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■ii demands for raises have generally been exceeding that level. The Communists say that raises should be held below 30%, but they don't commit themselves to any figure. Mr. Cunhal shakes his head over demands that might strain the economy. 'The strike The Threat of U.S. Intervention In Portugal weapon,' he says, 'is most efficient if it isn't used too often.'"

In an editorial February 17, the New York vague phrase "leftist street violence." How The vague references of the editors of the Times, an authoritative voice of American ever, this was put in a context that would New York Times to "leftist" street violence, ruling circles, threatened U.S. intervention give the impression that these demonstra however, are an indication that any mass in Portugal. tions were part of a Communist party actions that "go too far" will be interpreted The editors claimed that the danger of a offensive. by U.S. ruling circles as part of a Com Communist party "takeover" in Portugal The fact seems to be that the Communist munist party "coup" to block the elections. had been increased by the prospect of party's bureaucratic and class- And even after the vote is held, they will elections in April: collaborationist method of defending its not be reassured: "If, as pledged, these turn out to be positions in the trade-union movement "The military junta, with Communist Portugal's first free elections in a half- simply provided a handy means to the encouragement, shows less and less century, polls suggest that the Communists capitalists for portraying it as a dangerous inclination to yield its present supervisory will do poorly. Having failed in their efforts power machine. role and is expanding its powers. These to force postponement of the elections, the What the U.S. capitalists actually think trends have led the Popular Democratic indications are that they will now encour about the Portuguese Communist party is leader, Francisco Sa Cerneiro [Carneiro], to age more leftist violence and intimidation probably much more accurately reflected in argue that elections will be academic if the in hopes of altering the outcome or even of the Wall Street Journal, which is written centers of power are 'occupied' beforehand." preparing the way for a coup." specifically for business circles. In an Such Communist party influence in the While raising a hue and cry over the article in the February 20 issue of this junta, the New York Times said, was giving alleged possibility of a Communist party- publication, staff reporter Ray Vicker wrote: rise to "intolerable dangers." It invoked the backed coup, however, the New York Times "In Portugal, Italy, France and Greece familiar "domino theory": gave its blessing to the actual attempted the Communists no longer threaten revolu "These [dangers] go beyond the obvious coup by General Spinola in September 1974: tion, promote violence, advocate political stategic threat of a Soviet ally athwart the "At the time of the military revolt last strikes. When violence comes from the left American naval lifelines to the Mediterra April that overthrew the Salazar-Caetano today, it usually comes from Maoist fac nean and NATO Europe. A forcible Com dictatorship, the Communists, as the only tions or from splinter Communist groups munist takeover in Portugal might encour organized political opposition in Portugal, that have severed connections with the age a similar trend in Italy and France; secured key posts as advisers to some of the Moscow line. A low profile also is main create problems in Greece and Turkey; rebel military leaders. They bid successfully tained so as not to arouse any opposition affect the succession in Spain and Yugo for influence in local governments, and from the religious, or from a middle class slavia and send tremors throughout West- obtained controlling positions in the news that might feel endangered by radicalism. em Europe. media, student organizations and labor The edtorial in this way echoed the unions, which they have since strength "Sometimes Mr. Cunhal [the CP general themes sounded by capitalist repesentatives ened. secretary] sounds so moderate that you when they opened the cold war and again "In September, Gen. Antonio de Spinola have to recheck his history to make sure he when Washington intervened in countries was forced out of the Presidency when he doesn't belong to some middle-class party. like Korea and Vietnam. sought to resist this trend." He talks of seeing a place for private "Detente, of course, would be the first Since Spinola's ouster, the editorial con enterprise in Portugal's future. He discour casualty, as Moscow should note, if the tinued, the parliamentary conservatives ages strikes, mutes any criticism of NATO, close relationship between the Portuguese and even the "democratic left" have also avoids vitriolic propaganda and extends a Communist party and the Soviet Union— gone down under the Communist steamrol hand toward America. which maintains a large, active embassy in ler. "Last month, in a second major crisis, "Moreover, he doesn't take a dogmatic Lisbon—is a factor in promoting a forcible the Communists prevailed upon the position on the nationalization of industry. takeover. It would not be in the interest of military—over Socialist opposition—to ap 'Certain sectors such as transport already either the Russian or the Portuguese people prove a law providing a single labor are nationalized,' he says, 'and perhaps in to have the popular will in Portugal denied confederation. Their control is assured in the future those elements in basic industry free expression."(Emphasis added.) advance, since they already run most of the also should be state-controlled. At the In present conditions, U.S. ruling circles federations that will be joined. moment, however, the government policy is are not likely to relaunch the cold war. "Through Communist maneuvers. So to seek economic stability, and this involves However, direct or indirect intervention in cialist protest demonstrations have been continuation of the private sector in opera Portugal is all too likely. A much gentler banned; leftist street violence has been used tion of factories. We support that policy at warning was issued by the New York Times to break up the organizing convention of this time because we favor economic stabil to the Allende government after the March the country's main conservative party." ity.'" 1973 elections in which the right was A publication with the news-gathering As for Communist party influence in the defeated. Such an intervention could, how staff and resources of the New York Times trade-union movement, Vicker indicated ever, generate international tensions; and, could not be unaware that the demonstra that its effects were not all bad from the in order to justify it, the Western capitalist tions against the so-called SocialDemocratic capitalist point of view: powers would have to resurrect the "Com Center party in Oporto were not backed, but "Currently the Communist Party even munist menace" to some extent, with some were in fact opposed, by the Communist preaches moderation to unions. The annual implications for relations with the Soviet party. That, apparently, is why it used the inflation rate is estimated at 30%, and Union.

Intercontinental Press In the context of the detente, this warning serves the purpose of putting the Soviet Union on notice that the White House will not accept significant CP influence in any West European governments, no matter how well-behaved the CPs in question may In This Issue Closing Date: February 24, 1975 be. It puts both the Portuguese goverment and the CP on notice that if they cannot keep the mass movement within what the U.S.A. 292 The NAAGP's Call for a May 17 Antiracist United States considers acceptable limits, dire consequences will ensue. Demonstration in Boston It is essentially the mass upsurge in —by Michael Baumann Portugal that frightens the U.S. capitalists, not the CP. This is indicated by the 294 Firm Offers Assassination Equipment formulation that puts all street demonstra VIETNAMiTNAM 295 Thieu Cracks Down on Saigon Opposition tions and labor actions under the general heading of an alleged Communist party- —by Peter Green planned coup. BRITAINRITAIN 296 Attack on Russell Foundation Protested The same type of thinking was evident in the case of Chile. It was not the Allende PAPUA NEW GUINEAUINEA 297 Separatists Demand Independent Republic government and the Communist party as —by Sol Salby such that prompted the violent U.S. inter vention through a brutal military coup and AUSTRALIA 298 Why Whitlam Banned the PLO wholesale massacres of workers; it was the —by David Nizoz inability of these forces to restrain the mass movement, which was carrying out more IRELANDELAND 300 "Officials" Turn Against Their Own Past and more seizures of factories and big —by Gerry Foley estates and undermining the basis of capitalist property and bourgeois society. ARGENTINA 320 Police Kill LOR Member What really worries U.S. ruling circles is peasants seizing estates despite the Com DOCUMENTS 312 March on Boston May 17! munist party's appeals to them to wait for 314 The Workers League and the International government action, and in particular, armed forces units showing solidarity with Committee—by Tim Wohlforth leftist demonstrators. It was the beginning 318 Liga Socialista's Stand on Take-over of of left-wing organization in the armed forces in Chile, for instance, that most Venezuela's Iron-Ore Industry directly sparked the decisive confrontation 319 The NATO Maneuvers in Portugal there. Chile, moreover, was only the most recent NEWS ANALYSIS 290 Threat of U.S. Interverrtion in Portugal of many examples of the dangers of trying AROUND THE WORLD to prevent a mass upsurge from going to the point where it can effectively defend itself DRAWINGS 299 Gough Whitlam—by Copain against counterrevolution. The fact that the Communist party was in effective control of EN ESPANOL: 306 La Crisis Economica Mundial del the Allende government and a united trade- Capitalismo union movement did not enable it to defend itself against the reactionary coup.

While U.S. ruling circles are trying to intimidate the Portuguese left into pulling back the mass movement, these threats simply prove that the only way to "defend Intercontinental Press, P.O. Box 116, Village Station, opinion, unsigned material expresses the standpoint of democracy" is to mobilize the Portuguese New York, N.Y. 10014. revolutionary Marxism, masses and the ranks of the armed forces Editor: Joseph Hansen. Paris Office: Pierre Frank, 10 Impasse Guemenee, into a power that can defeat any interven Contributing Editors: Pierre Frank, Livio Maitan, 75004, Paris, France, Ernest Mandel, George Novack. To Subscribe: For one year send $15 to Inter tion. Editorial Staff: Michael Baumann, Gerry Foley, continental Press, P.O. Box 116, Village Station, New And that is possible only if the masses Ernest Harsch, Judy White. York, N.Y. 10014. Write for rates on first class and Business Manager: Reba Hansen. airmail. take full control of the economy and root Assistant Business Manager: Steven Warshell. For airmail subscriptions In Europe: Write to out the material basis of reaction. Copy Editor: Mary Roche. Pathfinder Press, 47 The Cut, London SE1 8LL. In Technical Staff: Bill Burton, James M. Morgan, Earl Australia: Write to Pathfinder Press, P.O. Box 151, At the same time, the threats of the New Williams. Glebe 2037, In New Zealand: Write to Socialist Books, York Times and Washington's bullying P.O. Box 1663, Wellington. interference in Portuguese internal affairs Published In New York each Monday except last In Special rates available for subscriptions to colonial December and first in January; not published in August. and semlcolonial countries. are a warning to the working-class move Intercontinental Press specializes In political analysis Subscription correspondence should be addressed and interpretation of events of particular interest to the to Intercontinental Press, P.O, Box 116, Village Station, ment in the Western capitalist countries, as labor, socialist, colonial independence. Black, and New York, N,Y, 10014, well as all antiwar forces, that they must women's liberation movements. Please allow five weeks for change of address. Signed articles represent the views of the authors, Include your old address as well as your new address, begin to speak out now against interven which may not necessarily coincide with those of and. If possible, an address label from a recent Issue, tion in Portugal. □ Intercontinental Press. Insofar as It reflects editorial Copyright © 1975 by Intercontinental Press,

March 3, 1975 A Promising Beginning ence itself was provided in the credentials report. A total of 2,009 persons, including about 500 Blacks and Puerto Ricans, registered for the gathering. They came The NAACP's Call for a May 17 from 27 states and Washington, B.C., 147 colleges, 58 high schools, and 113 organiza Antiracist Demonstration In Boston tions. Members of 50 Black student groups were present; women made up 45 percent of the conference participants. Chartered By Michael Baumann buses came from as far as Houston (more than 1,900 miles), Atlanta, and St. Louis. Since the opening of the fall term in the 1963, and the freedom marches in Selma, Boston school system last September, the Alabama, in 1965. Black community there has been the target These actions are recognized as mile Lively Debate of a mounting racist offensive. stones in the struggle for civil rights in The racists have concentrated their fire recent years in the United States. Two topics that generated considerable on the busing of students, which was In appealing to the student conference for debate at the conference were the role of ordered by the courts to desegregate the its support in the effort to build the demon white people and students in the fight schools. The racist offensive has included stration Atkins said, "It is my hope that against racism, and the relationship be almost daily physical intimidation, at times this May 17 rally will he the result of a tween the fight for quality education in reaching the level of lynch action. (See broad-based coalition of organizations and general and the fight for the right of Blacks Intercontinental Press, October 21, 1974, p. individuals working together, each in their to an equal education. 1352.) The Boston racists are supported by own way, to achieve one unified purpose." Members of the Young Workers Libera forces ranging from local officeholders of (Major excerpts from Atkins's remarks are tion League(YWLL), the youth organization both the Republican and Democratic parties printed elsewhere in this issue.) in political solidarity with the Communist to President Ford himself, who has publicly The 2,000 participants at the conference party, supported the May 17 action proposal declared his opposition to busing. responded by voting overwhelmingly in but argued for three amendments. One was It is in this context that the Boston faVor of the NAACP call to action. In that April 4 be taken as the starting point branch of the National Association for the workshops and plenary sessions they for local actions leading up to the May 17 Advancement of Colored People has called mapped out an entire spring campaign to march. This proposal won general support. for a national march on the city May 17 to mobilize a nationwide reply to the racist Two other YWLL amendments were (1) to mobilize support for the right of Black attacks. They adopted the following de recognize the "special responsibility" of children to an equal education, including mands: "Desegregate the Boston schools whites in fighting racism among whites, the right to attend whatever schools they now! Keep the buses rolling! Stop the racist and (2) to recognize that students "are not choose. Thomas Atkins, president of the attacks on Black students!" in the leadership of progressive forces but Boston NAACP, announced the call Febru To carry out these demands, the confer can play a role" if they "subordinate" ary 14 at a teach-in sponsored at Boston ence voted to form a new organization, the themselves to "the community." University by the National Student Confer National Student Coalition Against Many conference participants found the ence Against Racism. Racism, and to begin on April 4 (the latter two amendments confusing. One For the May 17 demonstration, he de anniversary of the assassination of civil- person asked, for example, whether the clared, "we will ask that thousands of rights leader Martin Luther King) a six- second amendment meant that this student people from around the country come to week campaign of local actions and educa conference could not make its own decisions Boston to support school desegregation. We tional activities across the country building but would have to ask for approval from will he asking NAACP branches, 1,800 up to the May 17 action. some vague "community" forces. strong across the country, to assist us in An impressive list of speakers addressed Another speaker pointed to the leading organizing such a national show of support the February 14 teach-in. In addition to role students had played in the antiwar for school desegregation, and in organizing Atkins, these included: movement and recalled how the Watergate the national campaign against the effort to Jonathan Kozol, author of Death at an tapes had shown the ruling class's fear of write the Black community out of the Early Age, which received the National the student movement. United States Constitution." Book Award for its detailed expose of racial The maker of the YWLL amendment discrimination in the Boston school system. eventually agreed that the word "subord Atkins's call can be expected to meet with James Meredith, the first Black student to inate" was a bad one and should be deleted. a significant response in the United States. attend the University of Mississippi. He said the motion just meant that students The NAACP is the oldest, largest, and most Dr. Benjamin Spock, a leader of the U.S. should work in consultation with the Black influential civil-rights organization in the antiwar movement and world famous community. country. Founded in 1909 by such figures as pediatrician. The meaning of the amendment on the Black scholar W.E.B. Du Bois, it has Willie Mae Reid, Socialist Workers party role of whites also appeared to be unclear to 400,000 members. candidate for vice-president. many participants. Some who argued for it An organization that has traditionally Messages of support were received from made such statements as: "You can't write concentrated on legal-defense efforts Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther off people as racists and refuse to have (including the original lawsuit that resulted King, and Shirley Graham Du Bois, widow anything to do with them," and "Nobody in in court-ordered busing in Boston), the of W.E.B. Du Bois. Kathy Kelly, president this room can say they are not racist." NAACP has at times responded to pressure of the National Student Association, also Andrew Pulley, a Black leader of the in the Black community for direct action. sent a message, pledging the support of Young Socialist Alliance, spoke from the Examples include its support for the sit-ins NSA officers and affiliates to the May 17 floor and said that in his view "the white at Woolworth lunch counters in the early march. The NSA is a nationwide organiza people here shouldn't wallow in liberal 1960s, the massive civil-rights demonstra tion of student governments. guilt, which seems to be part of the tone of tion of 250,000 in Washington, B.C., in A measure of the breadth of the confer this amendment. You whites who are here

Intercontinental Press are among the best, and you should go back down and to give up defense of the right of promise proposal. The amendment was to your local areas and get all kinds of Blacks to go there. voted down hy a wide margin, and the people involved, to make the May 17 action The conference voted almost unanimous compromise proposal was adopted with the most massive possible." ly for the Harper-Sherbill proposal. Several only a dozen or so persons voting against it. Peter Camejo, 1976 presidential candidate speakers pointed out that although it was Upon adoption of the main action propo of the Socialist Workers party, also spoke true that all the schools, including those in sals, as well as the compromise proposal on from the floor, saying that he felt there white neighborhoods, could stand great structure, the entire hall hurst into ap could he agreement on all three amend improvement, the immediate issue was the plause. It was generally felt that the ments if they were clarified. right of Black students to attend school conference had scored a major success in He said, "We're obviously all opposed to anywhere they choose. debating all views democratically, drawing working with racists such as those in To retreat from this demand, it was up a plan for united action, and holding groups that exclude Black people. It is pointed out, would amount to capitulation together so many forces of divergent views absolutely correct that we want to get as to the racists. The racists use the demand and backgrounds. many white people, Bla'ck people, Chicanos, for "quality education" in such a way as to In addition to the student and Black- as many as possible, to come to the cut across the fight for school desegrega community groups that were present, virtu demonstration May 17. Whether a white tion. They use it as a code word for ally every organized tendency of any person gets a leaflet for the march from a maintaining their privileged position in a influence in the workers movement was white person, or from a Black person, or racially segregated school system. represented at the conference. Not all took from a Latino, that doesn't matter. I'm sure In one of the workshops a participant, the floor, however. The point of view of the the YWLL would agree on this, that all of recalling the struggle to integrate the Communist party tended to be expressed by us want to try to reach out to the entire nationwide chain of Woolworth lunch the sizable contingent from the YWLL, population to build this action. counters, asked what would have happened while the CP limited its direct participation "Nor would there he disagreement, I'm if, when racist opposition mounted, the to organizing a literature table and sure, that the Black community is leading students had simply said, "Well, maybe we distributing the Daily World. its own struggle, and students are working should just go eat somewhere else. After all, A few individuals from the Healyite with, consulting with them in one struggle." what kind of food can you get at Wool- Workers League were noted selling their After these clarifications, all three worth's? We aren't interested in the right to newspaper, the Bulletin. amendments from the YWLL were ap eat this rotten food." The ultraleft sect Workers World, and the proved by the conference. Another issue debated by the conference youth group associated with it. Youth was the demand made by leaders of the Against War and Fascism, likewise limited Like Right to Be Served at Woolworth's Boston Black community that federal their participation to selling literature, as troops be sent to enforce the desegregation did a number of other groups. order against the racists. The majority of Two different points of view emerged in the conference was clearly in favor of Disruption Attempt Defeated the discussion over the best way to fight for demanding that all necessary force be used quality education. to stop the racist mobs, including federal At one point some participants attempted A proposal made by Robert Harper and troops. to break up the conference. When the Ray Sherbill, two of the conference coor However, when the question was raised evening plenary session began February 15, dinators, stressed the need to define clearly on the floor, it was decided that the a group of thirty or forty persons assembled what is meant by quality education and to conference should not take a position on the in the aisles, hooting and jeering. They took demand that "better educational equip demand for the time being. Several speak over one of the floor microphones and ment, instruction, and facilities immediate ers urged that discussion continue within demanded to speak as long as they pleased. ly follow, if not accompany, the desegregat the student movement on this important This move had been planned at a closed ion of the Boston schools." question. In the meantime, it was felt, all meeting composed mostly of members of a The Harper-Sherhill proposal made clear, could work together under the three slogans New York Maoist sect called the "Puerto however, that the demand for "quality adopted for the May 17 march. Rican Revolutionary Workers Organiza education" was not counterposed to the tion." Their main political point was voiced fight for equal education but was intended Agreement Reached on Organization in the red-haiting charge that the Socialist to suggest that the fight to desegregate the Workers party and the Young Socialist schools is hut the starting point in the Proposals for the structure of the new Alliance were "dominating" the conference. struggle for improved education. organization were thoroughly discussed at Although the disrupters used radical- Other speakers, including supporters of the final plenary session February 16. The sounding phrases, one of their leaders was such Maoist-influenced groups as Party for conference voted for a compromise formula. Lawrence Elliot, a Black Democrat who Workers Power, Revolutionary Student It maintained the coordinators' proposal heads a city commission in Detroit. Brigade, and Progressive Labor party, held that the new organization's steering The disrupters sought to provoke a that the demand for quality education committee be a broadly representative body physical confrontation. One of them should take priority over, or be substituted open to delegates from the local chapters. It brandished a knife. During the confusion, for, the demand to enforce the desegrega also included a YWLL proposal that each people stationed at different points in the tion order. national group assign one person to work hall blew whistles in an apparent attempt They argued that Black students should full time in the new organization's national to create panic. Members of the sectarian give up the struggle for busing Black office. Spartacist League yelled encouragement to students to schools in white neighborhoods. Nevertheless, speakers for the YWLL, the disrupters. In their view busing leads only to Black including the group's organizational secre The conference participants voted to students being attacked by racists. It tary, Matty Berkelhammer, insisted that allow the disrupters to speak. The speakers cannot provide a decent education, since the local chapters should be excluded from the attacked the conference, the struggle to white schools are no good either. One steering committee. Berkelhammer asked desegregate the schools, the NAACP, and proposal was to demand that white schools that this section of the YWLL proposal be the court-ordered busing. When it became like South Boston High School be shut submitted as an amendment to the com clear that the audience was not welcoming March 3, 1975 such sentiments, and that the conference encouraging step in assembling the forces ment. They will know how to present on the marshals surrounding the disrupters were necessary for a powerful, united reply to the American campus the need to mobilize in ready and willing to defend the democratic racists. force for the May 17 march. right, of the more than 1,900 other partic The initiative taken by the Boston NA- ipants to proceed with the discussion, the ACP is of special significance. It represents A broad mobilization of students and disrupters ended their performance by the reentry of the NAACP into the arena of workers, both Black and white, in response calling for a general walkout. mass action. Because of its size, its wide to the appeal of the Boston NAACP, can They set the example, one of them spread roots, and resources, the NAACP make May 17 a truly historic landmark. shouting as they left, "We demand an end can draw many other forces into active As Thomas Atkins said in his call for the to busing, an end to federal troops, and an support of the May 17 demonstration. demonstration, "If school desegregation end to this whole fucked-up reactionary Equally significant was the full support cannot be brought about in Boston, then it conference!" Of the few who left with them, the NAACP call received at the student won't happen anywhere else in the North." some returned to the conference after briefly conference. Among the 2,000 participants "That's why this fight must continue. attending the disrupters' countermeeting. were many veterans of the antiwar move And that's why we must win." □ Malik Miah of the Young Socialist Al liance took the floor to answer the attacks on the YSA. "It's totally false that this conference is dominated by the YSA or For 'Authorized' Government Agencies SWP," he said. "Of the 2,000 people who have registered here, the overwhelming majority are not affiliated to any particular political organization. The red-baiting at U.S. Firm Offers Assassination Equipment tacks that have been made here are an attack on all of us here." -Senator Lowell Weicker gave the public 1974 demonstration of the equipment for Red-baiting against the SWP and YSA, a glimpse of one of the more specialized the benefit of "Lou." "Lou" was later identi he said, was merely a cover for attacking branches of U. S. industry January 23. fied as Lieutenant Colonel Lucien Conein, the aims of the conference itself. He Speaking on the Senate floor, he ex acting director of a section of the Drug stressed the positive role the YSA had plained, "Last December, I had placed Enforcement Administration. played in publicizing and building the in my hands . . . a document which one Among the items offered for sale was conference, and urged all other groups to do might term a catalog." a booby-trap device for telephones. "Use the same for the May 17 demonstration. The catalog, read into the Congression inside telephone handset," advised the cat "We're involved," he said, "because we al Record by Weicker, was for electronic alog. "Automatic charge fired at—sec. fol support the aims of this conference, we assassination equipment. Using a strange lowing lifting of instrument handpiece. support desegregation of the schools, we mixture of James Bond and Madison Ave "Easy and quick installation to under support keeping the buses rolling, and we nue, it described "explosive devices in var side of mouthpiece. Any desired delay support stopping the racist attacks on ious configurations and with various trig can be preset. No switches, presetting, Black people." ger mechanisms." or batteries. Simply install 4-wire module. As the conference drew to a close, the The devices, it said, "have been designed "Solid-state, epoxied miniature unit . . . feeling of many of the participants ap and manufactured for sale to authorized rugged and durable. All hand wired. Un peared to have been accurately summed up agencies of the United States Govern limited lifetime with proper handling," said by a student from San Francisco State ment. . . . the blurb, with no irony intended. College. She said from the floor that she "The items offered are either concealed Also available is a "modified flashlight." had been sent to the meeting by her student into everyday type objects, or packaged "Standard Eveready 2 'D'cell flashlight government, and that it had been the "most simply as 'black box' pieces of equip has anti-disturbance electronics concealed exciting conference I have ever attended.'" ment. . . . Upon request, this equipment inside where batteries have been removed. can be delivered in a 'sterile' condition Remainder of the battery space is packed for foreign use. . . . with explosive." Remindful of Antiwar Meetings "The devices offered are complete in their The sales pitch explains that such items The conference represented the first operation, with the exception of the ex "are all hand wired, and subjected to rig major gathering of student activists since plosive charge which is added by the user. orous testing to assure operational status. the planning meetings in the antiwar All equipment in our 'Astro' category is Explosives are not included and is the struggle that compelled Nixon to pull the manufactured to the highest standards in only thing to be added." terms of reliability, dependability, lifetime, GIs out of Vietnam. It came at a time of But then, for "authorized agencies of growing social and economic crisis that has and performance under most weather var the United States government," that iations. Highest grade electronic compo struck with particular force in the Black shouldn't be any problem. □ nents are selected and all controls are community. permanently cemented into sub-minia The racists have made Boston the rally turized modules." ing point for their drive to turn back the Gasoline In Argentina The B. R. Fox Laboratories of Alex Hits $1.98 a Gallon gains Blacks won in the ci'vil-rights andria, Virginia, which manufactured this struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. For this assassination equipment, said that it was The Argentine government increased the reason, the attention of all political forces "specifically intended for application out price of gasoline by up to 45 percent on throughout the country will be focused on side of this country." February 1. Premium fuel will now cost the response mobilized to counter this Its prospective customers are known to about $2.20 a gallon; regular will sell attack. The breadth of the response will he have included the Federal Drug Enforce for about $1.98 a gallon. taken as a gauge of what can he expected to ment Administration. A cover letter that Taxi fares were also raised by up to result from future attacks on the rights of came with the company's catalog, ad 66.6 percent, and costs of public services, Blacks and of all working people in general. dressed to an unidentified government of including gas, electricity, and sanitation, The conference thus represents a most ficial called "Mitch," referred to a May were raised an average of 42 percent.

