The recent publication of The Revolu tron Betrayed in Yugosiavia represents a historic landmark: for the first time, Trotsky's classic analysis of the degeneration oi the Russian tevolution hus been allomed to circulate openly in a buresuetalised workers state.
The publication of The Revolution Berriqved completes a six-rolame edition of Trotsky's works put out by the Rijeka pablisting house Oktober Kersovani between spring 1972 and winter 1973. rector of the University of Zagrch since 1972 and a long standing member of the editorial hoard of Praxis, the Zagreb philosophical journal which has been under more or less continuous fire from Party hard-liners since 1968.
In a long introdection to the fast yolume of the series, he gives an astonish afe and work (including the formation of the Fourth International). Drasting extensively on Deutscher's three volunse thun Deutscher in his generally positive sament of Trotsky's contribution to the world revolution in the years of his exile, Insisting that "Trotsky was a Marxist and a revolutionary to the end of his tife' and that the Stalinist charges against him and the Left Opposition ... [are] most perfidious and unscrupulous insinuations, Vranicki concludes that Stalin's actions dealt a grave hioo to the development of socialism in Europe. ingly bonest account of Trotsky's political blography, Vrunicki, If anything goes further event.
When the first volame of the series was published in the spring of 1972, in the middle of the first wave of repression in Yugodavia, it immediately became a best-seller-in the "bop ten" published monthly in the Zagreb paper Vesnik. More remarcably, the lutest volume has been enthusiastically teviewed in the semi-official journal Nase Tene, whose editor Stipe Savar heads the ideological: depurtment of the Party in Crostia.
The reviewer even chides the editor for. the lack of indexes, the abeence of a closology of events fur the relevant years, and the failure to include a bibliography of Trotiky's works and works on It is clear from recent debates in the Yugoday press that there are deep divisions within the bureaucracy on how to deal with left critics (these are, of course, only one aspect of much bore far-ranging differenced). It is in this context that the decision to permit the publication of this series must be seen, It is interesting that the aune Rieka publishing house was also the first to publial Solzhenitsyn. NAME As int all the bureaucratised workers" states, the fight for freedom of expression is of vital interest to revolutionary Marxists In this sense, too, toe publication of Trotsky's works in Yugoslavia-despite the bureaucency's repressive curit over the last few years- an important political JOE GREENWOOD DEFEND GRIGORENKO! Public meeting, Tues 7 May, at 7.30 pm in Conway Hall (Small Hall) SPEAKERS: Chris Farley (Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation), Robin Blackburn IIMG) and others.
(British section of the Fourth International!
97 Caledonian Rd., London N.T.
I would iike more information about the IMG and its activities Red Weekly 1 May 1974
PORTUGUESE Red Weekly It is still carly days in Portugal. No one can yet be sure what precisely the new line-up of political forces will be, although the broad outlines are already clear.
One thing is beyond dispute, It was the continued successes of the liberation movements in Portugal's African colonies which made the overthrow of the Caetano regime Inevitable.
The Portuguese workers can thank their African comrades for the new prospects which have been opened up by last Thursday's coup.
The first mores of the new junta have buen to consolidate its position and win support. A prograsume of national Salvation has been announced, whose measures inclade the abolition of censorship, the release of political prisoners, the promise of carly elections, and new rights of trade union and poltical association.
The fascist ANP previously the only legal political movement-has been dissolved, and the secret police (DGS) are being rounded up and imprisoned.
All these measures are welcome They enormously improve the conditions in which the working class can organise its struggle. But the not he forgotten: the new regime simply represents un alternative irategy for the hourgenie While capitalise remains, these freedoms can be revoked just as quickly as they were granted.
which prepared the coup, acted because the old colonialist strategy warfare In Angola, Guine Hissiu and Mozambique, there was still no Sign of victory.
ging the whole Portuguese economy down with them, hitting not only these capitalists who have a direct for cioser links with European big business.
tepresented hy the new regime, Its Jeading figure, General Spinola, spelt in his book Portugrand the Future.
a political' solution to the African conflict, putting forward the idea of a "Lusitanian commonwealth' in have formally equal status. central feature of the situation arust The Atmed Forces Mavement,* had tailed. After 13 years of gaerrilla Moreover, these wars were drag stake in Africa, but abso those looking 1977, •It is the latter whose interests are out his intentions several months ago Spiach emphasises the need for hand inside Portugal.
which Portugal and its colonies would From BOB PURDIE Portuguese domination would be maintained not through direct forge but through the development of an embryonic African bourgeoisie tied to the interests of imperialism.
This would mean that the resour ces previously swallowed up by the war could be diverted towards massive investment, cabling the major commercial interests like the CUF and the Champalmaud group to compete in the EEC when Portugal Joses its protected status in midWe must be clear, therefore, that the new repime has seized power in order to umpose a capitalist solution to a capiralist problent. It has no intention of simply giving in to the African liberation movements by granting them self-determination, Nor Cons is likely toarise It can only be does it intend to let things get out of Statements like that of Socialist Party leader Mario Soares, that the Portuguese Army is not the Chilean Army, can thus only disarm the struggle working masses and leave them at the mercy of the capitalists. The crawling of the Portuguese Communist Party-which is herping the junta to inclade it in the new provi sional government- will have the same elfect.
Much of course will depend un the attitude of the African liberation forces. FRELIMO in Morambique and the PAIGC in Guine-Bissau are unlikeJy to do a deal with Spinola: but the temptation may be greater in Angoli, where the Porluguese are more entrenched and the resistance is split into three separate movements Certainly, if Spinola is unable to impose a "political solution in the colores within a fairly short period. then another crisis of massive propor adequately prepared for if the wor king class recognises the present regime for whar it is, and takes advantage of its contradictions lo organise its own independent
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International Marxist Group