workers press

The Socialist Labour League's press: The Newsletter, Workers Press, Labour Review and Fourth International, 1952–1973. A searchable archive of the scans

The Newsletter, vol. 6 no. 259

28 July 1962 · 9 articles · about 6,658 words of machine-read text

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In this issue

  1. TGWU leader bows to right wing COUSINS' BIG RETREAT · By Jack Gale · scan pages 1, 2
  2. Fascism-the terrible = price the workers pay for their leaders' betrayal · By Jack Gale · scan page 2
  3. Collins backs down on industrial action · scan page 2
  4. Summer Labour Review out · scan pages 2, 3
  5. New rent troubles in St. Pancras · scan pages 3, 4
  6. Algeria drifts to disaster · scan page 4
  7. (continued from page 3) · scan page 4
  8. NEC tightens up · scan page 4
  9. Scanlon loses AEU case · scan page 4

TGWU leader bows to right wing COUSINS' BIG RETREAT

By Jack Gale

Scan pages 1, 2 · page of its own

TORIAL The blood IN recent weeks there has been a sharp renewal of racialist activity in the London area. Various do-gooders and liberals have made announcements about the need to introduce legislation to curb these demonstrations. They conveniently ignore the real culprit, the Tory government and its Immigration Act. le fascists are becoming more active because they feel strengthened by the Immigration Act. They feel that the time has come to whip up racialism and they are heartened by the number of people who are now threatened with deportation by the Home Office. The publicity given to British subjects from the 'Commonwealth' who are being deported helps the cause of fascism. s is usual on such grave matters, the Right wing of the Labour Party is silent. They are aware that many of the racialists inside the party are staunch supporters of Gaitskell, especially in the youth movement. hy is it that Gaitskell and Brown cannot take a few minutes off from their junketang firmo their disciplinary committees to give an unequivocal undertaking that one of the first acts of a Labour government will be to repeal the Immigration Act? le violence at the fascist demonstrations can be laid at the door of the Tory government. Merely to bring in legislation to curb demonstrations is to avoid the issue and take steps which will rebound against the working class. e would remind those who talk about such legislation that the Hitler movement was also illegal for a period, but that did not stop it from coming to power. is right that thousands of young people should demonstrate against the fascists. They instinctively feel that only action on their part can halt the threat of the racialists. If fascism grows and the danger becomes acute then it will be essential to mobilise the Labour movement to drive the fascists from the streets. le board of school governors in Coventry are right to sack Colin Jordan.. The National Union of Teachers instead of defending him, should immediately expel him from the union.

London Labour beats Fascists M ground, but 10,000 Londoners, many of them OSLEY Speaks' said the posters on London's UnderYCNDers and Young Socialists, proved them wrong last Sunday. The people assembled in Trafalgar Square determined to stop the Union Movement - formerly the British Union of Fascists-from holding its much-publicised rally.

The square was full long before Mosley's lieutenant Hamm opened the meting at 3 o'clock. As his first words crackled from the microphone the shouting began.

The chant of 'Mosley Out! Down with fascism!' drowned the voices from the platform shrieking about 'red rabble'.

More than 300 police held back the crowd from storming the plinth as tomatoes, shoes, pennies and abuse were hurled at the fascists. The hatred and contempt felt for fascism and racialism were expressed on all sides.

At 3.20, after the police cordon had been broken several times, the police decided to close the meeting. Fighting then broke out as fascists, shoulder to shoulder with poiicemen, tried to protect the plinth while their placards and banners were taken down.

SCUFFLING

The square was cleared, but scuffling went on in the surrounding streets for some time. Meanwhile a crowd of people demonstrated outside the Union Movement headquarters in Vauxhall Bridge Road. A large squad of police, including Mounties with long batons and sandbags, used their usual methods to disperse the demonstrators.

Inside, Mosley—who had not reached Trafalgar Square before the meeting was closed-held a press conference. He denounced the 'suppression of free speech by a communist mob' and announced his intention of holding a further meeting on September 23.

Despite this announcement, the government has made clear its intention to permit the square to be used by Mosley. The British Newsletter Reporter National Party, another racialist group has booked the square on September 2.

