■ I Africa Asia Europe Oceania the Americas Vol. 14, No. 10 1976 by Intercontinental Press March 15, 1976

..4^# - i i.. Rhodesia's Racist c4-, • ^ Regime Under 1^ Heavy Pressure -m SMITH: Beefs up military.

Betty Hamilton and - On Healy's Frame-up of Hanson and Novack

Mao Regales Nixon With 'Eight-Jeweled Pigeon' America's Hottest Export Item—Watergate Scandals PC Frances Empieza a Descartar Mascara Marxista

Livio Maitan Problems of the Cuban Workers State Angola fall into the familiar pattern of blaming "foreign agitators" for rises in the militancy of workers and their allies. In this case, it is the upsurge in southern Africa that worries the imperialists. For this they blame the Russians and especial Saber Rattling Over Cuba's African Roie ly the Cubans. The March 1 column by the reactionary Rowland Evans and Robert Novak offers a By David Frankel good example of such propaganda: "The chilling prospect that Fidel Castro On February 28, in an election appeal secure in announcing—only three days intends further use of his 12,000 Cuban aimed at the right-wing Cuban vote in after Kissinger left—the country's first troops in Angola to 'free' South African- Florida, presidential candidate Ford de commercial deal with Cuba since 1964. controlled Namibia is causing far more nounced the Cuban government as "an Likewise noticeable was the fact that the consternation inside President Ford's international outlaw." Peruvian government recognized the White House than Cuba's original Angola Ford, a last-ditch supporter of the MPLA government the day after Kissinger intervention." imperialist intervention in Vietnam, went left Lima. Claiming that "the question is how to on to label the Castro government "a Colombian President Alfonso Lopez stop" Castro from carrying out his sup regime of aggression" because of the Michelsen announced his intention to posed African plans, Evans and Novak presence of Cuban troops in Angola. recognize the MPLA with Kissinger sitting said: "One possible answer under tentative Ford's boundless hypocrisy can be next to him."We have our own position on discussion is an outright U.S. naval judged from the fact that Washington has Angola," he said. blockade of Cuba itself." repeatedly toppled Latin American govern Asked about the Cuban involvement in But the American inperialists are well ments, subsidized dictators, and even used Angola, Lopez, obviously referring to the aware that the basic problem they face in troops in Central America and the Ca U.S. role in Vietnam, said: "This is not the southern Africa is not the presence of ribbean. Scarcely a country in the world first time that one of the countries in the Cuban contingents in Angola. Instead, it today has escaped the malignant effects of hemisphere has been involved in extrahe- is the rising determination of the African the corruption, subversion, and brutal misphere affairs." masses in many countries to rid them violence employed by American imperial Kissinger obviously acquiesced in ad selves of white minority rule and throw off ism in defense of its interests. vance to the verbal thrusts against Wash the yoke of imperialism. Ford's tirade against Cuba included a ington. "Kissinger, smiling and relaxed, The mobilization of the African masses threat. He said, ". . . I solemnly warn seemed unperturbed by the Colombian's is now threatening the shaky racist regime Fidel Castro against any temptation to remarks," according to a dispatch from of Ian Smith in Rhodesia, and putting armed intervention in the Western Hemis Penny Bernoux in the February 24 Wash increased pressure on the South Africans phere. Let his regime, or any like-minded ington Post. in Namibia. The new regime in Mozam government, be assured the bique has been pushed by the pressure of would take the appropriate measures." the masses to take a more militant stand One of Kissinger's objectives in his tour Attacks in the same vein were answered against white rule in Rhodesia, and the thus seems to have been to assure the by Castro at the end of last year. When imperialists fear that this process may Latin Americans that Washington would Ford said that the Cuban role in Angola eventually challenge their control over all not retaliate if they recognized the MPLA had canceled any chance for improving of southern Africa. government in Angola. This would accord relations between Washington and Hava with the State Department's decision to na, Castro replied in a December 22 make a turn in Angola, a course first This is the real source of concern in speech: indicated by the permission granted to Washington. The attempt to blame the "What is there left to cancel that they Gulf Oil to resume friendly collaboration Cubans for stirring up trouble in Africa is haven't already canceled in vain? What with the MPLA as in the past. a cynical ploy in Ford's campaign for the can they take away which has not already This turn dovetails with the actions of right-wing vote in the United States. And heen taken away? Nothing! The situation America's imperialist allies in Europe in it is part of the publicity designed to justify is one of absolute impotence on their part." hastily mending fences with the MPLA. more intensive American intervention Castro's reply was to the point. Over the Aside from Ford's bid to rightist Cuban against the freedom-seeking movements in last fifteen years, Washington has placed voters, the attacks on Cuba's role in Africa. □ an embargo on the island, mounted an armed invasion, underwritten continual counterrevolutionary efforts of right-wing exile groups, and sought to assassinate Castro. Washington still bans trade with Cuba. Yet the country has survived and Free Desmond Trotter! grown stronger. In a six-country Latin American tour, On March 18 and 19 the Privy Council in had been sick at home with a severe which ended just before Ford's February , the highest court in the British asthma attack when the killing took place. 28 speech, Kissinger echoed Ford's attacks. Commonwealth, is scheduled to hear the Kissinger was obviously assigned to rein appeal of Desmond Trotter. If the appeal is force Ford's electioneering handouts. denied. Trotter faces death by hanging. As a leading member of the Movement To what extent Kissinger was trying to A militant on the Caribbean island of for a New Dominica, and the editor of its organize reprisals against Cuba remains Dominica, the twenty-one-year-old Trotter monthly publication, Twavay, Trotter was to be seen. Apparently he had secret has been held in solitary confinement a marked man. During the late 1960s he objectives that did not necessarily corre since his arrest in May 1974 on a frame-up had been a central leader of the Black spond with his public statements. murder charge. Trotter was accused of Power movement that emerged in Domini It was noticeable, for example, that even killing an American tourist despite the ca at that time. He was an organizer and the government of tiny Costa Rica felt testimony of numerous witnesses that he main speaker at African Liberation Day

Intercontinental Press demonstrations on the island in 1971, 1972, and 1973. A series of strikes by agricultural work ers led the Dominica Labour party govern ment to intensify its repression against its left-wing opposition. Two days after the killing of the American tourist, then In This Issue Closing News Date: March 8, 1976 Deputy Prime Minister Patrick John made a radio speech charging that the shooting FEATURES 393 America's Hottest Export Item—Watergate was "the handiwork of a few degenerate Scandals—by Steve Clark leaders, who see themselves as architects A Statement on Healy's Frame-up of Hansen of a new society, projecting new standards and Novack—by and and cultures unacceptable to the majority Pierre Lambert of our people. . . ." "Socialist Action" Denounces WRP The "evidence" against Trotter was the Smear Campaign testimony of a police corporal who claimed RHODESIA Why Mozambique Closed Border to have found Trotter sitting on an —by Ernest Harsch overturned bucket with a gun beneath it New York Rally Protests Torture of Iranian two months after the killing, and the Dissidents—by Jose Perez account of a fifteen-year-old woman who Mao Regales Nixon With "Eight-Jeweled admitted to a lawyer that her testimony Pigeon"—by David Frankel was perjured. ANGOLA Washington Lifts Trade Embargo However, the trial went on—with "Hang BOLIVIA Students, Miners Go Out on Strike Desmond" signs painted above the entry DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Dock Workers Fight for Democratic Rights to the jury room and the entrance to the —by Jose Perez lounge where the jury took its midmorning BRITAIN Steel Bosses Slash Jobs, Wages —by Tony Hodges break. SOUTH AFRICA South Africa: NATO's Secret Partner —by Ernest Harsch The Committee in Defense of Desmond International Campaign to Free Trotter and Political Prisoners in Domini Hernan Cuentas ca urges that protests be sent to Prime Problems of the Cuban Workers State Minister Patrick John, House of Assembly, —by Roseau, Dominica. Copies should be sent SPAIN Workers Debate Union Orientation to the committee at P.O. Box 231, Roseau, NEWS ANALYSIS Saber Rattling Over Cuba's African Role Dominica. □ —by David Frankel Free Desmond Trotter! CAPITALISM The Derwent—Australia's Lethal River FOULS THINGS UP —by John Tully Leonid Brezhnev—Creator AROUND THE WORLD of the 'Cloudless Sky' BOOKS Hungry for Profits—reviewed by During the Soviet Communist party's Steve Clark twenty-fifth congress, Leonid Brezhnev DOCUMENTS The Right to Hear —An was variously described as "the most out Exchange of Correspondence With the State Department standing political figure of our epoch," "a DRAWINGS 396 Agostinho Neto; 405, John Vorster bright and inspiring example of selfless —by Copain service," "a passionate fighter for Com EN ESPANOL: munism," and "a son of the people." FRANCIA 429 PC Frances Empieza a Descartar Did this adulation signal a revival of the Mascara Marxista—por Rebecca Finch Stalin-style personality ? Not at all, according to Eduard A. Shevardnadze, the leader of the Georgian CP. Praising Brezhnev was not a matter of "personality," he said, but "purely party, businesslike, congress talk." According to a report in the March 2 New York Times, Shevardnadze then "went on to describe Mr. Brezhnev's 'art of Intercontinental Press, P.O. Box 116, Village opinion, unsigned material expresses the standpoint penetrating into the soul of a man' and Station, New York. N Y. 10014. of revolutionary . Editor: Joseph Hansen. Office: , 10 Impasse Guemenee, said he had helped create 'a pure and Contributing Editors: Pierre Frank, Livio Maitan, 75004, Paris, . cloudless sky above us.'" , George Novack. To Subscribe: For one year send $24 to Interconti Editorial Staft: Michael Baumann, Gerry Foley, nental Press, P.O. Bcfx 116. Village Station, New York, David Frankel, Ernest Harsch, Judy White. N Y. 10014. Write for rates on first class and airmail. Business Manager: Steven Warshell . For airmai l subscriptions in Europe: Write to Copy Editor: Mary Roche. Pathfinder Press, 47 The Cuf, London SE1 8LL. In Technical Staff: Paul Deveze, Larry Ingram, James Austral ia: Write to Pathfinder Press, P.O. Box 151, M. Morgan, Bill Razukas, Earl Williams. Glebe 2037. In New Zealand: Write to Socialist Books, Documents discussed at 1974 Tenth Published in New York each Monday except last in P O. Box 1663, Wellington. December and first in January; not published in Special rates available for subscriptions to colonial World Congress of . August. and semicolonial countries. 128 pages, 8y2 x 11, $2.50 Intercontinental Press specializes in political Subscription correspondence should be ad analysis and interpretation of events of particular dressed to Intercontinental Press, P.O. Box 116, Intercontinental Press interest to the labor, socialist, colonial independence. Vi llage Station, New York, N Y. 10014. P.O. Box 116, Village Station Black, and women's liberation movements. Please allow five weeks for change of address. New York, NY 10014 Signed articles represent the views of the authors, Include your old address as well as your new address, which may not necessari ly coincide with those of and. if possible, an address label from a recent issue. Intercontinental Press. Insofar as it reflects editorial Copyright ® 1976 by Intercontinental Press

March 15, 1976 Smith's Racist Regime Under Heavy Pressure

Why Mozambique Closed Rhodesian Border

By Ernest Harsch

Pressure is mounting against the white March 1 from Umtali, in eastern Rhodesia, camps. They are rural slums— supremacist regime now ruling Zimbabwe "Since last summer, there has been a overcrowded, without basic facilities and (Rhodesia). steady exodus of youths and men across unhealthy." In the wake of the setback to American the Mozambique border to join the guerril The measures against the African popu and South African imperialism in Angola, la forces. The defections have been particu lation and against the guerrillas proved the Zimbabwean freedom fighters have larly marked in the Roman Catholic only partially effective, however. With the escalated their campaign to oust the mission schools, where in some classes new rise of Zimbabwean resistance to colonial-settler regime of Ian Smith and to most of the teen-age boys have gone." white settler rule, the Smith regime has win Black majority rule. The Smith regime is attempting to meet been forced to begin mobilizing the entire At the same time, the American, British, this growing challenge with force. The white population, which numbers only and South African governments have entire zone along the Mozambique border about 250,000, compared with more than 6 stepped up efforts to engineer a negotiated has been declared a "no-go" area, in which million Blacks. settlement in Zimbabwe before the anyone can be shot on sight. The Rhode- Reservists are being called up for active struggle escapes control and threatens sians have built a 300-mile fence along the service as often as four times a year. All imperialist interests throughout southern border, interspersing it with minefields. white males between the ages of 25 and 38 Africa. A total of seventy-eight guerrillas were are subject to conscription, and those up to Beginning in February, the Zimbabwean reported to have been killed by Rhodesian 55 may be drafted to perform clerical and guerrillas increased activity. This followed forces in the last three weeks of February, guard duties, fi-eeing younger troops for a recent influx of freedom fighters, who compared with thirteen Rhodesian troops combat. The five-year draft exemption for crossed into the country from camps in killed in action since the beginning of the new white immigrants has been cut to two neighboring Mozambique. year. years, and women have been encouraged Reporting from Salisbury, the Rhodesian However, the Rhodesian figure for the to join up for small arms, signals, and capital, Martin Meredith said in the number of "terrorists" killed may also logistics duties. A second battalion of February 22 London Sunday Times, "The include civilians. For example, after in African troops has been raised to supple moutainous border region with Mozam vestigating a reported massacre of civili ment the white forces. bique, which stretches for 800 miles, is ans that occurred in June 1975, the The Rhodesian regime now has 4,500 ideal guerrilla territory. About 1,000 guer Catholic Commission for Justice and regular troops and 1,200 air force person rillas have now infiltrated across the Peace in Rhodesia concluded that Rhode nel, with about forty combat aircraft. They frontier, and the area of operation, once sian military forces had fired on a group of are supported by 8,000 police, 35,000 police confined to the north-east, now extends to Africans at the Karima kraal (village) near reservists, and 10,000 army reservists. the south-east." Mount Darwin, killing nine children and According to Meredith, these forces are The Shona people, who inhabit northern four women. now being stretched to their limit by the and eastern Zimbabwe, also live across the A former Rhodesian soldier revealed in escalating guerrilla campaign. border in parts of Mozambique, facilitating London February 26 that he had partici Since the Rhodesian military has been the guerrillas' ability to carry out actions pated in a massacre of sixty African unable to halt the movement of guerrillas from their bases in that country. civilians. into the country, it has resorted to preemp Nicholas Ashford reported in the March In addition to this use of terror against tive strikes across the border into Mozam 1 London Times that the Rhodesian forces the Zimbabwean population, Salisbury has bique. appeared to be heavily engaged on two sought to isolate the guerrillas from their On February 25, Salisbury announced fronts, one near Mount Darwin in the civilian supporters by forcibly resettling that it had engaged in "hot pursuit" northeast, where earlier guerrilla cam the rural population along the borders into against a group of guerrillas. The raid paigns had been carried out, and the other so-called protected villages. In the Chi- against a base near Pafuri, Mozambique, near the town of Chipinga in the south weshe Tribal Trust Land alone, the racist reportedly took twenty-four lives. Rhode east. Fighting has also been reported near regime began in 1974 to herd an estimated sian Defense Minister Pieter K. van der the tourist area around Inyanga and 60,000 inhabitants into such "protected Byl defended this "hot pursuit" practice, Vumba. villages." calling it "time-hallowed." In addition to the guerrillas already These villages, based on the "strategic The attack against the Pafuri base fighting in Zimbabwe, another 3,000 in hamlet" concept employed by Washington sparked a sharp reaction from the Mozam Mozambique are reported ready to engage in Vietnam, are surrounded by barbed wire bique regime. Calling it an "act of war," in action. Between 10,000 and 20,000 and kept under constant armed guard. Mozambique President Samora Machel recruits, according to varying reports, are They are placed under dusk-to-dawn cur declared March 3 that he was closing undergoing training in Mozambique, Tan few and all inhabitants over the age of Mozambique's border to all transportation zania, and Zambia, which borders Rhode thirteen are required to register with the and communication links with Rhodesia. sia on the north. authorities. Rhodesian forces have used He said the country was being placed on a According to Meredith, Zimbabwean clubs and electric prods to move unwilling war footing and ordered the seizure of all "sympathies lie overwhelmingly with the Zimbabweans. Rhodesian property in Mozambique, which guerrillas." He added that "each week In a report in the February 26 Washing included commercial transportation and more disaffected black youths are leaving ton Post, Robin Wright quoted a prominent storage facilities. A number of Rhodesian to join them." Zimbabwean political scientist, who had railway employees were arrested. New York Times correspondent Henry visited the sites, as sajdng, "It is no In defense against possible Rhodesian Kamm confirmed this account. He reported exaggeration to call them concentration air strikes, Machel called on Mozambicans

Intercontinental Press to build air raid shelters in all major with the growing militancy in his own population centers and to staff antiaircraft ranks and the African population in defenses during off-duty hours. general who have come to the conclusion Following the Rhodesian attack on that, given the regime's present frame of Pafuri, of Zambia, a Lusaka mind, the talks are a futile exercise." ZAMBIA daily owned by President Kenneth Kaun- With the negotiations deadlocked and da's ruling United National Independence SalisSum P sentiment for liberation on the rise, the party, called on Zambians to prepare for RHODESIA; British government has stepped up efforts war, declaring that "an attack on Mozam to defuse the explosive situation. Indhi bique is an attack on Zambia." The Still officially the colonial ruler of newspaper of Tanzania's ruling Tanganyi BOTSWANA. Ocean Rhodesia (no government in the world has ka African National Union expressed its recognized the settlers' 1965 declaration of with the Mozambique border ■ Maputo y-T "independence" from Britain), London has closing, delaring that Tanzania "is also at -1 ^ increased pressure on Smith during the war." past few weeks to make concessions to the The blocking of the two rail lines Black majority before it is "too late." between landlocked Rhodesia and the SOUTH British officials have stressed the danger C n

March 15, 1976 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs While backing Britain's diplomatic ef Rhodesian nationalist leader Joshua Nko Edward Rowlands told the House of forts, Washington has at the same time mo." Commons that the Mozambique action warned that it would actively oppose any The February 26 New York Times made it "even more important" for Smith attempts by Moscow or Havana to become reported that "it was learned last week in to accept a transition to majority rule. involved in the Zimbabwe conflict as they Johannesburg that South Africa has The March 3 Guardian indicated that had in the Angolan civil war. In testimony conveyed to the Government here [Salisbu London would also be ready to take part in before the House Committee on Interna ry] its warning that under no circum the negotiations under certain circum tional Relations March 4, Kissinger stances would it commit its own army to stances: "If Mr. Nkomo holds in his hands warned the Cubans to "act witb great the defense of Rhodesia though it might an agreement to transfer power that he circumspection because our actions cannot continue to supply arms." finds satisfactory, then Britain may be be deduced from what we did in Angola." However, an unnamed South African useful in easing the transition. If Ian Two days later, Kissinger urged Smith to general, cited by Time magazine corre Smith renounces UDI [the 1965 Unilateral "show flexibility" in the negotiations and spondent Lee Griggs in the March 8 issue, Declaration of Independence], then Britain reminded the Rhodesian regime that "the stated that "there will certainly be some again has a role as constitutional confer time for settlement is now running out." volunteers to go and fight." □ ence covener." He then returned to the timewom theme of Lord Greenhill, a leading British diplo denouncing "outside agitators," saying, mat, was sent to Salisbury February 24 to "we do not accept the proposition that Shah's Oil Revenues May Be Halved Cuba has the right to intervene in this confer with Smith and Nkomo. Bernard D. According to the February 13 Middle East country." Nossiter reported in the February 25 Economic Survey, Iran's potential oil ex His primary concern, however, is that a Washington Post that if Greenhill was told ports may have been overestimated by the by Smith that the white regime was ready massive freedom struggle could emerge in National Iranian Oil Company. Export to turn power over to the Black majority, Zimbabwe, escaping control of the tradi potential, currently figured at 6 million "the British government will take part in tional leadership. This fear is shared by barrels a day, appears "likely to slip to talks between blacks and whites to settle South Africa. something like 3.5 million barrels a day by the details." Although Pretoria was the most import New York Times correspondent Michael ant backer of the Smith regime after the the early 1980s," according to the report. T. Kaufman reported in a February 24 whites staged their 1965 coup. Prime If correct, this slowdown in oil exports dispatch from Salisbury, "This morning, Minister John Vorster has applied pres could seriously cut into forecasted petro Joshua Nkomo . . . said that he welcomed sure on Smith since late 1974 to reach a leum revenues, currently projected at about the British intervention and asserted that settlement with the Zimbabwean freedom $30 billion a year. it had always been his view that 'only fighters. He is well aware of the impact a The report attributes the expected decline Britain could give independence to this Black upsurge in Zimbabwe would have on both to troubles in overall yield and to rapid country.' At a press conference held in a the Black population of South Africa itself. jumps in Iran's internal oil consumption. suburban black township, Mr. Nkomo Following the closing of the Mozam declared, 'Britain must discharge her bique border with Rhodesia, Vorster made responsibility to the people of this coun a speech in the South African Parliament, try.' " which, according to New York Times Costa Rica Resumes Trade With Cuba Other Zimbabweans had a different view correspondent Kamm, fell far short of any Costa Rica has renewed commercial ties of Britain's "responsibilities." On Febru South African commitment to come to with Cuha with the sale of 4,000 tons of ary 26 hundreds of Black supporters of the Smith's aid. beans for $2 million, according to an ANC faction opposed to Nkomo demon Guardian correspondent Stanley Uys announcement by the Costa Rican Export strated in Salisbury against Greenhill's said in a March 3 dispatch from Cape Promotion Center February 27. It was the visit. Town, "Official circles here are expressing first trade deal between the two countries The leaders of that faction refused to the fervent wish—privately—that Smith since 1964, when the Organization of meet with Greenhill while he was in the will understand the message Machel is American States imposed economic sanc area and described his trip as "irrelevant." sending him and settle quickly with tions on Havana. According to Geoffrey Godsell in the March 1 Christian Science Monitor, this implied "that they felt an early guerrilla victory over Rhodesia's whites led by Prime Minister Ian Smith was a certainty Intercontinental Press and might only be delayed by the British P.O. Box 116 envoy's parleying." mm to: Village Station Washington has thrown its diplomatic New York, N.Y. 10014 weight behind London's efforts to avoid a "race war" in Zimbabwe. A State Depart ment spokesman declared February 20, fm: "We are calling on Mr. Smith and the white regime to negotiate realistically and seize what well may be tbeir last opportu nity for a negotiated settlement. "Mr. Smith and his minority regime cannot have any illusions that Britain, or any other country for that matter, could be called upon to rescue or protect them from Country armed conflict." According to State Department sources. □ $24 enclosed for one-year subscription. Secretary of State Kissinger is personally □ $12 enclosed for a six-month subscription. keeping a close daily watch on "critical □ Send information about first-class and airmail rates. areas" in southern Africa.

Intercontinental Press Baraheni Recounts Firsthand Experience in Shah's Prisons

New York Rally Protests Torture of Iranian Dissidents

By Jose Perez

[The following article appeared in the March 12 issue of the Militant, a FREE revolutionary-socialist newsweekly pub lished in New York.] OPEN THE SHAH'S JAILS ! COMMrrtEE FOR ARTISTIC AMD

NEW YORK—Three hundred people 'SATES r siB attended a February 26 meeting at Colum bia University on "Repression in Iran," a country described by one speaker as 'SOHifiUD ■* having "the worst record on human rights in the world." CAR The event was sponsored by the Commit tee for Artistic and Intellectual Freedom in Iran (CAIFI). The featured speaker was Dr. Reza Baraheni, who is Iran's most

prominent modem poet and literary critic Frank Samson/CAIFI Newsletter and is now living in exile after having spent 102 days in the shah's prisons in Speakers at meeting: Reza Baraheni (at microphone), Nasrin Pakizegi (CAIFI), Eric Bentley, 1973. Ivan Morris, Ramsey Clark, Muriel Rukeyser, Aijaz Ahmad, and Bahram Atai. Baraheni was released and allowed to leave the country after protests from organizations such as Amnesty Interna electrically wired iron bed designed to burn Referring to the 1953 CIA coup that tional; the International Association of the person placed on it; and pressing of the brought the shah to power, Clark said: Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and skull in a vise, sometimes until it breaks. "Americans are responsible for the con Novelists (PEN); and CAIFI. He described how one young girl, five or duct of their country. . . . It's our business Other speakers included former U.S. six years old, was beaten so that she would here and everywhere to stand up for Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Eric disclose the identity of other prisoners fundamental human rights." Bentley, playwright and literary critic; placed before her. Prof. Aijaz Ahmad described the militar Ivan Morris, head of the board of Amnesty In another incident he saw a young man ization of Iran, explaining that the United International, USA; Muriel Rukeyser, brought in, tortured for four or five hours, States is supplying the regime with bil president of the American Center of PEN; then dumped back in the cell totally lions of dollars in arms each year. He Prof. Aijaz Ahmad of Rutgers University; disfigured and near death. He was dragged urged that protests be organized against and Bahram Atai, a national field secre out the following day again to be tortured, U.S. military complicity with the dictator tary of CAIFI. and was never seen again. ship. Referring to the long history of U.S. Baraheni also spoke in detail about the CAIFI's Bahram Atai explained to the support to the shah since he was installed plight of oppressed ethnic groups in Iran, audience that a group of Maoists, claiming as dictator by a CIA coup in 1953, who comprise a majority of the population. to represent the Iranian Students Associa Baraheni said, "Americans should know Of the 34 million people, only 14 to 16 tion, had attempted to disrupt several of that support to the shah is support to an million are Persians, yet the Persian Baraheni's recent meetings. He read a illegal government that throttles all hu language is the only one allowed in statement signed by forty individuals and man rights." schools and in books and magazines. organizations supporting Baraheni's right He reported that there are 100,000 Other speakers detailed aspects of U.S. to free speech. political prisoners in the shah's jails, and complicity with the shah's regime and Atai noted that although the Maoists that executions during the past three years outlined ways to protest repression in Iran. had asserted that Baraheni was a "traitor" have averaged two a week. Eric Bentley described how the shah and a SAVAK agent, they had produced In January 1976 alone, eleven people uses annual arts festivals to give his no proof of the allegation, and their were officially executed and eight others regime a liberal image by inviting avant- statements could only be considered scurri killed in "shoot-outs" with the police. garde theater groups. He urged "my lous slander. Baraheni told of his experience in prison colleagues in the theater and music" to The meeting voted unanimously to at the hands of the SAVAK, Iran's U.S.- publicly refuse to take part in such shows. support Baraheni's right to firee speech, trained political police. Ivan Morris urged that similar boycotts and no attempt at a disruption took place. "The torture is unavoidable," he said. be carried out by tourists, labeling the "On the second day of my imprisonment I shah's despotism "monstrous." was strapped on a bed and given seventy- Ramsey Clark detailed the cases of Intercontinental Press will five blows with a wire whip on the bottom several political prisoners. He told of a give you a week by weekonaly- of my feet." producer who was sentenced to eleven sis.of the most important world He described the other methods of years in prison for staging a play by events. torture meted out to political prisoners: Maxim Gorky, and an actor who was electric shock; rape; enemas with boiling given three years for reading lines from Subscribe now! water; plucking of the nails and teeth; an the same play.

March 15, 1976 Royal Reception for Butcher of Vietnam

Mao Regales Nixon With 'Eight-Jeweled Pigeon'

By David Frankel

a man who carries weight within Ameri firont against the aggressive aims of world can ruling circles. capitalism. Some bourgeois commentators have Perhaps Mao is only trying to show suggested that the show put on by Mao, today that he is willing to deal with featuring Nixon as No. 1 hero in the anybody, no matter how reactionary, if it United States, was a maneuver in China's fits in with the narrow nationalistic internal politics. China is one of the few interests of the bureaucratic ruling caste. countries in the world where such a However, the main implication of the deception could be successful. The regime invitation to Nixon certainly seemed to be is able to get away with the fraud because that Mao regards Ford and Kissinger as it has never reported the details of Water not belligerent enough in their attitude gate to the Chinese people, using the toward the Kremlin. pretext that the scandal was an "internal That was how the New York Times read affair" of the United States. Mao's main objective. "What would Chi Whatever calculations the Maoist bu nese officialdom think," the editors asked reaucrats may have had on this score, it February 24, "if the White House was certainly ironic that Mao was enter engineered a journey to the United States taining Nixon, formerly the head of the by Teng Hsiao-ping (on the assumption he

He has too many lice to feel an itcu.—Chinese proverb world's chief imperialist power, while Teng could be found) as a means of administer Hsiao-ping was being attacked as a source ing a public rebuke to the present regime?" of the "right deviationist wind" who was On the other hand, Mao's message to the Conrad/Los Angeles Times "taking the capitalist road in the interests American ruling class was backed up by of the landlord and bourgeois classes." none other than the Wall Street Journal, Teng, a member of the Chinese Commu which has reasons of its own for advocat "Even for Richard Nixon, it was an nist party for decades, was one of its ing greater military spending and a harder extraordinary and dubious venture. There central leaders until his downfall during line toward Moscow. was the ex-President, thoroughly disgraced the . In its February 20 editorial, the Journal in his own country, being treated in Nixon's trip also coincided with the suggested that "closer Sino-American Peking as if he still occupied the Oval opening of the Twenty-Fifth Congress of relations have altered the world balance of Office and Watergate meant nothing more the Soviet Communist party in Moscow. It power, presenting a formidable counter than a fancy apartment building." served as a forceful reminder of Peking's weight to Soviet expansion. But this Time magazine's reaction to Nixon's world role and partly overshadowed the accomplishment is jeopardized by the visit to China was typical of the comment opening of the Soviet party congress, at apparent inability of the United States to in the American capitalist press. The least in the American press. stand up to the Soviets at Helsinki, in Washington Post characterized Nixon's The timing of the trip was also signifi Angola, in the strategic arms negotiations junket as "perverse," "irresponsible," and cant from Gerald Ford's point of view. "intolerable." While the bureaucrats in Peking stuffed The editors said, ". . . the visit is a piece Nixon with "eight-jeweled pigeon" and of pure diplomatic and political mischief- mandarin fish and displayed him in the ♦MYWJTfllliKWFREETWPISBWSH.OR , making, half ego trip and half kowtow. Its company of Mao and acting Premier Hua $H0UL17 WE6IVE HIM A LITTIE SOMETHlHS EWf only redeeming aspect is the evidence it Kuo-feng, voters in New Hampshire were offers of how wise the American people being reminded of Watergate and how were to drum this disgraced figure out of Ford came to be president in the first the White House 18 months ago." place. Senator Barry Goldwater, once one of "I don't think it hurt Mr. Ford," Senator Nixon's admirers, suggested February 25 Goldwater argued. "I don't think the that "if he wants to do this country a favor average American has enough respect for he might stay over there." Mr. Nixon anymore to really believe that New York Daily News columnist James what he's doing is in anybody's interest Wieghart called the trip "a monumental but Mr. Nixon's." insult to the citizens of the United Congressman Wayne L. Hays disagreed. States. . . . a sick practical joke on the He claimed that Nixon's trip did hurt United States. . . ." Ford's campaign, adding, "I think it's a "A sleazy act" was the verdict of little ungrateful of him, in view of the fact columnist Joseph Kraft. that Mr. Ford pardoned him." There was considerable speculation in Finally, Mao's invitation brought Nixon the mass media as to why the Chinese to Peking on the fourth anniversary of his government should send a private plane to first China visit, when Mao achieved his transport the despised criminal across the longtime goal of establishing diplomatic Pacific. The Maoist regime acted as if ties with American imperialism at the Nixon were a famous and respected leader. expense of the and a united Herblock/New York Post

Intercontinental Press and elsewhere." Tsetung Thought," they find it difficult to who suffered under Nixon's B-52 bombers In what way the American ruling class paint up the reception given Nixon, the and napalm? What about the millions may turn Mao's move to account remains perpetrator of the most savage bombing throughout the world who took to the to be seen. As for the supporters of the Mao campaign in history, as a victory for streets against the imperialist slaughter in regime, they have tended to remain silent. . Vietnam? What do they think of Mao's For all their dexterity in defending "Mao What are the views of the Vietnamese, warm reception for the butcher? □