Intercontinental Press Ford: Just Another Three Years to End of Tunnel A denunciation of Thieu signed by twenty-seven deputies and one senator was read aloud by Deputy Tran Van Tuyen. The statement charged that in January Thieu had purposely allowed the province of Thieu Cracks Down on Saigon Opposition Phuoc Long to fall "to put pressure on the United States Government to give more By Peter Green military aid and to have an opportunity to oppress the opposition." It called on Thieu to step down so that "the war shall be Reacting swiftly to a new political stopped, corruption shall be swept away indictment of his dictatorship, Nguyen Van and national reconciliation shall be a Thieu's national police raided the offices of reality." The deputies declared they would nine Saigon newspapers that were fast for a day in protest. publishing the indictment February 2 and A group of twenty-seven Buddhist nuns confiscated their press runs and printing also demonstrated near Thieu's palace. plates. The statement had been drawn up They carried posters saying "If you repress by the opposition movement led by the us, we will bum ourselves." Police seized a Reverend Tran Huu Thanh. can of gasoline from them, herded them During the next two days, mostly in into vans, and took them away. predawn raids, the regime arrested twenty- Plainclothes police attacked about fifty four journalists and editors as "Communist demonstrators on February 20 as they were agents." Five newspapers were shut down. marching to court to demand the release of Those arrested in the crackdown included the arrested journalists. Several of the two publishers, three managing editors, demonstrators, who included National As Saigon's leading political cartoonist, and sembly deputies and relatives of the arrest other well-known personalities. Some were Szep/Boston Globe ed joumalists, were injured when the police subsequently released, but many of Sai hit them with clubs and fists, the Wash gon's other opposition and independent the crackdown at a gathering at his Saigon ington Post reported February 21. journalists reportedly went into hiding. villa February 5. This second indictment has broader "This is not only an act of arrogance and The attacks on the press were only a part backing than the Indictment No. 1 issued arbitrariness," he said, "but also an act of of an offensive by Thieu to step up the last September. It is supported by twenty- contempt of the people, contempt of world repression. In a move February 5 aimed two opposition groups—journalists, law opinion, an act of contempt toward all those at strengthening his own personal power yers, and students, as well as the Reverend who struggle for peace and who love peace base, he promoted the commander of the Tran's People's Anticorruption Movement and conciliation. By this action, the Gov national police. Major General Nguyen to Save the Country and Restore Peace. ernment is now nothing but a tyranny." Khac Binh; the head of the Saigon police. The indictment accuses Thieu of having The Thieu regime staged a news confer Brigadier General Trang Si Tan; and four become "a mortal enemy of liberty, democ ence on February 6, where it presented what other ranking police officers. racy and justice," and says he should be it called the "live evidence" of the Com He also reinstated Lieutenant General "charged with high treason" for a series of munist ring in the Saigon press. Nguyen Van Toan, putting him in charge of politic£il crimes. "As long as Mr. Thieu "The two-and-a-half-hour conference," the military region that surrounds Saigon. remains, there can be no peace, for he is a James M. Markham reported in the Febru Last October, under pressure from the product of the war, he is nourished by the ary 7 New York Times, "presided over by opposition to clean up the army, Thieu had war and he can only survive with the war." the commander of the national police, the removed General Toan from his command ".. . having enriched himself during Interior Minister and the Information in the Central Highlands. According to a war, peace has become his greatest enemy." Minister, featured two men who said they report in the February 13 New York Times, Thieu is also accused of having betrayed were former Communist agents who had Toan has "an established reputation for the army: "Now the soldiers have realized specialized in subverting Saigon's press." corruption." that they cannot any longer die for a But the report pointed out that Vietnam The report said the police promotions and corrupt clique, to consolidate the personal ese and foreign reporters were not permitted the "surprising resurrection" of General position of Thieu, to reinforce the generals to question the two after they had spoken, Toan were seen by Saigon politicians as bought by Thieu." and that the "Communist agents" didn't signals that Thieu will be relying implicate any other journalists. An editor of increasingly on the army and the police. Despite the seizure of the plates and press one of the newspapers shut down by Thieu "In particular, the choice of General Toan runs of the nine newpapers, the indictment later denounced one of the "Communists" seemed to indicate the end of a period of is circulating clandestinely in Saigon and as a police agent. concessions to the opposition. . . ." the provinces. Apparently some newspapers On February 10—the eve of Tet, the Just before the crackdown on the press, had anticipated the police raids and had Vietnamese lunar new year—protests in Thieu ordered the dissolution of the Bao An, secretly printed several thousand copies. Saigon condemned the regime's crackdown. the 50,000-strong private militia of the anti- The Association of Newspaper Publishers Opposition deputies and senators demon Communist Hoa Hao sect. The Hoa Hao denounced the regime's actions February 4 strated on the steps of the National Assem has more than one million adherents, and called on the remaining four newspap bly building, where they burned photos of mostly in five provinces in the Mekong ers not controlled by Thieu to shut down in Thieu. They chanted, "Grab Thieu's head Delta. Hoa Hao leaders have been nego protest. and pull him down" and "Nguyen Van tiating with the Saigon regime since last Duong Van Minh, the former general who Thieu must resign," while a government June for more arms for their militia. In a has emerged as a spokesman for some of sound truck blared out music in an attempt surprise move, Saigon's police seized the the opposition, £dso vigorously denounced to drown them out. leading Hoa Hao general during a nego-

March 3, 1975 tiating session, and on January 30 police again with a straight face. In an interview priate it, I would agree not to ask any and militia units moved in to disarm the with the Chicago Tribune published Febru more.'" Bao An. ary 9, Ford stated that if Congress would Ford's memory may be short, but he The Hoa Hao resisted. Their militia set up only meet his requests for the next three would be advised not to project his own roadblocks along the highway near Phong years, that would be the end of it. mental deficiencies onto the rest of the Phu, a district capital ninety miles south people in the country, most of whom will west of Saigon. Government troops removed "I would be willing to take sufficiently recall having heard that line before. At the the roadblocks and arrested members of the large amounts over a three-year period and time, they made their opinions known quite Bao An. Hoa Hao leader Luong Trong say, 'This it it—if the Congress will appro strongly to his predecessors. □ Tuong claimed that in the first three days of the rebellion against the government order, seven of the sect's members were Six British MPs Score Trumped-Up Tax Claim killed, sixteen were wounded, and 600 arrested. The Hoa Hao later put the figure of those arrested in the thousands. The confrontation was all the more significant in that the Hoa Hao was the Attack on Russell Foundation Protested only religious sect not to have joined the anti-Thieu opposition movement. The other The British government's attack on the group had received during 1966-68 in large sect, the Cao Dai, based in the city of Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation* has royalties on sales of the first volume of Tay Ninh, recently issued a "neutralist" begun to arouse wide protest. The founda Bertrand Russell's autobiography. appeal for peace. tion, which is active in defending political On the basis of legal advice, the founda One possible explanation for Thieu's prisoners around the world, is threatened tion appealed the claim. The case was heard attack on the Hoa Hao was reported in the with a tax suit and eviction from its offices. by the Special Commissioners in February February 14 Far Eastern Economic Review. Members of the Betrand Russell Tribunal 1973, at which time the attorney for Inland Thieu's increasing difficulties in finding II, which has been hearing testimony on Revenue admitted that no corporation tax cannon fodder for his army. Until now, the the suppression of human rights in Latin could properly be charged on the royalties. Hoa Hao enjoyed virtual immunity from America, have circulated a resolution in Subsequently Inland Revenue and the conscription. Thieu charged that the Hoa support of the foundation. foundation's attorneys agreed that £6,638 in Hao had lured government soldiers into Signers of the statement included French capital gains tax would be paid on the their own local militia and had given mathematician Laurent Schwartz, Yugo receipts. shelter to draft dodgers and deserters. slav philosopher Vladimir Dedijer, Ar However, in August 1974, Inland Revenue The press in the United States seemed to gentine novelist Julio Cortazar, and Profes announced that it would appeal the Specied be rather embarrassed by Thieu's new sor James Petras of the State University of Commissioners' decision, viewing the mat offensive against the opposition. The chal New York. It said in part: ter as a convenient issue for a test case. lenge to Thieu by the press and the "This Tribunal has learned with dismay A further assault on the foundation's anticorruption movement "comes at a the news that the British authorities are ability to function came in the form of a particularly awkward moment for the pursuing two separate initiatives which recent order by local Nottingham au Government," since Ford is trying to get an imperil the continued existence of the thorities for the demolition of the founda extra $300 million in aid from Congress, Betrand Russell Peace Foundation, which tion's printing press and offices. James M. Markham said in the February 4 was established by Betrand Russell to carry Foundation director Ken Coates pointed New York Times. forward his campaign for peace and out in a February 18 letter that "there is no An editorial in the February 5 Christian against oppression, without fear of or conceivable justification for the Compulso Science Monitor lamented that Thieu "sabo favour from oppressors of any kind. . . . ry Purchase Order, since the local authority tages his request for more American "If the foundation is driven out of has not yet even begun to prepare its plans military aid when he squelches the existence this will be a serious setback for for the alternative use of the site." fledgling trend toward freedom of the press all those of us who are pledged to continue The foundation has requested that letters in South Vietnam." and develop Russell's work." of protest against the tax suit be sent to Philip A. McCombs reported in the A letter from six Members of Parliament Prime Minister Harold Wilson, 10 Downing February 4 Washington Post that "Western published in the January 21 London Guar Street, London, England. Letters protesting observers" in Saigon were "aimazed and dian reflected the same concern: the threat to demolish the foundation's puzzled at Thieu's action. . . ." "Knowing of the valuable work done by offices should be sent to the Lord Mayor of Thieu's crackdown didn't seem to worry the Russell Foundation on behalf of polit Nottingham, Old Market Square, Notting President Ford, however. He went right on ical prisoners everywhere, we are disturbed ham, England. Copies of all protests should with his attempt to set the proper atmos that the Inland Revenue should use public be sent to the foundation at the Bertrand phere for additional congressional funding. resources to make a test case involving such Russell House. An article in the February 14 Far Eastern a body." The foundation estimates that a Economic Review described Ford's cam Signing the letter were Audrey Wise, Tom minimum of £30,000 will be required to paign as coming "complete with Pentagon Litterick, Martin Flannery, Bob Cryer, Jo assure the continuation of its work. □ generals, dire predictions, a pleading Secre Richardson, and Stan Newens. tary of State, orchestrated press coverage The foundation has explained in a fact and an outspoken Vice-President." sheet sent to its supporters that the tax dispute dates from 1968. Inland Revenue A subscription to Intercontinen Ford even threw in a promise that would demanded £35,200 from the foundation in seem to have been completely discredited corporation tax assessments on £80,868 the tal Press is still a BEST BUY. during the long years of U.S. escalation in Indochina and that not even the most * Bertrand Russell House, Gamble Street, Check rotes inside cover. cynical servant of Wall Street could use Nottingham NG7 4ET, England.

Intercontinental Press Seize Plantation in Struggle against Somare Government

Papuan Separatists Demand Independent Republic

By Sol Salby

[The following article appeared in the However, many of the residents of that long enough. This year is the year for February 7 issue ol Direct Action, a revo city are New Guineans. action—we are no longer playing." This lutionary-socialist fortnightly published in It has been argued that because the is far more militant language than she Sydney.] division between Papua and New Guinea has used before. is a completely artificial one determined The declaration of the republic follows in the last century by the conflict between earlier action by Abaijah's associate in British and German imperialism, Papuan the current moves, Simon Kaumi. On Plans for the smooth transition of Papua nationalism can be of little relevance. This January 15 he led 150 members of the New Guinea to nominal independence argument is usually supplemented by the Papuan Republican Army to occupy the were seriously jolted with the declaration statement that since there are 700 differ Joropa coffee plantation. According to a of a republic by Papuan separatists on ent languages in the country consistency district officer quoted in the January 15 January 18. The separatists who issued would require 700 national movements, Papua New GuineaL Post-Courier, the army the declaration represent a wide cross sec not just the Papuan. has been trained by an ex-police sergeant. tion of Papuan political forces. These arguments faU to understand the The Post-Courier also reported that the According to Patrick Boyce; in a dis reality of the situatiorr The various Pa army was formed by the Ariwo Devel patch to the January 20 Sydney Morning puan tribal and language groups do have opment Association, which has 5,000 Herald, the separatists are led by Jose common links. One such link is the dom members. (Ariwo means wake up.) The phine Abaijah, the only woman member inant language. Police Motu. There has army has apparently found increasing of the House of Assembly and a leader been a continuous history of discrimina support, and Kaumi plans to make it a of the Papua Besana (Tribe) movement, tion against this language in favor of Papua-wide organisation. and Simon Kaumi, a former chief elec New Guinea's dominant language. Pidgin. toral officer currently suspended from the Under Australian rule, there was (and Kaumi's army marched on the planta Public Service. there still is) no compulsion for Austral tion because the villagers represented by Boyce added: "Miss Abaijah claimed ian officers to learn any local language. the Ariwo Development Association want the group also included the majority of However, many learnt pidgin and only a ed to take over the plantation. Apparently Port Moresby City Council, the black pow few learnt Motu. the villagers had buUt up a village and er movement, trade-unions and the So Support for Police Motu is quite strong. a trade store on the plantation site be cialist Worker Party." Even Papuan ministers in Somare's gov fore the occupation. The Australian of the same day added ernment who have opposed the separatist The significance of the occupation of the Papuan Liberation Movement and the movement have been forced to defend the the plantation did not escape the govern Papua Socialist Group to the list of partici language. Christopher Ashton reported in ment's attention. Plantations, owned by pants. The paper also reported the esta the July 15, 1974, National Times that Australian colonialists, form the backbone blishment of what the separatist group the deputy chief minister, Dr Guise, threat of Papua New Guinea's agriculture. Writ calls Papua's first interim government. ened to recall every Papua New Guinean ing in the March 25, 1974, National Papuan sqjaratism has been a growing broadcaster with Radio Australia in Mel Times, Christopher Ashton summarised force for several years now. (Papua, the bourne unless news bulletins were read in the situation; "Their [the plantations'] con southern part of the country, is technically Motu as well as Pidgin and English. tribution to export income and Govern an Australian territory. New Guinea is The separatist movements have been ment revenue is out of all proportion technically a United Nations Trust Ter growing more quickly over the last year to acreage and numbers; in copra 63 ritory administered by Australia.) as a result of the deteriorating economic per cenk coffee 28 per cent; rubber 90 There are good reasons for separatist conditions in both Papua and New Guinea. per cent; cocoa 68 per cent; tea 81 per feeling. Papua has been kept less devel The economic decline has resulted in cent; and of PNG's cattle population 85 oped than New Guinea. Proportionately, many Papuans demanding control of their per cent, graze on [Australian] expatriate it produced far less coffee and cocoa than own economy. As an underdeveloped pastoral leases." New Guinea and slightly less coconut country heavily dependent on Australia, Thus the take-over of a coffee plan products. These are Papua New Guinea's Papua New Guinea is suffering from a tation represents a serious attack on the three major agricultural exports. In terms very high level of inflation. Many prices imperialist interests in Papua New Guinea. of the country's other major export, are higher than in Australia, with staple For the time being the Somare govern copper, Papua is in an even worse situa commodities like sugar selling at double ment has decided to play down the whole tion. While the Pangua copper mine on the Australian prices. At the same time, affair. The plantation take-over is so much Bougainville Island (which is part of New wages are extremely low. The rural min intertwined with the Papuan nationalist Guinea) is in operation, the OK Tedi imum wage stands at A$10 [about US movement and is so Immensely popular project in Papua has still not been begun. $13.40] a week. in itself that the government is limited in Given the low copper prices that prevail In the middle part of last year, several its options. at the moment, it might not get under way thousand women led by Abaijah marched The government's action so far has been at all. in the streets of Port Moresby against the limited to issuing mild threats. Speaking Discrimination against Papua also ex Somare government's inability to control from his Wewak home, Somare said that ists in the distribution of government inflation. Now, they are demanding more Abaijah and Kaumi had advocated di spending. This is disguised somewhat by action. Abaijah was quoted in the Janu rect confrontation with the government. the fact that a large amount of govern ary 20 Sydney Morning Herald assaying, "They will now have to face full re ment spending is concentrated in the na "We're going to fight for the freedom of sponsibility for their actions. tional capital, Port Moresby, in Papua. Papua. We have been talking about this "Miss Abaijah and Mr Kaumi are out

