QOOOE2 As Their Plants They Cultivate

For National The Independence, Democracy Democrat and Jobs

Paper of the Campaign against Euro-federalism ISSN 0967-3806 Number 140 March-April 2014 50p EU 3.5 million jobs lie

uring the recent EU debates stitute of Economic and Social Research between arch euro fanatic (NIESR) estimated, using similar meth- D Nick Clegg and UKIP leader ods, that up to 3.2m UK jobs "are now Nigel Farage the Lib Dem leader associated directly with exports of dragged up the well-worn lie that 3.5 goods and services to other EU coun- million jobs in Britain depend on EU tries." It warned that: "there is no a pri- membership. ori reason to suppose that many of This claim is based on one study car- these, if any, would be lost perma- ried out over ten years ago which the nently if Britain were to leave the EU." researcher himself has since repudi- In fact, NIESR director Jonathan Portes, ated. who is certainly no Eurosceptic, de- scribed this research as "past [its] sell- EUBG to Afrrica page 2 report by Brian Denny by date." Yet it is still being pumped out by the The list of factories, car plants, engi- right wing campaign group British In- neering centres and jobs being stripped fluence, headed up by Tory spin doctor out of Britain's manufacturing base and Peter Wilding and one Peter Mandel- transferred abroad due to the logic of son, as well as by trade unions that the EU single market is never men- should know better such as Unite. tioned by supporters of EU "free move- To back up Clegg’s big lie Brussels ment" rules. mouthpiece The Independent newspaper From Peugeot's decision to close the recently recycled "new analysis" using Ryton plant in Coventry in 2006 and Ukraine situation page 6 the same statistics. move production to Slovakia and But statisticians at independent fact- Ford's decision to transfer production checking organisation Full Fact point from Southampton to a plant in Turkey out: "Figures from the early 2000s sug- last year, jobs in the neoliberal EU gest around three million jobs are move towards the lowest wage levels linked to trade with the European Un- and EU regional funds are actively ion, they don't say they are dependent used to encourage this process. on the UK being an EU member. No politician who supports Britain's “Using similar methods, a similar fig- EU membership can claim to support a ure today has shown closer to 4.5 mil- future of good-quality, well-paid, lion jobs, but this still doesn't show highly skilled jobs in Britain. In fact it is how many are dependent on UK mem- simply impossible due to membership bership." of the single European market and the The 2004 paper from the National In- EU. CAEF AGM resolution page 5

Four page insert—the run up to World War 1 Part II : Alliances and the arms race Collapse of the left in face of the economic crisis p 8-9 News EU sends Battle Group to Africa

In his opening statement to the Munich Rompuy threatened, “but our countries Bob Crow Security Conference, a yearly meeting of are ready to use military force when European and US security chiefs, on 1 necessary.” February, the president of the European In his invitation to the EU Council Council, Herman van Rompuy, after meeting of 19–20 December, van Rom- expressing his full sympathy and sup- puy announced to the heads of state and port for the Ukrainian demonstrators, government: “Before our first working stated: “Some people think Europeans session, the NATO secretary-general are naïve, that we prefer carrots over will share some thoughts with us ahead sticks. Now, I am not saying that we of the thematic debate that we will have cannot sometimes play our hand more on defence policy. I should indeed like strongly. us to have a strategic discussion on one “I know the EU is sometimes looked at of the major current challenges in the as somewhat of a Florence Nightin- field of defence: what should we be do- Our Campaign against Euro- gale—but we do not ing, as Union and as EU federalism is profoundly just send nurses and Member States, to retain and shocked and deeply sad- nutritionists, we also develop the capabilities that dened at the loss of RMT General Secretary Bob Crow. send judges and police- are critical for our defence He was a man of principle men, soldiers and ma- and our security, and how with proletarian guts and rines. In fact we just can we encourage more co- worked unequivocally for, on decided to send in operation to reach this goal. and by the side of trade un- principle around 600 After the discussion, we will ionists and working people. troops to Bangui adopt the corresponding part His leadership of RMT in- (Central African Re- of the conclusions … cluded outright opposition to public). They will “Starting this year, the austerity policies and privatisation which stem from work side by side with Europeans will be Brussels. He fully supported those of France …” launching new joint and encouraged the labour This would be the defence programmes, and trade union movement to first time since their for cutting-edge return to a policy for the with- creation in 2007 that a drones, satellite com- drawal of Britain from the EU. military unit of the EU munication, cyber Within this he supported our Battle Group would be defence and air-to-air Campaign to which RMT is affiliated. deployed under direct refuelling, emphasis- command of the Council of the EU, and ing that it was the start of a process. All Bob Crow would be amused it is an ominous development. “We these tools,” he said, “are at the service at all the fine words ex- clearly prefer diplomatic solutions,” van of Europe’s interests and security.” pressed by those who opposed him and would certainly say “the bastards Increasing cost of Britain’s EU membership waited until I died to give me A number of studies have been carried out as some CAP and aid payments which go any back-handed credit”. on the total cost to the UK of our EU mem- through separate budgets from the main bership, with conflicting results depending one. If all these items are included, the cur- We send condolences to on the assumptions made about some of the rent net cost to the UK is about £12bn per RMT members and Bob’s family. The best way to com- elements which are more difficult to quan- annum. Furthermore, it is on a rising trend memorate the life of Bob tify. Our budgetary membership cost, how- partly because of phasing down of the re- Crow is to work harder to ever, is clear cut and beyond dispute, al- bate we have had and partly because of carry out his principles and though the true figures are surprisingly rising EU expenditure. The Office for objectives. difficult to find in official documents. This Budget Responsibility estimates that these is partly because the main focus tends to be costs are going to rise by a further £1Obn John Boyd on the gross and net amount we pay into over the period between 2013 and 2018. Is Secretary the main EU budget rather than the total Labour going to allow these trends to con-

For and on behalf of the costs, including all off budget items such as tinue or to press for changes? Campaign against Euro- the heavy fines we have had to pay from federalism time to time, capital as well as revenue cost (Report by Labour Euro-Safeguards Cam-

on projects such as Galileo, and item such paign Bulletin March 2014)

