Socialist Challenge No. 31, 2 February 1978
The scan: sc-n31-feb-2-1978.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
Socialist Challenge KKK HOODS TERRORISE WOLVERHAMPTON POWELL'S CHILDREN
must be feeling quite pleased with himself.
seektoterrorise.
Action' last Monday.
place at every level.
ENOCH POWELL Is the Grand Wizard of Wolverhampton. He
His children have donned Ku Klux Klan hoods and embarked on a campaign of terror against black youth in Woverhampton, The police have, as usual, arrested more blacks than white racists. The Grand Wizard's successor as Tory MP, Nicholas Budgen, has equated the white hoods with those whom they
A lew Uncle Toms have praised the police and to crown it all, Margaret Thatcher has virtually invited Powell back to the Tory Front Bench by her blatant appeal to racism on World in
In the face of this racist offensive, Labour has responded so far only with brave words. These are not enough. What is needed is to throw the resources of the Labour Party and the trades union into the fight against racism.
Anti-racists should organise the distribution of factory
This must take
bulletins.
demonstration. mounted
approval.
PAGE 6.
Labour MPs and trade organise factory-gate meetings against racism and the left should unite to swell the size of every anti-Nazi and anti-racist
Furthermore the lessons of the Wolverhampton events once again point to the necessity of black people organising their own self-defence in collaboration with local anti-fascists and anti-racists. For the police, as we have seen, are only mobilised into action after the event. It needs a black to be killed or seriously injured before any real investigation is
For racism runs deep into the heart of the British police force. The blue uniforms only give It an official seal of
REPEAL THE RACIST IMMIGRATION LAWS EYE-WITNESS REPORT FROM WOLVERHAMPTON ON
union leaders should
No. 312 February, 197715p
INSIDE
LORD DENNING: We bEve ways and means of getting romad the lav
- exclusive exposure p 3
Czechoslovak Socialis Sucked - exclusive docu sucking. Page 12.
*We Vulne our Close Economie Links with Iran' - the Foreign Office spells out its position. Page 12.
- Exposed! Secret French report on the South African
- How British Leslund boosts apartheid. Puge 11, - Te Play or Not to Play. CHRISTOPHER ROPER on the World Cup In Argenting. Puge 13.
- FAY WELDON PETER KENNARD and JIM ALLEN discuss The spongers, Page 15.
- In Defence of the Commuelst Party by BEA CAMPBELL, JANE ROBERTS and CAROLINE ROWAN. Page 7.
• Forgement at Strasbourg hy TIM SHALLICE.
- Bevohution Blues by NEIL. WILLIAMSON l'uge 21
Page 2 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page2
Editorial 01-359 8180/9.
Thereturn of
Frankenstein
his old crimes.
His lalest cosech colle for the recatriatlon
order to appease his frustrated politicat ambitions.
a unified racist organisation er buCIY TaSCEE MInOnLeS NE TorTIee.
TORY HOOLIGAN
gloves, deforring constantly to his
Britain and the rule of parliament.
DTusST State independence, feaderof English Nationalism.
of the modia.
Saudi lexicon. imperialism.
ANO Naw Comes.
MOUIL OYE
time should make
gesture is usetul.
1043
(villes in ey aren.
I0 cover cosis. (Deleie if not applicable)
NAME.....
ADDRESS
Lbodon NI.
Editorial
Soclalist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.
Distribution and ROVOTSIng U7-009 0321.
AS THE Tory Party continues to make more and more racist nolses, eaming for Itsalf a rebuke even from the old scourge of the Kenyan Asians, Jim Callaghan, one of Its old vampiros Is sorousiv considerino a relurn 1o lhe Toid. Enoch Powell was exorcised by Heath and retreated to Northern Ireland. But he could never completely integrate TSH O TERCOmE TwER Dr OSE LIn a guilty criminal he retumed again and again to the scene of
of black people in this country. He axplicitiy stated on ITY that he was referring to black children born and brought up in this
POWOI aISHe DELta desperate. For to make a speech which reproduces fascist propaganda and aids the National Front indicates that the Grand Wizard of Wolverhampton ls an extremely embittered politician who is prepared now to risk all in
It he were logical he would forget the Torles and organise
of the Right, in which
The British media has up till now treated Poweil with kid
'Intelligence", anowieoge ol une cam ciassics ang nrs una bonet in
In reality Poweil Is a disaffected Tory hoollgan, I, as he once contessed, his greatest ambition to be Viceroy of India is no longer possible, the next best is to become a de Gaulle-type leader of England, with a semi-populist, racist base. This appears a far-fetched notion at the moment. But if Scottish and Welsh nationalism succeed in denting the
TOHHHH Powell would be an obvious choice as
For his latest speech he should be prosecuted under the axisting anti-racist laws. He will not be, in the name of "freedom of speech'. Buf what that 'freedom" does to the mal freedoms of black people in this country is not of too creat an interest lo ihe ma ority or polsticians and tne bulk
Medieval torture chamber
THE SAUDI ARABIAN goverment has institutionalised barbariam in ite legal code. Other states are at constant DRS TO SrO ETA Ov SenoaU uCOnUre, BUT nOT IRC Kingdom of Saudi Arabla. Il is proud of its strict isiamic code of conduct. The Saudi Arablan Royal Family belongs THUODOW DA CUHSAW HELRA LO HAE 10QHO HUO nonsense for them. Kemal Ataturk is a dirty word in the
ENO SEaTO SESBIT WOUID PrODaDiy Dot BAIt I!l wore TOE FOl Its massive oll-reseres. The profits are spent to benefit the Royal Family and those closely associated with Its political fortunes, Saudi Arabla is the creation of the American oil
ARAMCO: It was built on royalties from the United States and its state structures were modelled on lines recommended by the Uniled Stalee. The combination of Wahabl fundamentalism and the CIA has proved to be la1sl lor the untorunate peocle o1 ihe country, The wes tolerates Saudi Arabia because of Its oil, but also bacause a regame of this sort prevents the oil from baing used ConDia Cewun osa Sou SuDWao ouOunoD ShICE
The execution of a Saudi Arabian woman (the lact that conventions of medieval morality is only the latest and best publicised instance of barbarity. The lact that the Western bourgeoisie accepts this barbarism shows ail its concem for 'human righte" to be a cynicat facade to cover up its old
The socialist groups were probably too over-atretched to
•a picket ol the Saudi Embassv in Britain Likewise the Womens Liberation Movement. Next
the effort. Because tor uie oppressoo masses or mat country eren sne smaiest
WANT TO KNOW MORE? If you agoee with these prieciples nad want to he Javolved In actiridies by Socialist Challenge supportersia your ars, fiilja the form belaw snd send it
1 am interested in mere infermadon shout seti.
I would like additinont Wlterstare and enciose 50p
.....
Send ie Socinliss Challeage, 328/329 Lipper Street
the vote at the last election than he would
vote.
ll is untikely Cunningham will be bothered his Very much by the devolation E CaaLEUE sabotaging manocuvte, design-
make the referendum CE IU inoperative. The nature of Mr. Cunningham's allies structive — especiaily the Tory Party Union Flag group, Having watched the Empare crumbl trom Salibury 1o Nepal, these Tory gentlemen have jouned to
determined to draw the Tine at Edinburgh
The result of this united front 15 a nuged ballol Under the terms of the anendment, nesses baredom normal lt ner cent ol FOlCI lost on electoral rules all get lumped together against the yes votes. On, for instance, a 60 per cent vote, if only 65 per cent wanl an assembly, it deteated. The explicit objeet is to stop the Scottish clectorate wecImg wna. CEanes 30 t0 form of goveroment it wants.
OIL
Almost lost amid the furore over Cunniogham's amendment was Jo amendment giving the 'right of federation' to the Orkneys and Shetlands. Under the law of the sea this would mean that mosi of the North Sea oil wonld to returo to England, leaving
Seotland anly about 20 per cent.
This is meane to undermine the Scottish National Party:
which has consistently argued the develition financial groonds: "Scotiand's Oil'. Grumond's amendment turiss the argument on its head by responding in kind. exposes the weakness of the SNP line, The develurenn Faber Cian the premise
sorkers, but af the rapirallet ciees. nderslanding ial:
Parliament
sabotages
devolution
TT would he ironic if last week's decision to deline a majority as 40 per cent of the total potential voters in the devolution hill would later apply to other elections in Britain. One of the first casualties of this new theory of democratic rule would be George Canningham, Labour MP for Istington and the sponsor of the 40 per cent amendment. He polled exactly 34.26 per cent of
need to be WILLIAMSON looks at what lies behind last week's
that Mr. people.
85 i0 was
the Wbitchall, temple of democracy
democracy:
PRESSURES
Firscly, which caused mhore anger succersful absientions. the European Parliament.
is still In the nge
our MPs in session.
In the MPs comes devoiulion ough is Grimend's
power and
referendum.
on and Tory MP
This
which works from алі
OUR POLICES
and the trades anions effe lulions thal wn in ihr interevis, bod of the
wahailme diosiaariE SkE EnrITICy TETAUlHY NAIMDD 2rG To buila Broat-beseif clase straende braden
cies in opposition io cies-colfaborailonion ie mosement. These should be a-Friudve in characien grospine logelh aliranis heiding wide rongr of politic
часімі!
ales oramisaion anule be besed on tar
By jingo, they won
nearis 7 per cent less elected. NEH
national cights of the Scomrisb
The background to this masocuvriog will pot be foand ote toade cordors or
corridors but in the high
Parbament itself. It has been e irving few weeks for Brilish
Labour
there was the Sucresslul Coverument move
Lahour em s thantal tbe closed hospuals or dole queues consistently u TaLE- CEUUUS LUTL elected assema y
Conceros for the rights of parliameut came up again when brosdcastue otss brocecdoe were discussed last wock. The last Br0D0sa to tozmn br0adcastoe
last
transmissions from the moon, we are still forbidden to hear the
midst of these land
pressures on the rights of the
Enenough. Alick Buchanan-Smith, ex Tory Sec retary of State for Scotland, summed up the situation Moving apainst thie referencum 'an principle" be explained thar To wet and supaciacy or comrades
supremacy Parliament'. The Laboor MP5 Jess and less nodded as they walked into the voting lobby to sebotage the
•All tbis was quite predictable for a prosperous cattle farme warking
like Alick
SOCIALIST UNITY Steering Committee Meeting Sunday 12 February 12 noot-4poi (768 Digbelh nextto Digbeth CivicHall| Buntinghan 1 The struaple for unile the fisht of the warker nenes the boson wilh that uf nther apprcs sed lasers of seciety- womrn, bibc BOUI.HET- rupalilg for their Wheramon This semalem on only be achicmed ay orcain new pegans if pener and defisding with al ASSirS InEEnSt BOwe Ou Hr Eama sale
Thur sucism ei be minint eon 2 today, wick till righis for all political Ceurral hin waruNe noI • parties and currenis thet do aot mali ap anes agaast the sucialivi sate: The Stalinig modeh af baciaism' in the liSsR and Faslern Eurpe hase discredised socialem in the Pyes of milliens af worken thrusghoat ihe workd. Mi aased to them and wif uffer fall wapaen
HOME NEWS
Buchanan-Smith. But fpr
Pany MP. such a policy lies strasght in the lace of real elective democracy thir slthe Santlish 300L Scottish Council of Labour union bodies at a local and batona leve who • have
supported an
The Government may mabage to patch up chis problem as it did with the first defeat of the devolution Bill. However,
week's revelling by Parlamient is ov no menns irs
As we said in Socinlist Challenge two weeks ago: "lt is this inability to act and react to
changing needs bourgoois democracy in Scot-
which guarantees Cal devalution will be a running sore in British polities"
REFERENDUM
Gue side result of last woek is that the policy of absraining in tbe referendum (as many On
the Socialis Workers' Party favour) looks
trechhie: Such a position could only he justified
Ou IE EOCTS TIS BACADES RELUEEH that the issue is irrelevant. In 1978 when the vast majority of
class youth vote cationalist, such a position is
Tulune 1,
4
AIC WATERHS
SETIK EHs DUE BSTULUr
Betfer a uek
than anist dew lution
unem playmen,
ek Tony
absurd,
ESTABLISHMENT
Alreratively, those supporting abstention have argued thai there is nothitg to choose betmeon the cwo options of for and against an arscrobly. But last week's events proved, not for the first cime, that much more is ur stase than another tier of local government. Of course sections of the upper class in Scotland -BTC running aboul like headless chickens, trying to take the heat ate soalanu nee Toe is the Scotland Vote commitee, lored last week. A glittering array of Scottish establishment figures were present froen Lord Kilhrandon To lie moderator oi the Church of Scotland.
Bebind the sugar coacing of the distinguishod bourgeoisie DEL DOEE SIOCS, CUCLO BE SCEVDU social foroes at work, and last AWK HRHELLEREILUSECLETU one side are jingoistic pariamentarians whose main project is to preserve their own ancient rights and privilegei. .she Sorber side Lic tbe
bow confused) of the Scortish people: the Commuter wiE brief case in hand, as much as Toe Clydebank engineer.
Support for the desolution Bill, support for a yes vote in the referendum, and total UOOUSBUG LO ENC SDDESCO Parliament is the only way fo Make swe that we ste an thi ripht side of thai division.
The Cuemuned erith somenisi ner tbe proMoseom map hase ans bestagful sirene Tar. ihe berrihraw af the capitaist satr N revolutionary sacielsl partirs ane merr secn sany than eser befere. Condilions roday are mure larnerable than over the procoding three rT HAH SArI WACHEN CEN CHIN ER TESHEE mjoxtig sesarlanion esd seeing iseemel
bet ko a viln AHME TAH MENE DH MELAE WELEHE
Page 3 scan of this page
The thoughts of Lord Justice Denning *We have ways and
Last week he celebrated his 79th birthday. the Rolls. GEOFF BELLreports.
*I hope there are no reporters present', was Denning's opening remark. The rest of the speech showed there was good reason for such caution.
Most of it was an exercise in self-glorification, explaining to IN SORE OUR COAT RHER the bulk of his audience, what powerful figures Alfred Dennng and other Appeal Judges were. Byand large hope weare
the Government in order", he said at one point, a piece of Plustrate Mineral aparel
His address was concerned with reviewing the major legal decisions of 1977, embracing cases ansing from the refusal of the Tory Council to implement comprehensive education in Tameside; the legal moves to prevent the Union of Post Office Workers from taking industrial action; and, most important of all the Grunwick strike.
SMUG
For the most part Denning recalled with smug satisfaction how the Appeal Court had successtully chalienged various pieces of Government legislation. I do not care what thes (The Labour Government) do he said. as long as they koop within the law
Bat Denning's insistence on the supremacy of taw became not his interpretation of law. He recalled how the altempts to take the UPW 10 court for threatening communications to South Africa had ended with Goverament, through Attorney General, arguing that only it had the legal right to SLAEL SUMES we see An eat went Appeal Court) said the Attorney General was wrong and we could have an application by any individual. could come and ask us to tell if che law was not being obeyed. Allorney General didn't like it arall.
REACTED
Denning went on to tell how the presumptuous Attorney General reacted: The case was taken to the House of Lords, and you will all know the result. The Houseof Lordsheldthat we were wrong: the Attorney General was the ouly person who could stop I. Stop the Union of Post Office Workers from breaking the law. If he choose not to, because he was afraid of the trade union perhaps. the court could do nothing to see that the law was
round the law'
Lord Alfred Thompson Denning is, as Master of the Rolls, the head of the Courtof Appeal at the Old Bailey, He is one of the most powerful judges in the country.
Lord Denning appears to like celebrations, especially ones which mark out his own power and authority. The night of 20 October last year was one such occasion. Denning addressed the Mansfield Law Society at the City of London Polytechnic. His speech was video-taped, openly and with Denning's full knowledge. Socialist Challenge has just seen and listened to the tape and it contains some interesting revelations on the views and prejudices of the Master of
enforood. And that we must takero bethelaw"
But then this Master of the Rolls and author of a book entitled Freedom Under the Law, added: "But we have ways and means of getting round the law".
EXPAND Denning didn't expand on rEnts observanon Instead be went on to recount how he dealt with the Grunwick case. The ase in question was over th uling of Lord Chief Justic Widgery that George Ward had to rocognise APEX. Widgery's ruling was based on interpretation of the Umson Employment and Pro tection Act. Let Denning take up the story, or at least his dishonest version De tacs as soon octre us - were, in that case, these Africa, had got employment in the Grunwick factory and were quite content, Then one of them deliberately disobeyed orders...so as to get hitself dismissed. He had anotber job in the offing...He got himself dismissed and then got some of his friends together who went our with him, those were the strikers. They weren't members of any union then, they were taken up by APEX.