Japanese Executive Admits Receiving '100 Peanuts' From Lockheed

America's Hottest Export Item—Watergate Scandals

By Steve Clark

"You are exporting your Watergate," a suffered a considerable decline in public former Dutch official complained to New "THE mm IS PEoPif nm mr seem w hahf esteem. York Times correspondent Clyde H. Farn- FAITH IN OUR INSTiniTIONS" Many Americans cannot help but re sworth. {New York Times, February 24.) member Washington's bailout of Lockheed He was referring to the series of corpor in 1971. To save their No. 1 defense ate bribery and payoff exposures that have contractor from bankruptcy, Nixon and been in the headlines since early February. Congress guaranteed up to $250 million of The spectacular details of international taxpayers' money to back up Lockheed's bribery engaged in by American multina outstanding loans. Now the American tional corporations came to light in hear people discover that this figure is just a ings of a Senate Subcommittee chaired by little more than Lockheed shelled out for Senator Frank Church. its overseas bribes and "commissions." Between 1958 and 1972, it was learned, On top of that, the government's General Lockheed Aircraft Corporation paid $12.6 Accounting Office predicted in February million in bribes to various Japanese that Lockheed may be unable to meet its government officials to create a "climate 1978 repayment deadline, and that Wash of goodwill" toward their sales efforts. ington may again come to its rescue. The Lockheed also paid $1.1 million between corporation's financial health was certain 1961 and 1972 to Prince Bernhard of the ly not helped by the current scandal. Netherlands—husband of Queen Juliana. Already it stands to lose its $1.3 billion The regal influence-peddler is a director of contract with Japan for Orion antisubmar KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the Fokker ine aircraft; the government of Colombia Aircraft Company. has announced that it will purchase no These revelations led to further admis more Lockheed products until the company sions and accusations. Nearly forty major discloses the names of officials it bribed; American corporations have now been and other cancellations may follow. implicated in payoffs to officials of no "The implications for the stability of fewer than twenty foreign governments. Herblock/Washington Post other countries could be extremely seri The sums involved range from hundreds of ous," Secretary of State Henry Kissinger thousands of dollars to hundreds of mil warned in mid-February. lions of dollars. (See accompanying box.) Black, escaped further investigation by The biggest impact so far has been on Many businesses hope to stem inquiries leaping from a top floor of a New York Japan, where parliamentary hearings on by the U.S. Securities and Exchange skyscraper; and the government of Hon- the payoffs are now under way. According Commission and Internal Revenue Service duran President Oswaldo Lopez Arellano to a report in the March 8 Newsweek, "It into their tax reports in those years. By was toppled by the military. was the most intense investigation in the publicly admitting some of their misdeeds, Following other revelations linking Gulf nation's postwar history, and it showed these corporations would like to create the Oil and the Northrop Corporation to what the Lockheed scandal had become for impression that henceforth everything will foreign payoffs, the boards of directors of Japan—as the mass-circulation newspaper be on the "up and up." both companies fired their chairmen. Asahi Shimbun put it, 'literally a matter of The latest revelations have direct links The Lockheed disclosures, however, have life and death for its politics and govern with the Watergate investigation. While been the most far-reaching in their ramifi ment.'" looking into corporate giveaways to Nix cations. Lockheed's $12.6 million dealings in on's 1972 campaign, special prosecutors In the United States, Lockheed's chair Japan are the largest payoffs yet dis unearthed the existence of large, shadowy man, Daniel J. Haughton, and its presi closed. For its "efforts," Lockheed received overseas payments. dent, A.C. Kotchian, have both resigned. a government contract for 230 F-104 Several sensational disclosures were More importantly, these revelations and Starfighters in 1959 (a 300 million dollar made before the present round of scandals. their spinoffs struck yet another blow at catch); the sale of six Tristar jets in 1972 to Payments of $1.25 million by United the pretenses to honesty of a ruling class All-Nippon Airways, a private corporation; Brands ("Chiquita Banana") to govern already hard hit by numerous domestic and that same year a $1.3 hillion govern ment officials in Honduras were revealed scandals. ment deal for a fleet of Orion antisubmar early last year, leading to two notable The CIA, FBI, and virtually all other ine planes. results: the corporation's chairman, Eli American governmental institutions have Former Lockheed President A.C. Kotchi-

March 15, 1976 gangsters running prostitution rings and hotels. . . . "His money helped found one of the two Ten of the Biggest Spenders LDP predecessors—whose main platform was support for the wartime emperor and Nearly 40 large American corporations have been accused of many of whose members were on lists to he paying bribes or questionable "commissions" to win contracts purged by the U.S. occupation for their overseas. Ten of the biggest admitted spenders: wartime role. "And he was instrumental in choosing Ashland Oii, Inc. Admits paying more than $300,000 to foreign offi at least two prime ministers in the 1950's, cials, Including $150,000 to President Albert Bernard continuing as a major financier and power Bongo of Gabon to retain mineral and refining rights. broker in the party." These disclosures have placed the cur Burroughs Corp. Admits that $1.5 million In corporate funds may have been used In Improper payments to foreign officials. rent Liberal Democratic government in a quandary. Two former premiers from the Exxon Corp. Admits paying $740,000 to government officials and party—Kakuei Tanaka and Nohusuke others In three countries. Admits Its Italian subsidiary Kishi—have been implicated in the affair, made $27 million In secret but legal contributions to and as Yamakawa and Winnacker point seven Italian political parties. out,"Now Kodama is in the spotlight, and Gulf OilCorp Admits paying $4 million to South Korea's ruling his dual role as underworld leader and political party. Admits giving $460,000 to Bolivian behind-the-scenes political manipulator officials—Including a $110,000 helicopter to the late threatens to bring the entire post-war President Rene Barrlentos Orutno—for oil rights. relationship between the right-wing under Lockheed Aircraft Corp. Admits giving $202 million In commissions, payoffs world and the LDP into the open." and bribes to foreign agents and government offi Japanese Premier Takeo Miki is attempt cials In the Netherlands, , Japan, Turkey and ing to make a big show of his determina other countries. Admits that $22 million of this sum tion to get to the bottom of the scandal. He went for outright bribes. has demanded that the U.S. government McDonnell Douglas Corp. Admits paying $2.5 million In commissions and turn over the names of all current and consultant fees iDetween 1970 and 1975 to foreign former officials implicated in the Lockheed government officials. payoffs—a demand that has not yet met with a positive response in Washington. Merck & Co., Inc. Admits giving $3 million, largely In "commission-type payments," to employees of 36 foreign governments "Grave concern has spread throughout between 1968 and 1975. Japan," Miki wrote President Ford in late February, "that if the issue is not solved Northrop Corp. Admits In part SEC charges that It paid $30 million In with the names of the officials involved commissions and bribes to government officials and remaining in doubt, democracy in Japan agents In Holland, Iran, France, West Germany, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Malaysia and Taiwan. may suffer a fatal blow." There is good reason to believe, however, G.D. Searle & Co. Admits paying $1.3 million to foreign governmental that Miki's request may not he entirely employees from 1973 to 1975 to "obtain sales of sincere. According to the March 5 Far products or services." Eastern Economic Review, Miki's "Foreign United Brands Co. Admits paying a $1,250,000 bribe to Honduran Minister Kiichi Miyazawa also indicated officials for a reduction In the banana export tax. later that 'full disclosure' without all Admits paying $750,000 to European officials. Inves relative facts would jeopardise the 'basic tigators say the payment was made to head off human rights' of those exposed." proposed Italian restrictions on banana Imports. The March 1 Newsweek reported that a high Japanese government official ex pressed concern that pursuing the identi ties of the bribed officials could "start a an estimated in testimony before the cises considerable influence within Ja fire that might grow too big for us to Church committee that about $2.8 million pan's ruling bourgeois party, the Liberal control." had been paid directly to high-ranking Democrats. Kodama was scheduled to Meanwhile, hearings are taking place Japanese officials. He said that Hiro receive $9 million more for helping to before the Japanese parliament, and— Hiyama, chairman of the large Marubeni clinch Lockheed's Orion deal. Part of the reminiscent of the Watergate hearings in Corporation in Japan, was among the top money was reportedly targeted for Koda the United States—they are being televised Marubeni officials who "urged" Lockheed ma himself, while part was set aside for and watched by millions of viewers. to make the payoffs. bribes. So far, however, the hearings have Marubeni has served as Lockheed's A news release from the Pacific News uncovered little more than a string of agent in Japan since the late 1950s, and it Service by Akio Yamakawa and Martha denials by secondary figures in the scan "laundered" many of its American client's Winnacker provides some interesting back dal. Neither Kodama, who recently suf hrihe payments through those years. One ground on Kodama; fered a stroke, nor Kotchian, who as an Marubeni executive acknowledged receipt "Kodama—considered by many the American citizen is not obliged to comply of a Lockheed fund shipment by signing a undisputed 'godfather' of Japan's two- with his subpoena, are likely to appear note that read, "I received One Hundred million strong underworld—is also a key before the committee. Former Premier Peanuts." (A Lockheed auditor has report figure in the right wing of the LDP Tanaka will reportedly not he called to ed that "100 peanuts" meant 100 million [Liberal Democratic party]. . . . testify. yen, the equivalent of US $333,000.) "Kodama heads two federations includ On February 24 the government staged Another $7 million of Lockheed money ing some 30 underworld organizations— well-publicized police raids on the Tokyo was funneled to Yoshio Kodama, a right- from dedicated nationalists who train offices of Lockheed and Marubeni, and on wing nationalist and militarist who exer rigorously for future military action to the homes of Kodama and others implicat-

Intercontinental Press ed in the payoffs. Despite the crates of documents carried off by police, the raids were primarily a government publicity stunt. "The sweep was given big headlines in tonight's papers," a Washington Post dispatch from Tokyo reported, "and televi sion film of the searches seems certain to create a favorable impression on the f i Japanese public, which has grown impa tient for a strenuous investigation." According to the March 1 Newsweek, ". . .the country's largest labor union, Sohyo, rallied masses of snake-dancing workers demanding a thorough probe and disclosure of the names." Other demon il strations and protests have also occurred, demanding a full airing of the links between government, big business, and the right-wing underworld. "The Lockheed affair had the ruling V i i/'x " Liberal Democratic Party in disarray," the March 8 Newsweek reported, "with two large factions openly threatening to bolt and form new parties of their own. . . ." Since the end of World War II, the Liberal Democrats have been Japan's only major Business Week bourgeois party, and both the Socialist and Communist parties have gained ground on Japanese workers demonstrating to demand an Investigation of Lockheed payoff scandal. them over the years. The specter of a broadening public reaction to the Lockheed affair is terrify from the Occidental Petroleum Corpora charges, what really worries the wealthy ing to the Liberal Democrats because of tion. rulers throughout the capitalist world is the growing social unrest. Unemployment • Probes, trials, or calls for investiga their declining moral and ideological hold is at its highest level in sixteen years. tions have occurred in Turkey, Belgium, on radicalized workers and youth. The payoffs scandal has also had Greece, Egypt, Colombia, Spain, Australia, Disclosures of gross government and reverberations elsewhere in Asia and in Iran, and Switzerland. corporate corruption make it more difficult Europe and Latin America. "It has been members of the ruling for the capitalist governments to carry • In the Netherlands, the Dutch cabinet establishment in foreign lands who have through austerity measures smoothly, and has empowered a special commission to expressed the deepest resentment [against for major corporations to justify layoffs, investigate the charges against Prince the payoff disclosures by U.S. corpora speedups, and cuts in real wages. Bemhard. "If the commission cannot clear tions]," New York Times correspondent Such revelations also increase the likeli the Prince, the Queen might have to Farnsworth reported February 23, "and hood that militant workers and students abdicate," one cabinet meniber said, ac they have spoken of 'destabilizing' politi will draw radical conclusions as they cording to the February 23 Newsweek. cal effects." engage in struggles to defend their demo By itself this consideration would most He said that West German Finance cratic rights and living standards. likely stir only minor worries, but the Minister Hans Apel "has spoken of the An editorial in the February 12 Le cabinet member added,"If we don't handle 'drift and self-destruction' in Washington." Monde put it this way: this carefully, the government will fall." Strauss, himself implicated in the affair, "Young people in many countries find it • In Italy the former president of the called the Church subcommittee hearings much harder to get used to this sort of Campania regional assembly has been the "monthly American passion play." realism. When political classes or even sentenced to seven years in prison for The reaction of many politicians and systems of government become discredited, accepting $125,000 in bribes from Mobil business figures around the world was the attraction of revolutionary parties, Oil Corporation; a search has been summed up quite well by the complaint of despite their dogmatism, stems to a large launched for the former president of a one Japanese business executive: "As a degree from a rather refreshing concern for state-affiliated concern who is suspected of result of Lockheed, businessmen have lost moral purity. .. . funneling bribe money for Lockheed; and their trust in the honor of these big "When 'very realistic' democracies ele Luigi Gui, a former defense minister, has American companies who will squeal on vate political immorality to the level of an been forced to step down from his current their partners and agents." institution, then virtue recovers all its post as minister of the interior. American capitalists, in turn, have subversive powers." □ • In Germany the government is invest piously responded that they are simply igating allegations that Franz Josef victims of the "standards" of other coun Strauss, head of the rightist Christian tries, where bribery is supposedly a "way Wave of Arrests in Uruguay Social Union in Bavaria, received Lock of life." Chase Manhattan's David Rocke heed funds in 1958 when he was defense feller said in Iran recently, "I think this A government crackdown on dissidents minister. has been a custom in many parts of the in Uruguay has led to the arrest of • In Venezuela that country's delegate world for decades, maybe centuries, and "hundreds, perhaps thousands," of per to the Organization of Petroleum Export that American companies have only been sons and driven at least thirty to take ing Countries (OPEC) was forced to resign among many others that have done it." asylum in the Mexican embassy in Monte and stand trial along with seven other (New York Daily News, March 4.) video, according to a March 3 Associated persons on charges of accepting bribes Despite these charges and counter Press dispatch.

March 15, 1976 FNLA and UNITA to Be Expelled From Zaire Liberation Front) and UNITA (UniSo Na cional para Independencia Total de An gola—National Union for the Total Independence of Angola), must leave Zaire immediately. The FNLA has maintained a Washington Lifts Trade Embargo Against Angola headquarters in Zaire since the early 1960s and was backed by Mobutu throughout the Angolan civil war. The State Department announced March The communique stated that the two 2 that it was ending the embargo on groups were being expelled "in order not to commercial U.S. shipments to Angola, undermine relations between the two coun where the Movimento Popular de Liberta- tries." ?ao de Angola (MPLA—People's Move The Frente de Libertagao do Enclave de ment for the Liberation of Angola) has Cabinda (FLEC—Cabinda Liberation defeated its nationalist rivals. Front), a Cabindan separatist group based The move came a little more than a week in Zaire, was also ordered to cease its after the White House approved Gulf Oil's activities. efforts to negotiate with the MPLA for In return, Neto agreed to turn 6,000 resumption of its drilling operations in former Katangese gendarmes over to Angola. Gulf is the largest foreign investor Mobutu. The Katangese in Angola had in Angola. been supporters of the Belgian-hacked The Ford administration has also okay Katanga secessionist regime in the former ed Boeing's delivery of two jets to the Belgian Congo (now Zaire) in the early Luanda regime. 1960s and are opposed to Mobutu. In December 1975, when Washington Neto and Mobutu also agreed to allow was funneling arms and money to the the estimated one million Angolan refu MPLA's rivals, the State Department gees in Zaire "freely" to return to Angola. blocked the delivery of the two Boeings Most of the refugees are Bakongos, the and pressured Gulf into suspending opera traditional base of support of the FNLA, tions and placing royalty and tax pay /mKM who had been driven out of Angola in the ments to the MPLA in an escrow account. early 1960s by the Portuguese colonialists. By that time. Gulf had already paid the The Zairean regime had complained re MPLA $116 million. cently that the refugees were a burden on In addition to allowing the resumption its economy, which is now in a severe of trade, the State Department has also slump. begun preparations to provide technical One of the causes of Zaire's economic AGOSTINHO NETO and economic assistance to Luanda, if difficulties was the closure during the civil such a course is agreed on by Ford and the war of Angola's Benguela railway, which Congress. in normal times transported about 70 The February 25 Christian Science Roberto." But, "things having turned out percent of Zaire's copper exports. The Monitor reported, "Daniel Parker, the way they have, no more sentimentality Mobutu-Neto accord included a pledge by administrator of the U.S. Agency for on our part." Luanda that it would guarantee common International Development (AID), says in The official Zairean news agency Azap communications between the two coun an interview that while no specific re announced February 28 that Mobutu was tries, an apparent reference to the reopen quests for assistance have come from the "normalizing" relations with the Luanda ing of the Benguela railway. MPLA, the U.S. agency had already made regime. The announcement followed a The Zambian regime of Kenneth Kaun- a 'computer print out' of officials with meeting in Brazzaville, the capital of the da remains the only major Black African background and language training who Congo Republic, between Mobutu and government not to have recognized the could serve in Angola." MPLA leader Agostinho Neto. The meet Luanda regime. Kaunda has indicated, Washington has made it clear, however, ing was arranged by Congolese President however, that such a recognition may be that these steps do not mean that it is Marien Ngouabi, a longtime backer of the forthcoming. ready to grant diplomatic recognition to MPLA. Before returning to Angola, Neto de the MPLA regime at this time. State Only a few days earlier, the foreign clared in Brazzaville March 1 that the Department officials have stressed that a ministers of Angola and Zaire had at MPLA would aid the liberation movements prerequisite for recognition would be the tacked each other during a meeting of the in Namibia (South-West Afidca) and in withdrawal of Cuban troops now in Ango Organization of African Unity. Each Zimbabwe (Rhodesia). "We cannot limit la. charged that the other's government had ourselves to our own independence," he Secretary of State Kissinger said March committed acts of "piracy" during the said. "Our people . . . will extend their 4 that Washington would he "having con Angolan civil war. action to liberate other countries like sultations in an open-minded way" on After the meeting with Neto, however, Namibia, at present occupied by the possible diplomatic recognition of the Mobutu declared,"We have gone beyond a racists, and Rhodesia, which can achieve MPLA "once it is clear they are indeed a simple recognition. We have both reached independence only through armed government of African origin and not our objective—the respect for the territor struggle." totally beholden to foreign influence." ial integrity of each state." As part of their An MPLA representative clarified Neto's The regime of Mobutu Sese Seko of accord, both Mobutu and Neto agreed not remarks the following day. While confirm Zaire, one of Washington's main allies in to allow military activity to be carried out ing that the MPLA would give assistance Black-ruled Africa, has already come to against the other from their territories. to other independence forces, he denied terms with the MPLA. Mobutu signaled A communique signed by the two presi that this would involve the use of MPLA his intentions in this regard as early as dents stipulated that the MPLA's main troops in those countries. "We have no January 24, when he said, ". . . sentimen rivals, the FNLA (Frente Nacional de Li- intention," he said, "of crossing our own tally, we support the F.N.L.A. of Holden bertagao de Angola—Angolan National borders. ..." □

Intercontinental Press The Real Targets Are Cannon, Trotsky, and the Fourth International

A Statement on Healy's Frame-up of Hansen and Novack

By Betty Hamilton and Pierre Lambert

[The following article, translated by mittee. is himself one, or could be. Intercontinental Press, appeared in the We accuse of unscrupulous What conclusions, then, should we draw February 27-March 4 issue (No. 740) of ly rigging up a whole scenario in the hope from the fact that after the murder of L. Informations Ouvrieres, the weekly publi that it would prove difficult to unravel Sedov, not only filed a cation of the Organisation Communiste such a tangle of lies, baseless insinuations, complaint with the French authorities but Intemationaliste (OCI), whose headquar and gratuitous suppositions from facts no also ordered activists to testify to the ters are in Paris. one denies. He did this to try to create an police who were conducting the investiga [Betty Hamilton, who has been in the impression of "impartiality" so as to tion? If we followed the same line of revolutionary Marxist movement for fifty justify the slanderous amalgam he is reasoning that G. Healy does, we would years, was one of the founders of the putting together against the SWP and two have to conclude that since L. Trotsky Socialist Labour League (later the Workers of its leaders. made a complaint to the French imperial Revolutionary party). She is thus able to False accusations, slander, and lies have ist authorities, since he called on com speak of the methods followed by Gerry always been a specialty in which the rades to testify to the police of French Healy from years of firsthand experience. representatives of ruling and oppressor imperialism, L. Trotsky was an agent of [Pierre Lambert is editor of Informations classes have excelled. But the direct imperialism and of the French police! The Ouvrieres and one of the leaders of the representatives of the ruling class have procedure G. Healy has resorted to is Comity d'Organisation Pour la Reconstruc clearly been surpassed in this by those in typically Stalinist. tion de la Quatribme Internationale, the the workers movement who subordinated The slanderer G. Healy does not stop international formation to which the OCI themselves to the interests of the bourgeoi there. He turns to arguments appealing to adheres. Together with Healy, he was one sie. The Mensheviks, for example, had to authority (because I say it is so, it is so). of the leaders of the sector of the Interna maintain that Lenin was an "agent of the For example, in 1938, a GPU agent tional Committee that rejected joining in Kaiser," just as later the Stalinists were to entered into contact with Hansen. Hansen the reunification of the Fourth Internation claim that Trotsky was an "agent of the explained that Trotsky told him to "main al in 1963. However, because of deepening Gestapo." So, in a historical period when tain the contact." How does Healy respond political and organizational differences, the struggle for the emancipation of to this? the OCI broke from the Healyite wing in humanity is inseparable from the fight to "We state categorically that Hansen is 1971.] free the working class from leaderships lying when he says that Trotsky told him chained to imperialism, through the to consort with the GPU agent 'John' struggle to rebuild the Fourth Internation Rabinowitz. It is inconceivable that the We have read the indescribable articles al, it is extremely important to keep this Bolshevik leader would instruct the head written at the orders of G. Healy attempt counterrevolutionary tradition of lies and of his security arrangements at Coyoacan ing to prove that Joseph Hansen and slanders from filtering into the ranks of to meet a GPU agent over a period of three George Novack are agents of the CIA and the vanguard. months." No evidence whatever is offered the NKVD.i We confess that we found it The only justification for the monstrous to support this assertion. It is enough that very difficult to force ourselves to read accusations raised against Joseph Hansen Healy thinks that what Hansen says is these "articles." But we considered it our and George Novack—and, in fact, as we "inconceivable." You have to believe G. duty as representatives of our organiza will show later, against the SWP leader Healy because he has spoken. Has G. tions in the International Committee of the ship and against Leon Trotsky himself— Healy ever thought about this: The inter Fourth International—which was formed would be if they were based on grave national apparatus of the Kremlin and its in 1953 by the Socialist Workers party evidence against them, on proofs, on docu national agencies are controlled by the (SWP), the Socialist Labour League (SLL), ments fi-om which it could logically be GPU. At every step, at every moment, the PCI (Parti Communiste Intemational deduced that whether or not they were Trotskyists have come in contact with CP iste, now the Organisation Communiste guilty of the crimes charged against them leaders who are often agents of the GPU. Intemationaliste), and the Swiss and that at least an inquiry was necessary. Hidden under Healy's virtuous indignation Chinese organizations—to express our is petty-bourgeois philistinism. solidarity and sympathy with the SWP. A Very Peculiar Logic Some may say that we are judging the We decided to draft this statement not only "basis" for this case in advance when we However, the elaborate fabrication of G. as founding members of the International speak in a general way of the monstrous- Healy collapses like a house of cards the Committee but also as representatives of ness of the accusations raised against minute you begin to apply this basic the SLL and the OCI (PCI), which, in Joseph Hansen. In fact, we do not think criterion. When it comes to Hansen and disagreement with the SWP, decided in that Comrade J. Hansen in any way Novack (the nominal targets of this 1963 to maintain the Intemational Com- stands "in the dock," or that he is a man attack), the scheme is reduced to a very "on trial" who must prove his innocence. peculiar brand of logic which Vyshinsky When Trotsky had to face the abominable tried to make respectable but which 1. In Workers Press, the organ of the Workers lie-machine of , he offered, as the certainly has nothing to do with the Revolutionary party (WRP) of Great Britain, first proof of the absurdity of the accusa three series of articles devoted to the question of traditions of our movement. tions lodged against him, the record of his "security in the Fourth Intemational" have been published—seven, beginning with the April 19, Joseph Hansen had a meeting with the public political activity. 1975, issue; nineteen, beginning with the August U.S. consul in Mexico. Well, an American Joseph Hansen's continuous activity, for 14, 1975, issue; and finally eight, beginning on consul has to be an FBI agent. So, Hansen, more than forty years now, as a member January 5, 1976. since he had a meeting with an FBI agent. and leader of the American Trotskyist

March 15, 1976 organization, his role in the history and sible for the murder and that the crime The consul's report establishes the debates in the Fourth International— must have been engineered from the contrary. With his very special brand of where, although there have been deep United States. He pointed out that "Mor- logic Gerry Healy finds in this fact a new differences between us, he has always nard had made a journey to the United "indictment." Such contradictions can no stood within the framework of States between the dates of the first doubt be resolved by Healy's version of —are in themselves the best attempt upon Trotsky's life and the second dialectics, which is on a par with his logic! answer to the allegations of those who are successful one," and so he insisted that But this contradiction establishes very impugning his honor as a revolutionist. the American police check out the hotel clearly that what is involved here is not an Is this to say that because of this work where Mornard stayed in New York. attempt to uncover the truth or to clarify Comrade Hansen enjoys a kind of immuni What conclusion was drawn by Workers the problems of "security in the Fourth ty? By no means. But if the "trial" in Press? That Joseph Hansen was trying to International." On the contrary what we which Healy wants to play the role of deceive the Fourth International, because see here is an application of the method prosecutor were not rigged from start to the murder was engineered in Paris by that "anything goes," and the old maxim finish, it is this aspect that he would have Zborowski and not in New York. But if this that "if you throw enough mud, some of it attacked first, while he does not mention it had been the case, according to the will stick." even once. And, what is more, in the long previous accusations, Hansen would have Other examples testify to a cynical pages of Workers Press, which if they were been deceiving his alleged "employers." disregard for the minimum requirements all put together would make a book, Healy But, the imaginative editors of Workers of telling a credible story. The main thing has not been able to offer a trace of Press might reply, what if Hansen was an is to pile up enough disparate elements to, evidence or a single document coming agent of the GPU? Then one would wonder if not convince, at least sow doubt. either from Hansen or from the former why he insisted on the guilt of the GPU. In the case of Robert Sheldon Harte, the GPU agents who went over to the FBI But (slanderers always have a ready young bodyguard who was found mur (whom Healy, without any verification, comeback), his role as a Trotskyist leader dered after the assassination attempt on seems to regard as the bearers of the truth) obliged him to do this. May 24, 1940, while not categorically that can support his monstrous charge Then (if we agree to accept a trial asserting that he had a responsibility in that Hansen is "an accomplice of the framework briefly for the sake of clarity), this. Workers Press implies that he might GPU." in any case, this was an official conversa have been an accomplice of the assailants, So, if we spend a little more time dealing tion with the U.S. consul and precisely who later got rid of him. The SWP leader with these charges—before coming to the because it was official, it proves nothing, it ship maintains the position it took after political conclusions—it is not in order to is outside the framework of the debate! In the crime—which was held, moreover, by defend Comrade Hansen, it is to show that fact, we will have to come back later to the Trotsky. Robert Sheldon Harte remained the method used by Gerry Healy stands in reasons for using this conversation. faithful to Trotskyism and was a victim of fundamental contradiction to the princi Let us add that Gerry Healy "forgot" the GPU. Once again, one might wonder ples and traditions of the Fourth Interna that J. Hansen gave his reason for this what Healy is trying to prove, and what tional and the workers movement. visit—to try to establish the exact identity relationship this question has to the of the murderer, which was then charges made against Joseph Hansen. unknown—and that from this standpoint An Incoherent Detective Thriller If it were shown (and we note that the approach to the consul produced re Workers Press offers no new evidence) that The serial that has filled four pages in sults. each issue of Workers Press in the last Trotsky and the SWP leadership were month before it ceased publication takes mistaken about Sheldon Harte and that he the form of an incoherent detective thriller Cynical Disregard of the Truth was a GPU agent, how would this prove in which any precise facts that can be that Hansen and other SWP leaders Let's be serious. The center where gleaned have been long known, and where "covered up for GPU agents," how Trotsky's murder was decided on and unfounded speculations, gratuitous asser would this justify advancing even as a prepared was the Kremlin. As his confes tions, and contradictions abound. "hypothesis" this infamous charge, which, sions in 1956 have since shown, Zborowski Let's take one example. Workers Press inasmuch as Trotsky did not think Robert acted in Paris, operating as an agent makes a big to-do about a visit Joseph Sheldon Harte was a provocateur, is provocateur in the Fourth International, directed jointly against Hansen and L. Hansen made to the American consul playing a central role in setting the stage McGregor, a visit he made as Trotsky's Trotsky? for the crime. In this, however, other links secretary eleven days after Trotsky was in the chain were needed in the United murdered. The fact that it took place on Criminal Irresponsibility States and in Mexico. At the stage where Saturday and not on a workday is used to the investigation stood eleven days after However, what interests us here, again, justify an insinuation that there was the death of Trotsky, no one endowed with something odd about it, that Joseph are the methods of Gerry Healy. He quotes a minimum of good sense and honesty the following passage from Julian Gor- Hansen might be linked to the FBI (as if, could find anything "reprehensible" or kin's book on Trotsky's assassination; by the way, Trotsky's murder was not an "strange" in the fact that Joseph Hansen "If it were admitted that Sheldon was a event of sufficient international impor pressed for the American police to make an spy, that would place the question of tance for the American consul to give up investigation in the United States. He was responsibility in the chief Trotskyists in part of his Saturday morning!). only doing his duty as a revolutionist. In New York, who had sent him to Mexico. Let us follow the curious line of "reason this respect, he was following the example We do no more than mention this aspect of ing" of Workers Press. From this "proof," of Trotsky, who advised Ignace Reiss to the question. Let each one draw his own which is no proof at all, it concludes that place himself under police protection. conclusions." And he describes Julian Hansen could very well have maintained But the spirit in which Workers Press Gorkin as "an authority on the crimes of relations with the FBI, and then it goes on has conducted its investigation is indicat Stalin." He neglects to say that from the as if such a link had been established. But ed by the thread running through all the standpoint simply of historically verifiable this curious line of "reasoning" is itself attacks on Comrade Hansen; that is, that facts, much new evidence has come to light contradicted by the charges its authors he is supposed to have tried to divert since Gorkin wrote this book. He also make against Joseph Hansen. What did attention from—to "cover up"—Stalinist neglects to say that Julian Gorkin was one Hansen tell the consul—according to the agents planted in the SWP and operating of the leaders of the POUM (which he left latter's report? That the GPU was respon in the United States. while in exile) most hostile to the Fourth

Intercontinental Press International and that his book was slightest document or fact that would O'Rourke, were in touch with the consul, written in collaboration with General justify raising—even as a possibility that as well as I^eon Trotsky (and, in the case of Salazar, the chief of the Mexican police, would still have to be proved—the infa the founder of the Fourth International, who sought to pin as much of the blame as mous accusations lodged against Com the consul visited him in his home!). There possible on Trotsky's entourage. rades Joseph Hansen and George Novack. were, thus, to divulge a "dreadful secret," What is infamous—and degrading for regular contacts between the U.S. consu It was this aim of the book that Workers the authors—is having raised such late and Trotsky and his entourage. It is Press, to use a term it is fond of, "covered charges. The method they used, their not so difficult to understand what could up." This did not prevent him from cynical contempt for the truth, disqualifies be grasped by the representatives of presenting in another article, for his them politically. This is criminal irrespon American imperialism, who banned Trot purposes, statements—which were rather sibility contrary not only to the principles sky from their territory with ferocious confused—of a former bodyguard of Trot of the Fourth International but also to the determination. In view of what Trotsky sky's, Harold Robins, who accuses Hansen most basic traditions of the workers move represented, relations with this isolated ex of covering up the slanders of the Mexican ment. ile took on a certain government-to- police! We should, however, take up G. Healy's government nature. And, from the stand One final example: Workers Press plays strange brief from another standpoint. point of his security, Trotsky had a stake up the fact that it was the SWP leadership At the beginning of this statement we in such relations. that helped Zborowski return to the United referred to the way that G. Healy and his As Comrade Hansen correctly notes, G. States. "investigators" used the visit Joseph Healy and his investigators are on a path Do we have to point out how absurd it is Hansen made to Consul McGregor. In this that tends to converge with that of to blame the SWP comrades for the fact case, Joseph Hansen quite correctly said Trotsky's murderers. that Zborowski was among certain cadres that G. Healy stirred up a "geyser of of the Trotskyist movement who were mud." But the mud has only washed over The Old Method of the Amalgam brought to the USA through the work of G. Healy himself. There is yet another aspect, which may members and leaders of the SWP at the In the first place, the way this episode appear minor but which we think is time of the Hitlerite victories in Europe? was exploited illustrates G. Healy's politi significant, since it shows how rotten As Workers Press notes, moreover (as an cal perfidiousness. He, as much as any something is in the little kingdom of "argument" against Joseph Hansen), Zbo- comrade holding responsibilities of leader Clapham High Street (the national head rowski's area of activity was Europe. It ship in the revolutionary workers move quarters of the WRP in London). was by integrating himself among the ment, knows that the contact Joseph This is the practice of the "classical"- cadres of the Trotskyist movement in Hansen had to maintain with the Ameri type Stalinist amalgam. The articles in Europe that he became a member of the can consulate was only a particular Workers Press talk about a Stalinist agent international leadership, recognized by expression of a much more general reality. planted in the SWP,Floyd Miller, who was Leon Trotsky as a close collaborator of Political activity must involve all aspects later unmasked. Since this agent func Leon Sedov. As the leader of the Fourth of the struggle, that is, also the need for tioned in the maritime fraction of the SWP, International, Leon Trotsky entrusted Workers Press says that his work enabled Zborowski with organizing the founding diplomacy, for "contact" with the enemy camp. It is this that for Gerry Healy him to point out to the GPU who the conference of the Fourth International in Trotskyist sailors were that were on their September 1938. constitutes the proof of Joseph Hansen's way to the USSR. On this question The absurdity of this slander is striking. "guilt." But can anyone fail to see that Hansen says simply, in passing, that this In 1940, Zborowski had not been un such "guilt" would have to be assigned masked as the GPU agent he was. If he first of all to Leon Trotsky? As the official Miller never occupied a leadership posi tion, even at the level of the maritime blames the SWP leadership and Hansen reports indicate, other members of Trot for organizing his trip to the USA, G. sky's guard, Charles Cornell and Walter fraction, and that in any case no Trotsky- Healy should naturally put the blame for this on L. Trotsky and draw the conclusion that the latter, like Hansen, was an agent of the GPU. Let us note again that it is you move, hard for revolutionists to force themselves to dig through all the mud thrown by G. Healy, who in his irresponsibility pays no its nice to have your mail attention to the damaging blows he is dealing to the Fourth International, to move with you. which he still claims to adhere. We repeat: What particular guilt can be attributed to the SWP cadres? And even if it were maintained that they should have New Address: Old Address: been more "vigilant"—which, we stress, would be a gratuitous remark—how would this justify calling them "accomplices"?

