The Newsletter, vol. 6 no. 232

Smallpox and the Press SMALLPOX is a terrible disease. Epidemics are fortunately rare these days, except in countries where the standard of living has been depressed by imperialist exploitation.

But the disease of racialism is not controllable by the methods of medical science. Its causes are to be found in the contradictions of a decaying society.

The present smallpox scare is being deliberately blown up by the press, radio and TV not because of the dangers to public health but as part of the agitation around the Tory Immigration Bill. The scare and headlines like the one reproduced here are openly welcomed by racialists and certain Tory MPs. The near hysteria of the newspaper reports from Bradford is attributable to the fact that the first signs of the disease were found in Pakistani immigrants.

For two centuries the British ruled the Indian subcontinent. Pakistan is still economically dominated by British capital. The prevalence of diseases of this kind in that part of the Ebening Standard 42,722 MONDAY. 13.1961 • 3л. Hundred more Pakistanis due here tonight and an MP sends plea to Home OfficeSMALLPOX: 'BAN THE IMMIGRANTS' world is a result of the miserable conditions of life to which imperialism condemns the colonial people.

As in the case of Middlesbrough, the national press angles the story so as to play on racialist prejudice as much as possible. Bradford, it should be remembered, is the town where the Locarno Ballroom's colour bar is being fought by the Labour movement.

The fight against the wage pause is the real light in which this campaign should be viewed, for it is now that the Tories need to find every way they can to divide and confuse the working class.

Racialism in every form must be combatted by the Labour and trades union movement by showing how it diverts the attention of workers from the real issue-the fight against capitalism. The unity of the working class, black and white, Jew and gentile, must be achieved in the struggle to rid the world of this putrefying social system.

Vaccination, let us hope, will outbreak under control. Marxist vaccine which can stamp out the social cause. soon bring the smallpox leadership is the political racialist infection and its in Selwyn Lloyd's policy made by 1 that the government has succeeded the white-collar workers to retreat under pounds in real wages.

In a recent speech, Macmillan explained that his anticipated it would have to make temporary retreats to hold the main line of its strategy. This strategy upon the need to cut production costs preparatory to the Common Market early in 1963.

The first stage of the strategy consisted in efforts to frighten the weaker section of wage earners, in particular Civil Servants and teachers, and to hold up any payment of wage increases for a certain period. It is now anticipated that increases will be granted to these workers of somewhere in the region of 2t per cent when the arbitration tribunals recommence operations after March.

In relation to the mass of wage workers, the policy of the government has been to try and engage the TUC around its so-called 'planning' policy talks and mark time for several months.

Suits the Tories

This has also been successful. Whilst the government have been busy depressing wages and saving millions, the TUC has been talking. This arrangement suits the Tories very well. Meanwhile, the Chancellor, through the employers' organizations, refuses any increase to the major unions and holds out the carrot of a slender possibillity that some consideration will also be given-again in the region of 2ț per cent - after next March.

Another and perhaps more significant development, but on a much smaller scale, has been the get-tough attitude of employers, particularly Rootes and, 1, successful. Regardless of the significant breaches he power workers and others, the hard fact remains in depressing wages by raising taxation and forcing conditions which have meant the loss of millions of Cabinet in order is based entering for a short time, pany of Wales.

In the latter case it became clear to the Tories that a major conflict might have been brought forward too quickly had the steel strike continued. This, they felt, threatened to interfere with the talks between themselves and the TUC. So they settled the South Wales strike at the expense of the labourers.

The Rootes strike, however, was fought out to the finish at the cost of millions of pounds. There is a strong rumour that the motor car manufacturers helped to subsidize Rootes in Carron: bitter opposition?

this struggle. Rootes won the strike because the Right-wing leaders of the engineering unions did everything to help them.

On this front also the government has been successful insofar as it made up its mind to encourage the employers to fight.

Macmillan: temporary retreats Admiralty employment will be much less than it is now.

Meanwhile, no one disguises the fact that the promise of the 24 per cent is of a transitional nature. In other words, it is the second stage of carefullylaid preparations by the government to force a real showdown with the unions, which will undoubtedly come when they enter the Common Market.

Prevent the Unions " The victory of Rootes has demonstrated how the unions can be defeated.' " The Financial Times' of January 17 advises the government that, 'If the unions are not prepared to exercise selfrestraint—as they demonstrably are not—the Government must so order the affairs of the country as to prevent them from having a stranglehold on the economy?

