The Newsletter, vol. 9 no. 388

immigration -Says REPEATING his allegation mass illegal entry' into Britain, Home Secretary Sir Frank Soskice warned in Parliament on Tuesday of "more drastic and unpleasant' measures against immigrants.

During 1964, he said, there had been 'an unaccounted surplus of some 10,000'.

Some measures had been taken to deal with this 'surplus', but if these did not bring results, then further measures would be necessary, including registration with the police and deportation without a court order.

Earlier he had said that the government had 'a great deal of unanimity' on the broad aspects of immigration with the Tories!

Soskice, along with other Labour leaders who continue to talk of training immigrants then sending them back to their own countries, to immigrants registering as students but never going to university, to shifting families from certain towns to others, shows what they really mean when talking about 'integration'.

They continue to strengthen every racialist in the country.

SUBSIDIES

In Monday's debate on housing, the Minister, Mr. Richard Crossman complained that since the Tory Rent Act the stock of private rented housing accommodation had dropped by 25 per cent.

Subsidies, he added, should go to local authorities and housing "and not into the begging bowls of private enterprise'.

But, in the same breath, he added: "The private landlord has an enormous part to play in the great grey areas of private property which is falling into dilapidation and being demolished to be replaced by expensive accommodation' In both these debates the Labour government demonstrated its Tory policy. Such debates are directly linked.

Although it was said in the immigration debate that immigrants were not the cause of bad housing, the Labour government, by their actions, breed such ideas in the minds of workers.

Instead of backing the reactionary Immigration . Act and allowing the housing situation to deteriorate in the hands of private enterprise, the Labour government must demand the nationalization of land and the building and building supply industries and the repeal of the Act.

Only then will a co-ordinated house building plan be formulated to provide accommodation at reasonable rents for all in Britain and those about to arrive here.

Dr. Allen on hunger strike (see page BY THE EDITOR 1R. DEAN RUSK, the American Secri State, has announced that the Uniter forces in Vietnam will continue to use gas the Vietcong fighters. He has also made that his government will continue to use and white phosphorus incendiary bombs in to the 'lazy dog' fragmentation bomb.

The Americans are using a gas called 'CNDM' which, when mixed with a compound adamsite, causes nausea if a person receives a heavy dose.

V.S. imperialists! Hands off Vietnam! Withdraw all foreign troops!

Sunday 28 March Upper Woburn Place, w. G. 1 Speakers: G. HEALY C. SLAUGHTEE gades.

It is not sufficient to make verbal protests in Parliament. If these 'lefts' are really serious then they should break from Wilson, even if it means a general election.

The time has come to expose the collaboration between the British and American imperialists and to show it for what it means-a continuous preparation for World War I, and the possible annihilation of the human race. New Ambassadors Hotel, Chairman: M. BANDA If action is taken now by the British labour movement then it will find a ready response, not only in all countries of the world but in the United States itself.

We call for nationwide demonstrations and protest meetings to demand that all those who oppose the war in Vietnam in the Parliamentary Labour Party should put down a motion in Parliament demanding that Wilson repudiate the United States imperialists and if he refuses to do this, they should break from his government. By our Political Correspondent in 'unofficial' strike action.

From Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Belfast and Glasgow, there are reports of employers threatening to sack apprentices who leave the factory during their dinner hour to attend meetings. At three factories in Yorkshire, police and armoured car agents were called to try and prevent meetings held by local apprentices committees.

Carron tried a whole series of lies to discredit the National Apprentices Committee set up at the Manchester Conference in October 1964.

'Outside agencies'

He suggested that it was primarily students and 'outside subversive influences' who were interfering and stirring up the apprentices. He hinted darkly that since the union provides no funds for organising this kind of activity and apprentices com plained about their low wages, Apprentices Committees must be financed by these outside agencies.

Carron knows that this argument is false. In dozens of cases, shop stewards' committees and union branches have given financial support to the apprentices. Indeed, the very conference addressed by Carron was lobbied by South London apprentices financed by adult workers in their factories.

As for outside influences', Carron is only rereating stories spread by the capitalist press and by the Stalinists in Sheffield and Manchester.

Stalinist help

For this reason, Joe Bush and others on the floor of the conference were unable to reply effectively to counter Carron's attack - they themselves have started the slanders upon which Carron relied. Nothing could confirm more clearly the analysis made in last week's Newsletter of the role of these elements.

It is on record that over 300 apprentices from every engineering centre in the country decided the policy of the National Apprentices Movement at the October Conference in Manchester, and that 160 attended special meeting in Manchester three weeks ago which decided on a mass Lobby of the National Committee of the Amalgamated Carron: threatened expulsion Engineering Union on April 27 and a national strike on May 10.

The April 27 lobby, to win support from the adult workers takes on greater importance every week. George Brown has now appointed a Tory MP and businessman, Aubrey Jones, to head the government's Incomes Commission. Could there be any clearer indication of the real meaning of the incomes policy of which the AEU package deal is meant to be the first instalment?

Closure threat

Carron will try to rule the roost at the National Committee in the same way that he and Boyd did at Brighton.

Boyd, chairing the conference, refused to take amendments which he did not like and even barred executive committee member Berridge from speaking at the youth conference.

Perridge knew he would be disallowed from opposing executive committee policy and he meekly sat down when instructed to. This so-called Communist put his full-time position before a principled fight alongside the wallous Dellayals Carron, when interrupted during his slanders, threatened to close the conference down if there were any more interruptions.

His local officials are being similarly high handed: in Leeds, St. John Binns, local full-time for the AEU, has written to all stewards and secretaries that they must ignore the apprentices' campaigns and he ends his letter with a ban on all meetings calling together apprentices, except those called by the District Committee.

Carron will not find it so easy (Cont. back page, col. 6)

World public opinion is shocked by this arrogant and brutal display of imperialist military might against a people fighting for their freedom. On March 24 the Federation of American Scientists issued the following statement:

The use of United Statesproduced chemical and biological weapons in Asia will be interpreted widely as 'fieldtesting' of these weapons amongst foreign people and will hurt our efforts immeasurably in goodwill and moral respect all over the world.

We find it morally repugnant that the United States should find itself the party to the use of weapons of indiscriminate ettect, with principal effectiveness against civilian populations.

who static as mach will, in the long run, hurt the security of the United States, even if military effectiveness in a specific situation can be demonstrated.

In recent weeks we have been treated to a succession of stories which have included the employment of napalm against villages, the use of cropdestroying agents, so-called defoliating chemicals, and now the use of gas against civilians.

Whether a chemical which induces extreme nausea and acts as a cathartic, inflicts lasting effects on its victims of all ages and in varying states of health, we cannot possibly know! Imperialist aim Meanwhile there have been demonstrations in all the main capitals and many arrests have been made by the police of young people protesting against the war in Vietnam and demanding that it should be ended.

The aim of this war on the part of the American forces is entirely imperialist, as 'The Times' of Thursday, March 25, desscribed:

"The strategic purpose is to hold South Vietnam, under almost any conditions, in order to deny south-east Asia to Chinese domination.' In other words it is a direct attack. against the desire of millions of Asian workers and peasants to achieve their freedom from imperialist domination.

The same article made it clear that one of the main factors which encourages this policy is the inactivity and neutrality of the Soviet bureaucracy.

