Socialist Challenge No. 32, 9 February 1978

Socialist Challenge · 9 February 1978 · 16 pages, 21,130 words read by machine

The scan: sc-n32-feb-9-1978.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)

Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Page 1 scan of this page

Socialist Challenge •What you really mean is that immigration control is a device to keep out coloured people?'

"That is what it is... I don't think we should hide from it and that's what people are concerned about' -Weekend World, 4th Feb. 1978

END ALL IMMIGRATION LAWS

BRIAN WALDEN:

MERLYN REES:

UNITED KINGD AND NY

sechasiline and prodedien send to affind the learns IF THE BEARER

IS WHITE!

He Palanne Mapst's

Snappal Peneling of tale on the large of her layol Hugest androgen

No. 32 9 February 1978 15p

INSIDE

MICHAEL EDWARDES

DEREK RORINSON

A tale of

love al first sight.

page 3

SOCIALIST

ADVANCE page 5

GEOFF HODGSON

Fund

PETER JENKINS

the Labour Purty

page T

WOLVERHAMPTON

Powell's patch revisited pages 5 und 9 TONY CLIFF On Irelund puge l0

OWENS

POLICY

What the doctor's

ordered, puge I1 WOLF BIERMANN

Reply to East German dissidents, page 13 UNDER REVIEW The shrill self-enclosed squabbles of rival ege

page 15

Page 2 scan of this page

'приешар 0N 94) 10

-WYN

AUNES RENDRE BA RAUCORRA LAISSERRU

Surpo puy

106 GO HEN SOUN INOS SI GOUSE

Jo

par passan peu

sure men p

•Ces Du 16

2941 pois 103 SI Bonead Apuauna

pue оЧІ 33500-

заритрипрал

SUH. ALEa PuE SOL.

E3mU13408

Supdope 996L

au seid 01011717 bey 00 hall

Today eng

fax s0l spon soyon pas en po appes

poorde sarepumpos rejanjos

L

suos

NON

Manes

I001S

-00g

C3111

sgof sumas jo Buissous aut ми ректор

*q pasoddns Sunocroid sr —

syi po siom se di poucens

Suages) LOUEETENS

paparasip aut saouseud YURI put

Ones, sypads e jou si popeon 01 -on est ey se capas pass

mun

D4I a0j Sutpus

LOIRES

DE CULI ву вці вик дова ці му вашоа порами

шан зі Мирившир скріші і ород ме

іn скри венерику взад зала ниці с

ine Cinin 5 15 10s 520020159

Page 3 scan of this page

Derek Robinson A statement to every employee

RR.

Dear Leyland worker. This week I have been making a number of appointments to higher management in British Leyland, I know some of you are upset that | have not managed to find a place for Derek Robinson, the chairperson of Leyland shop stewards and convenor of the 20,000 workers at Longbridge.

I want lo assure you that I had only one reason for not Promotine Derek he is do too valuable a job moment to move him Let's be honest about the sitnation.

In his famous speech to the Twenly Club my Richard Dobson had this to say of Derek: "I happen to know the chief convenior at Long bridge. He's

mist- 1 must say that 1 like him because he's good at getting people to what Sir Richard meant Or course. in the past Derek has blown a bit 1975 he said: "In a situation where the Corporation try lo enforce rationalisation with all the organisation at our command'

NAUGHTY

But nobody took those sort of sentiments very seriously at the time, and seeing Derek week which involved the loss of 12,000 jobs, I think that has been proved right.

1 really did appreciate that vole of confidence from Derek Allet MEl was somewhat naughty in not taking my plan LETE PARALIAO CORRIE or "car council in which 1 know Derek SITong y favour. Just to show you how difficult his vote for my plun must have heen in view of his advocacy ol participation or. ag be called it September "limited workers control', Twill quote what the recent Communist Party pamphler said on participation.

Ir sugeested parsicipation Futurer des say in the

decisions investment and location of work. the unions are receiving long term warnings. where the queston of redundancies has arisen... the unions are recei ving long term warnings of this

Yes, quite.

UNGENTLEMANLY

Ofcourse Derek is the first to аррение алете не procicms with this particination lark. For instance. in November 197: Derek wax one of the members of all ad hoc shop stewards committee set up under Ryder proposals to aversee the move rowards corporate bargaining

Part of this was Leyland's "security of earnings scheme, which you probably. reblember advocated penalties

The future of

from Michael Edwardes

the

Derek's engenremanly coll cagues, blurted out proposi WE ready, al a meeting gave bim a right telling ofl. But VOL participation business must That tha representatives koop everytitine they discuss well away from the shop floor.

And 1 do not blame Derek for the vote of the workers which rejected that scheme 1 know he tried his best to get it accepted. But then Derek has a o goodteasom in trying at allooshi s to stop strikes. I was reading in an UT THOU HILLUTE CHIE inolmakers strike in February/ March last year, when Derck went all out to stop that action. His words агс the repeating today I think: "The

worst thing that can happen to British Leyland and the country is for groups of workers to think they have the God-given right to take sectional action in tions, We can't afford

ILEYLAND

BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

SINCE NERE FOR THE CHOP

PAYWAY, 1 MOVE THAT WE

MAY AS NELL 90 QUIETLY!

strike! these How belpful Derek's opp: were ation to the toolroom strik of was, and support for the Social Contract Has been, T know he has lad problems bolding worth

DEREK ROBINSON members. Didn't be say Rustration over his her frustration over wages. leading to a negative attitude.

Unless there is some reversing of the trend we will not be able

how belpful

Teel back. bis

understand his problem.

shop. collective

April,

by our members'

арадесов

consider

in

same end, and together.

Yoursmost sincerely.

Michael Edwardes.

Young

ground ordinary

has

points.

execution Socondy.

pervert?

@ Layland Cars

00000 the vote to the und

ROY Derek was referring here to the end of a Phase Two which, to give him his credit, be backed Consumer throughout, He did ar the time

necessary make working after Phase Twa, but honestly 1

Kemember April 1977 ar che conse newared levline

stewards free bargaining? They acreally called a strike for 19

but as Derek explained later: We have to bave a token strike. If we are not seen to do somerbing we will be overtaken

STILOT SRAE thinking whic made me think very seriously about giving Derek a job u Eboke, pressed certainly potential and 1 will

nfa promise. But in the meantime Derek has his job to do and I Have mine. Twant you to know we are both working for the

News

nowhere

Wank insubordination WE HAVE been watching

25 m rule standing around there and we Chutk you are a wanker. This deathless prose was repeated to wock. Constables Toal and

Not the lice Squad arrested Michael Paling for masturbating in the lavatories at Procadily Circus Under-

station in Loadon

One of the Vice Squad officers explained: "We have heen doing this for the last three off a wanker. They always plead (guilty) to it.'

One problem a man

member raincoat bripade bur a Special Branch officer? An Old Bailey him (aot surprisingly) and he against Toal and Young for BUTTE brough charges wrongful arrest.

But there are tep interesting

Fint, Paling -was pursuing a suspect when he was arrested. Is it uscini practice for officers to be arrested in the

of their duly? whal Happened i Paling had noi been an SB but one of the hundreds of innocent lavatory wers who are also picked up or indecency charges on the whim of seate zea us Vice Squad

BASNETT'S DREAM

OR TRANSPORT House correspondent inforins in that the Municipal Workers leuder David Hasnell, is busy working on a new plan to "democratise

Labour Party Since Conference has rejected mandatory re-selection of MP's by constituency parties the whole question of parly democracy has hang in mid-air

According to our informant

wants to enlarge the National Eseculive Committee by another 30-40 members authorities. This does appear to the esen for the ation block

Throuchs. bul nothing should surprise win

So all socialists in the Labour Part:

the for Democracy in the Labour Party should be prepared.

HATTERSLEY, the Labour Minister for Prices and

Protection, has €500. recently addressed a number of

gatherings the class universities Oxford and Cumbridge. Roy taid any undergraduate pre over a drink that he had some After Him, there would beanew too arrogant and loathed by all sections of the party to become Leader, (e) Who did this leave to lead the nation? Ar his student admirers indicated that they were unaware of the supposedly obvious answer Hattersley pointed at himself.

choke, puip. sup laughter. anotber tound on the new Leader

AÇer took NOT TO BE missed. Next Saturdus, 11 February, BBC.2 is serening Before Hindsighi, from 8.45 lo 10.25 pm. It is a revealing documentary on bow

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE. B Februery, 1978 page 3

from

cinema-goers in the "30s were presented with offerty

the so-called newsreeks. The film. directed by Jonathan

and produced by Elizuoeth Taylor-Meades, wus reviewed in our 24 Novemher

Needless to say, the mass media's presentation of current affairs has no! radically changed. As Jonathan Dimhlehy points out in Before Hindsight: "The obsession with bulance frequently distorts the truth fundamentally."

At a discussion uffer a recent showing of the film at The Other Cinemu, Richard Fran cis, head of news and current affairs at the BBC, was closely questioned by Ibe audience ahout television coverage of the war in Ireland. Frascis, forme controller of the BBC in the the classic: We do not give equul time to right and wron

And what was the BRO policy on Britain's present-day Nazis? The revolting Franch replied: There Is strong pressure from the public that we do not interview the IRA. 1 hope that is not now to be extended to John Tyndall.

A CAUTIONARY tale for al our readers who may fin themseives arrested. Nick Slater was a regular supporter of the Grunwick picket and was arrested twice. He was found guilty both occasions (surprise surprise), once for assault and once for obstruct.

As he saw the police coming for him a third time he was begianing to wonder if hed done something to upset them 'How do you know I'm not they dragged bint off to the van. Right,' said the arrestiny officer, who, like all cops, is a bir deficient when it comes to humour, Well have you for impersonating a police officer

When Nick's case came up he was apprauched by the police who implicitly admitted that this was rather a silly charge. They said ley'd drop it if he pleaded guilly another charge abstructing the police. Nick agreed, and, no, healind t ge tack or the

Instead the magistrates gratefully accepted his guilty plea, fined him the maximum penally of 1200 and hound him oner for two Fears. he "husbenaves', be will forleil

What's Nick training to be a solicitor, so the mapistrates thoughtfully nob fied the Law Society, effectiv cly ruining bis career. And tbe moral of this story: never plea bargain with the cops, because if they don't double-cross you someone else will.

IDES OF MAY DOWNING STREET analysis are suggesting that Callaghan is thinking of I going for a Maj election. his popularity is ar its peak. He has Red the Class struggle and appears as the best possible Jesder at the moment. su wh risk wasting any more time. al another leader who thought along exactly the same lines even years ago. He went for a election in 1970. He lost, muc to his surprise. Whar was tha ahout how history repeated itself the sooond time as farce!

Page 4 scan of this page

SMEN C NOH

HASTA HA - 12021

pue -TJUE SETSATEEE

BASSl

3411.

OSJE

sugnd.

USUNN INN O0 OE BUNNE

T57308 3600 10 3301 30 QE

seM puepa] jo bogesynuogeu STAN COO DISKUR ICHA

оці крао 00L°23 SE4L

Ananonpoad

gand

sapueapg ruesd ou ayew

xg pumpiay Bundund 0 dn 1 spang cane

te ma cus ps pung

saon pur juanl

S520305, oã Isnam

p sino mem m togompa

SCENA EM

o pastas sasan fo gan

poole

topoy nOTIL

SG0L 000 G6 IBUS 0s Df u83

1maa0e

pasnsus

secoypo uon doge spupwa15

sugejdxa speside

3401 S9803 sopa pasnnnon haa

Spea pun sepyso uosun jo

(sa(po

spmais pur epugo эs0чt paa pey pinon,

Smeuel ur bonedud n3u

-2121 mh sor waa sanSJaN0H VON CENC MIO HEIS pue 941,

UIM

lioddns pue DUL UI 03X5

puma oopse sapoen

puejo AT DELU

pue sgof asosdun pue wegem at supan o spann saa

GOL SUE TENE 1UB0 301

J0 -31

Зли Карт

Voien samsmuassda

TOA SE

Waning sa ainas 5,9 IDU -

froddns

CRELRS

po0ug

sip to paseyd mailes

epusde 201110

st 1 u0 uopom V15 241

TANTE SETDSKEEUTEUINHH

ENWSBIdNE

Quo audot puodes sif st soleies

Spoon sanom pueyn

siapom

BAEOCHINS1

pue kan 1 on00s pue

and spaenpa o os

đn Sorel BOU TONE •spasu ayaete

THESE TATERESRO anl. 30I0)

Sumpes

basusod mas sigi i

ang

зова (sis0d S330 SEED (83)

sikh?

Vn 0 nu J30AN DUn

Eunon

ДDLРS003 Sep pages

SI41 pungkay do an pols pindase ses

sen Snes ayI sasa) pUE

цаполи

STENS asaui jo se ssaid SE41

1 S0047

sai sgL pasad-ed

341

24 San 1010 1050p pur 01 3 6 101 193 0004-201

эшео

pomquico coun — DUN Saque 000/6

101 TEISUTE

914 PUE D'ON ya Swissos to Hogs - aved

spooas -papoppui isua angol doysyoug

MT WIRST SAMURASEI1T

Besugey

герарм,

10 an sponso ue ul

Sut 050.

pampep !!

sund sauna panpa

-1a0

spoods sui uo saup ing t But

341 48n01

sem Supo sapmeapg a4l

spion

SODDE

POB snD pue -sysenjuacaru soo0expe

LOTTESS

•20021

Bude

5100H

203371555

350 anest (syeses:

BEE

DESSERE

s501 40!

1811

обзоров пе sasant.

NO9 S805

SDI DOLC) OR SuDE ueder pur ading saasJom

ay soa

15700 o des soc sisaot parapas

got saupis ismene apfdnns uad pu sol ILM S011500

'sün-poods ac:

saon 331170036701 on ismele sau toa tou puy

LIOT QUEERY CE SETET

peuoneu a joj mo e passata

Spun u sua ISIE sundald 1434

puz gaya spesodoad,

ấ ố dy vị

Spotte wondped pue

St puejay it seoiun

DIEE J01 un: pua

saLacps aL1

speer

-SBN

Page 5 scan of this page

60-80 candidates for May elections Socialist Unity Appeal

10]

disgust with Labour's vicious policies. and urge readers to respond with speed. A Labour Government in

standards, growing unemploy. ment, savage cuts in public

The limited made by women. much as th 1967 Abortion Act, the Equal Pay Discrimination Act are either being attacked on have proved to be nothing more than token sops. Fascit organisations like the National Front, encouraged by Labour's immigration laws,

reactionary policies, have grown training troops to step in. Esso,

increase, but with

DODIE WEPPLER reports

The tanker drivers are out to so their action has results. They will be meeting again in mid-February to asaess how much closer they are to the 60 per cent increase in the original

fortnight's overtime ban.