Page 2 The Democrat Number 140 Editorial March-April 2014 Don’t let the far-right lead

everal reports indicate the far right, including fascists and S neo-fascists are gaining ground in several EU member states. The far right perceived stand is on the question of EU membership. In Britain one anti-EU Tory MEP has turned himself into an apologist for fascists by accusing the left of misunderstanding the origins of fascism. He even says fascism and Nazism are and were based on socialism. The National Socialists (Nazis) were neither national nor socialist. Ini- tially in the 1930’s it was believed the Nazis were going to solve the unemployment problems within Germany. History tells us that they around the question of immigration. permanent and are to be added to were for the expansion of imperialist with further cuts in everything pub- Germany. They had the support of As this paper has explained many lic. Cameron’s talk of incomes rising leading capitalists including Krupps times the European Union and its faster than inflation by one tenth of and Ford who maintained and pro- institutions are the antithesis of de- one percent indicates a way out of moted Hitler and his fascist party. mocracy, national independence austerity should fool nobody. The larger transnational corpora- and right to self-determination. This tions today are the biggest support- includes the right to have a socialist Britain has been all but de- ers and promoters of the European economy or any other economic sys- industrialised and currently suffers Union. tem. In other words the EU is top- mass unemployment, especially hatted fascism without funny sa- amongst young people. The simple In Britain it was significant that lutes and jackboots. Capitalism is set ability to create wealth and trade Oswald Moseley's British Union of in reinforced concrete in the Euro- across the world is fast disappear- Fascists was the first political party pean Constitution. ing. The financial sector, City of in 1949 to call for a European Union. London, banks and transnational This union was to include parts of What has to be remembered and corporations are represented by the North Africa in "Europe". Again this taken into consideration is that the millionaires’ cabinet who rule the was not a national policy but an im- majority of people in these islands roost. They are in a hurry to consoli- perialist pro-capitalist one support- are working class, and the organisa- date their reactionary hold on every- ing the end of national independ- tions which represent them form the thing and do not want Britain to ence and right to self-determination. labour and trade union movement. leave the EU to regain the right to The latter along with democracy are Without the support of that move- self determination and an to end the important and necessary pre- ment there will be no getting Britain capitalism. Cameron talk of amend- requisites for socialism. out of the EU. Poll after poll clearly ing EU treaties is an impossibility. indicates the overwhelming major- Once again the role today of fascists ity of people in Britain want an end The left in particular and the labour is one where they are held in reserve to EU membership. and trade union movement must and if necessary promoted to take wake up to the dangers of the far part in dividing the working class The longer Britain stays in the EU right taking the lead and return to and peoples of Britain to ensure the worse conditions will become. an anti-EU position and take the capitalism persists. Devices used Austerity policies which emanate lead to withdraw Britain from the would include playing either or from Brussels are yet another taster EU then the right and far right will both the 'race card' and 'red card' of the immediate and short term fu- do so with dreadful and obvious scares and is currently wrapped ture. These ConDem policies are consequences.

March-April 2014 The Democrat page 3

News Another nail in Connolly ‘Social Europe’ coffin Association New corporate transparency rules will not deemed sensitive. include tax measures. A plan to make com- Offshore holding companies are provided affiliates to panies reveal the tax they pay, country by in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands for tax country, has been abandoned, knocking back avoidance. We give them unlimited status CAEF the efforts of those under company law to The Connolly Association who had pushed to ensure that they are not is an organisation founded curb tax avoidance by transparent! in 1938 and is for a united transnational busi- For example, according independent Ireland and nesses. to a calculation by Fin- opposed to the European Schemes used by facts, about €40 billion, Union. There is a website: Starbucks, Apple, or more than 40 per cent connollyassociation.org.uk Google, Amazon and of Irish services exports which includes the Irish other corporations of €90 billion in 2012 operating within the and related national out- Democrat. law to minimise their put, resulted from global tax obligations tax avoidance schemes. NATO prompted heated public debate last year. The It should be pointed out that Ireland gains On 28 March Nato countries matter has since dropped off the political little from this tax cheating other than an agreed that former Norwe- agenda, and lawmakers in the EU Parlia- unquantifiable number of jobs. We are gian Prime Minister Jens ment and member-countries have shelved merely assisting the big corporations. Stoltenberg should be the proposals to toughen new transparency rules Germany and Britain led the push to limit next secretary general of the by forcing big companies to disclose how the new law. Member-states talk a good military alliance and chairman much tax they pay in each of the countries story about wanting more transparency for of the North Atlantic Council, where they have operations. transnational corporations; but when it in succession to Anders Fogh Instead the rules due to be adopted by comes to putting their money where their Rasmussen. 2016 will be limited to disclosure of com- mouth is, they don’t want strong rules. The Currently leader of the La- bour Party in Norway and a pany policies concerning, among other member states killed this measure, standing UN special envoy on climate things, the environment, respect for human by the big corporations. change, Stoltenberg will start rights, and management diversity. Compa- It’s just another nail in the coffin of a his new post on 1 October, nies can keep information secret if it is “Social Europe”. when Rasmussen's mandate expires. The US pressed for this You will believe in the EU appointment to avoid horse- trading of posts that will occur The German Chancellor wants "EU edu- further isolates Britain at a time when after the European Parlia- cation in schools across Europe to pre- some other EU countries are seeking ment poll in May. pare the next generation and to nurture closer integration. a European approach". School students Former prime minister of Luxem- 4th Railway Package should be given an " EU education" in bourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, was chosen The European Commission’s the classroom to tackle "ignorance" and by the EPP on Friday to be its leading plans for a 4th rali package growing public Euro-scepticism, accord- candidate during the EU elections and was amended by a majority ing to a European Peoples’ Party (EPP) as contender to be the next president of of MEPs in the European election manifesto signed by Angela the European Commission in October Parliament. Lobbying was led by the European Transport Merkel and other leaders from Ireland, this year. Federation (ETF) campaign- Poland, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Juncker, is a passionate supporter of ing against the Commission’s Greece, Cyprus and Latvia launched the the idea of a “United States of Europe” proposals. manifesto were in Dublin on 7 March. and chaired meetings of the eurozone at This EU Package would The EPP has the largest number of the height of the EU single currency’s bring an end to public owner- MEPs, majority of European Commis- debt crisis until he resigned as Luxem- ship including the profitable sioners including the Commission Presi- bourg’s leader amid a scandal over ille- and state run East Coast dent, and members on the Council of gal phone-tapping. Main Line. A recent poll in Britain Ministers. “I am totally in favour. The knowledge came to the conclusion that The call for a federal Europe and Euro- of Europe has to be deepened in school the majority of people want pean school lessons puts the Prime Min- programmes,” he said. “There is igno- the railways brought back ister at odds with the German Chancel- rance about the basics and this was evi- into the public sector. lor, who is regarded as his key ally and dent during the so-called euro crisis.”