But the Committee of 100 were not allowed to hold a meeting there a few weeks ago, on the grounds that they intended to call for civil disobedience.

This, apparently, is more dangerous to 'free speech' than preaching racial hatred.

PLAIN

In the House of Commons on Monday, the Minister of Works, Mr. Ripon, made it quite plain whose side the government is on.

Refusing to use his powers to ban meetings in the square as a means of censorship over political opinions, he said it would be regrettable if a group of people attending a meeting for the purpose of 'making trouble' ensured that the organisers would not be allowed to hold other meetings.

" It was clear before Sunday's meeting began that there were a number of people in the square determined to break it up?

56 arrests were made in the course of the afternoon. They were all of anti-fascists. Many people were injured by the Mosleyites and their police protectors.

SERIES

This was only the start of a whole series of occasions when fascism will have to be fought by the Labour movement. It was a good beginning, but harder battles lie ahead.

To win these will require firm organisation and a clear understanding of what fascism is and how it menaces the Labour movement. No fight on H-Bomb this year ARANK COUSINS, who called on young people to carr on the fight against the H-bomb after the Labour Party conference last year, is now retreating before the rightwing attack. His decision to join the National Economic Development Council, his support for the attack on the Communist Party leaders of the ETU, his refusal to lift the ban on CP members holding office in the Transport and General Workers' Union and the announcement that he will not fight for unilateral nuclear disarmament at the TUC and the Labour Party conference this year are all decisions that have weakened the Left in the fight for socialist policies.

Today, on the eve of vital industrial struggles, Cousins finds himself discussing economic problems with the Tories and the employers on NEDC.

It is no use Mr. Cousins saying he will use this position to press forward the interests of trades unionists. Everybody knows that the Council was set up to commit the TUC to backing Tory economic measures.

The same purpose Even if it is now under new management, NEDC will still be used for the same purpose by Maudling when difficult decisions have to be made in relation to the Common Market negotiations.

Cousins' place on NEDC has helped the Right wing leaders to cover up any sell-outs they may be preparing. Instead of organising the might of the TGWU to help smash the Tories and their pay pause, Cousins finds himself aiding their protectors in the Labour movement.

Of course, all trades unionists must support the TGWU motion for September's TUC which calls for an inquiry into provisions for health and security of industrial and clerical workers. 'Fringe benefits' of this kind, if fought for, can help to protect the living standards of workers.

Evade the fight

But this will undoubtedly be used as means to evade the fight on wages in the coming months. And the decision to back down on the fight for unilateralism will weaken the struggle for socialism and demoralise many rank and file militants who, at this crucial time, may turn elsewhere for leadership.

The failure of Cousins to lift Deakin's ban on Communist Party members or to oppose the witch-hunt in the ETU and the r Political Correspondent Cousins: helping the witch-hunt Young Socialists is directly related to his retreat on the industrial front. The attack on the Left by the press, Catholic Action and the Labour Right wing is part of a campaign to disarm the working class at a time when socialist leadership is most vital.

His successful effort to maintain the ban at the Rules Revision Conference was a blow against the Left and a boost for the witch-hunters.

'Blue boast

Of course, the cringing attitude of the CP and its supporters in the union only helped the Right wing. One individual from Liverpool openly boasted of the CP's role in helping the attack on the 'Blue' union on the Mersey docks.

Now, it is announced, the TGWU is not going to raise the question of the H-bomb at the TUC and their resolution at the Labour Party conference is only concerned with the issue of tests 'by any country. This will @ cont. p. 4, col. 1 SUMMER BREAK The Newsletter is closing down for two weeks for the summer break. The paper will not be published on August 4 and 11.

"THE RISE OF FASCISM CAME AFTER A WAVE OF REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY BETRAYED BY THE LEADERSHIP ASCISM makes use of the misery of the most crushed sections of the working class, together with the frustrations of the middle class. It is wrong to see only its anti-Semitism and racialism. To desperate people it can appear to present a programme for real, even revolutionary, changes.

