Socialist Challenge No. 40, 6 April 1978
The scan: sc-n40-apr-6-1978.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 TORIES STEP UP RACE WAR FIGHT BACK! BUILD THE CARNIVAL
CARNIVALA! SUNDAY APRIL 30/EVE OF MAYDAY+11a.m. RALLY/TRAFALGAR SQUARE MARCH TO VICTORIA PARK*TOM ROBINSON BAND AND STEEL PULSE
NF7NO!
GANISED BY ANTE IZI LEAGUE, 12 UTTLE N
Anti Nazi League
AGAINST THE NAZIS •
15p WER HAMLETS MOVEMENT AGAINST RACISM & FASCISM
Page 2 scan of this page
How world trade
EDITORIAL
Editorial 01-3598180/9.
and
left unity
of revolutionary socialism. organisations.
far left put together.
particular organisation at the moment.
Labour Party obviously raises
the revolutionary organisations of the left.
members of the 5WP.
We wers in favour of a vote for Jimmy Reid in the past.
Socialist Unity or the SWP we could support them.
against the lar left.
on ine
encourapino and tomenting racism
General Election, This is forward. But it does not go far enough.
television to answer the filth of the Nazis.
cover costs.
[Delete Il not applicable]
NAME ......
ADDRESS
ICIALIST CHALLENGE 5 April 1978 nage 2
Sociallet Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1. Advertising 01-359 8371.
Electoral alliances
HE LAMBETH by-election has once again brought th
hole question of left unity to the fore. What should be thi basis of such a unity? Who should we unite with and why? spectacie of two major far-left candidates opposing each other. The Socialist Workers Party and Socialist Unity are the bigger vote, this situation does not advance the cause
Why do we stand candidates in the first place? Hecause anti-working class. That therefore socialists, where they have a limited politicai basn, must challenge Labourism at Ouraim in contesting elections cannot be seen exclusively in terme of recruiting individuals 1o our respective
Wo must have slightly more ambitious aims. We must seek to denerale currents wnich are broader man te entre
The objective basis for this existe The entre of the socialist Worcers Party anto Socialist Unity would be the largest single boost to developing a real and united fightback which would involve
Tour departy parent est of ther
the question fundamental difference between the Communist Parly and
This is difference of orocremme and gireledy. The oolltics of the Communist Party are fundamentally not different to those of left social democracy. The SWP approaches to the CP for a joint candidate in Glasgow are therelore either a crude manoeuvre, in which case they will have little impact. Or they reflect an adaptation on political questions, which wolld De uneccepte ostorne overwnening marony ornie
Use justified and unit
Let us make our position quite clear. We are not, in
ARCHINE COMMUNIST candidates where they represent real class-struggle forces
Sharma, would stand against Bidwell in Southall on the question of fighting racism and repealing the immigration
Il local CP candidates back the fighting programme of
nese woue De exceptons. ind general une or me Gr 15 summed up in their formula: with lett social democrate
The Communist Party In Lambeth has declared: We Delieve that the Dest contribution we can make is to work alongside all democratic and progresaive forces in support of the Labour candidate to help bring the defeat of the Tory
record of the Callaghan Government. He defends Government policies, which are
The Socialist Workers Parly has stated that it is propared for a non-aggression pact with Socialist Unity in the next
La small but important step In the face of the Nazi campaign and the big increase of racism we neec something more. We need a joint SWP/SU slate of 150 candidates so that we can really take the offensive, make a national polltical impact, and get time on radio and
The only objection to such a development is a narrow and sectarlan one: the comrades of the SWP say that their only interest in elections is to "bulld the party. We have alread) Indicated that this is the wrong approach. A real unity would lay the basis for the construction of a large and powerful unified revolutionary organisation, which would bacome a pole of attraction for militants looking for ar altemative lo the weak and discredited formulas of Labourism or the flabby polities of those who cling to these If you agree with these principies and want to be Involved in activitles by Socialist Challenge supporters In your area, fill in the form below and sand if to us: lam Interested in more Inlormation about activitien In
I would Ilke addiiional Iiterature and enclose 50p to Sand lo Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1
economists, explain.
Inst to give che Chancellor some room for manoeuvre. After all, the rate of inflation has fallen to single figures. Interest rilles reduced dramatically. pound has recovered from its plunge in October 1976 and UK reserves have increased five-fold
World commodity have been falling, and some small growih is expected in the UK economy this year the first time since 1973. So this picture does provide some hope of reducing the high levels of unemploy-
FAVOURABLE
The financial background is much more Tavourable than . I the for several years something can be done about Ihe real econom return to the stop-go of the 1950x and the 1960%. And the fiest thing is to give people
bonanza in the Budget.
FORECAST
At least, that was the pleture last autumn. Today cvcrything looks rather reason basically lies in what has happened to the exchange
world trade. For
-last Healey's plans for the future were based on the forecast by the Treasury of a large UK
(trade in goods services and trade in invisibles insurance, shipping).
The forecast surplus of about [1.5 hillion. Il was based on the assumption that the UK exchange would remain unchanged and that there would be a fairly large growth in world trade in 1978. Both of these assump tions have turned out to be wTOng,
Let's look at euch of them in turn. First, the exchange rate.
HOME NEWS
bonanza
THE Budget Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Denis Healey, will be the first one to be broadcast [by radio] in this country. And all the expectations are that cuts in income-tax will be announced of the order of around £2 billion.
Is this the start of the long-heralded expansion of the British economy, with the revenue from North Sea oil eliminating the previous ever-present balance of payments problems? The CPS, a group of socialist
Good
have been The
prices
- for
seent to so at last
exports -dealiag make
different.
will run out, October,
Now look and price banking, tourism, was for a
October, When the conforming conditions DELODE apparcat.
OUR POLICIES
Sanialis Prallenge belleves thar che two mital
sank Healey's
old Healey. Just think/ if 1
be my polic stace job back, then 1ll
be paying less tax!
oF that is, than
this and
situation
from the by
constant!
So
in the economy
slightly
currency
trade. ten there
in detres. In chis to the IME's revenues for their Joan tin became very and with inflation Haw rapidiy talling because of cuts in living standards, there was a that is not huge speculative demand for
1
ГЕНІОР WIE HE DE DIE OD0OST
cuple. gays ruceling for their Hiberatio new organs of power und defestime wich al necesars means the poser nf the capitalis
Dur socalbm will be infining mar
Gap aras gashast the socialist ware The Stalinis mident Socialem in the Lissh end Easterr Millions of entken thronehnpe the wirk A
Budget
forecast
1978 pear reflate
sterling. In October alone E3 billion flowed into the country.
In order to try and chminate These speculative flows, the
energy of sterling to rise. But, as we
from the LiK more expersive
imports into the UK cheaper. And this, on top of a
which 1977 imports of consumer *14 Bod
bearly per cent, whereax expenditure on UK produced items remained
immediately predict a rapid end to any prospects of sustained growth
for it will just suck in imports. Notice here how the revenue from North Sea od has disappeared. Tostead of being inverted in the UK industries, it will he used simply in arder 1o halance
Like North Sea gas betore il it will be used to finanor tradi deficits and to pay off forcipn
way. the used regenerate manufacturing in dustry, but abviously they will
lowards the industry which is most efficient -and
UK industry.
Ver why cant exports be CHISES
luturs.
4
Tarlinne amd tendencies,
icreased to compensate for
increased imports? After all,
production
ineans greater employment,
and prosperity.
This bring us back to the
second Trensury assumiption:
world trade. Last nutume the
Trade in manufactured goods
would increase by 9 per cent in
HALVED
The lares: Torecasti ha ve
halved this increase. Indeed
grost in the world economy
will be Do greater than last
and 30 the high
international levels of unem-
the LiK, export of goods anc
servles are about ore third ol
Gross Doutestic Product, this
has depressing Implications for
furure prospects.
But the siruation is worse
than that, The forecasts are for
a world recession in 1979, and
lo combat this, various peogle
(ecluding Mr. Callaghan) are
urging a coordinated boost lo
demand by all the major
industrial countries.
until the
something abour its balance of
payments deficit. The US will
not do anything. al presen
abour its balance of payment:
deficit (which means doin,
something about its importes
consumption) unti
West Germany reflates, : And
every country is worried abu
Japanese export penetration
TRADE WARS
Not onl the world
economy depressed and un
stable. will huls or prolec
tion and trade wars in the air
the world is also awash with
American dollars in
disturbingly similar manner to
the late 1960; just price to the
acceleration of inflation.
Insum there is noc a very grear
deal Healey can do. His budge
will be a caulious one winch will
not produce any substantial Tall
in unemployment. The pros
pects of an inefficient
cconomy in an anarchic world
in which the post-1945 long
boom has disappeared, and che
economic challenge 10
dominance is intensited. Care
indeed dismal for the workin
Government can only sahilise
630105I5
Irsing to fonce the working
class to bear the burden of the sie wirdraw al of British Irvous Trom Treb and leing the Iris propir deserine their oun
The Communis Panie in taru arr in insis Neither 0 communis not le pro-Moscon wings hase any meaninglat states
sary thes per hefen. Castlions roder acc mier osoumble chan neer the preeeling threr
rejecling weisrisaism and soria interna democracy par an a laxery hut ae a nica
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HOME NEWS
unprecedented number organisations and individuals from community.
JOHN CHASE of the Croydon Collective, the Lambeth
editor of the Black Liberator. EVERYONE cautinus when talks began on
candidate in the Lambeth Central by-clection. For Socialis Unity groupe like the Crosdon and Brivion Colective were a bir of an LATRUA BEHHL
The hlack organisations knew more about un, the predomi.
while left, and they didh'i like what thev saw. They Feared thar Socialist Units just wanted ablack candidate lor its own reasons.
A couple of weeks working together has dispelled initial warinest Socialist Unity has shown that it is serious ahout working towards unity within a common revolutionary Trantewark.
SOLUTIONS
The CHC LADILIAS DONIC DMOrlaMCE O ruMEnHE a hlack candidate in an arca like Briston: One mustlook for the section that is most oppressed.
MLHUE thai dencised of crerything, and if chere is a representative of that section w ho is able to articulare the problems, to aarr to find SOTIOHS CUME MUSI support thix organisation and indiviCETREET
The CBC bs an auterionous PARHAN esplain that: There has never beca astrugele by the CBC that
been disorod from the class SEPPOIT strugeles bs people inside trade unions
Hasiery, and Griaewick,'
Jol Chare came to Britain from Barbados 12 yeurs neo
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 Aprl 1979 page 3
dole queue"
Brixton Socialist Unity is a breakthrough. The democratic campaign structure has attracted an|
of militants, including
RICHARD CARVER talked to three of them:
and Bricion by-election L.LOYD, also of the CBC: and A.X. CAMBRIDGE,
La linte and works in Clapham Post Culii whese he is autove in bis
LABOUR He ir scathing on the labour Cosemnasent's record, particu-
Beca nee of the CBC» nain Cuhn0leee tuns the record of thie Labour Coverement is had in relation to meeting our ain:For example our children are not cuncated. The general thing the 1 ІгОП school to the queue. 1 feel that the Labour Ciovernment just doesn't care. 30 per cent of poung hlacks in Briston are uncmployed and a third of all unemplored school casers in London fise in the Lambeth borough: When they school the beconte cannon lodder, victins of the socicty that put them in that position.
The CBC secs this being dealt with in prowavs, On one side is DOSE We black
Mans lately
LAMBETH Socialist Unity meeting
"From school to
candidate
the black speaks
on
candidate:
Brixton
cchucation: "Black children are siil in ESN schodis and the Tover -ireamn of fhe compreAcosios Dad at lle noiche thev are unable to risc out of
We wane 1o sce education socichised, in the sense that in hecones part of the community as a whole. Supplementary educatien thal black people huse particinated in should be ver as a nunor part of the cducational process should he spent in that area."
UNEMPLOYMENT
On the other programee snes plesmene. hridge poinrs out that youth unen plasment is used excuse lor pance atacks on they hiachs.
ZLH IILLSMA0r have, for esamele.
pleved when houses necd co be 1 bul and reroval00 EBd Classe
аге спогтоня.
still heing
work.
NATIONALISE
The
nationalise the
pie the
withou any
and more up the cost of living.
thal the Creen nationalas
dea. ratieis with carnaien.
Ricky Cam-
as an
building
MOThEr LELILTS ULCTE
NEGATIVE lenortanr thing
had
cily
servivors tration camps. lising rublis
STUE
But where can the money be Tound to nut people to work in uneful wass? Lloyd: Councibs UTR-: nene to pas moncy co log
harktds interest and money i
paid 10 miners of nationalised indas
With alf the costs, the moncy being paid in dole i: collective prohably more than enough lo caploy people in constructive
Parly.
RSJ opponiion avans t l Labour Par ing
Thanks This is sky. He mer nationalise these institutions
compensation atrack These peonie have lived for rearo cn speculation and puch
Allthe black concrades stress
Paper and the Select Coenkice report on inunigracion will be at the comre of che
The Green Paper would change the position of all things. imigrants -hlack people and Irish poople lr will cradicate the 1945 citizenchip Inw and bring Toncard laws that will maRCaus abensanaBc
Hilary
Ricky Cambridgé is Just ai hard onthe ocal Laboer Party cight and its parliamenrary represenatises. After 25 years and with an 8000 majorics yau
SPURD a good thing Marcus Lipton DESNU ANAIDAUSN EUTU adere sened the cocrmunity
Linsd is optimistic about the tcdaral ChanssA BAston Socalist Cnils. but all agree
Jole Chase: On 21 April we have to he able to say ue have
impact the communicy and helped the the struggles in the area. That will he the mescare el cur setcess.
News
nowhere
Hitler's birthday in Chicago THE AMERICAN Nazis will be celebrating Hiter's birthday the on 20 April lm Chicago. attempts to dens them the right to march by legal appeais have -now been defeuted. The Nuzis will be murching outside the
hall of Skokie. Minois. WITC This is a Chicage suburb of
are Jeeis trom de 70,000 people. Of Iese 40.000
including 3,000 concen-
On 27 Jonuury this yeur the Hinois state Surpreme Court CEISINEASCOSHSNCSUSETCII Jewish survivers and decreed that the Nazis could march. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU], backed the
iazis in the name of the Firs
mendment. The Nazis' moli
poster ['loose-lipped" Hebes" sacrificing u child. A Nuci pamphlet blames Jews for the "niggerisation of Aiberica."
The local residents have now decided that they will organis
counter-march Already
GHIDCEN ht Americas Jens have withdruwn support from ACLU. It has lost 209 of its membership. It is likels run to lose even more if the Nazi march goes ahead. All eyes will be on Skokle on 20 April. Science vs democracy THE Radical Science Journal which he had slid out from
producca to encourare uooer ine casnpoard, ine teic and foster discussions amongst Marxist scientists. Its with: inspirer was Bob Young an American historian at Cambridge University. Its editorial
has on it talented young scientists such as Luke Job: Hodgkin from the Comunist
The recent turn taken by the Character: untrustmorthy dog
is, bowever. extremely disturbing. Information reach-
US sugeests TEHI thooretical absolutism is now A HI SWTR. MC uCn. issue there is a ferocious attack on Seve Rose and his positions on the curent debate on lQ The language deployed in the
stinks lt is more reminiscent of the tone of crazed American sects such as the National Caucus of Labour Committees (an outfit which was infiltrated by the state and whose main aim was to break up meetings of left groups in HELS the United States). The fact that the auchor of the atrack is Convicied: Possession of 2 LALETIREM explains many
Levidow also responsible for ultra-left and provocative articles on the left and Cirunwick an The Leveller
Let us. however, lcave ail that aside. The point is that
and Steven Rose received a copy of this diatribe. They penned a reply; The R5) collective pondered over it for
MAURS informed the authors that they
OUEEETEEOILY TECWULU against publishing their re-
And this from a layer of pounung people who pride themselves on their 'libertarianism and are constantly decrying the "bureaucratism" of the lefi groups. This scandalous de cision must be reversed. Steven and Hilary Rose have done more to combat the pernicious for checking criminat records influence of Eysenck and Jenisen than ail the Levidows of this world. A question far
collective: democracy apply oniy to those which who agree with you?
from
Police and Computers (This is the winning item from
NEN competition computers)
HIS FRIENDS in the New
had been right. In the past haif hour,
PC Burke had LELI watching the puh, he hasn't scen a single person going in who wasn't long-haired or GNUULU UENUIECI ALSUSDIL ious-looking
Burke's thoughrs were interrupied by the appearance of a long-haired guy walking daeet pene ti h direction. proached Burke's plain car. lic jumped out pointing a gun ai the suspect, and after serting him to chain bimself to the displays three fence using the handcuffs bi had chrown at the "sus', Burke proceedied ta search him, turning a deaf car at the usual battering of lepal rights. It was a good thing the police had boen given the extra powers, they could do the joh more efficiencly. Before, as used 1o happen aboul five years ago in the late 70's, the "sus* would
away while YOU wiere checking up on him
Burke got into the car and afier "firing' at the 'sus" with the micro nightvision camera/ calen Compilrme try. he called CompuCrime pres sing the code on the keyboard
screen in the dashboard lit up
Name: Robert S. Boulter Age: 35 Address: Bradiey Tenants Cooperative
Towi-maker. British Lowlands Workers Cooperative malic ruthless
LANSELU on and oft Press: EMP: Employment
POLIT: Political Activities CK: Criminal Record - AD: Past Addresses
The fashing indicated eistries, Burke pressed POLIT and on the screen арреатей:
Peoples Revolstionar Purty sace 1979 - AUEW Militani Siace 1977 - Press: Polit 1: Past Politicul Activity
I's coough to know that the
Burke thought, and by pressing CR he oblained
iranis or cannabis 1968 Numerous arrests at picket Bees and factory ocupations Fothe sergeane aretie Polise detuils press College was right aboul the worrying rapid growth of the PRP during the past lew years and the need to curb its popularicy. The guy had come from a pub, so drunk and disorderly MOWEL T E aO IATCASann charge. A nizht in the cell and
wosl be able ta prove anything
Burke got out of the car and
This SUD started
Airight, you're..' but was cur sbort at the sight of the cmipty handcufis danelins from the fenoe
(All characters fictitious) AI THE heginning of this metk, a "push hutton' systen
inte operation Scotland Vard, Il will greatly reduce whut the Yard describes does as 'several tens of paper work
make up existing records
Page 4 scan of this page
Rigging the oil revenues
Liverpool jobs-falls at every fence
HOME NEWS
North Sea
he picked up. But how true is this?
oil.
