Socialist Action No. 34, 18 November 1983
The scan: 034-nov-18-1983-SA-UK.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.
Page 1 scan of this page
No. 34 18 November 1983 30p
Socidici
Actor STOP
BESSANS
REAGAN'S
WARS
THE FIRST cruise missiles have arrived in Britain. Appropriately enough they arrive at the same time as a huge military buildup of US forces is taking place in the Middle East for the American's 'retaliatory' strike against Syrian forces.
They arrive just after the US invasion of Grenada, and as the United States is preparing a military strike against Nicaragua.
The argument about means not just to fight cruise missues nas been against the missiles, but to won. They are not here to fight intervention in Cendefend' anybody. They tral America and the Midare here as part of the die East.
United States world-wide Of course the fight military build-up against against the missiles must the forces of progress go on. Of course we must everywhere. continue to build CND.
An overwhelming ma But the fight against jority of people in this Reagan's wars must also country don't trust be redoubled. If you want Reagan over the clear majority missiles. don't peace perialism! fight l/L-
want the missiles at all.
The events recent MODERN weeks have proven what socialists lave said TIMES along. Responsibility for the new arms race lies with the United States and its NATO allies. Reagan and Thatcher
RAF GREENHA
whelming military COMMON superiority over the Soviet Union. They want the military capacity to strike
progressive forces anywhere in the world.
Their insanity threatens social progress everywhere.
All been alerted to the evil of the missiles and the US HiL arms race ought now to Mrs Thatcher may be look long and hard at what right. We could send the
happening. fight cruise missiles back consistently against US neagan... under their own and British militarism steam, of course!
Page 2 scan of this page
New crisis in Le
Action SociAlist
Labour right organises LAST WEEK Denis Healer carried out a neat coup in the Parliamentary Labour Party. With the respect for reasoned argument for which he is famous, Healey didn't even bother to get his supporters to attend the discussion of defence group.
They just walked in seconds before the vote was taken and packed the elections which then took place.
As a result, Pat Duffy, Dick Douglas and Bob Brown were elected as officers. three are opponents of unilateral nuclear disarmament.
The Labour ridiculous position of having unilateralism as its official policy and a defence committee in the House of Commons headed by people who are totally unilateralism. The right wing also won the leadership of the Labour foreign affairs group.
The parliamentary Party is not the only area in which the right wing is organising for its aims. The organisation committee of the NEC has got a new 'appeals and mediation committee discipline in the Party. This committee will report directly to the executive.
The new committee has a four to one majority for the right - the right wingers are Neville Hough, Evans and Michael Hadden. Proposals by the NEC left to add Jo Richardson, David Blunkett or Joan down. The only member not obviously on the right is Alex Kitson. But he himself voted for the expulsion of the Militant editorial board.
This committee has all the sinister appearance of a Party 'purge' committee. The tactics of the right wing for the witch hunt nd Party policy are obvious. Healey, Hat ersley and co. are concentrating on taking over the 'commanding heights' of the Party apparatus. From witch hunts of the type seen in Wythenshawe, or individual that of Tariq Ali, can be organised. Meanwhile the vice tightened on the Party as a whole.
Over Party policy it is the same. Healey is sewing up the right wing positions in the PLP. The next aim of the right wing Will De to get a change of policies on issues such as unilateralism at next summer's trade union conferences. Meanwhile Roy Hattersley is carrying pothe right wing is well organised and knows what it is doing. Isn't it about time the left took a leaf out of their book and got its act together?
The destruction in Lebanon after the Israeli invasion
Labour's parliamentary
All
Party is now in the
opposed to
parliamentary
to handle questions
Kenneth Cure, Roy
Maynard were voted that position localised
expulsions such as
will be slowly, inexorably on his campaign for incomes Socialist Action 18 November 1983
Yasser Arafat: under pressure from Syrian-backed PLO rebels
creasing its intervention in the Middle
munities in Lebanon.
The main target of US aggression Is sylla. In the past few days US F14 fighters and Israel planes have made sorties over Svrian and Lebanese ter. ritory. The US and Israel Have been openly templating reprisals against Syria for the bomb
US and French troops in Beirut and Israeli troops at their military headquarters in Tyre. This week Israel called out its reserve army, supposedly for a 'practice exercise and in response to a Syrian call up of its forces on Monday. (The Israelis have since claimed
AS THE attacks on Arafat's forces in Tripoli continue and with the future of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in question, the United States is in-
East, longer hiding behind the facade of a 'peace keeping' force to prevent bloodshed in the different com-
that the majority of reserve troops have returned home).
By Mags Shaw and Ros Young
The situation is extremely dangerous and becoming more complex by the minute. Despite US and Israeli claims to the contrary, LIfE HIRANG build up of military hardware and troops in the region continues, and ol the surface though they are preparing
for major military tervention in Lebanon and forces
300 US planes and 30 ships are stationed in the East Mediterranean, some reportedly having cruise missiles on board. The US and Britain are building up
joint base on Cyprus. The Americans have stated that they will start to stockpile equipment for their Rapid Deployment away from their past con-
the Gulf area).
What is the US objective in this? According to Zibigniew Brezezinski, former US national securi-
advisor Washington was now acting 'militarily as an auxillary to the Lebanese army and politically as a Israeli foreign policy b of
Left wing militia men in Beirut viously America no longer feels that its main allies
and the Ine regor. oracu
government Gemayel, can carry out the task controlling the Lebanon and removing Syria.
Obstacle
This of Dal America's overall cold war policy. Syria is seen as the MOST serious obstacle to US-Israeli domination in
country with any signifiCall Soviet Union
Most of the Syrian military hardware is from the Soviet Union, including the missile system. Milita Syria iS confrontation WIll an ideal testing ground to assess Soviet strengths and
weaknesses Would the US risk a
possible global confronta. tion over region! Would they actually launch an attack against Syria? The US invasion of Grenada should not make us complacent about this possibility. The Americans are embarking on a policy of direct intervention in other countries, no longer solely relying on stooge The jet. Me also apar that the Sis so to rears. job also appears any country a lesson for have with the 'communist threat
The Soviet Union not looking kindly on the
against the pro-Arafat Palestinian fighters.y Arafat and the PLO are also allies of the soviel Union. Is this Russia's way of edging out of any direct
Page 3 scan of this page
banon
involvement if Syria is atLacKcu:
Syria is dragging itself into a more complex mess by the minute.
the mair to be force in Lebanor caracle of participating any future peace settlement for Lebanon. At the same time their control of the PLO is vital to this. They need to present themselves as the guarantor of the PLO's behaviour against Israel and the main nationalist government in the Middle East. BulL they can't afford the potential destabilising will ha UNCi Palestinians have on the internal politics of Syria. People
What is happening inside Syria? Are the Syrian people behind the govern-
ment's attempts to defeat Arafat or will this provoke future internal strife inside the country. Palestinians are still sien the languard the fight agairs: Israel in the Sliddie
Future
Syria also wants in on the re of the West Bank the future of the
who face annexation by Israel, or any
Palestinian state.
And aereal or Alalai would make this move much easier. Howevel Palestinian state under the
control of Syria would never be considered
Israel. Jordan is also keen to play the role of Palestinian minder rapidly and in becomes ne Events changing
possibhange in die what
next week. Certain things remain clear however. the US and Israel attack Syria. we must come out firmly against this and any other US intervention
including campaigning for Batish troops out of Lebanon.
At the same time we
defend the PLO. which is still the represen-
of ine Palestinian people. againsi Syrian tempts ie control it. The bos for he buste o
ousting Make no mistake, the end of Arafa: 1s ine
end of the Palestinians' ability ne srael from the real of Israel from the Bank — it will mean Israeli annexation of these areas, giving a mandate to Israel for future territorial exwalsiull.
US F-16 Falcon fighter-bomber attacks in Lebanon
Israel
roads to the Golan Heights.
1982 truckloads of bodies graveyard in white graveyard indicates that it is a cemetery fallen of the enemy'.
The villagers also told Kohns that after the first shipment the ground the cemetery was periodically disturbed as new bodies were added. Recent sonald Yound part of a
Around Dall body sticking out of the ground.
Most startlingly,. the villagers nearby claimed that buried alive had been
alive at the spot, and that they had heard Before beijin buriedercy
being buried handcuffed and blindfold-
When Tamara Kohns visited the graveyard on 25 March she saw a new section which had recently been dug, and she claims there was 'an unbelievable
Victims of the Sabra/Chatilla massacre (Photo: Chris Steele-Perkins) SINCE the middle of 1983 disturbing reports have been coming out of Israel of a hidden graveyard in the Galilee, near the Jordan river on one of the main
Tamara Kohns, researcher working for the American magazine The Nation was taken to the graveyard by local people.
Villagers told Kohns that in July and August
were brought to the plastic bags. sign at the 'for the
stench' indicating Again on 31 cent burlais.
March and 5 June this year, there sections of the graveyard.
Kohns also tound a stretcher, blanket marked wish ove with the Israeli Defense Forces imprint and that of the Health Ministry.
By Brian Evans
Who are the people buried at the graveyard? In response to • a press con ference on the issue held at Tel Aviv, official sources claimed that the graveyard was for foreign soldiers killed battle with the Israelis particularly •vilalis.
The hidden graveyard
according 20 Jul
to the paper 1983, a Palestinian with Syrian nationality who was shot trying to escape from the Al Ansar concen tration camp in Lebanon was taken and buried at this spot.
What is the relationship between this graveyard and the thousands of prisoners which Israel has taken in Lebanon?
Centres
In addition to the Al Ansar camp, there are
interrogation Israel. number of missing persons arrested by and their Maronite Chris-
Lebanon 1982 is thought to total 15,000 addition to the 9,000 at the Al Ansar LOIS
Free exchange of prisoners between the murderous militias and the Israelis is known to take place.
The Israeli interrogation centres have a sordid record of brutality
Socialist Action: 18 November. 1983
The burial of fallen enemy soldiers outside a country in takes place is forbidden by Moreoent, there has been Geneva
little direct fighting very between Israel and Syria in the recent past.
Many need suestion therefore answered Why was this graveyard set up in Israel?
is true that Syrian soldiers are buried there, why are they taken 10 Israel? Is the testimony of people being murdered ai the site of the graveyard true? Are the people buried at this graveyard Lebanese or Palestinians who have been dealt with
Israeli Defence Forces?
And finally, what is to become of these thousands
of prisoners which Israel has kept in concentration
camps since its invasion of Lebanon?
• A long interview with
Tamara Kohns appears in
and
Political Report (Paris)
September 1983.
Page 4 scan of this page
Campaign against
4
IRELAND
UNFREE
Hunger strike
for jobs
Martin Collins reports from Clondalkin THE CLONDALKIN north of Dublin was packed to capacity on Friday as more than 400 workers from the small town met to fight for the lives of two hunger strikers and the paper mill - their main industry.
Leaders of four of the biggest industrial unions were called to account for the lack of effective national action which has allowed the struggle for the mill to reopen to drag on for two years.
Action committee leader Paul Billings described the broken promises and dealing that has forced two of the strikers to put their lives on the line for the town's future. Right from the start. Clondalkin discuss selling their jobs. however large, would still mean the death of the town.
Their militant action in occupying forced the governing Fianna Fail party to purchase
but before elections, the commitments to resume production were hedged around and broken by the incoming coalition government. The complicity Labour coalition partners in the betrayal of Clondalkin workers is straining the already tense relationship between the unions and the party to breaking point.
Willie Atlee, general secretary of the Federated Workers' Union of Ireland said his first loyalty was to his class. he said, would define how long he would remain a member of the Labour Party. It had been proved that once Labour is in coalition, it is trapped by the
Gael's monetarism. It can do nothing for working people.
pressure from months of inactivity. One after the other, workers took the floor to contrast these words with the lack of action. Not one union leader gave the commitment to fight for half day strike called by Dublin Trades Councils to be extended to national strike action to bring the government down and win the
As local leaders of political parties writhed
IWU Spate and Brian Nolan, kept their lonely vigil in the sleeping mill. The action committee said 'a fuse will explode throughout Ireland if these men are allowed to die'. As the fuse burns, & furious rush to find a private buyer in Canada or Britain goes
Phone messages of support to the Action Co
ttee: 0001-570-7 Sinn Fein Ard
Fheis
• At Sinn Fein's 78th Ard Fheis (conference),
policies and leaders continued to move leftwards.
Full report from Dublin next week.
