Socialist Challenge No. 75, 7 December 1978
The scan: sc-n75-dec-7-1978.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
- Labour Government refuses to stop - Mass protest planned in London for
CHINA IN TURMOIL DOSSIER ~ PAGES 7,8&9
of demonatrators
in Tehran
flow of arms
December 17 analysis
- Troops shoot down thousands - Masses erect barricades
(Pages 2 & 11 for further news and
No. 75 7 December 1978 15p
Page 2 scan of this page
FRBARRICADES
OUR POLICIES 2
Street.
phoned through
demonstration.
Shah flees
to island
retreat
EVERY AVer of Tehran society, from the court to the street. is nearly certain that the Shah will go in the next week or
But if he manages to ride the DECOOL crisis he will considerably strengthened, if onlytemporarily.
The Shah himself is aware of the fate which awaits him. sources in enran intorius that he has joined his family on
rock covered with casinos, Luxury hotels and brothels. which is an apt symbol for the Pahlavidynasty.
Tehran sources report that a group of generals visited the Shah last week to try to get him to relinquish power. Now there are indications that a regency council has been formed which will take power in ine next tew days.
SHIFT
Certainly something is afoot.
Ardeshir Zahedi, the ambassaGoT 1o wasnington WhOs widely regarded as
Shah Carter, has returned to Tehran.
cards. The last time Zahedi was
martial law declared!
Probably US imperialism has decreed that it can no longer afford to jeopardise its interests by propping up this bloodstained maniac. Better to give ground now than lose the lot.
Ine reason me governmental crisis continues, as shown by our evewiness account. Is une strength of the masses on the SUCCE.
SLAUGHTER
last few days, typically supressed by the British press, is that possibly thousands people have died in a slaughter even bloodier than 'Black Friday'.
But the second is that the fighting spirit of the demonstrators is only getting fiercer. For the first time there have been exchanges of gunfire - in other words the people are shooting back.
A police officer died in one of these clashes Monday.
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Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 2
INTERNATIONAL
THENEWS on this page may be out of date by the time you read it. Nevertheless it will still present a more complete picture than the typically fawning Fleet
On this page we bring you an eyewitness report
RICHARD CARVER pieces together some of the other events in this crisis week for the Pahlavi dynasty; and, most importantly, you can read what progress is being made to build the 17 December solidarity
be "BUT PRINCESS ASHRAF THE
sections of Tehran, moving to virtua civi wat Part of the reason for the determination of the opposition is the religious month mourning, Moharram.
Moharram is a crucial part of the religious calendar of Shia goand Islam, Iran. It is the commemoration wich is dominant in
For tne deal of Imam russem, the grandson of the prophet
precursors of the Suni Moslems.
DEADLINE In a religious unlike anything Moslem world, Shi'ites enact a month of self-flagellation, chest beating, passion plays, latterly, scarcely political demonstration.
Religious dedication partly explains the masses' readiness no dev mne minary ment's ban on public manifestaconsor Monarra But, more to the point, they •Wal -ENCIE objective is only days away; the of tenth day of Moharram December) is widely touted as the deadline for the departure of the King of Kings.
The essential co-ordination between sectors of the opposition. As indicated in our report rom Tehran - and contrary to the Western press workers' strike We also hear that workers are taking strike action. When the troops
At about
6 targe crowds of peo-
ple, wearing white started coming out onto the streets in the poorer southern districts of Tehran.
They began demonstrating, shouting 'Death to the Shah". ne numper or cemons ator rapidly grew as they were joined by people who had gathered in mosques for ceremonies marking the beginning of the month of Moharram.
Truck loads of soldiers and jeeps equipped with machine guns rapidly appeared on the scene. Army officers addressed the crowd speakers in an insulting way, telling the peopleto 'get lost and which is 2o nome or ese shooting'.=
The demonstrators retused to disperse and the soldiers began of people in other Tehran heard the sound of gunfire they began coming out onto the streets and demonstrating.
move into an area to attack demonstrators after the curfew the power workers simply pull the plugs, comrades to get away. else in the
romany, anti-strike laws sumnuace une workers to more and imaginative actions. disguised are generally obliged to clock
on, but they then work to rule or - Implement elementary workers control. govern LIST
The power workers' action is one such example. political workers who have held political
(11 discussions in company time are another. And the oil workers' decision determine who did and didn't factor is the getruer was a tnira But the most
example as beerune workers', who drew up a list of the 200-odd top official swho were smuggling capital out of continues. tecountry
The official inquiry set up to selective DOWCE investigate the allegations will
be a whitewash and nobody Class.
revolutionary socialists are:
bullo brose-based
GO UP IN
TEHRAN
Eyewitness report
9pm last |
large crowds of peo- Shahreza shrouds,
and many were killed.
beneare
blood off the streets
through loud- killing many.
we star
districts of armytrucks.
Early this allowing their by the workers.
regime's SENTENCE have only
Workers
month corruption Nassiri, SAVAK isimplicated The many
they would CODE explosive the large removed under a workers, Capitalism is in crisis. The leaders of the Labour Party and the trades union offer solutions that are in the interests, not of the workers, but of the capitalist
Socialist Challenge believes that the two vital tasks confronting
struggle tendencies CIAS. clace-colinhorationism in the labour movement. These should be non-exclusive in character grouping together militants holding a wide range of political views. * To begin to fight for the creation of a unified and democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can, through an application of united front tactics begin to be seen as an alternative by thousands of workers engaged in struggles
Such an organisation should be based on the understanding that:
the cirmogle for socialism seeks to unite une neat of ne workers arals. the bosses with that of other oppressed layers of society black people, gays — struggling for their liberation. This socialism car only be achieved by creating new organs of power and defeating with al
ecessary means une power or Ene Capras StaC
The demonstrations reached their peak between 10-10.30pm and
and Hedayat Avenues. Demonstrations were attacked by helicopter gunships
The demonstrations contin-
religious out thistime automatic fire could
Once the demonstrations had subsided atter 4am tire engines were brought in to wash the
It is believed that at least 2-3,000 people were killed. One of the reporters from Kayhan 10.30am: saw an armoured car open fire on demonstrators in Sarsabil,
The official casualty figures broadcast on the radio are seven deaths and 35 iniured. but Kayhan reporters have counted uD to 800 bodies in the cit morgues, while many bodies are believed to have been taken to them. an unknown destination
down morning people started to come out onto the streets once more. They have set do thesame
takes it seriously. The main of the Iranian revolution will be topic of conversation in Tehran the is rather who is on the list issued
Our
Top of the list is Hojabr Yazdani who is responsible for salting away some £40m. The strange thing about his name being on the list is that he is
workers. sentence - a case in which the former head of shooting military names on the list which most embarrasses the govern-
«tentan.
But most interesting of all are
of money from the country code name. The who know that the culprit is the Shah himself, have demanded that the Central Bank release the real name. non-existent.
Thecrucial factor at this stage
in opposition to women!
<MS-
R THE
up barricades to prevent tanks
trucks moving through the streets.
At 10am the sound of gunfire can be heard throughout the city once again. In several parts of the city people have begun
processions in unc streets in defiance of the martial
Tehran and Shiraz refineries are on strike. There is a partial strike in the southern oil fields.
A full strike is expected to start today. Many shops, offices and all schools remain closed
La large demonstration is taking place in Sa'adi Avenue. Troops have opened fire, killing many.
11.30am: Tens of thousands
in front of the main entrance of the bazaar carrying placards saying 'Death to the Shah'
They called on soldiers to join
As they approached
This gun and greeted do the same soldiers to 5 demonstrators
impact of the mass movement on the ranks of the army. Discipline is beginning to
Tehran correspondent reports how an officer greeted demonstrations at the weekend.
Another eyewitness tells of how an officer broke down in tears when his soldiers refused to disperse a picket of striking oil
SHOOTING
And we have heard that
has been reported from inside the major Saltanat Abad army base in north-east
Final could mean a number of things — but none of them bodes well for the regime.
With the mass movement at its present pitch the prospect of an orderly stabilisation of a pro-Western regime to succeed the Shah looks distant.
If the army collapses it will be
Our socialism will be infinitels more democratic than what evist
socialism in the Cook and tastern rurope nate dierconed stan
in the eyes of the millions of workers throughout the world. We are opposed t
them and will offer full support to all those fighting for socialist democrac
The interests of workers and cabilalisis are wreconchanie nodwan scale. Capitalism has not only created a world market, it has created world politics. Thus we fight for working elass units on an internation: scale. This unity will in the long run be decisive in defeating both th
imperialist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships they sustain in latin
America, Africa and Asia.
In Britain it implies demanding the immediate withdraw al we British-troup
from Ireland and letting the Irish people determine their own future
she Communist Partes IN CArOD "Euro-communist nor the pro-Moscow wings have any meaningful strategy for the overthrow of the capitalist state. • socialist parties are more necessary than eser before. Condition- toda
are more favourable than over the preceding three decades. But such parties ca
only be built by rejecting sectarianism and seeing iniernat democracy mar a
uxury but as a vital necessity. This means the right to organise factione
MAH
All out 17
December
A CAMPAIGN of meetings, postering and badge selling is sweeping country preparator for December solidarity demonstration
One of the biggest meetings
gathering several hundred in London on Monday night.
But perhaps the biggest breakthrough has been Liverpool, where the dock shop stewards have invited a speaker from the Committee Against Repression in Iran to address tel quarteriy unis weanesday
The dock shop committee will also be sending a speaker to a Trades Councilsponsored public Thursday [7.30, Red Star Social Club. 39 Shaw Street, Liverpool 5].
There was another breakthrouch in Birmingham Saturday, when for the first time supporters of the religious opposition in Iran joined a 500-strong demonstration cal led by the Committee Against Repression in Iran.
In Plymouth, where •Dr Death' Owen has his [marginal] consuluency people marched through the city centre
complicity with the Shah.
And, perhaps most importantly of all, CARI is in touch with shop stewards at the Vickers plant In Newcaste where they make the Chieftain tanks which are propping up the Shah.
Readers in those areas where there hasn't yet been any action should take the initiative: try to invite CARI speakers to your labour movement organisation, for example. It doesn't matter that vou won't be able to arrange it till after Christmas solidarity will still be needed then.
Get the new CARI badge to sell, and posters for the demo from Box 4, 182 Upper Street, London N1.
DEMONSTRATE!
Sunday 17 December 1.30pm, Speakers Corner
socialisi state. The Stalinist models «
are in crisis Neither th
Sen resolutionar
Page 3 scan of this page
Support Soars 1, workers the best hope for a united struggle. By Geoffrey Sheridan, Labour Siall
The shutdown at Newspapers which beean last Thursday has had the beneficial effect of concentrating minds, such as those of the journalists on The Times who on that day unexpectedly voted to reject management's proposals.
So brazen has been the management plan to lock out its 4,300 employees until quarter of them agree to accept reduncancy. inal lenas not found wholehearted support сусп among us ricer succi neighbours.
Editorials in the Guardian and Daily Mirror questioned the value of such a confrontation.
But the virtual unanimity of the unions at Times Newspapers in opposing the plan has yet to be matched by any agreement on how to fight back. Indeed, none or me unons invovca nas so. far come up with
has management's last-minute con-
allowing Point orkers to remand on par
La fortnight and employees to 'work out their normal periods of notice.
SnIS policy haS hallmarks of divide-and-rule tacnes, and une largest umon involved, NATSOPA, has told its members that they should From our Foreign Staff
anoras keon wotana01an newspapers, the Vancouver MADIES. Was Haunched published by the six unions involved.
This was at the beginning of last month, and since then the new paper has been appearin three times a week,
and a print run
10.000
Despite attempts by Vancouver Board of Trade and Ine Employers Council British Columbia to boycott the paper, it has received lots of From Francis Mulhern, an editor of 'New Left Review'
On the face of it, the Times Literary Supplement is a review of serious books. But if you compare it with a formally similar publication, such as the New York Times Review of Books, you
SCOl CIES character.
It'san academic trade paper, composed in the image those who write and read it.
Traditionally the TLS has combined pure academicism with frivolity.
IC DOORS Land
Unions lack strategy
in press shutdown
The proposals of Times Newspapers management have met almost complete opposition from its workforce, but the shutdown of the presses still finds the unions on the defensive. Leaders of a major print union seek a compromise settlement, while a work-in remains Work-in would meet
management's challenge
stay on unnenei various nonce expire, pan or tel pay to a lockout
Times fund.
The divisions that this is likely create will be enhanced proposal to place locked out clerical staff in temporary jobs elsewhere in Fleet Street.
The National Association, whose members" jobs are most threatened by the introduction of new technology, raise a tS weekly levy from all its Fleet Street members, and is preparca to SAUL Thomson's papers.
But the union leadership has made it clear that it is willing to reach a compromise. insists that only NGA members should set copy, journalists or clerical workers, it accepts that this would still mean a large loss of job:
As Mr William Booroff, th NGA London regional secretary, expiams. our memoers are using the new technology at Mitror LOUD where Reveille is already being its produced on the new equip ment, together with other pages of the Daily Mirror. 'This has meant a third reduction In jobs composing room. A substantial loss of jobs isinvolved, but what we want is progress in a phased
A numberof the Labour MPs
Unions produce alternative paper in
Canadian press strike
commercial advertising.
Members of the Canadian WITHIN 48 HOURS of the Newspaper Guild and
Printing Pressmen's (sic) Union walked out of the Vancouver and Province — the largest daily newspapers in British Columbia on 1 November, managemen! attempted break contracts over staffing
of In order to have a free hand to sack printworker: the technology is introduced, the collbany wans o reware ne in contracts which determine the number of printers required.
Management
Loss of literary supplement
only slightly disturbing
reviewed are like so many Himalavan peaks -simply because they're there, and read in the same spirit.
The supplement's policy of having all its articles unsigned provided light relief for its readers. In academic common real Friday was guessing game day whos ne Dastare whe knifed my book?" of Under its present editor, John Gross, certain changes have occurred. poncy anonymity has been dropped, paper
and union leaders who spoke at contributing the 2,500 strong rally held by
NATSOPA last out the implications of microelectronics for both newspapers
further and industry as a whole: the NATSOPA's devastation of jobs.
Yet the newspaper have not raised the kind of demands which can ensure that Graphical technology improves workers'
lives — the 35 hour week, for
directly example, longer holidays, and
earlier retirement; plans to mention higher pay.
Much was speakersal therally - betorethe audience was sent off to lobby
news- MPs - about the lack of press
freedom and the absence of any mass newspaper putting forward labour movement views.
While it They did not,
advocate a and Times, which would be the most
powertur means or contronung the lockout, building support or the unions. anorevcanne unc bosses' press freedom for what
All of Fleet Street will gain if the printworkers"
Newspapers. defeated at Times Newspapers.
Stopping their presses now and producing a workers' paper for
several the duration of the lockout
would concentrate a great many minds.
In Inc The 2-0U
provincial Degan inis week (see page 4) emphasises that need - and opportunity. over a hundred printers $5,000 each to buy back the right to work Within minutes of thestrike, the four other unions involved were Vancouver locked out.
The 1,400 Prior are barrelate
when long
publication of the Vancouver Express is seen as a way of winning public support and helping to boost strike pay. new With no other being published in Vancouver, Sales nave been management was obliged to buy a quarter page dare puoncise Is has offered offer to the strikers!
attractively designed climbed It has also become politically
harder, shifting to theright.