The companies claimed that the productivity scheme could put up to E15 a week in drivers pay packages. but 113m0Orl General Workers' stewards who represent the 8,000 drivers invoived reject tbis figure as

PRICE OFFENDERS

At the beginning of the

CANNOT UTILETS issued a marning terestine

CHESTO pricer were charged for petrol they would not receive their petrol deliveries. Last Ley reliu to denver several offending garages. This Is a in wich can avoid the usual attemptsto pit columers against workers in struggle.

EWS

If you happen to live in one of the 19 places where Socialist Unity is fieldinga candidate in the May council elections, you will have the opportunity to express your

But to make certain a political alternative is offered to Labour in the council elections, it's not enough just to churn out the leaflets and election addresses. Active campaigns and struggles in every locaiity need to be supported andorganised. Thatrequireslotsof resources

Below we print the appeal launched by Socialist Unity

bolder.

Although the Labour left has groaned and protested about the Government's policies. it pains nus done nothine to organise any fight hack. The majority of che lefe MPs and left trade union leaders are nothing more than happy prisoners in the jail. house of Callaghan's anti-working class policies.

NO WAITING social Socialist Unity - which & a

Army ready to scab

Drivers challenge

10 percent

Oil tanker drivers are maintaining their overtime ban in the face of the latest offer from the oil companies, and statements from the Government that it is already

Shell, BP Oil and Texaco have dressed the offer up as a 15 per cent

the turmoll around Government's sanction list they will doubtlessly stress that this formula is within the 10 per cent; the additional 5 per cent involves a productivity scheme.

And it can deler filling stations who have upped prices to as high as Sup a gailon.

DELIVERY CUTS It 15 overtime ban will cur deliveries have by 30 per cent - and if the drivers remain solid Er Mati have wirely willed Tut her 2D. cent for the 15 per cent The Road Haulage Asso ciation - а federation

15,000 lorn drivers — announced that taken by pil tanker drivers may 8/50 begin To affect deliveries.

Lorry drivers are also in the midst cerning their claim. Half have

week break through the ment sid ner cent, Csmabisn.ng a new basic race of E53 for a 10-hour week, in practice, this amounts to a Id plus the consolidation of pay

coalition of marxist organisations and militant independents - insists there is a need to start fighting back now, Ir says such a fight back cannot wait until the Callaghans become converted to socialism, or the left MPsdiscover that the interests of the working class are more important than some shoddy compromise with the Labour leaders.

STANDING

Socialist Unity will therefore

canditates in this May's local clections. because it i convinced that there is a need to raise the banner an

in its clection campaigns it can LOUS DE SHIE activity in the areas to light

oppression of women and in supplements into the basic rate for overtime pay calculations. To date, drivers in Scotland, Тупе and Bradford opted for this settlement, and the London drivers are expected to

follow, The official lour strike by South Wales lony drivers ended last after Premind both sides of ACAS stepped

Government's guidelines'.

This settlement is not the end of action by drivers. Besides the oil tankers" action, the claim of 25,000 public sector

the employed

Freight Corporation also calls for a 15 percent increase. Sir the corporation, paster cut is the corporation, employed threatened with the sack if he

gives into a settlement beyond the t0 per cent limit.

of

NOT JUSTIFIED bave the action Whatever the result of the

TOAKED DAILISME LE food be certain that if it bites, it wil

be used as an excuse to justity further increases con- food and other goods affooted.

Lps happens the bout

culprit Govern- Government and its

scot free. That's why effort mouse be made to ensure per cent rise, that support for drivers

organised now.

alternative and Healeys

show campaign

members

ThiS class policies.

alternative APPEALING

the working offer

the familiar

limir. the Electricul and

Engineering Workers until the

per cent claim The

Tees Leeds, and Sheffield have

their

NUM

day

weekend talk on

the

Arthur Scargill the Yorkshire

drivers

National

STRIAN

in petrol,

real

is police ant

get off

every

Scale amoun.

defence of democratic rights.

In no sense does Socialist Address Unity intend posturing as the

to the Labour Government. or the Labou controlled councils. It intends

by its election thai there socialist alternative to Labour's bankrupt policies, and that thi neans building an opposition London Ni. that embraces trade unionists.

of immigrant community, and the worsen's movement as well as all those people inside the Labour Party who are prepared to take action against CRoou sant-working

We are therefore appealing to doing one —or even better, all you to support the Socialist Unity campaign in the May clectioiss. You can do this by

in the clection allies are campaign: giving a financial

Sparksfly

Board.

FOUR UNIONS representing 90,000 power workers rejected claim

made

the current round of negotia- offer tions. The Council wheeled out

productivity scheme, in addition to a settlement within the 10 per cent

miners.

The four unions involved -

Plumbing Trades Union, the General and Municipal Workers, the Transport and General Workers and distributed the Amalagamated Union ol

- have • next date for ococtations on 15 February to consider how to pursue their 30

rule. productivity scheme offered so far is estimated to increase power workers" inconte by a miere 12,70 a week, That's a long way from meeting the many problems reflected n the power workers" claim not least the fact that a full 40 per cent of industrial workers

power stations have lost

jobs over the past 10 wages TTECCLIVITY carried out

Wednesday 'A NON-negotiation' is how

- president of described last week's round of BIRNESS MAND AGNITION MORE WOK

the workers back if they lall the union, but the strikers rejected the offer. 12/13 Henrietta St, London WC2

Tamyaltin to do work for any Socialist Linity candidate sig in my area.

I enclose a donation to heip Socialist Unity's clection campaign. Units), or bankers orders made payable to Socialist Unity, Coop Bank, 110 Leman

1am prepared to sponsor Socialist Unity candidates, which 1 do in a personal capacicy:

Name (block capitals] ....

State positions held in labour movement ete

Post this slip to Socialist Unity, c/o Rising Free, 182 Upper Street,

SOCIALIST UNITY Steering Committee Meeting Sunday 12 February 12 n0on-4pm 76B Digbeth (next1o Digbeth Civic Hall) Birmingham

donation and sponsoring the socialist Unity candidates.

- of These three things you wil be making sure that the needs of working people

not buried by the

UNION NEWS IN BRIEF

talks with the National Coal

The miners" union recotling team decided at the bargaining table to push ahead with their 92 per CUREWELL

But this decision was taken against Scargill's move 10 recommend rejection of the

and rapid industrial action. He was supported by only one other member of thi executive — Emlyn Willams. presicent of Sourh Wales

Union leaders turned down the NCB's offer sertlement — within Labour's Jo per cent guacaDes - TO Be

throughout the union as the NUM sees fit. The NCB also rejected the miners" demand lor a feturi lo a wate settlement date of November, and maintained the 12-month

Although a handful of local pits has already takeo action cinde the incosition of the acentive schemes, there is no way that these local strikes will reverse the 18 per cent decline u carnings suffere by miners hetween April 1975 and 1977.

And any wage increases on the road to making up this tall in

if confined to local schemes are only at the expense of the health and sately of miners, but aiso the fighting

Negotiations continued on

Tollowing day's meeting between the TUC and three executive members of the union, which discussed the 8-mosth settlement dale the Workers at Gamers' Steak House in Landon have been on strike for two weeks. The 85 workers want on strike after a number of them had boon sacked for taking part in a demonstration asking the company to grant rocognition to the Transport and Goneral Workers Union, Gamers' offered lo take

Resolutions of support and donations should be sent to: Garners Strike Committee, Room 84

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 9 February, 1978 page 5

(cheques made payable to Socialist

Street, London El. Account No. 50196391. Candidates will be fielded in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Hall Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool Bolton, Nottingham, Biring ham. Bristol, Coventry, Wafford, Newcastle, Manches ler. Basingtoke, and four boroughsin London. miners are out for

Hospital

ancillarys

offer

HOSPITAL. ancillary workers are currently being asked by their calblorers to acccot at Increase in wages within the 10 percent guidelines. The offer amounts to a slap in the face for the policy adopted by the major unions involved - in particular NUPE - for a E50 minimum will offers a 13.20 increase in basic pay, with only E2 of the increases under phases one and two consolidated into basic Tales. This would bring basic pay for even the highest grad worker to only £45.76

Other aspects of the claim are dismisset equally as flippantly. The claim for longer holidays and a shorter working week are referred to further negotiation 'withour commitment. Should any hospital ancillary worker be worried that with inflation at 10 per ceot living standards will be further eroded, management have promised that there will be 'meaningful discussions" if real living standards of ancillary staff fall below the value of the agreeinent.

Once again low paid workers are being asked to pay the rent with promises, and earn decent minimum wage through endless overtime.

SUP

AR

Page 6 scan of this page

In defence of Socialist Challenge

many comrades have made.

The comrades of Big Flame were remarkably open, frank and non-sectarian in approach. (ENE)

Socialist Challenge disappeared next week, we would mourn its loss. It would leave an empty space which wouldn't casily be filled again. Already in its short life it has proven the need TOC honest sectariin stimulating newspaper of the British Tar left.

So it is fair 10 ask. why won't Big Flame commit itscli to working closely with the paper?

Their main critique of the paper was that it was not a paper aimed at the masses and as such it was less accessible than their own paper, which they would continue producing Fair enough! But let us explain what we understand by a mass paper and why we think that there are enocmous pitfalls the approach of the CHELSE

In the first instance even a mass paper, in our conception. has to decide which section of the masses it is going to attemps toreach. Unargamised workers, uncuiployed, residents council estates, trade utionists, Labour Parry supporters, and so on. Secondly at has to have the capacity to be able to do so. This means an organisation 20000-25,000 member. with the very

The early Communist Party directed its agitation propaganda the politically advanced factory militants, many of whom were under reformist influence, bur it had both the members and an industrial implantation. We do not believe that either of us or even the far left as a whole has reached that stage

This does not mean that one does not provide a line advance for the masses. We do

VANGUARD

so, however, by arming the vanguard maltants, Tesponsive to the initiatives of revoltionary socialism, and desirous of taking the strugale forwand. Our demand for the 'nationalisation Grunwick

workers contrat by the Labour Government' one example. The Take speech by Bene was anotber. For it was a novel was of explaining that if left social democrats did start a fight the Labour Government, even within their

political framewark, would be a step forward for the

Now. of course. Big Flame comrades would disagree with

that because of their views on the Labour Pars,

precisely raises the question of

which masses and where?? 11

could be argued that even in

producing a line for the masses

the paper has been insufficient.

We could argue that proposi-

tion but it would be

argument within our

approach to politics.

Socialist Challenge

For the last eight weeks our correspondence columns have been full of a discussion on the content and

character of Socialist Challenge. Many of the letters

have been critical of some aspect or other of the paper. The three sources from which most of the letters have

come have been Big Flame; ex-members of the SWP

and other far left groups; and members of the IMG.

We shall try to systematically answer the points which

What we are opposed to and what Socialist Challenge has -their despite irritations in quarters studiously consciously aroided, has been to posture as though we were speaking to millors. That only

прп-

Carry in the world'

JIM CALLAGHAN in BF of

supporters, No one else believes it's real. It can often lead to least fantasy politics and sectananise. Wealso avoid the complementary attractions of and substituting ourselves for the most mass of workers, or worse, impersonating That again is self deception and can even become a parody.

However argument which the Big Flame comrades wilise, which in our

yet. smacks of demagogy. They say that Socialist Challenge 's the Jine paper of the IMG. of have never denied that if the IMG remained organisation on the Editorial Board it would require cither amnesia or mental gymanstics on our part to prevent the peper from essentially reflecting our views. Bur in our opinion even the criticism of the IMG stamp the nocurate. We would even go so MARCE far as to say that some of the weaknesses of the paper lave such heen that on occasions we have Tailed to strengths of positions develop ed by the IMG. Some contrades pit i this way: political ocientation of Socialist Challenge on several crucial questions has failen uneasily between that of Our Common Ground' the procrassie on which the paper was launched which provides a principled hasis for revolutionary unity) and the full programme of the IMG. to the detriment of the терет.

But even if one accepted Bap Flame's concert on this scare. there is only one way to change the situation. an it seems a rick to titany Big overall Flame comrades Beiter stay with what we've cor than risk it

'neither to laugh nor to cry, but to understand

for something that might never happen, seems to be many argument. and choice and we cannot impose opIons Hopefully we will all learn from the development of British

Socialist Challenge

"We've put legislation on the statute book as advanced as impresses onesell and one' •politics in thecoming period.

Some non-aligned and IMO comrades who have writter gross 1071115313 30 101 LESSE useful criticisms, which we wil Ity and take account of future changes in ibe paper. even Others have them objections on the Surplus Kalue and Under Review pages, These Two pages out of sixteen have attracted the wrath of many "Heavy", sible, 'incomprehensible* base and been only some of the adjes tives which have been used Neither these or any We comrades have made criticisms oi therest of the paner. only What does this rellect? This sometimes stems from a narrow and restricted definition what constitutes a political

paper isn't the

Understandably

paper. Lenin. Trotsky SERAC

bourgeois democratic sale

their Well, that is their

them. this view

can agree with comrades

occasion,

criticism the ruling WOE CISS

Mirror.

Guardian, Financial centred theit

ruling ambitions.