YOU WANT TO
JOIN THE LABOUR
PARTY? EXCELLENT!
WONDERFUL!!
Socialist Action 18 November 1983
Community centre
reopening of the workers refused to Redundanci
the mill
despite promises to local people made
of
What the Labour leaders did now,
the ranks does not make up for
• The fuse goes to a bomb. That bomb
You're most welcome Sign here... and here Now just one small ritual and that's it
THE NEW Police and Criminal Evidence Bill was recently introduced by the government. It contains massive extensions of police powers of search, arrest and detention.
MORE, secretary of the National Campaign against the Police Bill, about the aims and objectives of the campaign.
What is the importance of the Police Bill? I think the key thing is that it must be seen alongside a number of other things.
It has been introduced along with the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, with the Prevention of Terrorism Act, with the report of the Law Commission Race Relations law and with major developments and proposals to do with multi-agency policing (ie drawing a range of social services into the process of policing).
wnen one lakes lose developments along with massive and the massive increase in police Millal salion and police retraining for riot
then it becomes possible see that the Police Bill is itself part of a broader and disturbing picture.
It's importance resides both in the provisions it
well as in ine context of which it is part.
What are the aims of the campaign?
To mobilise all those totally opposed to the Bill with
view to defeating it. What we can say is that the Labour Party has opposed Then: a very motion passed at the reCel Comercice
The Liberal Party and the Alliance has come out against the Bill and so parties already representing a majority of the people in the UK are opposed to it.
In addition we know that the black community are opposed to it, as are
the gay and women's com
munity, and wilat we neec
to convert those
elements of formal opposition into actual concrete unstoppable opposition.
We don't feel that this is a
of legislation that
should be condoned in the
UK.
the Police Bill
JANET LOVELESS spoke to CECIL GUTZ-
How is the campaign being built?
It's being built at two levels. One is focussed on mobilising movement, the the political aDOu
parties, une essona against the Bill and als any of them who are only interested in opposing its MOSI provisions, such as the churches We are getting national trades unions to issue indistribute struchons propaganda and take up discussion in the branches, regions, trades councils
concerned at local • is also and regional level to make links with existing groups to build local campaigns against the Police Bill so they can go out to tenants churches, trades unions, streets, estates and give • people in formation about why this Bill is a danger, and why it represents a threat to their civil liberties, and UWIl why they should combat
it.
What support is there for the campaign amongst the Labour Party and trades unions!
At the moment we are still working towards building up our support those
We have a number of honorary presidents including Michael Meacher, Harriet Harman, Lord Gifford and Tony Benn.
We are also hoping to recruit the Home Affairs spokesman from the Alliance in the Commons, Mr Carlisle We already have spon sorship from the NCCL Alan Sapper from the ACTT, Ray Buckton from ASLEF and Bill Keys from SOGAT. Work is going or from other trade unions sponsorship LUW
and leaders.
We are seeking spon-
I If you will just! take in your left hand the collected works of. Harold Wilson and read the words on the card...
sorship from the TUC for a national march that being called on 21 January, 1984 We also have sponsorship from at least 20 Labour • MP. and that list is growing dai-
What future national events are being planned? The two key events on the agenda are firstly the na-
Cone it Saturday in London.
The focus of the con ference is the background to policing in Britain in recent years and the way the Police Bill fits into that framework - the develop.
hard and repressive policing both here on the mainland and in the six counties of the North of Ireland over the past 20 or so years.
The second big event is the march and rally January where national and international igures as well as local campaigns will speak
BY #33 •ORMAC
"I am not now, nor have I ever been, a friend of Tariq Ali..."
Police violence against black people will be legitimised by the Bill If the Bill is not defeated what will that mean for the campaign?
The campaign is positec on the basis that the Bil will and must be defeated
it we tall to aereal l the work must go on. Op position in the communi ty, on the street, to the nowers of the state as ir creased by this Bill will have to go on. There is no alternative.
The Labour Party is of course, committed repeal the Bill. Their promises have not in the past, particularly in relation to immigration and race relations, been wholly reliable, but they have promised to repeal the Bill and that is important
The key for the future
to recognise that if the Bill becomes law then the duty take opposition onto the streets, to make
that the police are unable to enforce these powers, would be a very
Sat 19 Nov, Sir William Collins
News
important objective indeed.
What can e compaign 10 support the campaign there isn't a campaign in their area?
stall one. nere does nee to be local campaign every area Unless there are, then what we will have is a top heavy campaign.
What we will have is a campaign with activists up and down the countrv bu which doesn't ordinary people. If we don't touch such people then we will have failed The duty of everyboc nterested is that if there a local campaign, they are in it and active, and that if there is not that they get in touch with the National Campaign to seek assistance, contacts and help will calling a meeling anc setting up a campaign. • National Campaign Against the Police Bill: 50 Rectory Road, London N16 01-249 8334
Campaign Against the
Police Bill
National Conference
School.
Charrington St, London NW:
National march and rally Sat 21 Jan, Brockwell Park, London
Page 5 scan of this page
News
OL tail
Photo: JOHN HARRIS
Youth CND lobby 1983 TUC against cruise. In West
the way forward for youth.
Youth CND Will be organising all over the country on 26 November. They plan colourful direct actions to bring attention to cruise missile deployment.
Events range from nickets and sit-ins of lori HOs and army recruitment
die-ins and blockades in town centres.
Birmıngham the YCND group are dressing ip as Santa Claus and han ding out presents with leaflets inside. They want
DrOLeSI That. cher's Christmas present which could bring the new year in with a bang. They are raising money to take a coachload of young wom-
down Greenham Common on 11 December.
New Youth CND groups have just sprung up
public opinion turns against cruise. Although Confessions of a
Labour leader
BLUE-EYED Neil Kin-
nock, 42, family man
and Pin-up tor a Labour
Victory, in trouble
again. Already he
• ADMITS he never
reads books written by
women
DECLARES that
his sole contribution to
housework is to 'clean
the fridge out, maybe, in
the holidays'.
The latest salvo fired
by Kinnock in his cam-
paign to win the feminist.
vote is revealed in The
Times:
"Asked by Andreas
Papandreou, the Greek
Prime Minister, if, were
he to come to power, he
would return the Elgin
Marbles, Kinnock said
Youth action
against cruise
YOUNG people all over Europe are taking action
Germany, a schools' strike took place on 20 October just before the massive demonstrations all over Europe. This shows
Heseltine has given the American troops Greenham 'licence to kill', the peace movement grows. Any group no matter how big or small can take part in our day of action.
By Jon Green (YCND National Committee)
Leeds YCND group up managed to get a thirty interview on local radio. They are using this propaganda slot to interest young people, telling them about the day of action, a gig they are organising and future plans to hit Leeds with protests against
Youth CND now organising a recall conference February. The conference
ORDER
"We might, provided you give us Melina Mercouri. Good news
IT'S NOT often that Male Order is able report success stories inese grey days, but here's something to cheer you all up.
You the Reclaim the Night. demonstration in coho where police attacked some of the women beating them with their truncheons.
Last week three of the women were awarded damages totalling £4,000.
will have workshops on action and events in the new vcal. peace camps, international ISSues violent direct action and publicatiols.
Although YCND has faced many problems since the YCND National Committee was closed down in July, the conference can be usea to give YCND groups a boost with a better organised and more active campaign.
January • will see our paper through CND's newsletter Campaign. Right LU W YCND groups should step UD against cruise and build the 1l December demonstration at vreennam common.
• Deadline for conference resolutions December. Reports for the
Protes us-bet in Com
December. Leaflets for the 26 November Day of Action from: YCND, 11 Goodwin Street, London N4 3HQ 01-272 0101.
Danger -
women at work TWO new broadsheets have just been published by the Woman and Work Hazards Group.
Women's Health: Work and Stress takes a ook aline cases an results of stress — one of one most connion cause of ill-health from work
women's occupations. Danger Women Work is an introduction to health and safety for women at work.
They are available from Women and Work Hazards Group, c/o British Society for Social Responsibility Science, 9 Poland Street, London W1.
11 December
IT LOOKS as
chain around the base tast year.
struments, pots and
in place and ready to kill.
push ahead on their own?
The peace women have shown in the past few weeks their ability to carry the campaign forward. On
October they took down four mile of the fencing. peace camps were set outside 100 US military bases. As part of that action, Lambeth Women for
•LUI camp and protest outsid the JS embassy
In the United States the peace women's court case against the US governmen opened on November Helen John pointed achieved a major entory in women had getting the Federal Court
hear their case on 21 November.
'This opens the way for every European peace movement to take similar OVER 100 women camped outside the US embassy in London on Tuesday 8 November as part of a 24 hour nationwide protest against cruise missiles.
Cindy and Mandy
joined them from Streatham. Cindy explained:
'We weren't allowed to first because chief superintendent said that we could be arrested for
Cometo
Greenham!
"if this" December's action at Greenham could be bigger than the huge human
Women from all round the country are preparing, with all sorts of in-
sound round Greenham' in a huge protest against the installation of the first 12 cruise missiles which by then will be
But will CND put its full weight behind the event, or will they leave it to the peace women to
actions around cruise and Pershing. We will ask people to come onto the Streets and shopping cen zain on 21 November building the big action on 11 December'.
By Valerie Coultas
Much debate is takin place in CND abOi whether or not the action should be mixed on December. Fran D'Eath frem Bristol has written a letter to the camp asking women to make the action open to men. But this has been rejected women after a discussion at the camp.
Julie Bullen from Southwark Greenham Women's Support Group gave her reasons for this vagrancy. 'Then we had to sit ur
said it was illegal to down. We had the Fall Out Nuclear Marchers playing for us. 'When the people were coming into this
nice but they just stuck their fingers up at us.
One of them wanted to shoot us all. 'We've had a lot of support here from women ind men. The press har
Socialist Action 18 November 1983 decision. I support integrated actions" away from the camp. Men who support our point of view should be supported and be allowed to be supportive. But I see the women's
Walls the peace movement as a very
'It's attempting to make people think abou the link between the polarisation of male and female characteristics. As this link is an importani one and women have sacrificed : MUCH lanc worked so hard for peace I believe the camp and acVIDES camp should stay women only.
this view is the domi. nant one in the women's
looks likely that CND can
persuaded to support it.
Are thought needs ro the CND
or Decembe
The most event the European pest movement has had thi autumn was in West Germany. A whole week of action took place, 30,000 women 17 October, one and a half million i WELE strike for five been around a lot.'
Mandy added: The four camps at Greenham have got bigger and bigge over the last two weeks. The size doubles at weekends. Lots of women are coming down from CND groups to support us. The
meeting in Newbury decided that i should be women only on
December don't know what the big wig. CND are doing but ČNL
Fair bis seem to be doing a
5 minutes on 5 October and 1 million people were involved in actions over the weekend of 22 October
This is the kind of action CND should building for in December. Rather than simply asking trade unionists to give money in the Trade Unior CND 'Hour for Peace campaign, CND should be arguing for British trade /unionists take demonstrative actions as part of a more general pro. test against the siting of these missiles
CND has a chance in December to back up the wonels acuuns with an offensive that could reall send the Tories reeling.
If men want to support
Greenham the women Common the best thing they can do is to get their
union and luther rad
-union branebes land labove their CND Workplace branches to put on the
'No to
further informa about
December rINC
061-225-7952; 051-333 3112; 01-257-3133; 01-226 6285
'The action on Monday 23 October was really suc cessful when London region CND called their action in Whitehall. It got more publicity than what happened at Greenham that day.
"This shows what mixed area with action. eve e groups can do if they heard at the camp thai three soldiers inside the base were trying to forn some sort of pro-CNI group and were busted by their officers.
Page 6 scan of this page
6 Socialist Action
ULKER
BISKÜVİLERİ
Argentina
in crisis
THE RESULTS of the recent elections in Argentina, that the Peronist movement, which has dominated the working nadergoing a deep crisis. This was the first time ever that the Justicalist Party, as the Peronists are called, have failed to win an election.
project which has been at the heart of the disorientation of the Argentinian decades.
But the working class can galn no comort from the election of the Radicals, who represent the safest option IMF the World Bank and the United States. Kaola leader Raul Alfonsin will Juan Peron with evila a rescheduling 39 billon tina's huge billion dollar external debt — ana the price will be austenly measures the Argentinian will have to pay for.
