Dominated as the CND national leadership by Euro-communists and Kinnock supporters there is no doubt they will seize any. opportunity diluting this year's conference's demand.
Conference's determination to continue mass action against weapons was reflected every main emergency* resolution from CND Cymru noted that nuclear weapons would be a major issue in the forthcoming general callparga called for four-day march culminating 1n major event in London on Easter Monday' CND Cymru accepted reference back to the inwhich will not meet till January. Given the obvious reluctance of the leadership to stage such national mass actions, particularly in the run-up to a general election, this may prove a serious mistake.
learned that member of CND nationally dropped significantly in the last Monas. From 106,000 in 1984, the figure is down to 91,000 for '85-86. This goes hand in hand with the leadership's demobilisation of the activist base of the campaign.
But despite the predictions of a dire drop in membership at the beginning of this year, out-going treasurer Mick Elliot reported that the bombing of Libya, followed by the Chernobyl disaster, had brought a resurgence support. These figures ilaustrate how disastrous the leadership's line of direc Callivalz away the very activities that bring CND its mass popular support really is.
The leadership's demobilising strategy was also contained in a constitutional amendment to replace annual conference wit a perman one came from national counBv the time tois was debated on Sunday afternoon, the massive opposition to it was clear, as the mover himself recognised. 'The amendment was deci sively defeated.
A significant development this year was that for the first time the issue of floor of conference, with a resolution westmette Brown of CND'S anti-racist working group However, the proposed constitutional change was 'withdrawal of membership' of those 'known to promote racist views'. It did not call for positive ac tion for black members.
Genuine concern to prevent expulsions became confused with opposition to positive action for black members. Eventually, supporters of the resolution accepted the proposal of the arrival and operation Bruce Kent to reter it back o nauotal coulcu 101 1u1 ther consideration While the beginnings anti-racist consciousness was a welcome inclusion Conterenti discussion, the total absence of anv debate Ol CND's political perspectives in the run-up to the general election was a glaring gap. CND leadership to recognise tha Labour is the only ma: political party calling for unilateral nuclear disarmament and to set its political objectives accordingly.
dealing with the issue were among the best attended at con ference, including that of Labour CND on getting to campaign which attracted delegates lively discussion.
The absence of plenary aebate on election policy the the has theorised since 1983: that of pursu1ng the mythical "middle ground'. An injection of grass roots activism on unilateral nuclear disarmament and removing US bases would come as an extremely unwelcome disruption to the parliamentary lobbyist politics that CND leaders now pursue. It would also handicap CND's leadership from chasing after "progressive' Liberal and SDP candidate: line of the national leader The overall leader ship of CND has led to disorientation among ac tivists, turn localism which is now visibly taking its toll of membership Ine collilgycal will be an important one fos anti-missiles campaigners The Tories have already begun their pro-nuclear pro-Reagan campaign, while the Labour leader snip remains crippled b own contradictions is vital that CND does not allow cold war propaganda to make the running in what has already become a central issue in the next general election campaign There is only one way fo anti-missiles activists respond - by taking the offensive on the question of nuclear weapons.
CND's base — as con ference shows - is committed to that perspective The problem is that the leadership is still trying to break politica potential. "Defence that means nuclear weapons, will be dominate issue on next year's agenda. The movement is not go ing to be able to dodge the issues that national leadership has been busy fudging at this year's con ference.