Workers Press no. 986

workers press

TRADE WAR IS

HOTTING UP

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1, 1973 • No. 986 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

NIXON'S PATIENCE THIN

DOLLAR MAY BE DEVALUED

USA - EEC

BY JOHN SPENCER

THE NIXON administration is planning a major new economic blow against Europe. It aims to win trade and monetary advantages through what amounts to exporting its balance-of-payments problems.

As Tory premier Edward Heath Workers prepared for talks with the American leader in Washington, there were Press heavy hints from administration officials that another monetary shake-

MONTHLY

up is due in the near future.

APPEAL

In his preface to the annual report of the Council of Economic Advisers,

FUND

Nixon strongly indicated that his patience with Europe and apan is becoming exhausted.

TREMENDOUS

of the American balance DayHICHLS

RESULT!

currency ceso te TeaneAment Caree ment of December 1971, he warned 'this is not a situation that can go on indefinitely

JANUARY

He added: We want to bring about those reforms that will permit us to earn our

TOTAL £2,043

way.' According to "The Times' correspondent Washington, 'strong evidence' there Is IT REALLY iS magnificent and show that Nixon has concluded that December money is sull pouring in.

ATone he 1971 will not rcausament time it looked like we might not improvement in the secure une desired make target of £1,750. But our US balance of payments'. did do but

VOU

He £293.33 considers that "further reforms to even raised over Ine top! We cannot thank you all bring the world into "better balance" economic transactions necessary", the enough. por mente dente d record balance the Your response confirms deficit 1972 feeling that exists in• enormous and many of his officials regard this figure the working for CaSs as an underestimate. sections There growing fear dollars circulating Covermen Tne SO- Join called Euro-dollar market.

Tace ШПОЛ movemen among European financiers and in the battle wages, more that the dollar governments and more support is De orles won competitive around the policies devalued. makine une vast amounts of US comparison with its European currency Press. in their hands worth even less explains the ana japanese compentors. Only paper OUTi than they are now. would also wipe out a slice of serious nature of this economic the huge overseas debts accum- crisis and in this politically way. This the mulated by US imperialism expans colar s prepares for the struggles ahead.

weakness on all Euro- extreme A whole series of competitive Help us in every way you can.

foreign exchange markets and downward Pcan devaluations Make sure our sales are expand- this week. It was supported ed in district. Keep up this the or near its floor by central banks pioneered Tory govern- great have the Tight Holland, Belgium, France and alu ment- -could result. February

GOOG

start

OUT

Tuesday, while Denmark Fund- -which starts today! Post West Germany and switzerand. At the same time the rush to all donations to: it fell to a very low price.

find assets which would Workers their value could produce a major Press The devaluation threat could February Appeal Fund gold price rise. High Street 78b8 Canam European foreign exchanges So Edward Heath's US visit London, SW4 7UG all among holders of considerable importance above the assumes the estimated $60.000m overseas opening -L WIlDe Ine Casu

ARY 1, 1973(

• No. 986 • 4p

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

in Nixon's 'year planned Europe' when US efforts will be concentrated on smashing its capitalist rivals economically.

According to the original timetable, the opening shots were to have been fired in March, when US officials confront their EEC counterparts to demand compensation for Common Market enlargement. Then the big clash was to have opened in September at the multi- lateral GATT trade talks.

Now it appears that the rapid disintegration of the December 1971 currency. realignment and the continued worsening of the US balance of payments is driv- ing the Nixon administration to act far sooner and more drastic- ally than originally planned.

Today's centre pages

SHAKE-OUT

IN STEEL

50,000 jobs are to be axed in the steel industry in the most massive and ruthless manpower shake-out since the Tory government came to power. Why? Which plants will close? How will the steel- men fight back? IAN YEATS has been to the major steel- making centres in England, Scotland and Wales to find out. Labour councillors have des- cribed the sale by the Greater London Council of two acres of land in central London as 'more outrageous than Centre Point.

The Tory GLC announced this week that Town and City Pro- perties had bought the site at Cambridge Circus for a mere £625,000. But the deal was of some significance. It was part of: The Covent Garden land grab see pages 4 and 5 OVER 400 from Thames Poly- technic and other colleges marched on the Department of Education Offices In Waterloo, London, yesterday in support of the national grants campaign. At Waterloo they began a brief sit- down (above).

workers press

TRADE WAR IS

HOTTING UP

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1, 1973 • No. 986 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

NIXON'S PATIENCE THIN

DOLLAR MAY BE DEVALUED

USA - EEC

BY JOHN SPENCER

THE NIXON administration is planning a major new economic blow against Europe. It aims to win trade and monetary advantages through what amounts to exporting its balance-of-payments problems.

As Tory premier Edward Heath prepared for talks with the American Workers leader in Washington, there were Press heavy hints from administration officials that another monetary shake-

MONTHLY

up is due in the near future.

APPEAL

In his preface to the annual report Advisers, of the Council of Economic

FUND

Nixon strongly indicated that his Europe patience with and Japan 1S becoming exhausted.

TREMENDOUS

American balance Dayllichlo

RESULT!

agree- currency Teanerent ment of December 1971, he warned 'this is not a situation that can go on indefinitely.

JANUARY

He added: 'We want to bring about those reforms that will permit us to earn our

TOTAL £2,043

way.' According to 'The Times' corresponden: 'strong evidence' washington, There is

IT REALLY

is magnificent and show that Nixon has concluded that money is still pouring in.

the December 1971 will not 1 causillical time it looked like we might not desired improvement in the secure une make target £1,750 But our US balance of payments'. did but do

COLON

He £293.33 considers that "further reforms to over topl We cannot thank you all bring the world into "better balance" transactions the enough. economic necessary' pa pr ands. Nixon record balance the Your response confirms of deficit 1972 exists feelina that In ana many or nis omclals regara tnis ngur side the working as an underestimate. sections government. There growing fear dollars circulating the IS Join called Euro-dollar market.

Lare movemen among European financiers and the battle wages, more that the dollar and more support is being won governments us eva competitive race ane will be competitive advantage around the policies of Workers cerated, vast amounts of US currency with its European by comparison Pass. and in their hands worth even less explains the apanese compentors. Only paper would also wipe out a slice of than they are now. serious nature of this economic huge overseas accum- crisis and in this way politically This the dollar's mulated by Us imperialism prepares for the extreme weakness on all Euro- luable series i competire Help us in every way you can.

foreign exchange markets pean downward devaluations Make sure our sales are expand- this It was Week. supporlea -along ed In every dad let Keep up this "floats - the line. alcau, or near its floor by central banks pioneered Tory govern- great fight The nave Holland, Belgium, France and could result. February stat Denmark Tuesday, while Fundwhich starts today! Post west German ano switzeraner At the same time the rush all donations to: it fell to a very low price.

find assets which would their value could produce a major Workers Press The devaluation threat could February Appeal Fund gold price rise. Street proauce panic concluons on the High exchanges European foreign So Edward Heath's US visit London, SW4 7UG the holders considerable importance above all assumes allivals the estimated $60.000m overseas opening une Casa ARY 1, 1973 • No. 986 4p

1E SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

in Nixon's planned 'year Europe' when US efforts will be smashing concentrated its on capitalist rivals economically.

According to the original timetable, the opening shots were fired in March, of to have been when US officials confront their EEC counterparts to demand compensation for Common Market enlargement. Then the big clash was to have opened in September at the multi- lateral GATT trade talks.

Now it appears that the rapid disintegration of, the December 1971 currency: realignment and worsening of the the continued US balance of payments is driv- ing the Nixon administration to act far sooner and more drastic- ally than originally planned.

Today's centre pages

SHAKE-OUT

IN STEEL

50,000 jobs are to be axed in the steel industry in the most massive • and ruthless manpower shake-out since the Tory government came to power. Why? Which plants will close? How will the steel- men fight back? IAN YEATS has been to the major steel- making centres in England, Scotland and Wales to find out. Labour councillors have des- cribed the sale by the Greater London Council of two acres of land in central London as 'more outrageous than Centre Point'.

The Tory GLC announced this week that Town and City Pro- perties had bought the site at Cambridge Circus for a mere £625,000. But the deal was of significance. It was part some of: The Covent Garden land grab see pages 4 and 5

OVER

400 from Thames Poly. technic and other colleges marched on the Department of Education Offices In Waterloo, London, yesterday In support of the national grants campaign. At Waterloo they began a brief sit- down (above).

Fascists' armoury PAGE 2 Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973 Stalinists

WHAT WE THINK

One law for the rich suppress and one for the poor Sabata letter THE PROCEDURE for examining laid bankrupts was down English in the 1860s. The law A LETTER to world communists from the wife of further codified aws welC Dubcek supporter, Professor Jaroslav Sabata has now extensive legislation- ruptcy Acts- -in 1914. been made public. body of law which has It is a Although the British Communist Party daily 'Morning served a function in Cabitails. Star' noted receiving the letter on December 5, it is easy to society-to discover assets and for creditors. recover money see why it decided not to publish it.

The letter exposes the has been invoked method of dealing with dissident CP members in Czecho- As such 1t August 1968, countless Sulail slovakia since the Warsaw Pact invasion and self-employed which the British Communist Party nominally disapproved of.

individuals who have been cast now serving a 67 years' sentence, was formerly a Sabata, into bankrupicy Decause or un- foreseen circumstances. professor of psychology and secretary of the Brno regional party The public examination of bank- committee and a partv member since the age of 19. He was sackec rupts everyday

OCCUT-

from his job and forced to do heavy manual labour after the in over the rence Warsaw Pact invasion in August 1968: The bankrupt country. terrogated about nus tria ast summer was senil- ousness secret. The courthouse was heavily the reasons for his failure and No any assets he or his immediate Consulate guarded. journalists relatives might have. were dottee an ov one close relative each defendant was has worked quietly This system blast: Three admitted. away Until the nOW Sabata has already had a heart Secret, roc righ and in jail and his wife says Yorkshire attack John that he 'has been British face death months detention under practice international brought him into with clop people.

closest business Consloea. him into tion for the present holders Czechoslovakia, I will power in SIX MAOIST students on trial The chairman of his main over- Reginald ¡ Call seas ahe deputy in Zaragoza, Spain, are said company serving mer children • are Prime the Maudling. burned down have prison terms and she fears arrest.

Minister and former Tory French consulate there, causing because Sabata convicted Secretary. Another war Home the death of consul Roger Tur his Sir Ber- views comicted director was senlol last November. policies of the Soviet bureau- nard Kenyon, clerk Czechoslovak cracy and its West Riding of Yorkshire Three of the defendants, the third dav of their trial. face County Council trend. He repre- 11ke uncer. associates included the death sentence. business H1C sented a rightist trend. did Smith, Mr T. Dan one-time ho proses utor want entendes look the working class leader of the Newcastle Coun- 10U other ycals ane overlaow considered for c one be the bureaucracy, but to a form of tendants cast a Cabinet appointment in the liberalization dismissed against a sixth. Police which carried the second Wilson government call them- claim

1ISK

• LO cabilalisill after 1966. 'Collective of the have no sympathy selves Lne while We People who received gilts Hammer and Sickle'. with hand-outs from the Poulson wife in letter, his On Tuesday, right wingers in train' included Mr An- San Sebastian car holding up treatment

TOR

drew Cunningham, northern an indictment of the rule of the belonging to Juan Maria Bandres, Minicipal WorkerS officer: General and and his trial a com- a local lawyer ureaucracy Union woo ceremeo me Burgos 16 against Franco's court.

plete cravesty ol JusLICe. 26-man

NEC

Party member „Tre Communist members of the Labour Party (he has The fascist regme now laces should demand Readership explat explanation 4,000 repaid money for a holi- challenge from since the why trom George Pot- shipyara workers in Diddo wno

VITS

was SuD. have been locked out for a week senior civil servant pressed. Sabata and all political the Scottish Office, who re- following a series of short strikes the prisoners regime Tor noner wazes. should be immediately freed.

joined by nave been 25,000 primary school teachers strike the against WILl darest pav oner rom muel slale employers and the fascist union.

