Only he is a Marxist who extends the rec- Subscriptions (£30 p.a. or £15 six months - pay ognition of the class struggle to the recogni- Economic & Bulletin Publications) and circulation: £2 tion of the dictatorship of the proletariat. p&p EPSR, po box 76261, This is the touchstone on which the real Philosophic London sw17 1GW [Post Office Registered.] Books understanding and recognition of Marxism e-mail: [email protected] is to be tested. V.I.Lenin Science Review Website — www.epsr.org.uk Vol 15

driver (representing Britain’s Leninist perspective on triumphant police-military dictatorship), and that the IRA itself intended to hold an inquiry to reprimand Irish national-liberation struggle those responsible for such an ill-judged attack, plus well- Part Two (June 1988 - January 1994) recorded apologies (for the casu- alties to innocent by-standers) expressed by Sinn Féin and the IRA. EPSR books Volume 15 [Part One in Vol 8 1979-88] Channel Four’s News at Seven even added a postscript to its far further afield, particularly hour-long nightly bulletin that More clues from the dog not barking in the Republic and in the huge its coverage of the Fermanagh [ILWP Bulletin No 450 29-06-88] North American Irish-descent border incident should have population). made it clearer that the target Pieces continue to fit together again showed up the limits of Some key sections of the Brit- of the IRA attack was the UDR revealing British imperialism’s philosophical, political and ish capitalist state media delib- bus driver, and not the children plans to finally quit its colonial cultural emancipation of the erately held back from this prize inside the bus. enclave in the occupied north bourgeois-nationalist ideology opportunity handed them by All of this smacked of deliber- of Ireland, - driven out by the (as compared to the historically- IRA clumsiness to crucify once ate Whitehall news manage- unbeatable national-liberation proven all-round transforma- again the “evil men of violence”, ment. struggle (climaxed by Sinn tion of liberation struggle when etc, in the usual one-sided way Why? Because the deal is Féin’s Bolshevisation of the led by the dialectical-materialist in which the casualties of the coming up in which Sinn Féin Irish proletariat inside the revolutionary theory of Leninist national-liberation war are will be accepted as having colony), - and to try to hand proletarian-dictatorship organi- exaggerated when caused by earned a legitimate role in over a snail’s pace reunification sation). guerrilla action, but completely the devolution-reunification under Dublin rule. But it was a far more remark- whitewashed or covered up convolutions which will funda- The crass military misjudg- able event for the indirect when the result of SAS death mentally end up with Ireland at ment by the IRA in planting evidence it provided that a squads, indiscriminate RUC last getting its full independ- a bomb in a school bus with deal is in the offing for a new baton-rounds, or systematic ence from British imperialism, apparently a tilt-mechanism constitutional conference for army night-raid terror or tor- - just as the national-liberation detonator (which not too the whole island of Ireland in ture barracks treatment, etc. struggle has been demanding surprisingly failed to go off which Sinn Féin will be invited But remarkably, this time, and fighting for, - ending at last 1 with just its UDR driver-target to play a major role (represent- some of the coverage was almost the British colonial enclave in on board but did explode once ing the indomitable liberation self-consciously fair to the the gerrymandered portions the bus was loaded with Brit- struggle in the north, and IRA, carefully pointing out that of six of Ulster’s nine counties ish and Irish schoolchildren) representing Irish sentiments the target the UDR-regiment which were ripped out of Ireland EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 by Black & Tan bayonets in the important role in pretending to nial sections of the Tory Party. always going to be a poisonous shameful Partition in 1921, be reclaiming full Irish inde- So the implacable murder- relic for British imperialism (– denying that earlier heroic pendence under the proposed ous supremacy of the ‘rule of to divest itself of. The armed national-liberation struggle the new deal (but in reality staying law’ must be made to stand out UDI Carson campaign failed full fruits of its outstanding very close to the West’s counter- supreme even as the political miserably (and predictably - see guerrilla war victory over Brit- revolutionary general inter- framework is being trans- ILWP Books vol 8 & 15 – Ireland), ish imperialism.) ests, – in particular, fear of the formed solely as a result of that but Paisley’s powerful propa- Whitehall ‘get-out-of-empire’ Leninist-leaning of part of Sinn unbeatable national-liberation ganda slander remains nearly circles still have a bitter fight on Féin; and determined to help struggle. abandoned now by the whole ex- their hands against the colonial- London head it off by doing this There is also a firm wish to colonial community (apart from reactionary/political police new snail’s pace reunification see the boasted-of ‘excellence’ handfuls of National-Front-type circles who insist that appalling deal) – was Hermon’s half-stran- in secret-police counter-revolu- thugs), and so ready to do noth- consequences for capitalism gled announcement that he tionary (‘anti-terrorist’) regimes ing but kick the bucket of slops will follow if Britain is seen would probably step down from in the occupied zone being over as the vicious imperialist to be “giving in to the men of running the RUC next year, – 5 maintained “for the benefit dream of a gerrymandered ‘Brit- violence”, etc. years before compulsory retire- of the anti-communist strug- ish Ireland’ fades for ever. Hence the ruling group’s wish ment. Today, the background to gle” for the whole of Ireland, Hermon is already being to deliberately NOT inflame this strange announcement was whatever the political colouring quietly eased out,- to avoid his public opinion against the Sinn revealed, – the decision by the of its final devolved or reunified prosecution, and appease the Féin national liberation group- police committee in the zone constitutionality (probably a Dublin demands that justice in ings on this occasion. NOT to prosecute Hermon over mixture of both). the Occupied Zone must at least Another interesting sign of the death-squad SAS/killings Although the SAS will ‘be seen’ to be cleared up - a lit- clearing up difficulties with investigated by Stalker. probably not have any official tle before respectable reunifica- Dublin Green Tories for their J.H. jurisdiction inside any new tion can - take place (which still all-island Ireland, its methods leaves the capitalist establish- British colonial community in occu- and experience are very much ment intact in Ireland, north embodied in the RUC which it and south). pied Ireland kicking the bucket is hoped will be continued as But Paisley’s savaging could the leading force of ‘law and badly easily taint the whole RUC [ILWP Bulletin No 451 06-07-88] order’. It is the whole history of yet. British imperialism’s furtive Harland and Wolff read Britain’s ‘counter-insurgency operations’ And there are added dangers scuttle out of Ireland is gather- colonial enclave in Ulster, and which monopoly-capitalist from the victimised 20 officers, ing pace. Although complex and vice versa. interests wish to see preserved or from Paisley-type vengeance, contradictory, some aspects of it A contradictory impression in reputation in Gibraltar, not of spilling even more of the are almost turning into a rout or to the reality of British impe- just the individual assassins. mouldy rotten past of Britain’s a stampede. rialism’s capitulation to the But this aspect of preserving police-military dictatorship in The proposed abandonment unbeatable strength of Ireland’s the RUC’s reputation is going Ireland. of age-old UK government national-liberation struggle, very badly. The whitewash of Simultaneously, news is now subsidies to the Harland and led by Sinn Féin and the IRA, Hermon’s death-squad role (see freely admitted of the steady Wolff shipbuilding giant in may appear to be given by last Bulletin) while 20 junior exodus on one-way tickets of Belfast represents a massive London’s vicious intransigent officers are to face ‘obstruction much youth (especially from the blow not just at the entrenched determination to protect its of justice’ disciplinary investiga- old disillusioned supremacist Orange-colonial employment SAS death-squad assassins at all tion stinks to high heaven, And colonial community) out of the sectarianism which has kept costs from being found guilty worst of all the scorned Orange Occupied Zone for ever. the Irish proletariat as second- of cold-blooded murder of three colonial hardman Paisley is The ‘British Ulster’ farce, class citizens trapped inside the unarmed Irish republicans on vengefully stirring the stench viciously born by Black and Tan British enclave - discriminated the streets of Gibraltar by the as hard as he can, - demanding bayonets in 1921 ripping gerry- against for jobs in favour of the Mickey Mouse local inquest Thatcher and Hermon go on mandered parts of this province Rule Britannia bully boys of (which has declared in advance trial if trial there has to be, - not out of the newly-won independ- colonial-fascist so-called ‘Prot- it will refuse to allow any at- their loyal underlings. ence for the Republic of Ireland, estantism’. tempted implication of the As the ILWP has explained, — is dying a death. But even more is it a conclu- British unformed killers in any diehard Orange ‘loyalism’ was Good riddance. Gerry Mole sive undermining, once and criminal liability). for all, of the greatest symbol But as ILWP Books (vol 8 & 15 British retreat hides behind Irish of imperialism in the occupied – Ireland) has explained, part of Shorts sell-off* zone of Ireland. the international Western deal Harland and Wolff has imposed on Westminster for [ILWP Bulletin No 455 04-08-88] [*See note in No 458 p4] always typified the superior at last getting out of Ireland is industrial and military might that the propaganda war against Tom King’s off hand ‘free concentration camps, anti-Irish of the United Kingdom against the “men of violence” should be market’ justifications for the discrimination, etc, etc, - right the small-nation republican continued on into whatever new enormously significant Shorts in the middle of the ‘free West’ nationalism of Irish independ- reunified or devolved constitu- Brothers sell-off in the occu- - off the agenda as quickly as ence struggle. tional arrangements are made pied zone of Northern Ireland possible: before the message All the time that London for Ireland (after an expansion further confirm the ILWP’s makes too many lessons for was prepared to keep on paying of the Anglo-Irish Treaty provi- analysis that Thatcher is being all workers still living under the bills for the hugely costly sions for handing sovereignty forced towards pulling out of capitalism, as they increasingly workshop of British imperial for the whole of the island at Britain’s oldest colony (ILWP suffer the same fascist dictator- and commercial power, then the last back to Dublin). Books, Vol 8 & 15 Ireland). ship imposed by the exploding symbolic implication was that London fears terrible revo- American and other Western imperialist slump. little Ireland would never be in lutionary repercussions, - in “democracies’” embarrass- Hot on the heels of the a position to really challenge Ireland and in Britain itself ment (and nervousness) at the Harland & Wolff privatisa- Britain’s military dominance eventually, - if it is seen to be in continued exposure in Ulster tion plans, the Shorts sell-off or its overpowering economic any way “giving in to the men of the essentially brutal nature completes the British state’s might and influence. of violence” (i.e. capitulating of all imperialist rule has been end to its promised ‘commit- 2 Those days have been relent- to revolutionary struggle), - pressuring the British govern- ment in perpetuity’ to Orange lessly disappearing in reality for especially the subversive MI5 ment for some time now to get fascism: not only because they the past 80 years. Now the few counter-revolutionary wing of the messy shoot-to-kill policies are the two major employers remaining symbols of imperial the Whitehall establishment, and their cover-ups, the no- of the proxy British in Ulster, power are tottering too. For backed by some die-hard colo- jury Diplock courts, H-block but more significantly because EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the two industries themselves, the continued insistence of the opportunity to gain ‘left cred’ working class. representing the epitome of extradition deal with Dublin, by jumping on the bandwagon Only scientific class analysis imperialist warmongering confirms only that Sinn Féin is behind someone else’s hard- of developments by Leninist dominance, have been propped to be marginalised and denied fought real struggle, even if it leadership (both woefully up by massive state subsidies for the fruits of its victory against contradicts its own petty bour- absent from the middle class years on end despite phenom- British imperialism. geois politics) largely because RCP pessimists) can aver achieve enal financial losses. The purely The British also have to bal- the British working class is not this. (In any case, the Irish political decision to call a halt to ance Sinn Féin/IRA’s significant showing enough support. revolution can only truly be won these subsidies now is displayed support base, which could give Betraying their natural cra- by the Irish themselves, and ul- by the purely political decision their chosen stooge representa- ven capitulation to imperialist timately could not be prevented previously to maintain them: tives trouble if they were too aggression, they see the cor- from reaching a successful con- Tory policies of free market self- contemptuously dismissed: nered dog fascism of the ruling clusion by anything the British sufficiency ‘such as the Short hence the talks between the class as a sign of strength rather workers may or may not do.) brothers lived by’ are nothing SDLP and Sinn Féin (backed by than its real weakness. The entire left swamp in more than a thinly veiled con- SDLP/Tom King discussions Britain was forced out of Britain - of which the RCP is venient excuse for the British which in effect means communi- its long-standing Irish colony an integral part, despite its state’s U-turn. cation between London and the in 1921 by the armed national nit-picking ‘differences’ with Those free market self-suf- lately reviled ‘men of violence’). liberation struggle and only other elements - exposes its ficiency sections of the British Consequently the normal gerrymandered the artificial own pessimistic petty bourgeois bourgeoisie which currently hysterical cries of ‘terrorism’ ‘Northern Ireland’ zone to subservience to imperialism with the upper hand, are push- against the Irish side of the war prolong its occupation. Con- with its endless lamenting over ing through the withdrawal from the stooge British media trary to the RCP’s admiring the establishment ‘move to process, see that this time have been toned down lately talk of clever bourgeois talents the right’. Along with the most they can go all the way (unlike to attack method rather than for adapting to circumstance perfidious Labour Party, - most in 1921, when the Tory Lord motivation (a wholly hypocriti- and strengthening their hold, craven and most unsubtle of all Carson and other diehards cal stance since it is British ag- they have done so only by the the so-called opposition to the whipped up the rebellion that gression that forces the Irish to skin of their teeth and are now increasingly open dictatorship resulted in the false partition self defence, and is responsible being forced out by the renewed of capital under the Tories - the of the country) by the pathetic for all violence in the prov- strength of the armed national left swamp exposes its bottom- resigned response from the ince). And this is even after the liberation struggle again - this line faith in imperialism and its Orangemen, with even the hys- unfortunate series of mishaps time for good. fear of fighting it, in its insist- terical fire-and-brimstone Peter acknowledged recently by the The viciousness of its contin- ence that imperialism is now Robinson only mumbling about IRA (swimming pool bomb, Han- ued campaign of attempted an- strong. ‘adequate compensation’ for the na family deaths, etc (although nihilation against Republicans Imperialism has never been abandoned workforce. IRA success in penetrating such shows its weakness in retreat, weaker, tottering from one The tricky bit for the British a heavily patrolled stretch of and the shallow pretence of crisis to another in its terminal state is not deflated Orange road must not be forgotten).) Hillsborough cementing Lon- economic slump, cranking up resistance, nor even protesta- Significantly, press comments don/Orange relations fools the the arms race, inter-capitalist tions and obstruction from the following the latest attack on a RCP easily. rivalries, warmongering, etc, entrenched right wing among North London barracks concen- Their middle class pessimism etc. Its difficulties in Ireland themselves (the likes of Ian trated on criticism of lax army makes them easy dupes for spring directly from the impe- Gow, BBC establishment reac- security rather than the IRA. bourgeois bullying and their rialist crisis, hitting the Ulster tionaries, etc), but how to try As this general intention of disappointment that reality economy, as one of the weakest and stitch up a deal including all the British state to pull out is has failed to fit neatly into their links in the weak British chain, and any political groupings to increasingly confirmed by its idealistic dreams leaves them especially hard. dilute Sinn Féin’s role. every move (notwithstand- blaming the English working The armed