Marxists
former known on its pages, and recent
booksby British Marxist writers nave been subjected to very
every deliberate hatchet jobs. Chris-
room, topher Hill and Terry Eagleton
arethe loses on the
The loss disturb British more than its contents ever did.
It has always been so dull and conformist that disturbed anyone.
OUR TIMES
€100m.
week spelled
unions
By. George Jerrom
not to
said by the
fewer lobs however, chapels are payments are very high.
total job protection.
SYSICILIS CUICACE more free dimensions of the
strike by degree journalists which 'If we
industry
fewer jobs
press and
battle. The By Jake celestone
newspaper
brisk, and by 142 to 92.
narrow self-interest
has rejected are virtually un-
reach pay the s will
by July 1980.
intellectuals think
• HICYCE
THI SUNDAY
THE FIRST (now late) Lord Thomson at the presses with the newspaper he purchased in 196l. He described his stake in TV as a licence to print money. The second Lord Thomson, who heads the lockout, is riding high on oil. Profits this year will be more than
NGA leader says 'Let's talk
about press freedom'
Executive member of the NGA As told to our Labour Staff. manner
"The agreement at the Mirror with Group Newspapers is being held up as magnificent, but while there's no compulsory redun- democracy, working new technology with freedom",
we
Times Newspapers is putting a lot of money on the line to buy 220-30.050 to individual pria much press,
subsidised by workers. And those who are being wooed don't need much wooing. They're aged over 60 sell or p in the highest earnings bracket which means the reaundanc than that.
*The class position should be
If the let's have time. These newsstands. argument have yet to be aired to any
said want would sufficient number of jobs for all
- then it would put a libraries; stop to une rigat over wno does
and where SURE demarcation lines should be
*There is a natural desire on the part of the NGA leadership mmuduve to do a deal and compromise.
It's written in to the union's
stage.
Journalists on The Times'
throw off fear of unknown
NUJ father of the chapel at *The
As told to our Labour Staff
*I was absolutely ecstatic at the decision of the chapel to reject management's proposals,
It gave many members of the chapel the tremendous realisation that at last they've thrown off the fear what
*The debate at the meeting
hours, and in a curious way most peopie realised tnal in ine last resort they would not be saved by pursuing their own BETWINE
*The chapel for the first time
management's blandishments; that thistimewe won'ttake the money and run.
'The vote was to maintain NUJ policy, which is that we will not take NGA jobs unless they agree to give them up; and to
parity with the Journalists on the Sunday Times
management's deferment of sending workers out the door is not a concession but part of their overall strategy
a careful public relations
they
every try,
rules, which say that officers should act in a conciliatory
•Wehaveto link the industrial
the political. When management says the confron tation is about freedom and
we should say: "Yes, itis. Let'stalk about press
have to break the economic stranglehold that the present owners nave over the
with their papers big business through advertising It allows the Sun to publish 32 pages anc
while the left's papers are a lot more expensive
•We need some kind of government intervention tha
will'allow left and community papers to be competitive on the
The Labour Party's proposals for a national printing corporation are help
Such a national facility open the way to municipal presses. If books are available on the rates through
why not local publishing facilities?
It doesn't look at thi moment as if we're taking any
Times News. papers. Perhaps the battle lines will show themselves at a later campaign. But the unions will be encouraged because it looks like management is backing off.
HOW offer completely withdraw the threat to sack journalists it will put us in a difficult position, because we've argued that journalists are no different from anyone else. Weget the same treatment.
*To be frank, I'm not sure
an offensive strategy would be at this stage. The level of co-operation between the unions at TUC level is abysmal and there still isn't enough
inside Times Newspapers, although it is
*People who never did talk to each other have started to do so. Journalists who used to snotty about talking to other staff now realise they're just as expendable. It's been a very educative experience
*Provided the NGA keeps its
don't think management will win. They are
-thi American experience of a big confrontation with the unions in order to bring in new technology
"The unions in Britain won't stand for it. Management will get a bloody nose'
Support
workers
Shutdown is
industrial
vandalism
From Dennis Potter, TV critic of the "Sunday Times".
I don't want to work for that management again. It's only a small, individual gesture, which will cost me a great deal, bu now they have closed the papers I will never go back
The management is behaving abominably
problem of British industry is to move from one kind of technology to another, and if management attempts to do that by confrontation, then
are putting machines before people and amplifying
fear of the unions, especially thecraft unions.
don't ASSUREC that technological change is unnecessary, DUL way Times Newspapers behaving is antique stupid It's industrial vandalism.
editorials pontificating to British indusshows that they present response are more capable of preaching than with dealing with an industrially complex problem.
I'm disappointed that the journalists on the Sunday Times have accepted management's proposals. It would have cos them nothing to have rejected them.
seemed that the unions were in the wrong. Now it will be clearer who the villains are. If the NGA sticks l OUL and if people support them, many more will begin to see what management has done.
Management
wants
'secretarial
dogsbodies'
From Jean Sargeant, Researcher the Sunday Times' Travel Editor
Management first made their lockout threat in April and then at the end of October supplied my union, NATSOPA, with 22 delaned documents to negou ate. It was only thee days before the 30 November shutdown that we were informed of our proposca wagestructure
Many of the proposals are incredible. The document on our duties says it applies to: 'secretaries, research assistants,
and copy typists — hereinafte
secretaries.
ICICITC That's characteristic of the tone of the document.
It gives management unpre cedented rights over our time wen we take mea Dea. would be at their discretion Tney want short •HOLICC SHHI changes, so that they could tell us on a Fridav that we have ic comeinon Saturday.
just about anyone in
CATC NATSOPA Clerical could be asked to do anything, including making the tea, COT course. They'velisted over 30 job tasks and then said they reserve th right to add to the list
In other words we're supposed to be all-purpose
dogsbodies
The leadership of my chape nas nanace me issue well encouraging full discussion at every stage, and there has been a closing of ranks in NATSOPA •OCIWECI the clerical and machine sections.
But there needs to be unity between the unions. We should be facing management with a common strategy, and take this opportunity to open up the whole question of press ownership and control
lsa discussion that's needed throughout the labour move-
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
We'll keep fighting, we've got no choice
All-out journalists strike
HOME NEWS
prospective customers and from the police.
who spoke to MICK WOODWARD are determined not to give in.
Zahir Haq, treasurer and | General Workers. secretary of the Garners strike committee, talked about how it felt to be on strike after nearly a year.
*Although the pickets are determined to carry on, they are
hitle baffled situation', heexplained.
•We see it as an elementary right of the worker to be in a trade union, and they surprised Inal employers nike Margolis can get away with it.
*It's scarcely believable. The other thing', he added, 'is that weexpected moresupport. It we could just have five or six pickets on each restaurant over lunchtime the strike would be over."
STONEW ALL
The main problem of the strikers has been maintaining morale in the face of determined stone-walling by Margolis, and win mine back up irom
Mercury
STRIKE!
STRIKE!
Photo: G.M. COOKSON (Socialist Challenge) L YOUNS
to call an all-out strike
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 4
CATERING workers at Garners have been on strike for over ten months. Standing on the picket line in Central London is never much fun — it's boring, and you're subjected to harassment and abuse
With the second winter of the strike now setting in, the strikers face one of their worst enemies - the cold.
Cyril Margolis, Garner's boss, is depending on the freezing temperatures to kill the strike, but the strikers
GOSLING and
The strikers each receive £6 a week strike pay, and it's quite simply not enough. We spend it just on transport getting in to picket, raq said.
VOLUNTARY The TGWU says that it is bound by its constitution and cannot pay more. Nor can it institute a compulsory levy on the branches.
This may be true, but the union can sironay aovise 15 branches to take a voluntary requires more than the routine reulars narnave ocen outour.
Two branches are taking a voluntary levy, the 616 branch and OLIC branches. This would be done in a great many more branches, if the union leadership made its point strongly enough.
SITIKerS have speakers along to the branches,
TRIKE-
,e
Mercury DUPPOR OLTON Local journalists lobby last Friday's NEC meeting, which decided
Garners day of action, 8 December
from
JUDE and oreanised usually getting a good response.
A Sp a head levy from the biggest and best branches docks - could boost thestrikers pay and finance other members of the union to take ume on work and help on the pickets.
Despite the lack of support, 35 of the 84 Garners workers who wakee out are sul actively involved in the strike.
Some of the problems of the strike stem from the nature of the catering industry. Workers at Trust House Forte and at building Metropolitan Hotels hard for union recognition and lost
hag pointed ou catering industry TOE believe, due to the exploitation left of it, thatis.
shaping up.
to 7 to call out all provincial and
OUTSISES beginning of this week. It was a SurOnSine deCisIon
Sanctions have operation in most offices since 10 November and in a number of areas could do more production being on the inside than going out to a picket line.
But
maintain sanctions was that its advocates provided no strategy for actually winning our claim for amounting to 20-30 per cene. €20
LUCRATIVE
What's more, management
completely There have been no new offers, and my guess is that with the lucrative pre-Christmas issues, which are fat with advertising, they were hoping to hold on
Scene from the last Garners solidarity demo
mainly immigrants.
organised at Ford, in the not just the pay -lose their job.
fought
with each other.
AIROUE! is growing, *Growing, WC
NUJ demands £20 rise
FOR THE FIRST time in its history, the National Union of Journalists has called out on strike its 9,000 members working on provincial and local newspapers.
The dispute, for a f20 increase, promises to leave much of Britain with only the national press — what's
JEANGRAY, secretary of Journalists Charter, told Socialist Challenge how this battle against low pay is
The NUJ executive voted 14] until this periodisover.
all-out
been
journalists felt they Journal. damage LOBBYING of the executive
from John treasurer. increase He said that
years he d heard
silent.
of low pay,' Bailey argued.
of catering workers, who are holding out.
*The industry is one of the most low-paid areas. And it's
the hours people work are unsocial hours They have no time for family or socature. nevaresave nour
Haq continued: It is hard to orLanselen, as many conc to this country on a work permit basis which means they can be iceberg. sent out of the country if they
'Often they don't have trade union experience, British law is completely new to unem, and language is a big problem; often *The ancy canoever Communald
trade at the Haymarket branch is down to less than 20 per cent of normal said turnover, Margolis seems to be
on provincial papers
tax.
What helped to persuade our
the journalists on half a dozen local
of Journalists. papers in London who had already taken to the picket lines, including my own, the Camden
whose
important.
A hundred of us lobbying the
also helped concentrate their minds, and
with there was an unexpected speech
receive t10 a Bailey, the NUJ
he'd been meetings for years, endfor 1s
the SAlIC arguments against a strike on the local and provincial papers
SEBULOS
It's time to end this scandal
The minimum senior rate at Hopefully present is f60.92 a week, which elsewhere is all that many long-serving
for have He has offered more to the scabs, but he has refused to discuss recognition.
Some of the strikers cannot help feeling that Margolis must be getting help from outside. There are powerful anti-union interests in the catering industry
Garners strikers do not win — it could be ust the lip oi th
Muhammed Mahboob, on the picket line at Haymarket, alway wasn't happy with the TGWU's attitude to thestrike.
officials arrangement with the police inatine bickers woud De amitce to six on each restaurant, and we weren't even told", Mahboob
*And the police aren't on our | journalists receive. The offer from the employers is 9 per cent. which amounts to £2-3 before
Our concern now is to stop scab papers being brought out. The executive has instructed the
Association to stop work, which woule freeze the coo marcoc into newspaper offices on the
But editors can still bring out many papers single handed, and in a number of offices they can depend on scabs in the Institute
Much will depend on support from the printworkers, which is why solidarity with the NGA
members are affected at The Times
Strike pay is a problem, and a lot of our time will be taken u
fundraising. We might week from the COTH NUJ, but that's only if an interst-free loan can be obtained from another union.
COMMITTEE
In London we wil be picketing the main printing centres, the
and wholesalers and an action committee has been set up to build the strike.
this will be done
Journalists often don't like
We tried to serve summons against one of the directors who allacked a picket and they said they wouldn't do it. Then we got a summons iron the same director saying we had attacked him.
Margolis's wife received E25
assault last month, for milling one or the pickets in the eye, which is now permanently damaged. Mahboob was fined £25 and bound over for a year
behaviour"
PARTIALITY
The courts and the police
displayed their usual Mahboob told us: "There was one 15-year-old black youth coming down here and the police said they would do him for "sus" if he hung
Challende
around
*The boy had a letter from his mother, who also used to come
down, saying that she knew that COOKSON (Socialist
was where he was
A day of action has been called for Friday 8 December when all Garners' steak houses WILL DC DICKCICE
Militants in London should make it a priority - - not simply because another cereal Grunwick would be a tragedy, for union recognition ere i but because both these battles fundamental aspect of racism in Britain: that the paid Joos are reservea for blacks PICKETING
It is not surprising, therefore if black people in Britain judge the workers movement by its support or otherwise for strikers like Garners.
The pickets believe that with adequate picket lines each day - thestrikecould be won
The Transport Union has
completely opposed mass picketing, but particular ly during the Christmas period this could be the way to take the strike forward by stepping up the pressure on Margolis.
* On 8 December turn up at the Haymarket restaurant between 12 and 3pm and from 5.30pm onwards. 'outside interference on their pickets, even from olner NUJ members, so we have to explain that we need all the help wecan get.
PAPER
Journalists Charter has just produced a 4-page paper on the background to the strike, and
organising meetings.
The emplovers, whose offer breaks the 5 per cent, want us to
to say we're a special case. This is a load of rubbish. There are many others as appallingly paid
It would be a very good idea if all those with claims against the 3 percent cowo genogerner on a
basis co-ordinate propaganda Hackney Trades Council has
with its committee
With such general shutdown in the press, it's worth considering the possibility of producing an alternative news paper to back all thestruggles.
Donations and offers of help to: Newspaper Society Action ComE lee NUJ, 314 Gray's Inn Road, London WCI. Tel 01-2787916
Page 5 scan of this page
Striking along the Mersey
Social workers reject pay deal
CPSA elections - manifesto axed
HOME NEWS
the militant determination increasing use of the police to smash picket lines.
and how it is being successfully resisted.
Two hundred bakers at the Long Lane Mother's Pride factory in Aintree have been out from the beginning. They have won support from the drivers. members of the United Road Transport Union, who have agreed not to cross the picket line.
management 03s encouraged scabbing by offer-
pay if the drivers take out just [wotravs daily.
The bread has been baked by management themselves, and so far they've managed to get two van loads out courtesy of a massive police escort. bigger the picket laid on, the bigger the escort.
EXAGGERATE
But management have tried to exaggerate the impact of the scabbing. Along with sunbiest, they have been transporting bread Scotland considerable expense.
They hope bread appearing in the shops
wrappers will demoralise the strike in their battle for salary regrading.
colleagues who have been out for four months.
secretary of the Liverpoolstrike committee.
NALGO's national policy is to abolish the national social workers' salary scale and allow local negotiations. This deciSO Was LaKeI alter it had become clear that the national scale was artificially holding down wages.
Despite this, NALGO's leaders, headed by Mike Blick, entered negotiations with the employers on zo october wit the aim of improving national scare getting rid ofit.