The Education Ministry said proposals, including way payments,

WELC

Sul unluck review. The Civil Guard and the Pistol attack on Italian Falange have already tried some —Illailly

I COUL

of their pressure, teachers now students' meeting need a 'good conduct certificate Governor before from the they can get a job.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

Scientist THE FASCIST MSI continued its aggression against left-wing opposition with a pistol attack in Soviet on a student meeting in Verona on Tuesday.

Luigi Bellazzi (21), leader of the local Youth Front; hospital headed a contingent of fascist youth which tried to break up a student meeting in the Economics Faculty in Verona university. ANOTHER oppositionist has been consigned the refined torture One Turin did arrest student was shot, hospital in the youth, fully psychiatric but police who arrived three late OI a the on scene did not cap- equipped chains. soviet union me is mey scienusu WILs nected pith the who was con- ture Bellazzi. truncheons and iron bars.

with underground nected The

MSI

activists had Chronicle of Current of carried out series Events'. left

"TACKS

wineers. months detention After some Giovanni Mongui was the Serbsky Psychiatric oS beaten he re- up was pital in Moscow the tame KGP college turning to his (secret police) doctors pronounced Monday evening. suffering schizo- from him to be A car sudden dre up Kiev, barena. ALeI street, and in he was committed psychi- hospital for an indefinite jumped the fascists swing- atric ing chains. After Mongiu had been dealt with, blocked

NEWS DESK

beat Cal alice riding three students The home. Mocrauc The Stalinist-led Milan 01-720 2000 of five trade federation UlliUl Guido economics student, died in issued statement Con- cluele

CIRCULATION

Turin clinic Tuesday. demning acts of violence leader on reconcilable defending. 'which not Franceschi was shot in the •alc against neck dur- civilian harmony and by a policeman

WILD

01-622 7029 ing the recent conflict in arrest the progress of The l Bocconi college, Milan. Sunday. society'. ceived the 'gift' of a £23,000 house, a Rover car and a holi- day cruise; Albert Roberts, Labour MP for Normanton, chairman of the Anglo-Spanish received parliamentary group, Tory £11,508; John Cordle, MP for Bournemouth, received £1,000 a year over six years for 'advice' about contracts in West Africa; Mr E. G. Braith- waite, founder-secretary of the South-West Metropolitan Re- gional Hospital Board, received a gift worth £2,500 (this has also been repaid. There have been many more who favours from have received Crosland, Poulson. Anthony the Labour Cabinet minister.

received an antique coffee pot (mysteriously devalued from £500 to £40 in the past couple of days!); Lady Fraser, of the House of Fraser family, had a gift worth £150; councillors all over Scotland and the north- hampers of east were sent turkey and wine at Christmas time during the 'boom' years of the Poulson empire. All these revelations have been made as a result of the relent- less search by Mr Muir Hun- ter, QC, on behalf of the cre- ditors, to discover what assets far he's recoverable. So are got back about £165,000and Crosland's coffee pot! But there's much more to be got.

Only last week the Official Re- ceiver went to Poulson's Pon- tefract office and uncovered 300 files marked 'Poulson "per- sonal' and 18 cwt of other documents. It was in this cache that the Crosland case and the 'Mr and Mrs George Brown' holiday trip were found. Mr Hunter has told the court he will be making further submissions on files when the hearing these reopens in March. and But it is at this point that the 'top people' start getting very indeed. Yesterday's worried capitalist Press was full of cries of outrage. • at Labour MP Maurice Edelman likened Mr Hunter to the me of the weapons taken from fascist youth same bourgeois de- SOVIET agricultural offi c perspectives have S. V. Shevchenko has b CP to support the sacked following an inqu of five leftists, in- into last year's Guido Viale, a harvest. He is head of Lotta Continua, the Agricultural Machin fending themselves Association, who is h the joint forces of responsible for breakdo ice and the MSI on in the supply of machin Muir Hunter, QC . . . Brickbat notorious anti-communist, Sen- ator Joseph McCarthy. He said: 'The Law Reform Com- mittee should now get busy to make sure that a new Mc- Carthyism isn't introduced into Britain to gratify the scandal- hungry while injuring the true cause of justice.' Edelman's were echoed views almost identically in an edi- torial in that Tory organ, 'The Times'. The paper complained likely to about names the proceedings dragged into accused and Mr Hunter of 'carelessness'. 'One of the thoughts many prompted by the Poulson hear- ings is that it is high time the Bankruptcy Acts of 1914-1926 were brought under the kind of view to which Lord Salmon's commission subjected tribunals of inquiry? The Tory Cabinet is considering whether changes in the law should be brought forward. If these changes are made, future held in proceedings will be private thus preventing the working class from peering into the world of high finance where the big names operate.

The facts speak for themselves! It is all very well for the Act to probe the financial failure builders, of widows, small shopkeepers and the like. But Poulson and his when it is hangers-on in the construction industry and local government.

there are immediate cries for amendments to the legislation.

With big financial crashes on the agenda in this period of deep recession, it is no wonder that the Tories and their friends are rushing to keep things. as quiet as possible. Thus the working class is being ordered to bear the brunt of the economic crisis by savage cuts in its standard of livieg, but not allowed to examine the real nature of the, rotten anc parasitic system which stands over it.

THE VIETNAM

cease- fire is intended to pave way for improved the relations the between Soviet Union and the United States. This was the message conveyed by Party secretary Leonid Brezhnev at a banquet in honour of Hanoi's chief negotiator, Le Duc Tho, held in Moscow on Tues- day. He called on all sides, to honour the accord and said that the Soviet Union "will take an active part' in the coming international conference on Vietnam. The Kremlin is also out to strengthen its ties with North Vietnam in order to counter Chinese influence.

Brezhnev also looked to resolution the of the Middle-East conflict on the same lines as the Vietnam settlement. FIGHTING continued in South various parts Vietnam yesterday, includ- ing a major battle along Highway 20 leading into altural official Saigon from Da Lat, 150 nko has been miles to the north. ng an inquiry The Joint Military Com- mission has not yet begun ''s disastrous North Vietnam work as of and National Liberation al Machinery Front delegates will not who is held immigration the accept r breakdowns procedures imposed by the of machinery. South Vietnamese.

'I don't like to risk putting more time on' Miners' appeal on year's jail refused Innocent will suffer if Tories tamper Ernie Critchley, the miner whose hobby ferreting- has landed him in jail for a year and who is afraid to take his appeal to a higher court. Right: His wife lune receives the news of the lost appeal. A JUDGE sitting in cha leave for a Yorkshire against a 12-month poaching.

BRIEFLY • BRIEFLY

TWENTY-ONE grinders-whose strike has hit tractor production at Massey Ferguson of Coven- try — are expected to meet to- . The strike, which in- morrow. volves piecework pay rates, has led to 600 day and night-shift assembly workers being laid off.

A CENSURE motion on actor and writer Peter Ustinov will be Dundee Univer- sity's student following his refusal to speak out as Rector in favour of the rent strike. The resolution will be proposed by student associa- tion president Eric Sanderson, who also intends to move for an end of the rent strike by 200 of the university's 800 students. The strike is against the Tory gov- ernment's plan to put up rents for student accommodation.

PROPERTY developer Mr George Herbert Cross, of The Dower House, Compton Chamberlayne. Salisbury, Wilts, who started work as a l0s-a-week estate agent's clerk, left £2,192.096 £1,900,331 (duty gross, net £20,277) in his will published yesterday. He died on November 26, aged 88. THE INFLUENTIAL Bar Council has come out with an attack on the Tory draft legislation to change the laws of evidence in criminal cases.

In a statement issued today 'We are the council says: anxious that injustice should not be suffered by the innocent and we believe that, taken as a whole, the proposals would be liable to increase this possibility. 'We are as anxious as anyone that those who commit crime should be brought to justice. We do not believe, however, that the proposals of the Criminal Law Revision Committee will contri- bute materially to this end.'

At a Press conference Bar Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973 PAGE 3

YESTERDAY'S WORKERS PRESS

ERNIE CRITCHLEY informed if I lose I can lose from, 30 to June, hos you ou reinhis time his wife, June, in a letter from days. don't like to take miss time than ni did bue more Armley prison, Leeds, the near risk of putting more time before. It must be that he had lost his appea. He on, teOcA 1 love you ali so very wrote: But if darling. By the way, you want much, my birthday, risk it, will, love. It me when your love. Dear June, Ann and Jean, that only fair is in rebruary. Is

YOU

Saoud

1 KIOW

appeal been your say, because yourself will be waiting haave Tie _LOOK ATAr turned down, love, the it is you who because you have not said how position this, for I hope you are. From ever-loving love. me at this nome. again judges, does three all the apocal 10E Luser. you, aubodid.

DOSU

Lo you would June, hope our Ann is all right and and the two girls. TITLe take six weeks to three months our Jean is getting. better. You God Breis before I will hear anything and don't half say you miss Ernie. g in chambers has refused Investigation by orkshire miner to appeal

ALEX

MITCHELL

jail sentence for in 1960 post of emerges chair- ne nele und of the Yorkshire Recorder of Salford. Con- Llall Newspaper Ernest Critchley (34) servative To this day he belongs publishers of the of Fryston Colliery, to the Oxford Society, the orkshire Post'. Imperial Society of Knights near Castleford, is ser- his son, Nigel, walle bachelor, while he is a lite ving his sentence Society of St George. Royal Wallage. estate balls men ber Tune Armley prison, Leeds. father lives retirement 1n Petersham Surrey, The savage jail He belongs to London's sen- he still made Icals ms most notable tory

LEICE

was al tue Yorkshire Club, the men- York County Court clubs-the Carlton and the on Yorkshire the Junion Carlton. 15 after place of January Critch- the local ley and another miner, ones. MRS JUNE Critchley, wife Roy Wright, pleaded the jailed guilty to poaching on the WORKERS PRESS has also Escrick Park Estate uncovered back- at some York. ground of Mr lustice Nied Ernie Critchley's daughters Pickersgill, of Jean All the man who jailed Critch- Micklefield, near Leeds. He When thev were arrested who, along with their mother, face hardship пого by a game warden and the their father, a miner, is in jail.

writes: police had a bag men *I was very sorry to read coula lle LeN bacasalils

THE SQUIRE

Escrick of your husband being sent the following he Harrow year, valued at about f8. Park Nigel Forbes became at Magdalen assistant collector graduated Lo son ce nc vorse Critchley's case has been for all being a happy Adam, son you and magistrate in Poona.

