THE FIRST congress of the Front Communiste Revolutionnaire (FCRFrench section of the Fourth International) was held from 19-22 December with the participation of over three hundred delegates representing more than 5,000 militants and sympathisers. The congress decided to change the name of the group to Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire (LCR).
congress reflected the major develop ments which have taken place in France in the récent period, and the great expansion of the work and inf Tuence of the FCR. The deep disarof economic crisis, and the near victal bloc between the Communist and Socialist parties in the presidentia elections last year should be seen in the context of the new dimensions of class struggle that have been shaking the foundations of Freach society since May 1968.
UPSURGE ional response to the struggle of the LIP workers and the eruption of advanced forms of strupale in other industrial conflicts, the maminoth mobilisation of vouth and school students apainst the conscription laws. the fight for democratic rights for The debate before and during the ray of the Gaullist state, the approach ory of the 'Union of the Left' electorAmong the most notable examples of this new upsurge have been the nat- the cloutions last year. soldiers, the emergence of a women's liberation movement and a movement for the legalisation of abortion, the development of the CFDT trade union federation to the left in response to pressure from the base, and the cmergence of leftward moving currents in the Socialist Party.
Militanis of the FCR were in thie fosefront of those organising solidarity for these and other social strugeles that have dorcloped in thie repent period, Last summer the ECR held a confercace of its Taupe Rower (Red Mole) workers groups ut Lyons attended by over 1200 militants:
The postal workers strike and the hig mobilisations around it in November 10flected this advance in the PCK s indust rial influence: the Trape Rouge bulletin became the focus of those advocating the most militant tactics for conducting Lie steverle and opposing the timidity of the The growing strength and changine alIgaments on the far leil were seen es plac ing vital basks tefore the PCR. Espocally in revolucionary pole it the French section portant is the refusal of the majority of PSU (Unilied Socialist Patty-a centrist groupi militants to follow the sid PSL Jeadershop into the Socialist Party, and the omirpence of a split in the Latte Owwiere group after its faillire to follow up and consolidate the big impact of its presidential candidate in The vigarous and open discussion within the FCR loading up to the conference has had a considerabic impact on the whole French left, since the urgent lasks base. Jacing the French workers morement the otier formations of the far left. (The most unportant documents of the differ ent tendencics were an blanod l Roupe) This vital internal democracy ly its own internal problems stomeng from the patine of the Lecs Comma niste by the Government after its leading role in the anti-fascist strugule, the need to rence its leading cadre, and to Intervene in the new political conjucture.
TENDENCIES
Pour tendancies developod during the pre-congress discussion, known simpJy as tendencies 1,2,3, and 4. Although it is impossible to do justice to the conference debate in a briet report, the main diritions that developed can be outilsed roughly, They concerned alove all the attitude the LCR should adopt towands lefrward moving, centrist currents, and the DOCUMENTS OF THE 10th WORLD CONGRESS OF THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL plus next 7 issues of Intercontinental Pres for only E1. Special offer closes 15 Jan Rush cheques POt tade eut to Pathfinder Press, 47 The Cut, London SE1 BLL THE SECOND ISSUE of South Asia Marxist Review is now out, and contains an important article by Brian MIR spokasman Edgardo Enriquez brought Fraternal greetings to confarance governmental slogan it should project Fondency 2, comprising the majonity ol the outgoing leadership, argued that the prospect of left currents omorging at the bane of the Socialist Party and the refusal of the hulk of the militants of the PSU lo loin it creates the posibilicy ar a for maching restructuring of the far left will the emergence of a qualitatively stronger proves capable of linking up with and To assist this process Tondent 2 advocated that in the tirst instance political discussions should he initiated with the PSU to establish anas of compion work and explore the long term possibilities of orcatual fusion. Tendency 1 led the opposition to this position. arguine that tion to centrist politics and urging ins lead an orientation to the contradictions hetween the Communis Party and 1e The differences over povermental slogans were linked to these differing valuations of centrist incads. Lead effect that the LCR should advocate a Socialist-Communist Government in order to expose the capitulation of the tradional workers parties te bougeois forces ana to exacerbate contradictions berveen the leadershin of the CP and its base. Tendency 2 argued that this Goscremonial slogan sould place anneces sary linsitations on the development af the class strugple and urged instoad thal a workers" government, breaking with capitalism and based on the struggles of On mest points Tendency 4 rejected the whole tamewerk Dr ciseason net weet the other tendoncics and angoed consistently against the tramnework ad opted by the majority of the Faurch lo tomational for the intervention of its Euronam section in the documect Tho Building of Rovolutionary Parties in Capitalist Europe (sec feternational, val. 2, no. I). Tendency 3 generally sup ported the positions of Tendency 2, hur arqued that the latter had falod to prasp the political opportunities presented by the proletariarilsation of new layers of the wark-force The Political Theses of Tendency? rectived 59% of the votes cast at the conlorence and 1 now leadership was fermed with a working jnajority for Tendency 3 with representation for the minoric ten dencies The Congress was addressed by acher soctions, and Edgando Enriquez ad dressed the Congress on behalf of the Chilvan MIR.
James Wilcox