The last Peronist regime was overthrown in 1976 when the military iook Dower. Since that time successive military regimes have carried out a ruthless war against 'subversion'
18 November 1983 Turkish troops in the streets: still a military dictatorship
Peronism
won by the bourgeois Radical Party, shows
class for nearly half a century, is
The result points to an exhaustion of the political
workers movement for
resulted in 30,000 'disappeared'. As the economy has moved further and further into crisis, a new round of worker struggles has challenged the regime. asu suaw of military incompetence was handling Malvinas war. The the bourgeoisie has been to attempt to put place a stable bourgeols civillan regime The first obstacle to that project - the existence of the Peronists the strongest political party — has been removed.
Juan Peron came to power in a military coup in &. 943. Argentina at that time was dominated by the section of the bourgeoisie
based on Argentina's powerful farming His project was simple but brilliant. Peron used the massive surpluses gained through the export of wheat and beef and other agricultural products build up industry and institute social welfare schemes creases for the workers.
He and his wite Evita built up a huge following inside the class. The UGT union federa-
became 'Peronist' LUlL But alienation of
powerful forces in the
and the made him many enemies.
so long Argentina benefitted from massive exports his project could be sustained. But when the world revived after the war and the structure of the Argentinian economy began to change, the surplus was no longer unce with UnC workers. Peron
Wan brought down in 1955. Myth
But the myth of Peronism survived. In
Peron back from exile. But the meaning of Peronism wa: bitterly contested. In the early 1970s a wing of the Peronists formed a radical guella group when wag ed armed struggle against the regime the Monteneros. Peron himself, and after his death his second wife Isabella, along with the radicals. As the country descended into chaos, the military moved
the 1976 in to carry vul coup.
In the 1980s Peronism cannot reconstitute itsell
multi-class force because econotic basis for satisfying the inLee KAS du those of the boureoisie
But he did.
have realised, military.
Any resemblance between elections held in Turkey week and
last parliamentary democracy is purely accidental. While the elections were aimed at impressing those of Turkey's allies who baulked at the dictatorship in NATO's ranks, the blind and the shameless could mistake this charade
the junta's muchLU democracy'
Stand
Of fifteen
parties ser up to contest the election (ranging from the moderate bourgeois to ex-
right wing LeNe bourgeois) only three were permitted stand call didates. Even after this, the found necessary to veto 672 of the 1683 election hopefuls These included every single independent can
in the Kurdish areas.
The constitution affirmed by plebiscite one year ago enshrines among the President's dictatoria. powers that veron candidates up to ana, uniquely, following their elec tion! This constitution has guaranteed the
elected government' will be nothing but a puppet of the military with juntachief President Kenan Evren retaining absolute powers.
Discussion of politics is
still forbidden by military decree and former politicians are excluded from public life. At the same time there are between 40,000 and 100,000 political prisoners in Isabella Peron: president after Juan Peron's death
does simultaneously exist. Peronism revocab v split between radicals and conservatives.
The Turkish
TURKEY'S GENERALS said they didn't want Turgut Ozal to win the election in Turkey last week.
NIGEL JOHNSON of the Turkey Solidarity Campaign explains that while the results of the election were more of a non-event than some observers trouble is brewing for the Turkish
Turkey including the leading members and militants of the working class and socialst movement.
Campaign
Although Ozal's Motherland Party was not directly established by the military (unlike both other contestants) and Evren went so far as to urge people to vote against it. there is no doubt that Ozal was favoured by many in the armed forces above the direct junta nominee, retired General Orhan Sunalp, lacklustre and who came in third. The other permitted by the Generals to enter this race Necdet Calp, a nonentity like SunalD. appears to have picked many of the votes of the banned social democratic Republican People's Party, Turkey's affiliațe to the socialist international.
Junta
Following the election the junta met for twenty four hours before the were declared to discuss an amnesty for il legal builders' (!). the event Evren emerged not arrest Ozal but to kiss him thus an alliance which no doubt be helped by the inclusion of junta nominees from outside Ozal's party to some of the key cabinet positions The Motherland Party is a party of the extreme right. It appealed for votes supporters of the four major parties existing before the coup (including the neo-fascist National The Argentinian workers will undoubtedly fight back against Alfonsin's austerity measures. To
Generals' election
New Turkish prime minister Turgut Ozal Action Party) and no doubt received them. Ozal, as advisor to the last che archite or the imas civilian austerity programme for debt-ridden Turkey 1980. When implementing
became incompatible with parliamentary rule
NATO's second largest ar my stepped in it, appointing Ozal deputy
He sacked or culc Was last year following a banking collapse Now he will continue with the fiercely repressive austerity pro gramme and une junla has seen to it, constitutionally, Inal ne won t oc nampcico by any renewal of democracy in Turkey.
Vote
tions of the Turkish workillg class laye beer defeated, the vote for Ozal expressed the contradiction at the heart of the junta's strategy: their desire to create a politics without politicians Although measly, these elections have opened a tiny spac for democratic activity in
carry that struggle through
the Argentinian workers
need an explicitly workers
party which breaks with
International
Turkey. The vote for Ozal was a vote for detente but any and every concession he makes in the direction of liberalisation will be opposed by the military.
Civil
That inflation is still running at 30 per cent and
at 25 per wilt biggest holding, Transturk, conglomerate of over 30 companies is bankrupt are signs that the Turkish economy is still, chronical-
*the sick man of Europe The junta still holds all the cards in its hands, tradictions accumulate the opportunities for working class will inCrease perhaps dramatically.
It is our job to assist that resistance. In this country unal mcans emus. ing to recognise the election results and to demand of the Tory government (which is the junta's biggest fan in Europe) that it ceases aid and trade with the dictatorship.
the class collaborationism
which is at the core of the
Justicalist Party.
Page 7 scan of this page
International
Grenada:
sion of the island on 25 October.
solidarity march claimed Grenadans had been killed in the fighting.
The British Grenada Friendship Society put the figure at around 1,200 kill-
wounded caused by the US bombing civilian
including hospitals and high density working class housing areas around the capital'.
By Valerie Coultas
Two per cent of the total population are believed to have been kill.
wrote in the Guardian on 7 November, that the BBC seemed to be pointing Vul deliberately ignoring any reports of those killed or
HANDS OFF
GRE
Photo: CARLOS AUGUSTO GUARITA (Photon)
REAGAN'S disinfor-
mation machine has
been working overtime
stories about
Cuban military bases in
Grenada.
Events last week at
the new airport on the
southwest tip of
Grenada reveal his real
intent.
steady stream of
trucks carrying heavy
roadbuilding and contruc-
tion equipment
rolling off a US freighter
George s
This has been moved by
road to the airport in Point
How many died?
A MYSTERY surrounds the number of Grenadans, Cubans and American soldiers killed since the inva-
Fennis Augustine, the Grenadian High Commissioner, when he spoke at the end of the 5 November
that around 1,500
wounded in the fighting.
Apparently their on-the10U sending this information.
The Daily Telegraph on 10 November said that the Pentagon figure of 18 American dead was also in doubt. guisin is deliberately disguising military losses in Grenada' reported At least 42 US soldiers had died and the final toll could rise past 70 nore ome severe v wounded die. Several incidents which Americans have died have gone unreported, cluding multiple The national 5 November demonstration was only the beginning for solidarity action
-US military base
in Grenada
Salines.
Ine airport is sealed off with a ring of troops military roadblocks and all but military traffic
Civilian contractors involved in the airport construction have now been barred from the site.
Some months ago, Reagan went to great lengths to 'prove' that the airport was a jumping off polnt for cuban millary manouevres in the region. and the Cuban construction workers proved otherwise, as did the British Plessey WIlU
helicopter crash at the
Cuban-built airport of
Point Salines'
Several dozen Cubans killed defending
WCIC Point Salines airport
nom bee by American
forces. But these workers
of
1,000 strong Cuban
'batallion' As
Illilal
Noil Scott wrote in the
Guardian, the workers
when they filed down the
steps of the plane that took
their stained working
of them ir
their 40s and 50s, it would
be hard to imagine ally
group of people who look
less like soldiers
more like building
workers'.
Here surely were me
real heroes of the invasion
ot this tinv island by the
American bully.
And now Governor General Sir Paul Scoon confirmed that they were work. Now on a civilian airport. Reagan who is preparing to annex the Port Saines airnort as a military base for his Central American operations.
An airport contractor has
COMIC LIATI decision has been taken to complete it (the airport) by the military, for the military'.
confirms suspicions that, although some of the invading US troops will be withdrawn new year, will become permanent mintary base for the Us.
Invading troops round up supporters of the revolution has really shore us how his interim : out and
government attempts impose democracy On 10 November he banned
authorisarrests withou walrrants and promised Col_sorship of the press.
The Americans Walle SOLIDARITY ACTION with the Grenadian people is building up after the 8000 strong national demonstration on 5 November.
The Transport and General Workers Union last week agreed to condemn the 'totally
military intervention' and called on the governments involved withdraw their forces.
A similar resolution was put to the Telecom union conference and delegates collected signatures on a petition demanding the withdrawal of all invasion forces.
The executive of the biggest building workers' publish extracts here.
We want to inform the Salvadorean and Central American peoples and the international community
some serious developments.
Weakenec by the serious blows which the FMLN has inflicted on the puppet government, especially • during the last two months, and comply. ing with suggestions from the US government a few days ago, the Salvadorean
Price.
General Eugenio Vides Casanova, asked the Honduran and Guatemalan armies to invade our country As a result
4000
another Papa d in this
installed region right wing regime that will back their attacks on Salvador, Nicaragua and CIDa
New Jewel Movement leaders are being arrested and questioned. , 'Advisory union UCATT will send a delegation to a • ceremony organised ov the Londor Co-op commemorate the Cuban and Grenadiat building workers killed by the invaders.
By Celia Pugh
Such union solidarity will be vital in the months to come as the solidarity campaign launched by the New Jewel Movement Support Group moves into action.
It is launching an appeal for medical and other ald to assist the Grenadiar people. Labour move-
will also be needed to spotlight the denial of human rights a the US forces complete their mooDing up' opera.
THE GENERAL COMMAND of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador issued an urgent communique on 5 November warning of the imminent invasion of their country. We
Guatemalan soldiers have been situated in Jutiapa, Valle Nuevo, Cristobal and Ciudad Pedro de Alvarado, , near the Salvadorear frontier and troops duran army have been sent to Jicaro Calan, where the road to El Salvador and Nicaragua meet.
'At the same time the number of US soldiers and Logistical support in Honduras has continued to increase and a new fleet warships, including aircraft carriers, been sent to join the already enontols •naval presence off Central American
Socialist Action tribunals' are to be set up to deal with anvone accused creating 'disturbances' or interfering with American and Caribbean
on the island. troops
This necessari because the Grenadian people do not want Pau Scoon or any American o
Hands off Grenada
solidarity action
tion and to oppose Tory government backing the puppet in Grenada
excellent example of such solidarity is the recent v completed post invasion visit to Grenada by Labour MP's Nigel Spearing and loan Evans organised by the Reverend David Haslam from War
Want
Plans are being laid for a major day of action and
INFORMATION about Grenada solidarity actions contact: 4 Windus Walk, London N15.
• PICKETS. Pickets will
the United States and Cariboean emoassles on lues day and Thursday evenings, Spm-7pm. US Em-
El Salvador: urgent communique
'A battalion of US military engineers has been sent to Costa Rica, under une guise or nunlalitana aid. The number of US arthreatening, Salvador an personne already
frontiers and
coasts of Nicaragua now exceed 25,000 and more than 5000 of them are in Honduran territory...
"The order of the Pentagon Southern Command to reactival the Council
Central American Delence - CONDELA ~ which comprises the armies of Guatemala, Salvador and Honduras, has been obeyed with great speed.
These steps are similar to those that preceded the US invasion of Grenada...
Line invasion by Hon duran and Guatemalan
18 November 1983 7 other imperialist imposed government to rule over them
Their support for Maurice Bishop, and the plans for taking forward lives Only fear and repression can crush them into submission. bassy, Grosvenor Square London WCI.
PETITION. Petitions will be presented to Foreign Office and the United States Embassies
Completion date:, 28 November Copies from NICAC, , 29 Islington Park
NJM Support Group Windus Walk, London N16 • MEETINGS AND RALLIES. These are taking place around the coun try.
Socialist Action. Wed. 30 „vovemuel 7.30 Town Hall Speakers include Fennis Augustine Grenadian High Commis sioner. Sunday on amm Simba Youth Club, Uxbridge Rd Shepherds Bush WI2. NJM speaker film, refreshments.
troops will undoubtedly be followed by US planes and troops..