In the White Paper of 1974, the Government pledged itself
'majority stale interest" in all existing North Sea oil field licences. Labour Party clection lesto of that year (and sino 9641 talked of the North Sc and Irish Sea oil resourcel: needing to come UTOL public ownership. Getting and distributing them, should come under Government control as well.
Tony Benn is reported at the Department of Energy Terebce 1n June avouring oil resources being in the hands of the State This SARICE the British National Oil Corporation was set up in January 1976 as a first step to ensure this task. Thus sprang up the much vaunted state 'participation.
The White Paper said that majority state interest standard practice in every
ther oil producing country 1
he world and it was a fair buted is stare of the costs: since the State contriThe Labour White Paper was thus proposing similar terms as the Middle East countries terms of the ownership of oil. DETERIN of 'participation' was rather different.
The formation of the British National Corporation meant an increasing role for
but a role is different from control. In article in the Sunday Times (16 Jan 1977) Lord Kearton, the appointed chairperson
put it in perspective: erpool Trades Council is holding a delegate conference *to organise opposition to closures and unemployment Merseyside give a future to our people and youth', It has been called in the wake of massive redundancies and sures, writes MARK
TURNBULL.
Only last Friday Western
Ship Repairers announced that
they would be sacking almose
their entire work-force — 625
people. And earlier in the week
60 distribution workers in the
cicy centre were also given
notice of redundancy.
If the planning meetings for
the conference and sponsor-
ship list are anything to go by it
will be an extremely large
gatbcring. But without a clear
programme of policies
action, the conference will be
yet another talk-shop.
The proposed closure
Trumph 2 Plant
Lucas are likely to dominate
the discussion as tocy are par!
of large national combines and
involve almost half the 8,000
workers on Merseyside due to
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 April 1978 page 4
The recent publication of the Government's White Paper on what to do with the oil revenue has once more held up the prospect of vast riches just waiting to Blowout, an organisation set up in Aberdeen to fight for unionisation on the oil rigs, examines the attitude of the Labour Party and Government on North Sea
to chide us in the carly days when the policy of 51 per cent preper as the BNOC baying a State participation was interper cent equity in cxisting fields. And goes on to BNOC'S policy ming largely a means getting information so as to tax CUILICRIEY revenues What BNOC wanted was 30 option to buy 51 per cent of a company's oil at fall market price and a seat for BNOC on the board of all companies aperating in the oil ficids. con- All that entails securing a certain supply of oil and making sure that the oil companies, as is their habit, do not avoid taxes. Its options to buy would bring in 24 million LOTS or ou a veur.
Kearton, but it is not going to
AGREEMENT was In the case of B.P. Tor instance, BNOC only exercises asmalll part of the hetween 1979 and 1981. BNOC will buy only 12 to 16 per cent of Dil: The corporation will, from 1982 to 1989 retain only 16 per cent and 12.75 per cent in the remaining years. Toay Hein sid or ts asrerment LESL significance. and of
corporation would have an effective voice in the running of all commercial oilfields in which B.P. has an interest.
This is certainly a far cry from the Labour prociniming the need Bes Thatcher war quite right Under the guise of conrolling | public ownership and control.
Unemployment conference
THIS WEEKEND Liv- | be made redundant in the next
And it these two factories that the idea of alternative production has been linked.
The suggestion is that the Lucas Aerospace on OTOOULE new, pollution-free, CORIC TO fitted into a new sports car ar Triumph Speke. lefts like Eddie Loyden are championing this idea to duck clo- the issue of a strategy to fight unemployment 803 Al Birds Eye November by cering Union members led to the immediate lay-off of the, mainly Union producoon.
Just settled the engineers' pay claim they announced 456 redunThey then said that a return to work was conditional on the acceptance of these dancies, well as and productivity plan and work re organisation in the plaot. The immodiate COULS the traditionally of AUEW and TGWU members and to close ranks and declare their THE OR LOILDE But sheer militancy good intentions were totally inadequate. So when management sacked the
decisions in the interest BNOC took only non-voting presence 0B operation committees. Keter int to the agreement with B.P., Kearion was quated Scotsman as saying 'we have not nanomausou anyanc. our - agreements voluntary.' The oil companies certainly did not put up much of a struggle.
REVITALISE It is being argued by all the political parties in Parlinment
of that government
from oil can create a surplus it property. the balance or Daymens, 850
for revitalising the economy. Revenues will build up in the five years E3,500 million and by 1985 to 15 million at 3.5 percent apd 5 per cent of the Gross National Product respectively. Bean is LOSIOR ER about Party and in the NEC inning in the Parliamentar for the setting up of a special fund to deplay said of the North Sea revenues to
reduce unemployment.
Jones is crying for this 14,000m he realised April budget. Callaghan and Healey half this about 2 per cent of GNP. Most Likely they will win. option It has already been argued in
Socialist Chullenge 1977) that, most likely, per cent will be used for restructuring industry and, due to the coming elections, Labour will he likely to put the other 1 per cent inso decreasing taxes and 'major boosting health and education
the
expenditure.
In Benn's schema, two per cent is little in terms of International competition and Investment. Britain has lagged Manifesto bebind
for
investment by per cent in GNP terms. is with no answer.
The went to begged for their saying they would accept the 456 redundancies WURSTS terms. The Board of Directors almost fuck or ek to reply to
further rub wounds, and decided to let them back But a different response has been Deaign Centre in Kirkby. The WHOIC women workers have occupied strike last the place alter skilled Engin- multinational owners, Starlux,
announced its closure. Already factories Transport including the KME workers coworkers. operative (Fisher-Bendix) have management offered support.
SLUMP If this occupation and the fight against Speke and other
TLLUU-
new closures are to
then a clear given by the Trades Council conference. divided Western Sbip
made it quite announcing 625 redundancies that the attacks on johs are due and resulted in substantial losses
entire 1 amounting to over E800,000 D
nationa.
B.P
have been revenues and
E4,000 million
Jack
the
are arguing for about
which is
(20 Oct,
much
try, companies so there will he One Dr SIPHECIE
COONE"
CHUCE MS One much workforce of 1,200 they had | 1977 and would have been
stewards committee the temporary
subsidy. management
jobs back,
and otbet lace of терва сарасіту.
the Fashion threatened redundancies. the Swiss
in the area,
redundancies.
bodies.
Policies
SuccessIu
lead has to be attacks include:
Repairers no loss of pay clear wben
building
capitalist crisis: шетріауте! This slump in demand has
per cent is not going to make performance of British indus-
70 ner cent of are multi-nationa title profit make ploughed back. There will be
impact unemployment as, orco the per cent will be marked down Tor industries that are capilal Intensive and highly technical. and will therefore not require considerably greater but for
employment
*Every endeavour bas been duction, made to obtain work in the
severe international competition and excess ship- need.
The conference will discus: CULLED policies to completely oppose
all closures and redundancies, threatening voluntary or otherwise, and closure
for occupations of all plants
with closure or
Action committees, democratically clected, if organused in all factories and workplaces and in the communities, would lay ancies hate to det
Council should establish
permanent Merseyside Action
Committee to unite these
caD pul by
Liverpool workers in the lead
in fighting against Lahours
*For full work-sharing with ment:
*For a programme of public
and works to end Trades (Merseyside
has one of the worst records
for housing. The council direct
works department should be
balance of payments-surplus, as will happen in 1980, is not socialist the solution to Britain's ills, as most likely this will drive up the value of the pound and
exports even
Lahour's policy on North Sea oil indicated once again a refusal to brenk with the rules under of the game of interpational capitalism, thus ensuring that persistent the crisis continues. The only expanded and hundreds of young apprentices taken on) Lette, bared of pro- the profitability but on social
financed by the Goverument, under workers
*Nationalisation of all firmis
(Stop
employment subsidies to firms which simply go to boost
Trade Union Diary
This column is open to all who wish to advertise trade
union events. Copy must arrive
al Socialist Challenge office
[32R Upper Street, London Nu)
the Friday preceding the
peblication date
LIVERPOOL, Trades Council
conference nate unemy,
Sunday.
10.30am, Everyman Theatre,
Hope Street, Liverpool. Deic-
gate applications to: Liverpool
Comical, Victoria
Street, Liverpool 1
OXFORD Democracy under
threat in the TOWI confer-
way out of this impasse in a
by reorientation of the British economy towards international planning of production and irade based on the international workers movement. Rs Ernest Maodel has put Control over natural resouro in the form of nationalisation
workers control essential for breaking out of this unpasse.
Older workers are
being sacked so that soung
school-leavers can be hired or
cheap under these fraudulent schemes).
the first shot, the Conference should call one-day general •strikce Merseyside, with picketting to ensure effectiveness. fighting fund to finance this and all future action is vital.
Mark Turnbull is a delegate
10 INC Conference from the 61522 branch of the TGWU.
ence open to all T&G
members. Cowley Communit
Centre, Oxford Saturday
April, Cowle
Community Centre. Oxford.
Conference details from:
Cullen, 23 Overmead Green,
Blackbird Leys, Oxford.
Coaches to the conference will
leave from the following
places:
Birmingham: Hall of Mernory,
10.30am
Coventry: Poole Meadow,
10.30am
East London: Stratford Broad
way, 10am
Central London: Kings Cross
10.30am
Page 5 scan of this page
HOME NEWS
extended.
MAN reports
complete confidence, She knew the conference had endorsed
which would prevent any effective union resistance to the Government's policies,
CHECUEIVE recommended acceptance the present len pet cent offer and the dropping of the fight
Other teaching unions are to maintain Ise withdrawal or volintary services by teachers in pursuit of a better offer,
On cuts: the executive pur forward a stralegy based local action. The national policy of the Government was accepted, leaving action against only its most dramatic effecis
education aithorities.
CUT OFF
The executive argued that teachers were unable ro more on their own. They then proceeded to put forward pollcies on every major debate which cuts teachers off from the trade union movement.
On what is taught in schools: the executive maintained that only the teaching profession' was qualified to judge.
It rejected proposals from Lambeth Westminster
with parents, students,
sals which argued that only an alhance with the trade union movement would safeguard
On rocism: the YS national committee.
SOCIALIST CHALLENCE 6 dori 1078 r
NUT conference in Blackpool
united left
EDUCATION SECRETARY Shirley Williams de-| Party. fended the Labour Government's record on education at the National Union of Teachers conference In Blackpool last week. This record includes £600m cut from the education budget and 40,000 unemployed
Williams announced that such measures would be
'Schools will need to be closed, demanded. From Blackpool JONATHAN SILBER•
Shirley Williams spoke with opposed a resolution from
Westininster and which called for a militant policy against racism fascism, both in schooks and society at large.
The executive argued that motions calling for a campaign of with other sectiom of immigration controls and the organisations were 'alarmist',
COMMUNITY
This attitude Rowed from the executives opposition 1o the SECHO DETEC MOLDE CON TACISTE at the Trade Union Congress which called for participation in local community relations councik and anti-racist com mittees.
In all these policies members of the Communist Party either spoke on behalf of. support of the exocutive. Leaddo ing CP members even went so Women's Charter, which was defeated on a show of cards by 63,000 votes.
DISGRUNTLED The CP suffered as a result, and they no longer have any of the three executive members they used to. Some CP members undoubtedly voted for the motions on racism alliance between the CP and the will take more than the executive members of the Communist ABOUT 300 delegates and 2, 000in all attended the Labour Party Young Socialists conference last weekend. The Conference was entertained to a mixture of distortion and bravado from the
It claimed to have led the major anti-fascist mobilisations
including Lewisham; It slandered the Womens Liberation Movement by accusing it of wanting lo set up separate trade unions for women; and told lie after ile about
Teachers need
It will mean building a strong and united left opposition with the NUT.
The Socialist Teachers Al-
pledged to such a policy. STA members spoke over 30 times at The conference, and moved or she seconded motions and amend ments on all the major debates.
But the STA is not the only left Rank and File Teacher mem-
Barking
and -aDL
the OFE
THE FIRST results National Onion conference coming in as we went to press Broad Left candidates topped the poll in both the presidential and vice presidential elections,
Socialist Students
and instances.
Shut if the The most marked difference
from last year is a dramatic slumn in the votes tor dis- candicates whose first prefer. ence total were almost halved from last year. This means that
ABOUR PARTY YOUNG SOCIALIST
ARBEITER KONTRA EURORA DER KONZERNE WORKERS UNIT SOCIALIST EL
struggle in the North of Ireland.
union.
STEERING
men ber
agroed to establish
slate in elections.
TREVOR PHILLIPS: elected NUS president
of the of Students elections were the first time.
the Alliance National International
Tory lion: BL. 314: 198.
H1: N8. the role the Provisionals are playing in the anti-imperialist
He masonal communice oven went so far as to accuse thi Provisionals of strike breaking during the FBU dispute, a total distortion of what look place. A number of successful fringe meetings took place including ones on the WIM and Ireland where the slanders and lies were actively countered.
story.
Important part of the left in the
refused to National saying that
Executive and Rank and File
Dick North also argued in favour of rebuilding the lett in the NUT, while the STA and Rank and File have I DOLIS
La joint steering committee after con ference to prepare next year's motions and ensure a united Birmingham.
the union's Act.
Act, for an
woman's B pregnancy Until the
backstreet the SSA came second in both the presidential and vice-prest at risk. dential first preference polls for
Votes in the election for president included (First figure is first preference vote, second Letional: resist 15.
(reinisation Socialist Stu dents, 104; 110. Federation of Conservative Students, 74; 77
In the vice presidential elec National
403. SSA, 181; NOISS, 100; 107. FCS. 17 March.
La letter Edinburgh.
But
co-workers
claim.
action PIERCE STOR week.
Conciation
workers.
IN BRIEF
LEICESTER -
ABORTION A DOCTOR was recently jailed for 18 months for carrying out an illegal abortion in Leicester, where legal abortions are hand to come by.
FIONA RANDLES, from the Leicester Abortion Campaign, tells the
The woman concerned, whose marriage was breaking down,
refer ber for a Health •abortion there were no physical or social grounds
He also refused to prescribe
anti-depressants feared that she might misuse them. The second doctor in the
also relused ber National Health abortion. but advised her to go the the British Pregnancy Advisory Service in
The woman did not follow this adviceasit would have meant an overnight stay and she was find out what she was up to Leicester who was willingto doa later admitted to hospital with BrISCOL CODILLIE
When the woman first went to her own docer there clearly psychiatric and social grounds for referral for a safe, legal NHS ahortion, even under the restrictive 1967 Abortion
The National Abortion the Campaign in Leicester con rinses to fight for the proper implementation of the 1967
outpatient NHS ARONOR CINE and for
right choose E abortion facilities in Licener avarlability shire Improves there backstre to bertionis d
abortionists said women'stives and health will be
EDINBURGH -GAS WORKERS PUT vour mark in the box marked "No Strike' was the advice given to members of the Edinburgh gas branch of the
and Local Government Officers on
The rocommendation came in
ram man cement ar Scotish Gas at Granton near
1,500 clerical and administrative workers ignored the letter and vored overwhelmingly to strike from 24 March
delence of 14 of their
who had been sacked for taking strike action in support of a regrading Management of Scottish Gas had carlier decided to bring matters to a conclusion' sacking the 14 wages clerks wha had been on official strike since 5 Dezember, and the solidarity
of the NALGO Ga in its second
The Government's Advisory,
and Arbitration Service was brought into the dispute al the weekend, but in talks held by ACAS have so fai proved unsuccessful in persuadis managemicat to witnoraw Its dismissal of the striking
Support for both the sacked the 14 and for the solidarity action taken by NAI.GO gas hranch is urgent given the state of the gas indusiry. Like-other nation alised industries, hundreds of Jehs have been lost in gas in th last Ten rears on the altar o high technology while the drive for increased productivity will jobs by 1980 if Sir Denis
Rooke, chauperson of British Gas, bas his way.
The strikers themselves have fer to tackle all the bosses attempts to break the strike Scottish Gas has assembled managers Trom all OVer Scotland at the Commodore Hotel in Exlinburgh in an
ка: headquarters open and main
functioning DE computers
The calling of mass pickets every Monday is a step to halting this and the strike committee is organising pickets of those gas showrooms which remain open.