national libera- British politicians know bet- ing any future twists that may class for failing to give the Irish tion struggle of Sinn Féin/IRA is ter than anyone that the armed occur as the anarchic demise of solidarity without even explain- forcing its way to victory. Des- struggle, supported by the in- dying capitalism forces the rul- ing why they should. perate British imperialism will creasingly bolshevised masses, ing class to adapt its needs and As Marx and Engels explained have to find a weaker adversary led by Sinn Féin/IRA, is what tactics to unpredictable lurches), in detail, no working class can for its ever more brittle aggres- has beaten them and broken the the obtuse petty bourgeois RCP itself be free while it still sup- sive domineering. will of the degenerate Orange is still trotting out its old worn ports oppression by its ‘own‘ But it is nearing the end of diehards. And it is precisely the phrases, now looking distinctly ruling class of a smaller nation. the road. The balance of class strength and success of that out of date to say the least. Insistent ‘pull yourselves forces across the planet is tip- national liberation struggle that Omitting any mention of together’ style demands from ping irreversibly in favour of the has forced Irish American sup- the pullout implications of the the RCP will never explain working class. Leninism is the port to be so outspoken against Anglo-Irish accord, the related this contradiction, nor inspire only future for humanity. its ‘special ally’ Britain - bril- imperialist industry sell-off, the revolutionary action in support Evelyn Lowe liantly displayed this week by toning down of British media of Sinn Féin among the English the arch reactionary New York reporting on Ireland etc, etc, mayor Ed Koch’s forced retrac- the special all-Irish issue of TNS tion of a statement that British adopts a tone of berating the Irish liberation triumphs as Ulster fas- troops were keeping the peace British working class for not cism is once more shown the gate on the streets of Belfast. minding enough about the oc- It is because of this over- cupation of the gerrymandered [ILWP Bulletin No 456 10-08-88] riding need to keep Ireland six counties, emptily repeating under the control of pro-Nato, that the Irish question is crucial Thatcher’s rejection of a second circles of Whitehall and the pro-Western alliance, capitalist for British workers but without round of internment to meet the secret police/military forces. lap-dogs like the Dublin greens, saying why or how such solidar- IRA’s massive show of strength If for all the Thatcherites’ that the British government ity can be achieved. shows that British withdrawal is fearful reactionary hatred of the is still (seemingly contradicto- These petty bourgeois pes- now closer than ever. Irish armed struggle the present rily) stitching up Sinn Féin as simists talk of the ‘permanent’ The London government’s ruling group cannot be deflected much as possible. The reluctant absorption of Northern Ireland cold water for the sustained from its course to a speeded-up permission for SAS men to ap- into the British state, a situa- fascist clamour for the reintro- version of the Anglo-Irish agree- pear at the whitewash ‘inquiry’ tion which is strengthening and duction of concentration camp ment, leading to the ending of 3 in Gibraltar (providing the stabilising despite the heroic imprisonment for 300-400 lead- Partition, then preparations for outcome is tolerably acceptable struggle of the republicans (RCP ing Irish nationalist revolution- the constitutional settlement to the British government), and opportunism doesn’t miss the aries is another crushing blow must be very far advanced. to the pro-colonial ultra-right This told in Thatcher’s instant EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 crises and financial panic to add The latest rubbish in the to its overall rotten collapse capitalist press about a ‘Prot- since the heyday of empire. estant backlash’ after the wave The massive Noraid visit to of IRA actions – inflating wildly Ireland by a 40-strong delega- the sick fascist slaughter of two tion of Irish-Americans this Catholics in a random sectarian week also just emphasises that attack into a general loyalist the US political interest in see- fightback – is not likely to fool ing an end to the British occupa- London either. tion of northern Ireland will not No wonder the ruling Tory go away either. group has been as dismissive of The mauling Thatcher took in the calls for internment as it has Australia from pro-IRA dem- been for reprieves from state onstrators should also serve as sell-off for the major ‘loyalist’ a reminder that Britain risks industries Harland and Wolff creating no-go areas for its gov- and Short Brothers – instead ernment ministers if it does not only adding the Ulster Electric- quickly end its colonial tyranny ity Board to the hit list. over Ireland. Channel 4 News last week Similarly, the pro-IRA London was at last perceptive enough demonstration was rubbing to note that the sell-offs “could in the lesson that the public mark the beginning of Britain’s opinion stink around the police- economic withdrawal from military dictatorship in the oc- Ulster”. cupied zone can only get worse. And the penny should drop (BBC News coverage of the with sullen Orange colonial march was sickly slanted, “trade unionists” showing only describing the mob of National total gloom and doom at an- Front fascists who attacked the nouncements about “Ulster left-wing demonstrators with having to face the same market “no” in interviews in Australia reintroduction of internment, missiles as “English nationalists forces as elsewhere in the UK” when fascist press reporting of taking in a sprinkling of Orange making a protest”. This should from the robotic Tory industry the IRA’s wave of military ac- fascist killers as well as leading further convince proletarian- minister. The whole point about tions was digging out every Or- Republicans. minded British workers that Britain’s guarantee to Orange ange cop and hardliner it could But it knows that such a their interests lie with the break privilege and power in the find to scream for internment. move, though compatible with from support for the colonial province has been based around The response is likely to have its class interest in driving occupation of Ireland. giving the ‘Protestant’ work- been well rehearsed. The British home the ‘rule of law’ against The fascist card of the British force a share in oppressing the imperialist state knows from ‘terrorism’ (its ‘right’ to suspend bourgeoisie is the only cause nationalist ‘Catholic’ minority. long experience that the IRA are all ‘democratic’ practices for helped by going along with such Now the TV broadcasts are determined fighters for Irish the sake of counter-revolution) whipped-up anti-Irish jingoism.) also more clued in to the ruling freedom, who will not stop their would destroy all its plans for a Dublin’s calculated snubs to Thatcherites’ desire to let the armed struggle until the British speedy enforced retreat from its the London government over fascist internment clamour occupation of Ireland is driven ‘Ulster’ colony. the extradition of Irish revolu- blow over. News coverage is out. The reintroduction of intern- tionaries this week also shows now more careful to show that Intelligence advice would be ment at this stage of Sinn Dublin’s Green Tories know they internment was a disaster in bound to warn Thatcher that Féin and the IRA’s burgeoning would be destroyed politically if 1971 and could only be a failure IRA attacks on crown forces popularity in the nationalist they supported any internment a second time around. and collaborators could yield a community could only result in measures in the occupied zone. Chris Barratt string of successes, and a frenzy a more ferocious repeat of the of demands for draconian blistering response given by British colonialism tottering counter-measures. the northern Irish republican Hence for all Thatcher’s vi- masses to the earlier fascist [ILWP Bulletin No 458 24-08-88] cious hypocrisy in Australia clampdown. London’s tricky policy of trying But at the same time, factions about the IRA “men of violence That turned the 1971 intern- to finally get out of Ireland in of the British establishment who use the bullet because they ment move into a fiasco for the order to hand responsibility to a which accept the pressures of fear the ballot” (when it was colonial occupiers, with mas- Green Tory/Protestant Colonial Washington, NATO, the UN, the British ruling class who sively increased support for the coalition but without appear- and the Common Market that have occupied Ireland for 400 Irish armed struggle. ing to have capitulated to the the time has come to end Brit- years of non-stop violence and Instead, the British bourgeoi- armed Irish national-liberation ish imperialism’s remaining oppression, and they who forced sie’s dominant “get us off the struggle, – is being badly shaken colonial toe-hold on its former an armed liberation struggle Ireland hook” wing sees