This time Reagan ha made a mistake -make the invaders taste the bitterness of defeat. The Nicaraguan Salvadorean peoples wil
never surrender...
'We are ready, accom panied by our whole peo ple, resist and
'The FMLN Goa Command call and peoples of the show the greatest posse solidarity with the peo of El Salvado Nicaragua • Copies of the fad hemation can bel formation can from the FDR Repe tion, 29 Islingt Street, London NI.
Page 8 scan of this page
COMMUNIST
Photo: GM COOKSON
sim was to make the British revolution.
are fighting each other.
and charts their futures. AT THE END of the second world war the Communist Party, revelling in the popularity of the Soviet Union's war effort, had 50,000 members. Today it has only fifteen and a half thousand, many of them inactive. The Morning Star has just announced a price rise to 30p, and its ability to survive its acute financial problems is in doubt this is despite the hidden subsidy of thousands of copies distributed in Eastern Europe. The Young Communist League has all but ceased to exist.
In this atmosphere of crisis the Party met this weekend. Its decline has given rise to the most open and vicious factional struggle 1956.
The contending groups at the conference boil down to four identifiable tendencies. First, the Eurocommunists grouped Marxism edited by Martin Jacques. This journal gives a platform to ideologues like Eric Hobsbawm and Bob argue for a Labour-SDP coalition, and denounce labour left as damentalist' and 'ultra-left'.
On the extreme pro-Soviet wing is a group of unregenerate around the journal Straight Left. Their views •яге allisity from the pro-Soviet New Communist
8
Gordon McLennan, a Pyrrhic victory this year
LAST WEEKEND the British Communist Party met in Congress — a sad caricature of the party that was formed in 1920 and '21 whose declared
Its revolutionary ideals have long been discarded, its membership and influence are in decline and its Stalinist wing and its Eurocommunist wing
This week PHIL HEARSE looks at the tendencies at the Congress, explains their meaning
BOB PENNINGTON explains how the Communist Party evolved from a party of hope and idealism into a party of class collaboration, whose past lies buried under the debris of cynicism.
Party.
The central
munists their head.
one of his staffers, dustrial organiser Mick Costello. and By Phil Hearse
enough 'positive' since Union.
secretary Ken Gill.
None of
Today, Party none of them break from
Rowthorn who been 'funToday's rightism building Stalinists Labour Pary and the SDP;
indistinguishable Party still further.
Socialist Action 18 November 1983
»THE
leadership group around Gordon McLennan have tended CP in the past period to give the Eurocom-
Opposing them, adopted and this is by far the most significant development, is the grouping around Morning Star editor Tony Chater and
former CP in- new
Chater and Costello argue that the Partv has. in folowing the Hurocom. munists, failed to place sufficient emphasis on industrial work, the centrality of the working class, and failed to say
things about the This grouping powerful backing from TASS general
nism. these groups offers any way forward. In searching for a solution to the problems of the Communist
the 'popular frontist' strategy which has led to the CP's impasse. The Party has
outflanked by the rise of 'Bennism' in the Labour Party. Marxism
incapable party independent of the a move tory. back towards Moscow will isolate the
There was nothing basically new in
- FALL
AND
OF THE
PARTY
the CP's Eurocommunist turn in the mid-1970s. Ever since 1951, when the adopted The British Socialism - and in reality ever since it popular frontism in mid-1930s — the Communist Party has disavowed socialism as the strategic ob. jective of the working class struggle. Its programme adopted replaced the 'anti-monopoly alliance' (a very broad category, that) with the even more nebulous 'broad democratic The Eurocommunists 'progressive' forces everywhere, just in the growing women's, peace and anti-racist movements, but even as far right as the SDP. The problem was that just at the moment the CP turned even further right and loosened its links with Moscow, a real mass left wing arose in the Labour Party in the form of Ben-
Undeterred, the Eurocommunists took the Italian CP's 'historic compromise' to heart, and tried to apply it in a British context. The results have been spectacular. We have had the extraordinary spectacle of Hobsbawm lecturing the Labour Party that it lost the election because its proleft wing, blaming the Bennites for the Tory vicA symptom of this development was the recent Marxism Today review by John Bloomfield of Peter Hain's new book The Democratic Alternative.
Hain represents the most right wing current to have emerged from nism. But for Bloomfield Hain's book still had unfortunate traces of left funthe damentalism'
with socialism and working class struggle.
1977 Union
Historically the CP has been based on a network of trade union militants saw organised since the late 1950s in the not broad lefts.
itself heavily in decline, has been the least associated with Eurocommunism. It is no surprise therefore that people at the forefront of the CP's industrial work should come forward to oppose the drift of the leadership. But if people like asse ciate the deeline of the Mick Costello
fluence in industry munist poncies ten wey are wrong The old CP-led broad lefts, especially in the AUEW were essentially election machines for left bureaucrats, which Eric went into bankruptey
Scanlon-Jones wing of the bureaucracy capitulated to the 1974 Labour governopenly ment's 'social contract'.
New broad lefts have arisen generally led by the Labour left. The Communist Party has dustrial policy which prioritised rank and file struggle above the election of
340N
Ben-
- ie an undue concern
network, Ken Gill CP's in-
with Eurocom-
the bureaucratic when the quick time The
of the
never had an in
che
Briti
Road
Social,
Dra
Ye Mick Costello eyes turned towards Moscow - just like the 'good old days'. upper and middle bureaucrats. And when, in 1970 and 1971 the CP did lead a rank and file movement which could mobilise thousands, the LCDTU, it pul
lid on it in double
Eurocommunist policy since the mid-1970s did have the merit of making some sort of critical appraisa
Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, albeit a mealy-mouthed one But it could never build an independent party. Why join the Communist Party if the strategic objective is a Labour
Page 9 scan of this page
A rather sordid history
is a load of reformist rubbish, isn't it? Martin Jacques can still have God and reformism in Marxism Today.
SDP government? Why not join the Labour Party waen your views easily be accommodated thousands of serious socialists inside it need to be rescued from ultra-leftism?
Marxism Today did build serious intellectual reputation and a big readership. But whether anyone to move their politics leftwards is open to doubt.
The Chater-Costello
bunker. A closer identification with the 'socialist' countries can of course give the Party a more definite political profile. The Morning Star's recent one page articles on such things as the huge advances in socialist Bulgaria will of course give the Party a definite identity. But whether this will prove a policy of attracting leftward moving militants must be open to question.
The Eurocommunists should take their politics seriously. should join the Labour Party, that is too 'fundamentalist' SDP awaits them. Then the rest of the CP can quietly reunite with the NCP and live out its remaining years in the reflected glory of Moscow. socialist militants will look elsewhere.
Stop press: first reports indicate that the Eurocommunist-leadership
La majorly in the around 143 votes the Costello faction's 100.
WIARD (Report)
ANDREW
imously form the
labour movement. founders munism came
organisations
built their party.
learn some
were taught COlLIEUTES
Labour Parti
Lejt-wing disorder.
the Minority tional Left-Wing Movement can and when to last long.
up
and bitter it ever won bureaucracy led by
sky. From now on faction country' and Stalinist
dogmas.
Task
ties was no longer to ECOOIS DHE
socialist turned
MILO USSR.
They
and if then the promise of 1921 had been
almost at birth. obedience to Stalin
Serious to disaster.
The 1926
first test.
bloc
support. After all, congress of Chater-
between
Molotov then Soviet Foreign Minister with Nazi High IN JULY 1921 159 delegates met in Cannon Street, London and unan-
passed a resolution Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). These peo- was ple represented the most dedicated socialist and militants in the British main
of British comsyndicalist currents. from centrist groubings and trom
which were really left: reformist. There was no 'Leninist' cur. rent inside the new party nor was there DOWCT even any one particular leader who had really grasped how the Bolsheviks had
They had come to learn 'Leninism' so that they could build a similar party in Britain. In the early days they did
valuable and comradely • lessons. Such ideas like the united front mad
by the executive of the The sectarian attitude many had towards the
small measure by Lenin's pamphlet :
Communism infantile As a result of these discussions the CPGB was later able to launch its two most successful initiatives around
Movement and the Na-
Unfortunately this period was not
After Lenin's death in January 1924, factional war, which had been brewing for some time inside the Russian Party, broke out. After a fierce
struggle Stalin defeated the Leninist-wing of the party led by Trot-
'socialism in one its logical outcome "peaceful co-existence' were the official
The main task of Communist par-
make their own lo aerena une soviel fatherland. As Trotsky put it they were
'border patrols The British party still raw and inexperienced and with a low level of political culture tamely followed the majority in the 3rd International. The
strangled By its unquestioning CPGB course along a road that could only lead
general strike put the theory of socialism in one country to its
As the 'left' leaders of the
The roll does the gave in int
• tnese were the Deople who supported the Anglo-Russian Trade Union Committee which was an
Russian unions and the reformist bureaucratic leaders
Command at time of Stalin/Hitler Pact of the TUC.
Then in 1928 Moscow made a new discovery. Molotov declared the main enemy to be social democracy which
dubbed 'social fascism' short months before the Nazis took
Kuusinen wan writing: blow (emphasis in the al)...must the present period preparing for the revolution be directed against social fascism and the reformist Lace non bureaucracy'. A grateful Hitler used this stupidity to divide the German workers'
By Bob Pennington
In Britain the CP repeated these
policy of building 'red' when the Labour Party had split unions were losing members Then Stalin did a volte face. Nazi Ger many and fascist Italy became the main threat to the Soviet Union. The 'western democracies' had be won alliance with the USSR against facism.
Every 'progressive' had to be roped in and people like the 'Red' Dean of Canterbury and the Duchess of Atholl adorned the platforms of the Populai Front. Oh how Marxism Today would have loved it all!
The YCL was recommended to 'make a commencement of work in the Territorials' and members of Kruschev — blew the gaff on Stalin's
A few
"The origin-
of unions.
Stalin played the tune to which British CP obediently danced
Young Communist LIC Rove "agreeably surprised to find we had so much in common with them.. day's enemy now became today's best the friend.
would upset 'progressive' bourgeoisie and the Russian bureaucracy.
That is why Emile Burns, a theoretician of the CP, could Soviet government because al the because refusal French Socialist Party leaders and of course the British Labour leaders into a new frenzy of anti-Soviet propaganda'. Alliance The interests of the Spanish revolution had to needs of the Stalinist bureaucrats to get an alliance with British and French imerialism. Then it all changed agair
broke out between Germany and the Jcillal 'western democracies'
Stalin and Hitler signed a pact and the line of uniting the USSR with Britain and France fell out of the window. Pravda explained: declared by peace proposals were not rejected by Germany but by Britain and France, who insist not only war but spreading it.'
Moscow
in 1941
'people's war'. pamphlet
and Eden. Dock
with those
masterpiece League visited Scouts and were underhand Yester-
Nothing had to be done that
the alliance between the tary means.
the British
argue that the had to agree to back again Spanish civil war would...set the
and an
suboramaica to unc weaken.
invaded Poland and war Britain and France. war was
The Labour Party
in continuing the
Along with all the other Communist quences of that
Socialist Action 18 November 1933.
parties the British CP got in line with
and denounced the war its general secretary Harry Pollit had supported only days before. So he was ditched. But Mr Pollit made a comebac
When the ungratetul Hitler in vaded Russia. Then the war became the
The CP denounced strikes • Lord Beaverbrook the Minister for Aircraft Pas to one cater or ran o munist MP for West Fife , for gettin workers to cease striking when he coul not hope to get them to do it
Class collaboration and basking i the popularity of Russia's war effort turned the heads of the CP leaders. In a
entitled 'How to Win the Peace' Harry Pollit called not for a Labour or Communist government but for a government that included the most progressive elements in all parties Included in this bunch was Churchill
In the first post-war dock strike the CP called on the workers to go back to work as it pursued its policies of uniting
same 'progressive forces masterpite pary had produced its
British Road to Communism declare that the CP, by Communism declare that the
at the destruction of Britain and the British Empire. But it is a lie Socialism it stated could be obtained by parliamen.
Up to the publication Road Socialism CPGB had had a history of flipping over from ultra-leftism to reformism, then at the dictate of Moscow flipping
Now the seal was set on outright reformism a policy from never deviated since. In 1956 Kruscher blew the gaff on Stalin's reign of terror.
