Workers Press no. 981

workers press

AFTER RECORD US TRADE DEFICIT

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • FRIDAY JANUARY 26, 1973• No. 981• 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

SHARE

SHARES plunged dramatically on the London Stock Exchange yesterday wiping out the limited recovery of prices since Monday's record slump.

The 'Financial Times' index was down 12.4 at 462.3 -two points below Monday's floor when £4,500m

PANIC

was wiped off share values.

Observers estimated that share values had fallen by another , $3,000 in a wave of panic selling following the devaluation threat to the dollar and the steep 14.7 point decline in Wall Street shares. All the big capitalist institutions suffered. In the industrial

ICI,

Hawker Siddeley, BP and Fison's all fell between 4p sector hit, Rank Food shares were badly Hovis McDougall, and 13p. Cavenham's, Beecham's and

WORSENS

Glaxo fell by of 7p. One of hit was the worst Dunlop after news that the com- was to share the losses or its Italian associate, Pirelli.

The persistent slump in share prices can no longer ex- I be by surface factors like plained the Two ruase Stale Da Vi plan. The malaise is far deeper. The system nOW races enormous of confidence

CLISIS

infla- ficticious based

LIC

nonary value of many snares and world currencies particularly

SAVE

the dollar. This was highlighted on the London waxenante vesterday

SHATTON

shares stayed firm, desire eflecting the growing other gold

I STEELWORKS

precious metals. Gold bullion itself was up 25 cents to $65.25 an ounce The by the big faced CrISIS investors world wide. Inter- trading national monetary relauons are SuboIns nto a stale

SAVE

of chaos. The dollar took a battering on

TOM. SHOTIL

SAYE

European the money markets

ASTE STERIMORN

after news of the £2,680m deficit

SHOTION

for 1972—the worst ever in the history of the country.

STEEL NONA

Some deterioration America s tracing Derrormance was expected after formal dollar December 1971, devaluation dismal coral, unree tumes the deficit, exceeded the blackest expectations. and The Nixon administration Monetary Fund now recognize the Smithsonian agreement, 1971 deal which fixed Decemocr new parities between the dollar currencies after gold abandoned standard on August 1s dead and buried. The of the dollar weakening also causca crave negotiators Paris the

MH'S

meeting. of 20 began talks The Group on internauonal monetary on Tuesday, but the collapse unit has made the Shotton steelworkers mass outside parliament for a lobby after their earlier clash with police deliberations a complete farce The drift 'patch. Officials argued that while the

TOWATOS

perrormance nas been disguised work' solution will now con- by revaluations dollar remained firm, there speed because tinue at great increases and inflationary of US the dollar collapse. One can add heavy deficit methods or outress ne returns. external kept thạt the 'solution' will be But fundamental tenden- the pressure on for reform while

HOW

'solution' at all- exchanges breaking to the -on the cies are surface "strength' of the pro- tected the WIll evervone

TO M

a vestors are running selves. for cover. short-term 'patch-work' solu- tions. The world is now witnessing The is in CrISIS drift towards the The floating of the pound, Britain by the steep in pront by major followed the float crash number partidi rates Since une miesus • Latest capitalist countries. figures a 10-per-cent drop The Tanan The floating the Swiss were since 1953. Trading will relations become all the more difficult signs that Smithsonian the

HOLC

For the last decade this poor monetary system svsten was breaking up international 973 • No. 981 • 4p

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

BY IAN YEATS

THREE THOUSAND

Shotton steelworkers marched on the House of Common yesterday smashing through two police barriers in an un- precedented display of anti-Tory feeling. By law all marches must dis- perse one mile from Westmin- when parliament is in ster session. The steelworkers and their wives had travelled from North Wales in two special trains and in a fleet of cars. Police moved in to break up of the march at the south end Lambeth Bridge and again on the far side damaging the works band's instruments, scattering sheets and jostling nusic frightened women. Reinforcements were rushed to the bridge in marchers coaches, but the fought through to parliament chanting: in full order you all hate the Tories, clap your hands. The workers in were London to persuade the government to abandon its plan to shut the open-hearth furnaces Shotton, at axing 6,500 jobs. Shunter Kevin Onions asked me: Why should our wives and kids starve SO that Heath

DEESIDE

can get more money for his boats?

BACK TO

Canteen Mrs M. worker Parry, whose entire family is employed steel- the at works, said: 'It will be terrible if it closes. There's no other work all. at We'll all end up crisps." eating Superviser Mrs Jean hasn't Bozier said: 'Heath anything yet. We shall seen win because we are fighting for our jobs. *If they try to close the works the country will come out with us. Liverpool dockers and builders were in the march and builders at St Thomas's Hospital site downed tools for 15 minutes and cheered as the march went past chanting: "Heath out. Many workers said that if their present protest cam- paign failed, they would occupy the doomed works and call for strike action throughout the industry. clash with police • See also p. 12 But action committee gets deeper into crisis. leader Geoff Hett said that being News from the exchanges for the time they would continue their eralds struggles of revolutionar cam- Shotton's proportion. 'he Socialist Labou paign to maximize profits. alone among the parties League, and tendencies of the left, has They would lobby workers always placed the economic crisis at Britain's car factories to at the centre of its analysis and them persuade the to use perspectives. works' steel. The immediate task facing the The committee was due to working class is contained in the present a plan on BBC Wales struggle for the transformation of TV last night for converting the League into a revolutionary the open-hearth furnaces at the challenge party to meet Shotton into more modern the capitalist crisis. tandem furnaces.

workers press

AFTER RECORD US TRADE DEFICIT

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • FRIDAY JANUARY 26, 1973 • No. 981 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

SHARE

SHARES plunged dramatically on the London Stock Exchange yesterday wiping out the limited recovery of prices since Monday's record slump.

The 'Financial Times' index was down 12.4 at 462.3 -two points below Monday's floor when £4,500m

PANIC

was wiped off share values.

Observers estimated that share values had fallen by another devaluation , £3,000 in a wave of panic selling following the threat to the dollar and the steep 14.7 point decline in Wall Street shares. All the big capitalist institutions suffered. In the industrial

ICI,

Hawker Siddeley, BP and Fison's all fell between 4p sector Food shares hit, Rank Hovis and 13p. were McDougall, Daaly Cavenham's, and Beecham's

WORSENS

by Glaxo fell of all 7p. One of the hit was worst Dunlop after news that the com- pany was to share the losses oI its Italian associate, Pirelli.

share The persistent sumo in prices can no longer by surface factors like plained the Two pay SLaLC plan. The malaise is far deeper. The came ist system nOW faces confidence enormous ficticious infla- on based nonary value or many silares and world currencies particularly

SAVE

the dollar. This was highlighted on the London chance yesterday

SHOTTOM

mining shares stayed firm, desire eflecting the growing to other gold precious metals. Gold bullion

( STEELWORKS

itself was up 25 cents to $65.25 an ounce The crisis faced by the big investors world wide. Inter- and trading national monetary re auons are slope lato a slale

SAVE

of chaos. The dollar took a battering on

TOM. SHOTIL

European money markets the after news of the £2,680m deficit

SHOTON

STEEL ORAN

for 1972—the worst ever in the history of the country.

STEENDS

Some deterioration Americas traolad venommance was expected after formal dollar devaluation December: 1971, dismal total. three times the 1971 deficit, exceeded the blackest expectations. and The Nixon administration top omicials Monetary Fund now recognize the Smithsonian agreement, fixed 1971 deal which new parities between Ine aollar currencies after gold abandoned the standard on August 15, is dead and buried. The weakening of the dollar also causta zave negotiators the Paris

MH'C

meeting. of 20 began talks Group 1 ne on maternational monelary relor on Tuesday, but the collapse unit has made the Shotton steelworkers mass outside parliament for a lobby after their earlier clash with police • See also p. 12 deliberations a complete farce.

The drift 'patch- performance has Officials argued that while the been disguised work' solution will now con- by property revaluations price Some remace do ere Was speed because tinue at great increases and other inflationary chance some the dollar colanse. deficit

HICLIOOS

or our essure rentas. heavy external kept that the 'solution' will be But fundamental tenden- the pressure on for reform while at all-on the 'solution' exchanges are breaking to the cies surface the 'strength' of the pro- investors tected the against W 111 cyclone alle running all y selves. for cover. solu- short-tend •aLCI-Work tions. The world is The crisis is now wessa sharpened in drift towards the an economic The floating of the pound, the steep Britain by in profit tall major by crash followed the float Latest rates capitalist countries. finally the figures show 10-per-cent drop anel floating of the Swiss franc were since 1953. Trading relations will become all difficult signs that the Smithsonian the 11101C allu For the last decade this poor international monetary system system was breaking up 973 • No. 981 • 4p

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

BY IAN YEATS

THREE

THOUSAND

Shotton steelworkers marched on the House of Common yesterday smashing through two police barriers in an un- precedented display of anti-Tory feeling. By law all marches must dis- perse one mile from Westmin- ster when parliament in IS The steelworkers and session. their wives had travelled from North Wales in two special trains and in a fleet of cars.

Police moved in to break up the march at the south end of Lambeth Bridge and again on the far side damaging the works band's instruments, scattering and jostling nusic sheets frightened women. Reinforcements were rushed to the bridge in coaches, but the marchers fought through to parliament in full order chanting: If you all hate the Tories, clap your hands. The workers in were London persuade the government abandon to its plan to shut the open-hearth furnaces Shotton, at axing 6,500 jobs. Shunter Kevin Onions asked me: Why should our wives and kids starve so Heath that can get more

DEESIDE

money for his boats?'

BACK TO

Canteen worker Mrs M. Parry, whose entire family is employed at the steel- works, said: It will be terrible if it closes. There's no other work all. We'll at all end up eating crisps.' Superviser Mrs Jean Bozier said: 'Heath hasn't anything yet. We shall seen win because we are fighting for our jobs. *If they try to close the vorks the country will come out with us. Liverpool dockers and builders were in the march and builders at St Thomas's Hospital site downed tools for 15 minutes and cheered as the march went past chanting: 'Heath out'. Many workers said that if their present protest cam- failed, they would paign the doomed works осиру call for and strike action throughout the industry. clash with police • See also p. 12 But action committee gets deeper into crisis. leader Geoff Hett said that exchanges News the for the they from time being would heralds struggles of revolutionary paign to marime Soon continue their 'he Socialist Labour proportion. League, alone among the parties profits. of the left, has and tendencies They would lobby workers always placed the economic crisis at Britain's car factories to at the centre of its analysis and persuade them to use the perspectives.": works' steel. The immediate task facing the working class is contained in the struggle for the transformation of the League into a revolutionary the open-hearth furnaces at party to meet the challenge of Shotton more modern the capitalist crisis.

