The fusion conference of the IMG and the Spartacus League was attended by over 500 people on 27-29 May. The discussions at the conference were centred around five central debates; the present political situation, work in the trade unions, Ireland, work amongst women and on the issue of women's oppression, and work amongst students. In addition there were discussions on the international work of the IMG in building the Fourth International, the newspaper, and on work amongst black people. The conference received fraternal greetings from speakers representing sections or sympathising groups of the Fourth International in France, Ireland, Germany, Peru, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Holland. A message of solidarity was also received from the Socialist Workers Party of the United States, which was prevented from attending the conference by the urgent necessity of work against the American blockade of North Vietnam. A speaker was also heard from the Provisional Republican Movement asking for solidarity actions in support of the 20 day hunger strike of Billy McKee, former O/C of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional IRA now in Crumlin Road Jail, who is demanding status as a political prisoner. One minute's silence was observed for those republicans Killed in action in Ireland and for our comrades Peter Graham and Mairin Keegan who had died in the last year. A message of solidarity was sent from the conference to the National Liberation Front of Vietnam and on the Saturday evening a rally was held in solidarity with the Vietnamese struggle at which Robin Blackburn, Tariq Ali, Alain Krivine and Stephanie Coombs of the National Peace Action Coalition of the United States spoke. The conference was started by a one hour report from comrade Ernest Mandel on behalf of the United Secretariat which analysed the development of the Fourth International in the last year and the present stage of the European class struggle.
During the conference four clear political positions desciupci. One minority stated that the main task of the IMG should be to build a FORT IRA.
MARXIST GROUP C NTERNATIONAL AGAINST FOURTH INT. ARTIONAL IMPERIALISH movement on the issue of Ireland around the three slogans of "Self Determination for "Withdraw the troops Now", "Release all political prisoners". The central slogan should be for self determination. In addition movements should be built on the issue of Vietnam and abortion. As a central focus for our work we should urge workers to enter the constituency Labour Parties to campaign on the demand of "Labour to Power on a Socialist Programme". This position received 4 delegate votes for, 113 against and 9 abstentions.
The second minority position held that there should be four main axes of the IMG's work. These were round the issues of Ireland, Abortion, Vietnam and the building of a class struggle wing in the trade unions. In the building of these campaigns they held that the main aim should be mass mobilisations independently of the trade union and other reformist apparatuses, In our work on Ireland IMG/SI. Vietnamrally on Saturday night, 27 May.
S VICTORY T. THE our main emphasis should be on the slogan of the withdrawal of troops. The main reporter of this minority stated that the incorrect position of the majority was demonstrated most clearly by their inability to respond rapidly to the upsurge of fighting in Vietnam. This minority received 7 delegate votes for, 115 votes against and 4 abstentions (a summary of this minority's position was printed in The Red Mole no.40).
A third minority position which emerged in the course of the conference, was that to accept the majority document would be disasterous for the organisation. This minority therefore urged that the majority position be not voted on. Some delegates declared they would vote for this resolution on the grounds of the need for a continuing discussion. This position received 27 votes for. 100 votes against and one abstention. Another position was put forward in the form of a resolution that while it rejected the view of this third minority and supported the general line of the majority, nevertheless some of the criticisms were valid and should be incorporated. This was defeated by a substantial majority.
The delegates then passed the general line of the majority perspectives document by 86 delegate votes for, 19 delegate votes against, 23.de delegate abstentions. A summary of this perspectives document appeared in The Red Mole no.39 and a resolution embodying its main points is printed below.
Following the voting on the main perspectives document position were then voted on concerning Ireland, students, Women, the question of United Front work and on work in the trade unions. The most important of these decisions involved: 1. The Conference was in favour in principle, now that the Anti-Internment League had changed its political positions, of the IMG urging the Irish Solidarity Campaign to enter a process of merger with the AlL and would propose this to the ISC. 2. The new organisation would continue to
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BLACK PEOPLE
BRITISH SECTION BRITISH