March 3, 1975 of touch with reality. The proposed pro Australian Labor Government Refuses to Issue Visas vincial government system will provide the avenue for village people to take great er control of their own affairs. "The Government will not tolerate greedy and unscrupulous politicians who manip Why Whitlam Banned the PLO ulate innocent people to further their own personal ambitions," he said. Within a week Somare was to discover By David Nizoz just how far Abaijah and Kaumi were "out of touch with reality." Papuan sepa Sydney report: "Violence fear on PLO tour around ratism was so strong that Somare could In a complete reversal of Labor party Australia." This was typical of the ap not get a joint declaration condemning policy, the Whitlam government banned a proach of all the major newspapers around the separatists out of his own Papuan delegation from the Palestine Liberation the country. cabinet ministers. Organisation from visiting Australia. The In reporting the Zionist opposition to the The Australian government, which still decision was taken by the full cabinet tour they made much use of the most officially administers Papua New Guinea January 29, following three days of hyster prominent spokesman for the Zionist cause and will continue to do so until formal ical outcry by the capitalist press. within the labor movement—Bob Hawke. independence, has remained silent. It The PLO was invited to Australia by an As president of the Australian Council of wants the PNG government to take all unofficial labor movement delegation that Trade Unions, Hawke has established a action at this stage. But there is no ques reputation as an all-out supporter of the tion that if the need arises Canberra will visited the Arab East last year. The visit intervene economically and militarily to was organised through an ad hoc commit Israeli state. He is also president of the stop the Papuan and any other separat tee, the Palestine Australia Committee, Australian Labor party and has clashed ist movement. The Australian made this which was composed largely of the Austral publicly with Whitlam over Labor's official clear in the last paragraph of its January ian delegation. This committee included Bill "even-handed" approach during the Octo 22 editorial: Hartley, a member of the federal executive ber 1973 war. "The National Coalition is equipped to of the Labor party; George Petersen, a On this occasion Hawke told the press: "I lead Papua New Guinea to nationhood Labor member of the New South Wales don't believe they should come to this and independence; the Opposition in the state parliament; and Tom Ryan, federal country. These people have a record for House of Assembly is loyal to the same secretary of the Food Preservers Union. terrorism and I don't believe it is in the goal whOe differing in a rigorous and interests of this country that their represen healthy way when it sees fit. The many tatives should come." After the invitation was issued. Hartley separatist groups in the country show Later, in commenting on the security approached Gough Whitlam, the prime signs of feeding off each other, none de checks on members of the proposed delegat serves to be fostered, all shoxild know minister, and Clyde Cameron, the minister ion being undertaken by the government, that their efforts debase the worthy aim for labor and immigration, for assurances Hawke said: "That sort of exercise is of unity and that whateoer strength is that visas would be issued to the PLO academic because all these people have needed to dissuade them will be exerted." delegation. These assurances were readily blood on their hands. They are all guilty by (Emphasis added.) granted. The organisers of the tour were association." The current efforts by the separatist therefore quite confident that regardless of Others were soon to follow Hawke. The movements are; by virtue of necessity, the recommendation of the Department of Labor premier of South Australia, Don rather limited. It appears that the current Foreign Affairs and the Department of Dunstan, announced that his state would nationalist upsurge will be followed by Labor and Immigration, Cameron, as not provide any facilities to the PLO bigger ones in the future. In the mean minister in charge, would grant the visas. delegation. In fact, such facilities were not time the Australian labor movement must Both supporters and opponents of the sought in the first place by either the PLO make it clear that for its part it stands issuing of the visas were aware of a recent for complete self-determination of the peo or the tour organisers. Nevertheless, Dun- precedent. In 1974 the Department of Labor ples of Papua New Guinea and will op stan's comments helped to build up the and Immigration recommended denial of a pose any Australian intervention. □ atmosphere of hysteria, and there was a visa to the well-known Belgian Marxist rush by other premiers and state opposition economist Ernest Mandel. However, Camer leaders to follow suit. on reversed the decision and allowed CIA Official Warns Agents Mandel to enter the country. Such labor figures as John Ducker, the They May Face Prosecution Thus the Zionist circles that opposed the tour knew that the only way they could NSW president of the ALP and assistant The Central Intelligence Agency has block the Palestinians' entry was through secretary of the NSW Labor Council, also warned its employees that they may be transferring the decision to the full meeting felt compelled to speak out: "I am totally prosecuted for past agency practices and of cabinet. There they had a powerful opposed to violence and that leads me to has reminded them of their "constitution Zionist lobby to help carry the decision oppose the track record of the PLO, which is al rights to remain sUenf if questioned their way. In order to do so they had to one of atrocity after atrocity," he said. by the Justice Department. orchestrate a "public outcry" against the Ducker's own track record on matters of According to a report in the Febru PLO. opposing violence has not exactly been a ary 15 Chicago Tribune, the agency is When Hartley returned to Australia good one. His opposition to any strike sued an interoffice memorandum Febru January 25 with final plans for the tour, the action in support of demonstrations against ary 6 advising employees to hire private Zionist opponents were well prepared. As the war in Vietnam is still well remembered attorneys and leaving the impression that within the labor movement. if prosecuted they would be on their own. soon as Hartley announced the tour plans The memorandum was signed by David they launched their campaign. A West Australia Labor member of Blee, deputy director of the CIA's Clan The capitalist media did not require too parliament, Joe Berinson, also chimed in. destine Operations Division, better known much encouragement. The nationwide Berinson, who is a member of the Friends of as the "dirty tricks" department. newspaper the Australian headed its initial Israel, made one of the most arrogant

Intercontinental Press statements. "I would oppose the issue of possible violence if the PLO delegation is condemned the government's decision. The them [the visas]. I see no obligation on the allowed into the country." union, which represents 210,000 tertiary Government to facilitate the entry of the All this propaganda had the desired students, passed the motion almost unan group whose sole policy objective is entirely effect. Cameron passed the decision to the imously, with only one campus (out of more contrary to the policy of the Government full meeting of cabinet. After much debate a than fifty present) voting against it. and the Labor Party on the Middle East," "compromise" resolution was moved by The motion read as follows: "This Janu he said. ary annual council of the Australian Union Meanwhile, the press continued its at of Students expresses its concern and tacks on the tour, extending its opposition disgust at the decision of the Australian to editorial comment. The Sydney Morning Government to deny entry visas to a Herald, one of the most anti-Labor news delegation of the Palestine Liberation papers in the country, began to take Organisation whose aim while in Australia interest in the future of the Labor party: "If was to present a viewpoint not usually the FLO party comes here there will be, heard in Australia on the plight of the quite evidently, a blazing row. It will occur Palestinian people. in the Labor Party, which is already "This meeting notes that the Australian uncomfortably divided because public fig Government, which in Opposition made ures like Mr Hartley, on one side, and Mr strong objections to the then Liberal Gov Hawke, on the other, cannot see that public ernment's refusal to permit Dr Ernest expression of their private opinions invaria Mandel and Dick Gregory to enter Austra bly produces party schisms." lia and present their viewpoint to the The Australian was even more direct in Australian people, when in office refuses its advice to the government:"The intended entry to representatives of an organisation visit to Australia of a Palestine Liberation that has been invited to present its case at Organisation should not take place. The the United Nations." Government, which still has the option, Members of the Australian Young Labor should announce now that it cannot issue Movement were also quick to criticise the the necessary visas 'at this time.'" government's ban. The Young Labor lead ers from four states attacked the govern In its January 28 editorial, the Australian ment's denial of civil liberties. "We did not displayed its downright racism and hypoc work for the return of the Labor Govern risy: ". . . there is likely to be a dog fight WHITLAM ment to deny our civil rights," said Andrew between the Hawke and Hartley forces at Jamieson, a spokesman for the group who this week's A.L.P. Federal conference, and a Kim Beazley, minister for education, is senior vice-chairman of the Victorian convulsion of Australia's large and loyal advising the PLO delegation that the Young Labor Association. Jewish population." Not a word about decision could not be granted "at this time." Australia's much larger Arab population. No figures were issued but newspaper The editorial continued: "In the meantime reports indicated a narrow majority of only The Young Labor leaders' comments the hapless mission would be left to preach one or two votes for the resolution. included a strong denunciation of Hawke. to the converted views and information "We especially condemn the racist hysteria which are already being actively propagat generated by the Federal president of the ed in Australia by the Arab Information In announcing the ban in his weekly ALP, Mr R.J. Hawke. In persistently Centre, the several Arab embassies, and the press conference, Whitlam decided to dem issuing anti-Arab pronouncements Mr group known as Friends of Palestine." onstrate his "even-handedness." He at Hawke has shown himself to be a person Quite apart from the unwillingness of the tacked both Hartley and Hawke for ex unfit to be president of the Australian Arab embassies to put forward the Pales pressing their private opinions in public. Labor Party," they said. tinian viewpoint, the Australian displayed "Mr Hawke and Mr Hartley have been The Australian Trotskyists of the So its hypocrisy in relation to the Friends of responsible, as much as anyone, for exacer cialist Workers League and the Socialist Palestine. bating divisions in Australia on the Middle Youth Alliance have played a major role in On January 29 Tony Maron, the general East," he said. "They have been far too mobilising the opposition to the govern secretary of the Friends of Palestine, went outspoken—as individuals, of course—on ment's ban. Earlier, the SWL made one of to the Australian to place an advertisement. this matter and it has not helped discussion its leaders, Sol Salby, available to act as He was taken to the paper's legal depart of this matter." full-time national coordinator of the tour. ment, which approved the text of the ad. He Mike Steketee reported from the press Salby, the managing editor of the was then told to return the following day to conference in the January 30 Australian-. revolutionary-socialist fortnightly Direct inspect the proofs before paying for it. Just "Mr Whitlam said the decision not to grant Action, was born in Israel and lived there before he was due to leave home he was the visas had been made because such a for sixteen years. He is well known as an telephoned by a representative of the visit now would worsen divisions within the outspoken defender of the Palestinian advertising department who told him that Australian community. Another important revolution. the ad had been rejected by the top reason not mentioned by Mr Whitlam was Australia's Arab community has planned management, which refused to give any that if the Government had allowed the to protest the ban with nationwide demon reason for the decision. visit to go ahead, it would have created new strations February 13. An indication of the For their part, the Zionists continued to tensions between opposing factions of the strong feeling in the Arab community was hint at the possibility of violence directed at A.L.P." given in Sydney February 2. An organising the delegation. Russell Skelton reported in The decision stunned many Labor sup meeting to plan actions protesting the the January 29 Melbourne Age that the porters, but opposition to the ban crystal government's decision, advertised in the "Australian Jewish community has also lized immediately. The Australian Union of Arab-language newspaper El Telegraph, threatened to stage demonstrations and Students, meeting in Melbourne at the time. was attended by 800 Arabs. □

March 3, 1975 The Issues In the Split This precept has been interpreted in various ways. Padraig Pearse, one of the leaders of the 1916 rising, welcomed the Protestant militias that were formed to oppose implementation of the Home Rule 'Officials' Turn Against Their Own Past Bill, believing that any group of Irishmen who took up arms against British policy By Gerry Foley were nationalists in fact and would come to make a common cause with other nation [Second of a series] unity is through a long-range strategy of alists. This view was expressed with a While many of the issues in the split in involving Protestant and Catholic workers fervent revolutionary idealism. But the the "OfficiEJ" republican movement remain together in economic actions so elementary hard fact is that such Protestant militias obscure, it is clear that at least one and piecemeal that they will not raise have maintained imperialist rule in one- fundamental question is involved. "divisive" political questions. Those fifth of Ireland for more than fifty years In an article entitled "I.R.S.P. Split unwilling to "plod on" in this gradualist and subjected the nationalist-minded people Explained," the January issue of the perspective are simply "ultraleftists"—the to a regime of racist-like subjugation. "Official" organ, the United Irishman, said: same kind of "political animal" as Prov When the republican movement made a "It is clear now that the Provisionals were a isional militarists or the tiny band of turn toward socialism in the 1960s, it right wing split from the Republican adventurers that assumed a Guevarist adopted a "left" version of this principle, Movement, they are now balanced by an veneer and the name of Saor Eire. stressing the common "working-class" ultra-left instant revolutionary organisa The IRSP has apparently rejected the character of the majority of both the tion, the members of which have forgotten gradualist, narrowly economic strategy Catholic and Protestant population. In the fundamental premise on which Republi recommended by the "Officials" as the only actual fact, this did not represent much of canism was founded, the unity of Catholic, way to "make the revolution." In a speech an advance. The bourgeois nationalist Protestant and Dissenter." January 1 in the Ardoyne Catholic ghetto Fianna Fail party has shown itself capable This view was spelled out more clearly in in Belfast, one of the main leaders of the of explaining the need for unity and the December/January issue of Rose Catha, new group, Seamus Costello, said: understanding between the poor of both the organ of Clann na h-Eireann, the "We want protestant and catholic unity— communities. It has not been loath to turn "Official" organization in Britain: but on the basis of a principled political the argument against nationalist militants, "There is today only one kind of unity approach. That is unity on the basis of the claiming that they were "alienating the possible in Ireland—class unity. It is a effects of imperialist policy: There is abso Protestant working people." unity rejected by Proves and Free State lutely no point in approaching the protes- Likewise, commentators in the bourgeois politicians alike, it is a unity that is also tants on the 'ring road' only to have them a press anxious to avoid taking a stand in rejected by the bulk of Orange militants week later reject our position on the defense of the oppressed people have been and their organisations. national question. . . . Social and economic quick to discover that "working-class unity" "In such a situation there is little Republi grievances do exist on the Shankill Road on economic questions is the solution and to cans can do in the South except plod on, [the main poor Protestant area facing the deplore the stupidity of both sides for not trying to create unity by example of Catholic ghettos along the Falls Road in seeing this. involvement in grass roots working class Belfast]. However, at present it is imposs However, if the republican movement in issues. ible to talk to protestants about these things 1916 and 1918-22 had consistently followed "The decision of some members of the in the right context. We must stand firm on the precept that Catholic-Protestant unity Movement, a small handful, to leave arid the national question and put our class was the precondition for beginning the with some ex-members form a new party, policies from there. . . . We recognise the struggle against imperialist rule, it would the Irish Republican Socialist Party, was importance of the present struggles, but the have had to adopt a basically passive role, due to their rejection of this reality, and long term solution will have to be a socialist the role that was adopted in fact by the their belief that short-cuts are possible. republic. Working class people will have to reformist Labour party. Whether they agree among themselves on control the wealth. There is no future in a Moreover, if the republican movement of what the short-cut is, remains to be seen political solution short of this ob the 1960s had followed this principle but, like the Proves before them, they will jective. . . . We do not want a 32 county consistently, it would not have built the only demonstrate that founding yet another free state. We do not want a border. We do civil-rights movement. The most consistent 'revolutionary party' may help them work not want capitalist rule. . .. We do not advocate of this conception of Protestant- off frustrations and escape for a short while want to hinder unity. We want to unite on a Catholic unity, Roy Johnston, the Stalinist from the real political situation, but it broad front against imperialism. We issue a political adviser of the "Official" republican cannot help make the revolution and that is call for unity to individuals and organisa leadership, realized this and said so when what it is all supposed to be about. tions on short term demands such as these: he resigned from the movement in 1972 to "Those of us who didn't bolt after the end internment, British troops out, amnesty return to the Communist party. In an Provo/Fianna Fail New Ireland, or fall for for all political prisoners and an end to bad article in the March 31, 1972, issue of the romantic magic formulas of Saor Eire debts accrued during the rent and rates Hibernia, he wrote: are not very impressed by this new political strikes. . . . But our long term aim remains "In retrospect, I am now convinced that animal—we know its pedigree." a socialist republic." the timing was wrong [in starting the civil- Thus, the basic argument of the "Offi rights movement]. We know that the cial" organs is that the new party has 'Misunderstood Nationalists'? mixture was explosive, hut we underest broken from the concept that "class unity" imated, seriously, the difficulty of con between Catholic and Protestant Workers The idea that the Protestants must not be trolling the magnitude and direction of the must come before any deepgoing social "alienated" at any cost and must be catered blast. struggles can be undertaken in Ireland. to as misunderstood nationalists has been a "If the republican clubs had had a chance This conception is also coupled with the traditional article of faith in republican to find their feet, get engaged in local idea that the only way to achieve such circles. political activity, draw a few conclusions

Intercontinental Press for themselves, establish some links with the students, etc., the idea of a civil rights movement would have emerged naturally. 'Officials' Accused of Killing IRSP Member "This was beginning to happen. By 1966 A nineteen-year-old local leader of the the accusations of the IRSP are carefully the Belfast republicans were beginning to Irish Republican Socialist party, Hugh investigated by the organizations in the be interested in tenants associations; there Ferguson, was shot dead in Belfast on Catholic community. Even a suspicion of a had been successful agitations about pedes February 20. The national executive gang war among the nationalist organiza trian crossings, etc." committee of the organization announced in tions could constitute a serious danger to the This appears to be the same point made Dublin that the assassins had been Catholic community as a whole. by the editors of Rose Catha when they "positively identified" as members of the In particular, the Northern Ireland Civil wrote about the need to "plod on, trying to "Official" republican movement. Rights Association and the Communist create unity by example of involvement in Ferguson was one of tbe leaders of the party of Ireland, which have been closely grass roots working class issues." John Whiterock club of the IRSP. According to associated with the "Official" republicans, ston's "apologia" indicates the real the new party's statements, he had not been have an obligation to investigate this claim meaning of this. Back to "agitations about involved in any clashes with the "Officials" and condemn such an action if it proves to pedestrian crossings." before. be, as the IRSP says, a political murder. Ferguson was apparently the "19-year-old The "Official" leadership would certainly Influence of Stalinism construction worker" referred to in a Febru take their opinion very seriously. And the In fact, the idea that Protestant-Catholic ary 20 dispatch to the New York Times, Civil Rights Association did not hesitate to unity must be achieved before beginning a which reported: criticize actions by the "Officials" in the fight for fundamental change is a result of "The dead man, a Roman Catholic, was past that it thought were wrong, such as the the victory of Stalinist politics at the 1974 singled out by gunmen from a group of Aldershot bombing. national convention of the "Official" repub workmen in the Catholic Ballymurphy area On the other hand, the IRSP response to lican movement and the apparent capitula of West Belfast." the shooting has not been the most ef tion of the more left elements in the anti- The New York Times included the fective. The party has called on members of Costello bloc to Stalinism. shooting in a report of a series of attacks the "Official" organization to resign in It cannot be assumed that this line will attributed to "Protestant extremists." This protest. This puts the ranks of the rival be, or can be, carried to its ultimate is an indication of the confusion that could group in a position of having to disavow conclusion, or that the present leadership result if an armed conflict developed be political positions in which they believe in and membership will swallow Stalinist tween the republican organizations. No one order to oppose an act, which if the IRSP politics and all that goes with it. But in the could be sure who was carrying out the claim is true, they will nearly all oppose. publications of the movement and in public assassinations, and the repressive forces It is necessary to build the maximum statements, repesentatives of the "Off and Orange terrorists would have a perfect unity against any actions that may endan icials" have already carried the logic of this cover for opening a hunting season on ger the militant organizations and the turn quite far. nationalist militants. It is to be hoped that Catholic community as a whole. In its public line, since the dissidents were driven out, the "Official" republican movement has come full circle from the ment and the struggle that led it to socialist in harmony with the revolutionary ideals of positive role it played in building and conclusions. This statement in fact accepts the movement. Now at last it has clearly defending the mass civil-rights movement. the accusation that was raised against the opted for one alternative, and although it It has come over in fact to the positions of movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s has chosen the wrong one, this at least its ultraleft critics in 1969 and 1970. by ultraleft sectarians. The flipflop came offers Irish revolutionists an opportunity to It is unfortunate that the editors of the not because the leadership of the movement draw some basic political lessons and to United Irishman and Rose Catha seem to continued to evolve toward the left but settle accounts with some false ideas they have forgotten that adventurism is not the because it could not carry forward the have dragged along from the past. At last, only form of ultraleftism. There is also a revolutionary dynamic that it unleashed, the "Official" leadership has adopted a sectarian, or dogmatic, side to it, which and because it decided in effect to retreat. "consistent" position of counterposing a consists of rejecting real struggles in the In order to be able to carry out such a Utopian concept of Catholic-Protestant name of abstract schemas. retreat, the leadership has begun promul unity to the struggle of the Catholics How far the "Officials" have come from gating a set of dogmas that promise to turn against caste oppression. the days of the civil-rights struggle is the political life of the organization into a indicated by this passage in the February hothouse of malignant sectarianism and issue of the United Irishman: the organization itself into a dying sect. The Protestant Problem "The outrageous and totally false state The organization is in danger of turning ment that the leadership has over the past into its opposite in the ugliest way possible. Although not "alienating" the Protes four years been deceiving members is easily And that is symbolized by its slandering of tants had been a principle of the movement, refuted: The present leadership is basically its own past. it was not consistently followed. the same group who innovated the changes On the other hand, the Stalinist bent of The republican leadership was even in the early sixties, who developed the some of the "Official" republican leadership forced to wage a political struggle for an agitational tactics of the Movement, who that was fostered by the Stalinist agents entire period against ultraleft sectarians turned the organisation from a narrow, from the beginning has finally emerged in a who criticized them, with formal correct nationalist, chauvinist organisation to a virulent form, so that this line and its fruits ness, for their inconsistency on this ques conscious, socialist, revolutionary organ can be clearly judged. tion. isation. . . ." Since the beginning of the mass civil- The sectarians argued that organizing Thus, this representative of the "Official" rights movement, the leadership has wav the Catholics against their special oppres movement has come to reject as ered between the influence of Stalinism and sion alienated the Protestant workers by "chauvinist" the past ideals of the move- the attractiveness of mass action, which is threatening to deprive them of what they