VULSOOL

conege, uxiora. judge family. You Terected Snoe might remem- Gurdon Forbes He has had a long asso- sitting the Court of In 1920 he was appointed Adam. Nigel's father

OCL

Sulllllal Case Ca c ew Criminal Appeal. cintion with Tory private secretary to the Honourable years ago when three men married From 1930 until hearing the news Bombay. caught at Escrick. toverdor Constance awity, Mrs Critchley broke retired in 1925 and, on the from India Joan third only child of the We went for a bit Chester Conservative Service Asso- down. How Wenlock. And Wenlock of sport and fun really, but dul t 80118 ciation. the children?' eve of the General Strike, tell she we were caught and later the Baron W as asked. he returned to Britain. 1940 In he was elected sent who originally governed We

D11SOR.

were Further details have now Tory MP for the estate during the 19th wrongly convicted then- From 1934 to 1939 he une emerged about the case. but more so your husband was commissioner for the accuLy. He today. legal board of the Church • The estate is owned by *Special Area of Durham that today occllls Irene married Colin wealthy Tory family but

YOU

Cal

WOIK,

and lyneside, which 1920 when W aty Forbes Adam in and Home noi do anything else. ASsenDV The unemploy- wuch nas connecuons wil. devastare he was a rising light in the Secretary's advisory 'Well, you might the 'Yorkshire Post'. ment and poverty. India 1912, mittee the treatment of have some luck with vour sen- Ine juage 23 'Who's Who' does appeal. There is a lot worse wilCh was JuSU auld Hol onencers • re was tenced Critchley is fresh chancellor the things. Well will have trom Aton anoan. rever ns ever or toe aso former Tory MP. bridge, Colin Forbes Adam space of 20 years—-the war Diocese Liverpool from of wait and It's not Our inquiries reveal that: went off to India where, in 1948 1956, years ana arter-Dut ne re-

LAC

salone

MOIL.

Mr Roger will be liable to convict your- Counci On manv grounds the Councii The drastic interference with Chamakn Parker said that the Tory opposes the loss of the accused's criminal court procedure shows selt.' basic silence his trial. This, he said, would the proposals con- right which the lories CALCul The Bill the position of the individual cepts of 'English rustice'.

are preparing the legal ground for ricauy,

SOLODUSC

judge person dictatorship. Mr Parter sale hrenci accused reTuses police our society, nis re raonsno Wita authority, has pointed out that if the amend- questions declines to give and his right when in It goes hand-in-hand with the would his trial the judge onflict with authority to remain ments were legislated, they evidence at plans abolish the jury system silent. overtioW balczudrus axails. Can Comment

LILS

LAC

in certain cases. Council justice which had taken centuries jury. alsoO sharply At the Tories are develop. criticized the proposals Lull If this happened, the report evidence should be ad- rights criticism, the nearsay oI all descrip- Continuing said, police would obtain tion. But the Bar Council, missible Council says nann crets arel believe that collection blue-nosed bar- acce• e • DOwer mileo- that some the 'We in criminal gation would become oppressive.

beyond evidence proposals 'go far cases hearsay in- LIsLe, Cannol alle win nolDe Illaill able to stop the Tory juggernaut.

Mr Parker said the abolition of herentiy unrelable. is capable of ue amene neol dn tecumca and, practice, impair funda- manufactured with ease Ine right or sience during a trai Deino i nat is the task oi the working mentally constitutional meant, in effect: 'Be silent if you and is usually incapable of being class organized under the banner if you are silent, you position of the individual.

dare- -but tested in cross-examination.'

of the revolutionary party.

PAGE & Workers Press, Thursday Februa

BY PHILIP WADE: PART ONE

The Tories' decision to give the go-ahead for the wholesale redevelopment of the Covent Garden area brought joy to those sitting in the boardrooms of a select group of pro- perty companies, hotel groups and a leading pub.

lishing house. After all, in his January 15 Environment announcement Minister Geoffrey Rippon had given the powerful Tory- controlled Greater London Council legal control over almost 100 acres of land right in the centre of London. When the Covent Garden fruit and vegetable market moves south of the Thames to Nine Elms in 1974, the whole with its 17 theatres, area, could be turned into a con- crete monstrosity. Hotels, office blocks, luxury shops and would spring restaurants up where none existed before.

And the reason for the popping champagne corks in those boardrooms was because those companies had the key weapon in the whole scheme: they owned up to 75 per cent of all the land to be developed.

With market price per acre an unreal and incredible £5m —an increase of £3.5m in 18 companies months - these would be in a position to call any tune they wanted. They knew the GLC-even if it wanted to-could not use lay February 1, 1973 the public purse to buy land • phenomenal prices. at such And if the plan was to go ahead, it would have to come to some deal with the private developers. case, compulsory In any acquisition by the GLC would be a lengthy process dragging through the courts in argu- ments over the rate of com- pensation. In other words, the land owners could-if they so wished - hold up the entire plan for years, reducing the thing to a farce. All the aces were, therefore, in their hands.

The story begins in 1966 when the Labour government announced that London's old fruit. and vegetable market would be phased out and be replaced by the Nine Elms site.

By November 1968 the GLC, with Camden and Westminster councils, published Covent Garden's Moving'-the first of the 'area draft plans'. For the was born first time the idea of redeveloping not just the 10-acre market site, but an- other surrounding 85 acres.

The three councils quickly approved the plan as a basis consultations and dis- for cussions with owners, developers and others interested in the future of the area'. By the end of 1970 the GLC felt strong enough to submit a request to the gov- ernment for Comprehensive

(CDA)

Development Area powers for 95 acres of central London.

TNT

Never before had such an important slice of London or any other major city in Britain been brought into one massive "redevelopment' plan. It was soon to become a speculator's paradise. The plan itself was notable for its concessions both to the private developers and the type of profitable buildings they wanted to construct when two- thirds of the existing struc- tures were demolished. Under the GLC plan at least five theatres would be demolished. They are the Garrick, the Adelphi, the Vaudeville, the Duchess and the Arts Theatre. Actors and already facing actresses, savage and almost unbearable 90 unemployment per cent rate, will be further pauperized if the scheme goes through.

In place of the market and the surrounding buildings the GLC plan stated: 'A substan- tial increase in hotel use is envisaged.' At one end of the Strand, on the site of the Duchess theatre, the GLC saw need for a specially- designed centre for inter- national conferences'. The GLC has only committed itself to building 1,400 dwell- ings, confirming that the area was to be turned over to the of buildings construction which would serve the rich.

By early 1971 the developers were moving fast, buying up key sections of land in the pro- posed redevelopment area. Others who fortunately owned land in the area already also

HORCUR

Left to right: Geoffrey Rippon: Gave g Walker: Millions through land and seci Millionaire merchant banker. Above: De office block planned. Right: Adelphi, on began to see the opportunities opening up. They had not exactly been discouraged by the GLC. 'Injec- tion of large amounts of capital into schemes of redevelopment cannot be expected unless there is a reasonable return upon the capital investment. The GLC believes that such returns are possible to both public and private sectors, says 'The Next Step'. The GLC proposes to acquire about 24% acres within the CDA boundaries and add it to about the 10 acres already owned by local authorities.

What are they intending to do with this land? Says the plan: ...So much of the total 34$ acres as remains after making provision for necessary public amenities and service should be disposed of for development.' With the hand of open was not surprising developers rushed to buy up the land. It was almost the under- statement of all time when the GLC plan declared at the end: The council is confident that development agencies will take up substantial areas involving n: Gave go-ahead for the scheme. Peter i and security deals. Edward Du Cann: Above : Demolition at Odhams Press. Big delphi, one of five threatened theatres.

several million pounds worth of building works, if they are given the opportunity (!)!

Yet at the beginning of its document the GLC boastfully stated: 'The plan proposes to provide a framework within which pressures for change can be controlled in the public interest.' One can only assume that from the way things have shaped up in Covent Garden, the 'public' will be presented with office blocks, hotels and luxury shops. There may be 168,000 people on London's housing waiting list alone. Will they benefit from the plans of Metropolitan Estates Property Company or Reed International, which pub- Mirror' lishes the Daily , to name but a few? Part of the plan involves the widening of Charing Cross Road on each side to carry eight lanes of motor traffic.

Up and down the street the companies have property bought various patches of land.

If the GLC wants to wicen its road, it is going to have to do some deals with these companies. And don't forget, that's how Centre Point came to be built in the first place.

IN A K The whole area is now ripe for speculation. In the minds of the directors of the developers enormous values are being created. Office blocks not yet built are written down as assets in balance sheets.

fortunes being Paper are amassed. Private ownership of the land has enabled a monopoly be established whereby to millionaires are created over- night and whole areas of big citier are filled with buildings which often stay empty for years. What is happening in Covent Garden proves beyond any doubt the case for the nationalization of the land, without a penny compensation.

Only when it is under the control of the working class will land serve the needs of the class by freeing the neces- sary space for the construction of housing, hospitals and so on. Without its control, the working class becomes power- less in the face of a few com- panies who use land ownership for speculation. The companies involved, as will be seen later, are in many cases open supporters of the Tory Party financially. And those who do not openly reveal their allegiance obvi- ously find much in common

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the Tory Party. planners had the site lined up Cabinet Minister Peter for the route of a new major Walker, millionaire, now head road and a pedestrian route of the Department of Trade at deck level. and Industry, But in between the two plans was only one of Tories many senior something else had happened, to his make through as the 'Financial Times' money was speculation in either land or 1971, to reveal on April 26, securities when he was with three months before the public Slater Walker Securities. whole re. inquiry into the Edward Du Cann, restored to development plan. chairman of 'At the north end of Drury favour the as Committee, Lane, bounded by High backbench 1922 Hol- was another. born and Shorts Gardens, All Tory Haslemere Estates are to build this means the the first site within the recon- government must be forced to resign and a Labour govern- struction of the Covent Garden Area,' the paper reported.

ment returned, compelled by the mass movement to expro- 'Percy Bilton [the builders] priate the landowners. has secured a £1.9m contract And it will be for the first no use phase of the Harold Wilson promising land The construction. architects for nationalization by the end of the are Geoffrey scheme the century, as he did recently.

Spyer and Associates. We can't wait that long. 'They have devised a layout involving an office block, hotel, shops and public house. all with underground carparking. There is a total floor area of some 65,000 square feet. Also within the scheme the can. sulting engineers have had to incorporate of the section underground North proposed Spine Road.' The planning permission for this redevelopment was granted A glance at what has happened by then Tory-controlled Cam- at some of the Covent Garden den council on March 30, 1971.

sites already will show vividly It is reported, however, that the power of the landowners- an earlier planning permission and how they can dominate application was turned down. of the biggest local Originally a sizeable of part authorities in the world. the scheme consisted of re- At the top end of Drury habilitation work Lane, to the to the side and behind GLC planners, it is thought, Moorfields Eye pointed out that the application Hosptial, the land is owned as it stood did not tally with by the Haslemere Estates Pro.

the proposed GLC plan which perty Company. Its area is just had visions of sunken roads over one acre. and pedestrian decks and so In the draft GLC plan for on. Covent Garden, published in Haslemere agreed and sub- 1968, this site was earmarked mitted a fresh application to for compulsory purchase Camden, the by local planning the authority. authority, as the GLC at that By the time of the second did time not have general document, 'The Next Step', put powers over the whole area. Workers Press, Thi 3 In turn Camden referred the plans to the GLC for its opin- ion and was told promptly the County Hall chiefs did not have one. The interesting question here ed, is why did Camden eventually give planning permission? Experts agree that both Cam- den and the GLC would have well within their powers been to withhold permission on the grounds their overall, master plan for the area was still being processed by government departments. It can only be assumed they chose not to do so because Halsemere's plans would at least see a start to the 're- development' of the whole Covent Garden area. At the same time, the company had 'served public interest' the with its sunken road. The GLC would also have been involved in considerable compensation payments to Haslemere if the property company's scheme had been thwarted. The whole business is yet another example of how plan- ning questions of such import- ance are settled. And it is clear, once again, that the mere ownership of land gave Halsemere unbeatable an advantage. The owners of the Daily Mirror' are also deeply in- volved in Covent Garden, with plans for massive office blocks.