There is now a real need to consolidate the struggle of all the workers engaged in wage negotiations. This can only be done through the encouragement of rank-and-file movements similar to the one in the power industry which will bring together not only the workers of a particular industry and union, but all those workers—in particular white-collar workers -who have a fight on with the Tory government.

Resolute Struggle The heart of preparation so far as the trade unions are concerned today lies in the building of such movements. Needless to say they will meet with the bitter opposition of Right-wing leaders such as Carron and Williamson, but that is to be expected.

For the first time since the end of the war, there can be no mistake about the Tory strategy. Only resolute struggle on the part of the rank and file can defeat them.

AN artick in the 'New York Times' of January 11 by the influential American commentator Max Frankel gives a clear indication of the desperate muddle over foreign policy that the Kennedy administration has fallen into.

Frankel writes that the 'Operations Center'-known as the crisis center-formed after the failure of the Cuban invasion is to be abandoned; not because, of a lack of of crises in the world but because of difficul ties in the running of the center.

The center was planned as a 'high-priority' agency to coordinate foreign policy planning and action involving the White House, State Department, Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency and other offices.

'It was staffed with a dozen high-ranking Foreign Service officers who were to have authority to cut across bureaucratic lines to comparable officials in other agencies and through the red tape of the State Department itself.

• Their mission was to identify trouble spots abroad and to prepare contingency plans for quick action, if necessary?

The center was to maintain an around-the-clock watch on world events and to collate all news and intelligence reports. The officers were to service the inter-departmental task forces created for such problems as Berlin and Vietnam, to make certain that urgent decisions were reached and carried out.

But the crisis center never got going. Frankel said that new task forces were established but the more permanent ones attained virtual autonomy. The center was merely duplicating the work of other departments.

Kennedy's brother-in-law, S. E. Smith, the center's unpaid 'troubleshooter' resigned on an hour's notice and moved to handle the Kennedy family's financial interests.

The center's director, Theodore C. Achilles is to move to a job in the department of the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

The center, or what remains of it, is in the charge now of Lucius D. Battle, a special assistant to Secretary of State, Dean Rusk.

The collapse of the 'crisis center is indicative of the whole crisis of world imperialism as it struggles to bolster itself against the rising tide of working class action.

By some expert manoeuvring, Mr. Brooke and Mr. Selwyn Lloyd have succeeded in defeating the work-to-rule movement.

When we consider the way that the trade union chiefs have in the past extolled the benefits of the arbitration machinery, one can now appreciate the pitiable plight of the Right-wing trade union leaders who stood idly by and allowed the government to scrap this machinery for the Civil Service as and from Lloyd's speech last July.

Nor has the role of the Leftwing Mr. Cousins been much better. He has over 100,000 members of his union engaged in government employment, yet the best he can do is to take out a legal action, something which can drag on for months if not years. When the court does meet, the value of real wages for Mr. Cousins' members in

Page Two presentation the 22nd Congress, in 22nd Congress, in the "Labour Monthly', is all the more remarkable in view of the well-known mildness of temperament of the critic. Dobb is essentially a scholar; he has been a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, since the 1920s and was for a long time the only Communist among British university teachers.