March 3, 1975 had in order to redress the injustice to the "My men will be surprised to learn that of the decline and degeneracy in the ranks historically oppressed section of the popula the late Ernie Elliot[who was assassinated, of the organization he had helped to build. tion. presumably by another faction] and I were He set himself to eradicate the malignancy, The sectarians maintained that a engaged in talks with Two Nations [that is, in all its forms, that had set in while he was struggle against the oppression and the the British and Irish Communist Organ away, and introduce a rigorous discipline greater exploitation of one section of the isation (BICO), an ultra-Stalinist sect throughout the Association. The lawless working class would only divide the work whose prime tenet is that the Protestants ness and racketeering would be curbed, and ers. What was needed, they said, was a are a nation and that therefore their so too would the dangerous flirtation with struggle against the exploitation of workers struggle to maintain the Six-County state the other side. in general as a class. They denounced the represents "democratic" resistance to "Herron remained in East Belfast [where "Official" republicans for polarizing the Dublin imperialism]. This is the only there is only a small Catholic community], community on the basis of historic national Marxist group that recognizes Ulster. It but under pressure. Within the UDA as a identifications—for "petty-bourgeois nation wants Catholics to come out categorically whole, he was isolated and out-flanked by alism." for the continuation of the border. It's this Harding Smith and the hard men in the The fight for Catholic emancipation, for which keeps the Catholics and Prod West [where large neighborhoods of poor civil rights, did polarize the Northern Irish working class apart. Once the Prods lose Catholics and poor Protestants face each population. But at the same time, the left their fear of Dublin then the way is open to other], who were backed by the UVF [Ulster sectarians found that the Catholic popula a united working class. Well, these fellows Volunteer Force]. He was not strong enough tion moved toward the left and that in the came up from Dublin, one with a big black to resist Harding Smith on his own. He process the hold of the Catholic church beard, and we had a couple of meetings in agreed to a compromise. He accepted tended to be weakened rather than rein my house. Tommy Herron met them and Harding Smith's takeover of the UDA's forced. At the same time, the Protestant was quite interested." central structure. In return he retained the workers would not listen to the most Dillon and Lehane thought such attitudes vice-chairmanship and his control in the sypathetic chats about their immediate represented a real hope. East and he agreed to reduce the level of economic problems unless they were wholly "Fogel's views are very interesting. extortion in his areas to an acceptable level. convinced that the people doing the talking Though they may appear fairly tame to the "The hard men in the West had been were "sound" on the question of union with outsider, they are quite extraordinary in the champing at the bit of enforced inaction. At Britain and preserving the Protestant as context of Northern Ireland at this time. the end of January, they were unleashed. cendancy. His views on social conditions in both On Monday 29 January with the killings of The "Officials" had the most extensive communities and his hostility to the Un 14-year-old Peter Waterson, and James experience in this respect, among other ionist Party are identical to the Official Trainor, 22, both Catholics, they showed things because of their guerrilla tradition. IRA's. So too is his attitude to a united that they were in business again. Twelve They were convinced that the Protestant Ulster working class." people were to die in the next seven days as paramilitary gangs, which engaged in Furthermore, Dillon and Lehane argued, the assassins, idle for four weeks, returned activities similar to theirs and to a certain this "class approach" produced some to their task." extent suffered the same penalties, had to important positive results. The UDA or On the other hand, the right-wing Un have a revolutionary dynamic. There had to dered an end, on January 3, 1973, to the ionists were not the only ones to blame for be something revolutionary about groups random murders of Catholics. The two the breakdown of "class unity." The Cath that were plebeian, or even working-class, liberal Unionist journalists held that this olic "sectarians" bore at least a share of in their social composition and engaged in was a first step toward "class unity." the guilt, the two jounalists argued. To back violence "from below." "The decision to call off the Protestant this up, they quoted the UDA statement Some of the Protestant paramilitary assassins was at least in part prompted by ending the truce: groups did develop radical-sounding lan contacts the existing leadership of the UDA "We cannot control Protestant extremists guage that no doubt reflected distorted class had had with the Official IRA. This is not in the face of IRA killings of UDR [Ulster feelings in the poor Protestant neighbor to say that there was any 'deal' involved. Defence Regiment, the Northern Irish hoods. However, the context and limitations But it is to say that the decision to call the Home Guard] men, policemen, and civilian of this were revealed in a striking way by killers off the Roman Catholic community Protestants, and in the face of the attitude two liberal Unionist journalists who shared was a conscious response by people in the of Republican MPs who are not happy the basic point of view of the members of UDA inner council to the belief that there unless they are talking about oppression the Protestant paramilitary groups, al was a common ground of social discontent and injustice. though naturally they deplored these and genuine grievances that was shared by "Only four weeks ago we made an effort— groups' random murders of Catholics. both the Catholic and Protestant working we said the killing must stop and it did. But Not surprisingly, these journalists, classes in Ulster." now the bombings by republican rebels Martin Dillon and Denis Lehane, indicate However, the truce was short-lived. The have provoked them." Dillon and Lehane that the "left" group that most appealed to same villains, who, according to many drew this conclusion: the "antiestablishment" element among the republican scenarios, have blocked the "The message was clear. The 'moderate' Protestant gunmen was the one that most "natural tendency" of the Protestant work element in the UDA had tried to achieve consistently justified the attitude of the ers to unite with their Catholic class peace. It had made a gesture—at consider defenders of Protestant ascendancy. comrades, were still active. That is, the able personal risk to those behind it—to the In their book Political Murder in North right-wing Unionists once again snatched Catholic working class by calling off the ern Ireland, they quote the revelations of the Protestant workers back at the last assassins. The only response from the Dave Fogel, a former leader of the Ulster moment before the long awaited union Catholics had been for the Provisionals to Defence Association (UDA), on the develop could be consummated. step up the campaign of bombings and ment of "left" ideas in one section of this "But Harding Smith was opposed to this killings of members of the security forces. paramilitary gang. After he fled to England ideology, and he was a formidable oppo "One should not undervalue the to avoid assassination by his former asso nent. He was appalled by the signs of an significance of what had happened. The ciates, Fogel wrote in the London Sunday accommodation between the Official IRA olive branch was there, if only someone on Times: and the UDA. He saw this as another sign the Catholic side had clasped it. Just as the

intercontinental Press Provisional IRA had been given an opening actions only because these were the type of fundamental is the conflict between the in June 1972 by the British government, so, attack on this system against which it was oppressed Catholic population and its too, in January 1973 the Officials were easiest to arouse public opinion. They might oppressors—imperialism and the Protestant given a chance by the UDA. It was not have some social and economic aspirations. caste. enough for the UDA to call off the assas But the fundamental thing was the ascen Concessions to the Protestant caste men sins. It required a quid pro quo." dancy. And they would not accept an tality do not help Protestant workers cross alliance with anyone who was not prepared the crucial dividing line. This remains true The Main Point for the UDA to join with them in the defense of this. even when such concessions are ap proached by the "left" route of talking Once again, the "Officials" were being Which Is Fighting Oppression? about opposing "all bosses both Catholic criticized for their lack of consistency. Not and Protestant" and agreeing with Protes only were they too slow to make the moves It is not necessary to equate Orangeism tant workers about the reactionary nature that followed logically from their position, with fascism to think that the purge of the of the Dublin regime. The effect rather is to however; they were clumsy enough to make "left" in the UDA has much in common lead any elements that make this type of a politically unacceptable overture to the with the "Night of the Long Knives" in overture to compromise with Orangeism UDA: Germany, when Hitler liquidated the "left" and imperialist rule. "Immediately after the announcement by wing of the Nazi movement. Any mass- The logic of putting Catholic-Protestant Herron that the killings would stop, the based reactionary movement will have such unity ahead of the struggle against the executive of the Republican Clubs—a front contradictions. However, as long as its oppression of the Catholic population was for the Official IRA—issued an invitation to political basis is reactionary the right will very clearly expressed at the 1972 national the UDA to take part in joint patrols to have little difficulty in the long run in convention of the "Officials" by Desmond stamp out the killings. A spokesman said maintaining its control. O'Hagan, the member of the present lead that he had always been confident that the In this case, the fact that the Catholics ership who seems to have gained most in UDA was representative of the Protestant continued to fight oppression, despite an prominence in the past year and a half. He working class. The offer was tersely rejected offer of "peace," was sufficient cause in the said that the Provisionals were worse by the UDA which said in a statement: eyes of this Protestant "left" element to enemies than the British army. 'Under no circumstances will we meet the justify wanton killing of ordinary Catholic IRA. These people can praise us all they workers, and even children, as well as The clear implication of this is that it is like, but we will never meet the IRA.' subordination to the most retrograde forces. more important to fight the mere nation "The Officials had made a blunder, and This is an illustration of the fact that the alists in the Catholic community, who their offer can hardly have helped Herron Protestant workers cannot win indepen "alienate the Protestant workers," than it is and his followers in the power-struggle. The dence as a class without crossing the to fight imperialism itself. UDA needed no help from the Officials in communal line and joining the struggle of Whether the "Official" leadership will keeping the assassins quiet. What it did the Catholics against Orangeism and all its follow this logic to the end, or whether the need, however, was a similar move by the institutions, including the border. leadership will allow itself to be led to such Officials to keep the Provisionals inactive. Whatever reactionary features derive a conclusion, remains to be seen. But the The response that the moderates in the from their religious identification, the newspaper of the movement, the United UDA wanted was quite simple. They could struggle of the Catholics as Catholics in Irishman, has already openly disavowed hold back the hard men on their side if the Ireland is progressive and leads in the the nationalist past of the republican Officials could stop the Provisionals' cam direction of working-class consciousness movement. And it is certain that some of paign of bombings and shootings." and action. The actions of Protestants as those still in the "Official" leadership would The difference between the UDA murders Protestants in Ireland are reactionary and have been horrified and disbelieving if and the Provisional terrorist campaign lead in the direction of repression and anyone had told them two years ago where escaped Dillon and Lehane. The problem, racist-like terror. Thus, "sectarianism" as their course would lead them. as they saw it, was "sectarianism," that is, such is an altogether secondary aspect of There is worse ahead if they continue on the traditional religious antagonism. Ob the conflict in Northern Ireland. What is this path. □ viously, it takes two sides to create and maintain "sectarianism," and in order to oppose it, the "extremists" on both sides Intercontinental Press must he blamed. Dillon and Lehane could P.O. Box 116 not see the distinction between racist-like terror against a subject population on the MEMO to: Village Station one hand, and, on the other, commando New York, N.V. 10014 group attacks against the repressive forces of the state, attacks that, while they did not have the full force of the oppressed com fm: munity behind them and certainly did not help to mobilize it, did express its feelings to a considerable extent. Thus, these two journalists failed to notice that the UDA statement blamed not only the Provisional military actions but also "Republican MPs. . . talking about Country . oppression and injustice." The plain fact was that the most funda □ J15 enclosed for a one-year subscription. mental thing for these Protestant activists □ $7.50 enclosed for a six-month subscription. was to maintain the Protestant ascendancy. O Send information about first-class and airmail rates. They focused on the Provisional military

March 3, 1975 ODDDB^qfa^. 2DD?iiSEa □□□nOb. z7aOd uoAO^^'tso/ iVwa/ wi/ Wil/ Vma?/

Children Starving in Pnompenh charged. A spokesman for Park said that decided to work without pay, and Praxis According to relief agencies in Pnom all students arrested would be released. continued to appear. penh, instances of severe malnutrition are However, twenty-two alleged members of The bimonthly magazine, which first on the rise and children are already dying the People's Revolutionary party, including appeared in 1964, has frequently criticized of starvation. The main cause has been the seven condemned to death, are to remain in the Yugoslav CP and the Tito regime from a spiraling inflation, which has put even rice jail. socialist standpoint. The contributors to out of the price range of the poorest The release announcement mentioned Praxis were predominantly university pro families. Rice has increased from 240 riels prominently the "national consensus" sup fessors in Zagreb, Belgrade, and Ljubljana, per kilo in December to about 340 riels in posedly displayed by the referendum re many of whom were former CP members. February. A year ago rice cost 80 riels per turns. It was announced that 73 percent of The last issue of Praxis carried an article kilo, and in 1970 about 8 riels per kilo. the 80 percent of the electorate that voted by Dobrica Cosic, one of Yugoslavia's A medical team leader for the World supported Park. This result isn't very leading novelists and until 1968 a member Vision relief agency reported that "we are surprising, given the fact that opposition of the Central Committee of the Serbian not beginning to see vitamin B deficiency electioneering was banned, while the gov Communist party. Cosic's article criticized among children as well as vitamin A, which ernment carried out an extensive "en the cultural restrictions in Yugoslavia. leads to blindness." lightenment" campaign. In addition, the In January, eight professors at the University of Belgrade who were associated Dow to invest $300m in Yugoslav Riant regime itself tabulated the returns. What perhaps is surprising is the 25 with the Praxis group were fired from their Dow Chemical has signed a preliminary percent who voted "I oppose the major positions. agreement with a Yugoslav state firm, policies of the president"—particularly in Industrija Nafte of Zagreb, to jointly build view of the personal danger involved in and operate a $600 million petrochemical Watergate Crooks Sentenced voting no, and the election boycott spon complex in Yugoslavia. Under the agree Nixon's three closest collaborators in the sored by the opposition. In Seoul, the center ment, signed at the beginning of February, Watergate cover-up conspiracy were sen Dow would have a 49 percent interest. of political life in the country. Park's tenced February 21. H.R. Haldeman, John policies were actually supported by only If completed, the project would be the Ehrlichman, and John Mitchell each re largest joint venture in Eastern Europe about 35 percent of the population. ceived sentences of two and a half to eight Huge crowds formed outside prisons in involving an American company. Dow years. Judge John Sirica also ruled that Seoul and other cities waiting for the already has more than $6 million invested they must serve at least two and a half release of the prisoners, many of whom in a joint venture with another Zagreb years before they become eligible for parole. reported that they had been tortured. chemical firm to produce plastics. Under Haldeman's lawyer lamented, "Whatever The easing of the repression may be Yugoslav laws, Dow will be allowed to take Bob Haldeman did, he did not for himself short-lived. Justice Minister Hwang San- its profits out of the country. hut for the President of the United States. duk warned February 19 that the govern Whatever Bob Haldeman did, so did ment will revoke the clemency of those Park Releases Political Prisoners Richard Nixon." "who do not behave." Foiiowing Referendum 'Victory' Ehrlichman's newly hired lawyer, repor tedly known for his interest in radical Following his predictable "victory" in the causes, made a plea for his client to have a February 12 referendum endorsing his Yugoslav Regime Closes 'Praxis' chance to do a "good deed" to pay for the unspecified "major policies," South Korean After eleven years of publication, the "bad" he had done. Ehrlichman was willing President Park Chung Hee announced dissident journal Praxis has been forced to to do legal work for Native Americans in February 15 that he would release all close by the Yugoslav Communist party. New Mexico, he said. political prisoners except those he said were Without officially banning the magazine, Mitchell, the former U.S. attorney gener Communists. the party ordered its units in the various al, remained cynical. "It could have been a Within two days, seventy of the 203 printing establishments not to publish it. At hell of a lot worse. They could have persons known to have been jailed in the a meeting with foreign reporters February sentenced me to spend the rest of my life repression last year were freed. These 21, Jure Bilic, a CP official, said that the with Martha," he told reporters in a included Kim Chi Ha, the country's best- party felt that "critics or forces that try to reference to his wife, from whom he is known poet; Professor Kim Dong Gil, dean limit the influence of the League of Com separated. of theology at Seoul's Yonsei University; munists in society are detrimental to social All three defendants say they plan to Pak Hyong Kyu, the Protestant minister development." appeal. who heads the outlawed Urban Industrial The Yugoslav authorities tried to close Mission; and Daniel Chi Hak Soun, Roman Praxis in 1974 by withdrawing an annual Catholic bishop of Wonju. subsidy to the Croatian Philosophical Iran, Colombia to Resume Listed among those expected to have been Society and the Yugoslav Union of Philoso Diplomatic Ties With Cuba freed were Professor Kim Chan Kook of phers, which published the magazine. Two more governments have ignored the Yonsei University, and Kang Shin Ok, the However, the magazine's editorial staff at U.S. blockade of Cuba and have announced lawyer who defended in court many of those Zagreb University and its contributors plans to renew full diplomatic relations

Intercontinental Press with Havana. The Foreign Ministry of Iran lin had "killed" the fetus in the course declared its intention to exchange ambas of an abortion performed October 3, 1973. sadors February 10. On February 21,Colom At the tune, Edelin was chief resident bian Foreign Minister Indalecio Lievano in the obstetrics and gynecology depart announced that Bogota planned to resume ment at Boston City Hospital, and one of only two doctors at the hospital who relations with Cuba. would perform abortions. When his trial opened in early January, Venezuelan Students Protest Edelin told a local newspaper, "The anti- Against New U.S. Ambassador abortion forces didn't just stumble onto A number of students were reported this case. They had been watching me for injured and eleven were arrested in police about two years." attacks on demonstrations in several Ve In another interview, Edelin stated, "I • r' , nezuelan cities February 5 and 6. believe very strongly in a woman's right United Press International reported that to determine what happens to her body. the demonstrators were protesting the During illegal abortions, many women naming of Harry Shlaudeman as the new died. And many women suffered. And the U.S. ambassador to Caracas. Shlaudeman, problem is, the women who died are poor who was stationed in the Dominican women, and mainly black women." Republic during the 1965 U.S. invasion and On February 17, Edelin was sentenced in Chile at the time of the overthrow of the to one year's probation. His attorney an Allende government, was denounced as a nounced that the conviction will be ap CIA agent by the demonstrators. pealed. The response among abortion-rights "Issues and Answers," he said that the loss forces to Edelin's conviction was rapid. of Cambodia would be a foreign-policy Italian Court Eases Abortion Law On short notice, feminist organizations disaster for the United States. Italy's highest tribunal, the Constitution in Boston organized a demonstration of He based his case on the"domino theory," al Court, ruled February 18 that abortion is 2,000 persons, many of them Blacks. which he said had been "overly discredit now legal in Italy when doctors determine They marched through downtown Boston ed." that pregnancy is a serious threat to a on February 17 chanting, "Not the woman's mental or physical health. The church, not the state; women must de court said that an article in the penal code cide their fate!" 5,000 Students Protest in Spain dating from the Fascist era was "partly A demonstration of 5,000 university unconstitutional." Until now, abortion has Brazilian Bishops Demand Information students and a consumer boycott that left been a crime punishable by up to five years on Missing Political Prisoners most of the city's food stores empty of imprisonment. The ruling provoked an customers took place in Madrid February The National Conference of Brazilian outcry from the Vatican, which denounced Bishops announced February 14 that it 20. the decision as "questionable and of ex would continue its work to defend human The students, who were protesting the treme gravity." A statement released by the rights in Brazil and, specifically, to discover government-ordered shutdown of the Uni Italian Bishops Conference February 21 the whereabouts of missing political prison versity of Valladolid, assembled at the said that while it respected separation of University of Madrid. The protest was ers. church and state, "no eventual concession The announcement came after a warning broken up by police, who fired submachine by civil law can make an abortion morally by Justice Minister Armando Falgao to guns into the air. It was the first time the legal." those trying to "poison the minds of the police had come onto the campus with such A campaign to force a referendum for the uninitiated" and "disturb the peace." Bra weapons. abolition of all laws against abortion is zilian authorities have denied having any The food-store boycott was called to gathering strength. In Genoa, the Radical knowledge of where the missing prisoners protest inflation. There were signs of its party announced February 12 that 348 effectiveness in both middle-class and are. women had publicly declared they had Churchmen and lawyers submitted a list working-class neighborhoods. received abortions. The statements were of twenty-two names to the regime last collected at a series of meetings in support August. Since then, three of the persons of feminist Adele Faccio and Radical party Stiafi Assures Israel on Oil have been located, but there is no trace of National Secretary Gianfranco Spadaccia. After meeting with Secretary of State the others. Both were jailed on charges stemming from Henry Kissinger in Zurich February 18, the a January 9 police raid on a Florence shah of Iran indicated that the Israeli abortion clinic. Spadaccia was released Pentagon Predicts Collapse of Lon Nol regime could rely on Iranian oil if it February 10, but Faccio remains in jail. Without Additional Military Aid returned the Abu Rudeis oil fields in Pentagon head James Schlesinger said occupied Sinai in a settlement with Egypt. February 23 that the Lon Nol regime would Speaking at a news conference, the shah Doctor Found Guilty of Manslaughter "absolutely"collapse if Congress did not said in reply to a question about oil to in Massachusetts Abortion Trial provide the additional $222 million in Israel: "Our policy is to sell oil to those who In a setback to the struggle to defend military aid requested by the White House. will buy it. Once the tankers are loaded, the right to abortion, a Black Boston "I think that the chances of their surviving where it goes is of no importance to us. We physician was convicted of manslaughter February 15 for an abortion he per over a period of many months are minimal don't mind where it goes, because it is a formed in 1973. without that additional assistance." purely commercial transaction for my After six weeks of "medical testimony" Schlesinger's statement was the strongest country." by activists in the "right to lifd' move so far by the White House in its campaign The Abu Rudeis oil fields supply 55 ment, a Boston jury sustained the prose for more funds for Lon Nol and Thieu. percent of Israel's oil. Much of the remain cution's contention that Dr. Kenneth Ede- Speaking on an ABC television program. der already comes from Iran.

