accused of "Trotsky- ism', among other things, a sin they were very innocent of.

Thibedi, African Party an member, was accused of start- ing an 'Oppositionist' Trotsky- ist Communist League, with Bunting's aid. (Bunting later wrote a book on South Africa in which he spends only 50 lines on the

CPSA !)

The Simons go as far as say- ing that the ECCI's accusations that the right wing were 'agents of imperialism' 'was as groundless as ECCI's the assumption of an imminent revolutionary upsurge' (p. 452).

The expulsions were soon followed by the hounding out of the Party of the expellers and, indeed, of the 'black re- public' itself. The 'black republic' slogan was given many interpretations Pictures by Ernest his book 'House of Wards in South African hospitals for Africa beyond capacity. Chairs are used for beds.

by the CPSA, including one which meant the tribalization of South Africa. Thus Lazar Bach, one of the 'Europeans' who led the ex- and controlled the pulsions voluntary association of national republics' — Sotho, Tswana, Swazi, Zulu, Xhosa-- in a federation of independent native republics' ('Umzebenzi', May 5, 1934. p. 473). This was not an extension of the Leninist nationality thesis to South Africa, but an adapt- ation of tribal divide-and-rule an acceptance of the policy, racialist status quo. Bach did not advocate Englishmen, Germans Afrikaners. He accepted the unity of the 'white nation', but did other- wise for the Africans. the 'tribes', treated whose been de- system had long stroyed by imperialism, as 'nations' was sound for the What USSR, when transferred mech- anically to South Africa, was not national liberation, but plain segregation. The Simons express the CP's hor attempin the analyse king The Industrial Conciliation Act During the black republic' period the CP operated the 'red trade union' tactic in Wednesday, December 10, 1969 In practice their white leaders continued to operate in the white trade unions, whilst most of their organizers in the African and coloured unions were non-white. They did not 'mix' their unions, except for a few attempts such as that of W.

Kalk, who tried to form a leather workers' union for white and non-white workers in 1934. The attempt failed. The CP then began to operate the anti- African, segregationist class-collaborationist Industrial Conciliation Act of the 1920s.

This was part of the govern- ment's policy of drawing the white workers into a common anti-black front with the employing classes. It set up machinery for state unions, control of white for recognition of white labour as 'civilized', for the registration unions which excluded Africans, defined African labour as 'uncivilized', denied registration to African unions and segregated the 'recognized' unions into 'white' separate and 'Coloured' branches. The CPSA worked this anti- torice fait, am 1934-1935 to the full until it was banned in 1950.

Its trade unionists continued to operate this Act after the banning of the Party. This well-known fact is admitted by • the Simons (p. 430): However, they make no admission of its significance : that on a large scale and for a time, long the CPSA very worked, upheld and benefited from a major apartheid law and policy in a major field, the economic plane. On the contrary, the authors criticize the 'black republic' period's refusal to work the segregationist Industrial Con- ciliationist Act and they de- pitals for Africans operate at 50 per cent fend its operation by the CP (p. 458). Ray Alexander was a party Party, said that it meant to this acceptance and working of racial discrimination in the industrial field. She was party to the CP practice of running registered unions of white, coloured and Indian workers (often dividing these into segregated branches with coloured and Indian mem- bers in second-class branches, in the Garment Workers' as Union of Solly Sachs on the Rand). At the time the CP same formed "parallel' African unions, unregistered and with- out a legal say in the union or in wage determinations. Moreover, when anti-segre- gationists attacked this racial policy and proposed that the and only correct principle practice was the formation of non-racial, unregistered unions outside the Act and independ- ent of the state, the ur con- demned this as 'impracticable', 'idealistic' and 'Trotskyist'.

The Simons apologize the anti-African trade union line of the CP on the grounds that it was 'expedient' and that it brought results. It is not the first time that they had betrayed principles on the altar of expediency, nor the last time that this sacrifice (of African labour to white apartheid) was to be justified by means of British pragma- tism--results. As for the latter, the African workers-segregated into in- ferior, tail-ending unions - might well ask, with the unions in ruins anyway, what were the 'results' of the CP's 'ex- pediency'.