They are working hand in hand with one of Britain's top pro- perty companies. They own one of the most profitable sites in the whole Pross, Thursday February 1, 1973 PAGE 5 Covent Garden area-the 3.2- acre former Odhams Press site in Long Acre where the 'Sun' was once printed. Proposals for the site are for an ofice development of some 300,000 square feet, 90 private flats and 30 flats for the coun- cil. So far no office develop- ment permits are through for the scheme. Demolition, how- ever, is almost complete.

Cecil King's old firm, the International Publishing Cor- poration, took over the site when it bought out Odhams Press. And when paper manu- facturers Reed's took over IPC they found themselves sitting on a valuable property port- folio. The several properties in the Holborn and Covent Garden area were then valued at £36m.

Don Ryder, chairman of Reed International, as the new group was to be known, could see it needed expert hands to realize the development potential from the sites. So he formed a joint com- pany with the Metropolitan Estates Property Company, the latter holding the majority in- terest in the venture. It paid Reed's £24m for that privilege.

A statement issued by the joint company declared: 'It is envisaged that the properties held by the new joint com- pany, which is mainly in Hol- born and Covent Garden, will soon become ripe for redeve- lopment over the next few years.' Commented the 'Daily Tele- graph' on February 26 last year: Internal estimates are that the development will re- quire about £60m over the next ten years, and when fin- ished the joint company will be worth £200m.' Mr Ryder himself was understandably most enthusi- astic about the whole deal: "The first to go will probably be some of the Covent Garden blocks, where the office deve- lopment permit and planning is fairly well situation ad- vanced,' he told reporters.

Odhams had an old outline planning permission for offices and printing works on the car park at one end, which was in fact a bomb site. But Reed's thought this was a little inadequate. So with MEPC it called in Richard Seifert, the architect used to design London's most famous, unlived in and unused build- ing-Centre Point. Seifert, of course, had the reputation of being one of the best brains in the business when it came to squeezing maximum footage out of plan- ning permissions. It was Sei- fert who came up with 300,000 sq ft of office extravaganza for the Long Acre site. On the GLC map used for the area, the corner building at Endell Street and Long Acre, part of the planned redevelop- ment, is shown with the ini- tials LB alongside it. This means the building, where Charles Dickens first gave his public readings, and which was once the Princes Theatre, was listed officially as being of architectural and historic interest'. Under plan- ning law, such listing makes it difficult to obtain permission to demolish. In the early hours of Satur- day June 24 last year, a fire started quickly and spread through the listed building. It took 150 firemen and 25 fire engines to extinguish the con- flagration. The building obviously could not remain in the dangerous state and has since been de- molished. It is planned that a sunken road will run under the Long Acre site and negotiations over the final route through Reed International's land could play a key part in any planning per- mission finally granted. Tomorrow: Who Owns What. Tenants move out-and more office blocks are planned. GLC gigantic wants conference centre as well.

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973 Part One: The Tory Plan

BY IAN YEATS

The Tory carve-up of the steel industry, with a loss of up to 50,000 jobs, quite simply hinges concentrating production profitable at the most sites and plants. The scale and ruthlessness of this policy reflects the depth of their desperation. it is gamble which make-or-break will see even the most modern plants put up their shutters or ay Fabruary 1, 1973 set Britain streaking ahead of her competitors. Massive rises in world steel output—up 9.4 per cent last year-have created conditions in which the Tories must make steel at give-away prices or face losing the industry.

Making more steel, as most committees set of the action up at doomed works seem to believe, is not the problem.

The problem is how to produce even the same amount with less labour and less fixed costs.

The Tory answer, based on projections made by the Labour government, is to make and roll steel, getting rid of as many men as possible and as many plants as possible. Steelmaking is to be con- centrated on five giant plants, using the basic oxygen process, at Port • Talbot, Llanwern, Ravenscraig, Scunthorpe and Lackenby. Not only is there no hope whatever of saving the doomed works, but soaring scrap prices will almost certainly threaten existing and planned electric arc furnaces. These furnaces use scrap almost exclusively and British supplies are exhausted. By the end of this year alone the British Steel Corporation (BSC) foresees Shortages of up to 250,000 tonnes.* Already British steelmakers import 8 million tonnes a year and on January 23 the

BSC

announced a deal with the USSR to import 10,000 tonnes annually. is also chronically Scrap scarce in Europe and Common Market entry will only drive British prices still higher.

If the electric arc process becomes uneconomic, it will mini- proposed threaten the steel works at Cardiff, Hallside and Hunterston with a poten- tial employment of 1,500 men.

Consett, Aldwarke, Brymbo and Panteg works could also go to the wall. BSC's general steels division lost £21m last year, although after allowing for depreciation and interest charges there was a loss of only f6m on all six divisions. Steelmaking is the Corpora- tion's loss-maker and it is here that the most ruthless efforts will be made to restore and maintain profitability. Large-scale basic oxygen making (BOS) is the cheapest method fore- at present or seeably available. Beyond it, further rationalization is no currently possible. BSC already estimates that by 1980, if not sooner, its en- tire annual production of 25 million tonnes will be turned out by BOS plants. The first steps to this con- centration of productive cap- acity have already been taken with the announcement that the old, slow and expensive steelmaking pro- open-hearth cess is to end. Corby, East Moors, Ebbw Vale, Shotton, Bilston, Irlam, Clydesbridge, Bellshill, Dalzell Glengarnock, Lanarkshire and Hartlepool will all either shut completely or lose their steel- making sections. At Scunthorpe the Nor- manby Park, Redbourne and Appleby - Frodingham works will lose their open-hearth furnaces and antiquated roll- ing mills with a loss of 3,500 jobs. The furnaces at Ravenscraig will shut, but expansion of BOS capacity employing about 500 men is planned. Although it remains to be confirmed by the government's White Paper on the steel in- dustry, two steelmaking plants using Kaldo furnaces at Park Gate and Shelton will almost certainly shut. BI mak plan TI divis for orga of tech Lue TI atior up prod uner cent beca gas Nort will dem tons struc lines rigs. been and

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PAGE 6 Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973

But it is not only in steel- making that the Tories are planning rationalization.

The special steels and tubes divisions are likely to come in for some fairly immediate re- organization and the economies of scale to be had from new technology in milling threatens the strip mill division. The way to this rationaliz- ation was paved by the Labour government's decision to divide the into six industry up product divisions. In Scotland, tubes are near certain to be concentrated at Clydesdale, near Ravenscraig and Hallside, where the govern- announced ment has £60m new investment. Scotland will remain a centre for tube production because of its proximity to the gas and oil operations in the North Sea which BSC estimates will lead to an annual steel demand of up to 34 million tons. Steel is used in the con- struction of platforms, pipe- lines and for semi-submersible rigs. A new pipe casing depot has been established at Aberdeen and Redpath Dorman Long (BSC's wholly-owned sub- sidiary) is setting up a plant at Methil in Fife for the building of platforms. The British, Calder, Imperial Location of main Lanarkshire Dalzall Garcosh Hailside a Craigneuk Giengarinel + + + Brierley Hill • Velindre Strostre Tollcross works of the and tube division are likely to close with the loss of over 1,200 jobs. While North Sea steel de- mand is temporarily rising, demand from the home market and for export is falling.

In South Wales, BSC has already announced the closure of its Newport tube works sacking 1,000 men because of the fall in demand for large, seamless pipes. The main con- centration of tubes production is likely to be Teesside, within striking distance of Lackenby, at Consett, Hartlepool and Stockton. Although it has been announced that iron-making will cease at Stanton, with the loss of 1,300 jobs, tube manu- facture will continue there and at Holwell. The future of the 12,000-strong entire Corby plant hangs in the balance.

Although new facilities for oil well tubing have been in- stailed, demand from home and markets was so low export last year that both the steel- works and the tube mills had to be put on short time. In special steels, production in Scotland is likely to be con- centrated at Hallside, where the government has said £55m is to be spent, including the cost of the new mini-steel- works. Barrow A Pore Taibo But this could i closure of plants at Craigneuk cross with a loss oi and the foundries at and cross 500 to the redundan In the Tinsley Park, Park ( worth Icles and Cyc most of which are below capacity, cou appear. The engineerin ne River Don wor modernized and it continue as the m The BSC transfer its open-die operati drop-forge section Firth John and axing about 200 jot In the Midlands and Birchley section could though tinue at Tractord Trafford Audenshaw, With the furnaces, the Opens has already been so private enterprise gaged in Guest, Keen and N hive off the Brymb they fail, this works nd steel works

CARDIFF

A fast Moors could involve the the special steels Craigneuk and Toll- a loss of 1,500 jobs undries at Craigneuk adding anolnel redundancy list. Sheffield district rk, Park Gate, Brins. and Cyclops works, hich are functioning acity, could also dis- gineering section of works has been d and it is likely is the maker of the in die-gorgings in the C transferred part of ie operation and the Thomas Brown Lid It 200 jobs. Midlands the Bilston uld see cial steels closed, al- will con- Trafford Park and v, near Manchester. closure of its he Openshaw works been sold back BSC is en- with negotiations en and Nettlefold to he Brymbo plant. II his works could shut. Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973 PAGE 7 A Blast Furnaces • Steelworks © Steelworks & Rolling Mills.

A Blast Furnaces, Steelworks & Rolling Mills & Blast Furnaces, Steelworks, Rolling Mills + Rolling Mills • Tinplate Works • Clydebridge A Clyde Iron • Clydesdale Se Ravenscraig @ Consett Jarrow + Hartlepool & Cargo Fleet + Britannia A. South Teesside inningrove @ Appleby Frodinghat Redbourn

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• Stocksbridge. Aldwarke Park Gate River Don Grimesthorpe Tinsley Park Templeborough & Ickies: Stanton @ Lianwern: & Ebbw Vale • Panteg + Whitehead + Orb Works Left: Edward Heath. Right: Map Special steels production in South Wales at Landore and snowing •resent stee • works, which will be cut down Panteg is assured. minimum by Tory plans for 1o In general special steels will rationalization be concentrated Scotland, In order books have stimulated South Wales and Sheffield after and moderniz- lahonalizalion a reduction of each ation. area. BSC has said that old mills Reorganization at Sheffield will be phased out to avoid is already under way with last duplication and overlapping week's announcement that and to facilitate standardized £23m bar-rolling mill is new mass production in the most to be built at Rotherham.

emcient mills. Although the new mill, to be Few, changes any, are commissioned mid-1975, planned the tin plate, will provide 360 new jobs, BSC chemicals and constructional has said it part of its engineering divisions. Workers and plans some plants already al c warned that others of its 13 beginning to organize to resist mills in the area will shut.

these closures and cutbacks.

strip-mill Changes the At East Moors works, •Ebbw division will be more long term Vale, Shotton, Glengarnock and and BSC has said that rolling Tollcross, action committees like machinery at plants have been set up and a national Shotton and Glengarnock pre- campaign committee has been viously associated with suggested. steelmaking hearth will stay special TUC conference the until has to discuss do for February

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machines need replacing. to discuss the

CODS

In all cases, this is unlikely To sare bets hooking Stories the Welsh Scottish to be later than 1980 and possi- bly as early as 1975, holding of co-ordinating the run down the of prospect provision of altern- LOla With ne closure at Ebbw Vale, Shotton, ative work. Corby, Irlam, Glengarnock, • In the next five articles men Clydesbridge, Dalzell and at Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Shotton, Lanarkshire. Glengarnock and Scunthorpe Huge gains from economies they the fight. of scale, mechanization and

CONTINUED

TOMORROW

had Tonne metric ton the rolling process and falling (1,000 kg).