March 3, 1975 La Crisis Economico Mundiol del Capitoiismo

[La siguiente resolucion fue adoptada Mientras que el descenso actual en la independientemente de las fluctuaciones unanimemente por el Comit6 Ejecutivo produccion industrial es aiin pequeno (ex- ciclicas de la economia. Entre los trahajado Internacional de la Cuarta Internacional en cepto en los Estados Unidos) el aumento en res que buscan empleos en los paises su reunion de enero. el desempleo es pronunciado. De becbo, los imperialistas bay sectores crecientes que [La traduccion es de Intercontinental datos oficiales en los paises imperialistas son oprimidos sexual, racial y nacionalmen- Press.] correspondientes al invierno de 1974-75 te (en los Estados Unidos, los negros, los pueden mostrar que el desempleo se ba cbicanos y los miembros de otras nacionali- incrementado, rebasando la cifra de 15 dades oprimidas; en Europa Occidental, los millones de desempleados. Esto de becbo trahajadores emigrados), becbo que ba A pesar de la propaganda, durante anos, comprueba el caso si ademas agregamos a facilitado la formacion de un ej^rcito de que no volveria a suceder, el mundo la lista de desempleados aquellos que solo industried de reserva real o potencialmente capitalista se ha hundido en su primera trabajan medio tiempo porque no ban numeroso, aiin en los periodos de alto nivel recesion generalizada desde la decada de los podido conseguir empleos de tiempo comple- en el empleo. treinta. Aunque seria aventurado predecir to. Probablemente bay alrededor de 8 a 10 2. La actual recesion capitalista interna que el nivel de desempleo a escala mundial millones de desempleados en los Estados cional constituye un punto de gran impor llegara a ser tan alto como el que se dio Unidos; un millon y medio en Italia; un tancia en los desarrollos de la posguerra. durante la Gran Depresion, el peligro de que millon en cada pais en Alemania Occiden esto suceda no ha sido eliminado. En todos tal, Francia y la Gran Bretana; un millon (a) Es la primera recesion generalizada lados el capital esta llevando a caho una en los paises imperialistas menores de desde la decada de los treinta. Ha babido creciente ofensiva en contra del nivel de Europa Occidental (los paises Benelux mucbas recesiones desde la Segunda Guerra vida de los trahajadores. Una suspension [Belgica, Holanda y Luxemburgo], Espana, Mundial; Por cierto, en la actualidad tal prolongada de la inflacion es imposible Dinamarca, etc.); un millon en Japon y un como en el pasado, el capitalismo no ba para cualquiera de las principales poten- millon en total en Canada, Australia y podido evitar las fluctuaciones ciclicas de su cias. Nueva Zelanda. economia. Sin embargo el caracter no 1. Los socialistas revolucionarios predije- La razon por la cual bay este aumento simultaneo de estas recesiones (por ejemplo, ron, con bastante anticipacion, la recesidn tan desproporcionado en el desempleo es la ausencia de recision en Alemania Occi actual en la economla capitalista interna dual. dental, Japon, Italia y Francia durante la cional. En la etapa que va de 1948 a 1973 la (a) La actual crisis economica mundial severa regresion en los Estados Unidos produccion capitalista mundial aumento fue precedida por un periodo de rapido durante 1957-58) ban limitado su extensi6n tres veces y medio su volumen con una tasa progreso tecnico (automatizacion) durante y profundidad. Un pais con un mercado promedio de crecimiento del 5 por ciento el cual la productividad aumento fuertemen- interno cada vez mas limitado podia expor- anual. No bubo crecimiento en 1974. En los te, sobre todo, en Europa Occidental y tar sus mercancias y su capital excedentes. ultimos tres meses de 1974, la produccion Japon (en los Estados Unidos esto se dio Pero abora que todos los principales industrial de los principales paises impe- anteriormente). El crecimiento tecnologico paises imperialistas ban sido atrapados rialistas iba en declive. Los Estados Unidos iba acompanado, como siempre, por una simultaneamente en esta situacion, los se encuentran en su regresion economica erosion lenta en la tasa de ganancia, que el mercados de exportacion se ban estrecbado. mds profunda desde la guerra, con un capital intentaba compensar por medio de La posibilidad de ballar una solucion por Producto Nacional Bruto (PNB) que desde acelerar la produccion, la "racionalizacidn", medio del incremento de las exportaciones a 1973 descendio en un 2.2 por ciento. Su y otros metodos para reducir el costo de la los estados obreros burocratizados y a loS descenso es rdpido. En Japon el PNB mano de obra. Pero cuando la tasa del paises exportadores de petroleo del Medio descendio en un 3 por ciento, despues de 25 aumento en el rendimiento es alta, solo un Oriente, es excluida de las misma manera. anos de expansidn. aumento substancial en la produccidn Estos mercados en potencia son minimos en Solamente algunos de los paises capitalis- puede evitar un desempleo masivo. Si bay comparacion a los que se necesitan para tas de menor importancia ban escapado, un declive real o tan solo un estancamiento absorber la acumulacion de excedentes en basta la fecba, los efectos inmediatos del en la produccion, el desempleo se remonta- capital y mercancias. declive (Suecia, Suiza, Noruega, Austria), ra. Dado que la recesion ocurre simultanea ya sea por condiciones extraordinarias (el (b) En los paises imperialistas desde la mente en mucbos paises, esta puede acumu- descubrimiento de petroleo en el Mar del Segunda Guerra Mundial, ba babido un larse en su totalidad con una fuerza Norte becbo por Noruega), o por sus aumento dramatico en el mimero de mujeres extraordinaria, la recesion en cada pais relaciones particulares con el mercado mun en busca de empleo. Hay dos razones agravando a las recesiones en otros paises, dial. fundamentales para este desarrollo. Una es y todas combinandose para crear una crisis El volumen fisico del comercio mundial que el salario promedio que recibe el bombre mucbo mas grave que cualquier recesion no ba entrado aiin en declive, aunque su (ya sea trabajador industrial o de "cuello desde la decada de los treinta. Es particular- ritmo de crecimiento ba disminuido notable- bianco") no es suficiente para satisfacer las mente peligroso si la recesion en los mente. Las potencias principales estdn necesidades bdsicas de la familia trabajado- Estados Unidos se extiende durante todo tratando de incrementar sus ventas al ra. La otra es que las mujeres estan 1975. Los Estados Unidos producen casi exterior, en la medida de sus posibilidades, mostrando cada vez mas independencia tanto como los otros 23 paises miembros de para contrarrestar la recesidn interna. La tanto economica como social, reflejo inter la Organizacidn de Cooperacion y Desarro posibilidad de que el volumen del comercio nacional del movimiento de la liberacion llo Econ6mico (CODE), organismo que mundial descienda depende de la duracion femenil. agrupa a los principales paises capitalistas. de la regresion en los paises mds importan- Esta tendencia ascendents, junto con la La economia norteamericana, dado a su tes (sobre todo los Estados Unidos, Alema- creciente aparicion, por temporadas, de tremendo peso, tiende a bacer girar a los nia Occidental y Japon), y en el alcance de estudiantes en el mercado laboral, ban demds alrededor de su 6rbita. las medidas proteccionistas llevadas a cabo aumentado el suministro potencial de la (b) La recesidn internacional actual por las potencias en competencia. fuerza de trabajo en el mercado de empleos claramente confirma observaciones previas Intercontinental Press al respecto de que el prolongado boom depresion de 1929 fue causada por la la que pasan las empresas privadas tanto capitalista de la posguerra habla termina- "especulacion" con las acciones, o que las nacionales como internacionales. do. previas crisis economicas serias hayan sido El extenso periodo de crecimiento eco- causadas por "sobrepasarse" en la construc- Pero aiin las corporaciones mas grandes nomico acelerado que sucedio a la Segunda cion del sistema ferroviario o por el comer- pueden enfrentarse a dificultades insupera- Guerra Mundial incluyo regresiones cicli- cio exterior. bles al tratar de reunir los fondos necesarios cas; sin embargo fueron mas cortas y De hecho, cada crisis de sobreproduccion para una inversion lucrativa. En un mo menos intensas que las de las decadas de aparece como la combinacion del fenomeno menta determinado todas estas fuerzas que los veinte y los treinta; y las consecuencias general que surge de la naturaleza misma rebajan la tasa de ganancia, necesariamen economicas y sociales para las masas de la produccion capitalista, y del fenomeno te conduciran a un creciente mimero de fueron mucho menos dramaticas. Ademas particular que se presenta en una fase companias capitalistas a estar bajo el del impulse dado al capitalismo mundial determinada de su expansion mundial y sus peligro de quiebra o a la quiebra misma, con la reconstruccion de Europa y Japon altas y sus bajas. Pero el mismo hecho de hacia un descenso total del volumen de las que siguio la destruccion causada por la que estos "accidentes" ocurren con regular inversiones (de la acumulacion de capital), Segunda Guerra Mundial, el uso masivo de frecuencia, que pueden ser previstos y hacia una reduccion masiva de la produc medidas "anticrisis" por parte de los predichos, y que tienen todo una serie de cion, hacia despidos masivos, que por sus gobiernos imperialistas tendian a mitigar caracterlsticas comunes, nos muestra que efectos acumulativos creen una regresion los descensos economicos, aunque el resulta- estan estructuralmente atados al mismo generalizada en la actividad enonomica. do final fuera solamente posponer el enfren- sistema capitalista. Ni las economias pre- Por otro lado, hay una tendencia inheren- tamiento con la realidad y establecer una capitalistas, ni las economias poscapitalis- te en la produccion capitalista a extender su inflacion permanente. tas sufren las fluctuaciones clclicas del capacidad productiva mas alia del poder De particular importancia ha sido el desempleo, de la produccion industrial y del limitado de compra de las masas, que es gasto militar de los Estados Unidos. Ano ingreso nacional. determinado en ultima instancia por las tras ano Washington ha vertido sumas co- De la misma manera, las causas funda- relaciones antagonicas de clase dentro de la losales de dinero dentro de la economia na- mentales de la actual recesion mundial se sociedad burguesa. Todo boom capitalista cional y mundial para armar y financiar a deben a las contradicciones internas del crea una tendencia a una capacidad exce- las fuerzas militares en los Estados Unidos modo de produccion capitalista puestas al siva y a una sobreproduccion y a la con- y en el exterior, y para pagar los intereses descubierto ya hace tiempo por Marx. siguiente acumulacion de mercanclas no- cada vez mas cuantiosos de la deuda militar Despues de un periodo de crecimiento vendibles en sectores claves de la economia. acumulada. El deficit presupuestario nece- economico, la tendencia a que la tasa de Al mismo tiempo en que aumenta esta sario para llevar a cabo estas operaciones ganancia decline, necesariamente se vuelve capacidad excesiva y la sobreproduccibn, la es desconcertante (se ha mencionado que el mas eminente. Esto es aiin mas cierto produccion y el desempleo se reducen, y la deficit presupuestario de los Estados Un cuando el periodo de crecimiento economico crisis se empeora de la misma manera. idos para el ano fiscal que empieza en julio es mas largo y la tasa de ganancia mfis En la actual recesibn, la sobreproduccibn de 1975 fluctuara entre 52,000 millones de acelerada. La composicion organica del empezo en la industria automovillstica y en dolares y 70,000 millones de dolares). capital aumenta en la medida que la la de la construccion. Se extendib rapida- La panacea del "estlmulo econ6mico"por automatizacion y la semiautomatizacion mente a la de articulos electricos, petroqul- medio del gasto gubernamental deficitario refuerzan la preponderancia de la maquina- micos (fibras plasticas y sinteticas), textil no se restringio a los Estados Unidos. Para ria y otras formas de "trabajo muerto" es y ropa, el turismo y la industria de la 1973 todas las principales potencias cap- acumulado en la produccion. Los canales aviacion. Ahora ha llegado inclusive a la italistas estaban canalizando grandes su clasicos para contrarrestar los efectos del industria del acero, que hace todavla mas al gasto deficitario. La expansion aumento en la composicion organica del algunos meses estaba en medio de uno de precipitada del credito a escala mundial capital se cierran cada vez mas. sus mas grandes booms debido a la concen- elevo los precios en todos lados. tracion y a las reducciones drasticas de la Aun mas, cada recesion sucesiva requeria El gran nivel de empleo y la fuerza social inversion en esa industria a finales de la una dosis mayor de gasto deficitario infla- y organizatival cada vez mayor de la clase decada de los sesenta, y a la escasez cionario para impedir un descenso peor. obrera dificultan al capital poder elevar relativa de acero que se dio a principios de Esto se convirtio en un circulo vicioso. significativamente la tasa de explotacion la decada de los setenta. La inflacion creciente del dolar llev6 a (la tasa de plusvalla). 4. Al mismo tiempo de que se enfatiza las una serie de crisis y posteriormente al Los intentos mismos del capital de causas estructurales de la actual recesion colapso, en 1971, del sistema monetario abaratar la materia prima crean tendencias mundial, el analisis debe senalar con internacional establecido en Bretton Woods divergentes entre los precios y las ganan- precision los aspectos especiales que la en 1944, indicando el fin del prolongado cias en la materia prima por un lado y los diferencian de las crisis anteriores de boom de la posguerra. productos manufacturados por el otro. Esto sobreproduccion, sobre todo los marasmos El pequeno boom inflacionario de 1971-73 conduce a una creciente desproporcion en de 1929-33 y de 1937-38; fue tan solo una fase pasajera en el inicio de las inversiones de los capitales y la produc (a) La caracteristica mas importante que un nuevo periodo duradero de contradiccio- cion actual en ambos sectores. Tarde o las distingue es la inflacion mundial. Un nes cada vez mas graves del capitalismo temprano esto causa una escasez relativa de aumento agudo en los precios coincide con mundial(que incluye un crecimiento mucho materia prima y un incremento radical en el inicio de una recesion. La economia mas lento) que empezo en 1967-68 y que se los precios de esta en comparacion al de los capitalista mundial paso de un boom evidencla con mas claridad en la actual bienes manufacturados. inflacionario a una "stagflation"[estanca- recesion mundial. El descenso en la tasa de ganancia miento e inflacion] a una "slumpflation" 3. La actual recesion es fundamentalmen- combinado con la intensificacion en la [regresion e inflacion]. En el pasado, si los te una crisis cldsica de sobreproduccion competencia, a la vez, crea la necesidad de precios no se derrumbaban, habla un causada por las contradicciones internas pedir prestado una cantidad cada vez declive pronunciado de los precios durante del modo de produccion capitalista. No es mayor del capital necesario para las inver las depresiones. La inflacion coincidia con un accidente, supuestamente causado por siones adicionales. Esta es la causa de la las crisis solo en circunstancias los "jeques del petroleo", como tampoco la "crisis de fluidez" cada vez mfis severa por excepcionales—guerras perdidas, guerras March 3, 1975 civiles, trastorno total en la economla y en palses del sahel africano [regiones semide- una crisis explosiva social y politica no la produccion; y aiin as! s6lo durante sdrticas] y del subcontinente indio. solamente en Europa Occidental sine tam- periodos cortos. Estas caracterlsticas especificas de la bien en Japdn y America del Norte. Hoy en dla la inflacion mundial continiia recesion mundial deben ser tomadas en Si los niveles del desempleo llegan a los (y en algunos palses tales como los Estados cuenta para evaluar sus efectos economicos, 15 millones en los Estados Unidos, 5 Unidos, Gran Bretana, Italia, Francia, sociales y pollticos en varies palses, secto millones en Alemania Occidental, 5 millo (jsigue en aumento!), a pesar del descenso res del mundo y clases sociales. Pero de nes en Japdn, y 3 millones de desempleados en la produccion y el empleo. Esto trastorna ninguna manera cambian la caracteriza- en Gran Bretana, Francia e Italia, los la funcidn "normal" de una crisis de cion de la recesibn mundial como una crisis paliativos a corto plazo no pararian la sobreproduccion. Se supone que 6sta estabi- profunda del sistema capitalista en su intensa rabia y la reaccidn explosiva de la liza de nuevo la economla eliminando a las totalidad. clase obrera. El ejemplo de las economlas companlas mds atrasadas, liquidando las 5. Tedrica y tecnicamente, la transforma- planificadas no capitalistas a gran escala existencias, y aumentando la tasa de cion de la recesion actual en una depresion que pueden evitar el desempleo y la infla- explotacion, por lo tanto prepara el camino como la de 1929-32 no se excluye. Puede cidn a pesar de sus deformaciones burocrdt- para la renovacion de las inversiones. suceder si los gobiemos de los palses icas ayudardn a inspirar a la clase obrera Pero la expansion inflacionaria del erudi imperialistas no llevan a cabo (por razones de occidente para que rompan con el te prolonga la acumulacibn de existencias, objetivas or subjetivas) las pollticas eco- sistema de la ganancia privada, ddndole a ocultando la debilidad real de las compa ndmicas destinadas a mitigar la regresion. la arremetida socialista una inmensa fuerza nlas. Durante un perlodo el aumento nom Tal depresidn puede ocurrir si la demanda cuando las masas vean los expedientes inal de los salarios encubre la erosibn real colectiva de los palses imperialistas claves tacticos mds efectivos usados en otras de los sueldos. Se crea el poder artificial de fuera cortada por fuertes reducciones en el tierras. Una repeticion del tipo de depresion compra—artificial para las companlas que gasto gubemamental y por grandes de 1929-32, bajo la relacion actual de en ultima instancia no podran mantenerse disminuciones en el crddito y que esto fuerzas sociopolitica a nivel nacional e en la competencia; artificial para los traba- coincidiera con un fuerte aumento en el intemacional, claramente iniciaria la crisis jadores que simplemente no pueden pagar desempleo y un decline agudo en los mas grave del sistema capitalista desde su deudas una vez que el descenso de los salarios y las ganancias. comienzo. salarios reales y el rotundo desempleo llega Tal acontecimiento implicarla: Para evitarse tal catdstrofe, los gobiernos a determinado punto. De esta manera la Ya sea (a) que por alguna raz6n objetiva imperialistas, lo mds probable es que se expansion del credito puede ir demasiado fuera del control de los gobiernos capitalis- contengan de una deflacidn despiadada en lejos. Puede preparar el camino para quie- tas (por ejemplo, un colapso en la confianza el volumen monetario y de crddito del tipo bras inesperadas y la clausura de bancos; en el papel moneda, que incluyera al dolar, que hizo inevitable la depresidn de 1929-32. en otras palabras, precisamente el tipo de al marco alemdn, etc., que conduciera a un Los mas fuertes aun tienen las suficientes desplome del credito nacional e intemacio- regreso al oro como la unica forma final de reservas para seguir ese camino. No tienen nal que caracterizo a la depresion de la pagar las operaciones internacionales) mds altemativa que la de continuar prag- decada de los treinta. Los mismos impe- apareciera una fuerte tendencia deflaciona- maticamente, como de costumbre, y a veces rialistas no excluyen este peligro. ria en el dinero y el credito en todos los con panico, oscilando entre las medidas (b) Otro factor distintivo de la recesidn principales palses imperialistas, una ten antiinflacionarias y las medidas antirece- mundial es la combinacion de la recesion en dencia que coincidirla con la sobreproduc- sionistas de tal manera que no provoquen la mayorla de los sectores de la produccion, ci6n. Esto fue lo que pas6 en 1929-32, que al "demasiado" desempleo o precios "muy incluyendo las materias primas claves, con final provoco un fracaso intemacional ban- altos." jPero no podrdn parar ninguno de una escasez aguda en das sectores centrales cario. los dos! de la economla capitalista mundial: el de la O (b) que surja una tendencia entre los Sin embargo se puede hacer la siguiente energia (especialmente el petrdleo) y el de la gobiemos capitalistas que presione para pregunta con todo derecho: iEs posible que alimentacion (especialmente los cereales y que se d6 una deflacion general del volumen aun los gobiemos imperialistas claves el azucar). del dinero y el credito para poder "curar" pierdan el control de la situacion? Es obvio Esta combinacion no es el resultado de radicalmente la inflacidn aun a costa de que la inflaci6n no puede continuar indefin- "catdstrofes naturales", tampoco expresa crear de 30 a 40 millones de desempleados a idamente sin agotar sus efectos antirece- los "limites del crecimiento" de las fuerzas escala mundial. sionistas y sin convertirse de un motor en productivas. Es el resultado de las despro- un freno del crecimiento econbmico capi porciones creadas por la competencia de los Aun que la segunda opcion es tecnica talista. El colapso del boom especulativo de monopolios. mente posible, es muy remota. Aun el nivel 1973 y principios de 1974; la quiebra de Precios relativamente bajos en la materia de desempleo de la mitad o de la tercera varios bancos importantes; las grandes prima causan un flujo de capital de este parte del que se dio durante la decada de los perdidas que sufrieron los especuladores de sector a otros sectores. Las carestias son treinta es lo suficientemente aterrante como divisas, de materia prima y de terrenos; el medios para aumentar las ganancias y para inducir a los gobiemos a revivir la colapso de los precios de las acciones en las atraer nuevo capital. Este proceso, a la vez, politica inflacionaria (como ya es el caso de principales bolsas de valores en el mundo puede ser acelerado deliberadamente por las Washington y Bonn). capitalista—todos estos fueron los presagios decisiones de los monopolistas. La recesion mundial ocurre cuando la siniestros de un pdnico mundial potencial. El cartel intemacional del petrdleo (los lucha de clases y el nivel de organizacidn de La extension extraordinaria del mercado siete "mas grandes del petroleo") redujeron la clase obrera y su capacidad de resistencia del eurodolar (alilhentado ademds por los la capacidad de refinar y producir petroleo son inmensamente mds fuertes que en 1929 petrodolares); el peligro de una balanza de como parte de la politica de elevar el precio o 1937. Ocurre cuando la relacidn mundial pagos deficitaria masiva en casi todos los de los energeticos y de las ganancias a nivel de fuerzas entre el imperialismo y sus palses imperialistas (con la excepcion de mundial. En funcidn de mayores precios y variados adversaries es mucho mds desfa- Alemania Occidental) como resultado del ganancias, la industria alimenticia de los vorable al mundo capitalista que antes de la aumento precipitado en el precio de las Estados Unidos, Canadd y Australia redujo Segunda Guerra Mundial. Bajo estas importaciones de petroleo, que amenaza con la produccion de alimentos. Esta es la causa circunstancias una depresion econdmica provocar un colapso repentino en la con basica de las actuales hambrunas en los catastrdfica como la de 1929-32 engendrarla fianza que tenga como resultado retiros