-the Background Over many years he has rendered service to the Stalinist cause-in particular, during the fateful debate in the Soviet cause-in Union in 1926-27, it was he more than anyone else who "interpreted' it to British Communists in a way which ensured announcement that the next, welcomed contributions vogue fashion smooth acceptance of the Stalin-Bukharin and dismissal June, number would include a as Trotsky's, as well as or what passes for "Marxism", of the views of Trotsky, Preobrazhensky and the Left Opposition piece by Maurice Dobb. Mean- those by Dobb Burns. which had begun to spread 'in while, however, hell had broken (Other Stalinists wl 10 v rote for the younger progressive intellecgenerally. loose at King Street. it included Leslie Mor ton and Britain, But Dobb has also made tions of Stalin's warning against up for earlier remissness, the Pat Sloan.) serious dangers. useful contributions to Marx- what he called 'rotten liberalism' comrades were lashing out with Some Communist intellectuals ism, most notably his book in relation to Trotskyism were vigour sufficient to satisfy the had shown 'tendencies towards 'Studies in the Development not immediately grasped and master of their bona fides. collaboration with nonof Capitalism' (1946); and The Labour Monthly 'Germany, Key to the Inter- party intellectuals in enterprises throughout his career, honest now, edited by R. P. national Situation' was, of and groupings of very quesscholarship has kept chafing Dutt — carried its issue of course, no attack on Russia at tionable character (e.g., the against the Stalinist frame- March 1932 an advertisement There the asti affair all, but rather a warning of the Twentieth Century grouping)'. work he chose to accept. for another journal called of the , expulsi, of 1. T. terrible danger to Russia which In general, intellectuals who Over a long period he has 'Twentieth Century, whose Murphy editor of the Com- a victory for Hitler in Germany were Party members were been treated as dubiously listed forthcoming contrit utions munist Review. In April would represent. At that time showing bad symptoms Dutt reliable 'element' the Dutts. by included an article by number of that journal he had the 'line' in Stalinist circles was worked reference to 'in- in a Rothsteins and oth L. D. Trotsky. But the writen an ealtorial stressing the to treat developments in Ger- curable professorial types' which lithic party hacks. dropped soon after this. importance of what is now many as being of secondary was understood to be aimed at Dobb's fi rst clash with In the 'Communist Review' called 'East-West Trade' and importance. temporary' Dobb - and they should take leadership appears to have for April, Ralph Fox, a writer urging that the labour move- triumph for Hitler was probably themselves in hand: "The inteloccurred in 1932. This was the with close Moscow connections, ment fight for the granting of inevitable, but what of it; 'after lectual who h as joined the Comyear the great international about the local signifi- trade credits by Britain to the Hitler, our turn' munist Party ... should forget drive crush Trotskyism in the Communist movement, heralded applied cance of Stalin's letter and it forthwith to local bad anti- Trotskyite frenzy Soviet Union. Now, once had the much less Attention was serious threat on the the that he is an in moments intellectual (except of necessary selfby Stalin's letter to the editors types. Stalin had taken a swipe 'taken' in the Party leader: hip, Far East, from • Japanese criticism).' King Street would this was bound to ex- perialism. Trotsky warned assign the Communist intellectremely suspect. a Hitlerite Germany would cer- tual appropriate tasks, and • tO WHAT DOBB SAID For Trotsky suggested tainly go war with Russia, these he should confine himself, part of the transitional pro- and would a more taking care let nind or gramme for the German revolu- wander.

IN the January issue of 'Labour Secondly, says Dobb, a rather Monthly' a communication from cautious attempt is made to draw tion that a plan be drawn up Maurice Dobb states that the state for a distinction between regular trial for integrating the German and procedure and 'special procedures Russian economies, whereby unber, in their summing up the 22nd and to attribute the injustices ex- employment might be abolished books of *inadequate to the point of being can see that such a distinction posed only to the latter. ' One in Germany by means of work given iooligan treatment in remisleading'. orders which would help views in the Communist ReFirstly, Dobb says, the impression ourselves if it were valid. But I Russia's five-year plan for in- view. In the July number, is given that the fact that emerg- suggest that the distinction has dustrialization. Murphy's pro- under the heading Marxism ency powers were distorted and little or no validity, and if in- posal bore some slight resemb- Vulgarized', 'On Marxism quirks of Stalin's character and to misused was due to personal tended as an excuse is too lame to sound convincing to more than a lance to Trotsky's; he Today' was savaged as 'an inthe 'unique authority' that he handful.' must tellectual exercise'. . (One of the came to enjoy from his 'outstand- He cites the case of Rudzutak specific complaints of the ing ability and record of achieve- who, at his trial, withdrew the viewer reveals clearly his own ment'; while there is no mention 'confession' he had previously level: 'Dobb asserts that Marx of the fact that Stalin made major made but was nonetheless executed rested his forecast on the political errors (from 1934 on- wards) or of what they were. within less than an hour. Dobb quotes the references made by incident was that nobody hat gave farcical flavour to assumption that "the wage 'As has been frequently em- Khrushcher to the practice of was more closely identified than position of the workers would phasised since the 20th Congress, mass repression' in the 1935-38 necessarily worsen absolutely", this else the Stalin's major political error in class struggle became intensi- context, from which so much flowed, was his theory that Trotskyites, Zinovievites, Bukha- rinites, long since politically de- the moved Trotsky's expulsion from the Communist International! Trotsky—he it was who had Murphy with the fight against asserting further visagea oniy in the share 1 66- cruing to the relative decline that Marx enfied in the degree to which social- wently aise against It just showed that you couldn't powerful adversary than any workers".')