Vietnamese Revolution! Four Basque nationalists jailed for 57 years PAGE 2 Workers Press, Friday January : THE Socialist Labour League does not take its stand with those who are proclaiming a 'great vic- tory' and helping to dis- arm the working class of the world, but with Lenin, who wrote at the height of World War I: 'A of propaganda at the present peace time, if not accompanied by a call to revolutionary mass actions, is only capable of spreading illu- demoralizing sions, of the proletariat by imbu- ing it with confidence in the humanitarianism of the bourgeoisie, and of making it a plaything in the hands of the secret diplomacy of the belli- gerent countries. 'In particular, the idea of the possibility of a so-called democratic peace without a series of revolutions is deeply erroneous.'

BRIEFLY • BRIEFLY

YUGOSLAV

who workers received a bonus last month in anticipation of a pay freeze have been asked to return the money.

Top party official Stane Dolanc said that those responsible for the payout would be called to account if it was found that they had broken About the law. £200m and 700,000 workers are involved.

AFRICAN

textile workers in Durban struck yesterday demand- ing a f10-a-week wage at a factory owned by the Frame Group. About 60 are migrant workers employed under the notorious contract-labour system.

EMPLOYERS have also sacked about 200 African car-delivery drivers who were asking for a minimum wage of £20 per week.

A tea firm has offered to raise wages from f5 a week to £6.50 after a strike by its African workers.

PORTUGUESE

that reports fighting is going on between guerrillas of the PAIGC follow- the assassination its ing leader. Amilcar Cabral, are denied by the Committee for Freedom in Mozambique, Angola and Guiné in London. So is the

CABRAL

claim that there is a split be- tween Cape Verdeans and main- land Africans in the movement.

A permanent commission in inquiry has been set up investigate Conakry to the murder. One of the organizers of the plot, Coda Nabonia, is said to have revealed its Portuguese inspiration.

DUNLOP - PIRELLI

rubber continue despite alliance will Industrie Pirelli's losses amount- to one-third of its share 00 capital. A letter to Pirelli share- that each . of the holders says parent companies would cover proportion to its the losses in stake in the joint firm. Dunlop did not intend to provide further funds for Pirelli until a complete return to health by the Italian firm. ASTANO shipyard workers in El Ferrol for thé, Spain, struck work yesterday second time this month. The 3,000 workers are angry about the latest pay agreement signed by management and the fascist trade unions.

January 26, 1973

BY JOHN SPENCER

continue fighting, THE TERMS of the Vietnam but not enough to enable them win outright. Soviet ald to fanol ceasefire agreement due to be excluding the use that supplied by the one-ninetieth US to the south. weapons and the launching of World War signed in Paris tomorrow show

III.

Workers Press the only paper which conclusively that the struggle Was In the words of Hanoi's negotiator Le Duc gave prominence to Hanoi's angry condemn- could have been won outright had Tho. in his Press conference on Wednesday: Nixon's visit which accused Moscow 'I am a communist. According to Marxist- drowning pirate' 'throwing a lifeline it not been for the actions of Lu a Leninist theory, long imperialism So Moscow and Peking. exists there will be war and the expense of the world revolution.

That the continue is recognized war will The Stalinists' jubilation that an agreement The agreement is, in reality, a breath- even by Nguyen Van made is in the same tradition has at last been dictator. He said the deal did not guarantee ing space which can only prepare for a as met ak or me

SONL

stable, long-lasting 'only Geneva' at the time of the 1954 sell-out when was new round of the protracted war against a ceasefire agreement, he said.

they the division Vietnam accepted imperialism and its puppet regimes in robbed the Viet Minh the tull truits Le Duc ino s statement Is an indictment of the Stalinists in Moscow and Peking and their victory at Dien Bien Phu.

l nis partition Indo-China. in Britain laid the basis for the present US interven- have betrayed the revolution-

* W1IU

ary struggle or tne velamese ocovie In Lac L1U1. There is now slightest doubt not the interests of peaceful with opposed 1lll- The Socialist Labour League 1S that this war can and will be won by the perialism. in principle agreement which does to any North Vietnamese and the National Liber- If the Vietnamese have been forced agreement clearly does ation Front whose titanic sacrifice and come to a compromise with imperialism heroic struggle have forced the US to accept for the time being than total divided and hieu has

BOTA

vemam remates in Indo-China the blame must no intention of leaving the scene without a victory and fight. laid at the door of brezhnev, Kosygın All President Nixon's talk "neace with Mao Tse-tung. The Vietnamese revolutionaries, of course, honour' cannot conceal the dimensions of The British 'Morning Star' hails the sign- heen combination nave the defeat suffered powerful by the most ing of the agreement as a 'great victory vicious bombing and Soviet and Chinese the hands sign the ceasefire. That is their of world'. It the treachery to peoples

LAC

Chinese revolution. Whatever happens in of Soviet the deal 1s in nypocritical sell-satistacuon eate Vietnam in the coming months and years, no way a condemnation of Hanoi.

will be this enormous achievement militant solidarity labulle Through its campaign for Nixon sign entire example to the working class and its servile vigils and Iratellai soclalst countles . . • a victory 1o1 this agreement world. all the peace forces'. Heath well Nixon, the DrOlests as Communist The present agreement cannot bring peace Yet Moscow welcomed Nixon British Party nas recognized the at a tillic of US to impose terms on Vietnam. As long as the when he bombing and blockading the imperialism to country remains was workers and peasants. fêted landlords and North. They avia and Capitalists conn-

LIC

ate the south, there is no basis for peace.

to strangle the Vietnamese revolution with More important, it has condoned the Soviet the most savage air war in history. and Chinese treachery their and collabor- assisting imperialists 'aid' to Vietnam with Nixon against the Vietnamese enough weapons to allow was Vietnamese 10 Their supply just revolution. another bloody the This is essence which the reactionary philosophy the ot the stalinists all ove world. lney nave used Vietnamese revolution as bargaining counter word imperials. The Vietnam ceasefire is not a 'victory' licaly Stalinists proclaim. It is the the framework 101 Cultillu- ation of the civil war. The bankrupt Thieu regime Sai cer certainly doomed. dictator is unable hold electons, erect even the flimsiest dem- and he ocratic structures will undoubtedly respond to the signing of the deal with repression revolutionary fighters and, in paruculal, Use

DOLLICCI

prisoners in the south. Deprived American Thieu cannot backing the North vetamese His fate be shared the Lon Nol dictatorship in Le Duc Tho, Hunoï's chief negotiator (right) in Paris with the US representative Dr Henry Kissinger.

NIXON

THE VIETNAM cease-fire foreign invasion'. pended on the ability of he said. 'According to agreement was formal theory, sale Tre Cambodia and the US pup- nentally the same as the signature of the create 'a great national sO as imperialism would the country will be war? pet regime in Laos. of October tomorrow union', lead accord The world working class year would not sign, Le Duc victory. eventually reunify ception of 'peaceful co- must come to me me one Tho, Hanol's chief Important existence' peddled by Vietnamese workers and thing will and struggle now,' he said, be would not be the Moscow Peking their tiator. told a Paris Press conference. easy, Ints agree Succumor peaceful He ment is strictly applied.'

forces would try to porters in Britain. siren song fighting which stressed the loose the agreement (It is worth noting that but fighting scale Tho's fighting 'own' bourgeoisie "the nature of the main poll- and war could break out against its difficult in the centuries and said were not reported by the and tical provisions agaln. Imperiansil of our fight against that everything de "I am a communist, 'Morning Star'.) internationally. A FRANCO court has sen- The heaviest sentence was to confirmation by the local

ETA,

is still movement, tenced four, Basque nation- one of 17 years imposed on military commander. holding another industrialist, alists to a total of 57 years' Felipe Huarte, and Jesus Munoa. The other Zabala was freed after his jail for their alleged part in demanding rehiring of three received 15, 13 and 12 kidnapping factory had met conditions sacked workers and a ran- or snanish years respectively. demanded by the kidnappers.

businessman Lorenzo Zabala of £335,000 for his som The sentences are subject The Basque last year. nationalist

Leaders of 300,000 civil servants meet in London to plan pos- sible industrial action against the Tory ban on their pay review, due January 1. Before them will be calls for a one-day stoppage on Budget Day followed by selective strikes in key areas. Workers Press visited a mass meeting of civil ser- vants in London on Wednesday night (right) to assess their mood. PETER CARTER, chairman of the Birmingham builders' joint shop stewards' com- mittee, and three bricklayers have been reinstated by C.

Bryant and Sons. They will resume work on Monday another of the at Bryant sites in Birmingham. A Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians official said there was no suggestion that they should return to the Chamberlain Gardens site be- work there was almost cause completed. The between agreement Bryant's

UCATT

and was reached in London at a con- ference between two company .directors, UCATT general secre- tary George Smith and two executive members. A three- point plan was agreed: • Reinstatement of Carter and his three colleagues. •Joint discussions on the bonus issue. (After the building work- strike last year Bryant re- duced the standing bonus.)

• Discussions between UCATT officers national and the com- pany about outstanding industrial relations problems. CARTER ... now site Before both parties ratified the was accepted by agreement, it Carter. The swift settlement was reached after two major stop- pages and demonstrations by Birmingham building workers. UCATT's Midland regional secretary, Mr Ken Barlow, said yesterday that everyone was 'delighted' with the settlement.

He said the been forced to reinstate the men following the industrial back- lash which the dismissals had caused. 01-720 2000 01-622 7029

SOCIETY OF

CIVIL SERVANTS

BY DAVID MAUDE

CIVIL SERVANTS from all over the country were in militant mood when 4,000 of them massed to lobby their MPs on Wednesday night. Union leaders got a rough ride at a meeting before the lobbv. -they faced a con- tinual barrage of questions about just how they intended to fight the Tory government. John Dryden, general of secretary Civil the Society of Servants, was forced to justify a statement that it would be 'tilting at windmills' to fight Tory pay law outright. the Picking his way gingerly between shouts of 'Action now!' Dryden had to hedge his position round with qualifications.