Intercontinental Press masivos del sistema bancario a nivel mun- de la clase obrera. La situacidn en la clase mas cerca a una confrontacion decisiva. La dial. obrera es el resultado de dos decadas de perspectiva amplia es ya sea el derroca- Despues del desplome del Franklin Na crecimiento econdmico relativamente alto, miento revolucionario del capitalismo, o tional Bank en los Estados Unidos, I.D. un nivel de empleo relativamente elevado, una grave derrota para la clase obrera que Herstatt de Alemania Occidental y la crisis de industrializacidn extensiva (Japdn, Ita permitiria al capitalismo imponer su de los "bancos pequenos" de Gran Bretana, lia, Francia, Espana, Canadd, Australia) y solucion—un fascismo aun mds brutal que los principales bancos centrales prometie- de desarrollo intensive (Estados Unidos, el de la decada de los treinta. ron apoyar operaciones de rescate en favor Alemania Occidental, Gran Bretana), y un 7. En la actual recesidn mundial, el de los depositantes, y hasta cierto punto, crecimiento general en el nivel de conoci- proletariado se encuentra en una posicidn intentaran hacer esto en otros casos para miento tdcnico y la educacidn (aunque su de fuerza mayor que durante la depresidn de evitar un desplome. Pero estos casos tam- expansidn ha sido muy desigual y ha sido 1929-32. Entre otras cosas el desempleo no bi6n illustran lo limitado de estas operacio acompanada por la degradacidn, margina- es de tal alcance y duracidn como el de la nes. Cuando Alemania Occidental se rehus6 cidn, y despido de los trabajadores). Otros Gran Depresidn y ha tenido un efecto de al principio a apoyar los dep6sitos de factores adicionedes ban fortalecido subjeti- debilitamiento menor. Herstatt, los Estados Unidos tomaron vamente a la clase obrera. Estos incluyen El desempleo masivo durante un periodo represalias amenazando con congelar los la radicalizacidn mundial de la juventud y largo es por lo general altamente desmorali- valores alemanes y puso al sistema moneta- la mujer; los avances de la revolucidn zante. Los momentos mds favorables para rio internacional en un paro repentino mundial en los paises semicoloniales desde la accidn de los trabajadores son ya sea hasta que se acordaron los tratados secre- China a Cuba; el surgimiento de una nueva cuando el desempleo empieza (es por eso que tos. El European-American Bank [Banco generacidn de trabajadores que no experi- la burguesia internacional teme tanto que Europeo-Americano] que se formo para mentaron las dos decadas y media de un desempleo repentino y masivo pueda sustituir al Franklin National ha advertido derrotas que prosiguieron a la victoria de provocar una reaccidn inmediata por parte que casi no tomard ninguna cuenta extran- octubre de 1917; la crisis del stalinismo; y el de los trabajadores) o cuando empieza a jera de las de Franklin. aumento generalizado a la oposicidn a la disminuir despues de que ha comenzado un De la misma manera los Estados Unidos guerra imperialista. resurgimiento econdmico. Pero durante un recientemente ban advertido a todos los Esto quiere decir que la actual crisis del periodo de desempleo masivo aqudllos que bancos norteamericanos a que reconsideren sistema capitalista mundial, que empezo retienen sus empleos tienen un miedo todos sus prestamos a mediano y a largo con los sucesos de mayo del 1968 en excepcional a perderlos, el empleado y el plazo a la industria italiana y al mismo Francia, serd profundizada seria y desempleado se vuelven enemigos, como gobiemo italiano. La propaganda antidrabe significativamente por la actual recesidn, y tambien el parcialmente empleado y el y antiirani que construyeron alrededor de que el papel central de la clase obrera empleado de tiempo complete, los que tienen los "petroddlares" los circulos bancarios, industrial se acentuard con creces. un alto nivel de seguridad laboral y estd dirigida con el propdsito de forzar a los Pero tambidn significa que la tendencia aquellos que no lo tienen. Todos estos palses exportadores de petrdleo a compro- general apunta a que las tensiones y los factores tienden a limitar el numero y la meterse en operaciones de rescate de crddito conflictos explosivos entre los obreros y el duracidn de las huelgas. internacional que los mismos imperialistas capital se incrementen, y a que las crisis Por supuesto, algunas modificaciones no quieren llevar a cabo. pollticas cada vez mas se agudicen en los tienen que hacerse en este documento en el Todos estos ejemplos nos muestran el paises imperialistas claves. Los intentos de analisis general. En particular, es necesario hecho de que los intereses del capitalismo los capitalistas de "comprar" a los obreros tomar en cuenta los "estabilizadores incor- nacional le imponen fuertes llmites a las disminuiran mientras que los intentos de porados en la estructura misma" tales como posibilidades que tienen los banqueros infligir graves derrotas a la clase obrera el seguro de desempleo, la seguridad social, centrales de mitigar la crisis internacional. aumentaran, con el objetivo de "resolver" la el socorro, servicio medico a bajo costo, etc., Entre mds se profundice y dure la crisis a costa de los obreros reduciendoles que fueron establecidos durante y despues inflacidn mds eminente es el peligro de que sus salarios reales, para asi permitir que la de la crisis de 1929-32. la especulacidn, las deudas y la crisis de tasa de ganancia suba de nuevo. Tal Sin embargo, el desempleo a escala fluidez del sistema bancario lleguen a ser de embestida en contra de los niveles de vida y limitada, como el que actualmente se da en tal proporcidn que detonen un retiro masi- de empleo de la clase obrera impone graves los principales paises imperialistas, no tiene vo, motivado por el pdnico, de los bancos, restricciones en los derechos democraticos ninguno de estos efectos debilitantes, espe- que traiga como consecuencia un colapso de la clase obrera (controles de salarios cialmente en vista de su combinacidn con la del sistema bancario y por consecuente una estatutarios, arbitraje gubernamental en los inflacidn y el nivel creciente de organiza- crisis catastrdfica, si no es en dsta entonces conflictos laborales, limitaciones onerosas cidn y combatividad de la clase obrera. Por serd en una recesidn futura. Es por eso que en el derecho a la huelga, legislacibn lo tanto se puede predecir con bastante la burguesia mundial estd tan preocupada antisindical, etc.). seguridad que el efecto inmediato de la por la inflacidn. Es por eso que estd Sin embargo, la experiencia ha mostrado recesidn mundial serd el de fortalecer el tratando de alterar la relacidn de clases lo que mientras el capital no pueda lograr un surgimiento de las luchas obreras (con una suficiente como para que sea posible el cambio significativo en la felacion de excepdidn a corto plazo de Alemania Occi eventual uso de medidas deflacionarias fuerzas actual entre las clases, los intentos dental, por razones especificas vinculadas radicales. de llevar a cabo tales medidas por lo con todo el ciclo de la lucha de clases de la 6. Sin embargo, lo que hace que esta general fracasan. posguerra y de la conciencia de clase en ese situacidn sea tan grave para el capitalismo Esto no excluye intentos a corto plazo de pais). mundial, no es tanto el hecho de que esta evitar victorias revolucionarias por medio En Europa Occidental, la recesidn incita- crisis econdmica sea la peor que se haya de reformas y concesiones. Pero, como en la tA a la agudizacidn de la lucha de clases y experimentado desde el periodo de la decada de los treinta, no pasardn de ser las tensiones de clase especialmente en los posguerra—es mucho mds ligera que las que medidas provisionales. El agravamiento de paises donde la lucha obrera ha llegado a su ocurrieron en el periodo entre las dos la situacidn economica mundial descarta nivel mas alto: Francia, Italia, Gran Breta guerras—sino el que esta se combine con un cualquier periodo significativo de relaja- na, Espana, Portugal, pero tambidn en los nivel excepcionalmente elevado de organ- miento de tensiones entre las clases. Condu paises capitalistas de menor importancia izacidn, poder huelgulstico y combatividad ce a los antagonismos de clase cada vez como Dinamarca. El eje de la lucha se March 3, 1975 cambiara cada vez mas de las parciales a inflacion y la recesion a sus competidores. direccion de la burguesla en cada una de las las generalizadas, y le dara un creciente Alemania Occidental, por ejemplo, man- principales naciones imperialistas. Esto no impulso a la busqueda de soluciones politi- tuvo medidas deflacionarias basta diciem- cambiara en el future inmediato, con mas cas de conjunto, a las profunda crisis social bre de 1974, cuando el espectro de un razon mientras se sume a esta crisis la del capitalismo colapso mundial ya babla estado amena- intensificacion de la lucba de clases en cada El surgimiento de la radicalizacidn y la zando las bolsas de valores durante la pals. La primera burguesia que logre combatividad obreras en los Estados Uni- mayor parte del ano. Se mantuvo en esta imponer una derrota social y politica de dos y el Japon (como tambien en Australia, posicion a pesar de la presion creciente por importancia a "su" clase obrera podra, Nueva Zelanda y Canada)tiende a acelerar- parte de sus competidores para que "reinfla- como en la decada de los treinta, ganar un se per la recesion, el proletariado en esos ra" el marco aleman, ya que Alemania margen significative de maniobra, dandole peilses por lo tanto empieza a seguir el Occidental es el unico pals imperialista la oportunidad de comprometerse en inten- mismo modelo que se vio en Europa inportante que no esta sufriendo de una tos peligrosos de cambiar la relacion mun Occidental desde 1968. Sin embargo, es aun balanza de pagos deficitaria como resultado dial de fuerzas a su favor. Pero, de nuevo, muy temprano para poder predecir las del aumento del precio del petroleo. esto no es probable que suceda a corto formas y los ritmos de este proceso. Entre Una fuerte reinflacion de la economla de plazo. mds se comprometan en la accion los Alemania Occidental significarla que las El resultado sera consultas interminables, trabajadores de Jap6n, los Estados Unidos exportaciones alemanas (que abora ban negociaciones sucias, y tratos sombrios, y Canadd en los proximos anos, sumando dado alcance a las de los Estados Unidos) todo una serie de disparates que se volverdn su peso a la lucha actual en Europa serlan afectadas seriamente, mientras que cada vez mas angustiantes mientras mds se Occidental, mds grande sera el impacto a el mercado interno de Alemania Occidental prolongue la recesion. nivel internacional y mas dificil serd para absorberla una porcion mas grande de las 9. En los pafses semicoloniales, el efecto el capitalismo mundial "resolver" su crisis importaciones de sus competidores britani- de la recesion mundial varia de acuerdo a la actual a costa de este o aquel sector de la cos, franceses, italianos, japoneses y nor- relacion de sus economias con las exporta clase obrera mundial. teamericanos. ciones e importaciones de petroleo, cereales 8. La intensificacion de las rivalidades Pero cuando el desempleo llego al 3.5 por y aziicar. Los que exportan grandes canti- interimperialistas fue una de las causas que ciento en Alemania Occidental y amenaza- dades de estas materias primas vitales, y precipitaron la recesidn mundial de 1974. ba con llegar al 4 por ciento, Bonn desecbo que tienen un deficit pequefio (o no tienen Lejos de responder de conjunto, de tal su programa antiflacionario. Se anunciaron deficit) de estos artlculos tan caros, basta la manera que tendieran a evitar una recesidn gastos gubernamentales para estimular la fecba no ban sufiddo por la recesion actual. mundial y un posible colapso financiero, las economla, el tipo de descuento del banco (Un desplome de los precios del azucar y naciones capitalistas en competencia ban central fue rebajado, y el capitalismo una calda fuerte de los precios del petroleo llevado a cabo una politica limitada y alemdn abora entrard de nuevo al juego en no pueden ser excluldos si la recesion es egoista. Aun mds, ninguna potencia impe- el que apostara en contra de la tasa de duradera, aunque este fuera el caso, los rialista o grupo de potencias imperialistas, inflacion del resto del mundo. precios del petroleo no bajardn a los niveles incluyendo a la mas poderosa de todas—los La crisis petrolera de 1973-74 senalo un anteriores a octubre de 1973). Estados Unidos mismos—puede imponer cambio en la relacion de fuerzas interimpe- Las clases dominantes de los principales sus propios intereses competitivos sobre rialista a favor del imperlEilismo norteame- pafses exportadores de petroleo son los que todos los sectores de la burguesla mundial ricano, ya que los Estados Unidos son menos mas se ban benficiado. Obtuvieron mucbo como un funcionamiento operante. dependientes de las importaciones petrole- mas dinero de los ingresos por concepto del Las rivalidades interimperialistas ban ras que las otras potencias imperialistas de petrdleo de lo que perdieron por el aumento agravado las contradicciones fundamenta- peso, y los capitalistas en Europa Occiden en los precios de las importaciones o por la les de la recesibn. Desde el punto de vista de tal durante anos bablan pagado menos por reduccion de los mercados para la exporta los intereses de conjunto del capitalismo el petroleo (y la energla) que los capitalistas cion de otros productos que no sean internacional, el uso de medidas antiinfla- de los Estados Unidos. petroleo, debido a la recesion. cionarias (ligeramente deflacionarias) Sin embargo, mientras tanto, el impulso De becbo, la gran afluencia de ingresos y simultaneamente en todos los principales acelerado que le ban dado a la exportacion de reservas en oro y moneda adquiridos por paises imperialistas obviamente no tiene sobre todo en Alemania Occidental y Japon, los pafses exportadores de petroleo indica sentido. Pero desde el punto de vista de ba anulado parcialmente los resultados una redistribucion de la plusvalla producida cada clase capitalista, tomada por separa- obtenidos por Wall Street por medio de las por el proletariado mundial, inclusive el do, si tiene sentido "lucbar contra la devaluaciones sucesivas del dblar y la crisis proletariado de los pafses semicoloniales inflacion" y tratar de salvar su moneda y su petrolera. Sin embargo, Francia y sobre exportadores de petroleo, a favor de las sistema bancario de un colapso. todo Gran Bretana e Italia, ban tenido clases dominantes de los pafses exportado Aqui tenemos tres intereses: mantener las menos exito con sus esfuerzos en la exporta- res de petroleo y a costa de la burguesla mercancias extranjeras fuera del mercado ci6n y como consecuencia ban sido golpea- imperialista. Esta redistribucion (el surgi interno manteniendo bajos los precios de dos mas duro por el aumento mundial del miento de una elevada renta en la extrac- las mercancias dombsticas; penetrar los precio del petroleo, tanto la Gran Bretaiia cion, en gran medida apropiada por las mercados exteriores a un nivel mds grande como Italia estan pasando por dificultades clases dominantes locales) es el resultado de ya que los precios de las mercancias severas financieras y economicas. las desproporciones economicas senaladas extranjeras son mas altos; y estabilizar la Aun mas, el fracaso de seriamente llevar anteriormente y de un cambio politico en la moneda nacional manteniendo una tasa a cabo una integracion economica durante relacion de fuerzas a escala mundial. inflacionaria menos acelerada. De esta la recesion actual, que amenaza con abatir El imperialismo fue forzado a cambiar de manera, en la era de la inflacion mundial al Mercado Comun, les impide a los capi un dominio directo a un dominio indirecto simultanea, la lucba por mantener la tasa talistas alemanes y de Europa Occidental sobre sus antiguas colonias despu^s de la "propia" de inflacibn por debajo de la de los ofrecer una direccion de alternativa Segunda Guerra Mundial porque el movi- competidores se convierte en una preocupa- plausible al sistema capitalista mundial. miento de liberacion antiimperialista tomo cion central de las burgueslas en competen Bajo estas condiciones, la crisis de direc fuerza y no podfa ser derrotado militarmen- cia. A todas las potencias principales les cion del capitalismo internacional en su te en una lucba a escala mundial. Las gustarla transferir parte de la carga de la conjunto estd compuesto por la crisis de potencias imperialistas trataron primero de

Intercontinental Press convertir a las clases dominantes de las economias de los estados obreros burocrati- los que ya se ban llevado a cabo para colonias en socios menores sin tener qua zados se ba confirmado sorpren- cambiar petrdleo y gas natural de la URSS pagar un precio substancial econdmico por dentemente—contrario a todas las mistifica- y China por oleoductos, plantas petroquimi- este cambio de forma de dominacidn. Hoy ciones de los que subscriben la teoria del cas, refinerias y otro tipo de equipo. Sin en dia, a travds de la crisis petrolera, la "capitalismo de estado"—por el becbo de embargo, cuantitativamente, no es lo suf- cuenta la estd cobrando la historia. Algunos que no ban sido atrapados en el torbellino iciente como para contrarrestar los resulta- de los socios menores pueden exigir y del desempleo masivo y el declive en la dos de la retardacidn en el crecimiento del obtener una parte considerablemente mayor produccidn que abarcan a los principales volumen del comercio mundial que se estd del saqueo. paises capitalistas. Por otro lado, aqudllos llevando a cabo. Aun mds, los acuerdos son Mientras qua el balance de fuerzas que se mantienen en la mistificacion a tan largo plazo que su efecto sdlo se mundial no favorezca un ataque imperialis- paralela del "socialismo en un solo pais" se sentird despuds de un periodo de anos. ta en en Medio Oriente y mientras qua el enfrentardn a nuevas dificultades para imperialismo norteamericano favorezca qua poder explicar porque estos paises supuesta- 11. En vista del aumento general de las los precios mundiales del petrdleo suban mente "socialistas" no pueden cortar total- contradicciones y tensiones sociales y mds de lo qua admite piiblicamente, a mente sus vinculos con el mercado mundial, politicas como resultado de la recesidn a ningdn imperialismo le interesa ni siquiera por lo tanto permanecen siendo objeto de los escala mundial, el imperialismo se verd la redistribucidn parcial de su riqueza con efectos de la recesion capitalista mundial. cada vez mds inclinado a parar las explosio- los subaltemos. El peligro de una nueva nes sociales por medio de guerras locales, y guerra en el Medio Oriente as por lo tanto Estos efectos pueden ser, resumidos en a "absorber" parte de los efectos principales muy real, especialmente debido a las cuatro puntos: del declive prolongado en la tasa de relaciones explosivas entre la lucha de (a) La recesidn mundial reduce los merca- crecimiento, impulsando la carrera arma- liberacidn palestina, los reglmenes drabes e dos de exportacidn de los estados obreros mentista. A pesar de la polltica de disten- Israel. burocratizados en los paises capitalistas sidn y de coexistencia pacifica seguida con (excepto el petrdleo, los cereales, el aziicar), total sinceridad por las burocracias stalinis- Mientras qua los paises exportadores de mercados de exportacidn que estas econo tas, bay dreas en el mundo donde, por petrdleo fortalecerdn en lo general su mias urgentemente necesitan para poder razones obvias, i.e., autodefensa, las buro crecimiento econdmico, e inclusive obten- aumentar sus exportaciones de equipo cracias no pueden retroceder indefinida- drdn una industrializacidn capitalista has- modemo. La burocracia tratard de compen- mente sin poner en peligro su propia ta cierto punto, para los otros paises sar este declive relative en su mercado de seguridad. Las fracciones dispuestas a semicoloniales la combinacidn de la rece- exportacidn acelerando su busqueda de adoptar una politics de retire ilimitado ante sidn mundial con el incremento precipitado prdstamos, que a cambio de dstos estard la renovada agresion imperialista en esas en los precios del petrdleo, el alimento y los mds dispuesta a pagar el precio politico de dreas probablemente enfi-entardn una dura fertilizantes se ha convertido en un gran no explotar las crecientes crisis sociales en oposicidn, empezando por el comando cas- desastre econdmico—el mds grande qua occidente. La burocracia ba becbo lo inde- trense. haya golpeado a cualquier parte del mundo cible para dejar claro que no va a buscar El Medio Oriente es, obviamente, una desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Los convertir la recesidn en una crisis revolucio- drea clave de conflicto potencial hoy en dia. paises del subcontinente indio son los qua naria y que se encargard de que los partidos La recesion econdmica que se extiende por mds duro ban sido golpeados. El aumento comunistas bagan todo lo possible para todas las economias capitalistas internacio- en sus gastos por concepto de alimento, mantener a los trabajadores dentro de los nales combinada con el excesivo aumento fertilizantes y petrdleo; la reduccidn de sus limites del colaboracionismo de clase re- en los precios de petrdleo ban creado, exportaciones como resultado de su inhabi- formista. politica y economicamente, un clima peli- lidad para competir con las potencias (b) La escasez de petrdleo y de cereales groso de agresion imperialista en esta drea. imperialistas en un periodo de guerra trastoma algunos de los planes econdmicos Esta es la primera vez desde la recesidn de comercial intensa; el descenso de su propia de los estados obreros, especialmente los 1949 que coincide una regresidn grave en la produccidn industrial detonado por todos grandes importadores de estos articulos situacidn econdmica del imperialismo con estos desarrollos, que a la vez los llevan a tales como la Repdblica Democrdtica Ale- dificultades graves en la compra de mate- mana (RDA) y Cuba. En estos casos puede rias primas necesarias para la produccidn causar una reduccidn en la tasa del creci industrial normal; la explotacidn y acmnu- miento econdmico, sobre todo cuando se lacidn despiadadas de las reservas aliment i- combina con un dfeclive en las exportacio SfUl Available cias por las clases dominantes nativas; el nes a occidente. Complete Back Files (Unbound) colapso de la "revolucidn verde" resultado (c) La escasez de petrdleo y cereales, del fuerte aumento en los costos de los combinada con los efectos de la recesidn, Intercontinental Press fertilizantes y la energia—todos estos facto- crean nuevas tensiones entre las burocra- res ban creado un incremento explosivo de cias. Vender el petrdleo a los precios del ]967 42 (1,072 pages) $25 miseria, inmenso desempleo, y bambrunas mercado mundial a otros estados obreros 1968 44 (1,176 pages) $25 (RDA, Cuba, Vietndm del Norte, Hungria, categdricas tanto en el campo como en las 1969 43 (1,152 pages) $23 poblaciones. etc.) se vuelve tan lucrative para las 1970 43 (1,120 pages) $23 Los ingredientes para una explosidn burocracias exportadoras tales como la 1971 45 (1,128 pages) $23 social ban sido reunidos. Pero la crisis de URSS, Rumania y China que se les van a 1972 47 (1,448 pages) $24 direccidn del proletariado, que estd bastante acusar de explotacidn. 1973 46 (1,520 pages) $24 lejos de resolverse, ba aumentado el peligro (d) El cambio en la situacidn econdmica 1974 47 (1,888 pages) $25 de que las fuerzas derecbistas de la reaccidn mundial ba aumentado el interds entre las tomen la iniciativa de utilizar la crisis en potencias imperialistas de sondear a los beneficio propio a expensas de las masas, estados burocratizados tanto como merca P.O. Box 1 16 que pagardn esto con su sangre y su dos para las exportaciones como fuentes de Village Station bambre. materia prima. La tendencia serd la de New York, NY 10014 10. El cardcter no capitalista de las buscar grandes acuerdos comerciales como March 3, 1975 un aumento fuerte en las tensiones interna- cionales en una area donde es posible una confrontacion militar directa entre el impe- rialismo y los ejercitos del Pacto de Varso- via. Hasta cierto punto el imperialismo nor- teamericano puede llevar a cabo maniobras, tratos sucios y chantaje militar tanto con March on Boston May 171 las clases dominantes arabes como con los [Thomas Atkins, president of the means could such cheap and strong dirigentes sionistas con el proposito de Boston chapter of the NAACP, i spoke labor be guaranteed. The northern imponer un "acuerdo" en el Medio Orients, February 14 at a teach-in of more financiers needed a nigger, because fundamentalmente a costa de la lucha de liberacioti de las masas palestinas. El than 1,000 persons that opened the by no other means could personal objetivo de mantener control fundamental National Student Conference Against profits be so quickly made or per sobre el petroleo del Medio Oriente sera Racism. The Militant, the U.S. revo sonal fortunes built. Poor whites realizado por medio de empresas conjuntas lutionary-socialist newsweekly, pub needed a nigger, because even when con las clases dominantes drabes, que lished extensive excerpts from his re they had nothing else, they could incluyen inversiones masivas de petrodola- marks, which we are reprintingbelow.] always point and say, "I'm better off res en propiedades occidentales, para atar than he is." mejor a los dirigentes arabes al "orden The Brown case constituted a grave economico" del capitalismo internacional. threat to all those whose previous sta Los dirigentes sionistas no son simple- In 1896, in the case of Plessy v. tus had depended upon the existence mente los tlteres del imperialismo; tienen Ferguson, America decreed the estab of a nigger. Ever since 1954 there sus propios intereses independientes que lishment of a rigid color line, one have been people and forces in this defender. Al ver que el tiempo va en su which extended unbroken from the country seeking to re-create the nig contra, que la relacion de fuerzas en el cradle to the grave. ger. We know them by many names. Medio Oriente puede convertirse cada vez Black babies had to be born in Today they are hunters of the dreaded mas adversa al mantenimiento de un estado separate hospitals than white babies. bus. expansionista colonizador en esa area, Black mothers and fathers had to In Boston today there are people podrian ser tentados a sacar provecho de su work on different and separate jobs who need to re-create the nigger. They superioridad militar temporal en un me from white mothers and fathers. Black serve on our school committee. They mento determinado y llevar a cabo un children had to attend separate hide in a blue uniform. They carry ataque preventivo en contra de los palses schools from white children. Black the book of the teacher. They enter arabes vecinos. En caso de un fracaso city hall daily. They congregate under parcial, o en caso de una fuerte represalia, men and women had to be buried our golden dome. Some of them lie pueden acudir a medidas extremas, inclusi by Black undertakers in Black ceme ve al uso de armas atomicas. Esto podria teries. This case ushered in a vast in wait for the dreaded bus to come traer consecuencias incalculables por la system of discrimination against by and attack it with all manner of participacion de las dos principales poten- Black people, which touched every vegetables and pieces of dirt and ce cias nucleares. facet of American life. For all prac ment from their poorly maintained El hecho de que la clase obrera mundial y tical purposes, that system of separat streets in their neighborhoods. las masas trabajadoras, incluso las de los ism continued up till 1954, when the But I say to aU of them tonight Estados Unidos, se oponen fuertemente a Supreme Court ruled that in the realm that the nigger is dead and will never una aventura guerrera es un freno a tal of public education there is no place be re-created again. I say to them aventura desesperada por la clase capitalis- for "separate but equal" and that sep tonight that there will be no more ta. Al mismo tiempo que no se subestiman arate schools were inherently unequal. Jim Crow hospitals for Black babies los peligros de una guerra pequena y Just like the Plessy decision before to die in, no more Jim Crow jobs with localizada en el Medio Oriente, es poco it, the Brown case of 1954 2 had a per below-level wages, no more Jim Crow posible que el imperialismo busque una vasive impact. It became the back schools with below-level achievement, confrontacion militar con los estados obre- drop of a broad new series of court no more Jim Crow cemeteries for ros burocratizados mientras que la clase decisions and statutes, which began to Black men, women, and children to obrera mundial no haya sufrido una derrota strip away the artificial racial har be buried in. desastrosa. riers erected 58 years earlier. I say to them tonight the racism Sin embargo, entre mas graves sean las in this country will never again be dificultades econbmicas del capitalismo Throughout American history there powerful enough to re-create the nig mundial, mds aumentan las tensiones have always been those who, for their ger—not a Black one, not a Brown sociales y pollticas, mds tenderan ciertas own selfish reasons, needed to have one, not a Red one, not a poor white secciones de la clase capitalista a intensifi- a nigger. car los preparatives de guerra y jugaran The southern plantation owners one, not a Yellow one, not a female con aventuras militares. Ya sea que el needed a nigger, because by no other one. peligro de guerra se intensifique y junto con Because the forces of racism in this el las formas de "estados fuertes" y de 1. National Association for the Advance country have, from time to time, ment of Colored People, a nationwide ci dictaduras antiobreras que tomen el poder, achieved tremendous strength, those vil-rights organization with 400,000 mem o el proletariado impondra su propia solu- of us who recognize the incalculable bers. cion poniendo fin a la agonia mortal del harm it has done must organize to capitalismo—la conquista del poder por las 2. On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme oppose it. masas trabajadoras, la victoria de la Court ruled unanimously that racial seg We must resist the dedicated racists revolucion socialista. □ regation of schools was unconstitutional. who know what they are doing. We