Page 4 The Democrat Number 140 CAEF AGM Resolutions CAEF EU/US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) AGM and Public his AGM notes with alarm the provided health and education ser- Meeting proposed EU/US Transatlan- vices. These negotiations are a di- CAEF Members and delegates met T tic trade and investment part- rect threat to existing standards, un- in Birmingham for the 2014 AGM nership (TTIP) being negotiated by ion collective bargaining, a cover for on 5 April. Three resolutions were the EU Commission on behalf of privatisation on a massive scale and passed nem con. Two of these can be found on this page. Matters remember states which is due to be a threat to democracy. They consti- ferred to the Executive Committee completed by December 2014. This tute a programme for a corporate included: ways and means of re- will give companies the right to sue takeover and the EU Commission ducing costs related to the Democ- Governments over regulations that is a central part of the process, as rat eg a reduction in the number of they don't like under "investor-state intended. pages in colour; encouraging mem- dispute settlement" (ISDS) rules, This AGM does not believe the bers to renew their subscriptions, outside of and above the courts sys- claims made that such an agreement gaining new members, sales of the tems and Parliaments of member will boost jobs and economic Democrat, developing further the use of electronic media. The 2014- states. growth, in the light of the fact 15 Executive Committee was For example, as the British TUC that eg the North American elected nem con. has pointed out, under a different Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has At the public meeting a lively and trade agreement, the waste company led to 680,000 job losses in the USA thoughtful discussion took place Veolia is suing the Egyptian Govern- rather than the 200,000 extra prom- following the two speakers who ment for increasing the minimum ised by the former President Clinton. addressed two key issues facing wage. In view of the threats posed by Britain today. Ian Scott dealt with This AGM notes that the focus of the proposed EU/US TTIP, this Britain outside the EU with an economy based on manufacturing the negotiations is on removing AGM calls upon all labour and pro- which would increase employment. regulations and that the scope of the gressive organisations to oppose Tony Wardle addressed the impli- negotiations includes labour laws, and campaign against the complete cations of TTIP and the dangers to food content, environmental stan- agreement. the NHS, democracy and over- dards and protections, working con- arching legal system being put in ditions, and in particular, state- This will be published as a leaflet. place.

The economy, manufacturing, jobs and trade unions

urrently Britain’s economy tor, single market and neo-liberal  An end to austerity policies has been and is distorted by policies the economy of Britain must which shift wealth from working C reliance on the financial and be based on manufacturing, world people to millionaires, bonuses banking sector which contributed to trade and rational policies. If this is and profits and impoverish large the economic crisis and is used as not carried out then mass unem- sections of the peoples of Britain. the basis for austerity policies which ployment will continue and become  An end and reversal of privatisa- stem from EU membership and the permanent. tion which is an attack on the Single European Market. The single public sector, NHS, education This requires: market requires the free movement and essential services including of capital, goods, services and la-  The age of retirement must be transport. bour. Since the Second World War returned to 65 for men and 60  Trade with developing and and especially during membership for women to provide job oppor- other countries which must be of the Common Market, Britain has tunities for young people. based on mutually agreed equal been all but de-industrialised with  An end to zero hour contracts terms. the loss of millions of jobs. The un- which are used to undermine  Adopting the above measures employment rate is 7.2% with a mil- wages and conditions, especially requires that controls be im- lion young people, 18-24 year olds, for young people. posed on the movement of capi- out of work. Previous rates include  Using taxation and other incen- tal, goods, services and labour 1% in 1955 and 3.4% in 1973 the year tives to promote investment in which means that Britain, to re- Britain joined the Common market. manufacturing, apprenticeships, gain these controls, must quit This AGM believes that instead of free further and higher educa- the EU and the Single European the domination by the finance sec- tion. Market.

March-April 2014 The Democrat page 5 The Situation in the Ukraine and the Reactionary Role of the EU

n the referendum of March 16, citizens of the Autonomous Re- I public of Crimea and of the city of Sevastopol voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Fed- eration. While the right to self- determination is a principle, the same cannot be said of “territorial integrity”. The responsibility to protect” is also a fiction concocted by the big powers for self-serving rea- sons. Report by Michael Chant

