No EEC split with CP-Marchais

IN LONDON Communist Party and Labour MPs, George Marchais, acting general secretary of the French Communist Party, yesterday denied that there were 'divergencies' between the two Parties on the Common Market.

The French CP, together with their allies in the Common Front of Left Parties, (the Socialist Party and the Left Radicals) favoured participation in the EEC's institutions in order to 'democratize them.

The British CP is formally opposed to British entry. Marchais admitted that there were differences between the French and British CPs and claimed that these arose from the different situations in the two countries.

claimed that a Common Front government could not simply leave the Common Market without adversely affecting the French economy.

"That is why we have agreed with our socialist allies to act within the Common Market to democratize it and defend the interests of the workers, he said.

'We quite understand the struggle that is led here by the Communist Party, the trade unions and the Labour Party against the Common Market.' The French Stalinists' leader appealed to the socialist parties of Europe to establish contacts to enable them jointly to review what action is needed against the domination of multi-national companies and for the relaxation of tension in Europe.

On Tuesday night he had talks with a number of Labour MPs which he described as la very interesting exchange of views from my standpoint.' for talks with leaders of talks with leaders the British Tripartite talks plea PRESIDENT of the CBI Mr Michael Clapham yesterday called for a fresh round of tripartite talks to find 'a lasting solution' to inflation.

He told a regional council meeting at Nottingham that he hoped the TUC would agree to try again. He said inflation would remain Britain's No. 1 preoccupation in 1973.

It was an evil which threatened Britain's future welfare and 'had to be stamped out'.

Clapham's statement signals the start of the Tory and big business campaign to launch Phase Two of the Heath state pay plan.

But whereas the Tories have previously shed crocodile tears about the lower paid and the problem of rising • prices, Phase Two is aimed quite clearly at all wage-earners.

Clapham, who is also a top ICI director, went out of his way to rest blame for inflation directly on the working class.

Inflation was due 'in overwhelming part' to wage increases over the past two and a half years, he said. And these increases had been won 'far in excess of new wealth produced'.

Thus the lines of thinking of big business can be understood: Mobilize unions against 'fascist' Lynch law

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French CP secretary George Marchais at his London Press conference yesterday. wages must be held down and productivity stepped up.

Clapham pleaded that company profitability was at 'a dangerously low level'. Some industries were not even able to replace assets, let alone invest for growth.

Industry's profits had been in decline over the whole of the last decade, he added. Clapham's remarks about the depression hitting British industry is nothing new.

The lesson to be drawn is the clear notion that the working class must resolve the crisis of capitalism by working harder for less wages and thus see their standard of living drop away.

CORRECTION

IN THE first article of lan Yeats' series on Ireland_ printed in yesterday's Workers Press, it was stated that the People's Democracy group organized their famous march from Belfast to Derry on October S, 1968. The "long march' in fact took place over the Xmas/New Year period of 1968/1969. People's Democracy was, however, formed as direct result of the brutality displayed by the RUC on the civil rights march through Derry on October 5, 1968. lowed by a march to the Dail.

In a statement the Official Sinn Fein condemned the arrest of 66 of their members on Monday night for what they described as a peaceful picket of MPs' and judges' homes.

A spokesman said: 'We were protesting about the proposed extradition to the north of Michael Willis and others and the extension of fascism under the Bill to amend the Offences Against the State Act.

Gardiner Place (Sinn Fein) supporters picketed the Dail in protest against the new repressive legislation • all day yesterday.

The Association of Irish Priests and the Association for Legal Justice both condemned the Bill for its 'disgraceful disregard of everyman's right to a fair trial'.

Two hundred students from Bolton Street Polytechnic marched to the Dail for the second successive day yesterday to lodge a protest against the Bill. FREE SEAN MacSTIOFAIN 1Y HALL, RED LION S (near Holborn Tube)

(national secretary of the Socialist Other speakers to be announced.

THE SOLDIER who died in Londonderry yesterday was 100th soldier to be k tilled this year.

It brings the Ulster toll, since the trouble began in 644.

This year's toll is now 433297 civilians, 100 soldiers, 21 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, 12 police and three police reservists. Last year the toll was 173. In 1970 it reached 25 and in 1969 it was 13.

eague Friday December 1, 7.30 p.m. Speaker :