Intercontinental Press must resist the ignorant racists who icans who will never allow the Con izen groups, consumer groups, wom are told what to do. We must resist stitution to be used again as an in en's groups, student groups, church the little racists who are being strument of oppression against minor groups, antiwar groups, ecology trained how to be big racists. ities, whatever their color, whatever groups, housewives, husbands, teach We must resist the good people who their religious persuasion, whatever ers, policemen, soldiers, businessmen, aren't racists at all, but who are allow their economic status, whatever their and all others who agree with us that ing themselves to be led by racists. way of iife or their national origin. Boston is the place. May 17 is the We must make them understand that We will insist that the May 17 rally date, and this is the way to begin when the signs on the streets around be peaceful and law-abiding. We want the national drive to protect the Con South Boston High School say, "Kill to show the contrast between ourselves stitution. niggers," then it is not busing that and those who have been attacking Such a rally here will serve not only is being opposed, but racism which is our children with bricks and sticks to organize for the national fight, but being proposed. and every other weapon they can de also to show tangible support for the We must make them understand that vise. embattled Black students whose very they cannot win in a battle in which It is my hope that this May 17 rally right to enter certain parts of this city race becomes the issue, because in the will be the result of a broad-based has been challenged. It will say to world today, they are in a distinct coalition of organizations and indi them that "you are not alone in this na and dwindling minority. viduals working together, each in tional struggle." It will encourage their We cannot, those of us who love their own way, to achieve one unified parents to hold on. It will make all freedom, ignore the active threat to purpose. those who would gather in mobs to freedom which exists in this country. You should know that there will be intimidate our children think twice. We cannot ignore the fascists who no backing away from school deseg- Today only 80 of Boston's schools bombed the Los Angeles office of the greation in Boston—not one inch. We are involved in desegregation. In Socialist Workers Party. We cannot will be forming a coalition here of September, all 200 will be involved. ignore the criminals who have stolen those who wish to work with us to We have already been told by the from the American Indian all that he plan for the May 17 rally in support antidesegregation forces that they will had and who now deny him the of school desegregation and the Con renew their opposition and their resist means of survival itself. stitution. We will be seeking the sup ance this spring, and that their port of others across the country who numbers will grow. I believe them. We cannot think that the antifreedom share our concern that to be siient in If school desegregation cannot be forces are either sleeping or tired. the face of evil is to help evil succeed. brought about in Boston, then it won't They are neither. At this very mo We will seek the support of labor happen anywhere else in the North. ment, the antidesegregation forces in unions, professional organizations, That's why this fight must continue. Boston are planning a march on civil rights organizations, senior cit And that's why we must win. □ Washington for March 18 to intim idate the Congress into passing legis lation to begin amending the Consti tution. This amendment to the Con stitution, though it will be billed as an antibusing amendment, will in re ality be an antidesegregation amend ment. The Boston NAACP calls upon this 5^ C#a conference to join us in organizing against those forces which could drag To help celebrate the tenth anni our country back to "separate but versary of Inferconfinenfal Press, equal." We call upon this conference reproductions of sketches by Co- to support us in our effort to com pain, artist for Inferconfinenfal memorate the historic Brown decision Press, were published by the New on May 17. On that date, we will ask York Local of the Socialist Workers that thousands of people from around party and bound in an 8.5" x 11" the country come to Boston to support book. The aim was to use the money school desegregation. gained from soles to help us begin We will be asking NAACP branches, publishing articles in Spanish. 1,800 strong across the country, to The drawings, of various sizes, in assist us in organizing such a na clude portraits of Hugo Blanco, Mal tional show of support for school de colm X, James P. Cannon, Che segregation, and in organizing the na Guevara, Cesar Chavez, Leon tional campaign against the effort to Trotsky, and many more, some of write the Black community out of the which ore suitable for framing. United States Constitution. A limited number of copies of this We know how important it is V collection of drawings are now Malcolm X to show elected officials that racism available for only $5. is not the guiding force in this coun Intercontinental Press P. O. Box 116, Village Station New York, NY 10014 try, that there are thousands of Amer

March 3, 1975 The Workers League and the International Committee

By Tim Wohlforth

[Second offour installments] gles of the youth, not only in Boston The conference was not prepared but in the school crisis on the Lower through any struggle in the whole pre East Side and in other cities, the YS has ceding period. Not a single demonstra D. What the Recent allowed the revisionist YSAlO to take the tion or other activity of any significance YS Conference Reveals lead in these struggles. had been conducted by the Young So At the same time that the actual agi cialists. Two weeks before the conference, tational and campaigning nature of the when I met with Comrades Mazelis and This essentially centrist approach had YS has been destroyed so too has its Halyard seeking to rejoin the party, I to lead to liquidationism. The paper has theoretical side. Throughout the 1973- proposed that the Young Socialists mobi been the first to suffer. The circulation of 1974 period, the YS contained a two- lize a sizable contingent to the Boston the paper has now fallen so low — at one page centerfold, first on the "Heroes of Anti-Racism March. This would have time it reached over 20,000 per issue the American Labor Movement," then a been an important way to build the re twice a week — that the party wUl no long series on Lenin's What Is To Be Done? gional conference— to show in practice er publish circulation reports in the press. all original material not reprints from the politics of the YS as against the re Sub campaigns have been abandoned. the Workers Press, at the theoreti visionists. But of course Mazelis decided Centralized traUblazers, which buUt such cal development of the YS members. In on the course of complete abstentionism. important new branches in Cleveland and the fall period, no series has been run A youth movement cannot be built Youngstown last year, have been aban whatsoever; no original material has through abstentionism. This conference doned. been written; finally, in a factional ma certainly proved that. The next area where this liquidation neuver, the YS refused to print part four The conference itself expressed the great ism has been revealed is in the public of the history of the early student move changes in the League since the first re activities of the League. The Tenth An ment in the US written by Tim Wohl gional conference on December 15, 1973. niversary meeting of the Bulletin was a forth. That conference was attended by over flop. That is the only objective judgment The recent Eastern Regional Conference 350 youth, while this conference was at that can be made of it. Last year, the of the Young Socialists is final proof of tended, according to the Bulletin, by only founding meeting of the twice-weekly was the collapse of the Workers League under 150 youth. Why is this conference, one attended by over 400 people This year, the centrist leadership of Mazelis. This year later, less than half the size of the less than 200 came to the Tenth Anni conference was organized from the begin earlier conference and perhaps only one versary meeting. ning without any serious fight or perspec third the size? Is it because the objective Now, public meetings in the name of tives. The Bulletin did not even carry conditions are no longer favorable for the Workers League have been largely ads for the conference except in the Span building a youth movement? Clearly they abandoned in favor of meetings of the ish section. It was seen as one activity are more favorable today than last year. Trade Union Alliance for a Labor Party. among many while the main concern of Could it be because key comrades need When, a number of years ago, we did the the League centered on North's trips to ed to buUd the conference were "driven same thing with the Trade Unionists for the mines and to the hotel rooms of Wash ouf of the party in the interim? But the a Labor Party, we were roundly de ington, D. C. party had buUt a summer camp strong nounced by the British for liquidation er than a year ago only in August and ism. Their criticism was quite correct in 10. "Revisionist YSA." The reference is to since then a group of comrades who had my opinion. the Young Socialist Alliance. The adjec left the party have returned. Could it be The third area where this liquidationism tive is inaccurate inasmuch as the stand the price the party is paying for the "mis has been most sharply revealed has been of the YSA is for revolutionary socialism. takes" of the old Wohlforth leadership? in the disintegration of the Young So The "YS" discussed by Wohlforth refers Certainly, with almost four months hav cialist movement. The YS paper reflects to the Young Socialists, a youth group ing passed since I was removed as Na no real activity among the youth. Each ing fostered by the Workers League to tional Secretary, the new leadership can issue begins with the same abstractions compete with the YSA. no longer blame the old leadership for and no concrete policies or actions are The YS appears to be virtually defunct their own failure to buUd a movement! posed to youth. No demonstrations have to judge from the lack of interest displayed The YS conference illustrates the virtual been held. in its activities by the editors of the Bul ly complete liquidation of the Young So While throughout the entire fall period, cialists under the Mazelis leadership. This letin. — IP there have been real movements within is part of the general liquidation of the the high schools and on the campuses party. It can no longer be hidden. The 11. Workers Press, the "daily organ of brought about by the cutbacks, the YS conference is a product of the policies of the Central Committee of the Workers Rev paper has refused to take up a concrete Mazelis supported by Gerry Healy and olutionary Party," is published in London. campaign around these issues. Instead, Mike Banda. It proves once again that Both the Workers League and the Young each issue has been headed with some centrists cannot reach the youth. Socialists use it as the prime source of general abstraction from the September issue, with its head "The Crisis Affects articles to be reprinted in the United Obviously, Mazelis has been forced to You," to the December issue demanding States. make an empirical recognition of this. "Youth Must Fight For Socialist Policies." The Workers Press is notorious not only The conference was called as a regional Such heads are perhaps all right in a for its sectarian orientation but for its conference around the YS paper —which period when all one can do is work of gross factual inaccuracies. It remains one is precisely how we originally conceived a propaganda character because of the of the most unreliable publications in the our first regional conference But it is lack of any specific struggles in the international radical movement, although reported as "the first annual conference schools or on the campuses. its reporting has recently improved in the of the Young Socialist newspaper." Not However, that certainly has not been foreign field (for instance, the on-the-scene only is this statement a lie but it sug the nature of the fall period. As a result coverage of developments in Portuged and gests that Mazelis has abandoned the no of their abstention from the real strug Greece). — IP tion of holding other regional conferences.

Intercontinental Press Last year we built a conference the size The conference is dominated by such activity and the preparation of the work of this year's New York conference in the generalities. The discussion at the con ing class for the tasks ahead. Nothing new area of Cleveland-Youngstown-Pitts- ference proceeds on the lowest level — was left in a vague and general form. hurgh-Dayton-Detroit as well as holding much like our first conference in Decem Each activity planned was explained conferences in Madison, San Francisco ber 1971. The discussion centers on this theoretically and on this basis, a strug and Los Angeles. What if anything could or that attack on working conditions. gle took place for youth to grasp Marx he built there now? Why is it that not a There is clearly no theoretical conflict such ist philosophy, that is, to grasp the Marx single report has appeared in the Bul as the one which marked the regional ist theory of knowledge, to understand letin on Comrade Mazelis' recent tour? conference the preceding year with the how consciousness would change and in Does Mazelis even plan a national YS dispute over racism and nationalism or this way how the working class would conference? Last year after the loss of the national YS conference with the sharp become prepared for the tasks it faced. the people who recently returned to the battle over individualism. Within this framework, a struggle took party, we huUt a conference of 550 youth! This conference was held one week after place among the youth over nationalism It is not simply a matter of the failure the Boston March and in the midst of the and racism with youth themselves fight to bring numbers to the conference. This final stage of the miners struggle. Accord ing for our Marxist perspectives. At the failure in turn is the result of a turn away ing to the report in the Bulletin, the Bos end of the conference; a highly successful from revolutionary perspectives in the ton March was not even mentioned. Com dance was held with a well-known band. League. The speeches at the conference, rade Mazelis decides that 12,000 people We will quote from my speech given as reported in the Bulletin, are an abomi were marching against the working class in the middle of the conference to illustrate nation. They are textbook examples of and he does not even consider this an is the approach taken; abstract and hollow thinking at its worst. sue worth discussing at a youth confer "The Young Socialists will be built by Comrade Sinclair has been speaking this ence. No detailed discussion of the min bringing together two things: one: the mil way for years. But it is Comrade Ma ers struggle took place either. It is as lions of workers who will begin to change zelis' speech which takes the cake. He if a youth movement can be buUt by their thinking because of what they per informs us that capitalism is at the end avoiding a concrete conflict over the ac sonally experience as the capitalist crisis of its rope and that the productive forces tual problems of the workers movement. affects everybody. A change in the mate and productive relations are in an abso The conference begins abstractly with rial world, that is, a crisis in the system lute conflict. And he stops there! He makes the universal. It then proceeds to the con drives people down, changes people's no concrete assessment of the actual un crete as isolated events and facts. How thinking. folding of the crisis nor does he put for else could it proceed from such a begin "Two: while it will change people's think ward any policies for constructing a ning? Then, it concludes back on the level ing, it will not automatically reveal to the movement under such conditions. of the abstract. Nothing, absolutely noth masses the cause of the problem or the The productive forces are in an absolute ing emerges from the conference for the solution. This understanding must be YS to do in the next period. Oh, pardon conflict with the productive relations in brought in from the outside. The outside me. Comrade Halyard did propose a only the general sense that capitalism as is the worker who is a socialist, the YS "demonstration" in February. Now, this an international system is no longer grow member, and the party person. ing. Production, however, continues. The IS pragmatism gone wUd. Sensing that "These people are part of the working question is to assess how it continues, the youth at the meeting — those few who class but different from the working class. what will happen in the next stage of the did come — wanted to do something about They conflict with the thinking of the crisis, and what politically flows from the conditions they faced. Halyard pro working class. the way the capitalists seek to continue posed "a demonstration." We are not told "That is why we are launching a re under these conditions, and how the work what the demonstration is to center on, gional, and soon a national campaign ing class seeks to resist the attacks upon what programmatic demands it would for jobs. It will be a fight of the youth it. Without such a concrete assessment, raise, what its purpose was, and how that can change the thinking of older we have only the old theory of imminent this fits into our tasks of building a rev workers and build a conscious movement collapse of capital which the Lambert olutionary leadership in the working in the unions to replace the present union groupl2 borrowed from Pablo.13 class. bureaucrats. What a contrast to the 1973 conference. "Ask yourself a question: has or has 12. "Lambert group." The French Organi This conference was campaigned for from the moment of the conclusion of the Oc not your thinking changed in the last sation Communiste Internationaliste head tober 4 meeting which launched the twice- six months? Would you have come to this ed by Pierre Lambert. The OCI and the weekly. We buUt it at the same time that conference a year ago? Socialist Labour League were the two we launched traUblazers into the Midwest "Or did you experience things that main organizations in the rump "Inter to buUd the party in new areas and ex helped to make you change your think national Committee" set up by Healy in pand the circulation of the twice-weekly. ing? But you did not think of socialism 1963. They split in 1971. We held talent shows and bazaars and yourself. That came from the fight of the For material on the split, see "Lamber- other events during the course of build YS to reach you. tist 'Declaration' on Socialist Labour ing for the conference. "Well, if we can reach you, then you League," Intercontinental Press, Novem The first conference began with a per can reach others. That's what our cam ber 1, 1971, p. 942; "The Healyite Case spectives report on the international crisis paign is about. Against the Lambertists," Intercontinental by Adele Sinclair. Of course, there were "It is the initial fight of youth that will Press, November 22, 1971, p. 1015; and difficulties with the report because of its lead workers. We turn not to Nixon, not "The Split Between Healy and Lambert" highly abstract character. But the report to the Democrats, but to the 20 million by Pierre Frank, Intercontinental Press, concluded with a proposal of how the workers in the unions." November 29, 1971, p. 1045 (corrections YS would act under the new stage in the on p. 1058 and p. 1108). —ZP crisis. It described what it would do and E. The Struggle why it would do it. We sought at this, for Marxist Theory 13. Michel Pablo, a former secretary of and at the other regional conferences, to the Fourth International. He broke from explain the relationship between our own in the WL the movement in 1965. See "Pablo An nounces His Break with the Fourth Inter name of Intercontinental Press), May 28, It is important to clarify several related national" in World Outlook (the former 1965, p. 33. —/P questions of philosophy and Marxist

March 3, 1975 theory. The philosophical expression of were most sharply revealed. As we noted tions for the isolation of the League. Nev centrism is the attempt to deny contradic in the resolution Perspectives For The er before has the League stood so iso tion as the heart of all development and American Revolution: lated. Secondly, it creates the conditions change. The centrist is a formal thinker. "This circle approach is expressed in where in the next period, the League it He refuses to bring the opposites together two complementary ways. First is abstract self will be torn apart by the contradictory in his thinking so that his thinking will propagandism. The propagandist starts forces it does not grasp consciously. reflect the actual struggle of opposing from abstractions which are fixed, formal Opposites are held fast precisely through forces in the material world. In this way, and dead. He deals with what is new only bringing them together. That is why op he seeks to avoid the conflicts existent for the purpose of adjusting and readjust posites are held fast only through strug in the world. Instead, he wishes to pro ing his abstractions. Practice is for the gle and in no other way. Any attempt to ceed in a gradual non-contradictory way. self-development of the idea, of the ab avoid struggle creates the conditions for He is wrapped up in "transitions" which straction. With this method he is contin the breaking up of the opposites. This is for him represents in-between states of uously blind to what is new, unable to because the struggle of opposites proceeds compromise. develop anyone around him, subjective in any event. If it is not approached con This came out clearly in the philosoph and hostile to the actual development of sciously and fought out by comrades who ical conflict with George Novack.l4Novack a party of workers. fight as an opposite against another op saw the moments of dialectics in a fashion "Second is the activist He rejects theory posite then the opposites fall away and which wiped out any real contradiction altogether operating only at the level of no knowledge is learned from their or struggle. He saw the negation of the the current thinking of the workers around conflict. negation as a process of retaining in the him. His practice is without contradiction, What this means is that precisely the new being elements of the old being which without conflict with previously developed struggle we waged with the Lucy survive unscathed from the original or theory. St. John's and the Dennis O'Casey's pro first negation. However, a study of "The turn into the working class is a vided the knowledge necessary for the Lenin's Philosophical Notebooks and He theoretical task. It is actually a turn into development of the League. We held these gel's Logic reveals that both Lenin and the conflict of classes in the material comrades through our struggle with them. Hegel held that the old finds its expres world. But knowledge does not develop We were able to carry out a change in sion in the new through negation not as a simple reflection of the working class. the League in the building of the youth in spite of it. The struggle of opposites If this were true then a party would not movement through what we learned in is absolute and the unity of opposites be necessary. It is developed only con the process of this struggle. only relative. In fact, this unity is achieved sciously through a process of conflict of Where we erred, and we did err, in rela only through the struggle of opposition. the new experiences with previously de tion to this strata was when we let up The importance of this struggle of, op veloped theory as we fight as part of the on this internal struggle while persisting posites to the development of the Workers working class to construct a conscious in the work in the working class which League should be clear. The opposites leadership." they resisted. The record showed that lit within the League have a long history We have been accused in the recent pe tle struggle took place with Lucy St. John to them. However, it was in the struggle riod of seeking to choose opposites arbi for several months prior to her leaving to turn the party outward during the past trarily and refusing to hold the opposites the League. Furthermore, she left one day year—to break up the old circle prop- fast There have, of course, been times after one of our greatest successes, the agandism of the past—that the opposites when we have been guilty of both prac December 15 Eastern Regional YS Con tices. But there is nothing arbitrary about ference. We also erred by not waging a the choice of opposites which emerged more persistent struggle against the active 14. George Novack is the foremost fig over the past year in the WL. While oc layer of the party, the Perry Iversons, ure in the world Trotskyist movement casionally an individual can and did Esther Galens, Lucia Riveras, Helen Hal specializing in the field of philosophy. make a change—-which was true for a yards. Our weakness was not any tenden A consistent defender of dialectical mater brief period with Comrade St. John—the cy toward arbitrary struggle, driving out ialism since 1934, he has made many opposites remained and have been deter well-meaning comrades. Rather, it was substantial contributions in elucidating its mined by a considerable history. at times to avoid the internal struggle, history and in polemicizing with its op The turn back to abstract propagan thus making it difficult to educate the new ponents and distorters. Nonetheless he is dism and centrism, brought about by layers brought into the party as well as regarded by the Healyites as an "idealist." Comrade Healy's arbitrary intervention the critical activist layer of the party. For Novack's consideration of the is to remove an opposite from the WL, is However, another philosophical posi sues in the dispute mentioned by Wohl- a confirmation that the opposites de tion has now emerged within the Work forth, see "A Malignant Case of Sectar scribed in this statement existed historical ers League. It begins with Comrade ianism in Philosophy," Intercontinental ly within the League. They were in no Healy's lectures at the Summer Camp. Press, July 3, 1972, p. 771; "Healyite sense arbitrariiy determined by me. He sought to break down the moments Revisionism in the Field of Philosophy," The question of holding opposites fast of the dialectic in the most minute way Intercontinental Press, September 25, deserves some expianation for this term showing the opposites within each oppo 1972, p. 1020; "A Travesty of Marxist has become the philosophical cover in the site at each moment in the diaiectic pro Method," Intercontinental Press, January Workers League for compromise with cen cess. This kind of lecture has, in my opin 15, 1973, p. 14; and "Facts Are Stub trists. Comrade Meizelis has developed the ion, very little use, because it abstracts born Things," Intercontinental Press, July art of holding opposites fast to the point out of an actual study of matter in mo 23, 1973, p. 909. where he is abie to keep them in perfect tion a discussion of logic in such a man All four articles are included in the com balance, thus creating a state of motion- ner as to encourage a very pedantic and pilation Marxism Vs. Ultraleftism: The lessness. Certainly a state of motionless- formal approach. Record of Hecdy's Break With Trotsky ness is the best way to characterize the His main emphasis was on transitions. ism. (National Education Department, So "activity" of the League since Labor Day. But a transition cannot be understood cialist Workers Party, 14 Charles Lane, But the material world is made up of when abstracted from what happened be New York, N.Y. 10014. $2.50. Also matter in motion. The inability of the fore (the affirmative or first moment of the available from Pathfinder Press, 47 The leadership of the League to reflect this diaiectic) and what will come after it (the Cut, London SEl 8LL, England. in their thinking and on this basis de negation of the negation which, in turn, £1.07.)-/P velop a practice first creates the condi is a first moment in the next dialectical

