Nothing succeeds like success. That is the Labour Government's motte since the victory of the loyalist general strike in May.
So on Wednesday 7 August, Merlyn Rees, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, held what the Times described as a long and sur prisingly cordial meeting with the hard line sectarian leaders of the loyalist strike - including members of the UDA, the UVE, the Red Hand and other para-military organisations.
That a Labour minister could have "cordial" talks with these ultra-seetatian elements - who had been the Immediate instrument for overthrowing the imperialist strategy embodied in Sunningdale - stems from the fact that any new policy will have to embody the demands of the loyalists for the re-establishment of the protestant ascendancy. What this implies, of course, is an attempt to return to the situation before 1969, and the complete subjugation once more of the catholic minority.in the North.
'HOME GUARD
Such a strategy requires the fomenting of the sectarian divisions in the North as an instrument of policy. The protestants will be pitted directly against the catholic ghettos. Hence it is not surprising that one of the main items of this cordial" discussion was the establishment of a new home guard" for the Six Counties.
Of course any such force could be no more than a resurrection of the notorious B-Specials, who were the main instrument in the repression of the catholic masses for half a century Alrcady John Taylor, ex-Minister of Home Affairs in the Stormont parlia ment, has threatened that unless such an armed home guard is established by the autumn, Ulster loyalists will themselves set up such a force, This, he claimed, would be armed and number 20,000 men.
This threat is based on the exisDence of the Ulster Special Constabulary Association", a para-military orpanisation of ex-B-Specials numbering several thousand men. This organisation, which is represented on the Ulster Workers Council, was probably among those with which Rees had such 'cordial' talks.
SECTARIAN FORCE
This is the reality of Labour's new policy as embodied in the White Рарет. The perspective is now one of the sectarian organisations fighting alongside Brilish troogs in an effort to re establish the Orange monolith British troops have always heen a sectarian force, They have never operated in the interests of the nationalist population. Now this is going to be seen to be the case by large sections of British workers, as the British troops become directly implicated in Phato: ANDREW WARD Report to the loyalists. But apart from its also has immediate consequences for the working class in this country.
Club has recently put out a joint statemeat with the Unionist group in Parliament calling for the reconstitution of Stormont and the creation of an anti-socialist alliance of British of becoming the focus around which the right wing in this country will attempt to regroup.
the establishment of links between the National Front and various loyalist groups. But as the Monday Club statement indicates, the NF is by no Indeed, the Times reported last week that behind the scenes, Conservative back-benchers and frontbenchers have made contact with the Uster Unionists since the general lem through this policy of concessions appalling effects in Ireland, this policy it is no accident that the Monday of an overall majority.
Tories and Ulster Unionists'. The new situation in Ireland has every prospect Red Weekly has already reported interested cough to discuas the situation at length and consider the position pat for and by the Troops Our Movement. mum that can be expected from such collaboration is moves to increase the number of Northern Ireland seats at Westminster from 12 to 20, which in a close election could deprive Labour But all the indications are that this development goes far heyond a simple September. Tudged up deal between the Tories and the Unionists in Parliament to keep Labour out of office. It is in fact an attempt to regroup the rightwing forces for an all-out offensive against the Brilish working class LACK OF SOLIDARITY The labour movement is thus bopinning to pay dearly for its lack of solidarity with the trish liberation strupale in its period of upsurpe. The reactionary forces which have thereby been able to seize the initiative again are now in a position to be used against the British working class This development must be stopped in its infancy. British workers must come out very vigorousty for the with building support for the Troops Out demonstration in October, called by the Troops Out Movement and the British Peace Committee; and the larpest possible mobilisation by wurk ing class organisations apainst the NF. Loyalist demo in London on 7 PROFOUND EFFECTS At this time of disarray in imper ialist policy, even small actions can have profound effecis. This is espec ially true with a Labour Government attempting to implement this turn, for its reactionary designs have to be hidden behind high-sounding phrases. and even the smailest actions can be significant in exposing their dirty work for all to sce.
Itis for this reason that the Labour Party has come down so heavily against the LPYS conference sched uled for mid-September, on the dubious constitutional grounds that the LPYS is not allowed in call