"inacces POLITICS

La paper other

of

Socialist Challenge

UPPORT,

LenMurray:

CALLAGHAN'S

GREEN GODDESS

and • contrary 1o wisl many comrades believe - were not soft on any variety of syndicalism or cconomism. If Lenin, could attack on his characieristically harsh inveetive the econonism of Tsaris Russia — when every workers

was infinitely more important than in a codern

one can only conjecture as to how he would have dealt with those who have reduced politics to what takes place at the point of production, Thus inverting the social democratic distinefion between politics and trade

Labourists say that politics is what happens in Parliament. 1s our reply to them to be: No. politics is only what happens as the point of production. That, unfortunately, has been the reply of the groups who base dominated the British far left for many decades. We teject

But stop, many comrades will shout That's a distortion, We syndicalis want reviews in the paper, wc want theory, but make it more readable and accewible. Ouc 'the

thisand 3l on the Edicorial class strungle Board will admit that, On

we have printed for articies not caxily comprehensible. But we feel that the

reflects something the crises deepet if comrades only scop

Their model of workers*

papers is a souped up version of paper

the Daily Mirror, Cerlainly, the

Mirror can take up some issues in a very positive, agitational

Fashion, such as racism. Bur don't make a mistake about

what the paper represents. It is bourgecisic. the straitjacket through which

Some class confines COILIOSOC

Stop stewards, who are even

marginally interested in polities

or who take their stewardship

seriously do not simply read the develogs

They 1C8d the Tunes, even the Times and the because these

papers give bem an insight into. Councils

class politics and

We are attempting to develop

UNICA

an overall proletarian political

intervention in British politics.

We believe that such a paper

can lay the basis for the

development of an embryonic

socialist alternative to Labour-

ism. This means we reject

YOUR PAPER DOES

AGAIN

made

parliament,

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 9 February. 1978 page 6

Socialist Challenge

BALTLE

GRUNWICK

SCABS SHALL NOT PASS ON 11 JULY Wecall for this to be the most mighty display of strength and unity in defence of trade unicmise that our movemen! seen iтycars."

and sociological motions of the paper Imply that it should be for

MANY BE MOESCIO "resolutionary workers, for whatever. Iiis a paper designed

militants attracted revolutionary socialist politics, ideas and policies for reiolving

EVERY ASPECT

Thus we have to produce a

which does more than simply report strugee and make general propaganda 1o socialism. We haveto deal with every aspect of class socicty and coafront every weapon of the

of the paper's weaknesses are due to lack of resources. We would like to have more research facilities so that our coverage of strikes

beyond achin cheericaders. We would like to have local reports which. un addition to strikes, cover such

The aspects as debates on Trades

political invalved them. develapments in local Labour Parties. the activities of the Communist Party and otber groups, etc. If we could afford it financinlly we would have a regular correspondent in the House of Commons to report what goes on for our readers. We can assure comrades that our reports would be different to the entire bourgeois press!

What in our opinion has been arcal weakness of the paper has been that we have not been able to present hasic and elementary material of an educational character for munarts Jus

towards socialist politics. We will accordingly correct this flaw in tie paper in the coming months. hold be taken as a steps sumenarise: the circulation has doubled, as compared to Red Weekly, nor because it is hetter produced or has better journalists, but HATES because the political concep tions on which it was Tounded have found an ocho. This is the most important gain we bave

As we pointed out in our first

we bellere that on for fundamentali. (the state

SATES democracyl we are correct. But Lis does aot mean that we have the answers to every question. Nor does it mean that Trotskyisn a political current which grea up in a hattle against stalinised marxism — has definitive vices

philosophy, economics,

INSIDE

aesthetics. We de believe we are strong on history and politics, though even here we have much to learn. Theletore we have lo reject the idea that every letter in our columns which criticises a particular aspect of Trotsky

Leninism Should!

Immediately be replied to by the Editorial Board

The usmate lopit of tha position - a theoretical absole tsa, obly too common on the Tir left would be a virtual suppression of "unorhodox ideas. On other issues we can debares ior all concerned. A case in point i the debare initiated, incidentally strong allack on syndicalism and sconomist, by Jolt Ross in our paces. For the point a this conjunciure was wel expressed by the old philo sopher Spinoza (who was not a member of the Four later nationals: "Neither to laugh nor cocy, butto understand'.

Editoriat Board of Socialist Challenge.

* IN ADDITION to the contributions to the dehale about who the paper is aimed at. we have also initiated a related discussion uround the paper's political basis. To date, wehave received contributions Fres the International-Communist League and the Revolutionary Communist Tendency.

We feel the importance of this debate cannot he underestimuled, and hope to resche [urther truth members of other left organisutions us well as Socialist Challenee groups and indiciduals who have not yet laken the step to join incul readers' and supporters groups.

The Editorial Board will be collectively responding lo this debute now that it is winderway in oir polemns. and urd readers to participate also. This

undoubledly Important point of discussion al the Socialist Challenec Conference which is scheduled for tite last weekend in May.

We will be priating shortl further proposals and details

the mational Socialist Challenge supporters conference but take this apportunity to urge readers to contact local Socialist Challenge gomps This way readers can better influence the direction of the debure — as well as that of the paper n political preparation for the through collectis

nationut conference.

Page 7 scan of this page

of Socialis something to be desired in terms of setting the tone of a 'strategic debate". Throuch the fraternal have of that paper's new and open style we detect the steely glint of an Internacional Marxist Groap Tine" on the crisis and is reasons for its delaved political development.

Before we discuss the key issues of the curteet period some clarifying posts need to be made about the content of John's article. He humps togetber quite different political currents as centrist and Eurocommunist. For our part we have clear differences sumber of issues, e.g. coalition-type politics; 2) the Social Contract in its present form; 7) gradualist notions of the socialist transformation.

The lahel "centrist" plays a fuil role in hil identification of false theory. sociabsts in the Labour Party necessarily centrist? IF so, would the term apply to the IMG's period in the Labour Party before 1969? Thirdly. John Ross bourgeois institutions. (A thesis without an Dwner it scems) This argument s rene d straw person, easily scatlered to the winds with a Tew blunt polemical thrusts. OF course, If we had argued that the socialis revolarion was inpossible then a debate on socialist strategy would be deemed pointless, 1 is therefore worth pointing out that we have never regarded bourgeois institutions as invincible, nor regarded socialism as impossibie, We have simply tried to point out the strengths and wenknesses of the enemy. would regard such 'intelligenoe" activities as WOTAICSS

OILING

On the i long-term perspective

'conception of the epoch". arise systematicaily from the latter have been documented detainent of the Tros st moanen the

economic perspectives, and expectations for here earlier error, and the error or he ice. thosecarliererrors, and the errors of the IMG 19714 a mave over-canadion of the mobilising power of the revolutionary left in relation to the power of social democracy. Hence, for example, the exaggerated opcinism Do the farleft during the miners" striker of 1972 and 1974.

John Ross. In orthodos Troiskyist fashion, explains the recent period of working chiss passivity in terms of the "betrayal" of the labour

urcaucracy. Without besitation we agree that some lett Jones and Scanion, and some members of the Tribune group in Parliament, Foot, have played a niajor role in cushioning attacks on the right-wing policies of the Labout government. Indeed, They have been architects of those very policies in some diverse, but they, for burdened with the reiponsibility of aiding the righward drift of a government which initially clected on a programme. Personally. opposition of Socialist Challenge and others to those right-wing policies.

However, in John Ross" hands the labour bureaucracy is given a key and determining role in the whole affair I appears that the downturn in the class struggle is simply due to the "betrayal of these leaders. But the key Sumply to place blame upon reformist lenders but to explain why masses of people still give these leaders their support working class not reject the policies of the right and follow the alternatives which were

What's

Left

INTERNAL Recitintend Sessions on 15 Cadition, poillical

Huntions: revolutionary unity, Afric

antre King SI, London WC2, 11 Fal

registratin (E1 includes Jocur, 57 Salisbury 51

CHILE Seida t

00h05 AFT Saar, Devas Be

DEFEND THE ARTS Matis. Binati Soanner, she group ai the centre al she unties censorship controlesy wit

Divas

Challenge Teaves

with the

apposition to:

But are all

roundly attacks the

and only uitra-lefts

we have -Trotskyist

The errors which

example the

democracy, after the end of the trade union leaders, particularly

particularly

cases Their

and tbeir reasons their mistakes, are

moderately

we endorse the

did because Becces: PO Bex 3u, London N° 2xF Chodues payable tod. WillBor

ana and indis Warkers League, Big

presented by the leff? This is not a simple question to answer, hut we can note how militancy was sapped by unemployment. weakened by the promises of reform in the early Social Contract, and arrested by propaganda on the danger of a detrimental

1975-6. The result or c relerendum in 1975 ratified the defear of the Wilson's roll hack of severel workine-las

of several working-clas gains. There was no massive working class resissance to the offensive of the I abour right

Many Labour government seemed preferable to the teturn of the Tory backwoodspersons.

Same International Socialist gro ere Socialiet Challenge supporters.

purrents and weuld like to atlend the

CARDIFF Debste beiween 1MG an:

MD4 19 Fi Heel, Crowbridge semission 20p 104Ps and untr

fadenta Union Centact Swares HAL Sryn-2-mer

E24 Bpm. Entranco 30p. 12 Feb: ignt of Progressive Rock with Hen

, арт.

TRISH

Picardy Flace Edinburgr

Throw out the old

prescriptions!

by Geolf Hodgion and Perer Jenkins (both members of the Independear Labour Publications)

ONE

NATION

MATTERE

wage-price

is hardly Demons:rate

Lanour Party and

According to the "betrayal' thesis

instinctivel according to the IMC) is held in check hecause reformist ideas rain upon it from up high, and because it lacks an adequate revolutionary party to show the way. Whist we would accep the need to combat reformist ideas, and work towards che creation of a mass socialis party, it do haun in these rem. Concrete tales sufficient to annivse a detea gives way to easy sloganising

To reject the betrayal thesit is not to absolve the reformists. It is a move towards a concrete analysis of the mechanisens through which the traditional leaders maintain a mass following Get in Casim Fe Lands ERITREA: The Aweslutioner Stru

May Dines, director of 5e

ocenily retumes fro

Vor 13 Febe: 5.30pm g the hat mer arisen cf the New

these institutions are invincible". I HOOBIET

nor an anccuate starcay.

and theory. simply to

UNETEE

SENSE

denouncine reformists.

GREASING

However,

magically hope new ones to

in the conceivable future

the government.

the Parliamentary Labour

whole s.zwilderness,

of industrial

tbe Labour nt the

LACCINE LETTEE

To spread propaganda bu old prescriptions and medalist pu

Die RUs and thi

UCh- 3231

alien goups

т. 20 0085 em 40320 Ent Borer Romloro

WHYZIONISM sinemaisabalacle

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE. 9 February, 1978 page 7

Any realstic analysis of those mechanisms institutions such as parlament, the Labou Pany andtradesmore sis no to say tig

better" "more democratic" (wehave never said that bur They have a social weight and significance which cannot be ignored. Furthermore conscionsness and action are structured by such institutions and the relative weight of real social Toroes Hence it is not subply a matter of the working class being drowned in reformist ideas or being misled by reformists. That approach is merely ar the level of ideas and is not grounded on real

PC BSCE materialist, rather than an idealist, approach to

The result of this perspective must he to TeleCt many or lhe tradilanal straleric approaches that are found on the far lett. lt is believe, simply to combat hourgeois ideology

Nor B 2 an adequale sirategy 'expose the reformists. Unless the Teal map of institutions and social forces is changed then there is no possibility of serious advance. It may appear that Ross socis to part of his article, that the ungent cask is to build

SOCIATIS organisation. But in fact he simply displaces the

back. FDE BOW IS UL: organisation to be built? In his view, it seems, it Ls done by presenting revolutionary ideas and

the only realistic strategs al advance is lo key into the real foroes and insticutions which exist at present, not to

come into being Perhaps unfortunately, neither the IMG nor any other organisation on the far lell represent a sufficiently powerful social force in British socies. And they show no sign of becoming so

This leads us to the thorny question of the Labour Pany. Despite the righrward shift of

most of the constituency Executive Commitice, have remained on the Jell. Due to external and interbal pressure the Laboue Party, (not the Labour Government, or

Party) has, example, mounted an important anti-racis, and anti-fascist campaien which, despite ils defects has had a considerable effec in the country as g

Joe Ashron's TV broadcast. The far Jeff just has to admic that it has neither the resources nor the institutional weight to achieve Party can he used to grear effect by genuine socialias working within it. At long as the far left refuses to admit this it will lose massive

Before 1965 the entire revolutionary left wa inside the Inbour Party Then, during the late 19605, most of the groups left, leaving the ling Militant group, with its crude syle of politics, to make massive and undeserved gains. Frout 1969 50 1974 the lar Jell groups led on the wast

militancy that emerged in the period. But they were derailed by the victory ol

polla Now it & partialh recognised that the industrial struggle is not the orly struggle and a contest with the right ou the

necessary

We would go further than that. The object of an electoral intervention should not simply be

also 1o shif the naterial balance of forces on the parliamenta terrain. Unless thar is done the warking class will remain trappod by reformism. This is by no means an orthodox Leninist strategy. neither does it mirror the reformist fatalison of Kautsky (even the kaursky of 1908h But me are not going to ger very far by endlessly repeating the

pease in the Middle Bast

Нос -Lio

can Rs, Lender

EnD

Controls

Otion

The badge with the anti-racist slogan that no militant should plus 7pp&ptorone, or 16p each for ten or more. From J. Wilson N1 PO/cheques should be made out to J. Wilson.

Page 8 scan of this page

ONLY ANSW

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 9 February, 197B page B THE POLICE are now denying they've

information about racist What a bloody Bye occa wored or the miracks We've got the information. We should call them "liar" to their face.

That was the conument of Bishan Dass, CULAMSIUE. week's meeting of the Wolverhampton Anti-Racist Committee, mously decided to compile a dossier of the recent knifings, burnings, threats against the black community

Dass himself has received numerous abusive phone calls and letters. Popular Froat for the Liberation of invaders and to free the country of HOTEL infinence treachery. The invaders will he driven out and all traitors punished. You leave now."

That was the text of a letter received by N.S. Noor, a leader of the Asian community, on 28 January — the very day that the West Midlands deputy chief constable, Maurice Buck, denying to the world any knowledge of racist activity.

ABUSIVE

Noot, like Dass, is well used to abustetarcats tocy come tegurany un the post and on the phone, They are all response of the police? Surely you don't take these seriously?' is what the community leaders are told

Anti racists and the black community are taking very seriously the latest incidents. These include:

•A knife atrack by three white youchs

• West Indian outside the Connaught Hotel on 25 led, two days later, to the decision by some three hundred back souths to surround the George pub, a hangout of the fascists. •The Guru Ravi Das temple has been Dure ou mumerous occasions, and slogans such "Black bastards home daubed on is walls, On the nehr of 14 January, the back of the temple -firebombed. A police officer told the temple officials: "This is nothing new. It happened to you in Liganda, and now it's happening here.'