Wednesday, December 10, 1969 From the Editor WE welcome the letter of the three CP members. It shows clearly the profound concern of militant Party members with the rightward drift of the Party-so evident at the 31st Congress - and the growing interest in the programme and policy of Trotskyism. While welcoming their desire work with the Socialist to Labour League, we feel we must point out that there can be no question of unity; i.e.

organizational fusion of the SLL with the Communist Party.

The Communist Party-and here we mean the programme and policy of its leaders--is a reformist party which aims to reform capitalism and defend the interests (read Sam Russell on Voroshilov) and policies of the counter-revolutionary bureaucracy in the Kremlin.

The SLL however, is a revolutionary Leninist party which subordinates the strug- gles for reforms to the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism and, moreover, de- fends the USSR from imperial- ism while implacably opposing the excesses and methods of the Soviet bureaucracy, inside and outside the USSR. Political and theoretical differences, however, do not preclude.the coming together diseu of the CP and the SLL in specific actions to resist the onslaught of the capitalist class in taking the offensive or against it. 'March separately, strike together' should be the watchword of such united action. Such united action does not mean, however, that both par- ties sink all differences and Michael Banda : Workers Press editor. keep their mouths shut in relation to theory, policy and programme. It presupposes, in fact demands, an uncomprom- ising struggle against reformism and opportunism. The classic historical example of such combination a of struggle and unity is provided by Lenin's policy and method in the period between February and October 1917. While fighting the right- wing policies of the Social- Revolutionaries and Men- well as the con- sheviks-as ciliators within the Bolsheviks, Stalin and Kameney--Lenin at the same time proposed to the reformists joint struggle around the fundamental issues of 'Peace, Bread and Land'.

* The refusal of the reformists to respond to the Bolsheviks led finally to the break-up of the SR and Menshevik parties and the passage of thousands of their members to the Bol- shevik side in the Soviets.

At the same time it enabled the Bolsheviks to form a united front with the Left SRs-a split from the Social Revolutionary party-to defend the Soviets from the Kornilov-Kerensky conspiracy and prepare the overthrow of the Provisional government. Lenin was neither a sectarian nor an opportunist. The united front to him—and to us-—was a tactic subordinate to the strategy of the revolution. In this sense there is a world of difference between Lenin and the antics of the CP and the revisionists at the National Convention of the Left. This was a gathering of a varied assortment of reformist and opportunist groups, com- munists and anti-communists, atheists and god-believers on a completely promiscuous pol- itical basis. The purpose of the convention was to prevent the creation of a mass revolution- ary leadership for the working class. The 'Left' nature of the convention was belied by the presence of such groups as the 'Student Christians', Young Liberals and Zionists. What interests has the working class in common with the political descendants of Jesus Christ, Lloyd George and Theodore Herzl? The real purpose as outlined by Raymond Williams-leader of the now defunct May Day Manifesto group —was to find a suitable substitute for the Labour Party and not a revolu- tionary alternative to it.

The issue of Stalinism— despite the lessons of May-June in France and the invasion of Czechoslovakia → was never "discussed. The most loathsome per- formance was certainly that of International Socialism' the which despite its anti- group Soviet 'state capitalism' grovel- led at the feet of the Stalinists and even proposed immediate unification on "a delegate basis'.

The subsequent history of this Convention representing 105 organizations (!) speaks for itself. It testifies in a piti- able way to the only correct thing which was said by one of its founders, Nigel Harris: "The biggest single danger is that nothing will come out of this conference'. The Socialist Labour League refused quite correctly to sup- port the Convention because it was a Convention designed to confuse and disorientate the working class. It did nothing to alarm the capitalist class and even less to inspire the working class which was then getting ready struggle against Wilson's to anti-union • laws. We have on many occasions since 1965 addressed letters and appeals to the Communist Party for a leaders joint against Wilson's struggle policies. These letters remain unacknowledged and un- answered. Instead King Street sought to sabotage every lobby called by the Young Socialists the Socialist Labour League. * Why? Because Gollan and Dutt, instead of fighting to get rid of Wilson prefer to rely on the Left MPs and the TUC to pressure Wilson to change certain aspects of his policy.

This also explains the failure of the National Convention or any of the Communist Party-dominated Liaison Com- mittees to campaign for the nationalization of the motor- car and components industry under workers' control. It also explains, amongst other things, Gollan's support for Wilson's visit to Washing- ton. In conclusion, we are pre- pared to unite in action with the Communist Party in any common action to defeat the Prices and Incomes Bill, to stop Wilson's visit to Washing- ton and to secure the national- ization of the motor-car and components industry under workers' control without com- pensation. M. Banda.