Fascism in Britain will present a so-called 'policy' for dealing with very real problems, like housing and jobs. It will present it in what looks like a militant and even a 'socialist' manner. It is no accident that Mussolini was once on the Left wing of the Italian socialist movement and Mosley on the Left of the British Labour Even the anti-Semitic propaganda of fascism is often in terms which appear to attack Big Business-attacks on Fascism thus makes an appeal to middle-class people who feel themselves crushed by the strength of the big monopolies. In these circumstances, the middle class will not be repelled by 'extremism' A few years before Hitler came to power, German workers demonbut, on the contrary, could be attracted by the apparent determination strated for the proletarian dictatorship—while the Stalinists decFlared that it would be a mistake to over-emphasize' the danger of Party.

financiers, 'Jew monopoly, for example.

of the fascists to see the job through.

One of the more effective aspects of fascist propaganda couched Ide 'Jewish best olek fascism.

two termed the ' lumpen proletariat' -this time to smash the working class.

But fascism defrauds the petty-bourgeoisie, using them against the working class for the benefit of their own worst enemies. It cannot solve their problems. It is the hired monster of monopoly capitat ism.

To stop fascism, a strong socialist movement must be built which will show the real way to fight against slums and unemployment. The middle class, being economically and politically dependent on other classes, tends to look for a ' leader', and to be attracted to 'dynamic' figures like Mussolini and Hitler.

Fascism-the terrible = price the workers pay for their leaders' betrayal

By Jack Gale

Scan page 2 · page of its own

is its attack on the established parties as complacent, ineffective and outdated.

It also appeals to the middle-class fear of the organised strength of the working class. This class feels itself caught between two giants - the big monopolies and the big unions. It feels that neither the Tories nor the Labour Party will act on its behalf. At the moment the Liberal Party is gaining support because of this feeling.

But there is no basis for a Liberal 'revival'. As capitalism's economic difficulties. get worse, the middle layers of society will either be attracted to socialism or will go to fascism. There is no other way, since the middle class has no strength and no organisation of its own, and is therefore incapable of an independent policy.

The recent Observer survey into why some people are are turning to the Liberals contained a grave warning for the Labour movement. For the one thing that most • Liberals' had in common was a dislike of the working class.

They blamed unofficial strikes and labour 'indiscipline' for the country's economic diffiMosley: one-time ' left-winger' culties more than factor.

Unless they can be won to socialism, these pr ople represent fertile ground or a future fascist movement.

But they can be won. For although the middle class likes to identify itself with the ruling class and remains safely in the bourgeois fold during boom periods, it does not really have the same interests as the ruling class at all.

The Tory Party, despite the middle class image which likes to project, represents the big capitalists, and in times of crisis their interests come more and more into conflict with those of the middle class.

At the same time, the big bourgeoisie needs the middle class, for by itself it is numerically very small and unable to carry out what is necessary for its own interests. Even in its own revolutionary period, during Cromwell's time, the bourgeoisie had to lean on the petty- bourgeoisie and the peasal carry out the actual ta: smashing feudalism.

During its ascendency it is still necessary for the bourgeoisie to get the middle class and even sections of the working class to identify its interests with their own-to fight its wars, for instance. In its decline, it again turns to the middle class-and to what Marx of The working class can provide the leadership which can solve its pressing problems. But the middle class will only turn to the working class if it has a strong and decisive leadership. Failure to build such a leadership paves the way for fascism. In Italy, Germany and Spain, the rise of fascism came after a wave of revolutionary activity by the working class had been betrayed by its leadership.

As Trotsky said, fascism is the price paid by the working class when the treachery of its leaders prevents it from taking power.

In concrete terms, unless the Socialist Labour League can build up powerful branches in places like Brixton, Birmingham, Bradford and Middlesbrough; unless it can provide leadership against the employers and the landlords; unless it can defeat the Right wing in the Labour Party and the trades unions, then the fascist oddities of today will become tomorrow's executioners.

Collins backs down on industrial action

Scan page 2

THE right-wing leadership of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is quietly attempting to push under the carpet the important decision of the movement's annual conference calling for industrial action against the bomb.

After the meeting of the CND council last Sunday, Canon Collins, the chairman, said that it had decided how best to implement the resolution passed at the conference. It had decided to take the argument to the people by door-to-door canvasses.