LUDICROUS
The outcome of these talks was a ludicrOus S-level scheme which was rejected by social
WULACES COUnLEY NOT content amount to WOODWARD explains.
whole executive removed from office after an enquiry into the elections at the union's national conference last
A technicality meant that the election of CP member Pete Coltman of vice-presidencies was declared
Bakers and the police
THETWO chief characteristics of the bakers' strike are
of the workers
TONY MEEHAN reports from Merseyside, which offers one of the best examples of police intimidation
They haven't succeeded. At the Scott's Sunblest-producing bakery in Netherton, the 600 strikers are completely solid.
Regular mass meetings have volvee une WOrKerS running of the strike. As one Dicket putit: "Scott's has alwavs been 100 per cent solid but the way the strike's been made it 101 per cent solid!"
OPPORTUNITY The mass meetings provided the opportunity for TeDOrS Dack ontne developments. Collections have been taken to help finance flying The pickets.
Merseyside bakers have been aarrington, far afield as Colwyn Manchester, and even Cardiff.
The support from the local labour Dockers started to boycott grain and flour lorries.
Transport & General Workers Union flour lorrv drivers with have to leave the depots to avoid being sacked, refusing to cross picket lines.
They've also received support
NALGO strike spreads
SOCIAL WORKERS in 12 local authorities are now on
Last Friday, social workersin Cheshire and Islington were called out by their union, NALGO, to join
The escalation follows an unprecedented climbdown by our union leadership, reports PETE CRESWELL,
Al the crucial meeting on 29 November, Blick found that 11 of NALGO's 12 districts had rejected the deal. He also found that 1.500 social workers Iron all over the country had turned up to lobby the meeting.
ALTERNATIVE The leadership alternative but to throw out the the deal. so they are now proposing to call a special group meeting - a conterence ol all local government branches -Janual y, acceptance of the offer. pay They're also making noises 300l reducing strike NALGO, it should be noted, is LIC supposed to be one of the richest with undemocratically ousting the left-wing executive committee of the civil service union, the CPSA, the 'moderates' in the union now seem determined to sabotage the re-election campaign.
The methods they have resorted to in order to prevent the left getting its views across to the membership
straightforward censorship, as
WaS void.
As he had not gone forward for election to the executive, on the grounds that he had already been elected vice-president, the election of the whole NEC was also declared void the though Coltman was prepared to waive his rights in
and run has
have
latest
Chester,
DEVI
WOl
from the General & Municipal
NaVE
Workers, the Food Union, workers" union, mass meeting of striking social workers last collection for the bakers. alC Liverpool Trades Council has distributed collection sheets, had ПО
unions in Europe.
This climbdown comes after TRe MOS! concerted stration of rank and file power - in late I NALUUS MIStOrY. and force workers have
oracred arouna by the orcial "strike
pay. when does not contain a singie
social worker Instead we have formed our this matter.
The whole affair came about
well-known right-winger Losinska, who was beaten by Coltman in the vice-presidential election.
JUDE THREATS
She threatened legal action if steps were noraken are ungr president Len Lever SLO sacked members of the Have HOW re-election campaign,
СУСП
quite LO ICE
rather than try to take the issue
PICKETS at the Scott's Sunblest bakery in Netherton have faced policy harassment.
- International mass picketing. shopUSDAW. said, "SO Mersevside up Friday took SOCIAL workers lobbying NALGO HQ to stop a sell out
own standing conference
demon- LOUI WHICH
Social past months refused to be lobbies, pickets,
operations committee an attempt to stop a sell-out.
to the courts.
But there fron Kate time CUHC officials.
one of the ousted members, has
to all union members,
her finally
NEC were alegcary HoeHous their OUTRAGEOUS , deciding the membership judge However
but hasn't yet mobilised for
This is going to DIVISIVE have to change. as one picket
we can sew
The strength of militancy has mcant mar local mandecen have tried to divide off the most OUL. militant strikers by settling their
of strike committees. It is this
orkamsca the then be lobby last week, and over the national deal.
has organised and even an occupation of NALGO's HQ in however,
The stage is now set for a long and bitter continuation of the dispute. The local employers
was more from the fullViv Lacey, executive not had her election manifesto published.
In the document distributed being
Viv's name abears mura statemer Broadside
manifesto was not Dubusnce on era device published it in full. because 17 out of 472 words
Many
libel lawyer acting on Viv's behalf waived
for union.
claim locally or firm by firm. since.
This has already happened at Rathbone's in Wigan. Here the
icaaersap not followed the old adage of 'one
union permission for a return to work.
take will be hanging on unti next month in the hope that we will
forced to accept the
We are equally determined
and social workers will be taking action to force the union to strengthen the strike. We want the strike spread to his right to fees because he considered the alleged reasons for censoring her manifesto were so outrageous.
CHALLENGE
But Viv's manifesto is still
circulated numbers of the membership.
the journal of the Broad Left, has THaL
And the left members of the NEC have publicly challenged
members of Kate Losinska s moderate group to debate the issues in front of their tackle
Sanderson
strikers
win
PHIL GILLAT THE eighteen month old fight-
union Sanderson's fork-lift plant in Lincolnshire came to f a victorious end last weekend.
Sandersons agreed to recognise the Transport Union and reinstate all the striking
When e
workers.
strike began Sanderson sacked Phil Gillat 3 In attempting to recruit to the e
After his sacking, 43 other workers walked out. They have been pickeung une plant eve
he strike has OCCH WUL through the determination of the strikers to break through, and by the support from other Transport Union members.
Supplies of engines to the plant were boycotted by the
Cane CHERE prevented from having stands at une commered VCHICIC agricultural shows.
Now Sanderson has aereed in principle to give the TGWU bargaining rights. He will also
back all the strikers, including Phil Gillat.
Students
censure
executive
JUST a week before their
last week to discuss student union financing and
What lies at the root of this discussion? PAMELA HOLMES reports.
The basic question is whether student unions should remain independent of the state and of
institutions of higher education.
The Department of Education & Science proposals which jeopardise this have been rejected by virtually all sectors of thestudent movement.
So the NUS executive took on the job, and have produced what has been named the "elusive' compromise. It puts forward a different structure
attack on the autonomy of local
Not only were their proposals
conference, but the executive was censured for failing to carry out its mandate from the NUS conference last Easter.
Its commitment to student union autonomy is such that it failed to draw up an autonomy charter, to organise a speaking
initiate an autonomy campaign.
must start with a the anomalies of the present system
•DECYCHE LETOL actin independently of the state and its institutions
The confusion sown by the executive needs to be overcome if the student movement is to
the issues up for discussion this weekend.
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
Call for ANL conference defeated
* IMMIGRATION LAWS What They Are and How to right ihem is the topic of a day school this Saturday
OPENSCUDY Against the Immigration Laws (CAIL). It's from 10.30am to 5pm at the Institute of Education. Bedford Way London WCI. Admission El (50p non-earners). Phone Colin on 01-226 0571 for details.
THE Gay Socialist conference on Homosexuality and Power" on 25-20 November, atendea by about 200 people, saw much discussion HEREN re-examine and re-evaluate the 1ceas ore gay being launched to constinue this newsletter discussion — if you would like a copy, write (with a donation if possible) to: Dai, 16 Newton
Union St., London SEI.
SINCEtheAL wasfounded no NF meeting of importance has gone unchallenged in Devon and Cornwall. Most recently 60 supporters ІГОМ Exeter and Exmouth picketed an NF meetine in a bingo hall in the Devonport Plumouth addressed by leader Andrew Fontaine. Since
leafleting of the bingo hall to try to stop it from being let to the NF again.
THE latest issue of CARF, the anti-racist, anti-fascist paper, is
out. inciuees important editorial on the present state of the movement plus articles on police narassmen controls, BASH, the East End, a run-down on recent tascis
and lots of reports. Price 15p plus 8p p&r from CARF, CHOK 35. Upper Street, London NI.
A BENEFIT for the Hackney and Tower Hamlets Defence Committee and the Defence Campaign for those arrested in the defence of Brick Lane takes place STUTUR December) from 8pm midnicht at St Hildas Row, London E2 (off Bethnal Green Koao near InCOD Brick Lane). Belt and Braces are performing and admission is f1. Food and bar available.
THE occupation of Hounslow Hospital ended on November after failing achieve its aims of winning the immediate re-opening Hounslow community
as a hospital. But in a statement the occupation committee
without a greater development of an anti-cuts movement. the occupation was an important symbol in aiding this, but the committee feels that
purpose in the absence of a firm
re-opening trom tne Area Health Authority.
WHAT'S LEFT
incheD eadline and Display saturday ele publication. Payment in advance
Statue. Organised by Merseyside ANL PICKET GARNERS: -Main
London W1
s strike pay is only £6. All donation
Strike rund Co laVi Rm 84, 12-13 Henrietta St., London WC2. 01-240 1056
NORTH LONDON AND in Hackney in the 30s and its lessons for
Stamford Hill Library, 8pm on Tues 12 Der
'FIGHT RACISM: T-shirts.
white cotton with red design.
sleeve or regular short sleeve
side in cous order d dies.
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 6
BRIEFS HOME NEWS
(9 the
the conference hall at the TUC's Congress House was Bill Keys, chairperson of the TUC equa rights committee and leading spokesperson for the General Council on racism.
Other speakers platform included Terry Marsland of the Tobacco NF Union, WATCOOL
threat to women's rights which Thesess represent particular the right to choose whether Onavealaboron The united message coming out of the conference was build the ANL in the workplaces and on the shop floor'
leaders can help to make that
But beneath the apparent arcemen weremany unspokch
local
182
Nazi League leadership conderindefeating the all fort. •Working Council' on 26 November.
COLIN TALBOT explains
to why thisis a setback.
Club Only a few minutes at the end
of a four-hour meeting were set
resolutions put forward to the meeting by rank-and-tile ANL groups. The rest of the time was
tions for more of thesame".
28 Major reports were given on
*Football Against the and the Rock Against Racism Roadshow. Both of these are obviously excellent ways taking the campaign into new areas, but the emphasis on them noted
meant Inal SOle WOR political problems weren't dealt
WIll Discussion on activities and the trade union
its conference also no grapple with the
debates which are being raised anti-Nazi activity in the unions.
And the report on Work in
-TIS with deen reore ans sadness inat socialists in Nottingham announce th
orhistireless work around the strike at
Fascism. his honest levotion to the cause of his clas He will be greatly missed by his man comrades of all politica sincere condolences to his family
Socialist Challen / Fi Litho. Must
painting and production echniques
especially platemaking, an advantage Apply in writing to 828er St. London Nt or ring 01-359
Good SOCIALIST CHALLENGE now nas a
stock ni attractive nessian Daes WItl two designs: in black, fight racism, in -women s liberation syntool wus
ANL trade union conference
Chance missed
to debate issues
LAST WEEKEND'S Anti Nazi League trade union
conference attracted 511 delegates branches, stewards committees,
executives, and a number of workplace ANL branches.
RICH PALSER reports.
Welcoming the delegates in differences. The question build
the ANL in the workplaces to do what?' was never debated.
There ways and means or organising to stop the NF. Bill Jorwaru Ont on the Race Relations Act, implement the Public Order Act, and if this Workers is insufficient change it so that me me ponce ao more to provoke black people against VOICHCe Reg Williams, vice-president of the civil servants" explained that a campaign had been launched to union members . The presence fascists from posts branch secretaries. Others, we think mistakenly, have argued or bannine men oers or rascis! organisations BY A VOTE of 52 to 34, the Anti the Asian Communities hardly
touched on the political issues SUL
events.
The major criticisms raised at the council were that the League is failing either to adequately against the Nazis themselves or to take up the anti-racist issues been posed by the successes of the ANL.
VIOLENT With the fascists turning to more openly 13715 intimidatory ANL's attitude towards self-defence against fascist violence of isa burningissue.
At the same time, sections of the AlL like reacners agamst the Nazis are already beginning preschi to confront the issues of racism on which the Nazis breed. Yet workplace the ANL leadership stubbornly refuses to allow these issues to failed come out in the open political The ANL's failure to provide for adequate defence of Brick Lane during symbolises for many militants. inside and outside the ANL, its
ScussIon Kingsland High Rd Junction BR station) at 7.30pm, Thurs 7
.. Disco, bell and braces bandr
waters COMRADE from an African counti cooltical terugee desperatery need. own room to rent in London.
Hichard Carver at (office 01-986 4045 (evenings)
MANCHESTER Revolution new anti-racist film, Divide and Rule 328/9 Never odi s South Traffo MANCHESICH SOA. DIVIOt -Mon
ahe Down with the Mullahs! Wed 13 Sister Ad. Load CoOp. Hall. 129 Seven 1, 7.30pm, at Co-
29 national union are many different ANL
racism within the unions?
Keys put
debated at the
allowed to the declaration
fascist
CPSA conferences.
persuade to remove
as union
objectives? Only the
from deciding the objectives
mobilise
which have
violent and policies, the
weaknesses.
Carnival
thousands
Centreprise.
Contact. 01-359 oundays) Of J0
showing
rd FE Colleg ncil, Picardy Place.
and Rule
tollowed
psychoanalysis e. and
from union
MAY 1979 M
Which policy should ANL 13 14 15 workplace branches organise 27 28 around? And how should the
organise to confront
These issues could not be
conference because no amendments were
voting. leaders Ernie Roberts, Peter
justified this practice, which all of them have opposed at other
But
Paul Holborow argued thai the prime thing was unity in action, and that meant building workplace ANL branches. But unity in action around what
fullest involvement in democratically decision.
and methods of that action can
anti-fascist, anti-racist demonstration last Saturday.
violence and the presence of the National Front in Islington's Chapel Market.
These have to be brought out into the open and resolved in a would also democratic fashion, otherwise they will fast become festering sores. And for the hundreds of squads.
the ANL has galvanised against the fascists,
time/ unsubsidised collective tourin
Socialist and Feminist plays around th
THIRD
ISLINGTON Women's Voice Group
presentthe tim Salt of the Sarth at the
Cinema, North London Poly, Holloway no, condon i on Mont bec droom
etc needed for
EDINBURGH Revolutionary Commu
nist Group. First in a series on month!
rents Edinburgh Trade 3. Wed 13 De Sat 9 Dec
WOmen.
Workshops
S
-16 17 18 19 20 29 30 31
1979 Anti-Racist Anti-Fascist Anti-Nazi Calendar. 13 stunning poster-size prints — 17ins by 24ins and contemporary anti-fascist and anti-racist themes.
Get yours now. £1.50 [plus 36p p&p]. Ten or post free. Rush your order to: SC Calendars, PO Box 50, Londor NI 2XP. Cheques to The Week'.
ensure a united movement.
Ernie Roberts argued that we decided policy by majority vote must not split the movement.
proposals which would havethiseffect can only be dealt with by arguing against them, not by suppressing them
ris ecuauv true than some may walk out of the ANL if they
But it is far more ditticult for them to do so wher the 50,000 paid-up members of | themselves.
CHRISTMAS shoppers in the Islington district of North London were treated to a 500 strong
that would be a disaster.
For the black communities it
be disaster, removing the only united mass opposition to the Nazi goon
ICAR MEETINGS a gan, at 374 Grays Inn
. WC1, 7.30pm
• international
C/o 374 Grays inn ing Ded. Contact CAR.