Johnson and Rusk know very well that the Soviet bureaucracy wants to avoid an open confrontation so they do everything possible to exploit the cowardice of Kosygin, Gromyko and company.

Once more the Soviet bureaucrats show that they are in fact counter-revolutionary agents within the international working class movement.

Meanwhile, nobody takes much notice of the fake Labour 'lefts' who from time to time kick up a verbal row in Wilson's Parliamentary Labour Party. As "The Times', also in its article on March 25, says:

'Very few people here (Washington) care very much about dissident left wings in distant Parliaments or the mild strictures of visiting Foreign Secretaries-as today's statement by the Secretary of State indicates. The time has perhaps come for the allies to accept the American purposes for what they are, even if they are disturbing.' Precisely. The fake lefts, rather than break from Wilson, will continue to do the dirty work of the British Tories and imperialists.

We say it is time for every serious - minded trade unionist and Labour Party member to denounce the pernicious activities of such renegades. We say also that "Tribune' is the national weekly publication of these rene-

AFTER a record (well over - 75 per cent) and uneventful poli, Mrs. Bandaranaike's coalition with the Lanka Sama Samaja Party was roundly defeated by the ultra right - wing United National Party.

The combined strength of the United National Party and its allies—the People's United Front (NEP), Sri Lanka Freedom Socialist Party, Federal Party and National Liberation Front (JVP)-is approximately 86 MPs (according to the latest figures), while the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party (reformist) and Communist Party, have rallied about 52 seats in the sixth parliament.

The most dramatic defeat was that suffered by Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, deputy leader of the reformist Lanka Sama Samaja Party, who lost his seat to his UNP rival.

REFORMISTS DOOMED Two members of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (revolutionary) also lost their seats thanks to the divisive activities of the reformist Lanka Sama Samajists, who split the working class vote by putting forward their own candidates in these constituencies.

The return of the UNP signifies doom for the reformist LSSP. So long as there was even a remote possibility of carrying out its pretence of parliamentary reform within or without a coalition so long too the leaders were able to preserve a certain base amongst sections of the working class and peasantry.

Now, however, such a prospect is definitely eliminated. The disintegration of the ISSP, particularly its trade unions, is inevitable. This is the logic of capitulation and the reward of traitors.

A United National Party-led capitalist coalition will prove as untenable as its SLFP-LSSP predecessor. As 'The Times' cor### Bandaranaike: resigned rectly remarked in its editorial (24.3.65): "The prospect of firm government in Ceylon is not too bright.' There is little doubt that the United National Party will use the traditional weapons to defend the crisis-ridden economy of the island.

Prominent among these will be increased taxation, import controls and wage freeze. Even informed capitalist circles are forced to admit this.

'We reported yesterday that interest on foreign loans amounting to rupees 40 million (approximately £3 million) and a sterling loan of over rupees 24 million (approximately £17 million) are due for repayment this year.

'In the context of the country's financial situation today, this means that it will have to dig deeper into her depleted foreign assets, and also ask the people to tighten belts and so deprive themselves of the little they have today!' ('Ceylon Daily News', 18.3.65)

Despite the ballyhoo of the coalition leaders it has been conclusively proved that there has been absolutely no economic development in the country between 1959 and 1963 and that real per capita income has declined by 2t per cent. This trend has been continuing.

In the meantime, unemployment and rural indebtness has soared, adding to the ever increasing mountain of poverty and despair.

SALUTARY LESSON

The UNP will do nothing the national minorities.

record on this score stinks.

The results of the general election must serve as a salutory lesson for all those who joined the capitalist government in 1964 on the grounds that this was the surest way to prevent the return of the United National Party.

The defeat of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (revolutionary) candidates does not, in the least, invalidate their criticism of the reformists or undermine their potential following in the working class.

It is reformism that has been exposed and defeated.

YOUNG Socialists, students, "TATININ Canialinka apprentices, trade unionists and • workers from numerous countries will join in a protest demonstration through London on Sunday against the imprisonment of 1,000 communists in India.

Starting at the Embankment, Waterloo Bridge at 12.30 p.m. the demonstration, which is organised by the Indian Workers' Association, will go via Aldwych, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, Kensington High Street, and Hammersmith Broadway to Hammersmith Town Hall. The youth will join the march at the Albert Memorial at 1.30 p.m.

At the town hall a meeting will start at 3.15 p.m.

The arrests of communists in India are a result of growing crisis in the country.

Fearing defeat, the government which has found itself completely unable to solve the acute food shortage and soaring prices, arrested communist candidates before the elections.

TTeina tha Dravantiva Matantian Using the Preventive Detention Act it threw into jail not only candidates for the State Assembly in Kerala, but trade unionists, leaders of peasants, scientists, doctors and teachers.

Last year there were big riots during the food crisis and there has been considerable unrest since then. This action by the Indian government can only be seen as an attempt to viciously suppress any leadership of the Indian working class.

Repression in Kerala — see

Minister of Labour Gunter's ambiguous and treacher 'promise on the Trades Disputes Bill Page Kingsway Hall,

Lobby officials over 56-hour week SEAMEN from London, the North-east and Liverpool decided at a 200-strong stormy meeting on Wednesday to give an ultimatum to their union executive-rescind the new wages agreement, or we strike.

Under the new agreement, to be signed on Monday, the compulsory hours of work at sea will increase to 56! The union claim that a new wages structure for overtime could mean an increase of £12 a month tor some, but many seamen at Wednesday's meeting in East London claimed they would receive less overall.

The meeting was called by a rank and file committee.

This committee, with Communist Party chairman Gordon Norris, proposed that seamen throughout the country should get signatures for petitions against the new agreement, but the majority were ready for more concrete action.

'OFF YOUR KNEES'

Their feelings were those of the newspaper "Seafarer, whose editor, John Goldon, a leading member in the 1960 seamen's strike, said the men had tried to fight through every constitutional means. 'Get off your knees and hold your heads up,' he said, adding 'you are serfs if you sign the agreement'.

Paddy Neary, of Liverpool, who was jailed during the 1960 strike, said that in 1924, the Trades Union Congress policy was for a 40-hour week. Forty years later, the National Union of Seamen was agreeing to a 56-hour week (Cont. back col. 6)

Trade unions in the epoch the 21, are THE now well-known House Lords judgment in the Rookes v. Barnard case demolished the legal defence of trade unions against claims for damage caused through strikes and even threats to strike.

The sustained demand by the labour movement for new law to restore the position was met with Wilson's pledge at last year's Trades Union Congress in Blackpool that the next Labour government would take all necessary steps.

Scrutinise

At that time the Newsletter predicted that the labour movement would do well to scrutinise any project of the right-wing leadership on the basis that nothing was further from Wilson's aspirations than a powerful militant trade union structure.

How justified this warning was is immediately apparent on studying the debate which took place in Parliament on February 16 when the Minister of Labour Ray Gunter moved the second reading of the Trades Disputes Bill.

There was a large aggregate vote on the Bill, but it was passed by a majority of 24, a sure indication that the Tories presented a purely nominal opposition.

In fact, the quality of their opposition is explained by Gunter's introductory remarks, which forestalled any lingering doubts that the government might enact law on behalf of the working class.

'We are not legalising the closed shop, nor are we outlawing it. We are not opening the door to strikes in breach of contract nor are we legislating against them.' Closed shop The closed shop is, of course, an indispensable need in the struggle to construct and extend trade unions. The Rookes case was essentially a closed shop dispute, and the House of Lords in effect outlawed the attempt of the union involved to enforce a 100 per cent membership.