IRANIAN STUDENTS

PROBE THE SHAH'S JAILS

PAGE 8 Workers Press, Thursday Febru monarchy The Iranian and its functionaries abroad are not usually noted for practising open government. In London at the embassy in Princes Gate a uniformed flunkey is constantly stationed at the door to treat un- wanted visitors with as much hostility as he can muster. atmosphere is rather The chilly inside the building, as if the writ of the Shah's secret police Savak begins to run as you cross the threshold. When a group of Persian and Arab students went to the embassy a few days ago to ask for details of political trials there was a lot of scurry- ing about and whispering in at this impertinent corners demand. The Shah, after all, was the Nations host to the United International Commission on Human Rights and is a sig- natory of the UN convention on the question. His twin sister, the heroin-smuggler Princess Ashrat, is president of the commission. Last year, however, his re- gime executed over 50 young firing militants before army squads, many after frightful tortures at the hands of Savak.

Most of these victims were condemned at farcical trials on trumped-up evidence. Understandably the Iranian embassy is not eager to pub- licize this aspect of the Shah's record. When Mr A. M. Shapurian, the embassy Press attaché, finally appeared speak to the student delegation, he was very guarded, though he maintained a mask of ex- treme suavity. Ahmed Ghotbi (29), a lead- ing member of the Iranian Students' Society, put four questions to Shapurian. They all concerned the fate of Dr Sheibani, a prominent doctor and author who has long been known as an opponent of the Shah. The student organization has heard from inside Iran that Sheibani's life is in danger.

They say he has been tried in secret and sentenced to death as a means of ridding Persia of a troublesome and experi- enced focus of opposition.

Dr Sheibani is not a com- munist. He is a Moslem and of the National a supporter Front to which premier Mos- the in- sadeq, murdered at stigation of the CIA in 1953, belonged. That is to say, Dr Sheibani was a supporter of the National Front. He has spent more than half the time since Mossadeq's overthrow in prison and his opinions may have changed radically. No one knows. The Iranian students do not held in he is know where prison, what he is charged with, when he was last arrested or when he will be coming to appeal against his sentence.

The purpose of the delega- tion to the embassy was to try and find answers to these questions. Shapurian's first question was: 'Who is Dr Sheibani?'

He asked for Gohtbi's address 'because I shall have to ask Tehran for answers'. attaché's denial The Press failed to convince the students, who told me that Shapurian is the embassy spokesman on all political questions, special- ma day February 1, 1973 Iranian political prisoners. One every te by secret tribunals. Above : Students lobl izing in rebutting Press com- ments against the regime.

Under pressure, he admitted: I may have heard the name.

These trials and these arrests, there are so many of them..

They do telegraph details to the embassy, but I can't re- member them all.' Shapurian , was at pains to explain, probably for my bene- fit, the strict legality of the trials: 'There are these people who carry out acts against the They are dealt with state. according to the laws of the country. 'All actions against the security of the state are to be military tried before the tribunals. Yes, that includes the publication of communist literature. We have the best of relationships with communist countries, but communism is outlawed in Iran.' He added: 'We are Moslems and we don't like communism.

We suppress communism be- cause it is against our religion.'

This will be little consolation to the Moslem and Nationalist Dr Sheibani. It is hard to see what new crimes Dr Sheibani has com- mitted to justify the imposition of the death sentence. He was last tried, in secret, in 1970.

He was charged then in con- nection with a speech he had made at the funeral of Saidi, ha e every ten days is condemned to death Idents lobbying the embassy last week.

a Moslem holy man who died under torture when boiling water was introduced into his intestines. Sheibani has almost certainly been in prison ever since. Dr Hans-Heinz Heldmann, professor from an assistant Frankfurt University, tried to attend the trial as an observer for the Amnesty International organization. When he applied permit to attend a Sheibani's court martial he was brusquely ordered to leave the country within 24 hours. It was the first time any country had expelled an Amnesty International repre- sentative. His interpreter, Rezai, Hossein an Iranian student from Mainz University, disappeared the day Dr Held- mann was forced to leave.

Rezai's detention led to a in series of hunger strikes protest by students in Britain, West Switzerland and Italy. In 30 students barricaded themselves in the embassy in Bonn de- manding Rezai's release. The Iranian students are waiting whether to see Shapurian will actually reply to their questions and inform them on what has actually happened to Dr Sheibani, More evidence of the fate of Dr Abbas Sheibani has come from the testimony of Mrs Françoise Rozelaar-Vigier, an advocate at the Paris court of appeal, who visited Iran as a observer to attend the legal trial of Sheibani and his bro- otł ther-in-law Mohamed Mofidi.

Mrs Rozelaar-Vigier, who wh was appointed by the Inter- national Association of Demo- cratic Lawyers and the Inter- national Secretariat of Catho- lic Lawyers, was not allowed to contact the prisoners.

She could not attend the trial, which was announced only after the defendants had already been sentenced to death. She visited Tehran from December 7 to 16 and met Dr Ameli, the former Minister of Justice, who is now secretary the Iranian League of Human Rights (nominated by wel the Shah). In her report she writes: 'He told me I could not meet any of the prisoners since the instruction (preliminary exam- ination) of their case was still going on. I then met, twice, the prime minister, Mr Hoveida, who told me the Iranian gov- erment did not recognize the organizations represented (even though they are recog- nized by the United Nations).

'But he added that I would be allowed as a private person to assist any trial of my choice and would then benefit of the assistance of an interpreter.

Mr Hoveida also told me that all important trials were an- nounced 15 days in advance by the Press, and that I would be personally informed of those to come. "To his knowledge, however, no trial was imminent and Dr Ameli confirmed this informa- tion. I, therefore, learned with a particular emotion that while I was received most cour- teously, as a personal guest, by the prime minister, the trial, by the military jurisdictions, of the five terrorists later exe- cuted on January 4, was immi- if not already under nent, way' (This concerned another case involving tve youths, executed, allegedly for having attempted to blow up a petrol station, only three weeks after they were arrested on December 13. Their trial, like so many others, was entirely secret.)

'My emotion was increased when I got the news, from a well-informed source, that both Mofidi and Sheibani had been condemned to death, also fol- secret trial by the lowing same military tribunal of which I was never informed, in spite of the assurance given me by Mr Hoveida. "These facts oblige me to draw the conclusion that the accusations against Iran con- cerning the violation of the rights recognized to the ac- cused in political trials by international law are, alas, well-founded. 'According to information I the government, is omnipre- sent, and rarely respects the legal obligation it has to pre- "terrorists" to the sent even coroner of the military tribu- nal (who judges even civil- ians ...) within 24 hours of their arrest. •About 3,000 political pri- soners await trial, and most will be condemned to many years in jail, if not to death.

Since March 1971, 68 accused have been officially condemned to death and executed, that is one every ten days.... 'I was also told that Mofidi underwent torture and had both his legs broken. Is that the reason he was judged sec- retly, without anyone being able to control his physical in- tegrity as well as the veracity of the charges against him?

"Truly, Mofidi and Sheibani are only two cases among by many others, but they, at least although condemned to death, , of are still alive; and the parody exe- of justice that has led to their condemnation is sufficient ground for taking their case as an example.'

EXTRADITION

A Manhattan court has ordered the extradition to India of Elijah Ephraim Jhirad, a former Judge Advocate General of the Indian Navy.

He will face charges of em- bezzling between 1959 and 1961 a total of £200,000 from fund for retired navy a personnel. The Anglo-French white elephant Concorde landed at Launda airport in Portuguese West Africa last week proudly flying what officials believed was the Angolan flag. doesn't However, Angola have a flag. The Portuguese have been fighting against a revolutionary movement for Angolan independence for years. So they weren't pleased to see an Angolan flag. According to one observer, Portuguese officials 'became very upset and began dancing up and down on the tarmac' • A long search began for a Portuguese flag. After nearly two hours one was found and the Anglo- French miracle of modern science taxied out again onto the runway and made a second ceremonial arrival-this time with the proper flag. Inquiries are going on to see if Frelimo insurgents slipped the wrong flag aboard.

LES

rotshi! Now available from New P 186a Clapham High Street, For the working class this is a period of large-scale oppression and impoverishment. But this is not a general condition. There are those in the ruling class who are still riding the und gravy train. It is to this crowd that a new company is addressing itself.

David Laurent Giles, general manager of the Heron Corpor- ation, has just launched a sub- sidiary specializing in luxury yachts. The series of yachts will be built in an Italian yard and each will cost £175,000.

Mr Giles says he has al- contracted business ready valued at £1.75m. Asked who could possibly afford these he said fantastic sums, potential customers were those 'who have a million pounds in the bank' He said the company was 'confident that there are many people' who could purchase the cruisers. The battle for • the London commercial radio licence is hotting up. New candidates are unearthed each week. Perhaps the most intriguing band of entrepreneurs, apart from the John Bentley- NATSOPA group, is one headed by Sir Charles Trinder, former Lord Mayor of Lon- This outfit includes don. Michael Levete of the Charter- house Group, ex-Tory MP Kenneth Baker, Sir Gordon Newton, ex-editor of the Financial Times' and now chairman of the Vavasseur group, and George Clouston of IBA Sound Recording the Studios. Also listed on the board of directors is none other than Norris McWhirter, twin brother of Ross, and a sports journalist on the 'Observer'. It was Ross McWhirter who suc- cessfully applied to the High Court to have the film on Andy Warhol taken off ITV.

cham- His action has been pioned by Mary Whitehouse, Re-armament, ex-Moral and the extreme right-wing Festival of Light brigade. By LEON TROTSKY Paperback. £1.00 Illustrated Sharp pen-portraits of leading figures of the Second Interna- tional in Russia and Europe, for first time published the an English edition. The translations were first commissioned by the 'Keep Socialists' Young paper Left' Their enormous success has led to the completion of the translation of the whole book, which is the first part of Volume 8 of Leon Trotsky's 'Works' pub- lished in the Soviet Union • in 1926. It provides the most vivid picture available of the historic of the Second figures Inter- national, their strengths and weaknesses, written by an obser- ver who was also a participant in the daily struggle of the Euro- pean and Russian working class.

1 New Park Publications h Street, London, SW4 7UG

FILM REVIEW BY IAN YEATS

Was Joe Valachi, hustler, thief, drug peddler and murderer really a nice guy led astray? Or was he, to the very end, a mobster, ready at all times to kill or be killed turning scores of his former Cosa Nostra col- leagues over to the police once he came to believe they were his enemies? He was, in a sense, both.

The breakdown of capitalism in the 1920s plunged millions of Americans into a period of poverty and degradation that seemed without end. Immigrant communities Italians, Irish, Jews and Poles 'territories' - identified respective interest and fought each other and among them- selves to defend them. Industry, local government, entertainment and the law were all opened up in the 1920s and 1930s to what became known as the rackets. The rackets expressed-and still do for that matter-capi- talist relations at their most elemental and barbaric with the struggle for markets and personal survival dragging in every weapon from mere cor- ruption to torture, intimidation and murder. But within the ethnic groups the alignment of classes re- mained largely what it was in bourgeois society as a whole with social attitudes being tempered merely by the mores of the groups country of origin. Within the Cosa Nostra Joe Valachi was to the capo what any worker is to his boss.