Unless the mere fact of associating with Address Address Zborowski, as L. Sedov and L. Trotsky himself did, without immediately identify ing him as an agent provocateur consti tutes guilt within the "Healyite theory of evidence." But, then, we repeat, Healy's search of "accomplices" would take him Zipcode Zipcode far beyond Joseph Hansen and George Novack, and even the leadership of the Country Country SWP. Let us repeat again, in the voluminous Intercontinental Press, P.O. Box 116, Village Station, New York, N.Y. 10014 inquiry of Workers Press, there is not the

March 15, 1976 ist sailor ever disappeared. And he adds: FRANKLIN, the CPU agent in the Social It would be unfair to compare Vereeck- "Several Trotskyist seamen, whose ships ist Workers Party . . ."? en's book with the articles in Workers were sunk by the Germans, managed, It was James P. Cannon who denounced Press.^ But it is interesting to note that along with other members of the crew, to Budenz's statements as lies. An SWP Workers Press often quotes this work launch lifeboats and eventually make their Control Commission confirmed this posi without reservation or comment. While it way to Murmansk. Because of exposure in tion. Why doesn't Workers Press follow its is undeniable that provocateurs such as open boats in those waters, several of them argument to the logical conclusion? Why Zborowski poisoned relationships inside had to spend months in the hospital. They didn't it say that James P. Cannon the international movement, they could were given first-rate treatment, and the "covered up for a CPU agent"? There is not conjure away the real political ques staffs were very friendly." more so-called "evidence" against him tions. It was on these questions that the This is the comment these lines inspired than against Hansen and Novack. Why break occurred between Vereecken and from Workers Press: doesn't it accuse the SWP leadership and Trotsky. And what makes Vereecken's "'Soviet Weekly', the English language J.P. Cannon for "covering up" for a CPU book a false and biased brief is that he Stalinist newspaper produced by the agent? wants to prove that it was the maneuvers CPSU, has a two-page article on wartime It is true that the fact that Cannon is of these agents that explain his break with Murmansk in its edition for December 20- remembered as the founder and builder of Trotsky. 27, 1975. Trotskyism in the United States and as a Referring to Vereecken, Workers Press "It is a putrid piece of public relations major figure in the international workers writes: for the Stalinist bureaucracy concerning a movement makes this a difficult job. It is "Today the International Committee of visit to Murmansk by one Ian Highet, a more expedient to make insinuations than the Fourth International is getting the radio officer on board a British ship. to take the risk of making such a state same slanderous treatment that others in "'Of Murmansk I have happy memories ment. the pre-war years in Europe endured." despite the bitter cold of January and the Nonetheless, this is where the logic Should we conclude that the decision to indescribable devastation. The cold was leads. Naturally, this would also mean found the Fourth International was in more than matched by the warmth of the that Lenin covered up for Malinovsky, and spired by the CPU? Soviet people who extended to us a most was therefore the latter's accomplice, and The abominable campaign conducted tremendous welcome with typical Soviet that Trotsky and Sedov covered up for against the leaders of the SWP can only hospitality, a hospitality that had to be Zborowski and were his accomplices. serve the enemies of the Fourth Interna seen to be believed.' Behind Hansen and Novack, other tional and facilitate the work of those who "The only thing to match this gushing targets can be seen. The first that comes to in the interests of imperialism or Stalinism description of wartime Murmansk comes view is the SWP. The introduction to the are trying to undermine and disrupt our from the pen of . . . Joseph Hansen. . . . last series of articles published in Workers movement. "The similarity between these two ex Press said: An index of the profound political cerpts shows an affinity which should not "WE ACCUSE Joseph Hansen and degeneration of the WRP leadership, this pass the attention of any class-conscious leaders of the Socialist Workers Party campaign is dealing a grave blow to worker or youth." (USA) of deliberately covering up CPU Trotskyism in England. It is more than a This sort of thing requires no commen murder and penetration of the Trotskyist coincidence that the publication of Work tary, or rather only one. There is scarcely movement. . . ." ers Press ended almost immediately after any need to call the attention of any This vague article by unknown authors the appearance of this series of slanderous conscious workers and youth to the simi is one more outrage, but the target of the articles. larity between this kind of proof and those slander is clearly indicated. It is the SWP, Rejection of such methods, and the kind of the Stalinist apparatus. which they try to represent as a hotbed of of politics that allows them to develop, is CPU agents, an organization with a indispensable for moving forward to the Who Is the Target? number of leaders who were "deliberate" reconstruction of the Fourth International. One of the rare new elements reported by accomplices of the CPU. Clearly, they try As Trotskyists who have been in the Workers Press is that the Sylvia Callen to represent the SWP as an organization fight since the prewar years when the who was cited in 1969 as a codefendant in "kept" by the Stalinist apparatus. program of the Fourth International was the trial of the Stalinist agent Robert But the SWP has played a considerable elaborated under the leadership of Leon Soblen was none other than Sylvia Fran role in the history of the Fourth Interna Trotsky, we considered it necessary to klin who was the secretary of James P. tional. It was not only one of the strongest make this public statement. We think that Cannon, the leader of the SWP. She had sections but the one whose leadership had all the militants, whatever differences may been accused by Louis Budenz, an ex- the most direct ties with Leon Trotsky. The exist between their organizations, who Stalinist leader in the United States who SWP was the battleground of a struggle claim to adhere to Trotskyism, who have went over to work for the FBI. An SWP decisive for the future of the Fourth participated in the fight for the Fourth Control Commission was, after investiga International, the one over the question of International, must take a position on this tion, to reject these charges. Moreover, the defense of the Soviet Union. If we had question. We think that all organizations James P. Cannon denounced Budenz, to accept Cerry Healy's standards for that claim to be Trotskyist must also assuring that Sylvia Franklin was "an determining the truth, we would have to condemn the methods of C. Healy, meth honest comrade who gave years of valued conclude that this struggle was conducted ods that serve only the enemies of the service to the cause." by a group, a majority of whom were Fourth International. This is the same We do not know if the Sylvia Callen "accomplices" of the CPU. struggle that was taken up in 1923 against Workers Press talks about is really Sylvia Stalinism, which L. Trotsky denounced as a dreadful sickness afflicting the world Franklin, but we are convinced tbat if new An Attack Against workers movement. □ facts require it, tbe SWP will review the the Fourth International conclusions of its Control Commission. However, supposing that Workers Press Behind the SWP, the real target is the Fourth International itself, Leon Trotsky were right and that Sylvia Franklin, 2. La Guepeou dans le mouvement trotskyste, G. James P. Cannon's secretary, were a CPU and his work. The Fourth International Vereecken, Editions de la Pensie Universelle. agent, how would this justify writing: appears to be an organization "manipulat Vereecken was a member of the "Joseph Hansen and George Novack have ed" by the CPU, in fact a creation of the in Belgium, with whom Trotsky was forced to protected and covered up for SYLVIA CPU. break because of his sectarian positions.

Intercontinental Press Frame-up Concocted in Stalinist Tradition Stalinist tradition) to prove the "case." The accusations against Joseph Hansen are not new, in this respect, but merely the spiciest dish yet to he seen from the Healyite kitchen. 'Socialist Action' Denounces WRP Smear Campaign The April 23rd issue of Workers' Press tried to "smear" Bala Tampoe (leading [The following statement appeared in these set-backs and the lack of rights they Trotskyist and head of the Ceylon Mercan the February-March issue of Socialist possess in his monolithic set-up. tile Union) as "associated with the CIA." Action, the newspaper of the League for , last year expelled from the Socialist Action, a group based in London.] New Victim? Workers' League, was accused of"harbour ing and covering for a CIA agent" and, The slanders directed against Joseph most recently, , who was Hansen, a leading member of the world expelled from the WRP for exercising the Trotskyist movement for over 30 years, right to think for himself, was described by need not he refuted. They are based on the General Secretary as a "police agent." The Workers' Revolutionary Party rumours culled from self-confessed GPU (WRP) is hardly known for its savoury and CIA agents. A clear, factual reply to 'Big Lie' polemics with other left tendencies. Its them can be found in the pages of latest offering is, in most respects, even Intercontinental Press (Vol 13 No 42). The fact that Healy should be reduced to less savoury than previous ones. In a What is worth refuting is the method labelling every political opponent—inside recent series of articles, entitled "Security used by Healy in dealing with political and outside the WRP—as some form of and the Fourth International," the Healy- tendencies he has differences with. It can police agent is not just a simple question of ites open an investigation into the death of serve as an object lesson for young paranoia. It is an attempt to "shield" the Leon Trotsky. radicals as to the ultimate logic of sectari dwindling membership of the WRP from Such an investigation is not inspired, as an politics. the political arguments of rival tendencies in the case of an honest biographer like Hansen himself, in his reply, notes how, by the use of what can only be called Isaac Deutscher, by a real desire to for the Healyites, "All other political Stalinist methods. discover the facts hut by far more sinister tendencies . . . are regarded as agencies of It is an attempt to divert attention away motives. Its aim is to "indict" former the bourgeoisie to he dealt with according from the fact that the leaders of the WRP Trotskyist secretary, Joseph Hansen, of ly." This attitude on the part of the WRP have turned a once-promising group into a "criminal negligence" in Trotsky's death, is, of course, merely a substitute for taking barren sect unable to relate to the real if not of being an "accomplice of the up and arguing against the political ideas issues facing working people and unable to GPU." advanced by rival tendencies. There is no tolerate any real criticism of this course. It may seem strange that the Healyites point, after all, discussing with ones' We can assure the WRP however that should devote more space in their fast- political opponents if they are "agencies of the time when it could pass such false coin ailing "daily" to witch-hunting a leading the bourgeoisie." On the contrary, the task as "Trotskyism" is long past. The WRP Trotskyist militant than to covering key is to "expose" them, even if this means broke with Trotskyism, politically and in issues such as the national struggle in juggling with the facts. its organisational practice, long ago. The Ireland. The answer is not so strange, Such a premise leads, quite inevitably, to technique of the "big lie" will not hide this however, as it may at first appear. the wildest slanders and frame-ups (in the fact. □

Set-backs

Since its split with the OCI, its sister organization in France a few years ago, Students, Miners Go Out on Strike In Bolivia the WRP has suffered some severe set backs. It recently lost several leading The upsurge of the Bolivian working closing down the school and ordering members of the Workers' League, a sympa class touched off by the strike of the police to ring the campus. The following thising section in the USA, and, closer Manaco shoe workers in January has day, the police invaded the campus once home, launched a witch-hunt against over continued to pick up steam. again, arresting more than 300 students. 200 trade union members in its own ranks The latest chapter in the unfolding Acording to the February 27 issue of the who had the audacity to oppose the events was initiated by the students at the London weekly Latin America, the strike leadership's sectarian political line. Universidad Mayor de San Andres in La was soon joined by students at the univer The cause of these set-backs—which Paz. These students had been in the fore sities in Potosl, Gruro, and Cochabamha. have left the WRP more isolated than ever front of those organizing support for the On February 21 the 30,000 members of the before—was analysed by Joseph Hansen Manaco strikers. As a result, their campus Federacion Sindical de Trabaj adores Min- in a hard-hitting article in Intercontinen was attacked by the police on February 5, eros de Bolivia (Trade-union Federation of tal Press (Vol 13 No 12). In particular, and many of their leaders were arrested or Bolivian Mine Workers) also joined in the Hansen singled out the politically sectari exiled. strike, and they were followed by the an course followed by the WRP and its On February 18, in the wake of the Manaco shoe workers. In Huanuni, the tin well-known organisational "thuggism" triumph of the Manaco workers in Cocha- miners met to demand the legalization of which denies its own members elementary bamha, the students called for "a dial the Confederacion Obrera de Bolivia rights—like thinking for themselves. ogue" with the government-appointed (Federation of Bolivian Workers), which Unable to reply politically to such an education officials. When this was refused, was banned in 1971. □ argument, the Healyites have reverted to they detailed their demands for the release the level of politics where they feel most at of political prisoners, the return of those home: personal slander. Healy no doubt exiled in the last few months, and an end hopes, by concocting frame-ups in the to persecution on the campus. The students A subscription to Intercontinental Press Stalinist tradition against his critics, to threatened to go on strike if their demands is still a BEST BUY. cloud the issue and divert the members of were not met within forty-eight hours. Check rates inside cover. the WRP from probing the real reasons for President Hugo Banzer responded by

March 15, 1976 Interview With Jose Martinez Vargas

Dominican Dock Workers Fight for Democratic Rights

By Jose Perez

[The following article appeared in the was being planned against us and we February 27 issue of the Militant, a decided to hold elections." revolutionary-socialist newsweekly pub A mass membership meeting was held to lished in New York.1 pick the commission that would conduct the election. However, before the commis sion elected by the union ranks had a chance to be certified by the government Despite the release last December of and schedule the balloting, a rump three labor leaders who had been in jail since last summer, trade-union rights commission—handpicked by the progov- emment union minority—registered itself remain in a precarious state in the Domini and scheduled an immediate election. can Republic. "We refused to accept that," Martinez Nothing illustrates this better than the Vargas said, "and the members paid no case of the Sindicato Portuario de Arrimo attention to the rump commission." (POASI—longshoremen's union). The The progovernment commission had its union's headquarters has been occupied by election. They declared that their Red Slate police since October 1973. had won, but most of the union members In January the Militant interviewed just ignored them. Jos6 Martinez Vargas, the legitimate "A few days later," Martinez Vargas general secretary of POASI. The union continued, "ten busloads of police and leader was visiting the United States to guards showed up. They broke the lock on publicize the case of POASI. He met with the union headquarters and went inside." several trade unionists and civil libertari "A number of the officials had been ans here to seek their support for the arrested that morning at 3:00 a.m.," he democratic rights of union members in the said, "so the police were able to break into Dominican Republic. the headquarters without a struggle be Martinez Vargas explained that govern Arnold Welssberg/Militant cause there was no leadership." ment attacks against POASI go back a Every attempt at a protest was met with decade. Before the imposition of the JOSE MARTINEZ VARGAS government repression. The old leadership Joaquin Balaguer regime following the of the union was blacklisted from the occupation of the Dominican Republic by 20,000 U.S. Marines, POASI had been the The Balaguer government, according to docks for a year. At one point, forty-five sole longshore union in Santo Domingo, Martinez Vargas, intervened in the elec members were in jail. Martinez Vargas himself has been arrested seventeen times capital of the Caribbean country. tion, backing the old leadership, which since police seized the union headquarters However, in 1966 the government passed was called the Red Slate. in October 1973. Two other POASI leaders a law establishing itself as a middleman But the Blue Slate won the election, between the companies and the longshore receiving 750 votes from a total member have heen forced to leave the country because of the repression and harassment. workers. Wages were cut through the ship of 1,300. In the following year's To this day the imposed leadership has abolition of a per-hour wage scale and election, the Blue Slate won once again, made no attempt to legitimize its rule by establishment of a per-ton wage scale. The increasing its total vote to 890. trying to function as a leadership that government brought in a "yellow union" Elections were to have been held again and decreed that out of every five ships in 1973, but they coincided with the defends the economic interests of the workers. No membership meetings or that come in, three would be handled by declaration of a state of emergency by the elections have heen held. The headquarters POASI and two by the government's Balaguer government. The pretext for the of the union is still occupied hy the police. union. declaration was the landing of a band of These measures were decreed by the guerrillas in the country. What steps were taken to protest this government without warning. "They The leadership of the union decided to undemocratic situation? For a long time didn't even notify us in advance. We found call off the scheduled elections. "Under the the membership was demoralized and out by reading the newspapers," Martinez state of emergency," Martinez Vargas afraid of the repression, Martinez Vargas Vargas said. Nevertheless, a struggle was said, "the members couldn't campaign said. But in the past year an effective waged against this abrogation of the because you couldn't put up posters or you campaign has heen mounted. contract, although the POASI leadership might get shot by the police thinking that Fifty-two trade-union organizations in at the time was composed of Balaguer you are a subversive." the Dominican Republic—including the supporters. Nevertheless, the pro-Balaguer minority Central General de Trabajadores, one of In 1971, a new leadership defeated the in the union went to the secretary of the the two trade-union federations in the pro-Balaguer officeholders in the union. interior and obtained a promise from him country, have protested the police occupa This group, which called itself the Blue that the election could be held. tion of POASI's headquarters. Last Octob Slate, included supporters of various politi "Seeing this," Martinez Vargas contin er, 1,200 of POASI's 1,300 members pub cal parties. ued, "we thought that a whole maneuver lished an advertisement in a Dominican

Intercontinental Press daily demanding immediate withdrawal of being coordinated by the U.S. Committee ability to make it work in the plants. If the police from the union headquarters for Justice to Latin American Political they fail, and many steel workers are in a and the holding of free elections. Prisoners(USLA)* as a continuation of the highly militant mood, the next confronta POASI leaders have now extended this work that group carried out on behalf of tion seems inevitable." Though the unoffi campaign to the international arena, the three union officials who had been cial strikes petered out January 25 after obtaining statements of support from jailed. □ the agreement had been signed, it is too unions in various Latin American and early to forecast steelworkers' response European countries. when the BSC tries to implement its terms. The immediate cause of the confronta In the United States, the defense effort is *853 Broadway, New York, New York 10003. tion was the BSC's massive financial losses and the corporation's wish to bail itself out at the expense of steelworkers. It Rank-and-File Steelworkers Strike in Protest was given the go-ahead by the Labour government. The BSC's losses in the present financial year (which ends in March) are estimated at £340 million. Weekly losses in 1975 ran at £5 million and British Steel Bosses Slash Jobs, Wages have recently risen to about £8.4 million. The British steel industry has been hit By Tony Hodges by the worldwide recession in steel. The government announced January 15 that steel demand slumped 14 percent in 1975. LONDON—Late last year, Bob Scholey, "has gone on record as being opposed to Output is now at about 17 million tons a chief executive of the state-owned British official stoppages, but he has also acknow year, far below the industry's capacity of Steel Corporation (BSC), gave an ultimat ledged that the executive is under strong 26 million tons. According to figures um to the corporation's 220,000 workers: pressure from a number of branches to call published by the International Iron and He wanted 44,000 jobs axed within two a strike." Steel Institute January 21, British steel years and £170 [£1=US$2.01] million After receiving a "back to work" appeal output dropped 11.5 percent last year. knocked off the annual wages bill. from the ISTC bureaucrats, the Port Steel production was down throughout Steelworkers were astounded at the Talbot strikers voted by 400 to 7 on the capitalist world (by 19.5 percent in the scale of Scholey's proposed assault on January 11 to keep the strike going. nine countries of the European Economic wages and jobs, to be carried out in On January 23, having failed to mobilize Community and by 19.7 percent in the violation of a nineteen-month agreement the unions' full strength to defeat the United States), prompting protectionist with the steel unions signed only nine BSC's offensive, the TUC Steel Committee trade-war measures by the imperialist months earlier. signed an agreement with the corporation, powers. In January, the United States The 44,000 jobs on the firing line, conceding most of BSC's job-cutting, wage- imposed restrictions on the import of Scholey warned, were "just for starters." slashing measures. The few gains made foreign steel. Up to sixteen open-hearth steel plants were due solely to the action of the rank By contrast, the superiority of the would be run down and eventually closed. and file and were achieved in spite of the planned economies of the workers states In addition, BSC announced that from craven collaborationism of the union lead (despite their bureaucratic deformations)

January 4 it would end all weekend shift ers. was strikingly illustrated last year by steel working (which threatened many workers The BSC agreed to uphold the guarant output increases of 4.3 percent in the with a £15, or 33 percent, weekly wage cut), eed week; to "stabilize" open-hearth plants Soviet Union, 9.6 percent in the other and that from January 11 it would rather than close them down; to restore Comecon* countries, and 11.1 percent in suspend the industry's guaranteed week weekend shift working for two weeks in China. agreement (which guarantees workers 80 order to seek local plant agreement on While the rival capitalist steel producers percent of their weekly wages). This would reducing it; and to discuss the job reduc scramble for a shrinking market, the BSC allow the corporation to put thousands of tions at a plant level. is at a terrible disadvantage. According to workers on short-time. But the union leaders agreed in principle the January 4 London Sunday Times, Steelworkers, particularly in Wales, that weekend shift working should be cut BSC's annual output per worker is now immediately took action to express their back, and they accepted the need for a around 77 tons. If the BSC produces at full rejection of the BSC's ultimatum. In massive reduction of employment levels in capacity, this still rises to only 118 tons. defiance of the corporation's suspension of the industry. The agreement provided for Meanwhile, Nippon Steel in Japan can weekend shift working, 5,000 workers immediate redundancies within three turn out 520 tons of steel per year for each turned up to work January 4. Thousands months on account of the recession and a worker, Thyssen in West Germany can of workers at Port Talbot, Ebbw Vale, two-year programme of further redundan achieve 370 tons per man-year, and Na Trestre, Velindre, and other plants began cies to reduce long-term employment le tional Steel can produce 280 tons per man- unofficial strikes. vels. year, This is why Bob Scholey wants to But, the Economist noted January 24, The BSC, the Financial Times comment axe 44,000 jobs "just for starters"; reduce "union leaders in the steel industry are ed January 24, "has obtained a greater jobs levels; and raise BSC's productivity to largely a moderate bunch and most accept degree of union commitment at national levels already achieved by the corpora the need for cuts." The 110,000-member level to a reduction of manning levels and tion's main competitors. Iron and Steel Trades Confederation cuts in workers' earnings than ever be But as the big imperialist steel monopo (ISTC) and the eighteen other unions in fore." In addition, the paper pointed out, lies fight for their share of the world the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Steel "the unions have agreed to bring their full market, it is the steelworkers who lose out. Committee refused to call a nationwide weight to bear on members at individual A socialist planned economy would guar strike. They urged those steelworkers plants who are refusing to cooperate with antee jobs for all. □ already on strike to go back to work. the agreement." "Mr William Sirs, general secretary of But, the Financial Times warned, "the *Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, an the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation," success of the package will now largely economic confederation linking Moscow with its the London Times reported January 5, depend on the unions' determination and satellite governments in Eastern Europe.—/P

March 15, 1976 Pretoria and Washington—Allies Against Africa halls of NATO headquarters this week while the Defence Ministers of the 15 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member countries met in re stricted session of the Defence Planning Commit tee. ... it is the first hint that the report and con South Africa: NATO's Secret Partner tingency plan have been giyen a nod of appro val. By Ernest Harsch Details of the contingency plan, as well as SACLANT's obvious dealing with the South African Defence Force through "a member country," will certainly never be given. in early 1974, said that the contingency [Second of three articles] The assurance, from a well-placed NATO In early 1970, when the White House planning was designed to make it possible source, has however, unveiled that contact was adopted the "Tar Bahy" policy commit "to go to the aid of our potential allies in made with South Africa during the study, and ting Washington to greater support for the southern Africa if the need should arise." that the conclusions have almost certainly been white minority regimes of southern Africa, The NATO press secretary who revealed relayed to Mr Vorster's Government. the National Security Council decided to the SACLANT authorization stated that holster its military positions along the the planners were considering not only High-Level Contacts shores of the Indian Ocean. The move, NATO options for wartime, but also for made in coordination with NATO, was "crisis situations." One indicator of the greater coordination ostensibly directed against a possible NATO's moves toward broadening its between Pretoria and its NATO allies has increase in Soviet naval activity in the area of operations to include southern been the increase in high-level contacts region. Africa was formalized at the annual between South African military and The NSC decision, combined with the meeting of the NATO Ministerial Council government officials and their counter steps taken by individual NATO members held in June 1974 in Ottawa. Although the parts in Europe and the United States. to protect their military and economic NATO region was defined in 1940 as In January 1974, Cornelius P. Mulder, interests in southern Africa, led to a more including Europe, North America, the South African minister of information and synchronized "tilt" by NATO as a whole North Sea, and the North Atlantic (above of the interior (who is considered a possible toward the South African regime. the Tropic of Cancer), the Ottawa Declara successor to Prime Minister John Vorster), A resolution passed by a meeting of the tion of June 19, 1974, pointed out that spent five days in Washington. He met NATO Assembly in Bonn, West Germany, NATO "interests can be affected by events with then Vice-president Ford, various in November 1972 recommended to the in other areas of the world." congressional leaders, and Vice Adm. Ray NATO Ministerial Council that it give In an article on the Kissinger "Tar Peet, a top Pentagon planner in charge of SACLANT (Supreme Allied Commander, Baby" policy. Tad Szulc commented in the International Security Affairs and the Atlantic) "authority to plan for the protec October 1974 issue of Esquire magazine: Indian Ocean. Mulder made another trip to tion of NATO Europe's vital shipping lines This, of course, is a carte blanche for N.A.T.O. the United States in June 1975. in the Indian Ocean and the South to become involved wherever it wishes. It may A month after the coup in Portugal, Atlantic including surveillance and com mean the Middle East, or the Indian Ocean—or Adm. Hugo H. Biermann, commander in munications." southern Africa. The uncertainty is whether the chief of the South African military, also It also stated that "the naval threat to United States and some of its allies, encouraged visited Washington after Kissinger over NATO's vital sea lines of communication by the license issued in Ottawa, may choose to ruled a recommendation of the Africa now comes largely from outside the limits regard South Africa's internal security in the Bureau of the State Department that face of black pressures as a justification for of the North Atlantic Treaty area."'' Biermann be denied a visa. Biermann then direct air or naval support, using SACLANT's Less than a month after the April 25, met with J. William Middendorf, acting contingency planning. 1974, Portuguese coup, a NATO press sec secretary of the navy, and Gen. Thomas H. retary admitted that SACLANT had been The Portuguese coup unexpectedly led to Moorer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of given authorization to conduct such con the end of white rule in Angola and Mo Staff. According to Szulc, Biermann dined tingency planning. The instructions to zambique, prompting the imperialists to with seventeen admirals at the home of a SACLANT, which is based in Norfolk, press forward with their plans to holster Republican congressman. Virginia, were issued by the NATO De the remaining white regimes. "My own In January 1975, a group of six U.S. fense Planning Committee in June 1973. impression from Washington conversa congressmen visited South Africa. Accord tions," Szulc reported, "is that ing to Congressman Bob Wilson, a mem Michael J. Berlin reported in the May 10, SACLANT and the Pentagon planners ber of the House Armed Services Commit 1974, New York Post, "So far. The Post will proceed with their contingency plan tee, the sanctions against South Africa, learned from an informant, SACLANT ning, perhaps with even greater urgency "such as the arms embargo, were the has reached the conclusion that NATO than before." central theme of our discussions." Wilson itself does not have sufficient forces to deal By the end of 1974, the initial planning added, "Radicals broadcast a lot of misin with that area. And the corollary to this is stage appears to have been completed. Sig formation about South Africa, but from that a defense arrangement involving the nificantly, South African newspapers were what we have seen we would all choose white minority regimes of southern Africa, among the first to note that fact. Corres South Africa as our second country." South Afiica in particular, is required." pondent Tim Patten reported in a dispatch This trip was followed up two months An unnamed NATO official, quoted in a from Brussels published in the December later by Congressman John Dent, who was report prepared by Sean Gervasi, L.W. 14, 1974, issue of the South African Star accompanied to South Africa and Rhode Bowman, and Ellen Frey-Wouters for the Weekly: sia (Zimbabwe) by Harold Runnels of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization House Armed Services Committee and by NATO Defence Ministers are maintaining an Richard Ichord, also a member of the agreed cloak of secrecy but it has been made House Armed Services Committee, as well 4. Quoted in "NATO and Southern Africa: On clear privately that the defence of the Cape sea- as chairman of the witch-hunting relic, the Our Way to Euro Vietnam," a paper presented by route is "well covered" in a contingency plan, Frank Janzen of the Angola Comity, Amster and that South Africa would receive naval assis House Internal Security Committee, until dam, at a conference in Oxford, England, April tance if the oil route was threatened. it was dissolved in January 1975. 12-15, 1974. This conclusion was given to me in the lobby "Obviously South Afinca has developed

Intercontinental Press into a powerful economic and strategic the Simonstown base to accommodate Pacific Ocean, expressed a similar opinion force in the world community, and as such forty to fifty warships would begin imme nearly a year earlier. He was quoted in the deserves our attentions. For this reason diately. The Simonstown dockyards are to October 25, 1974, South African Comment most of our interest was in economic and be tripled in size at a cost of $45 million. and Opinion as saying, "What has hap strategic developments in South Africa," pened in Mozambique and Angola, makes Dent said in a report to Congress. our possession of Diego Garcia more He also pointed to Ichord's qualifica important than ever. But it also means tions for participating in the visit: "I felt that we absolutely need access to Simon that Congressman Ichord was probably stown and Durban." one of the best informed men on subver It would be politically difficult, however, sion and Communism, which rumors had for Washington openly to use the Simon told us were being applied in South Africa stown base at this time. As a result of and Rhodesia by both Red China and opposition among the American people to Communist ." the apartheid regime, particularly among During their visit, they met with Mulder, Blacks, U.S. ships have not used any Commander of Naval Operations D.K. South African ports since 1967, except in Kinkead-Weekes, Chief of the South Afnca emergencies. Navy Adm. J.J. Johnson, and Director of Consequently, one of the goals of Ameri Strategic Studies Maj. Gen. J.H. Robertze. can policy in southern Africa is to find a Washington was not the only NATO political "solution"—such as a negotiated member to establish direct contacts with settlement in Rhodesia and closer ties South African military figures. The Octob between Pretoria and some of the Black er 6, 1975, issue of the German weekly Der African states—that would enable U.S. Spiegel reported: ships to use Simonstown and other bases without jeopardizing American interests in German military officers are certainly acting the rest of Africa or provoking protests by in agreement with their brothers-in-arms in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, particularly Blacks in the United States. with British and French officers, who cultivate close contacts with the military forces of the 'Project Advocaat' South African Republic. NATO considers a Closely related to the construction of militarily strong South Africa useful in safe guarding the sea route around the Cape of Good additional South African naval facilities is Hope. . . . Project Advocaat, a highly sophisticated Despite the arms embargo imposed by the and far-ranging communications and United Nations, Bonn is prepared to strengthen surveillance center located at Silvermine the defense capabihties of South Afnca. VORSTER in the mountains about twenty miles north of Simonstown. The South Africa ambassador to Bonn, An additional $17 million worth of equip Donald Sole, used the South African The surveillance radius of Silvermine is ment is to be installed over the next five some 5,000 miles, covering much of the embassy to coordinate links between South years. The South African naval base at Indian Ocean, almost all of the South African and West German military and Durban is also being enlarged. nuclear authorities. West German govern Atlantic, and the entire African continent. Vorster pledged that South African port Using aerial reconnaissance, radio moni ment officials cooperated in this effort, facilities would be "open to all other toring, and other sources of information, according to Der Spiegel. fnendly nations." Pretoria even launched For instance, when three South African the computerized center can plot the a publicity campaign stressing that theme. course, size, armament, number of person officers asked permission to inspect the For instance, an advertisement placed in German Defense Ministry computer center nel, and other statistics of virtually any the May 20, 1975, Christian Science ship or plane within that radius. Accord in Bonn because they wanted to set up a Monitor asked: "Could an organisation similar computer system in South Africa, ing to Cmdt. Georg Brits, who heads the like NATO have a base in Simonstown, they were given permission within twelve Silvermine center, the system also has South Afiica?" days. facilities to organize convoys in war situa Noting that Washington had already tions. begun expanding its naval facilities on the NATO Looks Toward Simonstown The surveillance system, according to a Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, lieutenant commander at Silvermine cited While the details of SACLANT's con Anthony Harrigan, an American military in the July 31, 1975, Wall Street Journal, is tingency plans for southern Africa have specialist and coauthor of The Indian linked via the Indian Ocean island of not been publicly disclosed, Pretoria has Ocean and the Threat to the West, pointed Mauritius to Hong Kong, Singapore, New already begun preparations to take on a to the next logical step Washington should Zealand, and Australia, and by way of the greater role in "protecting" the Cape sea take. Writing in the September 1975 South British Admiralty in London to the U.S. route, apparently under NATO's encou African Scope, he said: naval communications station in Derry, ragement. The immediate United States need is to Northern Ireland, and from there to the On September 1, 1974, it was revealed proceed rapidly with the Diego Garcia installa United States. Also by way of the British that the NATO Military Committee had tion and then begin right away to negotiate with Admiralty, the system is tied into NATO decided to negotiate with Pretoria for the South Africa for those facilities which Diego headquarters in Brussels. possible use of Simonstown as a NATO Garcia cannot provide, namely missile-loading As with Simonstown, the capabilities of base. Although the results of those nego facilities, major repair facilities, landing rights Silvermine are far greater than Pretoria tiations are not yet known, Pretoria has for naval reconnaisseince aircraft covering the can use for its own purposes. Moreover, Cape area, and well-protected intelligence data launched a program to expand its port South Africa does not have the necessary collection and analysis facilities. facilities far beyond the present needs of surveillance equipment to provide all the the South African navy. Adm. John McCain, the director of the information that goes into Silvermine. On November 7, 1974, Prime Minister United States Strategic Institute and a Hermanns Brink, Silvermine's opera Vorster announced that work to expand former navy commander in chief in the tions officer, has said that the surveillance