•On the same night as the burning of

EVER

CAN!

by.

'Surely you don't take

these attacks seriously?"

mockery.

TEN THUGS

of this kind. failure of acknowledge such incidents арат! from.

mood.

arrest a teenage

persistent inquiries

sent on 20 December:

escaped and they

The higgest

TOLER

arrested two while youths

white hood.

the Wensfield North

CourSe this circumstantial.

INQUIRY

go In 101 scene from tre aready demonstrat on, when 2ous marched stainst racism

Asian youths joined the demonstration as it passed

THE RACIST MENACE

thetemple, paraffin was used to set fire to three Indian shops, in Park Street South, Len Road, and Cannock Road.

Militants consider that there are probably no more than ten racist thups

But coupled with the the eVEn quite the CUUNSLUE harassment of the police themselves — this is quite sufficient to pur the black community in a nervous and combative

The Wolverbamptoit police have a Sot to pride themselves on. On 14 June last year, for example, they managed to

as be W85 Indian shop: Aller from the Community about what happened to this south, deputy chief constable Buck had a little admission to make in a letter he

i am satisfied that the officers concerned were at fault when the man

have DELI suitably advised Despite subsequent inquiries. the suspect has nor been re-arrested and the latess information indicates thal he has now left this

fear of the black communty are the reports of gangs o! youths touring the streets at night and

SECTOIC allacking lone blacks. No doubt to their complete embarrassment, the police

0m 28 January, one of whom was carrying a

Just in case he leaves the country". Socialist Challenge is revealing that he is Paul MeNally, whose mother, Alice McNally, stood as the NF candidate for

ward in the council elections held in May, 1976, OF

purely

thei preliminary dossier to the police after HEAD TUBE SELLERSALIMITTL racist commitee is demanding that the Home Oince should set up a non-police inquiry into racism in the toran's police Tore and commut tel lo the remnyal of all racists among the police. They aso want an open labour movemen inquiry into racist and police activicies.

FICHT RACISM

STOP

POLICE

VIOLENCE

BLACKS WANTTOP

FAIR DEAL ICE

FROM THE

POLICE

worked.

who pushed him in the canal has already got it." Wolverhaplon, thanks to a certain MP who ten years ago spoke about rivers of blood, has become something of'a by-word forracise in Britain. Bur it is necessary to know a little about the nature of the Black Country to understand the hackground to thi black people in die town, and the line tecent wave of physical attacks of response which the labour move ment has made

belt tha reaches hortliwesterly directian to harder on Wolverbampion

derives is name from the loup decades satoke deposited foundries and smelting shams on the scaned landscape; once chain-making

FIERCE LOCALISM To the waitor, It is hard to tell the difference between one part of the belt and another. Yer there is a fierce localism, CHILDE comperitivenest of Enoch and

mad", they will ernescly assure you i Lower Comall The meral-based, skilled industries continueto be the main emptoyers: and in Wolverhampton, callanes use terms like labour aristocracy to describe the saditional hacknone of the labour moreraent, adding the word "geriatric ill reference to the local leadership of the unions.

48S town's soutl.-west constituency which returned Extoch

GEOFFREY

FIT RACISM

NO b TOL LENC BRU

Wolverhampton blac

'SELF DEFE

Enoch (not Powell, but a stock character in Black Country jokes) saw his friend Eli thrashing about helplessly in the canal. Enoch did not go to his aid. Instead he ran all the way to the foundry where EI

'Have you heard the terrible news about Eli drowning? he breathlessly asked the foreman. The foreman nodded. 'Can I have his job? Enoch asked. The foreman shook his head: "The bloke

Powell to Parliamen. The Tories still hole it, and while labour controls the towe council — with a slim majority there is not too much to distinguish their official views on race issues.

Walkerhampion is not. present. a stronghold for the Nationa Front, and it is reasonable to surmis that Labour and Tory officials have not been over anxious to shed the racist wolverhan pton fram mittee, formed in the antume of 36. has twice circulated ail the union branches council. It received just one response by from the secretary of the local WE 24 branch of the Engineering Union official AUEW Wenlock wrole: *My leven if contrary to ACEW policy) tha Many racist policies are being practiced in this country it is not anti-black, bur protoundly socialist question as: WE he maiorite of back vouths will ad mornid conform to a society that at one time Fli TSUL wotid'.

REFERENDUM Brother Wenlock considered it would te well to not a terendum or 'emigration' Powell's stretched well beyand the local pentry. shopkeepers and workshop in David Edgar's characterication

SHERIDAN Wolverhampton on the plans that have been laid to

On Saturday 4 February, 2,000

marched through Wolverhampton

IWTON ANTI-RACIST COMMiTTEE ERD END END

BARCK AND HIRTE

WHITE FUNITE ANOFIGHT

WOLVERF

ANTIRAL

credible.

movement

at least at

Anti-Racist Com

F members feel

He weat pe to ask such

us the greatest nation in the

mantle las

a Conservative direction.

in

reports from

NF

BILL NOT

E TOLER Desting of the Labour candidare wi lus racist opportunisa standing in West Midlands by-clection is only se

PHYSICAL ATTACKS

Though it has to he added that tt grolesque chauvinisms and incipie racisin tha weighs on the lahor

official Wolverhamptor finds its coamerpa in many otherareas of the country.

In Wolverhampton, as in so man other areas, racism is nor limited STEVE LOYDEN

routine discrimination in jobs, hocen education and social lile, but masifest Itself in direct physical artacks Th dossier on these pages discloses th

confront incipient

Page 9 scan of this page

SISDEJJSE

30110 1 AALIMNOO ONE

ONE

NODAWY

OWE

W5ITVI

:Aes s›

tont ni baum sau aouod aui 3ÃS BUIO

In s0 E S33315 201 B000 SEBOA

22 j0

noSUEy 100

sdnozd uis4i mag

arw jo варові-ла

Sms0324118392

satr a S0N0A dose sapão mou sea daussto

-BODO SODDN SON SE SETO HONS EMUI

aue s meteenda miS E34I

Pd

GUIS

01 Ruua)

SHERAA

L07EHAEIELU

astad ins

pang 1 je

jaoddes

dn цІм

#5 .L@ g00003

aut a0м

InTUITCI aayad Dotun

Nous dnom sui dn u suns Sumpour au) paneye moddas pue asoes os do pueie op an

TECUETD IUT 1

lais jempodun ur aq lm owap bul, 1

LZ 00 onae aE

ин шашамош ISTESHEO

"PASNJEY

ouy an boga tnos papad on suase

Los pus un 30g яйцы!".

umi3c Su Dun tunuce re no Danarg

Lz ue suana sut de au pid oo pags

341

Tng tEnnhur suu 1e tuns ah bau 1.

sapoddes aARd ELTN11E

KOESU VARIS IR TMHE SIDHENUTE

2015

FOLS

30/70d

Boroa 3REn0N

ASSA-SG NONA

Doder BahA

pastuesio

Кранов SEseNO

во дом рин DONALNORS CUEETEE TISPROLUELE

moqr 1

spoa woidasey-aspon jo seopisoad pur

a oj sampel por/oste pae yio ами 23.

Quo se os op ol antriro ado un ci seopsony somaseos ayi se oposa pue dupaddns os sasop samosoy spuppmis

LSICEJ

pacaddey SegSnoy LOU.N

Los bua sidoad STDUE

ac L.

Bunolas un popoanans

301 S.H B0qH pesepa Alasas sutlar9 :spesodoad aut uo

m aou cue ssa ppno 4.

10

dois sasau pgnom l! pue

ety pee mapar aw pasaye ut

[uonel

SARE Du

MARR BUSE unpaa ou pue soprs SalaiaLE

'sppe ag ses Soui museusad pes dosipad

sodvo samoj eqi kg podeus pinp peiy

Sa10 poed o srew sajd-y jo ands u! 1ag 1e palqns Kaana bea os orasuspe pasued

S.Kes J00N

BOSEO it ing.

ON...

HOON S'N

PION

wany untan.

31 47

IH2IT

ou s sua4l

SIT speso

TOCHUJELHE

IajJns Sa sase pou

trend suM -

NIC U8A 23.

улод

005400F

sseul

ad jo suin pur sgad suy

mapads

51 ogh

Asousdns u pasiead sat rounes

01 mohon cca da brnoas 1.

S4 11s PM.

asuiduns aig se sapo 1 mass

a iapodad n ar pogussap podlegao

BI1ESTГ1 348 109% sum

e p alegl upip an fl pies pue ponsp

pons om mese saais pue stegosg

п вшрпри o tumo dn 1401 941

оплодеть

as0e3-p0e pue osty que NOLATON DBE Ca bH- sapei1 e 1190 01

Page 10 scan of this page

New paper launched in Ireland

IRELAND

struggle and soldarity with it in this country.

Socialist Challenge

reputation has to say Ireland.

Marxist Group.

OVER a century ago Mars said that a nation that

oppresses others cannot be Therefore the withdrawal Brilish troom from Ireland is not only in the interests of the Tish people, it is in the basic interest of every worker in this CONTES

But let's be clear about it: Annish mrerialim wil withdraw unless there is mass THE OD BESI imperialism.

COLLAPSE

Now how do you build the mass pressure? There is a man who all of us can learn very much from. And that Jaines Cornolly, Because James Coitolly important thing 1 think was al the time emphasising that there was no difference hetween the class struggle and the struggle for national indeEMILALE

Unlike many other people talking dit the left dilferent conipartments believed that SOCIETIE struggle and the political struggle shouldn't be separated from each other.

This was his great contribution not only in Ireland, but also in Britain. The beginning of a real Marsist movement in Britain was with James Connolly. that Marxists in Britain used to tulk abour the idea of socialism, the ideas of Marxism.

When he (Connolly) came to Scotland, when he started the Socialist Labour Party. what was his main emphasis? That the industrial

METLERIC organises workers. Organises millions by action industrially, and at the sametinse politically

And hefore 1 get into a lot of argument ол that point. I will tell you a very important Hory. Do you remember? The Now what appen 1913.

Wbat Babbened st chra time? It is crue that it was not British who locked out but interestingly the support (in Britain) was mass working class.

In Manchester 30,000 workers cante to hear Jim Larkin, In Edinburgh more than 10,000 came to beat him. And Glasgow. London,

there

Cliff on Ireland

On 29 January in London, Tony Cliff — a leader of the Socialist Workers party — spoke at the Bloody Sunday Commemoration rally in London. Below we re-print what comrade Cliff had to say on the Irish

disagrees with a number points and interpretations which Tony Cliff made, but we print the bulk of his speech because we believe it is important to record what a comrade of Tony Cliff's

on an issue as important as

Next week we will be publishing comments on this speech from the irish organiser of the International

was mass support.

Irom Iristmen. but in the rece free of the workine class. of Then there conference at the same time, a special conference, put the knife hard and good into the Irish workers; James What did they đan Larkin. What The Trades Unicn Congress walese per bfficials. And there was n Action, The railwaymen did True that (British) workers are

was wich Irish workers. What is important when the the strikes (of Irish people) took he place is that they •CIL sections. For example 1911 in Liverpool, The seamen were on strike and the dockers were ob. strike. Not only that, the buses were out on strike, Two Royal Navy boats were in the port. sitat do so think were he SEBOCts. happened then?

The workers Tram Everon - the callo i aras the workers from Bootle, from alla forces build Beans the army They were Ches ad built hem bees had built them before. the Bur NOW they knew which enemy, the enemy was the army and they built them against the army,

STRIKES Jis very interesting that in all those cases the rank and tile went one way, the leadership acid anourer war, IT was a shame and disgrace House of Commons. And you should remember it. as checited the one was executed who len uproar for the execution? Who was i? Arthur secretary ol the Parly.. (member) of Coalicion Goveriment. There fore you should not, and in no war say that the leaders and the rank and file And the wicat thing in about James Connolly is that all he knew the ward rank and file*. He incroduced the concepr

of the rank and file into the

Petitity in Britait and

All of us here are for the withdrawal Ireland. We lake it for granted. of The only question: what are we going to do about it? (Cde Cliff then went on to give example Anti-Nazi League, arguing the

throuch working in factories

•..And the Irish question. It B not an irish guestion - 15 R British question. British imper Not only exactly the same. turn it into every fuctory, every

W9S 2-T00

and they

inito and

cent full-time

it 15 simply not

barricades

what craned it on a Frie TWO HUNDRED

Henderson,

Labour College, Dublin lo attend a the rally aunch the new joint paper o he Movement for a Socialis Renublic (Irish section of tbe are just the Fourth Incernational

People's Democac: paper Socialist Repuhtic is part process regroupment which is taking

have Dockers Against from Building Nazis.

umbrella the

CENTRE

alism is there. Wehaveto work picker-line are more or less th

We have to sametree. And we have 10 link THE SHER last Friday evering to

The

the

Brendan Kelly of MSR Challenge.

trade enion branch, ete, etc.

It is no good us having an

unless Nazis.

MUCH IS Against

Engincers Nazis, Tenchers Agaist Nazis.

It is no good ar all having it as it is the job unless it is going to have a DERMISSI relation to building workers. engineers. leachers, etc. etc.

shouldn't be

The British Army in Ireland and the police on the Grunwick

because IE15 EAMMON McCANN and BERNADETTE CALISKEY, Who — with Tarig All — were the other spokers at the rally

socialists. government. place in Ireland. The MSR and The PD hope to tuse in the cary generously summer and build a comman

mocting heard Bernadene McAliskey from the Irish Socialist Party, Michaei

meeting Tariq Ali, editor of Socialist

Me Aliskey and against Farrell both stressed the need

SWP leader speaks

together. The muki-nationals of the whele South (of Ireland) and the multi nationals of all Britain, and the multi-nationals of all the world. They are the Against samebloody multi-nationals.