The of the majority membership would not action to bring the government down by defying the law. he ended up 'Why not?' claiming. came shout, accompanied by applause. It was certainly a very different meet- ing from those usually organized by the Society. The men and women who packed into Central Halls, Westminster, had come the govern. not just to protest against ment's refusal their to review pay on Tanuary 1. They know what wanted the Society was doing about it. And they wanted know quickly. •to The meeting became increasingly tense as Dryden rehearsed his members griev- ances. Civil servants' had pay rates lagged Musical discord on Wednes more than 20 per behind cent in Dryden's attack on the those outside industry since govern- January 1971. he Their ment's conduct of pay said. talks with standard of living had decreased the civil servants, and his support The Tories had broken their wr idea that Society per cent over the past year.

for the the should affiliate to the TUC, were agreement to review their enthusiastically applauded.

pay. 'And what are you going to do, So was his statement that please?' inquired Phase Two of the someone in the pay law was gallery. 'totally unsatisfactory, totally unacceptable'. Thank you for teaching your grandmother to suck And when he went through eggs, chief snapped a list of the possible courses back. 'It's of necessary, action open to today's joint meet- sometimes came voice from behind him. ing of civil service unions, the

LIFE

under the Tories is written replies to Mr Dennis Skinner (Lab Bolsover) and Mr grimly revealed in some ques- Frank Allaun (Lab Salford E).

tions and answers in parlia- In the first Il months of last 115.700 houses were started ment this week: 112,800 and completed in the public compared Between 16, 1970, and sector with Decetuber 12 last 125.700 started and 142.200 com- last (the latest date same period pleted the in for which information

WAC

1971. available) the Food Index

TOCA

by 24.9 per cent, said Mrs Peggy Houses started in January- Fenner, parliamentary secretary, November 1972 in the private Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries 210,500. sector were and and Food, in a Commons written pleted 178,800. The 1971 totals reply. for the same period were 187,800 and 170.500 respectively.

who Mrs Fenner. is one of the ministerial team dealing with sterling The value of f100 consumer affairs, was answering relating to its internal purchasing Mr William Price (Lab Rugby). 1964 power in October had House building in England and dropped to £63.70 in December 1972 Wales during January-November the Minister of State, Treasury, Mr John Nott said.

last year dropped in public sector and increased in the told Mr Marples He Ernest private sector compared with the Wallasev) in a Commons same months of 1971. written reply, that comparable The Minister for Housing and figures for March 1966 and Tune Construction, Mr Paul Channon, 1970 $94,50 and £77.50 were gave the figures in Commons respectively.

TELD

AMAZIN

HASKEMENT DS

DISGRACE

BROKEN

OW Wednesday's demonstration the meeting applauded for almost minute strikes in key areas. "The government forcing civil servants to do things they wouldn't have dreamt of a vear ago,' said Jack Morrish, secretary of the Customs and Excise Group.

His executive's proposal on Friday would be a one day strike either on Budget Day or the day after, he said. This should be followed by selective strikes by supported strike pay ll necessary to get a satisfactory settlement. proposed t in The living standards by the worst for 40 vears were ure They were more severe salo. than the supercuts of 1931.

If nothing was done by the end of the year, his Iving standaras would have gone down by 13 per cent at the very least. Wildfire 1973 could go down in history as eltner a vear waer te covern.

ment kept its agreements with its employees, or the as year provoked cIvil servants to take unprecedented action. 'They've lit a candle that can spread like wildfire, Morrish said. Walter Kendall, secretary of the services Association, spoke after repeated demands from the floor to hear him. Industrial action. ex- tended basis was not inevitable, he said to big applause. This should involve all the civil service But it tha the

SCS,

proved Im possibie

C&EG

and

CPSA

should go ahead themselves possible. Press, Friday January 26, 1973 PAGE 3 IT WOULD te hard to beat the latest piece of nauseating hypocrisy from the Labour Party's National Executive Com- mittee. It has decided to launch a cash appeal 'to help pay for rehabilitation in North Vietnam'. A delegation, which will include Shadow Foreign Secretary James Callaghan, will: shortly go to North Vietnam. According to general sec- retary Hayward, Ron delegation will 'perhaps look for a bomb-hit village' and then see if there was project-such as a hospital or school which needs re- building'-to which the fund could contribute. The Labourites shouldn't have any difficulty in finding such places. They have stood by and watched North Vietnam be- ing blown apart without raising a finger ever since the war began. On the contrary, they have taithtully endorsed the en- tire onslaught of American imperialism against the Viet- namese people. Neither atrocities like My Lai nor the saturation bomb- ings ordered by Johnson and Nixon could shake the sub- servience Labour of the leaders to imperialism. In January 1969 Harold Wilson hastened to the United States to assure President Johnson that the British Labour government was solidly behind his war plans. In Britain the Socialist Labour League and Young Socialists spearheaded campaign demanding he call off his trip. Now the social democrats can be sure that their im- perialist masters won't object, they want to han but a bit of cheap charity THE RATABLE value of some houses in the Bolton and Tur- ton area is to go up by six or seven times the present amount. The average increase for domestic rate payers will be 2.8 times the present sum.

In Bolton, an Astley Bridge two-bedroomed semi-detached house has had its ratable value increased from £62 to £214, while a similar house with three bedrooms has gone up from £62 to £233. A brick, terraced house in the Beckett Street area of Bolton has been increased from £22 to £50. A house in the Hillside dis- trict has had its ratable value upped from £202 to £534 and a flat in Hill View Court has gone up from £78 to £178.

A bungalow in Turton's Shady Lane has risen from {162 to £409, a ten-year-old semi detached in Timber- bottom from £78 to {224 and an old cottage in Egerton from {25 to £90. A cottage in Turton's Chapel- town Road has risen from £98 to £580.

PAGE & Workers Press, Friday January 26, 1973 10

LIQUIDATOR CALLS

WORK-IN A MYTH

Mr Robert C. Smith, out. that the greatest number Above:

UCS

'Work-in' Healers. Reid, James Airlie, Bob of men participating the liquidator of Upper Clyde Dickie, with other stewards, on a time work-in at any one was Shipbuilders, has re- 400 (in October 1971)-falling to 177 in June 1972. vealed that the numbers against every single trade In that time, the company's union principle. Those sacked actually involved in the work force fell from 8,449 to who did report for WOrKCIS much-vaunted Stalinist 6,882. work and paid from Went It was a 'myth', Smith said, donations work-in' were extremely trade for the liqui- that the work-in committee of working, were small. Reid Airlie carried dator for nothing. hael added that the the Only 'credulous people, out legal, contractual, financial and practical said Smith, could believe that organizers of this anti- pro- blems the shop stewards' of building ships. Nor committee trade union stunt-Com- had they organized the pay- was raising a big enough fund Stalinists Party to pay out more than f250,000 munist ment of thousands of men and the and a wick in wages ads orain of James Reid, James Airlie purchase ol goods millions pounds worth services. and company, were not The original intention that materials. paid out of the work-in's 'The reality of the work-in redundant men should con- negligible, concluded tinue to work was observed was fighting fund, but by the Shipbuilding continued only for a brief time in most Smith. liquidator. Many departments. did throughout it-quite indepen- members Speaking to of work at all and were not even dently of the great 'work-in' Greenock Com- Chamber of in the shipyards. of which

—LIC

redness merce last week, Smith pointed The work-in was, of course, were paid by the liquidator.

ANNOUNCING...

ean Trotst

WRITINGS OF

WRITINGS OF

TEUL

TROTSKY

TROTS A

History of Russian Revolution Trotsky-a documentary by Six volumes of Francis Wyndham Trotsky's writings during -Special gift pack ine years 1933-1940 or three volumes £8.00 including postage £1.70 including postage £1.65 including postage Please tick those you require. Amount enclosed f Name ... Address Complete form and post to: New Park Publications, 186a Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UG A New Park Publications Booklist is a vailable, free, on request.

You can't get more La- bour than Chester-le- Street. The constituency has returned a Labour MP since 1906, the year the Labour Party was founded. But even the most. solid Labour supporter might be un- horsed by the next prospec- He is 36-yeaI- tive candidate.. old Giles Radice, a research officer at the Ruxley Towers headquarters of the General Municipal Workers' and Union. He will be fighting the by- election in March caused by the death of Norman Pent- land. At the last General Elec- Pentland received tion majority of 20,000. It Radice wins the seat— and there is every probability that he will-he will be strengthening the considerable influence of the G&MWU in the north-east. The chief G&MWU bureau- in area, Andrew the crat Cunningham, is also on the local council and he chairs the police committee, the Tyne- side Passenger Authority and the Newcastle Airport Autho- rity. Cunningham achieved noto- riety in the Poulson bank- ruptcy case when it was re- vealed that both he and his wife were the recipients of financial favours. G&MWU men also hold the leading positions on no less than five local authorities in the area. Radice is a cut above the sort of rank-and-file, grass European shipbuilding faces an increasing threat from Japan, according to an article in the January issue of the General and Municipal Workers' Union Journal. Baker, the union's Ken National Industrial Officer reveals that at a meeting last November West European shipbuilders met their Japanese counterparts but failed to get an agreement on world ton- nage forecasts or even on co- operation in standardizing a method of calculating tonnage.

The European shipbuilders met again in London on Nov- ember 13 and fears were ex- pressed that the industry in Europe could collapse with widespread unemployment if action wasn't taken. At a meeting in Brussels roots candidate to which Chester-le-Street iS accus- tomed. He took an honours degree in history at Oxford and went on to study at the London School of Economics.

Last year he was re-elected to the executive committee of the right-wing Fabian Society.

He is also the author of 'De- mocratic Socialism' which is a tract with strong Gaitskellite overtones. lives in a trendy Radice north London house and was once featured in the 'Sunday Times' column, Atticus. The 'Sunday middle-class Times' readers were titivated with the idea that a thrusting egghead should be involved in a union which has members who are dustmen and cleaners. The Labour voters of Ches- ter-le-Street can quickly sort out their new candidate by de- manding that, if elected, he will fight on the following pro- gramme: • Withdrawal from the capi- talist conspiracy of the Common Market. • Repeal of the Industrial Re- lations Act, the Housing Fin- •ance Act and all anti-trade union legislation. • The withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland.

• The preparation of a social- ist programme to nationalize under workers' control the banks, big business and the land. These are the urgent poli- tical tasks which Labour MPs must take up. If they don't, the constituents should find other MPs who will. Below: Giles Radice, the Labour candidate for Chester-le-Street.

attended by British trade union delegates at the invita- tion of the EEC, the employers' fears were confirmed. It is clear the Japanese are determined on cut-throat com- petition that could drive the entire industry in Europe to the wall. Mr Michele, for the EEC commission's Social Policy Department has said: 'Many trade unions who came to Brussels indicated clearly that they have no intention of see- ing companies close down.'

But, apart from saying that Japanese 'planning' was more successful and asking for the structure of European yards to be 'studied', the unions had

SEVEN MILLION TONS OF DEATH

US planes dropped a million tons of bombs on Indo-China last year-the second-largest annual total of the war. And since 1966 more than three and a half times more bombs have been dropped on Indo-China by the US than on its enemies in World War II.