March 15, 1976 center received "inputs from other navies," admitted June 18, 1975, that South Africa approximately 30 percent less than other which he did not name. The July 1975 had been using NATO codes since the methods. In April 1975, the first South Africa reported, "Some military digests early 1960s. He said that at the request of African pilot enrichment plant went into have said that Project Advocaat is directly the French government NATO had given operation at Valindaba, near Pretoria. The linked to Washington and London, and South Africa the special identification code government also plans to build a large- informed sources believe that from these number 18, which it continues to use. scale commercial plant, at a projected capitals come vital satellite photographs to Parallel with Pretoria's military prepara cost of more than $1 billion, by the early make Vorster's picture complete." tions, South African officials have called 1980s. The construction of Silvermine was on Washington and the other NATO While Pretoria's desire to compete on the directly related to NATO's "tilt" toward powers to extend their alliance with the growing world market for nuclear fuel was Pretoria. A report presented to the NATO South African regime even further. For probably an important consideration in its Assembly session in November 1972 instance, speaking before the Los Angeles decision to launch the enrichment project, (where the recommendation that SAC- World Affairs Council on June 6, 1975, it was far from the only factor. LANT begin its southern Africa planning Mulder said: In fact, the military potential of the was first made)stated that "there is a high We are not asking the United States to police country's nuclear industry was so central priority requirement to develop a submar our waters. Despite embargoes we have managed to Pretoria's plans that in August 1965 ine and surface ship surveillance capabili to keep abreast in the military field. Our navy Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd had to ty under NATO throughout the area." has expanded to an extent where it satisfies our remind South African officials that it also The May 24, 1975, Star Weekly of South medium power needs. had an economic value. Speaking at the Africa reported that at a NATO Defense No, we do not need others to do our work, but inauguration of the country's first nuclear Planning Committee meeting in Brussels, we do require friends in the Western world to reactor, he said, "It is the duty of South U.S. Defense Secretary James Schlesinger shoulder their own responsibilities in the oceans Africa not only to consider the military around us. In the process South Africa is able to was thought to have made a proposal "to uses of the material, but also to direct its supply them with harbor, drydock, and other establish a major monitoring installation support facilities instead of their having to go to uses to peaceful purposes." in South Africa for NATO intelligence considerable expense in creating their own bases Reporting in the November 1975 Africa, purposes." in the area. Peter Enahoro said, "Various South Afri "It can only be assumed at this stage In mid-1972. Admiral Biermann stressed can spokesmen have from time to time that America put forward the plan," another "responsibility" that he thought publicly envisaged the day when their reporter Tim Patten said, "although in the the Western powers should shoulder in country will have its own atom bomb. Ten corridors of NATO headquarters it was southern Africa. Biermann said that "it is years ago, Andries Visser, a member of the firmly believed this was the case." Patten imperative that a superpower should be South African Atomic Energy Board, reported that it was also assumed that the involved in the strategy for the southern suggested that the Republic should esta British and French representatives had hemisphere and that as a final defence the blish a nuclear arsenal not only for supported the proposal. strategy of deterrence with the threat of prestige purposes, hut also because 'we should have such a bomb to prevent The UN Special Committee on Apar nuclear destruction and escalation has to theid acquired a set of documents from the be applied in this region as well." aggression from loud mouthed Afro- Anti-Apartheid Movement detailing part Asiatic states. . . .'" Although Pretoria has muted such of NATO's involvement in Project Advoca A Member of the Nuclear Club? at. Africa magazine reported in its July bellicose pronouncements during the past 1975 issue that according to the docu Pretoria may soon not need to call on its several years, and Vorster now claims that ments, South Afirican officials used NATO Western allies to provide such a "deter the country's nuclear research program is computers to calculate the types and rent." During the past decade and a half aimed entirely toward "peaceful" purposes, quantities of spare parts that would be its scientists—with help from Europe and the development of a nuclear weapons capability is still very much on the minds needed for Silvermine. the United States—have been feverishly They also used NATO's purchasing developing South Africa's own nuclear of government and military officials. codes to buy equipment from such coun capability. tries as Denmark and the Netherlands, South Africa and the occupied territory which have publicly refused to sell arms to of Namibia have some of the richest In 1971, A.J.A. Roux, the president of the Pretoria in the past. French, British, and uranium fields in the world. But nuclear South African Atomic Energy Board, American parts are also known to have weapons technology requires much more wrote that "if a country wishes to make been ordered for Project Advocaat. The than simple access to the raw materials. nuclear weapons, an enrichment plant will provide the concentrated fission material if orders were made with NATO forms and To be of use either as fuel for nuclear were thought to have been delivered to reactors or in atomic warheads, natural the country possesses the necessary natu ral uranium to process in the plant." Pretoria in September 1973. uranium must first be enriched, a process Africa reported; in which the lighter U-235 is separated Shortly after India exploded its first from the heavier U-238. nuclear device on May 18, 1974, Louw Al South Africa also received active assistance This enrichment process is extremely berts, the vice-chairman of the Atomic from the West German Defence Ministry—and complex and expensive. The enrichment Energy Board, remarked that "our nuclear although the exact scope of this is not yet technology, moreover, is usually kept a programme is more advanced than that of known, it is believed that the Germans acted as India." middlemen, buying equipment from some un closely guarded secret by the nuclear friendly NATO countries and re-routing them to powers—both to cut down competition in Correspondent James Baxter said in the South Africa. However, from the photostat of a the field of nuclear fuel production and to March 22, 1975, Star Weekly, "Indeed, letter from AEG-Telefunken [a German com slow down the proliferation of nuclear some [American, British, and Soviet] pany that has a contract with South Africa] to weapons in other countries. authorities would not in any way be the German army supply department, it is clear These obstacles notwithstanding. Prime surprised if the South Africans already that, in 1970, a meeting was held at which the Minister Vorster declared in 1970 that have reached the threshold of nuclear Defence Ministry agreed to "process" spare parts Pretoria had developed its own nuclear arms production, possessing, as they do, ordered for Project Advocaat. enrichment process. Two years later Minis uranium in considerable quantities. . . . This purchasing arrangement between ter of Mines P.J. Koornhof claimed that "Technically, too. South Africa's know- Pretoria and NATO was not a recent the process could produce the "cheapest how in the field is considered to be development. A NATO representative enriched uranium in the world," costing sufficiently developed to produce this sort

Intercontinental Press of weapon if and when a political decision and 1960 and continued to be a member of though the trip had been approved by to do so is taken." the Organisation's Council of Governors Defense Minister Georg Leber, he later In addition to the aid given to the South until the end of 1972. With such qualifica claimed that he had not known of the African regime for its conventional mili tions his appointment to West Germany "special circumstances" of the visit. tary force, the major imperialist powers, was obviously not an accident." A statement by the Afirican National Washington and Bonn in particular, have In addition to the contacts Sole estab Congress of South Africa, quoted by helped establish its nuclear industry. lished with STEAG and GfK, he managed Hodges, pointed out that nuclear weapons Shortly after the South African Atomic to enlist the collaboration of high military would allow Pretoria to "use its nuclear Energy Board was set up in 1949, the U.S. officials. muscle to weaken boycotts, embargoes and Atomic Energy Commission opened its fa In October 1974 Sole organized a visit to sanctions; it could blackmail Africa and cilities to South African engineers and South Africa by Lt. Gen. Gilnther Rail, at the international community into acqui nuclear scientists. In 1957, Washington that time West Germany's top air force escence in its apartheid policies at home and Pretoria signed a fifty-year bilateral officer and its representative on NATO's and the expansion of its economic nuclear energy cooperation agreement. military committee. Traveling under the stranglehold over the continent." In a 1967 article, Africa scholar John pseudonym of "Mr. Ball," Rail inspected South Africa's nuclear potential could be Marcum reported: South African military installations, as a serious future threat to Black-ruled well as the nuclear facilities at Palindaba. Africa. But as shown by its intervention in [Despite] widespread African fears and inter Within two days after the secret trip was Angola, Pretoria's powerful conventional national speculation that uranium-rich South Africa may try to develop hoth nuclear energy revealed in September 1975 by a German military might is an immediate danger. and nuclear weapons, the American Atomic magazine, Rail was forced to resign. Al [Next: The Gendarme of Southern Africa] Energy Commission [has] trained South African technicians at the Oak Ridge National Laborato ry in Tennessee and loaned the South African Atomic Energy Board a reactor consultant International Campaign to Free Hernan Cuentas (Thomas Cole of Oak Ridge National Laborato ry) to whom the South Africans consider them An international campaign is being General Confederation of Peruvian Work selves "largely indebted for the successful waged to free Peruvian miners union ers). commission of Safari I," their first nuclear leaders Heman Cuentas and Victor Cua- Cuentas, a leader of the Partido Obrero reactor which was dedicated in August 1965 in dros, and four labor attorneys—Ricardo Marxista Revolucionario (POMR— the presence of Dr. Alvin Weinburg, director of Diaz Chavez, Jose Ona Meona, Arturo Revolutionary Marxist Workers party), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.^ Salas Rodriguez, and Genaro Ledesma had returned from forced exile only three Pretoria received help in developing its Izquieta. The six were arrested in Decem months before his arrest. Upon his return, nuclear enrichment process from West ber 1975 but have yet to be charged with he became part of the leadership of the Germany. Although the South African any crime. Federacion Nacional de Trabajadores government has not yet revealed its en The February 19-26 issue of the Paris Mineros y Metalurgicos del Peru (National richment technique, it is believed that it is weekly newspaper Informations Ouvrieres Federation of Miners and Metalworkers of based on the nozzle separation method devoted an entire page to reporting pro Peru). He served as a leader of miners at developed by the West German Stein- tests from France. Messages have been Cuajone, an important mining site in the kohlen Elektrizitat AG (STEAG), a state- sent from scores of trade unionists and south of Peru. controlled company, and the West German locals of the major trade-union Along with Cuadros, Cuentas is being Nuclear Research Society (GfK—Gesell- federations—the CGT (Confederation Gen held in Lurin, a city near Lima. The four schaft fur Kemforschung) at Karlsruhe. erate du Travail—General Confederation labor lawyers face harsher conditions— South African scientists were allowed to of Labor), Force Ouvrifere (Labor Force), they are imprisoned in the Amazonian visit the Karlsruhe center. And according and CFDT (Confederation Frangaise et penal colony, El Sepa. to Tony Hodges in the November 1975 Democratique du Travail—French Demo In an open letter published in the Africa, "Professor E.W. Becker, who has cratic Confederation of Labor). February 12 issue of the Peruvian news been working on the nozzle technique at Protests have also been sent by members magazine Marka, Cuentas and Cuadros Karlsruhe for 15 years, is now working in and leaders of the Communist party, pointed out that the attorneys face "a South Africa." . League for the Rights of grave risk to their own lives." They cited In August 1973, it was revealed that Man, Organisation Communists Interna- in particular the case of Arturo Salas, who STEAG and the South African Atomic tionaliste (OCI—Internationalist Com is elderly and suffers from a spinal Energy Board were negotiating an agree munist Organization), Alliance des Jeunes condition that requires constant medical ment to collaborate on nuclear enrich pour le Socialisme (AJS—Alliance of attention. ment. In April 1974, the Uranium Enrich Youth for Socialism), and Union Nationals Cuentas and Cuadros also explained ment Corporation of South Africa and des Etudiants de France (UNEF— what lay behind the arrests: STEAG signed a contract "to carry out a National Union of Students of France). "No one doubts that what is behind the joint feasibility study of two uranium en The French section of Amnesty Interna attack against us is the fear the imperial richment processes." tional, groups of university professors and ists and reactionary bourgeoisie have of "The mastermind behind the South Af other professionals, and a number of the miners and metalworkers organized in rican success in the nuclear field in West student organizations have voiced protests the Federacion Nacional de Trabajadores Germany is Donald Sole, who arrived as as well. Mineros y Metalurgicos del Peru. Nor does Ambassador to Bonn in 1968," Enahoro anyone doubt that this attack is the same reported. "A past member of South Afri In Peru, according to a report in the kind as that being experienced by the ca's Atomic Energy Board, he served as February 18 issue of the Buenos Aires companeros of Plasticos El Pacifico; the chairman of the International Atomic weekly PoUtica Obrera, a rally of 30,000 printers in the El Virrey, Simac, and Sider Energy Organization in Vienna in 1959 persons was held in Lima to protest the case; the fishermen; and so many other arrests. This was followed by work stop assaults the reactionary forces use to try to pages by miners and a twenty-four-hour behead and demobilize the Peruvian pro 5. Quoted in Essays on the Political Economy of strike in Lima and Callao called by the letariat so that later they can try to defeat Africa, by Giovanni Arrighi and John S. Saul. Communist party-led Confederacion Gen it, forcing it to bear the entire brunt of the New York: Monthly Review Press, 1973. eral de Trabajadores del Peru (CGTP— crisis of the capitalist system." □

March 15, 1976 From the Self-Criticism of 1970 to the New Constitution promoting an awareness of the problems of the degeneration of the revolution were the distrust of the Stalinists of the PSP [People's Socialist party], who after colla borating with Batista on several occasions Problems of the Cuban Workers State opposed the guerrilla struggle for a whole period, and the thinking that certain By Livio Maitan leaders of the July 26 Movement were able to undertake on the negative evolution of the USSR and the bureaucratized Commu [The last world congress of the Fourth revolution, eliminating not only the eco nist parties. International, held in February 1974, nomic bases of imperialism but also of opened a public discussion on the internal native capitalist property. On the level of situation in Cuba and the foreign policy of political leadership, this evolution was ourselves just to a recent period, here is what the Cuban government. The following more in form than substance, for the real Armando Hart said in October 1974: article, translated by Intercontinental power was in the hands of the Ejtoito "The far-reaching base of social support that Press, is a contribution to that discussion.] Rebelde [Rebel Army] and the Fidelista was provided by different sectors of the urban team, even during the period of dual power population, the resistance struggle, sabotage, sui generis that ran from the taking of and strikes that were unleashed all over the power to the fall of Urrutia." [See "On the country, the fact that the Cuban guerrillas Recent developments—in internal as Nature of the Cuban Revolution," Fourth faithfully reflected the essentially democratic well as international politics—have again International, Winter, 1960-61, No. 12.] demands of the whole nation and correctly posed the problem of an analysis of the The specific forms of the armed struggle interpreted the political methods of unity em ployed by Fidel, are aspects of the history of our overall situation in Cuba. Militants are for power and the character of the Fidelis revolution, which must be carefully studied in questioning the nature of the Cuban state ta leadership—as analyzed in the resolu order to understand the reasons that led to the at the present stage. Is the characteriza tion cited above—contributed to making a tion advanced by revolutionary Marxists victory of the revolution on January 1, 1959. fundamental difference between the Cuban "Because, although the guerrillas and the since 1960 still valid or must it be rectified? revolution and the Russian revolution of Rebel Army played the key role in the victory, Before offering an answer let's cast a look 1917. In spite of the active participation of the support of different social sectors and back. broad layers of the peasantry and in the especially the students in urban areas and the later stages of the urban proletarian peasants in rural areas, combined with the way The Formation of the Workers State masses, the destruction of the bourgeois in which Fidel handled certain aspects of the struggle, also constituted factors of great impor state did not go hand in hand with the "The Cuban revolution," says the text of tance without which the guerrillas might have the Sixth World Congress of the Fourth emergence of soviet-type proletarian been isolated." (Granma, November 3, 1974.) All International (January 1961), "has rough democratic structures. That is why, in the the quotations from Granma are from the weekly ly speaking gone through three phases up context of cultural and economic back Spanish edition. to now: the first, in which, after having wardness and the impossibility Cuba faced For his part, Fidel said several months earlier; limited its goals and its methods to a of integrating itself into a homogeneous "The could never have been program of'cleaning up the system' and of supranational economic system, tenden carried out with the peasants alone; this revolu tion would have been absolutely impossible armed action carried out by a small group cies toward bureaucratic degeneration existed from the beginning. However, without the working class! Since, for topographi that tried to win over a sector of the army, cal reasons, there were no industries or concen unlike Yugoslavia and China—and even the Fidelista movement developed a pro tration of workers in the regions where the war gram of struggle against the system itself, more unlike the countries of Eastern had begun, since all there was were dispersed centering mainly on bourgeois-democratic Europe occupied by the Red Army, which groups of peasants, it was logical for the demands and on more and more advanced were quickly brought into a process of peasants to play the main role at the moment. peasant demands; the second, marked by structural assimilation with the USSR— But the agricultural workers on the big planta the first revolutionary gains and especial the revolution in Cuba did not develop tions in the Sierra Maestra soon began to join ly the agrarian reform; and the third, under a leadership historically linked to the rebel forces; cane cutters, rice harvesters, and agricultural workers of other kinds began to turn whose culminating points were the mortal Stalinism, trained in this school and deeply scarred by bureaucratism even up. blows against imperialist property in the "However, Cuba was not made up of only before the conquest of power. In the period summer of 1960, and the decisive wave of mountains and countryside; there was the nationalizations, including those of native of the revolutionary war and right after capital and other big cities where there were no capitalist properties, in October of the the overthrow of the Batista dictatorship, peasants, just workers. same year. the Castroist leadership suffered the limi "Later the revolution would have to confront "On the specifically political level, in the tations and contradictions stemming from its foreign enemies; and in that decisive struggle, first phase the people's revolutionary its petty-bourgeois origins and its Jacobin that life-or-death struggle, in which the nation forces signed (July 1958) a pact with the ideology. But it was inspired by a determi had to confront its foreign enemies, the working class necessarily played a decisive role," In the representatives of bourgeois and petty- nation to maintain its ties with the driving forces of the revolution, by an understand common struggle, in the alliance with the bourgeois democracy; the second phase peasantry, the working class "brought its own ing that such a link was needed in order to was marked by the formation (January ideology, the ideology of the working class: 1959) of a government including liberal- counteract bourgeois restorationist tenden Marxism-, the struggle for socialism, conservative elements, with Urrutia as cies and to counter the attacks of Ameri the struggle for communism."(Granma, May 26, president. Finally, the inevitable break can imperialism.! Another obstacle to 1974.) with the latter occurred—a break caused adopting the Stalinist model and a factor "On the other hand, we have had a real and above all by the promulgation of the sincere friend who has always shown us great agrarian reform. generosity, unselfishness and fraternity. Thus, 1. The problems of the nature of the Cuban we have said that the Cuban revolution came "In its first two phases, therefore, the revolution since the period of the struggle at the very moment—and not a minute Cuban revolution developed as a radical against Batista, of the role of the different social sooner—when the international balance of power anti-imperialist democratic revolution, classes, of the ideology of the revolution, and of and the big changes taking place in the world whereas in the third it completed the its international context have been treated on could make possible this reality." (Granma, process of 'growing over' into a socialist several occasions by the Cuban leaders. To limit January 14, 1973.)

Intercontinental Press Thus the Cuban workers state was born July gave additional sanction to a line in there is no other way than to strive by without the deformations that from the opposition to the reformist conceptions of every means right from the start to tap the beginning marked countries like Yugoslav the Communist parties, and rejected any creative potential of the masses. Only by ia and China where the taking of power subordination to the politico-diplomatic experience can the masses acquire the was the outcome of prolonged revolution needs of the bureaucracies of the degener necessary capacities and concepts, and ary mobilizations. As a result of the ated workers states. produce the cadres essential for the over decisions made at several points by its But 1967 was also the year of a new whelming tasks of real socialist construc leading group, the Cuban revolution for a attack by the leading Castroist group tion. long time after its victory did not experi against the bureaucratic positions and "It is precisely for this reason—and not ence a substantial process of bureaucratic against the tendencies and men from the out of fetishistic attachment to any scrip degeneration. That is why the Fourth former PSP who had not ceased to repres tures or experiences of the past—that we International adopted an attitude toward ent a brake on, and a danger to, the have always held that a revolution in the Cuban leadership qualitatively differ revolutionary process. Already, the year Cuba, as elsewhgre, must find expression ent from its attitude toward the leader before, an attack had been launched on a in the creation of political structures ships of other workers states, not including stronghold of some bureaucrats of the old arising from below, which alone can in our program either the struggle for an school, that is, the national union federa assure maximum democracy for the work antibureaucratic or the tion. The apparatus headed by Lazaro ers and peasants. building of an alternative leadership. Pena, whose responsibility cannot be "The absence of such structures, let us wiped out by apologetic postmortem com repeat once again, has been the Achilles' Three Crucial Episodes memorations, was largely replaced. In the heel of the Cuban revolution. Now the same period, a campaign was launched consequences of this lack should be evi All these aspects did not prevent the around the need for actively mobilizing the dent to everyone. If these structures had Fourth International from highlighting masses as a condition for achieving been built; if instead of relying primarily the objective factors likely to stimulate economic objectives. Likewise another on their instinct and their direct experi forms of bureaucratization or from taking campaign was started up against the ences the Cuban leaders had learned more note over a long period of fifteen years of overgrown administrative apparatus and from the fundamental lessons of the past contradictory tendencies and crucial mo against bureaucratic methods of manage half century of struggles by the workers ments in the struggles against these phen ment and leadership. These campaigns movement in the countries where capital omena. prompted a broad theoretical debate in ism has been overthrown, it would have On the whole we can distinguish three which even economists from other coun been less difficult to achieve coherent important episodes between 1960 and 1970. tries, including revolutionary Marxists, planning and avoid the ravages of bu The first came in 1962 when the pro- were able to express their views. The reaucratic disorder. It would have been Stalinist faction around Anibal Escalante criteria used in other workers states were easier to achieve a much more substantial was defeated. At that time some fairly well explicitly criticized, and a general concep increase in production, to assure a more defined tendencies had set out to introduce tion was outlined, which differed both rational allocation of resources. administrative methods and to impose from the Soviet theories based on the "What is more, the creation of such forms of bureaucratization involving a absolute primacy of material incentives as structures would have erected much more growing weight of the apparatus, the well as from certain Chinese formulations substantial barriers than the mere comba emergence of relatively privileged condi marked by oversimplification and abstract tive spirit of a leading nucleus to the tions, and the imposition of Stalinist-like idealism (in addition to being largely out tendencies towards bureaucratization cultural practices. This resulted in the of line with the actual practice in China). which, in a context such as the one in creation of a dangerous gap between the In the summer of 1970 the failure of the Cuba, is inherent in the phase of transition leaders and the masses. A speech by ten million ton zafra [sugar harvest]—a from capitalism to socialism. Guevara in 1961 and Castro's speeches prime objective to which everything had "Among the causes of the economic against falsification of history and above been subordinated, creating extreme ten failures and dangerous social develop all against Escalante were the most sion throughout the country—touched off a ments, the absence of a revolutionary- important testimony to the fact that at dramatic critical rethinking. Once again democratic organization of the state must, least a small part of the leading group was this was most explicitly expressed in Fidel then, be assigned first place." ("A Crucial perfectly aware of the dangers and had Castro's speeches. These speeches drew a Stage for the Cuban Revolution," Intercon decided to fight resolutely against them. mercilessly self-critical balance sheet on tinental Press, November 30, 1970, p. In fact the most representative elements the shocks and contradictions the Cuban 1043.) of the bureaucratic current were placed in economy was suffering; tbey denounced In a general way two alternative solu a position where they could do no harm, the preponderance of administrative meth tions to the problem posed by the failure of and a difficult phase was overcome. ods over political methods of leadership the zafra were cotfnterposed within the The second episode occurred in 1967. In and an extremely insufficient participation leadership itself: a solution of a bureaucra this year the Cuban polemic against the by the masses in economic management tic and authoritarian kind, based on international line of the bureaucracy of the Let me cite what I wrote at the time in domination by technicians and specialists CPs and of the Soviet bureaucracy itself an attempt to take advantage of the and on much stricter discipline, possibly came to its fullest development. One of the opening the Cubans had made. accompanied by repressive measures; and culminating points of this polemic was "We know whatever the specific solu a solution based primarily on the mobiliza Fidel Castro's March 13 speech, in which, tions adopted, above all starting off from tion and active participation of tbe masses among other things, he explicitly criticized the level of a country condemned to in economic and political development. the visit of a Soviet commercial delegation backwardness by imperialist exploitation, "The stakes in this confrontation, which to the Colombian government then en that difficult problems will remain. It is is shaping up to be very sharp, is, in the gaged in repressing the guerrillas, and in hard to develop all the necessary trained last analysis, fundamental for the future of which he made an extremely clear and personnel in a short period of time, and the the Cuban revolution. Will Cuba be con vehement attack on the opportunistic line cultural limitations of the masses consti demned to growing bureaucratization, or of the Venezuelan CP. Guevara's message, tute a major obstacle to their participating will it prove possible to open up a new coming from an unknown field of battle, in a real way in administering the econo chapter in the history of the struggle the which was published in April, was along my and the broader society. masses have waged against the bureaucra the same lines. The OLAS conference in "But to break out of this vicious circle. cy? The answer depends in very large

March 15, 1976 measure on the results of the present pressure still more negative. has historically been an economic tragedy confrontation." (Quarta Internazionale, After the initial illusions about the for Cuba—that is, its dependence on the No. 1, 1971.) possibility of a fairly rapid diversification, world market price of sugar—in the recent The choices outlined by the Cuban the leading group had to conclude that for period has turned into an unexpected leadership did not include an overall an indeterminate period sugar cultivation opportunity. This is the result of a rise, solution to the problems that had been would remain the backbone of the coun particularly noticeable in certain phases of present since the day following the victory try's economy, the primary source of the economic conjuncture, in the price of of the revolution. For example, the concep accumulation, and the principal means of raw materials. Of course, world inflation tion that called for achieving active acquiring currency for foreign trade (as also exerts pressure on Cuba, and what is participation by the masses through the Castro noted, for example, in a January still more important, the rise in sugar existing mass organizations did not re 1973 speech, the products assuring foreign prices could experience a brusque change, solve the problem of building and coordi exchange are nickel, tobacco, fish, and likely to reduce seriously if not wipe out nating structures of real proletarian de sugar, but sugar overshadows the others). the gains made. This does not alter the mocracy, nor did it resolve, by itself, the In a context where Cuba remained fact that the rise of sugar to 40 and 50 problem of assuring the effective democrat isolated in Latin America, and could not cents a pound (end 1974, beginning 1975) ic functioning of these mass organizations. pin its hopes on integration into an represents a considerable advantage for As for the party, no concrete step was effectively unified economic system of the Cuba (increases in the prices of industrial taken with a view to eliminating in the workers states (even leaving aside the products have been more than compensat near future decisive obstacles to internal specific difficulties of incorporating Cuba, ed for). To get an idea of what this means, democracy (lack of any room for freely since the Comecon does not constitute a it is enough to note that even as late as expressing different or opposing positions, fully developed system of economic inte mid-1973 at the International Sugar Con failure to call a congress, etc.). gration), maintaining sugar cultivation as ference, Cuba proposed 6 cents as the But, in spite of all that, Fidel Castro's the principal economic lever was an minimum price, 9 cents as the maximum self-criticism and certain decisions out unavoidable choice. Only Utopians or price, and 11 cents as the so-called admin lined by the leading group revealed a clear irresponsible people could question the istrative price.^ As Castro pointed out in potential for fighting bureaucratism and necessity of such a decision. In the last December 1974, in the coming season a six showed,in any case, that the group around analysis, the origin of the ten million ton million ton zafra at year-end 1974 prices Fidel was conscious of what was at stake campaign is to be located in this reality. would correspond in terms of 1970 prices and wanted at any price to avoid becoming Regardless of propagandistic distortions or not to a ten million ton, but to a twenty the instrument of forces and interests conjunctural rhetoric, this goal was not million ton, zafra. different from those it has represented regarded as an end in itself hut as a means This means that Cuba already has, and since the period of the armed struggle to acquire resources needed for other will likely have in the next stage, a much against the dictatorship. sectors and to lessen a number of danger larger margin of economic maneuver than Five years afterward, is it premature to ous tensions. We cannot go back here over could legitimately be expected after the ask ourselves. Did the battle announced in the causes of the failure. failure in 1970. This makes it possible for 1970 really take place? In what forms was In retrospect it can he said that in the Cuban leadership to tackle a number of it conducted and with what results? What his self-criticism Castro put too much problems without having to contend with tendencies are now operating and what are emphasis on the socio-political causes such serious tensions. the perspectives? (which were certainly a factor), compared During the traditional balance sheet At the moment, we do not possess all the to the more specifically economic ones, speech at the last July 26 anniversary, in analytical elements required to give a especially the largely voluntarist nature of giving some indicative facts, Castro point complete answer (for example, at least in the option taken: That is, the fact that, in ed out that between 1970 and 1973 the the official publications we have been able view of the available labor force, technical overall economic growth had been on the to consult, we have not found any overall know-how, and general organization, such order of 26 percent, that agriculture had statistics that would permit a thorough a large-scale, concentrated effort could not scored considerable advances;"* and that evaluation of the economic situation). he made without creating grave bottle industry had maintained a particularly Nevertheless, certain general lines of necks in other sectors as well as a series of steady growth (in particular, the construc analysis can be established, from which highly negative effects. tion industry had had an "extraordinary" some definite conclusions can legitimately The failure was dramatic in any event, dynamism). According to certain esti be drawn. insofar as it seemed to compromise possi mates, obviously from an official source, If our interpretation in 1970 correctly bilities for rapid growth, or relatively rapid that have appeared in the international recognized the general trends, in practice growth, and seemed destined to increase press, the rate of growth after 1973 reached the situation has evolved in a much less dependence on foreign countries. 10 percent, with an increase in exports clear fashion. The results to date indicate However, the results obtained in the from 768 million pesos to 2,193 million that neither of the two solutions mentioned years following 1970 were better than pesos (Le Monde, January 14, 1975). In a got the upper hand. Instead, we have to could have been expected at the time. By speech in February of this year, Castro record a partial implementation of certain 1972 there was already a modest but real calculated that production in the construc features of the second alternative, in improvement. And the agreements with tion sector had tripled since 1970.^ As for combination with features of the first. Let the USSR, which, among other things, us look at this in more detail. involved long-term payments and credits without interest, guaranteed the essential 3. Eleven cents is also tbe new price accepted by Economic Problems and Tendencies margin for maneuver.^ the USSR, altbougb witb a reduction of tbe It should he noted, moreover, that what volume at tbe same time.(Le Monde,January 14, Throughout the first ten years of its life, 1975.) the Cuban workers state was rudely compelled to periodically take account of 2. At the beginning of 1974 the Cuban debt to 4. Tbis in spite of two years (1973 and 1974) of how much the economic development of a the USSR was estimated, according to the drought. small country dependent on one crop is Documentation Frant;aise (No. 231-32, 1974) at conditioned by the world market. The $4 billion to $5 billion. Repayment is due within 5. Tbe construction materials industry recorded political factors, i.e., the blockade and twenty-five years, beginning in 1986. (For the a rate of growth of 11 percent in 1974 compared sabotage, made the economic effects of this agreement, see Granma, January 14, 1973.) witb 1973.

Intercontinental Press the perspectives, 1976 will mark the 2. Insufficient training in regular work system of norms became the rule." Its beginning of the first five-year plan. Its habits, resulting in relatively low produc extension went hand in hand with a general lines will be established definitive tivity, especially in certain sectors, and the reorganization of the system of wages and ly after a discussion among the masses. persisting absenteeism (even though, ac bonuses involving an attack on positions But, in theory, it is to involve an annual cording to official statements, the trend of privilege (first of all, ending so-called rate of growth of 6 percent. This figure, has definitely been toward a drop in this).® historic salaries). This included annulling already put forward in 1973 by Castro as 3. Shortages of certain essential materi Resolution 270, which granted bonuses to attainable in the following decade, was als (for example, cement for building) that workers who individually or collectively confirmed in the balance sheet of last year has repercussions on production as a accomplished exceptional tasks and dem mentioned above. If the favorable prices whole (the bottlenecks that exist in con onstrated a revolutionary attitude. Social for sugar last, the percentage of growth struction in spite of increases noted also security was reorganized, and retirement could be increased. The investments fore involve industrial construction). Shortages at full pay was granted only in exceptional seen by the plan are on the order of $12 to of consumer goods (including restrictions cases. Voluntary work was reduced (in 15 billion, that is, $2.5 to 3 billion per year on sugar, in view of the need to save as view of its inadequate economic return in (cf. statement by Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, much as possible for export).'" most cases). Overtime work was reorgan in Paris, January 15, 1975). Finally, the radical shift in the norms ized (in this case also because of a The elements of the balance sheet and for organizing work and stimulating questionable economic return from over the summary forecasts should not make us productivity has not, by itself, made it time work that was unpaid or demanded forget, in the first place, that the 6 percent possible to overcome the difficulties, the without a specified purpose). The "escala- average rate of growth is a relatively low tensions, and the contradictions that fones"(job and salary classifications) were one for a still largely underdeveloped prompted the leaders to make this turn. reorganized. "Compromisos colectivos de country (all the more if you consider the This came out very clearly, for example, in trabajo"(collective labor agreements) were rate of population growth).® In the second the national union congress debates. concluded between the administrators and place, the results of the plan will them As we have already mentioned, these the workers in each unit of production as selves be largely shaped by the evolution problems have been discussed on several the basis of relations between the two of the world market (evolution of raw occasions since the revolution. Different categories. materials prices, of the terms of trade in conceptions have been counterposed, and The generalization of norms and the industrial products and of agricultural there was a succession of various methods. emphasis on material incentives, together products, and the results of the inflation But 1970 marked a hreak even on this with other measures mentioned, no doubt ary process at the international level, etc.).' ground. The leading group started to adopt helped to increase productivity (Castro It is necessary, in the third place, to take a more realistic conception of the problems pointed to this also in the last session of into account the choking bottlenecks that of the transitional stage and their solution. the National Council of the Confederacion exist and serious contradictions that we In the first place, they made much clearer de Trabajadores Cubanos[Granma, Febru can summarize as follows: the necessary distinction between the ary 16, 1975]), and helped as well to 1. Problems created by the shortage of socialist phase and the communist phase introduce some elements essential for manpower, which results primarily from and stated flatly that there was no rationalizing production. But this did not the seasonal character of the harvest and possibility for a socialist revolution "jump proceed without difficulties and dangerous limited progress in mechanizing the culti ing over stages." (Granma, February 16, tendencies likely to create tensions. vation of the main crop. (The special 1975.) The practical application of a system of experiment of the microbrigades, employed While not completely renouncing norms itself created serious problems, to stimulate housing construction, had a politico-ideological incentives and assign since, to use some of Castro's formulations, bad side to it, in that it, at least partially, ing a major importance to the level of certain norms were "basic," others "more drew off manpower from the production consciousness attained by the working accurately adjusted"(mas ajustadas), oth sector. This forced other workers to do class and the toilers in general, the Cuban ers still "less accurately adjusted" (mal unpaid overtime work.)® leadership staked more and more—in ajustadas). The workers who were given practice still more than in explicit higher quantitative and even qualitative theorization—on material incentives. The norms were disadvantaged, inasmuch as 6. Population growth would be 200,000 a year. they had to make a greater effort, and {Granma, May 26, 1974.) In 1975 total population could get the bonus for overfulfilling the reached 9 million; it was 7,256,267 in 1964 (1.5 norm only by a greater effort. Where, on million more than in 1953). that leads women to leave their jobs. Castro the contrary, the norms had been fixed at denounced this trend at the November 1974 too low levels, it could have two kinds of union congress, attributing it also to machismo 7. At the Twelfth Trade Union Congress, Castro and "supermanism." results. This could result in higher pay, in cited significant facts about the goods imported view of the greater ease of exceeding the by Cuba. 9. Cases of a lowering of productivity of labor below the level of the capitalist epoch have been 8. Some facts to indicate the nature of the 11. "Tying pay to fulfillment of norms and denounced, for example, in many repair shops in problems: In 1974 there were 280,000 construc adopting forms of payment that make it possible the sugar sector. (Granma, November 25, 1973.) tion workers. For 1980 a doubling of production to step up production and productivity is a A form of absenteeism, which may be termed is foreseen with an increase of 140,000 workers. decisive task for our economy," stated Roberto deepgoing, was the relatively frequent trend not In the same year there would have to be fewer Veiga, general secretary of the CTC last May 1. to look for or accept work. It was in order to fight workers engaged in the zafra than in construc He added: "The material incentive represented tion. (Granma, December 5, 1974.) The tensions against this trend that the law against vagrancy by linking norms and wages does not deny but flow from the development of sectors whose was adopted in 1971. Its adoption rapidly on the contrary reaffirms the need to strenuously resulted in the integration of about 100,000 growth incontestably represents a gain scored by exalt the high moral values that exist among our the revolution: At the end of 1975 workers in persons into production. working people." These same ideas were ex education will number 250,000 and those in pressed in the thesis of the Thirteenth National public health 150,000 (the two together number 10. The Congress of Cuban Women approved the Union Congress: "Each must be renumerated ing around 400,000, that is, one worker in six. proposal to reduce the sugar ration to a pound according to the quantity and quality of his (Granma, February 16, 1974.) In other cases the per month in order to get an additional surplus work. Whoever works more and better must he tensions are produced by a relative abundance of of 50,000 tons, which, according to Castro's compensated. Those who through regular work money—caused by wage increases in a situation estimate, would permit the purchase of a textile give more to society must he compensated for it, of relative scarcity of means of consumption— factory. (Granma, December 8, 1975.) in proportion to their contribution."