The call last week by the strike conunittee and the local NALGO Action Group for the setting up of an open strike support committee is a firststep cowards involving workers throughout the public sector in
But as much support as possible is necessary, both in Edinburgh and nationally. The strike be contacted ar:
Trades Council, Picardy Place, Edinburgh. Tel: 051-556 3006. GLASGOW ABORTION THE Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child held public meeting in Glasgow on Monday night. The meeting was part of SPUC'S campaign make its anti-abortion position a central issue in
Garscadden by-election.
Even the local pro-abortion campaigners, who had good reason to know how high feelings were running in the arca, were surprised the turn-out in support of SPUC.
The Tory and SNP candidates both confirmed their carlier anti-abortion positions. Dewar, the Labour candidate,
that he thought the 196. Act had been much too
iberally interpreted for the la
implementation of the report of
on Ahortion which called for senses of the aw so-called
Most shocking of all was the statement sent by the CP candidale. sammy Barr. who succumbed to the pressures of
Barr srated that although he supported a 'woman's right to choose, he did not agree with free abortion on demand.
His attenipe to maintain his credibility amongst women while hopelessis compromising with reactionary foroes will no slip by unmarked.
POWER WORKERS
THE POWER WULACT national joint shop stewards COMES ONCE & TO YULE the employers" latest pay offer at the weekend. Ballotine on the offer began on Mondas. and George Wake, spokesperson for the shop stewards, criticised the union leaders involved for their attitude to the offer.
Proper leadership, said Wake, would have mobilised the rank and file and forced the employers to meet the original claim for a substantial increase
scheduled salaries. We heliere -EME Jack Col leadership is again shown as ballot papers go our without a recommendation.
Four unions are involved in
negotiations covering WIi workers - electricien EEPTU, engineering ACEW transport TGWU, and general and municipal GWU
The offer itsell provides for only a 7 per cent increase in hasic pay. together with a productivity deal. Productivity deals in the past in the powc industry have meant the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.
Page 6 scan of this page
Caiva Socialist Challenge —
HOME NEWS
By TARIQ ALI EVER SINCE Margaret Thatcher's notorious interiey on World in Action, the whole questo or racism nas become
central issue in Brush polities. Following Thatcher's speech, numerous other politirans entered the fray.
The leaders of the Labour Party responded to the Tory offensive playing numbers game. The answer of Callaghan, Rees and Co. was based on one point: "There are hardly any biscks coming in. So what's all the fass about?
ETNIC numbers trap you're finished. Secause vou' ve accepten That there is a rational basis to the
Enoch Powell and the National Frons.
Thatcher wasgoite explsci on this point. She said that there *asa cenulne Icar on the nart of people. who felt that they were being 'swamped",
HYSTERIA
Callaghan replied that this was not the case. The only blacks being allowed in were general election ether highly-skilled or dependents of chose afready living here.
Dependents', responded the I OFSLS "What dependents" Restrict their numbers Establish a register. Hysteria and paranoia mast be encouraged BLUSS. - Frighlen populace so that it rejecis Labour at the polls. Conserve British culture with the Tories.
But Labeur hadn't quite
They weren't th ait for outflunked (
rasily
miltee repert li wasa'!
coming. HEISE героп every racist in the country. Is recommendasions
Tory and Labour racists linked arms 1o defend the white race from the black hordes.
Sydney Bidwell, everlasting shame. marched shoulder to shoulder Enoch Powell. Ruist prejudices are. ufter
the British THIOLNITLAR Im Inhour movement.
Well, what has this all gor to do with the Anti-Nazi Carnivul on 30 April? It has everything lo do with it. For all the happenings of recent months lave aided and strengthened the Nazis. The renewed Tor offensive on race this weck will provide even more suppert for the racists und fascists. counter-offensive is essential.
•But the Anti-Nusi League naSH T WH InC ng B0c o0 fighting racism y someone might say. True. we reply. lt husn t. But it does not prevent
AHIS UDE LISE marching with FOur CHIETS controls and the Immigration
These are the banners which Socialist Challenge sapporiers
will be carring. These are the CHATST which the students active in NOESS und SSA will aiso he carrying-
No one will he excluded from the Carnival. Except for those who chenise to exclude themselves.
It will be our first opportunity
let Tory and BLUHHUT politicians know what we think
of them. It will he a shon of strenpth by the anti-racist and
anti-fascist movement
must participale in ir. help to make it the largest and most powerful display of anger
ul the groming tide of rueism
which is sweeping this country-
All osl on 30 April.
DOERIA SA30 BO CO WHY-
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 April 1978 page
the
London.
estacush a nore consistent aRg organised dialogue berw cen the nevspaper and its supporters. The current editorial board will .oe proposins ene adopton ol "Our Common Ground' as the political basis Challenge, and -as part of the discussion around the need for revolutionary unity propose full suppor for the
jocialist Unity PanCREr Y oome up Totod
It was on the basis of Our Common Ground' paper first approached other orpanisations join editorial board. Although this offer was rejected then, some recent progress has been made. Richard Kirkwobd now allends
pre30 Select his
with
very TEUTE
own IN BRIEF
Southall
THE LARGEST black workers' organisation in Southall, Mest London, is the Indian Workers Association. Hts leader is Vishnu Sharma of the Communist Party.
Aller hearing Bidwell's role on the Seleci Committee, Sharina told the Southall Gazette: stageered and lost, and most surprised thar he could agree with some of the points in che героп."
Bidwell was invited to attend a publie meting of the IWA in the Dominion Cinema Sunday. He initially Let bul hacked out at the list
moment. His reasons?
one year on
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE will be a year old in June. Ir is a good time to stand back and take stock. What are our strengths and weaknesses" How can we take the paper forward in the present period? How can we help to develop a metwork of local correspondents? What should they be concentrating on?
These are some of the questions which Socialist Challenge supporters will be discussing at a one-day conference on Saturday, 27 May at Conway Hall in
The conference is aimed to ediorial board meetings as a
EMEL ONCIC steering
Glance, set up following the Sistrons conference of Cx-S
Just as important, Socialist Challenge supporters groups have spread, and developed a will life of their own. There are now groups in te owas aa cues. campaigns- involving IMG AU-HEALE mehers VELEEISHOS that the Conference will be discessing activities undertaken by the these supporters nOw: 10 co-ordinate initiatives. The editorial board. feels that in addition lo activity
Sooialst Challenge around clections.
Come ana, discuss
*I'm not going into a bear Dominion Cinema. This is cot a matter that can he resolved at a mass meeting."
nonetheless. people tuned adressed by Vishnu Sharma.
Lord Avebury and Ales Lyon.
The last tweo delended mach of the Report. main sections of ir. Lyon went our of his was to defend Syd Bidwell as an henest ard sincere mant, Rho wrang questione Syd Shania criticised Bidwell for Telusine *1 am meting, buut suspened no was There discession on hoa to fight the
Committee.
It was, as if having got their feelings an Bidwell respective chests, It was Back lo BRIST agreed, hisines as bual. However anger is building up withut thie local Labou Pary, The Faling
PROPOSED AGENDA
I0.15 Challenge
12.30- Lunch
COITEE of the 4.00 5.00 End.
priority comrades, Finaliy.
mastanis. and of other political
TEAE RICCIOr Chullenge
groupe and future While
ami-racist | uscful educational funcrion at
your paper forstad
cor hoke
1978
27/h. MAY
LONDON,
WCt 6.00pm
CONWAY
30 af thi Ima igrarion Acts
took place uales the caly 200
up. They were
the General Election.
Why OLIVER NEW but ataicked
Hammersmith 30m2
the
the Select meeting on 30 March. The three of their Labour
Feeling that
elect
9.45am Registraton, Conway
Hall, Red Lion Square London WCI (nearest tube, Holhorn) policy The project of Socialist and left
Nort eis. •Socialist Challenge -The list 12 monchs west. and the Future Votine and lections
REGISTRATION FORM and
which activities should be a top teason-
for the Tribunsl Britain's Presence in Norther
VICUSI sponsored delence
the East German dissiden, will
Socialist Challenge The promos ac sereg an cancan
politica tendencies
Blica.
the
lenge group
CHILE lenige arours ExIN. ediorial credenial
and Southall Labour Party is | Occapation, and Ginny Hill, =
opposing the stedent ai
The question is whar they wilf de. It k now alrou defirite
LP duche Bidscl, there will he a Socialis the area. Unies candidare aga ese him in
BL.E.
SOCIALIST UNITY will be
stundiny Ilsree candidates in the White City Ward In Hammer-
decided at an election campuign
candidetes are:
Charlie Van Gelderen, who was
concillor publish Hammersmith Tor four years; Kale Truscott, a member of Hig aternativn Flame and i full-time worker for the Hounslow Hospital cies oy prooucure
Fi they he ail- beconc increasiagh ineffective.
COMMITTEE
I will also be necessacy to
national Socialis Chullenee committee at confer rights
10 meer regularly touarerlyl and provie lhe overall direction and general
of paper conjunction with the editorial
This chould incide representatives froes every area
including the Narth-west,
Midlands. SoutiSouth can, Wales Yorkshire, Scoland and the :10 Home Connies
This is the body schich in our view should be abour 20-strong
editorial board. Clearly, memhership of the new board
will have to he Landon-based for
- shoald he hm ired in omrades elected to the national committee, or else
would cot he able to join che heard hetseen conferenocs.
NOMINATIONS
new editorial board chould in our opinion give all
organisations supportiag the panc: proportional representa-
Botl: these stope wil improve
paper. bui equaliy inopere lhe rau atas regular repional meetings ol convenors of Socialist Chul
and a! Jocal cortespondents. We also hope H1 EIE to have a series of schools on reentutionars journalism in the monthy following the confer-
Nominations for thie national caremitlee which controls the
aLre open.
Tacilitate votire, mre suggest 200 word motivations cach nomination he published in the potes o sons c manne H the wecks before the confer
CONFERENCE
The conference will he open
o all supporters of the paper
IL TANDE IHT EYET BIEM hosei the poper has a epte at conference. Allendance shoeld he organised wherever possible through Jocal socialise Chal-
A'nere порс directiy to the board Tor уви"
We wil he invit ing caservers
THIE THIL.
Nonh London Polytechnie and an adlivist in the wonen's movement.
Tae firstrask of the campaign is to Took for hendotarters in
Seriom canvassing wi l start next week
While Cirs was chosen a, the ward to cortes because one of
serinus carcidates is standing
OLLOU situation in the White City housing estate. This is one of the Greater London Conncts worst sink estates, which it is presency Ircing to palm aff ento the local council
Next week's issue
Socialist Challenge hopes to
interview with
Lucas shop stewards on the
piar drawn up to avoic redundan
soclally
Voice, Workers Action. SocialIsl V erker. sociaas KevIey and New Lelt Revien, And we cicourage contraces actively support the paper in Worken LarC. BeEsDe tarian Communist Group and
International Socialis Alliance tn attend with votine
Mans Socialist Challenge groups hare incred menner from the editorial board lo Cone co thet moctines In 1te ses tebal in preparation lor le conference We hope these debates wil he reflected in the
and invite 500-ward contrihilions;
Bet ce give comrades wishinp
make CICILIE CALLIS H contributions tat possibilits, we are proposep a Socialist Challenge accial confereno hellha Wors supporters l limit cheir contributionsto 2000
offices by 17 April or stencils.
WHAT TO DO
In the nest weeks hefere The Conference me urge all our sapperter to:
Toin your local Socialist Challenge group. or set one up iF none exist.
member af the
INTIE editorial heard along lo your KrOOP " HENE BICUOD
*1 rite up your views on thi project hehind the puper and our proposals fur thie conterence debale. for the bulletin und for Socialist Challeree
*Suleit aminations for the nutiomal commitier.
*select u esavenor of vuur local group THEP SHT correspondent and send us the
and adress (emraders).
*Register for the conference.
*Onganise a lund-ruising event to ensure an optimistic finance report.
REGISTRATIONFORM
I would like to altend she first annual conference of Socialist Challenge supporters on 27 Mas in Landen
Namen
AUEs .na.c..
Socialist Challenge Group Gt ...
Penclose Cl registratien Tee le caser the cont #f the bulletin and the hall, (Cheques. POs male parable l0 Socialist Challenge Post tos Sociahst Challenge Conference. NUTHE 50. London NI 2XP.
useful producte. 4 major feature nausing ail publisned, as wol as extensive
LOLLE!T
by-election, and a report of tre
Women's Liberaticn Nationa GON BInCe
The issue ef the paper 1na
tollows will have a slightly dellaren Character appears al the time of ina
conference of the Internationa
Moraist GrouD
order Lto enable our des grars, (pe-satte and
the conference we have prepare a large section of the
Doper dovare
Ne wil be publishin (the second-place winner Ine STADEC CaNUT SITT
competi ony Pretty Bubbles In
the Air by Stpher Chauke,
Mike Chanan: Captain Nerve
wreck: the widely pualicisnd
cancan Shiia rom Republicar
News: ae wel Ba a striking
CESe Ct nowa DaGk docior
confronted 53T1
hospital.
Page 7 scan of this page
We have a new confidence
has given them lo their oppression. without any opposition.
A young woman on a train | should bedone. 1o Paddington was savagely tracks. She is still lying in a
West London hospital.
With cases like this reported in the press virtually every day. it is not surpnsing that the issues of rape and violence against women will be a major discussion at the Women's Liberation Conference this year.
It is generally accepted that Violence against women Increasing. In the contest of an acute social crisis when forms of violence are on the SINTEC
Many women have seen the need for a seventh demand for the womens" movement on the question of rape and violence against women. Most women are agreed on the need for such
demand. But different approaches for action have been suggested in the wide-ranging discussion about what
IF YOU HAVE BEEN RAPED OR SENUALLY ASSALI TED How can the Kape Crisis Centre help you?
The Rape Crisis Centre Is willing to talk to any woman who has heen sexually assaulied or raped, abour anything. ar ans time of the day or night. Our free contidential. We can give you:
emergency an-going
ahoto: ANGELA PHILLIPS (FL support.
informalid ahout FD clinics, doctors and medical
information about police. court and legal procedures. — we can accompany you to a clinic. police station or count. If you need senscone to talk to, or medical or legal help, phone the Rape, Crisis Centre on 01-340 6145.
Review
WOMEN Against Rape's Lasting Harm new pamphlet Women at W.A.R. contains much moving testimony to the abuse that women suffer. not only from experience of rape itself, but at the hands of the police, courts and medical profession after a rape has taken place.
Karen Crocker iD
BOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 April 1978 page 7
SEXUAL POLITICS
Since the first Women's Liberation Conference held in this country almost a decade ago, the movement has gone from strength to strength. More and more women use the collective strength that the movement
LAKE up all aspects
The existence of the WLM has begun to force the labour movement to seriously consider the question of women's oppression and start to involve the whole of the working class in these struggles. The
Sexual violence against women
to speak out'
A WOMAN in Shepherd's Bush, London, was held prisoner overnight by a violent rapist. When she ran into a betting shop the following morning screaming for help, her cries were ignored and the man was able to drag her out of the shop and rape her again
One response has been that a large number of sympathise with I BE THE BENCHECTER for rapists. There are problems with this approach, Above all, as socialists, we do not wish to be associated with that seem to lend credibility to the bourgeois courts as the way solving the crime, whether the criminals be rapists, "muggers' beaters.
This is not only because we understand the origin of these crimes in class society. certainly not thar we think, because they are largely by working people, that they are somchow more foreivable than crintes
DEMAND P
AN ENS ТО КАГЕ and AND TO
SEXPLNTATION
Women at
incredible medical expected to sinject herself to in order to ascerain -They demanded the CUTTICI course for three days and then have LTED intercourse (with her liusband)
And this on top of a abole One woman writes of the No
of committed by the bosses or the stale.
In many ways they are less forgivable. In so far as they are crimes committed within the working class, they split and divide that class and hinder the development working class against the State
women bourgeoisic. calls for Of course, we should not
accept 100 media's biased reporting. The popular press loves to exploit the racist and sexist fears of the Getan di blacks from
threatening "our" women, and so routinely problem of every case involving blacks.
or wife The main reason we cannot
call on the courts to solve these crimes is defence of the status que, they
I is themselves
racist: The courts committed actually
class kind of crimes. implement the law they generally do so in a ticis! sexist and anti working manner thai divide us from cach other still more rescarch that has bees done In practical into the penal system in otber areas of suggest that longer sentences do not tend to act as deterrents from crimes of violence.
However judges and magistrates make blalantly sexist judge = N ments to ne
office, as with MeKinnon after his racist demandine that a woman's sexual history should not be brought up as evidence in rape cases, the emphasis is different than in calling for sentences.
Here the airn is to expose the rea bias of the couris against
'objectivity"
MODICT MEANS TREMESSEE they choose to go to law. this -CONICA. usefully look at other areas of the lane thar needs changing. not hecanse we see a solution to rape and violence lying in such changes but to expose their offensaveness
WAR
describes the - the psychological difficult tests that in comung to lecos with the
idea that ber husbaod's sexual demands should correctly be
raped. бесо аз гарс. thar Others describe the particu
inter lar difficultics faced by black
women; of the traditional view TRIVE of white women were placed on carth for their sexual gratiticarion; and af lesbians, who are offer told hal they are asking for it hi trying to do withour men,
revolutionary left has been forced to discuss the real meaning of the old slogan No revolution without women's liberation, no women's liberation without revolution', and to begin doing something about it.