So Gunter's throwaway concession to trade unionists is worthless - what Labour promises not to do, the Law Lords have already accomplished.

What the trade unions required of the government was precisely that it should back to the hilt every action to ensure the closed shop; yet Gunter's answer is as ambiguous as it is treacherous.

However, this assurance to of imperialist decay short, masterly and topical analysis of pitalism and thi : prospects for the trade urd and advanc d capitalist countries. Some past rank-and-file oncise history of the growth of trade union bureaucracy and struggles against it. The shop stewards' movement of 1915the Minority Movement and the Third Period experiences analysed thoroughly. Price 1/NEW PARK PUBLICATIONS LTD., BA CLAPHAM HIGH ST, LONDON, S.W.4 movements his supposed political nents was not sufficient.

He explained that what the government really wanted was to set up a Royal Commission to examine the role of the trade unions and the employers' associations in our 'modern industrial society'.

But before such an investigation can proceed, the right atmosphere has to be created, and that is why this Bill was put through, in 'a rush', as "The Times' commented.

Hamstrung

As the law stood, explained Gunter, a trade union representative was hamstrung in negotiations if he could not threaten to call a strike.

'In existing circumstances this was a situation which could not be tolerated' (Our emphasis.)

But in what circumstance will this situation be acceptThe three Nigerian trade unionists jailed with Dr. Allen DR. VICTOR ALLEN, now serving a sentence of twelve months imprisonment in Nigeria, has been on a hunger strike since Wednesday, March 17, in protest against repeated adjournments of the hearing of his appeal against sentence.

Dr. Allen, along with three Nigerian trade unionists, Sidi Khayam, Jonas Kiomasekenagh Abam and Olushengun Adetrends mono unions the b:

Price BY A CORRESPONDENT able? Is it intended to alter the circumstances?

The Tory ex-Minister of Labour, Godber, was quick to note this qualification. He pointed out first that the Labour government was taking action on one of the important matters that the proposed Royal Commission would investigate, and he asked whether the proposed Act was to be regarded as temporary legislation.

Gunter hedged, but the Tory persisted.

Might the Act stand until the Royal Commission has reported and might it well be amended then?

Dr Allen writes from jail of delay in appeal -I am on hunger strike' bayo, was arrested in June last year and charged with plotting to overthrow the government.

He was, in fact, visiting Nigeria for research purposes and the purpose of the government was to frame him and the three trade unionists as a repression measure in reply to the Nigerian General Strike last year.

Letter text Dr. Allen informed a number of friends in England of his intention to go on hunger strike in a letter, the full text of which reads as follows:

'On June 16th, 1964, I was arrested in Lagos on charges which read like, and I think were, a plagiarism from a James Bond story. On November 10th, after a trial lasting more than four months, I was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. On March rd, 1965 , a motion submitted to a Nigerian High Court for an accelerated hearing of my appeal was adjourned until March 10th, when it was further adjourned to April Ist. These adjournments can continue until I have completed my sentence.

'But even if a date for my appeal is fixed on April Ist, it is unlikely that the appeal proceedings can be completed before the end of May. This means that taking into account remission, and assuming that I do not lose any for making this protest, 1 will almost have completed my sentence before hearing the appeal.

Irrespective of the final result of the appeal, this constitutes a miscarriage of justice. I am completely innocent of the charges against me and have been 'MR. GUNTER indicated assent.' ('The Times', 17/2/65.)

Primed with this reassurance, the Tory then put down an unequivocal threat to the whole movement of organised workers when he said:

'We shall hold ourselves free on our return to office to introduce legislation in this field in advance of receiving the Commission's report?

That is the real Declaration of Intent of big business, not provoked by any parliamentary obstacle to its ambitions, but delivered in an almost cordial manner, the winsome smiles of the Labour front bench providing every encouragement.

Concessions

Let us not be deceived the verbal battles in the Ho Capitalism faces a despe crisis, aggravated by its persistently and unbelievably persecuted and intimidated by the Nigerian authorities even after my imprisonment.

As the constant and vociferous protests made on my behalf in Britain have been ignored, I am compelled to take action myself.

"Therefore on Wednesday, March 17, I start an indefinite hunger strike which I will only voluntarily. end when my appeal against conviction is heard. I will also engage in a non-violent protest by remaining in my cell and refusing to see or speak to anyone, whether they be doctor, lawyer or High Commission representative, unless it is to hear that my grievance is being redressed.

I emphasise that this is not a token protest. I have taken a very serious decision, but when an innocent person is gaoled and refused the means to protest his innocence, it is a very serious matter involving a principle of the higher order.' Protests All sections of the labour movement should immediately rush resolutions and protests either from individuals or from organisations to the Nigerian Embassy. Allen himself is quite determined. In a personal note to his wife which accompanied the letter, he said: 'No matter how serious the situation gets, I want no requests to stop!

The Newsletter has also been informed that the dependants of the imprisoned Nigerians are in desperate financial straits, because of the manoeuvres by the government to postpone the appeal.

Already, some sections of the labour movement in this ability to make even small concessions to sections of the working class.

If it is not now possible, as it once was, to make certain adaptations to the working class, then the workers themselves must be adapted to the needs of capitalism.

'.. one thing is certain, the unions are not eternal. They will exist just as long as they are relevant to the times in which they seek to exist.' •... unless the unions face the facts of life... in the late bring in the recruits. 60s, then in seven to ten years' time, the state will have to intervene' (Ray Gunter, April 1964.)

Worthless Gunter has never repudiated this threat and the whole of this new Bill and the debate country have protested against capitalism. the sentences and given valuable financial assistance.

We appeal for all of these to be continued and stepped up.

It is especially important that Labour Party and trade achieved. union members and organisations protest to Mr. Arthur Bottomley, Secretary for Colonial Relations in the government, who received direct from Dr. Allen a copy of his latest protest.

As part of the general capi- did. tulation of the Labour government to imperialism, Bottomley stated at the end of last year that he was convinced Allen had had a fair trial and that the Nigerian Judiciary 'enjoyed very high regard in this country'.

The campaign for the release of Dr. Allen must be waged more and more vigorously as part of a struggle for the defence of class-war prisoners all over the world, as the crisis of imperialism deepens.

The imprisonment of Alexander in South Africa, and of the pro-Chinese Communists in Doctor. Kerala, are part of this same struggle.

The British working class cannot free itself unless it fights on these questions.

worse. their sake'. of the Wilson government.

Alexander In other words, the 'men

A young Congolese worker answers some questions posed by THE NEWSLETTER to give a picture of this vast African country 7, 1965 age Th

Cliff Slaughter replies: around it must be seen in this light.

A piece of almost worthless law will be enacted as a token concession to the trades unions. It will be followed by a determined offensive to disarm and destroy the amounts to.

unions' capacity to play a Mr. McCarthy is significant role in the in- much help to Dr. Soper.

creasingly severe clash between the classes.

A slice is distributed today so that the whole loaf may be stolen tomorrow.

words, This undisguised treachery have had.. emphasises anew the urgent need to build an alternative leadership of the working class.

It is further proof that the Wilson government is incapable of, and unwilling to lead can therefore only assume the working class in this sharpening crisis.

political acquaintances.

quite beside the point.

left'. London, W.C.2.

