Backlash from Dutschke tribunal

THE TORY government is wasting no time in oiling up the state machine for continual surveillance and repressive measures against all militants and the working class as a whole.

The appeal tribunal hearing into Rudi Dutschke's request to remain in Britain have deepened anxiety on this score.

action in view the 1957 The tribunal's decision will Birkett report.' probably not be made known This made clear that in until next week, but more security cases telephone tapand more questions have been asked about its procedure. a warrant signed by the Home ping would be carried out on One of its most disturbing features was the denial of Dutschke's right to know the Justification central case against him and the power to cross examine But the main justification witnesses making accusatory evidence. was that major subversive or spying activity was involved.

With just a few changes in Or at least substantial the law, such rights could grounds must always be be denied to anyone under present. the orbit of the government's security services. 'The Economist' is emphatic: In this case, there Denied right were clearly no such grounds'. Is telephone tapping now After all, organizations authorized on a vast scale, declared 'subversive' and with the Special Branch being hounded during the McCarthy given a free hand to pry witch-hunts in the United where it wishes? States were denied the right to know the evidence against The Socialist Labour League them or even the right to a is no stranger to not-so-secret hearing. state tampering with mail, telephones and telegrams.

'The Economist' says that the new machinery for im- In 1967 the SLL fought a campaign to force the Labour migration appeal was set up so that agents of a foreign government to admit that a power could not gain know- warrant had been issued for ledge of security techniques the opening of its mail after by deliberately involving them- information had strongly sugselves in an immigration gested that this was regular appeal and then cross examin- practice. ing security men. But the Labourites replied 'But no-one', the journal it would "be contrary to established practice' to give gested that Mr Dutschke is comments, 'has ever information of that kind. the agent of a foreign power.' A second major question Implication is also raised by "The Economist': The implications of the 'One of the nastiest under- Dutschke case make it uncurrents at the hearing was mıstakably clear that the fight the suspicion that the author- to defend him is inseparable ities had attempted to build from the struggle to defend up their case by the use of the basic rights of the worktelephone tapping. If this were ing class against the Tory indeed so, it would be in- government and increasing teresting to know how the state repression. National Speaking Contest Dance 1o the Uptights' in the evening Apply to: 186a, Clapham High Streat, London SW4.

Special Photo Competition Jennings, Editor of Keep Loft TICKETS 7s 6d