The fight for abortion, for equal pay and for equal opportunity have been widely fought for by both men and women within the labour movement. New aspects of women's oppression are continuously brought to the attention of society as a whole. More women are being drawn into struggle
trom stands at the
crous ways that
OSSED OLEN they of a smiled Other movement and the De recognised in law:
unthinkingly the movement
the ghetto country. sensationalises
because in their
are sexist and should will seck to prevent these and when they white vigilante will they class WOUNDS
Violence.
In any case.
law tends to situation the
in calling for who perhaps the most
removed froc women themseives. judgement, to male violenoe.
higher
when they
And to defend that most errined to even In kick them Can schools
that part traiting towards defend ADINCLI
Dans solutions heyond demanding indenendence from mention
defence, complete lack of
in tbei: treatment of CASES But
against explained by that black is
whole
The pamphlet is clearly and struggles in the work place.
- at their authorities
For example, the idea has our Tear. been discussed of campaigning lor a change in the rape law
"without consent", as it
'against our will', which would take into account the numManens y forced into sexual liaisons
pressure feel unable to refuse. suggestions (66"%%) demanding that the possibility
508(8341)
In the United Stares, a Isome (56%)
towards vigilante tactics developed among fem- (8246) inists, and some women have suggested that they would like Force (8546) to see similar activities in this
(715)
While emphasising thal it i fundamentally important that women icarm sell defence and in local areas, where kerh CUTLE SLASHHE ARE
demand it, women -THIS groups protect theinselves → it is vital that women to do not allow themseives to be lined up with
who altack blacks on the basis that
'muggers', and i utterly counterproductive for women to find themseives in jail for crimes of
this is more likely to rouse further attacks on women than areborate the
discussions that followed the workshop at th
in January it was felt that
way to approach the problem is from the point of view of
and bow capable they are of responding
Most women are not able to The three handle thereives adequately. because they are not trained to movement?
through physical education or by lighting in the
alternative playground is canarca. nen
attack women, often depend upon the fact these aims?
women are discuss on the shins.
We must insist that giris in
receive same physical education as boys and
of their physical should he geared teaching thenn theniselves. Local
directly written, without being over emotional. However. problem is that it does not offer
Tor and financial cach other. men. Should organise for their sen chai women
and it details thre concern for women evidenood by the courts
-rape financial
suggest the pamphlet does that all violence
women can be their lack of ignore the complexity of the situation. is even worse than the kind of Violence economism which says that the
problem of women's liberation lies in equal pay or
SUMULLE
workplaces and in the community — for aurseries, better conditions, and to fight against all forms of discrimination,
At the Women's Liberation Conference this year violence and rape will be one area of debate. Women meet violence in some form nearly every day of their lives. JUDE WOODWARD considers some of the problems sexual violence poses for socialists and feminists, and she reviews the new pamphlet that has been produced by Women Against Rape.
should self-defence classes women who want them, to enable us to overcome some of
A general theme has been the importance of Linking rape WELL CHUET QUOSLIONS DE SCALSEL
DID YOU KNOW HE SON ARE RAPED IT IS LIKELY
You will know your attacker He will live in the same area as You will he raped in his or your
He will have planned the rape
He will use some degree of He will we healing or choking
and violence: in advertising and the media, where a fiew of women as the passive objects
fosters attitades that lead to violence and rape; the violent and often change.
National
WLM
Conference
in Brum
Ladywood Girls School, Freeth Street, Ladywood
main areas
How do we oppress cach other within the women's
Existing campaigns
forms of organisation and
How do we come together to organise to achieve
It is hoped that women will stay in the same groups to
all these areas Registration - fee: 13 Ог Cheques (crossed) and P.O's only no cash, payable to National Women's Liberation Conference 1978. Send to Women's Centre, 76 Brighton Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 Please try and register in advance enclosing SAE.
It overlooks the ideological oppression of women and the many ways in which women
men are taught to view
MISLEADING
It is one thing to say - that
gaLl from independence from BuT 115 Bute another maintain that they will be free from ail the oppression that they suffer by a few pounds in their pockets, And it is particu larly misleading to imply that this will free women from the
that thes meet everywhere in their daily lives.
The violence of men's atritudes
I gave it to ber last nighr", the violence on the
Pool do women and hospital t
women in hospitals and
clinics. particularly during
COLONIE •COL mental
hospitals; and the need to figh
concept
'conjugal rights" in marriage.
There should
adequale care, counselling and
help lot women who have beer
raped, through ceatres run by
under
control. Finally, there is a need
for an all-out assault on the myths that are current about
rape; such as that rape is dee lo
mens sudden and uncontroll-
able urges, or the result of
provocason on taeDare
Most rapes are
planned and most take place ar
home.
One of the great gains of the
women's movement has been that by fostering a sense of sisterhood and shared expericnos, many warnen have gained the confidence lo speak
out against the violence that haunts the whole of their live Through developing this and building on it we can gain the
strength to force society to of discussion will be:
- their effectiveness and
activity,
during the conference.
£1.50 for claimants. street and at bone, in the
attirude to themselves
Women will not be given
their liberation by hand outs
from the State. They will have
to right and wit that liberation
Tor themselves
Women organising togetbe can gain the individual and collective strength to ensure that their demands do not go 'unanswered, their ORD homes and in society as whole. The pamphlet begins by demonstrating this clearly, but scents to back down at the end Women At W.A.R.. price 50p plus 10p p&p is arailable from:
Falling Wall Press Lid, 79
Kd, Möntpelier, Hristol.
Page 8 scan of this page
HOME NEWS
THE BRIXTON Socialist Unity campaign is on the road. They have panico say mossand reprinted below which will te manifesto goina inlo every nouse in Lambeth Central.
The other parties have ground HITO workers have had the smiling Wilsonian face of Labours Jonn Elley drop inrouge then letter box, standing on the record of the Labour Govemment
The Liberal, David Blunt, has produced a leaflet called Blunt Speaking" INDE offers community-based politics with no policies except support for the Lib-Lab pact. WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING
HOUSING:
WE WILL Tight huilding of decent houses rents and prices that people car afford. Ne would renovate run-down properties with 100
Deist grants to householders. sHould be made habitable and council properties let to those in need. Until there are houses for all we support the right of people to squat. Freeze rents. Houses for People, Not Profits.
UNEMPLOYMENT WE WOULD slash unemployment by reducing the working week to 35 hours with no loss of pay. Reduce the retirement age by 5 years on full pay.
No Redundancies — Work or Fall Pay:
WAGES:
LABOUR'S social
means that a family of four has
suffered a ElO cut in purchasing
power in the last four years. We
demand FIEl end to
controls and a guaranteed
minimum wage, linked to rise:
to the cost of living.
WOMEN:
WOMEN must have full and
equal rights at work and in
society. We must have the right
to choose whether or not we
have chibiren.
We support free abortion and
contraception on demand. The
scandal MSICHITALLIOE
women against their
(especially black women) must
be stopped.
NURSERIFS:
MORE murseries must be built,
open 24-boars and run under
the control of people who use
haler MARK RUSHER HEALTH:
HOSPITALS and health care
ane a right not a luxury.
domani I3C1C830
spending, better medieni facili
bes and no deatal, prescription,
or spectade charges. And end
to pricade practice.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 April 1978 page B
Brixton Socialist Unity
Putting blacks
The Tory has not been seen
and only the
believe in his axistence.
National Front has been just as
Aed up hose paper, but
surned up to son popors:
Saturday the too: League and the
racist committee, becked by
the Socialist Workers Party
and Socialist Unity.
nicket and street mastino. The
fascists gave it a miss.
ACCOUNTABLE
Sadly it wasn't possible 10
have agreement
Brixton manifesto
Fight the big lie
EDUCATION:
WE DEMAND an end to the
cut-backs in spending and the the al teachers. шострісудсні We shall fight to
the quality
education. Our children de
serve the best.
WHERE WOULD
MONEY COME FROM?
- Take over the assets of the
bankers and
companies
Abolish all arms expendi-
Stop all payments to the
owners of nationalised indust-
ries
'IMMIGRATION' "RACE"
BLACKS are over 20 per cent of the population in Lambeth
Central. This is why race 15 g
central issue in the by-clection. Unemplustent black youth is 20 per cent: contract housing policies discriminate and exclude us; the standard of
our education is "sub-normal" and our young are brutalised as part of everyday practice For these reasons we have to define our stand on race and immigration no solution even though this by-election 15 not about power. Education The situation of the ESN school Intake is 75 per cent black. And in the low streams comprehensive secondary modern schools, our of children are no better off. will The local education authori-
tics do nothing about Young National Front or about racist and fascist teachers in We must racion in the literature our Children read.
The State local police continue to brutalise black youths arrest them on sus, conspiracy and attempled theil.
Local magistrates continue 1o 1112 back youth
in sentences on frame-ups ann
minor charges.
We demand a public enquiry into police racism in Lambeth.
backon the map
Flame/SWP. The SWP made a
STIE last minute offer to allow other
The people onto their campaign
committee.
MEGOLE DI candidate. A Socialist Unity meeting had COCICET ON IN THE SO CCORd local anti- candidate
accountable and felt unable to held accept une owes poston On this page we reprint the
Brixton Socialist Unity manitesto ano local mians s8y why they. campaign.
Perhaps most Importantly supporters from all over the between country can contribute to the Brixton Socialist Unity and the campaign by reaching in their | be made out to Socialist Unity.
The Established Parties and the National Front Racialise allacks many shapes: Labour's Green
among Paper on a new nationality
law and Committee's Report on Race and Immigration the designed to keep blacks out of
THE the UK and
novements of those here.
They will take away the few Insurance rights that up antil now hlack
people have include: the vote, ihe right to be on a jury; the right to stand for public office; the right to work in Government's service.
The National Front puts all these racist positions together
AND and adds fascism.
FIGHT BACK!
THE solutions of the lished parties and the NF are not acceptable to the people of Lambeth, amongst people
We have no alternative but to fight hack This election chance to fight for a socialist solution.
police "Imotigration"
problent, It is a lie 10 divert attention away Train the real source of the problems.
Abstention Labour Government offers no
- solutions.
Tilley, the Labour candidate. will be as guilty as Lipton was in supporting racist legislation.
anc
combat
and
heavi
pockets.
but would Unity hasn't got. WHO CROICE
FUND RAISING
would Fund raising this page
Line buik or me money.
backin! the your support this way.
UNITY
75p admission.
Centre, London SE1
come in
Select immigration last black people. (both Tories) is DEFEND to control the RIGHTS:
bad.
minority -people
oppressed
estabi
We support the especially black
gives us the Sithole and Muzorewa
We demand
is the
independence.
The USE VOLR VOTE VOTE BRETON SOCIALIST UNITY VOTE JOHN CHASE PICKETS at the second day of Kim Gordon's trial
Parliamentary elec tons take a lot of cash and that is Just what Brixton Socialist
evente are planned — one is advertised on
doe buk of the money. You may not be able to come down and help actively but show
Send to Socialist Unity cio Rising Free, 182 Upper Street, London Nt. Cheques should
SOCIAL
Action packed social for
Brixton Socialist Unity.
Two now wave bande.
Saturday. 8 April, 8pm
till late. Waterloo Action
Baylis A1-1.umbeth
We say no to immigration *Racism controls and we demand the nationally
repeal of all current Don't give immigration state the right to deport significance "Black DEMOCRATIC suffer from
WEARE for the dishanding of the Special Patrol Group; the repeal of the PTA; the repeal of the Criminal Trespass Act and against the harrasment of ail
groups pay
AGAINST IMPERIALISM: community WE ARE for the rights of al
people their struggle against imperialism.
We are for the right of the
groups Irish people to self derermination and the withdrawal of all British Troops from Ireland.
people of Zimbabwe in their light agains
the white regime. We reject the
puppet coalition of Smith
strikingiy • Labour Government breaks all links with the racist regime in South
Africa and gives full support to aticans that the black peoples" struggle for
can paign Secondly: supports capaciey) the Collective
JOHN CHASE, Lambeth Socialist Unity candidate
Why we back
Socialist Unity
Movement and NALGO menher (personal capacity).
2158 key Isuc because ef che racist debate This gives the Lumbett by-election a unique
people in Lambeth racist housing allocation policies, from massive unemployment, particu larly among youths and from police harasscient using susand conspiracy charges I's essential that nationally we build an alternative to the Labour Party's capitulation on race and that locally we build a strone united campaign in th
defend the interests of black people
I'm particularly hopeful thai the Socialist Unily campingn will bring black and white strigule and that this unity will together COULD! continue after the elections. LIZ DROMFIELD, member of a local socialist-feminist group (personal capacity) *There are two things that are
different about Ariston Socialist Unity. First, it is the only campaige that is democratically organised. This
the socia EstTeminist growps are able to have an independent voice within the
on it is the only campaign which recognises and
thre autonomous women's movement. Assuch it provides a way of getting across
about the women's movement and bi supporting and stimalatine the existing campaigns in the arca, AX. CAMBRIDGE, COSTO
Liberator (personal
'Socialist Unity is an obvious new development in Central Lamhech, although it pesca organisational and ideological problems that shouldn't be underestimated
*Burifit isanadvance I would hate to see that it only existed to take on issue around the clection and didn't continue Because it's an advance. if it
didn't continue it would be a retrograde step
LLOYD. a spokesperson fo
Crosdon und Brixtor it is a tremendous develop-
BARNATELI
ment inside the white lett as u whole: sectionsof the white left conting together and working cut a policy around which people can devclop - a programme strucele
•For slone the left has been fragmented to the point where they become null and void, where nobody takes any notice of them and they're unable to make any working class as a whole
MINNIE JANSEN, Lambeth Trues Council meisber (personal capacity
The thing about elections. is that ail parties are forced to put their policies to the fore. And welre no exception
'We've got a manifesto tha puts forward a propramme und arguments agatest the Lahour Government leaders which we can present 1o the mass of people in Briston
"And ler's face it, that's not soicthing revolutionaries are able to do very often
But this chance in help the various campaigns Bightine for these policies, There's the central obviously, but we also hope we'll be able to support local workers fighting on cuts and wages, the abortion campaign. the Trimunal on Ireland and so
•We don't and shouldn'r ask these campaiens and struggles to support Socialis: Unite abviously: Burwedo hope we l he able give them the maximum help,
ALISON LOWTON, TGWU, worker at Linion Place print shop, WANT
agreed to back Briston Socialist Lnity (personal capacity? *The Labour Party has not just been inadequate al representing the interests of working people.
The Labour Party in govern ment in the last four years has carried vicious attacks even than the Tories belore it.
don't think же'те in elections simply to provide parliamentary alternative. l
must be much more than that It must be a way of organising
and coordinating all those
people who have suflered
under the Labour Government
and want to fight back. And that must 2o way heyond
clections."
Page 9 scan of this page
Wembley Asians react to select committee «Collective action needed in Asian community"
HOME NEWS
and Immigration.
Is this a second Uganda?'
He has little to say to reassure them.
DINES of War on Want.
that the recommendations of Tre meea COMELLC PC Implemented, "Above all', said Mary Dines, we should be cear that the essence of the report is nothing new. It just shows that they are developing
*Siede back enie back en pushed back back waiting lists for immigration. This will just make people wait ond children of people who are particulariy already in the country."
The other aspects of the report are nothing more than African Alans to go to the antempt 'persuade Asian sub-continent rather than 1o Britain. This Is beins done by tightening up on HaLaCEITUC! procedures. and by making life difficult for new arrivals in this country.
Subhash Palei is particulariy
about the Labour Government. As far as be is concerned, it is carrying out Tory policies.
Thatcher's statement is what is written in the Select Committee's report'.
ALARMIST
It is not just the report that
him. The Labour MITCIS Government's pust record on immigration has shown that it cannot PDE 1 depended
The strengthening of the law I0 1914 0.- Pas 'convenience* marriages VERTEE direction Labour was going to take. This
applied apainst the arranged marriages of the Asian community. Select Committee takes practice one step further. lc suggests that immigrant wor
should adopt 'traditional Britsh' practice of
CARF Conference THE CAMPAIGN Against
Hacism and Fuscism, together
with the London Anti-Ruciss Anti-Fascist Co-ordinating Commillec. B organising a conference onl 3-4 June.
The organisers say the uim of the conference is to bring dogether the various unti-racist. anti-fascist bodies, le streng-
them the anti-racist mosement by unifying and co-ordinnting the various elements which
comprise shut moreibent - and
'formulule tile basis
which • national andi-racist. ST-AMIS committee.. may
be set up'.
The conference is open lo locat comitees, shop steward
committees, trades council,
Immigrant organisutions,
ethnic minority organisulions,
and community
Speakers will include
wright David Edgar and
Sivanandan, director ef the
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 Aprii 1978 page 9
to the Select Committee Report on Race Relations
At the community centre in Wembley, Subhash Patel has a huge queue of Asians who have come to see him, not for the usual discussion about housing and the social services, but to-ask him 'What is our future? Where do we stand?
JUDE WOODWARD talked to SUBHASH PATEL, community worker in Wembley and MARY
Both of them are confident | the bride going to the country
of her husband.
Subhash Patel does not think that the Asian commuiWe should have expressd are being burselves more strongly in 1968. then might delayed this kind of development. CEnIS alarmist to speak out now."
wives IGNORE The suggestions in the Select CommilleC report ignore the real social problems from MHASL8I55 cultures in this Government genuincly cerned NOCHE would make a concerted effort to approach, it by improvins and extending education, socia SerVices. TROSINA employment Justead, Labour gives the go-abead for employers who take ou people without work permits; proposes to lighten up the pursui! of "overstayers": and CACEBAUCE dependants and fance's wantIng CURI Furthermote, it is out to stop the payment of Child Benefits and tax rebates for dependants not living in this country.