intensinea use (insteaa or reraxa- ism this '0-1 (guantanal was being constructed. It was which was used to justify the doubt, Dobb thinks, that the ac- cusations of criminal activities (as This leaves no indeed, the object of be too careful; and that was, the policy should therefore be con- other. Comintern and { ›viet the World', ber The review soviet Kussia ana the Septemtion) of emergency powers after distinct from political errors) exercise. centrated on preventing the the expressed amaze1934. To appreciate this is, made at the public trials were as Nazis from coming to power in ment ( aradox ot Maurice 16 771 1he P Rud- When the of Germany, and Trotsky offered Dobb') "Marxist " that Doppened understanding Krylenko, Bubnov, etc. Twentieth Century came out it policy this end. doesn't know yet that there duly carried Dobb's advertised full freedom for worker the article, but also a letter from the Soviet Union Dobb, perhaps not wholly sponof 6 Proletarskaya Revolyutsia', at Rosa Luxemburg in his pro- taneous or uninspired, express- givi earnest 1g 'On Some Questions Concern- nouncement, and Fox picked for ing anger with the editors for of goodwill to obey Stalin's ing The History of Bolshevism' acid comment a letter in the publishing the Trotsky article. instructions by expelling the The whole disgusting business (October 1931), quoted in The • Daily Worker' by I. A. Jack- If it was their policy, Dobb wretched Murphy, King Street culminated in the 13th Party Newsletter of December 9. son in which Rosa had been warned, to publish such attacks was now turning on the real Congress, held in November. Right-wingers who might sup- made n nuch of. 'That Jackson on Russia, he must dissociate Trotskyists, the so-called 'Bal- The expulsions of the Trotskyport Bukharin had been expelled himself is one of the banner- himself from the journal. The ham Group'. They were not ists were confirmed, Pollitt inor disciplined in 1929-31—that bearers of Lux emburgism is editors mildly pointed out that properly sorted out and expelled forming the congress that 'two Britain, J. was the period in in R. Campbell, Andrew trifle, o • No bserved doubt Fox, nastily. other, the article by Trotsky was in no sense an attack on Russia, and until September, after a ludi- crous episode in the pages of the members lof the expelled groupl had the impudence to send in Rothstein and Arthur Horner serious, carriers OI ine 11- that in any case it had been Daily Worker. Insufficiently appeals against the expulsions, were put on the id made semi-Menshevik buraen nave published as a matter of vigilant editors allowed a state- but if we sense tr e congress toe the line. instigated him write his letter interest, without necessarily ment inspired by the Trotskyists aright will give oppor.. It is to be regretted that the committing the editors to the to appear under the heading tunity to this group of putting editorial board • oI the Daily expressed - like Dobb's • Militant -IF --- Mandate For Dele- its poisonous views across.

of Trotskyism were expelled in accused Worker mild reply to Jackson. saw fit to make such a Surely contribution and this had gate', in the issue of to be re pudiated in August 13, to provide that in future dele- The Party rules were changed there is a touch here of the the issue of August 16. (Par- (Par- gates to congress must be 'comdroves — in Britain such well-known figures as Reg Groves, Comrade Stalin wages war?' rotten Comri liberalism against which Twentieth Century, it should phrase about world revolution ticular exception was taken to a the p rades arty and actively fight for who support the line Stewart were thrown out, along with Purkis and Henry Sara be explainer 1, was one of a the guarantee OI it'-a provision which would virtually the entire party organi- number of "intellectual' maga- victory for the Russian wor- for Russian have prevented the Dutt-Pollitt zation in South-West London. Twentieth Century's April zines which appeared in the kers.) taction trom getting tneir majo- 11... By the end of 1932 most Com- number appeared with the first 1930s, lasted for a few months And the Communist rity against the old leadership munist Parties had been made instalment of Trotsky's article: or a year or two, and then dis- view's September issue the great the Leeds Congress in 1929. 'safe for Stalin'-for the time 'Germany, Key to the Interna- appeared. (No connection with Dutt himself-eager, no doubt, The witches had been driven being anyway. tional Situation'. The May the magazine of the same name to atone for that slip in the out, the waverers bawled into In Britain the Party number carried the conclusion published nowadays.) As it was Labour Monthly - ponderously conformity, the party ranks was rather slow in the of Trotsky's article, together a time when interest in Marxism expounded the implications of strait-jacketed. Stalin could rest with one by the British Com- was growing among British Stalin's letter for British Com- satisfied that his British organiThe implica- Emil Burns, and intellectuals, the editors natur- munist intellectuals. The 'new zation 'on the line'

EW ag Three

WHO is the Irish terror? Who is the mighty Celtic aristocrat stalking the misty peat bogs to spread the good news of the National Fellowship and its inspired leader, Mr.