CAMPAIGN needs a new of ore NATIONAL
to coordinate the campaign's work. ru
the office, organise activities, demo
useful,
FEMINIST Review Christmas Bizarre
Chenies St, London WC1 To raise
funds for Feminist Review: a new
, made food, crafts. film sectal appearance of atte auction (12 noon),
accompanied kids free)
M W 10 11 12 21 22 23 24 25 26
- on historical, international,
more copies, f1
the ANL have democratically
Many speakers took up the campaign by the press to isolate the ANL, pointing to 'famous people who have recently left. The best defence against these attacks is to be able to show that it is the membership which
three "notables' singled out by ne maren was in oroes aease LascIs
should demand that the Steering Committee organise a national
conference for the spring to
acoate out inese issues, cleet a democratic leadership. and
ensure that une AIL goes mio the coming general election
RCG public meetin The Working
Speakers: S. Palmer and P. Newman blass the Crisis and the stat
Tues 12 Dec, 7.30pm.
notion equare, London ye
nearthetop end of Brick Lanelen. Road
Mozambique
(01-696 7108)
NAC film benetit on 10 Dec Torin ham si Shimm
Germany and as a woman forced to tur
Plus: Home Movi - home movies of growing ur ageless). Further detaiis fron NAC: 01-2780153
Page 7 scan of this page
The fight for Socialist Democracy
language periodical in the West.
character of the article.
lack of any
"Hundred Flowers'
within the apparatus.
crushed by the army backed by the party in the Sixties.
Stalinist or Brezhnevite Russia today.
party apparatus during the Sixties.
Editorial Board.
W hy is it necessary today to put
forth the issue of bringing democracy into plav consolidating the legal system? People often consider:
has the Chinese Communist Party not led the people in overthrowing the three mountains of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism and in estao ising ne reone s kebuoic.
Has our democratic revolution not been successful? have achievements not been made in our socialist revolution and construction? Is it not clearly understood that people's democracy exists under the socialist system?
The disaster created by Lin Piao and the gang of four has made people think once again. With feelings of deep suffering, the people cannot help but reflect: how could the gang of four have run amok in such a way over the past several years? Why were the Chinese people tolerant of them? wicked riminals in chinese histoross were obviously the they frenziedly damaged inner-Party democracy and people's democracy. vehemently trampled upon the legal SYSUCH, wantonly persecuted revolutionary cadres and people, and led socialist China onto the path of a counter-revolutionary comeback.
However, although the gang of four and their followers seized surprisingly great power, there were only a handful of them. Why couldn't the hundred of millionsof our people have exposed
prevent such a disaster and safeguard the revolutionary fruits of our decades of bloody sacrifice?
Speaking of the counter-revolutionary d'etat Bonaparte, Marx said: What French people nave Sale convincing: That their nation suffered a sneak allack... why was a naton or
THE TEXT we publish below was first published in the official youth publication of the People's Republic of China, China Youth, some weeks ago. A slightly modified version was reprinted in the People's Daily on 13 November. This is its first publication in an English-
Wehave been forced, for reasons of space, to delete a few sections. We must stress, however, that these excisions in no way change the
The importance of this test lies in the fact that it reveals the severe contradictions now erupting in the People's Republic. They reflect the undemocratic and bureaucratic character of the regime: the total
institutionalised links between the apparatuses and the masses; the difficulties created by this absence for the bureaucracy in running a country of 800 million are obvious.
These problems are not new. They have existed in China since 1949. There have been periodic efforts to grapple with them. The
campaign in the Fifties and the Revolution in the Sixties both represented attempts to involve the masses, albeit in a manipulative fashion and essentially in order to use the weight of mass mobilisations in order to resolve debates
This clearly involved dangers. The mass movements could get out of hand. In both the above campaigns an independent dynamic did develop. It was stifled by the party bureaucracy in the Fifties and
Nonetheless the very fact that a number of partv leaders and. in particular, Mao himself were ready to use the masses indicates two acts. First that the relationship between the party and the masses in post-revolutionary China was not exactly the same as that of Stalin and the Russian masses; secondly, a constant appeal to the masses meant a much higher degree of primitive politicisation than existed in
It is in this overall context that we have to view the current debate. We have many disagreement with the document. In particular it fails to explicitly call for the right of other political tendencies and parties or independent trade unions to exist in China. But it nonetheless reflects serious divisions emerging within the apparatus. For it was not crafted on to a wall poster in central Peking, but appeared in an official journal of the party. These divisions are not unrelated to mass pressures as revealed by the recent wall-poster campaign
The decision last week of the Chinese leaders to try and halt the wall-poster campaign and clamp down on criticisms of Mao and Hua is the clearest indication yet that they fear a revival of mass politics in the country as a whole. Whether or not they will be able to stop the campaign for socialist democracy is an open question. If it spreads to the provinces it could re-open many of the wounds inflicted on the
36,000,000 people put off guard and made prisoners without resistance by ted Works of Marx and Engels, Vol.1, p.608).
In other words: the viewpoint that alRe advances and setbacks in history can all be attributed to or blamed on individuals cannot stand up.
History cannot have occurred in vain. We have paid a high price but earned what we don know perore.
Wehavecometo understand: the gang China had deep social and political The incompleteness of our laws, the
the absence of reliable organisations and systems to democracy gave Lin Piao and the gang of four opportunities to exploit.
When the democratic means of the Party and people were weakened and undermined, the small number of careerists and conspirators who nac come no bower were abe to do whatever they liked. They donned a "lett revolutionary cloak. waved the most signboards of the Communist Party and the dictatorship of the proletariat, and fooled and incited some of the masscs. particularly people.
The vast numbers of Communist Party members and the masses people at first did not consider and could not possibly exercise supervision over them; later, uncy were powertess to stop mem and without the legal
This was an extremely deep, painful lesson which history taught us revolutionary people cannot help but remember this lesson and seize the weapons of democracy and the legal The people's will and rights Louis should be protected the Constitution, laws and not departments; to carry out this protection and prevent it from being under-
state/parts
*Cultural
and
Li Yin-Ho
saceudru socialis!
seriously YOULLE
nave acted to
by the judicial to worry
because their
Bring
into full
play
by Lin Chun
Only when the masses of people can brothers have left. truly make the final decisions on state Wher affairs and really control their own proletarian destiny will our nation no longer need
COUTHY — like children who cannot consolidated.
support themselves — that they might become orphans with no one to turn to
fathers and elder
*CHINA IN
TURMOIL
democracy
comes, the political power of our will really be mature and Stimulation of the Chinese people's tremendous enthusiasm and creative spirit in carrying out the general task
Contined on next page
for the new period and building a modern socialist country this is pressing semicance in ascuss ne re ssues or democracy and the legal system today. This is thetide, the will of the people and an important sign of the new period of Chinese revolution.
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
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at men look so great|
are kneeling,
WERS BLOOM AGAIN?
Selected Works of Marx and Engels, VOL.IV. D.355)
Second, both dictatorship and democracv - DCORO to the structure and serve the economic base. Neither of them is the final goal.
Third, democracy and dictatorship and inter-dependent and complementary. Those who consider dictatorship should be higher than democracy are absurd, both in theory and practice.
When we have completely built socialism and eliminated classes and differences between classes, dictatorship of the proletariat will no longer required ana WIl because by then it will have lost its role.
If we don't clearly understand or don't understand this at all, we are apt to consiact alctarorsmip as adsorute and sacred, and may wantonly expand the scope of dictatorshiD reduce the main body which enforces dictatorship.
This teaches us that those who 'had an obsession of the dictatorship of the proletariat' and clamoured 'enforcing an all-round dictatorship' banning pople's democracy precisely the most vicious enemies of the dictatorship of the proletariat.
super-
T
and the that
create
AHOLE
the
Constitution
end
vote,
Frequently, following.
ICDOFES LO
while This were
authorities
Lenin
"In the election
this people's
representatives,
IV
To safeguard socialist democracy, legislative and judicial work must be strengthened class enemies and all transgressions of law and disipline must be resolutely sanctioned in order
the CHYHUHLICHL dilCi • conditions under which the people can enjoy the law's protection.
LIC VaROUS people's democratic rights stipulated in the
and law. MOS important are the pople's right to
dismiss and SUPCIVISC the personnel of the state's executive and administrative organs.
something like the occurs: a certain unit's leader is highly incompetent, and even abuses his authority and does all sorts of evil things. But the masses can do nothing to him, not even after writing
June nigner authorities exposing his deeds.
big burden on their minds cannot be taken off until the higher
decide to replace him Cases like this have greatly impaired the prestige of the Party and the government among the people.
repeatedly said that proletarian democracy is a million
democratic than any DOUrECOs ccmocracy KnO una InIs 'higher class democracy" is expressed
DOCESSes ane une constant opportunities of elections as well as in the conditions of re-electing and recalling the representatives; for the workers in cities and rural areas,
much easier and convenient than the best bourgeois democratic style'. (Selected works of Lenin, Vol.Ili, p.743).
The pople's rights to vote, dismiss and supervise have not been effectively exercised fora very long time. It is now imperative to implement firmly the measures that call for ciccuing une
representatives through secret ballot and to adopt measures to rectify the situation in which the masses haven't the slightest knowledge and understanding of their
still less how they work and what opinions they present.
A recall system with legal validity should be established that includes the
required percentage of people of a unit needed to recall a leading person and an effective procedure set up to effect a recall so that the people have the right to recall in reality, not in name.
It is also necessary to encourage and moDulse ine masser organisations, including trade unions, mecre mewomen sicueranons and the various other mass bodies, exercise supervision over the leading organs and leading cadres.
At the same time, criticism of major administrative and management defects snouia be pudisnea in papers and journals to facilitate timely correction ana provide une caares and masse: with education through example.
uus.udor ISSuCS implementation of the line policies, and minor issues, such as the examination and publication of a piece of literary work, are all subject to the people's superision and decided by the people's will.
TRADITIONS
Today, nearly 30 years after the Tounc ne orNew camna. me issue ove socialist democracy and the SCH OCC HoC oc e bacc0n the work agenda — this is determined by our national history.
Marx said: 'People do not create their history at will, not under the conditions of their own choice, but under the existing conditions directly confronting them which they inherit from the past'. (Selected works of Marx and Engels, Vol.1, p.603).
Just babies cannot cnoose unei momers, peopie cannol possibly choose their own historical racons. OTLanSIS new-born motherland, though full of vitality, bear the birthmark of the fedalistie tradition of thousands of ycal)
In past generations our productive forces developed slow! within a narrow and natural economic structure. Peasants formed overwhelming majority population, but lived an isolated, secluded life
To a very great extent, existence did not rev intercourse. Lack of common contacts rendered them unable to protect their own class interests, necessitating the
because we
them.
and the unrestricted CinTouet-mass power
Marx and Engels, Vol.1, p.693).
Such exposure and
and mistakes
years.
monarchy, religious
such as the
and chateneee -LO C monarchy
power of the monarchy.
OTSOuTe
1911 revolution.
legal "genuine son Emperor.
could be
subject's
republic in name only: possibly
country.
OU l
CmnDeTO
social failed to enjoy
an was even darker and crueller Can ti
their difference between SUCdE
ourselves
Stand Up!
need for someone else to represent
*Their representatives were invari- don't ably their masters at the same time, the freedom. authority towering high above them Tsetung,
government protected them from long encroachment by other classes and Destowea rain ana sunsaine uvon unen from high above'. (Selected works of
CCO OMY backward mode of production was the solid fondation of the feudal autocratic system that reigned our country for thousands of
In the course of world history the aristocracy shared power with the
authority sur- from an passed the authority of the monarchy, 'human rights' during the Renaissance
aU nObE OTERE in Huence and finally the political oower o lic oourecos e reacu ut
But in China there never was a class or a religious authority strong enough
CEHE aoso ute authority' of the monarchy before the
In the orthodox minds of the people there had to exist a
of heaven' the
It never occurred to them that there
other kinds of political systems. The Emperor's will was law, continues to and all other laws were subordinate to
intucuce him. There was no such thing as a
personal rights; there was four only the Emperor's infinite authority, heavily feudal-socialistic?
The 1911 revolution established the
actually dictatorship by feudal warlords of al descriptions reigned throughout the
be "heresy".
Although during the period from Yuan Shih-kai to Chiang Kai-shek the
was Cansed menla President and the term Kingdom to thoroughly Republie, the Chinese people not only
what is called democracy, but also suffered under a Following fedal and fasist domination which
Chairman Mao made an incisive analysis of those autocratic oligarchs wearing new clothing: hat's the equally
them and the China autocratic emperors? Theconstitution development. and president they are talking about Despite are all sham... I'm not attacking them without cause. What I'm saying is well
Socialist Challenge 7*
grounded: They are talking about constitutional government they
give the people the least (Selected works of Mao Vol.2, p.694).
The Chinese people have lived too
under an autocratic system! Feudal tradition has put too heavy a burden on the people!
The pernicious influence of fedal
COLLEV persists because it has existed for over 2,000 vears and because the power of thi monarchy, unlike that in Europe, was never questioned.
The influence of fedal ideology also continues to persist because the new social system was directly created
extremely inferior semi-colonial and semi-fedal state, and more importantly, the ideology's
Contaue pecause the conditions for its survival still exist in LIC DICSCHL SOCICLY.
Today, China's social productive forces remain very backward, manual labour is quite extensive, agricultural yields sent to market are low, and socialisation, division of labour and specialisation in industrial production not highly developed.
This is why the masses still have a backward standard of living as well as why fedal ideology frequently crops up under the guise of 'socialism' and
exert its poisonous Weren't the 'theories advertised by Lin Piao and the gang o
and the policies they pushed
Even today, it is still common that people abruptly fall silent wheneve they hear such words as 'democracy and 'freedom', deming these terms to
nere ore is moerauveto alne! a new movement of enlightenment and
emane bano! -OTUC to liquidate feudal traditions and ideology. Our Chinese nation has great potential.
epoch-making victory of the Chinese revolution in • 1949, the victorious smashing of the gang of four - which has attraeted the attention of the whole world and is
epoch-making brought into new period of
detours, socialist democracy and its legal system have radiant prospects.
Page 10 scan of this page
The participants of the First International Congress for and about Rudolf Bahro, held
KeTilR (West) between 16-19 November 1978 renew their protest against ine sentence
imposed on Rudolf Bahro for SO OS aa SCaCEud without an effective defence.
And we demand his immediate release.
Rudolf Bahro tries to apply the Marxist method and Marxist categories to the analysis of East European societies, and he tries to show the path of change LOWarOs socasi.
THESES
Regardless of whether we agree or disagree with his theses and individual positions, his book is an important scientific
in where
the West
tears to
tread
part in the Black Friday massacre in Iran.
much less publicised.
'Israel's Global Role' was the subject of talk
LCLCHIL London by Dr Israel Shahak, head of the Israeli League for Human and CIV1 Rights.
Shahak explained how supplies weapons ane otner services countries ercumstances wiere me umied Seates and the West would find
CmDartassille 400 Examples from three continents illustrated this theme.
Latin America
The US officially stopped sending arms to Nicaragua in about April, after widespread DEULCSE about the Somoza regime. In May Israel sent an
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 10
INTERNATIONAL
Bahro congress resolution
'Socialism and
indivisible'
THREE THOUSAND people attended the congress in defence of the imprisoned East German Marxist Rudolf Bahro in West Berlin earlier this month.