Mary Dines pointed out that These economic against immigrants could make a difference of more than E54 a month to some people. This re- will make it very difficuit for that Bangladeshis in particular to keep up families at home.
It's a far The Government's declared intent-this ion of encouraping Aid to the Poorest of the Poor'. sending money the areas like Bangindesh, What Subhash Patel is most
ANTI-RACIST NEWS
Institute of Race Kelations.
For more details CARF Conference.
Rising Free, 182 Upper Street, London NI.
Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Racist Committee is waging a defence campaign for those arrested during the 2.500-strong racist demonstration in Wolverhampion March.
Selny Ashcroft, screey F the commillce, explains: significan that the nwo main singans of the demonstration were "End racist attacks" and Ind police harassment", The march was well stewarded and groeps. orderly, but was used by the plas- police to continue cheir bully bov tactics.
One drank bystande. stack-
alarmist. different country.
con-OORICM
and
prosecuting
concerned about is how the left can help the Asian community
plans to organise a fightback against obstacles for Labour and Tory racist. The
community is held back by the Britain. conservatism of its traditional
leaders. Miry Aim Came o his country where they enjoyed privileges ar the expense of the African sanctions Blacks: The
being agents and bosses for the governments in Africa méans that they are not reconciled to thinking working class.
tbeir et riard what sitiy is
wlat Class cry from the "Mans of them still believe
the myth that there is not a class sociely by However the and help lo Grunwick, InIE ters has hewi tat and Imperial
Led the march and this was used
contact: as an excuse hy the police 1o
53, pick up several micant Clack youths and the treasurer of the anti-racis commuttce, Stevens.
Ashcroft adds: We would like to know managed to let one individual
Anti- through their ranks to attack
themarch. Not for us the police protection National Front.
The committee believes thar
anti- Dave Sievens was picked up
delheralely. He is well known on l1 in Wolverhampion as a leading
figure in anti-racist activities and was the committee's liaison officer with the police on the demonstration.
The other arrests were made at the end of the march, Three people were arrested whie attempting togo home.
Wolverhampion Anti-Racist Committee had dossier on racis atlacks in the foun. which contained strong criticisms of the role of the
SUBHASH Patel (right] and Mary Dines [lett], at a press conference in London last week.
bow it must fight
sensilive YCL3 developments problems
East support beginning to challenge
experience money making leaders.
Asian youth
themscives
They
society experiene of other bome,
breaking SINKE Typewriters
BOSST
Dave.
how the police
alforded to thi our committee.
Associatien.
the meting.
holding Bisson near
compiled
Wolverhampron.
Asian community is learning
communaty.
The white left needs to be
these and the of political work amongst the immigrant community. One of its tasks is to
Asians who way. theit department traditional status-seeking and
And militants need to promote and aid movements like that of the
in Southall.
are open ideas and local concernod about the current situation. They see themselves as British, having known no
out of the old. urracoce or me care systee STEUT which still provides a strong
police. Jeiny Ashcroft believes che arrests were linked to the
"The committee Teels thai the
MUILE WEEC WIELTO OE ERL DI
wuhlicity the dossier bad eiver together SNEUE HISE WEIC WOLTEE GOUU further possible exposure. They decided to make ans example of
a lew people, particularly Dave
Stevens, in order to frighren off
focus for
The comminee is culling for the dropping om ainr groups.
victimisation, attractingsignilicant support in the town. Dave Stevens spoke at a meeting of uret a thousand
called by the Indian Worker ment Aenerous farcial support by sution
The detence campaign will he
pick et Wolverhampton on 17 April. Donations for the hume.
campaien should he sent 1o:
Trevor Coote. 23 Oak St.,
conservative force in lhe Asian
Mary Dines points out that the Asians need a CULLO! approach to the social services and bousing authorites. At problems in avery individeat moment they see
If the Social Service for down application for a grant, lhe person concerned sees it as in nave been refused", and not a a collective problem.
Subhash Patel added that it they could learn to fight toese attitudes of the social service
authorities in a collective way the experience would politicise them on the broader issues.
Finaily he said that the important lesson concerned the
GoverOmen. "The Labour Government has done
Leamington LEAMINGTON Anti-Racist and Anti-Fuscist Cannmittee.
WISE LEAMISLO Trades Council, is organising a demonstration and rally for the afternoon of 29 April. For cume lime tue Leamine on und Weus chr en ac bete the
ALETHICT various racists and neo-Nuri
This was where Robert Rell pet ap his For Sale to Whites Only" sign. Later this year two members of the Britsh Mowe
-ae openly Nazi organi face trial for inciting rucial hatred afler a demonstratien in the area.
And two weeks ago Ku Klus Klan hoss David Duikes visited Jeafleting homes, factories and Robert Reif at bis Leumingion
It is to counter such provocation that the anti-rucis demonstration has heen culled. It mall commence from Automotive
nolling for the working , class in this country. It is laughable chat it still has hi% time that name as a socialist pasty. the labour movement woke up to the fact that the Labour' in Labour Party is only a name Toduy, its policies do nothing
labour, they are Tors policies.
Syd Bidwell, the Labour MP
Southall who signed th Select Commuttoe's Tepor, says that Asians shoukd look al the report nore thoroughly How thoroughly need we look
it suggest wc should carry identity cards?
'Looking at it 'thoraughy" does not gise me any helpful advice for people who come in I here week afler weck asking me what is going to happen, and asking me which way they, should vole.
Products Esd in Tachbrook Road, Leamington al 2pm.
Blackburn ACTION Apaist Racism in Bleckburn. Lancashire, is organisine a mass picket of Nastatal Front meine at the Public Halls, Northgale on 5 May at 7pm. In a sratement the commitlee says;
•Weipolagise to the people of Blackburn lor any noonvenicace or expense this picket mas incar, but botter a small price tow than concentration camps and gas ovens later. We firmly believe thar this is what ts policy of the NF and its leaders statements would lead to.
Action Agasnst Racism will be
maxImUm support for the picker from local people The organisers are also hoping for
from surrounding districts
Page 10 scan of this page
Is Jack Lynch stealing the
IRELAND
Provos
discuss the North of Ireland.
BELL explains.
Originally Northern Ireland Secretary Roy Mason and the Irish Forcien Minister Michael Kennedy were to meet Belfast, Mason had asked for the meeting in carly February to
For weeks, the Irish Governament allowed Mason's requests to test in a pigeon hole. In the middle of March came the reply that the Irish Government would consider such a meeting. but in Dublin not Belfast and that such a meeting must cover more than security
"All aspects of Anglo-Irish relations should be included in the agenda, said an Irish reluctant Mason agreed, then the talks were postponed by the Irish because of the death of a The Callaghan-Lynch meeting was finally agreed on instead.
CONTROVERSY
The implication ofithe Irish Government seeking Largely winning - diplomatic victories over the British is a correct one, and they follow a series of events in which for the First time since Bloody Sunday in 1972 an Irish Governnent has taken to criticising, not just British policy in Ireland but its very presence.
The controversy began on 8 January wIn Lynch saId In an Irish radio interview that Britain should indicate 'they'd like to see the Irish people coming wish to continue subsidising a small corner of Ireland to the extent they have been doing over the past ren years."
THEME
The British media reacted hysterically to the statement, claiming it was a blunt call for Britain to get out.
It was nothing of the sort, but since then Lynch and Fianna Fat (Soldiers of Des tiny) party have returned time
AND FRAMED
clothes?
JIM CALLAGHAN and Irish Premier Jack Lynch met in Copenhagen last weekend at the EEC summit to
The meeting took place in the context of what is probably the greatest crisis in British policy in Ireland since the collapse of power sharing in 1974. GEOFF
and again to the theme. At the Fanna Fail February Lynch declared: in *It would take nothing from the honour of Britain or the right of the majority in the North If the British Government were to declare by agreement."
EXCHANGE Then in a British TV interview 9 March exchange took place between Lunch and the interviewer:
Interviewer: "In the end isn't what you want and the Provi Sional IRA want exactly the same thing, which braking of the link with Britamn?
Lynch: "The Provisional IRA perhaps do want the same thing ultimately but are going about it in a way we abhor.
the same, the breaking of the link?
Lynch: The breaking of the and link, yes, there's no denying that?
CONSTITUTION Coupled with the expression of such sentiments. Lynch has set up a goveremental study group to review North-South relations, and his Minister of Finance George Colley has promised that in any united Ireland the constitution might provide for dilferent laws in the North with special protection the culture and tradition Nor is the Lynch Government alone in talkine such language.
The major opposition party, Fine Gael, has called for CHETHER HISALESMILINISI affairs', and the smaller Irish Labour Party is also reviewing its previous pro-partition posiHUB.
The change all this represents in the views of the major Trish political parties should not be his underestunated. Under the previous Fine Gael/Labour coaliLoseranch:
Irish court terror
IRISH REPUBLICAN SOCIALIST PARTY
ART DELACHTACH DISALACH MA FEMEAN
IRSP MEN TORTURED
SPEAKERS at a Dublin meeting on 15 March lo delend the IRSP/ bealen and lortured, but that
Anglo Irish summit in Copenhagen
GIRDA
conference in
their
policy and British presence in
backed to the hilt built-in Loyalist Election campaign late
year, the chief idealogue of the outgoing coalition, Cruise O'Brien, made Fianna Fail's supposed
'an irish unity a major election
issue MYTH Fianna Fail denied the charge and attempied to Republican but the result of the coction. Fianna Fail returned with
losing his seat British
THE TRIAT.
Dublin's Special
Court of four members of the Trish Republican Party, charged with robbing a muil truin in April 1976 of os (250,000. RORY sports from Dubli The iral is the largest an perhaps the most extraordinar Ibrake place in Dublin. It is th only case outstanding from the "law and order previnus ment.
A public meeting in Dublin recently heard speaker allege that were those on trial brutally
IRISH PREMIER Jack Lynch seen on board a police motor-cycle
Rumours UTE STE was Dubin suggested that
private
Irish General opinion poll
last Republican Conor won them the election.
support for
pole
plas their traditions down, - he notion
O'Brien such a declaration. made many Fionals the view
Socialist Party The only
continues in
of them. infamous
MENELL Times
reign of the Coalition Govern- Tar the
speaker after
not only Dublin administrations
HONDA
circulating in South for post-election public conducted hy Fianna Fail it was their very
which items
So the myth that the people of the South of Ireland wouldn't touch Irish unity with a barge home rule.
shattered Other tyths have since gone the same was. By calling on Britain to declare it sintention to pull our.
Lynch has rejected the favour-
of Cono ETUISI D Brien and many in Britair massive that a blood hath would follo operating i
Lynch shares with the Provi-
that the
the trial was the culmination of | dozen doctors, and hoth prose a massive State conspiracy to smash the Irish Republican
evidence against 1hree of the foer defendents 1 Their signed confessions, benter
-CAL Garda "Heavy Gang', an elite squad of deree.
methods scere exposed in the Irish allegation
Constabulary
The trial began in the middle
January and will continu entil carly Mas, Its result will have far-reaching implications
Government in the South. The real defendents in the Special Criminal Court are like those the Ciardai and the repressive be policies emploved by successive
The court has heard half a loscratch
TINATE more
Loyaliss would look to the
SonIC form unity arrangement if Britain said it was going. Other Fianna Fail spokespeople have stolen other
of ine Provisionals" clarhing in suggesting a pos sible Irish federation with the Noth having a measure of
There is no doubl that the Provisionals and the Northern Catholic minority in general bear much of the credit tod again these changed attitudes. Thei unwillingness to give in to the
British repression
discrodited Mason's claims to have beaten the IKA. Politically, too, the British Govern-
MELET BUCHCE AIRESES give detailed accounts of the SALLLISITA HUTILS sullered b the defendents at the hands of the Heavy Gang
The prosecution claims that this the prisoners beat cach other in
=15 mrnish the
anne of the police fore - an
shich the Britis Ammy and the Royal Lister
CUTE making against their victims,
The Special Criminal Court is presided over hy three judges who are usually chosen for their right-wing prejudices and, un-
in ordinary courts, dismissed by the Government M their rate of convictions does not come up mittee.
ment's policies are al a dead
end with the only movemen!
UITE LOWSTUS
integration of the North into
Britain.
All this in turn has had an effect on the main Catholic reformist party in the North -
Social Democratic and Labour Parly - who have also renewed their calls Tor Brirain торо.
To many in the Catholic ghettoes in tac North, moves to unity by Anglo-trish diplomacy may appear a more attractive proposition than cither the
signals or the moves toward a
THESS camnaiur which have been develop-
ll cannot even be ruled out that sooner or alet Britain ma be willing to make some form
mild declaration won't stand in the was of Irish
SOCIALIST
But both for Lunch and Britain there remains one vital precondition for the implemen. lation of any such move - the smashing of Repuhlican and socialist militants in the North aad South. are socialist ideas is growing.
CLOULE was. among militant Republicans in
North; there remains chance that within the next few CAESA MATCHERI Will BrOW I Ireland which will he capable not only of drivine l seatst hut securing throughout the country a socialist republic
Posibly Lynch realines that bener than Britain does. His picas for Britain to see sense and participate in the setting up of a bourgcois al-Ireland is a pica for realite; a pica to pire this much now before Britain is forced to surrender much
RESPECTABLE
Lich ane knows Bast simple conninnent by Britain nor to stand in the way of Irish
would nican After all, little practical Britain promised the entire Irish nation the right to have some measure in ruling ther selves as far Back as 1913
Nevertheless for socialists in Britain the statements of Lynch and the other political parties in the Norch has one major ad ariage Suddenly Irish unity has Avome respectable
Demands he milians in this counry that Britain get our of Ireland could have an audience more receptive than al any time in the past five years. The 'mod bombers are proving not so mad after all
The rules of evidence of thi Special are differcet from other counts, and it person can be sent to jail for IRA meatbership on the evidence of a high ranking policeman, who merely has say that he kaices the reson to be a member of
International solidarity can play an important Tole exposing the Tole of the Southern Government and in strengthening the hand of Republicans and socialists in Irelind f The campaign defend the 'IRSP Four', which i being supported actively by Republicans and revolutionat socialies, i in dire need o financial support.
Costributions should be rushed to: IRSP Defence Com
34 Upper Gardiner Strel, Dublin 1, Ireland.
Page 11 scan of this page
A question of politics
The third part of SAM MHLONGO'S discussion of South Africa today deais with black workers and the trade unions.
Ninety-eight and a half per
hasno trade union rights. These
Only the Coloureds (mixed STRIKES race) and Asians enjoy some form of limited union rights -olten at the capricious Tancy of the white working class and
Although black workers have no trade union rights therefore their heing on strike is
criminal offence, Africa is continually hit by strikes by these workers.
VIOLENCE
After the lull that followed the Sharpevill demonstration
industrial strugales relurneu to the 1972. Despite the fact that the workers face the posibility of Imprisonment, the strikes bave continued, albeit SO83HO cally.
Althouch a measure of state violence was ased against StrikErs there were hardly any deaths. The Government and JONATHAN BLOCH reports.
The National Association for Frecdom sopped the postal workers solidarity action
Jackson, the Union of Poscal BOTELTS gratelully acomiesced in the decision.
The only success in Britain
refused to move brake linings bound for South Africa. situation was not much better in
Couldit bethat real solidarily was thie last thing the ICHTU and its chief menber, the TUC. wanted?
Until recently the TUC apene more time and moncy with the organisations of white shop floor supervisors that still go by the name of trade unicas.
The white Trade Union Council of South Africa Is rut by Arthur Grobellar, Triend of
he Burean of State Security, In 1973 he invited Vic teather, then TLC peneral socretary, to wail South Africa.
WHITEWASH
The TUC delegation's report pe the visit whitewashed the apartheid system's denial of made union rears to black warkers.
Only a few months before the delegation arrived many subsidianes of British firms had had to pay out their link real waec increases in 25 years bocause of the famous Durban strike wave.
black anger against starsacion
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 April 1978 page 11
INTERNATIONAL
Black unions in South Africa
capitalists learni some lessons in
The fact that many of these are sailed and nos casily and cheaply replaceable has a testramite chect on the Government and the capitalists ELLLTESE protect. The fear procanan revolution is an other reason for this "restraint'
Todiminish the snow-bailing of the strikes Gavernmient and nave brought schenies ONUCEENC coononte struggles of these workers. Factory work commitand tees which must first meet the South approval of the employers are being set up.
The Government has set up a lechmical college in Durban to black with Chief Buthelezi of the Kwa Zulu "homeland" as chancellor.
The Government and capitalists fear the inevitable development of and movements of black workers whether above or underground.
But the occasional unchanging patlern of strikes shows that the workers by then selves have been unable broaden their beyond the contines
soems to be the case regardless or wiciler te workers operac legally or illegally.
TUC and South Africa
Weak on action
Not many people will remember the January 1977 week of action on South Africa as a "tremendous success", but that ishow the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, who called the action, described it.
wages. Those British sinsidi-
African economy shouidhit be
Couldn't they seo that: alf non-while people are giveo tree democratic rights in industry
workshop, the banker, merchant anda influence for true civilisation and democracy in the whole of Africa:
Even the Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg's wille paper, had to conment: delegation beat over back wards much further would have suffered a slipped disc
Coniel black
militancy 1974 congrest House lo persuade ellow ICFTU members co starl winning Influence among the
police
the capitalists
vanous
the independent
and The
struggie PRIME MINISTER Vorster
It was atter a study of forms
results that Lenin TOC-BIDO: shows that the working class. troublesome Africans.