March 15, 1976 norm. Or productivity could remain very the quantity of commodities available January 1967 the government decided to low if the workers, fearing that it were might not correspond to the volume of integrate individual plots into the state noticed how undemanding these norms money in circulation and that inflationary farms, because, according to official state were, and that new ones would be set, kept tendencies would thus be stimulated. In ments, the workers were devoting too under the established threshold. Besides, a view of the shortages that persist despite much attention to them to the detriment of system of material incentives and norms the progress that has been achieved and collective work. At the end of the same tends in general to produce marked wage the prospects for the blockade being year, the ANAP decided to sell its mem differentiations in the working class itself, relaxed, Cuba will face this problem for a bers' produce only to the state. from sector to sector and even among long while." It is obvious that such a social layer different shops in the same plant. In the cannot represent either by its size or its case of bonuses and promotions, the The Social Context dynamism a force hostile to the regime. On danger of arbitrariness, inequalities, and the one hand, it is too strongly conditioned Owing to the thoroughness of a series of injustice is still greater, and in fact there by the leading role of the state in the revolutionary measures and some shrewd have been some exposes of this. (At one agricultural sector. On the other, after the tactical decisions by the leading group, the time, the idea was raised of exempting the 1963 shake-up, the Castroist leading group problem of domestic conflict with layers of most active and disciplined workers, adopted a careful attitude, aiming for a the former ruling class and restorationist whose family income did not exceed a gradual and long-term absorption of exist tendencies was posed from the beginning certain ceiling, from the rent payments ing peasant property and strongly stress years in a notably milder form in Cuba required by the urban reform law, as well ing the principle of free choice by the than in other workers states. as of giving priority in the distribution of peasants—a principle that, insofar as it is In fact, the representatives of the exploit electrical appliances to the most meritori possible to judge, has been respected in ing classes and their supporters have, for ous workers. practice." The problems that arise, creat the most part, left the country for exile in ing tensions are—on the whole—fairly Socialist emulation itself—which was the United States. The leading group did usual for a transitional phase, but, let us particularly stressed in the theses of the not place any obstacles in the way of this repeat, they present themselves in a much last union congress—risks being compro massive emigration; it even encouraged less serious form than in other transitional mised by organizational inadequacies that this in a certain way. The result was that, societies. would make it difficult to keep the neces while there was a broad base for reaction Tendencies to the development and ary maneuvers outside the country, inside sary controls. Problems of this nature were consolidation of differentiation have aris bared several months ago by the general Cuba the representatives and the surviv en above all from the more or less secretary of the national union federa ing layers of the old system found them favorable location of farms, differing tion." We should not forget as well that selves rapidly isolated. productivity, and size. There is also the the workweek is still fairly burdensome. In the second place, following the two phenomenon of an exodus from the moun The union congress set an average of forty- waves of agrarian reform in 1959 and tainous or poorer areas. As in other four hours a week (with a maximum of 1963, the Cuban countryside underwent workers states, this is tied up with the fifty-five a week and of ten hours a day structural changes sharply reducing the spread of education and higher cultural with the exception of very particular chances for capitalist accumulation and levels. In certain cases the plots are left sectors). In the proposed constitution, the for dangerous political counterattacks without the necessary manpower to work eight-hour day is established (Article 45). from well-to-do peasants, the potential them, and a trend has developed toward According to official sources, Cuba kulaks. Let us remember that four and a combining previously separate farms. registered an increase in overall volume of half years after the fall of Batista and Some of the top layers of this peasant wages as well as rising wage levels. In the three years after the birth of the workers stratum can attain relative wealth and balance sheet made in his last speech at state—which followed the expropriation of even employ wage workers." Finally, the the union congress, Castro cited the the native capitalists—the state sector, in breaking up of the small farms poses the following statistics on total wages: 1967— the form of state farms {granjas estatales), classical problem of the use of agricultural 2,773 million pesos; 1970—3,111 million; already covered more than 60 percent of machinery. 1971—3,187 million; 1972—3,367 million; the agricultural land. Less than 40 percent 1973—3,690 million. At the same time, was left in the private sector (the reform in spending by the population rose because of 1963 lowered the ceiling on the amount of 16. For a recent estimate, see Le Monde,January the commodities in distribution as well as land that the peasant could keep from 30 16. 1975. the higher prices of certain "nonessential" to 5 caballerias, that is, to about 67 17. See, for example, Granma, May 25, 1974. The hectares, since one caballeria equals 13.4 products. Throughout the same speech principle of voluntary choice is also written into Castro drew attention, however, to a hectares). Before the second wave of the the draft constitution (Article 20), which among fundamental danger to the Cuban econo reform, according to official statistics of other things establishes a constitutional ban on my at this stage, that is, the danger that June 30, 1962, there were 915,000 persons renting out land, on introducing forms of rent in employed in agricultural production. At kind, etc., and use of land as security for loans. that time, small peasants, beneficiaries of (Article 21.) 12. According to information given by the the reform, organized in the ANAP (Aso- director of the Alquitex factory near Havana, ciacion Nacional de Agricultores 18. Regarding the exodus—especially of youth— wages range fron 80 to 250 pesos a month with a see Castro's speech to the ANAP (National maximum of 350 for the best paid technicians. Pequenos—National Association of Small Association of Small Farmers) at the end of 1971. (Le Monde, January 24, 1975.) Farmers), represented about 200,000 fami In this speech Castro also denounced the lies (today it would be 180,000 according to activities of black market speculators that information obtained by a Le Monde 13. In his report to the February plenum of the damage farmers' interests. Regarding differen correspondent in January 1975)." In National Council of the CTC, Roberto Veiga tiations among the peasants, a Le Monde gave figures on the fulfillment of the plan for analysis already quoted refers to a proprietor distributing household electrical appliances in from the area between Havana and Pinar del Rio 1974. (Bohemia, No. 7, 1975, p. 55.) 15. One of the means adopted to counter the who produces cottage cheese and tobacco and imbalance has been to raise the price of certain who employs a manager and six employees in commodities—cigars and drinks. Other in his business. Peasant production of meat, fruits, 14. Ibid. According to Veiga in 1974, 1,511,185 creases, for example in electricity, were aimed vegetables, and milk is increasing. Tobacco is workers participated individually in the emula above all, according to official statements, to one of the main products of the sector.(Granma, tion campaign. combat wastage. (Granma, November 25, 1973.) March 10, 1974.)

Intercontinental Press As for petty-bourgeois urban layers— picture does not seem to have changed channels should be established through linked to the trading sectors—they were much. The layer represented by the cadres which every member of society may, to the hard hit by the March 1968 expropriation of different apparatuses—of the state, greatest possible extent, participate direct measures. These steps had unquestionably administration, the economy, the unions, ly in the governing of that society. . . . In negative effects on the distribution of the army—has maintained its leading our country we still lack the primary certain products and provoked a certain political position with all the privileges institutions through which the people discontent. At the time, they were criti that flow from it, although these are still govern directly, the institutions that eman cized as "ultraleft." Nonetheless, they relatively limited. The most important ate directly from the people, that are prevented the reinforcement and consoli decision-making powers are firmly concen elected by the people. dation of a business layer capable of trated in the hands of a very small group "All secondary institutions must be becoming a political threat. in which Fidel Castro still plays the based on these primary institutions."''' We already mentioned the problems that preeminent role. This group remains much On the practical level, the leading group most directly concern the working class more tied to the masses than the appara worked out a systematic plan including the when we spoke of work organization, tus in general and it strives subjectively to following: reorganization of the govern incentives, wages, etc. It is enough to add defend the immediate interests of the ment and its branches in 1972; restructur here that the working class is growing in masses without losing sight of the long- ing of the party apparatus, from the industry proper as well as in construction, term perspectives of the revolution. How Central Committee to the municipal com and that there is a tendency for manpower ever, the broader leadership layer—that is, mittees; reorganization of the judicial engaged in the zafra to decline (thanks to the expression of the apparatus at differ system and holding of a trade-union more efficient mechanization). We already ent levels—is decisive in applying the congress in 1973; creation of organs of pointed out the considerable expansion in orientations of the Castroist group, and it local power at the provincial level in the educational and public health sectors. can, thus, in the last analysis, seriously Matanzas Province in 1974; convocation of As for the differentiations within the affect even the choice of these orientations. a party congress in 1975. Until now, this working class that we have also men Moreover, as we have seen, these options calendar has been observed. The result has tioned, they arise—to put it in the most are also conditioned by international been, however, that the adoption of an at simple terms—from two sources; Either factors. We should not forget that in the least questionable order of priorities and of they flow from preexisting conditions (note USSR in the 1920s there were similar careful gradualism has put off the solution the polemics over the "historic" wages) or layers that played a decisive role in the of the No. 1 problem.(According to official they involve differences in sectors and process of bureaucratic degeneration. plans, the Matanzas experiment is to be productivity. Especially after the discus extended to the national level next year, sions of the 1973 union congress, the The Political Structures following adoption of a new constitution.) differentiations of the second type weighed All the same, the present picture can be more heavily. The decision to favor a In view of the nature and the limits of summarized as follows: system of norms and to emphasize materi the forms of bureaucracy that had crystal The first experiment with organs of al incentives could only work in the same lized at the end of the 1960s, the struggle people's power unquestionably represented direction. against tendencies toward bureaucratic a kind of participation by the masses in During the polemics over the failure of degeneration was bound up almost entirely the exercise of power on a local scale. The the ten million ton zafra, we explained with the struggle for creating political methods by which they were prepared and once again our fundamental position on structures that could assure the masses carried out clearly distinguished the Ma the problem of bureaucratic tendencies and real exercise of their sovereignty. tanzas Province elections from the purely the hardening of bureaucratic forms. As we have seen, at the time of his self- formal operations that occur periodically These tendencies and these forms, however criticism over the campaign for ten million as a stereotyped ritual in the USSR or in limited they might be, were favored by the tons, Fidel Castro showed that he was to a other workers states. It was, however, a absence of political structures such as large extent aware of this and that he was would enable the working class to actually ready, however empirically, to set out on play the leading role it must play and this path. What kind of a balance sheet 19. See also Castro's speech of July 26, 1974, and enable layers allied to the working class to can be drawn up now? a speech by Raul Castro.(Granma, September 8, actually participate in the management of On the theoretical level, starting from 1974.) In the speech by Raul as well as in the the economy and the state. The void was recognition of the need to renovate the article quoted, there is a justification of the past: In the first years of the revolution the necessary filled by an apparatus of middle and upper mass organizations such as the unions, the conditions for the creation of organs of "people's cadres provided, notably in some stages, CDRs (Committees in Defense of the power" did not exist and there were other, more by the army, or belonging to the state or Revolution), the women's organizations, urgent tasks concerning the economy and party administration. It is precisely these and others, and to increase the weight military defense. The argumentation, it is hardly cadres who have been taking on more and exercised by these bodies, the Cuban necessary to say, is anything but convincing. It more actual administrative functions and leadership came to realize the need for is enough to note that, according to the Cuban have largely adopted paternalistic and building organs of people's power and leaders themselves, the economic setback of 1970 authoritarian attitudes. reached a better understanding of the was determined in large measure by faulty Inevitably they have tended to consoli dialectical interrelationship of the various relations with the masses. Many difficulties would obviously have been avoided if soviet-type date their positions of power, at the same organs and instruments of a transitional organs had existed. time gaining privileged social status. Such society. privileges, it must be noted once again, are In a particularly important article in the 20. Each constituency—about 1,000 electors in limited in comparison with those existing October 20, 1974, issue of Granma we read: the urban areas and somewhat fewer in the rural in other workers states. However, the "In a socialist revolution, the working areas—elected a representative. The elected members of this layer enjoy a living people, headed by the working class, are bodies—whose members were subject to recall— standard notably different from that of the sovereign. And this sovereignty, this right, had about 20 members. The candidates were masses. Thus, privileges in consumption, this function of governing, must be explic chosen—by highly varied methods of voting—in public assemblies at various levels (in which housing, means of transport(in addition to itly delegated by the working people, it more than 70 percent of the electors participat advantages associated with positions of must be expressed and not simply be ed). There were 4,712 candidates, of whom 1,014 leadership, such as trips abroad), have had supported by them. The people must have were elected. More than 41 percent did not belong a significance beyond their intrinsic value. the possibility of deciding whom to dele to the party or to its youth organization. In half Compared with five years ago the gate their power to, and moreover, the the constituencies a second ballot was necessary.

March 15, 1976 limited experiment that could not have a admission and leadership that differ repeated statements about the party as decisive effect in running the government markedly from those applied by the "unquestionably the maximum agency of in general or in deciding on political Communist parties. Such standards may leadership within our society," which options. Therefore these elections did not offer a certain guarantee against opportun "directs not only other party organizations mark a qualitative change from the ist and careerist elements filtering into the and their members, but also the state previous situation. Other mass organiza ranks. They may also promote participa organs and mass organizations, and, tions, even leaving aside how they func tion by workers and peasants who have therefore, must also direct the organs of tion, cannot compensate—it is worth the confidence of their comrades. However, people's power. " (Raul Castro, Granma, pointing out again—for the void left by the the party has been built essentially from September 8, 1974.) The statements that absence of these "primary institutions" of the top down, with the apparatus inevita the party plays a role in society compar . That is, of organs bly playing a dominant role. It is sympto able to the heart and brain in the human elected and subject to recall actually matic that the first congress was called for organism are in the same vein. (Armando holding power at all levels.^' this year and that another is not to he Hart, Granma, December 22, 1974.)^' Other organs, finally, do not go beyond summoned before the end of another five- In practice, the dominant role and real essentially consultative functions. This is year period. This fact alone indicates that leadership belonged originally to the the case of production assemblies, sanc the powers exercised by this assembly will political-military organization, the Ej6rcito tioned by the theses of the last union be quite relative. The preparations for the Rebelde, and was then transferred to the congress. Over and above consultation at congress and the organization of the party. And for the moment, there is no different levels, making the decisions on discussion will be an important touch reason to suppose that in the future actual each year's economic plan is the prerogat stone. On the other hand, the way in practice will resolve in a different way the ive of a restricted circle of party leaders which the congress has been conceived, ambiguities of certain formulations that (the Political Bureau, the Secretariat, and which tends to follow a monolithic pattern, are subject to various interpretations. To the Executive Committee). (See Granma, with a ban on tendencies and groupings judge from the statements by Fidel quoted July 7, 1974.) and with activists unable to get adequate above, forming organs of people's power The unions have undergone a revitaliza- information about the discussions and would not bring about any substantial tion and a renewal at the local level, possible disagreements at the top, presents change as regards the actual center of despite the reconfirmation of former Stal serious obstacles from the start to apply political power. inist bureaucrat Lazaro Pena in the top ing Leninist democratic centralism. The "anteprojecto" [preliminary draft] post up until his death. Moreover, the As for the youth organization, it has text of the constitution, recently published theses and debates of the last congress held two congresses, ten years apart. In for discussion in and outside the party, introduced a series of theoretical defini any case, the role assigned to it is purely does not in itself offer any clarifications or tions pointing in the right direction (a that of an instrument for propaganda and any of the necessary particulars. Article 4 clear distinction between the unions and mobilization. And such work is based on states that "all power belongs to the the state, the need for their representing a ideological themes of a moralistic and working people, who exercise it through counterbalance to the administration, pedagogical nature. the intermediary of the People's Power etc.).2^ However, the unions could not but The way tfie party is built and the way it Assemblies and other organs of the state reflect in their structures, the education of operates are all the more important—and that derive from them, or else directly." their cadres and leaders, in their funqtion- have still worse implications—in particu The following article says that "the CPC, ing, the same deficiencies and distortions lar because the Castroist leadership con the organized Marxist-Leninist vanguard and general conceptions of management ceives of the party as playing the absolute of the working class, is the main leading that mark Cuban society at this stage. ly predominant role in transitional society. force of society and the state. It organizes Thus, the banning of tendencies and We have already noted this fact in relation and guides the common efforts toward the groupings, even temporary ones, involves to the unions. The same paragraph al lofty end of building socialism and of an inevitable mutilation of internal democ ready cited from the union federation's advancing toward the communist future." racy. No less detrimental is the conception, theses is unambiguous in this regard:"The Thus, not only is the primacy of the which has been tested at various stages of party politically orients and leads the party written into the constitution but also its history by the working class and unions as it does all organizations and the one-party concept. This is a decision found to have negative results, that, while institutions." that is at least highly debatable. In fact, it unions must be independent from the By comparison with Soviet and even cannot be excluded absolutely that the state, they must, on the other hand, be Chinese documents, one might note a working class might organize itself in a strictly subordinated to the party and take better feel for the overall dynamic of the single party, and in certain conditions their orientation from it. (See the Union new society. The important article already revolutionary Marxists might advocate Theses, paragraph 9, l.h.) mentioned in fact explains that the party such a solution. But in general, the right to The party has continued to develop and must not play its leading role by means of form tendencies and organizations within organize in accordance with standards for administrative or coercive methods but by the working class committed to strict virtue of its "enormous political authori respect for revolutionary legality repre ty." It says that "the party is not expressly sents a fundamental guarantee of proletar 21. The task of organs of proletarian democracy delegated with the powers of governing ian democracy, of real dialectical discourse cannot be accomplished—as some have society. It has not been expressly delegated within the transitional society. claimed—by the CDRs. The limitations of these to govern even the working class itself." Regarding the organs of people's power, bodies emerge clearly from the official docu (Granma, October 20,,1974.) Fidel Castro, the powers of the people's assemblies at ments themselves that define them. (For exam for his part, has used the following the local level have been established for ple, a document by the national leadership of the formula: ". . . the party, in accord the most part by the terms of the Matan- CDRs and a speech by Fidel in Granma, October with the principles of Marxism-Leninism, zas Province pilot project (with mandates 8, 1972.) regulates and guides society and the state. lasting two and a half years). The Nation- The party does not administer the state. 22. "The union organization is not part of the The state must be administered by the state apparatus, it is not a state organization. It 23. Hart stresses at the same time that nonparty masses through their organs of people's does not depend on any ministry or other body of members enjoy all the rights guaranteed to the the state apparatus. The union must serve as the power." (Granma, August 4, 1974.) workers, but they do not have "the honor and the counterpart of the administration." (Granma, But these specifications and others of social prestige that the people accord members of September 2, 1973.) the same tenor are counterbalanced by the party."

Intercontinental Press al Assembly of People's Power, whose recognize that the dynamic of building a "Meanwhile, what do we, a small coun members will be subject to recall and who new society must bring radical changes in try surrounded by capitalists and block serve a term twice as long as that of the relations between the sexes and in bearing aded by Yankee imperialists, do? We lower bodies, that is, five years, is desig and raising children, changes that lead integrate ourselves economically with the nated as the supreme body. The mode of ultimately to the destruction of the "family socialist camp."(Granma, August 6, 1972.) election will be determined by statute. nucleus" as traditionally conceived.^s In From the premise that the situation However, the text of the constitution the name of a rigorous revolutionary spirit, could not be opened up by extending the indicates that these representatives will be attitudes have been adopted toward homo revolution to other countries in Latin elected directly from constituencies, and as sexuals and the sexual behavior of the America in a short, or relatively short, We have seen, for a fairly long period. That younger generation that in fact are per time, flowed a readjustment of the central is, the National Assembly of People's meated with conservative philistinism. axis of Cuban policy along the following Power will not be seen as crowning a lines: soviet-type structure. (Nominations by International Policies 1. Every effort was made to tighten elected assemblies to higher assemblies, collaboration with the USSR and the other are, however, foreseen for the local level. The ideological-cultural guidelines, as we workers states (to a much lesser extent Article 106.) If our interpretation is correct, have already mentioned, are in large with China), and Cuba entered Comecon. there must have been a change in thinking measure the reflection of international The absolute primacy of the Soviet Union about this, because a year and half ago pressures—that is, the relationship the in the "socialist camp" was recognized. Castro outlined a system much closer to Cuban leadership established with the Not only were the criticisms and reserva that operating in the USSR in Lenin's Kremlin bureaucracy in 1969-70. tions dropped, but a practice of fulsome time.^" When American imperialism launched apologies for Soviet actions was adopted, Finally the picture would not be com its attacks in 1959-60, Fidel Castro quickly in sharp contrast to the trend in the plete without taking into consideration the realized the need for economic and mili attitude of Communist parties in other more and more marked tendency, begin tary collatoration with the Soviet Union. countries. However, leaving aside a few temporary ning at a certain point, to impose strict 2. Alliances and points of agreement ideological and cultural monolithism. In oscillations, up until 1968 this need and were sought not only with regimes such as the conclusion of a series of important this area, there has unquestionably been a the Chilean Unidad Popular but also with agreements did not prevent the Cuban regression from a whole earlier period of Velasco in Peru, Torrijos in Panama, leaders from adopting clearly independent the revolution. Ideological training today Peron in Argentina, as well as govern attitudes, from denouncing Moscow's poli is predominantly based on texts from the ments such as those of Ecuador and cies in Latin America, and from polemiciz- USSR, founded on the interpretations of Venezuela.^® history disseminated by the Kremlin ing openly against the most orthodox pro- bureaucracy. This has led to the accept Moscow Communist parties, or from ance of a series of traditional ideological criticizing certain kinds of contradictions 27. In the draft constitution the idea of the obfuscations as well as the adoption of in the way the transitional society has primacy of the USSR is expressed in the formula methods of argument similar to those that been built in the Stalinist and post- "the USSR and the other socialist countries." won the late Andrei Zhdanov a dubious Stalinist USSR. Even the attitude taken After his last trip, Castro made some highly laudatory speeches about the USSR, going so far reputation. Some far-left cultural and toward Soviet intervention into Czechoslo as to say that Marxism-Leninism prevails there political tendencies are often the favored vakia in August 1968 did not mark, in itself, a total change. While Fidel accepted in the spirit of the . On several target of such polemics.^® The family code occasions unconditional support has also been Moscow's obfuscations about the need for adopted several months ago did eliminate given to the superbureaucratic Husak regime in a series of reactionary legal principles. blocking a purported restoration of capital Czechoslovakia. Castro recently said: However, it endorsed as an unchanging ism, at the same time he did not hesitate to "When the revolutionary processes become fact the idea that the family is the "basic point out the responsibility borne by the institutionalized and consolidated through insti nucleus of society." Thus it failed to bureaucracy. tutions that fully respond to their needs—as In the subsequent period, however, happened with the Bolshevik revolution, which following a series of developments in Latin is now more than fifty years old and is and will 24. "The delegates will be elected by the constitu America—defeats of guerrilla movements, continue to be steadily moving forward—we see encies, and tbey will elect the delegates of the the great stability this gives these peoples, the regions, who will choose the delegates to the emergence of military reformist govern ments in Peru and Bolivia, the victory of great stability these nations and groups of National People's Power." (Granma, August 4, nations and groups of people have when they are 1974.) the Unidad Popular in Chile, new ap well organized, when they are well institutional proaches in the foreign policy of other 25. To give an example: The union theses as well ized, when they have the organizations they Latin American countries—the Castroist as the projected constitution proclaims "the need for moving forward!" (Granma, June 8, socialist principle 'each according to his abilities, leadership made a rather profound shift in 1975.) to each according to his work.'" Castro attri international policy. The first change was butes this formula to the "Critique of the Gotha summed up as follows by Fidel Castro in 28. There is no need to repeat that diplomatic Program." Actually, Marx never used such a July 1972: accords with countries like Peru are not as such formulation. It was, to the contrary, written into "We must integrate ourselves with the condemnable. What is inadmissible, from the the 1936 Stalinist constitution in an obfuscation workers, farmers, and revolutionaries point of view of the interests of the workers denounced at the time by Trotsky (in an when the inevitable hour of the revolution movement, is to present as "revolutionary" a appendix to ). As for reformist bourgeois leadership. As for the atti arrives in Latin America. Zhdanovian-type polemics, their victims are, for tude to the Chilean Unidad Popular, the political "But that will take time. We can't make example, intellectuals like Marcuse, Dumont, resolution of the Tenth World Congress of the and Karol, whose analyses are grossly falsified plans based on an integration that could Fourth International specified: ". . . at a stage and who are often characterized as CIA agents, take 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years—this last for where there were real possibilities for revolution without the slightest attempt to offer proofs. The the most pessimistic. ary development—the Cuban leadership gave "ultralefts," toward whom the Cubans in the practically unconditional support to the refor past held an attitude different from that of the 26. Certain articles in the code have a markedly mist Popular Unity leadership. The critical Stalinist bureaucrats, are also the object of paternalistic character. Article 25, for example, remarks Castro made on several occasions were summary condemnation. Trotsky suffered the reaffirms in fairly traditional terms paternal not of a sort to help the maturing of the same fate. (See Granma, June 16, 1974, for a power, and it indicates the duty to educate vanguard and clarification among the masses." ridiculous distortion of the theory of permanent children to have respect "for the authorities, (Intercontinental Press, December 23, 1974, p. revolution.) their teachers, and other persons." 1744.)

March 15. 1976 More generally, Cuba followed a policy More generally, the Cuban experience of transitional society quite different from of friendly relations with the so-called these years seems to highlight the fact that of the Soviet and Chinese leaders. nonaligned countries (on occasion they once again that, aside from some differ Similar observations can be made in the used the expression "Third World" that ences stemming from specific factors case of the unions, both as regards the had been formerly criticized for good (socioeconomic context before the revolu theoretical definition of their role, as well reason). According to statements made by tion, the formation and evolution of as the active participation of the masses. Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Cuba now favors leading groups), largely analogous concep More generally, in spite of paternalism a Latin American economic integration tions and methods have tended to prevail and of bureaucratic-authoritarian tenden and does not regard a "similarity of in the transitional societies that have cies, the leading group has succeeded in economic and social regimes" as a neces emerged to date. We refer not only to the maintaining fairly close relations with the sary precondition for this. The first exam obvious structural similarities (nationali masses. It still has their confidence, and in ple of this orientation is the collaboration zation of industry, the survival of an important moments, can count on the between Mexican state enterprises and uncollectivized sector in the country, etc.) readiness of the masses to mobilize active Cuban enterprises involving the machine but also to more specific features. Econom ly and consciously. The privileges that the industry. (Le Monde, January 16, 1975.) ic planning is done from above in certain leaders and cadres of the apparatus enjoy 3. Cuba continued to express its solidari restricted circles. Norms, material incen remain much more limited than those of ty with the movements that are struggling tives, and "socialist emulation" are the the bureaucrats in other workers states. in Latin American countries oppressed by basis of work organization. The party Even Cuba's international political line, dictatorships (besides Chile, particularly exercises leadership and control over all despite the retreat, still has some positive those in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil). institutions and organizations, from or features that set it off from that of the However, the Cubans have given up gans of "people's power" to the unions, USSR and the other workers states. The making specific political analyses and, all while other working-class political organi critical way the Cubans presented the the more, offering any tactical or strategi zations respecting revolutionary legality Nixon visit to Peking comes to mind, along cal advice. Insofar as it lays out any are banned as are tendencies and group with the following examples: the interpre guidelines, these do not differ from those of ings within the leading party. tation, quite different from that given by the Latin American Communist parties, Establishing genuinely collectivist rela the Kremlin, of the accords between the with which relations have been normal tions throughout the countryside is put off USSR and the United States; their correct ized. All trace of polemics of the 1965-67 for an indefinite period. A high degree of interpretation of the Paris Accords on kind has disappeared. ideological and cultural monolithism is Vietnam as being an "initial victory"; In recent months, finally, Cuba has made into a theoretical principle and their reflections on the Chilean defeat that made considerable efforts to reestablish imposed in practice. Building a collectivist involved explicit reaffirmation of the need relations with the United States. The crisis economy is conceived of the framework of for a revolutionary leap forward through in the OAS, where Washington's line special relations with other workers states armed struggle and "people's dictator meets with greater and greater hostility, (this is less true at this stage for China), ship"; the adoption of an unambiguous and the difficulties that imperialism is but not on the basis of a genuine supra position on oil, opposing other "non- faced with globally, offers some margin of national economic integration. To sum it aligned" countries in defense of the under maneuver on a world scale that the Cuban up, the interests of the world workers developed countries, which were the hard government is correctly exploiting. A movement and the masses of other coun est hit by the decisions of the producer normalization between Havana and Wash tries are subordinated to the self-interests countries and the international trusts; ington would rather probably result, on the of a single state and its governing layer. Castro's expressions of solidarity with the other hand, in further accentuation of If all of these elements, which are certain tendencies that developed after present in the degenerated workers states, Eritrean liberation movement; and the Cuban rejection of any tendency toward 1968-69. also take a hardened form in Cuba, if Cuba "national messianism.''^^ The general conclusion to be drawn from remains isolated in the American hemis All this shows that a difference exists the analysis I have outlined (unfortunate phere for a long period, subjected at the between Cuba and the other workers ly, I repeat, on the basis of incomplete same time to strong influence fi-om the states. Moreover, the whole picture we information) is that there has been no bureaucratized USSR, the Cuban workers have sketched justifies rejecting the idea qualitative change in the structures of the state in its turn will inevitably undergo a that bureaucratic degeneration is an ac Cuban state by comparison with 1970. process of degeneration similar to that of complished fact in Cuba, bureaucratic This is the result not of relative stagnation other countries where capitalism has been degeneration that would make it necessary or immobility but of the operation of overthrown. to struggle for the overthrow of a leader different and partly contradictory trends. For the reasons indicated in our analy sis, which were also pointed out in previ ship representing the interests of a privi More concretely, on the one hand certain leged caste, for an antibureaucratic politi political initiatives and measures have ous analyses, such a degeneration did not cal revolution. been taken that have impeded the crystal occur before 1970 and it has not reached A few general considerations should be lization of the apparatus in a conservative that point at present. I have sought to noted here. In a process of bureaucratic direction and prevented a further increase show in what way Cuba is different from degeneration, the qualitative leap cannot in the privileges of the bureaucrats. These the other workers states. Let's recall here be pinpointed as clearly as it can in the steps have also maintained the mobiliza briefly that in no other country has the case of the transition from a bourgeois tion of the masses, which have even been necessary role of the organs of "people's state to a workers state. The fundamental encouraged, within certain limits, to show power" been reaffirmed so clearly, both in reason for this is that, according to the a critical spirit. On the other hand, the theory as well as in political agitation. Trotskyist conception, bureaucratic degen- prolonged lack of organs of proletarian Moreover, no other country has undergone democracy at the national level, the an experience so significant, limited as it accentuation of certain forms of work was, as the one in Matanzas Province organization, the growing influence of the (with the obvious exception of the USSR in 29. In a September 1974 speech, Castro con cluded an appeal for solidarity with Venezuela USSR (which among other things trains a the time of the October revolution and in by saying: "Perhaps fate is again reserving for considerable number of technicians and the years immediately following). Even the the people of the illustrious liberator a signifi military cadres), have worked in favor of concept of the primacy of the party is cant and decisive role in the definitive indepen forces that could lead to a bureaucratic expressed with nuances and with an dence of the nations of Latin America." (Gran- degeneration. understanding of the overall dynamic of a ma, October 6, 1974.)