They unanimously approved this statement, which was drafted by the following political organisations: the Italian Communist Party, Italian Socialist Party, the Spanish Socialist Party, the Fourth International, Listy, II Manifesto and the Socialist Bureau.
and political produced by a critical Marxist AnO COMOUHISU His book BUZCE contribution to the attempt to DICSCHIU SoCidlisi perspective and to the attempt to develop steps practical change. Therefore he, like Robert Havemann, represents the hopes of many people in the East and the We demonstrate tor Rudof Bahro and discuss DCCausC WC Wanl Socialism and democracy are indivisible.
Solidarity with Rudolf Bahro means for us solidarity with all political prisoners and those in. the East European countries persecured for tneir pontical or
Israel steps
IT MAY have surprised many of our readers to have learned from last week's issue that Israeli troops took
Or that Somoza's National Guard suppressed the Nicaraguan uprising with Israeli-supplied weapons.
Israel's role as an imperialist 'policeman' in the Arab world is well known, but her involvement elsewhere is
PAUL SAMUELS looks at the evidence.
enormous consignment, especiin ally of small arms.
Television coverage shown the National armed principally with Israeli Israel weaponry, especially the Galil auomalc assallt au e in Consignments are known to have been shipped as late as the end of August.
Nicaragua is only one of six Latin American countries, the majority of whose weapons and military supplies (eg uniforms) comes ne omners are ceuador.
Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico Chile recipient. The majority of its army supplies come from Israel.
democracy are
religious convictions.
BULS MEMYCEO!
Berufsverbote and other forms or- mnllanon rights in the Federal Republic of uchllaly auld show, people thinking.
Bahro also have difficulties in this country, in spreading and standing up for their ideas and contribution, conceptions of an alternative
social order.
The Alternative Therefore it is natural for us
to oppose any kind of politica important
repression and to tight for the realisation of social and human ds d Ica.
nEns ane Tora tenera amnes for all political LOWaILS throughout the world
PARTICIPANTS West. The participants at
international congress — trade his work unionists, socialism!. oeneent SOCIa ISIS.
and social democrats from the different countries of Western and Eastern Europe have, in the last three davs work of Rudolf Bahro in an open dialogue.
Despite our
Advocates of "Israeli socialism' might care to ponder that the
manufactured on the "leftist"
NIDDULZ The uniforms are made in a Orale TaCOE Israel also supplies a valuable propaganda service. In July the retired Israeli Chief of Staff -Mordechai Gur and Argentina. publicly armies tor being VICtorIOUF 1n
Guard their struggles,
photographed with Pinochet This was widely propaganda purposes. in botb Chile and the USA.
zontelin Israeli-Latin America Chamber Comterce. advertisements for the
kil and wind Aircrait. While this plane from Israel. is advertised in the US as
"business man's plane. in this (Spanish language) bulletin it is promoted as 'easily convertible characteristic into an anti-guerilla
Swap the cocktail bar for a few tnachine guns and presto!
this congress. .o cemocrane discussion
West DCHI!! like strengthen the work in our countries.
OPINION
only
organisations. prisoners
Rally religious this
communists,
socialists
this congress discussed •ENE
to day role to play.
ISRAELI premier Begin (centre) with military advisers
Asia
Beners Israel's
Mishmar Ha Emek - Taiwan,
knowledge.
is one of the visited Chile well involvements. congratulating both
The was them. used
after the of the -revolution
we Cam West- bloody coup).
Israel weapons, and anti-guerilla
crall
ship these arms itself.
differences we have tried to
provide an example through
Out of this and through the
exchange of experience here we
commit ourselves to further and
solidarity
Rudolf Bahro hoped that his
book would be treated critically
and would be discussed. We can
pass on this wish and appeal to the political and moral
responsibilities of all left-wing
We ask democratic inter national public opinion, especi
vanOus pontcal. University and trade organisations. to mobilise their efforts to increase the Tollowing pressure on the GDR for the month: release of Rudolf Bahro.
the
This will be possible only if
is followed ouner mme anona muauves Here the international trade union movement has a specia concentrated in four cuntries Asia is
Singapore, Thailand and Iran. Taiwan is known the te receive missiles and scientific missions'
The 'Singapore Connection'
longest standing ane aceoestor israe s overseas
The Singapore army was practically founded estates by Israeli officers and is still advised, if not commanded, by
companies.
Thailand is a more recent Centure. The connection started concentration
1976 counter(wnen liberal government and its supporters conditions, were Tumiessiy crusnea in worse
semi-feudalism, began supplying especially infantry
and is still doing so. In spring CouTDCHU Africa 1976, only one year after the fal of Saigon, it would have been politically difficult for the USto
EAST GERMAN guard: keeping the workers behind bars.
University staff
back Bahro
BARRY WILKINS reports.
general meeting of the College Cardiff branch of the Association University Teachers passed the
motion earlier this
*AUT supports the call for
immediate release of
Rudolf Bahro from imprison-
ment in the German Democratic Republic and upholds the and rights of intellectual freedom for citizens, including the right to publish views critical of their
Uzzi
The links between the Savak, ne aman secero ce anei Israeli counterpart, are already well known. srae has helped Iran in other ways, notably with
uDIq uItous aEnCuLLuld
One of the main grievances of the Iranian rural workers is that and under the guise of agricultural reform the Shah has created vast
of confiscated land These have frequently been handed over to multinational
Hired landless labourers are kept in conditions not unlike
camps. (surrounded by barbed wire from. Israel). It is in creating such
arguably much than the previous thai Israeli missions nave neiped
using
Israeli involvement in Africa has changed since 1967. Aid to Ethiopia has diminished after
society and its government
without fear of reprisal. forward to the couneil of the This motion
AUT national delegate conterence heid twice a vear)
The Bahro Defence Campaign would be strengthened significantly if the AUT can be committed nationally to supporting the demand for his release.
• nere ore au socnsi ena. lenge supperters who are AUT HICDeR should the Bahro case in their branches
Mao ensEre FERI Cardiff motion will be supported by their delegates at the Council meeting.
recent events. Today there is a
strong militarv connection with Kenya (readers will remember the role Kenya played during the Israeli raid on Entebbe). LICENCE
But it is with southern Africa that Israel's links are strongest. The main Khodesiar -AIIE sub-machine gun is the Israeli
manufactured under Israeli licence in Rhodesia (and known locally as the Ruzzi -Rhodesian Uzzi).
A feature of recent military SUDDIeS O SOl ATrIC Das been communications equipment such as walkie-talkies These are manufactured by Tadiran, who (justly) publicise them as having had long exposure to field conditions
large consignment was bought by South Africa immediately after the Soweto riots at a time when no other imperialist country could have openly shipped such supplies without at least some protest.
Other equipment includes DOWe LUEDrOCCLOr SCaTemPI and other anti-guerilla material Israci has also recent y suponec
installed an electronic barbed wire fence
.OIl Namibian/Angolan border. STATUS
However, the most important service rendered by Isreal to South Africa is probably military, but economic. South Africa is excluded from most commercial trade agreements - it receives neither favoured country status from the EEC nor preferential treatment fron the USA
Thus South African goods are imported to •sTacm and re-exported as Israeli produce,
Israel's constacrao e customs allowances with the EEC and the United States. This is especially significant in the case of iron and steel.
Page 11 scan of this page
OPEN FORUM
Since August the Iranian masses have been irving to overthrow the Shah by mass uprising HOSUTTCCHION organised, intelligent and sustained fashion they have set out to win over the rank and file soldiers on the streets, trying to induce them to turn their guns on their officers and insurgents in tearing down the old re This is why they threw flowers at the soldiers, kissed them, urged them not to fire on the people, and so on. Some soldiers momentarily mutinied, broke down in tears, some even committed SUICIOC.
Insuch circumstances, the slogan of a constituent assembly cannot be the central of agitation propaganda as some have argued.
If next time the masses come on to inesireeis in tan. uncy unduy succece in inducing the bulk of the soldiers to mutiny, then the masses will take over Tehran and the other major cities. They will overthrow the government, open the jails, arm the workers, bring SAVAK to justice, and so on.
Power will lie in the streets as it did in Russia, Germany and Spain. means mar ine victonous workers and popular masses will, in that moment, hold the future of the Iranian state in their hands. At such an hour, the question of power is posed absolutely point blank
Al, the moment of victory, relipious leaders will no doubt call in the liberal bourgeois leaders to form a government anu take bowciust ds the Mensheviks and Social Revolut-
called in the Kadets in February 1917.
Are we in favour of this? No, we are not.
The Iranian people face many tasks.
giving the land to the peasants, the TE or sen-acenanon oppressed nationalities, the liberation
religious freedom of the press, suffrage, independence from imperialism, and soon.
But a bourgeois accomplish none of these tasks. It will only return the country to monarchy
having exhausted and demoralised the people.
In that case, who should take power ontheday the masses liberate Tehran? There is only one answer: a workers
demand for a workers and peasants government must be the central axis of agitation and propaganda.
Only a government of the workers ATOl democratic tasks in Iran, the socialist transformation of urban industry desired by because all these tasks require the suppression of the Iranian bourgeoisie.
During the next wave of the Iranian insurrection there must be sufficient workers leaders — people whom the masses have come to trust in the recent struggles and would government need to act decisively the moment the soldiers mutinv in large numbers and the insurgent masses break through.
These people must without delay go and arrest the present government, take possession of the governmental apparatus, and declare a provisional
government. should pass decrees on all the major political questions within first forty-eight hours waiting for a constituent assembly -
organisational work
But what about the problem of the revolutionarv party! | here is no mass revolutionary party in Iran today.
The condition of the workers parties in Iran is weak. The Tudeh party does not appear to enjoy the confidence of large numbers of workers. A new party needs to be created.
All those declaring themselves in favour of a workers and government should be invited to form a new party (as •TOISKVISS leadership along with other tenden-
However, we should nevertheless call upon all the workers parties to seize power and form a workers and
COVCHHICHL COUL
remarkably
join the and Iran.
This Spain in July 1936.... the freedom, universal
government will
The OUL
leave alone
the workers,
in understand the
This who is equal to the tasks the revolution. without for workers
WISCOUS
the reins or
COYCERICH November 1918). peasants
Peru) and the
SRs had formed a February, the demanded by Lenin).
IRAN:
hallmark of recent debate. who is only practice tills oly tell
Providing the masses are agitating
and Dcasaulls government. then even people known to be reformists can be forced to take
power during ine insurrection and form a provisional
Germany
Of course, if reformists did so, this would not be a genuine workers and peasants government. But the workers will be able to replace it with fresh leaders more easily than they would a government of the bourgeois parties - particularly if it is made responsible to workers and soldiers councils (as was the Ebert-Haase government in Germany in 1918, and as would have
government in April or Julv 1917,
A CLASSICAL
REVOLUTION
'CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY', 'insurrection', "dual power', "soviets' - all these terms have been used in recent discussion in Socialist Challenge about the situation in
Situations like these always demand considerable precision from revolutionaries in the way they pose the question of power. Such precision has not always been the
In a personal contribution, DAVE BAILEY argues that what we are witnessing in Iran todav is a classical revolutionary situation equivalent to that which existed on the even of the Februarv revolution of 1917 that overthrew Czarism, the November revolution of 1918 in Germany that overthrew the Kaisserreich, and the revolution in
Having tried to set up a provisional revolutionary government, having ensured the relative security of the capital, the next task is for masses to elect a central assembly of the workers, soldiers and popular
It would be helpful if such a revolutionary parliament, or soviet, could be set up before the insurrection.
Petrograd
functioned for nearly two months before the uprising (which took place in Moscow in December).
But it may be that the Soviet cannot be created in Iran much before the day of victory. Repression might rule this out, except in some individual cities which are temporarily liberated (e.g.
Tabriz).
However, the absence of a Soviet before the insurrection need not prove decisive. In most of the European revolutions, the Soviet has usually been set up only on the day
after the victory of the insurrection. and This was true in Russia, Germany and
Spain. It is however vital to propagate the the idea of a Soviet, so that setting it up
after the victory becomes easier.
Whatever NaDOCHS. must a reason the day of the victory - or at least the dar assume responsibility provisionalrevolutionary government (or lead the struggle to overthrow the bourgeois government, if that is what Soviet emerges from the uprising).
when does une constituent assembly tical relevance and what does it mean If a bourgeois unfortunately born then the constituent assembly assumes considcrable moor lance Trotsky once Provisional Government great had been compelled to call such an
assembly during the spring of 1917, it would have hastened the downfall of
aspects conventional function constitution.
WATCH assembly
organise the
asoviet republic. however.
SHICVIK. whether is qure crucal Bere WOTACTS
(USPD). early o danudly
its bourgeois
constitution,
place curing the
In Russia,
Soviet October. after
for the
Social
electoral lists. slogar ot a assume de ionarv assemblv.
out of the struggle for
said that if the
in Russia
Iran!
the bourgeois government and thi transfer of power to the soviets.
Genuine constituent assemblies are normally empowered to decide all
powe unlike parliaments which under COTC-CAISHINE They decide not only partic should be the government, but also what form of governent the country should have (the constitution) - theoretically they
decide for parliamentary republic, constitutional monarchy, a soviet republic, and so.
Like Lenin, if we should I find ourselves fighting for a constituent
under bourgeois government, we must use it to help
overthrow this government and its replacement by a workersand peasants government and
we must also avoid constitutional fetishism. The Bol-
overthrew the bourgeois government in 1917 as soon as the opportunity arose and did not wait for the assembly to be convened.
On the other hard, if the workers and peasants manage to set up a provisional revolutionary government
one composco reformists or, better still, a genuine workers and beasants governmenthe constituent assembly acquires a
It would probably still be necessary in a country like Iran, where large parts of the rural population might not immediately understand the need to join the council system. The elections to a constituent assembly can then be used to draw them into the soviet
Rut historical experience shows that the question of timing (yet again)
- cvenicEnal
The German Revolution of 1918 provides a salutory lesson here. The Ebert-Haase government created by the November revolution looked like a
government. The Berlin Soviet was the sovereign power Germany from the day it was set up (10 November), and the government was responsibie tou. rue government wa composed purely of soviet parties, the SrD and tne macpendent sociansts
But Ebert was a reformist who had no intention of carrying out a single
Instead, by secret agreement with the German High Command, he immediately sought a constituent assembly from the workers' councils.
Ine UPD sensed the danger of ar
constituent assembly (the German countryside was relatively backward) and correctly demanded its postponement unt ance me proper consolidation of the revolution
But Ebert got his carly constituen assembly and elections to it took place
19th, 1919. As Ébert hoped, the bourgeois parties got a majority. Ebert formed a coalition government with the bourgeois parties in early February, and then, while the constituent assembly at Weimar, with
majority, set about elaborating a bourgeois parliamentary
the new government used the reikorps to laudate the formerly sovereign soviets. This took
bitter civil war of
January-June 1919.
following the October Lenin went over from demanding the immediate convocation of the assembly to advocating its postponement. He wanted to give the country time to absorb the meaning of
Unfortunately the assembly
elections went ahead as planned, a
mere two weeks after the October revolution and before the split in the
Revolutionary Party (the
peasant party) was reflected in th
This produced a counter-revolut-
unrepresentative o popular feeling. Instead of adding thie
weight of its authority to the soviet republic, it opposed the soviet power
Asaresult, the Bolsheviks were forced to dissolve it in January 1918.
A classical revolutionary situation exists in Iran. It calls for classical revolutionary solutions.
Victory to the Iranian Revolution! Victory to the workers and peasants of
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Contraception ban defied
IRELAND
Dublin on Tuesday 28 November.
shining on a summer afternoon.