only all by the sheer ferocity of the Sinn Irish possession (because of the on the Irish by tearing up the the factors which convinced it Féin/IRA resistance to the con- appalling image it gives of the all-Ireland vote of 1921 which on a retreat in the first place. tinued British police-military real meaning of NATO ‘freedom’ was won overwhelmingly for a The Irish republican armed dictatorship in the Occupied to see nightly on TV the bit- united Ireland) the rejection of struggle has never been so capa- Zone. terest national-liberation war internment (and the near-liber- ble and confident. The republi- Opponents of the ‘End of imaginable being forced to be al sounding niceties by Thatcher can masses have never been so Empire’ faction in Whitehall waged by the Irish against the rebutting the outlawing of the bolshevised and supportive of either insist that the ‘terrorist supposed ‘mother’ of Western Sinn Féin political wing of the the fight for freedom. The forces gunmen’ will never be tamed if democracy, - the British par- Republican movement by dis- of Orange reaction have never the British Army does not re- liamentary government), – are tinguishing it from the armed been so cowed and shaken. main and ‘reimpose firm order’; arguing that the snail’s pace wing) told the real story – that Tough talking by the RUC or else that the very stability pull-out (under the Anglo-Irish the ruling group is still set on thug cops could never be enough of the British capitalist system Agreement) must be handled the course to a constitutional to keep this embarrassing civil 4 itself will be fatally damaged better to avoid Britain looking settlement, and doors must be war off the world’s TV screens. if the ‘men of violence’ are bad and suffering grievously left open for Sinn Féin. The British ruling class also remotely perceived to have ‘got anyway. Clearly, the British bourgeoi- knows that its economy is shot away with it’ in the winding up The catastrophic weakness sie might contemplate the – with only balance of payments of the Irish colonial ‘province’. of both these “do something” EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 schools of thought is their But paranoid fear of allowing backward pockets of resist- explain that this ‘protestant continued arrogant assumption any remotest sign of “victory” ance), means that if the ruling working class’, so-called, can that the despised “Republi- to be claimed by the IRA/Sinn British police-military dictator- only be first and foremost can criminals” could easily be Féin requires that the British ship was to turn its full force seen as the lumpen-colonial “defeated” if only the “correct imperialist retreat be presented against threatened Paisleyite stooges of British colonialism tactics” or the “right amount of as anything but that. Unilateral-Declaration-of- who play a reactionary class role determination” was shown, etc. The most bilious of the die- Independence(UDI) violence inside British politics as well But this is the exact incor- hard colonial community in the and sectarian killings in an as their die-hard role behind rigible colonial attitude which Occupied Zone, of course, un- open acceptance that Irish Orange bourgeois fascism, – landed British imperialism with derstand full well that they are nationalism had triumphed and and will continue to do so for this final humiliating ‘End of at last being sold out by London that Ireland was finally to be as long as British capitalism’s Empire’ mess in the first place – (Paisley & Co); – and the dam- reunited and independent at imperialist illusions (and cor- (based on the British bour- aging effect on that community last, then the entire ‘emergency’ ruption of its working class by geoisie’s own lying propaganda of becoming virtually orphaned could be wrapped up in a matter imperial profits) remain to be which has always presented the or abandoned, (– especially at of weeks, once and for all. overthrown in London itself, – ‘Micks’ (like all native colonial the climax of such vociferous As it is, true to its despicable regardless of what crafty new subjects) as dull-witted, lazy, demented clamouring by them historical blinkered form, the constitutional arrangements are and hopeless.) that they will ‘never surrender’ British imperialist establish- set up with the Green Tories in True to form, the decadent and that they will never bow the ment will continue using its Dublin (for keeping Ireland out imperialist establishment is yet knee to Rome’,etc, etc, in all the force mainly against the Irish of the hands of socialist revolu- again failing to call a halt to yet mindless gibberish of colonial national-liberation movement tion for a while longer yet). another colonial disaster long fascism and racism,) – is already (to which it is in effect eventu- Defeat of the London estab- after the writing was clearly on one of the major political ally going to concede absolute lishment in revolutionary war is the wall for yet another retreat phenomena of the emerging victory, (– and will be seen in properly the task of the British from empire. constitutional rearrangement. historical hindsight to have masses themselves, Sinn Féin The worst aspect of the Irish But still the London-led ultimately done so.)) will point out. But it is less than question, – Britain’s oldest and conspiracy to deny or ignore The Sinn Féin IRA struggle of the whole scientific Marxist- most endlessly rebellious colony, this reality goes on, and much today is only exactly the same Leninist truth for Sinn Féin’s – is that the British bourgeoisie of the pressure which should be national-liberation struggle of propaganda for the defeat of pretend that Britain is not in an being put on the ‘Loyalist’ com- 1916 to 1921 which liberated 26 British imperialist troops occu- imperialist relationship to the munity to speed up the transfer of Ireland’s 32 counties in the pying Ireland’s colonial zone to Occupied Zone at all. arrangements towards Ireland’s first place only denied total in- step short of a full explanation The fiction still persists that reunification is not being put dependence by the criminal and of the entire class and national so-called “Northern Ireland” or on, resulting in more long and vicious racist nonsense of creat- position of the ‘protestant work- “Ulster” (to use the two phony painful delays in apparently ing (by Black and Tan bayonets) ing class’ in the Occupied Zone. titles regrettably repeated by making any progress whatever the artificial fiction of “British There is much pernicious oversight in an otherwise excel- towards a ‘solution’ to the ‘Irish Northern Ireland” by ripping muddle-headed Trotskyite influ- lent article in Bulletin 456 and in troubles’. parts out of six of Ulster’ s nine ence which only helps set up an need of correction) – are in fact The decrepit British imperial- counties and by gerrymandering entirely reformist-nationalist “part of Britain”, and that the ist establishment is in this way a completely fictional ‘border’ ‘solution’ (i.e. the maintenance so-called “Irish” who “wish to to some extent repeating its to create an apartheid zone of capitalism and the links remain British” in the Occupied cowardly treacherous failure to in reverse (decades before the with the West and the required Zone are anything but the do anything about the last-ditch South African fascists tried it anti-communist prejudices of remnants of British colonialism, stand by the Smithites in Rho- for themselves.) the ‘left’ anti-Leninist swamp in (little different from the British desia which inflicted such ap- Every time the words the British Labour movement) colonists who were left to rule palling bloodshed unnecessarily “Northern Ireland” and “Ulster” by pretending that the ‘protes- Rhodesia by London and had to on the people of Zimbabwe. are used, they perpetuate the tant working-class’ (so-called) be defeated by the Zimbabwe- If London had grasped the most infamous colonial-impe- can be ‘won over’ to join the ans; or from the whites who nettle firmly from the start (as rialist fiction of all time, – the anti-imperialist ‘revolutionary’ claim to be the real “South Af- well as grasping the logic of hanging-on to a zone of Ireland struggle if Sinn Féin/IRA would ricans” and wish to exclude the its own retreat from colonial- by British reaction to frustrate only cease being so ‘nationalist- blacks from any say over most of ism in Rhodesia), Zimbabwe Irish independence for ever, and sectarian’,etc. their own country.) could have been spared 14 long to perpetuate Britain’s former Sinn Féin’s own anti-Trotsky- The BBC once again this week years of needless suffering and strategic-imperialist domineer- ist propaganda is either weak or organised an entire ‘phone-in’ destruction. ing perspectives. non-existent, and this weak- so-called ‘discussion’ of the The same is happening now Most farcically and damag- ness opens the door for possible issue without allowing-on even (in totally different circum- ingly of all is that the Sinn Féin/ confusion of the national-liber- one voice to explain this funda- stances) in Ireland. IRA