RECOGNISE 'APEX demanded that Grunwick should recognise chat trade union, Fair enough, and there was machinery under a the before ACAS, the service. That didn't suit trade union. They Conciation Servie and have it a
decided by them. They took the law intotheirown bands.
As you will have read thousands of mass pickets were pulside the Grunwick factory, The trying to force the company bo grant recognition by without going through processes contained And there it was. Mr Wand and the Grunwick appited to us.
ACAS didn't like this dispute continuing, with all these mobs and violence. ACAS said we can't got the view of all the workers inside grant recognition. They docide. n favour of trade unions. wording of this statute this is not Thisaccount of the Grunwick strike, is full of half-truths, misrepresentations and downrightles Contrary to what Denning
means of getting
Trade
of it:
East
And
: Press
advisory
the were not
LORD DENNING said, APEX applied to ACAS on 15October 1976, long before the mass pickets Contrary to what Densuce says ACAS deliverod its judgement
torce, on recognition in March 1977,
the again before mass picketing. Sc
law. no way could the decision of
APEX to apply to ACAS or the COLOR ACAS decision on recognition
afraid be influenced by what Dennin
calls mobs and violence!
Indeed the real question raised is this: when Denning was making ais judgeinent,
we'll determined to lash out at 'mobs
BETTE violence, We prejudicod in George Ward's favour? lawful' Denning did not end there.
He concluded his remarks on Grunwick by attacking Lord Scarman: 'Lord Justic man held an inquiry. He said that Ward ought to recognise
began. the Judge who
Appeal,
was he so
that be was
"mobs and
Scar ways and means
Moscow
LAURIE
Moscow.
Union'.
orbeth.
book.
University if they
truth slip. reveal an the union, ought to take then coording
back. I wish he had mentioned more the illegality of tradi unionists. I won't say any claims
When the Grunwick case went to the Appeal Court, Socialist Challenge said strikers could not rely on judges. Reading these words oi
in July 1977 presided over the Grunwick Dul le
the TeASOO Tor ou adrice is obvious. Denning was apparently ignorant of the facts
violence! conclusion for the Grunwick strikersis obvious. The strugale continues, and to see how it can still be won, let us remember. the words of Denning: "We have
oF getting support.
News
nowhere
Introducing Mr Costello
BERT RAMELSON.
industrial orgasiser of the
Communist Party, has been • Bren appears to be pottie
replaced by Mick Costello. To worse. O'Brien was kicked our
Ramelon must go the credit of of the irish parlament by the
failing to nevitalise the CP's electorate after attack on Labour's economic
What will Costello be like? He Coalition Government. is certainly an experienced member of the party hierarchy.
His father was New Zealand's Editor of the Observer. Two
Ambussador to the Soviet weeks ago O'Brien
Union during the war. Young Flees Street by Costello was educated In
where he mastered hoth his politics and the Russian
Recently a book hy him was
published hy Nowsti Press in
Its title: Workers Participation in the Soviet
All 167 puges can b
purchased for 13 pence The book is utter gibberish. It was
clearly written either to earn a office. bit of money on theside, orto do should become a reviewer of a PR job for the old comrades,
However readers should not the previous week by the let their Judgement of Costello Observer. O'Brien obviousty he clooded by this appalling felt
Communist meeting in 1976, CP dissident, Dave Pardy recounted an inferesting tale.
Pundy had just made a criticial speech on the TISSR and was being attacked from the floor hy an angry, sentimental Stalinist.
telling the audienceof500 that Costello, in his reseurch for his book, had visited factories throughout the U95R. At a seel plant, he had usked workers how they reacted watch closely
were subjected te ampopulur munagement deci-
The workers, in
angwurded moment let the
They pranted to th heavy steel girders on the rouf
Costello: *You those. Well, when the foremen prove 10o froublesome there's: usually an accident.*
This shining example of workers participation is not of Police National Computer
mentioned the (PNC)
Novosti hook. But It does
extremely Industrial Organiser of the Commenist Party, a quality which is, given the nature of the job, exactly what is needed.
Equal pay damages
MANAGEMENT-UNION col laboration ar Leyland in Burningham over implementa tion of the Equal Pay Act has contributed to cracked ribs,
and groin injuries, to evidence being given ar an Industrial Tribunal.
Woman worker Berly Finn
she LESSEES dismissed from Leyland's the fact that Castle Bromwich factory for publicising what happened there after the Equal Pay Act was introduced. Previously labourers were employed to help with work lifting heavy metal components all day long,
union agreed to dispense witle bese labourers asi political rather than specifically part of an equal pay agreement.
Naturally, This has led to big savings in wages for manage ment. Now the AUEW District Committee is being called on lo mount its owe inquiry into how the scheme was ever accepted and why women sacked for prolesting against it bave not apparently been given union
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page 3
from
A suitable case for
treatment
the THE political bealth of friled
Iristman Conor Cruise
This repeated attacks on Irish Kenublicanisn and his imposition of pres censorshin
He has now ended up an
shocked having editorial in bold This exercise in scit glorification was • condemned Timent Flee Stret's trade others the Irish
paper Lk Press Gaze
He ha nOW gone even further reviewed a play entitled Kingdom Come', currently playing near our
Strange that an editor fringe theatre, but strangest of all is tbat the play was reviewed
this cevicw wasn't complimentary chough. So he added his bit the North a
about the North Ireland and O' Brien uses bis review to once more attack the IRA- We look forward to tha meglomaniac O'Brien revies ing Eamonn McCann's forthconting play soon to be seen in the London stage. Or will no mention of it find its way into the columns of the Observer? Devotees of press freedom,
Daleks in blue THE COMPUTER services utilised hy the British police force are due for an expansion SODI Already many civil liberty organisations and the magazine Datulink have voiced grave doubts the information stored in the
I contains, according to the Hone Office: a list of stolen or suspected vehicles; 2.2 million fingerprints; records of people who have serious offences", etc. The police refuse to admit that the main use of the PNC is ultimately for political pur poses
So pleased are the police with the INC that a sel of suppleniemary computers
eing brought into play in th
covinces. Meanwhile there is large new computer at Tintage House just near the House of Continons. Shirley Sumnierskill, the Labour minister at the Home Office, reluses to release the relevant details, including
La Humber of Labour MPS have their political rocords on the new computer
Stude Research, a London based research trust, says that the system will hold 600,000 Special Branch files on
. many by nature
criminal. The patrolling copper can then consult the monster directly:
News from Nowhere will publish the best fictional account of a dalek in blue conversing with the computer afte. stopping a long-haired person on a random check Maximum length: 400 wards.
Page 4 scan of this page
A week of challenge
Can Franco Chapello' defeat the 10per cent limit? Power workers wage claim
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page 4 speed-up the
affecting 5,500 workers.
More than 250,000 jobs were ost 1n 19:0, accordins to tac Department of Employment
ployment figures to more than 1 Simillion. Hand in hand with this rising unemployment, anotber ruling class offensive is in full swing, on productivity.
On Merseyside, large num bers of workers have taken Strike action in response to this at Fords, Standard Triumph, Dunlops, and on the docks. The common thread through all the strikes is manning levels. Stewards at Duniops are taced with suspensions and sackings, after laking strike action when the management ripped up the agreement and imposed new manning levels.
The same situarion exists at corporation. Standard Triumph, where the workers are now in their 14lb week of a strike because the manacement rippod up 1972 manning agreements and tried to raise line specus tron 14%5 to 17% curs per bour.
In the 14 weeks. shop stewards have called only one mass meeting, and they alone have picketed the gates COnTEaLOUSIY. The stewards argue there is nothing to report, so that there is no use in calling a meeting. Meanwhile. the Leyland management claim the strike has httle support and the only local paper, The Liverpool Echo has bad a field day with headlines of the Shut Up Warning to TR7 Rebels* sort.
TAUNTS
The stewards have tounted by management to call a mass meeting for we will However, the stewarus printed their own leaflet, and the so-called "rebels" never appear when the workers call up cach Thursday for their lax
they should appear on the picket line,
Speke
plant in
Edwardes'
firing line
WORKERS at Leyland's Standard Triumph factory at Speke Merseyside this week entered their 14th week on strike, after a management attempt to introduce a
production lines.
HEALEY, former deputy convenor at the plant, explains the background to this dispute which is
Union officials were due to meet Leyland boss-Michael Edwardes discuss the company's posed jab cuts. meeting was held at Speke after that attitude is perfectly clear: management's job is to put capitaliem to its best use, and if 30.000 process, then so what?
RESISTANCE The struggle at Speke is crucial to the Leyland workers' resistance to the planned job losses. For Edwardes, it is the away with ripping up manning
The manning Jevel Standard Triph Speke s enly the start, There are 6,000 jobi wiske and Les and couldn't cure les whether they TR7 is produced mainly for the market, yet all 20,000 TR7s exported to America were re-called for six Taules to be rectified, shop In fact the TR7 is America's highesr. faulted American Safely sion's standards. There ques tions and many more so far remain unanswered.
Only one week's production of the TR7 has taken place silice August 1977, and yet there are 400 TR7s still in the compound ar Speke. When discussed the boycotting of cars In thecompound, 100 or so were quickly pulled our to be stored been cisewhere.
Many of the stewards believe chat Leyland cannot give che have cars awas, which is why speke was chosen TOT the the adyLatage for manngement of WCIl thanks to Iny-offs.
JOINT STEW
Picket of Leyland'& Speke factory: shop stawards insist that only
"The tanker drivers" time ban is in support of a per ceit pay claim.
involved. members of the Transport and General Workers Union which, at least on paper, opposes the 10 per cent norm. *The steel workers have soi far been offered only a miserly TOMMY
Aux net cent increase pr British Steel Corporation.
Wednesday leaders of the Iron and Steel Trades Confedera:
BOI MEr 00G-10 answer to the BSC offer.
proA mass
Edwardes
at car hy the Commis stewards
covernment's
new Ex-communist Frank Chapple has been a consistent supporter of wage restraint. He supported the 1966 wage freeze
Tory incones Tolowed and te litsi two phases of Labour's incomes
Because of now opposition to Labour's 10 per ceit limit, Chapple was forced IO Cal tor a reluTo iD tro. collective bergaining at the last conferenoe of the EEPTU, But his approach to 'delending' his members living standards has not altered, In December his union negociated sel Jement for 30,000 olectricand apprentice: gave thetia 10 per cent Tise plus increases gained through local incentive schomies -within the goverament's pay guidelines.
"INCENTIVES'
The effects of "incentive sebemes" will be the sarre as the increased productivityachieved in a poser industry in which
10 per cent norm
This week is a vital one for millions of workers determined to seek a real increase in their living standards. Vital pay negoliations in a series oi nationalised industries co-incide with the start this Wednesday of an overtime ban which threatens to cut petrol supplies by over a third.
30 the only those Mobil are not drivers are representatives of OUTALIS
rates of up to f135 remains Goverment are
On
give their
BREAK
THE EEPTU members lobbying their annual conference in November last year. A pay claim which would make nonsense of the
*10 per cent limit on pay increases is currently being negotiated on behalf of 95,000 power workers. The main union involved is the electrician's union, whose general secretary, Frank Chapple, has been one of the staunchest supporters of incomes pelicy. RICH PALSER explains:
productivity schemes,
policy which
with little massive cent norm. *FRANCO
ореп a wages which rank and bie mechad of operating
BELLE Chappelle' nickname.
His leadership
leaders,
*Gas workers have alroady rejected an offer of an 8.9 per
CHRETIE
discussions started between the leaders of the Gas Council and began Tuesday.
40,000
"The miners' claim for new
La week National Coal Bourd and the the table.
Shaping •EDE local productivity deals which have been negoriated will split the lighting unity of the union.
The two sides met on Tuesday.
*Engineering workers meet employers represchtatives on
CONTACTE
ELECT
CONSC)
NO MOR WAS: replaced by
CrOcutive
che union,
70,000 jobs have been last. But as with so many previous
and incencive the prospect POWERS getting round the 10 per cen: limit by anocher such deal is nor reuily on. The pressure from his membership has Jett Chapple
option hut threaten to challenge the 10 per
Whether Chapple will turn
question.
Icadership of the EEPTU is not kcown for paying sectous
che views of its Chapple's in his conference. union is rellected in tis Franco Chample
of the EEPTU, which allows him 1o remain in oftioo until retire ment in 1985, began in 1961, when the ballot-rigging scandal toppled the Communist Parts from leadership in the muon Election of full time officiais
stewards.
HOME
Friday. An offer of a two and a half per cent increase has been described as "derisory" by union 10 per
*Ruilway workers are clai ing increases of from 30 to 60 percent. Rail chiefs will try and deals involving mass redundan10,000 jobs have boen lost in
Negotlations
Other workers involved in nepotiations chis week include shipyard workers and warer workers, Hut in evers One ol these claims the vast majority of noion leaders invalved will be socking some compromisc formula or sham productivity deal so as not to appear to challenge the 10 per cent limit.
Thus, for example, altbough Ray Buckton, general secretary
ALL
OFFICIALS
clocled every 1wo years was
an executive full-timers elected every fise; the machinery to appeal against olished; Communists were barred from holding office in
and the arca contmittees were replaced with industrial conferences of purcly advisory capacity.
Although the left was unabie to reverse these attacks democracy at the Inst union tules revision conference, i has been growing in strength aver the past years.
elections to the executive could end bis majority on that body.
Chapple introduced new cules
first rime gave hiroself - and
National Secretary Charlie Lovell voting powers on the executive. Branch delegates
who would have opposed these tbe mores were excluded from the
points to the
Stewan 3 a extensIon democracy in the union. But
obly 4530789
powers — and as the Financiul
Times remarked The union has shown in the past it can
close watch the political activities of ils shop
3rd,
NEWS
of the rail union ASLEF, bas said he remains opposed to the
cent Lieuit, be has also staled he is wiline to accen productivity deals.
CUTS
But even Buckton is a militant compared to some Hugh Scanlon is one of the main architects of the 10 per cent bmut, and if ir isleft ta him engineering workers will face another cut in real wages this year. Neither is Bill Sirs, leader
unicn leader with an appetite for struggle. In each of thes struggles, the crucial factor will
and file members to foroe tbeir leaders to pursue the claims, and ensure that the struggle is nat lelt in the hands DE wOD buresucrals.
That's why no reliance can be laid on the EEPTU leadership
to win, the power workers'
claim, A national conference of shop stewards in the industry must decide the strategy lor
winning the claim, demand control over all becotations, and be empowered to accept or
by
management. To Jeave the strugale le the
Chapple would be to invite
disaster. FAMILY PLANNING
CUT
IN A new SOULOT CER
affecting serrices for women, Enst Sussex Area Health
Authority is planning to close down Eve Tamily planning
clinies and diver the 28.000 people who attond them each
to local GP's.
TCHE
implemented, thir means chal
tbousands of women will lose
specialiser contaceptive advice and medical super-
Now local women's group
and orhers including NAC, CF
and IMG militants are lightin
FPC Au
anti closure petition bas beca
supported, and
successful lobbies of the Aren
Health Authority Laro to be
Tollowed by public
Page 5 scan of this page
Getting it together again
Racist fines for London polys
conference.
SC: The appeal for your conference talks about people who still identify to some extent with the ideas and experiences of 15'. Who exacily are you hoping will come
M5: There are a lot of people who are no longer in the SWP because they Icel the best traditions of IS have been lost in that organisation. There are quite a few ways of delining level were, writes JONATHAN HAMMOND
These include a agreement on top of the existing nationn! arreementi 20-30 per cont pay rises when pay policy perbuts, together with a commitment from the management not to let NOJ membership fall below the level at which it was just before the strike (81,35 per cent). And not eta virote and wiled chaoe a Darlington, made so by its experiences on the picker line
Other positive gains were the
several months of rank and file members or the toree print unions at Darlington, NGA. SLADE and NATSOPA. These unions did not
nicker loes and brought the papers to a halt. reducing them to a duplicated two-page broadsheet.
Negative. of the dispute across from the NU executive's indecisive handling
and this is also a self-criticism, even though 1 and others on the executive argued for an early escalation of the dispute. After the print unions hecame involved, it was never clear how far the TUC Printing Industries Conunittee had taken control of the dispute from the NUt executive, and this divided responstbality had a fatal effect on the timing of the proposed escaiation, which 3n the event never took place
SUPERB
Nongol thiscriticism reflects on John Hodgman, the NUT
full-time official with respon sibility for the dispute, who, it
was generally agreed, did
superajob.