WORKERS' PRE

Dear Editor, have much in common with you on many issues and wel- CONSCIOUS of the heighten- come a common platform. ing crisis of imperialism and Your consistent campaign- the growth of fascist tenden- ing nationalization of on cies in Britain, we feel that the motors is Valid and more time is ripe for members of necessary now than it has ever the CPGB and SLL and other been. factions on the left to unite their forces. However we would like to Many have discussions points in your pro- seen joint where SLL and CPGB could gramme have a strong appeal have met at the recent 'Left to us and at this stage of de- Convention' which provides a velopment are well considered platform for the whole of the and timely. militant left. We pledge to do our utmost to achieve this unity with all Fraternally, other comrades in the CPGB.

L. Llewellyn We cannot accept all J. Conibeer your theories and concepts but we G. Carter

WORKERS' PRESS

JUST OVER two weeks ago a film 'Man's Fate' ironically enough was about to go on the floor at MGM's studios at Boreham Wood. Something like three years' work had gone into the pre- paration of it. Everything was set up, crews hired, technicians, plumbers, hairdressers, the whole catalogue of skills that go into the making of a film.

Then suddenly Metro Gold- wyn Mayer announced that it was pulling out of the pro- duction and there were rumours too that their studios at Boreham Wood would be shut down. That was that particular 'Man's Fate'. It marks a new and more serious development in the crisis of the British film in- dustry. What was once an expected seasonal hazard has now taken on the ugly threat of unem- ployment. 'Out of work' is rapidly be- coming the most common expression in the film world and there are little prospects that 1970 offers any improve- ment. On the contrary it looks as though the crisis will intensify.

The centre of the problem is, of course, located in Holly- wood, and since 60 of the 70 films that constitute the annual British output are financed directly by American capital, it is clear that the growing crisis of American imperialism expresses itself most directly particular overseas in this outpost. The big major companies are being hit by the credit squeeze and high interest rates. According to the 'Economist' the balance sheets of the majors are as follows. MGM has forecast a loss of 25 million dollars for the year; Columbia's profits were down 40 per cent; Paramount made a loss. Twentieth Century Fox has declared a loss of 22 million dollars for the first nine months of the year, Universal a loss of 7 million dollars, Warner Seven Arts a loss.

Most of these companies have been taken over in the past year by vast American conglomerates. Gulf and Western is the parent of Para- mount, Music Corporation of America of Universal, Trans- america of United Artists, Kinney National Services of Warner Seven Arts. The into the movement by entertainment industry reflects these vast combines the general insecurity over the value of paper money which characterizes the crisis of world capitalism. It is the speculative urge for quick which returns moves away from investment in basic industries and into service in- dustries. It is the same edginess and uncertainty that has produced currency speculation for quick killings. The conglomerates have had to find new outlets for surplus capital and they have moved into the film world because there are still possibilities of enormous returns for relatively small capital investment.

The latest sensational example is 'Easy Rider' which cost merely 375,000 dollars to make and is estimated to gross 50 million dollars. The implications of this move suggest that the giants have entered films for a flutter, a spin of the roulette wheel.

What follows then is a rapid rationalization, a cutting back in output, a pruning of all that is inessential. Studios are closed because they have expensive overheads to run. The number of films for production is cut. Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC) — now part of EMI-until now. the only British film company, an- nounced its programme a few weeks ago. Its planned production in Britain for the next six months was only 17 films as opposed to the 27 made during the same period last year. This is now the real threat for workers in the industry.

Assuming that the major companies recover from this year's losses, which are further intensified by the fact that they have large sums of capital invested in high budget films either not yet released, which they are paying high interest costs, or else not yet earning their initial outlay, what then? We can expect a freeze in production. And it is in Britain that workers will be hardest hit.