Last week the Pentagon re- vealed that 1,084,359 tons of bombs were dropped on North and South Vietnam, Laos and Only in Cambodia in 1972. 1968 total greater, the was with 1.4 million tons. The total weight in the war Vietnam since 1966 is now 7.1 million tons. During the Christmas bombing cam- paign against North Vietnam, B52 planes, each carrying about 23 tons of bombs, averaged 100 sorties a day. Other strikes were flown by fighter-bombers, each aver- a two-ton bomb pay- aging load. Yet December's 95,490 tons totalled less than those dropped in each month be- tween May and August and in November. The peak bombing in the spring and summer was aimed at breaking the offensive of the North Vietnamese Army and the National Liberation Front and cutting the move- ment of supplies to the South.

Most of these flights • were flown by smaller fighter- bombers. The Pentagon said the comparatively low figure for December could be ex- plained because raids were concentrated in Hanoi and Haiphong as opposed to the widespread bombing of earlier months. The detailed breakdown of figures for each, month, accord- ing to the Pentagon is: Jan- uary 57,790; February 67,536; March 70,694; April 91,670; May 105,729; June 112,460; Soviet chlet, Leonid Brezhnev: First he Common Market. Now he leads overtures Comecon, the Soviet trading bloc, and th Loading US bomber of bombs dropped since 1966 is now 7.1 million tons.

July 99,066; August September 91,700; October 94,300; November 100,678; December 95,490. The Pentagon's obsessive calculating accuracy publishing these figures is not overtures for trade agreements between on the aircrall-carrier "Constellation'. off coast of Vietnam. Riaht: Bombcraters in south Vietnam. The total wolo 98,182; he least bizarre aspect of th Vietnam t calls to min War. and figures the detailed files kept by Adolf Eichmann and the other Nazi functionaries and charged with the extermination of the Jews.

STALINIST

LEADERS

MAKE

OVERTURES

TO THE

EEC

Eager for detente with imperialism world the European Stalinist lead- ers are quietly making overtures towards the en- larged Common Market in the hope of coming to some agreement. They fear they could be ex- cluded from sources of credit Europe - ana trade in western unless they have closer rela- tions with-the Common Market countlico In addition they fear the possibility that China will out flank them diplomatically establish its own ties with the Market. The Chinese leaders were particularly fulsome in their for British welcome Cully. Workers Press, f Party Soviet Communist chief Leonid Brezhnev heralded the Soviet change of line on the EEC with his statement last year recognizing the reality' of the Common Market. * Over the past two months, Poland, Hungary and Czecho- slovakia have put out discreeț feelers for some eventual rela- tionship between the Common Market and the Comecon, Soviet trading bloc, which also has nine members. For years Comecon coun- tries had refused to deal with the Common Market as an institution, sticking strictly to commercial arrangements with individual member-countries.

since January But 1 this year, the EEC countries have been barred from negotiating bilateral trade agrèements with Europe. eastern Existing bilateral agreements must be discussed under the auspices of Common Market machinery.

This had spurred Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Olszowski to express his coun- try's readiness in November last year for talks with the Common Market on technical questions concerning east-west trade. In December peter Hungarian Valyi deputy premier said relations between Come- con and the Common Market could be helpful at the right time and in the right form' And early in January, Czechoslovakia deputy premier Frantisek Hamouz said: 'We expect that talks willtake place on potential contracts with the EEC, but we maintain rs Press, Friday January 26, 1973 PAGE 5 that the prerequisite must be mutual advantage.' One of Comecon's main ob- jections to the present set-up the EEC's protec- concerns tionist tariffs and quotas which discriminate against east Euro- pean exports to the west.

Hungary, for example, com- plains : that import quotas set by. the EEC make it 'difficut if not impracticable' for Hun- gary to export agricultural produce to the Common Market. From the Common Market side there are indications of increased interest in ties with the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, particularly since President Nixon's visits to Moscow and Warsaw in May.

The new line on the Com- is already Market mon reflected in the position of the two main western European Stalinist: organizations: the French and Italian communist parties. Both advocate participation in the institutions of the Com- mon • Market and have a thoroughly reformist perspec- 'democratizing' tive of this alliance of monopolists. There is what appears at first sight to be a contradiction between their position and the nationalist stance of opposi- tion to the EEC taken by the British Stalinists. However this is only apparent and has no principled basis. The only question is how long before the British • CP makes its 180-degree turn and comes back into line with Moscow's requirements?

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Friday January

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

To be transformed from a sect to a powerful force, fascism needs the back- ing of big business. Only the monopolies can un- lock the doors to political power and finance the campaigns and conspira- cies of the extreme right.

Italy's fascist party, the MSI, already commands con- siderable support among the largest banks and industrialists and its influence spreads out to the army, the police, the state administration and the judiciary. This following can only be explained against the back- ground of economic crisis in , att the country. The 'Italian miracle' ran out of the late steam around 1960s. After two decades of boom, industry slipped into a malaise from which it has never emerged. Production in 1971 fell 2.7 per cent and actually investment slumped 9 per cent.

The performance during 1972 was no better. Invest- ment is now stagnant despite a record amount of liquid capital held by the banks.

The recession has dealt the small businessmen a mortal blow. Bankruptcies are com- mon-place and the devaluation of the lira and the sudden introduction • of the Italian version of Value-Added Tax will make things worse. Under VAT the small busi- nessman will be forced to declare his true turnover for tax purposes and the practice of deliberately underestimat- ing his level of business, to avoid the bulk of the inland revenue bill, will come to an end The giants-companies like the big three, Olivetti, Pirelli and Fiat-also face the future considerable gloom. with Profits are not expected to improve during 1973 and the monopolies face class war in their massive northern plants.

It is on this rich soil of crisis that the fascists prosper.

It is estimated the MSI shares equally with the Christian Democrats the alle- giance of the small business community and the trend is ever towards the right. Particular support comes from the building employers and shopkeepers in the south, where the fascists are most powerful. Traders in Italy must apply each year for a licence and one is granted only after suitable donations to the party chest. But it is at the top of the industrial ladder that the most significant shift has taken place. The peculiar structure of the Italian economy • has always facilitated political control and influence. Capitalism in Italy у January 26, 1873 has always needed substantial state support to survive. In- dustry is sheltered by enor- mous state trusts which pump in funds to guard against crisis and bankruptcy. Only the car industry, food manufacture and rubber are free from state control. However, one should banish the idea of nationalization, even on the British model.

The state trusts are controlled by political groups who have the interests of private enter- prise engraved on their hearts.

The system is more like the ill-fated Industrial Reorganiza- tion Corporation which pro- vided millions to stabilize the private shipyards of the Clyde under the last Labour govern- ment in Britain. The difference in Italy is that the politicians who control the trusts demand a return in the form of millions of lira to the party funds. One executive described the set-up when he recalled secret political meeting rep- resentatives of his company in attended. 'All the large corporations in Italy were represented, he said. 'We asked to were loan to the guarantee a huge party' Instead his company made an outright gift-'and had done with it' Another businessman de- scribes the extent of this corruption: 'A company gives to political parties in proportion to the amount it thinks will be useful to its projects.' One big com- 'gives to all the pany, he said, countries major parties. It gives to the communists-so they won't make trouble-and to the neo-fascists [the "polite' term for MSI] in case they get more powerful'. Bribery ('bustarella') is in institutionalized. Every fact major executive has a series of envelopes filled with varying amounts of lira tucked away in his desk. If he wants to get a tax concession or win a contract he calls in a 'con- sultant', and hands him one of the packages. If the 'consultant' larger shakes his head, a packet is brought forth, and so on until the required result is achieved. If the economic crisis is the basis of the fascists' influence in the board room, institution- alized graft and the tradition of political control has cer- tainly smoothed their way to industrial power. There are three groups that are widely considered to look special favour to the with

MSI.

One is a conglomerate con- trolled by Attilio Monti based on his import-export business.

Monti's influence extends into oil and newspapers. He. owns 'Journal Italia', 'Resto Del Carno'; all the popular sports journals and 'Il Tempo' have a All these papers virulent right-wing line. One of the major contributors to 'Il Tempo' was Pino Rauti, an MSI deputy who was jailed aly in connection with the fascist bomb outrage that killed 13 people in a Milan bank. A letter has been published purporting to be a communica- tion from • a secret agent to Monti asking for funds to be handed over to the MSI. Monti is involved with an- other admirer of the extreme right, the cement king Presenti (his Italia Cementi has a total monopoly of the product).

The two industrialists have formed a pact with Eugenio Cefis, the president of Monte- catini Edison, Italy's biggest chemical and textile combine (it recently added pharma- ceuticals to its empire by taking over the biggest firm in this sector. The Montedison affair is an extremely complicated web of financial intrigue. The first made company headlines over a year ago when its president, Cesare Merza- eight resigned after gora, months at his post. He had discovered a $43m secret fund which was used by industrial- ists who had interests in Montedison for their own purposes - mainly to channel money into parties and news- papers of the right. The president before Merza- Valerio, was Giorgio gora, charged with embezzlement of accounting funds, company irregularities and deception of Several other in- the public. fluential Italian industrialists were charged with him. This scandal led to a re- organization of the company, the third largest in the Euro- pean chemical industry. It was at this stage that Monti, Presenti and Cefis formed a group and began buying up shares. With them in the race was Agnelli, head of Fiat and Pirelli, chief of the rubber monopoly of the same name. The people who suffered most from this game of finan- cial chess were the small investors, led by Giorgio Pisano, a member of the Italian Upper House of parliament for the MSI. But the clamour from the small men and Pisano has died down, despite the continued poor performance of the group.

Observers believe that money is being channelled into the MSI to buy their silence.

Theoretically the state trusts are now supposed •to control the company. But the Minister of State Ferrari Aggradi sent directives to the state trusts involved not to buy more shares from the private sector of Montedison while allowing the private factions to increase their own portfolios. The trusts have also been excluded from Montedison board meet- some ings. The third man of the right is the most interesting of all Sindona — Europe's Michele most secret financier, dubbed the Howard Hughes of Italy.

He was involved in the Montedison manoeuvres in the stages, but has early now pulled out, many millions of off, in lira better favour of investment in America. Sindona's is based empire on his Liechtenstein holding company, Fasco AG. Through this he controls 51 per cent of Banca Privata Finanziaria.

Another quarter of the bank is owned by Chicago's largest bank, the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company. The ex-head of this, outfit is David M. Kennedy, ex-secretary to the US Treasury now roving US Ambas- sador in Europe. Branches of Continental Illinois have re- cently been opened in Greece and Taiwan. The other quarter stake be- longs to Hambros, the estab- lishment British merchant bank. Sindona owns the largest English-speaking daily in Italy "The Daily American', which distinguished itself in the May election last year with very favourable coverage for the

MSI.