The ains of a closed shop in journalism need to be debated
far more within the journalists
union. It is fair to say that the
Darlingson chapel's
motive in trying 10 SCLUTEL
closed shop was an industrial
one.
HOME NEWS
One day unity conference
ONE OF the features of recent activities and discus- got to grips with properly sions on the left has been the involvement of ex-members of the International Socialists and the Socialist Workers Party, Apart from the Workers League, a group of about 100 formed when the Is Opposition were expelled from IS in 1975, many individuals and small groups are still active as revolutionary socialists in the trade unions, in the women's and gay movements. among black workers, and recently in the Socialist Unity and Socialist Challenge groups in the localities.
Now a national one-day conference of International Socialists on Revolutionary Unity has been called by a number of these activists [at the Africa Centre, King St., London WC2, on Saturday 11 February from 10 to 5.30]. The ad hoe organising Secretary of the conference is Martin Shaw, who was himself forced out of the SWP last year and is now active in Socialist Unity. Socialist Challenge interviewed him about the
what those traditions are, but I guess thai the things people would agree were important are the emphases on working-class (particularly through genuine rank and file movements), and workers democracy (including full internal democracy in addition, most people would big, crucial area which IS never
NUJ strike ends
The epic journalists" strike at North of England the Newspapers, Darlington, has just come to an end after a record seven months, with both positive and negative results. The hundred per cent post-entry shop, which was the 110-strong chapel's overall objective in the dispute, was not achieved. But valuable gains at local
Industrial strength be the sole reason for having a closed shop i don't believe that the 100 by inset bring fundamental shift idcology Is a coange mac basic ownership and BEYONE SEE BIH LOT sai lo dothat. What it can do, bowever is to put a chape or a group of chapels in a position apply, Creatively sensitively, the NUT's Code of Conduct, to mitigate the worst the aspects of anti-trade unionism, racism and sexism as they affect. only
Weare hoping that everyon who lines, and in addition sees the
tion with other groups like ING and big rame as important ar the present time, LOTTIE specially keen to see people who Obviously
are still active on the ground coming to the conference, but there are a lot of neogie top who might come hack activity if something viable was hap pening, and we're boping they'll come too. there's been a good response so Far, over S0 people have already paid up, with a fortaight to go. and I expectthere'll be over 100 there on the day.
SC: Quite a few of the appeal most signatories League members, others not.
What s the WIN roley self-activity MS: Workers League gener-
coming as individuals and ! don't expect they'll make up more Conference. Actually there are quite a few people interested newspaper's A case in point is the closed-shop agreement the NUT has Whitworth, Stratford Express in East London, clause recognising the primac of the Code of Conduct The recent agreement betsoen the NUJ and
reporting could also bocome a vory шрот Tacroe wher about closed shops on provincia!
chan they are now:
As Ten ros the conduct o structure of future dispares of this kind, the
offers made by the NGA and SLADE executives to tle NUT. to explore the possibility of a common strategs and closed shops, needs to be taken up. Nevertbeless, the journal. ists" union also has to learn to sand on its own two feet and take Its own.
NO
incurase in fees
for OVERSEAS STUDENTS
will be we're
into
they thought
MARTIN SHAW
were workers
most of the people аге усту coming from local
but they are
Than a hid d li
content.
with Wilson and publishers of the
which contains a
National secure
decisions.
London Education
crack dowa SUBERET
pons
and Higher committee of ILEA.
fine! IWO
Their crime'?
TUTES.
to 25 percent by 1981.
The
walty? only for anyself. who were never even in 15, and
I groups and
members are interested, too.
weD vou see lie conference us making a definite CONTINUE LO TETaULOR Hammond Is second from right.
LAST weekend the Inner.
Authority took a new step in its drive in
DECINCES London colleges.
REDMOND O'NEILE re-
At a meeting of the Further
• Education Sub. on 25 technics to the tune of 250,00. London
Failure to comply with ILEA's guideline for cutting overseas students
The LIPESS 331 London aim to reduce the proportion of overseas students in individual London colleges
I successful One result WEL not be more places for "British' students but college closures, the scrapping of courses with & high proportion of foreign students, and redundancies
TAILUTE major probiem in organising a response to these racist measures has been the absencel any coordination of SILVILIS activity at an all-London level.
MS: As this is the first meetine or is kud t's very difficult to say how definite its in sapport of moves toward revolutonary unus in eeneral terma, but there may be disagreement about the way to move towards it, and how fast. Those of us who've called the conference don't have a collective view, so 1 can speak
Personally, I Duck the firs thing for this conferenoe to do is to sort out the political questions → what we think the situation is today. what Le priorities are, bow far the "1S tradition' belps us (and there's the same time, you have to have IT BARSELDELINEBOIS. don't think there's any futune
COTCEELSULIUES roday, and 1 think members of Workers League bave come to that conchsion from cbeir experience too, TaCy
I think we're close enough le both IMG and Big Flame, and can learn a lot from then, and the perspective should be to work for a new revolutionary organisation involving them Darlington joumalists lobbying NUJ executive members during the strike. Jonathan
At December's NUS Con-
fetened, the national executive WER COUSIC TO CIVI on oversens students, by an ACe BLEETHIC SITESUS on If February, the NUS is to discuss the foes and quotas
LAUNCHING PAD
In spite of the fact that NUS will attempt to prevent this conference taking any decis the ions, it can act as n launching pad for real activity in Lhe colleges as it represents the first coordination of any kind to bo organised this year, Following the conserence there will fie against loes and quotas on 22
The NUS leadership has done little or nothing to build either of these activities, It is militants in the colleges to do so. In London this can be done by organising coordination of palous of the larger colleges
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February 1977 pae: too, would like to see Socialist Unity as the framework for this, since this can be a means for a political intervention which can win new people Lowards us Noodless to say there would need to be a lot more commitment to Socialist Lnity on the ground, as well a discussion between so-called revolutionary before this would be possible
SC: You mentloned the SWP. How do you see your relationship to them now?
MS: Well, I hope that whal we're doing will have sons impact on their attitudes. Alter all, it was 15 which made a big unity appeal in 1968 and that was the policy for some time after that. So revolutionar unites very much in tbe IS tradition', and it's not 1o0 lace for them to change their mods. 1 think the key thing for me and probably a lor of the people coming to our conference polio be the interna demo
question, but that's so related politics generally that there would need to be a lot of re-examination in the SWP, just as we are doing il, before we could get closer to them again. arior to the demonstration, STEE COS DOSS IS NOT OUT I the smaller colleges and win
But if the campaigo is to have a longer term perspective, it will be newsity in uni at Ine conference for a clear line of no reliance on college autborities, but demanding they torn their moral abhorrence of racia discrimination into practical
first and foremost refusing to implement cacist quotas or discriminatory fee levels
The type of alliance which can seriously take on ILEA apd
government is with the college workers. That can be built by institusing joint enquiries by the unions and students, which can demon
chie existence al concealed quotas and demen demonstration trate the relationship between CUtE in Overseas student numbers and cuts in jobs.
The government's offensive against overseas scudents clearly anempis to split che student moversent along racial lines. Such moves can only achile the nrescot dove o the National Front to gain a hase amongst youth in the schools and small colleges
Page 6 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February. 1977 Dece 6
Racist
ousted
in union
election
BILL JARVIS, a well-known igure in the West Midlands
bour movement, has finally been thrown out of office as President of Birmingham Trades Council. Jarvis gained national notoriety in 1976 after a spooch blaming immigrant workers for the deterioration in social and public services in the Wes Midlands. Despite a vote calling for his resignation b Birmingham Trades Council Jarvis refused to resign retract his statements. And Streas press campain ins Jarvis press campaign January, Jarvis narrowly held onto his seat as President.
But this year he was not so fortunate. He has now lost his
as President to Maurice Ludmer, a member of the NUJ editor Searchlight, and a well-known anti-fascist and anti-racist
Jarvis on a vote of 136 to 128 of the delegates voting.
The removal of a racist like
an active militant in the fight against the raana a root ang racism should encourage more CHURED CHUYE SULL HELL: from office in the labour movement and so strencile the fight against racism.
attack on
by PETER PURTEN Saturday 11 Fehruary is the date set for a demonstration in protest against the recent conviction of Gay News for blasphemees libel.
Gay News Mary Whitchouse in July 1977 is part of a growing backlash against
boited gains made lesbians and gay men in the last ten years. At its most hornfic, this backlash saw the murder of
North of Ireland, lan Paislcy
from Sodomy campaign, and is fighting Festival of Light - against the
Offences Act to Northern
male homosesuality is stil
Its most recent manifestation was the attack by 20 National Front thugs on the Vauxhall Tavern In South London following the Fascist pickel ar the Education TV Centre of the Inner London Education Authority. In this attack, two gay people were sensousty injured, and the pub itself was seriously damaged.
PROSECUTION
The defence of Guy News is thus far more significant than ust detending a newspaper The pro super i a
and suppor for the media, the church and the State - has made physical violence against gays almost respectable. Although many have rightly attacked the paper for is sexism and hostility to radical ideas, as the only mass circulation paper for homosexuals Gay News plays a vital role in reaching pay people who
Self
of the streets of HAUGHTON reports. Gangs of youths in cars cruise black areas late at mith don white balaclava helmets, set about lone blacks with clubs and knives.
Allent tensua stocks — al of them resulting in the victims TEDLINAL HAMALEELEEAUCOL have been reported to the police
predictably, tbe police have
More than an
free speech'
are isolated, frightened and repressed encouraging them to recognise the validity of their sexuality.
DEFENCE
The National Gay Defence Committee is fighting by to spread an understanding of
of the paper. stresses that the prosecution of Gay News is more than an attack on free speoch and rights
gays COOLESCE 15 BATE OF RI attempt to crush the demand advanced by boch the say and the women's movement for the right to control tbeir own lives.
The Gay News Committee noods and deserves support. It has drawn up a mocci reso union which can he moved in trade union branches, trade councils, student umions, anti-fascist committees and Labour Party branches. resolution reads:
This branch deplores the erasion of civil biberties evidenced by the recent use of an antiquated blasphemy law to convict Gay News and its editor Denis Lemon.
-This branch
repeal of the blasphemy and the quashing conviction of Gay News and its editor and urges its members to support.
demonstration in London on 1] SCOTTY
The demonstration is assembling outside Temple underground ar ipm and will rally in Tralalan Suare The Delence Committee it which groups or individuns showerse can be contacted c/o 146 Mayall Rd, London SE24, relephone (01) 274 0845.
defence i
needed
against
One of the vilest features of racist thuggery in the USA's Deep South has begun to make is appearance
Wolverhampton.
with inquiries"
It was Wolverhampton's and deserabed the hoods worn b some of the town's footbal Cans at matches as "Klan style"
protection against circult TV cameras, Indications are that racist thugs
rather than maverick football News
The Committee
organise and
Defence
The
Discussion at the conference was wide-ranging and a large number of political rendencies calls for the were represented: left groups and a very large proportion of - 1097 the non-aligned socialist women.
Much of discussion was tentative, which was not surprising after a Jell of nearly two years since the last gathering af this kind. But there was plenty of resolve that LILE feminist current should be carried forward. conference was decided on: Tor the early spring of 1979, which will be more fully discussed at a warkshop at the next WIM conlerence.
RACISM
the racist wolves
This- 15 The DAVID the
for the National Front.
adopled arrived to protect the NE. closed In ine and tbe
two white couths LAST weekend 1.000 women gathered in Manchester for the first socialist feminist conference since 1975. They continued the debate within the Liberation Movement [WIM] about the relationship between feminism and socialism.
La journal
the
work of the socialist
A recall International Women's workshop
socialist
'hooligans" attacking blacks
backeround le natlonal press headlined as a race riot Wolverhampton lasr Friday night. Between two and three hundred black youths leaving a the disco were determined to makt the streets safe, and headed for a pub known to he a hangaut press, will be
A large police contingent
and SETS SITE clashes that Tollowed seven hiacks were arrested and five police officers slightly injured, The following might.
1000 attend Socialist
Feminist Conference
and Trau.
Women's
Meanwhile, Scarlet Women,
produced TOT subscribers or a group: of
expanded, regularised and sold
IN 5.
Washington Terrace, North Londan NE.
Shields, Tyne and Wear. This Journal will be made more
ened by a network of regional 20T10112018301.
socialist feminist groupings.
The women organising the
Day joined with those From the Thed World Women's workshop to suggest that the
feminist
should rake up work around make
SEXUAL POLITICS
hoods were arrested
Leaflets unging blacks to go around in groups at night
circulated during the preceding Friday's clash, and
Wolverhampton Anti Racist Committee, witich meets as Socialist Chalenge poes to
discussing the organisation of selt-detence groups in onder to make the
The Committee will also
campaign and fund in defence repression in Latin America
This is in keeping with the
International decision caroness@ epression as wel. n
abortion and unemployment at
Intercational Women's Day
Unis vear (8 March). A seeting lo
co-ordinate international
activity and a rally during
Internationn] Women's Week
is being held on Friday, 3 Feb,
7,00pm at 16, Hoxton Stroet,
CONSTRUCTIVE
The Women and Ireland
group drew attention to the fact
that it was the anniversary of
Bloody Sunday, Many women
regretted being unable to slow
their solidarity with the struggle
of the Irish people by joining
marches that day. It was sidels
feit that socialist feminists must
LONEL THERE
The fight
against
racism
in Brum
MR IVOR MORGAN, Nutional Front sympathiser at British Leyland's Longbridge plant in Birmingham, that giving Nazi-style salute
marking his clock-card with a swastiks was harmless fun'. Fortunately this fascist's association with the hutchers of milliors of workers and Jens in Europe did not impress his work-mates at
200 workers in engine assembly department stopped
against Morgan's uctivities.
forced the management at British Leyland to remove Morgan from the shop floor But talks with the unions at Longbridge indicole that they may only remove the fuscist to another department. No doult
COINCIDE on the Longbridge Works
are worried about Morgan's 'Freedom oF speech if he gets the sack
Such considerations are an insult to the millions who died al the laads of the fascises, and
the black workers who suffered every day from fascis attacks. Instead of discussing removing the fascist to another section of Longbridge, the anions make stoppage in East Works official and force Lesland le
JUDE WOODWARD reports
buttons to trish solidarily
Al the conference there was repeated expression of the importance of fighting the
Clearly most femipists under-
their political organisation as women. Ibey also wirned ro add their weight to the struggles of black women
Womea welcomed the suggestion of one Asian woman
calling for an all out fighi agripst the immigration laws.
A national conference for women in the movement who are active against racem and fascism is being held on 11/12 March.
The conference saw the beginning of a serious effort to build a vital socialise letunist current within the wider
Page 7 scan of this page
The Communist Party and Feminism Communist women reply
SEXUAL POLITICS
welcome the opportunity
W
munist women's position vis the Socialist Feminist current in the Women's Liberation Movement to state our own stance, although we are limited in this both by shortage of space and by the somewhat confused nature of the original critique.
We can summarise the arguments of the authors, Cath Cirket and Val Coultas as follows:
1) The family is the principal institution of women's oppression. The basis of women's oppression is material, ie. the sexual division of labour within the family, This matersal oppression is "reflected" in sexist "ideologs".
2) Given that the family constitutes the fundamental block to women's liberation, it must be removed, i.e. abolished. The material preconditions for its abolition are only possible under a new system of production, le.
3) Since women's liberation is materially tied to socialist revolution, there can be по separation of tasks of Socialist Feminists from revolationary socialists as a whole. 4) The failure of feminists in the CP to understand the material roots of women's liberation has its political consequenoes in the reduction of political struggle vis the WIM to " ideological" exposure of sexism and women's rights, missing out the need for a united fight for women's liberation politically in the labour movement. This then leads to missing the potestial of the women's movesent as 8
spearhead' in the struggle for socialism and the need for socialist Feminists to fight for this position within the WIM.
the CUECUUCUCLS of this approach, in terras of what it says of the ING'S
1) Your model of the family never analyses the conditions of existence of material
ppression. You have no politics NOw far th
amily. sexuality, personality, consciousness o the sexual division of labour (and in that sense TOIL TERENCES with the whole tenor of the
WIM). We, on the other hand, believe these must be integrated into revolutionary practice and strategy if these are to represent women.
2) The ING strategically expounds
political Tuture for the WIM.