For the conglomerates it is clear that the production of films is secondary to the hope of quick returns, so that the industry, in its present form, must be run down. The anarchy of capitalist film production, concealed to a certain extent during a boom period, is now beginning to 'Easy Rider': a quick flutter for the US conglomerates.

reveal itself in a much sharper portant for workers to be on form. their guard against reformist Four hundred workers were and Stalinist influence in the laid off the other week, and unions. terminated productions are The Workers Press has abruptly and capriciously. always insisted on the craven- As in other industries the ness of their class compromise threat of unemployment is the and their ultimate betrayals.

prelude to an attempt to cut Closing the books of ACTT production costs and cut back membership is merely on wages and gains that have defensive action, a response to been fought for and won over a worsening situation. the past years. But there is no place for What must become clear to this. A headlong fight and cam- workers the industry is In paign be waged, has LO that now they are very much to raise the political conscious- thrown into the centre of the of membership, to ness the and crisis of world capitalism clarify the real economic and and the old reformist political questions. omist demands are totally in- adequate to the new situation.

You cannot negotiate re- dundancies and it is clear that Workers the industry in the are in no conglomerates must not be isolated from the mood to 'pander' to the unions.

other workers' struggles They want blood; cheaper throughout the country. and fewer productions, and The problem is a co morid that means that they are try- the problem one, world ing for lower and less wages capitalism entering deep employment. crisis which can only be under- The only fight that can now stood by Marxist revolution- be waged must be a political aries. call for one, to national- The only defence is revolu- ization of the industry under workers' control. tionary attack by mass work- ing-class under the Any other illusions can only banner of Marxism. lead to defeat. This makes it even more im- As workers internationally Available from NEW PARK PUBLICATIONS, 186a C London, S. W.4

PAGE THREE

y Brian Moore are engaged in struggle on an unprecedented scale it is in- evitable that middle-class reformists will enter the fray to curtail and head off this movement. These tendencies must be fought. The Free Communications Group tries to come onto the scene with all the old craven reformist illusions. Workers in films and tele- vision must be on their guard against these poseurs and dilettantes. They offer nothing but the polite gossip of the drawing room. What must be done? The old policy of wait-and-see? Wait and see whether the con- glomerates will sort out the us, wait for problem further unemployment whose doff our caps to the masters only reason in life is the extraction of profit, leave the problem in the hands of the reformist bureaucracy? Or do we take up the fight politically as Marxists, finish this charade once and for all.

Call for nationalization of the industry under workers' control without compensation!

Whose fate is it? NS, 186a Clapham High Street, Price 12s. 6d.

WORKERS' PRESS

PAGE FOUR

Meet Mr Lollipop in Leeds on Sati By a forelgn correspondent TALKS on the winding-up of British bases in Libya began on Monday night with a statement by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi that he was not prepared to waste time arguing about legalities: PRESS-SHOP workers at Coventry Radiators are would ilke to advise the continuing their strike over suspensions in the teeth negotiators not By a Workers Press waste time in discussing the case the legal from correspondent of a vicious witch-hunt in the local press against the discussina ta alleged influence of 'disruptive elements'.

Teary The strikers' decision not to meet again until theisecently deposed King Friday has alarmed the hrm's directors.

A statement by managing director Mr H. W. Raine

NURSES SEEK BROAD

discuss "he question to has led to a huge smokescreen, obscuring une real Issues.

to the exist-

UNION SUPPORT FOR PAY

Birmingham Mail and the being blown up in the at all question of a treaty 'Coventry Telegraph'.

AND CONDITIONS CLAIM

On December 4, the day of the last

CHAIRMAN

officials still refuse to support nursee the now support must be en Gaddafi is chair- tape for their conditions.

other workers in lutionary Shed Bie King l the 200 13-day-old strike vicious system of con- For our part we will do use ember mary Cou shop must be brokene press was feared from so tales onions unde campaign disruptive elements said to carry out there re forced to which nave persuadea workers override agreement with the company reacned

NIXON'S

Monday night press last une. conference Washington only aimed troublair the known al- the first was ready—that the war is to go on

BY ROBERT BLACK

villes. the This was that lay behind all the double-talk and crocodile Egyptian tears for those killed in the Only the last point ot thi atrocities. speculative nonsense is true delegation THE BREAKDOWN of three of the four 500 megawatt unable to denv that toi Oppose deals generators at the Eggborough power station in York- massacres took place, Nixon was forced, like Brown and shire is causing some consternation to the Central leaves for

STALINIST

and right- Electricity Generating Board (CEGB).