And I would never dream that

of the Brilish workers to tell the irish workers how to finht. But let's be clear. If there is a march for the Right to Work in Britain, I don't see any reason at all why there

march fron Dublio to Belfas question of unemployment

are all unemployed. Orif it can't go to Hellast, then a march fron WE Dublin to Derry. I would love for left unicy in order to face up in the tasks confronting Irish

They admitted that many many mistakes had been mad OVer iDe Jast lon vears as lef groups 'A reflection of the

Lutionary marxi-m in freiand" Furrell, and that the lessons had to be learnt. Brendan Kelly explained the development of politics in the South. Sand Stressed the importance of the Docent defcat of the Coalition

Tarig Alloutlined the overall political situation in Britain,

OH INIS Challenge and Socialist Unity and the untorinace or the Tribunal on British Presence in activicy on the trish struggle

mecting TESSAUCU appeais solidarily from a member of the (rish IRSP against repression and Irom a leader of the Litte Beltant: dockers for suppon for thei struggle. The amosphere of the con-sectarian and enthusiastic - a can bat tHe naxa

sectarianisen is nec contined to Herain

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 9 February, 1979 page 10 to see the Orangemen shouting at them!

I want to see what Impact there as consciousness

because unemplosment in the South is as bad as the North. In fact it is worse.

SHARE

What I am trying to say bere is speaking here to the converted.

What we lave to do is.to tura whar is here into a movement. A movement that is in the factories, in trade unions, in the localities. In every area where

back tonight and tomorrow.

SOCIALIST -REPUBLIC

BRITISH WITHORAWAL MISS ACTION THE ONLY MAN

SOCHLST SPELE - 0R INS

SOCIALISTREPUBLIC New joint monthly paper of People's Democracy and Mose

section, matienal can seorderedfrom:

Connelly Books Avoca Park, Andersonstown. Bellast B11

15 Clanawley Rd Kilister, DublinS.

Subscriptionrates: Ireland :2 Britain E2, Europe 12.50, L.SA 13.25 (airmail).

Page 11 scan of this page

Gunboats—a cure for everything

Unbridled haired was reaction to Owen's appointmentian ocarters nutine mos! reactionary. The Labour leit has a pretty pathetic record on foreign policy (not to mention

been Owen's previous responsi

ex-miners them generate a healthy dislike of the pompouses-publicshoalboy:

CHARITABLE

Owen comes froma comlort able West Country family and

Technology International, a

OCalDe wiEn Compurer applications. Then there was his directorship of World Security Trust - described at a charitable organisation inter ested in i sponsoring reseurch into pescekesping and world secatity problems.

Add to that his reported

dinates and bis political opporSote-samples from one of Britain's leading political

fundamentul altitude in polities which I hold

Ior and commitmentiodemocrucy.

*1 do not wish to gire Communism anyw here spurious credsbility. particularly

tanise and you already have a

story goes that Mervyn Stock-

of Southwark and friend of the Christian Socialist' doctor, on heing told that Owen wasplanning to enter polities, asked Which party?'

But that's not the only thing which gersupthe Parliamenary left's noses. It will take a long time lar Owen to live down his association with the right-wing Ray Jenkins grouping and bis pro-Common Market resignation from the Labour front beach in 1972.

WILDERNESS

Others who resigned at the same time staved in the political wilderness put of some bizarre idea of postical poncipic. Not sD Dai bach. (He likes to Jescribe lmsel thouch he probably isn't.) He was back in a flash as soon as Labourcamero power in 1974. He quickly worked his was through The Department of Health and Social Security al a time of the most drastic culs in

to become the younpest Forcigo SECRET AI DE SONICSES SILICE Anthony Eden. The con pari-

apt was the Tory who

British Imperialism's last big fling.

Eden was quite a lot older by that Tine. but Owen doesa't wanto wai forthe grey hairs of middle age hefore he establishes hs place as imperialisn's his man. He lias alrcady sent troops

INTERNATIONAL

Dr. Owen's overseas practice

'So sexy! That's the dishy doctor': a fairly typical press reaction to the appointment of the Rt Hon David

Anthony Llewellyn Owen PC, MB, BChir (etc.) as

Foreign Secretary nearly a year ago. It was not an

opinion shared by the left, either inside or outside the

Labour Party. And, argues RICHARD CARVER,

plenty has happened in that year to show that we were

right and the dishy doctor brigade were wrong.

appoleting Resident Rhodesia When Red Amy Fraction kidnappod Martin schiever, The bead orla West German hosses" federation, Socialist Challenge claim10 ed that there was a Fleet Stroct conspiracy to cover up his Nazi past. TE tatas out shar it was the oreign Office Under Ower intervened, unofficially of course, 1o embarrassing delails getting

The Bermuda incidents at the end of last year ate perhaps the

inan's mind works. Two blacks

colonial government was afraid

executions. Becuuse Co orma sta asthes were nebie to commute the sentence. 3o cleried u back lo owen in London "'Christian Socialisn' suckdenly went out the window

Prescriptions

Europe.

Ir cannot be stressed enought THIA HA TURENDE DEHE of South Africa is a perfectly YEADIC deep will exists among the major

"We've vol to have more sellconfidence in this couniry you callihat arrogance, so heit.

and the two men died. Owen sent in British troogs to deal with the predictable protests at this judicial racist murder.

The Belize episode has shown супісат. repeated military displays by BHUSA FOrCCS, IO EDC BUSsC defending the interests of the colony territorial ciaims, Owen has now agrood to parunon the country, giving Liatemala 'sdemands.

Britain's real

Belizean rights had already been shown by its projected arms deal with El Salvador. The sale ol annoured cars to the Central American diatoriD raised considerable protest in Britain.

that the El Salvador Goserment had agreed not to pass the anmoured cars on co Guatemala for use apainst Belize.

The chocky El Salvadoreans came out the next day and anid that they had made no sach agreement and ner would they.

Collapse of Owen's position, Il that stupid diplomatie mistake, marethan any concern for Truman rights, tha. led tothe

Notthar Owen is unconcerned about tenan celts. Har tron It! The Forcien Office Jetter we

with surveillance of Iranian shilden sin keumsnstresses thar Dr David Owen practice of raising human rights questions wherever necessary in with ASCENCIE.

But the letter adds shat. In pursuing the question of hunsan rights wemusttakeinto account

the many political. cconomie, military defenceand other factors which

aTEccE our micrests, and nol least the practical consideration that our views often carry the most Bovernments maimaingoodrelations.

APOLOGY This last pout is presumably the guiding principle behind last Sant Arabes ne loreiro prevent these Saudi Arahia.

left-wing inued a statement condemnins theexecution of Princess Mista and her husband. When Owen the

an immediate apology. This of course has nothine to do with CLAE massive of its LOBUSSI DTELPEATASMNLIS

instead an application of the

our views often carry the mast

wen seinest a quint uf the

Owen rguime Office the method of Labour foreign alicy, Asin every other malle Labour

Britain simperialist interest:. It 35 10 300est That arbouph

suitable arcas such as Health and Social Sccurity (though not

Office has been exclusively the preserve of the parlys riel wing.

SUPERB

It is hardly an exaggeration to say that Lahour Foreign policy has been indistinguishahle from Tory. For example, America could hardly have found more enthusiastic backers Vietnam war il it had been somconelikeMaudlingin office After inthe 1960s.

Nowhere is this better shown than in southern Africa. Every year party conference faithfuily passed a resolution calling for an end to economic way Africa. which

for Labour adminiseration. Lasc Tamorcu

Zimbabwe, calling for backing

wegetthe Owen-Youngplan for a TransIton to malone fue policed by lan Smith sammy. minor success in his talks with the leaders of the Zambabwenn Parriotic Front in Malia last agreement to the "internal settlement" calks in

tracking by the Patriotie Front makes leaders and an indication that

thes are afraid of heing outBanked hy developments in other Salishur.

Nationalist Nkomo and Rolert Mugabe uppeared to be pleased with the outcome of the talks. Certainly

Chose Foreigh defence underlying

Goverment

bo-one but

are occasionally les into

for the

probably has done in Washington

successiVe Labour is equally Secretaries: hy thc

COnE ESLIL transition circulation of rather thun

Commissioner.

simply presence br lenders Joshua

conference

Harrier jump jets land in Belize.

To be fair, Owen cannot be held directly responsible, He

played no part in drawing the thing up - that was

and is only following the policy of

Forcien pound lund kill the guerilla struggle and save an independent Zimbabwe for imperial-

Owen's contribution to chis projcet has not been startingly original. All the fundamentals of the Owen-Young proposals colonial have heen the stock-in-trade of

Zimbabwe Talks

the British and Amerieun repre sentativesrescied favourably to the Patriotie Front proposalef u ruline council to supervise Ll

to majority rule Resident

But Nkomo and Mugabe in tur conceded an hoportant point when ther agreed to the need for United Nations troops to police the transition. That is

Imperialist military name.

Remember Korea or Cyprin.

Ibeir agreement to send the

Salishury is part of u sell-made

British Foreign Secretaries for years: a prolonged transition lo majority rule in which contret of the state apparatus will be partly maintained by the white settler regime; a multi-million

to colopensate dispossessed whites; and British

upervision of the transitio

The political weakness of th Labour lelt and the Zimbabwean nationalists has given chis con-trick credibibity. Both have called on Britain 1o carry out its

responsiblity and Owen can justitiably claim rha:

the problem: theiracceptuace ofthe menisting role of Srilish and Americun imperialisan it only rationalist leaders who are with lan Smith. This is mot because of lach of support. The guerilla farces are afrunger nom

Owen splanis to eliminate the problem of two separate sets of segotiations by liaking the segotlations withe the Patriotic Front to the internal talks. The outeume of the Malts tilks was not decisive, hat it was u small sepin that direction.

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, B Februery. 1978 page 11 thatas just what heis doing. And of course colonial responsibility" has been Labour's rallyine cry from Malaya to the Falkland Isles, from Aden 1o Cypris.

LAUNCHING PAD

Owen's particular variant o this formula is an unashamedly military one. The British Ircups have been inte Zimbabwe yet! But Owen? appointment of Fieid Marshal Lord Carver Resident Comnissioner the person who supervises the transition in Zimbabwe shows incredible lack of finesse. Tn

mperialist project requires large degree of collusion by

Zimbabwean nationalist leaders.

Yet Carver is universally detested in nationalist circles por surprising considering his enlanta credential hrutal repression of thie Kenyan

1950. The Zimbabwc national-

amen of whar misht happen to them. TheScarisarenlone, and this time it could well he a Labour Government that supervises the munder.

And what betler man to have in charge than Dr Owen, the man who brought gunboat chipiomacy back Into thc language

Page 12 scan of this page

No more bluff and blackmail

Even clichés are true

French election campaign. THE LAST week has seen n

nace of French political life Five weeks helore the first round of the legislative clections, the time for bluff and blackmail is over and the main lies of the Cannon are takIne

RECEIVED

President Giscard d'Estaing made a long awwited speech on

his antitade to the campaign WHOLE TOSSUE BEES. course be appealed to the electorate to vote for the parties. of the so-called majonty hardly surprising since he is the leader of it, or tries to be, Hat the real interest of the speech lay in his remarks on the possible victory of the left in March.

He made it clear that in such

eventuality, appoint a Prime Minister of The left (.c. Francois: Mitteerand leader of the Socialist Party!

There was always a problem with the type of government anticipated by working class — two problems really. The two major workers

Socialist Parties (PCF and PS) kept grouping, the Left Radicals, in TOW. and the PCF has agreed support Gaullist candidates in wo constituencies.

These obscure and apparemiy meaningless sects went almost unnotioed until the Radicals tried to assert their independent role in September cosis that meant the end of the Union of the Left. - The Importance of Radicals was — and is - only partof a wider problem. PROGRAMME

The Common Programme of the Union oftheLeft — inetber the PCF or PS version → was class collaborationist to the core. Above all it was tied to the acceptance of the existing constitution and the preservation of the vast powert of a right wing President. The logic ofitspolicy of piecemeal retorn to defend living standards was

austerity policy not dilferent from that of Labor Government in Tritain of the Socialia Party Covert-

The Left Radical Fated neatly snic that stratewy, ancie

seasovable theniling classcoeld be and wlay it was therelore tecessary not to upect them, That if by, with the collapse of the sulance, the PCF set off it роскос of some nice Teh

Doulasta and there" muttering io corners abou an impending agreement between the PS and Gicard majority

If now looksanthough the split

patched up. There if certainly

INTERNATIONAL

French election campaign

MURRAY SMITH reviews the past week of the

and not obstruct legislation the based Programme of the Left, In this AS TOLDWEE estahlished strategy of avoiding a direct confrontation with the left fas the Gaullists would likel, and trying eventually to finally detach the Party (PS) from the Communst Party (PCF) and put together a Centre-Left government.

For the PS and PCF Giscard's approach was an offer they couldn't refuse. pointing out the comradictions

President and leader of the Mitterrand didn't even try to bide and proclaimed that he had never thought that the President of the Republic could do otherwise than apply the Constitution A couple of days Georges Marchais, Jeader of the PCF, made it abundantly clear

Not so long ago the outcome of the forthcoming French

election was assured in the eyes of the mass of French

workers. It would be a left government'

The workers' parties still hold a clear lead in the

opinion polls, but the break-up of the Union of the Left

has thrown all those ideas about

question. RICHARD CARVER reports.

strong pressure in direction. were getting fed up with what

the PS and bizarre sectarianism From the PLF.

Since there was no fundaClas ramme despite Marchals" claims to the contray -*Left couldn't they get back together codefeat theright wing? Thereis even a secret opposition in the PCFdemanding as much.

This reflects a basic and Left healthy working class instinct for wily But unity is moL the enough. The question must be unity with whom, and for what?

The first step must be for the workers'

Left Radienls, Left Gaullists other baggage that comes their way These parties only because they provide the

the PSand PCF te provide more radical measures. the

would be happy to take office Common under Cascard and the 1952

Constitution, and that they were ruby to suct a sorcer ment with the PS, dropping

Al the same time the PC slood down Socialist stituencies 10 tavour

Gaullists, reminding those who needed reminding of how far to the right their concept of the -Union al the France extends. And this is LEOS LUCKI the party which has just spent

Tour months denouncing the PS Apart 110m for Its supposed swing to the

right

POCKETED nie the developing coco workers' parties government of the left more the Increasingly divided It now seems certain that in tbe first round Jacques Chiracts GmilTist RPR wil be opposed in many constituencies by the

Wanted: a government of the workers' parties

government into

that The workers' sounding a conscious echo of

WOTACT

the French Popular Front of the 1930%. Only then the electoral weight of the Radical Party provided the workers with excuse

prog plausible even if it was fake

Their allies now are just a larci- why calahides.