Intercontinental Press change). It is as absurd to do this as scious mental process — because it in tinuously develop the movement theo it is to assess the miners strike isolated volves our struggle, our action, in the retically. from the Miller-Boyle fight which preced material world— our struggle to construct The removal of our leadership in the ed it. The interpenetration of opposites a party within the working class. League by Comrade Healy has led to is precisely that and it cannot be under The effect of this propagandist practice a tremendous decline in the theoretical stood abstracted from the whole process. of beginning with the universal is ex level of the party. This cannot be denied. This emphasis on transitions can be pressed in the party press. Issue after There is simply no theoretical work going come a concession to centrist metaphysics issue of the Bulletin begins with some on. The two page spreads have been al which envisions fixed entities which sur very generalized statement on the crisis most completely abandoned except for re vive the process of contradiction and pro or the most abstract of calls for a labor prints from the Workers Press and an oc vide transition and continuity to the party. There is no strategy which will casional journalistic piece. Few classes processes of matter and life. But as we lead to agitation on concrete issues which are held. No educational conferences have have discussed no such survivors exist. affect the life of the working class. No taken place. Comrade Mazelis himself has Transition is this process of oppositional campaigns against unempioyment, over written only three articles in the Bulletin struggle itself. The past shapes the future inflation. Just abstract discussions of cap over this period—less than one a month. through the present precisely in this nega italism in "absolute" decline. Everything But theory cannot develop in a vacuum. tive way. The future is not the negation is the universal. Everything is therefore Without a struggle in the party and in the of any past but of a particular past. It millions of light years away from the working class, there can be no theoretical is none-the-less a break, an irreversible working class. life. The Mazelis leadership does every break with that past. The methods described in this section thing to avoid both. This question of transition, combined have been the methods of Comrade Ma- Not only has theory declined under the with the question of holding opposites zelis for years. For years we fought Com Mazelis ieadership, but this ieadership, in fast, became a philosophical rationale for rade Mazelis on these questions. Com league with the British, is suppressing the maintaining unprincipled blocs with cen rade Heaiy has intervened into the in previous theoretical development of the trist elements who had left the party. These ternal life of the Workers League to cut party. Over the past year, we wrote an elements, as we have proven, were re off this process. By placing Comrade Ma important book on the history of the turned to the party on the basis of a zelis at the head of the movement and American working class. We felt then, and political compromise with their centrist giving him the backing of the 1C,15 Com do even more so now, that with the de position, not on a clear basis in which rade Healy has removed any possibility velopment of the crisis creating new con the whole movement could learn from of a struggie against this. Thus the ideai- ditions for working class struggle, we can a continuing struggle against their cen- ist tendency which always existed within only equip ourselves to lead the struggle trism. the League now reigns unchallenged. if we assess and understand the past of At the same time, another philosophical The effects of this on the theoretical the American working class. "innovation" was introduced into the life of the Workers League can no longer Over that whole year the book was Workers League. It was in fact nothing be denied. In August we were accused published, a section at a time, in the Bul more than an old rationale for propa- by Comrade Healy of neglecting theory letin. Not one person in our movement gandism. It seems we must begin with in our quest to build the Workers League. or internationaliy expressed any difference the universal which after all is contained 1 do not believe this was the case because with it. Now with the book already print in the first moment of dialectics. As 1 1 am convinced that theory could not de ed and ready for distribution. Comrade pointed out in a philosophy class before velop in the League outside of the turn Mazelis has decided to suppress the book my resignation the universal is contained we took in 1973 to drive the movement by refusing to advertise it or distribute within the first moment of the process into the youth. But 1 certainly agree that it publiciy. When asked about this, all as an opposite of the particular (of course, as that drive proceeded we needed to con- he would say was that Comrade Banda when 1 raised this point, 1 was denounced had some criticisms of it, that there had and accused of factionalism). been no discussion of these criticisms with We begin at every point from a con 15. "IC." The original International Com in the party, but in the interim the book crete, from a particular. The dialectical mittee was a faction in the Fourth Inter was being withdrawn from circulation. process can never begin from a universal. national formed in November 1953 in Also written during the past year was That is the way our thinking is trained opposition to political positions and or an important pamphlet called "What Is to operate in the universities. It is not ganizational practices represented chiefly To Be Done Today." This originally ap the way change takes place in matter nor by Michel Pablo, who headed the Inter- peared in the Young Socialist It details even in our everyday thinking if we think nationed Secreteiriat. The struggle ended Lenin's struggle against the Mensheviks consciously about it. To begin with the in a split that lasted almost ten years. in 1903 and brings out its importance universal is an idealist mental imposi Eventually the differences lost their im for our struggie to construct the revoiu- tion upon the actual process of the mate mediacy or were superseded by new events tionary party today. That pamphlet was rial world. on which common conclusions were reach in its last stages of its production just The importance of this should be clear. ed. In 1963 the two sides held a reunifi before 1 resigned. It has not appeared. For some years now we have battled with cation congress on the basis of a joint comrades to understand that they must declaration of principles, and formed the begin at each point in their thinking with United SecretEuriat of the Fourth Interna Nothing, of course, is being written to what is new, with concrete experiences tional. take the place of this material. Over the in the workers movement. They must seek On both sides small minorities refused past period, because we had a vision to bring these experiences into conflict to accept the majority decisions. The mi of the kind of movement we could build with their aiready developed thought(the nority of the International Committee,con in this period, we fought to accumulate universal, Marxist theory and strategy sisting in the main of the two groups led the equipment which made it possible not as we know it to that point in time). by Healy and Lambert, set up a rump only to print our own paper and even- Out of this conflict will come a new de "International Committee," which split in tuaily produce a daily paper (a project velopment in thinking. But it is not a 1971. (See footnote No. 12.) Wohlforth's no longer mentioned in the Workers matter of colliding an experience observed reference is to the splinter of the rump League) but to pubiish books. More than with a thought held. It is more than a "IC" remaining after the departure of the equipment is needed to produce books. mental process—more exactly it is a con OCL-/P Most important is a perspective which

March 3, 1975 sees the need for such material and a take place. Mazelis now has the equip- While AD'2 members Arturo Her struggle of opposites which creates the ment. He lacks the theory, nandez Grisanti and David Morales conditions for theoretical development to [Next week: Healy Intervenes] Bello spoke grandiloquently in defense of the government, the Actas-Con venio, and the AD's whoie record of Liga Socialista Stand on Take-over managing the national economy, C0PEI3 members —headed by Godo- fredo Gonzdlez and Eduardo Fer of Venezuela's Iron-ore Industry nandez— launched a holy crusade in which they went so far as to say that [The following is a statement by ment. Haven't the companies robbed "the iron-ore nationalization is a the executive committee of the Liga the country enough without our giv fraud." Socialista (Socialist League, theVene- ing them an additional 500 million? Of course, none of this was sur zueian section of the Fourth Interna- Couldn't this sum of money be in prising. COP El and Accidn Demo- tionai). It was published in the Janu vested to start an unemployment in crhtica were trying to saivage or ary 15 issue of the League's news surance fund? maintain their prestige with the voters. paper, Voz Socialista. The transla 2. Both Orinoco and Iron will con What was really surprising was the tion is by Intercontinental Press.] tinue to operate in Venezuela for one attitude of the left. year, working for the state through At least the MIR4 voted against this the Corporacidn Venezolana de Guay- capitulationist deal, given the sugges ana [Venezuelan Corporation of tive name Actas-Convenio. The iron-ore industry, which for Guayana]. In 1975 they will get ex But Amdrico Martin did not raise years was operated by and for the tremely high commissions by working any ciass alternative to Accidn Demo- imperialist firms Iron and Orinoco for the state. This is not a necessary crhtica's proposals. He did not use Mining, was nationalized by Presi expense. his parliamentary position to help the dential Decree No. 580. The first arti 3. The companies wUi remain here, workers and people's movement ad cle of this decree states: providing technical aid untU 1977. vance their understanding of what this "In the national interest, the state This is another unnecessary part of nationalization means and what the reserves to itself the industrial ex the agreement that benefits the com workers can do to make the benefits ploitation of iron ore." panies, since the overwhelming major flowing from it profit the people. During the years of plunder, both ity of the technical personnel of While government propaganda was companies regained two and a half Orinoco and Iron are Venezuelan. times their total capital investment. 4. The state agrees to provide U. S. bombarding everyone with slogans Those enormous profits were extracted Steel —the U. S.-based parent com and posters — like "the iron is ours" from our country by brutally exploit pany of Orinoco — eleven million tons and "Bolivar's children are taking ing the mine workers. of iron ore a year until 1981, with the back their mountains" —what were the MAS® compafteros saying besides But in the case of this nationaliza option to reduce the tonnage by 50 casting an abstaining vote in Con tion, [President] Carios Andrds P^rez percent after that date. This is one of gress? has also shown that he cannot and the most far-reaching provisions of In a resolution signed by the MAS does not want to break his ties with the Actas-Convenio, because it forces the imperialists. Days after Decree 580 Venezuela to sell off a large portion ieadership, they made an assessment was promulgated, the government of the iron ore instead of processing that strikes us as accurate. They said: presented Congress with the concrete it here. And, if that were not enough, provisions of the agreement with Iron the Andres P4rez government is plan "It is no more than a rhetorical and Orinoco so that they could be ning to have that ore processed by question to ask what way of life wiii debated there. This agreement has capitalist firms, that is, by private be furthered by the exploitation of iron. It is obvious that, for now, it been called the Actas-Convenio. i capital, by the bourgeoisie. Its terms involve far-ranging conces 5. According to the Actas-Convenio, wUi be part of an economic mechan ism characterized by the rule of sions that run counter to the interests conflicts arising during negotiations of the workers and masses. between the state and the imperialist powerful private interests (nationai firms wiii be resoived by a "CouncU and international) that find in this To show this, let us examine the of Arbitrators" composed of three per sons. No one wiii have the right to terms of the Actas-Convenio, keeping 2. Accion Democratica—Democratic Ac protest their decisions. Who appoints in mind that they were reached with tion. out the 3,500 ironworkers even this "council"? We don't know. We having been consulted. They stipulate think that any conflict between the 3. Comite Organizada por Elecciones In- that: state and the companies shouid be dependientes—Committee Organized for 1. The state agrees to pay Iron and decided by a committee of ironwork Independent Political Action. Orinoco an indemnity totaiing some ers, democraticaily eiected in the mines 500 mUiion bolivars [about US$117 and unions. 4. Movimiento de la Izquierda Revolu- million], the exact sum the companies cionaria — Movement of the Revolutionary When the secretiy negotiated Actas- Left. demanded from the national govern- Convenio was presented to the parlia ment, it set off a heated discussion, 5. Movimiento al Socialismo — Movement 1. Memorandum of Agreement. which ended in a surprising vote. Toward Socialism.

Intercontinental Press iron ore an important point of sup state, and not—as the president has then abstained in the parliamentary port for expanding their business and agreed —in the hands of the employers vote. earnings. This kind of society is weli through joint (state and private) stock The campaign we propose would known to Venezuelans, and we know companies. focus on calling immediate general how much suffering it means for the Fourth, we socialists propose that assemblies of the six unions in the great majority of the people." the MAS, MIR, CTV,6 the student or industry so- that the workers could If we added to this MAS resolution ganizations, and the political parties democratically elect a delegation from the fact that the government is the that claim to represent the workers labor with the following tasks: administrator of these "private inter and people, join together to launch a 1. To replace the "Council of Ar ests" (a slight oversight!), the MAS united campaign for workers control bitrators" in making decisions on would still be a step away from of the iron-ore industry. problems arising between Orinoco/ turning its complaint into a revolu Our position is that the socialists Iron and the state in the discussions. tionary-socialist, class-struggle policy. had no vote of their own in this de For this purpose, it would have ac That step is taking up the line of bate, either in Congress, the factories, cess to the books of those companies. calling for independence of the work or on the streets. We are of the opin 2. To draw up a plan for using the ing-class movement from the luke ion that scores of thousands of young 1,150-million-bolivar income [about warm "nationalisf policy of Carlos people and workers have been—as US$269 million] from iron ore in Andres Pdrez and all the bosses in we have—totally let down because the 1975 to come to grips with some of this country. MAS limited itself to lamenting some the extreme hardships our people suf The MAS companeros did not aspects of the Actas-Convenio and fer from. vote against or raise a hue and cry Then we would be in a position to against the amount of compensation 6. Confederacion General de Trabaja- honestly say "the iron is ours" and that Carlos Andrds Pdrez will pay to dores de Venezuela—General Confedera not the bourgeoisie's. □ the imperialist companies. Along with tion of Workers of Venezuela. the other abstainer —the Communist party, which claims to represent the working class and socialism — the The NATO Maneuvers in Portugal MAS did nothing more than give indi rect, shamefaced support to the anti- [In its February 17 issue, the New York NATO maneuvers. The translation is by labor, antisocialist deal between the Times published an editorial claiming that Intercontinental Press.] president and the companies. the Communist party, had been steadily Among activists in some factories occupying key positions in Portugal since Portugal was forced to withdraw from the we have heard the following remark: the April 25 coup. It also said there was an last meeting of NATO's Nuclear Planning "It's okay, but does it really benefit acute danger that the Portuguese CP would Group. Nevertheless, air and naval forces of try to block the elections scheduled for April the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are us?" 12 and stage a take-over. holding maneuvers in our country This question expresses a legitimate [This editorial, which is dealt with else involving more than 10,000 men in Amer suspicion. where in this issue, stated quite clearly that ican, German, English, Dutch, and Portu The socialists' answer to this activ the attempted right-wing coup in September guese units. ist, and to all the workers, students, 1974 was justified to halt the creeping According to the communique from the and people is very simple: Communist take-over. It indicated that any armed forces information office, these First, we socialists support the na violent mass mobilizations between now exercises are part of "a program of training tionalization of the iron-ore industry. and the elections would be interpreted as an in low-flying maneuvers and strafing" for It is an act of national self-defense attack on "democracy" and the security of some airplanes in the center of the country — although a paltry one, negotiated the Western aiiiance. And finally it warned "in accordance with permission granted by behind the backs of the workers, and the Soviet Union that it "would not be in the Portuguese authorities." The com deceptive in that it has been carried the interest" of the Russian people if the munique went on to explain that "the out by a bourgeois government like Soviet embassy was found supporting CP objective of this operation is to train and that of Carlos Andrds Pdrez. But it attempts to gain influence. perfect the reactions and test the speed with does strike at our main enemy — the [Such an editorial in a paper known to which NATO forces commands can act to same one that invaded Vietnam and reflect the opinion of the section of the maintain and assure effective defense Santo Domingo and imposed the un American ruling class most concerned with measures in a theater of operations that has just ten-year blockade against Cuba. foreign policy clearly represented an at vital importance for all of Western Europe." It is a measure striking at one sector tempt to intimidate the Portuguese govern These maneuvers come, moreover, at of the Yankee imperialists—U.S. ment and workers movement. It threatened about the same time as the statement at a U.S. intervention in an unmistakable way Steel. meeting of the International Conference on Second, we socialists reject the Actas- if, from Washington's point of view, the Defense Problems (in which NATO member mass upsurge in Portugal goes too far. Convenio signed by the government countries participate) that "any deliberate Furthermore, the editorial came shortly attempt to attack the stability of the and Orinoco and Iron because it ties after NATO forces landed in Portugal in international system on which the security Venezuela for several more years to early February for maneuvers that also had of the Free World depends will be interpret the very firms that have just been a threatening character. ed as aggression and will be answered in nationalized. [The following article from the February the appropriate manner." Third, we socialists propose that aU 12 issue of the Portuguese revolutionary- What does the bourgeoisie mean by "Free industry related to iron-ore process socialist fortnightly Combate Soeialista World"? ing be placed in the hands of the deals with the threat represented by the The capitalist countries are "free" be- March 3, 1975 cause in these countries the bourgeoisie has participating in these exercises and au boost to the exploiters to enable them to get the freedom to live off the sweat and toil of thorizing the imperialist military machine the result they want from the elections. millions upon millions of exploited human to carry out training operations in our If the layoffs, rising prices, speculation, beings. It has the freedom at any time it country. and all the reactionary maneuvers of the wants to shut down the factories if profits The Communist party warns against Portuguese capitalists are not sufficient to do not meet expectations, to raise prices, demonstrations that might assume a provo show what a swindle these elections repre and to use the police and the army against cative character. At the same time, the CP sent,then the anti-working-class maneuvers strikes and mass movements. says: "While Portugal is part of NATO, of the imperialists ought to be. While This is the "freedom" NATO is training there are going to be such maneuvers with Portugal is bound by imperialist pacts and in Portugal to protect. It was to defend this Portuguese participation. Nonetheless, in subject to the obligations these pacts kind of "fi"eedom" that the alliance was the present political situation, we must impose, there cannot be any really demo formed after World War II. regard holding NATO exercises here com cratic elections. The CP and the SP should At that time, the results of the war—crisis pletely inopportune." be the first to understand this and fight for and impoverishment, the armed resistance However, since the majority of the a workers and people's government that against fascism and Nazi occupation, and working class puts its trust in the Com would expropriate the capitalists and abro the prestige of communism throughout munist and Socialist parties and Intersindi- gate all of Portugal's pacts with imper Europe—provided the conditions for a mass cal [the CP-dominated union federation], it ialism. That is the only way genuinely upsurge the capitalists were not prepared to is these organizations precisely that have a democratic elections could be guaranteed. face. For this reason, on April 4, 1949, responsibility to mobilize the masses in a NATO was formed as a military and solid united front to struggle for the All the strength of the working class must political alliance linking the United States abrogation of all aggressive imperialist be mobilized to force the immediate abro and Canada with a group of European pacts. gation of the aggressive imperialist countries. In a situation where the bourgeoisie is treaties—NATO and the Iberian Pact! Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty is counting on the elections to reinforce its A united front in action must be built to quite explicit. Member countries declare domination of society, the presence of expel NATO from Portugal! that an attack on one of them will be foreign imperialism is an additional threat Portugal out of NATO; NATO out of considered an attack on all, and that in the to the working masses and an additional Portugal! □ event of an armed conflict all will come to the aid of the country attacked with "such Tomas 'Pancho' Carricaburu action as may be deemed necessary." All the signatories pledge to "safeguard free dom, the common heritage and civilization of the respective peoples, based on the Argentine Police Kill LCR Member principles of democracy, individual free dom, and respect for law." These words too Tomas Horacio Francisco "Pancho" Ca participated in the 1967 rail strike against much resemble those invoked by Nixon to rricaburu, a member of the Liga Comunista the military dictatorship. When the strike justify the mass murder in Vietnam or by Revolucionaria (LCR—Revolutionary Com was defeated, Carricaburu was fired along the Salazarist regime to justify the massa munist League, a sympathizing organiza with many other participants. cre of "terrorists" for us to mistake what tion of the Fourth International in Argen In 1969 he engaged actively in the they mean or represent. tina), was murdered by the federal police in worker-student mobilizations in support of During Portugal's colonial wars, the same Buenos Aires December 20, 1974. He was the semi-insurrection in Cordoba. Shortly counterrevolutionary objective was served thirty years old. afterward, he was arrested and tortured for by NATO's aid to the fascist regime, which The police's story, according to the three months, accused of being part of a was supplied with weapons to enable it to January issue of the LCR's newspaper guerrilla group. try to crush the struggle of the peoples of Combate, was that the unarmed victim had Carricaburu became an exponent of Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. robbed and beaten an old woman on Calle armed struggle and broke with Politica Today, this anti-working-class Holy Al Florida (a generally crowded short street Obrera in early 1970. liance has the same objective in coming to noted for its exclusive shops), and had He then got involved in the teachers' the support of capitalist reaction and trying "resisted" arrest. struggle. Because of his participation in to force the mass movement to put a Carricaburu was the third LCR member campus actions against the dictatorship, he damper on its struggle. to be gunned down by the police in 1974. was arrested a second time. Moreover, NATO is not the only alliance (See Intercontinental Press, January 27, p. the capitalists can rely on for self- 94, for an account of the deaths of Mario In October 1970, Carricaburu joined a preservation. There is another agreement, Rodriguez and Adriana Drangosch.) group of sympathizers of the Partido the Iberian Pact, which our country main Carricaburu became active in the student Revolucionario de los Trabajadores (PRT— tains with the Spanish fascist regime. movement when he was sixteen years old. Revolutionary Workers party). This group According to this, when the bourgeoisie As student-body president of the engineer became the Bahla Blanca unit of the PRT. feels the need, "our brothers" can intervene ing school at the National University of As one of the local leaders, Carricaburu militarily against the workers. For the time the South in Bahla Blanca, he attended participated in armed actions of the Ej4rcito being, however, there has been no sign of many congresses of the Argentine Univers Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP— "exercises" undertaken by Franco. ity Students Federation. Inspired by the Revolutionary People's Army), which was It doesn't surprise us that the government Cuban revolution, he helped found the anti- sponsored by the PRT. is permitting this "simulated attack on Stalinist student group, Agrupacion Refor- Toward the end of 1972, Carricaburu Portugal" while it is trying by every means mista Independiente (Independent Reform joined the Fraccibn Roja (Red Faction) of possible to block the struggles of the Group). the PRT, which later split and formed the workers and people's movement, claiming In 1967 he joined Politica Obrera (Labor LCR. He played a leading role in the LCR that they "endanger the democratic pro Politics) and got involved in strike struggles as a revolutionary intellectual until the time cess," or that the Portuguese army is for the first time. As a railroad worker, he of his death. □

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