national-liberation struggle ation-struggle-ranks at times mental factual base of Britain’s By its paralysed refusal to itself continues to allow these such as the present British-Irish colonial relationship to Ireland, confront the fascist-minded historically confusing phrases talks initiatives around the --without which understanding die-hard colonialists in the to be regularly repeated in Treaty with the dangled carrot all other talk remains circuitous Occupied Zone who refuse to do its propaganda, – lacking the of some ‘devolved’ deal or other nonsense.) anything but totally obstruct Marxist-Leninist clarity and which would be used to disin- Even the ‘End of Empire’ the painstaking snails-pace ef- determination to insist on a tegrate Sinn Féin’s revolu- faction (which basically accepts forts to organise an ‘unnoticed’ strictly historically-materi- tionary socialist tendencies. that the direct-rule game is and humiliation-free withdraw- alist scientific analysis of the Subsequently as individu- finally up) still nevertheless al at last by British imperialism tortured and insoluble class als, as many “British-Irish” as chooses to pretend that the from all control over Ireland or relations muddying the national want to become fully Irishmen bogus “British Irish” have to be any part of it, the London estab- question at the twilight of Brit- (in a reunited and independent consulted, and reached agree- lishment is condemning Ireland ish imperialism’s connection Ireland) will be fully welcome ment with, all the lengthy way to years more bloodshed and with its Irish colony. to do so. to the final snail’s pace shadowy suffering than would otherwise Sinn Féin are 100% correct to But as a historic class-na- ‘reunification’ proposals hinted be necessary. stress that no progressive role tional phenomenon at present, at in the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The remarkable phenomenon can be expected of the so-called it will only create potential The reality, of course, is that of the rapid cultural and politi- ‘protestant working class’ in confusion to label the so-called Ireland is at last to be reunited cal (and economic) collapse of the Occupied Zone until the ‘protestant working-class’ as 5 and become wholly independent the “British-Irish” no-surrender problem of British imperialism anything other than the lumpen of British imperialist control for colonial spirit (with one or two has finally been solved. colonial worker-stooges of the the first time in over 700 years. Paisleyite exceptions in isolated But they are lax not to further British imperialist occupy- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 ing ruling class, (– the Orange dulge the bourgeoisie’s jingoistic fascist bourgeoisie and their small-minded paranoia. British army protectors.) But wiser counsels might yet The different British estab- prevail, and the anti-democratic lishment factions upset at the vengeance measures might be humiliation of British impe- limited to ending the bourgeois- rialism (by the IRA/Sinn Féin legal ‘right to silence’, etc. national-liberation struggle, But no amount of confusion once again, in recent events), – can hide the historic fact that are so far removed from such a the forces of national-liberation revolutionary understanding struggle (closely allied to the of how the final dismantling of forces of socialist revolution) Britain’s remaining colonial toe- are once again proving superior hold on Ireland should be com- to the forces of imperialist- pleted that they are considering colonialism. renewed internment – (locking It is a tragedy that the social- up in concentration camps with- ist camp does not see clearly out trial) – against the Irish and cheer on loudly both the population in the Occupied opposition triumphs in the blow Zone (the so-called ‘catholics’ to US imperialism in Pakistan to use another deliberately and (see lead) and the blows to Brit- totally historically misleading & ish imperialism in Occupied or ‘punish’ acts of a widespread less Irish national liberation confusing term). Ireland; and a different tragedy rebellion is a hallmark of West- struggle, – is that the guerrilla that Sinn Féin still publishes But some of the die-hard ern imperialist barbarism. war will never cease until Brit- faction doubt that the rest of confusion which deplores eco- In Vietnam, such death ish imperialism, finally hands the ‘free’ West will tolerate the nomic difficulties and political squads were virtually the only back its colonial possession to reintroduction of such blatantly retreats causing ‘redundancies ‘policy’ towards revolt by the US a restored united Republican fascist-colonial methods of to ‘loyalist’ and ‘protestant’ and French imperialist gauleit- Ireland. repression. And some of the End workers at Shorts or Harland ers. SAS death squads will only of Empire faction sense that if and Wolff’s instead of victori- German imperialism system- further revolutionise the Irish the longterm perspectives are ously welcoming the incurable atically mass-murdered resist- nationalist struggle, – and win now for finally reuniting Ireland world-market crisis of British ance ‘suspects’ during WWII. even wider international sympa- under a Dublin government, (and other) imperialism which is The dying fortunes of British thy for their unification cause. then such a provocative and de- the real basis at last for Ireland’s imperialism were dragged even “Certain measures will structive political uncompro- finally-approaching opportunity deeper into the fascist gutter become apparent in due course” mising attack on Irish national- for reunification and full inde- by the first revealed aspects of slimed the Tory gauleiter King. ism is a measure going precisely pendence, based on the ultimate the government’s response to But what further political steps in the wrong historical collapse of British imperialism the IRA’s intensified national- are planned? direction, (– even if it has no and its far-flung colonial ethic liberation struggle. It is still not ruled out that qualms for these non-democrats and enclaves. The cold-blooded murder of London, in fact, is going to as a useful short-term military But history works to Marxist- unarmed Republican guerrillas speed up the reunification dis- measure for merely trying-to Leninist scientific principles in Gibraltar has been followed cussions with Dublin, the SDLP, reduce the current campaign of (which have to be correctly by yesterday’s cynical killing and through them with Sinn successful guerrilla-war actions interpreted and made conscious of three prominent local Irish Féin, – under pressure of the against the police-military by revolutionary movements), - nationalists in ‘revenge’ for the intensifiedIRA campaign; - and dictatorship.) not in accordance with anti- IRA bombing an army bus the impatience from Washington Thatcher’s limited fascist- Leninist muddle. previous weekend in Tyrone, and the EEC for this embarrass- nationalist brain seems doomed The national-liberation tri- near Omagh. ing national-liberation war to to a nazi knee-jerk reaction to umph will go on, in Ireland and It remains to be seen if these be solved politically and got the IRA’s military humiliations elsewhere, and the world social- executions without trial are quickly off the streets of the of the British occupying forces, ist revolution and proletarian the only British establishment ‘Mother-of-Parliaments’-lead- – throwing up all the patient dictatorship will not be far measures in answer to the ing-Western-’democracy’, – and progress of the Treaty snail’s behind. Build Leninism. Spread growing war of liberation by the off the world’s TV screens, – as pace retreat from Empire to in- the ILWP Bulletin. Douglas Bell Irish population in the Occupied soon as possible. Zone. The Orange-fascist colo- Tory nazi death squads strike again (The fate of the proposed nial degenerates expressed [ILWP Bulletin No 459 31-08-88] constitution-accommodation exactly these fears last night in with Ireland’s reunification un- questioning whether the shoot- Three Republican ‘suspects’ were back so that the whole ‘suspect’ der an extension of the Anglo- on-sight massacre of the three butchered yesterday by the colo- Republican population can once Irish Treaty provisions is not nationalists was a real change nial forces occupying Ireland. again be put behind barbed yet clear. Rightwing reaction is of policy towards the revolt, or “It will be fine if there are wire, ‘guilty’ of anything or not. pressing for it to be revoked). just a token murderous gesture more such killings” local colo- Thatcher’s fascist inclinations If Britain’s reply is limited to to quieten the Orange-fascist nist MP Reverend (!) William tell her to go in the same nazi these nazi killings, then impe- blood-lust, and to humour McCrea declared openly. “But direction, and the SAS death- rialism is in even worse crisis London’s depraved army killers useless if only a one-off isolated squad killings, ordered from than any could imagine. who feel humiliated by the IRA’s gesture and not a new direction