Edward Martell? These are the questions being asked in homes on every continent. Who is the McGillycuddy of the Reeks?

Top Fleet Street sleuths have been working late in the night to solve this gripping mystery.

Is the McGillycuddy in England, helping his brave compatriots to carry on the time-honoured, strike-breaking traditions of the ruling class by delivering parcels for Martell's ' Urgent Delivery Service'? At last the truth is known. The McGillycuddy, daring defender of British heritage, has been unmasked.

He is a 13-year-old Irish schoolboy at Eton.

We should have checked, said a spokesman for the National Fellowship, sponsored by 'men and women from all walks of life'-lords, ladies, viscounts, earls, dukes, generals, colonels and a few lowly misters—' but he was interested, signed the form, and now we're glad to have him.' Ve shan't disown the boy now, they added.

is rumoured that all the sponsots and supporters of the National Fellowship are, in fact, 13-year-old schoolboys and girls. But head office denies, for example, that Rear-admiral Saffron Gore is a member of the Sea Cadets. Watch this page for further breath-catching episodes of the Fellowship's derring-do. Next Week: The McGillycuddy Reeks Again!

THE Italian Communist Party, reported in last week's Newsletter, that Trotsky was a genuine revolutionary and not in league with the imperialists, surely calls for some statement by the British CP.

For, in April 1944, the British Communist Party issued the following statement on 'Trotskyist Organisation' in which they repeatedly identify Trotskyism with fascism, and call for police action against Trotskyists.

• The Communist Party warns the public against the unscrupulous attempt of the small group of Trotskyists who have been endeavouring to spread disruption and ferment strikes on the eve of the Second Front, to confuse public opinion by labelling themselves the " Revolutionary Communist Party".

This label is as false as Hitler's label of National Socialist Workers' Party" for his fascist organisation.

The entire propaganda and activity of the Trotskyists is directed against trade unionism, against the organised strength and unity of the Labour movement, against communism and against the Soviet Union.

The international leaders of Trotskyism were legally convicted in the Soviet Union already before the present war for conspiring with Hitler to destroy the Soviet Union and partition its territories for the benefit of Hitlerite Germany and Japan.

Trotskyism in all countries works to disrupt unity against fascism and serves the interests of fascism.

The Communist Party has repeatedly demanded that measures under existing legislation should be taken against Trotskyist propaganda in this country in the same way as against fascist propaganda. The licence given to Trotskyist propaganda has enabled it to exploit the difficulties of the present situation in a way that has at last aroused public opinion.

At the same time the Communist Party gives warning of the necessity to be on guard against any attempt of reactionary interests to utilise the pretext of Trotskyism, which has no connection with the working class movement, to introduce any wider measures which would be harmful to the democratic rights and liberties of the working class movement.?

(Taken from Documents for Congress [17th Congress] published September 5, 1944, by the Communist Party.)

In view of recent revelations about the fraudulent nature of the Moscow Trials and the baseless charges (of fascist affiliations), isn't it about time that this screed of insults and lies was withdrawn?

Industrial EW

THE Right-wing Executive Committee of the - Electrical Trades Union is now working furiously to extend its bureaucratic control over the entire union. A referendum of the membership is to be organized asking whether or not the Rules Revision Conference should take place.

This is presumably a further attempt to nullify the properly constituted conference which was held towards the end of 1961.

If a Rules Revision Conference does take place, the Right wing proposes that there should be one delegate from each branch in attendance. A large number of branches other than the usual 300 which send delegates to the policy conference have only a very small membership.

DEMOCRACY?

The Right wing suggestion means that these branches will be granted the same voting rights as a branch with hundreds and even thousands of members.

('If this proposal is carried out we shall find that 406 delegates will represent 57,000 union members and 299 will represent 193,000.' - comment by contracting electrician in the press.)

Thus union money is to be spent in the struggle against the union. A large sum will be expended on the referendum and if a delegate conference is called the cost will run into thousands of pounds.

Meanwhile, rank - and - file electricians are asking when the new Executive will get down to business in relation to their wages and working conditions. It seems to them that most of the time which their leaders fill in is spent either in giving interviews to the press, conferring with solicitors or working out ways and means to further hamstring the union.

The Executive have also decided to set up a Court of Enquiry to investigate Bob McLennan, Jack Frazer, James Humphrey, Frank Haxell and Jack Hendy who were implicated in the ballot-rigging trial. This is nothing more than a propaganda diversion behind which it is hoped to intensify the witch-hunt against rank-and-file militants.