TALOBOMUUS effectively collapsing it into a ginger group of
the labour movement under the guidance of a revolutionary elite. However, only formally respect the autonomy of the WLM, we believe in it. An autonomous women 8 movement must be, in our view, an essential nocdium for women as a political force
3) The IMG still sticks to a concept of
revolution as a cataclysmic moment deronated by the revolutionary vanguard. This means that
they never tackle the problem of consciousness
or movements as mass, autonomious sources of
political initiative. In the Communist Parcy, we
reject vanguard elitism, we see revolution as a
process, as mass politics - mass movemenis of
conscinusness and action towards control, in
which independent political forces come
together in a political formation.
Now we would like to go into a little more detail
about our points of difference.
The Family:
We were a bir stunned thar your only
reference to revolutionary socialism and the
family seems to be the Communist Manifesto
of 1848. However, forgiving that, we agree that
the family is an important starting point. Any
women must incorporate their
posicion within the working class and their
position as a sex, thar means analvsis of the
relations of production and the relations of
reproduction, which clearly would start with
the family. Bat that isn't enough. You also need
to agalyse the totality of the social clations of
reproduction and the social meads by which the
subordination of women is vecured.
You don't consider the possibility that
capitalism may dispense with the fomily for us.
and you don't discass the family's function in
binding adherence to rating class ideologs.
Your sleight of hand attitade towards sexism as
• bundle of ideological baggage, as simply.
obscacles, leaves you with no account of the
way they are operational in the ruling class's
hegemony.
Challenging sexist ideology is not just a
matter of making chaps nicer, but of changing
practice, an internal reconstruction of the
warkers LIE CIELL. that's what we
LICESTAUN you misunderwand
Bea Campbell, Jane Roberts and Caroline Rowan
Detail from photo by: LARRY HERMAN
TO THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!: working class hegemony to be about.
You dismiss the patriarchai relation and you disciss social relations WITHIN the family You are seat abour the effects of women's
and banish the raising of consciousness from having any matenia place in politics, dismissing it to the seemingly flighty realms of ideology — which in your mode has Do materially.
As far as we can sce, son end up reducing the struggle around the family to a kind of antique bravado, a bli reminiscent of the family* rhetoric which thankfully sooms to have disappeared from the V LM's vocabulary-
You say wothing that has got any strategic utility for a movement that has hugely refined Marxist theory about relations of reproduction sand theis councetion to class and the state, a movement that has shown the pepetration of state power into the bosort of the family And you have still less to say to most people who. naughty, naughty, happen to live in or were born into families. It's this sort of thing that drives mothers in the world and in Die WLM bonkers:
'The women's
movement has shown the
penetration of
state power
*into the bosom
of the family":
Socialisin-Feminism and the WLM
We snienth ay an incapably politica
Feminism as an inescapahly politica
conccot and not just "feminism plu:
socialism. And because you have bo theory of
autonomy, of an equal and democratic relatior between political forces, you have no way ol
assimilating the WIM's political impact (and
no amount of vanguardist flatters on WIM's
behalf can aiter that).
All sou propose • the socialise-feminist
current directing the WL's energy toward prablem, for you have no stratesy Post within Labour Movement. This typifies
forthe Labour movement. Come on! You can 1 Fuse the socialist-feminist "vanguard" as the
strument of your purchase on a labour
movement from which you are isolated and
which you long co lead.
What Is Our Position?
it is quite wrong to say that Conusunist
feminists oppose the consalidation of the
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page 7 socialiss feminist current that would be completely inconsistent with Communist practice.
But what we do oppose is:
using socialist feminism as sanctuary fron WLM. - fight from our responsibility within the movement for its survival and expansion as a mass movement. -vanguardist capture of this or that current or campaigo by certain left groups (mentioning no mares, although most of them seem to have forsaken us in recent years.)
In this respect we share most non-aligned teminists distaste for small left groups making relendless takeover bids in the movement.
Instead, we believe socialism-feminism should be concerned with: - What do we mean by socialism? Is it che varieties hitherto on offer
Feminists have long had a critique of sexist socialism, so the problem is how bat incid contribution can be located within socialist politics, within the contemporary debate aboul what constitutes a truly contemporary socialist
This certaloly involves exploring relationship to the left. The dilemma which is experienced on an informal, individual leve must be integrated into our socialism- fertisen on a theoretical and strategic level.
- What is the WIM and our relation to it? After all, the ground of our existence is the WL.M, it is our referenoc point, we are of it, our socialism-feminism is within it. Yet you talk of it almost as if you were exues. but not as il you/we were the subjects who live the problem: of the movement 1oo. The movement's problems — and they are big ones — cau't be solved by evacuating into a caucus, corner o current, simply feeing from the discomfort o the movement's condition. We have to take
diferences were water co wept of the
concept of the revolutionary vanguard, with a hierarchy of relationships ranging from the advanced sections of the working class to the ignorant and confised masses is opposed by ours, which is a concept of a mass revolutionary party in democratic alliance with autonomous political Toroes. In essence, ours is about the creation of a new mass political formation. Your position, in our view, assumes an elite and pessive mass. Ours assumes tbe engagement of the masses.
The IMG is forced to make totally dishonest anims about the feminist impact within the CP. Firstly, you insist that the RATLY IS bureaucratie monolith, and when thar doesn' stand up, because feminists have joined the CP
and bad effect, you present the party an
crumbling sentimental giant indulging the fai maidens who ure doing their own thing
Clearly, you have no iden about life in the
CP. You seem unaware that since 1970 women have been one of the moos controversini and
combative groups of people within the party
And they have had effect, botb in terms o policy and the growing number of women's
roups and committes, roet local to national
Certainly, we baven't got all we want, either in terms of policy or active consmitment, we are
the first to admit that and we always have. But a
the sume time some progress bas been made
The CP supports the WLM and its demands and is committed to fighting for women and
agninst sexism, Our programme, the British
Road to Socialism, does state that the condition
of women is a central problem for socialism
Your programme, The Transitional
Progranune of the Fourt International, says
nothing
Inner Party Democracy
You describe the Party as a burenncracy.
with no internal democracy, a party in which we
have not taken on the leadershup - well the
Jendership would be the first to disagree with
you:
You counterpase agains ritencies. Well.
own, with its fractions and tendencies.
our structure is not perfect, and a forthcoming
commission will be the instrumen: of a debate
on this within the party. The point is, however,
That our debates are public and accessible, while
yours are conducted within your own four
walls. How can we estimate the effectiveness of
your democratic machinery, when the outside
world is not aliowed riccess to its political
content?
Finally, we hope that this debate on socialist
feminisen will heip to locate it firmly within the
WL.M and that it — i.e. socialism-feminiam —
will not fall prey to the wranglings of different
left groups, into which it has dissolved in the
past.
Page 8 scan of this page
kept in their place?
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page B
The
ecologists:
back to
Luddism
IT IS ENCOURAGING to see Socialist Challenge opening its pages to representatives of the campaign against nuclear power ecologists and Marxists is long overdue. As part of that debate, there are several points in Rob
ELICIE Christmas issue which nood takingup,
For Marxists, it is a fairly hace noston List a Communis! or socialist society must take DYLE and build on all the technological, scientific, cultural developments revious bourgoois societies For us, technologies and scientific developments are not destructive or undesirable in themselves — neither do such developments or discoveries themselves take societies forward, or hold them back.
Always, for us, it is the social relations into which such technologies enter which renders them dangerous or alternatively progressive,
The splitting of the atom and the enormous potential for unleashing energy from within matter - was probably the most important practical scientific achievement of the twentieth century, It was, in turn, made possible by the most important theoretical gain: Einstein 3 theories of relativity.
LIBERATING
For us, such discoveries indicate potentially liberating forces for the whole ol humanity on an coormous scale; to free chem from hunger, cold, and sociaily unnecessary. degrading manual labour. There are also, of course, in the present coonomic and political situation, polentially destructive possibilities, in the form of nuciar »capons. we nave lo work towards a bulance forces where potential is minimised and eventually extinguished, maximising the productive potential of such forces.
Toreject nuclear power perse Be suppress DE Lore Ho il) as Rob Edwards and the bulk
movement want to do, is to
backward looking, naive form of 'luddism',
Basically, they don't want to tackle the social relations underlying capitalism, through revolutionary change. ocle the ils of society simpl
within the development of
Edwards *People do not want more high technology and the
alienation which it implies — they especially don't want a technology that is unavoidably
wedded to humanity's most. fearsome weapon'.
Let us ignore the mechanical 'guilt by association" argument
used to demand nuciear power. For Edwards "high technology"
"alienation SAILELSE
argument is pur forward by
John Fowles elsewhere in the
same issue Socialist
hand, "alienation" is not a result
of technology, but the
relations governing such tech-
nology.
We recognise chat a planned
economy, controlled by
involving the whole of tbe
working class, could harness all
large-scale technologs.
cluding nuclear energy,
socially beneficial ends.
people could feel genuine
control over these processes.
Edwards' solution lies else-
where: Alternative energy
strategies, CUTL
small-scale, docentralised use of
the um. wind sod waves at leist
offer the possibility of n society
and
THE REACTION was
lethal object.
BOWER-
while
where the control of energy supply and hence our way of life. companies to the people at a community level.
Here we can see the genuinely IT HEROISE KETC the ecologists thought. It is the
nology (ie into less productive They will
enable private ownership to be
control' to be instituted, How exactly large-scale private capital will be persuaded to be "descaled" (ic dissolved)remains the central, unexplained my-
None of this critique ignores the fact that the whole question of ecology and conservation n
Marxism has rarely addressed itself. Hence the predominance of artisanal, arguments. Also it is fair to say that 'alternative cnergy strategies' would certainly be researched and descloped under socialism — social very well have important uses in
the context of a totally planned. socialised economy But we cannot be satisfied with the romantic, backward-
identify the development for in- suppression) of large-scale
modern technology.
And principal moter
change. Forrevolutionaries, the question of how to rackle the question of maclear power under capitalism, i a political question, not suoply a techno-
Carl Gardner (N. Inndon)
alternately hysteria when Cosmos 954, the Soviet intelligence satellite, made its unscheduled landing in Canada. Cartoonists had great fun with dogs, litle children, Eskimos and others unwittingly bringing home this
And, despite 'unprecedented" co-operation between the United States and the Soviet Union to defuse their danger, there is no doubt that the incident lends itself to a new bout of propaganda against Soviet military
We regard Soviet use of nuclear power in a very different way from the imperialist nuclear "deterrent. Soviet nuclear weapons were developed as a response to a very real nuclear threat from the West in the
Excellent
safety
record
of techTHE NUCLEAR power of itself needs discussion in Socialist Challenge, but alang the lines of an irrationa equating nuclear reactors with bombs. There are a great many points to be considered before accepting or rejecting nuclear power, either as as the ultimate answer 1o all energy problems Nuclear power stations have to which Batety stindards are ar higher excellent than those in other industa "anti-technology" plants, particularly hazardou: chemical plants. This is not, LOUISHE CHANDU IN BEACH TO acheris an indication over accepting nuclear they could elect of collical crassure or setting safety standards. showe that hazardous procesThe most aspects of nuclear niutonium graduclion. cessing of tuel storage, Without nuclear reac-
as tbe made for nuclear weapons. In fact nuclear reactors were first
purposn However extremely naive to assume that power stations, no more pittonium will be manufactured
could be a problem, aspecimily
Should atoms be
humour and 1940s.
populated area. that it is
issue
please cant localised risk. Fossil luels
radioactivity and
dangerous
tion sulphur of a DONE
groupe Friends of the Earth
under normal
from nuclear unies of
all concerned
these, He
controversial
power are dependent on coal. and waste try is potentially because
-this cant all le respectable cottages
pumps and vegetables Storage of nuclear waste
parison which
threat that still
As this latest incident shows, bureaucracy is certainly irresponsible its use of nuclear power, both military and civil, but in defending its own Interests it cannot help but defend the workers states against imperialism.
Nevertheless, it is chilling to know that there are some 900 active satellites orbiting the earth, many of them with nuclear reactors, any one of which could repeat the failure of Cosmos 954 in a densely
On this page we print three contributions to the debate on nuclear power, prompted by an article in our Christmas issue by Rob Edwards of the Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace.
without adequale reprocessing taclities. However it in not
lechnically teasible. The overall quantities CHESSA TO NUE HARACEDES is very small. The problem is
more highly conconsidered ring radioactive material and therefore constitutes a signifi-
- coal, oil and also potentially the coolagy in the long term. The
of continuing produc dioxide it, and why. dioxide by coal-fired stations have received very little attention recently
such the
It is also worth noting that
more recioectivity is mleased troi coal-Fired power slations than
Arthur Scargill in his oppo sition to nuclear power is not at
late mental 198ue8. is Democity against clear he knows very little about
Is primarily concerned with mame ring te Industrial power of the mines by advocating an electricity
which to control
Any high technology indus- making
MOTECTOda changes necessarily brings about in our control
But WE power ecologically in the control country with solar panels, heal
windmill generators hame grown • organic stockpile?
There is a cost/benefit com-
must be made
NUCLEAR ENERGE
- Tar raw
remains. the Kremlin — literally — in before rejocting a technology which has the nuclear power. As well as
extent and nature of the risks Involved, benefits like Treedom from air pollution and rollable electricity supplies should be
Perhaps the most important question to ask about nuclear power is why it has become such a sansitive issue. 11 is nol solely because of the environ mental hazards involved The INSUN IS SO COOLE CRE GOITICS of technology — who controll
The decision 1c
have been made by the wrong people for the wrong reasons,
A Decision to Scrap It SHoUld not be made on that basis, but
the basis or an informed debale among those who will have to put up with the risks:
not lust technological experts
At present it seems that the only people willing to stimu-
ороп dISCUSSIOn after nutes power.
this *public Opinion is prodictabe
What is the nuclear Industry hiding? The answer to this may not be unacceptable risks, but to ply the sent don
the decisionSuch nights developed technology is very Do sentul 100i Tor those who
nuclear present the ENCOSTS
accompansing and Infinitely more treatening now cordue
Charlie Youne (Somerset
The dangers
are insidious
MANY READERS may still be unconubitted as to the stand that they should take concerning the expansion ot nuclear sources of energy. With Goverment decision - on the basis of the imminent report on the Windscale Inquiry expectedto be made this March, it would seen important for opponents of such energ: sources to mount a vigorous campaign against receiving planning permission for a waste reprocessing piant
Opponents of the use buclear fuels cannol he placod into a single category with s
Individuals havetbeir own, very firmly held views as to woe thi disadvantages of atomic powe
outweigh the claimed advantages. These vices, while chifering greatly, are noneshe less valid and show a considered ONCELE
To some opponenss, the nature of the fuel source is most quescionable, in thai l discovery of nuclear energy was a product of war. Having first been used in the form of a homb, its use as "domestic" ou
IN
guarantee that it will not again be used in a mote horrific developed way against popu lations, While the chengy is still praduced it can too easily be rechanneled.
POLICE STATE
The related problems of Herrorism and the securty of
materials in transit is another region of concern. The materials - and tbe mastes
plane loads of people. Waste is already regulurly in transit and the first use of the radio active bluff is probahly only a matter of time unless thie eneres source is dropped. A repressive
'police stace" is the evencual processing society. In the CK
There is already an armed Force
of lour hundred special
constahles with nuclear catco dunes ang very wed
powers. This is already an
abhorrent stuntion und any extensions to the force must be
resisted.
Production of fossil fuels.
such as coal, is not safe. But loa
very large extent provision of
taken by a considerate indusus
cola minicise the risks 1V1h
atomic materials, the dangers
even more insidious. The
carcinogenic effects of radio-
active material is an unclear
area, as are the orber possible
biological interferences to
warkers in this field
That British Nuclen Fuck
has admitted responsibilic
through radio-activity, for th
death of at lenst one worker
unfortunately strengthens this
LAST. The effects are not all
koown or understood, and the
material will not "just go away"
Mistake: of this generation
cannot be corrected; therefore
they must nothe made
Thereisno convincing reason for the necessity of nuclear
PONCE. with potential
mistakes, Coal, oil gas. and
timber offer inmediate sources
of energy. They are
renewable sources, not pericot
but wed with care would allow
development of alternarive
supplies AS WITHH
and droclectric power, and
pronty.
energy energy
materials. there be
coerey sap
The decision on the extension
of auclear plants in as countr
li to be made this demonstration on 19 March L
London is hoped to influeace
believe to he correct, and any
additional support will increase
the 'power" of our protest.
Geolfres J. Tann (Sheffield)
Page 9 scan of this page
Latest in the South African nuclear saga The French Connection
INT
station in South Africa,
reports.