'apologetic' _secretary Harry Pollit admitted that in 54 visits to Moscow he had never noticed anything wrong! The revelations shook the party
foundations, thousands members left and the iron links that had bound the CP to Moscow began to
Because it had been educated in the politics of bureaucratic reformism the consequences of getting "free' of the USSR's instructions simply meant an acceleration in the drift to the right and made it impossible for it to return to its . original founding objectives.
Denied its original role as a revolutionary marxist party, unable to replaa
widely pased reformist the P is like a rudderless ship with is political port o call. It is a creature of its own sordic history and it can't escape the rouse.
9
Page 10 scan of this page
10
Farrell Dobbs
THE LABOUR movement in the United States in particular and the socialist movement general has every reason to mourn the death of Far. rell Dobbs, who died on 31 October at the age of 76. Dobbs became active in socialist politics as a result of the strikes recognition in yards in Minneapolis 1934.
By Bob Pennington
Writing later of that strike another American Trotskyist, James P Cannon, "dispatcher""* In strike was a young man called Farrell Dobbs. He came out of a coal yard in Minneapolis into the union and the strike, then into the strike won union recognition in a city previously notorious for being a non-union town. Dobbs not only built up the Teamsters Minneapolis teamsters strike,
capacity to
the kev leaders
problems hrough the building of revolutionary partie
sectors of the
than ever means today to build the
Cannon
3 November 1983
Wythenshawe
The article on Manchester Wythenshawe CLP which
ined a major factual er-
the article claimed that David Hughes, the Labour Party National
seat, closed the 4 iovember re-call AGM
nase 'there was a clear ajority for the suspend-
I officiers'.
This is not the case.
The meeting was closed at 0.10pm because of the
ge numbers of
nges to the new ates to the GMC. e came up for two Firstly the Na-
aal Agent had not call ed for a card check at the aceting, and it turned sat that some delegates aere not members of the pastituency party -and
one case nO even d
ember of the abour rarty.
Then the Na nal Agept claimed th there
problems in the
Socialist Action 18 November 1983
world Urganise
course that
wage and account.
for union the coal up the class in serious. way, bullied and bureaucracy.
He knew
learn from said: The the May Trotsky.
He later
and party! That
Min- worked for
Veteran American Trotskyist
with the ceat or farrer bodos. the wordrotskvist movement loses one of is veteran leaders, a symbol of the unity of a worker militant and a builder of the
Farrell embodied for with after the Charleroi miners 1932, the young movement for the Fourth International demonstrated its initial
successrun conduct important working class scious decision to abandon his position as a trade-union leader to become one oi
of the Socialist Workers Party reflected for us the central'underotande fowlich lies at the basis of our Transitional Programme of the Fourth International since its founding confere
which humankind is confronted in the 20th century пиша race
nona. wroun mne ruson or cne real scurres or che proleraral in che coree
• world revolution witn revolutionarv vanquard caore
1o remain lalthtul to the meaning oi rarrell's llle taken in its totality, more
Socialist Workers Party and the Fourth Incontinuity of Marx and Lenin, of Trotsky and of James P.
Pierre Frank, Livio Maitan, Ernest Mandel, Hugo Gonzales Moscoso.
MINOPORSTU
LETTERSTU
MNOPORST
method of determining trade union delegations now used by the Manchester desce m sisted that on this matter that no recall GMC could take place until it had been sorted out. Those who supported the suspended officiers were Dleased David Hughes closed the meeting. To have let it go on with all these irregularities would have flouted the NEC's promise of a 'fair AGM'.
However, they reject the allegation that this is because due way a trade union delegates are selected in Manchester. In Manchester trade unions and other affliated organisations can send delegates direct to the district nartv which means they are involved in the body that maker policy for the City Coun cil. The NEC organisa tion sub-committee has been engaged in a continuous attempt to reduce the influence of the Manchester district party and
and
drivers. But
many other
once they ties expense first and
struggle in
to be three by the
the workers ing with
and their League.
people, Dobbs SWP, later plaining us all the leadership of the ment.
strike of
struggles His con
wher
The dramatic the very 'commies' cannot be solved but ana a revolutionary mass interna
just one
struggle.
Jude Woodward
they want to break up its inks with the unions.
What happened at the Wythenshawe AGM on 4 November is being used as an excuse to step up the witchunt against the
• district party• The blame that lies with David Hughes is that he did not organise a card check and thus stop the attempts by the right to
the meeting by getling ou new trade union delegates to attend the
David Hughes is to blame for the failure of the 4 November AGM to sort out lie problems.
But, if it had gone ahead there woud dermate been a majority against the suspended officers.
As it happened the best
becoming its secretary. They were really tough days when even to press a liberal opinion could ose you your job and Dobb
the smal bands socialists who held their party together during those times deserve every credit.
When the class struggle took an upturn in the early sixdefending the Kusan and Viet- Dobbs active namese revolutions and gave his unstinting support to the civil rights movement.
Farrel wrote five books,
Revolutionary Continuity 1918-22.
I was very lucky that when Dobbs visited Britain in 1956
e stayed with me in Liverpo for a few days. t that time th Communist deep crisis as a result of the Party was
Kruschev revelations and was discussing with a group of young worker militants who were in the Young Communist
Dobbs spent hours discussing with these young
explaining Marxist ideas and above all else ex-
internationalism:
Essentially a modest and gentle person, they had to literally drag out of him some of the stories about his own role in those Minneapolis strikes that had brought him to the move
Dobbs represented all that was best in the US workers movement. If you get a bit sick
you hear some workers on TV sounding off about how Reagan taught the
Grenada, remember that the American working class also produced Farrell Dobbs, and that he is
vorerunner! or ene hundreds of thousands that will follow him and take up his
* A 'despatcher' was a person in charge of flying pickets.
thing happened — • the meeting was called off.
JUDE WOODWARD Wythenshawe We apologise for the mistake. The article was taken over the phone at a late stage in the production of the paper and the journalist misunderstood what had been said Apologies to both David Hughes and Jude Wood ward.
Farrell Dobbs 1907 to 1983
Your support is needed
YOUR newspaper has pledged support for the liberation struggle in South Africa and we are calling upon you urgently to attend the 24-hour picket beginning 5.30pm on Friday 2 December a
Photo: P GRANT South Africa House in
Trafalgar Square.
We ask you to bring your delegation to the picket so that each of your members can hold a placard for one of the NO SOLeS I South Africa - there are over 500 long-tern political prisoners in jail at the moment you can see how many people are needed if they are all to be represented as present.
And of course, we want you banner prominently displayed on the picket.
Your support is urgently needed. Since July 19x3 hundreds oi Black South Africans in
Write to us!
This is your page. Send us your comments, criticisms or even congratulations. But please be brief -letters over 300 words will be cut. Write to: Letters, Socialist Action 328 Upper Street, London N1 2XP
(Tel: 01-359 8180)
IM HERE
FOR
ERE NELSON
MANDELA
the Ciskei bantustan have been detained, tortured and murdered in an attempt to force them to end their 3-month-long bus boycott.
The South African Allied Workers Union (SAA WU has beer banned by the Ciskei puppet government and its leadership is now detained.
The racist regime has detained leaders of the newly formed mass political movement, the United Democratic Front (UDF), including Cae Alberuna disulu The UDF was launched nationally in August 1983, comprising 580
representing one and a half million people, to fight for a free and democratic South Africa.
Letters
24
IM HERE ERE
The Peoples Repub. lies of Angola and Mozambique have repeatedly warned of the danger of a full-scale South African invasion. On 17 October the SAAF bombed an ANC base in Matola, Mozambique.
Undoubtedly South Africo will have increased confidence since the US invasion of Grenada.
Following the hangings of the Moroka 3 another Moloise, has been given
There are many ways in which vou can shov your support and we are asking you to make your presence felt on this 24 hour demonstration.
CAROL BRICKLEY, City of London Anti-Apartheid Group
Page 11 scan of this page
REVIEWS
YOU'RE
NEW HERE
AREN'TYOU-
D'YOU WANT
TO BUY A
EWSPAPER?
MILITANT POULTRY
MI CHANVI TE AND MAKE
MEVAIR DEPRESSED?!
RETURN TO MA BED!!
Quoi?
TING A - LING -ALING! /1.
A sequel to 1984
GEORGE ORWELL'S 1984 has and gone. This is the sequel
- 1985. It is 1985 and Oceania has suffered a severe military defeat at the hands of Eurasia. At the same time Big Brother has died, leaving the question of the succession.
Reviewed by A Lenton
The inner party has split into iwo factions, the Aluminists led by Big Sister (Big Brother's widow), and the Paper Faction. Into the gap that
opened steps Winston Smith and the Actualists, who are set up by the Thought Police produce a paper called the Times Literary Supplement!
Gyorgy Dalos has written a story of the year and struggle that follows. Actually it's four different
about 1985. Winston Smith, Julia Miller O'Brien of the Thought Police each tell their own story, while the narrator uses the footnotes to tell ine story of nis own imprisonment for independent thinking.
The book is a nice idea, but I'm not sure should have been left as an
HELLO
MUM
So.. WoOMIN- YOU AVI
THE AUDACITÉ TO REENG ME URP!! - Ow Vau YOU LEAVE MOi FORSOME STUPiDE PEACE CAMP'!!
QUOI GYORGY A SEQUEL TO
idea. The original 1984 has
certain unrelieved gruess which Is esseultal to its effect. Some of the ideas in 1985, while being very amusing, have the etfect of cutting across 1984.
Politically, the book continues the pessimistic vein of the original. Both the intellectuals and the proles make their own bits of the revolution, and be-
Lianie municate with one another are rolled up separately.
Gyorgy Dalos is a
LOOK NO further for a Christmas present for that awkward comrade who already has the collected works of Trotsky, Castro, The Jam and Le Carré. The IF... Chronicles by Steve Bell has just hit the bookshops.
Y'KNOW-THiS is
KiPLING! HOWDY!
SO YOU AREWC THE BURME? POUF ALAYS THERE WILL BE THE BURMB!!
WHATGOODWiLLA BURNCH
MYART iSMEURREALAND MURANUE THAN THESE CREZZYWEEMEN!!
ALOS
SE ORWELL'S 1989
Hungarian poet, some-
thing which tends to show
up in the writing. Humour
one of the ways in which Eastern
Europe get back at the
bureaucracy. and that sor
of humour lurks at the cor-
ners of this book.
But it is sometimes
little difficult for
Westerners to understand.
And that
where this book will
flounder.
* 1985 by Gyorgy Dalos,
Pluto Press £2.95
Non-readers of the Guardian (do you really exist?) will have missed the
By Hilary Driver
daily cartoon strip IF..
news counter-offensive of im-
THisis! THis EXCRESCENCE OF A PROGRAMME!?!
RiGHT.. PUSHOPF! -- YOU'RE HEREBY EXPELLED FROM • TURKEY MOVEMENT..
WHo SAYs WHATFOR? 'OW DARE YOU CALLMEN QUANQUERE!
Steve Bell
TCHOICE
Flashback
Saturday 19 November,
6.30, Channel 4
THE ARCHIVE film
series looks at the early
days of CND in this
week's episode, To
Aldermaston
1958-60. Included in the
al C clips
from the documentary A
march to Aldermaston
made In 190o Dy sym-
pathetic film makers and
this is compared to the
TV news coverage of the
time.
Kennedy
Sunday 20, Monday 21,
Tuesday 22 November,
ITV
perialism and the offensiveness of Thatcherism
But maybe I should heed the introductory words of Chief Constable 'Badger' Courage: 'don't try anything funny' and keep this review short so there's more room for cartoons from the book.
Perhaps the best recommendation is just to
...THiS FALLACIOUS PiECE OF NONSENSE!? -THIS PATRONISING TORRENT oF COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE LYING i DRIVEL!!!
I GAVE ALL THE RiGHTANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTiONS1- WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG??
ELEM You ScuM!
SINCERE BUT MISGUIDE PEACE CAMPAiGNERS IT'S KENNEDY week as we reach the tenth anniversarv of his assasina. tion. Following The Kennedy Legacy on BBC2, Satuday, comes the blockbuster Martin Sheen, who manages to look absolutely nothing like JFK, plays the dynamic here of modern America.
Kennedy you might prefer to remember for the Bay of Pigs, the escalation of the war in Vietnam and the Cuban missiles crisis, however. Believe or not, the senes being shown
Simanan ushals nap-
pening there is the rea Kennedy legacy.