David Cameron has been mouth- ing worthless platitudes about defending the sovereignty of Ukraine. If Cameron were defending the sovereignty of any country, the very least would be to end all interfer- Ukraine and the referendum in the US is already using the Baltic states ence. Instead, Britain, along with Crimea which, with all its sabre- as bases for its jet fighters, for in- other EU countries and in conten- rattling against Russia, has been stance, and is ready to deploy tion with the US itself, whose Presi- very self-serving. Despite high- NATO troops into Poland, as well as dent felt it necessary to come to sounding words, there has been no to Romania. Nevertheless, the situa- Europe to address the European issue of principle involved for tion in the Ukraine has revived in leaders, have been interfering up to David Cameron. It should also be Germany the Nazi dream of expan- the hilt. mentioned that there are remnants sion eastwards, as well as the Ger- It is not for nothing that prior to of the Thatcherite line within the man ambitions to consolidate its the referendum, slogans such as British establishment that appears to domination of the EU. “stop fascism” were prominent. The be “pro-British” and “anti-EU”, but What the Ukrainian people desire, fascists and neo-Nazis had been is either concerned to ally with the as do any people, is a stable sover- used to foment violence and have interests of the US, or represents the eign state representing their will, taken up key positions of state. interests of other sections of British and a government able and compe- In the Ukraine, post-Soviet Russia finance capital. tent to make decisions without out- and US-led imperialism confront The financiers of the European side interference. Only the move- each other. The US-led camp, which Union and the IMF now wish to ment of the Ukrainian people can includes the old European colonial- push ahead with bringing the restore relations of equality and mu- ism, is on the rampage. Inter- Ukraine into the orbit of those states tual benefit with their neighbours monopoly contradictions over the who can be declared bankrupt and the Russian people. The big powers access to and control over energy “austerity measures” imposed, of the EU and the US are deter- resources are at play. For the peo- which are both against the interests mined to ensure that this does not ples of the region, the burning issue of the people and also arouse their happen, that the people are kept at has once again surfaced as to how resistance. loggerheads with present-day Nazis the equality and sovereign rights of Despite the fact that the people of in power, whom the big powers rely nations and peoples, irrespective of the Ukraine as a whole are against on to incite passions and serve their their ethnic makeup, can be estab- joining NATO, the United States interests. In this situation, it is im- lished or re-established with a guar- refers to the “right” of Ukraine to be portant that the democratic forces in antee that is meaningful under cur- a member of that warmongering US Britain take a stand in defence of the rent conditions. -led alliance. The fact is that such a sovereignty of nations and countries The working people of Britain “right” only makes sense if the right and hold the Coalition government must condemn the Coalition gov- of the Ukrainian people to say No! to account for its interference in the ernment for their stand on the to NATO is taken into account. The sovereign affairs of other countries. Page 6 The Democrat Number 140 A Democrat insert First World War We are being bombarded with books, papers, radio and TV programmes, and Imperialist parallels then and now events to mark the First World War. The bulk of this Part II Alliances and the Arms Race material concentrates on the war and carnage in the Governments decide and act on their foreign policies, trenches. Our objective is to not countries and their peoples. put a different point of view.

There is no intention to look in every nook and cranny in this period of ‘New Impe- rialism’ but to highlight the major events leading up to the outbreak of the WWI.

Alliances

In the period prior to the First World War Britain was known as the ‘workshop of the world’ and had a vast empire and market. Germany had a growing manufacturing industry in competition with British manufacturing but only had a few colonies with a limited market and needed to expand. Russia with an empire, and as a monarchy, had aspirations to industrialise and expand into Asia but ran up against imperial Japan.

The objective of imperialism was to have colonies which were viewed as necessary for an industrial nation. Colonisation was in order to supply raw materials needed in industry and to furnish markets for manufactured goods, enable investment of capital and to make profits.

Following the ‘scramble for Africa’ alliances took place between imperialist powers, who manoeuvred and horse-traded to catch each other out in a game of secret chess, treaties and tenuous alliances to gain the upper-hand. This was over-laid and complicated by several monarchs who promenaded in each other’s uniforms and pockets based on family relationships which emanated from Queen Victoria. They included her son King Edward VII, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and several other monarchies.

The Triple Alliance was formed in 1882 by Germany, Austria and Italy. Al- though Italy renewed the commitment in 1891, 1902 and 1912 but made further and secret agreements with France in 1900 and 1902.

A Franco-Russian military alliance of 1894 directly rebuffed the supremacy of Germany’s empire in the continent. Capital from France was invested in Russian railways and manufacturing which enabled the military forces to be equipped.

The Boxer rebellion between 1898 and 1900 was a revolt in Northern China against foreign imperialism and put down by the Eight-nation Alliance in out-of-character co-operation amongst imperialists who simply invaded China. (see picture) [L to R Britain, US, Australia, British India, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Japan.] A French political cartoon indicates their ambitions were to divide China between them.

In the Far East, Russian and Japanese imperialism went to war over Man- churia and Korea. The Japanese navy destroyed the Russian fleet in Port Arthur and another Russian fleet at sea. This removed one threat to the pe- riphery of the British Empire. An Anglo-Japanese Alliance was signed in 1902.

March-April 2014 The Democrat insert Imperialist parallels then and now Alliances and the Arms Race page 1

Following disagreement over who should control Egypt and Morocco, the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France was signed in 1904. This Entente was extended by the former 1892 Franco-Russian alliance into the Triple Entente.

‘The Great Game’ of conflict, which included the Crimean War, was between the British and other empires and Russian empire from 1813-1907. An Anglo-Russian Entente was signed in 1907. This agreed borders and control over territories between British India and Russia including Persia (Iran), Afghanistan and Tibet.

Preceding this Entente there were two Anglo-Afghan wars. In the first war 4,500 British troops were wiped out in a retreat back to India. The UK wanted Afghanistan as a buffer state to keep Russia out of India labelled the ‘Jewel in the British Crown’. In the second Afghan war 40,000 British troops were Krupps Steel Works sent into Afghanistan in 1878 to control and occupy the country. Memorials to soldiers killed in Afghanistan can be found in many churches in Britain.

Both the Entente and Triple Alliance were the basic alliances in place in 1914 when hostilities boiled up between the European and other imperialist powers at the start of the First World War.

Arms race

In this ‘New Imperialism’ period an arms race took place which was a test of manufacturing, required development of a railway system capable of transporting heavy goods, troops and the all important horses, and taxation to pay for the armed forces, especially the navy. All this required support of the general public. Simultaneously, as imperialism rampaged and competed across HMS Dreadnought the world, capitalism based on nation states was consolidated along with the so called ‘right to conquest’ by the imperial powers. In this period capitalism was prepared to put up with democracy within nation-states, leaned on and used the sovereign powers of national governments.