Although only a few weeks in the leadership, the Right wing have only as yet provided us with a foretaste of what is to come. So far as they are concerned, the main drive is to bureaucratize the union in a way which would prevent the Left wing from ever regaining control.

In next week's Newslett 6 New Problems For Imperialism' first of two articles What price steel?

This is the season when the steel barons report to their shareholders. But they do not bring glad tidings this time, for profits have decreased compared with 1960 and most steelworks are working at less than 80 per cent of capacity.

Let us, however, examine some of the trading profit figures reached for 1961 as announced by the leading companies.

Steel Co. of Wales £23,253,000 Stewarts & Lloyds €19,067,000 United Steel Co. £17,275,000 John Summers £13,175,000 South Durham Steel £7,088,000 T. Firth & J. Brown £4,646,000 These figures are before providing for depreciation on plant and income tax, but they indicate that there are not likely to be any bankruptcies in the steel industry in the near future.

But a concerted attack has been launched by the steel 'industrialists' against the Iron and Steel Board with the object of achieving a price increase so that even with Soviet Science Hindered by Bureaucracy last week, a leading Russian scientist complained of political interference with Soviet scientific research. He is Professor Igor Tamm, who wọn a Nobel Prize in 1958 for his work in nuclear physics.

'It often happens, he writes, 'that when the faculty recommends a student for a research post, his talents and success in research work—his productive capacity, in fact— are subordinated to third place in relation to all kinds of other considerations.

"Often it is claimed that the social activity of the student is insufficient even if the reason for this is not any lack of political consciousness, but rather an absorption in scientific work' Of course, the novelty of Tamm's statement does not lie in the situation he refers to, but in the fact that he is now able to talk about it.

In the years before 1953, Soviet science was held up in many fields by such bureaucratic methods.

Contact with western scientists was hampered severely in the days of Stalin. Whole subjects were hardly studied in the USSR, because of the political line of the Party.

Horsham HORSHAM Constituency Labour Party, which adopted Ernie Roberts as their parliamentary candidate, is fighting back against the decision of the NEC not to endorse him, They have sent a circular to every constituency, and local Labour Party in the country, describing the NEC's decision as 'intolerable' Mr. Roberts was accepted initially by the NEC, but after a long enquiry by thi = Organidiminished production, be given a further fillip.

The Iron and Steel Board, set up in 1953, is a government controlled body whose main function is to regulate steel prices with particular reference to the known capacity of the industry.

Mr. B. Chetwynd Talbot, chairman of the South Durham Steel and Iron Company, censuring the attitude of the Iron and Steel Board's directors for an 'unrealistic appraisal' of price structure had the immediate effect of drawing a reply from the Board. This clearly showed that it was prepared to change its policy in deference to the steel barons.

It is also significant that Sir Robert Shone, the Board's executive director has been removed to take up an appointment on the government's new National Economic Development Councilpresumably in response to pressure from the steelowners.

Judging from the clamour of the steel bosses, one would think that no recent price increase had been authorised by the Board.

The dominance of Lysenko in the biological sciences was assured by the backing of the Central Committee, not by his experimental results. At one stage, relativity physics was suspect, as it was alleged to involve idealist philosophical concepts.

One reason why Soviet scientists were able to develop so fast in the field of rocketry was that Russian mathematicians had continued to investigate the subject known as cybernetics, despite official disapproval.

MATHEMATICS

Fortunately the bureaucrats could not understand the mathematical 'language' spoken by these men and did not see the connection between the symbols and their application.

The treatment of science in the days following the revolution was the exact antithesis of this. Trotsky, in particular, stressed that science, like art, could only develop unfettered.

At a time when resources were extremely scarce, specialists in many scientific fields were given assistance and encouragement to carry on their work, even when its ultimate application was not obvious.

The laboratory equipped for Pavlov is the best known example of this attitude, particularly since Pavlov was a monarchist and very hostile to the regime.

ights Back sation Sub-committee, under George Brown, in which Mr. Roberts was questioned about 400 meetings he had addressed in recent years, the endorsement was cancelled.

Labour Party members should press for the reversal of the NEC's decision at all levels of the party. This attack by the Gaitskellites is just the first in a long-term sortie to weed out all militants and Left-wingers from the Labour Party.