There was no question, the Canon said, of the council interpreting a resolution passed at the conference other than by using the normal means of persuasion.

It did not intend to press for strikes in sympathy. 'If we are going to get our message act OSS in industrial areas we have to plan our operations. But we shall retain our technique of using every possible means of persuasion, Canon Collins said. r11!

The decision to ignore the conference resolution is of similar magnitude to Gaitskell's refusal to endorse the Scarborough decisions. The move to turn to the unions and integrate the struggle against the bomb with the Labour movement's fight for socialist policies was an historic turn for CND, which had previously prided itself on its aloof stand from the political battle.

The constitution and structure of CND-or rather the lack of it—will make it difficult for branches to take action against the council's decision and to call for a different interpretation of the conference resolution. But this very lack of national struc"orrespondent ture will enable the more milltant branches, particularly in the youth movement, to campaign to implement the decision, regardless of the leadership.

Despite the vicious witch-hunt by Labour's Right wing against unilateralists, YCND has been growing in strength in a most heartening manner in recent months. In particular, a large number of Young Socialists are beginning to have an important say in the movement and are quickly breaking down the 'peace first, peace second and peace last' attitude of the YCL which has dominated the branches for some time.

The need to fight for socialism in order to get rid of the society that props up its rotten system with nuclear weapons is now the keen debating point in many YCND branches, and in London and other industrial areas plans are being made for extensive factory gate meetings and a drive into the local trades union movement.

It is this surging militancy that the liberal-clerical leadership is trying to hold back with its refusal to implement the conference decision on industrial action. The fighting spirit of young socialists in their ranks is likely to defeat this reactionary move.

Pat Arrowsmith and the Rev. Michael Scott have resigned from the council in protest at the rightwing's activities. Although this was a wrong move to make, it can be recognised as the inevitable polarisation in this middle-class leadership, now under extreme pressure from both Left and Right.

A clearly defined socialist policy in CND is now even more necessary to save it from further disintegration.

Summer Labour Review out

Scan pages 2, 3

THE new issue of Labour Review is devoted to the fight against revision of Marxism.

Tom Kemp analyses the theories of those who say that the USSR is not a workers' state. He shows what implications these sociological and economic ideas have in political practice.

They lead to opposition to the fight to change the leadership of the working class.

James Baker looks at the development of Alasdair MacIntyre, and Cliff Slaughter contributes a second aticle about Lenin's Philosophical Notebooks.

Together with an 8-page book review section, these articles make the Summer Labour Review a must for anyone concerned with Marxism.

Price 2/- from:

New Park P 186A Clapha London, iblication n High i

sold out by

New rent troubles in St. Pancras

Scan pages 3, 4

COOK and Arthur Rowe, two of the leaders of the tenants' struggle against the St. Pancras article council's means-test rent scheme years ago-when the council mongering Ami newsSouth Africa Tory-have now received magazine Time copper mines in Northern heavy bills from the town clerk picture of the tactics desia, and which large to pay for the of their Kennedy's 'advisers' last year too. evictions by on the reactionary The concessions from mining Mr. Cool i's bill is South Viet Nam. A which companies make these 5s. 6d. to cover cost or the their large profits were acquired 'removing barricades, making offensive is being waged to La result thịs only 6,800 at the beginning of the century from African chiefs, at the cost ture, etc.'. good damage, removing furni- imperialism against the ris hold on the country Roan Antelope came out, instead of the 35,000 expected, of a few bottles of whisky and Mr. Cook, an engineering fitter, tide of freedom fighters led they were told by the union to go back to work. handfuls of beads. Treaties The instructions to call off the strike came from were signed in 1950 guarantee- just been re-housed by the new who together with Mr. Rowe has the Viet Cong. Kaunda, President of the Unite 1 National Independence ing that the companies would Labour council, has said that he Northern Rhodesia's main continue to control these mineral rights until 1986. is unable to pay any of this bill.