The Royal Navy had a network of coaling stations around the world to provide a guard for shipping lanes and communica- tions with the British Empire, where, in the words of Chartist leader Ernest Jones, ‘...the sun never set and the blood never dried’. British naval policy evolved in the 1890’s was to make the Royal Navy twice as large as the next two nations put to- gether. The UK built battleships including massive ‘dreadnoughts’. This was to take account of the perceived Chartist threats to the British Empire from not just Germany but France leader, Ernest and Russia as well. Jones ad- As an example of British government thinking taking place in dressing a 1897, between the Boer Wars, a discussion took place between meeting at the assistant under-secretary at the British Foreign Office, Sir Black Stone Francis Bertie, and acting German ambassador in London, Baron Hermann von Eckardstein. The Baron mentioned Germany had interests in southern Africa. In response the Foreign Office official said if the Germans lay so much as a finger on the Transvaal the British government would not stop at any step, ‘even the

ultimate’ which implied war, ‘to repel any German interven-

Page 2 A Democrat insert Imperialist parallels then and now March-April tion’. The ambassador was told ‘should it come to a war with Germany...the entire English nation would be behind it and a blockade of Hamburg and Bre- men and the annihilation of German commerce on the high seas would be child’s play for the English fleet’.

The conflict over Crimea brought a new phase in warfare which included the use of telegraphs and railways, which, to function efficiently, developed this early use of telecommunications. Submarine cables were laid across the world with a Pacific telegraph laid in 1902. With this cable, a system was in place dominated by British companies as part of a strategy with a military element known as the ‘All Red Line’. There were several routes possible with the ‘All Red Line’ in which 49 cuts would have to be made to isolate the UK. These British companies monopolised the specialist cable laying and repair equip- ment as well as the all important insulation material percha gutta. In contrast Germany had a far smaller empire with a less significant cable system which could easily be cut.

In parallel an ‘Imperial Wireless Chain’ was not fully developed but could be a ‘valuable reserve’ system as it was thought any enemy could listen into or interrupt messages.

In the growing arms race Germany perceived Britain as the main threat. The military thinking in Germany centred on a long term plan drawn up by Ad- miral von Tirpitz which included some dreadnoughts and cruisers to defend Germany close to the European mainland and the ability to attack commercial shipping. The race included thicker and stronger hulls, larger calibre guns with longer ranges. Tirpitz indicated the main area of conflict would be between Heligoland, an island in the North Sea, and the river Thames estuary.

Germany in contrast developed an offensive expansionist policy which included the aims outlined by the chief of the General Staff Al- fred von Schlieffen and set out in a 1905 memorandum. This included a large westward advance requiring a huge increase in the army and money to pay for this. The objective was to defeat France and Britain and then turn eastwards to deal with Russia. Without doubt this was nurturing the roots of Mittleuropa taken up in the Third Reich and the EU today where Germany would dominate over one economic unit consisting of Austro-Hungary, France, the Baltic states, Bene- lux countries, Italy and Poland.

Besides all the confrontations across the world, British imperialism was in the position of defending the largest empire ever and preventing other empires expanding. The Liberal government in 1906 won a general election on the slogan: ‘Peace, Retrenchment and Reform’. Although expenditure on the army was cut back following the Boer Wars, money spent on the navy soared compared to that of Germany.

Conclusion Triple Alliance of Serbia was in an alliance with Russia simultaneously as Ger- Germany, Austria-Hungary many egged on Austria-Hungary to attack Serbia and was, and Italy as we all know, the confrontation too far.

All the imperialist powers were responsible in greater or Triple lesser degree for building a system of alliances and a huge Entente of UK, accumulation of armaments which generals and admirals France and Rus- sia were impatient to use. This and other factors contributed to the tension that came to a head in July 1914.

2014 A Democrat insert part 2 Alliances and the arms Race page 3

Sources referred to in this supplement included:

The Sleepwalkers - How Europe Went to War in 1914 Christopher Clark

Germany’s Aims in the First World War Fritz Fischer

The Origins of the First World War (pamphlet) Bernadotte E Schmitt

Wikipedia As part of carving up the world and grabbing land, an invasion of China was carried out by several imperialist countries co-operating. Above L to R are soldiers in China from the UK, USA, Australia, British India, Germany, France, Austria Hungary, Italy and Japan

Timeline 1839-1842 First Anglo-Afghan War 1853-1856 Crimean War between Russia and an alliance of France, Britain, Ottoman Empire and Sardinia 1878-1880 Second Anglo-Afghan War 1880-1881 First Anglo-Boer War 1884-1885 Berlin Conference led to ‘Scramble for Africa’ 1892 Triple Alliance of Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy 1894 Franco-Russian military alliance The Kaiser’s 1890’s British naval policy to be twice as large as any other two im- dream for perialist powers German imperialism was to 1898-1900 Boxer rebellion in China and invasion of China have a place 1899-1902 Second Anglo-Boer War in the sun like 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance other imperial 1902 Completion of the ‘All Red Line’ of submarine telegraph ca- powers bles 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War in which Russian fleets are destroyed. Part II will discuss opposition to the war and 1905 Germany’s Schlieffen ‘war plan’ which is the basis of the com- split in the labour and trade union move- mon economic and political unit of ‘Middleuropa’ ment and amongst the suffragettes. 1906 In UK a Liberal Government is elected pm slogan of ‘Peace, Further copies of Part I and this Part II are available: Retrenchment and Reform’ But, expenditure on Royal Navy 5 copies - £1 post free continued to be increased 10 copies - £2 post free 1813-1907 At end of the ‘Great Game’ an Anglo-Russian Entente Printed and published by was signed in 1907 forming Triple Entente of Britain, Democrat Press France and Russia PO Box 46295

London W5 2UG 1914 Commencement of First World War

Page 4 A Democrat insert part 2 Alliances and arms races March-April 2014 Contribution 0n Climate Change and Global Warming TTIP by Jerry Jones