In fact as recently as last June a 1 per cent increase was granted. Now the Board states that in view of the possibility that low running rates may be associated with a long-term change from a phase of tight supplies to one of ample capacity, some adjustment in the assumed average running rates may be called for This must mean that the Board is preparing to upgrade prices soon. Steel investors can expect increased profits and an appreciation in the value of their shares.

But what of the consumer and the worker? By allowing the price of steel to be increased the trend towards economic stagnation will be encouraged. A whole range of finished products will become dearer.

So that on the one hand, the Tories attempt to peg wages, on the other they encourage price increases. This represents a direct threat to living standards.

Nationalisation of the steel industry is the only alternative to the classic situation of falling demand and overproduction.

called for February 5 by the full executive of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions meeting in York on January 11 has dealt a body blow to the hopes of the employers and the government.

Prior to the meeting .. vspapers like the 'Financial Times' and the Glasgow Herald' had forecast that the possibility of industrial action was remote and that the unions, because of the influence of the Right-wing led AEU, would seek a further meeting with the employers.

Harold Poole, National President of the Confederation, said that the action was. directed against the Government's pay pause as well as the employers' rejection of the wage claim.

MONEY STRIKE SIX hundred dockers stopped work in Glasgow on Wednesday, January 10, in a dispute over 'dirty money' to be paid for unloading manganese ore.

There has been a record in the Glasgow docks of poor wages being offered for jobs, and the ridiculously low figure in this case was the last straw.

'How can we win,' one docker said, 'when the arbitrator (who It is significant that although this is the most militant action decided upon by any union in the wages battle, even more militant action has been called for by Ernest Patterson of the CEU and Claude Berridge of the AEU, but agreement was reached to call a further Confederation meeting two days after the strike to discuss the next steps to be taken.

ASSERT

Whilst the strike decision reflects the growing spirit and anger of the workers, the rank and file will have to assert itself consciously and strongly for further decisive action after the meeting on the 7th.

They must be alerted against a further approach to the employers following the strike. There is already talk of this in Right-wing circles. It is well known that the attitude of the national leaders towards the strike has been lukewarm.

ACTION

The engineers have raised the fight against the Government's wages policy from a discussion level to one of action. If supported by the mineworkers, railwaymen and builders it will add strength to the work-to-rule by the Post Office workers. Growing united action can defeat the government on this major issue.

fixes the prices) is an exemployer?' The men went back to work on Friday to allow union officials to proceed with negotiations.

But the faith most dockers have in the officials was summed up by another striker who said it was 'only the old patter to get us back to work' This Paper is your Weapon IN the fight for socialism, The Newsletter is playing a vital role. Do you get it regularly? Don't leave it to the chance encounter, fill in this form and send it to:

Subscription Department, The Newsletter, 186a Clapham High Street, London, S.W.4. 7s. for 12 issues, or £l 8s. per year Name Address Registered at the G.P.O. as a newspaper Published by The Newsletter, 1864 Clapham High Street a 180 Clapham High Street. London, S.W.4 " This meeting of Lambeth tenants calls on the Council to withdraw its new revised rent and rebate scheme as agreed at the Council meeting of November 22 on two counts: Firstly, it places further financial burdens on Council tenants, some of whom will experience severe difficulties in meeting the extra rent;

Secondly, it solves none of the problems enumerated by the Council as being responsible for the amended scheme. Instead, this meeting of tenants and ratepayers asks the Council to consider ways and means of using its power — possibly in conjunction with other Labour Councils to campaign against the Government (responsible for a whole series of attacks on council and private tenants). Such a campaign must be waged so that the Government can be brought down and replaced by an alternative government which will halt the inflationary trends, speculation in land and waste by taking action against the handful of big businessmen and landlords responsible, instead of attacking the standard of living of ordinary working class and middle class people.

Should the Council begin to implement such a policy as outlined above instead of increasing rents and rates, then this meeting pledges itself to give the Council the maximum support?

This resolution was the unanimous reply of Lambeth Council tenants faced with rent increases to come into force at the beginning of April. Five years ago the Council attempted to increase rents by £2 a week. Due to the resistance of the tenants at that time they were forced to retreat, imposing increases of half that first contemplated.

Having learnt that the tenants would fight back, the Right-wing Labour Council have been more circumspect on this occasion. They are increasing the maximum rents 2s. 6d. per week for all tenants.

Existing council rents in Lambeth are now among the highest council rents in London; the rent of a 3-bedroomed flat, for example, being approximately £3 per week. In addition, many tenants who • were previously allowed to claim a rebate, will, under the new scheme be excluded because earnings will now include all overtime, bonus, etc. For some tenants the increases will be more than f1. In other cases, it will mean increases varying from a few shillings to about fl.