Socialist Action 18 November 1983
explain that it took hours of heated debate in the Socialist Action offices to choose the strips for this page because most of them get a Grade A+.
And if you 'nambypamby lesbian Trotskyis social-working woollyhatted ethnic pacifist nursery school teaching dupes of the Kremlin' (as
I'M SORRYTHOUGHT YOU MiGHT LIKE AMIMALMAGIC ANTiDEMOCRATiC??? WHAT POSSiBLE GROUNDS....
ALL THOSE WHO AGREE WITH THE PROPOSiTiON THAT THiS BiRD iS ANTIDEMOCRATiC PLEASE RAiSE THEiR WINGS CARRiED UN ANIMOUSLY!! -TARZAN WAS MONKEY ONCE HIMSELF... TARZAN APPrECiATE DEPTH Of GENUiNE CONCERN TARZA. AMONG FELLOW CREATUREs
FREEZE!!
1 Amne
CYCLONE!
11
Badger would say) don't
proved Person ne your
some new im *eve Bell, Chronicles by
Steve Methuen,
£2.50.
• Win a FREE copy of
Steve Bell's book - see
page 15. HOWDY!
DON'T I GETAVOTE?
YOU DON'T GET ONE BECAUSE ANTiDEMOCRATIC MA! TARZAN SUSPECT
ADDREN TO TRE DHS.C Picture of Health Friday 25 November,
Channel 4 BRITAIN NOW has the highest rate of lung cancer in the world. But while the number of men smoking has dropped by a third, women actually smoke more cigarettes
The programme looks at how the antismoking campaign has been largely directed at men, while the tobacco companies have concen-
their on women.
Meanwhile the health services have shown little interest ir special problems of women in giving up. A good expose of how women get a raw deal with their health.
Page 12 scan of this page
12
DIARY
(These listings are free for all major labour movement and Choolen acavites. semidisplay advertisements cost Sp per word and must be paid
cavance. send Mary. Socialist Action, 328 Upper Sireel, London NI 2XF
nOL later Thursday, one week prior to publication).
"ternational
The Politics of Health in • owe nour lone video mailable for meetings or lanctions. £10 (payable in alice: Send to Books for South Africa Fund, PO Box 50. London N1.
Sri Lankan Research & formation Group will
ovide speakers on the •urent situation there for cetings. Write to 9 Grays
Buildings, London EC1.
Yolocamba I-la (direct from El Salvador) and High Lile International: Centra America and Africa meet in • armens corse Easton Rd, London NW1 on
25 November, 7pm Ickets 23/z2 unwaged from
. snaton Park
London N1, 01-359 3976. enefit for El Salvador and Dile Solidarity Campaigns.
An Evening for Ei
rator Sun 4 Dec Queen
30pm. A cabaret with Julie instie, The Flying Pickets. lae Joeys, Leon Rosselson,
Seeger & Ewan
Coll, Emma Thompson,
Tickets f4 or f6 from
Far a Reagan-free Caribbean Reagan Free Caribbean 'go in yellow, Dlack
nd red. 25p each (plus
Be); bulk orders 20p Honey with orders to PO Box 36, 136
ngsland High St, London E8. Cheques/POs done to Hackney Book
to Intervention in
tral America and the
bean (NICAC) is a
• base coan o
iarity groups, human
orgs, aid agencies and Darles Ivore actals VICAC 20/21
pion Terrace, London
01-226 6747.
m series of three
manes on the
d economy and of
lict: 27 Nov The crisis in
1 SCA
Join the
fight for
socialism
Socialist Action 18 November 1983
Middle East introduced by Moshe Machover (membe of Khamsin editorial board);
11 Dec The orchestration of vultuce anu rebression with speakers irom soutnern
Africa, Latin America & Palestine. All meetings sundays. 7.15pm, George IV pub, 185 Chiswick High Rd, W4 (Turnham Green tube). • Nobody's Backyard week of action on Central America, 27 Nov to 3 Dec. For details write to Nobody's Backyard, 4 Replingham Rd, London SW18.
Central America:
Nobody's Backyard.
Programme of meetings organised by North London Central America Group, Tuesdays at 7.30pm, nambaen comnuay Centre, 150 Ossulston St, NW1. £5 for full course or fl per meeting (f2/50p unwaged). • From War in the Third World to ine are word War. - new pamphlet published by El Salvador Solidarity Campaign, 50p. Order from ELSSOC, 29 Islington Park St, N1 01-359 3976. ELSSOC have also produced a 1984 calendar showing scenes from life in the liberated zones, f3 from same address.
London 328 Upper St. London N1
telephone 01-226 0571
Open - Mon,
Thur, Fri, 11-7.
Birmingham 137 Digbeth Birmingham B5
telephone (021) 643-5904
Open - Mon-Sat 10-6 Closed Wed.
Mail Order Service - Add 20% for P&P
• Labour Group for
public meeting with Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn MP, nares Dalasuoramanyann (Labour Group/Tamil Women's League) John Chowcatt (ASTMS) & soenker.TrOM AHLAM Solidarity Campaign. Thur 1 Dec, 7pm, Hampstead Town
(opp Belsize Pk tube) • Socialist Action Pie and Peg sunper to celebrate the anniversary of the Russian revolution. Sat 19 Nov, on vacc Community Centre, Mansfield Woodhouse. rood. mouse. onuKs. speakers and raffle. For tickets phone 653216, £1.20/80p unwaged
Lipour Committee on Palestine annual national conference Sat 26 Nov, Lambel lowinal Speakers from PLO and Lebanese National Movement. For details contact Penny 01-274 8775
Grenada and Central America public meeting Wed 30 Nov, 7.30pm, Acton
Name
Address
Tel
Age Union/CLP (if any) If you want more information about Socialist Action or to be put in touch with local supporters send this form to Socialist Action, 328 Upper Street,| London
Town Hall. Speakers: Fennis
Augustne grenadan mign
Commissioner) and from
Nicaragua Solidarity
Campaign plus film Ei
Another
Vietnam?'. Organised by
Ealing-Acton Labour Party.
Ireland
• Exhibition on plastic
Ded on barre
Manor Gdns 14-26 Nov;
Finsbury 28 Nov-10 Dec
Organised by Islington TOM
with Islington Council.
• Labour Movement
coherence on are sino
Peace through Democracy
Sat 26 Nov. Speakers include
Tony Benn. Ken
Livingstone, and Clive
Soley.
Lesbian & Gay
Liberation
• London Lesbian & Gay
Young Socialists meet every
tour weeks on Sundays at
oom. Marchmont
Community Centre
Marchmont St, WC1. Next meeting 20 Nov showing
*Revenge of the teenage
and other videos Further details from Martin 01-263 9484
For Marxist
books, posters,
postcards, badges
Feminist literature
Tues, Sat, 10-6 Wed 12-7
• London Labour Campaian for Gav Rights Further details from Mike 01-659 2983 or Bob 01-341 0666
• Gay NUR group just forming. For details inaugural meeting write to Gav NUR c/o 119 Southwyck, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9.
Party and trade unions next national meeting Sat 26 Nov, 2pm, A Woman's Place Victoria Embankment, London WC1 (Embankment
Further details from Sarah Roelofs c/o Gays the Word DOORSIOD London WC1. Marcamont si, • mpaign for day Rights Nottingham Labour 2l bec, Opm, Salutation ling Next meeting 21 Dec, 8pm.
Maid Marion Way. Details: Chris Richardson. 21 Devonshire Promenade, Lenton 0602 780124.
Women's Liberation • Women and Unemployment — a conference for unemployed
wowen a womer workers a Centres for the Unemployed in the south east. Sat 3 Dec,
Congress Gt Russel St, London W1.
With Jo Richardson MP theatre, and workshops. Full delaus trom cena Minoughan Guildford Unemployed Peoples Centre, The Old Police Station. 3:
Leapale Rd, Guildford, Surrey 0483-33942.
Civil Rights
• Campaign against the Police Bill national
onference Sat 19 Nov, Sir
Charrington St, London NW1. National march and rally Sat 21 • Jan. Brockwell Park. London. Details of these and other events from NCAPB , 50 Rectory Rd, London N16 01-249 8334. • Southall Campaign against the Police Bill public
Speakers: Paul Boateng (Cnair uLl Polce Cttee); Jim McAllister (Sinn Fein); Balder Gill (Southall Campaign against the Police Bill). Sat 26 Nov, 7pm Mangat Hall, Villiers Rd, Southall. Contact the campaign at 01-843 0343.
Disarmament
• Dumfries & Galloway Toul UND events: sat 19 Nov phone protest at the production of tritium at Chapelcross. For information contact Alan Conchar (sec), 13 Cotton St, Lastie Douglas, Kirkcubrightshire, DG7 IAJ 0556 2030.
FATSA:
A TOWN ON TRIAL
I would like to become a Socialist Action supporter.
• Please send me my supporters bulletin
Please pur me in touch with local readers
• I enclose a standing order/donation of £
Socialist Action Bankers Order Form
To:
(Name of your bank in capitals)
(Address of your bank in capitals)
Please pay to the credit of Socialist Action, Acc. No.
70372315 at Co-Op Bank, 08-90-33, 1 Islington High
Street, London N1. Starting on
first payment) and thereafter monthly on the same
date until further notice. Debit my A/C No
for the amount of £ ...
Name
Address.
Signature
When completed and signed please return to:
The Business Manager, Socialist Action, 328 Uppe
Street. London N1 ZX/
Please do not send the Bankers Order direct to your
Thank you.
Publications
• Race and Class special issue out now: British
racism - the road to 1984'. • Includes articles by A. Sivanandan; Cecil vulzmore, Lee Briages anc others. f2 from Institute ol
Race Relations, 247 remonvue ka, London NI 9NG. Cash with order. Newsletter produced by Anti-Privatisation Public Service Action. Fourth issue out now includes materiar on counci house sales, failures by private contractors, and on orivalisallon or mne Noo British kall, British Gas etc. 30p each from SCAT Publications, , 27 Clerkenwell Lose London cO-k
Miscellaneous
• The Isaac Deutscher Memorial Lecture given by GEM de Ste Croix 'Karl Marx and the Interpretation of Greek and Roman History'. 28 Nov, 7.30pm, LSE New Theatre.
Houghton St, London WC2 Admission free rus al work — a senes of films at Jacksons Lane Community Centre , 271
Archway Rd, London N6. 13 Nov Salt of the Earth: 20 Nov Finally got the News; 27 Nov The Filleting Machine: 4 Dec Borinage 11 Dec WR - Mysteries of une wreansm. 19 Dee Days of Hope. All start at 7.30pm, £1.50/80p
New pamphlet on Turkey
Fatsa: a town on
trial
i nis damoniel gives ine background to the mass trial of the townspeople or ral sa. lurkey and the internauonal cam
paign in their defence. 50p + 20p p&p from TSC
5965, London WC1 3XX Date 19
(date of
Campaignursay tor.
Eastern Caribbean Embassy
24 hour picker
Outside South Africa House, Trafalgar Square
SATURDAY
I'M HERE FOR WINNE
THE POLICE BILL & POLICING STRATEGIES CONFERENCE
- Near Euston Static
Diary
- Aaverusemen
IRELAND PEACE THROUGH DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE Sat 26 November, Edrich Hall, South Bank
Poly, Borough Road, London SE' Speakers include Tony Benn, Clive Soley, Ken Livingstone, Richard Balfe, Jeremy Corbyn, Janice Turner (Young Liberals). Plus speakers from CPGB, LCI, TÔM, Connolly Association
and Socialist Organiser.
Credentials from PO Box 189, 32 Ivor Place
London NW1
Hands off Grenada! The New Jewel Movement and the Grenada Solidarity Sun Those wits every usday and US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London W1
10 Kensington Ct.
London W8
Barbados Embassy, 6 Upper Belgrave St.
London SWI
Advertisemer
RELEASE NELSON
MANDELA!
Release all Political Prisoners life senten
in South African Jails!
This Picket marks 'who have since participated in our activities
MUSIC GROUPS - STREET THEATRE Come and join us! SPEAKERS - SINGERS - DANCERS
Adveraseme
IN THE 80s 9.30-5pm SAT. 19th NOVEMBER Sir William Collins Sch, Charrington St. London NWI
(Social 7•30-10-30)
Page 13 scan of this page
Martyrs of the cold war
Surplus Value
WITCH destroys the democracy of any society or organisation that practises it.