March 16 Cliff Slaughter's attack on Dr. Donald Soper in this week's Newsletter just won't do. Parsons may, or may not, have something worth saying on every conceivable subject—to quote Mr. Slaughter-but anyone who knows anything of Donald Soper must realise that, Whatever knowledge he lacks on other subjects, he is well read, and well versed, on Socialist and Labour political issues.

And Mr. Slaughter's remark that Dr. Soper's living as a parson depends on his discouraging anybody who really builds up revolutionary working-class movement..: is just plain idiotic. You haven't got to go back many years to remember when the churches including the Methodist Church—were crying out 'Dr. Soper is not speaking for us,' in protest at some revolutionary-or progressiveutterance from this 'tame heretic'.

Again, Mr. Slaughter's bringing in Sean O'Casey is a bit unfortunate for him. It was only last June that O'Casey sent a sum of money to Dr. Soper for his work in the West London Mission: A tiny spark for the West London Mission fire. One of the last letters O'Casey wrote. You see, when you get a bit older, you see that things are not all just plain sailing on the way to a workers' republic. There is the question of the needs of men and women who can't swim with the grand upsurge of fine words. And if—if for nothing else-there has got to be compromise, it has often got to be for their sake. A bloody revolution may be a fine war cry, but it won't In an amusing article in a newspaper on Sunday last, Honor Tracy wrote that nowadays 'nothing is too foolish or too ugly, provided it appeals to the young'. On careful consideration, I would say that Cliff Slaughter's attack on Donald Soper was both foolish and ugly. I sincerely hope it doesn't appeal to young men and women who believe in Socialism. It would be a pity if the Young Socialists came to be to the Labour Party what the Empire Loyalists are to the Tories.

Yours etc., Frank McCarthy.

women' so dear to McCarthy while liking to be regarded were sacrificed. as outspoken men, are appa- I am sorry that Mr. McCarthy rently not so keen to be told thinks my article on Soper 'just in forthright terms what their won't do. Soper and his friends have come out with all guns firing political verbiage really against the Young Socialists at a time when the Wilson government betrays every election pledge and prepares disaster for claims that Dr. Soper is 'well the working class. read, and well versed on Socialist It is precisely in this situation and Labour political issues. And that Soper and "Tribune' become yet, Soper's full length article on most concerned lest the youth the Young Socialists Annual take the Marxist road. Conference "Accordinis to reportshe Despite religious and "moral' covering, Soper and company have a very clear political role.

Just for the record, nobody Like all 'left' reformists, their from "Tribune' took it upon main attacks are directed to the themselves to sit at the press left, whenever the establishment table at the conference and no is really threatened. cano therefore only sibe that Soper based himself on reports Arrests and in the capitalist press and on the impressions and gossip of his deals weaken The fact that the churches have disowned some of Soper's political statements is surely Polish I fully realise that it is only because Soper has made loud "left' noises from time to time that he is in a position at all to do this particular job of attacking the Young Socialists from the Warsaw university lecturer and son of Poland's first very carefully insisted on Soper's opposition to the building Stalinist foreign minister, was up of a revolutionary working arrested by security police last class movement. By that I mean a movement which fights in every week-end, for publishing a struggle of every section of the pamphlet criticising the Stalinworking class in such a way that ist leaders. it represents the long-term, hisThis arrest is merely the toric, class interests of the latest in a whole series of workers for the overthrow of measures, like the closing of Dr. Soper's 'progressive' utter- the paper 'Po Prostu', taken to ances have a different purpose: suppress any opposition to the to make humanitarian modifica- bureaucracy. tions to capitalism which quieten The deepening crisis in imdown the class struggle and perialism is hitting hard at the encourage the hope that in this bureaucracies in Eastern Europe way socialism will gradually be and the Soviet Union. Terrified of any new upsurge by the workThe point about Sean O'Casey ing class in these areas, the is a simple example of religious bureaucrats are combining reprelogic-chopping. The argument is sive measures with desperate that if I take one sentence from attempts to raise living standards. O'Casey which I think expressed The only solution that the something true, then must bureaucrats can see is that of accept everything that O'Casey negotiation with capitalism.

At present, high level talks are I would point out to Frank in progress between top West McCarthy that in 1956, Sean German and British businessmen O'Casey took it upon himself to and representatives of the Polish support the Stalinist suppression government. of the Hungarian workers' revolution. I think that in this respect, 'KRUPPS' DEAL he acted as a Stalinist and is to be condemned for it. I do not These talks are to work out the know what Mr. McCarthy thinks. final details of what has come to be known as the 'Krupps' deal.

It is, of course, highly improbable that Dr. Soper will ever Krupps, the giant West German say anything as memorable or as firm, began negotiations some quotable as the sentence I took time ago with the Polish governfrom O'Casey's autobiography, ment for the building of joint but if he does, no doubt he will firms in Poland. be quoted and those who quote The proposal is that Krupp him will surely, God help them, would supply all the capital not have to endorse everything equipment and help to install it. done and said by the Reverend The products of the factories would then be shared between The guts of the whole thing is, the Polish government and of course, the hypocrisy displayed Krupps. by both Soper and McCarthy on The Polish government sees the question of "compromise, this as a way of obtaining the i.e., of Wilson's sell-out to the industry that is needed to raise banks. McCarthy only makes it living standards there.

But negotiations of this kind Real human sympathy becomes, threaten the nationalized econoin the mouths of these clerics and mies of the East European states their apologists, nothing but and the Soviet Union. religious drivel-'the needs of "The Economist', the weekly men. and women who cannot journal of big business in Britain, swim with the grand upsurge of comments on the deal as follows: fine words, and if-if for nothing "The advantage to the Western else-there has got to be com- supplier lies in Poland's relatively promise it has often got to be for cheap labour, and in the chance to penetrate East European This sentence should go down markets' (Our emphasis.) in the text-books of comparative The journal continues: *It ethics and religion. The com- looks as if the Poles are willing promise Soper was actually talk- to be open-minded about pretty ing about was the non-payment well every aspect of such a deal, of old age pensions in order to except in insisting (for the preserve the financial standing moment at any rate that it cannot amount to inserting an (Cont. page 4, col. 7)

Could you briefl ou: line the background to the present situation in the Congo?

The Congo was a Belgian colony for 80 years. During that time, the Belgian colonialists used the most brutal forms of oppression against the Congolese workers. Trade unions were forbidden and any working class action was savagely put down.

However, mass strikes and rioting by the workers in 1959 and 1960 forced the Belgians to withdraw very rapidly, granting "independence' on June 30, 1960.

The first prime minister of the 'independent' state was Patrice Lumumba. He had widespread support throughout the country. His was the only party that could be called left wing and was not a tribal party. It appealed to Congolese of all tribes, militant anti-imperialist platform.

Lumumba was not, by any means, a Communist, but he proposed the nationalization of the big industries in the Congo to take them out of the hands of the colonial powers.

Lumumba: Congo's first PM This alarmed the governments of those countries with very large amounts of capital sunk in the country, especially in Katanga.

These governments, and especially those of Belgium and Britain, encouraged Tshombe, the leader of a tribal party in: Katanga, to break away from the Congolese state and to set up an 'independent' state of Katanga.

In order to preserve their profits, these powers were prepared to unleash the most horrible tribal hostilities in the Congo. Tshombe was used for this.

