The Chichester-Clarks Genet on Black Power B la c k Creedence Clearwater Vietnam / Trinidad/Cuba D w arf Jack Straw/Mao

Established 1817 Vol 14 No 33 10th May 1970 Price 2/- The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 2 No Foreign Troops Tinfoil Tiger, in Trinidad! we go to press the U. S. and unreported, strikes grew in fre­ The Apollo 13 space mission should a whole it is just one more Television Guadalcanal, with 15 helicopters and quency. Above all, illegal activity in­ be the last for a very long time. show. It may bedazzle them, they .000 marines on board, is steaming creasingly forced the unions to These particular extravaganzas of may get sucked into the orgy of towards Trinidad. Two British the capitalist spectacle have already national tub-thumping that surrounds rigates, the Sirus and the Jupiter, become political organisations so consumed enough of the world’s re­ it, they may “itentify” with the and five other U. S. warships have much so that they now constitute a sources and technology. They have glamourised stars at the centre of it taken positions off the coast. The real extra-parliamentary political already sickened people enough with all. But they are not involved in it, ayana and Jamaican armies are opposition. As discontent among the their flag-waving ballyhoo and their they have not helped to create it, and r eady for action. Venezuelan workers has increased, the militant shoddy chauvinism. they are certainly not the ones who warships and planes have been unions have gained in strength. The first landing on the moon was make a profit out of it. The idea that note d to the North East sector. And Now the workers have started to a great triumph for mankind, and the American people—still less hum­ overnight the US has sold the act, for they have been joined by socialists would be cold fish if they anity as a whole—make any real pro­ Trinidad Government 50 machine another force, the young didn’t share a sense of excitement gress as a result of the moonshots is unemployed. ins. 82, 500 rounds of machine gun over it. But for the Venezuelan pea­ a monumental trick. ammunition, 10 81m mortars with 200 sant whose children die of hunger When we understand the values in­ rounds of shells and 150 smoke shells. Unemployment in Trinidad is pro­ while Rockfeller makes millions out herent in these efforts, we begin to An independent, rev o lu tio n ary bably around 25%, and many of of his Venezuelan ranches, the achie­ understand why the American Trinidad threatens the whole of the these are young people who have vements of the U. S. on the moon Government is prepared to invest Caribbean. The US prides itself on benefitted from free secondary seem very uninspiring. Their appeal such vast sums of money in space having isolated and contained the education. It is these young people, must be even more limited for the investigation. The space programme Cuban revolution. Cuba lies off apparently led by the students, who Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian says some very important and very Florida in the North of the Carib- have constituted the core of the people who find that same American destructive things to the world: ean. In the South, Trinidad lies a black power movement which has technology employed in obliterating ordinary people are impotent and ew miles off Venezuela—well placed swept Trinidad in the last year. The their homelands. useless, they cannot do anything o run arms into the guerilla-torn pro­ original inspiration for the move­ This last moonshot, which nearly significant about their fate, progress vince of Oriente, and from there to ment came from Stokely killed three men and achieved absolu­ means leaving it to the experts, tech­ the whole South American continent. Carmichael, himself Trinidad born. tely nothing, cost £180 million. The nology is the answer to all our pro­ Trinidad’s oil would end the petrol But in Trinidad black power means, total U. S. space programme costs blem s, A m erica is biggest and best, rationing in Cuba; Cuba’s experience unequivocally, anti-imperialism; It is £8,000 million a year. That this kind it doesn’t matter anyway so long as would help make the revolution in aimed against the domination of of money should be poured into it’s a good show, meanwhile, just sit Trinidad. And between them lie the Trinidad’s economic life by foreign space while millions of human beings back in your armchairs and enjoy it West Indies: Jamaica, Haiti, Domini­ Big Business. here on earth suffer needlessly from on the telly, worship the superstars can Republic, Puerto Rico, Anguilla, poverty, drudgery and disease is, served up for you by the system, and Barbados... quite simply, lunacy. It cannot be wait for Uncle Sam to pull his next Trinidad is an island divided by justified, whether it happens in the trick out of the bag. imperialism. Racially 46% are United States or in the Soviet Union. Black, 36% Brown; Economically the But it is not merely the waste and To this false and anti-human ideo­ Blacks predominate in industry and misdirection of resources that calls logy, we must oppose our own revolu­ the oil fields while the Indians are these exploits into question. Equally tionary concept of progress. People ground down on the Sugar Planta­ important is the twisted concept of can and will control their destinies, tions; Politically the party system is human progress, the grotesque distor­ and not even the technology and divided on racial lines. tion of human potential, that the might of American Big Business will Eric Williams Progressive space race represents. Space travel stop them. It is the masses—the ordi­ National Movement has won every is an activity that the majority of the nary people of the world—who will election for the last twenty years on people are totally alienated from. collectively create the future. It will the basis of the Black vote. Williams, Blather about it being a collective be a future free of poverty, free of a progressive bourgeois, is impotent enterprise because it involved thou­ fear, free of the rotten values of before the power of imperialism. He sands of technicians obscures the capitalism. And they will build it has sat ineffectually on the fence fact that for the American people as here on earth, not up in the sky. while his ministers proceed with the profitable business of smuggling and land speculation. Just to make sure that it remains in power, the PNM EDITORIAL The Dwarf is moving into new offices. We urgently need a bribes the opposition, and has ship­ ped in voting machines from the large table, chairs, desks, filing cabinets and other office United States. The last link in the chain is the Indian sugar workers. Faced with equipment and materials. Please phone us at 370-4435 worsening employment prospects and we will collect and pay (knock-down prices only). The present crisis began after and working conditions they have independence with the reawakening been getting increasingly militant. Here is your chance to get rid of unwanted stuff that you of the labour movement, which has a On the other hand they are clearly have been trying to give away for ages. history of militant struggle going wary, in a country riddled with back to 1936. The Unions had been racism, of black power. The leaders Also— a reminder. As stated in our last issue, the Dwarf weak and inactive until, in 1961, the of the progressive struggle realised has increased its size to 16 pages in order to make room Oilfield Union was forced by grass­ this and in the last few months they roots pressure to call a strike over a have tried to tone down the black­ for more news and information and special features. This massive wage demand. The dock and ness of their rhetoric. They now has meant a rise in price to 2/-. We hope you think that transport workers unions blacked all speak of afro-indians. They recently oil shipments. The Oil Union had its held a march into the sugar belt to the new Dwarf is worth it, and that you will take out a sub­ own reserve, and effectively it ran recruit their brown comrades, and scription. You can still subscribe at the old price:- the country for the duration of the first reports make it clear that some strike, while British warships sat in brown workers have joined the £1 for 6 months— 13 issues. the bay and the US troops stayed on struggle. £2 for 1 year— 26 issues. the alert in their lend-lease base (since disbanded). Eventually the oil It will be hard to overcome the workers won a massive wage in­ racial divisions bequeathed by crease, and in the wake of the colonialism. It will be even harder to victory a new progressive leadership end the massive exploitation of the was elected in the Union and has led islands by Britain (Tate and Lyle he struggle ever since. The old own the sugar), and America EDITORIAL COLLECTIVE (Texaco own the oil). Black and Anthony Barnett, Vinay Chand, Clive Goodwin, Fred Halliday, President joined the CIA. The next John Hoyland, John McGrath, Adrian Mitchell, Mike Newton, crucial event was a strike of the Brown power on the island means Sheila Rowbotham. more than moving coloured men into sugar workers in 1965. The sugar Editorial: Patrick Burns, Ian Clegg, Jonathan Coe, Jo Dale, Judy workers, who suffered appalling the top jobs of these companies. It Ferguson. working conditions, had learnt from necessitates their total expro­ Layout: Dave Craddock, Mike Newton, Ruth Prentice. priation—without compensation. the oil workers and even actively Circulation: Richard Lugg. light their assistance. The reaction the government was swiff. A state Published by THE BLACK DWARF, 79 CROMWELL ROAD. LONDON Imperialism in the West Indies has SW7. emergency was declared, the always been violent. The US Marines Printed by Larcular Ltd, 32 Paul Street, London EC1 s ar belt was invaded by the army invaded Dominica in 1965, Dutch Distributed by Moore-Harness Ltd, 11 Lever Street, EC1. a the strike was smashed. The troops patrol Curasao, the British C eminent handed the union over police Anguilla. Now the war in t gangster, set up a commission Vietnam has opened a new era of on abversion, and in rewriting their revolutionary struggle. Decisive report found a communist under battles are being fought against every bed. This final capitulation to imperialism by civilians within the SUBSCRIPTION FORM the imperialists was sealed by the imperialist countries themselves. Please send me the BLACK D W AR F for the next 6/12 months. passing of the Industrial Stabilisation Any intervention in Trinidad by I enclose p. o. /cheque for £l/£2. Act. This made strikes illegal and British or American forces must be Name established an industrial court to met by uncompromisingly militant settle disputes. demonstrations here in Britain. Address Black, Brown and White must ensure At first the ISA was effective. The that the British government, the workers went through the proper Trinidadian High Commission and Foreign subs: Asia, Africa, N & S America, Australia £5p.a. (airm ail) £3p.a. channels and got nowhere. But it was the US Embassy are made to answer (ordinary) W . Europe £3p.a. Trade terms on application. not long before unrest began to grow for the oppression and bloodshed in The Black Dwarf, 79, Cromwell Rd., London S. W. 7, 370 4435 in the labour movement. Unofficial, Trinidad. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 3 CARRY ON CAPITALISM

Edinburgh has 28, 500 “amenity de­ and clearance compensation). He wants a ficient” houses without baths and hot £60 deposit to start with. water. Most of these are concentrated in Things came to a head when several Leith, the city’s sea port. The figure, pro­ families were due to be evicted. One duced in 1967 does not include houses family was actually evicted by bailiffs, but due for demolition that year; most are still Sandy Ross, a young solicitor’s Clark, here today, so you can add another 3000 pointed out that the eviction order was for CS-CHILD slums to the total. someone else and persuaded them to put Ferrier Street is one of the slum streets. all the furniture back! (Evictions are a Hard up against the railway line, its drab common occurrence in Ferrier Street, crumbling tenements were sold by British bailiffs simply leave all the furniture in the Rail a few years ago to the Westholme Pro­ street—whether its raining or not). SLAUGHTER perty Company Ltd of Glasgow, one of A meeting in the street was called and their directors is the Glasgow Sherrif. the whole area leafletted (see photo). At Their memorandum of association states this meeting necessity for a strong com­ BALLYMURPHY that they were to “carry on business as munity organisation was explained and a from a special correspondent New Society, April 9) show that CS bankers, capitalists etc”. priovisional committee set up. A collection was fired into houses in Ballymurphy, In pursuing their aims as capitalists was made to pay for legal action against In less than eight months, the British causing families to evacuate their they are exploiting the housing shortage in the landlord to prevent further evictions troops in Northern Ireland have comp­ homes. Both children and adults suff­ Edinburgh. Young couples and others who and this was successful. letely destroyed their image as impar­ ered the now familiar effects of vomi­ cannot get a council house have to buy a Since then several meetings have been tial defenders of minority rights. Wel­ ting and diarrhoea, and one fifty-seven tenement slum and hope to get rehoused. held in the nearby community centre, and comed as replacements of the RUC year old man, with previous heart and Some chose Ferrier St. John Laing, the the South Leith Tenants and Residents and B-Specials in Derry and on the chest complaints, was hospitalised agent for Westholme, generously helps by Association has been born. These meet­ Falls Road last August, the troops are after collasping in the street following offering the house for a deposit of £20- ings have attracted plenty of councillors now viewed differently; since their re­ exposure to CS. A two year old child £50 and so much a month... but they don’t who are prepared to talk, and do nothing, peated confrontations with street living on Ballymurphy Road died in give you the title deeds. These aren’t avai­ and so the latest meeting of 50 people de­ gangs in the Bogside and, most re­ hospital on April 7 after suffering lable till you’ve paid off the house. If you cided that the Association should put up cently, the Ballymurphy area of from severe vomiting and diarrhoea. fall behind a month you lose everything. their own candidate for the local council, Belfast. The MP for the area, Paddy Devlin, Its rent really, but it gets out of the rent Mrs Hilda Stevenson the chairman. Their counter-insurgency tactics en­ stated, ‘This child was in good health. act. Some of the streets occupants are real This idea was eventually dropped, but sure that the very people whom they It is quite possible that his death was tenants, some have never got a rent book, there are still plenty of things to do, such claim to protect—the silent majority connected with the use of the gas in others have had their family allowance as getting rid of the rats and mice, getting of the familiar cliché, —will be driven the area’. He was putting it midly. book taken away till they pay their rent. repairs done, taking the landlord to court to the side of the young insurgents. CS is also a symbol of the Army’s Needless to say no repairs have been for illegal evictions and no rent books. While the middle class civil rights lea­ hope that advanced military techno­ done. A demolition order has been hang­ The Association is having to work hard to ders have been quick to denounce the logy (or in General Freeland’s echo of ing over the street for years. Westholme is end old antagonisms between owner- street gangs as hooligans, their Curtis LeMay, just plain ‘firepower’) making what it can whilst there is still occupiers, tenants and squatters, all are parents and neighbours in places like may stabilise the Ulster situation. The time. gradually realising that they are in the Ballymurphy have strengthened their Army is not the RUC, and it tries con­ There are also about 10 or 12 squatter same boat. loyalty to the ‘hooligans’ in the face of stantly to emphaise the distinction in families in the street. They have kicked in TOM WOOLEY. harsh military intimidation. Mothers terms of military efficiency. When a door, moved in and offered to pay rent. (information about tenants action in Edin­ walk their seventeen year old sons trouble starts, the troops appear The landlord however, doesn’t want rent, burgh from: S. Ross, 20 Spey Terrace, through the streets at night to prevent promptly in tight formation. A heli­ he wants them to buy (much better for tax Edinburgh 6) them from being ‘lifted’ by the ubiqui­ copter circles ominously overhead. tous Army arrest squads. When the The Saracen tanks move in. Every first lot of hooligans were brought to fourth or fifth soldier seems to be trial following the events of April 1 equipped with electronic communica­ and 2, hundreds of Ballymurphy fami­ tions apparatus. The image is com­ lies turned out to pack the courtroom. plete when they don their gas masks A crucial factor in the British and begin firing CS. As the people Army’s alienation of communities like panic because they cannot breathe or Ballymurphy is its use of the riot con­ see, the Army moves steadily forward trol agent CS. CS as the people of with robot-like efficiency, with tanks, Bogside (last August) and Bally­ respirators, walkie talkies providing a murphy know, is a weapon of grotesque science fiction scenario. community punishment. Not because But the real fiction is political. The CS affect ‘hooligans’ and bystanders Americans have amply demonstrated indiscriminately; but because it does in Vietnam that no amount of terror discriminate against those whose age technology can compensate for the and health make them the least likely political shortcomings of an unjust to be involved in the incidents which régime. Far from isolating the ‘hard the military is trying to control. CS core’ rioters and hooligans, General has its most severe effects on the old, Freeland’s counter-insurgency opera­ the very young and the previously ill. tion in Northern Ireland is beginning In a place like Ballymurphy, where to force the mass of both Catholic and there are many children already suffer­ Protestant workers and their families ing from malnutrition and even more into extreme, hostile positions. At the people of every age who are chronic­ moment the use of CS risks the lives ally ill, the use of CS involves risks of of infants, the aged and the infirm. In very serious casualties. The reports of the long run its use may prove fatal to an independent investigation (see British soldiers themselves. THE DOCKERS'STRIKE The last issue o f the Black Dwarf carried a Manchester and Bristol were unaffected. government is empowered to vary—by trol of labour supply and discipline where­ long article on Striking for Control. In Two demands formed the central aims of Ministerial order—the crucial Dock by employers are unable to hire and fire part it was about the one-day national the strike: workers’ representation and Labour Scheme. without the consent of the union side of dock strike. Tony Topham has sent us this nationalisation of all ports. Three factors combined to bring the the Dock Labour Boards. Recently both additional report. The situation did not arise over-night. dockers to the point of consciousness that employers and government spokesmen It was the product of a long period of ana­ produced the strike. The industry is the have been pressing for abolition of the lysis by rank and file leaders and the more scene of one of the most dramatic and far- scheme. However the dockers have won a progressive wing of the dockers’ union reaching manifestations of the techno­ partial victory in compelling the Minister The major ports of Britain were stopped The analysis pointed directly to the neces­ logical revolution. Productivity of labour of Transport to issue assurances that for a day on March 17th while the sity for political action to meet the moun­ under containerisation, roll-on roll-off ships, nationalisation will not result in changing Commons’ Standing Committee ‘D’ de­ ting threats to the docker’s security and palletisation, liner trains, etc. increases by the scheme. bated Clause 41 of the Ports Bill. The one their control over the labour supply in the hundreds of percent. It is claimed that at day strike was supported by 14, 906 doc­ industry. the Tilbury container terminal 15 men Since the government has conceded kers in London, (95 ships idle), 10, 500 The dockers have been opposed to the could handle the whole UK-Australia neither the demands for full nationa­ dockers on Merseyside (78 ships idle), Ports Bill since the February 1969 White trade. Secondly, as this threat to the old lisation or workers’ control the dockers 3, 000 in Hull (26 ships idle, 1, 700 in P iper. It proposes to nationalise only established patterns grew, the T&GWU are developing a campaign to extend the Southampton (several freighters idle), ports handling over 5 million tons. The started on a much needed reform. This scheme’s coverage. Already Hull dockers 1, 8000 in Tilbury (15 ships idle), 375 in smaller, but growing ports, are thus left as brought to the fore new full-time officers have called several one-day strikes to pro­ Goole (14 ships idle) 200 in Rochester (8 a permanent threat to the workers’ and rank and file leaders among shop-ste­ test against the arrival of ships which have ships idle), as well as smaller numbers in bargaining position. The Bill allows for wards and committee members who were visited ‘non-registered’ ports en route for Immingham, Grimsby, Leith, Granton, the continued existence of private steve­ prepared to examine seriously the econo­ Hull. A national shop— stewards meeting, and Dundee. dores after nationalisation and excludes mics and politics of the industry. representative of all the main ports, is to The strike marks a break-through in the harbours used by manufacturers importing The other factor weighing heavily with convene shortly to adopt a programme on application of working class pressure on raw materials for their own processing. the mass of dockers was that technology this issue. Whatever happens to the Bill, the Labour government. It was supported Labour Party proposals for elected and political interference were undermin­ the dockers have identified a threat to by over 2/3 of the registered dockers in dockers’ committees to run the ports at ing the Dock Labour Scheme, which their future and have begun to take steps the country; of the major ports only local level are totally ignored. Finally the provides 50/50 union and employers con­ towards a counter-strategy. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 4

TheWoodentops.