The visit took place between 26 January and 7 February SS SEBESI CODOSLT! representatives from Frama-
two French companies involved a nunEiE mE Nococm EUCICRn рожет ріал. The interesting WUL SODULTECTCOn b Д0 much the project itself, which has been known about for some time, as the extent of Wester
South African nuclear develop-
made Electricity Supply Commission CULICE with
(Escom - the South African COciRy Durnofily) BE Che conference of the International Atomic Eneray Authocity in Geneva, a body supposedly designed to restrict muclear proliferation!
PREDICTABLE
Predictably the delegation also contacted representatives of a number of French-based multinationalsin South Africa, inçluding such well-known EDE.
saimes as the Fresch Bank
The trip was timed to coincide with a delegation from the French Senate Commission ШЕ ЕСОВОЛИ anO FInne Alfairs. The report makes it CC HAI S WSS TU-SCUGET and thet the vice-president of TECSCELELESTOO BETISHLOT Chaury from Loire-Atlantique, sia pu ae Lala two dass in South Africa to accompany the Framatomneteam. by RICHARD CARVER IN ONE sense the political importance of Western nuclear aid to South Africu is obvious. II provides the P'retoria lorfuremerchants with the ultimate weapon.
Liberal commentators prefer
nuclear arms are simply strategie and would never used internally. Don't you PeLIcYC Wu lac oaroa a00 apparent unreason bebiad the regine s past actions leave no doubt that an apartheid state Mertion stopaie woule bate morially woubded no hesiration in consigning the
WEST Germany has other. more obscure methods of TULEAE SOTCHYETNSUEISE ern Africa. Most bizarre is the OIRAG cincession in castern Zaire. By un Zacem Ber zs eme alre
Government agreed cunnicte coniro of a truct of land Iotalling 10 per cent of Zairois territor) to the Trunspurt und Ruketen Gesellshuft for an unnual reat of 25 million zaires [ahout $50 million],
OTRAG's business seems to be testing Cruise and lungrange musades. OTRAG di-
NATION
A confidential document from Framatome, the French company engaged in building a nuclear power
reveals the depth Franco-South African nuclear cooperation. document, which is a report from a delegation that visited South Africa in 1973, was recently published by Rouge, the French Trotskyist daily. CHRIS O'BRIEN
Chauty went with thei on vils ro the aiomic enerey Board, Escom. and Indusrial Development Corporation. As the report noted: action has given the FRA-SB mission a political dimension'! Chauty abviously hit if olf with Dr Roux, boss of the Atomic Energy Board. He proposed that Roux visited France at the official invitation goveruments" complicity in of the French Atomic Energy
Commission.
the HELPFUL
things in mind. They delcestion that could vuit ou Tactones and have dacussions WtD the BDE ne French
enes that the Eb couldre
belpful in the problem of comparina knowan bours belween nucicar and fossil fuel.
Framatome wantoo 1o scc n the asas could De arraneed Dy the EDF in liaison with us.' There has been no denial from the
One reporl displays conCredit Lyonnais and Total, siderable awareness of the
Visit Whereas there were VERAHS TO LICH TESEMAEO Anglo-American nuclear aid to boum aurica, lee regime ALAS confidence in TRNESBESTILATE kaaners are replacing the ensrsn ur importanc posis oi government and industry.
political colaboration witb the
France- Germany - Britain
The rivals
OROL USCLEIOCUEEE But there is another aspect to TOC TOVEH LONS OO EBEs PagoR LU looks increasinaly likely that SOCIA AIS DOME SCREE a workshop for rearmument. the terms of th:
Potsdam agreement ind the Tresty of risseis Ir 1954 specify that.
Geniins is nat allowed to develop long-range and guided MISCOR TSUW ICRE The development of its own CUCICAT TOCEEDO Cu SOEE African soil is a way of getting the Tound tos, rrsumaor, 30 LOC event of a confrontation with the Sovier Enien in Europe,
rector Lute Kaiser claints tha this is for purely commercial purposes: "Oer company wil launch... [satellites)...into orbit for whuterer aftord to pay. We sell satellite launching, powered by our BEYE launch missiles. like a road haulnge company. along Lake Tungunyka He names the Bruzilinn and Indonesiun governmenis as two Orbitel ofhis clients.
Both the Bonn Gevemment and the Uf Stute Department confirm the purely commercial сатисе о виє ореганов. •THULDCE of HUSSUUBS ECRUE EO MIn neither the Germans nor the
of The the
ORJET South African nuclear industry fits into the which is emerging of bow South Africa got the bomb. South Atrica 1s the largest uranium producer, so its wanted a
NECICUE CHENCIOPEICHT stimulated by a fairly obvious Trade-Oll belween raw ma terials and technology.
Lacre were liree marot
USA, which provided akilled personnel, as well as Satari 1. South Africa's first research reactor; France. contracted to build the first two nucicar pans, and west Germany, which contributed
ENRICHMENT
The Americans continued to VOCSLET •SUDO CEC LOCORM
from its first functioning in 00 TOLEIC SEATER Africa was able to provide its OTHE LO COC ASOOSBEiCS! of the world's
This scientists had discovered a whole of southern African to there would be missiles with Africa
nuclear warheads on sandby in South Africa Germany has tried the sarne trick belore, when the Weimar Republic of the 19205 used the German Treaty of Rapallo to build up
Citi aroned lores an loreien of 1945 territory. Only chen the partner
wasthe Soviet Unica!
West The OTRAG project in Zaire
is another fascinatine example of the new imperialist intervention. As the article on this page suggests, there cao be Little doubt thai this is another way forthe West Germany state to develop its nuclear capacity, Increased Germian activity in
Americans can provide satisfactory answers.
Why was the Zaire Gorernment prepared to make this country can unprecedeated teritorial con-
cession to a private company?
We operate Why does the OTRAG
missile system striking resemblance lo European "Ariane' system?
And why was the first laumch fram the OTRAG lest side Layus on 17 preceded by tests at Lampolsswkward huusen, the bome of the
German national aerospace authority?
COMPTE-RENDU DE VOYAGS
LIEU : AFRIQUE DU SUD DAIE : du 26 janzier au 7 téveier -0373 E AFFAIRE : Prajet de centrale nuclónire 600 Mwe
de KOEBERG pour ESCOM.
jüm capsiegirmacion, visite & E52ow
overall picture proocas
beginning to
W'OEE HE
Atomic Energy Board,
Member 1977)
which was
From its
Nation (UCOR) in
Karisrube scientists, the processin 1959, nost inportant
WELS
NEO-EMPIRE
methods
was Bny
when
Shaba rebels.
There is
Phone, if not from
French
bear such a
the Ariane system.
May 1976
military atena.
CUTIESCILLILE According to informaton which is one iust
emerge, this was the jet nozzle technique developed by Gez- the TaR SOCIANS IE TC CCHTE establishment in Karlsruhe. German This was confirmed in 1975 by supplied the Dr Roux of the South African
ІГаЛанаП.
Socialist Challenge (3 Nos-
ELITELO revealed details of this process and bow the South Africans gat hold of it. The important point it that although STEAG, the partly srate-owned German company that discovered the Like the jet nozzle technique, withdrew
contrace win ine utran ot South ica d
South Africa Led Lid the purely 1973, German-South African nuclear colaboration continues to this day, with Dr Roux and his Gernan counterparts exchanging visits just as they have since
began researching
There is no douht of West German state collaboration in
for example in Somalia - has been one of the
features of recent months Hut French involvement has heen on the up
with direct military intervention in Zaire and the
We cannot rell whether chere
Franco-German agreement to protect the OTRAG concession last April
Freach and Moroccun troops weat in to put down the
Ir is clear. however, that France is set upon carving a noo-empire in Africa and that German interests could bean obstacke.
aiso a rising anti German sentiment at
Giscard expecially, then certaialy from ail the other major parties, with the Socialits and Conneuniss no exception. No wander the
acrospace authorities look askance ar lhe OTRAG project, which bears a sunking resersblance lo their owi
In a period of increased trade rivalty and bestility to West the Ciermany, Europe's smongest imperialism, Little thought has been given so the posstbility thar chose rivalries might spill over into the political or cren
territory
:1/005/L1-0153
FElces iotuces Dosarests omis car B.V.5.
Form ITa - ICIM SH ITEE Anter ute A.
PIRFDETON
all this. For example. General Rall, the head of the Lattwalle, iste oms Ancan macea rescanch centres in 1974 - a SERT ACT LEC CAILORUUA D
STEAG-UCOR contract.
-WUEI STOENET Wes1 сотраву. MAN, Valiodaba СПrichment plant in Nonhern
with turho pressurs, the stares department of the West Gerinan armed forces ohligingly supplied NATO code numbers
Bur there is another knight with his white charger parked just around the corner: Britain
West German Government over the OTRAG project in Zaire, the Labour Governmenl is at pains to stress
commercial char acter of Rio Tinta Zinc's exploitation of the Rossing uraniam tipe in Namibia.
BENN'S DEAL well.
It was Tony Benn who, as Minister of Technology, signed the RIZ contract with British Atomic Energy Auth-
This is only speculation, but
scenario is horribly familiar I1 iso't just Kapallo that relations with South that comes to mind from the inter-war period: the military build-up. the increased chauvinist, the scramble for colonial
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page 9 ority in 1970, It was the same Tony Велл who, in 1973. pledged bimself and Labour to cancel the contract when they por back into power. And it i Tony Benn who is the Energ: Secretary who keeps the dea aliveto this day.
CRIMINALS
The political siguificance or the contract s obvious: it constitutes British recognition of tbe South African occu pation of Namibia But in probably gocs a step further.
South Airica has already indicated the importance of Rassing for its own programe of enriched uranium. And there are two further huge wanium deposits — whose location has boen kept secret by South Altica. RTZ may bave prospecting rights on chese ai
So it looks Lke the Labow ERLCEONENHETR IDOCE the long list of criminals who have heiped South Africa por the bomb.
And Britain? Forner Prime Minister Harold Wilson claims Africa, and the Namibian uranium contract int particular, is the detciminiog factor in British politics, Draw your own COnCILiDE:
Page 10 scan of this page
The art of disguising torture Court of Human Rights displayed its prejudice with its the Aen addin of commande
The Tribunal gets under way
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page 10
Strasbourg verdict
decision that
constitute torture.
Responsibility in Science.
The justification the Euro
Court used for decision is farcical. techniques employed, they said, caused intense physical and mental suffering and.. acute psychiatric disturbance during interrogation"
INTENSITY
Yet they did not occasion suffering of the particular
the word torture'.
Bur if your anxiety is made to spiral to a level where you are -temporarily insane, where you hallucinate and hose all sense of space and time, it is difficult to see how things could get worse. And' this is what did happen in the considered Strasbourg.
The rally in Hammersmith Tallowed 1,200-strong demonstration organised by the Bloody Sunday Commemoration Demonstration mittee. In another demonstration to mark deaths organised Provisional Sinn Fein 500 people marched.
The International Tribunal had been publicly launched at a press conference the previous WeCK. IEs purpose is investigate British presence in Ireland.
Appealing for support for
SocialistChallenge e
Being ignorant and reactionary is not a characteristic unique to British judges. Two weeks ago, the European
the methods interrogating internees in Ireland in 1971 did not
TIM SHALLICE, co-author of The Technology of -Political Control (Penguin), contests the Strasbourg judgement on behalf of the British Society for Social
The British Judge, Sur Gerald their Fitzmaurice, argued that the The methods were not torture because if they were how "does olle characterise. baving onc's finger nails torn out.
Slowly impaled on a through the rectum, or roasted over an clectric grid?"
The answer is easy. Such methods are old-fashioned, unscientific and much too obvious. The first requirement for torture in
that it can be easily represented
TORTURE Il Sir Gerald reads Times, he will no doubr agree at with Bernard Levin's denunciation of Russia's uses of
Bloody Sunday Commemorations
Build the International Tribunal! That was the main message of the speeches at the rally held last Sunday to commemorate the deaths of the 14 demonstrators killed in Derry by British Troops on Bloody Sunday, 1972, reports OSCAR GREGAN
conference were Joan May. conterence nard MP: Phil Flyen, deputs general secretary of the Irish Com- Local Government and Public Service Union; Lord Gifford, a the lawyer and prominent chamby pion of civil liberties and over officers from the Tribunal
DISTURBING The officers 'Brician's exercise of military, of the North of Ireland ha
used by
MAKE LAL HEHELLAR EDITO mental tortures in Russia to ones commulled ov the Brisi being Others
TLIC LILL Sunday Times
verdict. Perhaps the editor had forgotton that on 21 November, 1971, his paper had carried an article by Anthony Store entitled Why Hooding is Mental Torture'. The response of the judiciary and media was a triumph for the British Government's policy of cover-up and delay. Ever since the news tirst began to percolate The our in the autumn of
MORSE adopted a policy of agreeing to virtually anything disturbing implications'. They added: reliable, yet alarming information available aspects of Britain's involveLICHEL independent inquiry The officers went on to say that the inquiry centrate on: *The role and activities of the British Army, and the British security forces in explained: Ireland
ConstaDuaty and tac sister Defence Regiment. *Allegations of forture al
EITEELEN
Britain in
of court to
effort was put into
But he seems unable to
State'
share his EVIDENCE
For example the
offered no on the Strasbour
said in November,
leading psychiatrist
emergencies in years'
1971. governments have
ample "There is sufficient
various
necessitate
will con-
the Royal Cister
including English, Jails.
courts in N. Ireland.
EPISTOL BETSCRE
-DE SUSTATISM Provisions Act. *Charges
Ireland authorities *The "FL other jails
5 OCELI press. Is
ideus"
providing no more information came out, and they didn't have totake action against anyone on
When sued by victims, the Government decided to settle
the tune of order to avoid publicity. At Strasbourg they spun things out for four years without allowing any testimony on the important issues. Mast
blandly Denys ou me Balsa can was responsible for torture arguing: The State can only be responsible if it could be shown
ing the torture techniques) had been tolerated at the level of the
The evidence exists. Lord Balniel, Secretary for Defence,
1971: *Ministers were aware of the principles underlying interro gation in depth...The proced ures have been used in the course of five separate campaigns or
the last ten
A Minister admits that with full ministerial knowledge the British Army had been engaged in torture for a ten-year period Sothe 14 Irish cases must be the tip of the iceberg. Seven years is
LOE TESTICS interrogation centres, and allegations of abuse and asssull on Irish prisoners in British,
*The operation of no-jury
*The operation of the Northern
sions] Act and the Prevention
Temporary AUTUMN
of discrimination in
many fields, Jevelled at the N
treatment ol Irish republican prisoners in the major Muze Prison (Long Kesh] and -The question of freedom of
and freedom of the the Government's influence being used to censor the flew of information and
Already the Tribunal has the sponsorship of many promi nent politicians, trace union •ists, legal figures, writers and actists from Ireland, Britain,
HOW ARE
WE DOING? exposures by the British media
Yet with the exception of the New Sclentist, for whom the functions of the techniques s more obvious, there has been a BERNADETTE MCALISKEY addresses & 1200-strong rally in Hammersmith Town Hall fast Sunday
the United States, and Burope. These include the national exccutive of the Trish Transport and General Workers Umon the Association of Legal Fustice In Belfast, the exccotive of the National Union of Students in Brinin and five Labour MPs.
It is expected that the first session of the Tribunal will rake place in London this autumn The organisers hope that the
sessions will be beld teresentative body possible of before the largest and delegates clected from trade unions and other labour and scudent organisations.
Because of the important role that international public -оріпіол can play in monitoring any infringements of human rights in the North of Ireland the 'jury" will be joined by a panel of figures of international repule.
IRELAND
GENEVA deafening silence. The British Goverminent need have Do tear of Watergates. The ruling class the legal system, and the mas mediaaretoo righrly integrated.
Socialist Challenge weicomes the call for the Tribunal. We agree with the views expressed by Phil Fison ar the press conference, that any such inquiry — having examined the evidence should indict the British Gorernment and British Security forces. We also feel that an inlernational campaign to focas the attention of th world community on Bricain's presence in Ireland would plas an invaluable role in aidane the Eberation struggle of the Irish people
words of Bernadette McAliskey, spoken at the rally -The British len i catching
she considered when stressing the need to build the Tribunal. The British lelt now Deeds to justify those remarks and to turn the internaliona Tribunal intu tbe most successful initiative of the
Page 11 scan of this page
Leyland profits from Apartheid
Help South African Socialists!