Under pressure from President Nkrumah of Ghana, Lumumba called on the United Nations to intervene to halt the tribal wars and to stop the secession of Katanga.

In fact, the only result of the United Nations intervention was the murder of Lumumba and the installation of Tshombe as prime minister of the Congo.

The intervention of the United Nations, then, did not serve the Congolese?

No, absolutely not. On the contrary it helped the imperialists.

SPEAKING in Havana on March 13, Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader, said: 'We are in favour of giving Vietnam all the aid that may be necessary. We are in favour of this aid being arms and men. We are in favour of the socialist camp running the risks that may be necessary for Vietnam.?

Castro attacked the Soviet and Chinese leaders for not giving aid and for tailing to unite in the face of action by the United States in Southeast Asia.

NO UNITY The ' threat from US imperialism, he said, remained great and only a united world revolutionary force could bring an end to its aggression. America was able to carry out aggressive policies in Vietnam Lumumba had asked the help of the United Nations to end the secession of Katanga, but the United Nations, in fact, made it impossible for the Central government to act.

They handed Lumumba himself over to Tshombe, flying him to Elizabethville in a UN plane. There, he was tortured and murdered.

More recently, they were responsible for the arrest of Antoine Gizenga, who was carrying on Lumumba's work in Stanleyville.

Gizenga had asked for United Nations protection, but they handed him over to Tshombe, who now holds him in prison.

As far as the Congolese are concerned, the main activities of the UN troops seemed to be black marketeering in whisky and beer, diamond stealing, whoring and all the rest.

Of course, in 1961, when there were anti-Tshombe demonstrations in Katanga, the United Nations troops joined with the Gendarmerie to fire on the crowd.

And now that Nations troops drawn?

Their place has been taken by the mercenaries. The mercenaries are everywhere in the country. They are, in fact, the real forces enabling the Tshombe government to govern. The Congolese army itself could not hold down the working class.

The elections that are now taking place are under the supervision of the mercenaries. So you can imagine how democratic they will be.

What kind of people are recruited into the mercenaries?

Mostly the rif-raff over the world: ex-SS have somehow survived China and the Algeri South Africans and ad from Britain, France, and so on.

Is there working Oh yes. It must be one of the largest in Africa south of the Sahara. It is concentrated in Katanga where there are the mines of the Union Minière and the industries that process the raw materials for export, in the diamond mines of Kasai, and in the textile and other light industries of Leopoldville. There are also plantation workers in the sugar cane plantations and in the vast Unilever plantation. and the Congo because China and the Soviet Union had failed to unite against it.

'Who doubts that to face the enemy with a united front would make them hesitate, make them pause and think before launching their adventuristic attacks and their barefaced intervention in that part of the world?' he asked.

For small countries like Cuba and Vietnam, 'these divisions that weaken the strength of the socialist camp hurt no one more than us who are special situations-—here 90 miles away from the Yankee empire; there, attacked by Yankee planes'.

He realised the danger of sending aid to Vietnam, but the Cuban people had 'by fighting, weapons in hand' won a revolution and had not hesitated to risk the danger of thermonuclear war, of a nuclear attack, when they agreed to the installation of thermothe United have withfrom all men who the Indoan wars, Iventurers Belgium, a large industrial class in the Congo? Castro slates Soviet and Chinese leaders on aid for Vietnam a Belgian colony fo 80 years during which al forms of brutal oppression were used Are the workers in trade unions?

There are three trade union federations. The Catholic Union of Congolese Workers, the General Federation of Congolese Workers, which is linked to the Belgian Socialist trade union federation, and the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of the Congo, which was set up by the big monopolies.

All of these trade unions, though, including the so-called 'socialist' one, carry out the employers' instructions.

But then, what can you expect from the 'socialist' trade union. The Belgian Socialist Party is in the government which is carrying out the policy of repression here.

workers militant?

Yes, very. There are not very many strikes now, of course, because of the presence of the mercenaries ever ready to torture and murder strikers.

However, there have been, even in these conditions, and even without any help from the trade unions, sporadic strikes in the Leopoldville textile industry.

The biggest strike recently took place in Katanga against the Union Minière in Spring 1964. Several thousand workers took part, demanding a pay rise.

The strike lasted a week and they returned to work only when the army was brought in. The gendarmerie had to be used to protect the factories.

Even though it called in the army, the Union Minière was forced to grant the workers a rise.

What are working conditions like?

They vary greatly. The Union Minière, for example, in order o ensure a steady How o ninerals to Belgium, follows a policy of complete control over its workers.

The company builds complete nuclear strategic weapons missiles on their territory.

'And, not only did we agree that they be brought here, we also did not agree with their removal,' he added.

NOT BATTLEGROUND Cuba could take part in the Sino-Soviet dispute, when it felt it could be effective, but the country would not become the central battleground in the dispute.

The country was in charge of its own affairs and took this frank, sincere, reasoned and dispassionate stand from 'our legitimate and inviolable right to take measures and to act in a way we believe most correct and most revolutionary.

No one could teach Cuba the lessons of revolution, he said, adding, as a warning to China and the Soviet Union, 'we are not, and never will be anybody's satellite' towns for its workers around its mines and factories. In these towns, the workers undoubtedly have better conditions than in the rest of the country, but they pay for this by being completely dependent on the company.

Here in Leopoldville, on the other hand, conditions are terrible. There is almost unbelievable overcrowding.

Just before independence, there were only 400,000 inhabitants in the town. Now, because of an influx of people from the countryside, terrorised by the mercenaries, there are 1,200,000 inhabitants in the town.

At the same time, the number of jobs has fallen-again because of the tribal wars and the activities of the mercenaries.

Added to this, there has been an inflation which has really cut wages. Before independence, a kilo of beef cost 60 to 70 francs. Now it costs 700 francs. But average wages have remained at about 1,500 to 2,000 franes per month. That's meat twice a month, on condition that you buy nothing else!

What are the workers about this?

Well, of course, as I pointed out above, conditions are very difficult for any action.

There is virtually no legal system at all. People simply disappear to prison or to camps. There, they may live, or they may There is no record of who is taken prisoner, no means of appeal or investigation of these arrests.

mered arterywhere, there are the mercenaries.

What about Lumumba's movement?

The leadership is largely dispersed. Lumumba was murdered. Gizenga is in prison. Massena was burned alive and Kashamura is in exile.

There is the army of Liberation in Stanleyville province and in Kwilu, led by Gbenye, Soumialot and Mulele.

These men are actually nationalists, with no perspectives, so far as the workers are conicerned. They consider themselves to be 'neutralist', working for the 'true' independence of the Congo, whatever that means.

There is some opposition to them in the nationalist movement, but this is not based on any real political ideas. There is not yet any Marxist movement in the Congo.

The nationalist movement, though, does enjoy the support of the population. In Kwilu and in the Eastern Province around Stanleyville, the bulk of the population works with the movement.

They do not control much in the towns. It is mostly in the villages and the jungle. repression in support

What about the 'Chinese aid' that we hear so much about?

I am sorry to say that, as far as I know, it is a myth. The nationalist movement enjoys so much support throughout the country that it would certainly make far bigger advances than it is doing if it received Chinese aid.

I think that Tshombe has invented the whole affair to justify the use of American, Belgian and British aid against the nationalists.