Successes in Bannside and South grounds that he did not think it was stituency party in Maghera Orange For these decayed county folk, the Antrim for the Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley’s “opportune” to introduce universal Hall. A meeting which took place only Bannside election presents an rapidly developing brand of fascism franchise in the North of Ireland. nights before the disturbances that led insoluble conundrum. The protestant focuses attention on the leaders of Representing, as he does, a rural area to a virtual sacking of areas of the working people, brought up in feudal Westminster’s client government at with a sectarian tradition, he has town by mobs of Chichester-Clarks’ tradition, have been encouraged to Stormont. Determined to maintain a sought election on each occasion by supporters. The man who later be­ hate their catholic fellow workers. semblance of parliamentary demo­ openly formenting religious hatred. came Prime Minister of Northern Their teachers have been the Clarks cracy, the British Government is en­ South Londonderry is a constituency Ireland was present as these dis- and Chichesters and now, when the gaged in buttressing a clique of which all who know Northern Ireland pussions progressed, knew well the lords and masters have decided that individuals who, tested against any would regard as even more likely than identity of the leading assailants, and diplomacy is the order of the day, and criteria, even Wilson’s own, must be Bannside to return a man of extremist cannot be ignorant of the fact that it a desperate attempt is being made to regarded as distinctly seedy. views. But in the February 1969 was, that night, agreed that the same present a respectable image in order Major James Chichester Clark, General Election, when unofficial building would be used as a meeting to encourage capital investment in an head of the Unionist Government, (extremist) Unionists stood in most place for the distribution of weapons. economy which had entered a holds a parliamentary seat by grace of contentious areas, Major James was Robin Clark, with a conventional terminal stage, the bewildered pro­ the voters of the South Londerry con­ regarded as an acceptable candidate Tory landowner younger son’s back­ testant workers turn to the man who stituency. This seat has been regarded by the vigorous band of extremists in ground in public relations and jour­ tells them the same old story, and as a hereditary fief, and has been in Maghera, by the Ulster Volunteer nalism, endeavours to present the face sings with them the same old songs the possession of immediate members Force and by the Ulster Protestant of “reasonable” unionism at that Unionist leaders have canted out of his landlord, mill-owning family Volunteers. Westminster, appearing in television for over half a century. since the inauguration of the Northern discussions to babble about And such are Wilson’s allies. Major Ireland state. Brother Robin, This is not surprising, for Wilson’s “destructive and constructive James is a man of ability and in­ parliamentary member at Westminster brightest hope for Ulster had been criticisms. ” He also, was closely telligence so limited that he is known of the Londonderry Constituency like­ closely associated and well informed involved in the events round Maghera as “Woodentop” by his Civil Servants. wise follows a tradition of family of the activities of these organisations. and, out of the view of the television Bewildered now by the shattering of representation of holding the county The Clarks are traditional war-lords of camera, can rant off a sectarian the protestant monolith, and losing the area in direct succession to other mem­ the Derry area. The family founded speech in the manner now styled automatic support which he has bers of the clan. the special constabulary in the county, Paisleyite. The photograph above always regarded as his hereditary Over the last 50 years that brand of led it on its murderous forays, and which shows the Prime Minister right, Chichester Clark’s incredible sectarianism now execrated in public retained its armed members as talking with police at Annaharish government can only stagger from declaration of Unionist leaders as personal bodyguards and protectors of cross-roads prior to an attack on a tele­ crisis to crisis, kept in power by “Paisleyism” and “extremism” has their factories. It is also an accepted vision cameraman and the obstruction massive British military aid. It can’t been carefully fostered by the ruling fact, conveniently forgotten by the of the Peoples’ Democracy march, work. But Wilson still dreams of families of the province, by the Labour Administration, that James also pictures the slicker scion, Robin, creating some soggy alliance of bour­ Brookeboroughs, Hamiltons, Stronges and Robin Chichester Clark were advising on tactics. The man who geois non-political people, of the John and the Chichester-Clarks. Year after privy to plans for an assault on the assaulted the television film-maker Humes, Basil Mclvors and other proto­ year Major James, as he is locally People’s Democracy march in was later charged and convicted. types to construct some hazed known in true landlord style, has Maghera on January 2nd, 1969. Following some loose-mouthed dis­ reflection of his own wretched govern­ marched in Orange procession to Perhaps Wilson should be reminded closures he was later obliged to run ment. meeting places within his constituency that a scheme to carry out wholesale around denying the shocking canard GEORGE MARSH and on each July 12th has delivered beatings of marchers was formulated that Major James had personally paid speeches which wed well into the at a meeting of Major James’s con­ his fine. sectarian pattern expected on these Declaiming that the petrol bomb is be­ occasions. His latest effort, stammered yond doubt the most nauseating from the always-supplied, carefully weapon devised during the twentieth worded speech, was regarded as an century, Robin Chichester Clark is open incitement to sectarian sub­ introducing, at Westminster, a Bill jugation of Catholic protestors. That which would impose a sentence of was made at a time after he became twenty years imprisonment on anyone Prime Minister, but before his texts found in possession of this device, were prepared in Whitehall. The whose shadow of terror he finds tactic of formenting traditional greater than that of napalm or nuclear religious bitterness to perpetuate an. weapons. Here is a photograph show­ artificial division of the working ing the first petrol bomb tossed during people has been well if un­ the current Northern Ireland troubles. imaginatively utilised by the man who The date, January 4th, 1969, the is now styled as an ally of Harold slace, Burntollet Bridge, the con­ Wilson; and even described in the stituency, Robin Chichester Clark's, slobbering editorials of the Observer the throwers, members of his con­ in terms that indicate him as the stituency organisation and of the epitome of liberalism and progressive special constabulary. Targets were solicies. student marchers, press men and A few facts should be borne in sassing cars. Robin arrived at mind. Clark resigned from the O’Neill Burntollet Bridge just about the time government, which received the same of this particular explosion and the kind of mindless adulation from photograph is taken from a position “liberal” British newspapers, on the close to where he stood. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 5 applied in a very limited context. The exaggerated—think of the mammoth civic point is, it could be applied in other, more receptions and festivals that take place revolutionary contexts. when the local team returns home from a It could be argued that the aggressive­ victorious away match. ness in football is a reproduction of com- But without question the dubious values FOOTBALL petive capitalist society. But it should be of community generated by local teams remembered that the aggressiveness takes can become a vitriolic form of chauvenism place within the context of collective team­ in international matches. Alf Ramsey, We commissioned this article on foot­ Bingo and the working-men’s clubs are work, with the passionate solidarity of briefed the England team before the world ball to initiate discussion on the question more than mere gambling dens or cheap tens of thousands of people. Perhaps, cup final four years ago with a vivid o f sport. It is far from a final analysis. boozers. In the same way, the packed therefore, we should look on this description of the war the ‘lads’ did not What are the actual changes that have terraces of the big crowd are a response to aggressiveness as a real (but displaced) remember, and the suffering (detailed) taken place in the game? What are the the privatisation and dehumanisation that form of working-class militancy. Nobby that their mothers would have endured changes in the gates, in the money workers are subjected to in their work and Stiles was the real folk-hero during the under a Nazi occupation. generated, in its mass following? Most con­ in their council houses. It can hardly be co­ World Cup. Players like Bobby Charlton, The bourgois media have been quick to troversial o f all, the article argues that the incidental that the biggest, most loyal with their school-captain qualities, are promote this chauvenism, in a more distinctive working class nature o f the crowds in football (even when the teams throwbacks to a more passive era. It is moderate form, and this has been a large game and its supporters makes it anti­ are not doing well) are to be found in the hardly surprising that the television and factor in creating middle-class football capitalist. There is a long tradition in areas where industrial oppression, un­ the newspapers should reserve their fans. This new element is one of the many Britain o f regarding all working class employment and social conditions are eulogies for him. dangers that now confront football. For behaviour that preserves and protects worst: Lancashire, the North East, the Militancy on the field is echoed by what is happening is that football is now workers from the rigors o f capitalism, as West Midlands, and Glasgow. militancy off the field. The question of the under attack, not as a game, but as a pre­ being, by that very fact, revolutionary. To dismiss this need to be together with skinheads, the vandalism and the fighting serve of working-class culture and Football is a proletarian game under people of the same social class as merely is one which really needs an article by collective action. Big business is moving capitalism. Does it really follow from this “herd instinct” is the kind of bourgeois itself. The anti-authoritarianism of the] into the game in a big way. It already con­ that it shows us the nature o f sport under contempt for ordinary people which equates game has already been mentioned (though trols the administration of the game, and socialism, or even that it presents any “crowd” with “mob” . In the security of the discipline of the team under their although its relationship with the game is fundamental challenge to capitalism? the football-crowd, among people he manager—who is regarded as part of the still largely parasitic there are signs that recognises and trusts, the individual can team—is another matter). This anti- football is slowly coming under its If there is one overriding passion which be freer and more “himself’ than at most authoritarianism spills off the field onto domination. Meanwhile, the rules are unites the working-class of this country, it other times during the week. Then he can the terraces, and even out of the ground being changed, advertising is playing an is football. Watched, played, argued express his views and his emotions without altogether, where it has led to groups of increasingly important role, the media are about, fought over—football is about the jeopardising his job or the facade of young people attacking the police. intervening with the usual trivialising only subject that challenges sex as a topic respectability which deadens much of his Naturally, this is having its effect on the effect—turning football into a fashionable of conversation amongst working-class home life. The exhuberant, obscene game and the composition of the crowd. cult, like pop or films or TV shows. If the teenagers. Yet Marxists have hardly chants and the collective hand-clapping o f Many of the older fans are now being working-class are forced to accept the written anything about sex. And as for the crowds behind the goals are a rasberry frightened off by increased aggression of mounting pressures of this football—the silence is deafening. blown at a middle-class “Decency” which the crowds. commercialisation, football will be Football is a working-class game. The the worker is otherwise forced to kow-tow Once again, this can be regarded as a moulded into yet another form of bour­ \ players, the trainers, the managers, the to. displaced form of militancy, a genuine but geois passivity, as safe and as insipid as coaches—they are all working-class. But football is not only an exhuberant unproductive response to the boredom the “Tom Jones Show.” There is a straight, unbroken line of attirmation of working-class culture. It is and oppression that our society subjects The pressures will be difficult to resist. continuity between the tin-can that is not only a temporary escape from bour­ young workers to. It could be argued that Fords have just announced that next sea­ kicked around the back alleys of Hackney geois domination. There are aspects of “getting rid of frustrations” on the foot­ son they are to sponsor—to the tune of and the World Cup Final. Football football which actively promote those ball field is a containment of working-class £100, 000—a “brighter football’’ belongs to working-class people, and in re- characteristics of the working-class which militancy that keeps the ruling-classes competition: plus points for goals scored, turn many of them give it their complete are in opposition to the values and assump­ very happy. But clearly the collective minus points for players sent off. In loyalty. Even those players who become tions of capitalism. One of these is the nature of this violence, the fact that it fre­ several places—Coventry City being the successful businessmen and star collective nature of the game. A quently involves a confrontation with the most notable—go-ahead businessmen personalities retain their positions in the comparison with cricket is interesting. police, and the fact that it often leads to directors have already started to turn their team not because of their money or their Cricket is individualistic and specialised, attacks of shop-windows and private grim, old-fashioned stadiums into giant charisma, but because of their skill as foot­ depending on the virtuosity of the bats­ property and above all the fact that it fun-palaces, with plush restaurants, floor- ballers—and because football is literally man and the bowler and the effective use gives workers experience of fighting on shows and the rest of the paraphanalia their lives. When their usefulness is played of the captain’s authority. Football, on the the streets—these things make the bour­ essential to “a good night out for the out, most become managers and trainers. other hand, is a collective enterprise; geois media and the politicians uneasy whole family. ” More important, compare football with depending on constant co-operative inter- about it. In recent months there has been a that other focus of the aspirations of action among the players. This possibility is reinforced when we fantastic upsurge in the number and working-class youth—pop-music. The com­ Besides the collective nature of football, remember that football has on more than circulation of football magazines aimed at parison is interesting because both there is another aspect of the game that one occasion played an important part in the teenage fan. “Goal, ” “Shoot, ” football and pop offer young workers the embodies a potential working-class the escalation of political struggles. There “Score” and others have joined the older- dream of escape from the drudgery and opposition to bourgeois values. Football was the Guatemala football match that established “Charlie Buchan’s Football boredom of their lives. Both seem to be a crowds may be violently partisan, but at sparked off a war with Nicuragua. There Monthly” and “The Jimmy Hill Soccer quick route to stardom and success. But the same time, because of their peculiarly are the yearly battles between the magazine” in an attempt to reduce the the pop world is permeated to the core by close relationship with the game, they are Protestant and Catholic supporters of game and its players to a series of rags-to- the domination of PR men, financiers and extremely critical of what they see. The Glasgow Rangers and Celtic. There has riches stories and pin-up photos. This is middle-class managers. Whether or not a bourgeois theatregoer, to take an example been the connection between football paralleled by a general drive in the media pop-musician has talent, he depends for from a different culture, tends to go to matches and violence in Northern Ireland. to glamourise (and thus de-humanise) the his success on promotion-—on the the theatre for the “experience”, or for There are the ice hockey matches between football stars. Georgie Best is the most commercial sales machinery. Georgie the social occasion. His relationship with Russia and Czechoslovakia. Sport, notorious protagonist (or victim) of this Best, on the other hand, is not an what he sees is generally passive, and he especially international sport, is closer to process. Best is now a star, almost a pop- Engelbert Humperdinck, the synthetic seldom has the kind of critical awareness politics than is at first apparent. We star. He opens boutiques, models for creation of a smart agent. He made it to that Brecht demanded (but rarely got) should therefore examine the kinds of clothes, has his own fan-club and—like the top because of his skill and dedication from his audience. loyalties that occur in sport very closely. Is several other football stars—is responsible alone. And if his ability diminishes, no The football fan, on the other hand, the loyality to the team a sad and for numbers of girls beginning to take a agent, however smart, is going to stop him often knows the game inside out. He is ultimately futile attempt to create a sense kind of interest in the game! Chelsea have being dropped from the Manchester able not only to describe it, but to analyse of community, purpose and belonging that issued a record to celebrate their arrival in United team. it in at least a rudimentary way. The capitalism has otherwise succeeded in the Cup Final; the B-side is entitled The huge numbers of working-class strengths and weaknesses of the individual destroying? Or is this loyalty an important “Ozzie, ” a hymn of praise to Peter people who gather together every players, the manager’s tactical plan, the preservation of that sense of community— Osgood. It probably won’t be quite as Saturday to watch the game are taking weather, the state of the pitch: all of these does it actually open up the possibility of successful as the hymn of praise to part in an unconscious preservation of are discussed and analysed in a world this sense of community emerging from Georgie Best that is now creeping up the their class identity and their class where nothing is sacred and nothing is the football ground and becoming an charts. solidarity. Even the fighting between rival inevitable. This ability to theorise, this active force in the shaping of our society? On TV the attempts to cheapen the game gangs of supporters and the desire to see creative, analytic approach to the game, is The power of football’s cultural hold on are gathering momentum. The BBC, o u r team win cannot dispel this feeling. extremely important, even if it is only local communities cannot be alarmed by the “noises off” during its Match-of-the-Day broadcasts, has organised a national competition for the best football crowd song—clean, of course. Kenneth Wolstenholme, David Coleman, Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill, the big-match experts, drown what little they know in an unending stream of platitudinous superlatives and after-the- game interviews a la Simon Dee. This assault on two fronts—the trend towards a Showbiz presentation, and the pressing of the game into the service of a crude nationalism, is backed by a third physical containment. The police, applauded by the liberals, have now in­ stalled crowd-watching TV cameras at Chelsea Football Ground as a “safeguard” against skinhead violence. Football belongs to the working-class as precious little else does. It is more than just a game. It is a part of genuine working-class culture. However inarticulately, it expressed a kind of class solidarity, and a kind of opposition to bourgeois domination. But like every other aspect of our society and our lives, it faces the penetration of capitalist values and capitalist control. That is why we must discuss it, and understand it—and learn from it. Mike Hitchcock andJoha Evans. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 6 Jack Straw is a new phenomenon. As President of the National Union of Students he represents a decisive break from past NUS bureaucrats. From his term of office at Leeds, which saw his double act of victimising students and then ‘leading’ them in an occupation to his response to the Warwick files, his behaviour has been consistent. A combination of ideology and action which last month led him to attack The Black Dwarf—and have dinner at JACKSTRAW: No 10 Downing Street. A Special Black Dwarf Report We made an initial investi­ gation of Straw’s record. We by Patrick Bums & Jonathon Coe. went along to see him. Cracks are appearing in the walls of No 3 Endsleigh Street. The structure of the building is so this later session (1966-67), he shaky that even the entrance, the moved into the NUS bureaucracy public frontage of the National for the first time. Constitutional Union of Students, is propped up debates dominated NUS at the with timbers. Inside, bulletins for November 66 conference, and vacation work and other tatty Straw threw himself into these notices litter derelict notice with remarkable enthusiasm. He boards. The only colour in the played a leading role in such drab office is red: the election world-shattering discussions as red of labels stuck to telephone the Single Transferrable Vote. It dials, self-consciously was at this conference that NUS prophesying ‘Labour will win’ established the Structural There are chaotic piles of paper, Commission. In the voting for scribbled messages, hasty members of the commission. snatches of conversation from de­ Straw came first and caying professional students half contemporary hero Dave hidden by piles of defunct Adelstein came second. Both literature; the immediate im­ were greatly helped by the CP— pression is boredom. The Young Liberal, Radical Students atmosphere astonishingly reflects Alliance. Effectively, the the stultified nature of NUS Structural Commission rewrote politics. Here, in its central head­ the NUS constitution, providing quarters, the passivity and in­ Straw with an intimate knowledge effectiveness of the National of its mysteries and sharpening Union of Students becomes those necessary bureaucratic concrete. skills. Straw’s chairmanship of In his office, up a precarious the commission marks the end of three flights of stairs, is a pale- the first stage of his political faced man of twenty three. He career. has a marked conventional When asked about his election appearance with short hair cut as successes, Straw told us “that smoothly as his suit, for all the they have always genuinely world giving the correct surprised me. ” His early success appearance of a young, possibly at Leeds was not the fluke that he dynamic, ICI management would like it to appear. trainee. It is Jack Straw— At Leeds, Straw came under President of NUS. The man billed the influence of Alan Hunt. Hunt by Fleet Street as the leftwing, was an impressive and influential militant, socialist, atom-age, operator in a powerful student leader. Let’s trace Communist Party group. Led by Straw’s carrer and see what his Hunt, who now teaches at politics amount to. Manchester College of Commerce, the CP group en­ gaged in bureaucratic politics, T H E BIRTH ‘ OF A using their base to control Union committees, especially those with BUREAUCRAT access to the NUS. They made little attempt to radicalise the Fleet Street mythology sees 7- mass of the students and there year-old Straw discussing with his was, as a consequence, a strong grandfather the fight to convert right-wing element in the union, Epping Forest into a national mainly in the applied science to speak to his party’s supporters Straw, in mutal concert with park. But for Jack, the real faculties. Straw, summing up the there. It was that glorious the vice-chancellor, took action crunch came at the age of eleven situation with all the skill month—May 1968—and Jack against fellow students for raising when his parents divorced, required of an aspiring president, Straw was Leeds president. When their legs against Mrs Patrick leaving him head of the Straw rose to power on the back of the the meeting ended Wall and his Wall—while they were lying household. This event gave him CP, since when they have never wife had to make their way down. If that were not enough he the maturity (and the insecurity) ceased trying to remain under­ through students protesting satisfied his zeal for law and of his ambition. neath him. His appeal then, as against their presence on the cam­ order by leading the prosecution Straw said of his home “The now, was bureaucratic admin­ pus. Here is how the Yorkshire in person. He told us that it had family thought it to be a sin to be istrative competance, which Post, a reactionary rag then been his “distasteful duty” (to his a conservative or a communist— dazzled the CP with the white owned by Yorkshire Conservative fellow students? ) and that the it was part of the conventional heat of its Wilsonian pragmatism, Newspapers Ltd., dealt with the “executive prosecuting ensured wisdom of us all. ” And at the age and was ‘realistic’ enough to win event next day. It trumpeted impartiality. ’ In fact it acted to of 12, young Jack was pleading the approval of the budding from its headlines: ‘MP’s wife ensure that the students con­ for the aged at a Labour Party scientists. Straw was very cagey kicked to the ground and cerned were isolated and de­ meeting. He was introduced to with us about his CP connections. trampled on. ’ Straw presided prived of the organised force of the meeting as a “future Prime He referred to “a general left over Britain’s biggest student the union to defend them against Minister”; a warning. He went to movement that had existed in scuffle. the university authorities. Any B rentw ood Public School, Leeds since 1960, which I came in What actually happened? A con­ student president worth his post responded in his first terms by on. ” fidential memo, brought to light would at least have ensured that running away, then capitulated In February 1967 Straw won the by the Warwick students, gives it was the authorities who were and in his last years became Presidency of Leeds. A year an accurate picture. Written by forced to move against militant deputy head boy. Sear of the later, Easter 1968, he made his Leeds vice-chancellor Stevens, for opposition to Powellite politics. ‘Daily Mirror’ quips “... always a first miscalculation. With two other V-C’s; the memo explains: Straw did the authorities’ dirty socialist, he was tolerated by his months of his office at Leeds to “Mr and Mrs Patrick Wall were work for them. By the end of the richer and Tory School friends go, he stood for election to the the guests of the Conservative month Jack Straw’s politics were mainly because of his like- presidency of the NUS, against Association of the Students Union plain for all to see. He was not a ability. ” With three ‘A’ levels, Trevor Fisk. He lost, and had to on May 3rd. After a noisy meet­ tool of the communists, he was Straw chose to go into law—he take on the dud job of Vice- ing they were taken to lunch not a hot-headed student militant. still wants to become a solicitor— President. Fisk, a total disaster across a courtyard in which Rarely has a student president and he went up to Leeds in for the NUS, was completely out various scuffles broke out, and acted so repressively against October 1964. of touch with students. But Straw, there was a lie-in on the steps of members of his own Union. Jack the RSA candidate, had not the refectory. Someone spat at had cleared himself of the red At this stage, his first term in gained credibility. He had to Mr Wall and Mrs Wall fell and smears. Leeds, he was, to quote a prove that he was not a puppet in tore her clothing when a lier-in contemporary, “a radical the hands of the militants and the raised his legs. The incident was But the month also saw the pacifist. ’’ The immediate, and ‘extremists. ’ Then followed the widely and adversely publicized May events in France. Students formulative influence on him was issue which allowed Straw to and both the Vice-Chancellor and were moving strongly, en masse, Labour’s General Election victory establish his credit with the right: the Union (acting mutually in con­ into direct action against the in the same month. It was, The Mrs Patrick Wall incident. cert) decided to hold inquiries. authorities. Straw’s dealings with tragically, an inspiration. Those charged with offenses by militant students were far from By the end of his first year he UP AGAINST A WALL the latter were brought under over. had been elected Union established procedures before a In Leeds the University Secretary: by the end of his P atrick Wall, a Powellite Union tribunal which levied fines Security officer was uncovered as second, Vice-President. During Conservative MP, went to Leeds of up to £5 on five people. ” political spy. The lefts hostility

\ The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 7 Although, as we shall show, the fantasies here? The Warwick practical effect of Straw’s offen­ students whose practical invest­ sive has been to close to zero (as igations uncovered hard in­ far as its stated objectives are formation about University files concerned), the existence of his that has always been suspected brand of student ideology at the and is now proven? Or is it Jack top of the NUS has wrought a Straw? significant change. The contradiction has not been Student’s For Jack Straw is not, as one of lost on Straw, who is still finding our contacts put it to us “a plastic it difficult to handle. How can he replica” of other NUS presidents. condemn students for not keeping Geoffery Martin, Trevor Fisk to his four points, when they un­ were actively anti-student. They cover activity that he also has to expressed a different era—Right condemn? Which of the two wing, openly antagonistic even to actions is worse? Who would most student economic demands, be president of the NUS and have adamently hostile to open to ponder such testing questions? Wilson political discussion within the NUS, working in the International To guide him along this tor­ Student Conference (90% financed turous path Straw has initiated and resentment over the result of on two fronts. The fines he by the CIA), they were Cold War three ‘positive’ moves: the Wall incident, the liberals imposed proved to the NUS that politicians. Straw is from a First, there was the Consultancy shock over the revelations of he was a good operator, his different tradition: Labourist, Units’ scheme (Morning Star spying, the inspiration of the willingness to stage an instant sit- Parliamentary and reformist. His 10. 4. 69) The purpose of the Paris barricades and the in maintained his leftist image— class role is the same but the way scheme was to advise students on occupations in Britain together just. Straw created the public in which he acts is markedly the merits of their grievances. We detonated a confrontation. Straw image of ‘a man of the people, ’ different. The signs of this contacted the NUS to see what could do nothing to stop a sit-in. enthusiastic and militant. On the had happened to the Consultancy difference are that Straw is the Units (not without difficulty, they To stay with the majority he had surface this image was reinforced first president to be elected with to change his tack. As the sit-in by his second contest for the open CP backing, the first to have seemed to have forgotten about it started students who had been office of president of NUS. led an occupation Its substance is too). We received the reply victimised by Straw found him Straw played his cards well, that Straw’s objective, unlike “Nothing has been done about it approaching them for help. Again correctly judged the new climate Fisk’s, is to positively organise yet. ” this, and the results of the con­ and on April 9th 1969 became students, with a distinctive Second, there was the joint report frontation are described in the NUS president elect. student ideology, and integrate by NUS and the National Council Stevens letter. Its final paragraph The press went wild; “Rebel them into British political life. for Civil Liberties on academic gives an account both of Straw’s Jack is Student leader. ” The freedom and the legal position of Previous presidents acted to students. The report was sudden change of tactics as well Morning Star carried as its break up student debate, and to as the actual effect of his banner headline for 10 April: deprive NUS of political dis­ announced in the press in April 69 leadership. “Action my motto says Shock cussion. Straw wants to bring and it was due for publication in “Until a late stage there Student Choice. ” They followed November. The director of the student discussion into the fold of NCCL, whom we contacted for appeared to be an extremist this up eight days later with a full Labour politics. element in the student body and a page article “NUS must lead the information, was anxious about moderating influence in the union student movement not apologise the report, hoping that something Executive. Virtually without warn­ for it. ” Nearly all the papers re­ would be published within the ing the latter donned the former’s marked that Straw had decided to next three months. It is already clothing almost overnight. It stand just twenty-four hours be­ six months overdue. seems likely that this happened fore the election. This contrasts Third, there is the biggest red from tactics rather than strangely with the widespread herring of them all—the necessity: and the tactics may reports one month before, that Community Service Campaign. not have been entirely local. The how would be opposing Fisk. But Five months after this scheme President of the Union, Mr. Jack on the day after his election, the was announced through the press, Straw, is Vice-President-elect of well informed Brain MacArthur NUS could only remark that “We the NUS and (if such comment is of The Times took a sober view of are hoping to appoint a field permissible after this episode) the election of Jack Straw. “His officer soon. ” has a Radical background. It no election to the presidency may NON-THINK WILSONISM doubt suited the NUS to show that look like a victory to student mili­ they too could stage a demon­ tants, but don’t be fooled, ” Straw saw that the new mood of David Widgery, in his analysis of stration on a plausible issue; argued MacArthur. “Straw is as students, part of the social change the NUS in Penguin’s Student equally it may have suited Mr cool as the rest.... some caution in the student age-group, has to Power remarked that “the Straw to show his NUS colleagues should be exercised before the he contained in new ways, ways politics of NUS are about as what a good operator he was. The tocsin is rung too loudly or any that ideologically and exciting as an ash-tray. ” When whole affair was well controlled 1918 situation in student politics demagogically he found we went along there we expected and brilliantly directed, to a point imagined. attractive. He was the right man to find the graying contents, the where it may have escaped the “As Straw is to Fisk, perhaps for his time. burnt out buts of old professional attention of the students that no so Mrs Castle is to Mr Crossland. No longer does the NUS activists. We were mistaken. single concession was wrung from Both Straw and Fisk are establish­ president condemn student mili­ Straw, and his red bearded CP the University as a result of the ment figures, smooth and experi­ tancy, or go in for open red­ Secretary Digby Jacks, represent sit-in. ” enced student politicians. Straw is baiting. Instead he only condemns something new and smouldering. merely to the left of Fisk but is specific actions selectively., It is an attempt to isolate CONFRONTATION not remotely a Marxist or a emphasising again and again the revolutionary criticism, to bring communist. " need for ‘unity. ’ Now he has the mass of students back to When we went to see Straw we MacArthur showed how this con­ actually formulated a NUS seal of respecting and following the ‘con­ gave him a photostat of the fusion arose, how Straw used approval to be bestowed or stitutional’ and parliamentary Stevens letter and asked him to various elements on the left to witheld, sit-in by sit-in, and virtues of British capitalism, and explain himself. He took the letter further his own political demonstration by demonstration. to innoculate students against the with relish, fully prepared to ambitions, and how Straw In ‘The Times’ of March 17, virus of Marxism. answer. “My immediate reaction “masterminded the NUS 1970 Straw says “The NUS Both Straw and Jacks strongly to the publication of the letter campaigns at Hornsey and supports individual unions in non­ advised that we and all other was one of being highly amused Guildford art schools. ” Both of violent direct action when it can students should “stop reading The by it—I mean, you can’t expect which have led to disaster. be shown that four conditions Black Dwarf’’ because it anything else because it was a have been fullfilled. These are threatens this “unity. ” Just so. very funny letter. ” The only thing BUREAUCRAT IN ACTION that (1) the issue in dispute The politics of Jack Straw are the that we could see in the letter agrees with NUS policy, (2) politics of non-think, of the boring that would tickle a sense of With all the acuteness of an meaningful negotiations, made in and helpless unity of con­ humour was the irony of one opportunist, Straw had judged the good faith, had failed, (3) the stitutional passivity. Straw has university authority demystifying changing nature of student intended action was non-violent come to power and office in the the actions of another. Apart politics: The need for a strong both against property and NUS because he serves a new from that it shows that the play to the left in elections, and to persons, and (4) the action was need. He is helping the political students who were disciplined by the right after them. 16 days after actively supported by a majority institutions in this country, and Straw had done nothing wrong, he was elected, Straw went into of students under their union’s those who run them, to defeat and that in the sit-in he had duped action. Essex students had constitution. ” criticism in the universities the majority of his fellow interrupted the Parliamentary We spoke to Straw about these whether it is intellectual—shared students. But all he could do was Select Committee investigating criteria in relation to the control over courses; practical— to laugh at his treachery. the universities. David Triesman Warwick student action. He shared control in the running of had stood up and pointed out that resolutely condemned both the the colleges and universities; or the students giving evidence, initial action of the Warwick political—mobilising students to Apart from the Stevens letter, supposedly on behalf of all Essex students as well as the files that take action against imperialism which only surfaced this year, students, had been chosen by they found. We found that he is in the heartland of the oldest Straw’s final Leed’s term paid off their Vice Chancellor and were un­ still adamant in condeming the capitalist country, and to help representative. Naturally this people w hose “half-baked build the independent political helpful information was in con­ revolutionary fantasies” led them strength of the working class. tempt of Parliament and the to break open the files in the first In place of an active, militant day’s investigations were broken place. and intelligent student movement, up. Forthright and fearless, Jack Meantime he had been reported playing its part in transforming Straw spoke to the Daily Mail: in the Guardian (8. 2. 70) as saying the relations of production in “It’s intolerable and in­ “what is worrying us (about the Britain; Jack Straw wants a excusable....I utterly condemn files) is whether mis is the tip of conciliatory and constitutionalist this. ” He was referring to the an iceberg. The disgraceful thing movement. One that scrapes action of the Essex students. is not that a University receives before the established authorities, Then, moving onto the offensive unsolicited comment o f this kind, is bankrupt of ideas, touts he declared: “I am going to make but that it does not immediately gimmicks and petty formulas of the public See students as they make it plain that such comment unity, and actively colludes with really are. I shall begin by is irrelevant to selection pro­ and encourages repression. Jack attempting to persuade individual cedures and to be discouraged. ” Straw is the students' Harold Unions not to Hold rags. ” Who has the half baked Wilson. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 8 The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 9 Sixty-five thousand students from four univer­ On April 10th more than a thousand school- sities in South Vietnam are on strike. They are children from Saigon secondary schools staged a protesting against the illegal detention and tor­ mass demonstration in the centre of the city. turing of 30 of their colleagues, accused by the The police moved in immediately, breaking it US Thieu government of being NLF sympath­ up with brutal baton charges, tear gas and mass isers. According to Doan Van Toai, the elected arrests. By this time the police had also occu­ chairman of the ‘Committee for the Student pied and cordoned off all buildings belonging to Struggle against Repression', four students have the University; and had failed in an attempt to volunteered to bum themselves to death if those break up a mass meeting of representatives in prison are not released within two weeks. from schools and colleges all over Southern Viet­ Over five hundred students began a mass nam at the Van Hanh Buddhist University. hunger strike on April 13th. There have been The same day, the US’s government in South massive demonstrations by school-children, brut­ Vietnam announced that it was going to try 21 ally broken up by the Saigon tear gas brigade. of the arrested students in a military court. All this has happened in the last month. And Their news agency reported that several of the yet it has been ignored by the press. But Black students were taken into the preliminary court Dwarf knows that the information has been get­ on stretchers because they were complaining of ting through to the bourgeois mass media. “tiredness”. But several ‘opposition’ senators These events have been reported extensively to countered with charges that the students had them in the normal way—by their own corres­ been severly tortured. They said that the 21 stu­ pondents and by the main international news dents were beaten all over with sticks and trunc­ agencies. Black Dwarf has received reports from heons, that water had been pumped into their Saigon which show that the events which have ears and noses, that they had had nails ham­ been taking place in the university towns of mered into their hands and electric currents pas­ Southern Vietnam are so important, that the sed through their genitals. The puppet govern­ fact that they’ve been ignored is equal to ment news agency announced at the same time flagrant suppression. that under interrogation the students had made The new phase of student struggle began to­ a full confession. wards the end of March following the arrest of On April 13th police once again tried un­ the acting President of the Saigon Student successfully to break up a meeting of student re­ Association Huynh Tan Man, accused by the presentatives from all over the country. Imme­ puppet government of ‘collaboration with the diately the students decided to go on hunger Vietcong’. Immediately students at Saigon Uni­ strike and threatened a new tactic whereby as versity went on strike. On March 29th more many of them as possible would try to get arres­ than twenty students were arrested. Then the ted—unless their comrades were quickly Students’ Union decided to move into what they released. called the ‘second phase of the struggle’. They Meanwhile it’s been announced in Saigon called a student congress, which involved not that Thieu intends to have legislation passed so only the representatives of all the Saigon facu­ that he can govern absolutely, by government lties, but also Can Tho University and Van decree. He blames the disturbances on student Manpdet University, a Buddhist college outside indiscipline and international communism. A Saigon. They also invited representatives of five familiar refrain, and one, which in this instance, secondary schools in Saigon. we are pleased to report, has some truth in it. The Congress decided to call a two day For there can be little doubt that the General strike of students all over the country, ‘Movement’ in the States, the open resistence and they got immediate support from students on the American Campuses, and the political in Hué. It was at this stage too, that they de­ opposition to the war in the ranks of the US cided to set up the Committee against Repres­ army, as well as the growth of Black Power sion, which was to prepare for the ‘third phase’ among Black troops, has acted as an example Photos by Patrick Eagar, Report’ of the struggle. and inspiration to Vietnamese students and The Anti-War The second strike went off successfully, but soldiers. with more arrests. Four days later a second Con­ While the student crisis in Saigon has esca­ gress was held (this was April 5th) and the re­ lated there are also signs of growing resistence presentatives decided in the face of acute to the war among troops forcibly conscripted in­ victimisation to call an indefinite General Strike to the Saigon puppet army. On March 29th and by all South Vietnamese students. April 9th there were several consecutive in­ Three days later there was the most violent stances of ARVIN battalions refusing to fight anti-government demonstration in Saigon since the National Liberation Front forces. Instead the fall of the Diem regime. Disabled war vete­ they fired their guns in the air or at their Movement comes Home rans, most of whom had been press ganged into officers. Another commando battalion refused Below left: Thieu’s police stop young men in the street the puppet army by the threat of execution, to reinforce American special forces in the hoping to catch draft-dodgers. Top left: Saigon beggar Central Highlands, with the result that the boys make a living cleaning the boots o f American demonstrated with the students against the Imperialisn. Top right: Vietnamese-made jackets cater Thieu clique. In Saigon alone, there are more special forces suffered very heavy casualties. fo r G. I. souvenir-hunters. Bottom right: Saigon bar-girls than 30, 000 registered disabled ex-servicemen, And in one province alone, between November earn dollars by card-sharping with U.S. soldiers. most of whom are homeless and unemployed. 1969 and February this year more than 1,500 Together with the students, they fought the ARVIN soldiers deserted from their bases in the police from their wheelchairs, and at one point Mekon Delta region. the Presidential Palace looked as though it All this time the catalogue of exploitation and might be taken. The National Liberation Front torture by US occupation forces in Vietnam Radio welcomed the demonstrations, saying continues to mount. At a press conference in Press Agency of South Vietnam, three com­ that the struggle should go forward on every New York on April 14th two men who were panies and eight platoons of puppet soldiers were put out of action by the People’s Libera­ level. members of the US counter-intelligence corps in Vietnam disclosed that for American forces, tion Army. At the same time 32 aircraft were electrical torture as a means of extracting shot down over South Vietnam in the week up information from captured Vietnamese pris­ to 7th April, and US forces have admitted that oners was a standard procedure. One of the these losses bring to 6, 600 the total number of men, Michael Uhl, who according to the Ameri­ planes lost in the war. can press had been a former lieutenant in the There has been particularly heavy fighting in US army, told the conference that he had seen the Central Highlands in Kontum Province, at a current carrying wires attached only to fingers Green Beret fortress camp called ‘Dak Seang’ and elbows, but he’d heard from other agents containing over 1, 000 troops. Forces of the that the wires were sometimes attached to mens Peoples Liberation Army laying seige to the genitals and to womens breasts. On one occasion camp have wiped out a Ranger Battalion sent as he said, a young girl was given the shock treat­ a relief column, and have destroyed a US mili­ ment for five or six minutes in his presence. tary complex fifteen miles to the north east. Resistance continues to grow too in the US On April 16th the American Army Library in occupation forces. In the past month four sol­ the centre of Saigon was totally destroyed by diers have been arrested for sending arms back close range rocketing from National Liberation to their revolutionary friends in the United Front forces, in their second attack within the States. And in one American Division, there capital in less than a week. And that night, have been 87 court martials in five weeks for according to US military spokesmen in Saigon, anti-war protests. Morale is low, and for a long 28 American soldiers died in one of the “worst time there has been a serious drug problem single incidents of the offensive” when an among American troops. ammunition convoy was ambushed near the On April 1st a massive countrywide offensive south China sea, 300 miles north east of Saigon. was launched by the National Liberation Front. Western correspondents have been sending Already the American press has admitted that back reports speaking in glowing terms of this has caused the highest casualty toll among American military successes. They have re­ massive co-ordinated military offensive across paganda that drifts onto their desks via the in­ colour of the corpses but the war will continue puppet and US troops since the 1968 Tet offen­ ported that well over 90% of the country is the whole of South Vietnam. ternational wire services. For the popular civi­ to victory”. This cynical, racialist calculation of sive, with over 900 deaths in one week. At the ‘pacified’; that the peasants are becoming more In addition, some of the reporters have been lian actions in the streets of South Vietnam’s imperialism is being upset by boys and young same time they claim to have killed 3, 300 contented with their conditions: that the Saigon sending back stories of the civilian opposition in capital city threatens a different Vietnamisation men in South Vietnam’s schools, colleges and in Government is becoming increasingly popular in Saigon, of the demonstrations, of the police^ of the war to that planned by the Americans. its army who have brought the anti-war move­ ‘North Vietnamese’ troops— which even for ment home to Vietnam. them is a considerable admission of defeat, since the countryside. All this they reported from the brutality against war cripples and school­ When the US ambassador in Saigon, Ells­ the normal propaganda ratio of (communist comfort of their Saigon luxury hotels. Mean-- children. But these stories do not fit into the worth Bunker, was questioned about Nixon’s while the People’s Liberation Forces has the chain of misconceptions held by the editors, policy of Vietnamisation he succintly placed it in­ deaths’ to ‘allied deaths’ is 10: 1. On the night of Black Dwarf Special Report April 17 1970 the 31st March, according to the Liberation strategic capability to launch, with ease, who are hypnotised by the whelter of US pro­ to perspective: “We want to change the skin The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 10

Since the Revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, Cuba has experienced a cultural renaissance. Under the Batista regime Havana had been subjected to the same odious coca-colonisation that is happening right now in Saigon, Manilla, Caracas, and many other cities forced to prostitute themselves to Yanqui Imperialism. What culture that did ex­ ist, fit subject only for anthropology was either a pale simulation of the most elitist and irrelevant European fashions, or it was commercial, degenerate exploitation. Now, after only ten years, Cuba’s writers, painters and poets are the envy of all Latin America. Her cinema industry ranks second to none in the hemisphere. The prizes for the Art awarded annually (in spite of the embargo) by Cuba’s Casa de las Americas are the most coveted mark of recognition for a Latin American "Freedom is artist. Cuba is leading the continent culturally, just as she is leading it politically. Part of the reason for this extra­ ordinary vitality and progress is the almost superhuman efforts that have the right to be useful. ” been made to educate the Cuban people. In 1961, the Year of the Cam­ What does it mean to be a writer think that the revolution has To be useful as a writer; does paign against Illiteracy, 250, 000 in Cuba today? given me a sense of destiny; a that mean you should be more school-children went into the hills and sense that there’s something concerned with how your work re­ the countryside to teach the people Well I don’t think I’ve worked possible in the future. lates to the issues of your society, elementary academic subjects. (Cuba that out for myself yet. To begin or more concerned with how now has the lowest illiteracy figures in with I’d say it’s exactly the You talk about freedom in the creative, how excellent your work the entire American continent, opposite of what it is in the capitalistic world. How much free­ is in form and content? including the U.S. A. and Canada.) capitalist world. First of all be­ dom do you think is necessary for Western commentators, at a loss to cause it implies belief in the a writer at all? system and the whole structure. I think it has to do with how you understand a cultural flowering that relate to society. If you feel your­ they cannot ignore, single out the It’s a form of participation rather Well to begin with I would quote than being just critical of the Stalin when he says freedom is a self revolutionary you’re very least important characteristics of the critical. We should not surrender Cuban situation in order to explain system. I feel that participating bourgeois myth. I would say that in the creation of a new society, freedom is non-existent. In the the ability to criticise to the bour­ what has happened. They point to the geois world. Actually today the relative lack o f censorship, and something that’s unknown, well midst of a revolution, which is it’s a challenge. Also, you’re like a state of war, you feel the bourgeois writers are much more quickly add "of course, it can’t last. ” critical of the system than the The lack of censorship in Cuba is lim ited by this sense of pressure of society very directly, participating, or belonging to a whereas in the more highly Socialist writers. This is a fact. important, and it is an issue that has group: you’re not functioning so But I think that we cannot been dodged too often by Socialists. industrialised society the methods surrender this to the bourgeois But the lack of censorship in Cuba is much as an individual. It’s the of control are more sophisticated: opposite of the function of a everything is very lubricated, writers. There’s a responsibility in only relative. There are other a revolutionary writer to be countries with still less censorship writer in capitalist society, where everything flows, and it seems to the writer is tremendously flow from the individual when critical of the society, to under­ than Cuba, but with no comparable stand it and analyse it. I think if flowering of the Arts. critical, where he can go into actually it’s the effect of the almost anything. There is a system upon the individual. In a you believe in the revolutions you Even less relevant is the pathetic should try to fulfil your image of attempt of most bourgeois critics to tremendous freedom in the socialist revolution I would define capitalist world, but that freedom the revolution, even if at a given present Cuban art as being "good”, freedom the same way that a 19th time the revolution—or the because it is like Western capitalist is in direct relationship to the fact century Cuban patriot defined that the writer isn’t efficient; he freedom: Freedom is the right to powers that be, for example—do art. The BBC 2 Arts Programme not correspond to your particular Review Aid just this when it isn't someone who can change be useful. anything, who can modify the For example, let’s say that it’s vision of the revolution. Your attempted to tackle the question of struggle is within the system, to the Arts in Cuba in March. But some­ system, and his most vicious more important for me to be a attacks become automatically teacher in a school of design than bring this vision into reality thing still came through. The according to the way you feel experimentation and ambitiousness of entertainment. In the capitalist to be a teacher in, say, an art world writers become sort of school. Designing the future, your responsibility as a Cuban artists was infectiously revolutionary. portrayed in the programme, even clowns of the system because designing objects for people, they are unable to change any­ designing reality, maybe there’s though it was passed off as being Could it be that Western writers caused by, on the one hand, the lack thing. And the more vicious the not as much freedom as for a attack the less efficient it is, be­ painter who could do anything he are more critical of the system be- of the usual physical materials to cause the system tolerates it. In a cause they have more create with, and, on the other, the wanted. But I think it is more use­ Socialist system where every­ ful and more creative, and will possibilities of being critical of influence of Western intellectuals. the system? Though the programme could not thing is beginning, you’re em­ even influence people much more. acknowledge it, Cuban culture is braced by the system . An Sometimes I think that it is embrace can suffocate you, and fundamental not to have freedom, Well they have more possibilities being revolutionised. It is being im­ in so far as these cannot modify pelled by the same critique and the at the same time can also warm because if you have freedom it and welcome, so it’s an means you’re useless. Freedom the system. I’m sure if the same creative energy as every other system were threatened, if there aspect of Cuban life, it is a part of the ambiguous situation. It’s a and uselessness are very deeply mixture of being suffocated and associated. When you’re tied to was a possibility of a radical totality of the Cuban revolution. at the same time belonging and something, when you’re involved, change, their freedom would be When art is part of a revolutionary being embraced and being loved there’s no freedom. There’s only completely suppressed. This we process, when it is an integral part of by it. a heart-rending experience- have seen in a number of Latin the life of the people and of necessity and a revolution is a heart-ren­ American countries, which pre­ develops new strengths and new forms As a writer, how do you think you ding experience, full of tend to be free. As soon as there in response to the life of the people— can influence the revolution? were social upheavals and demon this is when art ceases to be the contradictions. limited arid confined activity that it is I would say that the revolution under capitalism. It is only at this has influenced me more than I point that artists can fully express a have influenced the revolution. I sense of purpose and meaning in their have changed radically in many work. The artists in Cuba are a part of a situation where a nation is ways. attempting to transcend itself— where the people are creating their own How? history. It is because of their involve­ Oh I would say that I had the sort ment in this process that the Cuban of pessimistic outlook on society. artists are of such. significance in the I felt it was circular. It was a world today. system that kept repeating itself Cuban culture is not yet a vanguard and I was more concerned with for artistic producation in Western enjoying the present and living Europe, but Cuban artists, writers, fully in the present. I kept repeat­ painters and poets have revolutionised ing to myself the saying that Cuban culture, and their vision has Beckett says, ‘Now that you’re immensely strengthened the people of alive, there’s no cure for it. ’ And a ll 'underdeveloped’ countries. now I feel there is a possibility of The struggle of artists in Cuba is change, a possibility of a different not an easy one. Agonising choices type, of society. In that sense you have to be made. Old ways of thought have a sense of destiny, have to be abandoned; old assump­ something beyond yourself which tions have to be discarded. We print I think is fundamental. You have here an exerpt from the programme to have a sense of yourself and screened by the BBC: an interview your identity and your between Peter Adams and the leading individuality, but also you have to Cuban novelist, Edmundo Desnoes, have a sense of something beyond who wrote the script of ‘Memories of yourself, not to be really isolated Underdevelopment.’ in your individuality. Therefore I The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 11 strations and guerillas, their free­ dom was completely suppressed, Creedence at the Albert Hall. A lot of Western intellectuals look upon Cuba as they used to look upon C zechoslovakia before the Soviet invasion. What do you CREEDENCE CLEARWATER AT water, the two groups that have left more hardened fans in Britain. A think would be the future of the TH E A L B E R T H A L L most mark on the rock scene since sprinkling of freaks, a sprinkling of intellectuals in Cuba? 1968. In training for this role, both skinheads, no visible rockers—the Rock music has lived through the first groups stayed together for around ten bulk of the audience were shop and I think the future is unknown. I two chapters of its history. Fifties rock years. They acquired a coherence that would go back to this idea of the was a primitive synthesis of black and enables them to create a sound that is vicious circle. Now there’s a white musical traditions, which its pre-planned in utmost detail, a sound possibility of something different, Southern protagonists thrust into the that is almost indistinguishable on of even committing our own mis­ heads of young, urban whites. It fizz­ stage from on record. But Creedence’s takes. And Cuban writers now led out with demise of its original classicism is a double one. The Band’s commit their own mistakes, the heroes, or their cooption by the enter­ music reflects their willing incorpora­ country will commit its own mis­ tainment industry, which rock music’s tion of musical developments as they takes, but we will be in this sense own social base was still too insecure to occurred—from Southern rock creative. And when you’re resist. What made sixties rock possible (Ronnie Hawkins) via second phase creating, the future is unknown. Dylan to a complex and meticulously It’s a challenge and we have to elaborated style that reworks its sour­ participate and take whatever ces in the harmonic, rythmic and lyri­ risks that are involved in this, the cal structures developed by sixties risk of committing mistakes, rock. Creedence’s perspective is al­ risks of being wrong, especially most the reverse; they intend to play when you consider that Cuba’s rock’n roll (i.e. fifties rock), but, they small under-developed country. resist the snares of parody and carica­ We have to work with these limita­ ture, and preserve the true spirit of tions and struggle with them. But rock’n roll by making only minimal I think that the challenge is what changes to it——in accord with the 70s is important, the possibility of era of musical authenticity. When something different. Now the out­ Creedence play Good Golly Miss come depends upon us, but it’s Molly they recreate the feel that Little not a closed circuit. You don’t Richard had in 1956, which Little know what the future will be. Richard himself can’t do by playing his old numbers. office workers in their early twenties, Do you think the first criterion of very straight looking—an audience a art must be an excellency of form rock group would never meet with in Creedence are a fine group to the States. Despite the success of the and content or how it relates to watch on stage. If rock depends on political issues?. home product, the cultural signi­ the tension between the basic beat ficance of rock in Britain remains far and the nuanced, over-rythms woven The revolution has taught me that more ambiguous than in America. The by the vocal, the instruments and their Albert Hall management tested this by politics are all pervading, interplay, then Creedence make this especially in the early stages of playing the National Anthem after the process visible. John Fogerty (vocal, the ovation, which cowed at least half the revolution. Everything is lead guitar) stands sideways on stage, those present. Andrew Chester political. Now even the rose is Was that a significant sector of white facing his rythm section. The group political as with the poet who college-age youth had freed them­ are so tight and rehearsed that if a says that the bomber is raking selves sufficiently from ruling class power cut struck them deaf and blind the heart of the rose. Therefore it ideological control, and got far enough they would still finish the number has also affected me as a writer. into the American musical heritage, to dead on. But John visibly conducts But I think there’s a difference. “U" be able to play for themselves the them throughout—without the least My writing is also influenced by music that had meant so much to their pretence or show—urging the right “U”— THE INCREDIBLE STRING political considerations in another adolescence. This explains why sixties emphases from bass and drums. (Con­ BAND AT THE ROUNDHOUSE. sense. I would say that, in a way, rock was_ closely connected in trast The Band, where Levon Helm The incredible String Band’s early it’s like what Machiavelli said America, with ‘the movement’. Firstly leads from behind, invisibly, from the music was original, personal. A about a politician—‘He has very Dylan, then the West Coast groups, “psychedelic” freedom of language strong principles and he has to be then the British groups, all combined and instrumentation was grafted onto an opportunist on a number of artistic advance with a mass audience. a firm folk-base, producing music that issues, but there are certain basic Rock broke down the divisions of eli­ was constantly surprising without de­ principles on which he would tist avantgarde “culture” for the intel­ parting from a popular, traditional never surrender’. Now I’ve made lectuals, and pulp for the masses. It appeal. Mike Heron and Robin concessions in certain areas epitomised the collective personality Williamson borrowed from Indian which I think are tactical. But of a generation, of which the revolu­ and medieval styles, and they mixed there are certain basic principles tionary youth movement seemed only traditional folk-narrative with fairy­ of what I think writing should be, the political visage. tale and LSD imagery. The result or what I think an intellectual gelled and their first record was one should be, or what I think an This second chapter drew to a close of the finest to come out of the intellectual should be in a with Chicago ’68 and the crisis of “Hippy Year” of 1967. revolutionary society. On these I SDS. The idea of ‘the movement’ no Now the most incredible thing don’t think there’s the possibility longer formed a bridge between music about the Incredible String Band is of any concession. You have to and politics. Politics has become their descent into whimsicality, fey­ understand that socially every­ deadly serious, and the music has had ness, vagueness and frivolity. It’s a body functions according to a. to shed the naive optimism of the San dramatic demonstration of the flabbi­ number of political con­ Francisco era. Rock can no longer go ness and bankruptcy of hippy culture. siderations. There are issues on hand in hand with real politics Their show at the Roundhouse had which people can modify their be­ (though some groups, such as Jeffer­ the germ of a good idea—the combina­ haviour and their point of view, son Airplane, are still producing very tion of dancing, singing and lightshows but there are issues on which they fine music premised on illusions not into a collage of mythology and magic. can’t. I think the important thing yet left behind— listen to ‘Volunteers’. But the Incredibles refused to use is to maintain your integrity on The time is now ripe for classicism: their intelligence about it. They re­ these issues and also be supple consolidation and synthesis of past fused to structure the show, to give it and pliable on these other issues gains, a diligent musical professiona­ any shape. They refused to project to survive. lism, a turning away from the aud­ drums). anything concrete in their songs other ience to the internal demands, of the Each number—only a couple were than a kind of naive quaintness that What happens if the personal music itself. not from their records—was ecstati­ got increasingly tawdry as the evening truth you’re searching for does cally pure rock. Fogerty sings with the drew on. Maybe if you were com­ These new qualities are epitomised effortless ‘meanness’ of Southern pletely smashed out of your head you not coincide with the truth the by The Band and Creedence Clear­ society is proclaiming? rock; his guitar work draws on the could stay with them and enjoy the gamut of fifties tradition (Chuck random, rambling collection of images Well you would try by all possible Berry, Scotty Moore, Carl Perkins) that they and their partners produced. means to make your statement and he also uses the solid runs and But for anyone who had their wits and if this is not possible at a fills of the East, Texas bluesmen about them the waste of talent and given moment you can keep quiet (Jefferson/Leadbelly/Willie Johnson). opportunity was infuriating. and wait for the right moment., Stu Cook’s bass provides the power­ Saddest of all is the decline in their But it is fundamental, if you are ful support indispensable to a group of music. The Incredibles have now left part of a society, not to break this kind. The only possible criticism far behind the folk influences that for­ away from it, and a revolution is is that their set was simply a series of med them. Instead they have opted a total experience, therefore you individual numbers. Their penchant for a mish-mash of styles that is a mix­ cannot break away without alien for singles is a facet of their classi­ ture of everything and which ends up ating yourself. It’s a very fast cism, but on stage a series of single as nothing. Worse the sheer cosyness train and if you jump off you hits of 2 to 2 1/2 minutes is jerky, to of their mysticism has removed all ten­ won’t be able to get on again. Not say the least. An old Ray Charles sion from their music—which even because they won’t let you but blues stood out, and they ended with sounds amaturish. because you haven’t participated an extended arrangement of Keep On Symptomatically, almost the last in the experience. Therefore I Chooglin’, which raised the roof. In­ words of the show were: “You can think it fundamental to wait for evitably, they spoke scarcely a dozen have your liberty if you want, It’s the right moment and to continue words to the audience and went really been there all the time”. This is to struggle for this. But not to straight off stage at the end, their roa­ what is wrong with the world created make yourself against the dies immediately dismantling the by the Incredibles; its a world of fan­ system, because this would be equipment despite a ten minute tasy without any reference to the destroying yourself if you ovation. world that people actually live in. So believe that revolution is the only Creedence’s records must sell by three hours of dreaminess and ‘peace’ possibility. the million, but the Albert Hall end up by boring the pants off you. audience presumably contained their J. H. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 12 MAO: He can. STRONG: What if the United States Between the Bible and makes it clear that it will give Chiang Kai- shek no more help from now on? MAO: There- is no sign yet that the U. S. government and Chaing Kai-shek have the Little Red Book. any desire to stop the war within a short time. STRONG: How long can the Communist FACTS.... At the end of March, at the age of 84, the Party keep on? extraordinary American journalist Anna. MAO: As far as our own desire is con­ *** (WASHINGTON) There may be Louise Strong died in Peking. A prolific cerned, we don’t want to fight even for a almost twice as many American writer worked on Russia’s Moscow News single day. But if circumstances force us to deaths in Vietnam as the Department from 1930 to 1949, interviewed the fight, we can fight to the finish. of Defence (D/D) claims. Former leaders o f the Chinese revolution, was ex­ STRONG: If the American people ask Senator Wayne Morse has charged pelled from Russia, reinstated, and spent why the Communist Party is fighting, what that the D/D has two sets of statistics; her last years in China as a Red Guard. should I reply? the real ones and those released to the Anna Louise Strong was a Middle- MAO: Because Chaing Kai-shek is out to public in its weekly “statistical sum­ West, bourgeois American. She was at first slaughter the Chinese people, and if the mary’’. Morse first made the charge a religious writer and among her early people want to survive they have to de­ last August, claiming 70, 000 rather books are titles like Bible Hero Classics in fend themselves. This the American than 30, 000 Americans had been kil­ Words o f the Scripture (1908. A pacifist people can understand. led in Vietnam combat at that time. during the first world war she was radica­ STRONG: What do you think of the poss­ An ex-marine, who was stationed in lised by reporting on a general strike in ibility of the United States starting a war Marine H. Q. in Washington, told an Seattle in Febuary 1919, and by 1912 she against the Soviet Union? Ocotober Vietnam Moratorium aud­ was working to relieve the famine in the MAO: There are two aspects to the pro­ ience, “I realised that the Corps was, Anna Louise Strong with Mao (1966) Soviet Union. paganda about an anti-Soviet war. On the as a matter of policy, announcing a Her non-conformist religious back­ Anna Louise Strong built her interviews one hand, U. S. imperialism is indeed pre­ death toll that was just about half of ground was the basis of a transition from into a book, Dawn out o f China which des­ paring a war against the Soviet Union; the the number of deaths reported to our bourgeois ideology to support for cribes Mao’s creative application of Mar­ current propaganda about an anti-Soviet office—I talked to guys who were communism—but she never rid herself of xism to Chinese conditions. She includes a war, as well as other anti-Soviet pro-, clerking at Army H. Q. and they said simplistic enthusiasm: In her early period critical history of the Chinese C. P., in paganda, is political preparation for such a the same thing was going on in their as a revolutionary she was unable to dis­ particular arguing against the Moscow war. On the other hand, this propaganda office.... The fact is, twice as many tance herself from the cult of Stalin. She trained “dogmatists” in the Chinese Party. is a smoke-screen put up by the U. S. re­ Americans have died in Vietnam as successfully conveyed the enthusiasm of Plans were made for the books publi­ actionaries to cover many actual contrad­ the military admits”. Slightly more ■ revolution without being able to adopt a cation throughout the communist world. ictions between the U. S. reactionaries and than 40, 000 Americans have now critical marxist position. But it constituted an open deviation from the American people and the contradic­ been killed in Vietnam, according to Anna Louise Strong first went to China Stalin’s line. In Febuary 1949 Anna tions of U. S. imperialism with the other the D/D. If Morse and the Marine in 1925 where she met Comintern agent Louise Strong was arrested and deported capitalist countries and with the colonial are right the figure is actually closer Micheal Borodin. Borodin introduced her from the Soviet Union for being a “US and semi-colonial countries... The United to 80, 000. to one Chinese official by saying: “Miss agent”. Her book was stopped in the States and the Soviet Union are separated Strong has been unlucky in her revolu­ presses. by a vast zone which includes many capita­ AND FIGURES tions. She came too late for the one in Although she was later rehabilitated in list, colonial and semi-colonial countries in *** (SAIGON) A Vietnamese legis- Russia and now she is very much too soon 1955 and her arrest blamed on the ‘Beria Europe, Asia and Africa. Before the U. S. lator has said that if government fig- for the one in China”. She was, however, clique’, the charges were in fact a move by reactionaries have subjugated these coun­ ures are to be believed there are no a lot luckier than Borodin himself, who in Stalin against Mao. But she herself went tries, an attack on the Soviet Union is out Communists left at all in South Vie­ 1927 had to flee China when Chiang Kai- blandly on and in 1957 published a book of the question. I believe it won’t be long tnam. Deputy Ngyuyen Dac Dau told shek massacred the Communists; he was in praise of Stalin (The Stalin Era). before these countries come to realize who a news conference—called by 16 later shot by Stalin in 1939. From 1959 to her death she lived in is really oppressing them, the Soviet opposition members to criticize Returning to Moscow Anna Louise Peking. She sent a regular Letter from Union or the United States. The day will President Thieu’s administration— Strong worked on the Moscow News, and China to the US left and became an hono­ come when the U. S. reactionaries find that according to the government the the one time that she met Stalin got him to rary member of the Red Guards. She was themselves opposed by the people of the country had 200, 000 Communists two order changes in the way it was run. She also the first non-Chinese journalist to get whole world... years ago. “But now the government was a loyal apologist for Stalinism and into Tibet, after the March 1959 rising STRONG: That is very clear. But suppose says that more than 300, 000 have even denied that he had ordered the exter­ was crushed. On her return, when she the United States uses the atom bomb? been killed by the armed forces, an­ mination of the Kulaks, Russia’s rich and wrote about it, she included rubbish about Suppose the United States bombs the other 100, 000 have defected under revolutionary peasants: “Stalin had merely the reconciliation of Buddhism with Soviet Union from its bases in Iceland, the open arms policy and 100, 000 are analysed and authorised what farm hands Marxism. Her culture, her abilities and Okinawa and China? in jail”, he said. “So where are the were already instinctively doing”. her blindness expressed a particular form MAO: The atom bomb is a paper tiger Communists now? ” he asked. 1946 saw her great work of journalism. of middle class solidarity with the socialist which the U. S. reactionaries use to scare Visiting the red areas of China she made a revolution. people. It looks terrible, but in fact it isn’t. KEEPING TABS series of systematic interviews with Mao Of course, the atom bomb is a weapon of and other Chinese leaders. This at a time mass slaughter, but the outcome of a war *** “The US Army employs nearly when Stalin was telling American visitors is decided by the people, not by one or 1, 000 plain clothes investigators "to in Moscow that the Chinese were only two new types of weapon. All reaction­ watch” political protests of all kinds— “margerine” communists and when he aries are paper tigers. In appearance, the from Klan rallies in North Carolina to was trying to get Mao to form a co-alition Interview (1946) reactionaries are terrifying, but in reality antiwar speeches at Harvard, ” a with Chiang. It was not fully realised at they are not so powerful. From a long­ former captain in Army Intelligence re­ the time that the famous interview with STRONG: Do you think there is hope for term point of view, it is not the reaction­ ported in the January issue of the Mao where he first describes the imperia­ a political, a peaceful settlement of aries but the people who are really power­ Washington Monthly. The article by lists and the A-Bomb as “paper tigers” China’s problems in the near future? ful... Christopher H. Pyle, who worked for was aimed as much towards the Soviet MAO: That depends on the attitude of the Take the case of China. We have only US Army Intelligence Command, out­ Union as against the United States. Mao U. S. government. If the American people millet plus rifles to rely on, but history will lines some of this spy network, which argues quite clearly that the USSR need stay in the hands of American reaction­ finally prove that our millet plus rifles is is distinct from the FBI’s. not take up defensive positions through aries who are helping Chiang Kai-shek more powerful than Chiang Kai-shek’s Pyle noted that “The Army fear of nuclear weapons, but rather should fight the civil war, there is no hope for aeroplanes plus tanks. Although the periodically publishes an eight-by-ten take an offensive strategy where the US peace. Chinese people still face many difficulties inch, glossy-cover paperback booklet was gaining ground—in the colonial coun­ STRONG: Suppose the United States and will long suffer hardships from the know within intelligence circles as the tries. Originally titled “World’s eye view gives Chiang Kai-shek no help besides joint attacks of U. S. imperialism and the “blacklist”. An encyclopedia of people from a Yenan Cave” Mao is arguing to a that already given, how long can Chiang Chinese reactionaries, the day will come and organizations who might “cause Moscow journalist that mass struggle and Kai-shek keep on fighting? when these reactionaries are defeated and some trouble for the Army”. A people’s war is the answer to the US’s MAO: More than a year. we are victorious. The reason is simply number of revolutionary organizations bomb. (Below we print excerpts from the STRONG: Can Chiang Kai-shek keep on this: the reactionaries represent reaction, in the US are known to be looking out interview). that long, economically? we represent progress. for a copy. Chicanos against the War.