For you to publish not one but three ar- amounts of methane – which is 33 times ticles casting doubt on global warming more potent than carbon dioxide – will speaks volumes on the dire state of sci- be emitted from the melting tundra, and ence education. Global warming is a from ocean floors. matter of basic physics. Average global The rate of global warming is moder- temperatures are determined by the bal- ated by some clouds and aerosols re- ance between heat radiation arriving flecting solar radiation back into space. from the sun and that being emitted by But that is offset by other clouds trap- In a rare act of bipartisan Earth. On our timescale, the former can ping heat in the atmosphere, and aero- unity, dozens of US senators be regarded as constant, so it is the latter sols such as black soot absorbing solar have wheeled into action against what they call an that makes the difference. radiation, causing warming. "absurd" EU initiative that If the radiation emitted by Earth de- The effect of global warming on the would force name changes to creases for whatever reason, the tem- weather, as now, depends on specific common cheese varieties perature will rise. Carbon dioxide and meteorological circumstances, which produced in the United other “greenhouse gases” in the atmos- vary from year to year. What can be said States. phere – mainly, methane, nitrous oxide, is that the strongest storms and hurri- Would a Stilton cheese by ozone, and water vapour – absorb radia- canes will be stronger, fuelled by the any other name smell as tion at particular frequencies, which is extra latent heat contained by the larger sweet? The EU’s request to rename cheese that is not then re-emitted in all directions, so that amounts of water vapour in the atmos- produced in their region of some is retained by the Earth’s atmosphere. And because of the higher rate of origin grated on the US law- phere. Indeed, that is what keeps the evaporation, some areas will suffer from makers. Earth warm enough for life to exist. more prolonged droughts while others Toomey and Charles The trouble is, since using fossil fuels, will experience much heavier rainfall, Schumer, a New York De- the amount of carbon dioxide in the at- perhaps causing floods. Finally, we will mocrat, rallied more than half mosphere has increased by nearly 40 lose increasing amounts of land due to of the 100-member Senate to per cent. Using data from deep ice cores rising sea levels – already predicted to urge US Agriculture Secre- tary Tom Vilsack and US from the polar areas and analysis of rise by about a metre this century. Trade Representative Mi- ocean floors, it is possible to estimate If we are to prevent runaway global chael Froman to fight the EU the effect of this extra carbon dioxide on warming, our task must be to eliminate cheese-naming proposal. global temperatures. In fact, it is quite carbon dioxide going into the atmos- "Many small- or medium- small. However, the slightly higher tem- phere from our use of fossil fuels as sized family-owned farms perature introduces feedback effects quickly as possible. The trouble is this is and firms could have their that tend to amplify the rise in tempera- not likely to happen under capitalism business unfairly restricted by ture. because there are too many vested inter- the EU's push to use geographical indications as a The most important is the decline of ests delaying action, and every business barrier to dairy trade and the albedo or “whiteness” effect in polar and government is waiting for someone competition," they said. areas. The higher temperatures cause else to act. And rubbish articles based The senators said their action some of the sea ice and ice sheets to on ignorance can only dilute the ur- was supported by Kraft melt, exposing the darker ocean or land, gency to act. Foods Group and groups which, instead of reflecting some of the Anybody who wants to get up to such as the National Milk solar radiation back out to space, ab- speed on the issue should read James Producers Association, US sorbs it, causing the Earth to warm all Hansen’s book, Storms of My Grandchil- Dairy Export Council, and the American Farm Bureau Fed- the more. And this, in turn, accelerates dren: The Truth about the Coming Climate eration.Schumer said on the process. Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Tuesday. In addition, a warmer atmosphere will Humanity (Bloomsbury Publishing, Lon- Emerging dispute over allow it to contain more water vapour, don, 2009), which is a highly readable geographical indications? thus enhancing the greenhouse effect, account of the scientific basis of global The dispute over cheese offset partly by the amount rained out. warming, the politics of combating it, names could be a foretaste of Furthermore, the warmer oceans will be and the consequences for humanity if things to come over geo- less able to absorb carbon dioxide, leav- we do not. graphical indications of food products as the US and the ing more in the atmosphere, offset EU continue negotiations on partly by the surface water mingling Further contributions are welcome but a Transatlantic Trade and with the deeper layers. On top of that, only in support of view that climate change Investment Partnership as the Earth’s surface warms, increasing is taking place (TTIP).

March-April 2014 The Democrat page 7 The collapse of the left in Britain in face of the capitalist economic crisis—Part 2

Second part of a paper delivered by John Boyd, CAEF Secretary, at 25th Desmond Greaves Annual School 2013 in Dublin, Ireland

To summarise the implications tion forces to carry out the EU’s 4. The left has failed to understand of the EU foreign policy on behalf of the that internationalism depends on

1. It takes away all forms of democ- former empires. respect for nation-states and re- racy, formal, practical and infor- 3. The impression given is of a quires national independence mal. The EU is the antithesis of global village – some village! In and democracy democracy. which there is one large pool of 5. The left has failed to mount a 2. At the same time it removes the money floating around in which campaign in Britain to rescind powers of the nation-state and we all have to compete where anti-trade union legislation centralises them with a govern- nation-states are irrelevant. 6. The left has failed to expose aus- ment in Brussels that can’t be re- 4. The next stage of arranging mat- terity as a common EU policy moved by the electorate. ters is now with us and takes the that shifts wealth and yet more 3. In a nutshell, as Greaves pointed form of Free Trade Agreements control into the hands of big pri- out, the EU undoes the French (FTAs). These FTAs are to extend vate capital where governments Revolution. It also undoes the principles of “free movement” do not care a damn about the so- American Revolution for inde- across the globe. There is on the cial consequences. The procedure pendence establishing the right to table the EU-India FTA, US-EU involving sovereign debts is like self-determination of nation- FTA and FTAs being drafted for a revolving scythe. Bail-out loans states and undoes the English former European colonies. with huge interest, are made by banks. The government con- half-revolution of the 17th century Why then has the left failed? to put an end to the divine right cerned applies austerity cuts and The left remains split over support of monarchs to rule. taxes on the population. These for and against the EU super-state. 4. The role of austerity is common draconian policies are stipulated This is as serious as the split over across EU as a further means: by the IMF, Commission, ECB the First World War where socialists 5. to exploit and hand everything to and banks. The loans are then ended up as cannon fodder fighting the transnationals and private paid back to the banks. The banks and killing each other in the sector. then make another bail-out loan, trenches. That neatly brings us back 6. to apply every pressure, includ- more austerity is applied and the to James Connolly, the General Post ing legislation, to work longer scythes continues once more. The Office and Pearse Street. and harder in order to compete people are impoverished, the Some on the left mistakenly will not and improve efficiency ie economy stalls and privateers work with the right and the right do ‘workers of the world compete’ join in harvesting financial re- not understand the left or labour to increase the surplus value and sources and capital. movement. 7. The left has failed to unravel ra- profits. That is why the size of the work force can be, and is, being The left has failed: cism, immigration and free reduced. movement of labour which has 7. And, has for many even taken 1. The left has failed to recognise been mixed up with misunder- away the ability to earn a living. the true nature of the EU and standing of real internationalism capitalism today where transna- and solidarity Current form of capitalism tional corporations and banks 8.The left has failed to expose as