The PS and PCF must take government becaule they are res clutionary organisations streich of the imagination) but because they are still the parties based on the mass organisation of the working class that most workers look to for leadership.

LOC So the question then becannes: whatsort ofleadership can these ruling class parties provide? The slogan of

the Socialist Party-Communist Party powernment may DOa hoary old Trotskyist cliche, bur like most cliches it has a firm core of accuracy. reason weargue forthese parties DE GAULLE: his shadow hangs over the election campaign.

*Union for French

own ranks,

nOw

and PCF.

People of

two big

made

right looked parties arc

parties which was

(DOL by

the parties

to take

reformnist leadershups.

The main

probiem

needsot the warkingclass

місп а родіона

Cubal

must ne the Gaullist

decisions.

introduce policies.

Aiso,

Demo composed of the Giscardians and their albes.

Faced with divisions in its

La steady trend

reconciliation between the PS

- the goveramcatal "majority" is resorting to some

attacked gays. very wo and unsavours mem ods to try and reconsoliciate its sit-in al reactionary base. Using as harassment of gays at a Paris film festival.

control 1936: building workers march on the partiament bullding after the election of the Popular Front Government.

power is that this redundancies. provides the hest conditions for advancing the mass struggle and for workers to challenge thei and

To do that we have to put forward a programme that we attacks; fight for such & government to implemei. Weden'idochisina abortion on spirit of sectarianism towards the mass parties, nor simply to "expose chei, imagining thai this will automatically solve the

revolutionary leadership. The progrimme we Tight for is one that is busest on the immediate and long-terin

In France the revolutionary strike in slate which is standing in the first round has begun lo present

There's hardly room to spell our all the

PENE demands bere. but we can pive leaders. an idea of the sort of ching we

enter today one of the

government of the PS and PCE Polls Show

rejection of the 1958 constitution Which gives vast presidentia powersol velcover government

and which would effectively shitle any alteripe to

working class

The revolutionary slate also puts forward a comprehensive progranume in defence of living

Justification the kidnapping of The

industrialist and some particularly shocking comes of violence, the Cabinet last week approved 23 new measures 10 a "aw and order' package

Ministry of Culture (sic) banned several films at a gay cinema lestival in Paris. Some of these films had already been shown publicly (one of them on television) Sbortly after this, the audience at another film in the festiva was altacked by a gang of fascists armed with iron bars The police acted really the

arrested twa A subsequent the Ministry Culture led to more arrests, aod *Now Philosopher Andre Gluckamann (centre] was among those arrested for protesting at po

standards, with o minimum

across-the-board rises

maintenance of huying power on a trade ution price index: guaranteed jobs for all and nationalisation without compensation under workers

Vol TirIns creating

FOR NOTRE

COMTEAT COLLECTE E

THALL

one progrannie cemens Le end of racist immigration laws inunigrants" democratic rights,

defence against an end pr discrimination, equal pay, tro

demand, and

Inte

THE successful national docks

Well Germany is dramutic evidence of a new apposition which B emerging against the class collaboration

These trends are analysed in me article by Aman Armand lo the latest Inner

Press/Imprecor [Vol. 16, No. 5]. What Lie

-and Don't Shor

thout West Germung'.

Other features in this issee include • derlaration bs the Fourth Internacional on the Vietnam-Cambodin border war, an intersiew wh Italian Trotskyist netive in the abortion movement, coverage of the Soviet satellite crash und other nuclear hazards, and the tect of u recent speech by Fidel

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE. 9 February 1976 page 12

five Eberation candidates in the elections have been threatened

These attempts of a dying

tally the MOSE backward elementa in society are unlikely to save it, but i would be dangerous for the workers' movement lo leave them unchallenged.

The working class is not passisely awaiting the aulcome of the clections. After the police evacuation of a Horng office near Paris which bad

occupicuu mostal workers, there were immediate sympathy strikes and there is the possibility of a mutional stoppage as we go to press. delence against sexist violence.

It gives escensive colcrage to the detence of the demociatic right of youne people and the conscript soldiers and against all forms of state repression, af well as demanding an eod

role. withdrawal from NATO, and STeEPHOLAE BILLICHE strikeforce

is ten a programme the Socialist and Cosmunist

esders would be loo keen on. Bur it is one that answers be

immediate needs of the massor worker. Noris it a programme of government" in the sense understood by the reformists and much of the European Far all anstead is a ane OF advance for the mass struggle of the working class a struggle which will be made that much easier parties cometo power.

Even If every single measure were introduced by a governmcar (which is hardly on the cardsl) socinlism would not have arrived. There would still be the limal stronghoid of capitalist economic and stale power lo conquer. That is not the point. The fight for such a

programme, partscularly under

a PS-PCF government will heip

break down those strongholds

Yes, it may be a bit of a chiehe, But the demand for a government of the Socialist and Communist Parties and the Tant Torn class strugale

ogramme just happens to hold the key to the current political sitention in France

continental Press

- mprecor

Castro analysing Cuba's relationship to the world capitalist crisis

Single copies are 30p plies 10p pop, but why sot take

advantage of the favourable enb rates: E° for one yeur 148 Issnes], Es for six mintis |24 Iscues], 12.50 for introductory offer of 10 issues.

All new sulscribers will also get

u free copy of inprocor no. 19

[New Series) devoted to the

world economic shintion, Balk orders available al discount

[sale-or-retern]

Challenge grups. Write

Press/

Inprecor, P.O. Box 50, London

NI 2XP. All cheques/ POs

shmuld he made

Intercontinental Press,

Page 13 scan of this page

Biermann replies to East German dissidents

RECENT weeks I THINK it in justified and good that you devote so much space in your texi to the parasitic customs of she princes of the German Democratic feudal socialism ... Even more than their daily problems, these are what make the workers bitter.

It could well be that the wrath provoked by that nypocnisy especially the hypocrisy of the top people, transforms itself into anger — the sort of anger that provokes action. they read this part of your text many people in the GDR will slap their thighs and think of thischorus by Heinrich Heine: 1 know they were secretly

drinking wine And publicly preached that we

sbould only drink water.. You describe very well the conomic chaos of the GDR.

CLODOELL planning and direction' of the late Uibricht? I don't think the Stalinist economic iness can be cured by capitalist remedies. The increased reintroduction of capitalist norms in the process of production and exchange in the GDR — even if it is hidden by a revolutionary language -makes the people intoxicated with false hopes and then gives EOCMIHTCIENHNUSLE

The more the GDR becomes a nirror image of the consume ociety of West Oermany, th more people will want to get acquainted with the attractive original rather than its pathetic copy. neo-Stalinist bureaucracy wants to satisty the desires and Heeds of the people with the Western carrot produces counter-revolution ary dreams (...)

Eden't think, as you do, thai if Mark was alive today would drop the thesis class strugsle because it is out of contest" soday. On contrary! fundamental truth our high his identity card. They'd stamp DO A REAC

The almost Chinese Soviet nature of much or voi argument has upser my Spanish

Carrillo on that subjoct because his attacks on the Soviet Union are more differentiared. It is true that Carrillo does not live in a country occupied by thic Soviet Union. Bas, If you can get hold of them. Please read The chapter of my Winter Tales about tbe Red Army soldiers at the porder berween the two Germanics. Even afler 13 years

shat in the GDR. I sill hold that position

ere, in the Wes into hysteria about tones that the GDR, the paris. Beat the contradiction in what we love, and also in what we hate! Be

unlike the high digniraries of the SED (Easi

INTERNATIONAL

German Democratic

feudal socialism

have seen an oppositional statements from East Germany. Most impact has been created by a manifesto reprinted by Der Spiegel, the West German magazine, purportedly written by a group of Communist Party members.

At a conference on Eastern Europe in Brussels on 20-21 January, WOLF BIERMANN, the exiled East German poet and singer, replied to this document. Here we print the bulk of Biermann's reply and OLIVER MacDONALD reports on the Brussels conference.

When German Communist who teil the most horrible jokes about the Soviet Union as soon as they are in private and pisse out of their heads. (..)

You write: Stalinism and fasciste are the Honecker (the East German party boss) and described as Nazis painted in red'. But isn't this a confusion of terms, caused by justifiable bitterness? The identification between fascism and Stalinism gives a good cover 1o many ex-Nazis, because their crimes appear in a softer light And this abvious also very good for disillusioned Stalinists more Yest 163,000 communists were killed under Hitler. Yes!

The Two million Soviet contrades were killed by Stalin! Out of 11 political bureau in the German Communist 1930s), six were liquidated by Stalin and five by Hitler's mien Yes! milos new ate or the And compare the of the Nazis with the 20 million innocent Soviet citizens (the the lowest estimate this assassinated by Stalin (without counting the dead of the Great War But what do these figures tell us? No! Fascism was and still is anti- bourgeois defending the capitalist mode of production against the poor Stalinism and socialist revolution infected by bureaucratic syphili That's a Tacal illness certainly, but only if you treat it as you would a I cannot imagine. demand, "Tree clections. in the Liermany assembly and the progressive turnerator dran socia evels. Because even L the high GDR expropriated and deprived of their bower condition for moving direction - you'd still nave the big and pery bourgeoisie with their well-established positions.

And here would sill be this cecrible weakness working ciass mavement.

outpouring Party) How could there be free

elections in these condicions? Think of the GDR. population for decades suffer ed the indoctrination of our bigh priests. Who says they will same' pronounce themselves at such

freedom were thing aut elections for the Co are

and not the petty freedom of HACEY HARICES Let's not put the cart before the horse! We first have to have a 'Prague Spring" in the GDR one that last and s not silenced by the tanks! There has to be a socialist party in West mistake is

from democracy, First an independent commu nist novement must grow in the

systent which tries Thacimann's arganise

democracy in West Germany!

the must reach their full develop

ment. Then we will be seriously able to start a debate on the question Otherwise the door would be open to all the old Cierian antasies (...) We must not ligh know)

"Donati devil ourse insulted by the questions about the 'authenticity:

Manifesto so that you want to dictatorsiup. prove it! I heg you, let's scas

anonerous!

the

document is passed arounc anyway. eren Germany It will give many жое courage think Too many of us have been

secrel morally crippled in our prison whale cells — und roo many here an

the Westroo. Wewant to think again of the best forms organisation for she GDR. hink chat the detente polic etween East and West cumtinue. And with people like which is a pre- you arouad the tensions will in that grow in the East the saine es in

the West The Fortheoming strugeles will he different and much tougher But, as our old the master said, contradictions are

_ of the

Europe

number of

the Prague Spring of 1968

La film on the

invasion of 21 August 1968

The

SOrl a different party present social

a certain direct

sourselves be

DE VOL

Who would

courage lo

Limion, before the

international

swarming BETTE

Some

has leit on

ball inzen leaders of the Communist

enforced

THE BRUSSELS conference was organised by a broadi based labour movement body August 1968 Committee which campaigns in defence of ail those in Eastern the

being tepressed for attempting to exercise demo. ratic and working class rights. It

hat will be taking place in a political

European

nodded. aware of the

The proceedings opened with reminded

Warsaw Pact Czechoslovakia.

The film was made by a Belgian TV camera crew that arrived in Czechoslovakia just before the

It included an interview with Antonin Liehm, the editor of one of the most radical official nationalism papers during 1968, Liternary

ZDENEK MLYNAR: top Czech Communist leader

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 9 February, 1976 pege 13

Tiny of the Crech Writers"

IWO CAN Soviet tanks entered Prague, Leelut prophesied that it an invasion did take place st - disterent countries and present would descoy the unic of the la unired insernational front

Consmunist movement for good.

The film showed thousandsol demonstrators in the centre of Prague surrounding the Soviet

immobilising thetti.

UTC. them and the • Russian soldiers to discuss the criminal inading role that they were beidered faces of hesoldiers, forced to The

crying others asking questioes, yet others listening in silence eloquently expressed the mortal wound that the invasion

the authorily of Stalinism throughout Eastern Europe andthe LiSSR Zdenck. Minar, one of the

powerful Czechoslowat Party Dubock, the author of the Party action prograntme and the most senior afficial of'a ruling CP to go inta exile since Trotsky's

exile in 1929, described a conversation he had had with Marshal Grechko, chief of the invading forces, in

He hod warned Grechko that TORACE

Russian soldiers bpooming demoralised, that the Russian army rank and file might disintegrate -under the impact of the fraternisation and them being carried on by the Czechoslovak misses. Grechko

saying he was well situation, but Mlynar that troops could be withdrawn and replaced 10 times over before their reserves were exhausted. And this indeed was what

Jin Pelikan. thebead of Czech TV under Dubock drew out the crucial importance of inster-

the struggle against Soviet domination of

Eastern Europe. He pointed ou how the invasion had taugh socialists in Eastern Europe that they must unite their efforts in

-against the Russian mihtary

Other East European speaker later in the conference indicated the scope of the internationl movement of opposition to the bureaucratic within East European Woll Biermann described the hundreds or a BroU auri-Stalinist opponents of the

EastCiermany Krzvstol Pomian a leading Polish socialist exile, described then today of Painte nient today Poland and explained the backgrourd lo its emergence. He pointed to the solidarity herween the Workers Defence Committee in Warsan and Charter 77 in Czecho slovakia and argued that the regime in Poland had become increasingly incapable of governing the country

OPPOSITION

Vadim Byelorserkovsky.

warksop class lemmaist Soviet

described working class opposition to the Kremlin bureaucracy recently exiled Croch Chartist described the development of the Charler movement and the repressive drive of the Crechoslovak authocties against it. A

Marinot Beerited there were Saint Bulgaria there WEI SEE

opposition to the regime's suppression of desosratierights

The conference ended with a discussion hetween a leader of

Belgian .CP. leading Belgian socialist and PUTRES Mandel the Belgian section be the Fourth International, on the artitudes that the Western left should Take towards the struggle for democratic rights in Eastern Europe The CP leader called for flen condemnation of all vicacions

of democratic rights in Eastern Евторе.