As you know, Stanleyville was recaptured from the nationalists in November 1964 by the use of foreign troops.

The Americans and Belgians bombed the town. Then indiscriminate massacres were carried out by the Belgian troops in Bakavu and Stanleyville and elsewhere.

Even now, Tshombe's • mercenaries are continuing the massacres in the so-called 'liberated' towns.

The nationalist Liberation Army only has primitive weapons against these forces. This means that they suffer heavy losses against the better armed foreign troops.

Recently, they attacked and captured Bunia airport. There, they managed to destroy on the ground many of the American bombers that had been used against them when they previously carried out an unsuccessful attack on Stanleyville.

Why did the intervene?

There is more than Belgian capital in the Congo. The Union Minière is jointly owned by the Belgian Société Générale, British Tanganyika Concessions (chairman Captain Waterhouse, the rightwing Tory MP) and the American Rockefeller Corporation.

The Congo is increasingly becoming the field for intense rivalry between big capitalist concerns from all the imperialist countries, France and Germany as well.

All this, of course, is at the expense of the Congolese working class.

It is interesting to note, that the same people who are betraying the working class in the imperialist countries are collaborating in this imperialist battle in the Congo.

The social-democratic government of Spaak in Belgium and the Wilson government in Britain are involved together with Lyndon Johnson's government in the USA.

The picture you have painted is very bleak. Do you see any prospect of change?

Yes, when we build party in the Congo. FOR the third time in six ycars, the Congress-dominated Central government of India has intervened to stop Kerala from being administered by a Communist Party government.

This bureaucratic and arbitrary intervention which places Kerala under the direct rule of President Shastri, was made after the elections to the Kerala State Legislative Assembly revealed that the Congress party was so unpopular that its representation was cut drastically from 66 to 36. At the same time, the pro-Peking Communist Party increased its representation from 30 to 40.

Despite the special pleading of Mr. Namboodiripad that the Communist Party, being the biggest single party group in the Assembly, should be allowed to form a government, the central authorities in Delhi decided to continue with the central rule established in Kerala in September last year.

The decision of the central government is not to be wondered at. Only a few months ago, the government, with the same callous indifference, decreed that Hindi be the official language: a measure that led to nationwide riots by the millions of non-Hindi-speaking peoples of India.

Congress discredited More than 60 people were killed by police firings and hundreds were hospitalised.

This decision played a large part in discrediting the Congress administration in Kerala and other states.

As the Indian capitalist class tries to increase its declining profit rate and grab a larger section of the Asian and African market-already imperilled by powerful Japanese and West German competition-the Congress government jettisons all vestiges of democracy and rule of law. Kerala is the most glaring example of this trend so far.

In 1960, the legally elected Communist government of Kerala was overthrown by the threat of armed intervention by the Central government from without, combined with a conspiracy of Catholics and the Nair community leaders within.

The coalition which replaced the Communist Party consisted of the Congress Party, the Muslim League and the Praja Socialist Party (a right-wing social-democratic party).

Within a year of its installation, the coalition began to crack up.

The Praja Socialist Party (16 MPs) left the government in 1961, but continued to give 'constructive co-operation' to the government.

In 1962, the Muslim League (11 MPs) defected to the opposition. In March 1964, the Praja Socialist Party dropped its policy of 'constructive co-operation' in favour of outright opposition.

At the same time the Congress Party, under the leadership of an extreme reactionary, Mr. Sankar alienated its former supporters including the Catholics and the Nairs.

Dissension in the Congress gave way to public allegations of corruption. The opposition in the Congress Party split from the parent body charging "assault', drunkenness and stabbing', during the election of Congress Party oficers.

Split in Mysore

The President of the Congress Party, Mr. Kamaraj, refused to compromise with the dissidents. His action had predictable consequences.

The dissidence spread. Now the Congress Party in Mysore state has also split and it is only a matter of time before other state parties follow the example of Kerala. Thus Kerala, in all probability, spells out the beginning of the end of Congress rule in India.

The Congress Party leaders realise this only too well. This is why, no matter what Mr. Shastri says, the Indian government, last December, arrested more than 900 leading members of the Communist Party under the notorious Defence of India Rules and continues to hold them in jail today.

Most of the arrests were made, significantly, in the southern and eastern states, i.e., those most affected by linguistic oppression, food shortages and agrarian disorders and where the Communist Party is under pro-Peking influence. (In Kerala, 30 out of 40 MPs are in prison.)

New left party So long as the Communist Party was under the leadership of such toadies as Dange and Joshi, the Congress did •not bother to persecute the party in the rabid fashion it is doing now. These men were dedicated to the defence of the capitalist system in India.

But at the Tenali Convention of July 1964, the majority of the Party split to form a new leftwing Communist Party. At its first Congress in Calcutta, the new party repudiated the 'Amritsar Thesis' (the equivalent of the 'British Road to Socialism') which prognosticated a peaceful, parliamentary (!!) road to socialism in India, and adopted a policy of complete opposition to the foreign and home policy of the government.

Although under the centrist leadership of Namboodiripad and Basu (two leaders who have not been arrested), this party has alarmed the Congress considerably because of its manifest refusal to support the Indian state against China and, more important, because of its sustained agitation on questions concerning the livelihood of the millions of Indian workers and peasants.

The pro-Moscow 'Communists' on the other hand are allowed complete freedom to roam the country denouncing 'Chinese imperialism' and helping to divert the attention of the people from their real problems to an imaginary Chinese invasion.

In this they are assisted by the very substantial help given to the Indian capitalists by the Kremlin leaders who refuse to assist the freedom fighters in Vietnam and deprive China of valuable raw materials and the military hardware necessary for its defence.

Up to date, the Soviet Union has completed and is in the process of completing 33 major industrial enterprises in India in such vital sectors as steel, heavy engineering, electrical engineering, oil, etc.

Soviet military aid It has agreed to purchase £10 million worth of Indian goods. But it is in the sphere of armaments and military know-how that the Kremlin plays an absolutely sinister and counterrevolutionary role.

It has agreed to supply, amongst other things, a complete MiG aeroplane factory as well as guided missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, radar equipment, transport and planes and a plant to manufacture helicopters.

The total value of miltary aid supplied to India by the Soviet Union since October 1962 (when hostilities between China and India began), today amounts to more than £45 million!

This 'aid' betrays the interests of China and is also a vicious blow struck at the indian working class. We can predict that the Indian capitalists and their feudal friends will not hesitate to use the arsenal of Soviet weapons against the Indian communists tomorrow as they do against the Chinese today.

British labour must demand that the Soviet leaders cease giving any military aid to the Indian ruling class and that the Congress government immediately release apolitical prisoners with full political and civil rights and suspend presidential rule in Kerala.

Four seamen

busmen's solidarity MDLAND Red bus workers at the six militant Black country garages last week-end went on unoiicial strik for the tenth successive Saturday in support of their claim for increased pay and bonus payments. There was no crack in their solidarity, in spite of pressure from. local officials of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

In addition to the six Black Country garages, the majority of crews at Hinckley, Leicestershire, were on strike.

Alderman A. Silcox, district organiser of the union, went down to Stourbridge on Wednesday to address a special meeting of all Black Country garage committees. His purpose was reported to be to try to get them to resume Saturday working now that Ray Gunter, Minister of Labour, has set up a committee of enquiry into their pay claim.

But the Black Country busmen have no confidence that a satisfactory offer will result from this enquiry.

