US FIRMS TURN THE SCREW CONCORDE: VICTIM OFTHER JE WAR

THE DECISION of the two main American Pan-American and Trans-World Airlines — their options on the Concorde is a deliberate the United States versus Europe trade war.

It threatens well over 30,000 a similar number in France. Producing what "The Times' calls 'the most damaging setback for British advanced technology since the collapse into bankruptcy of Rolls-Royce' the Americans are seeking to destroy Concorde in their fight to win the war for the passenger trade.

As long ago as 1969, Mr Willlam Hamilton, then director of the US Boeing project, said: 'We regard Concorde as an opponent . . • people will fly on it in preference to the subsonic aircraft which we produce.' At the same time, President Nixon said America should 'continue to lead the world in this field'.

In April 1970 John Volpe, US Secretary of Transportation, said that if the Concorde project succeeded, the American aircraft industry would 'go to pot.

In the same year the United States Congress was told that if America lost the passenger trade war and subsequent aircraft sales it would mean a balance of payments loss of $15,800m over the following 20 years.

The Americans are also anxious to break up Anglo-French collaboration which, in projects like BILL FREEMAN, chalrman of Concorde, could challenge Ameri- the joint chapels committee at can economic interests. the Briant Colour Printing They want to turn the screws work-in, symbolically burnt the on British capitalism in the hope original of the High Court writ of forcing it to act on behalf of served on him at a Press conAmerican interests in Europe. ference yesterday.

Nixon would like to make Mr Freeman, the father of Heath his 'errand boy' in the the NATSOPA chapel at the Common. Market, for example, Old Kent Road printing works, by opposing tariff barriers which and his committee have stated discriminate against American that they will defy the writs.

Their action follows a mass exports. meeting of the print workers Although Concorde costs have at the occupied raciory on rocketed from an original esti- Wednesday which decided that mate of £150m when the Anglo- ture unild peelet all mause French agreement was signed in enforce the writs'. we would odo cdc . 1962 to .£970m by December The seven members of the 1972, this is not the major rea- committee named in the writs son for the cancellations. have 14 days to file their deThe Americans feel threatened fence with the Chancery Division.

TURN TO BACK PAGE They have been ordered to THE FRENCH aerospace industry, with its 110,000 workers is also facing a bleak time. Not only have the Pan-Am and TWA airlines turned down Concorde, but orders for military and civil planes are also falling off.

The French partner in the Concorde project is the Aerospatiale company which employs 45,000 engineers.

The Snema company, which engaged with Rolls-Royce in OUT Bill Freeman (with beard), chairman of the joint chapels, watches with burns in a waste paper basket Sit-in printers surrender all the company's books, papers and records to the liquidator, Mr Patrick Granville White. They They have also to leave the premises and to pay costs and damages.

The High Court action brings the seven-month Briant Colour occupation to its snarpest point of, struggle.

At vestardav'e nrase confar. ence in the plant, Mr Freeman said: 'This is not a legal issue. It is a social and moral issue of men and women's rights to defend the right to work.

'If It is a crime to fight for the right to work, then we, the T: Stainless Tubes Action Co producing' the Concorde's Olympus engine, also builds the engines for the Anglo-French Jaguar strike aircraft which the French navy is turning down.

The navy wants the new Super-Etendard plane which would be equipped with American Pratt and Whitney engines.

One leading industrialist, commenting on the Concorde blow, said: More broadsides are yet to come when the Nixon round of trade negotiations gets under way Briant Colour workers, plead guilty. But let the men and women of this country judge us, not the High Courts.' A statement prepared by the BCP joint chapels committee also called for a Charter of THE EXECUTIVE of the Civil and Public Services association, meeting today, will consider calling a one-day national strike of 200,000 civil servants against the Tories' state pay law.

But the locomen's chiefs decided yesterday by seven votes to two not to start industrial burn court for transforming the SLL into a revolutionary TOMORROW publication of the Draft Programme for the transformation of the Socialist Labour League into a revolutionary party in 1973. Presented by the SLL Central Committee, it gives a comprehensive analysis of the political situation and outlines the revolutionary programme, starting from unity in action to defend basic democratic rights, which can take the working class forward to force the Tories to resign.

The publication of this resolution puts into effect the unanimous resolution of the All Trades Unions Alliance October 22, 1972 conference, where 2,200 delegates called for this first step to the transformation of the SLL into the revolutionary party.

In every area, the SLL will be organizing the widest possible discussion on this document, and the columns of the amendments, additions, criticisms and questions. The final resolution will form the basis for a special conference in the spring to plan the founding of the party. Make sure of your copy on Saturday. Order now by phoning 01-622 7029.

WANTED hUT STEEK order 'We take the view,' the committee said, 'that it is about time in this country that working men and women had a Charter of Rights with the right to work and enjoy a decent standard of livng as the basis.' action. They will continue talks with British Rail.

In London today there will be two big protest strikes over pay. Ancillary workers at St George's Hospital, Hyde Park, will stage a 24-hour strike and electricians will hold an unoffcial rally at Speakers' Corner.