An important anti-Vietnam war march They are the victims of a racism every bit “ 19% of the whites get drafted; 37% of are being made between the war abroad took place in Los Angeles on Feb 28th as pernicious and deep-seated as the white the blacks; and 48% of the Chicanos”. and the conditions in the barrios at home. 4, 000 people marched for two hours prejudice against the Negro. Advertise­ These statistics are echoed gruesomely It’s an up-hill struggle because the army through heavy rain, and then stood for an­ ments put out by the big U. S. companies in the Vietnam death-rates. The Chicano is, for many Chicanos, an escape from the other hour in Laguna Park listening to even exploit this prejudice as a selling- proportion of the population of California poverty and social backwardness of the speeches. In case that doesn’t seem very device. Lark Cigarettes show a Mexican is 11%. But 23. 4% of the Marine deaths Chicano community. What’s more, the special, it should be added that the people house-painter covered with paint, looking of people from the area are Chicanos, Chicanos cling dearly to the notorious were Chicanos—Mexicans living in sloppy and undependable. Camel cigar­ while the official Congressional records Spanish-American concept of Machismo— California. And they were led ’by their ettes show a “typical” Mexican village show that 19% of all Vietnam deaths and aggressive masculinity. This machismo has own security guards, the Brown Berets, with everyone asleep. And Arid Deodor­ casualties from the Southwest were pro­ led many Chicanos to believe that joining- dressed in full uniform. ant actually shows a Mexican bandit spray­ bably Chicanos (the source of this infor­ up was a necessary proof of manhood The slogans of the march pin-pointed ing his underarms with the caption: “If it mation being the surname of the person and virility. the problems faced by this almost- works for him, it’ll work for you”. concerned). But now that the bodies are beginning forgotten-about section of the American This is the cultural problem the The Chicano community has never parti­ to be shipped home, that idea is changing people. Chicanos face. The physical problems are cularly liked the United States Defence fast. The action on Feb 28th is to be fol­ “Queremos paz, justicia y libertad! ” the extreme poverty of the Barrios, the Department, as it is the largest consumer lowed by a day of nationwide activity on they shouted. “Quiero hijos, no heroes! ” high unemployment rate, the number of of California table-grapes—boycotted May 5th, and a conference to plan a (I want sons, not heroes! ) “Chicanos will Chicano children forced to drop out of throughout the country because of the Chicano Moratorium. Rosalio Munoz, one not be used as cannon-fodder! ” And— school. These result in a spectacularly famous 11-year-old Chicano grape strike. of the organisers, explained that the most significantly— “El plieto es en el high proportion of Chicanos ending up in Now the number of brown-skinned people Chicanos aimed “to show solidarity with Barrio, no en Vietnam! ” (The struggle is Vietnam. (Draft counselling among the being shipped off to kill—or be killed the 'Vietnamese who, after all, have the in the slums, not in Vietnam! ) Chicanos hardly exists—it’s strictly laid by—yellow skinned people at the orders highest death-rate in Vietnam”. He added The Chicanos, like the Negros and the on for middle-class college kids). of that same (white) Defence Department that they also aimed “to put our machismo American Indians, are a poor, under- “Of those eligible for the draft in Los is having a traumatic and radicalising ef­ to use here, fighting for our own people in­ educated and under-employed people. Angeles County, ” explained one marcher, fect on the Chicano people. Connections stead of the man. ” Information: LNS The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 13 Uraguayan guerillas, members of the The Other Paper: Leeds revolu­ Tupamaros organisation, have staged two tionary paper. 1/- front 36 Ebor successful hit and run attacks in Montevideo in Place, Leeds 6. the last month. DWARF AD S OZ: 3/6 monthly. Glossy play-power Some weeks ago, 9 members of the group mag, of the underground scene. raided a Montevideo Tobacco firm and made 9d a word. First 20 words FREE for off with $400, 000—the biggest robbery, Peace News: 1/-, weekly. 5 Cale­ excluding US profits, in Uraguayan history. revolutionary fraternal or progres­ donian Rd., Kings Cross, N. 1. In the second incident, on April 13th, the sive magazines, papers, and publica­ Real Time: 2/-, about the inter­ relation of computers with politics A S T R A IG H T RE P O R T Chief of the country’s special Anti Subversion tions. Send the information, and cash Police was machine-gunned on his way to work. in advance, to 79 Cromwell Road, and society. Issue No. 3 just out. Inspector Hector Moran Charquero was dying London S. W. 7. From 66 Hargrave Park, London *** (PARIS) Napoleon’s penis was in hospital as police began a nationwide man­ N. 19. withdrawn from an auction recently. hunt for the guerrilas, who all escaped after the attack. Rank and File: 1/2, quarterly. M ili­ Several weeks ago a Paris auction auc Anarchy: 3/-, monthly. Pubd. by tant teachers journal. 87 Brooke Rd., tioned off 72, 000 dollars worth of Freedom Press, 84B Whitechapel N. 16. Napoleon’s relics including a death High St. E. 1. Red Front: 1/6, bi-monthly. Theore­ mask and a packet of hair from Anti-Apartheid News: 6d. monthly, tical journal of Marxist-Leninist *** The Vietnamese likely to be jailed for various parts of Bonapartes body. But from 89 Charlotte St., Loodon W. 1. Organisation of Britain. their political crimes once the U.S. gets out of (Maoist) nobody wanted to pay 40, 000 dollars Big Flame: Merseyside rank and file Vietnam talk about it the least, according to paper. Issue no. 3 just out. 6d., from Red Mole: 1/6, fortnightly. 182 for his penis, described as “a small Tran Van Dinh in a recent issue of “New Pentonville Rd., N. 1. dried-up object” in the sale catalogue. Republic. ” Between $1. 5 and $2 billion has 78 Clarendon Rd., Wallasey, been deposited in European banks so far by the Cheshire. Red Notes: 1/-, monthly information So the member was replaced in a box present oligarchy, and about 10, 000 Black Power Newsletter: Voice of and news bulletin from Agitprop, 160 and returned to its owner, an Ameri­ Vietnamese have (mostly illegally), left the North Gower St., N. W. 1. can business man who is now waiting country since the Paris negotiations began. the Universal Coloured People's Revolution: 6d, monthly. London for the penis market to go up. They paid anything from $800 to $5,000 each Association. News about the black (Maoist) RSSF news sheet. 5 Doral to bribe their way out. The Vietnamization of community here and abroad. From Court, Chichele Rd. N.W. 2. Switzerland seems to be progressing 45 Fairmount Rd. S.W. 2. satisfactorily. Rustle: 2/- Inter-schools mag. Little WAR IS LOW—MURDER HIGH Cardiff Peoples Paper: 16 Gordon Garnetts, Dunmow, Essex. Rd. Cardiff CF2. 3AJ Sam: 1/- 29 Southdown Rd., Beacon *** United Press International reports *** (WASHINGTON) The nation’s un­ Catonsville Roadrunner: revolu­ Park, Plymouth. P12 3HN. Schools that army medical advisers believe employment rate shot up in March and the tionary Christian monthly. May issue Alternative Mag. wages of most workers continued lagging well has free broadsheet on revolutionary Sanity: 1/-, monthly CND 14 Grays that up to 30% of all G. I. ’s in Viet­ behind the nation’s worst inflationary spiral in Inn Rd., W. C. 1. nam have smoked marijuana, and that 20 years. U. S. Catholics. 2/- from 3 Caledonian 1/ Paper: Rev. Socialist Cambridge afterward some “have even committed The rise pushed the jobless rate from 3.9 to Rd. London N. 1. University Publication 3 Round m urder” 4. % of the 81 million labour force, the second Challenge 1/- monthly. YCL maga- Church St., Cambridge. consecutive huge monthly increase. Pine with extensive ads for holidays, Shola: 2/- monthly, Rev. Pakistani The rate was the highest in nearly five years, poster, events. the nine tenths rise in the past year was the journal in Urdu, c/o Pakistani FROM THIRD WORLD sharpest in 10 years. Communist Comment: 6d, fort­ Marxist Group8 8 Toynbee St., E. 1. The weekly earnings figure was up $7. 07 in nightly. Pubd. by Irish Communist Shrew: 1/-, monthly. Discussion jour­ NEWS SERVICE the past year but the more than 6% increase in Organisation. Mainly Irish events. nal News and opinion. Womens living costs cut purchasing power by $9. 37 a Liberation Workshop, 154 Barnsbury week, more than wiping out the wage gains. Confrontation: 1/- news and events. 63A Brick Lane E. 1. Rd., N. 1. White unemployment rose in February from Socialist Standard: 9d, monthly. 3.6 to 3.8% to bring the increase in the past Direct From Cuba: fortnightly. Official journal of Socialist Party of year to 748, 000 persons; while the jobless rate Press service with articles and info, of other races, mostly blacks, rose from 6. 3 to G. B. 52 Clapham High St., S.W. 4. 7.0% for the month, to bring the year’s rise to on Cuba and, L. America. From Socialist Woman: 6d., bi-monthly, 124,000 persons. Prensa Latina, Foreign Service D, 17 from 16 Ella Rd. West Bridgeford, MEANWHILE... U.S. CORPORATIONS Rue Boissiere, Paris. Nottingham. expect about a 6% increase in profits before Enough is Enough: 1/-, Bristol Socialist Worker: weekly paper of taxes in 1970, a McGraw-Hill Publications Co., the International Socialists. Subscrip­ survey announced last month. Womens Liberation Group, 1 Apsley Rd., Bristol, B58 2FH. tion £2-10 a year. Details 6 Cottons The survey indicated that pretax profits of Gardens, London E. 2. the large industries co-operating in the study Free Palestine: l/3d., monthly. Bulle­ Solidarity: 6d, for "the libertarian would amount to $95. 2 billion, compared with tin of the Free Palestine Committee. $90 billion in 1969. It said that 69.% of t revolution” . Produced by different he companies included in the survey expected (See Note. ) groups around the country. Main con­ an increase in profits this year. Freedom: 9d, weekly. Anarchist tact address is 53A Westmoreland GUINE (PORTUGUESE GUINEA): Federation of Britain. 84B White­ Rd., Bromley Kent, but most The African Party for the Indepen­ chapel High St., London E. 1. Solidarity pubs, can be obtained dence or Guine and Cape Verde, *** The April 13th ‘Newsweek’ reports that Grass Eye: Manchester from Agitprop (see Red Notes). which has already liberated two thirds “CIA agents in Saigon are actively recruiting radical/underground paper. Hiber­ Spokesman: 3/6, bi-monthly. Pubd. both American and non-American civilians of the country, revealed in its latest nated for the winter, first new issue by Bertrand Russell Peace Founda­ there... to lead raiding parties of Meo tribesmen tion. 45 Gamble St., Forest Road bulletin that at the end of March, the against the North Vietnamese in laos. One such out May 1st. West, Nottingham n G7 4ET Portuguese bombed and napalmed a offer last week included a salary of $1, 000 a Idiot International: 2/6, monthly week and a week’s vacation in Taiwan for every Struggle: 6d, monthly. 4 page pam­ school in Tambico, in the northern 4 weeks in the field. ” Revolutionary mag. phlet by Communist Federation of part of Guine. In the raid, 7 children International: 1/6, monthly. IMG Britain, (Marxist-Leninist). 1 Grove- were killed, and eight were wounded. publication survey of british and dale Rd. N19. This followed an earlier raid in world affairs. 8 Toynbee St. E1. Synic: £1 p. a. Libertarian news Febuary, in which 8 children were kil­ *** Total bomb tonnage dropped on Vietnam International Socialism: 3/-, monthly sheet. 14 Hanley Rd., N. 4. led and 17 wounded. exceeds the total dropped in all theatre of Theoretical journal of the I. S.: 36 Third World Reports: monthly. Well World War II by 60%. By February 1969, produced reports for the liberation 200, 000 tons of bombs had been dropped on Gilden Rd. N. W. 5. COLOMBIA: organisations. First issue just out. Vietnam. This amounts to 180 pounds of bombs Irish Communist: 1/-, monthly. 209, Abbey House, Victoria St., The Colombian Peoples’ Liberation for every man, woman and child. 25 tons of Theoretical journal of the Irish S. W. 1. Army carried out several operations in bombs have been _dropped for every square mile of North and South Vietnam Communist Organisation. 38 Mercers Tricontinental: 6/- + 10d post from Cordoba province in the middle and Road, N19. Tricontental Committee, 15 Lawn late March, killing several army and Irish Democrat: 1/-, monthly., linked Rd., NW3, or Black Dwarf. police, and carrying out educational to the Connolly Association and to The Worker: 6d, monthly, 4-page paper by C .P. G. B. (M arxist- and political work among the local *** (WASHINGTON) The Labour the R. P. villagers. With a Presidential ‘election’ Leninist). 155 Fortess Rd., N. W. 5. Department has released a report which shows ISRACA: 2/6d, monthly. Pubd by Workers Broadsheet: 1/-, monthly. due in Colombia in April, the Govern­ that women lose no more time from their jobs Isreali Action Committee Abroad. because of disability than do men—including Pubd. by Working Peoples Party of ment are increasingly worried by their 219 Putney Bridge Rd. S. W. 15 England—“ a new kind of political inability to control the guerrillas, who time lost for pregnancy and childbirth. Where men and women are in similar levels of it: 2/-, fortnightly. Sounds ‘politics, ’ party. " and a rude one. 54G St. Giles are spreading their work through the rural employment, they. have similar rates of and beautiful people. High St. W. C.2. regions of Colombia. absenteeism, job tenure, and mobility according Jude: 1/-, weekly. Oxford’s weekly Workers Press: 6d, The only revolu­ to the report. Community Paper. 38A Cowley Rd. tionary daily paper. Pubd. by Socia­ The report, prepared by the Womens’ list Labour League. 186A, Clapham RABAUL: Bureau, shows that it is not more costly to Oxford. Police were used again at the be­ employ women and that differential treatment Keep Left: monthly paper of the High St., S.W. 4. ginning of April to attack islanders in of women based on alleged cost differences is Vietnam: 1/-, monthly. Pubd. by Young Socialists (SLL). 186A Clap­ V. S. C. 13 Whites Row, E. 1. Rabaul (New Guinea) protesting totally unfounded. ham High St., S. W. 4. about an Australian government The China of Mao Tsetung. All decision to allow their lands to be ex­ MARXIST STUDIES—Spring books, Magazines, Art Posters, issue. Workers’ Control and propriated by Rio Tinto Zinc. The at­ *** The repression in France continues. On Badges, etc. 10% discounts. Marx, tack took place in Malagana village, Marxists, John Walters. Self- Lenin, Famous Pamphlets. Lin Piao: April 14th, a Bill was tabled “quickly and Management in High Schools and 9 police were injured before the firmly assuring the maintenance of public order "Victory of People’s War” . 4d. and punishing those who violate this by actions in France 1968, Nicolas Stamp brings Lists. D. Volpe, 114 villagers were forced off their ground condemned by the immense majority of the Baby. The Law of Value and with the use of tear gas and a batton Evering Rd., London N. 16. public. ” Self-Management in the IS BOOKS The most extensive range charge. The new law provides for a speeding up of Workers States, Ernest Ger­ of revolutionary literature in London. the judicial process, and for a doubling or even, main. Factory Councils, Call, phone, or write (s. a. e. ) for full NICARAGUA: trebling of sentences for damage to property. Gramsci. Book Reviews etc. catalogue: 6 Cottons Gardens, The secret police chief for Leon de­ To quote the French Prime Minister, “The 3/4 pp BMS Publication, 16a London E. 2 01 739-2639. partment in Nicaragua was killed by smashers will be the payers. ” Holmdale Rd. London N. W. 6. Chaban Delmas is obviously hoping to round IS BOOKS Good prices offered for all guerrillas from the Sandinista National books, pamphlets, magazines of in­ up ‘troublemakers, ’ impose huge prison sen­ Marxist Youth Journal: 1/-. Youth Liberation Front in early April. The tences and get them out of the way before the terest to revolutionary socialists. Front also executed Alfonso Arana real defence can be prepared. Although the bulletin of IMG. Bulk terms by re­ Left Book Club editions urgently quest P. Gowan,, c/o 75 York Way. Espinosa, the cousin of President-elect revolutionary left is the target of this Bill, it has needed. Phone or write 6 Cottons also angered other groups. The extreme right is N. 7. E. 2. 01 739-2639. Aran of Guatemala, who was working afraid that its activities will also be affected, Militant: 6d, monthly. Pubd. by in Nicaragua. Both Arana’s were in­ MUSSS MAG: fortnightly paper of while lawyers and liberals see the new law as a Labour Party Young Socialists. 197 Manchester Union of Secondary volved in the brutal repression of guer­ threat to the delicate balance of French Kings Cross Rd. W. C. 1. democracy. School Students; price 2d. from 26, rillas in Guatemala. Mineworker: 4d. Pubd by Mine­ Queensway, M/c MI9 IQP. workers Internationale, 16 Abbey- LESOTHO: field Rd., Dunscroft, Doncaster, *** (CALIFORNIA( Prisoners in the Santa APOLOGIES: There were a number Following the preparations made by Clara County jail were watching the TV news Yorks. the Congress Party during the two when it was announced that five Conspiracy The Mole: 6d. Brighton socialist com­ of mistakes in our previous Free Ads defendants had been found guilty of crossing munity paper, 11 Sudely St., Brigh­ column—which was produced under months after the Jonathan coup, fight­ great pressure. Freedom was mixed ing is now spreading throughout the state lines to incite a riot. Moments later, six ton, Sussex. fires were blazing in different areas of the pri­ New Left Review: 5/6, bi-monthly, up with Anarchy and Socialist country. Without the support of his son and more than a hundred prisoners, were from Carlisle St., W. 1. Tenth anni­ Worker came out as Socialist British officered and commanded smashing furniture, equipment and windows in versary issue just out. Woman. The most serious mistake of police force, Jonathan would have the jail, and throwing mattresses and pieces of Open Secret: 4/-. Pubd. by Free all was ourreference to Free Pale­ broken furniture on to the fires. stine, a paper which is completely in­ been overthrown already—it is by no Fifty guards and deputies with fire hoses Communications Group. New issue means certain that he can stay even were brought in to quell the riot—one of the exposes Lew Grade empire. From 20 dependent of the Arab States. Our with British backing. most violent to take place in the jail for years. Greek St., W. 1. deep apologies to them for the error. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 14 Jean Genet on Black Panthers

