CUBA Only class action will defeat imperialists

No victory for de Gaulle THE referendum of October 28 was arranged in the best style of Gaullism. The issue posed, should the President be elected by universal suffrage, had the demagogic ring of bonapartism. The government had a virtual monopoly of radio time.

Opposed to de Gaulle were the discredited politicians of the Fourth Republic. To cap it all, the Cuban crisis seemed to prove the need for a strong man.

The result of this virtual plebiscite, carried out under such favourable conditions was hardly a great victory for de Gaulle. One in five of the electors stayed away from the polls-from apathy or because they sincerely felt that it did not matter one way or another how the head of the state was elected.

Sixty-two per cent voted for de Gaulle — the smallest 'yes' vote he has yet received. In the southern departments an antide Gaulle majority appeared.

At the same time, the united efforts of the parliamentary opposition together with the Communist party and the sympathisers of the OAS could only muster a vote of 38 per cent.

Evidently the supporters of the Communist Party and the Socialist Party did not all follow the advice of the party leaders. They have, of course, no intention of mobilising the working class for a struggle against the regime, to which, in their own way, they have given shamefaced support.

Elections are shortly to follow. What is certain is that the pro-de Gaulle UNR will lose votes heavily.

De Gaulle's ministers are clearly angry at the result. If although in inadequate quantities. At the same time he has utilised the Cuban revolution to further his power-political diplomacy with the White House.

The establishment of rocket bases in Cuba could not possibly defend the Cuban revolution. This can only be done in the immediate future by the struggle to win over the solidarity of the American working class and to extend the revolution in Latin America.

Of course the Cuban government had every right to accept these rocket bases and sign such agreements as it wished with the Soviet Union.

But it was most inadvisable that it should have exercised this right by permitting Khrushchev to place under the control of Russian technicians rocket bases which were plain for all to see on a small island.

Having a right and exercising it are two different things. One does not necessarily follow from the other.

WEAKENED

Even from the standpoint of military defence, it was impossible for the Soviet Union to provide adequate cover without launching the Third World War.

Thus on the eve of invasion by the United States, Khrushchev calmly admits to the existence of the rocket bases and says that he will dismantle them if in turn he can get agreement on other matters, no doubt concerning Berlin and US bases close to the Soviet Union.

Khrushchev's act strengthened reaction in the United States and gravely weakened the Cuban revolution.

Castro is forced under the most difficult circumstances to demand the withdrawal of the American marines from Guantanamo. Lacking an understanding of the Leninist nature of defence of the Cuban revolucont. from page 1 The Stalinists, pacifists and fellow-travellers would be happy and would declare that such Russian non-intervention was a mighty blow for peace.

They would let Cuba bleed to death just as they did in Spain rather than wage a class fight against imperialism.

Cuba is another grim warning Khrushchev. of the predominantly reactionary nature of the Soviet bureaucracy and its politics.

The construction of revolu- countries. tionary Trotskyist parties all over the world fighting constantly against the main enemy which is their own ruling class and in defence of all revolutionary movements, like the Cuban revolution, are the only answer to the terrible crisis which now confronts mankind.

•Defend Cuba' its defence. factory gate meeting class action of the workers can defend.

150 workers at the Executex clothing factory in Leeds attended a lunch-time factory gate meet- the Stalinist bureaucracy and its methods. ing last Thursday to hear a protest against the American threat to Cuba.

Socialist Labour League speakers, including a worker at parations! Executex, stressed the common interests of the British working class and the workers and peasants of Cuba.

Police refused to act when three lorry drivers — one of whom boasted that he would never join a trade union- tried to drown the meeting by revving up their engines. action in defence of Cuba.

But they soon intervened at the close of the meeting when workers from the audience, which had clearly shown its support for the speakers, went up to remonstrate with the drivers. THE INTERNATIONAL FOURTH INTERNATIONAL the official to support their own 28.10.1962