Intercontinental Press eration occurs within the framework of the Finally, there is the phase where the It is not possible here to go hack over the new society, of a transitional society in bureaucracy becomes an actual ruling process that unfolded in the workers states which collective relations of production caste, has politically expropriated the of Eastern Europe and Asia. It is enough exist that are not put in question immedi working class and the toiling masses, has to note that in the Eastern European case, ately by the bureaucratization. (In certain transformed the party and the organiza the decisive role was played in general by conditions, bureaucratic degeneration can tions into instruments of its domination by Soviet politico-military control and a involve a dynamic of capitalist restoration, destroying all internal democracy, has tendency to structural assimilation with but that, of course, is another problem.) acquired relatively secure economic and the bureaucratized USSR. In China, the The experience of the USSR, and mak social privileges. In such conditions— fact that the old state apparatus was only ing allowance for different circumstances, which correspond to those that came into partially dismantled, that bureaucratic of the other transitional societies, for over being in the USSR beginning with the methods and conceptions had already been half a century, enables us to distinguish 1930s and which were analyzed by Trotsky imposed in the areas of the country three types, or three phases, of bureaucrati in The Revolution Betrayed—the working wrested from Chiang Kai-shek, and that zation. There are, in the first place, the class and the peasantry have no other way the leading group and key cadres were almost inevitable bureaucratic deforma out but to struggle for an antibureaucratic educated in the school of Stalinism all tions in the period immediately following political revolution that will overthrow the weighed heavily. the overthrow of capitalism. These defor ruling caste and rebuild proletarian democ In both these cases, the evolution was, mations flow, in the last analysis, from the racy. Likewise, they must create the thus, different from that in the Soviet fact that immediately after the conquest of political and organizational instrument Union, with much less discontinuity be power it is impossible to achieve full mass needed to give effective leadership to this tween the starting point and the stage at participation in managing the economy struggle. What is decisive for the strategy which the bureaucracy hardened into a and the state, from the fact that unavoida of revolutionists is to determine when a ruling caste (since a period of proletarian bly those in the key positions in the transitional society has reached the stage democracy comparable to that of the government can be only partially con of bureaucratic degeneration that requires revolutionary period in the USSR never trolled, from the fact that it is impossible a radical change in the objectives and existed). The various stages or forms of to rapidly assure egalitarian living condi methods of struggle. bureaucratization tended to merge without tions and thus to cut off at the root any In order to define the social nature of a clear distinctions. growth of even relative privileges. state, you have to view all factors together On the basis of the analysis outlined, we and in their dynamism. If you single out estimate that the Cuban workers state has Obviously, this rule holds all the more this or that factor, you risk making not yet gone through the stages traversed for economically and culturally backward arbitrary extrapolations, or at least jump by the Soviet Union and has not under countries, where the conquest of power ing to premature conclusions. This is why gone a process similar to those in the East takes place in particularly difficult condi in his analysis, Trotsky tried to grasp the European countries or China. It is debat tions (prolonged civil war, the conse direction of the overall development of the able whether the existing situation might quences of the devastation of a war, state that emerged from the October correspond to the first or second stage. But serious economic crises, etc.). We remember revolution. He polemicized with opposition in any case, it does not correspond to the that this concept of a workers state with groups that wanted to change their basic third. It cannot in fact he said that a bureaucratic deformations was already characterization with each turn in Stalin's hardened bureaucratic caste enjoying used by Lenin to describe the USSR at the policies. In fact, after a certain point in the substantial privileges has imposed its beginning of the 1920s. mid-1920s, the process in the USSR pro domination over the masses by authoritar ceeded more or less in a straight line, ian and repressive measures, or that this There is also a type, or phase, of encompassing all areas. caste has played a role on a world scale bureaucratization that already represents, The bureaucrats began by cutting back resulting in major defeats for the workers so to speak, a pathological problem. In this internal democracy in the party and movement or systematically conflicting case, the organs of the workers state, the reducing the Soviets to an empty form. with the interests of the workers move party, the union organizations, etc., func Then they crushed every opposition group ment. tion less and less democratically, and the and expelled from the party all those who That is why revolutionary Marxists are apparatus and the leading groups at most consistently resisted their usurpa not obliged to change their position. They different levels exercise their power by tion. They grabbed bigger and bigger need not orient toward a struggle in Cuba more and more eliminating mass partici privileges, detaching themselves economi for the overthrow of the leading group and pation. A leading layer enjoying material cally and politically from the working for the formation of a new party. Rather privileges begins to take form and to class and the peasants. Not only did they they must support trends and initiatives harden. At the same time the defense of abandon the revolutionary strategy of the that can promote revolutionary democracy acquired positions becomes the main Communist International and the Bolshe and the fight against bureaucratic meth- spring of international policy to the vik party of Lenin's time, but by their neo- detriment of the necessity of expanding Menshevik or adventurist policies they revolutionary struggles on a world scale. directly shared in the responsibility for 30. In "The Workers' State, Thermidor and terrible defeats of the world workers and Bonapartism," Trotsky wrote: However, the separation between the Communist movement, as in China and "Thus, the present-day domination of Stalin in bureaucracy in formation and the masses Germany. no way resembles the Soviet rule during the is not yet so clear, the political structures It was at the culmination of this com initial years of the revolution. The substitution of are not yet so petrified, the privileges not bined process that Trotsky came to the one regime for the other occurred not at a single so vast or consolidated that it is necessary conclusion that a bureaucratic caste was stroke but through a series of measures, by to exclude all possibility of a renewal in power and that a struggle had to be means of a number of minor civil wars waged by through corrections and reforms, of an waged for a new international and a the bureaucracy against the proletarian van internal struggle to establish proletarian political revolution. Significantly he was guard. In the last historical analysis, Soviet democracy was blown up by the pressure of democracy and real leadership by the prompted most directly by the defeat of the social contradictions. Exploiting the latter, the working class. It was such a phase of German proletariat at the hands of Hitler, bureaucracy wrested the power from the hands bureaucratization that the USSR went for which the German CP and the Stalinist of mass organizations." (Writings of Leon through roughly between the death of International bore a very heavy responsi Trotsky, 1934-35, Pathfinder Press, New York, Lenin and the end of the 1920s. bility.^" 1974, p. 172.)

March 15, 1976 ods and conceptions. They must denounce building socialism at this stage, too, in they must begin a process of reconver any attitude that subordinates the need for Cuba by struggling against imperialism sion. . . ." revolutionary struggle by the masses of and for the overthrow of the capitalist Carrillo was joined by others who asked, other countries to the diplomatic and system in other countries of the world, "Isn't it better to meet in the company or political requirements of the Cuban work especially in Latin America. in the union hall instead of in the woods or ers state and its leadership. They must May 20, 1975 in the church?" develop a critique of non-Leninist concep The debate heated up even more when tions, of tendencies to ideological and Since this article was written, an impor the January 5 issue of the underground cultural monolithism, of the tendencies to tant joint document signed by the Latin Catalan publication Treball appeared with adaptation to the reformist strategy of the American Communist parties was released an unsigned article entitled "Workers bureaucratized Communist parties. in Havana. The general line of this Commissions, Yes." However, in the final analysis, revolu document confirms the estimate made in The January 31 issue of the weekly tionists can make the best contribution to the section "International Policies." □ newsmagazine Mundo reported, "Accord ing to experts, the article is not the work of just any editor, and its style gives rise to speculation that it was written by a top figure of the 'Partit.'" The article severely Illegal Commissions or Falangist Formation? chastised those with "liquidationist con cepts of the COs," which arose "from the false idea that in the current legal unions a qualitative change has taken place as the result of the union elections." This "funda Spanish Workers Debate Union Orientation mental error leads Boix to defend a legalist orientation in the workers movement, The Spanish workers are debating a key that have historical legitimacy but that which raises negotiations with the bosses issue: Is it possible to convert the state- must reestablish their legitimacy for the to the level of mythology . . . and under run Central Nacional Sindicalista (CNS— present period and, above all, for the trade- estimates or forgets the fundamental role National Federation of Syndicates) into a union future of our country." that—now as always—the pressure from genuine tool of struggle for the working This veiled questioning of the COs led to the workers plays in the struggle. . . ." □ class or is it better to place reliance on the Boix's suspension from all "rights of illegal Comisiones Obreras (COs—Workers membership" in the PSUC. Commissions)? But it also brought to light the depth of The debate got under way in July 1975, the dispute within the workers movement when 83 to 88 percent of the eligible voters as a whole, as well as within the Commu participated in elections to the CNS, nist party itself. sweeping several leaders of the Comisiones The main figures in the debate are Obreras into office as delegates in the Marcelino Camacho, the best-known lead Francoist federation. Many of these dele er of the COs, and Santiago Carrillo, the gates were members of the Communist exiled general secretary of the CP. continental party, which for the first time adopted a A statement by a group of labor leaders position favoring participation in CNS headed by Camacho was printed in the Press elections. November 10,1975, issue of Mundo Obrero. Most other tendencies in the workers It said: available In movement, including the two sympathiz ". . .what is involved is not capturing microform ing organizations of the Fourth Interna trade-union posts in order to 'transform' tional in Spain, the Liga Comunista (LC— the vertical union into a democratic one, Communist League) and the Liga Comu but politically assaulting the vertical nista Revolucionaria/Euzkadi ta Azkata- union and through its breakup creating a suna-VI (LCR/ETA-VI—Revolutionary completely new one, on a totally different Communist League/Basque Nation and basis. . . . In short, it is a question of a Freedom-VI), called for a boycott of the political revolution and thus a trade-union CNS elections. The LC and the LCR/ETA- revolution with a constituent period and a VI say that in the months since the CNS constituent congress, as the COs have elections, the CP has virtually abandoned been proposing for years." Y Xerox the Comisiones Obreras, which the Trotsk- Carrillo, insisting that the CP's orienta L University yists view as class-struggle organizations. tion toward the CNS had nothing to do Recently in Barcelona the debate cen with abandoning the Comisiones Obreras, Microfiims tered on a book entitled Conversaciones nonetheless stated in the November 1975 Sindicales con Dirigentes Obreras. The issue of Nuestra Bandera, ". . .in the 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 book went on sale in November 1975. Its period we are going through since the authors are two members of the PSUC union elections, the COs have encom Xerox University iMicrofilms 35 Mobile Drive (Partit Socialista Unificat de Catalunya— passed the entire totality of the movement, Toronto, Ontario, United Socialist party of Catalonia, the ranging from the factory assemblies and Canada M4A 1H6 Communist party's branch in Catalonia), the extralegal structures to the legally University Microfilms Limited Isidor Boix and Manuel Pujadas. elected representatives." St. John's Road, The book includes an article signed by Three months earlier, Carrillo had said: Tyler's , Penn, Boix and Pujadas, in which they say: "It is "We think it is necessary for the COs to Buckinghamshire, England not a question of settling accounts with the understand that . . . the way out of the PLEASE WRITE FOR organizations of the workers movement present situation is not to call for the COMPLETE INFORMATION that have been active the last fifteen years. reinforcement of the traditional structures We are simply confronting certain claims of the COs. . . . To our way of thinking

Intercontinental Press The Derwent—Australia's Lethal River

By John Tully

[The following article appeared in the University of Tasmania.) first, with a murky cloud of sewage (only February 19 issue of Direct Action, a revo Somerset had the job of doing the 35 percent of all sewage poured into the lutionary-socialist newsweekly published biggest whitewash of the whole proceed Derwent is treated even to this standard). in Sydney.] ings. His technique was to boldly and Next is the bloodstain from the nearby shamelessly tell the biggest lies, to intro abattoirs, followed by the two plumes of duce red herrings, and to belittle his liquid matter which gust out twenty-four critics. hours a day from the zinc works. In 1971 the mining industry capitalists, "The mining industry is aware of the What the EZ Company has been doing worried by the growing public anger at problems involved and can handle the for the years since World War I is less their arrogant pollution of the environ situation. It has, however, become the readily apparent—and therefore more ment, organized a seminar in Melbourne. target of ill-informed critics who give little insidious than what happened at Queens- This seminar, entitled Progress—Mining credit for what has been done already." town. For years the EZ Company has been and Environment, was a cynical attempt "It is time that emotion was removed able to deny that anything bad was to cover up the responsibility of the from the scene and some sanity was happening. industry for much of the air and water brought to bear upon the problems." Some But in late 1975, Professor Harry Bloom pollution in this country. people were making political capital out of of the University of Tasmania chemistry Among the "experts" on the panel was the situation, he said. "It is a pity that department published a report which N.C. Ashdown, superintendent of the zinc little has been said about beer cans on the fingered the EZ Works for turning the department at the Risdon Works of the roadside and broken bottles on the Derwent into one of the most heavily Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia beaches: and bullet holes in the road signs. polluted rivers in the world, particularly in Ltd. Ashdown explained that zinc concen This is an intolerable situation. . . ." etc., respect of toxic metals. (Heavy Metals in trates containing "chiefly zinc and sul etc., ad nauseum. the Derwent Estuary, September 1975.) phur" had been roasted at the plant for Finally, with truly breathtaking gall, The accompanying table, reproduced fifty-three years, "recently at rates of 1,100 Somerset said: "This seminar will certain from Professor Bloom's report, gives an tons per day." The zinc content of the ores ly have been successful if the man-in-the- indication of the seriousness of the situa is converted to zinc calcine, "a dusty street has become better informed by the tion. material," which is then leached with acid publicity which the proceedings have In his conclusion. Bloom states, "The to make zinc sulphate, which is then engendered." (All quotations are from the study indicates that the main mechanism electrolyzed to make zinc. Ashdown went pamphlet Progress—Mining and Environ of heavy metal pollution in the Derwent on to say that part of the sulphur derived ment, published by the Australasian Insti River estuary is very likely a cause also for from the roasting was converted into tute of Mining and Metallurgy.) contamination of Hobart and its environs sulphuric acid, and that another part was What this double-talk means is "We by the same toxic metals. Stockpiled dissolved into estuarine water and dis know what we are doing, but we don't concentrates and residues at the zinc charged into the Derwent Estuary. want you to know. This seminar will have refining company are being swept into the During his talk Ashdown waxed lyrical been successful if we have whitewashed atmosphere by wind action. Leaching of about the beneficial aspects of the plant. places like the EZ Works." metals into the river takes place by rain According to the report, "Slides showed And what is the real truth behind Som action. Other mechanisms such as liquid the unaffected green flora of the nearby erset's wafflings and Ashdown's glowing effluent discharge must add also to the hills, of clear exit stacks, of green lawns, descriptions? Sure, the vegetation is intact: contamination of the estuary." (Heavy and a well-kept nine hole golf course EZ hasn't done for Hobart what the Mt. Metals in the Derwent Estuary, p. 21.) within the works boundary." Lyell smelters did for Queenstown on the In the late 1950s at Minamata Bay, in He went on to explain ". . . how a West Coast—that is, completely denude the Kyushu, Japan, there was an outbreak of careful, logical approach and continual surrounding mountains. The reason for what has become known as "Minamata improvement over many years can produce that is simple—the people of Hobart Disease" among the fishing people. The a mining industry adjacent to a population wouldn't have allowed it. The silvertails of cause was traced to a factory producing of 5,000 people per square mile near a Lower Sandy Bay wouldn't like Albion polyvinyl chloride. plant. .. ." Heights stripped of foliage! Later it was the task of Sir Henry The inhabitants of the area began to Somerset to sum up.(Somerset is a director display the classical symptoms of chronic Four Great Stains in the River of Associated Pulp and Paper Mills, EZ mercury poisoning (familiar in the nine Industries, Goliath Cement, Humes Ltd., But if you fly over the Risdon area, you teenth century in the hat-making trade, Tioxide Australia, a member of the board will see four great stains in the water. The hence the expression "mad as a hatter"). of the CSIRO and chancellor of the Prince of Wales Bay treatment works is They had such symptoms as tunnel vision.

March 15, 1976 numbness, headaches, weakness, insom chronic cadmium poisoning are damage to nia or drowsiness, loss of memory, intellec the kidneys and the central nervous tual deterioration, slurring of words, trem ! 1100 ug/g mercury Sediments Exceeded only by Mini- mate in Japan (2010) system, hypertension (high blood pres bling, ulceration of the gums, chronic More than 10,000 Sediments Higher concentrations sure), and cancer (on inhalation). Other diarrhea, and loosening of teeth. The cats ug/g zinc than any other well effects are complete sterility and impo known region went mad. Children were born with con tence. It is a particularly nasty substance !. 862 ug/g cadmium Sediments Higher than any report- genital mercury poisoning even though the I ed value elsewhere because it may lie dormant for a long mothers involved showed no signs of being 1500 ug/g cadcad- Dust fallout No report known as period before overt ill effects are felt on the affected (alkyl mercury can pass through mium over Lutana high elsewhere body. It also causes dental caries, destruc I More than 200 Dried oyster Among highest ever the placental barrier in mammals). j ug/g cadmium reported tion of the sense of smell, and a perpetual Professor Bloom has said that "al 100,000 ug/g Dried oyster Highest ever reported watery discharge from the nose. though the highest mercury concentration (10 per cent) zinc in Derwent muds is second to the highest 14-16 ug/l mermer- Filtered water Equivalent to worst 12 Work by doctors V.H. Fern and S.J. Car cury per cent of direct indus penter on hamsters has shown that cadmi in Minamata Bay, the many times larger trial discharges in USA area of the Derwent Estuary . . . together 15 ug/l cadmium Filtered water More than 10 times as um is a teratogenic substance, that is, it with their relative concentrations data, contaminated as Lake induces monstrous deformations of the Ontario fetus. (Teratogenic Effect of Cadmium can be shown to indicate that the Derwent 1500 ug/l zinc Filtered water Far exceeds highest val muds contain many times more total ue reported elsewhere and Its Inhibition by Zinc, Nature 1967.) mercury than is present in Minamata 2jnc, mercury,lead Suspended par- Phytoplankton so over- Another practice of the EZ Company is and cadmium ticulates (main- loaded by metals as to the dumping of "jarosite" (waste material Bay." (p. 21.) ly phytoplank- be unable to prevent ton). spread of metals beyond from the plant) in Storm tBay. The com Mercury is therefore present in the Der the Derwent Estuary pany would doubtless justify this vandal went estuary in alarming proportions. It is Cadmium, lead,lead. Mussels Far in excess of con- readily absorbed into the human hody mercury centrations reported in ism by reference to the great size of the mussels from around oceans. And there are any number of hack through the mucous membranes, and even most of UK coastline through the unbroken skin. In 1967 it was Mercury Fish Flathead, whiting, "experts" who are willing to sell their souls bream and shark from to the highest bidder and testify to the fact discovered that mercury can be converted the Derwent Estuary into a far more toxic form, methyl mercu should not be eaten: that heavy metals are already present flounder, cod, perch, naturally in the environment. But as Mar ry, by anaerobic bacteria. This is to say it trumpeter and mackerel is produced in conditions where there is an are not contaminated garet Merlini writes: "The vastness of the Note: One sample of suspended particulates near the zinc ocean is often used as an argument for its absence of oxygen—a state of affairs to be refining plant had a mercury concentration of 5550 ug/l. found in the silt and decaying vegetable This may have arisen from a single particle of mercury con use in the disposal of man's waste pro taminated waste. Further sampling and analysis is necessary ducts. It is because of its vastness that and animal matter in the Derwent es at this point and the nature of the particles should be deter tuary, particularly with the high dis mined by electron microscopy. care must be taken not to damage the biota (In this report, the signs ug/g and ug/l mean micrograms per since small and often large derangements charge rates of raw sewage. gram, and micrograms per litre respectively.) And the damage is permanent. As Mar are not as perceptible as in restricted garet Merlini, in an article entitled Heavy environments such as lakes and streams." Metal Contamination (contained in Im (Hood, p. 467, emphasis in the original.) pingement of Man on the Oceans edited by the dry weight of the oysters was zinc—the EZ Industries is registered in Melbourne. Professor Donald Hood), says: highest ever recorded anywhere. It lists on its board of directors such "Heavy metals are insidious due to the Perhaps even more sinister than the familiar names as M.L. Baillieu and Sir fact that they are practically indestructible mercury is the presence of the highly toxic Henry Somerset. The health and welfare of in an aqueous environment. Even if cadmium in quantities never before re 150,000 people in southern Tasmania is precipitated or absorbed, the process can corded. This was present in the Ralphs directly menaced by the activities of this he reversible and the metals return to ionic Bay oysters along with the zinc. Attention small number of capitalists. They are form. If not, the precipitate or particles should also he drawn to the phenomenon answerable to no one for their activities. settle on the bottom to be ingested by of synergism. Briefly this means that the As we have seen earlier in this article, benthic organisms. Dilution and disper toxic effects of one trace metal are intensi their response to criticism is to lie and to sion helps minimise the danger to some of fied by the presence of another toxic sub attempt to belittle anyone who dares the biota, but filter feeding organisms stance; they make each other worse. It is question their right to despoil the environ [such as Derwent oysters and mussels— believed that there is a synergic reaction ment. J.T.] are notorious for their ability to between zinc and cadmium. It is obvious that strong measures are concentrate many polyvalent ions—in In his report. Bloom draws attention to necessary to attempt to clean up the mess particular copper, zinc, iron and manga the outbreak of itai-itai disease among and to prevent its recurrence. The chief nese—from very dilute solutions. . . ." (p. nutritionally deficient people in Japan. secretary in the Tasmanian state Labor 467.) This was traced to cadmium fallout from government is Doug Lowe. Following the the atmosphere poisoning rice fields. The release of Professor Bloom's report, Lowe cadmium fallout on the Hobart suburbs of acknowledged that it was a "true, accurate Ten Percent Zinc in Oysters Lutana and Lindisfarne is the highest ever and significant document." He was quoted Mercury is not the only heavy metal recorded—and the fallout over Hobart in the Mercury of October 21, 1975, as present in large quantities in the River generally is greater than that in the itai- saying that enforcement of the act cover Derwent. Others include: arsenic, cadmi itai disease area of Japan. Bloom ex ing waste discharge would be stepped up, um, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, cobalt, presses concern at the possibility of a and that strengthening of the act could iron, manganese, and nickel. As we have cadmium buildup in Hobart soils. follow. He also announced the setting up of seen from Professor Bloom's table, the Der Cadmium is probably more lethal than what he called a Heavy Metal Pollution Ad went leads the world in the amounts of any other toxic metal—more than lead and Hoc Committee, with Professor Bloom on some of these metals. A few years ago the mercury, which are also found in pheno it in an advisory capacity. Ralphs Bay oyster farms were forced to menally large quantities in the Derwent Lowe is well known for his committees. close when it was found that 10 percent of area. The most immediate effects of To many local workers he is known as "the

Intercontinental Press mirror man" (whenever a problem arises meled capitalism has managed to trans "No individual exposure from all routes he is forever "going to look into it"). Other form the water into poison and showered (that is water, land and air) amongst the inventions of this former EZ electrician the foothills of the mountain with deadly most exposed groups in the public domain, include the "Redundancy Monitoring Com dust. The once crystal-clear waters of the has been found to exceed even half that mittee," set up following a massive rash of estuary used to be inhabited by marine life due to natural background level which, sackings by the EZ Company in early which ran the whole gamut from plankton before we started operating the Reactor, 1975. to whales. Now, in Professor Bloom's was 60 millirem per annum in that area." There are many rumors circulating in words; "Inside the estuary, at Taroona and The above paragraph deserves careful Hobart at present which whisper that the in Ralphs Bay, shellfish were less numer rereading. What Kaul has actually admit EZ Company will close down its opera ous, with mussels predominating. Further ted is that some individuals living in the tions and move to another country if there upstream, on the western shore, shellfish area surrounding the reactor are exposed is any serious attempt made to force it to became impossible to find, until Elwick to as much as 50 percent more radiation clean up its mess. Because of this, and Bay and further north where mussels than normal for the area, thus increasing because of the state Labor government's could be found. On the eastern shore there their likelihood of suffering from cancer or well-known reverence for the "rights" of was a similar but less dramatic depletion producing malformed children. capitalist private property, it is quite likely of all species. Along the western shore A line of reasoning similar to Kaul's was that the government will adopt the ap between Macquarie Point and Dowsing commented on by Gordon Rattray Taylor proach of burying its head in the sand and Point, no sign of aquatic life could be in The Doomsday Book: Can the World hoping the problem will go away. In 1975 found." (Bloom, p. 9.) Survive? it revealed how thoroughly servile it was "If any public authority proposed to when it made a halfhearted attempt to References double, say, the number of road accidents impose mining royalties on the big mining he would be condemned as a monster or a H. Bloom, Heavy Metals in the Derwent companies. madman, yet radiation authorities make Estuary, University of Tasmania, 1975. such statements all the time." In clear contrast to the timid cover-ups D.W. Connell, Water Pollution, Causes of Lowe and Co., Direct Action puts and Effects in Australia, University of Queensland Press, 1974. forward a real program to attack the What Could Be Worse Donald W. Hood, ed.. Impingement of problem of Derwent pollution. Than an Earthquake? Man on the Oceans, New York, John Firstly we demand that the proceedings The almost completed Diablo Canyon Wiley, 1971. of the Heavy Metal Ad Hoc Committee be nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo, made public. Gordon Rattray Taylor, The Doomsday Book, London, Thames and Hudson, 1970. California, stands only 2.5 miles from a Secondly we demand that the trade geological fault that has in the past been The Australasian Institute of Mining unions be made a party to the proceedings. responsible for earthquakes. and Metallurgy, Progress—Mining and Thirdly we demand that all of the EZ A powerful earthquake could potentially Environment, Melbourne, 1971. Company's material on Derwent pollution rupture the protective container around the be made public. radioactive reactor core, releasing deadly Fourthly we demand that the company particles into the atmosphere. be forced to immediately take steps to More on India's Tarapur Reactor The $1 billion California reactor was rectify the damage it has already done and T.N. Kaul, India's ambassador to the constructed by Pacific Gas & Electric that it be forced to institute a crash United States, claims that charges of Company, the nation's second largest program to curb its pollution. serious health and safety violations privately owned electric utility. When the Fifthly we demand that if the EZ against his country's Tarapur nuclear plant was begun, only its twenty-mile Company does not do as it is told, that it reactor are baseless. proximity to the Rinconada fault and be nationalized without compensation In a letter to U.S. Senator Alan Cran forty-five-mile proximity to the San An ston, dated February 5, Kaul attempts to under workers control. The confiscated dreas fault were known. profits could then be used to finance a rebut accusations against the atomic Now, however, the Hosgri fault has been massive cleanup to rectify the mess creat power plant leveled by Paul Jacobs in the discovered, and studies by the U.S. Geolog ed by this antisocial monopoly. February-March issue of a new magazine. ical Survey have revealed that it was Somerset and his ilk have demonstrated Mother Jones. (See Intercontinental Press, probably responsible for a 1927 earthquake that they are concerned purely with March 1, p. 306.) that registered 7.25 on the Richter scale. private profit at the expense of the health Contrary to Jacobs's account, Kaul con The core container at the Diablo Canyon and well-being of the EZ workers and the tends that there have been "no instances plant was built to withstand a quake people of Hobart as a whole. He stands of death or illness attributable to radiation registering at most 6.75. condemned by his own words. "The exposure either of workers at Tarapur or of mining industry is aware of the problems any member of the general population in the villages surrounding the Station." and can handle the situation. . . ." The Watch Those City-Grown Vegetables plant must be taken away from them According to Jacobs's sources in India, the Excessive quantities of lead, apparently before they do still further damage. deaths of at least two workers from such from automobile exhausts, showed up in In 1804 the first convict ships sailed into causes have been documented in a sup fruits and vegetables grown in garden pressed government report. the River Derwent. They arrived into what plots in a number of American cities last one convict, the Tolpuddle martyr George Kaul continues, "In the near shore year, according to a report in the February Loveless, transported for organizing a region up to 30 kilometers, the concentra 22 New York Times. union branch, described as a "verdant tion of radioactivity in sea water beyond "In St. Louis," said ecologist Gil Friend, prison." Below the snowy summit of Mt. the station is not significantly different "produce from one community garden Wellington stretched the clear waters of from normal background," that is, from showed levels of lead so high that eating one of the most beautiful harbors in the the radiation exposure caused by natural large amounts of it would be of question world. sources such as rocks in the earth's able safety and a clear danger to chil Now, only 170 odd years later, untram- surface, rays from outer space, and others. dren."

March 15, 1976 ' ^onmxiq □□□□□b. £pD IJOAOmtlo/ [ngo/jAj] ^?£7/pQj«VB.c^ziq/ W# W#

Spanish Police Kill Five Most of the information reportedly came an independent republic February 27. The Five persons have been killed by Span from the alleged main go-between, Henri announcement, made from the front's exile ish police since February 25. One demon Fischer. headquarters in Algiers, said the country strator was shot to death near Alicante on According to Sweeney, a former Whitlam had been named the Saharan Arab Demo February 25, and on March 6 a worker died aide explained that the approach to the cratic Republic. The Algerian government, in the Catalan city of Tarragone as a Iraqis was necessary because it was the which has given some hacking to the result of injuries received when be fell from only hope the Labor party had of match Frente Polisario, called on the Organiza a balcony trying to escape a police attack ing the money they believed the U.S. and tion of African Unity to recognize the front on a demonstration. British mining companies were pouring as the legitimate government of Sahara. In the Basque city of Vitoria, two into the coffers of the capitalist Liberal workers and a seventeen-year-old student party. were shot to death by police March 3. Fischer reportedly said that Iraqi Presi About 100 persons were estimated to have dent Hassan al-Bakr was willing to aid the received gunshot wounds as a result of the Labor campaign because his government Israeli Doctors Group Takes police attack on striking workers. agreed with "their Australian comrades Reactionary Stance on Abortion The killings have given rise to bitter that there had been a grave coup d'etat in The Israel Obstetric and Gynecology protest demonstrations, and a general Canberra." (The Labor cabinet was Society, which represents 400 doctors, has strike was called in the Basque region for brought down in November by the gover declared its opposition to a proposed law March 8. In a March 5 statement, the nor general, exercising the power that still that would permit abortions during the cabinet of King Juan Carlos I defended the legally belongs to the British Crown in the first three months of pregnancy. The police, saying their actions were "directed dominions.) society announced that its members would toward protecting the exercise of individu The Labor party sought Iraqi contribu not perform abortions under the terms of al freedom and toward responding to tions, Sweeney said, "despite the fact that the law if it was passed. situations of coercion and physical vio money from the left-wing dictatorship in "We don't think a woman has the right lence." Iraq was politically far more explosive to interrupt her pregnancy without her than money from Britain or the United husband's agreement," one gynecologist States." Such comments suggest that this said. Whitlam Denies Seeking Iraqi Funds affair is being used in the "anti-red" The Australian capitalist press has been campaign against the Labor party, and raising a hue and cry over allegations that a wave of enthusiasm for honest British Students Protest Cutbacks that former Prime Minister Gough Whit politics is not sweeping the capitalist Thousands of students marched to a lam tried to get a contribution of parties. rally in London's Hyde Park February 27 A$400,000 (A$1=US$1.27) from the Iraqi to protest planned cutbacks in educational government for the Labor party campaign spending. The National Union of Students, fund. Madrid Withdraws From Sahara which organized the demonstration, esti Although Whitlam has denied the Spain withdrew its last officials from its mated the attendance at 25,000. Police charge, stating that he "never discussed former colony of Sahara on February 26, estimated between 8,000 and 15,000. with any Arabs or with any foreigners two days ahead of schedule. In November The cutbacks were projected in a govern contributions to party funds," the furor in 1975 Madrid signed an agreement with the ment white paper released the previous the press continues. Moroccan and Mauritanian governments week. In addition to the London march, The affair was described as "perhaps the pledging to leave the country by February large student protests took place in Swin- single biggest scandal in Australia since 28 and turn over administration of the don, England; Cardiff, Wales; and Glas the war" by correspondent Christopher phosphate-rich territory to them. gow, . Sweeney in the March 1 issue of the In an effort to give their occupation and British daily . division of Sahara the appearance of Sweeney said: legitimacy, the Moroccan and Mauritanian Obedience Is Freedom "Even before today's allegations [in the regimes staged a vote by an assembly of Lt. Gen. James F. Hollingsworth, known February 29 Sydney Sunday Telegraph], Saharan tribal chiefs February 26 approv Mr Whitlam's position had been hopeless in Vietnam as the "Zap-Zap General" ing the annexation of the territory. ly undermined by the disclosures last week because of his favorite subject, the killing Only 65 of the 102 members of the that he had met two armed Iraqi represen of "communists," handed over his com tatives concerning the campaign contribu assembly took part in the voting, however. mand February 12 after serving in Korea tion. In private he has conceded that his The rest had fled the Saharan capital of El for the last two and a half years. political career has been destroyed by the Aaiiin and were thought to he supporters Hollingsworth was the commander of incredible affair." of the Frente Polisario (Frente Popular the 185,000-strong South Korean I Corps, The Sunday Telegraph reported that para la Liberacion del Sahara y Rio de plus one U.S. division. He explained his Whitlam had met with persons who Oro—People's Front for the Liberation of "nine day scenario" to put the North admitted trying to negotiate campaign Sahara and Rio de Oro). Koreans "through the meat grinder" in an contributions from the Iraqi government. The Frente Polisario proclaimed Sahara article by Russell Spurr in the February 27

Intercontinental Press Far Eastern Economic Review. of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The way Hollingsworth sees it, "This gave an example. He had studied a village isn't just a contest for territory. We are in Ecuador where 78 percent of the fighting for popular support in the Repub population suffered neurological deficien lic of Korea." cies, stemming from lack of iodine and What about the repression carried out by proper protein and calories in the diet, that '/Yxm "St' fTEFimofiy '■ the Park Chung Hee dictatorship? went from hyperthyroidism to deafness- y \ TERRITORIES'^ "For Christ's sake," the general said, muteness and severe mental retardation. The fact that such a large proportion of "all you got to do here is obey the rules. Wemm f pi the inhabitants in the village were neuro- ■ COtOMeW; I 0 iMAJWfOBA - Then nothing happens to you. I call that & ALBERTA i a i complete freedom." logically handicapped had profound social ^I t OMTARIO ■ \ effects. "The concept of normality," Dr. Greene said, "is greatly lowered, and all individu 6-UMIU>/SBd/^ ' ■///,, Soviet Political Prisoners Demand als who can hear or speak are considered Right to Be Heard at Party Congress normal." New York Times More than eighty Soviet political prison Alexander summarized: ers staged a hunger strike in late February "Still, many of the neurologically handi Brotherhood). "This may sound as though and said they would continue for the capped have been taught to perform simple the Inuits are claiming an enormous area duration of the twenty-fifth congress of the agricultural tasks and they constituted a of land," he said, "but rather than looking Soviet Communist party. large pool of cheap and easily manipulated just at the size of it, consider the contents. According to a February 29 United Press labor for the three large haciendas, which International dispatch from Moscow, dissi "Most of it, by southern standards, is a own more than 50% of the cultivated land barren desert. It supports life but it takes a dent sources "said the prisoners had been in the area, to exploit." denied the right to present their demands lot of land to support a little bit of life. directly to the congress. They complained "We can't put a fence around a quarter of harassment, undernourishment and section of land in the Arctic and grow threats of 'psychiatric repression.'" wheat or barley. We can't raise cattle or Prices in Argentina Shoot Upward sheep or hogs. It can take up to 10 square The hunger strike involved thirty prison On March 5 the Argentine government ers at Vladimir jail, near Moscow, and miles of tundra to support a single cari announced an emergency program to curb bou." about fifty inmates of prison camps in the inflation. The next day, it announced price Urals and Siberia. In their proposal, the Inuits rejected a increases that included an 82% rise in the cash settlement for their claims similar to price of gasoline, a 135% rise in the price of the $1 billion settlement obtained by the tractor fuel, and a doubling of electricity Unemployment In Puerto Rico Inuits, Indians, and Aleuts in Alaska from rates. the U.S. government in 1971. An Inuit Hits Record High of 21.9% Postal rates went up 100%, telephone representative said at the meeting with The official rate of unemployment in the rates increased by 70%, milk went up 50%, Trudeau that "there is just no way that American colony of Puerto Rico was 21.9% and wine rose 90%. In addition, a 70% you can attach a cash value to the Arctic in January—the highest level recorded by devaluation of the peso will increase the real estate in terms that are meaningful to the Puerto Rican government's Labor cost of all imported goods. the Inuit." Department since it started keeping jobless In a further attempt to squeeze the The Inuits demanded that the Canadian statistics. In January 1975, unemployment working class. Minister of Economy Emil- government reply to their demands within stood at 17.1%. io Mondelli offered workers a mere 12% three months. O Figures reported in the February 28 issue wage increase while demanding a 180-day of Claridad, daily newspaper of the Puerto "truce" from any more wage demands. Rican Socialist party, showed that unem The Argentine regime has bills of $1.1 ployment among those classified as billion due to foreign creditors by May, but 17 South Korean Dissidents Jailed "heads of families" was climbing faster less than $300 million in reserves. Seventeen opponents of the Park dicta than the overall rate. In January it stood torship in South Korea were reported at 18.4%, up from 12.5% a year earlier. under arrest March 4, following the circu Puerto Rican government unemploy lation of a statement demanding Park's ment figures do not include so-called Inults Demand. Separate Province resignation, the release of all political discouraged workers, who are not counted The 15,000 Inuits (Eskimos) of northern prisoners, restoration of full democratic as unemployed because they have stopped Canada have claimed formal ownership of rights, and changes in economic policies. looking for work. The government esti 250,000 square miles of the country. They Among those being held are the wife of mates that if these workers were included, have also demanded special hunting, former South Korean President Yun Po the rate would be 5% higher. fishing, and trapping rights to an addi Sun; Ham Sok Hon, a writer and critic of tional 500,000 square miles of land and the regime; and Rev. Yun Ban Ung, a 800,000 square miles of ocean. These Protestant minister active in Amnesty Hunger as a Weapon special rights are to include a 3 percent International. One of the dangers of chronic malnutri royalty payment on any natural resources The statement was read to an audience tion is that it "leaves people so physically exploited in the region. of 500 persons attending a mass in Seoul and intellectually stunted as to be easily The Inuits have demanded that the March 1. It was signed by twelve of the exploited by better-fed individuals." That, entire area be separated from the North most prominent political dissidents of the according to George Alexander in the west Territories and Yukon Territory, to country, including Yun Po Sun and Kim February 20 Los Angeles Times, was one eventually become a new province, called Dae Jung, who ran against Park in the of the points brought out in the discussion Nunavut (Our Land). 1971 presidential election. at the meeting of the American Associa The demands were presented to Cana Under a state of emergency declared in tion for the Advancement of Science in dian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau May 1975, making such demands on the Boston during February. February 27 by James Arvaleuk, the government is punishable by a minimum An anthropologist. Dr. Lawrence Greene president of the Inuit Tapirisat (Inuit of a one-year jail sentence.