This is one of the hard lessons the left learned in the period of McCarthyism and the cold war. Now it has to be learned by the left today.
CINDY JAQUITH, editor of the socialist paper, The Militant, looks at the most infamous of all the cold war frame ups, which led to the judicial murder by the US government of Ethel Julius Rosenberg
The Rosenbergs were indicted in 1950 on charges of stealing the 'secret' of the atom bomb. Indicted with them was Morton All three maintained were completely innocent.
At their trial in 1951, the government's main was a crude drawing said to be a sketch of a bomb lens David Greenglass testified that he had obtained the sketch at the request of Julius Rosenberg, brother-in-law, to pass on to the Soviet Union.
Greenglass was one of several star witnesses for the FBI who said they were disillusioned with
Also against the Rosenbergs was professional witch-hunt trial witness, Elizabeth Bentley, notorious for helping convict numerous Communist Party supporters 1940s and 1950s.
The Rosenbergs were sentenced to death and electrocuted in 1953, despite worldwide protests demanding clemency. Sobell got a 30 year jail term released until he had served over 18 years.
Pretext
The case really had nothing to do with 'atom spies'. This was the pretext the government used in order to launch a massive campaign to terrorize members of the Communist Party and others in the workers' movement. The trial also played an important role in trying to justify US aggression in the Korean War, which had just begun, and at the same helping witch-hunt radicals in the labour movement.
The prosecution knew well the Rosenbergs stolen the atom bomb 'secret'. Prominent atomic physicists have since discredited the lens mould sketch and the notion this could have led to the Soviet developing the bomb.
But the atom spy charge was important to Washington. needed to portray the Union as the real threat to peace in the world. This smokescreen to cover the fact that it was Washington that dropped the bomb in 1945 and planned to do so again as part of its counterrevolutionary war drive against the spread of socialist revolution.
HUNTING
Korea Rosenberg's
the Rosenbergs chair, Judge said:
American
Korea, casualties
priçe of your treason ...
and Charged
Although
of the US government
Sobell. munist Party.
they
'foreign
'evidence'
mould.
This government.
'confess' and name other the FBI testifying
international refusal to do so,
in the
and was not
time,
full had not
trying to break them.
Union Appealing
Soviet
was
of anti-semitism munism, not capitalism.
That drive was in full swing in
the time of the trial. The FBI, judge, and prosecution made full use of the courtroom to whip up pro-war sentiment in favour of Washington's invasion of Korea. In his closing statement sending
to the electric Irving Kaufman
'Your conduct ... has already caused the Communist aggression
with the resultant exceeding 50,000 and who knows but that millions more of innocent people may, pay the
the Rosenbergs were formally charged with being spies, their real crime in the eyes
was that they were supporters of the Com-
They were also Jewish. The object was to portray all CP members as 'spies', agents "traitors'. This smear would then power be applied more widely, to others who defended the Soviet Union from imperialist attack, favoured socialism over capitalist exploitation, or simply opposed the anti-labour, racist policies of the US
Washington had high hopes that the Rosenbergs would finally
'Spies' could out and persecute. As the couple became the
heroes for their the US secret to police stepped up the pressure, Their President Dwight Eisenhower refused to stop the executions.
One plot conceived by the CIA called for appealing to the Rosenbergs as Jews and trying to convince the couple that the root
Play in com-
CIA director Allen Dulles distributed a memo on this plan in
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, murdered for their beliefs January 1953. It explained that the Rosenbergs would be offered a chance to live if they agreed to 'appeal to all Jews in all countries to get out of the commuist movement and seek to destroy it... The Communist Parties throughout
world have built up Rosenbergs as heroes and martyrs
"American anti-semitism".
recantation would backfiring of this entire Soviet propaganda effort.
Hangmen
The Rosenbergs were about to give that pleasure to the anti-semitic hangmen in the CIA and the White House. It 18 a tribute to their role throughout the case that they spurned all forms of blackmail psychological torture inflicted on
them te fill a er lend bons to be tools to implicate innocent people to confess never did and help fan the flames of hysteria and help the growing witch hunt,' Julius the months before his death.
the end. entail
Barbarity
The barbarity murders is only the most heinous aspect of the crimes committed against the Rosenbergs. The entire case was used to carry out a sweeping assault on rights and set a those accused of being 'spies' or 'subversives' tional rights before the law:
prisoned for over from the time of their arrest, and never given bail.
• Codefendant Sobell was kidnapped by agents of the FBI in Mexico, dragged to the border, and arrested there.
the capitalist press, with the help of lurid FBI press releases, before they even came to trial.
the jury, as were several potential jurors who said they opposed the death penalty.
• The FBI former in Julius's section of prison and later had the informer infiltrate the defense team.
not
the death penalty evidence that proved about the crime they supposedly had conspired to commit. They and were convicted 'classified
Socialist Action 18 November 1983 never lend ourselves
crimes we
• declared six Supreme
They maintained this stand to ing of
of their connived
democratic precedent that Eisenhower,
have no constitu-
• The Rosenbergs were im-
three years
Morton
there • All three were lynched in
movement.
• Jews were excluded from
erect placed an in-
Rosenbergs'
• The Rosenbergs received
based on nothing
in part on evidence' that
13 deleted from the trial transcript and thus unavailable to the defendants on appeal.
• All the defendants' appeals were denied, right up to the US
Court and the White House, despite the steady surfac-
contradictions in the government's case as the executions drew near.
• FBI files recently released documents that Judge Kaufman
with the prosecution and the Justice Department on how to conduct the trial and what sentence to lupuse.
Herbert Brownell, and other top government officials held secret meetings to decide how to handle
flatly refused to stop the execu
declaring that the couple
This was a legal lynching if devastating blow to the workers? ever
• In June 1982 Cuba became the first country in the world to
monument the Rosenbergs. Designed by sculptor José Delarra, the monument is inscribed with words taken from the
letters: 'For peace bread, and roses, we go to meet our executioner.
Page 14 scan of this page
14 ROUND TWO of British Leyland's industrial witch hunt began last week, when two more workers were sacked from the Pressed Longbridge plants. This time BL have tried to avoid any publicity.
Despite management's reluctance their latest vendetta
activists, the story Wak icakcu in the Birmingham local press, when 100 workers downed tools
protest against Grant Keir's sacking.
By Joan Grady
The workers from the hot-test section walked out for four hours on each of the three shifts in protest against what they clearly
elieved be witch hunt. ACOB agrees with those workers. The best
way further victimisations of this sort is to mignt for the reinstatement of the two sacked workers.
This was followed on Thursday Dy a London press conference called by Alex Lyon on behalf of the Campaign Against Political Vetting and Victimisation• - started in response to the media witch hunt in THE CAMPAIGN Against Political Vetting and Victimisation was set up in the summer after hysterical press coverage of 13 workers dismissed at British Leyland's Cowley plant in Oxford. It held its first public event at the end of last week — a press conference in defence of two more workers recently sacked by British Leyland.
Alex Lyon, chairing the press conference, explained why he'd been moved to set up the campaign.
By Carol Turner
'It got started because I was watching the "Cowley
coverage on ine telly. I thought to myself, somebody is going to prorest about this. But nobody did.'
The campaign's aims
are broader uman protec-
ting those sacked at British
evand. We want to begin
to change the climate of
Socialist Action 18 November 1983
Fight the industrial witch hunts:
BLmanagement
conspiracy
revealed
Steel Fisher and
the summer. The . two workers, both Socialist Action supporters, were present to put tell case.
This time the press took a more responsible attitude towards reporting
case, with headlines like BL sackings as antivetting fight starts' (Guardian) and Sacked worker "victimised" ; (Oxford Mail).
They were forced to do this because BL management refused to give any information to the press. They were afraid that their original claim organised conspiracy socialist 'moles' would re DOING
obvious that unc only colsollary zulle on at BL was that organised by This was in stark contrast to the summer when management deliberately set up •Red Steph' for press wolves.
Secondly, the rabid
mcula coverage auring une
has alerted civil
Support the campaign
against victimisation
opinion in this country which makes it increasingly casy 10l openly attack the political rights of their workers.
To do this, we will collect and collate information on organisations like the Economic League, and on cases and discrimination at WORK the immediate future, the intention is to
Charter of Political Rights at Work, with a view to changing British law to protect employees' rights.
MOVES to expel a Mili-
tant supporter from
Gillingham Labour
Party have ended in-
conclusively. The local
Party Management
Committee decided
both to suspend the
member for three mon-
ths and, simult-
aneously, not to take
any disciplinary action!
The motions were con-
libertarians of all political shades that a climate of McCarthyism is beginning
is left unchecked, it will threaten the right to tree Marxists, but of all people expression whose political views do nol accord with those of Britain's ruling establishCIL.
The Lyon campaign will research the activities of organisations like Aims
Industry the Economic League, as well as colcculle Hollatioll on specific cases of vic-
And will campaign for justice for
of such discriminations by publicly taking up their cases.
All Socialist Action supporters should start orenaring support now for this campaign in their own arcas. • by contacting labour movement and civil liberties organisations
by publicising cases of victimisations and the ac. tivities of the Economic League locally and drawing them to the attention o1 le Calpal_u • by holding public meetings in support of the campaign.
The campaign holding its first meeting on Tuesday 29 November, al 7.30pm at the House of Commons Sponsors of the launch statement and
supporting the campaign are welcome to attend. i you have examples of victimisation at work, please send them to
• More information available from Alex Lyon, 23 Larkhall Rise, London SW4. 01-720 1525. MILITANT SELLER SUSPENDED
cerned with the ruling of last year's Labour Party
NEC that sales of the Militant on Labour Party premises should be forbidden.
By Les Hartop
Two moderate wards tabled motions which watered proposed
discipinary action. One of
their motions calling simo
ly for a reprimand was nar-
and Victimisation.
and others speaking there.
Bernard Kavanagh, Pressed Steel Fisher plant, Cowley
BRITISH Leyland claim I was sacked for falsifying my references. There is no doubt among my workmates that I was sacked for trade union activity.
As an activist in Transport and General Workers Union 5/60 branch, I had been involved in a number of shopfloor incidents with management. After one such incident a complaint about unsate working conditions -was told by a management
rowly passed reflecting the influence of the 'new mood of unity' in the par-
The motion the NEC's sales ban was now inappropriate.
However the motion calling for a suspension got a larger majority. So we expect that the issue will be revived in three months, or whenever the next Militant upport
lumbs the depths of his o her plastic bag.
'Stop the slide
to McCarthyism'
THE TWO LATEST victims of British Leyland's witch hunt against socialists — both Socialist Action supporters — appeared at a House of Commons press conference last Thursday called by Alex Lyon on behalf of the Campaign Against Political Vetting
We reprint below extracts from their statements
representative that unless mv autude cuanced. uncre was no place for me in the cultually.
This spells out BL's approach to trade union tivists and socialists. BL are attempting to cloud their factories in a climate of fear, where no worker can speak out for fear of discipline.
Grant Keir, Longbridge plant, Birmingham I WAS a T&GWU shop steward, and a delegate from the union to Ladywood Labour ParTrades and Birmingham Council. The only charge against me was that I had given inaccurate information on an application form when I joined BL a full three years ago.
This is a thin and flimsy excuse Indeed, management seemed satisfied with my conduct that they had even offered me a job as foreman.
This is not a case of industrial misconduct, it's hant of againstic wade against trade unionists and political ac tivists. But the workers on realised this was a witch hunt and took action to defend me. My union has supported me all the way.
BL personnel managers at the time of the washing up'strike earlier this year. Their conspiracy against militants is
Imagine what all out cry there'd be it Labour controlled councils sacked people tor being • Conser
socialists and trade unionists are sacked, hardly any opposition is heard
It's necessary call for a slide towards McCarthyism.
Ernie Roberts MP
EMPLOYERS have always dismissed people for their trade union activity and their political opinions. I am a case in point.
I was blacklisted in the '40s in Coventry, when I was a leading shop steward for the engineering union I was sacked by the Alvis Motor Co. for obtaining employment under false pretences. The union fought, but the company employers have been doing away with every since.
Later the same thing happened to me at Rover I took it to court and won the case, but the company still wouldn't have me back. Instead, they paid me my wages to stay at none.
We're beginning adopt a practice in this
is already Country wilici prevalent in West Germany — berufsverbot. But it's never the National Front employers discriminate against. It's usually socialists and active men sen of Labour Party.