Neither African then since were nationalist grouping. century and beyond. Northern Rhodesia live in con- The workers and peasants ment has given guarantees to the Moreover, the British govern- be substantially higher than Mr. Cook's. Mr. Rowe's bill is understood to requisitioned The puppet government has two livestock member of union company that there will be a clause sulted. This adds more the technical backwardness. Unless the grip of the monopolists is ditions of great poverty and in any new constitution for future government from repudiat- Northern Rhodesia preventing any ciation is now worried by the lack of activity shown by the new The militant local tenants' asso- of their and are marking tattooing sailors the machines on the chests from the US slogan 'Sat long list of betrayals to which broken these conditions will con- ing that agreement. Lord Robins, Labour council which was swept Cong'— Let's kill the the copper miners of Northern tinue. Apart from the copper the President of the British South back into office on a pledge to munists'.

their leaders. The day is ap- Rhodesia have been exposed by men mines which employ about 40,000 there is practically no nouncement to the Annual General Africa Company, made this an- throw the means-test. First move by the Labour group, out ' US military advi sers,' says proaching, however, for a 'settl- industry kind in the Meeting of the Company in which is dominated by extreme Time, 'still complain that poor ing of accounts ' Meanwhile it country. London on March 12 this year. right-wingers, was to wish a happy communications and the highly will be useful for workers Northern Rhodesia, and in other this betrayal came about. of the world, to know just important lessons here In ing to their commands. They pro- panies really control Northern are little more than puppets danc- vide the greater part of the Rhodesia; the local governments The big pper mining com- Kaunda, the President of the constitution with the Northern This was about the time when the government was negotiating a new UNIP, has, presumably, agreed Rhodesian politicians. Kenneth services to the borough, to the retirement, with thanks for his outgoing Tory leader who had introduced the Labour group are looking for a Now there signs that are the the US advisers-most notably centralised sponse to Viet Cong attacks. South Viet But slowly, the tactics taught by Dinh Dien n, retard quick re- Nam's President Ngo command setup of working class to learn. country's revenue. They own the this condition. way out of their election pledge railways, huge fruit farms, forests, on rents. The district auditor has the of helicopters have of course, no coincidence saw mills and hotels, mines and announced his disapproval of beg results.