Other indications of Sin- dona's political persuasions are passionate advocacy enterprise - I fight private everyone who is in favour of nationalization. Mediobanca wants to stick the state into everything, and I wanted to keep it out. I fought for my ideas not for money.' Sindona has close connec- tions with the Vatican and has acted with them in deals that excited the Milan stock ex-

UFFICIO DI P. S. IN

Si riproduce lesto del manifesto a seguito del decrelo 10 Aprile: • alle ore 28 del 25 Margio scarie il term conte on pristi militari e di Polizia Ialiani è le piertracuti a bande. turo le are 28 del 25 Markin ali «handl mante memorenando le armi di cui sono eremiuul sitoposti a procreenti penali e nessuna sanz serale pronto è previvo dal derra del 1s qualunque ne sia il numero daran - coine s Polia Italiani e Tedeschi un propre incaricata presentazione dell'intero gruppo e per li canss partenculi a questi gruppi non viranno sottope e mrimi Gli shandati e gli appartenenti allo • i posti Militari e di Potina Malimi e Gu Is Seggio folli coloro ille me sor sidrile p frasi trepe e pirasali per le armi moriento fici chiaroo emitte immediatene pinelle proni rustra Provincia.. •p. il Ministro Mezzass

GIORGIO &

nella prefettura 1: 1.100| 1018. 181l.

Top: Fascist Influence in the special forces of th Insignias march openly at the head of a fasci famous order issued by MSI leader Giorgio Almir under Mussolini. It warned partisans and demol hours 'or be treated as outlaws and shot in the i

PREFETTURA DI GROSSETO

UFFICIO DI P. S. IN PAGANICO

COMUNICATO

I P. S. IN PAGANICO

• del manifesto lancialo agli sbandati 10 Aprile: axxio suarie il termine sabilito per la presenta.

Polizia Maliani e Tedeschi, deali bandali ed ap- Markin ali •handati ele oi presenteranno esolat.

rali e nessuna sanzione sara presa a loro carico dil deran del 15 Sprile: & grappi di shandni • propra incaricato she prondera accordi pres 1., poo a per la gusegna delle armi. dche cli op.

as iranno softoposti ad alcun processo penale li apportenenti alle bande doramn presentarsi olivia halimi a Germwici entro di ore 28 del cond vir strinim presentati dillon on commoiderati armi cordiane fucilariont actio selina Vi pis.

le timele deods denga affisso dutti i Comuni Ministro Mezzasoma - Capo Gabinetto

GIORGIO ALMIRANTE

audia 1018. 1.111. ecial forces of the army. Paratroopers wearing their head of a fascist demonstration.

The in- (Above) der Giorgio Almirante when he was a junior minister tisans and demobilized soldiers to surrender in 24 and shot in the back'. change. His close personal friend is Monsignore Benelli, under secretary of state at the Vatican leader and of the reactionaries who look towards MSI to arrest the 'pro- the gressive' drift in some sections of the Catholic church. Sindona's secrecy has lead to conflicts with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, who investigate ownership and con- trol in industry. A complicated deal once led to a two days suspension of trading for his US interests after a Wall Street Journal investigation. But Sindona, born in Sicily, makes light of this concern.

The Americans had the wrong impression. They were worry- ing about 'black gold' from 'gangsters', when actually it is "anonymous' money from highly respectable people, he says.

To Wall Street businessmen he had called together to dis- cuss investment in the US he exclaimed: "Ridiculous, if European bankers were to tell about clients as as much American banks do they would go to jail.' But it is not only from finance capital that the extreme right are attracting support. Industrialists are also casting a keen eye in a fascist direction.

Fiat chief Agnelli has re- cently become extremely con- cerned about the working class.

'In Italy today, he said, 'the amount of unproductive and 13*23 parasitic income has grown at a pathological rate. This is because wages cannot be re- strained in a democratic society? He continued: 'The em- ployers have two perspectives only, enter a head on collision with the working class or a •series of initiatives to eliminate waste.' Agnelli seems to have gone ted for the first option. Fiat now recruits workers from the fascist union CISNAL. Letters have come to light which re- veal that Fiat chiefs, in asking for CISNAL workers from the south, prefer the ones who have a strong ideological moti- vation, since many southerners had been quickly absorbed into the labour movement within weeks of work in the factories of the north. •Fiat's latest plan is to go to the south and build factories.

But big concentrations, where militancy grows fast, will be avoided "fascists The are clearly anchored firmly in the indus- trial structure of Italy, but this influence is paralleled by their growing • influence within the state, institutions and the organs of repression. The pro-fascist attitudes of were described in the police Wednesday's and Thursday's articles. Latest evidence sug- that there is now a gests deliberate policy on the part Workers Press, F of some police authorities to develop fascist influence within the ranks. The Communist Party newspaper l'Unita' has for example revealed that recruits to the police and the para-military Carabineri are be- ing obtained through CISNAL and the MSI. The danger to the left of this infiltration is made more acute by a new regulation by which police will have the power to arrest anyone acting in a way that may 'indicate' they are liable to cause a breach of the peace. If they do arrive in court, left-wing militants Will get little joy. Judges, all over the world, are a most reactionary group of individuals, but there is evidence that this tendency among Italian judges is a little more pronounced. Every year judges speak of their attitude to the job at inaugural ceremony. From an this, their political persuasions can be gauged. From the last inaugurations it is estimated that well over half the judges in Italy sympathize with the extreme right. In the south many _have come out openly Destra Nazionale (the National Right-the monarch- ist movement now officially part of MSI). Case histories also testify to the bias. In the infamous Milan bomb anarchist Valpreda case the was kept in jail for over two years (his 'co-assassin' Pinelli, a rail worker, was less lucky, he 'jumped' from a police sky- scraper block). ment despite the fact that there was no evidence whatsoever to connect him with the attack.

He and the prosecutor Occorsio (brother-in-law of Italian pre- mier Andreotti) also had the hearing moved to Rome, a fascist stronghold. This broke all custom and practice-crimes in Italy are always heard where they were alleged to have been com- mitted, in this case Milan the major working-class centre and a stronghold of the left.

In the armed forces too, the fascist command strong sup- port. About 20 high-ranking officers stood as MSI candi- in dates the parliamentary elections (two admirals, one and three ex-paras colonel stood in the Rome region of Lazio alone). Influence is particularly well developed in the 'crack' special forces, the paratroopers and • the marines-sections of the armed forces that would be used (as they are in Northern Ireland) to fight a civil war against the working class.

Paratroopers march openly with fascists on demonstrations and the ex-paratroopers associa- tion, which organizes periodic re-training for its members, is controlled by fascists. But perhaps the most sinister aspect of the rightward trend in the forces of repression is the apparent fascist influence within the secret and political police. There have been several coups by the ex- attempted treme right with army and police support in Italy in the One of the last ten years. earliest was in 1964—prompted a crisis in the centre-left by coalition led by Christian Democrat Aldo Moro. Head of the Carabineri, Giovanni De Lorenzo con- a plan to 'take the structed initiative' in the case of a national emergency. Over 1,000 names were passed on to the intelligence service SIFAR by Lorenzo. These were of acti- the left wing and vists in trade union movement who were to be rounded up and flown to internment camps in Sardinia if an emergency was declared. When the economic crisis deepened in May, De Lorenzo sent a personal message to the rs Press, Friday January 26, 1973 PAGE 7 armed forces and SIFAR officers. A key passage read: 'We are ready to face the future, united and Preparations continued. De- tailed orders outlining a plan to occupy the radio and TV studios, the exchanges and the offices of political parties, trade unions and newspapers, were The plot was aban- sent out. doned only after De Lorenzo intervened the had and Christian Democrats had re- sisted pressure from the left.

When these plans were re- vealed in the radical newspaper 'Expresso', , De Lorenzo was forced out of office. He joined Destra Nazionale (the monarch- ist movement, now part of the MSI) and took with him 36,000 files on politicians and trade unionists all over Italy.

De Lorenzo is now an MSI member of parliament, the files are in a Swiss bank and presumably at the disposal of the fascist movement should the need arise-it is as though the head of Britain's security services had defected with all his files to the British fascist movement! Since the De Lorenzo affair there have been two known attempted coups from the right.

the security In both cases services must have been aware of these plans, but nothing was done. One can only con- clude that the political police in Italy, passively, or actively back moves towards dictator- ship. There is one final point of importance to be made when considering fascist influence within the Italian ruling class.

The MSI's power cannot be viewed simply within the Italian context. Regimes of traditional demo- bourgeois cracy in western Europe are now the exception rather than the rule-Spain, Greece and all relinquished France have this form of capitalist rule and the contradictions of the Common Market are forcing the other regimes in Europe in the same direction. These developments are actively supported by the American's through NATO and the CIA. The American's sup- port the Greek junta. It is an open secret in Rome that they would like to see a 'colonels' Italy. The departure of Gino Birindelli, ex-NATO naval chief Mediterranean in the for example drew approval from many American NATO officers.

The development of fascism is in fact a European, indeed, a world phenomena, since the capitalist world is gripped with intense economic the same crisis. This is why the story of Italian fascism has an immediate importance for the British working class. The series so far has been inevitably one-sided. It would be perhaps understandable to assume that in the road to power the fascists face no serious obstacle. This would be totally and completely wrong. Trotsky once said this about similar developments in Ger- many: 'Fascism is a product of two conditions: a sharp social crisis on the one hand, the revolu- tionary weakness of the Ger- man proletariat on the other.

The weakness of the prole- tariat in itself is made up of two elements: of the particular historic role of Social Demo- cracy... and the inability of the Centrist leadership of the • Communist Party to unite workers under the banner of revolution' (Leon Trotsky, "The Key to the International Situation in Germany 1931- 1932', essential reading.)

In Italy (as in France, Britain and Germany), working the class, once mobilized politically, is immeasurably more powerful than the forces the fascists at present command. In the final analysis the fascist threat in Italy hangs on the one question of working- class leadership. IT IS this we examine in to- morrow's final article.

E261 '98 Manuer Amply 'A80Nd SaXON 8 JOVI h

Wilfred Downing playing George V, of 'The Red Flag' in the Albert Hall. Lel in a comic sketch about the catastro Redgrave perform a send-up of the W The whole cast on stage for the finale- —Road to Workers' Power. The campaign for the pageant, 'Road to Workers' Power. , is now well underway. An enthu- siastic group of workers, their wives and families have come forward to assist in the productioin of episodes in working- class history. For the next six weeks they will be involved in preparing a spectacular pageant to be staged at the Empire Pool, Wembley, on Sunday, March The theme of the anti-Tory rally will be the defence of the basic democratic rights of the working class. These are rights by the working class won from the dawn of the Indus- trial Revolution: the right to organize trade unions, the right to strike, to picket, to black, the right to negotiate wages freely, the right to a decent standard of living, decent housing and a free health service. These rights have been won in bitter and heroic struggle.