London, reflect this. Such paranoid depravity successes. in military policy”. But there must still be doubt would indicate an important Some die-hard MI5 Gestapo “A welcome pre-emptive that the entire policy of snail’s Western ruling class nearly at circles would rather British strike” said the colonist MPs pace withdrawal from Ireland, the end of its tether and only imperialism made a final stand “security” spokesman Ken Mag- by British imperialism (to allow terrified of being overthrown by over Ireland than accept this innis, “but pity we haven’t had re-unification under enormous armed revolution itself. final humiliation, – especially more of this before”. pressure from public opinion Merely lashing out in jingois- at the hands of the ‘men of The Orangemen don’t just in the EEC and North America, tic vengeful retaliation against violence’, fearing this will set a 6 want ‘suspected’ national- Australia, etc), will be scrapped the nationalist movement is bad precedent for the civil-war ist guerrillas shot on sight in an uproar of Thatcherite hopeless strategy, in itself. struggles to come inside Britain without trial, however. They jingoist rage. The whole point of the mod- itself. also demand the internment Slaughtering selected local in- ern Sinn Féin/IRA campaign, - But the logic of this means concentration camps be brought habitants in cold blood to ‘deter’ following 700 years of relent- a full-scale military blitzkrieg EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 against the nationalist ar- The best guess still remains It will be interesting to hear committed, so as to stop the eas of the Occupied Zone (and for a snail’s pace reunification what proof is presented in court ‘men of violence’ from disrupt- against Republican border areas through the Treaty, but with (if the killings ever reach an ing civilised democratic life”. beyond) in order to ‘defeat’ Sinn continued insistence on more inquest hearing, which is not The gestapo intention was to Féin/IRA; and this would surely shows and gestures that Britain at all certain under the police- have a killing ground, - as brutal spread to armed conflict with is “not giving in to the gunmen”. military dictatorship in the Oc- and intimidatory as it could pos- Dublin itself, and a monstrous In other words, more unsatisfac- cupied Zone of Ireland) that the sibly be made, - to boost British escalation of the ‘bad press’ tory mess all round. ‘masked men’ who ludicrously imperialism’s ‘honour’, and to Britain is already getting from It cannot last long. The and openly hi-jacked not just assert that the capitalist state 40 million North Americans national-liberation struggle is one but two local cars near an establishment is the boss, - and who claim Irish descent not winning. British colonialism area of intense secret-service can do, and will do, whatever it to mention millions more in will have to give up completely surveillance (following the bus likes (to reimpose its position of Australia and elsewhere round in Ireland, or go to all-out war. bombing) were really the three dominance). the world. Douglas Bell suspect Republicans (who had Echoes of this nazi-fascist only just been let out of police gibberish are to be found in West’s Gestapo thugs put to flight custody and would have known the hysterical reaction to the [ILWP Bulletin No 461 14-09-88] they would be being closely Cuban diplomat defending watched, – especially ‘claimed, himself against secret service The CIA and MI5 fascist ghouls crous, hurt aggression (in dam- local commanders’ of the IRA) thugs, - expelling the Cuban got more than they bargained aging Cuban-British relations by - or three secret service agents ambassador, risking a break in for in trying to muscle the ordering their ambassador out) pretending to be the Republican diplomatic relations, and piling Cuban Embassy official. – springs from ruling imperi- trio as part of the elaborate on the Rambo humbug in press Their defectors’ snatch squad, alism’s sick, insecure need to cover-up for the cold-blooded and television in the “who gives advised by an anti-communist assert its “right to be a law unto revenge murders. a damn about the filthy-commie traitor, had to be driven off at itself” at all costs. But the Gibraltar savagery Cubans” style so delicately cap- gun point. The same degenerate fascist leaves no room for any doubt. tured by the mindless vermin The filthy work of continuing philosophy lies behind the The British gestapo had not at the Sun. It is the ‘profound’ the West’s 30-year subversion, cynical charade in the Gibraltar the slightest wish to “enforce policy of a decrepit bourgeois blackmail, boycott, and sabo- inquest room where British the standards of law and order, ruling class which has no his- tage campaign to disrupt the colonialism’s prejudiced ‘court’ and prevent a crime from being torical future. Douglas Bell brilliant socialist reconstruction is hearing the SAS death squad on revolutionary Cuba knows no assert, - from behind the Sick farce in Gibraltar as imperialism bounds. safety of curtains, - how they From the fullscale Bay of Pigs had the ‘right’ to butcher the flounders invasion by CIA mercenaries Irish nationalists in cold blood to the more than half-dozen because ‘they thought’ the three [ILWP Bulletin No 462 21-09-88] assassination attempts against were probably armed, had made The giant fraud of Western ‘free rally and while the barrels were Fidel Castro, the imperialist movements, had looked at them, world’ propaganda, – pretending still cooling of the South Afri- aim is to create such instability might have been ready to press to be horrified by any politi- can dictatorship’s nazi thugs so as to move in and destroy a detonator button, etc, etc, cal ‘violence’, – has never been who shot to death a 14-year-old everything the Cuban people etc, etc, – all plainly artificially shown to be such sordid hypoc- girl and a 74-year-old man on have built -the land reform, manufactured justifications risy as currently. pilgrimage to see the Holy Pon- the impressive industrialisa- for the conscious cold-blooded The decrepit medieval Roman tiff, as well as butchering the tion, the complete literacy and slaughter of three unarmed Catholic freemasonry plumbed four desperate Lesotho guerrilla advanced higher education, the Irish nationalists. new depths with the Vatican’s fighters, – the Solidarnosc Pope astonishing health and social It will be clear to anyone with ill-judged and chaotically- had the cynical loathsome advances which enable tiny the intelligence of a dead slug organised foray into southern humbug to tell his befuddled au- Cuba to thrash the USA in many that the premeditated purpose Africa as the guest of (in part) dience, – permanent victims of sporting events from athletics of the British Gestapo which the Apartheid gangsters and the same fascist stooge regime, to boxing, from gymnastics to sent in the SAS unit was instant their stooges. – that whatever their desire even baseball, etc. butchery whatever was discov- Having found no difficulty in for justice, they must renounce Germ warfare (dengue fever, ered about the nationalist guer- hobnobbing with the Pretoria ‘violence’ in the search for it. and others) has been slyly and rillas’ activities there. fascist dictators, the Pope drew The sudden intense West- murderously inflicted on Cuba The depraved purpose of this rave reviews from the kaffir- ern ‘concern’ over ‘violence’ by US imperialist agents, and Rambo exercise is attempted bashers for urging the repressed in Burma is equally sinister. appalling damage has been fascist intimidation of the Irish black millions to ‘protest Barbarous regional civil wars deliberately inflicted on Cuban national-liberation struggle (for peacefully’ – in other words, to have been inflicted on this poor agriculture through swine fever, independence at last for all Ire- put up with being incarcerated, country for decades by Western sugar cane diseases, tobacco land from British colonialism). tortured, and massacred ad drug interests with never a blight, and others. In the County Tyrone mas- infinitum. word of ‘free world’ worry about And now the small-minded sacre of three other Republicans The reactionary Polish spir- the countless victims of these nazi scum at MI5 have joined recently (in revenge for the itual inspiration of Solidarnosc life-sapping conflicts preventing in a new dirty stunt to create a bombing of the army bus near counter-revolutionaries (many Burma from much real progress, wretched provocation against Omagh), the British gestapo of whom have emigrated to and with no interest in the Cuban diplomats in London. death squads went even one South Africa as a living demon- rights or wrongs of the different The British secret police better. stration that anti-communism struggles. Gestapo have been demonstrat- There, the evidence points is essentially inseparable from All at once, the imperialist ing their depravity in detail at to the supposed “IRA armed pro-nazism) then had his powers are devoting consider- the Gibraltar inquest. service unit activity” (in the Popemobile-convoy