USA that rent have with , Spain and Belgium-should copper miners in many diffe- employers recently. countries - Chile, Montana, been involved in disputes refineries, which produce zinc and lead. companies is the British South Africa Company, with properties worth a total of £55 million, most of this in Northern Rhodesia. One of the largest of these a general strike lasting six months, Kaunda called on the people of his attitude between February and July this year. On February 25 Northern Rhodesia to prepare for This may explain the change in they do they will be assured of the new plan and is threatening the backing of the If they don't there heavy surcharges. unwilling to fight the matter; if The Labour councillors seem local tenants. mav well be that Viet Cong has suffered any significant loss of its capability to strike when and where it likes.' There is still no sign, however, monopolists who controi Last year their profits were nearly in case Welensky took the initia- further struggles the Red Flag the mining of copper internation- £8 millions, and they paid divi- tive of declaring the Rhodesian borough. The local Time correspondent ally are engaged in an offensive dends of more than 20 per cent. Federation independent of Britain. The workers St. Pancras described a typical American-led against their workers to slash Another such company is the Kaunda came to London in 1. --.- . 1. 11._. nave snown inat iney will fight for government jungle action: wages and to increase their already Anglo American Corporation March with other UNIP leaders decent housing and lower rents, 'The troops fanned out substantial profits. They have which mines and owns gold cont. p. 4, col. 1 and tney -1 1l... do so again. long half-moon and moved totaken advantage of a fall off in wards the canals that bordered the the demand for copper to cut pro- THE president of the British palm jungle. AD-6 attack bomduction by 15 per cent and at the Employers' Confederation, Mr. bers circled the paddies and tried same time to maintain prices at a to flush the Viet Cong into the E. J. Hunter, has just made a high level by creating an artificial significantly timed speech on the Uper anan with rantato and will shortage of material. jelly. Suddenly a spotter plane The capacity of the industry is attitude of employers to legis- picked out a group of fleeing Viet increasing through the introduc- lated redundancy payments. Cong guerrillas and dropped a tion of improved methods of re- fining and the opening up of new with its bright fresh faces pre- Here is the new government the application of the pause where needs to attract labour. smoke and at tomatic weapons killed five grenade. Fire from rifles they have themselves been affected. The Economist of July states mines. But demand has remained paring to bring in all sorts The change in policy at the that arbitrators 'have in recent of the Viet Cong, but two more stationary or even declined. In 'progressive' legislation, and Treasury will be one of degree, years , done great damage to the dozen escaped into the spite of this, the monopolists have succeeded for a period of 10 months in holding the price of 'Workers' Charter'. gets slapped for its doubt that new gimmicks will be not of principle. There is little atmosphere countrv. That de have image got and to that be copper at £234 per ton (according For Mr. Hunter has introduced to release new pur- stopped'. to the Financial Times). This is £14 more than the price would be forcibly that redundancy com- pensation schemes were 'best left of an artificial prosperity, but it is chasing power, to create the image to 'get tough' Employers with will workers. It encouraged tinued, the Rangers found two Viet 'As the hunt for prisoners conif the laws of supply demand to employers in consultation may be that devices such as the Cong youths, 15 and 19, hiding operated. with their work-people' levying or an increase in workers' in no mood for a kid-glove inter- in a canal. ... The Rangers were national insurance contributions • The producers un- have What then is the Workers' where their earnings index rogation of the prisoners... The doubtedly been very lucky' Charter forecast by the Tory over the 'guiding light' figure older was pinned to the ground wrote the Financial Times on press, ti contain? Will it throw be introduced. and—as the Rangers call it— "taken June 27 last. 'The political over all the tenets of the 'incomes Or, that where wage increases for a swim". His jaw was forced and labour disputes in the main policy' aimed at pegging wages? take place, the employers would and five gallons of water African producing areas, and In fact it will probably not deal the middle not be allowed to pass on the cost a rusty old can gradually the recent strike at the Bolen mith wiln wages as sucn. More Sinister ana AA - wooed. by way of higher prices. We are, poured into his mouth. The youth refinery in Belgium have all policies will be introduced to pro- Employers will be encouraged to in any case, promised a degree of gagged and screamed, but refused worked in their favour? But vide for an extended 'pay pause' take a firm line with industrial consumer protection. Such an to talk, even when prodded with (his was only partly due to which the Tory government intend workers. The humiliation the edict could be useful to the Tories a rifle butt. The water treatment ' luck'; 'good management' to make more efficient than ever government experienced over the in appearing to 'do good' while was more frightening than hurtful;

involved too. before. dock settlement will not be allowed getting ready for action against at the end of the day, the stillThe monopolists are well After all, the startling changes to recur-or so the government the workers. silent boy was fully recovered and organised, they come together at the Treasury have been made, plans. What then will we find in the able to march three miles of to defeat the workers. The not because of the success of the The tasks of arbitration boards workers' charter? No doubt much the area with his captors.

maintain their hold on the mining polists have drawn up plans to The international copper mono- latter remain isolated, lacking any proper organisation or leadership. divided and Prices have risen in made in it. Wages have risen in the past year by some cent. pause, but because of the breaches period by 6 per cent. At the same time, poos 4 per the living standards. Their terms of them to make awards depending will they be required to make wage awards commensurate with cost of reference will be altered to enable will be entirely revised. No longer any legislation will be related to and his new boys are in power will be made of 'fringe benefits' and resettlement grants in the case of sackings. But while Macmillan preparation for attacks arrested, seven seven Viet prisoners, 53 100 rounds of "The bag guitar.' for the day had been Cong killed, eight suspect villagers rifles, more than ammunition-and industry until the end of the voters have been anta gonis on not industry unions.

De Gaulle prepares LE

Algeria drifts to disaster

Scan page 4

strengthen the Right wing in the Labour Party, especially the Campaign for Democratic Socialism.

This organisation has been conspiring on behalf of Gaitskell and Brown in all sections of the movement. In the TGWU in particular it has tried to undermine Cousins' position as much as. possible since the Scarborough conference.

THE NEWSLETTEr has always been prepared to support Frank Cousins whenever he has given a lead to the Left. We shall certainly do so again if the occasion arises. But we cannot keep silent when he retreats. The British Labour movement, today more than ever before, requires a clear socialist lead.