A coordinating committee o Scandinavian, ICETU agreed in June 1974 to help the
groups of white ex-students who were helping black workers set up unions.
The Urban Training Project (TP) and the Indusirial Education used this aid lo help unions get off the ground the The ald groups were told that principle the ICFTU money
'straightforward training - no frills and no politice,
COVER •Had the Dorakes Deaker were the Lo Eri: Jyracke
is credibility lesding. behts
faithiully ooservod this odiet But then they bad both formerl
worker ENCE
forced African Affairs Department.
The TLC narticipates in the Ariel Foundation, which arose im 1976 out of a series of
concluded: of all countries black Sout
Dutch
Institule For
olticials. a score of black
was for Inteligence COYCEL moscmebts.
the air Sikhakhane, Food and mos
TUCSA 1976.
HOSTED
the Labour Britisa Embaisy in
Engincerins
in 1996, Organisacional
| exclusively by its own effort, is ableto develop only trade union consciousaess, i.e. the conviction that it is necessary to etc. combine in unions, light the
invariably agenda FUNDS
meetings between union lenders and high level Foreign Office
Private Exe pointed out that: "These foundations have long been used an a cover for Britists
gathering and support for •Toreign
fare exceetingly moderale leader of the Sweet.
Allied Workers Leian, lor a three month union bilicials course in Borain so
In 1977 J. Legodi, the UTP
Ariel-funded British jamboree called Industrial Relations for Overseas Trade Unionists.
Unions.
Some moderate black union ista connected with the UTP have been more directly hosted by. the Foreign Office. B. Vosc
Atrache at the Pretoria picked Jen Hlogwane of the
and Allied Workers Union and Clement black Montsho of the Transport and Allied Workers Union for a three week study tour of Britain
coordination *Further TOT NENE RIBET BIES TEL reportedly taken place during regular rocetings of the little known Overseas Lahour Cor
CBI and Forcign Office send London N1.
way TEM emplovers and strive to compel the government to pasa the necessary labour legislation. by
But, like Lenin, South
delegares and South Africa is
In November 1977 the UTP and the black unions associated with it wereaboutthe only black organisations not banaed by the Soutl Atrican regime after the murder or Steve Biko.
This is partly because of the regime's fear of taking the rank and file members head oi. But it also showed how cifectivel those members were controller hy their moderate leaders
his 1976 Annual Report the UTl had disassociased ilself from the Soweto aprising. E had insisted that black union Jeaders were frst and forensost concerned with building up of 8 healthy relationship with the emplayers not public disorder
The UTP now receives funds troin the International MoneLacy Fund, Misereor la German Cathalic fund which receives mones from the Wes German Government), the Disch Trade Union Foundation for Interna tional Development Coopera tion (funds primarily from the Dutch Gasernment), the Swiss Foderacion of Christian Trade Unions and the Confederation
Dutch Christian Trade
RECOGNITION
The C TP black union leaders are not simply peppets. Bor out solidarity will haveto help blaci trade unioniss lo brenk free fron a bot of strings.
We demand recognition fo
by British companics. But we also have to break the hold of our own union leaderships over those black unions to win our demand.
information from Counter Informution Services 9 Polund Street, Landon WI, #1-439 3764. Research by Research Associates Internatomal, da Compton Terrace,
African Marxists can point out thatany actioe by black workers against capitalists is a polirical
The workers, through fault of their own, have had no tbeorerical training and unable to think in a theoretical
SHEBEENS
South Africa also doesn't have the kind of organisation that Leain had in mind when he wrote! Withour resolutionary theory there sin be revolutionary movement.
Revolutionary theary needs thinkers and Chis s What E missing in the working class
South Africa's black intelligensia is cither busy acquiring a #ring of bourgeois university degroes or it is so demoralised that its leisure hours are spent in the shebeens (hars). It was not surprising that one ofthe targets for destruction by fire in the recent pupils revolt was this Mourishing shebeen industry,
The working class needs this intelligensia on its side — on the
South Africa's black move
Sargely been nationalistic in orientation and CHECTOT acter. . Although workers and a
Marxisti are in these movements, the leadership and political domination remaien perty bourgoois.
GEC workers
back black unions
JOHN PARKINSON, Branch Secretary APEX GEC •Preston [personal capacity]
THE closure of yet another
involvement in South Africa may appear to have little in comon.
But the loss of 670 Jobs at GEC's English Electric planton Merseyside has hrought the issue of apartheid home to greater num lers GEC workers thun ever betore.
In 1977. GEC': South African turnorer of million represented a new lesel
-racist repime. Despite company claims that expanding plant and production mean greuler benefit for the local workforce the South Africun Electricul Workers that GEC South Africa is very difficult to deal with.
Many Hritish trade undonists in GEC would agree. At the Traction plant in Preston, the Joint Staffs Committee sarding to take GEC'S South African operations seriously-
A four page questionnaire hus been submilled to the munagemeat with a request for a meeting to determine the real
company s deulinge in apartheid.
the consumer durable market, the
been prumed.
In South Africa where black anions are effectively harred 'operating costs are reduced" In Britain where union orgunisudion is stronger the answer has
The TUC-backed week ol action on South Africa appears lo have passed unnoticed by Brother Murray and Co.
Betike APEX GEChrunch » Presion has culed on APEX
Fund nationally, to orgunise delegale meelingi plum uction firma dealing with apartheid and for combine meetings to take the UE TUDE CREERTHE
With Minister Denis Howell In the APEX Presidewtial seat. GEC APEX menhers have considerable interest in whether well-messing TUCam Labour Parly policy can be applied GEC Tor CASUALLE
Page 12 scan of this page
Israel's final solution' of the "Palestinian problem' meets opposition
background to the Israeli invasion.
When I talked to Palestinian fighters only a few miles from
the Isracli border last August they pointed out that Israel had already invaded SOURCEI Lebanon several times, and only refrained from occupation because they could rely on the Phalangist (fascist) militia to do their job for them.
There was clear evidence of
three Israeli tanks which the fedayeen (Palestinian fighters) | INVASION had destroyed in April 1977.
Several fedayeen also pointed out to us that the militant Phonists claim the sre south of
he Litani as part of 'Eret
The press constantly refers to the 'Christian ESPECES southern Lebanon fighting the Palestinians. But many Christian villagers -support Palestinians.
Some we visited welcomed them, pointing out that they had beca neighbourslong before the Zionists came and took away the Palestinian lands.
INDISCRIMINATE
They said the Palestinian
security against
indiscriminately.
Many Christians are not as sympathe-
majority of those lighting with Ine israels are bot southern Christians at all.
They are from the fascist strongholds in and around Beirut, shipped south, armed and supplied by Israel, 'protect" southern Christians.
It is part of the deal between the Phalangists and israel which included huge Israel arins shipments during tbe Lebanese LYLE WAR
Israel was clearlytrying to set up a bufter-zone. This project was doomed to failure, Phalangist malitias being bi natch for the fedayeen
Israel constantly had to make raids, and carry out bombing and shelling of Palerinian targets, to aid their friends. In November Israeli bombers hit targets in the south, killing over
What's
Left
SPOND DOCI PUNK COLICS Disco
Bob Wright Assi. Gen.
Gasile, Soult
-OMINIU -I THE
Musia from Hoalth Hazard,
FA, LITHO LTD, 328/9 Upper Street perienced Touch Typial orsomeon
Plentum ase: to the marigerat the
INTERNATIONAL
As Sadat and Begin negotiate
COLIN TALBOT, who visited the Palestinian front lines in southern Lebanon last year, reports on the
The Israeli occupation of | a hundred Lebanese civilians.
AMY SECA DOE COnITOLCO DE Litani river has long been the Phalangists was fair game,
many
mustary or civilan, the naetex in November was the death of Larce Istaels in a Palestinian rocket attack on Nahariya.
Isracli invasion it was reported on Israeli radio that a delegation Tromthe Phalangists had visited
because, they said, they were being defealed
The Isracli invasion had been planned for some time, and the Al Fatah raid into Israel merely provided the excuse The aim of Invasion was made abundantly cicar - a "final solution' to the problem of the armed forces in
the Lebanon by 'severing the evil
arm'.
The political for the invasion had been laid, not by the Al Fatah raid, but by Sadai's 'peace initiative!
Sadat's accomodation Israel assured the Zionists that they could minate she Lebanon, eliminate the arm, and leave again without fear of any reprisals from the who
On point they CULLELL Sadat minimum possible which amounted to a racH
to PUSU the
POLICE • 'FOR A SOCIALIST AFRICA" badge: stor March 6 End Immigration Contrals badges. Put yourseif on the other side of the class lines from Callaghan and Thaicher, use them suring run Sp sach plus 7p pap. or Fremn J Wilker 50, London N1 2XP. Cheques playable 1o/ Wilson.
SUNUTON Communis Pairs Ein Ion Benelit. music from The Rea al, disco. Sнl 8 April, 0pm Causan St Jehn's Way, Loncon N7 GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
роти ков опос сотиало OLIC TACLE TO SOCIALISM Cocles 11, 1.30рm.
"peace talks, while over 20,000 Israeli troops are invading another Arab state to wipe out the Palestinian shows just how willing to concede Palestinians, As for the supposed militant'
they responded to the Palestinian iberation appeal for arms, let alone come Ons lie davs belore the totheir direat assistance
Like Sadat, they thought the BODICH TOO HOSE CUS! the Israelis would complete their mission and returo to their INTECTS. by the Unhappily for them.
Sadat, and for Beginthingshave nOt gone cute as expected. Ine "evil arm" has remarkable desire not to be "severed' and, to the amazement of the press, bas fought back.
On the spot reports spoke of SORCERE STACIE CASUHEUIES the Israeli the fedayeen
Israelislikea regular army', and of 'the excellent terrain Palestinian gucrilla warfare'. MILLICEN The Israclis
miscalculated. obvious cxample preconditions decision not to attempt to take They admitted that their They admitted "blitzkreig" would get a severe to mauling if they tried to do so They contented themselves with trying to level the town by a
bombardment wbich rendered thousands homeless.
Taking Tyre proved impos-
were
the area did The protest, rocky hills and
excellent terrain for a guerilla monin ago, 300 reserve and noncommissioned officers signed a letter lo Begin calling for peace.
THE NATIONAI Board, Planning Agrements and thi Govamment's
THE 1, PO BER
Squeeze, 11.03am Bridge Hotel.
ROSPECTS FOR THE NATIONAI SED INDUSTRIES Speakers: Pus Heathfeld TAra General Secretary angel ran sis cola
LABOUR RELATIONS Legislation affect
PTEI WAGE RESTRAINT: The Public Pahar (TGWU 21226
rganisenion ssion, 10th June. Detaile to b AN 0B
Councia, All siesters in a person
willingness to resume
resistance
much he is
nave not ever
Organisation's
Israeli army.
THI Lebanese civil war.
shown these battles,
they were
*fighting the
for forces in open combal.
had badly
The the television
is their unmistakeable
that going around
INTOLERABLE land
USA. has Israel's error pacitying trapped
rolling. Lehanon,
valleys are
POLE
SHTERPRISE
claimants 50p.
Paper om bitish Shipbuisers
Libra no as a benplit to help pay to
Moreover, as 1 saw myselt
the fedayeen have had a lon
to establish hidden bunkers, sunny caches and to Icarn the terrain thoroughly.
There is one further facior which few people have taken Into account — the nrale ol the Palestinians. For years the bulk of the Palestinian fedayeen have not had contact with the
Their major hattles have been against Arabreaction — against The Royal Jordanian Army in "Black September" 1971 when 20,000 Palestinians were mas acred by King Hussein and apainst the Podiest in tH
They gained experience from
and are
fighting encinies
they did not want to fight
heir real foe. For the first tim cver Liey are in a iosison to fight the hated Zionist armed
and Sadat
Their reaction is plans - in all
and radio interviews with fedayee an
enthusiasm President that this time it is they who are
"pushing regime.
Israci's major sponsor. the
quickly realised that she has herself in southern withdrawal. The
To leave would he to admit defeat at the hands of a "bunch
Israelis Palestinians?
While
turn the tide SELSLHTERI WOMEN'S ONLY PARTY in aid of Inish Women United. with Capperlaw and
Pansy's Disco 8pm-12micnignt. /
depro al Wateriso Action Conta, 1
Fi Ad, London BEs Ace B0
Landor
son, LSE Hougnon St. Lant Clements Beliding
Strupple Againat Bellish imperialist Speaker: Sean Hallshan. Men 3 Asell,
RACIALIS it April alie Speakers
sentre for Libert Egycalion Studies
LECTRIC CINEMA Club, Forobelic
вон да что Ната
aruggles of the Argintr an peopl
lilms
of terrorists. Tostay would put
strains growing 800ord between Israel
So the US has been tha moving force in trying toreplace the israel accunation force with the more acoeptable UN forces
sought to maintain a 'balance by his mild pressure on the Begin
10 maintain his arbitrator's credentials as far as Sadat is concerned.
The UN forges are not KeEp lie Peace but to keep une Palestinians in check and allow stan to make a lace saying
"peace" in southern Lebanon has been 'broken' by the Israel Invasion - 0131 has even hinted that the UN should train its guns
insread of the
israci embarrassing situation, and one which w already having serious
the success of the Palestinian military strugele will not itselt
The A Farah operation la
indicative the clear Palestinians" strategy, MilitarLy the Palestinians can never hope to defeat the israeli state,
capacity (courtesy oftbe USA).
SLICEIS
therefore all too frequenti» been Jess.
and often civilian targets.
he Tedaveen who carry oul actions liketharon 11 March are
right
Racists
MARK'S Rage THE NEW SCIENCE for People 3 s graupe
Issue devoted ta Health and
Anderson Women's Hosptial Eleb me Shacke Therapy and
reviews real sea
going as they do into situations WHETCLACE WE AMMO CITINIL perish and facing a frighten-
Hut these actions do very litrle to further the Palestinian fight.
The only hope of ever defcating the Zionist state lies in the mass mobilisation of the entire Arab peoples. But the PLO maetains policy 'non-interference' in the Arab SALES I
During the Lebanes civil war for example, the PLO/Leftist alliance controiled 80 percent of Lebanon and could COUNT overthrown Arab reaction once and for all by seizing power establishing a workers state and a collectivised economy
Insread they simply marked time, only to be eventually
by the Syrian "pence-keeping force preference for diplomatic denis Ine PLU still shows
mandeustes, WICE the struggle merely Pressure wIen Can De arouen! to bear when needed
Whatever criticismos Jay b made of Palestinian policy, however one thine is perfects
the Palestinian fedaveen heroic life-or-death struggle against aggression which has already killed boudreds and rendered hundrods of thousands bome
The first task of socialists is to mobilise the fullest possible support for that struggie and to do everything possibleto expose and solate the Zionist regime
Swt. 101-437 2725) Police Strewi
PELLING COUNTS is the new pla
portraditory with sides reser
like aboul
Introduction Includes
EAST END WOMEN'S Actige Fastiss
Page 13 scan of this page
Where do we go from here?
France 1958-1978
attack their
undeserved victory.
It is now of the utmost importance to analyse what has happened in France. The PCF was about to enter the cabinet. but broke its electoral alliance. What does this tell us about a party of "Eurocommunism'? Al. the same time SOMEHIC population of France has again
tive say in government. What does this Icil us shout th structure of state power? These two questions are of course linked
A major indictment against
is that its leadership turned upon Mitterrand and the Socialists with a savagery that should have been reserved for the Right, for the dominant class. Tosee why, we must start with the Right itself, with their hold on power. Only then is it possible 10 the tructive achievement Marchan recent campaign. For this did achieve something
can be said that there were Iwo
| the election:
Gaulle's Constitution and the Communises. Both have convincingly conserved their pre-
rous positions. Out of office
he PCF has nonetheless re tained its bloc of support within
The lee or De an
of De Gaulle is dominant, it stil orders politics in France.
De Gaulle's constitution is a very impressive construction. It has enabled the politicians of the right divisions bf the most deeply Tractured ruling class amongst
The extent of these divisions can be symbolised by an absence: In Pour chasser Giscard Barre ! IRAC RPR ALAIN KR
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 8 April 1978 page 13
FRENCH ELECTIONS
Gaullism
FOR THE MILLIONS in Europe who look for a new radical way out of the present political and economic Impasse, this was to be the year of France. Here. perhaps alone on the continent, the elections and strength of the left held out an opportunity. At the very least a Communist Party was on the verge of government in a major European state, for the first time since the Cold War. But in a brutally improvised fashion the PCF stepped back, and their six month
Socialist presented marionettes of the centre — Giscard, Barre — with an
France since the 1940s, no *natural bourzeois marty, eoul valent to the Christian Democrat. Republicans or Conserva tives, has continuously domiThe fractures may be traced back to the 19th Century. Their post-war intractability.
Ever, stems from the War itself.
For France plaved a double game then, and fought on both sides. Itsgovernment did not go into exile after the breakthrough in 1940, instead it negotiated Vichy. Daly a minority Followed De Caulle.