Leyland's South African
British Leyland South Africa B the company's bierest operation outside Britain, And it is immensely profitable. Over the last five years Leyland has made five bites as much prom from euch of its workers in South Alrica as i has made from its workers in Britain. The reason for this enormous profitability is simple
Black workers in South Africa have no political rights; they are denied government recognition of their trade unions; they are lable lo Imprisonment UL0301 activities; they have no right to strike, go to jail, or be banished to remote areas. Without the right to organise, Leyland's blick workers suffer from appallingly low wages; have no control over line speed or other questions of working condi
fight
Hut desalte the obstacles in their was, Leyland workers
struggle for elementary trade union rights, In April 1973, the ALEXANDER reports.
The present stalemate reflects the difficult manocuvre that Muzorewa and Sithole, Icaders of the two most opportunist nationalist organisations, are Lying to carry out. They are attempting to get a firm grip on political power for themselves
y doing a deal with the racist government, STURE necessarily entail big concessions.
At the moment talk is of guaranteeing the country's wilts- esthan IOner cent of the population — 28 per cent of
10 years after independence. Al the same time they continue to sell to their followers the lie that such a deal would be genuine "liberation". won without all the mom and cost of the guerilla struggle.
It was Sithole who first gave signs BESC PICSSUTES haggling over the length of time
guaranteed such special political privileges. LETTER OH afraid of losing ground to Silhole, is also trying ID haggle a bit, so that he can he seen as a
people s interests now over the method of election of white represenatives.
SCEPTICISM
The Icaders of the l'arciotic Front claim that they are poine to the Malta calls in a spicit of extreme scepticism. And well they might. For it is clear that British and American imperialism will not contemplate any serious action against basich that might put power in the hands of people they do not have firm control over.
Their game is simply to wait until internal settlement"
INTERNATIONAL
It's no accident that British Leyland chose a white soldarity. South African, Michael Edwardes, to succeed Dobson as chairperson, writes JOHN HUNT.
Metal and Allied Workers Union was formed ns ar
WORTS TO DeliCERS a: Mobeni, Leyland's heavy June 95 per cent of the workers
RECOGNITION
Bot management relused te recognise the union. instead tried to set up Lasson committees and works commattees as a substic for Ical union rights. It refused to grant the workers" demand for a plant referendum on recognition of MAWU. So in February can 1974, the workers struck for recognition. Leyland sacked all of thestrikers, who were forced to back down in Manch, But MAWU continued its work. By October Leyland was so incensed by the militancy of workers, that a deculed to move it bus production to another plant, reducing the number of jobs in the Vorster government issued banning orders on the MAWU
Smith talks in a tangle
As the talks between the architects "Anglo-American proposals' for Zimbabwe and the representatives of the Patriotic Front open in Malta, Ian Smith's own alternative of an internal settlement' seems to be running into heavy water with the walk-out of the key delegation from the United African National Council, led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa. ROY
attempts founder, and then try and push forward their own plan, which it betrayal of the right of the Zimbabwe people to self determination as Smith's plan.
UNITY must The contradictions in the internal settlement' are now quite evident. But the tragody is that the liberation fighters in ZANU and ZAPU Patriotic Front organisations .. cannot take advantage of it because their leaders continue to appear as simply another set of power seckers trying to take advantage of the situation, So why not choose the road of Muzorewa and Sithole, which is at least casier, if no more sure?
A clear call TEOM liberation fighters for unity of
Conference
COORDINATION of action against racist South Africa will be the concern of a forthcoming Babergency Action Conference, called by the Anti- Apartheid Movement for Saturday.
February, at Friends' Meeting HOUSC EL LONGOEL Open to delegates from all organisations supporting aima of the Alti-Apartheid Movement, the Conference has so far been sponsored by the South East Kegion of the TEC the National Union of Students, Speakers will include Leslie Harriman, Chairperson of the UNSpecial Committee Against Chairperson Joan Lestor, MP.
secretary Alpheis Mihethwa, and MAWU organisets Sipho for Leyland Kubekha and Gavin Anderson,
part in union activities for five
Leyland built many of the trucks and armoured troop carriers which had been used that year against the students and workers of Soweto by the
and South African army
police, so perhaps this was some form of recognition of the services rendered by Leylard to apartheid.
And still the MAWU's lighl story of that fight, and its implications lor movement in Britain is the subject of an outstanding new pamphlet, Coventry Anti-Apartheid and 1976, Coventry
produce or corcinay the Maheni shop. It
Africa. Simply and concisely LESCICBELY WHICH CATA
produced, it needs to he read said and usal be every trad unionist who sees the need for international working class the whole black population Sround a Bron amme or action for the liberation of Zimbabwe, as much
carly.
Constituent Assembly, split the 'internal settlement mancuevre wide opeil, tender the Anglo American proposals still born at the same Lime.
- the socialists. I THE IMPACT post-Sowero struggles, beration wars it and Nabia, and the obvious weakness of the nationalist
EmergencyAnti-Apartheid
and the Hor. Secretary of che AAM, Abdul Minty.
It is boped that the delegates
aLl combur themseve their organisations to building a mass solidarity campaign with the struggles in South Africa Tothat end it is important that
the the conference issues a clear call
to action for the whole lahour movement, and outlines further practical steps which can be built out of the mobilisations that will be takine throughout the March, as part of the AAM's own 'month of action and the interriational week CALLY union action.
For it is certain that these
ment to take any action on
is even defying the practice of Commons CHEET CHUUS
of trade unions by
and sponsored by
Trades Council and
WorkBritish
imaginatively free elections to could
and spread discission
the knowledge.
Zunbabwe Walls
ACTIONS place month of
15-21 March: of trade
The pamphlet highlights the Tallure of the Labour Govern- parliamentary
effective British firens operating in South Africa. The Government has dealt with the embarrasing fact that Leyland
code of the House of commitlee British firms in South Africa, which recommends recognition
маладсment, by. pretending that that it is not a Mini, but it is probably built by British Leyland all the same. CHARLIE VANGELDEREN and CARL BRECKER launch an appeal for books for South African movemcot has led to wide
Breat debare and a great thirst tor
fliets.
We want to intervene in this dehate, to start the process of number of building Marxist organisations
important initiatives will spark off widespread interest inside the labour movement abour
happening in sooth in two Africa. The need is for further sens to transiate cois interest and awareness inco action.
HE WILL!
Local anti-apartheid groups CATOSS LOC COLLEE SEC DIRISEL actions in their areas for I1 and 18 March. The AAM nationally has produced a series of leafleb, briefing papers, and pamphlets of particular interest to trade
trade union week of action,
(For furtber details of chese or the Action Conference contact: AA.M, 89, Charlotte Street, London, WIP
Leyland is following che code!
In a letter of 1 Jone 1977, the
undersecretary of state ar the Department of Industry, Leslic Hackfield. told Frank: Hooley MP that the Leyland complied with the sub-committee's recommenda tions. This is simply untrue.
British Teyland in Britain and in South Africa concludes with a section on the need for solidarity with the struggle of black workers in South Africa. It calls for Leyland workers to Our Motoring Correspondent writes: We have been unable to Identify Mr. Vorster's car. We guess which can steer the masses away from opportunism, pure nationalism and tribalist con-
Already discussion groups are springing up in a
countries which want to get a grasp of Marxist and understand the principles of the historic debates abour the struggie for socialism in underdeveloped countries.
We bave bad a request for help from a proup of African comrades who are involved in building such discussion groups
SOURCED AREICAR countries and among Soweso
*to huild a Marxist library *to obtain a supply of basic Marsist pamphlets for the discussion gromps *to acquire a small duplicator [cost about £50-475] do enable Theis to circulate material. Marx. Capital, Volume 1 Marx and Engels: Selected Works,
Engels: Anti-During Lenin: Selected Works, Vole 1,2 and3 Lenin: What is to be Done? Lenin: Two Tactics Mandel: What is Trotskyism? Mandel: Revalutionary Student Movement
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page11 take selective blacking action against supplies to South Africa and points out the need to campaign both for Leyland to recognise the MA WU, and for
ending of Leyland insestment in south atrica *British Leyland in Britain and sponsored by Coventy Trades Alrica, Council and Coventry Anti Apartheid Movement
by Coventry Workshop, 40 Binley CAESAR COVERE
These needs are modest by European standards where we bave a rich supply of literature, but in the African context they are well beyond the means on these comrades. many of whom are refugees.
This week we sturt by printing the tilles of some of the hooks and pamphlets required. Over the next few weeks we will print more. But this list is by no meuns exclusive. Any otler relevunt material would be welcome
ASSISTANCE
You can help cither by dipping into your pockets or Oreans no accuses to raise funds. We propose, at an early date, to call a small meeting in London which can exchange ideas for more effective assistance to our comrades in the front line of the struggle.
Contact: Socialist Books lor South Africa Appeal, c/o Rising Free, 182 Upper Street. London NI.
52.00
Bach 21.50
each £2.00 20.15
Page 12 scan of this page
"Max Pierrat' in the shadows
Foreign Office backs Iran
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 Fobruary, 1977 page 12
and PAM HURST report.
Doubts in the minds of many
PCF members have
broughtla al head since
September. It was then that the
and Socialist Parties, Finding themselves
unable to agree updated Common Programme,
broke the Union of the Left.
In October the PCF, after a
meeting of its Central Committee, opened a fierce
polemic against the Socialist
Party (PS). This culminated at a national congress of the PCF four weeks ago to launch the
party's campaign for
March elections. Marchais, the campuses and the authorities. CHRIS O'BRIEN reports.
Documents which show the readiness DI academic registrars la hand over the Dames or raman shidents to the embassy without consultntion are quoted in the February issuc of National Student, the paper of the National Union of Students. This is the latest in a food of information since
Challenge first un covered details of being carried cut by a Kent University lecturer called Chris Hale for the iranian emhassy.
-HUMAN RIGHTS
Most interesting statement of the Briciah
D.E. Tatham of the Foreign Office Middle East Department in response to a reschstion trOI Keat sodents union. He cass that Foreign Secretary Owen attaches ereat importance to the question of human rights bucthat In the case of Iran, we
French Communist Party opposition:
*There are thousands of comrades who are asking questions." This is the claim of the left opposition inside the French Communist Party (PCF). The opposition which has emerged publicly in the last two months has published a series of statements under the collective pseudonym of "Max Pierrat', RIC SISSONS
party's General Secretary. been stated that he guarantee, in advance, transfer votes to the PS in the second round.
It is in the context of these shame exchange Position has faced hi len and the PS that the left Marchais party. They consider that the Marchars has been pursuing an opportunist" line.
The opposition is made up of 'all those who collectively ar individually reject the social the and who consider that a NOT the bestof friends: Milterrand (left] of the Socialist Party and Marchals of the Communist Parly.
More details on college spies.
Further information has emerged, revealing the extent of Iranian government surveillance on British
complicity of some college
value our cluse economic links with a country which supphe about a guarter of our oil and is
Middle East. We also have CErTain ObiLeaDoos to Iran a our ally in the Central Trea Organisation (CENTO), wlsch we regard as an important source of stability in the Tarbam adds that we believe That 1180 1a5 made succi beatl progress this year in improving TILLESI probably thinking of the 10,000
arrested just around the time he was writing in Nevember.
revolutionary communist line is
necessary to confront imperiti-
ist in crisis".
The opposition estimates that
since October it has been
instrumental in organising over
300 meetings of PCF members
to discuss the
party.
involved several thousand would COOL patty mutants 10 These
OCCI TESTIC 10 2S
but for the most part made up
hetween the members of
federal leaderships. Already
they have established a network
which permics national coordi-
nation.
The opposition argues rhat
the Union of the Left broke
down hecause at no point have
united commitices been organ-
ised at the hase. Thus one of the
central planks
Pierrat" current is for popular
College authorities seem to
have the same happy go-lucky
attitude towards their Tranian
students? welfare.
explained in our original article
the Hale survey was only
Jatest in a series, and that Habib A. Dashi, the embassy's
educatsonal counsellor, had
conducted such a survey
himselt two years ago.
These latest documents
survey, Many of them, such as
•Fomign and Commonwanith Difice Brighton Polytechnic, Polytechnic, Polytechnic of the South Bank and Hudderstield Polytechnic had no hesitation
Dashti claims that he is only Interested in obtaining wumbers of students. In which case, why ask for names?
future of the and immigrant workers, They claim these have
gatherings have nor
by the third and included
This chey
into the 'Max Pierrat*
fell.
of the "Max
the proletariat As we with SAVAK
the These would he
Switch makes past to mount any SCHOLDE ITAR
the question.
Leeds Government
genuine independent sation
aclion.
factories and neighbourhoods
They further criticise the Union
of the Left for failing to draw
into i unportant social layers.
without whom change will not
occur, such as womer, rout
The call for popular any
committees is theorised hy the Union.
opposition in the demand for the PCF to revert to a line of
*class against class' as advanced
Communist
International in the carly 1930s. putting
consider entailed
'unity at the base, sometimes ar lake a clear
the base and the summir. but
never only at the summit. It is
Taller category that considers the
Union of the Left mistakenly
The opposition attacks the March
reformist" party leadership lo
dropping the dictatorship of
from its feature
Jean-Claude
STEPHENE
Party.
As we have explained before, there is documentary evidence of'cooperation of embassy scafi
the Iranian secres police. There is no doubt
that the results of surveys Tike
immodiately available to SAVAK. It is this
many Iranian students change their names.
National Student has done a considerable service by making this intormation public. IL has provided the raw material for a pational campaign against college collaboration with Iran. But the ves has tailed in the
serious and docsn't even have a national policy on
The overscas student popu lation is increasingly coraged al
and LUICEL policies, and at the failure of the NUS Ieadership to back
January, their grievanos or to allow The
DrEAME DI OUCESeAs students within the NUS. So now is the moment to turn an undoubted journahstis scoop into political
INTURNATIONAL
programme; for failing to take Eure omultination, for the struggle against accepting the French nuclear international solidarity against repression; and finally for distancing itself from the socialist states and the Soviet
PROGRAMME
his the tiss the
length the opposition fails to
Stand on the suppression of democratic rights in Eastern Europe, wluch
occasion the *Eurocommunists in Italy. Spain and France have done.
With the inminence of the
clections left opposition has stated: necessary to beat the right. In order to correct its mistakes the PCE should advance a Dew programme that makes it clear that to 'end the crisis, finish capitalism and that there is no other escape than the transition Left to socialism." They further
and thorough going debate in the
proT Intercontinental Press
ARTICLES und commentary
campaien are a continuing
of the new pap.
Intercontinental Press Inprecor. The latest Issue |Vol 16, No. 4] contrins an article by
Hernard. separate commentary the
of the Fresch Trolshyinds of the ICR, and the lest of the L.CR's open letter to delegales at the recent congress of the French Communist
Other featares include: "The Rising Women's Liberation Movenient in Spain: "Price af LEADING Czechoslovak oppositionist Petr Uhl Is out of a job. The document we print here. notice to quit from the Potrubi national enterprise where he worked as an engineer. The sacking look ellect on Tuesday 31
document is explicit on the political dismissal. The first paragraph after the date of dismissal reads: "You do not conform lo the politico-moral requirements that the Potrubi naticnal enterprise has a right to expect from Its workers employed as technicians, given the natlonal Importance of these Iasks. As a signatory of the so-called Declaration of Charter T7' you have identified yourself with this slanderous pamphlet.
democratic party congress in February;
The apposition has been forced lo operate under collective pseudonym and publish its statements in non-party magazibes because of the lack of Internal demncracy withun the PCF. Al the recent national Party Congress there was not one vote amongst 3,000 delegates cither against or MASCIOn! Considering, that there was no discussion in the ranks of the party beforehanc and the delegates were picked by the federal committees this comes as no surprise
This forces the opposition underground. The leadership's Suppression DE internal democ tacy has been aided by "dissident" party intellectuals.
Elleinstein and Althusser. Elleinstein recently
commented in an interview i
the wockly Politique Hebde, ' am nor at all favourable to the exiscence of tendencies which can obly transform themselves into splits. Althusser in New
Review 104 stated ' Recognition of organised tendencies soems to me to be cuE of the question in the French Party.
combines with ImpreCOr
"Respectability'" Rising For Hallan CP': and "Argentina -The Spectre of a Cordabare". Single coples are 30p plus 10p
but why not take advuntage of the favourable suhscription rates: EV for one year (48 issues], for als months [24 issues), or E2.50 For an introductory offer of
also get a free copy of Inprecor No. 19 [New Series) devoled to the world economic situation. Write bow to intercontinental Press/Taprecor, P.O. Box 50, London N1 2XP. All cheques/ POs should be made out te Intercoatinental Press
1. 2. dated 28 November last year, is his
nature of the
Page 13 scan of this page
Videla versus the Montoneros By CHRISTOPHER ROPER, journalist and Latin American specialist.
gentina's military dictatorship hoped to turn the World Cup finals in June into a propaganda spectacular, but things are not going quite according to plan. The guile relations adies, gurson te Marseller
of New York, saw the football championships asa 'unique opportunity to freshen the junta's unsavoury international image.