We have to decide quickly whitewashing whether in Valachi director Terence Young intends the paint to Workers Press, Thu rub off on the entire Mafia.

Valachi begins life as Harlem barrow boy in a family of eight forced, eventually, by slump to abandon this straight and narrow road to a living in favour of dishonest ways of obtaining larger pickings. His boyhood in the Man- hattan slums bears comparison with the experiences of mil- of poor working-class lions families at that time - and indeed today. A sense of hopelessness, truancy from school, poverty, fights, petty thefts, the equiva- lent of borstal, and then the final turn to big-time burglary, the rackets and murder. But Valachi is not a Don, not a Godfather. He is an Italian worker, most likely of a peasant origin with a tradition of self help that leads easily to petty employer status.

Barrow boy or driver for the Mafia makes no difference. It is a job. In scene after scene the essential difference between the and awkward coarse Valachi, brilliantly played by Charles Bronson, contrasts with the mohair manners of the capos. The choice for Valachi was rot in Harlem or get into the mobs. He chose the mobs and in doing so bound himself to their rules. It would be easy to say that in perpetually stressing Valachi's innocence and long- ing tor legitimacy, Young is not merely defending but approving the Mafia. I don't think this is so.

Valachi almost certainly comes across as a bit too innocent, a bit too slow on the uptake, a bit too generous. But, with • one exception, no punches are pulled in portraying the mob leaders. reas, Thursday February 1, 1 Charles rules, savage as the rest The exception godfather, whose daughter Ma marries. The entire Reina shown as and in the traditions. Yet to b ant there must ha much blood on anyone else's. And the ‹he rolen In 10 with consistent -particularly blind eyes and deaf much of what is so tasteful to them as For all their 'refinement' there renavese Maranzano. Mario P Godfather', "The Papers' goes out o bolt to the links military 'alternativ ment in America fascism. film The is book of that Maas, which originally in Canary that Sang Papers. In the book Maa: that Genevese, became 'the darling lini when he 1932 and gave ward the cost of bui headquarters for When he Italy in 1934, one of first acts was to pur who had entered undermining its ex While he Mafia's rules, savage as the rest o time did at no repentence for his crimes and killings. There is little ev he ever stopped those rules single instance of b Mafia's ot the laws and revealing to the outside worl bul, as ne quotation at the en book, even self defence-and s might say revenge Emerging out o between intrigue York families, • every prison in , kill him as a r ad onl one way nd nothing to los Over 13 months using 300,00 gave the world At any other history of the Ame such confession have been possible. The US® not interested now increasingly legitimate business turning over $40 bi In 1959, before Kennedy took Attorney-General a capture 'the hief Edgar Hoov four men hoodlums, compare engaged in the domestic communisi With the end came the end of th and in response from the Italian lo son ordered the Val to be suppressed. These were because a supreme that although ruled confessions actual be published (inclus tions aimed at top government and poli hand account of the But it is the book or for the terror They are, after all, of social relati face capitalism. ruary 1, 1973 PAGE 9 as Joe eption is Valachis Reina, ghter Maria he later ire Reina family are unerringly refined best bourgeois Yet to be a lieuten- must have been as od on his hands as it into the violence unwillingness Maria-turning and deaf ears to as hat is so clearly dis- them as possible. middle-class nothing t mob leaders like Salvatore evese or es out of its way to e links between the l capos of the Mafia ad of their para- alternative govern America and Italiar hat name by published ich was 1969 "The ook Maas spells out for instance, e darling' of Musso- he fled to Italy in $250,000 to- ost of bulding a nev the fascists returned from 4, one of Genevese's as to purge elements the Mafia ig its exclusiveness. played the Valachi was as he rest of them and he show any for his long list of stopped playing the except in ince of breaking one most sacred revealing its secrets side world. says himself in a at the end of Maas's was strictly e-and some people branded with every Mafiosi rison in America out Valachi as a result, one way to hit back g to lose. and 1,180 months g 300,000 words he world its first-ever the Cosa Nostra. other time in the the American mobs, onfession may not establishment was sted in the rackets asıngiy veneerea as business enterprises er $40 billion a year. • before Robert F. as over jeneral and tried to le American dream' Hoover had only investigating the compared with 400 the fight against •molasm. of Kennedy end of the clean-up to pressure (talian lobby', , John- I the Valachi Papers only revealed supreme court judge although Valachi's could not ed (including allega- 1 at top men in the t and police) a third int of them could. that the unlikely hold any film Nostra. Cosa fter all, but another cial relations under

..... PAGE 10 Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973

TODAY'S TV

BBC 1

9.42-12.10 Schools. 12.25 Disc a dawn. 12.55 News. 1.00 Pebble Mill 1.30 Trumpton. 1.45 High 2.05-2.25 Schools. 2.50 at one. street. Workers at risk. 3.20 Children up. 3.45 The countryman. 4.10 growing Play school. 4.35 Jackanory. 4.50 Blue Peter. 5.15 John Craven's news 5.20 Brady kids. 5.45 News. Weather. round.

6.00 NATIONWIDE. 6.45 TOP OF THE POPS. 7.15 Z CARS.

8.00 COMEDY

PLAYHOUSE.

'Marry the Girls'. With John Le Mesurier, Barbara Murray.

8.30 HOLIDAY 73. Istanbul, Torquay. 9.00 NEWS. Weather.

9.25 LORD PETER WIMSEY. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club.

10.10 FRANKIE HOWERD IN WHOOPS BAGHDAD.

10.45 MIDWEEK. 11.30 LATE NIGHT NEWS.

11.35 TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. It's A Crystal, Crystal World.

11.55 Weather.

ITV

9.30 Schools. 10.30 All our Pipkin. 12.25 Witches brew. 12.40 First report. 1.00 Jokers wild. T.3 yesterdays. 11.00 Crown court. 2.00 General hospital. 2.30 Good afternoon. 3.00 Genera- 3.25 Happy. every after. 4.25 Voyage to the bottom of the tion three. sea. 5.20 Pebbles and bamm bamm. 5.50 News.

6.00 • TODAY. 6.30 CROSSROADS.

6.55 FILM: 'SIERRA'. Wanda Hendrix, Audie Murphy, Burl Ives, Dean Jagger, Tony Curtis, Richard Rober. Western.

8.30 THIS WEEK. 9.00 LONGSTREET. The Long Way Home.

10.00 NEWS. 10.30 CINEMA. Films of Martin Ritt.

11.00 COOKING WITHOUT TEARS. Expected Guests.

11.30 SCOTLAND YARD MYSTERIES. The Silent Weapon.*

12.00 WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

12.15 ALL IN THE MIND.

BBC 2

11.00-11.25 Play school. 5.25 Open University.

6.40 SIXTEEN PLUS. Changing Roles.

7.05 OPEN UNIVERSITY. 7.30 NEWS. Weather.

7.35 WEB OF LIFE. The Living Tundra.

8.05 EUROPA. Rails for the Future.

8.30 WAR AND PEACE. The Road to Life.

TIMES REMEMBERED BY PROUD MUMS. Margot Fonteyn's 9.15 Mother, Mrs Hilda Hookham.

9.25 HORIZON. Crime Lab. 10.20 SWALLOW YOUR LEADER.

10.50 BONNIE KOLOC. In concert. 11.20 NEWS. Weather. 11.50 REAL

TIME.

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...months. Name Address Amount enclosed { On 'Cinema' tonight on Independent Martin Ritt, His films include 'The 1 (seated).

REGIONAL TV

CHANNEL: 9.30-12.00

London. 1.15 News. 1.30 London. 2.30 Women to- day. 4.25 Follyfoot. 4.55 3.00 London. five. 5.20 Doctor Jackson large. 5.50 London. 6.00 News. 6.10 Maverick.

Film: "Remember 6.35 Crossroads, 7.00 the Day'. 8.30 London. 9.00 Hawaii five-o. 10.00 inema. 11.35 Scales of 10.30 Odd couple. 11.02 Cinema. justice. 12.00 News, weather.

WESTWARD.

Channel AS except: 12.05 London. 12.37 Gus Honeybun. 12.40 London. 12.57 News. 1.00 Lon- don. 6.00 Diary. 10.30 Report. 12.00 Faith for life.

SOUTHERN:

9.30 Londot Women 12.00 News. 12.05 London. 2.30 only. 3.00 London. 4.25 Land of the giants. 5.20 Cartoon. 5.25 Crossroads.

5.50 Lond®Breath 6.00 Day by day. 6.40 Film: •A Scandal 8.30 of London. 9.00 Doctor in charge. 9.30 Nearest and dearest Guideline. 10.00 London. News. 11.15 10.00 11.10 Film: 'Half Angel'. 12.35 Weather. 2.30 Date- HARLECH: 9.30 London. line. 3.00 London. 5.20 Chuckleheads. 5.50 London. 5.25 Crossroads. 6.01 Report West. 6.18 Report Wales. 6.35 "Above Sky's the limit London. 9.00 Hawaii 7.05 Film: Suspicion'. 8.30 five-o. 10.00 London. 10.30 John Mor- 11.15 Spyforce. 12.15 Weather. gan. Fight rising rents and prices Defend basic democratic rights Force the Tories to resign CAMBRIDGE: Thursday February 1, 8 p.m. 'The Rose and Crown' corner of Newmarket Road and East Road. KINGSTON: Thursday February _ 8 p.m. "Liverpool Arms', of Cambridge Road/ (corner London Road). DERBY: Thursday February 1, Mechanics 7.30 Metal p.m. premises, Charnwood St. SOUTH EAST LONDON: Thurs- day February 1, 8 p.m. Deptford Engineers Club, New Cross Road.

HOLLOWAY: Thursday, February 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Seven Sisters Road. MANCHESTER: Thursday, Febru- ary 1, 8 p.m. Ross Place School, Fort Ardwich. Joe Potts, Winnie Price, Connie Fahey. 'Fight rising prices! Force the Tories out • MIDDLETON: Thursday February 'Cardinal's Hat, 1, 7.30 p.m. Wood Street. CROYDON: Thursday February 1, 8 p.m. Ruskin House, Coombe Road. CORBY: Sunday, February 7.30 p.m. Nags Head, Cruby old Village. THE Plymouth Fine Tubes strikers have just completed two years and seven months on strike. These men have waged a bitter struggle for the most basic right a worker can possess-the right to belong to a trade union. committee members Strike have travelled over 100,000 miles to sustain their fight.

These latest months have been the hardest of all for the men, their wives and 53 ependent channels, Clive James examines the de 'The Molly Maguires' with Sean Connery 12.0S London. London atie 12.04 News. 12.05 ndon. 4.25 News. 2.30 Stewart. 3.00 London. 4.30 Land of the giants. 5.20 Cartoon. 5.35 Wind in the willows. 5.50 London. 6.00 About 6.35 Anglia. 6.20 Arena. Crossroads. 7.00 Film: "The Sheriff'. 9.00 Path- finders. 10.00 London. 10.30 Bygones.

11.05 and grow- ne. 12.05 Frighteners. 12.30 Reflection ATY MIDLANDS: 9.30 London. 12.00 Today. 12.05 London. 2.30 Women. 3.00 London. 4.25 Land of the giants.

.20 Julia. 5.50 London. 6.00 Today. .35 Crossroads. 7.00 Film: Dangerou Crossing'. 8.30 London. 9.00 Per- suaders. 10.00 London. 11.00 Angling.