CONTRAST After the war of exacerbated by the pressure of des the Communists, who played a major part in the (after Hitler ordered the invasion of the Soviet Unson), In a way it appears that because a Section De joined the Resistance during the war. embittered ruling class organiCommunist gains were limited.
At least. I seems so if the contrast is made with Italy There, of course, Fascism was haly's own creation Mussolini's rule was hardly challenged seriously after 1922 Thus when the Halians surrendered with the Allied landings, the old ruling machines simply the Americanised itsell. The sence of any bourgeois leadership in the underground, in contrast to France, ensured the Les alost compicie donn nance of the labour movement Pour en finir avec ce régime d'austérité Voter POUR LE SOCIALISME
VOTEZ FOURLE POUNDE
POUR LI RUNTRRANEDE PARTIR MEETING DEBAT A SEriO. AVEC CUNTH GMARS. 12 RUE PEPN
Twenty years of
by ANTHONY BARNETT
after the war (and also helps to explain why the PCI recruited quite senior families),
DISGUST By the same bourscoisic irsel divided internally, while the
ideologically. The Church too had Made is Concordat WIth Fascism, but the Vatican was able to play its 'independent" the card,
merely sicuated in an Italian. landscape.
Democrats in Italy hold power through their party strength. The events in Rome between the two rounds of the French elections provide another con firmation of this basic resi iance. Corrupt secking, the leaders may be a horrid sight. Organised by Catholic fealty how- against the largest Communist
Party in the their long succession of minisTerial crises have in reality been mere inner-party German amongst those sure that they
will hold power continuously. In France, on the other hand. bourgeoisie thesplits within the bourgeoisie
created a succession of party conflicts, as goverument followed government.
the but without it stable rule was collaboration. Impossible. De Caulle retired to
the side-lines in disgust. For at resistance unable to resolve their fratri-
cide, French polinicans aspired to the status of a major power. om a world scale (with colonies) DITEELES and as part of the victorious
alliance (a sector of Germany). divided and
The strain was too great, and the Algerian crisis propelled De Gaulle to power in 1938. He dictated his presidential Soon an a soony s Filth Republic It is said that his constitution gerrymanders the results to favour the right. But this is not really ITS most contrihution to the bistory of representation. electoral systemn, lor example. is far more equitable than the French. Dee Haphazard. The labour movemay also benefit. 56 elections.
total defcat of the Socialist Party (PS)
Party (PCF) is a political defcat for the whole workers' move-
The second is that despite the electoral failure of the PS anc PCF the social base of the right wing majority has not been broadened. In fact, the majority still confronts the same problems as before the elections.
Thus they face the dual difficulty of trying tn hroaden their social necessity of advancing a poucy of austerity against the working
the ruling class remains basical.
of the nationai machines.
Iralian De Gaulle
confidence.
stroke.
From the Communist
with the Giscardians
as a world institution
Christian their number of seats.
PRICE
and selfBaggle of CD
West, however, leading
disputes, concentrute
mechanism functions, Alliance
anises the right
they parties, the
appointment manage the right
LETTE
traction of a percent
outstanding dent of the United State The British main to he
although more President for 03S7613 Britain is a country in which the example, alter a suicable sotrJEAN-CLAUDE BERNARD works at Renault, the French motor giant, and is a member of the Political Bureau of the Revolutionary (LCR), the French section of the Fourth International.
He talked to RIC SISSONS and PAM HURST about the prospects facing the working class after the
We must consider ly the same. various factors. The first is that the elec-
and Communist important force.
Tored to political situation.
Left Radicals,
base and the
wuuld provide
social democrars.
where the representation of the bourgeois interest is securely anchored in the manipulations
had such created a constitution that not simultancous, would overcome the ineradic able instability of the French
extraordinary like so many moons without i stable orbit. We have just seen the latest of such fluctuations more than a groupuscule in the Assembly ten years ago. they now approach the Gaullists in Gaullist
essence
The basic instruments which lobert. govern the Gaullist State arc men of the he double-layer of shared power held by the President mainstrcam and the National Assembly, and the two-round system of voting. The process of désiste ment, of standing down netween the ballots, allows the sender whether in Presidential
elections, the vote of the right The first round operates as a kind of anti-Communist primary for the French Bourgeoisie, and this Stare-imposed
therefore, as a means of overcoming ins divisions; it literally org-
While the two round system ensures the least possible frag mentation of the right-wing
*arrangement ol the constituencies gives them a major advantage over the lett.
At the sanse time the President, himself a bencficiary of desiste ment, utilises his powers of
and nressure to coalition in the Assembly itself. His own hold on office is unitary, and its
for the bourgeoisie. Giseard won by a
of the popular vote in 1974, but his Jemlimacy is as connele and his power ereater than a Presi
Forther advantager still re-
used Were coalition of the lett to win a majority in the Assembly. the
can deploy divide For Communist League
Giscard may appear to be the immediate winner of the clection but the Gaullist Rally for class the Republic still represents an
This means that the battle we cral secretary, have already seen among the fractions of the bourgeoisie will continue, but more hercely.
The Union of the Left will be
confront a new the reality,
Already the President of the remain the
Fabre. announced that be relinquishes any responsibility he had for che Common Programme.
He did this two bours after the clection to allow himself the largest rooms for manoeuve I the new political situation. He hopes to crue 0se Po
ening up by the media, he could
the heads of the Cabinet in major
Were the Socialists to gain the Presency the nerd to dran the Cabinet from the Assembly
facto alliance of the right and the
unless the President dissolved the Assembly immediately. Even so the Communis Purty would find itself without any institu tional hold over the major office. The fact that Assembly and Presidential clections are
therefore, provides yet another break to any socialist alliance.
The strength in depth of this
constitutional appliance is not merely a defensive one, it should be stressed. would a politician from such a small party as Giscard bave been able 1o gain the Presi dency. Although he was not the
candidate party terms, he was the Gaullist in
We 1181S "party interest" in 1974. if no the yet 'above them. Hompidou,
Barre have all been summonsed into the political
by Presidential fiat. De Gaulle's system, there
on in terms of small adjustments
Gaullist leader Chirac under the shadow of De Gaulle.
between the PS and PCF and
next lesson of
election is how to overcome the
divisions within the working
class, which will have lell deep
This applies both lo workers
Influenced hy the PS and PCF
as well as those confused by this
fight between the two appara-
tuses insolar as the working
was reduced to an
impotent bystander
Georges Marchais, PCF gen- 10
has exolauic
that the problems remain the
same as before the elections:
unemployment, inflation and
so on. But this is only part of
The other is that the problems the
sanse but in a
different political context. The
PCT and PS leaderships will he
unable to avoid drawing a lead
halance sheet of their over-
whelming responsibility in the cies.
failure of the clections.
The workers unity which we
advocate must have two imme-
diate consequences. Firse, a
and new faces. This is a quality of which the American systen: is capable from time to circ perhaps, but which other European countries mostly lack. Thi right in Germany and Britain offers from a cestih al talent their equivalents to Pompidou and Rare languish in permanent apparatus. Onc need only dance at the last three Tory leaders in London Home, Heath and Thatcher, to take the point. Not the least strength of De Gaulle's Con stitution is its ability to renew as well as reinforce, right-wing lendership
Any electoral strategy for socialists in France must over come the obstacles and survive the bootstraps of this formitable apparatus. What other political systems obscure, De Gaulle's Gallic clarity has made evident. We can now ask: i these are the rules of the game what is the price JOE Commu rists who obey them?
subsequent issue Anthony Barnett will discuss
dilemmas STREE пО% confront French Communism menter of the editorial hoard Anthony Bannett of Black Dwarf; the editor of
Leit Review editorial board.
united debate in the entire
workers'
political tasks and perspectives.
The responsibily bi the Ps
and PCF be over-
looked, In amy case this debate
will occur within the largest
workers organisations since l
is obvious that both the PS
and PCF will not be immune
from a crisis after this failure
Secondly, the necessity of
working towards unity in
action within the trade unions
oppose the austerity
measures which the new gor-
ernment will try loimplement.
The French ruling class can-
not possibly apply any othe
policy than trying to raise
uneniployment
buying power of the
working class.
We know that at least for a
few months it will be difficult to
united struggies
against the Covernment's poll
Nevertheless this has to be our
objective - one which
meets the interests
of the working class
Page 14 scan of this page
COMMENT
Inaccurate
Socialist Challenge, like the News
Line, has stated mistakenly that the
picket of Grunwick on 14 March was
called by APEX London and Home
Counties Arca Council, and was
intended to he massive.
The picket was in fact called by the
Trade Union and Political Staffs
Advisory Council, which covers some
2,500 APEX members
mainly by trade unions in London and
COUNT-CAS
It was never
numbers should be colossal.
decision, made carly in February, was - based on the hope of trade union
staffs conducting a support picket in
order to boost the morale of the
strikers.
Given our limited objectives, and
that the picket was organised exclu
sively by telephone on 13 March, it
can be regarded as a reasonable
success: Interestingly,
operation was massive, and quite out
of proportion to the numbers we
were
prompled this mobilisation can only
be guessed at.
The picker was an initiative by rank
and file APEX members. The kind of inaccurate reporting we witnessed in
last week & Socialist Challenge does
not help those of us in APEX who are
working for policies which will win this strike.
Peter Davidson (London SE15)
School
students &
teachers
The article School students more
teachers'
Challenge 38) gives a misleading and impressionistic picture of the events at the end of last term. The headline, in particular, seems designed for journalistic effect rather than political
The breadth of action by teachers was highly significant It indicates an important growth of trade union consciousness amongst teachers. The action was taken despite the short notice and lack of preparation by the executive, despite the piddling and unsatisfactory character of the sanctions, despite the narrowness of the gap between the 9 per cent offer and the 10 per cent which everyone knew the union executive and despite the fact that arbitration had not yet started.
If teachers are prepared to take this action over 1 per cent, what will it be possible to achieve if there is a serious pay claim to fight for next year? There are stili many barriers to the teachers'
becoming effective unions, but please don't underestimate the militancy of (particularly when Socialist Challenge failed to carry a substantial article on IC SOOn
There are other problems with Redmond's article: unfortunately he fails to make any assessment of the LEASILIS critical of the form of action called by
CALLUVE. IRIS ENC teachers have no obligation to carry
Socialist
Challenge
EVENTS
NORTH WEST
WARRINGTON aunt Challe
Challangs UNCHTER NANCHESTER Snailini
Ana paper and weuld like to thrancial activil
PRESTON Sociallat Challenge sup orters can be contacted by ringing reston 54616. group menta tortightle, cam LIVEAFOOL Socialist Challer Places al the Dophin,
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 6 April 1978 page 14
employed
our intention that
, Our The Doll
What Redmond being
article gives ISOLTILES atracks the
is dangerous.
(Socialist
were supporting the teachers, WEIG
their caim. or simple destructiveness cannot be supported by schools the NF initiating the action.
would accept,
We recognise
and their rights.
trade
teachers
school students
we because it was action.
case that Willam
(Coventrs)
NIM CHESTER
Alber
armation fom 0bt 25 22OL
YORKSHIRE
Fand Sireet lopp story.
NORTH EAST
Sslurdays Nerthern Hock on High Row, ADDLESBOROUGH Pie Boots at заіня on Saturdays
out lunchtime supervision, and that an important demand is for the cumination of any such supervision. When the NUT refers to the sterling unpaid work that teachers perform "maintaining discipline' during meal times, this ts true, and is no use
disparaging- By failing to take up these points, the
an impression that the
of kids. The sanctions may well have been a bad tactic, but to print an article which makes no mentions of the real culprits
The article makes the assumption that action by school students is a good thing, irrespective of its direc and
SOme
particularly over free school meals). But at the oiler extreme, ine actions were directed against the reachers and
were just pure and They (which may have JEs rOots 10ci Discontent, Pul
socialists).
We also know for a fact that in some
played a role in
Socialist teachers must support the NUSS (strangely not mentioned by Kedmond despile his enthusiasm for a youth organisation), and argue for its recognition by the teaching unions.
the negative consequences that flow from the attitudes of most teachers to school students
Redmond's conclusion: By taking
encouraging students to organise themselves in the schools,
to an effective alance agast une caucaton autnorities. Agreed. Bur that goal is lintle its implicit assumption that the school
good just
and Anna Thompson
Socialisl
WALES
rating 12 April, and fortnighty thoraalier, SOUTH WEST SOUTHAMPTON Socialist Challengi aise ovory Saturday from FDam-1cr outside Ubowe
SOUTH EAST
504am ta. Further interman and cutside angless te venom Soolalist Sociallad
need? Springlield Pub, Inear London real bet at rom
Ireland -
time for
honesty
\ YOUR 16 Mar issue you
unlished a letter from three co
rades who criticise my call for ar
IRA cease-fire. They accuse me of
"pessimism'; but if they think
position through they will lind that it
is much more pessimistic than mine.
It is as well, from their point of view
that there has been an escalation of
the IRA military campaign, and an
increase in direct atracks on
security forces. But where is
campaign leading? It is only
escalation when compared lo
previous six months, compared to the
military campaign which preceded the
collapse of Stormont it is puny. The
securily forces have prevented any
repetition of the large scale car-
bombing in town centres which was
the most formidable aspect of the
carly stages of the military campaign,
and they have been able to reduce their total military commitment, and the total numbers of deaths
casualies of the security forces, How
can the comrades deny that the
present escalation 15 only one more
fluctuation in a trend for the IRA to become progressively weakened in relation to the security foroes?
One helicopter does not make a Tet
Offensive, and the most important
event of 17 February was not the killing of the Green Jackets C.O..
hut the La Mon bombing which was a hundred times mere demoralising for the Carholic minority than was the death of one army officer for the Bratish government. They pay soldiers to die, and are concerned only when the scale of death and injury is such as to impair the morale of their forces. and cause political problems at home. The only problems they had on 17 February were how to promote
outflank the Tories reactionary statements.
If we accept the comrades view of the results of u cruse-fire we will have to conclude thut the present escalation by the Proves has menely postponed the eventual disaster.
make the same. ,error perspective us relation to the political strugale. It is true that there has been an episodic rise in Catholic militancy, but the main probleit is how to consolidate this into an ongoing campaign, as the Coalisland conference tried to do. Events like the La Mon bombing demoralise and divide the Catholic glettoes, preventing the reemergence of mass resistance. It is true that the swing back to antipartitionism in Southern politics will give legitimacy to, and strengthen the mass opposition in the North, But we should not delude
ourselves into thinking that Lynch and Fitzuerald are doing more than holding the line on behalfofthe SDLP, against a lotal capitulation to the Unionists by the Brilish government. The only way to take advantage of this turn is to re unite the anti-imperialist forces in the North it a mass campaign which will prevent the SDIP from cashing the political cheque handed to them by Dublin. Again, events like the La Mon bombing run counter to such a perspective Why do I keep stressing the La Mon
COLCHESTER Socimlist
SCOTLAND For Information
Bar Post Ortice
UNDEE: Informalion aboul Sociall hallenge actisibes Iro
trom MiNe, EDINSURGH Socialist Challenge
031-546 0405 ABERDEEN: Information Socialist Challenge activigi, ring dim an 43880 (eller 6pm).
Hamhing. comrades claim, accuse the IRAhe
becasue 1 believe that a militar campaign has a logic nf its own, which F only partially amenable to politica cads.
Stakingly built up committed military foroe, sustaut it they must keep it in action. since operations against the securit forces are more difficult to mount require more experienced solunteers, and more sophisticated inteligence and planning, they will be obliped te their return to economic targers to keep
thicht hand in', once the present Active Service Units are hit by arrests and casualțies. pattern before, and i see no reason for it changing now Thelieve there should be a cease-fire the because the military campaign, so far this from forcing the Brits out, is only
making them more determined to the stay, and constanta
obstacles to the re-building of mass resistance. 1 comrades to think again, to think things thraugh conclusions, and above all to realise that solidarity does not mean uncritical support for the Provies, bur a responsibilics ourselves, and with them. and Bob Pardie (Warwickshire)
Jewish
fears -
a reply
WHILST problems raised by Clive Gilbert in "Jewish Fears' - 2 March - I feel the comrades makes some points which could be developed.
The Jewish masses all overthe world did not turn to Zionism, even after ibe Second World War. times after the in Israeli state (in 1948) Zionism was, for
example. opposed Reform and ultra-Orthodox wings of religious Jewry. It was wisupported by the half of Jewry living in the Arab and Eastern countries.
Many individual Jews were also of opposed to any Israeli state. The
specific: by organised Jewry, in the vast majority came to support Zionism, and the simultaneous post-war development of an increasing racist attitude among wide layers of British Jewry, te.g. the goou job it's the blacks kicked, not us"
Most importantly, the extremely complex relationship beiween Zion-
ism and anti-semitism has to be taken
into account. Ine main Jaccor in the Jewish equating of anti-Zionism with anti-semitism was not any fauk of the European left (except the historica fact that the revolutionary society.
free from discrimination, has yet to be
established). It is due to the strident
efforts of Zionism to insist on be
identification.
It is Zionism which holds that even
a lew who is anti-Zionist must he auti-
hating Jew;
potential anti-semites; and above all
that anti-semitism is a permanent and
unalterable facet of life amongst the
Gentiles, and hence must not be
BRIGHTON Sociallet Challenge sales MIDLANDS
DIAMINGHAM contal Belie
Open wmakdays
Retorn 7.30pm LONDON restings every second Wednesda
hecause
but mented
The Provisional have pain
La hrave and but 10 This has always been the will
weakened
Up
appear to the thee
fascism, but their logical Zionism.
to be honest with
Clearly dewkh Socialit
this dialogue
sympathising with the
I WRITE AS Until various
establishment of the
by both the tunate impression
particular
which Britishenvironmentalism
getting idea) needs to be whose purpose
Amend that
Clerkenwell Close.
selfGentles an
LEICESTER Socialist Challeng
supporiers meet fortnighti Highhelds Community Centre. I
alls ring 0933 25854
fought but retreated from into an
exclusively Jewish society.