Following their advice, the gencrals have speat the equivalent of US$400 million en preparations, and 5,000 foreign journalists have alteady sought accreditation for the games. There is just one hitch. When the generals made their plans two years ago, they were convinced it would take them less than two years to crush ail popular resistance to military rule. The visitors were to be presented with a new disciplined Argentina, in which workers did nol go on strike, bomhs did not go off at night, and the trains ran on time.
In fact, although strikes are hanned, and thousands of woekers have been imprisoned or TOULOETA EUE organising major stoppages have become a regular event in TUCHE EA ELSET DETU defying government policy.
Last November a siriking rallwayman was shot dead in one of Buenos Aires raulway stations. This fact was broadcast every half hour over the radio in an attempt to intimidate other WULKCIS work. The propagandists are now that actions of this kind in June could actually worsen the country's image. Oie action they are taking is to confine accreditations to sports journalists, The problem ournalists is that they are less casy to control thin those who live in Argentina all the time. One British correspondent in Argentina, who seers to act as a fulltime apologist for the junta, is Andrew Tarnowski of The Times. arbowsk Bas Dodi purlicuary assis so his duries since late last
Argentina. threatened by midnight visits from the security police.
Although forcig Journalists bave noe yet been kidnapped (derained and perhaps murdered) by the death squads, it is a sufticient threat to keep most of chem quiet. There have MEETL SOR MAAT LUT DESAS STOlE boycot the championships in the Woody TEDEEIS.OIL. between 10,000 and 20,000 victims since the March 1976 military coup.
But the political organisations and parties which are most actively resistance argue aginst a boycott. They say that it would be misanderstood by ordinary people in Argentina who are looking forward ro the championships, and could give credibility to the milicary claim that there is an international campaign Instend of'a bayoolt, they ask visicors to see che World Cup an opportunily solidarity with the Argentine people. They hope footballers will call for the release of political prisoners, that newspapers will seed reporters and photographers with a nose for politics as
What's
Left
umminen. t matine Som Saturat
sponsored by
anions on taatiana, neolulionery unily, Algie
From Martin Shaw, 57 Salisbury St, Hull
Iranisn
EXST CONDOM S
CC DIST UnES
SURPLUS VALUE
industrial action,
public services and
principal
WALD TELLE E
with visiting
year when he had
Other journalists have been
protest against OLIEL CALIMEE
engaged in the
against Argentina.
for active
MANCHESTER CHILE Solidarit Fes, an B PuE 0a1 B5= 10 Plus social Bpmichigt, At the Saart)
SOCIALISE GADAME LENTH Right to ork him. Fr. 3 F00
Bar. Billl ale. Acm E1 1605 clzimantsi mite AA, 34 Bedford Squms. Lenden
Line nastute cl sace an dira Tunisan Labatl
Richard SuCaCrISI0I
SOUTHASPTON HUMEN S Mias
Keir Sal 10 Feb Church Hail M Poad. Tal. Sar5"
HULL ING ISTO How: Sa:11 Fos. 11am 4pm. Couns Union, Disco the weening. Creeme wilsove Fegistralicn toms from: D
EORTESA
well as sport, and that people will listen to what the locals have to say about their governmeot In fact the junta is making it almost impossible for ordinary people to reach the stadiums to watch the games. To buy a ticket you have to subscribe to the whole series of games in any pie of the stadiums, at an astronomical price
Worse yet, you have to pive your name and adress when you buy the tickets. In this way.
Spanner. the croms si the centre sich Desan St. pulilica benaamnig controversy will be performing Out of Control, plus aic. grub, late crining. Sal 4
CRIMES AGAINST Irish Wamen alen. Bat 4 Fab, 7.50pm. aHenno le stiere
BLACK PEOPLES CaTONE SEE leind. Arweicom
the "Sua picer) :Jüpm, Ecuake Aex Lyon al Eveling Infant Schobl, Everson Rose SMASH THE NAZI MP Ea
Is MarT
S ale and suoport al Ladbroke Hous Students
01-08€ 526
World Cup Football 1978
BERLIN OLYMPICS 1935 .....
to their feelings.
FIGHT RACISM
at the squat, Devas S CAST
chela eTe claimenta
Cancu. Discus Dout Rc BOX HP.
hel:
ARGENTINA WORLD CUP 1978
the police hope to present local fans from turning the games into massive demonstrations against the junta. With all ralles, meetings and eiber forms of normal political activity hanned, Argentines bave been using Saturday football matches as an opportunity to give vent
At one recent game a penalty shot went wide
am of agilpros whio
Acmissicn resolulicnary eri and moves tomande
Warkers
player with i truncheon.
chant:
Nontoneros..
Unseemly harassment by the police?'
Montoneros have promised they
ALCE SmO which -SLOTETA OO
purported to
COMOB JO EUrOre
creating non-specialists.
They are forging a new political
revolutionary -IEAC optimism
tur the symp loms
vau ane ansamte ot any ar thet
currents and would ine lo alend the
BISS I0 CAH:
Lendin IMG, efe PO Box 50
Aeon Cobate berghen
Crowbridge 20p 10APsand umet-
INGS LYNN rO00 d soussion
ginton
and incal trade unionisls. Organlaed
,Man 20 Fa MALDO Labor Ley democratic aro pooperat.ve wich a-a lo provice information
womens grupa, and gay groups.
rights. We cane boois, penedicals,
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page 13 and hit a policeman in the face. He rushed onto the field and began to belabour the unfortunate
players ran to his aid, other policemen joined te racax, a anca pom tae crowd began Lu
*Monroneros, Montoneros
the many Peronist guerilla groups which sprang up to oppose the 1966-73 military dictatorship, is today the most importaot revolutionary organisation in Argentina. Montonero politics have developed along clearly socialist lines during the past two years, marking a clear break with the confused populism of Perobism
scenes will probably be avoided during the World Cup matches, but the impact of thousands (or even lundrods) of tartan-clad Scots fans on the Buenos Aires police is hard to Imagine. There are likely to be casualties on botl sides. Lord Avebury recently askod the government what action bad been taken on the reported theft of t40 trom six British scamen io three separate incidents by police officers in Buenos Airea, and what advioe they will give British citizens visiting Argentina for the World Con ss lo hoa they can brotectthemsaves inm
Undoubtedly, the Montoneros and other revolutionary organisations will be looking for some way to make themseives felt in June. The
undertake any military operation which might endanger the lives of visitors or interrupt the games. But they warn that the military might
TL SOTHECEEE ELLU. would thea be blamed on Just bedore Christmas the military kidnapped two French nuns and then oublished a foreed communcoe wbic!
show the Montoneros were responsible. This was quickly denied, not only by the Montoneros but also by the religious order to which the noos belonged. Forged communiques are becoming increasingly
This may indicate the Importano sectors of the military attach to discrediting the Montoneros. The forgeries are sufficiencly crude to he detected instantly by anyone involved in Argentine affairs, hut may
some confusion
In Argentina it is less eaxy to confuse people There is ao doubl in peoples' munds that the only "terrorist organisations" io the country are the army, the davy and the air force. To the extent that the aroed toros wage war on the a hole people, especinily oo the working class,
UITEEACTHCT TAE vanguard and che masses. This is TEENA THIC POTOC BECIMAMCNE CETE
organisations, which despite ire Tacng tue TOLUTC with
They have now survived the military campaign of exteriinalion, and are preparing
counter antensave. Ther soe man military weakness. The government's economie policy has failed and Argentine industry faces the worst secession in its modern history. Already the military are beginaing to quartel among themseives.
пре ін Снінтея ai the NH8. Bal 18 Feb, 10a1-5om Cnr Mal Mesmnsut orle rO credentlais enc
I'm a
Socialist Challenge
supporter
Become a wulking hill-hourd.
Twe-colour Socialist Chaileage supporters hadges are popping
guurs from the addiess above 20p cach plus 7p post. Ten or CULIOUSETH.
Page 14 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 pape 14
Pinning up
an image
PAT MASTERS argues (Socialis Challenge. 12 January 1978) that represent
entice men to hary various brands of beer, cars, newspapets, etc.
People who argue in this way often overlook an obvious point. Pin-ups also entice women to buy cosmetics, clothing, household furnishings and durables, andso on. A glance at almost an) wide circulation women's magazine will confirm this simple fact. The reason for mentioning this is to insist that the more overtly sexual manifestations of wonien's oppression as a sex are widely accepted by women too.
You would soon lose your readers if you noderu women's magazine, but an avalanche sE stereotyped sex roles in both editorial and advertising matter seems to be necessary to sell consider it an exaggeration, then just scan the covers!
The Yorkshire Miner's sexism stands beside the awful 'personality" spots to be found in some of the journals of trade unions with mainly women members, although it should be said that most of the latter are also written and edited by mnen.
BRYNLEY HEADEN, Hull
Sexism
unscarred
AT THE National Abortion Campaign benelit Fingers Talk, Black Slate, Polly Styrene and X-Ray Spex we were damave al the anti-feminism of most of the audience, which we feel was encouraged by the lack of political direction from NAC. There was no bookstall, sneakers or banner - the taet assu morton being that the gig was for fund-raising only. This raises the important question or sexism in music and the relation between music and politics.
The reaction that punk and reggae generate among an audience is highly exciting, and directly threatens the status quo. While Rock against Racism is showing that rock can raise funds and politicise its audience, the audience at the Round House in London were not confronted with the Tact that women don't have control over their own bodies. and sexuality in this sociery, and that roost music 1s still enforcing sexist images of women.
It would be unrealistic, even at a NAC benefit, to expect a predominantly male and punk audience to fall over themselves in supporting women's rights. Bur the fact that the whole evening meant that all elements of
Because the connections between music and sexual potitics were not made, leminists were Socialist 130p- 10 0.10pm :
Nuet -amina, i6 Fetruar, Socalis
Challenge
SCOTLAND
EVENTS
NORTH WEST
Northeest 215 Bata
Manchester 1. 06)
turday 10-1pm. Room emilabe
Socialist Challenge Jim on 45090 (alter 5om)
LIVERPOOL
SE Socialist Chelleng SOUTH WEST
Mancheater
thons for details 061 238 2352 NORTH EAST tiphiers, Which
8a10 04+3 ROGK On ReR, Einig Thue
LES LONDON
February. Bpm at The Anther
Street, aum anç lorenightly therealber
Weppie Edional Boardl
fragmented and women in the audience were
hassled, and in some cases attacked (verbally and physically) the usual anti-wonsen,
anti-aboction, machismo crap,
Through Rock against Racism and the Tom Oppression die ein sonenle
oppression getting recognition. Women's bands and the issue o
sexism in music are still very much ignored
The choice for women seems to be either total exclusion from mixed gigs, and therefore a repetition powerlessness, or a political
campaign to force audiences and musicians to
controat womens oppression.
'Machisme Up Yours!"
CLARE VICKY ASPINALL,
CERI WILLIAMS [N, London]
Facts wanted
THERE WILL be many comrades who will want to take up the points raised in your 12th January issue by Dement, cole ob is Base The to von John Ross. For
questions:
1) Canbe furnish the readers with any evidence
which argues the positions be ascribes to Dave
Purdy, Mike Prior or Geoff Roberts, that it is impossible to successfully challenge the most basic ruling class institutions ?
2) Can he likewise give any evidence to show that theabove mentioned ascribe the serbacks in the class struggle solely to the 'overwhelmingly unfasourable factors of capitalist socicty?
3) Could he also indicate - through following allof Poulantzas' work on the Capitalist State where Poulantzas ascribes the impossibility of successtully challenging the most baso rulung class politica institutions, 'simpls because cbe ruling class is overwhelmingly powerful and won't tolerate anything eise 1
4) Could you also give the readers evidence
reformists (presumably Purdy, Prior, Roberts)
defeated within the working class is not the Labour bureaucracy, but rather the so-called "ultra-left"* "2
Answers to these questions will be interesting to many of Socialist Challenge's readers. ALAN MacDOUGALL, [London]
Parsons:
We didn't hold
hands with the
bosses
YOUR REFERENCE to the campalen by trade unions at C.A. Parsons last summer, though very brief, gives quite a misteading Impression particulariyaround the idea ofa happy partnership with management, The following points micht clarify the position The campaign was organised and imple-
forum:
Farums, PC Box SD, Landon Nt A an 01-225 0671 HAMMERSMITH Socialist Challenge
samanly Fo dele Tes 61-570
9 Einbugh Tal.
HARINCEY Information activites. Eng e Weet Green Commun
Hanley Rose (off Vinal Grein Foa
Margol s
GREENWICH/LEWISHAM Socialie
BOUTHWEST LONDON Sociallat
be F Lenden Nt YORKSHIRE Socialis Challenge events N160V.
Hoogerow Lesds February 9pm - 2am, Fiereis 40p u Tuesdar
mented by the trade unions and taken out into the broad labour movement. Ir was the support of particular trade union bodies - COC. 100 federation of Shinbuilding and Engineering Unions and the NUM, for example - ATILI Influenced the Government, not the CA Pations minalement
Your reference to the Carter demonstration that march took place because the trade unions were resolate in the face of immense pressure from all sorts of bodies that it should be cancelled — from Government level right dowi to CA Parsons management. You fail lo mention the second march which Parsons management did everything they could to sabotage. This involved wives husbands and children (who were kept off school) of Parsons workers and contingents from a number of factories in the area who came to declare their support.
The campaign was not for Drax only, though that was required to solve serious problems at Heaton, but for the industry as a whole. At that
CEGB, GEC, the Department o NEB, and others to make the Drax order contingent on restructurine of the industry to no doubt that the fight for the Drax order forescalled attempts to ser up a private mono poly under Weinstock and the closure of several nlants in the industm bald assertion that Parsons and GBC were in commen inn for Drax eomolere? bemasses tad realitiesof thesituation. (In fact part of the Drax contract is going to the GEC factory ar Laroc which is particularly short of work.)
The fact that the company turned on sections of the warkforce and tried to force redundancies after Drax had been announood came as Do great surprise and your quarations imply a naivete amongst TASS meinbers at Parsons which does not exist. There was no need for a change in our attitudes or any basic "reapprassal" The broad campaign for Drax wara fight for johs - so also was the local skirmish with management. There was no change of policy. It was simply a matter of becoming involved in a different phase of the
trugale to retain jobs in the industr
hope that the above points indicate that ut complexities of the Parsons/Drax campagn cannoche com pressed to fit a particular point of view without some distortion becoming obvious R. MERDOCH, [Newcustle]
New journal
The Hulletin on Social Policy is a new socialist publication, ser up by and for people working and studying in education, bealth, social and community work, and all other of the Welfare State services. Its aim is to establish a forum for people to abare their ideas, to publicise what is poine on in the Welfare State to overoome the barriers which exist within and between its various branches, and to develop a unified, collective, and critical understanding of the welfare services which will combine established and new tbeoretical ideas with the practical problems and experiences of working in these areas.
In order to achieve this, the Bulletin will depend upor as wide and active participation and membership as possible. Is pages are open concern for the achievenen of socialism, who see in their work Lie beed to distinou sh soc tc delend what positive gains have been made, but who aiso see the Welfare State and its operation as fragmenting. and obstructing the action, The Bulletin will be one means by which
Limitations, and so develop a mote suitable and
The Bulletin will appear ar lease chroc times a year, at an annual subscription of €2 (or €1.50 for those with low incomes). For furtber details and sutscription formt sCoo 5.a.c. 10
The Bulletin Social Polles.