They can only be defended in struggle. The Tories cannot snatch away these rights with- out the most enormous indig- nation throughout the entire workers' movement. It will be the task of the pageant to give political focus to that indigna- tion. The concept of re-enacting episodes of working-class his- scale is quite tory on this unique. It will be performed in the largest enclosed audi- torium in Britain, seating more than 10,000 spectators. The preparatory work for the pageant has been com- pleted successfully. A cabaret road show has visited Middle- in Lancashire, South ton Shields in the north-east and Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales.

These are three of the locali- ties from which actual his- rge V, complaining to Ramsay MacDonald (Cor + Hall. Left: Malcolm Tierney (left) and David t • catastrophes of modern living. Far left: Toi of the Western Brothers' act— Poor show, de the finale-the theme song of the campaign to torical incidents will be drawn for the pageant. The working in team Middleton will concentrate on the struggle of the Chartist Movement which culminated in a General Strike and then armed insurrection. In South Shields and Jarrow the presentation will be in the judicial murder of Will Jobling, the miners' leader who was hanged and gibbeted. The Merthyr campaign will centre on the legal attacks on the trade unions at the end of the 19th which century climaxed in the Taff Vale judgement. It was the massive fines in this judgement which prompted the unions to build the Labour Party. In London there will be a documentary account of the political struggle of Karl Marx during his exile in Britain.

The whole purpose of the pageant will be to activate this history, bring it to life. In the text books of the bourgeoisie and in their cinemas this his- tory has been hidden and distorted. The cabaret took the form of a preliminary organizer. It gave the audience a taste of the possibilities of productions which have their roots in the struggle of the working class.

In that sense, the word 'cabaret' is perhaps misleading.

Of course there are plenty of laughs and songs. But the hour-long perform- ance of sketches and snippets of history has a cutting edge.

In the three towns that were visited it evoked a class which said: We response, want to know our history, we will defend our rights, this Tory government is dictatorial and corrupt.' After each performance the players moved : the among audience seeking reactions and opening political discussions.

This has been necessary to bring forward people to help with the pageant campaign to make it a success. It has also broken down the distinction nald (Corin Redgrave) about the singing id David Hargreaves play two char ladies • left: Tom Kempinski (left) and Corin show, dear boy, poor show. Below left: npaign to detend basic democratic rights between those taking part in the sketches and the audience.

In the West End of London the players leave by the stage door after a show. But in the cabaret it was clearly demon- that the considerable strated professional talents of those taking part are subordinates to their role as organizers and political campaigners. Their work for the pageant is absolutely in line with their fight in their own union, Equity, to oppose the Indus- trial Relations Act and to fight for a decent standard of living (see p. 11). Their mem- bership has one of the highest in unemployment rates the country-90 per cent out of work - and recently they be- came the first section of workers to suffer a wage-cut under the new Tory pay laws.

Next week first the 'rehearsals' will be staged in the three localities. These will be public events at which trade unionists, housewives and youth will be taking part. All local workers' organizations are cordially invited to send delegates or observers—or just drop in to see what's going on.

This is when the campaign really commences: people will have to be found to play parts, have to costumes be made, props built and scripts to be worked on. There is also the important question of finance.

Already schemes have been launched in Middleton to pro- vide transport to Wembley for old aged people and unem- ployed youth. To make the pageant a huge success and to see that it gets the widest possible audience, this is the type of organiza- tion which must be built up in the district. During the next six weeks Workers Press reporters • will be working alongside the teams organizing the pageant. We will be reporting on struggles in the local areas and helping to involve as many people as possible in this great project. Workers Press, Fi

EXPLOITATION

Apart from his bonanza in the North Sea oil play, Lord Thomson of Fleet is still turn- ing some fat profits in the industry. printing Take his organization in India called Thomson Press (India) Limited.

A recent catalogue is offer- ing 'a speedy service' for the photosetting of books. price is The 75p per thousand ens (characters) read corrected. and "The price applies for straight-forward matter including two sets of galley proofs and page proofs and supply of final page film positives ready for plate making. 'We also specialize in Bible setting,' the blurb says.

Just to give you an idea of of exploitation his the rate lordship is operating in the backstreets of New Delhi, a similar job in London would cost about £3 per thousand ens.

DEFENCE

Each year the British Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science holds a meeting. All the big brass from the univer- sities and research laboratories gather to discuss latest de- velopments. The chairmanship of the conference is greatly prized.

In 1974 Dr John Kendrew, Cambridge biologist, has been chosen. Is Kendrew great some humanitarian scientist battling on the trontiers of science?

We don't know. But what do know is that he is we chairman of an outfit called the Defence Scientific Advisory Council. This is a body of scientists which advises the government on keeping abreast of the weaponry for latest countering civil unrest. A working party chaired by Kendrew began special studies on this subject six months after the Tories came to office.

s Press, Friday January 26, 1973 PAGE 9 Its report has just gone to Defence Secretary Lord Car- rington, who is also the Tory Party chairman. The findings will not be made public, although it is known that the committee felt and that the forces of 'law order' should be equipped with the latest technology for com- bating demonstrations. • The Advancement of Science conference next year will be held at Stirling University from September 2 to 7. The president said that an anonymous donor had given £3,250 towards the cost of the meeting and Stirling University matched this with a similar donation.

FRENCH CP

The French Communist Party, desperate for any votes it can collect in the forthcoming elec- tions, is trying to appear all things to all men. A delegation from the Party and its union federation, CGI, attended the recent tuneral of the Palestine Liberation Organization representative Mahmoud Hamchari. This was presumably in- tended to assure the Party of not inconsiderable Arab the vote in the election. Mr Ham- chari the victim of was Zionist terror attack However, the Communist Party does not share the PLO's hostility to Israel. Central Committee member Pierre Juquin recently made this clear to a predominantly Jewish audience at a Paris election meeting. Asked about the state of Israel, he said the common of the CP-SP programme electoral alliance guaranteed that country's right to exist- ence' . The common programme in fact bases itself specifically the UN resolution of on November 1967 which is not accepted by the Zionists or by the Palestinians. Juquin went on to speak about the persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union, saying: shadows, There are sluggish development ... But what we are proposing is a French pro- gramme, drawn up by French- men for Frenchmen.' The question was wrongly addressed. It was no concern the French Communist Party, he concluded. Evidently the CP has hopes of capturing votes from both the Zionists and the Arabs with this approach. Where is Britain Going? Paperback 37tp • Problems of the British Revolution Paperback 35p Lessons of October Paperback 60p In Defence of the October Revolution Paperback 15p Marxism and the Trade Unions Paperback 25p Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International Paperback 10p Postage: 10p per book. Order from:

NEW PARK PUBLICATIONS

186a Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UG

PAGE 10 Workers Press, Friday January 26, 1973

TODAY'S TV

ВВС 1 12.25 Y Schools. 9.38-11.55 12.55 News. 1.00 Pebble Mill 145 re 2.25 coware. ocnools. Children talking. 2.35 Parkinson. 3.35 jacka. 3r% 4.50 Help. Record reckong: Tomorrow's world. Clang- 4.10 Play 4.35 ers school. 5.40 Magic 5.45 News roundaooul weater. 6.50 7.00 THE VIRGINIAN: MEN FROM SHILOH. The Legacy of Spencer FAE MORECAMBE AND WISE SHOW. The Settlers. 9.00 NEWS.

8.15 Stone Cold Dead. wetter. 10.15

DIMBLEBY

TALK-IN.

11.00

NEWS.

11.05

INTERNATIONAL

TENNIS.

Rothmans International Tennis. 12.00 Weather.

ITV

9.30 Schools. 12.05 Inigo D Crown co Ha 2.00 12.40 First house. 2.500 Time court. General hospital. was

TSU

Crown Good afternoon. 3.00 16. 5.20 an and the professor. 5-50 London. Merrie Melodies. 4.50 Magpie. NewS

TODAY.

6.30

GUARIUAIN

7.00

PROTECTORS.

Vocal.

7.30 IT'S ALL IN LIFE.

THE

8.00

HAWAII

FIVE-O

Little Girl Blue.

FRIDAY

PLAYHOUSE.

TEN.

Al 10.40

FILM:

'GUILT IS MY SHADOW'. Patrick Holt, Elizabeth Sellars.

1UFI.

12.10

CRISIS

FAITH.

12.15 JASON KING. A Deadly Line in Digits. Subscribe now!

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REGIONAL TV

CHANNEL: 9.30-12.00 London.

1.15 News. 1.30 London. 2.30 Yoga.

3.00 "The Film: Forgotten Man 4.23 Puffin. 4.25 Flintstones. 4.50• London.

5.20 Junkin. 5.50 London. 6.00 News.

6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 6.10 Report.

7.30 FBI. 8.30

all in London. It's 10.35 Film: "The life. 9.00 London. Brain Machine'. 12.00 News, weather.

Channel

WESTWARD.

AS except: 12.00 London. 4.23 Gus Honeybun. 10.32 6.00 Diary. 6.25 Sports desk. News. 12.00 Faith for life.

SOUTHERN: 9.30

London. 12.00 News. 12.05 London. 2.30 Women 3.00 Galloping gourmet. 3.25 only. Saint. 4.20 4.25 Funky Weekend. phantom. 4.50 London. 5.20 Cartoon. 5.50 London. 5.25 Crossroads. 6.00 Day by day. Scene SE. 6.35 It's all Sale of life. 7.05 the century. in 7.35 Film: "Escape'. 9.00 London. Monster ekeed 12.235 10.35 Film: "Die, Monster, Die'. News. 12.30 Weather. Guideline. HARLECH: 9.30 London. 2.30 Women 3.00 London. 3.25 Marcus Wel- Or. 4.25 Rovers 4.50 London. 5.20 Fight Rising Prices Force the Tories to Resign Support the Engineers MIDDLESBROUGH: Sunday Janu- ary 28, 7.30 p.m. Settlement Com- munity Centre, Newport Road.

LIVERPOOL: Sunday January 28, 10.30 Christopher's, a.m. Speke. WATFORD: Monday January 29, 8 p.m. Trades Union Hall, Wat- Watford Junction ford, near station. PADDINGTON: Monday January 29, 8 p.m. 'Dudley Arms', corner North Wharf and Bishop's Bridge Road, W.2. MANCHESTER: Tuesday January 30, 8 p.m. "The Maypole', Ford THE Plymouth Fine Tubes just completed strikers have two years and seven months on strike. These men have waged a bitter struggle for the most basic right worker can possess-the right to belong to a trade union. Strike committee members have travelled over 100,000 miles to sustain their fight.

These latest months have been the hardest of all for the men, their wives and 53 Who are the authors of the shop window postcard adverts? Well Nora, who runs a general store, decides to invite these 'lonely' people Desmond to her birthday party. Three of them are Madge Ryan, Perry and Petra Markham in Friday Playhouse's 'The Regulars' on all independent channels.