We shall continue to raise this in the House.
In the Unions
now being revealed Alan Thornett - another victim of BL's witch hunt
Robin Allen, barrister specialising in employment law
UNDER the law, workers can't be dismissed for trade union activity. But this is only half the problem.
Employers discrimin.
workers who are union activists or hold political views at the stage of employment, and there are no remedies for this
at the position under international law.
Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention o Human Rights guarantee the right of freedom of thought, conscence and expression. These Articles may well mean that British law falls short of international standards.
Page 15 scan of this page
In the Unions
MOLES
EYE
VIEW
Think of a caption
CAPTIONS are invited
picture, taken by
Action's photographer who sneaked the breakfast room window in the White House to morning last week. The best caption will be
Kick 'em hard
Loyal gatfer
THERE IS nothing like in working for a loyal gaffer and members of the West Midlands police force certainly have that in Sir Philip Knight. Officers from his special branch visited Madeline Haigh who had written
newspaper about nuclear weapons and lied through their teeth to her.
OK, admits Sir Philip, they were 'unprofessional' but then
about nuclear weapons means she mient get involved in public protests likely to become violent.
The top copper says the popular view that special branch officers are only involved subversion is wrong adding. 'there are many by criminal offences likely
communed In te field of public order (as
published and the winner gets a free copy of Steven Bell's latest book The IF... Chronicles (review. ed on page 11).
Entries close Thursday 24 November. Send
Moles Eye View, Socialist Action, 328 Upper St, London N1.
KEITH BURKENSHAW, Spur's manager gets very worried about crowd violence. After delivering his sermons about the supporters he had this about Glen Hoddle, the most skill player on club's books: 'He (Hoddle) nearly had a fight on Wednesday and he kick-
somebody today which can't be bad. I am not looking for that of course but Glenn's got to get a bit of this into his play? Maybe Burkenshaw should recruit a few of the fans from the terraces then they could legally fight and kick the other lot.
the Mrs Haigh case)... So really means his 'fuzz' need congratulating because they were engaged in crime prevention even though Mrs Haigh had not tougal aboul committing agro on the demo - sue Just mIgIl 00.
You can expect such loyalty Irom a man wild announced he was recommending gallantry
fives ds tose shots belled
whose shots killed Gall nincain wnen sne
vas being held hostage it
their target, the kid-
did kill someone, even if it was ine all.
Moles Eye View is compiler
BOB PENNINGTON Contribution: should sent to arrive by Thursday am.
THE DECISION OF the Post Office Engineering Union conference to back its NEC recommendation to call off the blacking of the Mercury private telecoms company is a major setback in both the union's campaign against privatisation and of the trade union movement's fight against the government's employment legislation.
Despite this the campaign of industrial action
goes on. Conference unanimous v decided this week to continue its campaign dustrial action against
installations Coveracul and financial institutions. This compares with the 2-1 margin at the September Special conference starting the action. At the same time the right-wing Stanruled out of ord the Cro- Orders Committee positions and West End branches calling for all out national action against the Telecom Bill now in the House of Commons.
By Peter Cooper
suspended manage-
VUl of the Exchanges. Walsh, secretary the International branch, reported connerence
dIc Other ac-
ing data and
of virtually any of the
made to
to
average from
industri
of investment
In contrast lago
In this • strategy the telecommunications tor, in which BT still has a near monopoly
ULU viding services, is central.
Telecommunications is the fastest growing sector of the fastest growth area in the world
This industry is the outcome from Ine convergence of the technologies and products of the computer, telecommunicanons, broadcasting and office equipment dustries. some idea of its scale can be glimpsed from the fact that between 1978-9 the size of the total UK market for IT alone increased ov overt per cent from £2,188m to £2,678m a ycal Some increasing faster than others. For examole the UK market for computer services grew in 1980 by 28 per cent. The Telecoms market on the other hand, increased by nearly 40 per cent (Quoted in Hunt on
TC CSE Communications group Nov
What's at stake
in Telecoms
1982).
invests
Along with British Gas,
of strategic
British capitalism.
Victory would in probability
the
- much in
There divisions
wants it
ad-
major stock and the sale Illay postponeu from 1984 until
campaign. discussion when and how be divided, the principle Our action Illa have
those who
far. Sterner
This Tory government, which is made of sterner stuff than Heath's, won't back down unless or until
very existence threatened. It certainly will not bow to simple economic pressures without an accompanying political
The miners, who were on all-out strike won, not again the government and pirates will win
because of their economic strength, because at Saltley Gates, they were able to mobilise other workers to come to their support thus threatening a general strike.
It is almost self evident that selective strike action will not and cannot defeat privatisation. was successfully developed by the POEU in its strug gle for the 35-hour week in 1978. Pressure on the City financial institutions where millions of pounds can be made and lost by a single 'phone call or telex
personnel from strategic, and, if possible fault-prone and specialised equipment such as af the stock exchange causec delegations of City gents
march on Downing Street. demanding an earl\ settlement to the dispute
and working
Callaghan. time the
direct the defeat. British
quotea week ad
ding behind the Any losses even large scale
counted future
We in last
Action a pro SUD
ineffective.
This of
But what the
the membership
clualle The Mercury Connector: a 237 connector which members refused to link to the BT network. Unless that is don
Socialist Action minster Branch at the centre of the action which voted to defy Tebbit's law
They branch members! have developed the confidence to go out and take on the government, which those not directly involved have not. This is in no way to defend the capitulation of inose lour broad Lell sup porters on the NEC before the threat of the law.
Prepared
will not take
gramme mobilisation
Thirty of our
carry striking members' • In aaal•
MeI cury, the could
the issue. This time response
tion in our union. must be
dressed by and rocker out that we are res-
with present
finances dismissals Hilli call
5161
18 November 1983 15
An all-out strike would be a launch pad to the creation of a genuine pubpristsation es much privatisation much easier to enlist and focus support of other trade unionists when every town has a picket
The day before the Mercury decision was an nounced the TUC issued a statement saying that would not support a unior breaking the law. This nas-
stab in the back doubtedly influenced the Blackpool delegates A public sector alliance against privatisation and in support of our stand is urgently required. A start 1S being made POEU with a London conference open to all trad union branches This should be generalised and a national conference convened coordinate tionNeil Kinnock has talked a lot about the need for the Labour Party to campaign, but we haven't yet seen him in the City sup Join POEU/Labour Par porting the
Gc Party Committee should b launched now at national level for the defence of this nationalised industry.
Parliamentary opposi tion is not enough. This would make our Calls national political issue anc give our members the in. creased confidence to got out and win.
Page 16 scan of this page
No retreat
HANDS OF TELEPHO
BETRAYAL
SALE
OF THE
CENTURY
emergency
THE LATEST round of health service cuts in London. has triggered aff a wave of resistance.
weHl the usual ah cuts, the Tories are
cating to local health arthorities many •orkers they have to get rid of.
Many District Health Authorities have refused
comply, in spite of the bart td with appointees
acked appointees
om the DHSS. ОссяSORs of hospitals are necoming everyday occarcaces and militant anticats campaigns are being
ged both inside and outide
Metings against the cuts have attracted large
Inland 6 months E8; 12 months E15
(12 months onla)
Europe €17; Air Mail E 24 (Double these rates for multi-reader institutions) Name Address
Please send me as special offer
tered as a newspaper with the Post Ultice. ay Comin anternrises 'O Bor su.rondon Nº Proted By East End Ofiset (TU) Ltd, London E2.
SoCiAList
ACTION
London Health
numbers of people and several DHA NICELIYO have had to be abandoned lace or large anu angry lobbies.
This reaction to the attack on London's health NeVLe LCWDI However, the level of resistance is by no means big enough yet to reverse the euts. It is vitally importaDi tar ine seperale ac• tions and campaigns shoud not be iso ated but draw strength from each other.
Fortunately there are organisations which can help in this direction.
The London Health Service Campaign was set up egrier this vear to bring together activists London-wide basis.
The GLL IS funding London Health Emergen-
SUBSCRIBE
I enclose cheque/PO payable to Socialist Action for £ Send to: Socialist Action Subs, 328 Upper St, London N1 2XP
Icy, whose main function is to resource and service the London Campaign. In adaition tne le nas raunched propaganda advertising local papers
elsewhere. Photo. IOHN HARPIS
It is vital that the cuts London basis, and not just fought on area by area. Although extensive action by workers in the health service is indispensable, they cannot possibly win battle alone, even if public sympathy is behind them.
As was shown by the 1982 wages dispute in the health service, in order to defeat the Tories plans for privatisation and run down of the NHS, sy ll pathy transformed into sc tion will have be particularly by fellow trade unionists.
Special free book offer! Take out a years inland subscription and we will send you free one of these books: Thatcher and Friends by John Ross
Hard Times by Bob Sutcliffe or
Over our Dead Bodies Women Against the Bomb
Introductory offer for new readers: Eight issues for just £2!
LAST WEEK the POEU conference pulled back from the brink of confrontation by voting to comply with the court's injunction stopping the embargo on Mercury.
The next day they voted unanimously to keep up inel campaign against privatisation. Aiter the vote Colin Walsh, secretary of the Internationa Service whose members are in the sixth week l aclol pledged full support.
He told of the militarystyle take over of international services which involca me use or ponce alu security agents. They had chucked out the members and barred and locked the TWO HUNDRED and fifty angry people marched against the health cuts trom Leamington to Warwick on Monday 7 November. Locally the cuts mean 250 jobs lost in the South Warwickshire health authority area along with the closure of a vitally needed maternity hospital.
By Rick Bloomer (COHSE)
The march ended with a petition of over 10,000 signatures against the cuts being given to a meeting of the district health authori ty.
exchanges to stop them occupying. He himself had been treated like a common criminal, even belng watched when he went to LaC oleL ie auow has a 24-hour picket outside Mondial House, Upper Thames St, London to which al trade members should turn up to support.
Solidarity
Labour MPs — Terry Fredd l a viet Vier e Nellist Corbyn and have already been there to show their solidarity:
Nonoaa really vital. This week BT might
with sackings ai cae which Brian Stanley the union's general secretary says 'would provoke
Health workers
fight cuts
People queueing up to sign were made aware of the 5500 ob to be TOSLHT the West Midlands Regional Health area as a whole.
march was organised by the local health service defence campaign, backed by the health workers unions.
The Leamington and Warwick Labour Party saave beet ver acuveymr volved, setting up its own ONCELi This group has already staged SIL-S future action. and The orallilll. loca
LOUC counci have set uD a public service alliance to fight privatisation.
The march was also supported the local Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament group under
says POEU militant
response not just from the whole membership ... but the whole of the trade Inon ovenenl cwna happened at International
happen anywhere else.
Occupations are means of taking the fight forward ana can lnsolre nallola. strike action. The action at une salte ule carti stallolls in Goonhilly has knocked
the third station satellite makes up 50 pe COLU of the international services, the other half is cable
i ne international branches are really determined and have shown the way for other POEU HeNOCN Amons CUll ference delegates there was a mood that can be buil
for all-out action their slogan of 'hospitals not bombs'. Several woles douos were ası on the march.
Large numbers of health workers took industrial action and joined
march, galleu confidence as Much danaye has OCCI
done by the sell out of th
TUC Health Service Com mittee during the pay dispute last year. Health workers are aware of the lack of national
Gender ship.
All we've had locally is tul time union officials visiting hospitals to try to increast recruitment. Their view that they aren't going to seriously fight the attacks and so the unions have to replace the
their donation of £61,817 showed that.
Although the con ference ducked the issue ol an all-out strike the Tories and Bi will not give the union any choice or way out. ine consequences o losing this struggle are culdils.
Privatisation will get the green light everywhere, the Tory anti-union laws will get endorsement, the Tories anti-union bashing will get a boost in the arm and the members will be jobs POEU IOSU
The POEU must fight back and in that fight they deserve and warrant the support . every othe trade unionist and mili tant. income from members they are about to lose with new members
Regional TUC Health Committee member told us not demonstrate publicly because we would get bad publicity!
The local campaign is
now planning action on 2
November when the DHA will finally decide on the cuts. We are making public demands on them to defy the cuts, supported by our petition
We are also looking to link up with other local defence tionally to put pressure on the TÚC Health Service . Committee to mount a real fight for the National Health Service - a fight which we can win.
← Socialist Action No. 33, 11 November 1983Socialist Action No. 35, 25 November 1983 →