Furthermore There are many docu
LASHEPICS Zionist
welcoming anti-semitism on a certain
scale, as an encouragement to Jews to
emigrate to Israel. Additionally, one
aspect of Zionism has led to an
anti-Arab attitude in Jews.
Thus it is not possible to wit Jews to
the struggle against ail racisur (and to
that for socialism) without confront
ing Zionist ideology. Of course, this
must be done in a way that does
acknowledge and answer the fears
that arise from the historical perse
cution of European Jewry. Otherwise
the introspective nature of Zionism
reinforced than
The IMG explicitly recognised this
in the position it took on the Zionisin/
froe speech campus debate (opposing
sans on "Zionist meetings and callie
or a political defeat af Zionist idea:
In other words it is not primarily the
Deft which has alicnated (British)
strugele against the ascendancy of
The European revolutionary move There n throughout this century ment bas had to confront the Jewish
existing
theoretical basis for a clear analysis.
The current rise of the National Fron has reawakened amongst Jews the realisation that a further bolocaust is a possibility. This means that there
will be those, especially from the youth, with whom we can discuss and
develop socialist ideas on these
Comrade Gilbert und the Group have an important contribarion to make to
PAUL ROTH (Surbiten)
Ecology
somcone who ha recently started reading your paper and who has been impressed with the Mandard of debate on the Windscale issue. There is, however, an unfor-
pondence that the level of trich debate amongst environmentalists is very low, 1 would Telet you to two
organisations, both of which I helong to, who have been developing a socialist perspective on
Firstly, SERA, the Socialist Environment and Resources Association. This is a group with a significant base in the labour movement, including many trade union branches and MPs,
to help further exacily the kind of debate contained in your pages. T enclose two of their leafleis and would particularly recon
you attempt to start a dialogue with them if you wish to raise the level of civironmental debate on the left and maincain it Talso think you would he interested magazine which is produced me 25
magazine which i. Preyhale
for many years, been antempting to rais he level of debate amongst allerni tive technologists and disenchanted scientiss. 1 hope you will find their work ofuse to Socialist Challenge. I wish you luck with your attempts to unite the radical left and broaden the scope of its discussion.
John Ingham (London W2)
TRILESHAM Socialist Detalla ram a 000112 HARROW Sochellet Challenge gram Condon Ni28x
Forums. Lapseries meltery Ope
3g fame inalte ONDON CPSA Soclalist Ch MOHAN NES
sympathetic to Sociallet Challenge arila so Lendon SC organis a PO dex 50, Landon i meeting John Bery, ane chenge Sociat • men cain Diricial unity Contre, Stanley Rced, NIS. Nearest tube
Page 15 scan of this page
spattered bybeauty
but the satire famine shows no The Rudes — All You Need is | their promoters, intersiewers. where fuzzy BBC documentary |
sumbles his way through accordionist, playing hymns, for coins.
love
SALLY FELDMAN.
profile of life in the "30% are
strains of Ekie Carlisie.
dance band heroes of the era, they cave their despaur Tor as a few moments, to indulge in TACT SCHIS
EXTRAVAGANT
It's no coincidence that that
media the Hollywood nourished in 1930k at a time when queues were growing, -prices were soaring. and the world was racing towards war. It was at this time, too, that glorious. From the centre of Che Stadium that massive American sports arena named after Cuban revoIutionary Che Stadium came the unmistakeable sound of the Prefab Four
The Rutles. writes TONY GRAHAM
Walter Benjamin described the art of satire as the ability to LIS BIEN SID CCT among hisor her costumes. Not only is nostalgia not used to be, but, satire isn't either. Private Eve is yardstick for anything, then it's nolonger a laughing matter.
Of course, the days of Lenny Bruce have long been over. television has • well-
established pattern. each episode the police catch the criminals,
writes PIERRE KIPNIS
Allhough the Sweeney, for
physical exercise more than Dixon ever do. wo can Do sure that ms methods of detection apprehension Still confirmation of the criminals' guilt even prior to any judicial. process.
The four part film play Law
- On Thursdays on BBC-2 at 9.30pm, beginning 6
opposes the view that the mechanics of law enforce-
the comforting thought that LIC CHIARASICIA away:
DRUDGERY
Produced by Tony Garnett,
picture of conventional British
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 6 April 1978 page 15
UNDER REVIEW
Pennies from Heaven
A shabby world
ARTHUR - the disingenuous hero of Pennies from head. Heaven — is 'in the music business'. The tramp who
each episode is an
Music is the informing symbol of this television play — music is the food of love, music is food and
- it's everything: the balm to appease the oppressed, as well as the inspiration to revolt, writes
one characiers in tais seamy untroubled music was Hosting
the honeyed singing.
Al CALESC a world without trouble. le's an inresistible, but not a simple image. Pennies from Heaven are droplets of beauty, glimpses of the sublime, in a shabby world The image author Dennis Potter's
recent South Bank Show interNEW In TIC YONG INSE YOU the that, however desperate you doic are sells you everything's going to be all right Arthur (Bab Hoskets) tells the other salesmen: inside your own
Yeah, yeah, yeah
signs of ending. So Eric Idle's full-ength BBC-2 television socculon Easter Monday aming the Beatles" rise to fame and cash was of some comfort, though not much.
TECHNOLOGY At the time it seemed R thought the Beatles chemselves
politics, youth culture naked Yet behind the scenes the '60s also ushered in a new role for the mass media.
In particular, the and BEASTE managed to do a great job of mystirsing and distorting what went on in tbose years. It was this fact that fearnred largely in CRIME drama on British justice by presenting four of its
component viewpoints: those of the police, the criminal. the In lawyers, and the prisoner as they each go about their daily lives, with all the drudgery and tedium entailed.
REALISM As with the reccarly banned and play Seum about life inside a Borstal, the scripta for Law and Order were extensively rescarched and are the core of the play's realism.
Because of the scope of tbe task, the Lime scale of the lour plays has occasionally CULE COU CAMBBICCIU the first episode a detective UNIRCLUE €3000 worth of bribes in put matter of days, rather than the month is might ordinarily lake.
But Tis is a lot moe dramatie licence
cop story, and the director, Les
understates its case.
But times are hard — people sell themselves. The noblest human experiences are marketLUNTEER whores sell sex; the beggar (Kenneth Colley) sellshymns -
divine, if you like. Pennies are the pitlances bestowed on those that bee Campbell) quibbles over half a wave-Jenerns: penny For a sausage dreamy sixpence. his record needles
twonence He has to bee 3ss wife Joan (Germa Craven) for MINRY. ADd TOE SEX
DENOMINATOR
encompassgi The tramp it everyone
humanity's common denomi. nator. He's in touch music, but he has to sell it. "Thank you very, very moch" -
for the pennies he doesn'i ger.
owner is kind to her and gives "There's
Hir act of charity is angelic.
and
Cash.
As the
record Tony Palmer's industries documentary on the rise of
popular music was being taken for a metaphorical ride. other Beatles themselves and more
It's an unfair cop, guv
Law and
Order
In cach episode, we presented with views of the characters: how tocy sce and deal. with each other; and how we see them.
ERE VICICT usual identification of goodies LIESELICA.
JUDICIAL
been
In the villain's cale the myth of honour among thieves receiving exploded, acting as a spring
board to the third play where the Tension expoctation that the system — in the face of gaping compared holes in the prosecution case —
will right wrongs. The issue is undecided play, which is
sells music; the women products.
SWEETNESS well, the The
Eileen (Cheryl delude wit the
roll.
SACCULAS
Ticem play.
potential of all
with dialectic
Under
The
Rutles
title beatly suggests, were being pilloried.
mammoth
In musical words, it was less the From
have been bassodby Wenham,
could be banned. are costlicting "FUCK'
explicit cannat make l
that Tuck'
in Britain.
Lies in the
Judicial don't have the
Led lawyers,
probably the ог
stemming from kindness. But there'slittle kindness in a world where selling B-the value whereall men are pirips and all
tinselled bresentation doesn't detract from the harsh truens were offered. 1f any
tragedie ol detes are helle bite realities are the setting, rather than the theme of this magni-
tes subject is the huge subject of all literature — the conflict between dreams and reality; the
people to achieve greatness, and their sad tendency toward corruption: the parador of human struggle or, as some would have it, the
The final episode of Pennies from Heaven is on BRC-1 at 9.25 sent Tuesday, 11 April,
Review welcomes further contnibutions e liis extremely inventive TV drama
destruction?
Rutles
cumsera Mean hde.
advertisers, and managers who interviews
material.
More than aything else, the progranune was shaken into life through its technical and
accomplishments the earliest days of
Rutles' music in the Cavern the
this
Black of
Although the first two play
Briar Controller of campaign on
BBC-2, bie has yet to see the lowth and if judged by the same standard as beam, st Ecc
This is not because of the
language it is a drama ruling and "cunt" are or bleeped - but
because it exposes the violence
degradation used
maintain the smooth running
of an institution which remains one of the most secret socicties
As the writer of Law and
Order, G.F. Newman, says: 1
answers alternatives to corrupt police-
men, violent criminals, crook-
For the prison
questions sufficient num
bers of us have yet to ask."
ARTHUR (Bob Hoskins| and Elisen (Cheryl Campbell: a duet oi
Film caught the new messe at its birth, to the closing frames of
astride a London roof in the 'Let it Rot sequence, the
and film parody HESE MOVE EACH CLu Fashion and set designers had a Field day in re-creating Beatle cuts, jackels, Sgt. Pepper uniforms and transcendenral nam solb. Equally clever were the cartoon graphics unashamedly lampooning the dated psychedelia of Alan Aldridge's Yellow Submarine. Neil Innes (formerly Bonzo Dog hand) affectionately re-scored old Beatle bels and made the music sound surprisingly authentic
Eric Idle's Palmer interrupted with dis tracting and useless "in-depth
backgruund
ADAPTATION
Perhaps our lamiliarity with
history of Heatlemania explains the lack of surprise in
faithful adaptation reality. However, the promise of of an amusing expose of the tinks berween media, the myth of pop stardom, and hard cash did not materialise.
The trouble was precisely the
much point. What makes this faintly disturbing 15 the well orchestrated publicity
ACHI DESE programme which has resulted coming ford album accompanying record and much press gossip. At best This isironic; at worst a sell-out.
The Other Bookshop 328, Upper Street, LONDON N1
New from Ithaca Press
Towards a Socialist Republic of Palestine FouzielA mar, Un Davis, and Naim Khad - e2.50
plus 25p p&p
Palestinian Arabs in Israel: Two Case Studies by Amun, Davis, Sanallah, Elrazik, and Amin — £2.50 plus 25p p&p
Both books ordered together: Post free.
COMING
SOON....
THE OTHER BOOKCLUB
A joint venture between The Other Bookshop and Socialist Challenge, this new bookclub
at reasonable cost both new works of Marxiam and classica
The Other Bookshop will provide five selections of DoSKS a vaRi from which members must take el leest two. The first selection will
1968 and Aller by Tariq All
Harry McShane; No Mon Fighter by Harry MeShane and Joan Smith
Full details in next week's Socialist Challenge
8I 228 8571
Page 16 scan of this page
WILL THE GENERALS KILL BHUTTO? TH
£15 Short of target
Registered with the Post Office as a newspuper. Published by Relocrest Ltd. for Socialist Chullenge, 328/9 Upper Street,, London N1, Printed by Goodbead Press Limited, 25 Murdock Road, Biceifer.
correspondent from Pakistan.
The ball now in the Supreme Court, but this is an empty formality. Pakistan's judiciary is ajoke. In reality the clique of five generals govern Pakistan will make the decision.
Labore has always been recognised as one of the scars of culture in Pakistan. The populace is renowned for its love of
humour, its coffee houses full DELICE IECHCLIUAIS EA large student population.
DEMAND
It was here that the Generals chose to hang three criminals in public. was a sad and humiliating occasion.
Tens of thousands turned out to watch the spectacle. returned home with the feeling that they had watched something unreal. And yet it was very real.
It was an apt symbol of what the military regime of General Zin ul-Haq stands for: a return to barbarism.
SPECTACLE
Why de people come to thes becasions? Out of a morbid because i is a spectacle. perhaps, hur would babeen In most coun tries, including Britain, but it is
It is the way to acclimatise people to the idea of constant
OUR FUND DRIVE
"Will the Generals kill Bhutto?" It is being asked by everyone. All realise that the death sentence, If carried out, will change Pakistani politics for ever, writes a
bloodsbed. Death by hanging nOt unnatural. It is part of our life and our religion. That is the wha generals message.
The response death sentence has been sporadic but nationwide.
DEFIANCE
As the author of Lahore Diary* in the liberal weekly View point, reported:
WAS A DOODLE! defiance and police repression. and there was tear-gassing and lathi(haton)-charges. red brick again littered the roads, and broken glais from |
Most
MEANWHILE IN Britain there have been a demonstrations by Pakistani WORETS Brains ine mutan dictatorship. The demonstra tors have taken up and Challenge shree weeks printed Pakistani workers is opposed to the death sontence against
At Huddersfield last week, 1156 Tariq All, Editor of Socialist
Challenge, spoke to a meeting of 2000 workers and outlined a plan of action military dictatorship.
A meeting organised Socialist Unity in Birmingham
Socialist Challenge
Pakistan
shattered windowpanes. Four considered Government buses were burnt."
In other cities protests as well, but given that entire to Bhutto's Bhutto's
Party as well as thousands of its pome actress are an proon, These demonstrations limited.
There were student protests and a limited few strikes by factory workers in Lahore, In There Bhutto's honte province
Sind, the University and local colleges were closed down after pro-Bhutto demonstrations.
Broken The PPP newspaper, Mussa-
Swat was banned and its printing presses sealed by the military National demonstration in London 7 May
last Sunday saw 700 workers of filling the Digbeth Civic Hall. It was chaired by Raghib Ahsan
Tariq All. Numerous contributions from the floor stressed
Socialist democratic rights.
The masting nationd monster i national Hyde Park in London on 7 May at 2.30pm. The Supreme Court is due to start hearing the case on 6 May.
A cO OSCROL IC being
Birmingham to by from New Street to Euston.
THE APPEAL for a last great chen to save the spous tand drive met a fine response. In SEYEI GETS RETIRE THEO our depleted coffers. This was
Like Tatlin's original cower, THIS MIS TOVE CONCEN The original Tatlin tower, an Immense Third Incernational, only gor to the stage of a model. Cur fund drive was more suocessful, The final total months of 1978 was [1784.83. A large part of this week's money came from an anons-
Otber Bookshop. Lipon openthe envelope delighted to find 10 crisp, new, ten pound notes. Many thanks to whoever it was Could we meet sometime?
The March bankers orders, totalling E138, were, as usual, a
huiki,
Bankers Orders
Pakistani workers
there were
lencership of People's of BOBUKES regime.
TENE
SIDeDINOSY
demonstration
to public hangings).
-ordinating commition
organised in
are 'at least two trains
Anon K. Kohler Anon R & A Spalding Badges Camden supporters R. Hurcombe AnOn A. Newton the London Chee, IMG
the tits three
donation len in The
were
Name
Address.
E138
E3.42 €2.00
From abroad numerous re quests have arrived from Heads ol State asking for clemency and though not from Saudi Arabia.
But the General has temained firin. Justice will not only be political done. but will be seen to done (presumably a reference cally agree:
A formight ago we pointled out that what was at stake was not a debate as to the crities COLESY committed by Bhutto, There can be no excuse for any of the atrocities carried our by his Coventry student teacher £3.00 For
£3.00 loges and fund e
La new tund dein
Domestic: 6 months, f5; 12 months, £10
Abroad: Airmail, £16.50. Surface, £I0 per annum. I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of
Complete and return to:
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.
RESTORE
DEMOCRACY
PAKISTANIS picket the embassy in London to protest the military regime and the death sentence
The issue now has becone one bE endine the military repime restoring democratic rights. Socialists bould defend the democratic righes of all prisobers, not those with whom they politi-
The military is preparing a nex Constitution which wil excessive land reforms. This LOU HUSTOL CROSELI The very existence of Pakis target. The continuing presence uphill struggle which can only of our renders. We neod every reader to help sell the paper.
BOOKSHOP example this week reader in Ipswich has arranger for cogies to be put in Ipswich bookshop. From that
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Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to "Socialist Challenge".
Pakistan. foundiag father was a westerised o nostic. is finally buried by the
the Pakistan Army.
Zia confronts an intractable dilemma. there will be trouble. If he
In the first instance from the
wizen the arty.
His decision will depend on 1 which he fears most. small beginnine pernaps a new Scialist Challenge Group Kil Bloom.
It aho meses we nod the linancial backing, of readers he tact that we must Tailed to make this fund drive is
Omen It Cannot be repeated. It is a warning to all
local groups. Orgarise now for the next three months" fund drive!
← Socialist Challenge No. 39, Special Trade Union Supplment, 30 March 1978Socialist Challenge No. 41, 13 April 1978 →