It has been an offence for anyone to buy, sell or advocate the use of contraceptives in the South of Ireland since 1935. The activists from CAP (Contraception Action Programme) wno nave openca me snop m Dublin face a possible fine of
tosix months.
Although the law forbidding the actual use of contraceptives was recently ruled unconstitutional by an Irish court, the state authorities continue to harass and intimidate those who try to distribute devices.
LOOPHOLE
In two police and customs
at Dundalk in July SWOUDS and Dublin in September £10,000 worth of contraceptives were confiscated.
The decision to open the shop
occause imminent introduction of legis-
which Is expected to further tighten the law.
At present family planning clinics can exploit loophole - they don't actually sell the devices and pills, but give them away free and then ask customers for a "donation.
Even this limited availability has been challenged by wnat Ann Speed of CAP described as uRe small minority of right-wing
HYPOCRISY
Ann, who works in a family planning clinic, explained to Socialist Challenge: We want to expose the hypocrisy of the
show the growing demand for contraception, and
the government removing one scrores nicHons or anonIersCi
PD is born
IRA, the weekend before last?
the Movement for a Socialist Republic.
The prominent figures of the anti-imperialist movemen. attending the conference
duced one session on 'cultural
were evidence impertansm of the widespread IRICECSU caused by the fusion.
For more than twelve months the two constituents of the new organisation, People's Democracy, have been sagaging in joint hammering out agreement on the fundamental points of a common political programme.
Consequentiv the tramework shared by all members of the new organisation includes
* an understanding of the
centralLy of the national question,
* an emphasis on the leading
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 12
Women fight in the South
CONTRACEPTIVES were sold openly in a shop in
Such an event in London, Paris, Berlin or any other European capital would be as newsworthy as the sun
But in Dublin it hit the headlines. The reason is that the open sale was illegal, reports GEOFF BELL.
of restrictions"
The fear of CAP is that the Fianna Fail government will introduce legislation restricting contraception people. In this they would be reflecting Une
recent statement complained:
RESTRICTION 'The present situanon indeed unsatistactory. ceptives can be without legal restriction. They can now be obtained in many places, by young unmarried people.'
Referring to the evils' of freely available contraception, the bishops went on: *Societies in ception has been acccoco ana wael usco nave experienced lowering the standards in sexual morality 'Marital infidelity creased. The stability of family life has been weakened. A whole new attitude towards legal re anons nas developed. Promiscuity has tended InCrease.
DEMAND But figures produced by the Irish Family Planning Association show that the demand for contraception is expressed by all age groups and by both married and single people.
Of those who
nearly 50 per cent weresingle, 11 per cent were aged 19 or under. and another 40 per cent were from 20 to 24 vears old "In this sense', Speed, 'any restrictive legislation would not only be an attack on democranc rights, it would be a specific attack on youth who are to the
Fusion conference:
WHERE WERE James Daly, a leading member of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, and Sean Mac Stiofain, the former chief of staff of the Provisional
Nowhere else than observing and bringing greetings to the fusion conference of People's Democracy and
Another visitor was AILEAN O'CALLAGHAN from the International Marxist Group. He reports.
role the Irish working class must play in resolving it; * an appreciation importance of the autonomous women's movement; above all, a commitment to building a mass party based on a Marxist strategy. internationalist.
This was demonstrated when called use conterence mously the withdrawal of Irish troops from the UN's 'policing'
Lebanon, and passed another motion pledging solidarity with the Iranian masses.
The new organisation is not at this stage part of the International, MSR was. Discussion whether to affiliate to the Fl is something members of the new
married Contraimported
'genuine
generally
of
has in-
sexual
fore in calling for contraception."
Majority avalabity nas been snown Dy a number of opinion polls, while the demand for the facilities provided by the reflected in the increase in their callers" last visited two
Such backing stand is part of a growing fight by Irish women for more rights.
A recent survey carried out by a French magazine revealed that women are more discriminated says Ann against in the South of Ireland
than and women's European country
The most dramatic response to this was Dublin's anti-rape forward to. in the meantime.
Democracy has been invited to -DaruCIDaLt national's forthcoming world CULLI CAS
Compared with the larger far left groups in Britain, PD is a small But it is probably the largest Marxist group in Ireland, with brances already estaonsnca m Belfast, ol me
SIMCTICK PRACTICAL With members strongly based in the resistance movement in the North of Ireland, in the emerging women's movement in the South, and in trade unions immediate both sides of the border, PD is
well placed to elaborate a 32 force in county programme
pleting the Irish revolution. in That task was DeLu when joint work was agreed it October 1977. The 700-strong
Fourth Coalisland
this vear PD/MSR built in collaboration with the Independent Socialist Farty, Wols
support for full The
challenge so tar. clinics is Whether
54
CAP's
joined.
South of Ireland.
other West
TCLUESE For sale at:
Street, Dublin 2. have to look demonstration
People's
the Interwas Denis Murphy
from Loyalist attack
organisation.
the fusion internal life
Dublin, Cork and
COHTCICHCC
ronary SHUELIC
COll
Murphy Connolly
conference Belfast.
for which
practical
demonstragon m sevember. i which 10,000 women took part.
opening the contraceptive shop presents the government with its most direc
Fianna Fail falls into line with public opinion or
more attention to the Catholic hierarchy, the fight for women's rights in the South of Irelana nas been well and tral
WARNING to all readers in the
This advertisement is illegal.
Contraception available on
17 Harcourt Irelanu Westminster
the
Irish policy
Labour Whip, Was
of how the 350 to 49 vote resistance could once more di Another rooted in the life of the masses.
one comrade overcca rom the debates at the conference
with presently in prison in the North, convicted of possessing arms he was holding to defend his area
Sentenced to isolated from voting lobby.
process and the cane new organisation by a six year jail ern. Dens never neess sent enthusiastic greetings to the
His incarceration serves as a reminder to British socialists of the harsh realities of revolu-
In Britain's oldest colony, a struggle which People's Democracy will now wage with the utmost vigour.
A fund for Denis Murphy has been established. Contributions can be sent to the Denis
Detence Bookshop, Avoca Andersonstown revol PD's newspaper, Socialist Republic, government can be obtained from the same address, price £2 for 12 issues. CaSe
CONTRACEPTIVES
UNLIMITED•
MPs revolt
in extra
seats row
TWO Parliamentary
Private Secretaries who voted last week Sue abou! ment's plan to give the North of
SIA MOTE SCaLS resigned their positions on 29 November.
The two, Ivor Clemitson and Bruce Grocott, were among 38 Labour MPs who voted against
proposals the most significant parliamentary revolt so far against the government's
Liberals also voted against the measure, and an assistant
Jock Stallard, notable among a large number of abstentions in the
intriguing abstention was Energy Minister Tony Benn, who voted in an earlier division on the Bill at 10pm
the government against a Liberal amendment.
took place just 15 mintues later, the Be WAS TOO DOHERE
The government has played down the significance of the
Normally an assistant Whip who refuses to support
immediately sacked, but in this Stan
measure will be taken.
Nor is Benn to be quizzed his voting -PCHaVIOUR
The opposition to the extra six seats was based on an assumption that ine move represented a further integration of the North of Ireland into
Westminster political system. The MPs also knew that most of the extra seats would go to Unionists.
The Labour MPs who voted or acted as tellers sons were.
Norman Atkinson, Norman Buchan. Denis Canavan. , Neil Carmichael, Lewis Carter.
Ivor Clemitson, HONES Maureen Colquhoun, Robin Corbett, Martin Flannery, Ted Fletcher, Bruce Grocott, John Home Robertson, Russell Kerr, Arthur Latham, John Lee
Loyden, Alex Lyon hard, o McNamara, Joan Maynard, Newes, Maurice Orbach, John k Bob Mellish. Jan Mikardo. Star Ovenden. Christopher Price. Jo Richardson, George Rodgers, Paul Rose, Neville Sandelson, Renee Short, Dennis Skinner,
spriggs Ron Thomas. Thorne. Alec Woodall, John Ellis. Tom Litterick
Page 13 scan of this page
Fighting for a free Nosmans field socialist y FANER
Language activists jailed
HOME NEWS
Wales
explained to us why such a paper is necessary.
What policy does Y Faner Goch
weslane torine creanion ora Welsh Socialist Republic as the only way to end the cultural and economic exploitation of our country.
We see the struggle for a free Wales and a socialist Walesto be one and the same. From this standpoint, our ultimate objective must be the creation of a free socialist Wales within the wider context of a socialist Europe.
The columns of the paper are open to anyone who themselves to be a socialist in Wales. We have contributors and supporlers trom all lent groupings and many who have never been active in any political organisation.
At the moment the Editorial Board is an informal group of comrades mainly Cymru. Why did together to launch Y Faner Goch?
There were two main reasons. •irst weter inere was an ureen need for the left of Plaid Cymru to be heard.
This is the only way to build up support in the industrial areas of Wales and to reactivate the great socialist traditions of those areas where Welshness THE CHARGE that a jury was politically vetted, first made in the ABCcase, has been repeated inanotherstate trial.
This time the two defendants
not fortunate WEIC Aubrey, Berry and Campbell, and were jailed for six months.
publicity. Which probably has sometning to do with the rac that they Welsh, nonung for yveisnrigats.
Dafydd Wynfford James and
Williams, former and present chairpersons of Cumdeithas Yr laith Gymraeg [the Welsh Language
convicted were Carmarthen on 24 November of conspiring to cause criminal damage to Television mission installations course campaign for a Welsh language TV channel.
INTERPRETERS
But after the trial, at which evidence was given in Welsh, Wrexham MP Tom Ellis raised
possibility speakers had been deliberately excluded from the jury government legal officers.
Ellis said he was worried at renorts that a large part of the jury were listening to
a proportion far higher than
one would have expected in a
Welsh-speakingarea.
A NEW Welsh socialist paper, 'Y Faner Goch', has sold out of its 3,000 print run within days of publication. TONI REES, a member of its editorial board,
and socialism are inextricably combined Secondly, we hope this paper will bring togetner une socialist and nationalist currents within Wales.
What role do you see the paper playing?
It Is not intended tnat is roic Should simply reporting. It is also going to be an neuve campan taking up issues of all sorts.
For example, in this first issue we have started an CamPaIL CLU support Nantgarw Coking feels
workers in the fight against the closure of the ovens.
The referendum on the Wales Assembly will closely influence
Wales. What is your position on Ins.
The Assembly is not in any Plaid sense a matter of principle. It is get weak and nothing to do with any
For our principles. tactically, of immense impor-
First, of course, it does in some strange wav recognise the existence of Wales; but more important, it will undoubtedly lead toa demand for more.
Its very weakness, its right to talk and not to ask, makes it potentially the most important development that has come our BOLLEM Welsh
Ten out of twelve jurors are understood have
the Welsh name. A very strange
selection.
HONSCIESE prosecution claim Welsh language is not an issue in
way
nat type or to campaign should revoluuonanc Marxists carry out?
to allow ourselves to become DaSSINC
After all, they only paper being as a result of nationalist
pressure, and as an attempt to defuse this and to destroy the active movement for self-determina-
the
tion.
Thesis oposals are the ey
self-determination. fore have to fight for a Yes vote but also to make the point that this is not going to be enough.
Can you briefly outline Plaid's economic policies?
Plaid Cymru has already, at previous conferences, outlined IS DOS OnaSORCOISLODOrETO free collective bargaining. This vear one of the motions passed committed the party to fight for the creation CLOROHIC Wales.
Socialist Challenge and Socia-
right of the Welsh and Scottish people to self-determination, WYNFFORD JAMES (left) and Rhodri Williams before the start of their trial in Carmarthen
this trial".
used The thoroughly
nature of the case was turiner emphasised when four demonwhich strators who tried to expose this
the farce in the courtroom were that *the jailed fora month forcontempt.
Cymdeithas
GOCH
The Welsh Socialist Newspaper 12c/p
rhif/no.1 Tachwedd-Rhagfyr 1978 November-December
•TOF a Yes
blies with real powers. and
issues we should discuss formulate a policy on?
came into
outside.
right We there- locking problem
not an requiring only a
lanEudEc and inextricably linked
and seen for what it is.
All socialists
socialist present economic
framework for
in the light of these.
justice. downhearted. political person Warne
now be intensified.
health
vote in conditions referendum, and for Assem-
That it
Building on this, what do you think are the most important
and MICHA LI
The most important point is to look at Wales as a unit from GEOFFREY inside, as it were. We are not a 'problem' to be solved by people
Only when you do this will you come to see Wales in its
Health totally as a compiex or mick
cultural, went on
For example, the language is vindicated.
isolated problem Dal answer outlining support for minority" fighting a
cultures; it with other problems. None of them can be considered in isolation
One of the working Wales must look in detail at its history and development, at its
and social SITICEIN structure, and decide on tactics
concerned.
This is no battle for abstract ideals but for real economic and cultural freedom and social
treated
of the report.
YESHCRIC
plinary action. the
employment Acting chair:
Williams an- be disclosed.
nounced at a 400-strong rally
after the trial that the campaign Atomic
for a Welsh TV channel would
perspective.
Hospital:
the tin gods
hold on to
power
TERENCE LAWLOR, tyrannical consultant psychia-
has at last been fired.
But the SW Thames regional
authority, which for ignored the appalling at the mental handicap hospital, has declared
Many disciplinary action against two of its officers sharply criticised in the inquiry report.
WARD, member of the health authority and a former Labour councillor
Wandsworth, SHERIDAN SPOKE about the RHA's response. 6 that the action of the A lot of people feel
I Confederation Service Employees members at Normansfield, who
strike demand Lawlor's suspension, is totally
My impression is that the consultants and doctors are
ruthless rearguard action to defend their privileges.
Lawlor had locked up three women in a room and ted them on a diet of gruel. He called this a research programme.
inquiry's recommendations is that research or psychiatric patients should be
controlled and only authorised if it's likely to be of some benelit to the patients
they
A leading consultant in the RHA declared that this outside the terms of reference of the inquiry and should only be
an expression of personat opimon Dylne autors
VOLC the health authority not to discipline two of its officers was 14 to 4. A group of us wanted to further
critical remarks made in the report, but the majority view was to give a blanket assurance of no disci-
The nuclear threat
to trade unionism
A TRADE union conference on jobs, nuclear power was held on
November in Oxford. JOHN BORAN reports.
The conference, organised by
Socialist Environmental Resources Association, discussed nuclear health and safety, the effect of nuclear power on
Same raue UTOE rights, and the alternative to nucicar power. over too trade
unionists were there, from all incma or anons
The attack on trade union rights comes from the operation of the Official Secrets Act. For example, a worker sacked from a nuclear site can be refused a tribunal hearing on the grounds that secret information would
The claim by bodies like the
Energy Authority
creates jobs was also put in
Nuclear power creates fewer
While relatively junior nursing staff are recommended for the sack by the report, the control over doctors is very different from that. In my view,
should have a tighter contract of employment and be subject to firmer disciplinary procedure
I'm in favour of breaking down the hierarchy in the health
Managing hospitals control would be a way forward, but that doesn't deal with the immediate situation we have hospital.
When health workers go on to the existing manage-
simply be sucked into a
simply be sucked into them.
mostly a very highly skilled technical elite, than the alternatives: power, demanding the skills of th shipbuilding industry; wind powel, makca to tre acrospac industry; and solar heating and
bing and building industry
Dalton Australian trade unionist talked about the internationa struggle against nuclear power. Many trade unions around the world have been involved in the campaign, including the CFDT in France, the Irish TGWU, and the Northern Territory Trade & Labour Council in Australia.