2 West Bridge St..
Crook, Co. Durham
Widgery: human
face has slipped
IT WAS interesting to sec that the present debate around Socialis Challenge has revived th debate around Socialist Worker in 1974. A number of comments will be relevant to mapping a way torward for SC
First, there was no real debate on the change i
,W un 1974. To quole Duncan Hallas and Chri Rational Cont ott, the es in 5 he Davidson, of whom were then place "after a single discussion on the national ing ahout it." The first we koew of it was whe iwootthe nater's curnaliss weresacket, Ifini itisinteresting tha: Dave Widgery can complain about the possible effects of TMG control over the Editorial Board of SC when he knows full wel how his oreannaton conduch its debates
Secondly. despite Dave Widgery's claims tha Tony Cliff was arguing for a more political paper, it was generally understood that the changes m sy wereto makeit mare popular ai the expense of its politics. Just compare it today
COMMENT
to what it was four years ago and you l see the difference. Cliff stated that: 'Our andienoe is largely madeupofyoung workers with very little political tradition and quite often with very little trade union experience *SW had to be popular ised to appeal to this audience!
Since these changes, SW bas inereasingly serious politient analysis and comment and is Filed instead with horror stories and fighting talk. Despite thisand much frantic campaigning besides, the IS/SWP hasnotinereased either the quality or quantity of its membership. Il has managed to altract only a politically inex pericuced and frequently clanging membership, whilst at the same time Josing many of its Jeading militanrs,
To conclude: the debate around Socialist Challenge and the Conference must be thoroushiy democratio. Also it wond ne wtone tc try and make SC more 'popular" by jettisoning some of ils nottics, ins some readers have araue What is needed is a paper capable of relating to the ndvanced sechons of the worEine Class anc aiding the current moves towards a revolution. ary regroupment, 1 feel that, although by ne
perfect, SC it going a long way to Tuffilling both of these roles STEVE CASS [Middleboroughi] DAVID WIDGERY [Socialist Challenge January) doesn't do too badly with the jibes himselt. But as a 'self appointed revolutionary diplomat", "Patron Sant of Regroupmens' and
can 1 suggest that David looks at what Socialist Worker is, rather than telling us what it was supposed to be!
We wanted SW to present the ideas of working class people, in their own words, rathe than processed by professional journalists True, this was the overt rationale for the abrupt changesio SW in 1974. What it bas turned out to mean is that some professional journalists have talked down to the working class, while others who did not agree with this walked down to the dole und out of 15. David does not answer the point that whatever 'we wanled' to do with SV if has in fuet tended to he brash and sensational Itis David'sreiterationof the failed rationale for the present SW which is 'stunningly out of date
Isicktomy point that the political levelofSW is abysmally low Not because, as David Wideery alleges, I think of "politics" as reviews by Marxist Intellectuals, preferably myself, of otber Marst Jutebectuals -TELLOL DOOKS David might have noticed that 1 myself criticised SC for a bias to 'intellectuals". But because SV refuses to deal serlously with the politica appoint mentsand the passions and tbe creations that make up working class life'. And because SW refuses to recognise difficultics and dis agreements as i necersary part of building socinlist workers movement. And because SW even insults its readers by failing logive informa tion on the trade union movement and the left which does not suit its immediate purposes. SH is a 'trade paper' in an ohvious sense
lam frankly disappointed that David, known tomany as "The Human Face of the SWP, is so easity provoked into a simple defence of SM which he must know to be an evasion of rea problems. Similarly 1 am amazed that he can seriously advance lus claim that we in the SWP de believe in revolutionary unity in the face of his leadership's persistent refusal of aby an every proposal for collaboration from other groups. Nor does the claim to work with othe people on specific issues square very well with instances such as the blatant atte pts to bypas the united anti-fascist movement, andro exclude the CP and the far left from the founding of the Anti-Nazi Leagu And finally, David, the Would they let you d chis in Russia?' question — could anyone else on the revolutionary left write your sort of letter to SW and have it printed?
MARTIN SHAW (Hull]
IDEA
Took this Idea for a walk in the park -
well, more of a thought resily; bet -
who knows!
Some people, they see an idea
they kick it around
Still it clears off.
Diber people suy, they're all right
when they re small, but — you know -
in a town...
There's a big one around;
an if it meunt it.
An des like thu
you can't keep in a kennel,
Some people say
it's dangerous,
should be put down.
But thut sort, they don't really like
sny Ideas.
Of course, one that size
is too big for one person,
une family even.
Too big for a purk
or une couniry nebs
the whole world to roam in.
HUGO DEWAR
Page 15 scan of this page
Loafed No More
kindness
of common-sense and WELDON
Women certainly qualid worst of our welfare
potup with what they are given. keep their mouth shat, and be arateful,
CUEE the Jubilee celebrations go ahead, Pauline's mongel daughter gels shifted to an old people'& home because the council cas no longer afford to keep ber in the private home where she's happy
No one will give her the real CATOR. supplementary benefit 35 not;
cracy turns its Mrange,
she nails abour a finle, then shrivels up and voluntarily disappears, thus saving us, the tax payers, a
hurden. A drop in an ocean of DESECTS
The Spongers, directed by Roland Joffe, produced Tony Garnett, Was i1
human kindness.
The neighbours" kindness to Pauline; hers to her children. The community and worker, residential homes, even officials, the appeal board, the councillor — all are distressed by the notion of suttering and doing their best to alleviate it.
(Only the depury director, superbly and subtly played by Iva Clough, emerger as any kind of villain, exercising her power with insolence and malice mingled.)
Even the bombarding letters and forms, which Pauline, have heen devised by well-meaning people. But what use LANE Pauline, condemned as a bad manager"
that worst af female laulls Jubilee party holding baby Dawn.
UNDER REVIEW
The Day the
Scroungers
A study in
'Isn't that what all women get? asks Pauline, sad heroine of Jim Allen's The Spongers, drowning in the sea of sub-sections which finally cost her and her Tamily their lives, clutching asshe goes under at straws
ordinariness, writes
the - spending the reat money on food for the domation tothe suhlee a scarf for herseliT Christine Hargreaves excellent acress, gave Pauline
underprivileged, LALTB LOU pounding up the pills — all the world offered consolation -lethal doses of cocoa all round; childlike at the Jubilee party, beautiful on her night out at the club, t is not poverty and hardship as the world insed to know it, cruel but bad enough for Pauline to Icel that death was preferable, and the world not good enouch for her children. And who's to blameber?
The Spongers gave us one ser of truths. There are of course others Wo pet the institutions we deserve. Neighby 1L5 Vicious clients and competent
women love the Jubilee, though
1 was in a home for the social mentally bandscanped on a dar when consternation reigned the one of the children had been moved from a home for the aged where she was bappy to a properly equipped children's home which she hared. But the Allen-Joffe-Garnett truths were presented with integrity intelligence,
the rage it would be so easy to feel
haffle FAY WELDON Is the feminist author of Down Among the women and a number of radio plays, whose latest book, Little Masters. 1s with Christino Hargreaves [centre] as Pauline
FAY
children,
and many
her to make the LOU ELLE
social
angels.
I consider that the damage Jas been done by lan Sproat and others. boen showu that his rigures (on the so-called scroungers') arc invented, they have been very effective in from worker; against the unemployed. Many and a muted workers sce the unemployed as
'untouchables' cinss solidariry.
The comedian in a working men's club can ger away with endless jokes about the unemployed and people on social security shows bow far things have gone. The worst of it is that
shortly. among themselves, the un-
employed have no unis, political muscle. ascept the system's claim chat it is a personal ficilure.
This point is taken up in the worker gets angry ar Pauline saying that happenate to her is her own welfare and
emplosca unemployed -
can just about survive on what I's having the worst effect on the kids on the dole; they ane petting no experience of trado HISTO CHS They have to bustle to survive sec competition with other workThe revolutionary left has no Langley estare near Middleton,
Paula MeDonagh as Paula, who Is moved to an old peoples
Fertile for
the Front
The characters in The Spongers are not political: militant action would not have come naturally to them. Not having an 'author's message' made the play dramatically much stronger, argues JIM ALLEN in this interview with Peter Anderson.
where The
Altbough it has
is happening.
dividing worker timers, the the employed
• there is no
fact that People here Nuch monsense.
And they
political.
people stuck
the -you bad to have come trom
are phonitg
perspective.
the lelly.
like
— in order to escape from poverty.
191h fall
KENNARD of fact.
had been
children.
Spongers waS Imed, The Labour Party is discredited since they CILI obviously responsable for what
With coough moment. financial sapport and full-
Nacional Front could establish a hase in areas like that, especially among the youth, because their politics which is the polities of despair
marches the mond of many
carry out natipnal Government policy. And Labour councillats each otber. are just as eficient as any otber in administering capitalism They are just as keen to spend money on the Jubiee and beber
The social workers" roie is to make their 'clients' adapt. To be of any use to people, they would have to see their task as
Tact. they are be filled in profcasional bumanitarians who see their job as a lirst-aid station. Idoshow theio arguing with their boss, but at the end 0f the day their job is to make the sestem function smoothly.
And thar's where their wages
The critics bave been very good about the play, bur people
complaLing And wnen tren bicurtua, mal a con people speak in real life, they
there should be swear words on
amazing and depressine that people can sit through a tragedy that ends in a mass sulesde and
about the bad Janguage.
In spite of Britain's supposed welfare state, a woman laces five cups of cocoa with a lethal dose of pills, drinks one herself and hands the others to her children That is the finale to The Spongers, the play shown on BBC-1 on 24 January. It is reviewed here by FAY WEEDON and PETER KENNARD. The author of the play, JIM ALLEN, adds his own comments.
Paper forms
of tyranny
Engels wrote that realism is the reproduciion of lypical people, under typical conditions and just as Engels saw certain century writers fultilling this proposiThe Spongers should be included in the tradition, succeeding as it does in by-passing the cominonest political pitrealism television, writes PETER
This is that the viewers are swallowed up by the plot and bot given any space to exercise their critical facilities. The part of the play that seemed most important to me pace a blank On sound track
goodnight to ber four children,
In the previous sequentoe sbe shown emptying
cups of cooca char she was drink with her .She swirched off the Lipht and the screen was blank for about a minute. My involvement in the continuing narrative of the play was broken suddenly and I was forced to reflect on the build up of events that had led to this
Subrle contradictions are exposed in the play. When the hailiffs arrive io remove the furniture, for examaple, Pauline i putting up ballooos in the street for the Jubilee. She is sull carrying the balloons when sbe
bouse. Two different realities are brought right up against
intorm Pauline that if she does not pay the E262 she owes 10 rent, the furoiture will be taken awa3e roc arc not pondayce as archetypal bellies, but
revert to bureaucratic language
They are the first of a long Line of borcaucrats who spin a RECOT TOSTACIORS AEDITA CO.
Jim Allen: "The worst of it is that among thomselves, Unemo oved naveno univ no polical musce.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 page15 material problems of Pauline, abstractions which bring no IDODer.
The editing of the play also SCrVCs point che Contradictions. Scenes of Paunes samny constaon interact with various committec
sellich is ser against her reality
A community worker figins for Pauline's case. He is shown shouting until he is blue in the face at the Labour chairperson of the social services commit tee, who ends by saving that he can do notling and the comumunicy worker does mot understand what working for socialism really means.
The character of the contusty worker acts in the play as a force to widen tbe situation from the partscular eveats depicted. He does not present to the mother. either in lact or in
that, unlike the other social
his actions an awareness of the woman s actual experience
Engels wrose in reference to
muse spring forth from the situacion and action itself withour being explicitly dis plaved. The Spongers funils this proposition, mainly be 610302 person such as the community worker is not Caricaturea OJUL dimensional character.
WORD EDIFICE
Whatever the various authorities "want to do to help, they arc unable to because they have constructed an edifice of language aimed al continuing Things as they are. The workiry class woman cannot break into the constructed world inte which the bureaucrats are hermetically sealed
Language in Alien's play is used ar a tool to confuse and tyrannise a woman into suicide li is nore important for the
year chat this family should be allowed to die racher than be listened to. Their words would
smokescreen of the State and
the
Page 16 scan of this page
legistered with the Post Office as a newspaper. Published by Relgocrest Lod. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London NI.
ME ARE facing a Financial somewhat acute nature. Despire the hig gains made by the paper and the fact that our Fund
Drive targets are regularly met, we huve an accumulated hack debe of E3000 which needs to he paid off within the nest month.
The substantial part of this debt is owed to design and printing firms who have produced Socialist Challenge, our Russian Revolution anniversary apecial, and the four-page supplements that have been inserted in the newspaper. Normally, commerciul firmas allow their customers a month's credit. Most of the firme we are dealing with have heen rather more generous than that. But their patience is wearing very thin.
We know that many readers donate as much 15 BE Ci extremely cynical ahout appeats for money. The fact of the matter is that we are at a very vital stage of the development of this
H.H. Smith's outlets in London, If the test is successful, a national distribution could take place which could transform our circulation.
BAKUNIN
IN THE FIGHT for survival of
Challenge, monthly trankers enders made out by supporiers our lifeblood. This regular and
retalling $138 per month, Torms the bedrock of the fund drive.
Soas we mose into February, Ine Junnur bankers order have fallen due.
make £1800 Domonth period, we need un averige £138.46 per week. The
Lenin 1917: bread, land, peace
Us 1978: bread,
bread, bread!
crisis of a special We siso know that many are NAME bankers order therefore covers the this week's target except for 46 pence. By hilling out a bankers ure order, you Can sive favourite paper donation every month. or even every week if you prefer. You can use the form pristed on this
Socialist Challenge
For if we sold another 3000 papers a week we
n order to move forward we have do pay o
ur back debis. Hence this appeal. We conl engage in demagogic and moralistic uppeals,
wish to insult our readers Intelligence. All we say is that our books are aiways open If you want to come and check why we are in debt. Wedoubt whether we will need u increasing sales and your respise le the fund appeal like this again, Drive. So trest this as a one-off emergency.
Tenclose E...... for the SC Emergency Appea The following person ................. miant be able to donate E....... as well. Yol can write to him/her at the following address:
ADDRESS TELNO...
Tear off and post to: SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EMERGENCY FUND, PO Box 50, Landon N1
MARX
SPECIAL
Jour OFFER a definite
special.
Deutscher, design by David King. 50p.
posters from Paris, May 196B. 4 colours, E1.
Socialist Chailenge (E10 receive a calendar for 1975 tree.
Sel of 8 Peter Kennard pholomontages on South Africa, Ireland. miners strike, and Chile. The sefE1. * porters badge. 7p postage. more 15p sach, post free Al avalate front Soccial Orrers Social st PO Box 58, London Ni.
I'm a Socialist Challenge
supporter
Became a walking bill-hoard.
Twu-colour Socialist Challenge supporters hadges are popping ap all over
20p each plus 7p post. Ten or more l6o cuch, nost free.
* Russian Revolution Out Chinks
by
target of E125.
Calendar.
Expanding: editorial Subscribe for one year te
and the kind of
posicards of
and sign USSR
Socialist Challenge sup
forin. 20p each plus Orders of 10 or collectively Challenge Name
Address
the place. Obtain
1245 "GAN DUR PLANto win Financial sponsorshp tor an additional journalist to Jolu Socialist begun to show results. Bankers orders tomane t20 a month have so tar been recelved.
These are from Jane Lott, London, who has booked us in tor Es a month; plaswrigh David Edgar, another 2f; and TW. Landan, who has made bur a monthly order for E10.
lo these three combrades, who have placed us on the road to our monthly
the existing team of five essential it we are to carry out
and presentation of articles which
and many readers
up now For- the Sponsora Journalist caminion by filling in the bankers? order
undertaken individually or Anything from El
will be gratetially TeLeIveL. Perhaps vour trierns at work, college (or on the dole queue?) might be willing to
Domestie: 6 months, t5; 12 months, 210
Ahroud: Airmail, El6.50. Surfuce, CIO per unnum.
Teaclose a donation for the Fighting Fuad of
Complete and retarn to:
Socialist Chullenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London NI.
SPONSOR A JOURNALIST
STANDING ORDER AUTHORITY AIC to be debited Your Name
Your AlC Number
Payoc. Socialis: Charlange CurAiC Number 0179678 Lloyds Bank, elington Branch. 19 Upper S, Landon NI QuJ Soning Code No. 150570 First Faymant Dur Amount Frequenav, e.g. on tirat dag of sach monch This ondar cansals all previous ordens to the same boyee and will Corte unannen Dono To Contar 33000 0у 401
Please complete and posto: Sponsor a Journallat, Sccialist Cha enge, 328 Uppor Street, Loncon NI
Jointly contribute to the fund, If you think a personal lecer
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to 'Socialist Challenge'.
KEVi B
EV/NEVE
AGA AGAR
la brenotatinke tre vi 2,00
(branch] address] (Your signatura)
know might help to win a sponsor. then please let us know.
← Socialist Challenge No. 30, 26 January 1978Socialist Challenge No. 32, 9 February 1978 →