After the conference, activists from various socialist defence committees in Western Europe

discussed ways of strengibenin;

international c-cedination oi efforts to strengthen working class solidarics with all those

suffering reptession in Eastern Europe.

CORRECTION

IT HAS been pointed out to us

that the Open Letter to Wolf

Biermann" reporled on in our

issue of 19 January, whict

defends proletarian democracy

hunt allacks the Eurocomma

nists, dates from November

1976 and not November 1977,

The error arose as the result of

If should also be noted that

theself ha

sought the publicutint of this

text, tearing that it could be a

provocation by the East

German police or the work of a

smull and lotally

sentatise vroubt abd that Col

journal Koukret. which more or

less delends Eurocommanist

positions. has claimed that the

text is not authentie bust the

work of a 'centre of falsifica

lion' based in West Berlin,

BETANDBRACES ROADSHOW Y

15H3 2301 0200 S0003

13 END EDINBURGH College of Ar

EDINBURGN Napier College STALING UNIVERSITY

Page 14 scan of this page

COMMENT

CP fantasies

1 WAS appalled by the Communist Party

women's "Reply" to Cath Cirket and Val

Coultas article on the CP and the women's

liberation movement. Is consisient mis-

representation of the International Marxist

Geoup women's stated positions would suggest

thatthey did not even bother to read the original article but preferred to manufacture fantasies

of what they imugine the IMG position to be.

In many cases they attributed to the IMG a position which the ING women have actually

CP for! For Campbell er al summarise the IMG position as tollows: "The basis of women's oppression is material, Te. the sexual division of labour Cirket and Val Coultas argued that it was the dufamily as an institution, isolated and privatised. which was the primary source of women's

They also roundly criticised the C.P.'

sexual division of labour within the family preciscly because it is not enough for men to share the washing up and take the kids out for a walk — it is the isolation of these tasks within the nuclear family unit that oppresses women. The solution lies in the socialisation of chese functions, not in sharing them with a man.

The CP - make BLACE inaccurate assertions — e.c. that the IMG has no theory of autonomy'. This is untrue. The

1 CAr Inal 11 sees organisational mutonomy DI the womens #beration movement (WLM) as essential, but hope that politically the WLM will become part of the strugale for socintism.

The CP women's so-called reply' does not attempt.to answer any of the specific chailenges a made by the IMG women on the CP's strategy in practice: L) will the CP leadership — not just this or that individual CP woman - condemn the policies of Eastern European Governments: In relation to women? 2) Will they adopt the six demands of the WI_M into their programme? 3) why has the Italian Communist Party viciously attached women's abortion rights? We could do with some real answers.

Debate oh the women's movement and revolutionary stralegy has not been advanced hy this muddled, elf-righteous, hypocricial, manipulative and slanderous article. I hope a fully reply to it will be printed as soon as possible, although this would not have been necessary if Bea Campbell, Jane Roberts and Caroline Rowan had engaged in a clear and honest debate based on fact not fiction. Sue Aspinali (N. London|

NAC benefit

WE'D LIKE to take up some of the points raised by the asters from North London in their letter about the NAC henefit at the Firstly, yes, it did turn our to be a fund raising only gig. le was offered to us on a plate - all the groups played for free and many of

Socialist

Challenge

EVENTS

NORTH WEST is on sal Sai

esday 5-Bom

that a1pm. Bama laces

MANCHESTER IBERDEEN: ocleist

2352

NORTH EAST He as on see LONDON Socialist

san in Limore Steel

the Roundhouse staff worked ampaid. NAC is debt, and we rely eatirely on tundraising and donatons in keen Roundhouse gig brought in €2000 Yes. NAC resence. This reflects partly on the fact that wo 1ad altost boling lo do win ornanisme th pie — although we should have unan crot: the banner and bookstall were missing through a Tast minute mistake, not through policy.

But would salls and banners really have challenged the phesomenal sexism of the example. Bea Roundhouse audience? How should a sig that

wornen's movement and the left be organised so that it will convey our politics to the putters? - Cath We'd welcome discussion on these questions SHE VEE Sisters From NAC Steering Committee

Political

clarification

the key

A WORKING class united in opposition to the bourgenisie is a precondition for the overthrow of capitalism. Although it i capital which the creales the working class as a coberent social force, capital also divides the working class -into skilled and unskilled, productive and unproductive workers. dilferences acquire a new form and significance under capitalism.

In the crisis the bourgeoisie has reinforced and exploited these divisions in an attempt 10 drive down working class living standards. The working class has been deeply divided in it offensive. dominant consciousness is reformist, the British labour Jovement has subordinated the unity of the working class to the unity of the Reduced militancy Social Contract over the last three years have been accompanied by a fall in real wages, mass unemployment and cutbacks in welfare services, The resulting demoralisation of the working class has produced a parallel despondency ir the groups the radical left. anticipated tightback government has failed to emerge on ans significant scale and the radical left hasresorted To a series of ractical manoeustes designed to overcome isolation, fragmentation and lack of influence.

The latest of these schemests the IMG appea for "Tar left unicy" to unils the radical left for the struggle to unite the working class. In the clectoral platform and the Anti-Nazi League alike, emphasis on organisational unity Coscures the central clarification.

The radical left ignores the beed for a marxist

Hemminglord Fo. activity in the unions!

YORKSHIRE

NEWHAM BocinarChalle NewhaHE FIELD Belin Cutena stide the Lilvary in the Frazz

SCOTLAND net asch Satarday, flam-2pm.

He mat of rescers Challeng Ceritin Jim on 12090 aller Spm SOUTH WEST GREENWICH: LEWISHAM

Car Is Faso oes Contre

118 nunibers

"anti-fascist" sentiments should have had more of a Instead,

-and partly on

socialism.

inadequacy of reformism should he

error

Kacial and

issue. Socialise

Because its political implications.

and acceptance of the

well imagine Challenge saying

points about the sixth demand.

against the Labour

La lesbian demand;

This substitutes a campaign the problems of relationships.

Socialist Unity

For political

Louise Boyabuk

views against minority groups.

The let Spesker pile

movement in 1974.

PD Box s0,

Chalange Gr

same mistake deain.

Ms GERRY AHRENS [Canterburgl

The Other

Cinema

ANGE Socialie Challengi culture,

developed without an audience.

open, devote cardion: re Duole in contradiction:

aesthetics ic.g.

understanding of the crisis and of racism and

fascism. It places first its own desire to increase

100 TIC 085L DE shared

commitment to abstract class struggle und

revolutionaries must train

wanguard with a clear Marxist analysis which

can show that the divisions in the working class

are forms of expression of the fundamental

conflier within bourgenis society — the conflict

belween capital and labour. The development sustam the

of such a vanguard is essential as the political

basis for uniting the working class around a revolutionary programme in the struggle for

The most practical contribution that

revolutionaries can make to the disputes which arise today is propaganda which exposes the

revolutionary alternative. The IMG approach, which obscures important political issues in the interests of spurious unity between radical groups, cannot advance the independent interests of a working class which finds itself divided in the face of the mosr severe capitalist crisis since the Socond World War, Revolutionary Communist Tendency The above is a contribution to the debule on the personality

project of Socialist Challenge submitted by thi

Revolutionary Communist Tendency Widgery

Fundamental

FIRST ofall: Sociulist Challenge is a very good paper. It is also the only left wing paper that consistently and regularly discusses the politics of women's liberation. Bat in the 26 January

Coulenge nas made Tundamcatal error, inexcusable because of its

That is: the sixth demand of the women's Liberation movement (WLM) is Not. the right 3. Braceing. to a self-delined sexuality: Ir is an end to all

women to on sidelined sexie can

women to a self-defined sexuality.

many teaders of Socialist that's Just a pounless semantic dispure. Well, for those semanticins, 2 and to ensure Sociulist Challenge does not repeat the error, I would like to explain a few

In discussing whether the WL. Mought to have

Jibe national WEM conference of 1974 (Edinburgh) realised that lesbianism was a part of the wider whole of sexuality, Discrimination against lesbians (e.g.

says we separate from the differing forms of sexuality,

monogamy.

The situation since 1974 when the demand

changed considerably cupbasing the difference between the two talves. Even the limited rights of lesbian notbers and of lesbian rights to artificial imemination by conor have been croced away: while cases of empioyment discrimination like

are on the increase. And the right wing have hardened their reactionary

On the other band, our understanding of sexuality and all that entails has broadened far beyond the limited knowledge (both in theors and practice) available to the women's

London)

The possibility of splitting the sixth demand into rep separate demands is far more feasible now, and perhaps necessary. But until such time as the WLM takes that decision, people must remember there are two very important parts to the sixth demand, and both are rotally integral to the light for women's liberation. So Picase, Socinlist Challenge, don't make the REGARDING THE article on the clasure of The Otber Cinema (TOC)in Torteohan: Street. London (Socialise Challenge, 26 January 1978). Quore: It's worth emphasising that a film

"left wing" or otherwise, cannot be Implication: nobody came. Fact: during the 15 months it was

TOC had almost 100,000 admissions, Quote: The whole question of aesthetics e an ideoingical weapon remains marginalised.

35. tittegral, 50 film culture! modest, facilities are required." One of TOC's aims: to

of decisions.

BEAUCE WOE LEE CHENECS PIATRE DOES CE

Godard, Strauh) into an institution that had thousands of film goers in irs orbit, do help erode that marginalism Class collaboration: as an independen leftwing cultural group. TO demanded of the state (in the form of the British Film Institute) moncy we needed to pay off our openine debts

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE. 9 February, 1978 page 14

and keep poing. The stare refused this demand,

ana the cascina was compelled to close. Anyone

in the movement in entirled to debare and

concise our specie ams and oBE way o

struggling to realise them. Hut this article does

so in under to back the state's refusal of money.

Quate: TOC should have ensured that the

project would sustain BFl scrutiny in the event

of a request for money.

Should car workers ensure tea projen can

scrutiny of Ford management?

Should the EGA workers ensure their project

sustains the scratiny" of the NHS? This article

crosses class line».

PAUL MARRIS. (Former programmer of The

Other Cinema, in a personal capucity).

Enough of

Widgery

pokery1

WHEN YOU take away all the sectarian

bashing in his letter (Socalist

Challenge 29), These are the reasons David

gives for the SWP's genuine

disinterest in Socialiss Unity; 1. SU lacks commitment to working class politics'. It is too intellectual. 2. IMG controls Socialist Chullenge. 3. Fourth International controls IMG (Eriest Mandel controls be FI). 4. Red Mole "failed", therefore so will SU. 5. Independents will core off worst. 6. The concept of "revolutionary' unity in struggle and that of unicy clections are mutually antagonistic 1. SWP's journals are Better than IMG's or Big Flame's. 3. Dentable 4 Moshe 3 Undeniable. based on a hypothesis. 5. Incorrect.

Marksaurof ten - 1

Get to the polist David, you are not interested in Socialist Unity becatise you are not interested in Socialist Unity because you., etc. etc. PAUL. ANDREWS(SE London)

IN HIS reply to Dave Widgery, Chris. Roseblade says, We are merely saving that a fusion between the IMG and the SWP could marginalise the real sectarians'

Leaving aside che issue of just wão comrade Reseblade presumes he is speaking for aben he

cati he bote that in the last lew

months the SiP has: set up an Anti-Naz

League from which the CP and the far left were explickly excluded, brought in big name candidates in hy-clections in an alterapt to get more sotcs than other far left caodidates; refused to even reply to appeals for joint far left election candidates le has aha refused to discuss the standing of commen far-lett candidates in union clections; doclared in the name of its front Rank and File Vlovement" a peneral strike; persistently •censored from its newspaper criticisins ofthese policies, and soon and sc on.

Could comrade Roseblade then tell us that If it i hot the SWP, are the "real sectarians'?

MICK GOSLING, TOM MARLOWE IN.

You're wrong!

ONTHEgeestionerSocialisChallengeaildthe British Lesland slush fund documents, strongly regret your decision not to publish since I feel that you are in possession of information of absolute importance to the socialist movement in this country. Because you haven't published — as you sa properly did ul the Dobsen racist case — you are depriving us of a most valuable isight inca a key industry, and one which har a most important role to piny in social deacocratic ideas of control of the generation of surplus value Forilthere in a slush fund, and If vou are in a position to prove i, it meanschal a natjonalised industry is prepared to pay largesuns of money over to corrupt officials in, presumably, other parts of the world (we don't know, becaase vou won't tell us which will eventually end up on the price of the car or lorry that the people of that country want to buy Is that really what we want? Paying some trader his grait for gold-plated bath iaps or gambling money for the Playboy Club cannot be defended because they all do it', That's the sort of consense we can expect as a delence: if there is an argument for nationalised industries in a social democracy, part of it mouss be that they can use their power to fluence those kind

By not feeling strong cough to publish what you have, you deprive the movement of

bleat about Fleer Street's censorship: after all what did you expect? That's why we subscribe

DAVID CLARK (SE London]

Page 15 scan of this page

by

Malcolm

WImrie

Following

by Carl Gardner

fringe

BELT & BRACES Roadshow has a

* production touring the country i now. Following their successful rock musicals Not as Green as Its Cabbage and A Day in the Life of the World, which they took to Sweden last summer, they have switched tack and have come up with a more naturalistic production, Mn Colley Pepper which is described as a plas nhaul seest e

Te will be on in London at the Half Moon Theatre from 13-25 February al Spen. On 28 February it will be at the Wallsend Arts Centre, Tyne-andWear, and from 2-4 March at the York Arts Centre. For further information or more bookings ring B & B on 01-485 2872.

LADDER Theatre Group, based in Yorkshire for the last two years, is taking a tare trip South this month, with their new show Taking about those who spun the thread and wove the cloch and is based on a year's research into the lives of workers in the industry in the nineteenth century.

Taking Our Time is a piece o working class history brought to life through drama, comedy, song and music. This is a must, London dares and venuca: Mon 13 Feb. Jackson's Lane Community Ccorre, Archwa Rd. Higheare. 7.30pm.

Hommermith Town Hal Thur 16 Feb, St. Hilda's East Chih, CUD KOW. Bettual Green, 7,30pm. Fri 17 Feb, Waterloo Action Centre, Bavles SI SEI. 7.30pm Sar 18 Feb.

7.30pmt. For more info Ladder an 10532) 792228.