carefully able attention to a peculiar They are ‘heroic’ when massa- course of which the three steered a couple of hundred ‘opposition’ movement led by cring unarmed Irish republicans “known Republican sympathis- yards out of sight of the ongoing bourgeois with immaculate from point blank range without ers” were apparently “caught in pilgrims-bus siege outside the Oxford or Harvard accents who warning. the act”) – having been an entire British Embassy in the capital of are vaguely supported by half- Wisely, the Cuban diplomat fiction theatrically recreated Lesotho so that he could turn a hearted bands of ‘protesters’ took no chances when these de- by the secret services forces blind eye to the official carnage demonstrating for “multi-party 7 generate thugs tried to muscle around the dead bodies of the about to be inflicted on the democracy”! him in Bayswater. three Republicans who had been desperate hijackers. Such weird classless demands The British establishment’s kidnapped and murdered in cold But only minutes later at his reek of either an ousted capital- scalded indignation and ludi- blood earlier. disastrously-attended ‘mass’ ist hierarchy trying deceitfully EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 to get its hands back on supreme to ‘justify’ the cold-blooded kill- gerous for causing an indirect the only ‘killers’ were the state power again, or, – even more ing began to be theatrically put body-detonation as grabbing the forces themselves, shooting likely, – of bribed CIA ‘demon- into operation.) victims by the arms was alleged down unarmed Irish national- strators’ (of the kind which in When cross-examination que- to have been (when they were ists,) – then that state pretence their tens of thousands pro- ried the bizarre make-believe being passed “within inches” by is a ‘good thing’ because it still vided a cover for US imperialism ‘certainty’ with which Death surveillance during the three embodies the continuity and to ‘overthrow’ the nationalist Squad witnesses swore they hours hike round Gibraltar’s symbol of ‘law and order’.(!) Mossadeq government in Iran “had to prevent” their quarry crowded streets?) But this counter-revolution- in 1952) spearheading some new from “reaching the button” to And not the slightest concern ary ‘free world’ philosophy of Western military intrigues for blow up half Gibraltar (when it was taken of these unsearched fascist violence is running into the region and needing to oust turned out in reality that there bodies when they were quickly damaging difficulties. On the the ‘non-aligned’ regime of the was no “button” at all, and not bundled into vehicles (ille- one hand, the revolutionary past 25 years in Burma. even any bomb – the overall gally) along with all the spent socialist and national-liberation Compared to the lurid playing head of the Death Squad, - the cartridges (illegally) as well as struggles all round the world are up of ‘violence’ reports against MI5 Gestapo chief ‘O’, - admitted the trigger-pullers (illegally) generally steadily getting the the regime in Burma, the ‘free that the intelligence briefing (he to immediately clear up the better of imperialist reaction, world’ media has virtually had commanded the operation scene of the crime (illegally) the whether militarily or politically. ignored the unmistakable with) was totally in error on moment the massacre was over. And this is as true of Ireland as fascist brutality being inflicted the only three basic matters it No further interest at all was it is of the Philippines, El Salva- yet again on impoverished Haiti had to assess: Whether there shown in the deadly “button” so dor, Sahara Republic, Namibia, by pro-Western stooges. The was a bomb; whether there was fiendishly concealed on any part Sudan, South Africa, etc. reason? Because the CIA has a remote-control detonator; and of any of the three butchered And on the other hand, the assured the West that it has its whether the nationalists were bodies, allegedly. Why? And extent to which fascist propa- own ‘safe’ agents among the armed; – (an unlikely catalogue especially as the central square ganda temporarily gets away nazi thugs currently squab- of Keystone Cops incompetence did not even begin to be cleared with its domineering rule in the bling for supreme military and even for British imperialist until some 20 minutes later due most favoured Western imperi- financial-corruption power in intelligence). to the pretended “continuing alist countries or in their most Haiti. But this week in the ‘court’, bomb scare”. brutalised dictatorship stooge- The phony Gibraltar ‘inquest’ the Gibraltar police boss Add to all this the lies about states, – is also an indication of is useful for showing up the Colombo(!) acting as a key part what warnings were given to the price capitalism is paying for ‘free world’ lies in slow motion. of the Death Squad command the slaughtered trio; why they survival in terms of its collaps- In ponderous fake detail, under MI5 control, was asked: were not arrested at the border ing ‘democratic’ credibility, - one half of the Death Squad’s “Are you saying that for the sake crossing into Gibraltar; why always non-existent to Leninist ‘evidence’ insists repeatedly at of gathering evidence you were they were not arrested in Spain science, but inevitably more great length that ‘at all costs’, prepared to take the risk that (where they were also under rapidly becoming so to ever- the stalking soldiers and there was a bomb ticking away?” constant surveillance) before wider sections of workers as police had to make certain that (when challenged as to why no there was even the remotest the vicious and cretinous things their intended prey had to be arrests were made for three possibility of any non-existent imperialism is doing to survive patiently followed and then hours from the ‘bomb’ car-park- ‘bombs’ being placed; why the become more widely known or ruthlessly ‘hit’ just at the right ing to the pavement slaughter Death Squad surveillance were understood. moment and with overwhelm- just before 4 pm.) instructed not to keep notes of Fascist dictatorship and ing firepower so that the victims To which Colombo replied: the trio’s movements to make censorship is a good trick for could not possibly move so “No there was no risk. We were it easier to manipulate the dealing with the ‘opposition’ much as an eyelash towards not certain that there was a subsequent (lying cover-up), if it can be got away with. But “the button” which “would have” bomb”.!!!!!!!!! etc, etc; – and the unmistakable it is at an incredibly high price detonated a “massive bomb This disgusting cover-up cha- picture emerges of a frenzied if it fails; and at the cost of a explosion” which “would have” rade being played out by British official killing, – deliberately permanent loss of credibility caused “horrifying casualties” imperialism at the Gibraltar ‘in- engineered and covered up by worldwide the more that imperi- to the innocent citizens of quest’ has now piled up almost the British imperialist authori- alism historically has to resort Gibraltar, etc. too many idiotic deceptions and ties, – a ‘judicial’ execution. to fascist methods in order to And yet in more than 3½ grotesque inconsistencies to list What are imperialism’s survive crises big and small. hours of this ghoulish tracking them all. intentions in all this carnage, The Goebbelsian silencing of of the three Irish national- Even the servile bourgeois skulduggery, and deception? Gerry Adams from putting the ists around the small town press has felt obliged to ask the The ruling bourgeoisie’s views of Sinn Féin (the ‘legiti- of Gibraltar before they were very pertinent question: Why paranoid fears of being seen mate’ party he won a seat for suddenly brutally executed on (following all the Death Squad’s to be “giving in to violence” is in the Westminster Parliament its streets without warning, - alleged hysterical concern one clear thread in this sick constituency of West Belfast) not the slightest precaution was that not the slightest motion pattern. The world monopolies on After Dark, the Channel Four taken to stop the public ambling be made by the trio towards are terrified that if ever ‘violent’ late-night talking shop, was a past the ‘bomb’ car on the town- their “bomb button”) was not struggle against injustice is seen prize example of this paralysed centre square. No one even an immediate search made of to be a good thing, or successful, imperialist inability to stop bothered indicating the ‘bomb’ their still twitching bodies to then the flood gates will open shooting itself in the foot. Like vehicle in any way, - despite the seize triumphant control of to communist revolution by the it or not, pressure is growing on fact that the entire police and this “fearful detonator”? On all proletarian masses everywhere. all sides for the case in favour army state authorities were in their own detailed and corrobo- At the same time, it is vital of Ireland’s reunification to full mobilisation to control this rated evidence, the entire Death for the brutal judicial violence of