March 15, 1976 Hungry for Profits

Reviewed by Steve Clark

The topic of Robert J. Ledogar's Hungry their so-called 'national' corporations, ous drugs. But there is no money to huy for Profits is stated in its subtitle: "U.S. whose major stockholders bear the most medicine." Food & Drug Multinationals in Latin respectably indigenous names, are really The callous attitude of the multination America." Its aim is summarized with controlled by foreign capital." als was summed up by one top corporation equal clarity in the author's preface: "to American and European domination of executive. Roberto Schneider, president of illustrate some of the human conse the Latin American pharmaceutical the Brazil division of Pfizer Incorporated, quences of a distinctly modern phenomen market—the topic of the first three case explained why in his opinion most Brazili on called multinational enterprise." studies—is similarly startling. "U.S. and ans have so little access to medication: That is the kind of book that Ledogar European firms control over 84% of "Well, it is because they are not economi has written: brief, straightforward, and private-sector drug sales in Brazil and cally active. Only 20 million Brazilians, in informative. a population of over 100 million, are The larger part of the book consists of economically active; all the rest of them do eight, self-contained case studies re Hungry for Profits: U.S. Food & Drug not lead an active life; they just vegetate; searched by the author and five co- Multinationals in Latin America, by they suffer from diseases induced by the workers. "The overall impression left by Robert J. Ledogar. Introduction by environment, by lack of basic consump these case studies," Ledogar says,"both in Ralph Nader. New York: IDOC/ tion; they do not buy clothes, shoes, and food and drugs, is that the benefits of North America, 1975. 209 pp. $7.95 least of all medicines." multinational activity in Latin America cloth. According to Ledogar, the pharmaceuti have accrued to a minority, while the cal industries have profited handsomely majority—those who most need the food from the inequitable situation in Brazil. and drugs that the multinationals reportedly an even larger share in Venez The fifty-six largest drug firms—of which produce—gets little of either." uela," Ledogar reports. "In Colombia, it the top twenty are controlled by foreign The remainder of the book contains a was found in 1970 that foreign firms capital—averaged a 16 percent profit rate short introduction and conclusion; a chap controlled 70% of antibiotic sales, 65% of in 1972. ter on the 'U.S. Government's Helping analgesics, 80% of vitamins, 45% of hor Hungry for Profits also documents quite Hand" to the multinationals; and a brief mones, and 70% of antacids." painstakingly the ways in which the introduction by consumer advocate Ralph The bulk of Ledogar's account, however, multinationals exploit lax drug regulations Nader. Nader's contribution adds very centers not on the extent of imperialist in Latin America to market dangerous little to this useful collection, but it may control, but on the human cost of that products that are restricted or banned help boost the book's sales, which is a good control. Ledogar shows that the huge drug altogether in the United States and Eu enough justification for its inclusion. multinationals push overmedication rope. Among the practices of these profit- Ledogar himself is a former Roman among the wealthier classes in Latin gougers are the following: Catholic priest who has served as a America, while their pricing policies deny consultant to Consumers Union and now adequate medication to the working people • Recommending risky drugs for a far works for the United Nations Department and peasants of those countries. wider range of ailments than is allowed in of Economic and Social Affairs. In Brazil—as in many other Latin the United States. Ledogar cites several Before zeroing in on the food and drug American nations—most drugs can be examples, including the drug dipyrone. multinationals. Hungry for Profits pro obtained without a doctor's prescription. Because of the drug's danger, the Sterl vides a rundown of the overall impact of This has provided fertile ground in which ing Drug company—for example—does not foreign investment on the economies of the market for drugs has flourished— sell it in the United States. But the Central and South America. backed up by an ongoing promotional company does actively push dipyrone in "A recent list of the 422 largest corpora effort that extends all the way down to the Latin America and Puerto Rico. In Brazil tions in Latin America revealed that Latin aggressive sales pitch of the pharmacist the drug is sold across the counter, almost Americans had controlling interest in only behind the counter. like aspirin, with package instructions 182," Ledogar says. "The rest were under recommending its use for "migraine head foreign control. One third were wholly or Meanwhile, disease flourishes just as aches, neuralgia, muscular or articular substantially owned by U.S. investors. In widely among Brazil's masses as does rheumatism, hepatic and renal colic. . . . 1968, U.S. multinationals were responsible drug consumption among the affluent."Of Toothaches and pain after dental extrac for 40% of all manufacturing exports from every 1,000 Brazilians born, 720(compared tions." Latin America. By 1971, multinational to only 200 in the United States) die before • Failure to explain situations in which corporations accounted for 70% of total net the age of 50, 105 of them before their first a drug should not be used. Ledogar cites profits in five major sectors of the Brazili birthday," Ledogar tells us. the example of the antibiotic tetracycline, an economy: rubber, motor vehicle, ma "The majority of these premature deaths which can harm the fetus of a pregnant chinery, household appliance, and min are caused by communicable diseases, woman and is dangerous for children ing." aggravated by malnutrition," he reports. under eight years old. Warnings to this He says, "There are those in Latin "Many of the killing diseases . . . can be effect are required in the United States, but America who believe that even many of prevented by vaccines or treated by vari the product is sold by drug companies

Intercontinental Press throughout Latin America with a greatly States. the really hungry people of this earth. watered-down word of caution. "The problem for most of the Dominican Very much depends upon the kind of food •The concealment of adverse side effects people, however," Ledogar explains, "is produced, the social and economic condi of drugs packaged for sale in Latin that those foreign earnings have not been tions under which it is produced, and the America, especially birth-control pills and transformed into more food on their ultimate consumer for whom it is pro certain pain-killers. plates." duced." • The prescription of larger than advis To the contrary. Greater wealth for G+W Hungry for Profits convincingly demon able dosages in order to sell larger quanti and for the Dominican comprador bour strates that the problems facing peoples of ties of a drug. Bristol-Myers, for example, geoisie has not meant better times for the the semicolonial world cannot be solved markets an antibiotic called Kanamycin masses of Dominicans. For them, the within a capitalist framework, although under the brand name KANTREX. KAN- expansion of sugar production has simply the book does not explicitly draw this TREX can cause serious side effects, diminished the land available for subsis conclusion. leading to deafness and kidney damage. tence farming, cutting into their daily diet. Ledogar points out that the regimes In the United States and Britain, laws A nutritional survey in 1969 revealed that throughout Latin America are hopelessly have established a maximum daily dosage the average calorie intake was only 79 dependent on Wall Street and Washington, that must be included on the drug's percent (450 calories short) of the amount which use their enormous economic and package. In Venezuela and Colombia, recommended by the Institute of Nutrition political power to keep their client states in however, Bristol-Myers advises up to twice of Central America and Panama. The line. this daily dosage. average protein intake was 62 percent of As the experience of the Allende govern Hungry for Profits also explains how the the recommended level, and only 34 ment in Chile proved, imperialism has multinationals keep drug prices in Latin percent in some particularly poor commu enormous resources to bring to bear America outrageously inflated. It exposes nities. against even limited challenges to its how these giants use patents, royalties, Hungry for Profits condemns the role of prerogatives: investment "strikes," denial and licensing agreements—as well as their Washington's 1916 and 1965 invasions of of loans and development funds, and out monopoly of technique and raw the Dominican republic in maintaining right subversion. materials—to preserve their stranglehold this exploitative situation. Latin American regimes that may in over the drug market. "Officials of the United States, President itially reflect nationalist aspirations of Ledogar reports, for example, that a Gerald R. Ford among them, have insisted certain native capitalists soon find that in study in the late 1960s found that "Merck on the need to encourage the poor coun order to survive they must develop a Sharp & Dohme of the United States had tries of the world to become self-sufficient "favorable climate for foreign invest been selling dexamethasone to its Colom in food," Ledogar concludes. "But while ment." And as Ledogar aptly reminds us: bian subsidiary for $31,900 per kilogram, the President laments the failure of coun "An 'investment climate' attractive to while the drug cost $7,500 per kilogram on tries like the Dominican Republic to feed multinational enterprise has far-reaching the European market. In another case, themselves, the major share of the food ramifications. It not only dictates a mini eight European laboratories quoted a price produced in that country goes not to the mum of government interference in mat of $45 or less per kilogram of diazepam; people who live there but into the export ters like product safety and quality, it also Roche [its Colombian subsidiary] was market to increase foreign earnings—and means guaranteeing large pools of cheap paying its parent company $2,500 for the profits for Gulf + Western." labor—preferably not unionized or at least same quantity." Ledogar outlines a similar situation in not militant; it means tax incentives, The impact of foreign food corporations Colombia. There, the shift in land usage freedom to compete with (and/or buy out) on Latin American economies is the toward animal feed for the country's local industries, and a limit to price subject of five of the book's eight case developing poultry industry has led to a controls; and, above all, it means giving studies. As Ledogar points out, the prob decline in the intake of protein-rich veget the corporations the freedom to produce lems created by these multinationals "are able crops such as peas, beans, lentils, and sell not necessarily what is most just as serious as those associated with chickpeas, and broad beans. needed in the country, but what is most pharmaceuticals but much more complex: "In other circumstances this break economically efficient from the standpoint diversions of agricultural production from through in poultry and egg production of profits." subsistence crops to more lucrative cash might have meant a significant improve Ledogar argues that the abuses of the crops, resulting in poorer diets instead of ment in the national diet," Ledogar says. multinationals cannot be corrected "if better ones for the hungriest people; failure "Most non-vegetarian peoples would add developing countries do not get together to to reach the poor with commercial high- eggs and meat to their diets if they could eliminate or control the competition protein food ventures, contrasted with afford it. But the poorest and most mal among themselves for foreign capital in extraordinary success in selling protein- nourished sector of the Colombian popula vestment. . . ." less beverages [Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, tion still cannot afford to eat chicken and It is certainly no accident, however, that Fanta, etc.] to people who do not need and eggs very often, despite their great availa the only country in the Western Hemis cannot afford them; persistent efforts to bility. For Colombia has one of the worst phere that has been able to tackle any of sell inappropriate milk products to moth income distributions in the world." these problems is Cuba, where a mass- ers who can neither afford nor use them He points out, for instance, that for at based socialist revolution expelled imperi properly." least a quarter of the population a dozen alism altogether and nationalized the Hungry for Profits explores the case of eggs and one kilogram of chicken cost the means of production as the basis for sound two countries in which agricultural moder equivalent of one week's earnings. The economic planning. nization has taken place at the expense of bitter irony of capitalist agricultural pro This path—the path of socialist the masses of peasants and working peo duction in Colombia has meant that the development—is the only escape from the ple. expansion of the poultry and egg output vicious circle described in Hungry for In the Dominican Republic, Gulf + has gone hand in hand with a decline in Profits. For as Ledogar concludes in the Western Industries, Inc., an American the protein intake of the majority of the chapter entitled "Ambivalent Hosts," multinational conglomerate, has vastly population. "Governments which appear to have the expanded acreage devoted to sugar pro Ledogar concludes, ". . . the experience people's interests at heart when they duction during the past two decades. of the last 20 years has taught nutrition initiate some effort to control corporate About 90 percent of the resulting sugar ists that dramatic production increases do activity somehow lose their will along the crop is exported, mostly to the United not automatically result in more food for way." □

March 15, 1976 malitieE and was told he would receive an answer in early August. When he checked back in early August he was told that no decision would be made until late August because of unspeclfled "problems". On Sept. 4th he was told the decision was being put off for another three weeks, which would be the first day of hla scheduled tour, Sept. 25th. With these delays the right of many of The Right to Hear Hugo Blanco—An Exchange the individuals and organizations who have invited him to speak is Jeopardized. It also raises the possibilit/ that they may deny him of Correspondence With the State Department a visa altogetheiS When it became clear that delay was the policy of the State Dept. many [An Immigration department ruling last of those who had originally Invited Mr. Blanco to speak were Joined by prominent November denied the American people the CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING Individuals in addressing inquiries and pro right to hear the views of Peruvian HUGO BLANCO tests to the State Dept. over the latter's peasant leader Hugo Blanco. Blanco, who harassment of the tour. Among those send ing protest letters or telegrams were: had been scheduled to conduct a speaking (Mr KOCH asked and was given per mission to extend his remarks at this Thomas M. Davies, Jr., Chairman. Latin tour of a number of major American point In the Record and to include ex American Lecture Series. San Diego State. universities, was refused permission to traneous matter.) Richard Pagan, Prof, of Political Science, Stanford University. enter the United States. Mr. KOCH. Mr. Speaker, during the Richard Falk, Acting Director, Center of [As part of the campaign to overturn this course of a year many Members of Con International Studies, Princeton Univ. undemocratic exclusion, well-known back gress receive requests from constituents Rev G G. Grant, S.J., Loyola University of ers of civil liberties have asked individual and organizations seeking their aid In Chicago, Jesuit Community. Congressman Michael Harrington (Massa members of Congress to press for action bringing Individuals, who have been barred by the State Department, Into the chusetts). against the decision. One result of this Unltod States to lecture and engage In Tates Hofner, Dean. Montelth College, effort is the following exchange of corre Wayne State University, Detroit, other organizational activities. Tom Hayden, Democratic Candidate for spondence between New York Congress It Is my practice to pursue these mat Senator, California. man Edward Koch, Dr. Benjamin Spock, ters so as to ascertain whether the De Phyllis Kahn, State Representative, Min and State Department spokesman Robert partment of State has proceeded hi a nesota- J. McCloskey, which was entered into the reasonable marmer. One such matter Sidney Lens, author. came to my attention In September 1975 Froben Lozada, Chicago Studies Dept., Mer- March 1 Congressional Record. rlt Community~College. [In reprinting the correspondence we do concerning Hugo Blanco. I think the cor respondence on this matter will be of Rev. David McGowan, AGAPE House, Univ. of Illinois. not, of course, take responsibility for Interest to our colleagues; Congressman Parren Mitchell (MarylAiid)- assertions contained in it. A case in point TT.'?. Committee fos Justice to is the claim by the State Department that Deen Peerman, Managing Editor, Christian Latin Amesic.an Politicai. Pris- Century ONEKS, Blanco admitted "responsibility for the Michael Predmore, Professor, Univ. of murder of three policemen" while leading New York, N.Y., September 22, 1975. Mr. Ed Koch, Washington, Seattle. the peasant struggle in Peru. New York. N Y. Leland Rayson, State Representative, [The charge of murder, originally made Dear Mb. Koch: Plans for the Important niinois. hy the Peruvian dictatorship in its frame- tour of Hugo Blanco, author, InternationaUy Ramona Ripston, Executive Director, ACLU, known Peruvian peasant-union leader and So. California. up trial against Blanco in 1966, has heen refugee of the Chile coup have been threat Joining the campaign to defend Blanco's answered hy Blanco in his hook. Land or ened by the U.S. State Department. For two right to tour the U.S. is his U.S. publisher, Death: The Peasant Struggle in Peru. The mer,!.) ': li.!- St,.."'!- E.-cpaiimer.t has stalled iRsuir.g a visa to Mr Blanco. Many promi Pathfinder Press of New York. In a letter to the State Dept. Pathfinder explains that hook, published by Pathfinder Press, is nent ir.dn'ksuals (see Enclosures) have sent they plan to meet with Mr. Blanco to dis widely available in bookstores and libra mesEagee to the State Department urging cuss busine.s.s matters and express concern that a vi.sa be granted with no further ries across the United States. over delays or a denial of his visa, pointing delay [In his book Blanco explains that during out that "continued delay or denial would In Epite f.i these proteET.E and the growing police operations initiated by the govern violate the recent Helsinki Agreement ("The numtae; ol invitations for Mr. Blanco to Conference on Security and Co-Operation in speak at universities across the nation, the ment to suppress the peasant movement, Europe. Final Act," issued by the U.S. State visa still haj? not been granted. Recently, we the forces under his leadership did every Dept., 1975). The Agreement is quite specific have been told that Secretary of State Kis thing in their power to prevent bloodshed. regarding the rights to cultural exchange. On. singer has the visa application for review. page 123 of tlis Final Act. the first item [During his trial, Blanco said, ". . . I Youi message protesting this anti-demo discussed under the section on access to explained that in all senses and at all cratic harassment and calling on Mr. Kissin ger to imn-etllRtciy issue the visa can be of books we find twelve paragraphs outlining the rights of authors, publishing houses, and times, we had acted only in self-defense; Eubstantial aid in assuring Mr. Blanco's that not only had the origin and activity of audiences to free access, co-operation, and right to entei f.rO Epeal: in this country. exchange. We find that our rights and Mr. Tcm-b, the guerrilla band been defensive acts in Blanco's have been abridged under seven of Steve Schmuc.er. the face of the repression, hut also that in these paragraphs (See paragraphs 1, 3. 4, 5. NYC USLA. our encounters with the police we had 6, 7, and 10; Final Act, p. 123 and 124) Path [Newsletter of the DB. Committee for Jus finder plans a big campaign in the publish saved our lives by firing. This was indis ing industry and media in general to defend putable. Nor could anyone deny that we tice to Latin American Political Prisoners, the right of its author to enter the UB. September 1975) never intended to kill anyone, as we WHY the state dept fears blanco's ideas State Department DEL.tTS Blanco Tour proved hy our treatment of the policeman Tills shocking delay can probably be traced The long awaited tour of Peruvian pesAant to the fact that Blanco's eyewitness accounts who had fired at us in Pujiura—after we leader Hugo Blanco, due to begin Sept. 25th, had disarmed him, we set him free. Nor of the Chile coup with its brutal repression ts being seriously threatened by delaying and the U.S.'s role in it would prove embar could our concern in helping the wounded tactics of the UJ3. State Dept. The facts of rassing to the government at a time when be denied, as was shown by the fact that Mr. Blanco's application for a visa reveal congressional investigations of the CIA ma- a shockingly deliberate campaign by the we forced the town doctor (after getting chiniatlons In Chile and other sources reveal State Dept. to prevent his views from being an ever widening and sinister pattern of U.S. him out from under his bed, where he had heard here. After receiving numerous in inlorvention in that coimtry. heen hiding) to treat the wounded police vitations from academic depts. of leading universities Mr. Blanco applied in mid-July HOW TO win the visa FIGHT man, and that we offered our own scanty at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, Tile government must not be allowed to medical supplies for first aid; all this was for a visa to enter the U.S. on Aug. 15th. trample on the democratic right of Blanco done at grave risk to our safety and lives."] Mr. Blanco complied with all the for- to speak, or the right of those who invited

Intercontinental Press him to hear him. We can and must defeat closed letter from the VS. Committee tor that In the forum oi discussion democratic this antl-democratlc harassment. UBLA sup Justice to Latin American Political Prisoners Ideals can establish their superiority over porters and other defenders of civil liberties regarding Hugo Blanco. the totalitarian ones of the right or the will want to Increase the effort to mount pres I have no knowledge concerning the facts left. What do you think? sure on the State Department to grant Blan- In this case and would appreciate your sup All the best. co's visa. Here are some of the actions that plying me with whatever background ma Sincerely, can be undertaken: terial Is available so that I can become more Edward I. Koch. Send a telegram or letter of protest to: familiar with this subject. Leonard P. Walentynowlcz, Bureau of Secur Sincerely, U.S. House op Representatives, ity and Consular Affairs, Department of State, Washington,B.C., October 21,1975. Washington, D.C. 20020 Edward I. Kocii. Mr. Robert J. McOloskey, Get other prominent Individuals and or Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, New York, N.Y., ganizations to do the same. Be sure to send Bepartment of State, Washington, B.C. a copy to USLA! September 30, 1975. Dear Mr. McCloskey: I am writing with Congressman Ed Koch, Send a financial contribution to meet the regard to Mr. Hugo Blanco, a Peruvian who U.S. House of Representatives, ballooning expenses of the defense effort. I understand has encountered difficulty In Washington, B.C. Thousands of dollars are needed to mount obtaining a visa to enter this country be this effort. In addition to the cost of actually Dear Ed: I feel Indignant about the State cause of his outspoken political beliefs. touring Blanco, when the visa is approved. Department's denying admission to a speaker Though I have no personal knowledge of Ask other supporters of civil liberties for whom many want to hear, presumably be this case, I believe that, with the exception contributions. cause he will testify to the brutality of the of terrorists who publicly advocate murder Help organize and build the meetings for repression In Chile, and to our government's In pursuit of their goals, those who want to Blanco In your area. Continue to build large complicity In brining It Into power. have a free discussion of Ideas should not meetings with broad co-sponsorshlp. "Ihls Kissinger has all the Instincts of a thug, be Impeded In coming to this country for will do two things. First, it vrill generate more coated over with professional pomposity. that purpose. I would, therefore, urge you pressure on the State Department since that Sincerely, to allow Mr. Blanco to enter the United many more individuals and groups will be Benjamin Spock, M.D. States without further delay. angered by the State Department harass I would appreciate any comments you ment. Secondly it will assure that we will not Department op State, might care to make regarding this matter. bo caught unprepared when the visa Is ap Washington, B.C., October 9, 1975. Sincerely, proved. Hon. Edward I. KocH, Edward I. Koch. Media work Is quite important. A special New York, N.Y. effort to get a press release Into the local Dear Mr. Koch: Thank you for your letter Department op State, media. Including the campus and Spanish of September 24 on behalf of the 1713. Com Washington,B.C., November 13,1975. press, will generate much public support for mittee for Justice to Latin American Polit Hon. Edward I. Koch, the effort. ical Prisoners regarding the nonimmigrant House of Representatives, visa case of Mr. Hug^o Blanco. Washington, B.C. WHO SHOULD BE APPROACHED FOE THIS Mr. Blanco, a Peruvian citizen, presently Dear Mr. Kocb): Thank you for your in DEFENSE? residing In Sweden, Is Ineligible for a visa quiry of October 21 about the visa appli There are people from many walks of life tmder Section 312(a)(28) (F) of the Immi cation of Mr. Hugo Blanco. who will want to know about Blanco's tour gration and I^atlonallty Act which Is quoted Mr. Blanco applied for a nonimmigrant and who will protect efforts to delay granting In the enclosed Information sheet. A decision visa In order to visit the United States to him a visa. Latin American Studies profes as to whether to recommend a waiver of his conduct a lecture tour. He was found to bo sors, Chlcano, Puerto Rlcan, and interna Inellglbility to the Attorney General Is re Ineligible for a visa under Section 212(a) tional student groups (especially those of ceiving active consideration. I will write to (28) of the Immigration and Nationality Act Latin American students), student govern you again as soon as a decision Is reached. because of his previous terrorist activities ment and other student groups wUl have a Sincerely, and his aiflilatlon with certain communist natural Interest. Farm Worker and other Robert J. McCloskey, organizations. Consideration was given as to unions will bo Interested after learning of Assistant Secretary for Congressional whether the circumstances of his case Blanco's extensive work In organizing peas Relations. would Justify the approval of a waiver of ant unions for land reform, or of his his his InadmlsslblUty under Section 212(d) tory as a trade union organizer In Argentina. U.S. House op Represejvtatives, (3)(A) of the Act. The Immigration and Na Church groups, who often have affliiates In Washington, B.C., October 17, 1975. turalization Service, with which ultimate Latin America will prove receptive. Organi Steve Schmuger, authority rests, hais concluded It would zations of Native Americans should be ap USLA Justice Committee, not be In the public Interest to authorize proached since Blanco Is well known for his New York, N.Y. his temporary admission Into the United work among the Qechua Indians of Peru, Dear Mr. Schmuger: Enclosed Is the re States. A waiver of his Inadmlssiblllty will There are many who will simply be concerned sponse I received from the Department of not. therefore, be granted in his behalf. about any violation of civil liberties who State regarding the problem with Hugo Sincerely, should be approached. Bianco. Robert J. McClosket, Visit your local Congresspei'son or their Apparently the matter is still being given Assistant Secretary for CongressUmal aides and seek their support. A number have consideration. When I receive the ultimate Relations. already endorsed the camalgn. They will decision, I will send it on to you. often call the State Department right on the All the best. U.S. Committee for Justice to spot and register a protest. Sincerely, Latin American Political Pris With a quick response to the State De- Edward I. Koch. oners. partrnent's harassment and stalling by a New York, N.Y, November IS, 1975. broad range of individuals and groups we U.S. House op Representatives, Representative Ed Koch, can assure Blanco's right to enter the coun Washington, B.C., October 21,1975. VJS. House of Representatives, Longworth try and speak. Dr. Benjamin Spook, House Office Building, Washington. B.C. New York, N.Y. Dear Congressman Koch: On October 10 U.S. House of Representatives, Dear Ben: I apologize for not answering Hugo Blanco was scheduled to address stu Washington, B.C., September 24, 1975. your letter of September 30th until now, dents at the University of Minnesota in the Steve Schmuger, but it was not brought to my attention until first stop of a tour sponsored by the United USLA Justice Committee, today. As I understand the matter Is still States Committee for Justice to Latin Amer New York, N.Y. pending, I have- sent a letter to the State ican Political Prisoners (USLA). Instead, the Dear Mr. Schmuger: I have your letter of Department urging that Mr. Blanco be per audience listened to a taped message from September 22nd regarding Hugo Blanco. mitted to come to this country. the Peruvian peasant leader, author and rev I have written to the Secretary of State on I do want to note at this time a paradox. olutionist. this matter and as soon as I have any fur I get mall from those on the left supporting On the day before the tour was scheduled ther information, I will be In touch with the admission Into this country of speakers to start, a State Department spokesperson you again. who are on the left and. In many cases, announced that Secretary of State Henry Sincerely, communist. Some of those same people who Klasthger had personally decided to bar Edward I. Koch. write me object when someone Identified Blanco from the United States. with right wing causes or. In a recent case, Shmtly after this decision, the State De U.S. House op Representatives, Italian faclsm seeks to come here. I take partment made a similar pronouncement on Washington, B.C., September 24, 1975. the position that with the exception of ter the visa of Sergio Segre, Italian Communist Hon. Henry A. Kissinger, rorists who publicly advocate murder In Party leader. At almost the same time the Secretary of State, pursuit of their goals, those who want to same State Department gave VIP treatment Bepartment of State, have a full and free discussion of Ideas to Giorgio Almlrante, a leader of the neo- Washington, B.C. should not be Impeded In coming to this fascist Movemento Soclale Itallano (MSI— Dear Mr. Secretary: I received the en country for that purpose. I further believe Italian Social Movement).