Whatever appearances may suggest, the right-wing leadership in the Labour Party and the trades unions is in as deep a crisis as the Tories. Its replacement and the adoption of a programme of struggle against capitalism is vital if the working class is to defeat the employers' attacks.

This iS time, not for urawing vack, vul 1ul dansrina hannh auvanting the demands for socialist policies. The British working class and the youth in particular will rally to a socialist lead.

Cousins' lack of a infidence in the working class will lose him this opportunity to lead the Left.

• Rhodesia MICHAEL NLY a few months after is drifting rapidly towards regionalism. In the West threats against the GPRA--and the peasants.

In Algiers Ben Khedda the Aletti Hotel promising to the people.

In Rocher Noir, a Kafkalike scene prevails; empty offices, deserted corridors and ringing telephones. What Mr. Fares and his Provisional Executive are doing no one knows-or cares.

Standing above all three power - centres is the army general staff who are not yet ready to commit themselves either one way or the other until they see which side is winning.

Colonel Boumeddienne identifies himself with Ben Bella— whether Ben Bella reciprocates is another matter.

In the meantime the exodus of Europeans continues and the situation gets worse.

•The administration and the economy are falling apart.

More than two-thirds of Algeria's factories are shut down. Unemployment is staggering — no one knows exactly how high it is.

The wheat crop, excellent this year, lies rotting in the fields because machinery is not repaired and farms are deserted.' (Newsweek 30/7/62)

BANDA 'independence, Algeria economic anarchy and Ben Bella utters veiled promises 'socialism' to and his cronies wander around little and conceding even less lines. Mr. Ben Khedda's latest 'conditional surrender' to Ben Bella is a recognition of this fact.

Ben Bella's victory may still prove to be ephemeral. The social and economic problems of Algeria require not merely a dedicated leader but a programme which can reconstruct Algerian economy from top to bottom.

It is precisely from this standpoint that Ben Bella's programme is singularly bankrupt.

The French government has announced that it may send troops to protect its interests in Algeria. These may include Mr. Ben Khedda.

The re-appearance of the hated French troops will triggèr off yet more bloody battles. De Gaulle's announcement serves to further underline the criminal betrayal of the nationalist leaders.

A revolutionary struggle must be waged by Algerian and French workers to cast off the reactionary leadership of Ben Khedda and Ben Bella, and to keep French troops at home. ['HE chill wind of military dictatorship which blew up from Argentina and Brazil blew through the streets of Lima and blew President Prado out of office and into prison. le immediate cause was the return to power of the middle-class demagogue Haya de la Torre. First his opponent, Fernando Belaunde refused to accept the vote and called upon the army to revolt. This plan was foiled by President Manuel Prado who prevailed upon the generals to restrain themselves.

This they duly did with a mocksolemn assurance recognising the power of the National Elections Court, which dismissed the fraud charges against the victorious candidate. st when everything seemed settled and sealed, the military junta struck and capitalist democracy went down without a ripple. or the six million poverty-stricken Indians in Peru the coup will not mean much. Neither demagogy nor dictatorship will solve the problem of landlessness. s for Mr. Kennedy's decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Peru, there is but one word-chicanery.

(continued from page 3)

Scan page 4

and discussed a new constitution for the territory. Presumably he accepted the provision with regard to the mineral concessions in addition to other provisions.

There is a clear lesson here for workers in Northern Rhodesia and in other countries. They cannot depend on petty-bourgeois Nationalist leaders to fight for their interests. They must set up their own parties and campaign on the basis of working class demands — workers' power and control of industry and the rejection of fake constitutions.

Only a leadership of the working class, based on Marxism, can provide this kind of policy and organise a struggle round these slogans. Without it there will be more betrayals.

This Paper is your This 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:

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Name Address Neither the Ben Khedda nor Ben Bella regimes alone can govern Algeria on capitalist

NEC tightens up

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BERTRAND RUSSELL will not snub the Right wing of the Labour Party again. This was made clear at the NEC's press conference on Wednesday by the general secretary, Len Williams.

The sponsors of the World Peace Congress had declared that they did not consider themselves to be breaking the Labour Party's constitution by associating themselves with a proscribed organisation, as distinct from being members.