By our Industrial reporter that wing Labour speakers at Short circuits have Union Trades By our sclence correspondent Moscow Monday's the • curred Congress non - manual which hine cracks boilers s saped. i workers' conference had nelting By a foreign correspondent team to the generators steel parts, no answers for the prob November, was causing gross failure. ced to lems facing this section of

TOP-LEVEL

output of its nuclea workers. delegation led Anwar Nixon Only the palest reflection Sadat of the Arab Socialist of t in order tod the struggles Magnox Union left Cairo vesterday power 'white-collar and more by threatened t • he lic Ior MosCow. workers as a result of pro- believe tee e stated thas thes unchecked. "Logic' changes. sign fault in the s accomplish that generators Nixon's that in ana low wages coula be Were on save the I Vietnamese December 5 entry Tele likel seen in ine alscussion atrocities" action HoW se soviet Unio fault, tale that ust suffer Pink. cod her to Us villest ing more ent men had Middie-East situation sets at short notice. from hi sled be ry servants Nixon empre servant in a vers he power station programme 13 stations impos because millions of what well be that orke s espectators st Same action 43 The Board's plans, A lot of teachers had been due o in service Soviet IS govern. compey allege that the man described 'Pinkville Avery, trying arbitraril units. The terms St this not ane of scale at pett no nave the wen

FROM PAGE ONE

st shamle to ase Veoria a sall Revolutist. Not enough of only a Ring of a phe 350- W shuffle one to than ver They 'action agreemen express sets her there was 1960s was quite prepared to same generals con- accen officials were consulted sit with the stratest incorporate opera restin is that by the all a wed. same was the Denied Tom MAN HOme 'Elastic' alas alive and eastitio ing capacity worker Richard tonice than for cors as less Johnson has Wilson is its ablest defender No bearing few & on she assump revenus as bates our whate acoate ilke al • is to destroy struck in the last stan sabo anat are their dema e entire dissociate from Nixon. oh, as has been admitted relationships between the two.

South Vietnam with asphalt: Vietnam unites amal before against socialism and pro Example could New wage sponsibility we hav much elmediate / biggest way intervene in inter either solidarity freeze order nce, pesdases the fact tha organize inside aut so we thing summert of asit to Washington. McNamara, appalled before • The petition on on Wipense No agreement parliament working- hatred in Sino-Soviet ohnsor replec i Workers bruMr McNamara has gone order

GOVHRNMEN

I and General meaning of of the Prices and In- bringing force Part policies. international solidarity.

branch their doveisn on me Two border talks but Act from - The drop 1 Internationa placed

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

parliament. sted dally)

PUBLIC MEETING

soviet-Chinese arv talks in reking nave so Czechoslovakia, persecution

• FROM PAGE ONE

depend almost entirely upon any talled to reach infarild is agreement. of Soviet intellectuals and the would like to subacribe to l needs the coat des al arrested, is, in 1 plicated be are m fact, getting Pawn Communist Party Congress utual agries, which in vee Whether they he destin mano remarked meat Dee rowing more to its coat-tails. ring it Monday Dec. 15, 8p.m.

States and in Europe i • asan taster on Name Thus, economic crisis the dollar is overvalued and a mor

HOLBORN ASSEMBLY HALL

more Address share heprices. m of the Wal With Burden John's Mews off Northington Street Screet stock marker (nearest tube Chancery Lane) settled n Peking Il hearly, big business has lost Speaker: G. Healy (national secretary, Socialist Labour orld ce sis. aVne d father High Street, London, Sw League) ment rents preten agree Street, Lon change. At least 113 countries Chairman: M. Banda (Editor, Workers Press) Wednesday, December 10, 1969 at the Young Socialists

GRAND XMAS

BAZAAR

Saturday December 13

CORN EXCHANGE

LEEDS

Doors open 12 noon

ATUA-YS

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Stop Wilson's visit to Washington

COVENTRY

Thursday, December 11 Willist ll es La School Stallen all

GLASGOW

Sunday, December 14 J D.m. artick Burgh Ha r. Merkland i Admission Is. 6d.

LEICESTER

Wednesday, December 17 8 p.m. silver obe

NOTTINGHAM

Thursday, December 18 8 p.m. athcote Sti

CORBY

Monday, December 15 o p.m. That candle Ex-bestapo officials accused of 30,000 murders in accomplices 30 with mon 1 Grautstue i (66).

NOW

(For any two daye OR Es a yea e1 for three months would like to subscribe to Workers' Press for Post to Clan tied, Organ, sir tal: 0.92-20069