11.30 Film: 'Gasbags'. Weather.

ULSTER:

11.00 London. 1.31 News. 1.40 Schools. 2.40 Romper room. 3.00 London. 3.25 Women. 3.55 Harriet's 4.23 News. 4.25 back in town. Ele- Phoenix five. 5.20 phant boy. 4.55 General hospital. 6.00 Reports. 6.35 •Traitors 8.30 London. 9.00 O'Hara. 10.00 What's it all about. 11.20 Champions.

YORKSHIRE:

9.30 London. 4.25 Funky 4.50 Rovers. 5.20 phantom. 5.50 London. Partridge › family. 6.00 Crossroads. Calendar, weather. 6.35 7.00 Film: "The Iron Glove'. 8.30 Lon- don. 9.00 Persuaders. 10.00 London. 10.30 Sport. 11.05 Cinema. 11.35 Mod squad. 12.30 Weather. GRANADA: 9.30 London. 12.00 Felix the cat. 12.05 London. 5.15 Smith SWINDON: Sunday February 4, 7.30 p.m. "The Locomotive'.

February WIGAN: Monday 8 p.m. Market Hotel, Mesmes Street. Speakers: Frank Kélly, UCATT, Bill Lyons, AUEW, Ray Hudson, UCATT. (All in a per- sonal capacity.)

LONDON TEACHERS' SECTION

monday February 5, 8 p.m Conway Hall, Red Lion Square London WC1. DAGENHAM: Tuesday February Co-op Hall, Fanshawe Avenue. state control of wages'. EAST LONDON: Tuesday Feb- ruary 6, 8 p.m. 'Festival Inn'.

Chrisp Market, E14. Street 'Defend basic rights'.

SKELMERSDALE:

Yeanesdaj February 7, 8 p.m. Quarry Banl Community Centre. WOOLWICH: Wednesday February 7, 8 "The Castle', p.m. Powis "Defend' basic SE18. Street, rights' children. Common Market entry, with rapidly rising prices, has imposed a severe financial burden. The 37 strikers face the challenging months ahead with a depleted strike fund- this is in a period when meat has now become a luxury for all but paid. the highest January is always a difficult month to raise money to fur- ther their fight. Yet they are determined to fight on. This is a struggle the working class cannot afford to work of producer-director • Connery (left) and Richard Harris Mmi®Flaming limit. Film: London. Hawk. 10.00 London. 11.00 the line. 11.35 Theatre

TARDT TEES:

TYNE

9.25 Communications have broken down. 9.30 London.

2.30 News. 2.31 Place in the country. 3.00 London. 4.25 Funky phantom. 4.50 Stingray. 5.20 Partridge 5.50 family. London. 6.00 Today. 6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 Film: 'All the Young Men'. 8.30 London. 9.00 Persuaders. 10.00 Lon- don. 10.30 Sport. 11.00 Police call. 11.05 Cinema. 11.35 News. 11.50 Scales of justice. 12.20 Greatest fights. 12.30 Lectern. SCOTTISH: 9.30 London. 2.30 Date- line. 3.00 London. 4.25 Lost in space.

5.25 Crossroads. 5.50 London. 6.00 Today. 6.30 Scotch 7.00 corner. Cimarron strip. 8.30 London. 9.00 Path- finders. 10.00 London. 11.00 Angling today. 11.30 Late call. 11.35 Journey to the unknown.

GRAMPIAN:

10.58 London. 1.38 Schools. 2.40 Cartoon. 2.50 News. 3.00 London. 3.25 Women today. 3.55 Harriet's back in town. 4.25 Skippy.

4.50 Merrie melodies. 5.20 General hospital 50. 6.39. 05 as 6.00 News. 6.05 ten. 7.00 Invitation Film: to Gunfighter'. London. Persuaders. 8.30 9.00 9.55 11.05 Police news. 10.00 London. Frighteners. Partners. 11.30 12.00 Meditation. 4, HACKNEY: Thursday February 8, 8 p.m. Parlour Room, Central Hall (opposite Town Hall). 'Build Councils of Action.' WILLESDEN: Thursday Februan B, 8 p.m. Labour and Trades Hall High Road NW10. 'Victory to the NLF. Down with Stalinism and imperialism. BASILDON: Sunday February 11, 5.30 p.m. Barnstable Community Centre. 'Defend basic rights'.

WANDSWORTH: Monday February 12, 8 p.m. 'King's Arms', Wands- High Street. "Fight rising worth rents aid prices'. CLAPHAM: Tuesday February 13, 8 p.m. Clapham Manor Baths, Clapham Manor Street, SW4. 'Defend basic rights'. CAMDEN: Tuesday February 13 8 p.m. 'Prince Albert', Wharfe- dale Road, Kings Cross. 'Lessons of the rents fight. HARROW: Tuesday February 13, 8 p.m. Labour Hall. 'Defend basic rights' TOOTING: Tuesday February 13, 'Selkirk Selkirk 8 р.m. Hotel, Road. 'Defend basic riahts'.

LIVERPOOL: Tuesday February 20, 7.30 p.m. AEU House, Mount Pleasant. lose. That is why the Socialist Labour League and the Workers Press wishes to make a special appeal to all trade unionists to take collections in their factories and branches for the Fine Tubes men in order that their heroic and determined action can be car- ried forward. All money should be sent to: Fine Tubes Treasurer c/o 65 Bretonside Plymouth, Devon.

ON FRIDAY afternoon, J ment's wage control laws y by the Minister Maurice servant and two Press offic Present were journal- ists from the 'Sunday Express', 'News of the World', 'Sunday Tele- graph', 'Otserver', 'Sun- day Mirror', and two 'Sunday from the Times'. • Their questions were answered on an unattributable basis, which means that they could use the informa- tion but could not say where they got it from. They asked what the planned Phase Three con- trols due in the autumn would contain and were told by Macmillan that the government intended to legislate even stricter pay limits than the £1 plus 4 per cent being under Phase imposed Two. In percentage terms, it means that by the end of the year it will be illegal to get more than about 4 per cent increase in pay instead of the present 8 per cent ceiling, regardless of what is happening to profits and company regardless of what is hap- pening to the price of food and other imported goods. In cash terms, it means that a man on £25 a week allowed a fl in- will be crease instead of the £2 would get rise that he under the pay controls the Tories propose for the first part of 1973. The correspondents duly reported these startling revelations. Not only was the state control of wages to become permanent, but the increases were to be

CLAPHAM

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14,

8pm South Island Library South Island Place Stockwell, SW9 speaker: MIKE BANDA (SLL Central Cttee)

WATFORD

MONDAY FEBRUARY 19, 8pm Trades Union Hall near Watford Junction stn speaker: MIKE BANDA (SLL Central Cttee)

ACTON

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20, 8pm Woodlands Hall, Crown Street speaker: G HEALY (SLL National Sec)

GLASGOW

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11,

7.30pm Govan South Town Hall Langland Road nearest underground Govan Cross speaker: G. HEALY (SLL National Sec) Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973 PAGE 11

MACMILLAN

Even Macmillan 'pleased with results' of limits stricter pay than

TWO

envisaged autumn. But the Tory "Daily The Press briefing Telegraph' nevertheless re- ported the following day cantonal. Lte eve of today's reassembly of parliament, a Conserva- uve verment announce. that never was indirectly through Press briefings the probability stricter control of

CYCL

and pay the prices autumn.' seems clear enough. ON FRIDAY afternoon, January 19, a Press briefing on the govern- are to WaDA in creases screwed even more ment's wage control laws was held at the Department of Employment tightly and the autumn were no amouncemeni by the Minister Maurice MacMillan, accompanied by a senior civil at all of any intention of introducing food price con- Act other measures directly reduce the cost of Hence ucally

A WORKERS PRESS

unanimous news- Incar paper headlines of "Tough

INVESTIGATION

er Wage Curbs' For his populist oWI millionaire the

DUL DUSED.

renaned attack in "The Times' on reported Tuesday with the What remarks. leaV ma system is used hor way.

used system they later shot down, the 1t Press which is blamed and seriously that reflects its credibility. 'We always being dic knockea on The nead politicians. It is time the GRANT ... Questions HEATH... No answers profession stood up for it- SeTa steadily driven down to- Islington East MP John fort and when the Prime further slump on the Stock behind is that Macmillan wards a nil norm. Grant, a former industrial challenged Exchange. was merely explaining the vaster Was policy laid down in about it in parliament correspondent sale meath s Workers Press has con- following There have since been paragraph 32 written reply to him on the of the White sistently explained how 1 ucouay further questions in the 'thoroughly question was Paper days the Tories calegonically cented ThaT pubilsned House Have and the right-wing the Sunday papers had any before his briefing. sausacror and evasive all along full to use the reason at all for saying that and intends to raise the Press •aron rupert

VIUI

power of the state machine This states that the rate doch has challenged Phase matter again soon. Three would and Heath's denial. of both price and wage in- Wake tougher. eventually to impose direct creases should be brought He added: It seems aD. The following words wage cuts. down order to reduce parent that the Prime Min- 'There is no reason at all ister and his Secretary for that, that there for he told a prietor the "The a real improve- both seekins could be aliploynicill. Misleading Coner. aetalls to manage the ment in living standards.

news, all Phase Three will be dis- 'UK that intough their definition of cussed the Accordingly, on Tuesday in way Press Gazette', this week: usual what a phase three with the CBI and the TUC!

of this This, in fact, is already week. unc would involve' happening indirectly in that Minister was still denying Heath then went further. Denying in the Commons that ther One of the industrial

LIC

Sadul InCrease

COS-

Asked if he accepted had been correspondents who was ministerial lated for under the pay ally ponsibility for laws easily being swal- Press Phase Three of the are to the erect tha The orienne tole given by his "The Stock Exchange Phase to abe Times': 'I heard afterwards lowed Minister Employment, slumped. was still that Mr Macmillan was de- controls was prices. troled „rise

BULLE

replied: 'There was no such shedding points Tues- Workers' living standards tougher than Phase Two Ignted by lne coverage.' day when Mr Heath have been under attack for ministerlal action. salo The indeed Id mot be hort let- point was in the Commons: "There the Tory mone anol

CUTS

made by Macmillan and his hand anti- he added: "There was no ministerial briefing …LaTer will now become faster and was ministerial briefing omcials al the brenng Inal, working class •consoiracl more ferocious. unal rnase Inree Is to in the government's view, does not know what the a tougher policy." that Phase Ihree is to b living standards would be hand is But right doing. The Sunday a tougher policy.' newspaper 'Well there was one. It better protected if. instead outcome is clear. the une Friday. It corresponuents merel Te- took place.on These denials of apes ising 12 per cent drive to take on and smash caused ported that 'tougher pay was attended bv the indus.

and cent, the working class, its trade break prices per curbs' were on the way.

OVCI

rial correspondents oi all unions, and its standard of head. was wages were to rise only 6 Heato's He national Sunday news- But even this produced misleading percent are on view living, will go on regardless accused papers. cent, and this view of the lies and breaches too much an House per Commons and VULLI y was The fig leaf the govern- reported by most IrON Trade Union Headers Machinans orienng Was for the government's com- blamed causing ment is now trying to hide the Sunday papers. luons thal are required Socialist Labour League Public Meetings

SLL

Lecture 1

LECTURES

ternational days Lenin and Trotsky

UNITE IN ACTION TO DEFEND BASIC RIGHTS

Lecture 2

GLASGOW

MEDWAY

Lecture 3 unday, February dost 0 the tou Coor TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 8pm he Left Opposition's struggl defeat Fourth international London Aurora Hotel * against Stalinism. Brompton Road

MID HALL

given by TOM KEMF Gillingham (SLL Central Committee)

MIKE BANDA

Partick Burgh Halls (SLL Central Citee) 7.30 p.m.