Left: Jeanne Moreau in the first of a short season of her films on BBC 2-'Les Amants', directed by Louis Malle.

BBC 2

11.00-11.25 Play school. 5.25 Open University.

7.05

HAMMER IT HOME.

Starting a coffee table. FISHING. To Norway. 7.30

NEWS.

Weather. 7.35

COME

MONEY AT

WORK.

Success and Failure. 8.00

SIX

FACES OF ROYALTY.

Charles I-the new image of 9.00 monarchy. LES AMANTS Jean-Marc-Bory 9.15

FILM:

Directed by Louis Malle. With Jeanne Moreau, Alain Cuny, FILM NIGHT. Inside the Maze.

11.15 NEWS. Weather. 10.45 5.25 5.50 Chuckleheads. Crossroads. weather. 6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 6.18 Re- limit. 7.30 Report hve-o •awall Film: port Wales. London It s sure. "The Rope'. 9.00 London. 10.30 10.30 North of urani Film: all life. 11.00 Press call. 11.30 Curse Frankenstein'. 12.40 It's Weather. races Dul allele

HTV

Cymru/Wales above except:

GRANADA:

9.30 London. 12.00 Felix 6.01-6.18 4.25-4.50 Stesion 12.05 3.25 cat .50 London. Tine dydd. 10.30 Sports arena. 11.00 Cartoon 4.00 Dragon and the lion. 11.45

UFO.

20 Elephant Weather 6.30 London. News. Back" Heport erest: as above except: 6.18-6.35 7.00 lite. 9.00 10.30 Report

LOCON

Film: Invasion of the Body Snatchers'.

ANGLIA:

9.30 Lood 3:32 30i About London. Dick

TYNE

TEES:

9.25 3.00 an 2.13 gue vY Ullicis London. 3.00 3.55 Romper 4.20 News 2.30 News. 4.25

LAVAC•

3.25 Lon- london. 5.20 denhant 6.35 Cross 5.50 baize tal. 5.20 London 7000 6.00 About Anglia. don. 0 Today. the chimp. 6.00 6.35 Sale of the centurondon. yondSky®s Crossroads. mit O'Hara 8.30 Plaim: 10.00 .00 7.30 Hawaii life. 10.30 Probe 11.00 The „strang- London. 10.30 North 'Corridors country. News. 12.35

ATV

9.30 London. 3.30 Blood'. 12.30 Lectern.

MIDLANDS:

4.50

SCOTTISH:

9.30 London. Date- 2.30 London. It takes 3.00 7.30 Protectors. thief. 4.25 5.25 and the 9.00 8.30 It's all. 10.30 30 Film: Crossroads, 5.50 London. 4.21 Regulars mondon Weather. London. 6.00 Today. 6.30 "Some Running'. Came 7.00 Pon to. 7.30 With 9.00 end Lon- Friday 11.00

ULSTER:

11.00 London. 1.32 News. don. night. Late 2.40 Romper 3.00 _Schools. 1395 com …Love London. Women. 4.23 American style. 25 Funky phantom London. 5.50 10.58 1.38 5.20 General hospital.

GRAMPIAN:

London. Cross- News Reports. Cartoon. 2.50 6.00 6.35 schools.

COLOUR

7.00 Sky's the limit. 6.05 week: cond 6.35

NCWO

urampiali 9.00 8.30 It's all life London. life. 10.30 Long street. 11.50 Look up. Chance'. It's in 9.00 Londoi1.10 10.30 Partners. 11.00 Tob

YORKSHIRE:

3.30 Film: Soho Incident'. 9.30 Londor look, Danger man. 4.25 London. 5.00 Calen- 12.30 Meditation. Speakers: CAMDEN: Tuesday January 30, Lane, Pendleton. Harry Price, 8 p.m. 'Prince Albert', Wahrfe- Connie Fahey, Road, off York Way, Kings Mike Hyndman. 'Fight rising dale Force the Tories out!' prices! Cross. KINGSTON: Thursday February ROCHESTER: Tuesday January 1, "Liverpool Greyhound', p.m. Arms', 'The 30, p.m. Road/ of (corner Cambridge Rochester Avenue. London Road). BARKING: Tuesday January 30, CAMBRIDGE: Thursday February corner 1,8 p.m. "The Rose and Crown', Fanshawe Ave./Lagbridge Road.

of Newmarket Road and HARROW: Tuesday January East Road. 8 p.m. Labour Hall, Harrow and Febru- MANCHESTER: Thursday, Wealdstone. ary 1, 8 p.m. Ross Place School, CLAPHAM: Tuesday January 30, Fort Ardwich. Joe Potts, Winnie 8 p.m. Clapham Manor Baths, Price, Connie Fahey. "Fight rising Clapham Manor Street, SW4. prices! Force the Tories out

WANDSWORTH:

LIVERPOOL: Tuesday February 6, 8 p.m. Hotel, House, p.m. Tooting Broadway, children. Common Market entry, lose. That is why the Socialist League with rapidly rising prices, has Labour and the Workers Press wishes to make imposed severe financial The 37 strikers burden. face special appeal to all trade ahead unionists to take collections in the challenging months depleted strike fund- factories branches with their and is in a period when meat for the Fine Tubes in this men now become a luxury for order that their heroic and nas determined action can be car- all but the highest paid. January is always a difficult ried forward. All money should month to money to fur- be sent to : raise ther their fight. Fine Tubes Treasurer Yet they are determined to c/o 65 Bretonside fight on. This is a struggle the Plymouth, Devon. working class cannot afford to

Some of the actors and actresses who lobbled the Equity Council last year during the demand for the West End pay rise. They now find their pay has been cut by £12 under the Torles' state pay law.

ATLUNAL

.N

GLASGOW

Sunday January 28 The Communist Internatlonal In the Days of Lenin and Trotsky.

Sunday, February 4 The Left Opposition's struggle against Stalinism.

MID HALL

Partick Burgh Halls 7.30 p.m. Lectures by Tom Kemp, SLL Central Committee member

DONCASTER

Sunday February 4 The crisis and the soclalist answer. Sunday February 11 The revolutionary party in Britain. Lectures given by Cliff Slaughter.

SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL

Westlaithgate 7.30 p.m.

TODMORDEN

Monday February 5 'Trotskyism'

THE WEAVERS' INSTI-

TUTE, Burnley Road, 7.30 p.m. ANY ILLUSIONS that Equity from the Tories state pay laws meeting at the Department of E under secretary, representativ Theatre Managers and a deleg Mr Brand's message was in Equity members' pay pack paid - bringing their minimur government's wage freeze and Lecture 1 1919-1924—The Communist In- in the days of ternational Lenin and Trotsky Lecture 2 1924-1933—The Left Opposi- tion's struggle against Stalin Lecture 3 1933-1938—From the German defeat to the founding of Fourth International given by TOM KEMP (SLL Central Committee)

ACTON

Wednesday January 31 Lecture 1 Wednesday February 7 Lecture 2 Wednesday February 14 Lecture 3 Woodlands Hall Crown Street, W.3. 8 p.m.

EAST LONDON

Thursday February 1 Lecture 1 Thursday February 8 Lecture 2 Thursday February 15 Lecture 3 Old Town Offices Poplar High Street E.14. 8 p.m. Workers Press, Fri Equity, the actors' union, might be exempt ay laws were dashed at a December 28, 1972, ent of Employment. Present were a Mr Brand, sentatives from the Society of West End a delegation from Equity's Council.

y packets, and the further £5 about to be ninimum to £30 a week - contravened the ze and must stop. Two months earlier—at a mass meeting on October 20-Equity general secretary Gerald Croasdell held out hopes that the proposed West End deal might not be subject to the Tories' future legislation.

If the deal were accepted, he said, it could be 'signed, sealed and delivered in 24 hours'.

The meeting had been called, in fact, with the new laws 'very much in mind'.

It was hoped that with the employers' assis- tance, a way round the legislation might be found—as it was during Labour's 'freeze' in 1966. Equity's general sect But Employment Minister of battle for the preservation Maurice Macmillan's signature Shepperton, it represents no on the Tanuary order showed than political slogan more that with their fair deal at as wholly irrelevant to the immedi- work', 'fair rents' and 'fair trad- problem.' ate Bill, ing the Tories intended to Socialist policies for the theatre be scrupulously 'fair' and film industries are anathema • actors frozen wages were to be just to the Council because a struggle like else's. implement them would in- anyone to In fact Equity was given the Tory volve fight against the distinction of being the first government and determined offen- in years to against the employers. post-war direct wage cut! receive a By seeking special concessions,

'NO POLITICS'

Equity's Council set up for the Tories sitting target But the Council's policies are who wanted to demonstrate to based on co-operation with the the whole trade union movement government in the name of 'non- they intended just how ruthless politics' and with the employers to be to carry out their plans.

of 'harmonious in the name There been lead has no or relations'. call the to action from Equity As the political and economic officials. In fact, the response the leadership merge, crises kind *fore- has been the of further into the arms driven of which Heath paid bearance' the government and employers to tribute to in his Lancaster House and maintain its position Press conference last week. further away from the members' The Council's paralysis is the actual requirements. logical outcome of its policies. Though it compelled was at The union's recently-published the annual meeting to accept a shows that employment survey resolution calling for strike £20 under average earnings if the employers refused action any given time week: that at the full West End claim, it has 70 per cent of the membership done everything in its is unemployed; that in the past since then to bury that resolu- of while five the cost years, tion. leaped living has up, earnings Every time a call was made have scarcely increased at all.

fight full for on the claim,

CONDEMNATION

it has insisted on the sufficiency of and the negotiation neces- sity to avoid presenting an ulti- If these figures-released the matum to the employers. the government's day after dav The figures show employment order-were intended to how sufficient such methods have the Tories' thaw hearts, they proved to be. clearly failed. However, they do Two o years' negotiations with provide a damning condemnation the ended with a new of the union leadership. agreement last June which And, while presenting no jobs forced a wage-cut actors policy, this leadership vehemently the mini- already earning above opposes nationalization all Three futile months the more so as this policy gains mum wage. of negotiation ended with increasing support among the BBC ultimatum: accept the cuts ranks. above the 12t- resolution at the June 27, minimum ora 1972, per-cent cut all round. annual general meeting Equity responded by signing a calling for nationalization of the productivity deal allowing entertainments industry without the BBC to extend its whole compensation and under workers' range of programmes and to cut wage control was defeated by y only a only handful of rates by 25 der cent.