For the Whiteman, History, past and future, is very started to do something about that. struggle. long, and his set of references is very imposing. For But we shut our eyes, our mouths, our ears, so We should not let ourselves be distracted by the the Black man, Time is short, for his History has that the Blacks’ misery would not disturb us too sexual myths which are said to be the origins of been brutally interrupted and modified in such a much. If we looked straight into American reality, racism. way that the Whites did everything to prevent him we would quickly understand that the Blacks are The origins of racism are socio-economic. We do from having his own, orginal development. And in more and more capable of taking care of their own have to make this a very precise notion, for this is the USA, we are still busy setting limits on Black affairs. And so the simplest, the most prudent way the starting point of our solidarity with the Blacks people’s Time and Space. Not only is each and is to leave them in a state of physical and mental and the Black Panther Party. everyone of them more withdrawn within himself misery, in a state of absolute solitude. Where the political thought-process of the Black but he is also imprisoned by us. And when we have Let us not be afraid of words; this misery permits Panthers is concerned, I am convinced that it orig­ to, we assassinate him our own comfort. To moan about bombings far inates in the poetical vision of the American Blacks. Because of his exceptional political stature, Chair­ away was a luxury. Our cowardice will prevent us More and more do we realize that revolutionary man Bobby Seale’s trial which just started is, in from opening our eyes here. In order to complete thought originates in this poetical emotion. This is fact, a political trial of the Black Panther Party, this, we have set up a high-level imposture: we have why one has to understand that it is starting with and, on a more general basis, a race trial held granted a few, carefully chosen Blacks notoriety, singular poetical emotions that Mao Tsetung was against all of America’s Blacks. and we have multiplied their image, but only so that brought to revolutionary consciousness, later on to The reality of the Black colony within the United they should become what we want them to be: the Long March, then to the revolution called the States is very complex. Disseminated as they are actors. “one hundred flowers” revolution and, finally, to within a nation full of pride, which likes to think of Bobby Seale and his comrades have over-stepped the cultural revolution. And it was the same for Ho herself as master of the world, the Blacks, spread our boundaries, they speak and act as responsible Chi Minh. among a White population, oppressed by the political people, and we can’t bear this. We’d rather And so was it for the Black Panther Party which, Whites’ racism and indifference, threatened by an have misery for the Blacks and the racism it im­ from the poetical resources of its oppressed people, oppressive police and administration, have been plies, than to recognize the political value of the draws the means to have a rigorous revolutionary forced to operate a very new type of fight, in this Black Panther Party. thought. very singular situation. That is how the Black One really has to understand that Attorney The Whites, and particularly the young, must Panther Party was created, first of all to defend the General Mitchell, by trying Bobby Seale, is trying understand that the relationship with their own rights of the colonized Blacks inside the USA, all of us. Our liberties are being threatened more revolutionary organizations must be new relation­ then also to initiate an original political thought and more. May be we’re not going to do anything, ships, and that one has to organize right now process. but our sons and daughters are faster than us, they TACTICAL revolutionary alliances. Before the vigor of their action and the rigor of have made a hero out of Bobby Seale in his prison. I also believe that the time has come to use new their political reflections, the Whites—and es­ We won’t do anything, and our children already vocabulary and syntax capable of making everyone pecially the emotion of the dominating caste in the are contemptful of us for not doing anything. better aware of the double struggle, poetical and USA, the police—had a racial reaction almost Stonybrook University should be cited as an revolutionary, of the White movements which are immediately: since the Blacks proved that they were example; when Bobby Seale was transferred to comparable to the Black Panthers. able to get organized, the easiest thing would be to Connecticut, that University’s response was to offer Where I am concerned, for example, I also refuse throw discredit on their organization. him a Professorship. The very day of the transfer, the word Brother, which is too laden with evange­ The Police were therefore able to hide the true the University also created a Support and Defense lical sentimentalism, and when talking about the meaning of its intentions behind unqualified pre­ Committee in favor of Bobby Seale and the Black Blacks, I want to talk abour comrades in arms fight­ texts; trials based on drug, murder and conspiracy Panther Party. ing against the same adversary. charges. The fact of the matter is that they were try­ We have entered a period comparable to the fif­ When the Black Panthers contacted me in ing to massacre those responsible for the Black ties’ McCarthysm. The same terroism is being used France, I came right away to the United States to Panther Party. against the intellectuals sympathizing with the Black put myself at their disposal. Your youth, your intel­ What about us, what are we doing? When the Panther. Should the Police fact be accepted or lect and physical agility, your moral imperatives, are bombs hit Hanoi, we had some epidermic reactions; fought? Should one continue to fear the Black capable of making you act faster than I, and with so did we during the Korean war. These massacres Panther Party like a mythology, both terrible and greater efficiency. This is why I am counting on you were taking place far away. Here and now, we are childish, an image of which is paralyzing us? to help the Black Panther Party and to prevent finding out that our own Colonized, which still Should one accept that the Black people, colo­ Bobby Seale’s trial. appeared to us like shadows in our midst, are just nized within a White empire, should attempt to free One has to think that this current of culture, about to become our adversaries, in -this very itself? which has been brutally interrupted by the White country. Because of the very fact that the Black Panther slave-drivers, is coming back again, not on the level The majority of Black people live in misery. It is Party and we ourselves, White people, have the of revolutionary consciousness. It is therefore a very not the Police which stopped drugs in the Black same enemy, meaning the police and, beyond the simple, but very obvious paradox which today colonies; we know that there is a collusion between police, the White House Administration, and be­ makes the Blacks the carriers here, in the USA, of the Police and the Mafia distributing these drugs. yond the White House Administration, the High revolutionary thought and action. Indeed, it is the Black Panther Party itself which Finance, we know that our struggle is a class- JEAN GENET

\ The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 15 Dear Editor, trick. ” The Tenants’ Associations are MAY 1: Public meeting. May Referring to March 7th, 1970 copy of showing increased interest in our own Day—Left Unity—The Working ‘The Black Dwarf I find I am be­ small movement, and with the broadening Class. Holborn Assembly Hall, coming increasingly irritated by your of the housing issue it becomes easier to John's Mews. W. C. 1. 7.30 p. m. infuriating inverted snobbery. As a politicise those who suffer under the student I could find much to sym­ policies of this Labour Government. MAY 2: May Day Fair on Brighton pathise and agree with in your If you agree with us, please help us. seafront all day. Contact Patrick O'Riley at 6a Vernon Terrace, Brigh­ Editorial on University files, but Fraternally, unfortunately you invalidated your Tony Mahony ton. Tel: 732 032. arguments very nicely by continual pp. Campaign to clear Hostels and Slums. MAY 2: Mass meeting and demon­ stration outside Lords Cricket references to an outdated ideology— 3 Osborn St., E . l. “class". Ground from 10. 30—3p.m. Public Yours irritatedly, speakers. Rosemary Mosley As we go to press we have just heard that MAY 2: Dinner for Sir Oswald Mosley's old mates at the Victoria Only the working class can create a the Council has now moved against the Street Restaurant, 117 Victoria St., classless society, and to do so they squatters of Arbour Square. Gas, S.W. 1. at 8p. m. Would not like our have to struggle— to overthrow the electricity and water have been cut off, comrade waiter to come to any bourgeoisie and abolish exploitation. and the squatters are preparing them­ harm. BD selves to fight. The left should give these people as MAY 3: National Front/Monday much assistance as possible— which can Club Rally in Trafalgar Sq., at WHERE IS POLITICAL POWER? be done by ringing 790 4964 if the 2.30p. m. Fascists anonymous. LETTERS MAY 3: Demonstration ‘Law and Dear Dwarf Comrades, struggle is still on. But in giving them this Order' at Folkestone Harbour at I am writing to raise a question about support we must also ask some questions 2.30p. m. Fred Halliday's “People’s War cannot be overemphasised. There are about the usefulness of this kind of MAY 3: Y. S. May Day march from Smashes British Imperialism. ” In it he people from ALL nations, and if we activity in relation to the more general Charing Cross embankment starts at says that the People’s Liberation can form militants here, the move­ question which must always be our 1. 30p.m. Followed by public meeting Army is firmly controlled by the party. ment will spread all over the world ultimate priority: the development of a at Lyceum, Aldwich at 4p. m. Surely this is dangerous, as the party when they return to their various mass revolutionary movement. Coaches from all areas. Contact head must be in the capital. After all, countries. Our efforts are con­ What, in fact, are the priorities o f Y. S., 186a Clapham High St., S.W. 4. that is where the political life of the centrated on the youth of the Comrade Mahony's Campaign? Is he country, be what it may, is International School of Geneva, the primarily concerned with exposing the MAY 5: Chinese film of nuclear concentrated. This is where the organs school that we go to, and we have Labour Party? Or is he primarily con­ of central power are. The commander started a weekly underground news­ cerned with the housing situation as a tests. Exhibition Hall, Camden of the army, or guerrilla force, must paper, called “Barricade”. political issue? Or is he primarily con- Studios, Camden St., N. W. 1. 7.30 descend to the city; he can always Fraternally, Lerned with the squatters themselves? If p. m. send an emissary to the mountains. The Action Committee of the first, what are the arguments fo r using MAY 8: A WOMAN’S WORK IS The commander must be in the city to Revolutionaries in Geneva. squatting to expose the Labour Party, as NEVER PAID FOR. Public Meeting discuss political positions, when they opposed to other forms o f political action? on Women’s Rights, 7. 30 p. m. do not accord with the concrete I f the second, Comrade Mahony must Speakers: Chris Norwood M . P., BLAST Anne Spencer NUTGW, Audrey Wise problems of his men, such as when justify this particular form of direct action USDAW, Chairman Brian Nicholson, they request aid etc. But this will put as the best method of demonstrating the Comrades, TGWU. Conway Hall, Red Lion him sooner or later in a dangerous During tea break discussions at our political realities o f the housing situation. position, and leave him open to I f he is primarily concerned with the Square, W. C. 1. steelworks we found great difficulty in MAY 8: Chinese film; “ FROM assassination or capture by imperialist squatters themselves, then victory in a explaining the editorial of Dwarf (32) VICTORY TO VICTORY” East forces. I would like to know if this is confrontation with the council is vitally to our fellow workers. Apart from this Finchley Library, 226 High Rd., N. 2. so in the Gulf. I would like to hear important. one half page of very confused think­ 8 p. m. Fred Halliday’s view on this. ing we found Dwarf (32) to be most We must also ask questions about the Life to the Revolution, informative. idea o f “using the issue correctly. ” I f Yours in the Revolution, In further discussion at home one Comrade Mahony’s intention is to expose MAY 1 3 : Peter Haine and others David Nixen. of our workmates put forward the the Labour Party, then what campaigning speak on Apartheid in Sport at Cope­ Blackburn, Lancs. view that the editorial was somewhat has his group done against Labour? What land School, Wembly High St., at out of tone with the rest of the Dwarf political questions has he raised? What 8p.m. Oganised by Wembly/Harrow The comrade is quite right, to stress and he was sure that middle class issues (besides the squat itself) are being Anti-Apartheid, but will possibly be a that the centres of political power in confusion and petty bourgeois radical used? In other words, what political pre­ joint venture with Brent Community Arabia are the cities. The Sultan of ideals were once again seeping into paration, groundwork and propaganda are Relations Board. Further details Muscat lives in Salala, capital of being carried out? from: 902 2117. Dhofar, and in the Gulf there is Dwarfs otherwise revolutionary pages. We suggest that you take a little As regards the confrontation itself. We MAY 15: Meeting to organise anti- virtually no population outside of the leaf from Uncle Josephs book and agree that confrontations can have the Powell demonstration. Meet Alperton coastal cities. eradicate those responsible. effect o f raising political understanding. Park Hotel, 183 Ealing Road, Alper­ It is precisely because the city is Remember that the revolution is But only when they are conducted in a ton, Middx. (Alperton or Wembly the strongest point that it has not for the working class and not for the political manner— when politics is in Cen. Stns) at 7.30p. m. Organised c/o been attacked first. The revolution sake of middle class polemics. And command. The confrontation alone will 15 Taylor’s Green, W. 3. 