In Britain the TUC supports nuclear power, as do all trade unions with the exception of the building workers UCATI and the Yorkshire miners. The fight for a rea debate in the labou movement about the consequences of nuclear power is only just beginning.
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
COMMENT
W H Smith &
"Gay News'
IN THE light of the Monopolies Commission Report on the Wholesaling of Newspapers and Periodicals, which confirmed WH monopoly position in this field, we the undersigned wish to condemn in
SLTOTECSE possible lerms Smith's decision to cease stocking Gay News after a two-and-a-half year "trial" period and their continued refusal to restock it despite widescale protest.
Despite the liberalisation of the law on male homosexuality the majority of gay women and men remain in isolation and fear. constantly under tharasmenof byolene alice More narasnc police. importantly. most homosexuals are still conditioned to feel guilt and self-disgust, their only problem being that they live in a society that hates homosexuals and denies them all the freedoms that heterosexuals take for granted.
Gay News provides isolated and oppressed homosexual men with a point of contact with the gay world and a source .or generally ignored by the mass press. It also gives a positive image of homosexuality a an alternative to the demeaning and serco voicar mase perpetuated by most of the mass media.
WH Smith ignored these considerations in taking their action to ban Gay News. Din s OsensiDie Teasons To! the ban, in terms of the content of Xr recent issues of Gay News, are belied by the fact that the same subject matter appeared in the newspaper two-and-a-half years ago when it was first stocked.
GAY
NEWS
The objections to letters in support
the Paedophile Information Exchange could equally be made against nationals like the Guardian, which is still being stocked by WH
and the objection contact address of PIE beine listed ir Gay News constitutes a severe attack
астостано HIENES paedophiles to at least discuss with ca ocE uc brulau aud OsaeIs which they undergo in this society.
Smith's final argument is that they should be free. to stock whichever journals they choose, but freedom infringes the rights freedoms of a large section of the population. The principle
Challinor John S. Clarke 0.75p (E1.50) + 20p post A 0.90p (E1.80) + 20p post Dewar Communist Politics in Britain
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AN E1.48 (62.95) +30p post
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Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 14
individual liberty cannot be applied to the concerns. WH Smith may have only aCES large,
400 retail outlets, but with Menzies and Surridge Dawson they control 69 distribution, and a decision to ban a wholesale particular journal has effects.
We believe therefore that WH Smith's Smith have abused committed willul discrimination against homosexuals, WH ane benavec In manner which has serious implicanons for une urecaom or une press.
Wedemand that WH Smith restock Gas News and unti such time as thei do we call upon individuals and groups opposed to this censorship to-support the initiatives against WH Smith organised by the Gay Activists Alliance.
Time Out Federated Chapel, The Spare Rib Collective.
Challenge Editorial Board, Socialist Worker Editorial Board, The Leveller Collective. Steve Munby Challenge), Lord Avebury, Maureen Colquhoun MP. Tom Robinson. Using the Race Relations Act
COLIN Talbot (23 November) argued that the way to uproot racism in employment, training and promotion is through the strength of the trade unions. He totallv reiecied the use of the Race Relations Act.
Despite all its weaknesses, the Act can sometimes be used to benefit blacks, and even minor gains can increase the combativity of the black masses. So far the movement has totally ignored it.
Normally local negotiators Trainee to use anv new easauon Dy means of special pamphlets Summer SCROOIS.
Relations Act this has not been done.
Snoos cwarus usuaiy assunc tatus the property of the race relations machinery and nothing to do with the workplace This failure by the trade unions to use the Act is not because they are reluctant to rely on the state in the fight against racism. Far from it. The truth to the is that they think that using the Act will ean COMHHURE SUCICG they are seen to D acKs. InCy will provoke a white backlash. In other TaLIS!
Last January largued at the General Council of the shopworkers" union USDAW that they should support their some victimised Asian workers on the and basis of tne kace Kelatons Act. Ene president, Stan of MP, rejected this out of hand by
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Choose two or more titles and add the postage specified (maximum postage necessary £1.50). Cheques are payable to Pluto Press Limited. Please remember to give your name and address clearly and that this special offer ends on 31 December 1978.
Holton British Syndicalism £1.48 (£2.95) + 20p post
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saying, 'wecan'ı differentiate between monopolistic our black and wnne memoers
the strength of the trade unions, Colin suggests, while the unions are frightened to use even the limited periodical
Race Relations widescale affirmative action. The danger is that,
by also calling the Act a 'non-starter". revolutionaries can appear to be in the their position, same league as Tierney and his mates. act RAGHIB AHSAN [Birmingham]
an irresponsibic
Opportunism
on BSA
form of
I WAS somewhat surprised to find a review which I had given you over a year ago printed in Socialist Challenge (23 November). This raises a number of questions as to the motive behind Socialist the printing of this review
editorial board mis-cducation of black children is an important subject worthy of inclusion in the pages of Socialist Challenge. then why has it taken so long for this review to be printed?
Se SaCA SaUS A HanCe STOnErs believe that it was not an interest in the mis-education of black children that motivated the printing of this review. We are confident that the Socialist Challenge editorial board is aware of the policy of the BSA that we do not want, at this point, to give interviews or articles to the press or white dominated organisations.
thispolicy, noneof which hasanything to do with anti-white leftism. point is mnal i is disrespecuul and opportunist for Socialist Challenge to adopt the method of printing a review trade union byme-
One ore me bA was ever omICa are and printing after my name 'membe of the Black Socialist Alliance
that the BSA has made an exception of but with the Race
Socialist Challenge in its declared policy concerning the press of aligned whe-dommaca organisations There is nothing navlaual smemocts writing for your paper or any other aligned papers. But if and when they do it is understanding that the name of the BSA should not be used to identify the
" Tal wriler be favouring the personal capacity.
words, they are is your business - but you have no
right to disrespect the wishes anoner revolunonary ortamsaHon. especially one whose aims you claim to support. We demand an apology, and personally I want an assurance that if I submit an article you will not take it Tierney, a Labour upon yourself to add the name of the
BSA, orany other organisation, unless actually stated in the signing of the article.
TUNDE ANTHONY [London] *Our apologies
Recycling
hippy fantasies
KEVIN Wood's entusiastic review (9 November) of Burchill & Parsons' The Boy their Menachim Begin. Why was he not bothered by irrationality of this book'
first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. B& P spend sixty pages berating the coke-cannabis-acid the sixties before boldly proposing their own master drug -
is a threatening drug because increases the IQ by an average of eight pointsand (if snorted and not injected) IS HIO GUdICHVC CACCDE desperate for something to blame their deliciencies on squalid seventies re-write egotistical, Timothy Leary on LSD.
again, aune mos fantasies about music as a force for socio-political change and inverted. nostalgia for Woodstuk. B & P indulge in Lewisham. One can oniv
Black workers can hardly 'rely on
and political conflict.
Act, never mind
music. But
busy Tnel
and animal disgust.
highly
unsound"?
If the think that ine
"THE BOY
1 and a number of comrades from There are a number of reasons for
The
- a review that was given to you
You thereby give the impression
to prevent ot ihe BSA CHatEC
under - the striet
had always they write strictly in a
If you have criticism of this policy, it
of
anas neune
edited our. know are oo concrete material
spreading
Looked At Johnny was only
dedication LUIE viously hasn't the incoherence and Challenge outlining As Hegel once pointed out — al harassment events in rock culture occur twice: the
scum elite of have hearings. speed! You They seriously inform us that "speed
it ISSUCS
in persons
This seems to me a OTTHe omnipotent ravings of
And their concept of politics. Here A clearly.
mane mppy
are re-veied Instead of endless
endiess invocations of Reprint. Still only guess their available.) entusiasm springs from the fact that
Lewisham was the most violent demo o cecileas mce reLar aca dse there one-off moment of glory and never seenas an incident ina context of racial
The only justification I can see for this book is that B& P wanted to create a work as disturbing and unsettling in prose as the Sex Pistols achieved in
whereas the Pistols unleashed a wave of energy and an image of revolt (surely rock culture can never achieve more than that) B & P
misanthropie and Contaco oca enesa o! Zionism, contempt for Rastatarian ism) in language obsessed with decay
Faggot, junkie, turd, scum, leper and parasite are the most common critical categories in this book. Is this really Socialist Challenge' s idea of 'a
worthwhile read which separates the acceptable from the
MICK GOLD (London SW2]
LOOKED AT JOHNNY."
ETOF EOCKN OLI JULIE BURCHILL
AND TONY PARSONS
'Knifed in back'
IHOHS.
ONCE again you have knifed in the back the six anarchists now facing
CUlSOHaL LaLIS explosions. The first time was when the arrests hirst started and you IS printed a sanctimonious article about how the International Marxist Group
warned against the "polities of despair' - and this at a their time when not even the bourgeois press had convicted the arrested (they still haven't been committed for trial).
The next time was when you stalled an article from Persons Unkowr suppert group commenting on this
CasuC When eventually you did publish it, it was with all the bits criticising yourselves
Now, in Richard Carver's article on the staie (2 November), you add slander and innuendo to your record from or oetence tor ine six anareaists You say Persons Unknown indulged in physical attacks against potential supporters. When? Why? Certainly the Persons Unknown supporters we
busy engaging In support for the prisoners, publishing pamphlets and
Une word aOUu -S'alC repression, to be bothered with such COUnIC-DrOGUCLIVC LaCLICS
As for criticising the group for
'underground", Carver been reading the weekly press bulletins sent to Socialist
the continual by the police detail. supporters. People have been arrested on their way to meetings, houses have been raided, and at least three people
been arrested at remand
complain that Persons Unknown are in some sort of ghetto that they cannot spread the important
, but whv are vou complaining?
It is the kind of attitude that your
WHY PAUL FOOT SHOULD BE A SOCIALIST The case against the Socialist Workers Party A recent Communist Workers Movement publication
sd how to get usere: Time Duc.
"socialism and how to get there" *A serious critique of the politics of the Trotskyist tradition... Doing this in an amusing and readable style (another first for a Marxist-Leninist group), they at the same time give a clear outline of their own politics. The Leveller. A 'devastating critique'. Undercurrents
€1.20 (200 pages).
October Books, 4B Temple Court, Liverpool 2. (25p p&p, trade terms
paper reflects that has pushed them
OXFORD ANARCHISTS
• On a point of fact, our first direct contact with Persons Unknown was when a group of their supporters repeatedly visited the Other Bookshop SneDuSee ne ureaenee memoer of theshop and editorial staff if we did nou orini imeir arce
This sort of thing is still going on: a ineranan suoDonera tue paper wa. recently threatened by a group of CTSONSHKOWI SUDOOTICT for defending the Anti Nazi League.
Such people may not be representative of the campaign, but the group's vert anonymity means that this is li face it tends to present to the world.
Doctrinaire approach
READING your unsigned article on *Marxist theory and the British labour movement' (23 November) reminded me of an editorial 1 had read on the same subject in an carly issue of International Socialism. The fact that 1 recalled this so many years after its publication in 1961, when 1 first read il, reflects not only the rarity of such essays but also the impression which it made on me at the lime. When I reread il, I found a comparison with the present arncie migmy mannnaung
Compared with) the Socialist Challenge article il possesses the great advantage of recognising that there are two sides to the question - Marxis theory and the British labour movement - which must be brought into a dialectical relationship with each other as they exist in reality, as against the one-sided and doctrinaire approach of the author of your article.
Ine point wish lo make is that unless revolutionary Marxism can become fused with at least a part of ihe British labour movement and its trad-
such as the Socialist Workers Party, then it can never become an effective political force in this country Surely this is self-evident, but it is so often ignored, though it appears to have been understood at least once in
If I seem to have been suddenly re-converted to the 'IStradition' (and I nave tais s nor becausc i bcueve umal
•OWn particular dogmatic schematism was correct - this has been disproved often enough - but because of this specinic close and dialectical relationship with the actual British labour movement, and what the editorial called its "self-changing activity".
In this respect, the old IS editorial still seems to me to be one of the best surviving expressions OWid wal once most positive in the "IStradition', which we need to recian and learn
JOHN STRAUTHER [Liverpool]
No 'right to be
heard'?
DAVE Laing (23 November) is wrong to minimise the criticism of Monstrous Regiment's performance of Gentlemen Please in Leeds and wrong to raise ine queston or Ene Ictts internal democracy and right to be heard without arguing his point in any
There was some private discussion during the show about whether to quietly walk out in protest at the, at best, mistaken polities coming out in theshow, or whether to stay and argue at the end. I was among those who wanted to stay and argue, but many walked out. When some feminists started shouting their protests, saying that the show degraded and exploited
written contribution to the debate on
All good bookshops, or by post from
Page 15 scan of this page
COMMENT
women, and the performers and some of theaudience claimed that they had a right to perform/see the show, became a case of "which side' the rest of us were on.
The claim that the left has a right to put over is ideas has to be dismissed
n my opinion, the oppressed, whether incy be ine working class, women, black people, or gays, have a right to use whatever means they see fit in their effort to throw off the exploiter. There Can Deno aosolue nEns lo Have you! arguments heard.
Dave Laing has got it the wrong way round when he says concerned about the fact of the left being disrupted than
The first question always be 'do these ideas and activities further our liberation?' In the case of Monstrous Regiment, some comrades felt so strongly that the ideas were harmful that they had to disrupt
You can disagree with their judgement of the ideas in the play, and you can disagree with their tactics -you can't deny their right to employ whatever means they see fit, unless you want to deny their autonomy. MAX FARRAR (Leeds Big Flame]
Local broadcasting
AT the end of July the government issued its long-awaited White Paper on broadcasting which intentions for new legislation. I have waited with increasing impatience for a response from the document.
So far as l am aware the only radical critique of the White Paper (and of the Annan Committee корог preceded it has come broad-front pressure group. Community Communications Group (COMCOM). This has policy statement calling for the setting up of a Community Agency to foster the development of democratically controlled, profit-distributing local radio and cable TV stations which the Annan Committee proposed.
COMCOM sees these stations as a potential 'third force' in local broad casting: alternative establishment paternalism of the BBC and the populist commercialism of the so-called 'independent' supervised by the IBA. Local people would be ensured access production racilities of the station and its governing board; and station staff ale volucers woue.oc accountablc to a local policy board representative of communitv interests. which in turn would be accountable to the proposed Community Broadcasting Agency.
Is there any chance that the left will wake up and start shouting on behalf of democratically profit-distributing local ing? Or is the prospect of a democratic socialist form of broadcasting now too threatening for revolutionary minds engrossed in millenialist fantasies? SIMON PARTRIDGE [London N7)
THE DEADLINE TOr EnIS cn tne Saturday before
publication.
NORIN WEST
WARRINGTON Chester Socialist Challenge offices for
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please contact Chris (273 5947. - or wit
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centre cio 4 riccadiv. mancnester
with a view to forming a saltore Socialist Challenge group
1r. Contact Se cente (26 2362)
LIVERPOOL Socialist Challenge Xmas
Upper Parliament St, starts
BAD
TASTER
must
Intellectual
bickering?
but publishing the reply by Manson, Smith
case may be.
some less than serious
OLE ITS
into publishing it.