They have stated flatly that they regard it as a stalling device, and that solidarity will be maintained until the five points of their claim are met.

Mr. Jim Warren, secretary of the Oldbury garage, said: It looked like a bit of political manoeuvring, the way the union chiefs instantly said, "Right, call off the strike!" as soon as Gunter suggested an enquiry.' "The way we see it, he added, 'it's not the job of union leaders to play along with the government in holding down wages. It's their job to fight for better pay and conditions for their members.' Referring to 'the weakness at the top' in the union, he spoke with some bitterness of 'the way they've ignored US and pushed us to one side'.

Mr. Warren had high praise for the solidarity of the Black Country busmen.

'In this garage there has been no wavering at all. Not one man has said he wants to A take up a struggle against the infamous GAIN engineering workers are preparing to package deal agreement, signed by the union leaders and the employers.

Notice has been given of a strike which is to begin on Monday, March 29, at the Pressed Steel Company, Cowley, near Oxford, which will hit many of the main large motor car companies.

Eight hundred skilled workers "substantial wage increase' which the engineering industry's negotiating machinery without success.

In addition transport workers at Lucas have come out on an unofficial strike. The irm have a virtual monopoly in the supply of dynamo starters and lamps to the motor industry.

Those involved in the Cowley.. stoppage make and repair dies, Jigs and tools, including machine tools. Their stoppage could bring a large part of the motor industry to a halt.

The claim which was lodged by the AEU in November is the first to be presented since the union decided to withdraw from Clause Seven of the Pressed Steel negotiating procedure which lays down that all six unions with timeworkers at the factory shall negotiate jointly on basic rates.

Hold back

Workers state that this particular clause has been used by Transport and General Workers' Union officials to hold back the claims by all sections of workers.

There was, in fact, a dispute arising out of the use of this clause in May 1963. The outcome was an increase given on the lieu rate - a bonus which all 4,000 time workers receive in lieu of piecework earnings — to settle all outstanding claims.

Union members base their present claim on five main points. the crate en because of ner the crattsmen because or nev methods of work and technical improvements which require a higher standard of work.

2. Since 1954 the position of the toolmakers compared with the pay of other grades has worsened.

3. Comparisons with the pay of toolmakers in the car industry locally and nationally showed that since 1959.

are making a claim for a has already been through when the lieu rate agreement containing clause seven was signed, toolmakers had dropped to the bottom of the league.

4. Apprentices being trained at Pressed Steel to become the craftsmen of the future should receive better pay.

5. The company's financial position proved beyond any shadow of a doubt its ability to make such a just offer.

Action

Like many other workers in the car industry such as those at the British Motor Corporation, Pressed Steel workers are not going to stand idly by and see their cost of living going up • and up without taking action.

Not only are they challenging Pressed Steel they are challenging the whole agreement between their union leaders and the employers to hold back wages for three years.

Their struggle is the same as that of all other engineering workers and apprentices against the package deal.

Strikers from Pressed Steel must join with other workers in the engineering industry throughout the Midlands and the rest of the country in a massive lobby of the AEU National Committee when it meets in Blackpool in April to demand a reversal on the decision of the package deal.

The struggles at BMC and Pressed Steel must not be seen merely as isolated disputes. They are a fight against the package deal which offers many workers an increase of only 3s. a week per year.

If this attempt to cut workers' standards is to be defeated then all engineering workers must support the actions of the Pressed Steel toolmakers and the Lucas transport workers.

W. Hogarth, General Secretary of the union, stated that the able seaman is now guaranteed a rise of wages from f47 to £59 7s. 6d. a month. "But the f47 was for a 40-hour week. Seamen who worked 56 hours were paid overtime. Now, their basic working week is to be 56 hours at sea and 40 hours in port.

Seamen on deep sea ships calculated that they could lose as much as fl 12s. a month. This is because their wages are paid over a calendar month and the rise in pay does not compensate for the overtime they would have earned previously.

Endorse

Agreement was made behind the backs of the men. By 28 votes • to seven, the Executive Council of the union decided last week to endorse the pact with the employers.

The union's national conference in May will be called upon to ratify the agreement but by then it will have been in operation for about six weeks.

A union official blamed alien elements' for the anger amongst seamen.

"There is a political element entering into this, geeing up the membership, he announced. Certainly the members are 'geedup', but that has been done by those who signed the agreement.

Branches of the NUS at Newcastle, Sunderland, South Shields, North Shields and Blyth have all voted against the agreement.

South Shields is demanding a 40-hour week, at sea and in port; a E5 a month increase, double time for Sunday work, and time and a half for overtime.

Leeds — 34 vote against package deal AT the quarterly meeting of the Amalgamated Engineering Union shop stewards in Leeds on Tuesday, March 16, a strong vote against the package deal was achieved in spite of the determined efforts to force a large vote in favour.

After a national committee member described the package deal in glowing terms a resolution from George Manns stewards was put to the meeting. It called the package deal a wage freeze and demanded that the National Committee reject it and instruct the executive council to place a claim for an immediate substantial wage increase.

With 34 voting for the resolution the right wing only succeeded in getting a vote of 40 against which shows signs of a determined resistance to the package deal.

The Leeds engineering industry has been quiet for years and this vote shows real signs of an opposition to the agreement. had downed tools following a dispute in which a shop steward and two workers were sacked. They are still without jobs.

Although the strike showed strength-it was joined by 400 members of the Scottish Transport and General Workers' Union -the Communist Party dominated district executive has recommended a return to work on the basis of negotiations that will take up to six weeks.

The stoppage started after, contrary to long established practice, the shop foreman was reported to have instructed two labourers to do a slinger's job.

The two men concerned normally worked as assistants to burners and received 4d. per hour less than a slinger.

They claim that to do a slinger's job requires special training and that a question of safety is involved.

SUPERVISE

The men allege they were required to supervise the removal from a wagon of 1f inch steel plates each weighing 3 tons and measuring 14 feet by 6 feet. Because the men refused to do the job they were immediately sacked. On the next day a labourer was again instructed to do the job.

No agreement could be reached by the shop stewards so the whole of the forge stopped work and demanded the reinstatement of the two labourers.

The 68 men of the forge went back to work and attempts were made to reach a negotiated settlement. What happened was that not only did the management not budge an inch but the forge Shop steward was sacked for allegedly launching a personal attack on the foreman.

The strike now poses a similar question as did the Remington strike of last year, in which a AEU and it is one of their shop stewards who has been attacked.

In the Remington factory the sacking was because of an alleged slowness of work and at Babcock and Wilcox it is because of the demands of the management that labour be transferable irrespective of wage rates and even disregarding training.

The question of supporting action to defeat the employers has already been raised by the members of the Scottish TGWU.

BLACK

They are asking dockers to support their fight by blacking goods at the docks. This matter is to be raised with the Executive of the Scottish TGWU.

The attack by Babcock and Wilcox has all the appearance of being part of a concerted attack in the Paisley district covering firms such as Remington and Pressed Steel.

It is time that the members of the AEU in the area and other unions demanded that action be taken by the union to put a stop to attacks on shop stewards and other factory militants.

Polish

Pressed Steel, Linwood, Scotland, the sacking of 327 men two weeks ago and the failure to force the management to accept demands for work-sharing or a reduction in the working week has resulted in a serious weakening in the factory.