ROADGANG based on Tynesido, has undergone n considerable transformation in recent months. Its now a Women's Theatre

one of the few such groups outside London. • show which certainly warrants their new feminis commitment. Opportunity Blocks, the play is based on lie well-kuown TVshow of similar name and looks at ine opportunity for womer in education, trainine, employment and the trade IS TITORMC TOE MEANIES

Roadwanu hah done ather shows lae Tast autumn they supported the Socialis UritycandidateinLadywood through a series of anti-racist and sketches in the streets and at an anti-NF dema. The latest show can b booked by political organisations trade unions, and women's groups Ring (0632)775615.

STERIES revolutionary'

the

become a

was

experience

LUILY valuable.

controlled

Yorkshire rextile

"Messages,

Wed 15 Fer

WCL capitalism "changing life'.

Theatre Group how

Bolshevik

any has peoduced

2851008551

for lack of 10005

This article is called

I's ironic, but not surprising, thai most

what passes surrealism today in Britain would been violently: atlacked Themselves. Certainly true of the current jamboree in London, wiuch Revisited' exhibition at the Hayward Gallery supplement reminiscences and lectures that surrealism has boen reduced to a colourfel and slighly scandalous period "history" of European Art, Helped in this by the fame of Salvador Dali and the mistaken notion that he typities surrealism On tact he was expelled from the group for his sympathy with fascism and re-christened Avida Dollars). surrealism is left with an image which in only

in the •SENSE THE powder ads give the word.

To transform the world, to change life, ard to remake human understanding from scratch (Andre Breton) is probably as good a sumerary as any of the aims of surrealism. "Transform the world' comes from Marx; "change life' is taken from Rimbaud, the poet who thed to

'seer' throuch disordering of all the senses". The surrealists wanted to change not just the economic conditions of life, but every aspect of how we live in the world, how we perceive it/ourselves, how we communicate Particuluriy, all that

схоса пол "poor everyday life, needed to be released. So they were concerned, from the start, with dreams and with the unconscious, as a soarce of new

which had, in some way. to be merged with "conscious life. They great hopes on that potential wity. Anyrhing which could break chrough the barrier of

and the institutions channeled and sustained it (ideologies, though

usually talked of Automatic writing. [produced in various forms trance). chance events meetings, the bringing together of unlikely objects/ideas, verbal and physical attacks on religion, putriotism, the family, The paintings and poems are records o1 this exploration.

Psol lizards. are hidden under every stone, wrote Bretoo.

Benjamin Peret, one of the most consistently nctive surrealists (later, till 1948, a member of the Fourth Internationali said, today has no orber choice than to revalutionist or not to be a poet. One of the many questions begged by that was what kind ol relationship they were to have to "the social revolution', They agreed, in 1925, 'we are not utopianists, we can conceive of revolution only In ES SOCIal FOR Even it overthrowing

only a starting , there was still the probiem o carly 30e, the surrealists debared that question. reach that point. From 1925 to the For some of them, even vague support for the

revolution was too much. Louis Arugon called it a mere 'ministerial crisis" (be changed rapidly - ditching surrealism and cobracing Stalinism in 1932, just us many

inchiding Breton, expelled from the French Connuant Part

their continuing attacks degeneration of the LiSSR), For others, faced with the fact that their own governmicot was engaged in an imperialist war in Morocco, and that there was a Left Opposition, under threat, within the Third Incorational, it was time to take sides more specifically.

Pierre Naville, a member of the original sancalet group, tried to force the issue. the abolition otthe nonreenis condilions DI marena. life a nocessary condition of the

Siberation? alroady collaborating in producing Clarie, a journal of oppositionists within the PCE. Hos much famher would they go? Breton replied

Barricade of flowers

TENTS NUIS

by the that's in the eternal

become an

revolution he Paris Dada groa

to caplain the

esample systematising.

Bure that the sure

is true that repetitions, PANELILLY confined indication at least ot differences was the d complete

reality of

pinned

that

"moralities') was

drawing.

che poet of

The

(which Naville polat for IPCE. were being

on the the revolutionary lett. resolved.

because uts proloct

Was

with, the

historica thenretica

Who wete the surrealists? Surrealison was to

International movenient, groups active in most European countries, ID Latin Anterica, North Africa, the Middle East and Japan. It began in Paris, in 1921-3, w10 a small croup of intellectuals, mostly in their

World War ash witse the holster

witnessed Bolshevik • Some of them had formed part of

There are lots of glib formulas which preter

spill between surrealism Dada: Dada as destructive or negative

surrealism as constructive ar conversely. surrealism Dada

random because within the arena the

surrcalises, of the work of Freud and Marx.

TAKE ME

AU

DEFI

evasively, repeating his criticisms of the PCP

shared) and arguing tbe

was't disputing). Naville drifted away from them (he was laser one of the founders of the French section of the Fourth [nternational)

and concentrated on more traditional political

often in a notoriously secrarian way.

Beccon. during and after a brief stay

maintained his support for

(visiting him in exile in Mexico where togethe

they drated the manitesto of the Enternational #Federation of Recolutionary Artists), bet also his discance from any actise invoycotent with

The debase was never

And the problem remains. In that sense, und

HIS been surrealism continues. For Franklin Rosemont the author of the Plato Introdaction, it would be unacceptable to talk of surrealism past tense, to assume it ended with the death of

Breton is as stupid as assuming Marxisru ended

GURE different question. Surrealism was a specific

novente EXCESTY dacirine. Rascont

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 9 February 1978 page 15

history of revolationary

available in

predecessors of the movement.

with

IT 1 ASTRATIONS, (Top) Andre Breton The nam philet condemning Ardeon's role during the trial of the Russian writers Darticl and Siniavsky, 1966,

It's tbe cover of a surrealist

ARAGON

"ent faced, national ries. It's casy to forget so an't apply now

in the Tracsky

surrealists, voice of the

realised,

limitations were also, of course Marxism al the time.

in the beiween

society so often diumssed as

surrealism.

But there's another sue to this new anterest published by Pluto, one an introduction by someone who is still a "surrealist activist' in the other, a vast anchology of material by Andre Breton, who was the domicant Seareda l movement, Taken together, they can remind us that surrealism sc an important part of the

Jong-overiue reminder, The Breton anthologs includes examples of nost kinds of written products of surrealem — from manifestoes to experiments in reproducing states of ment disorder" — few of which have previously beer

translation. •Pen Ruin have followed suit with a collection of English anc American surrealist poetry and a clicap edition of the Songr of Muldoror, a vision of what on: surrealist called the everyday monster. iron man forged by capitalist society" by

Sure let _ Franklin Resemont: Pluto El.HO What is Surrealism. Selected Writings of Andre Enter sion by Muld rodo

Andre Brefon and the Find Principles

Somes

Breton: Pluto 25.00

Penguin.

isnares all that has changed since World War

1 Even out the level of tacles, the surrealists

by TV communications and leisure bocause It - how effoctive some of

their antacks on literary figures were, or how

much impact their writing and printing had,

Politically, the most ofivious inchication

the chearetical limitations of surrealismn is tre

developmen, of feminism. Wornen, for

menacing

caricine. With some notable exceptions. they

scie rarcly collaborators. Breton wrote of the

concept which is jest one more reactionary

version of earth mother! or "mase!. Bital the

shared h And with the gull

pobitical struggle as wide as ic be today.

the guestion of why we are fighting. of what

expectations we'te pinning on the end of Class

would be crazy to think we've pote beyond

Page 16 scan of this page

Demonstrate Saturday 11 Feb to GAY RIGHTS

Registered with the Post Orfice as a sewspaper, Published by Relgoeres Lid. for Socialist Challenge, 32829 Upper street, London NI.

This Saturday there will be a demonstration and rally in London demand the quashing of the convictions for blasphemous libel against Ciay News and its editor, and for the repeal of the blasphemy law. protest has already received the formal support of trade union branches. _cils, anti-fascist committees, as well as organisations of the gay move-

JAMIE ment. reports GOUGH.

Mary Whitehouse's me of religion to secure a conviction seeks to appeal to reactionary impulses in society: a yearning for past stability, for eternal values that need not he questioned,

When the prosecution upheld the split herween mind and body (This poem is not about love, it is about buggery? It tried to reinforce the split What wedo. When Witchouse DELVES WELL LILAR CRYS suppress any questioning of our actual awes ot the 'namural sexuality and of our repressed desires.

Whilehouse's attack on the existence of the dangerous couch in ibelf. But it is only one of the increasingly frequent attacks. on lesbians and gay men by the courts, police, the fascists, the Tory right, sections of the press, and the motality squad itself. DECISIVE

Because of this, a decisive answer on Saturday is more

ollen bolated gay people to communicate with each other: more than a blow agains State imposition of the established Church's doctrine

It can be a cail for an end to

OUR FUND DRIVE

IN THE last couple of weeks local Socialist Challenge Groups have been busy. London croups have springing into activity all over the city

Islington, 17 people attended its second mecting. Many of these previously in contact with the sanact. Down the Camden. 20 is the usual attendance Tigure. Haringay recently organised a meeting with the paper's trish editor, Gooff Bell, to which over 20 readers came.

Meanwhile. South Landon, Harry veteran revolutionary who was a member of the Communist

The deep and

News)

Gay

the than a blow for the rights of against gays; an end to anti-gay

prejudice and violence The attack on Gay therefore all attack abiary of all of us straight, 10 determine sexual lives. Hut, even more, it

Party in the 1930s and coday isa member nf the The League, spoke along with John been Ross. of the

Marxiat Group, on The need for Revolutionary International' -Two new readers groups are

London, The Newham Group meets for the first time this week and another in Hacknes is

Socialist Challenge

DEFEND

CAY PRIDE

all forms of disctimination is an attempt to strengihen

authoritarian lationships in sately. That i.

News Is why you should be there on bn the Saturday. Gay News appeal gay or begins in the High Court on

OUr Monday:

The demonstration assembles

due to be launched soen.

Workers Outide London,

Penningion Internationa] platform with two Fire Brigade

Enion officials on personal capacities) in Wolverhampton. One Di commented on how the support they received leumigrant women had heiped to break down racism and sexism among Their menabers.

Meanwhile in Leicester readers canse to hear Geoffrey лепсал, mobei here or socise chalented With the date now fixed for the Sturday, and Saturday, groups are beginning to prepare by making their own assess

SPECIAL

OFFER

Russian Revolution Sesher Design by bard Text King. 50p

4 colours, 81.

Subecribe for one year to Socialist Chailenge [E10] and receive a calendar lor 1978 free Set of on South Africa, Ireland, 1974 miners strike, BIG CHE MENEILT * Socialist Challenge sup porters badge, 20p each 70 bostice Drder of 10 a mare 16p nach, post free All available from Special Offers, PO BokG9, Londor N1.

But 1pm ar

capitalist

Trufulgar speakers

movements.

ment of the Bob weaknesses of the

shared the

speak.

FBU lenders

from the community and

Tacle tower turning сластдовсу

of the tomer meanwalle орел the tune. of E160,33.

to relax.

Socialist

the Tatue tower:

G. White S. Cass S. Jacobson

Calendar 13

6 postcards ol Name

Address

Seveso, USSR

Social 51 Challenge

On

iastructions Conservative raided

Lion gay paper, Under collecting 'obscene Fiscated advertising

the paper.

Temple underit march to a rally

with from the Inhour movement, civil rights groups and the women's and pay guy man

strengths and 0. Davies DEDELIE Алол. your group would like to hold such a meeting then odiroria! board members are available to D. Tieray

C. Smith

With our local supporters'

R. Maitin we hope to see cer emergency A. Stewart Fund drive building up and the A. Barrati

ted. The 0. Boyle D. Johnson E97.20, includine one donatior A. Bishop of E30 from an East London NALGO supporter. The Tarlin

benefited to supporters which Keeps us just on target for the quarter, But we cannot afford

With creditors close on our beels we need every penny you can spare. Rush i donation in either the emergeney appeal or

8. Brignul

This week our thanks 1o:-

Anon. 1.50 S. Bume P. Swoating 2.00 M. Prior

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Domestic: 6 months. E5; 12 months, £10

Abroad: Airmail, t16.50. Surface, 570 per antum

Tenclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of

Complete and return to:

Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.

An international issue

AN ATTEMPT to close down with the country's main gay paper A hysterical press campaign 1o prevent children being 'exposed 1o* leshians and gay men, Massive and arbitrary police raids on the say cormnunic.. Sounds Tamilar! All Diese Hare happened in Canada over the WAS LET LUELE

December 30 the Toronto police, acting on the

Ontario's Government offices of Body Politic, Canada's mass circula

the the pretext of copy article, thes consubscription and Account books, and editorial copy in an obvious atteaspt.to close down

The raid comes after a wild Bre Torme ahy orchestrated by the sun, and includine a ant-pa! march of 15.000, built on the alleged marder of 'n boy by a

By an extraordinary coinci dence, these atrucks coincide

5.00 South London readers 28.00 Heading supporters 3:00

20.00 1.00 Tolal

4,50 1:00 East London readers 7,70

4.00 Istington SC Group 2.05

Our thanke to the following for donalions 1o. the emergency

5.00 E London NALGO

50:00 10.00 4.00 4,00 2.00 Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to Socialist Challenge!,

astlaw rong an exesion or

the Ontano Hunan Righs Code. A sicilar extension of the

was made in December — in spite of the valiant efforts of the Montreal police, who found i necessary in Ocrober to arrest 146 people in a guy bar

RESPONSE

The fight for anti-discrimination Jans is sonte thing thai so far distinguishes

gay struggle North America fram the

gay. movement in Canada has responded to these actacks with unprecedented arenath, unity and coordination Two choosent marched in Nontreal, and war nickeico зu Toreto. An with the hattle in •Florida, ALL COIRSHEE inralastional response

Canada House on 23 January STELALL 30 people pickered and a letter in solidarity with Body Politic will be handod in there on Saturday's Gay News demonstrution.

©.Richarda 5.00 Southamplon supporters 2.50 Anon 2.00 S. Walinets 3.00 London renders 9.70

97.20

I'm a

supporter

Become a walking hill-heard Tra-colour Socinlist Challenge supporters hodges are popping up all over the place. Obcala Naur from the address above, 20p each plos To post, Ten or more 36p each pist free.