The EU should be set in the current have no further use of national untrue the claim that the Single form of capitalism which is dressed democracy or nation-states European Market provides jobs up as benign globalisation: 2. The left has failed to appreciate where it is said that three million the importance of the national jobs in Britain depend on the Sin- 1. The real role of globalisation is a question and in particular key gle Market and there is no future cover for crypto-imperialism (this importance and role of nation- alone outside the EU. is a term suggested by Desmond states today as the only means to 9.The left has failed to elaborate Greaves) . control private capital and explain EU factors and poli- 2. The EU has developed a Euro- 3. The left has failed to protect com- cies which impinge on many ar-

pean Army including rapid reac- munities eas of economic life such as those

Page 8 The Democrat Number 140

EU Army

Directives which privatise state con- role and powers of the nation-state as trolled and nationalised industries the only means to control private and services. In Britain the exception capital and to default on the sover- to this is the RMT union over rail- eign debts as Iceland has done. ways compared to postal services 7. To achieve a better understanding of union where the leadership denies the national question, nationalism the relevant EU Directive and has and internationalism. This must be now been privatised. the focus of political action. In other 10.Up to and into the economic crisis we words to overcome what has for too on the left simply haven’t worked long been a serious blind spot and hard enough. have a revolution against the EU and capitalism or suffer barbarity. The alternative 8. Finally the left must shout loud and

The alternative which the left must clear that to achieve the right to self Social Europe develop as a matter of dire urgency determination, including the right to is a Con requires different policies to include have socialism if the peoples so de- the following: cide, a nation-state must have the pre 1. A call by the left for an increase in -requisite of national democracy and wages, a reduction in hours and a independence. The left should and lowering of the retirement age to re- must be in the leadership of an anti- place austerity. This would reduce monopoly alliance against the EU unemployment and challenge the which must include trade unions.

transnationals. This requires a large measure of Intoduction by RMT General Secretary Bob Crow Contributors: Brian Denny, Alex Gordon, 2. The left has to develop a viable and unity which does not exist on the left Linda Kaucher and Joh Boyd ([Editor} acceptable alternative policy to EU in Britain. The legacy of James Con-

membership and reject advice given nolly and Desmond Greaves still by transnational corporations and the stands for getting Britain and Ireland US that Britain stay in the EU. out of the EU and for Britain to with- 3. The left has to show there is life out- draw from the six counties of North- side the EU and to develop a viable ern Ireland. Above two CAEF alternative with an economy based ------pamphlets on manufacturing, the creation of If you would like to make a point on above wealth and trade across the world paper please let us know. These are available at including EU Member States. Other- wise what is the working class going £2.50 each post free.

to do? Five or more copies are 4. Nation states must take control of Oppose all £1.60 each post free. their national borders and control the movement of capital, goods, services Con-Dem cuts - Send orders with and labour. cheques payable to 5. Britain should cease paying into the They ‘Democrat Press’ EU to the tune of nearly £12.2 billion nett annually plus £1.4 billion to the Emanate Democrat Press European Investment Bank to prop PO Box 46295 up the eurozone. It is not for me to From London W5 2UG say but surely Ireland should stop paying into the ECB and default on the EU the sovereign debt. 6. The left must further emphasise the

March-April 2014 The Democrat page 9

Readers pages Even our gardens are not safe

Tune : "Ode to Joy" 9th Symphony Ludwig van Beethoven Quiz No. 140 What are the following? As the crisis runs much deeper through the European state 1. Mail Male They 'll ban the Virginia Creeper Leave the gardens to their fate. 2. ACRIML What's the reason for this folly 3. i i no-one dares to contemplate folk of Europe are not jolly 4. QOOOE2 as their plants they cultivate.

Will they start a new department 5. BREN Jnr of Euro bureaucracy ? 6. Polmumice One more kind of fed'ral instrument shall batter our democracy,

Answers No. 139 The growing of this humble creeper, 1. One way or another How can they abolish it? 2. Put it in writing They'll make water prices steeper, 3. An after thought their business friends to benefit.