The NEC, whilst forced to accept this explanation, did not agree with it, Mr. Williams said, and instructed the Organising Subcommittee to look into the matter. It had duly recommended an alteration to Clause 2, section 4 of the constitution which deals with the eligibility for membership of the party and proscribed organisations.

This will now read '... not members of or associated with political parties or organisations declared by annual conference or the NEC... to be ineligible for membership of the party?

This will go forward as amendment to the constitution this year's conference.

Mr. Williams made it clear t this move was designed more 'clean-up' local parties than restrain elderly rebels.

'A number of organisations, not very influential-due largely to the efforts of the Labour Party-try to subvert the party. This amendment is designed largely to try and stop this subversion, he said.

Questioned about the Young Socialists, he said that investigations were continuing into those associated with Keep Left, but this had not been discussed by the executive.

It had, however, reached a oppos A STATEMENT by the British Peace Committee, the Stalinist front organisation, published in the Daily Worker on Monday, expressed opposition to all tests of nuclear weapons and was in sharp distinction to the Worker leader which said:

'Surely the Russians could not be expected to sit still and let the Americans carry out all the tests they need until their weapons are effective enough to strike a sudden paralysing blow against the Soviet Union?' (This statement itself sharply contradicts the theory of 'peace ful co-existence!)

1e BPC statement cision on the youth paper Young Guard. Those responsible for its publication had had two very friendly meetings with a small committee of NEC members, where certain criticisms were made of the paper.

• The interchange of opinion proved to be extremely useful, ¡Mr. Williams said. On the understanding that Young Guard is used solely as a forum for discussion in the Young Socialists and its activities are confined to publication, no action will be taken.' all deplore the failure of the Geneva conference to reach agreement, the continued persistence by the US government in its series of test explosions, and the fact that these have now been followed by the Soviet announcement of a new series.

he British Peace Committee has always opposed and always will oppose nuclear test explosions as not only harmful to humanity but leading to an intensification of the arms race?

called for a campaign against all nuclear tests, the removal of all foreign bases and the achievement of general and complete disarmament.

Scanlon loses AEU case

Scan page 4

to return Cold wind blew MR. HUGH SCANLON, for • 14 years the divisional organiser in the Greater Manchester district of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, this week lost his case in which he claimed that the election last year for a post on the AEU executive council was validly conducted.

The result of this electio 1, in which the left-wing Mr. Sca nlon opposed the sitting member, Mr. W. Cockin, a supporter of William Carron, was not declared, though Mr. Scanlon believed that he had won.

LETTERS Last September, the AEU executive cancelled the election on the grounds that certain handwritten letters sent to branches in support of Mr. Scanlon represented an unfair influence and were opposed to the rules.

Giving judgment in the High Court on Tuesday, Mr. Justice Cross found in favour of the defendants, Mr. Carron, AEU president, Mr. Hallett, general secretary, Mr. Cockin and the union.

Mr. Justice Cross stated, however, in fairness to Mr. Scanlon and his supporters, that he had no reason to think that when the supporters sent out letters they thought they might be breaking any rule.

Witnesses and counsel for Mr. Scanlon had laid great stress on the fact that the letters were not sent out on headed notepaper from the offices of the district committees concerned in the case and that they did not bear the district committee seal, the judge said. The executive had claimed that the letters had given the impression that the district committees had formally resolved to support Mr. Scanlon.

CARRON'S 'LOGIC' Mr. Justice Cross said that if a district committee actea collectively in matters which were no concern of theirs, then reasonable men could say a district committee or its members had broken the rules.

He said the plaintiff was on stronger ground when it came to the testimonials which in the past had been appended to the candidates' election addresses.

In the past there had been appended to these addresses testimonials which would lead an ordinary reader to think a district committee as a body was supporting a candidate.

Mr. Carron and other members of the executive, however, had drawn a very sharp distinction between support from members of a district committee shown in election addresses liable to be vetted by the executive and those in communications sent round under Rule 2, clause 10.

The judge said: 'I am nol sure of the logic of the distinction which is drawn by Mr. Carron and other members of the executive?

Registered at the G.P.O. as a newspaper Published by The Newsletter, Printed by Plough Stees Lid Printed Plough 80 Claphana

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