743 1172. has begun at the weakest point— in when the revolution comes, and not do the job for us, any more than a skin­ MAY 15: Meeting to -“ mark Pales­ the Dhofar countryside. By building comrades it fucking will, then beware, head who has a fight with a policeman will tine Day” at Friends Meeting House, up in the countryside it will then have for present diversionary blind alley immediately gain a great insight into the Euston Road, N. W. 1. at 7p.m, a strong base from which to launch intellectualizing will have to be nature o f the capitalist system. We must Organised by Palestine Solidarity urban insurrection, and the urban answered for, and those responsible also ask what Comrade Mahony is doing Campaign. strongholds of the regime will be crushed, eaten, shitted out and used to make the confrontation bigger in terms weakened. as fertilzer. o f getting local support— as opposed to MAY 15: Bernadett Devlin, Michael This was the strategy of the Greetings Comrades. getting support from leftists from other Foot, Paul Foot and others to speak Chinese revolution, and it raises the K. S. Willy Jones and J. F. Gwyn parts o f London via letters to the Blac at rally to demand the release of question of how to ensure political Jones. The Blast Furnaces, East Dwarf and strategic communication between Irish prisoners in England. Conway Moors Division of Steel company of The essence of the problem Comrade town and countryside. At the initial Hall, Red Lion Square, W. C. 1. at Wales Cardiff. Mahony faces is this: our article on the 7.30p. m. Organsied by the Irish Civil stage of the struggle a revolutionary squat, while giving the squatters full Rights Solidarity Campaign. leadership need not be physically in support, also raised the problem of how the towns, but it has to know the con­ the masses relate to this form o f struggle. ditions in the towns and maintain con­ MAY 16: Public Meeting; “ Hand Dear Comrade While Comrade Mahony seems conscious and Brain in Chinese Culture. ” stant contact with them. The rural o f the limitations o f squatting as a method guerilla war itself cannot be launched We liked your article on the squat in Speaker; Dr Joseph Needham. Main Abour Square, but we want to make our o f developing a mass-based movement, we Hall, College of Preceptors, 2 and 3 without prior political preparation in still do not feel that he has satisfactorily both town and countryside. position clear about what happens when Bloomsbury Square, W. C. 1. 7 p. m. the Courts decide against us and the answered this important question. In Latin America the rural strategy police and bailiffs move in. In Tower J. H. has been largely abandoned; Hamlets the issue is more than merely a MAY 18: Lecture on Productivity revolutionaries there have adopted punch-up with any old Council. The Deals and how to fight them by Tony urban guerilla war as the main form break-up of the Labour Party, even in its Cliff at Forresters Hall, Highgate of struggle. In Arabia it has been traditional strongholds, makes it vitally Road, Kentish Town, N. W. 5. 8pm. possible to create a liberated area. important politically that our con­ Contact R. McGibbon, 22 Estelle Rd., But it is separated by hundreds of frontation with the Labour Council in N. W. 5. of Camden I. S. miles of desert from the oil cities of Tower Hamlets be used to raise the con­ EVENTS MAY 17: Enoch Powell rants in the Gulf, where political life is cen­ sciousness of people in the district as to Wembly at Wembly Conservative tred. It will be relatively easy to what the Labour game is. Thus we would APRIL 31 and MAY 1: Literature Club, Copaland High School, capture the cities of Dhofar still held hope that a confrontation between Festival in Old Theatre, L. S. E., Wembly. Details from Ad hoc Cttee., by reaction: it will be a lot more diffi­ C. C. H. S. and the Council will interest the Houghton St., Aldwych, W. C.2. c/o 15 Taylor's Green, W. 3. 743 1172. cult to translate the guerilla war in Left generally, and we want the Left to MAY 1; Merseyside dockers strike MAY 22-5: Unfree Pop. 1 mile from the mountains into armed insurrection help us when the time comes. against unemployment, Tory anti­ Keele, 2 miles from Newcastle- and military invasion of the Gulf union plans and Vietnam war. under-Lyme. Organised by Blackhill cities. Construction workers strike at Dista agency. There is a political movement What we would hope for is that if the site in Speke, and at Girlings. MAY 22-25: March and rally planned among the workers of the cities. The confrontation is large enough and we use Organised by Liverpool Trades about David Kitson. From Ruskin struggle in the mountains is both an the issue correctly, far from being a defeat Council. College to Trafalgar Square. encouragement to them and will for the squatters’ movement and the Left Organised by Ruskin College Kitson increasingly form a concrete military Committee. in general, it could be a victory. The MAY 1: Eviction of young couple and political ally. It is precisely when larger issue is that Tower Hamlets Coucil with children from 24 Grafton JUNE 1: South Africa Cricket team the two arms of such a struggle are has, like a parasite, lived off the Labour Terrace, N. W. 5. Demonstration or­ arrives. Demonstration at Heathrow controlled by a revolutionary party Airport. Organised by Stop 70 Tour. movement for too long, and as you ganised by St. Pancras-Camden Uni­ that victory is possible. JUNE 6: Cricket demonstration. correctly state in your article, while hypo­ ted Tenants, Association. If you want critically supporting the rent rebels against to help stop this eviction, ring Mrs. March from Marble Arch to Lords the Tory G. L. C., they make no effort on Luby, 267 1299. Cricket Ground. Organised by Stop A GOOD START their own part to spell out the economic 70 Tour. JUNE 6: Party drinks and music at D ear Sir, realities of housing. If they did so, they MAY 1: Left Unity—the Working We are a group of revolutionaries in would indict, along with the G. L. C., the Camden studios, Camden Street, Class. I. S. public meeting. Holborn N. W. 1. at 7.30p. m. Organised by Geneva, Switzerland. The importance Labour Government. Which gives us an Assembly Hall, John's Mews, W. C. 1. of Geneva in the revolutionary sphere opportunity now to expose their “political Camden movement for Peoples 7.30p. m. Power, 8 Bramshaw Gardens, N. W. 5. The Black Dwarf 10th May 1970 Page 16

Social-Democrat Otto Bauer and come from his anti-Leninist book Bolshevism or Social-Democracy? Lenin prefaced his use of these sterile categories by saying: “This is an example of how Marxism has been de­ based, of the level of banality and de­ fense of the exploiters to which the most revolutionary theory can be re­ duced. It is only the German variety of the petty-bourgeois spirit which could produce a theory according to which the ‘factors of social force’ are... ” Lenin went on to say: “Per­ haps this example is a bit ludicrous, but it is of the nature of contemporary opportunism that its struggle against contemporary Bolshevism does be­ come ludicrous” (Lenin, Collected Works, Vol. 31 pp. 229-230). This “mistake” was corrected, with­ out explanation, when the theses were reprinted in the theoretical journal Komm unist a month later. The inci­ DIARY dent is politically very significant: not REPRESSION only does it reveal the staggering ignorance of Leninism that charac­ For flagrantly and deliberately drink­ terises the Soviet regime to-day, it also ing a cup of coffee Paul Hoch has shows how the modern revisionism of been sent to Jail for 28 days. At the Brezhner and Kosygin naturally re­ hearing, today, in Queen’s Bench produces the old revisionist errors of Court No 2, he was jailed for break­ fifty years ago. ing an injuction that LSE had put up­ on him not to enter the School. He ex­ plained to the court that he did not The Spanish Workers’ Defence Commit­ break the ‘spirit’ of the injuction, and tee is calling for solidarity with two young he offered to promise never to enter Basques who are awaiting trial for throw­ the schools for disruptive reasons. ing molotov cocktails at the Spanish This was not enough for the LSE, Embassy. The last person tried for this offence got seven years. More important who insisted on taking their pound of still, one of the Basques, Juan Echebarria, flesh. is wanted by the Spanish for political crimes that could carry the death sen­ tence. The Spanish Authorities are asking for extradition. The British must be stop­ ped from handing him over. Contact: SWDC, 31, Dartmouth Park Road, London. NW5. GUERNICA

The Franco government recently in­ vited Pablo Picasso to return and al­ low his famous painting of the fascist when you work for the Express you a streamlining to the existing atrocity “Guernica” to be shown in become an intellectual prostitute. ” revolutionary film-sc e n e Madrid. He refused, saying that only “Fine” they said “As long as we Meanwhile, the main groups working when Spain was a democratic republic can print that, then our opinion of the with films are: Hoch pictured here, an ex-editor of again would he allow the painting to role of the Express is confirmed”. Angry Arts Film Society (6 Bramshill Senate, the London University news­ return. “Print that” said Cass “And I and Gardens, NW5, 01-263 0613); a groups paper, is a Black Dwarf contributor. Now in the wake of the My Lai the paper will sue you for every penny that regularly shows revolutionary films He has just written a book for Sheed massacre 265 American writers and you’ve got. Besides, this isn’t Alain with well-prepared discussion handouts as and Ward on ‘Academic Freedom in painters have written to Picasso ask­ Cass you’re talking to anyway”. preparation for the showing, and lengthy Action’, and the next issue of Black ing him to withdraw the painting from “Yes it is” they said, “There are discussion after the film on its implications Dwarf will carry an article by him on the Museum of Modern Art in New two of us this end who heard you ans­ for revolutionaries. the ownership of the press. York. wer the phone. And we haven’t got Newsreel (1. 1 Liston Rd, SW4 01-622 As we go to press the repression of any money anyway”. 958); the group that handles films made student militants is escalating sharply. TH E D A IL Y ETH IC S “This is a personal conversation” by the newsreel group in America, plus In Cambridge, Liverpool, Essex, said Cass, “You’re breaking every any other films that come their way, Oxford and the LSE, university In a series on the Left in The Daily code of ethics if you print it out of including one or two British ones. Most authorites are on the move. We have Express guresomely entitled The context” . films cost £1. 0. 0. to hire. dropped our student reports from this Bloodstained Banner the writer Alain So the two from Agit-Prop asked us London Film Co-op (1 Robert St. issue, they were overtaken by events, Cass finished with these words. to print the story in its full context. NW1. 387 6573); not concerned with the and there will be a full discussion of “And as if to symbolise this recent politics of their films, they nevertheless the repression in the next Black insidious growth an organisation cal­ IWC v. DUNLOP have facilities for making and distributing Dwarf. ling itself Agit-Prop (Agitation and films for anyone who wants to use them. Propaganda) provides a world-wide Inspired by the Institute for Workers Membership of the film-making group CELEBRATING LENIN contacts service for extremists. Control, seven militants picketed (entitling you to free use of their equip­ The Lenin Centenary has created It charges £3 to £5 for information Dunlop’s head office in Ryder Street ment) is £5 p. a., or £2 per quarter. severe ideological problems for the on groups in Britain. Thus in the few on April 17th. Dunlops are closing Polit Kino (5 Beaufort Gardens, SW3, Soviet regime. This menace was years that street politics have grown in down one of their three Canadian 01 584 2735); handles exceptional foreign so great that at a celebratory show Britain, a small industry has sprung Plants. The men there offered to buy films—usually very left-wing—-that ing of a film on the life of Lenin at up for the New Left. the factory and keep it in production. wouldn’t otherwise get shown in this the Soviet Embassy in London, an offi­ It deals in slogans and political dia­ Dunlops refused. Charles Levinson, of country. cial had to get up before the film and tribe. It is as mercenary and as adapt­ the International Chemical Workers, Cinemantics (117 Hartfield Rd., SW19 say: “In order to avoid questions on able as the sex-industry of Soho, and has threatened retaliation against 1 542 3018); a bi-monthly film magazine this being asked afterwards, I would its end product is—significantly— Pirelli, the giant Italian Rubber com­ aimed at rethinking the process of film- like to say before hand that the rea­ violence” . pany now merging with Dunlops. making in the direction of understanding sons Stalin and Trotsky are not shown As most readers will already know Excited by this unprecedented pos­ film as a socialist activity. Important is that they were both away at the Agit-Prop is an excellent voluntary sibility of international action against interviews and feature items on many Front at the time”. organisation of comrades rubbing a branch of monoploy capitalism, the aspects of the industry. In London they try to chase history along on a few donations and trying to Institute are trying to stir up opposi­ Grip (The Other Cinema, 18 Carlisle off to the Front. Things in Moscow provide a much needed Left informa­ tion in Britain as well. St., W l. 01 734 7448); another radical were not much better, where four lead­ tion service. Though not illusioned film-magazine, First issue includes ing members of the Party’s ideological about the role of the bourgeois media KINO FIST important theses by Godard in section have recently been dismissed. two Agit-Prop comrades decided to revolutionary film-making, plus an inter­ The following incident, in particular, gently question Cass on his motives Agitprop has now published a useful pre­ view with Glauber Rocha (“Black God is rumoured to have been the cause of for this particular distortion. So they liminary film-list, classifying most of the and White Devil. ”) the dismissal of Vladimir Stepakov, phoned him at the Express. His first available left wing movies by subject, former head of the Central Commit­ reaction was to deny that the compari­ distributor, and cost of hire. The difficulty tee’s Department of Propaganda and son with the sex-industry referred to they had in compiling the list led to dis­ Agitation. Agit-Prop at all. That didn’t work and cussions with a number of socialist film- Last December Pravda published a set he was asked whether he would pub­ groups, with the aim of rationalising the STOP PRESS of political theses to commemorate lish a correction in his paper, but of present situation so as to avoid duplication the hundreth anniversary of Lenin’s course he refused. He then said that of effort and increase co-operation. There The Black Power demonstration, birth. The fourteenth theses contained he had “Great respect for the New was disagreement on the priorities of on Sunday April 26, against the the following passage: Left” and he was only referring to, socialists in this field: should the main job Trinidad High Commission met “In his preliminary notes on the re­ “The idiots who chase around waving be to use a few selected films as political with appalling police brutality. port about the international situation red and blacks flags and shouting weapons, incorporating them in a general First there were provocateurs, and the principal tasks of the Comin­ confrontation and bourgeois and who agitational offensive—or should the main then snatch squads, finally tern, Lenin listed five social factors of wouldn’t know Das Kapital from their aim be to build alternative distribution net­ trunchon whippings, as demon­ the proletariat’s force: 1) numbers, 2) arse” . works to the big commercial ones, in­ strators fought back and went to degree of organisation, 3) their place Well, came back the answer, if he cluding the possibility of printing new help individuals who had been in the process of production and liked the New Left so much, why films from abroad and providing an outlet singled out. 20 comrades were distribution, 4) activity, 5) education”. didn’t he write positive things about for radical film-makers generally? The arrested. This passage does indeed occur in the contents of its actions and writ­ different groups represented had different Lenin’s report to the Second Congress ings, rather than a lot of destructive views on this problem, but they agreed of the Comintern in July 1920. But shit? “Look, ” said fearless journalist that a Socialist film conference would be they are the words of the Austrian Cass, “You know as well as I that useful to everybody and could lead both to