4. Turned inside out Theis may seem a minor matter 5. A Stitch in time but hark ye gardeners of our land remember that amid such clatter 6. Tea junction our sovereignty we must demand,

ACROSS 1 Nonsensical (10) 8 Portable light (7) 9 Native Indian dwelling (5) 10 Teacher (5) 11 Replacement.(7) 12 Writer (6) 14 Playground apparatus (6) 16 French mansion.(7) 17 Acting for another (5) 19 Proof of being somewhere else (5) 20 Deferred wages (7) 21 Great excitement (10)

DOWN 1 Alarm (13) 2 Chorus of approval (5) 3 Female relative (6) 4 Performer (7) 5 19th Century art movement(13) 6 Even (4) 7 Grassland (6) 12 Party (6) 13 Stain (7) 15 Disturbance (6) 17 Endangered mammal (5) 18 .Pull (4) Crossword No. 140

Page 10 The Democrat Number 140

Urgent Appeal Useful Websites

We thank those of you who have sent a donation over the past pe- CAEF does not neces- riod which included some generous gifts. sarily agree with everything in these sites However, our Campaign and paper is facing a minor financial crisis

as we are again spending more money than is coming in. Initially one Campaign against Euro- federalism with data from way this could be easily resolved is if members renewed their annual current and some back issues of the Democrat. www.caef.org.uk subscriptions. Renewals are indicated by the letter ‘R’ on right of the EUobserver reports daily on first line in the address on the label. EU matters with links to other newspapers and sources. Standing or banking orders are another way of donation in a virtu- This is a very popular web- ally painless way. Let us know if you would like a bankers order form. site: www.euobserver.com Scottish CAEF: homepage.ntlworld.com/ foster-prendergast/ scaef/index.files

Trade unionists against the EU Constitution (TUAEUC): tuaeuc.org

No2EU yes to democracy: Solution NO2EU.com

No. 139 TEAM the European alliance of EU critical organisations. Lists links to other organisations across Europe: www.teameurope.info

Democracy Movement, a broad movement with a large number of supporters: www.democracymovement. org.uk

Campaign for an Independ- ent Britain (CIB): Campaign against Euro-federalism eurofaq.freeuk.com

Labour Euro-Safeguards To join the Campaign I enclose £15 membership fee (£10 for unwaged) Campaign, for Labour Party Please make cheques or POs to CAEF members: lesc.org.uk

Peoples’ Movement Ireland: Name ...... Date / / 2014 people.ie

National Platform of Ireland: Address ...... email address nationalplatform.org

German foreign policy group ...... of journalists: german-foreign-policy.com

...... Postcode ...... Open Europe—an influential think tank of leading business people: I agree to abide by the rules of the Campaign ...... openeurope.org.uk

CAEF objectives, aims and rules can be found on the CAEF website or by request Corporate Europe Observa- tory (CEO): As a member you will be sent copies of the Democrat eulobbytours.org

Return to CAEF, PO Box 46295, London W5 2UG [d130] Data on other sites welcome

March-April 2014 Democrat page 11 Arthur Smelt makes some points about Campaign against Job Juggling Euro-federalism The trouble with the profit system has always been that it is most unprofitable to most people - Elwyn Brooks White 1944 The Campaign opposes:-  the EU Constitution which hands over more powers to unelected and unac- countable bodies and re- duces further the influence of Britain in the EU;  the EU Charter of Funda- mental Rights, part II of the Constitution, because it takes rights away;  the introduction of a Com- mon Foreign and Security hen Nick Clegg says we have social dumping. In the February issue of Policy and an EU Foreign Secretary; to be in the EU to safeguard a trade journal, 3F, there is a report that  the formation of a Euro- W jobs, he must think we are all five large areas of work have received pean Army and battle moonrakers. Of course it could be ar- 111 million kroner from the EU struc- groups as part of rapid gued we are all being subjected to ture fund in connection with moving reaction forces would be a Goebbelesk deception on every hand, jobs from Denmark to Poland where threat to peace. whether it be on the EU, the economy, wages are much lower. One example

The Campaign is a democratic banks, crime rates, flooding, spying, was the fish filleting factory Royal organisation and primarily corruption, the NHS, criminal behav- Greenland in Glyngore where 110 jobs oriented to the labour and iour on the part of those designated to were moved to Kozalin in Poland trade union movement and prevent crime, sex and paedophile which paralysed the local Glyngore people whom these organisa- scandals and so it goes on. community. This was supported by the tions normally represent, in- The Free Market, represented as a EU structure fund with 53 million cluding democrats, socialists, wonderful feature of EU, contributes in kroner. trade unionists, students and no small measure to damage being in- Folkbevaegelsen's MEP Rina Ronja pensioners. flicted on social unity and cohesive- Kari says she has nothing against the The Campaign is for democ- ness. Self interest and the ruthless pur- support of growth and development in racy and accountability, inde- suit of money leads amongst other other EU countries, but deliberatelyto pendence, jobs the pound things, to job insecurity, with jobs and bring about social dumping is unac- and against racism. businesses being outsourced to wher- ceptable. She will raise the matter in the ever the biggest profit margin can be EU Parliament's Budget Control Com- The Democrat made. This can lead to financial insecu- mittee. She wants an immediate halt to rity where the majority of ordinary Danish taxes being used to destroy Available on subscription of people feel vulnerable and wondering Danish jobs. £5 for five issues. The paper what mess or con trick comes next. A lecturer at Syddansk University, is posted free to members of It is not difficult to find instances Soren Rushoj, an expert on EU and East CAEF—membership is £15 where businesses and jobs have been European matters offers the view that ( £ 10 unwaged ) , affiliations farmed out from Britain to other coun- this state of affairs has come about at £20 minimum. tries. In Greece where the economy is variance with EU rules. in a terrible state with unemployment After 3F's disclosure the EU Commis- Published by over 27%, jobs and businesses are being sion has stated that the matter will be Campaign against moved to Bulgaria to the detriment of examined and the Polish authorities Euro-federalism an already serious crisis for the Greeks. will be asked to comment, but will it be PO Box 46295 In Northern Europe, Denmark is only on the five examples given by the London W5 2UG hardly in the state Greece is but, journal 3F? The question arises as to anomalies have occurred there which how much money has been used by the Tel 0845 345 8902 [email protected] have resulted in work being moved to EU structure fund to move jobs to Poland with EU support .. countries with lower wages in the EU. www.caef.org.uk Ib Rosland writing in the March issue This state of affairs is utterly wrong Printed by of Folk i Bevaegelse (the Danish paper of and crazy, like so many others and at- Democrat Press the People's Movement against EU) tempts will be made by Rina Ronja Kari highlights the outsourcing of jobs and to ascertain some clarity.

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