TATAC

opposed the motion on behalf of Two months ago, at a time of the Council. the worst-ever inflation. the Council signed an agreement for He returns to the attack in this Equity Tournal', West End contract month's new to Referring binding for five to the fight be against years. John Bentley's attempts to "asset- It contains no holiday entitle- strip' the Shepperton film studios hours. ment, or reduction Middlesex, he writes: in Overtime is paid at 50p an hour.

'In these circumstances the those who fall sick to be are paid half salary for the first and utmost vigilance and continued the part of the Federa- unity on weeks their permitted of Film Unions is essential. tion month and rehearsal pay, said We believe that this unity to be an absolute demand at the will be maintained in spite outset negotiations. the attempts to divert the reach performance parity with Federation from the main objec- pay in 1977. tive by the Such are the rewards for the Incoron a minority on injecting into every Council's policy co-operation resolution relevant which they with the employers. sponsor or support the sectarian What is the prospect for and irrelevant signature tune of Equity members now that even 'workers' control' these concessions can no longer 'At the present stage of the be won by the method of free Press, Friday January 26, 1973 PAGE 11 neral secretary Gerald Croasdell collective bargaining? Actors, singers and dancers face this crisis under a leader- ship which has already, by its policy of registration under the Industrial Relations Act, pre- pared the way for complete acceptance of state wage control.

It has encouraged the extreme right wing, 'Goads' the Equity, to threaten the union with legal action, and to cam- paign for withdrawal of affilia- tion fees from the TUC in order to sever Equity from the trade union movement. It has convinced employers such as the BBC of their ability to attack the union with im- punity. Above all, by its surrender of fundamental trade union rights, and by cutting Equity away from the strength of the movement, it has tied members' hands for the crucial battles which lie ahead on wages, on theatre and studio closures, and on unem- ployment.

VINDICATION

Only as part of the trade union movement, and in concert with all those unions which now face the government with wage claims, can Equity members fight for the future of their profes- sion. What emerges, therefore, from the present crisis is, on the one hand, a vindication of all those members who have fought Equity for active policies against the Tory laws and the employers' offensive; and on the other and condemnation of absolute a leadership. There is no way forward now for any section of the profession without a fight to clear out this present Council and to demand elections, representative of every section of the profession, for a new leadership. Such a leadership must be charged with carrying out the policies demanded by the mem- bership at AGM's and with policies to meet the requirements of the present crisis: ON WAGES: Industrial action for the immediate payment of the West End claim. Total opposition to statutory wage control. Full wage claims for every section of the member- ship. ON UNEMPLOYMENT: Nation- alization of the entertainments industry without compensation and under workers' control.

ON THE INDUSTRIAL RELA-

TIONS

ACT: Immediate de- registration. The new Council to build unity actively with professional and allied unions, to demand the recall of the - TUC for a campaign to force the Tories to resign and to elect a Labour govern- ment pledged to rovual all anti-union laws.

EEC means sugar and bacon up PAGE 12 Workers Press, Friday Januar

TO GO

TO RAISE

THE BATTLE is on. We have six days to complete our target of £1,750 and we are determined to do It. We are also confident that you, dear readers, are fully behind us.

Workers Press, alone, has been the only daily paper to speak out against the treachery of the Stalinist bureaucracles behind the peace agreement in Vietnam. Just at the time when com- plete victory was within grasp the Vietnamese people, pressure was increased by both the Soviet Union and China to reach a peace settlement with Nixon. Only Workers Press fights victory of for the workers throughout the world against Imperialism. It is this struggle know that wins all your we support. Help us now with a very special effort to complete our January Fund. We know you will do it. Rush all donations Immediately to: Workers Press January Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG. Students march

THOUSAND

TWO

students marched through the main streets of Southampton yesterday • de- manding supplementary grants for all students. In a noisy demonstration the chanted students 'Heath out, socialism in' as they proceeded to a rally at the City Halls.

The main contingent was from Southampton University where a in progress. one-day strike was There were other strong delega- tions from_Portsmouth, Bourne- mouth, Salisbury, Fareham, Bristol, Oxford, Salisbury and Basingstoke. The students were supported by the Southampton Trades Council, which represents about trade unionists in the 100,000 area.

SOCIALISTS AND SOCI

END ALL DEMOCRATIC RIG

IONISM AND BASIC LIVING,

CION TO MAKE THIS 1

RESIGN

-THE ROAD TO PC

THE BUILDING OF THE REVO

TICKET €

lay January 26, 1973

RANKS HOVIS MCDOUGALL,

Britain's biggest flour milling and bread combine, is to apply for an increase of Itp in the price of a loaf of bread.

Mr Joseph Rank, the com- pany's chairman, told the annual meeting of shareholders yesterday the application would be made

BY OUR

OWN

REPORTERS

SAVE

SAVE

SHOTTON

SHOTTON

STEELWORKS

STEEL MORKS

TO section of the 3,000-strong A steelworkers march in London yesterday. Report page 1.

LAWRENCE DALY, the miners' leader, said yesterday union chiefs would meet the National Coal Board next Wednesday or Thursday. "Then it is probable that there will be a ballot among the members to decide on what action is to be taken, Daly said.

'This is the start of the national rejection of the Phase Two plans.

It is not just a problem for the mineworkers.' Daly was speaking at Heathrow Airport before flying to Brussels to attend the European Coal and Committee Steel Consultative meeting-the first attended by a British delegation. Daly and miners' president Joe Gormley went to the meeting despite the union's overwhelming and bitter opposition to the Common Market.

LEAGUI

SOCIALIST LABOU

RATIC RIGHTS DEFEND

IC LIVING STANDA

UNITY

KE THIS TORY GOVERN

ENT

AD TO POWER IS THROUCH

THE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY

TICKET E1

to the government on March 6.

Ranks Hovis McDougall, which makes a quarter of the country's bread, markets such brand names as Mother's Pride and Nimble.

Its trading profit over the past five years is as follows: 1967 £22.7m 1968 $27.5m 1969 £29.4m BACON and sugar will cost sharp increases are a direct ment worked out in Brussels bacon producers and sugar ro

MEAL

Stcelworks

DEMAND

wOR ACCESS to the Lucas com- bine's factory site in Fazaker- ley, Liverpool the CAV must controlled by Fazakerley occupation com- mittee, sit-in strikers insisted at the factory yesterday.

An afternoon mass meeting rejected the committee's recom- mendation that a pass system which has been in operation for the last 12 weeks be abandoned.

The strikers voted to maintain control both of the site's boiler house and canteen facilities, and of the gates through which all supplies, transport and per- must enter or leave. sonnel But the meeting stressed that it was in no way denying laid- off workers at Lucas Industrial Equipment, which shares the Fazakerley site with CAV, the right to return to work. This the management's was responsibility, sit-in strikers week's mass pointed out. Last meeting had agreed to allow the free movement of supplies on and off the site. It had been Lucas who refused to accept the pass system. Lucas had also refused to accept that the CAV occupation committee control the workers chiefly responsible for operating the on-site services. On Wednesday the occupation committee had drawn up its recommendation that

LIE

workers and staff be allowed through the gates without passes, THE VIETNAM ceasefire was likely to lead to the go-ahead for an American supersonic air- liner, Mr Edward Bishop, an Opposition aviation spokesman, told a Commons Standing Com- mittee yesterday. MPs were con- sidering the Concorde Aircraft Bill which increases the limit on loans or guarantees which the provide to government may £25m. The Bill also provides to raise this limit by order to £350m.

The committee stage of the Bill was concluded. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Published by Workers Press, 186a Clapham High Street, London,

SW4 7UG.

Printed bv Plourh Press Ltd.

(TU). 180b Clapham High Street, London.

SW4 7UG.

1970 £30.5m During 1970-1971 their 1971 £32.9m was f1,105 £22 per annum, pay And there been week. has The price rise is not expected little increase in wages since.

to bite into the family budget of The company's political alli- His Joseph Rank. annual salary are quite clearthey be- is £41,700 a year, while three of Toryism. In lieve in right-wing directors get than 1971 £3,500 to the board gave £20,000 each. the reactionary Economic League and £5,000 However, his 61,000 employees to the anti-socialist in the UK will feel the impact. Aims of Industry. ill cost at least 3p a lb more in the shops from July. The direct result of Common Market entry. Under an agree- Brussels Britain has been forced to abolish subsidies for sugar refiners. The Tory Food and Agriculture Minister, meeting which decided to drop the £65 a ton curing subsidy for bacon and the £25m subsidy on sugar.

Godber also agreed to abolish next January the £2.5m in subsidies paid Northern Argentine topside will be about to 60p a lb, while Scottish will be Ireland's egg producers. around 75p a lb with the equiva- It will be recalled that Godber lent rump prices at 70p and 95p.

masterminded the three- recent New Zealand lamb chops will be investigation beef as high as 50p and shoulders will price rises. range from 20p to 25 р The price raisers are the Tories •a lo. and the profiteers who back them Mr Len Moss, a spokesman for Federation of Meat in big business. the National Godber Two weeks ago was Traders, told shoppers yesterday shedding tears about the rise that the best they could do was in beef prices. Two days he 'shop around'. ago travelled to Brussels to supervise deliberate increases in bacon and

VAVASSEUR

Financial Group sugar prices. are in for has made a £17m bid Weekend shoppers takeover Bentley's for another round of hefty price John Barclay Securities, which Shep- livestock controls increases. At the this week film studios. The bid markets prices have perton been sharply up. These rises will values Barclay Securities at be passed onto the housewife around f17m and each Barclay share at 87p. with the main burden The shares in the on 'luxury' cuts like sirloin and top- asset-stripping company side. slightly on news of the bid.

BY DAVID MAUDE

present who were refused to accept a resolution that they call stewards' the meeting immedi- but the combine management ately. wanted even further concessions.

Any decision on this was post- These have now been refused.

engineers' poned until after an The occupation committee's union district committee meeting attempted retreat on the passes on Wednesday night. followed a Tuesday Issue night The trades council leaders will with leaders of the meeting meet again next Tuesday. Liverpool Trades Council.

The engineers' district com- In December the trades coun- CAV workers were told mittee, cil pledged to call a meeting of yesterday, has endorsed the stewards throughout the area occupation committee's decision the New Year to sup- early in on Wednesday morning to main-

CAV

the fight port against tain control of the on-site ser- but closure, Tuesday there on Vices. evidence of considerable But it endorsed the aiso council's backsliding by the dropping of the pass system and executive. there is danger that union Several key members of the officials will continue to press for Those executive were absent. this to be done. Socialist Labour League Yorkshire Rally

FORCE THE TORY

GOVERNMENT TO RESIGN!

BUILD THE

SUNDAY JANUARY 28, 7.30 p.m.

Great Northern Hotel,

LEEDS

OF WORKERS PRESS

Speakers: In personal capacity:

SEORGE LUBY (U.P.W.

ROBBIE ROBERTS (N.U.M.