ACTON

NORTH KENT

Lectures_ by Tom Kemp, SLL

SLOUGH

Central Committee member

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28

MONDAY FEBRUARY 19, 8pm 8pm

DONCASTER

Wednesday February Lecture 2 The Shakespeare, Britwell Community Centre Powis Street Woolwich Long Furlong Drive Wednesday February Lecture 3 Sunday February 4 speaker: G HEALY The crisis and the (SLL National Sec) socialist answer. oodlands H Sunday February 11 own Street, W.3. 8 p.

WANDSWORTH

DAGENHAM

In Brainutonary party

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22,

THURSDAY MARCH 1, 8pm

EAST LONDON

ectures given t Romford Rd/Rabbitts Roac Wandsworn own nail liff Slaughte Wandsworth High Street opp labbitts Pul

SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL

MIKE

BANDA

peaker: G HEAL speaker: Thursday February Lecture 1 (SLL National Sec) Westlaithgate (SL Central Ctteel 7.30 p.m. Thursday February @ Lecture 2

BIRMINGHAM

MIDDLETON

TODMORDEN

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14,

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25, 7pm Thursday February 1 Lecture 3 8pm Digbeth, Civic Hall Monday February 5 Middleton Baths, "Trotskyism' Digbeth, Birmingham

THE_WEAVERS' INSTI-

Middleton, Manchester Old Town Offices speaker: MIKE BANDA TUTE, Burnley Road, Poplar High Street speaker: G HEALI 7.30 p.m. E.14. 8 p.m. (SLL Central Citee) SLL National Sec)

Wilson hot air about parliamentary institution PAGE 12 Workers Press, Thursday February 1, 1973 being railroaded through OPPOSITION leader board. the directors' room dangers of continuing this of property company, trend are a growing cyni- parliament by Heath was Harold Wilson yesterday indiffer- a loss of confidence originated by Wilson: with the modern cism, likened the Tory Cabinet ence shareno cers arauca. • The Industrial Relations to the board of directors shareholders' meetings wnson s tear tor me m-

ACL

SECES

which much parliament of a property company. characterizes stitution Labourite plan 'In Place of more than reorm- Strife'. or anoe eno mausury. Addressing a parliamen- "The board decides. Tell Ist not alr. tary press gallery luncheon Finance The Housing is com- If the Tories are using them as Wilson the Commons. rubber Act owed its origins to the parliament matible with the Companies said: Labour 'fair rents' scheme.

Act. And get stamn for their anti-Labour the meeting over as quickly. as possible. legislation then no one car- The European 'More and more I get- commu- responsibility nities Act actually ries He warned that the pro- ouders get-ue 111- scalet Wilson while pression of Cabinet than Wilson drawn blems were oniy the up munsell. which managerial All the Tory legislation was still in office. the iceberg ... and the Thirteen councillors face jail Rally round Clyde rent rebels

BY PHILIP WADE OUR HOUSING CORRESPONDENT

CLYDEBANK councillors say they will not be intimidated by the government and are not deterred by threats of imprisonment now hanging over their heads for not implementing rent rises under the 'We are not going to be intimidated by the law courts of the Secretary of State,' Cllr Joseph Bauld, Rail a leading Labour non-implementer, told me yesterday.

He was one of 13 coun- The threat of imprisonment or pay cillors who on Tuesday fines would not make him change his mind. voted to ignore night In fact the against the Act offer court order instructing them will not meet again before the Housing the implement seven days are up to reconsider (Financial Provisions) (Scot- une boston. 'soon' land) Act. At the moment they are cam- Daleill Hlassive achlus This decision meas straton at vaesank on •attenu end of seven-day period- assembling at the town Tuesday— which expires next hall at 10.30 a.m.

BRITISH

Rail has not They are appeal- Councuors lace CUllIsiU drivers' de- answered the ing 1o1 support hom every secuon both the courts and with the labour and trade union by the loc. government. put forward locomen's movement. could the union ASLEF Judges summons but it is clear tnat inis vicious for their yesterday's protracted attack the basic rights of CoulCiuls disci talo000 drivers brera contemot. moo somment Clydebank workers and S e tre fines could follow swiftly. 30,000 drivers, only Cale acalce would lead to their disquali- could tell

ASLEF

they one way. their elected posi- offer nation The in their support call dalzl tions. possible'. must be almea al mobilzing tne The stand taken majo-

ASLEF

secretary Ray Buck- by the entire working class in a struggle the concil has split the rity on ton said ( afterwards the execu- middle to bring down the tory govern- Labour group down the Wo•ons cen Ii e SItu ar enz zæ à ovcd eight tion this morning. votie

TOT

muo ementauon ment pledged to socialist policies, against. Other non- 'We Gưt i1 Industrial the repeal of the Tory including Communist implementers are action. forced WG ale Nationalist rent Scottish

ACLS

carly alla Inte a coren ooe lie obo There can be no compromise lic will understand It's because counculors ana one inaepenaent.

fight as the Tories have in •If believe in son thin a kind clear. you put some lauc The structic. dicilalv. let yourself used as a door- said Cllr Bauld. mat. Lorry ferry drivers We stick our prin- coles. Nowdadys SOllIC

UUI

they members bend lUST ano want this conflict with defy state pay law authority. Cllr Bauld indicated that those in the Labour Party who did not want to fight should resign. Of leadership at Trans- From David Maude in Birmingham the Labour nort House he commented: 1 her the fence, have been sitting on THE TORIES' state pay legislation has run into stiff opposition out into refusing to come from 1,000 British Road Services transport drivers in the open. clear. 'Our position quite 1S Midlands. We have taken a stand and there retreat from it now. And at depots throughout can be a driver at Ted the the Birmingham area yesterday ne neu o x our rens m our Oldbury

BRS

in Birming- towns has been taken away drivers were confident that the "This is the the stroke of a pen. ham. told me: government will have to allow job where you actually have to 'We determined not to are £2.50 payment bonus by pay to go to work. accept these dictatorial nowers.'

BRS.

"They class us as unskilled, but Cilr Bauld. 'We were job More than 10,000 Midlands car I have to have two licences elected legally do our and a medical car component workers were certificate before can become a rubber stamp anc nor You pay for the Secretary of State.' laid off as a demonstration of the SLaL WOrK.

TOT

£4.50 Clydebank Was 'distressed drivers' powerful position.

new HGV licence and for a medical. added. Seven British Leyland factories area, Uneployment were hit, including the giant For a 50-hour week Ted Groves was running al and savage 11 per Austin Morris Long- took home £29.50 in his last a stagern 000 javas complex at pay Over been bridge packet- and that was including Cul. £2.50 bonus. Thy bodied indo thes are nac- lost irom area ml ten cycals 'Now tel mantese want us to impose mally ferried This was the highest pay slip a flat rate on

BRS

Todes oy Une 0lg venices Lo w a e cc and transporters. Most men, driving 24-ton lorries one, mclualg old age pensioneis It is very for which the

HGV

licence all well talking of this week the On Mondav rebates, but the pensioner drivers handed in to shop stew- be now necacd, dre laklng nome back, wouldn't get the full ards their Heavy Goods Vehicle tween £23.50 and £27 for 50 and explained Cllr Baud 567 hours respectively.

(HGV)

Iccacc willco Decane If we implemented the Act it The pay rates at BRS are in compulsory for driving the lorries hang round our would rope from that day. fact £4.60 lower than those for town. necks and iust cripple the Haulage Assc irms in the Road demanding the nav. are We have to fight for the will and ment of a f2.50 bonus which is ciation, driver Bill Garner said.

aspirations of the people!

already by Bill Fletcher, shop steward for received men 170 pri- the

WOIK C TOI

ransDor Genera vate transport firms in the area. Vorkers' Union at Oldbury, said The drivers emphasize that they We didn't ask for these licences they've —and thev are are nol on suiker ocen Imposea on us by angry at what they believe are law. Print dolpham Plough Press Tory-inspired that they •We didn't ask for the pay reports 4 huS. oreel, are already earning £43 a week.

freeze either. • Heath's state pay laws ugh are a harsher step along was the road paved by the Prices and Incomes Board.

ions the In conclusion it must be • of said, if Wilson is so upset with the Tory presidential- style of rule, why isn't he ince joining with the TUC in the mobilizing the labour and me. trade union movement to mu- force the government out?

ally Wilson will not answer son that question. al secratary Ray Buckton of British Rail's delay and procrastination,' he said.

The new structure, added The only thing ASLEF got out of yesterday's talks was BR's dropping Its scheme for dividing drivers into three grades for pay purposes. ASLEF's claim for a £9.25 in- crease in the basic rate is separate from the annual pay revlew for which no claim has yet been sent in. The National Union of Rail- waymen was also at yesterday's talks, but is known to be cri- tical of the ASLEF claim.

DEFENO ALL DEMOGRATIC RIGH

UN

AND BASIC LIVING S

CION TO

MAKE THIS TC

THE ROAD TO PO

TICKET E1

SPECIAL LECTURE: GivI SLL national se Marxism and the Road to

SUNDAY FEBRUAI

BEAVER HALL, GAR

(nr Mansion Hous TROUBLE flared yesterday at the Mansfield Hosiery Mill, Loughborough, when white knit- ters briefly walked out. They their machines for ten minutes following an argument with Asian workers. A tribunal of the Commission on Industrial Relations is currently investigat- ing labour troubles at the mill.

FEDERATION of Master Builders is believed to be the first employers' association to hire an entire ship for a cruise by its members and their families at reduced rates. In November the 10,000 Black Watch', owned by the Fred Olsen Line, will be taken over for a special cruise to Madeira and the Canary Islands.

BUILDING workers in Lancaster are to protest to their union leadership against the inclusion of fascist Spain holiday among arrangements offered by a new

UCATT

Service, Travel an- nounced in the January issue of the union's paper, "Viewpoint'. Sample arrangements prominently displayed in the advert are in- in both Spain clusive holidays and Greece. The local branch is sending a protest to union secre- tary George Smith, recalling the shooting of Spanish building workers by Franco's police dur- ing a strike last year. SEVEN leaders of the Briant Colour work-in in south London have been served with High Court writs. Issued by the Chancery Division they are returnable in 14 days. Earlier this week the company liquidator, Mr M. P. Granville White obtained the instructing the work-in orders committee to hand over the com- pany's documents he needs to wind up the business once and for all. The writ says the Briant 'unlawfully workers and acting in concert together seized physical control of the factory, machinery and equipment and to this day retain control. Those named in the writ are Norman Penning- Bill Freeman, ton, John • Wickham, Christine William Sawyer, Denis Brazil, Broad and Tony Austin. They belong to the print unions_NGA, SOGAT, NATSOPA and SLADE.

FINANCE House Association will today raise to 9 per cent. The rate last changed on January 1 when it rose ‡ per cent to 8} per cent. According to an asso- ciation 'rates are spokesman, being watched almost by the hour' because of the troubled financial situation.

ATIC RIGHTS DEFEND TRAD

LIVING STANDARDS CN

THIS TORY COMERA

HE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY

IRE: Given by G. Healy, ional secretary Road to Workers' Power BRUARY 4, 7p.m.

LL, GARLICK HILL

ion House tube)