These points were discussed by tenants who met in Lambeth last week. Seventy of them met at short notice lo discuss the most effective methods and to take up the challenge.

It was agreed to strengthen the Lambeth Council Tenants Association who organised the meeting, to demand that a deputation of tenants be received by the Council and to form or strengthen the Tenants' Associations on the estates. The fight will also be pursued in the three Lambeth Labour Party constituency parties involved and in the trade union branches. Gould, 17 Cheriton Close, Coventry.

ow available:

By ALAN WEST Our Labour Correspondent HE Civil Service Clerical Association has thrown in the within its ranks) and undermined the whole threat the work-to-rule campaign by public workers.

As we go to press it is uncertain whether or not the postmen will continue their go-slow, which has caused widespread chaos in the business world, pile-ups of mailbags at all main-line stations, put London mail three days behind and forced the Postmaster General to cancel the parcel post.

Miss Godwin and the Pause • CLERICAL workers have no desire to strike; we are reasonable people, declared Anne Godwin, general secretary of CAWU and this year's chairman of the TUC to a meeting of 300 clerical workers at the Central Hall on January 11.

Miss Godwin went on to pledge the union's support for those members who did find it necessary to fight for their rights.

Those union members who have less faith in the Tories than Miss Godwin were perhaps not so shocked as she seemed to be by the double-cross on office legislation which was supposed to become law on January 1.

The chief concern of the audience seemed to be how to fight redundancy and the pay pause, which Miss Godwin claimed was 'irrelevant'.

This meeting was a step forward in organising London clerical workers; CAWU members should now press for unity with industrial workers, and for a real campaign to attract young 'white collar' workers to the union.

the 'OW of Mr. Smith of the UPW has announced that his executive will discuss the position on Thursday. The main drawback to a settlement, he says, is the question of back pay for postmen.

But Selwyn Lloyd's new terms preclude the payment of back pay in disputes, thus saving the Government millions.

A refusal by Lloyd and Brooke, however, to consider back pay does not mean a continuation of the work-to-rule.

DISSATISFIED

There are strong rumours in London that the postmen will decide to return to normal working in the next few days. Many postment, although having their first taste of industrial action, are dissatisfied with the naive role of the union leadership and see no point in continuing the dispute.

The Post Office Engineering Union says that their work-to-rule will start as planned on Friday. But if the UPW gives in, sole action by the engineers will be of little effect.

If the postmen go back it will be a considerable victory for the Government. The postmen were indeed fighting for the whole working class against government policy and capitulation on their pant will seriously weaken the struggle against the Tories.

• MINERS SAY NO!

The Executive of the NUM has turned down the Coal Board's wage offer of 5/6d. to 9/- a week and a reduction in hours. But, say the leaders, they hope to talk it over with the NCB in the next few weeks and feel sure that an amicable agreement will be reached.

will ANNON and Haxell shared the same platform at a closed meeting of ETU members for the first time in seven years in Coventry last week. questioned Haxell, Frazer, Wolfe and local ETU members after the meeting and it was clear that no policies for the improvement of conditions for the membership were put forward by the speakers to the 100 electricians who attended the 24 hour meeting.

All they heard was a re-hash of the charges and countercharges that have been headlined in the press for months. Frank Haxell asked the audience to believe in his personal honesty; Cannon stated that he. was as good a socialist as Haxell and company. : Haxell had challenged the new EC to demand a wage rise for contracting electricians (the cost of living has now risen over the 5 per cent clause in the agreement he himself negotiated), he would have served not only the ETU but all workers fighting the Tory wage freeze. 'hen challenged on these points, Haxell said he was opposed to any rank-and-file action against the Right-wing EC. He considered that the time was not ripe to re-group the Left; perhaps in 12 months time. ck Gould, shop steward at a local aircraft factory, scathingly said that Coventry electricians were in no mood for such pussy-foot action as put forward by the Haxell crowd. e and his colleagues were busily organizing a local campaign committee, which hoped to link up with the London campaign and any other grouping in the union who were prepared to fight for the annual and rules revision conference decisions. is group leafletted the meeting and asked any interested electricians to contact: J.

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PUBLIC MEETINGS Glasgow Sundays, 7.30 p.m. at Berkeley Halls, Room 1 Jan. 21 The Communist International Jan. 28 Rebuilding the Communist Movement