That letter left to this
neil do you participate in
which from are
the
produced a
Broadcasting
nonthroat, comrades.
S. KERRY (Trawden)
Materialism as the
philosophy
stations
to the
popularise Marxism,
controlled nonbroadcast- whilst attacking
that). But any
the bourgeois sense, i.e.
lead to positivist
MOSS SIDE socialist supporters ser me paper at moss sid Centre, Saturday, 11-1 NORTH EAST NEWCASTLE
LIVERPOOL supporters meetings or
Owed 13 Dec 'Industrial Democracy or Workers Control (Tommy AUEW Building, Mount Pleasanto DURHAM Socialist Challe row Pioneer Cottages Law Pittington, Durhan MIDDEESBROUGH lenge sales, Saturday lunch time nea ne lottery stand at vlevelane centr newsagent ap. Mckenna Brown also STEL SENDIUG STOCKTON-ON-TEES readers can buy Socialist Challenge from Green Books uostairs in the spencer han snoopi centre.
LONDON HAMLETS Socialist Chal-
tomer or Businst 1.am, Brick Land
nature
rently
Kautsky IAM puzzled (well, not really) at your
comrades and Singh (16 November) to Tony Sharp's letter (2 November). Such intellectual bicker- that ing and comic in-fighting should be Tree set aside for ine contines or som theoretical organ (or comic, as the
World
I could only explain the letter as
parody. But they could at least have done it in a less exclusive wav. presume it was the letter's pretentious verbosity and intellectua gloss which conned you
is not an isolated example. Articles and letters of this nature appear frequently. How the
want WORKERS the debate about socialism wnen tne columns or you
devoted to such intellectually elitist subject matter?
In a vain attempt to sound learned, I too quote Lenin: "The flaunting of high-sounding phrases is characteristic of the declassed petty-bourgeois intellectuals. So I await your answer with interest - and a dictionary!
Let's not cut the revolution's
class
THE five comrades who took issue (16 November) with my first letter (2 November) misunderstand me if they think 1 accuse Engels of reformism. But he is guilty, while attempting to
of creating a
materialist philosophy. This is quite contrary to Marx's intention - 'We do not wish to command people to "kneel here" to another philosophy".
just this error Duhring's "force' theory (quite excellent so far as it did
attempt to maKe dialectical materialism a science (in
Getao lu from its critical class basis) could only
sociology
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
Challeng (
TOWER HAMLETS Socialist Chal phone 207 2m trederals and trade Unions HARINGLY
Divide and Kule Rooms,
Socialist Chai
what we feel about our grou supporters welcome to contribute.
London NW6.
SW LONDON
3BR_N newsagents, Braganza St
reformist practice. A dialectics of
Call only be Hegel "materialism' transposed for "idea.
only appapredates Kautsky's. underlying assumptions were similar.
argues that 'materialistic conception of history the Marxist laws are quite universal and general; the proletariat is quite incidental. Hilferding's
Marxist economics are TOlE the philosophical background.
Do the comrades deny that the First
War would have been a HOn-StarCE if the Second national's position, instead of being equivocal, had been anti-war and for
revol dialectical use terialism ane
dialectical materialism immutable natural law, reformism and later Stalinism were able to give their crimes a socialist gloss which is still a quite acceptable position in ine workers movemica today, albeit with the admission of mistaKes
The Marxian system is taken exclusively from the standpoint of the proletariat. It is concerned not with supplanting bourgeois philosophy, sociology or history with a new philosophy, sociology or history, but with their criticism; it uncovers their class conditioned ideological character. Capital is a critique of political | socialism. economy, not a socialist economics TeX DOOk
When I say do it now' I mean that
capitalism gives us the conditions fo
socialism. Weconvince the rest of ou class that this is so in "practical critical activity'. Of course it will take a conjoint political/ economic crisis and development of
consciousness to socialism. The necessity' of this we infer from Marx's theory of history.
Could it be, though, that the five comrades mistake my attack historical materialism!
TONY SHARP (Liverpool)
Facts on food
YOU'VE done it again. 'I await the
wholewheat poisoning and grievous bodily harm
much muesli", COnC DY LOU Colin Smith (9 November). Vege tarians and wholefood eaters are not
HACKNEY aturday, 12-2pm Sainsbury s Dalsto WALTHAMSTOW
supporters are showir Britannia Pub,
- Never, the anti-raci
Lane be Adm. 0p (30%
SOUTH WEST
n the role ormon to groups sor
. All loca
details
every Saturda apntube, Claphar PORTSMOUTH Socialist Baham Tube. Also o outside Oval tube, Herne
Chanengi
averse to jokes, but where are the signs with serious investigating the issues of food on the part of your paper?
Their These are very important to take up It isn't enough to talk dismissively of agribusiness. socialism demand an understanding of wnat nappens shortages and also how the beginnings of a *value socialist life-style can be found in Sally vegetarianism. A few facts, lifted from The Vegan.
370 million tons of the world's harvest is fed to cattle in the West (?) every year Inter- — enough to meet the combined needs of all the people in China and India, a large fraction population. Ninety-fiveper cent of US soya bean production is fed to cattle.
DOLE Meanwhile we eat steak, and the agricultural producers of cash crops in Third World countries often starve because the staples of their diet have become too scarce and expensive. An acre of good land used for pasture will produce 18lb of dry matter protein ir a year. Soya bean yield would be 500lb Thus, as the affluent, capitalist, COULETC quantities, it comes close to eating the poor of others. Obviously much work both in research and publicity, still needs to be done to tie these issues in to the others that we associate with However, resolutely cranky organisations have held the initiative. •Their utopianism puts many off, but if there are no others at work the
struggle, doesn't Socialist Challenge take the initiative?
PAUL HUBERT (Newcastle]
realise Feudalism lives - in Scotland on •ULI
THE Scottish information office has issued a form on the abolition of tel duties. This may puzzle some folk, who believe that feudalism has passed away in the United However, this is just not the case it Scotland In the old days knights were an early bread form of gangster, who carved up a country into spheres of interest. The roamed the armed, offering protection to the populace. In
supporters sell in Kingsland Higi
YORKSHIRE
land St.
Liberation
ISLE OF WIGHT readers can
sa Union Sial ange from the oz shor
1 the Piazz BATH Socialist Challenge sales every aturday. 2-3.30pm, outside Macfi
Ing Bath 20298 for furt
sales every satur Say from camp ales every Saturday fro ove bar, Post Office, Bargat
MIDLANDS Challenge Salesmercat load Precinct 11.30am-1pm nor delans
WHAT'S
commitment to siderable
Now
and
create the food of which we read so much,
world's
power than that.
especially Consumic vasi
refuse to pay,
until nOW
superior.
So why Kingdoms.
levers may discretion. will countryside heavily
return -TOT
Recent St (Brune Centrel FOR INFORMATION on activities in th
1am-om
HUDDERSFIELD SC group meets
Thursday at Friendly & Trades Club, Northumbe
De ingle to Socialism (speaker Penny Duggan) DEWSBURY Socialist Challenge sale
she at Wormin Bank, 12.30-2.00pn
ties restary strate Chaine
sellers
of activities a Midlane Challeng Stree
protection, the population gave a con-
part of their substance to their feudal superiors
this system still exists technically - in Scotland. Every year those who own a house or flat which is not freehold have to pay feu duties But for wnat reason!
The old feudal superiors of my great great great grandfather's days at least offered protection to him. The modern feudal superiors screw cash out of me and give absolutely nothing in return. Why should this be? Just because his forefathers screwed cash out of mine by menaces, does that allow him to do the same with me?
Well, the law is on his side. If refuse to submit to nis will, ne can poind (impound) my goodsto the value of the reudal payments I owe him as ms superior. And he has a whole lot more
The feudal superior can appoint me
in a street. What is more, he dos not have to pay me for doing this. If refuse, he can take out a court order against me, sell my gear to the value of his dues, and leave me with nothing
If I get wiseto my position in the eyes or ine law, and conccay mastcr dues from his other vassals, and they complaining to him. I must take the Il IS CHIC offender to court myself, and poind his gear, until he learns sense and pays up like a good vassal of his feudal
Thisis an issue which should be part of the platform of any organisation calling itself by the name of socialist. Let us totally abonsn reudar dues What is more, let them not be given any compensation for their loss of this revenue of extortion. Feudal superiors are mere parasites in our society. Let us treat them as such. •H.C. MULLIN [Glasgow
THELENGTH of letters printed wil usually be kept down to 400 words in orderence possible All
contributions as possible
cut at the editor's Unsigned letters will not published, although we withhold real names from publication on request.
SOUTH EAST
NORWICH Sociallet Cey Piage
sales every Sand bon stall Thursdays Markersity of East Angle
details phone Steve on Wivenhoe
SCOTLANL EDINBURGH SocialIs Challenge supporters ucladis Boot (comer of Retorm Si, Bac sales 164 Queen S outside Saturday, 11am-2pm
Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
-Socialist Challenge POLICE BATONS ENFORCE 5% LAW
Registered with the Post Office as a newspaper. Published by Relgocrest Ltd. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1. Printed by Goodhead Press Ltd., 25 Murdock Rd, Bicester.
dramatically illustrated again last week.
violence to smash the picket lines.
One Bakers Union
his picketline:
been here all night.
Some of them between 6am and 7am.
We were all standing here, round the fire. It was a peaceful picket.
We got the backing of the
THEOTHER BOOKSHOP
328 Upper Street LOndOn NI LAU New books by mail order Our Bodies Ourselves £3.50 A Piece of the Night
Michele Roberts £2.25 The Alternative in E. Europe
The Second Slump
£6.50 Political Writings 1921-26
£3.95 Te uclear Disaster TERMS: add 10% under £7; £7 or more post free.
THERE is only one more issue driveisover. of Socialist Challenge before Xmas. But there are still three weeks before this quarter's fund
WHY NOT try your luck in our
Xmas lottery?
For 10p per ticket or £l a
book of tickets, plus sae, you
can have a chance to win one of
the following:
12-inch black and white TV; a
case of French wine;
autographed copy of Ernest
Mandel's new book.
Second Slumn: a record token:
ОГ а year's subscription to
Challenge
tional and Socialist Woman.
The draw will take place on
18 December in our offices, and
HUBHUCE
printed in the issue of 4 January
1979. Organised by D. Weppler
of 328 Upper St., London NI.
Domestic: 6 months, £5; 12 months, €10
Multi-reader institutions: double individual rate
Name
Address
I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of
Complete and return to:
How? By the continuing and increasing use of police
senior steward, DRAPER from Scott's Bakery in Liverpool, described to 'Socialist Challenge' what happened last Friday at
electricians and garage workers haven't into work.
There were just 22 scabs who went out in vans, with the aid of about 60 to 80 police who used the big stick and put the boot in.
The incredible. They batons - not truncheons, big sticks — to keep us back.
There were three vanloads of the Special Squad, Liverpool's equivalent to the Special Patrol Group.
They kicked as though they were playing at Cardiff Arms Park.
STOPPED The inspector had told me to taketwo of thestewards with me anu socak tone vans so unree of us went over by the far side of .65 The first van was stopped by an inspector. I went over to
OUR FUND DRIVE
And we hope that readers are going to make sure the festive spirit extends to the interests of
portable
an The
will be
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Abroad: Airmail, £16.50. Surface, €10 per annum. Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to 'Socialist Challenge'. Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.
RONNIE used their
On the picket line in Birmingham speak to him and then this copper came up and just stuck one on us.
Two of them had a go at Joe, one of the stewards.
I said I'd complaig officially
Tip and said that I'd better b sure of my facts, because my name would be on the com-
the paper during that time by having a fund-raising party.
There will be many social events in the coming weeks, so
plaint sheet
They
DET 8pm Social Club,
Manchester
North West
strike committee.
why not
Challenge in mind
paper
Shah remains intact. don't masses will get there first!
helped
post from a Surrey comrade
store once these aresold.
DIET
several weeks.
how much you will whici nard.
Ourthanks this week to: Arnold Tortorella SPage Sharon, E London IM. Brennan Bolton supporters H. Khamis TOTAL
MEDICOU
BREAD Photo: SECOND CITY PHOTOGRAPHERS and I'd be in right. trouble if I didn't get things
from picketing BENEFIT: Monday 11 Decem-
Shaw Corbett St., and beaten Featuring Spanner in *Partisans and speaker from numbers.
Keel Socialist
We need it This week ow total hit an all-time low since the
June 1977: a mere £39 this week.
The cumulative total reaches £1161.03, and so the head of the
If you hurry up the Iranian
The pennies haven't been coming in, but supporters have paper, just
out in other ways.
Mancaester comrades brouga in two entire albums of stamps Bal week. and ust alew days ago another album arrived by
The Leicester supporter who spends many hours of his time sorting through the bundles of stamps will doubtless have more VIDELA financial benefits of the paper in
Bernard Regan, the comrade BEGIN who has agreed to a nationally sponsored diet in aid of the paper, has decided to give his starvation efforts a clear run of SHAH
He will now begin his diet after Xmas, so there is still time to send in your pledge saying
give the paper for every pound of flesh
disappears from Ber-
SMITH
£39
THE ALTERNATIVE IN WESTERN EUROPE
One-day school on Eurocommunism and revolutionary strategy in the West'
Introduced by ERNEST MANDEL, followed by discussion Saturday 13 January, 10am - 5pm Holborn Assembly Rooms, London
Tickets: £1.50 at the door or £1.25 before 1 January, from: Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP
But I'm not going to be scared off from complaining. And we're not going to be scared off most.
The vans got out todav anc six of our pickets were arrested
CUD morrow we're going to turn out in massive
JOININ THE THIRD NATIONAL SALES DAY Saturday 9 December 1978
Each month this quarter we Postto PO Box 50, London NI
when we 2XP. mave ser aside a ua ask all supporters of the paper to join us in selling on the high streets, at the bus stops or tube i stations, and on the estates.
If you live in a town where there are no regular sales of the
fill in
elow and we will send you a Dunce ovon asale or return basis to see if you can establish OF IRAN
PINOCHET
TOMMARLOWE writes:
The threat to increase thi picket at Scott's Bakery was enouen Tor manneemen -ane they have now shut up shop.
But elsewhere managemen and police continue to mount military manoeuvres to smash the picket lines.
Bakers Union district officer Paul Sagoo described what happened outside Parslows Bakery in Reading on Sunday:
While our members were negotiating with supervisors at the gate, a van drove into the picket une myuring one or oul
The van in question was e police vehicle, one of two on the scene full of policemen. Two strikers are now in hospital as a result of this attack.
The pattern obvious. Wherever mass pickets gather the police do all in their power to smash them up.
Foralthough bread continues to appear in the shops, the truth is that the strike is having a big effect.
The large bakeries are losing custom to the independents. and with the Christmas season coming on it is custom they cannotatford to lose
So the employers, with the aid of the police, are doing all in their power to smash the strike physically
Accordingly, thestrike is now not just about the 5 per cent law,
also about the right to picket.
workers need all the support they can get. Money, help with flying pickets, support on the picket lines are what is needed
Organise collections in your workplace, send delegations to the picket-line, organise solicary in your umon branch
Defend the right to picket!
massa tres percen
Victory to the bakers!
NAME
ADDRESS
Please send me 10 papers on a sale-or-return basis.
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
← Socialist Challenge No. 74, No v, 1978Socialist Challenge No. 77, 4 January 1979 →