It is reported that included in the sackings were some shop stewards and that amongst these were men who the management would like to be without.

But this procedure of weeding out the militants is made easier by the introduction of the Emerson Pool plan which lists workers in accordance with a 'points' system.

Recorded

Workers who were out on strike will in future have their period of service recorded from the day of the breaking of their contract.

This will mean that in the event of future redundancies they will suffer through a reduction in 'points'.

Since the return of the AEU members the management have tightened up on the organisation in the factory.

The AEU convenor, previously a full-time steward devoting his time to shop stewards duties, has now been obliged to return to the bench although remaining convenor.

call off the strike or shown any sign of weakening?

He thought there was strong disapproval at Transport House (the Midlands headquarters of the TGWU) when the busmen set up their co-ordinating committee to organise future unofficial strike action.

•My personal opinion is that the union officials don't want the garages to get together,' he said.

He described how the coordinating committee had been far from unanimous in its decision to resume normal Saturday working pending the enquiry. 'I believe this decision was taken as a result of some delegates being got at by union officials,' he declared.

At a meeting on Wednesday, attended by Alderman Silcox and other busmen's leaders it was unanimously decided to continue the strikes. It was later described by a bus driver as a hell of a meeting'.

Printed by Plough Press Ltd. (TU), r.o. Registered at the G.P.O. as a newspaper 80 Clapham High Street, London, S.W.4 Published by The Newslotter, 186A Clapham High Street, 1 ondon. S.W.4 TESI case for automation _ -that was the full significance of the 16-monthold dispute at Deby's dyeworks in Baildon, Yorkshire, which resulted in the sacking of 210 men from the firm.

That the strike was no ordinary one was obvious from the start of the dispute, which began when workers walked out after a foreman operated a machine during a mealbreak in October 1963.

NON-UNION

The firm signed on non-union labour and because of the refusal of the union leaders to put up a strong and consistent fight to bring out workers in other factories and force the Trades Union Congress to support the dispute, Denby's were able to carry on production.

In an article in the 'Financial Times' figures show that profits for the company after the strike were much higher even though production was 22 per cent less.

Philip Wright, chairman of the company, pointed out that production in the last four months of the company's financial year produced almost as much profit as production in the whole of the previous year.

"TROUBLEMAKERS'

Wright says quite blatantly that he did not want the troublemakers back'.

But there is more to this strike-which was at times extremely violent — than just the breaking down of trade union traditions and hard-won working conditions. That was only the start of the case.

True the management admits that with half the men the production in a single shift was more than five times of that previously produced in two shifts, but Denby's was not just a question of cutting down Correspondent on manpower.

During the strike Denby's spent a considerable sum of money on introducing new machinery costing £100,000 which required less operators. What to do with the rest of the labour force?

What could be simpler than sack them? This the management proceeded to do and during the course of the dispute they got rid of the so-called troublemakers, that is militants who would most certainly have raised objections to speed-up.

SIGNIFICANT

It is significant that the 'Financial Times' does not mention the introduction of new machinery, preferring instead to present it as merely a matter of bad relations which were finally solved.

But the article does make one point clear, and in doing so no doubt reflects the feeling of the large monopolists, that is a wish to achieve the same kind of factory 'situation, only without the punch-ups and stone throwing.

ACHIEVEMENT

Decrying what the "Times' calls 'misuse of manpower resources' and 'restrictive practices', the article talks glowingly of Denby's 'achievement' If other British firms followed their example, it states, 'this country's prospects would be revolutionised. There would be no more stop-go, no talk of devaluation, our balance of payments problems would be solved...

In other words if attacks on workers, such as those carried out by Denby's were repeated throughout the country bigger profits would be made by the employers but—and the 'Financial Times' does not mention this — there would also be widespread unemployment and a drastic lowering of living standards of the working class.

deal union leaders! This time it is the seamen who are the victims.

Seamen on the North-east coast are up in arms against the recent agreement on hours and wages signed by the leaders of the National Union of Seamen.

Not. only has their working week been lengthened, but they declare that they will lose money.

The recommendation came from the Paisley district executive of the Amalgamated Engıneering Union atter the men Our Scottish Correspondent convenor was sacked. . Babcock and Wilcox factory is in the same Paisley district. The main union involved is again the

at Blackpool, when the National Committee delegates meet on April 27 for seven days.

The Junior Workers' Conference carried by 28 votes to 16, against Carron's advice, a motion opposing all forms of wage restraint under a Tory or a Labour government.

Adult workers with families suffering from rising prices and from the employers' offensive (see last week's Newsletter) will be even sharper in their attacks on the incomes policy.

It is vital that workers in all engineering factories send delegations to lobby their National Committee in Blackpool on April 27 and submit a flood of resolutions to mandate their national committee delegates against the package deal.

Sell-out

The British Motor Corporation strike at Longbridge was sold out. But in order to do that, Carron's Executive Committee first made it official. They will no doubt try the same technique to defeat the demands of the Pressed Steel workers whose strike notice runs out next Monday. This strike say for its members.

At this stage, when the men were ready to vote for strike action, chairman Norris intervened. He said he would love to lead a strike, but who have we got this dispute with-the employer or the executive?' Executive committee member, Jim Slater from the North-east, who voted against the acceptance of the agreement at the last EC meeting, also attempted to dampen the militancy of the men.

But the hatred of the union oficials was the dominating factor.

In a stormy and confusing conclusion, the meeting voted to lobby the executive committee of the union on Thursday, and present the ultimatum.

Last week in London over 100 seamen stormed up the stairs of Maritime House in anger over the new agreement on their working conditions.

Carron enclave of capitalism into their socialist economy' (Our emphasis.)

A British delegation is following in Krupp's footsteps and this receives the full approval of 'The Economist'.

Arrests of oppositionists and these kinds of negotiations with capitalism can only weaken the nationalized economies of the East European states.

As the crisis deepens, imperialist attempts to overthrow the nationalized economies will increase. The bureaucracies are showing that they are unable to defend them.

s apprentices could stop most of the motor industry within a few days.

Many engineering workers are beginning to realise the power that lies in their hands and in the strike weapon inside the modern engineering industry, but this weapon is not sufficient without a fight against the union bureaucracy and the policy of the government.

Adult workers must stand firmly behind the apprentices, who are already under heavy fire, and prepare a united offensive.

No strikes At Brighton, Boyd commended to the apprentices an agreement shortly to be signed with their employers. Said to guarantee apprentices against locking out, this agreement actually signs away the right of apprentices to strike.

The apprentices told Boyd they did not want such an agreement.

They do not want to be separated from the struggles of the older workers but to fight alongside them.

It is important that all adult workers support them against the persecutions of the employers and of the union leadership.

VO From page 1 The shipowners can only be fought by the start of a consistent united struggle on the nationalization of shipping firms by both the seamen and the dockers.

Five months ago it was rumoured that there was a new agreement on hours and pay for the seamen.

Last week it was rejected by every major branch in the country when general secretary of the National Union of Seamen, Bill Hogarth, was forced to put the agreement to the branches for a second time, in order to get the views of the seamen nationally.

At the first meeting of the Liverpool branch seamen were outvoted by officials. At the second meeting the new pay and hours structure was thrown out.

Taking the present. amount of overtime worked by seamen, the agreement would result in an earnings reduction and seamen claim that unemployment may also follow the introduction of the deal.