Referring to some historical examples of the disastrous consequences of attemp ting to retorm the capitalist state and government in an effort to slowly bring doour a new socialist society. wander made it clear that he meant it would be C sastrous or me Dansi Droletamat to place faith in reformist illusions about the existing capitalist state and fail to take power into their own hands.
He was interrupted by vigorous and spontaneous applause throughout his speech - but the applause after the latter point was especially prolonged and Ine rourt International leader sarc he would accept the ovation, not for himself, but for his organisation in Spain which could not yet speak for itself, and for the many members of the Fourth International still being held in Spanish prisons. The crowd then responded with: *Am-ni-stia, Am-ni-stia, Am-ni-stia'.
During questions one CP supporter asked how Mandel could speak for the Fourth International and Trotskyism witout benng promonted oy the dictator Answered Mandel answered the veiled charge by pointing out that the Spanish Govern ment, for reasons of its own, was at the moment treating visiting members of foreign left organisations differently than members of the Spanish illegal organisa tions themselves. This was proven, he said, by the fact that even a leader of the French Communist Party had just recently held a public meeting in Spain without interference from the police.
"But", shouted the CP supporter, 'he didn't talk about politics. Mandel won the audience by countering with: "That's your fault, not mine!"
At the end of the question period the the recent telephone workers' strike, who appealed for support against severe sanctions and the firing of the most active strike leaders, despite a Government promise that there would be no retaliations.
Although the police surrounded the campus where the 5 May meeting was held, with special anti-riot detachments stationed at strategic spots, there was no ponce mterterence with une meetng, no with the crowd as it left the area at its conclusion. However, the Government did step in afterwards to ban a third meeting planned for Mandel.