March 15, 1976 There Is an obvious question: how could Dear Mr, CNEmn: Thank you for your under the prQtlolon.s of Executive Order one person, Hugo Blanco, so threaten the Inquiry of November 21 on behalf of Ms. 11652 dated March 8, 1973. a copy of whioii security of the United States that he Is de Lorraine Lyman about the visa application Is enclosed. nied entrance? Blanco has just finished a of Mr. Hugo Blanco. A part of the public rtcoid. however. i.s tour of Sweden and Canada where no endan Mi Blanco applied for a nonimmigrant visa hts declaration that he took full and sole gering of the public welfare of those coxin- In order to visit the United States to con responsihllity for the murders of tliree poiice- trles was reported. The threat, instead, Is duct a lecture tour. He was found to be men which occuired during a raid he and what Blanco has to say. Ineligible for a visa under Section 212(a) his follcwer.e made en a police station in Blanco was forced to flee the repressive (28) of the Immigration and Nationality Act Peru durix.g 1962. The Congressional Record regime of Chile following the coup there— because of his previous terrorist activities of December 19. 1975, contains further in a coup aided by the CIA as revealed, despite and his affiliation with certain communist formation about his afBliatioii with the Eflsslnger's denials, In recent Congressional organizations. Consideration was given as to Fourth International and other groups, a-s hearings. The subject of Blanco's tour Is whether the circumstances of his case would well as quotations from his writings in which Tjatln America, a Continent without Jus justify the approval of a waiver of his In- he has advocated the use of violence. tice." Clearly he would have taken up the admlssiblllty under Section 212(d) (3) (A) of I can assure ycu that Mr. Blanco's case Issue of CIA involvement not only In Chile, the Act. The Immigration and Naturalization was carefully reviewed. The finding of In- but In Argentina, Brazil and Peru. Service, with which ultimate authority rests, eliglbility under Section 212(a) (28) (C) and Blanco's case has received front-page cov has concluded It would not be In the public (F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act erage In a Southern Black newspaper, the Interest to authorize his temporary admis Is mandatory. Mr. Bianco may also be In Atlanta Voice. Ekhtorlals and stories have sion Into the United States. A waiver of his eligible ■under Section 212(a) (9) of the Act, appeared la the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. InadmlsslbOity will not, therefore, be granted which Is quoted In the enclosure, because of Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press, Atlanta In his behalf. his conviction for murder. Journal, Library Journal, San Antonio Light Sincerely, I hope that this additional informatior. and numerous campus papers. Robert J. McCloskey. wUl be helpful. Proteets from prominent dvU lll>ertarians Assistant Secretary for Sincerely. and organizations were directed at Kis Congressional Relations. Robert J. McCloskey, singer's office. These protests Include mes Assittant Secretary for Congressional sages from Senator Hubert Humphrey, John Department op State. Relations. Krvln, Jr., publisher of Aleksandr Solzhenlt- Washington, D.C., December 11,1975. myn'a Candle in the Wind; Jules Pelffer; Con- Hon Ik>WARD I. Koch. U.S. House Representatives. gresswoman Bella Abzug and Dr. Benjamin New York, N.Y. Washington, D C. Spock. Dear Mr. Koch : Thank you for your letter Dr. Benjamin Sfock, On November 11 we received word that wo ot December 1 about your continued Interest New York, N.Y. had won a victory. Kissinger vras fcarced to In the nonimmigrant visa case of Mr. Hugo Dear Ben: Enclosed Is the response I re reverse himself and recommend to the Jus Blanco. ceived from the State Department which, tice Department that Blanco's visa bo Ihe Information which renders Mr. Blanco If accurate, would In my judgement be granted. Now It's the Attorney General, Ed ineligible to receive a visa under Section 212 grotmds for not allowlbg Hugo Blanco ward Levl, who stands between the American (a) (28) of the Immigration and Nationality entry Into the United States. Don't you people and our right to hear Hugo Blanco. Act is confidently. I regret therefore that the agree that if, In fact, he admitted responsi What is needed now Is a large meeting to Information you requested cannot be bility for the murder of three policemen focus attention on the Issue—that the Amer divulged. and advocates the use of violence that those ican people have a "right to know" the full Sincerely. are grounds for rejection? ■tory about "Latin America, a Continent Robert J. McCloskey. In your original letter to me your reference without Justice." Assistant Secretary for Congressional to Secretary. Kissinger was "has all the In- W© would like to propose that this meet- Relations. .stlucts ot d. thug, coated over with profes tog take place the evening of Thursday, sional pomposity." My question Is how would EWMuary 19 at Ocfiumbla University and that U.S. Hoose of Reiiiesentativee. you now characterize Hugo Blanco? If I do you and your organization co-sponsor this Washington, D C., December 22, 1975. not hear from you within two weeks, then I meeting. Initial sponsors Include Americans Robert J, McCloskey. shall assume that the information provided for Democratic Action; Father Kennedy of Rssiafofil Secretary for Congressional Rela me Is correct. the Catholic Council of Churches; Michael tion'', Department of State, Washington, .yd the best. Harrington, National Chairman, Democratic DC. ' Sincerely, Socialist Organizing Committee; Ruth Gage- Dear Mr McCioskev: 1 have your letter Edward I. Koch, Colby and Kate MUlett. of December 11th and 1 muEt say your re Clearly what's at stake here Is not just sponse was unsatisfactory and leaves me In New York, N.Y., one visa case. What's at stake is our right a position where I am not able to respond February 18, 1976. as Americans to hear and consider all views. responsibly to those who have written to me Congre.ssmau Edward I. Koch, What's at stake Is our right to know—with concerning Hugo Blanco House of Representatives, out government Interference—the facts While I would oppose allowing an Individ Washington, D.C. about Latin America. Watergate has shown ual who has engaged In terrorist activities so Dear Ed; Thank you for looking Into the that our right to know Is being threatened. as to make him suspect that his coming here Hugo Blanco Issue. I have no Idea where the We must demonstrate the Increasing unwill will enhance those terrcrist activities. I can truth lies. The plea for his entry came from ingness of Americans to accept this ktod of not In good conscience say to tliose writing a responsible organization. censorship. that the nature of his terrorist activities Sincerely, Elnterely, cannot in any way be described and must be Benjamin Spock. M.D. Jan Gangel, confidential I think your actions and re USLA Stat. sponse give unnecessary support to those who criticize our system and make it unnece:s- VS. House of Bepeesentatives, sarlly difficult for those, like myself, who Washington, D.C., December 1, 1975. support our system to defend It In cases Two Political Prisoners Robert J. McCeoskey, of this kind. Executed by Iranian Regime Assistant Secretary ]ot Congressional Rela I urge you to reconsider this matter and tions, Department of State, Washington, provide me with the Information bearing The shah of Iran's secret military D.C. upon Mr. Blanco's alleged terrorist activities tribunals have imposed two more death Dear Ms. McCloskey: I have your letter so that I. at least, can be better Informed of November 13th concerning the visa appli on the matter sentences, Iranian officials announced cation of Mr. Hugo Blanco. SiTirereiy, March 7. Hamid Riza Fatemi and Mo I am particularly Interested In knowing Edward I. Koci:. something about his "previous terrorist ac hammed All Movahedi, executed by firing tivities" so that I can refer to them when squad on that day, were the latest victims. responding to the various letters that I am Department op State. Washington, D.C., January 29, 1975. The two were charged with "subversive receiving which are Initiated by groups and Eon, Edward I. Koch, activities" and alleged terrorist acts, al Individuals espousing his cause. Longworth House Office Building, All the best. though not even the dates of the supposed Sincerely, Washington, D.C. actions were made public. Edward I. Koch. Dear Mr. Koch; Thank you for your letter of December 22 about your d&slre to obtain Eight other prisoners were sentenced to more Information In connection with the life imprisonment. According to Iranian December 5, 1975. refusal of a ylsa to Mr. Hugo Blanco. officials, five of these were originally Much of the Information available to the Ron. Thomas P. O'NEmn, Jr., sentenced to death but were saved by the House of Representatives, Department Is classified for reasons of -se Washington, D.C. curity and therefore cannot be divulged shah's "clemency."

Intercontinental Press Encontrado Debate en la Base

PC Frances Empieza a Descartar Mascara Marxista

Por Rebecca Finch

[La siguiente es una traduccion del este pais, ha experimentado cierto creci- Union Sovidtica y cuando asocia al PC artlculo "The French CP Begins Discard- miento desde el ascenso de mayo a junio de frances con los "termidorianos de octubre," ing Its Marxist Mask" que aparecio en el 1968 aunque con el recamhio en su mem- que es el adjetivo que usa para designar a numero del 8 de marzo de Intercontinental hrecla no ha gozado de un avance conside- la burocracia sovietica. El PS presto su Press. La traduccion es de Intercontinental rable. En 1966 el partido afirmaha tener nombre al gran mitin del 23 de octubre en Press.] 425,000 miemhros. Hoy dice tener 491,000 y Paris que fue llamado para pedir la todavia esta lejos de su apogeo de 900,000 libertad de Leonid Plyushcb, el matemati- alcanzado despues de la Segunda Guerra. co sovietico que fue intemado durante tres A nivel electoral ha sufrido cierta baja, anos en un hospital siquiatrico. Dice que PARIS—El Vigesimosegundo Congreso decayendo del 22.46 porciento de los votos este fue uno de los factores que condujeron del Partido Comunista Frances, llevado a en las elecciones de 1967 a cerca de un 20 a la publicacion de un editorial en la cabo los dias 4 al 8 de febrero en el porciento el dla de hoy. edicion del 25 de octubre de 1975 de suburbio obrero parisino de St. Ouen, Por otra parte, los socialdemocratas I'Humanite que llamaba a liberar a atrajo una atencion poco usual este ano. franceses han experimentado un creci- Plyushcb. Calificado por los dirigentes del partido miento hasta cierto punto impresionante Mitterrand tambien dice que el creci- como un acontecimiento "historico," el despues de reorganizar la estancada Sec miento del PS es responsable por muchos congreso ratifico algunos cambios en la tion Frangaise de ITnternationale Guvri^re de los cambios que esta llevando a cabo el postura del partido, mismos que hacen (Seccion Francesa de la Intemacional PC. El 18 de enero aparecio en television resaltar mas claramente la politica colabo- Obrera, la Segunda Intemacional) bajo la diciendo: ". . . el actual ascenso del Parti racionista de clase de la direccion. Tam- forma de Partido Socialista Frances en do Socialista ha sido un factor determinan- bife reafirmo un curso que fue comenzado 1969. El principal dirigente del PS, Fran- te en la evolucion del Partido Comunista, en 1968, consisteijte en echar por la borda Qois Mitterrand, hoy clama que su partido que dehe tomar en cuenta nuestra presen- la retdrica marxista que venia usando para es el mas grande de la izquierda, ya que cia y nuestro crecimiento." encubrir sus traiciones a la clase trabaja- representa a un 30 porciento del electorado. dora. El PS afirma tener 150,000 miemhros y Estas medidas incluyen la decision de La competencia con el PS en la obten- mantiene una fuerta influencia en dos abandonar la frase "dictadura del proleta- cion de apoyo entre los obreros es uno de sindicatos: Force Guvrifere y la Confedera riado." Se aprobo una campana en contra los problemas que actualmente afectan al tion Frangaise Democratique du Travail de "la inmoralidad, la pornografia, la PC. Pero tambien cuenta con otros. Por (CFDT). Comenzo a construir secciones del perversidn, la violencia y la criminalidad." partido en los lugares de trabajo en 1969. ejemplo, la burguesia francesa se inclina Esto fue con la intencion de complementer cada vez mas a ver al PS como si se Para 1973 clamaba haber alcanzado 253 de los esfuerzos tendientes a ganar hacia la estuviera moviendo bacia la posicion que estas y su objetivo para 1975 era de 700. "Union del Pueblo Frances"—la version El PS trata de presentar una imagen de le permitird jugar el papel clave en del PC francos del frente antimonopo- mantener bajo control el descontento de animada actividad y de ser mds democrati- lista—a un sector de la jerarquia de la las masas francesas. Volver a ganar la co intemamente que el PC. Por ejemplo, iglesia catolica. posicidn que mantenla ante los ojos de la dentro del PS hay una creciente ala Los delegados tambidn reafirmaron el disidente llamada el CERES,* que publica clase dominante en Francia fue una de las reforzar una campana de propaganda, su propio periodico. razones del ultimo giro del PC. lanzada en mayo de 1975, para presenter Todo esto representa una amenaza Para los gobernantes capitalistas france al PC como el "mejor luchador" por los ses estos desarrollos son importantes. Si la potencial a la posicion dirigente del PC en derechos democrdticos en Francia. Todo la clase obrera y ha conducido a una tendencia.. . combativa entre masas esto dentro del marco de la continuacidn de continua, se va a requenr algun tipo de creciente polemica entre estos dos partidos. la "Union de la Izquierda" como alianza gobiemo de colaboraci6n de clases para En una entrevista por television el dla 7 de electoral con el Partido Socialista y la contener y desviar las cada vez mds enero, por ejemplo, Georges Marchais reiteracion del "Programa Comiin" con profundas aspiraciones de 6stas. ataco a las secciones del PS en los lugares este. La clase en el poder se resiste todavia a de trabajo, afirmando que "no ayudan ni En los meses que precedieron al congreso realizar un cambio hacia un gobierno de un centlmetro al progreso del movimiento el Secretario General del Partido Comunis frente popular pero reconoce que esto obrero. Lo que la clase trabajadora necesi- ta Georges Marchais firm6 una declara- puede llegar a ser necesario. En este ta es un partido revolucionario. . . . Si no cion comdn con Enrico Berlinguer, del contexto, la burguesia francesa acoge con hay una seccidn del PS en una empresa, no Partido Comunista Italiano, trazando la beneplacito el giro del PC hacia una mayor importa. Pero cuando carecen de un via "democratica" al socialismo y los "moderaci6n," dado que esto puede acha- organismo del PC, a los obreros les falta dirigentes del PC francos emitieron dos tar la combatividad de los trabajadores Una pierna para poder caminar." declaraciones en las que se distanciaban que siguen al PC. Y la direccidn del PC, El PS, por su parte, le ha dado los mds de algunas de las represiones mas sin duda, estd previendo con el objetivo de fuertes golpes al PC cuando denuncia la escandalosas de Moscu contra los dis- preparar a sus partidarios para que acep- represion a los derechos democraticos en la identes. ten concesiones economicas y sociales Las ralces de estos cambios pueden ser menores que sus aspiraciones. trazadas a ciertos desarrollos sorprenden- Sectores importantes de la burguesia tes que tuvieron lugar en anos recientes. El ♦Centre d'6tudes, de recherches et d'educatlon intemacional, particularmente el imperia- PC frances, que con mucho es todavia el socialistes (Centre de Estudios, Investigaciones y lismo alemdn, el britdnico y el norteameri- partido de los trabajadores mas fuerte en Educacidn Socialistas). cano, sostienen una posicion contraria a la

March 15, 1976 429 que favorece el cambio hacia gobiemos de sas del PC italiano en torno a garantizar Mientras el periodico Pravda criticaba frente popular. Temen que tales gobiemos la economla "mixta," el sistema pluriparti- indirectamente al PC francos por su daran un renovado impetu a las espectati- dario y la sucesion de poderes a traves de declaracion sobre los campos de concentra vas de los trabajadores franceses, italianos elecciones, en caso de que llegara a ganar cion por haber prestado credibilidad al y espanoles, lo que a su vez se extenderia el gobierno. "antisovietismo y al anticomunismo," y entre los trabajadores de otros parses. La declaracion conjunta tenla como mientras que tambien en Pravda han Esto ha producido desacuerdos en el intencion mostrar que el PC francos habla aparecido otros artlculos impllcitamente seno de la socialdemocracia. La divisidn se adoptado la formula de Berlinguer. Mar crlticos del PC francos por romper abierta desarrolla de acuerdo a las llneas del chais tambien deseaba deslindarse de la mente con el marxismo, esto no significa "norte" y las del "sur" del continente. El postura pseudorevolucionaria del PC por- que ya tuvo lugar su ruptura fundamental Canciller de Alemania Occidental Helmut tugu6s. con Moscii. Schmidt y el Primer Ministro Harold "Un dirigente del Partido Comunista en Todo lo contrario, aunque del PC de la Wilson repiten como pericos las palabras Paris dijo ayer que el documento no solo Union Sovietica se pueden esperar denun- de Henry Kissinger cuando 6ste enfatiza subrayaba las diferencias entre los parti cias de las criticas hechas por el PC que el Mercomun y la OTAN peligrarian dos del este y los del oeste, sino que frances, la postura "critica" adoptada por en caso de una participacidn comunista en tambien estaba dirigido a ciertos partidos este ultimo facilita el enfoque colaboracio- los gobiemos de Europa Occidental. Su occidentales, tales como el de Portu nista de clases hacia el imperialismo preocupacion estriba en que los PCs se van gal. . . ," informo el International Herald occidental, que ha sido promovido por la a subordinar a la Union Sovietica y no a Tribune en su edicion del 19 de noviembre. burocracia sovietica desde que Stalin las burguesias nacionales en lo que respec- Pero esta claro que no bastaba con una usurpo el poder. Confirma—como si esto ta a la politica exterior y militar. declaracion conjunta con el PC italiano fuera necesario—la adaptacion de los En el otro lado de esta disputa se que prometiera el respeto a la democracia partidos estalinistas al parlamentarismo encuentran los partidos socialistas del Sur burguesa. En vista de la reputacion del PC burgues. de Europa—especialmente los de Francia, frances como uno de los mas arrastrados Vale la pena hacer notar que el compro Espana e Italia—, los cuales arguyen que entre los agentes del Kremlin, Marchais mise oral del PC frances con los derechos los partidos comunistas de Europa Occi tambien tenla que declarar su independen- democraticos esta muy lejos de ser profun- dental estan llegando a ser mas indepen- cia de Moscu. Este es el contexto en el que do. No tiene nada que decirnos acerca del dientes de Moscii y que, en cualquier caso, se dio la decision del PC para pedir la rechazo a los derechos de los grupos de van a ser los partidos socialistas y los libertad de Leonid Plyushch y condenar oposicion a formar tendencias dentro del partidos burgueses los que van a jugar los campos de concentracion sovieticos. PCUS, o su derecho a organizar sus papeles decisivos en las coaliciones guber- El llamado por la libertad de Plyushch propios partidos o a imprimir y distribuir namentales, siendo relegados los partidos fue emitido el dla 25 de octubre, solo dos su literatura dentro de la Union Sovietica. comunistas a ministerios de menor impor- dlas despu^s del mitin en la Mutuality en Aprobar los derechos democraticos de tancia tales como salud publica, agricultu- Paris, un gran acto que atrajo a 4,000 estos grupos, despues de todo, entraria en ra y del trabajo, mas que a los de personas y que constituyo la culminacion contradiccion con la prohibicion del mismo relaciones exteriores o de defensa. Argu- de un campana auspiciada por la izquierda PC frances para la formacion de tenden mentan que en sus parses la participacion francesa para lograr su libertad. Un cias dentro de este partido o en la Confede de los partidos comunistas en tales gobier- editorial en THumanite declare: "Si es ration Generale du Travail (CGT), la gran nos es necesaria para mantener la "estabi- cierto . . . que este matematico esta inter- federacion sindical que domina. lidad" social. nado en un hospital siquiatrico solo por Asi de reveladora es la reciente condena Aun en Portugal, ahora que recupero el haber adoptado una posicion en contra de del PC frances a la lucha de los conscriptos "lugar que le correspondia," el PS habla ciertos aspectos de la politica sovietica, o por comites y sindicatos, a traves de los acerca de lo valioso que es su bloque con el en contra del mismo regimen, nosotros solo cuales los soldados esperan ganar los PC. Por ejemplo, Maido Soares, que visito podemos expresar nuestro repudio y pedir derechos de expresion y de asociacion en recientemente los Estados Unidos, declard que sea liberado tan pronto como sea los cuarteles. Apoyar tales luchas cortarla a los reporteros de la revista Time que el posible." las promesas del PC en torno a que su mantener al PC en el gobierno portugu6s La declaracion del Buro Politico el 12 de entrada en el gobierno no pondrla en no solo habra escindido a ese partido, sino diciembre sobre los campos de concen peligro la politica exterior y militar burgue que habla servido para que compartiera la tracion sovieticos aparecio despu^s que sa. responsabilidad de las impopulares medi- salio en la television francesa una pellcula Asi que el PC francos ha condenado la das de austeridad. de la BBC [British Broadcasting Corpora lucha de los soldados por sus derechos Este es el trasfondo de los cambios tion, Corporacion Difusora Britdnica] democraticos como si se tratara de una ratifrcados en el Vigesimosegundo Congre- sobre ese tema. La declaracion decla: ". . . provocacion "ultraizquierdista," danina a so del PC frances, que tanto se propagandi- el Buro Politico del Partido Comunista la disciplina. Como concesion a la crecien- zaron. Lo que esta involucrado aqut no es declara que si la realidad corresponde con te presion de masas, el PC ha salido en un giro para distanciarse de una politica las fotografias que ban aparecido—y no defensa de los militantes que han sido que previamente haya sido revolucionaria, han sido desmentidas por las autoridades encarcelados o procesados por su activi- sino que mas bien se trata de un mero sovieticas—, expresa su profunda sorpresa dad. Pero la direccion del partido todavia cambio de postura e imagen. y la mas severa condena." apela al chovinismo nacional y llama a El cambio comenzo el pasado noviembre Esta no es la primera ocasion en que el mantener un ejercito fuerte y disciplinado con la declaracibn conjunta de los partidos PC frances ha tomado su distancia con que pueda defender la "independencia comunistas italiano y francos, frrmada por respecto a la politica sovietica de represion nacional" de la Francia imperialista. Enidco Berlinguer y Georges Marchais. El de los disidentes. En 1968, el partido se Este tema chovinista figure prominente- PC italiano ha tratado de recuperar su deslindo abiertamente de la invasion mente en el discurso de Marchais al puesto en el gabinete, del que fue excluido sovietica de Checoslovaquia; en 1971 pidio Vigesimosegundo Congreso del partido. en mayo de 1947. Berlinguer ha tratado de clemencia para los judlos que hablan sido Denunciando el "Atlanticismo" del Presi- ganar este objetivo por medio de la traicion condenados en Leningrado por haber dente Giscard d'Estaing, declare: "Una sistematica a las luchas de masas y buscado como salirse de la URSS, y en cuarta parte de la industria francesa esta proclamando la capacidad de su partido 1973 ataco la decision por parte de Moscii ahora en manos de capitalistas extranje- para apuntalar la estabilidad social en de no publicar las obras de Solzhenitsyn ros. Su deuda exterior va en aumento. . . . Italia. Este es el significado de las prome- en la Union Sovietica. Estan destrozando su soberania pedazo

Intercontinental Press por pedazo; el destine de nuestros campesi- resultado final era inevitable. M. Guerpi- nos hoy en dia es decidido en Bruselas y el llon de Paris se quejo sobre esto de la de nuestra moneda en Washington; y siguiente manera, en la edicion del 24 de manana, si nuestro pueblo no se cuida, el enero de France Nouvelle: "De acuerdo al destine de nuestro pais serd decidido en buen metodo periodistico, las cartas de los Luxemburgo, o aun en Bonn, por el estado comunistas que protestaban contra la mayor de las fuerzas reaccionarias y trusts desaparicion de la [frase] dictadura del multinacionales de la Europa Atlanti- proletariado de los estatutos eran primero ca. . . impresas en las 'columnas de discusion.' Para contrarrestar esta amenaza apelo Luego el secretario general babl6 publica- al patriotismo. "Fiel a su tradicion, el mente en television y comprometio al Partido Comunista Frances lucha y lucha- partido, baciendo la concesion de que [el ra con todas sus energias para salvaguar- n cambio] todavia podria ser discutido. ^Pero dar la independencia y la soberania de quien va a sonar con discutirlo abora? Francia. , . . Lejos de ser una idea pasada Quien lo biciera seria masacrado." de moda, la independencia nacional es una La identificacion del t^rmino cientifico gran aspiracion de nuestro tiempo. Ganar- marxista "dictadura del proletariado" con la, defenderla, consolidarla: be aqui tareas los crimenes del r6gimen de Stalin facilitd que estan en la orden del dia del mundo a los dirigentes del PC llevar a cabo la contemporaneo. No bay nada mds inme- desaparicion de la frase sin discutir diato, o mas modemo, que la lucba por la realmente su significado. Para los marxis- independencia, la soberania y el floreci- tas, la frase significa el gobiemo de la miento complete de Francia." clase obrera y de sus aliados; esto es, el Estos temas, por supuesto, fueron di- gobierno de una mayoria en vez del actual senados para llamar la atencion particu- regimen de unos cuantos. El significado larmente del ala gaulista de la burguesia que Marx y Engels le dieron fue el de la francesa. No debe sorprendemos el que democracia mas amplia y efectiva que se esta linea coincida tambi^n con los intere- baya conocido jamds. ses de Moscvi, que quiere ver una mayor Aunque la intencion de la direccidn del independencia de Francia con respecto a PC al quitar la frase era la de subrayar su los Estados Unidos. oposicion al cambio revolucionario, entre Esta posicion del PC frances ba side las filas del PC puede baber quienes no bien recibida en los circulos a los cuales GEORGES MARCHAIS bayan tenido los mismos motivos. Debido estaba dirigida. Como dijo un escritor a la estrangulacidn de la democracia gaulista en Le Monde el 3 de febrero: . . miembro del Comity Central, dijo que la obrera y de todos los derecbos democrdti- los comunistas proporcionan los batallo- frase estaba "pass6" [pasada de moda]. cos elementales en la Union Sovidtica, la nes pesados entre aquellos que recbazan Dos miembros protestaron en contra de frase se ba desacreditado entre las masas cualquier intento de bacer virar a Francia esto el 5 de enero en I'Humanite, pidiendo de obreros, y aun entre los miembros del bacia donde perdiera su independen que al menos una referenda a la "dictadu partido comunista. Entonces, en I'Humani cia. . . ." ra del proletariado" apareciera en el te aparecieron contribuciones confusas en Las cautelosas reprimendas a Moscu por proyecto de resolucion. El 7 de enero, las columnas de discusion, que acusaban a parte del PC, en lo que respecta a la Georges Haddad, secretario de una c6lula aquellos que se oponian a abandonar la represion de disidentes politicos, no desper- en Epinay-sous-Senart, propuso que frase de estar "en contra de la forma y el to tanto interes como la discusion precon- aunque la cuestion de los estatutos del contenido de la democracia socialista, greso en tomo a la proposicidn de eliminar partido no estaba en la orden del dia del especialmente la libertad de expresion la frase "dictadura del proletariado" de los congreso, 6stos deberian ser modificados para las diversas corrientes ideoldgicas y estatutos del partido. En una "columna de para quitar la frase. Pero otros miembros pobticas, la existencia de una prensa de discusion se publicaban las pol^micas del partido se quejaron en el sentido de que oposicion, etc." diariamente en I'Humanite y semanalmen- el lenguaje del proyecto no era lo sufi- Pero aparentemente fue otra parte del te en France Nouvelle, una revista noticio- cientemente marxista. proyecto de resolucidn, la que llamaba a sa semanal del PC. Sin embargo, 6sta fue El 9 de enero Marcbais aparecid en un lucbar contra la "inmoralidad," la que una caricatura de lo que deberia ser una programa de television donde le pidieron desperto el mdximo de oposicion activa genuina discusion democratica. su opinidn acerca de la idea de Haddad. El entre las filas del partido. Los editores de estas publicaciones secretario general dijo: "Estoy de acuerdo La seccion del proyecto titulada "Quere- tenian el derecbo de seleccionar y editar lo con la idea de este secretario de cdlula. . . . mos Fratemidad" dice en una de sus que se publicaba. Y aunque individualmen- Estamos en 1976 . . . el Partido Comunista partes: "Nosotros los comunistas . . . te se podian escribir contribuciones, el no es rigido. No es dogmdtico. Sabe como estamos lucbando por un nuevo mundo. derecbo a formar tendencias estaba estric- adaptarse a las condiciones de sus tiem- Lucbamos en contra de la violencia, los tamente probibido. Al mismo tiempo que pos. El dia de boy la palabra 'dictadura' no odios, el racismo, la inmoralidad. esto dificulta evaluar la verdadera exten corresponde con lo que deseamos. Tiene un "La sociedad que queremos reconocerla sion de la oposicidn en el partido, la significado inaceptable, contrario a nues- el derecbo de cada quien a vivir plenamen- discusion es interesante porque revela tras aspiraciones, a nuestras t6sis. te su vida. Esto no tiene que ver con algunos problemas que encara la direccion "Aun la palabra proletariado ya no es ensalzar la brutalidad o exbibir la perver en cuanto a mantener la unidad del apropiada. . . ." sion." partido en tomo a los cambios. El 16 de enero Marcbais y el Buro En una conferencia de prensa que fue El proyecto de resolucidn publicado por Politico llevaron a cabo una conferencia de relatada en I'Humanite el 15 de enero, le el Comity Central, titulado "Qu§ Quieren prensa en la cual anunciaron que babia preguntaron a Marcbais: "Hay un debate los Comunistas para Francia," no mencio- una "casi total unanimidad" en el partido sobre la sexualidad. ^Tiene su partido una naba la "dictadura del proletariado." para abandonar la frase. posicion sobre la moral en este campo?" Durante su mitin piiblico en Epinay-sous- La maniobra de Marcbais no quedo sin Marcbais contestd: "La sexualidad es un Senart el 27 de noviembre, , ser cuestionada dentro del partido, pero el gran problema; pero es un problema que no

March 15, 1976 puede tener primacia sobre las cuestiones jbvenes y nuevos en el partido, quienes aperturas. Cada semana, su periodico economicas y sociales. Es necesario hacer sospechaban que el verdadero bianco de Rouge ha publicado articulos que estan mas por la educacion social! Las parejas estos ataques era el nuevo estilo de vida de dirigidos a los militantes y simpatizantes deben tener el derecho a decidir ellas los jovenes; esto es, el rechazo creciente a del PC, prbporcionandoles la visibn trots- mismas si es que quieren o no tener las normas morales burguesas, que es una kista de los problemas claves planteados hijos. . . . El aborto debe ser gratuito. . . . amenaza a la glorificacion que el PC hace en la discusion. Todas estas cuestiones deben ser juzgadas de la familia. La LCR ha puesto un bnfasis especial en y puestas en su lugar, su verdadero lugar. Le Monde informo que en el debate oral defender el concepto de la dictadura del "Tambien exists el problema de la a nivel de la federacion de Bouches-du- proletariado y la genuina democracia pomografia. Yo digo que eso es inmo- Rhone, la direccion del partido fue apoya- socialista, en contra de los conceptos y ral. . . ." da por una animada corriente "obrerista" practicas de la dictadura burocratica que Estas declaraciones son cinicas en vista que atacaba a los "intelectuales de cabellos gobierna en Moscii. Si el fermento y el de que vienen del principal dirigente del largos" que piensan que "los obreros son interes generado hasta ahora continuan en partido que fue uno de los principales objetivos faciles." los circulos de influencia del PC, una obstaculos a la lucha por la libertad de En repuesta, de acuerdo a Le Monde, los presentacion sistematica de la posicibn aborto en Francia y que denuncio vigoro- "intelectuales" dijeron que el partido habla trotskista sobre estas cuestiones segura- samente la decreciente tasa de natalidad cometido serios errores en el campo de la mente que va a rendir sus frutos. □ en Francia durante su discurso principal moral en el pasado y que tenia que en el Vigesimosegundo Congreso. Mientras reconsiderar su posicion. En el debate en la que Marchais se ha manifestado por el federacion de Moselle, la conferencia Esperar Taxi en Tehran, RIesgoso "aborto gratuito," no ha dicho nada acerca decidio, con una votacidn de 101 a favor y de la necesidad de derogar la ley francesa 79 en contra, recomendar que toda referen La contaminacion atmosferica en que permits el aborto bajo solicitud solo da a la "inmoralidad" fuera quitada. El Tehran ha alcanzado niveles tan peligro- hasta la d^cima semana de embarazo y autor de la enmienda pedla que la resolu sos que, de acuerdo al principal dirigente que todavia forza a miles de mujeres a cion explicara que la pornografla se de la Organzacion de Proteccion Ambien- salir del pals para obtener esta operacion o apoyaba en "la explotacion de la miseria tal de Iran Dr. B. Soraya: "Si no se las empuja hacia los abortos ilegales. sexual" y que "estaba basada en gran comienza a aplicar un remedio, la gente va Marchais tampoco hablaba acerca de la medida sobre el desprecio a la mujer." a tener que salir de sus hogares usando necesidad de construir un movimiento La oposicion a esta cuestion fue tan mascaras de oxigeno." independiente de mujeres para luchar en fuerte que 4 de cada 34 federaciones que Cuando hablo durante una reciente contra de la denigracion de la mujer en las hablan llevado a cabo sus reuniones para conferencia de prensa en Tehran, el Dr. pellculas y en la literatura. Su verdadero el 24 de enero adoptaron enmiendas con el Soraya dijo que una parte substancial de objetivo al llamar a luchar en contra de la objetivo de modificar la resolucion. Aun la contaminacion en esa ciudad es causa- "inmoralidad" era ganar a un sector de la que la columna de discusion se cerr6 el 24 da por las emanaciones de los escapes de jerarquia del clero catolico al frente de enero, el Euro Politico sintib que era mas de 700,000 automoviles que hay en antimonopolista denominado "Unibn del necesario continuar la discusion durante Tehran. Pueblo Frances," y asi distraer la atencion dos dias mas debido a la reaccion critica Atestiguando sobre el peligro que tales de sectores del PC que ban sido afectados que esta proposicion habia encendido en niveles de contaminacion plantean para la por la radicalizacion juvenil y el movi casi todas las federaciones. Debido a que salud de los residentes de Tehran, el Dr. miento de liberacidn de la mujer. las polemicas fueron muy acaloradas, la Soraya informo que "en mas de 1,000 casos Las declaraciones de Marchais y las direccion tuvo que cerrar algunas reunio de muerte relacionados con enfermedades proposiciones del proyecto de resolucion nes a la prensa, siendo que antes habian en los pulmones, la mayorla fueron causa- coinciden con las nuevas declaraciones del sido abiertas. dos por el aire contaminado de la ciudad." Vaticano en contra de las prdcticas sexua- Si bubo otros temas que fueron cuestio- Dijo que la cantidad de dioxido de les premaritales, la homosexualidad y la nados abiertamente, tales como la posicion carbono en el aire es "diez veces mayor a masturbacion, y se ban dado vivas pol6mi- del partido en contra de los derechos la normal," y agrego que esta es la razon cas en la jerarquia catolica francesa acerca democraticos de los soldados y a favor de por la cual "la gente algunas veces se de la "crisis moral" y las relaciones entre un fuerte ejercito burgubs, estas no pudie- desmaya mientras espera en las colas por la iglesia y los comunistas y socialistas. ron traspasar el control de la censura, los taxis." En su discurso al congreso Marchais antes de llegar a las "columnas de discu dijo: "Estamos muy interesados en ciertas sion." Pero es claro que al menos parte de posiciones que ha adoptado la iglesia en la membrecia del PC ha sido afectada por Es Facil Subscribirse Francia, expresando su emocibn ante las la radicalizacion en Francia desde mayo- Compaheros de habla hispana en consecuencias morales y sociales de la junio de 1968. Por ejemplo, estadisticas de los Estados Unidos, Canada y crisis, su comprencibn del compromise la reunion del 24 de enero de la federacion Mexico: jEs facil subscribirse! politico de los cristianos hacia el socialis- de Paris mostraron que la edad promedio mo. . . ." de los 500 delegados era de treinta y un Envienos $12 con su nombre y Aunque los acercamientos del PC a las anos y que el 70 porciento se habia unido direccion para recibir inter altas jerarquias de la iglesia ban sido al partido desde 1968. De hecho, el PC dice continental Press semanalmente echadas a un lado por el memento, el haber reclutado nacionalmente casi 94,000 durante seis meses. partido ha llevado a cabo conferencias a miembros solo de 1974 a 1975. Estos Lectores de otros paises hispanos nivel local con personalidades religiosas y nuevos reclutas es seguro que no son todos desea que 6stas contimien. De esta mane- estalinistas endurecidos. pueden escribirnos y pedirnos los ra, las columnas de discusibn en I'Humani- Claramente, existen grandes oportunida- preclos de subscripciones por co- te estaban plagadas de eontribuciones con des para que los trotskistas expliquen el rreo aereo o maritimo. tltulos tales come: "Cristianos y Comunis verdadero caracter de la politica estalinis- tas Unidos" y "Si, Estamos contra la ta y para que ganen nuevos miembros INTERCONTiNENTAL PRESS Inmoralidad." entre este medio. La Ligue Comuniste Las objeciones a la campaila en contra Revolutionnaire (LCR), Seccion Francesa P.O. Box 116, Village Station de la "inmoralidad" fueron planteadas de la Cuarta Internacional, esta tratando New York, NY 10014, U.S.A. principalmente por los miembros mds de tomar toda ventaja posible de estas

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