be increasingly heard out (an ‘emergency’. Squad immediately fled the the capitalist state authorities unanswerable case, historically) This massive surveillance scene as soon as the bodies hit to be accepted as ‘fully justified’ and not cut off before a word is recorded Sean Savage parking the ground, – asking the police in all circumstances no matter uttered. the white Renault with the ‘sus- to drive them away from the how dubious, almost as a matter Sinn Féin’s political triumph pect’ aerial in the central square crime as quickly as possible. of ‘principle’! If the state choos- with the Irish proletariat in the before 1 p.m. The trio were not Further questions pile up es to pretend that it ‘thought’ it Occupied Zone of Ireland, plus massacred until just before 4 inexorably. With such a sensi- was justified to shoot-to-kill for the IRA’s unbeatable resistance p.m., having spent all that time tive “button job” separating Gi- the ‘benefit of the rest of us’ in to British imperialism’s police- walking round Gibraltar. braltar from a “major bombing the ‘belief’ that some ‘dastardly military dictatorship, – have 8 It was only at 4.15 pm that disaster” by just the twitch of a bombing’ was about to take made this inevitable. the ‘bomb’ square began to be single finger, – was not sending place by some ‘armed killers’ There has long been an in- cleared and closed off to the the Irish nationalist trio crash- (even if it turns out that there ternational clamour for an end public (as the MI5 cover-up story ing to the ground just as dan- was no bomb at all and that to the depraved injustice of the EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 artificial ‘partition’ of Ireland tion continues to look so inept, al competitive system turning ganda tactics against witnesses (imposed by Black and Tan so battered, and so aimless, - an sour just at the same moment. and evidence, etc, to cover-up bayonets in 1921 to frustrate the impression that all the Ram- Suddenly the threat of the cover-up. complete independence that the boesque revenge killings in the murderous and uncontrollable Most damaging of all for the Irish national-liberation strug- world will not wipe out while trade-war has shattered the Tories is the suspicion that this gle had then won, - politically the national-liberation struggle phony calm of mindless Tory now huge investment in disin- (with more than 75% voting continues to look so powerfully opinion-poll complacency. formation and bullying over the for Sinn Féin all over Ireland both politically and militarily. While there is still noth- inquest is partly futile anyway including the British colonial- To transform this damaging ing to fear from the ludicrous since it is only protecting a dominated north east) and mili- background of defeatedness and pro-imperialist ‘Opposition’ in policy vacuum in Downing tarily (with the IRA fighting the demoralisation affecting the col- capitalism’s bogus ‘Parliament’, Street over Occupied Ireland in Black & Tans and British regular ony, British imperialism would the international cut-throat any case, and not any vital new army to a standstill). have to dramatically break out system itself looks like inflicting line there at all. The fraud of partition cut out of the political straitjacket of terrible punishment. Since a major new military gerrymandered sections from negotiated restraint imposed on The world oil-market price offensive is, not surprisingly, six of Ulster’s nine counties London by urgent instructions is teetering on the edge of a ruled out (since it would need to establish the wholly bogus from Washington and the Com- further damaging plunge as far such an assault on Republican ‘country’ of ‘Northern Ireland’ mon Market, – appalled at the as British imperialism’s high- areas as to virtually entail war as a vicious repository of every nightly TV scenes of national- cost North Sea oil revenues are with Dublin which would alien- last drop of British colonial liberation war on the streets concerned. ate North American opinion nastiness that could be salvaged of the West’s most prominent Simultaneously, the in- even more against Britain), - as from one of imperialism’s old- ‘democracy’, – to find a solution soluble underlying competitive are concentration camps (deten- est, nearest, and most brutal- to the conflict quickly with the weakness of British bourgeois tion without trial), - and only a ised outposts. In a notional least bloodshed (although with- science, technology, and indus- token attempt to catch out less referendum of the whole of out being seen to be ‘giving in to trial organisation compared to security-conscious Sinn Féin Ireland (the last general election the men of violence’). Japan, West Germany and other fund raisers is ‘new policy’, - result prior to Partition), – this But even greater fascist- skilled rivals or dominating gi- then the doubt occurs that the criminal decree separating military aggression against ants like the USA, - has suddenly SAS vengeance squads, brutally off six of Ireland’s 32 counties Irish nationalism than the become painfully apparent massacring nationalists without to form a ‘separate state’ was present barbaric campaigns of again in the huge menacing trial in Tyrone, Gibraltar, and supported by less than 18% of the police-military dictator- balance-of payments crisis. elsewhere, - are merely some the voters of Ireland but their ship would require an all-out In terms of education, train- sordid British imperialist face- tiny minority-wishes were the onslaught on Republicanism ing, enterprise, and infra- saving to placate the more ag- ones which prevailed because (and the Republic, inevitably) structure, the British capitalist gressive and frustrated military, they suited British imperial- itself, – an enterprise almost economy is now already an MI5, and Orange-fascist circles, ism’s monstrous “divide and impossible even in theory, – and impossible distance behind, say, but leading nowhere other than rule” legacy to spite the Irish appallingly difficult in practice. West Germany, the dominant allowing Thatcher to parrot and keep a military-strategic And London has in fact just threat in Europe. mindlessly: “We are not letting toehold over Britain’s ‘back decided that it will not, after all, And the really competitive violence triumph”. door’, – regardless of the end- increase the number of troops part of the imperialist trade If all there is to Downing less new prolonged suffering colonising Ireland. “They would cycle, - the long warmongering Street policy is such bankrupt this would cause to Ireland and only get shot at” was the amaz- slump-depression, - has not yet shallowness, it will not survive to Irish nationalism’s legitimate ing leaked justification for this even begun. for much longer. The pressures aspirations. disappointment to all the crazed Curiously, the sudden obvi- to get on with the Anglo-Irish Now doubts are growing Rambo speculation that it was ousness of British imperialist Treaty reunification provisions,- inside Britain itself among the “time to get tough with the IRA”, paralysis and helplessness in the or else to tear the Treaty up, more civilised sections of the etc. international economic conflict - will be irresistible; - either war class-conscious population Nor will the new restrictions is echoed by growing suspicion with Ireland (scarcely credible), about whether this continued against IRA fund-raising have that Downing Street is simi- or else a short sharp campaign British-imperialist imposi- much effect either. The Irish na- larly policyless in other areas to put down the remnants of tion and interference against tional-liberation struggle is not too, - not least of all over British Orange fascism. The amazing Ireland’s full independence is a pathetic class-collaborating re- imperialism’s fiasco in Occupied cheek of the BBC nazis in at last any longer remotely justifiable, formist trade union to supinely Ireland. letting Gerry Adams speak on The fascist-colonialist Rambo have its funds, sequestrated The Goebbels level of lying TV, - but merely to rescue the spirit of “hang onto what is by a ruling-class, bent court. It hysteria and panic over the Gi- disastrous new Sunday cur- Britain’s” may still prevail in is a revolutionary movement, braltar inquest by the monop- rent affairs programme from the deliberately-encouraged knowingly working to its own oly-capitalist establishment oblivion, - could be a pointer. artificial atmosphere of the “be- democratic laws defying impe- reeks of a ruling class which True to its imperialist-lackey leaguered British troops doing a rialism’s “rules”, – the only way, doesn’t know what to do and has form, the Labour Party picks noble task thanklessly”,etc, - but in fact to finally effectively fight suddenly been made embarrass- now to leap in to the rescue of only among the more depraved capitalism and its state system. ingly aware of it. the embarrassed & paralysed British nationalists, – and not Douglas Bell The fascist chauvinism of TV/ ruling class with its ‘new’ policy for long if the colonial domina- Fleet Street’s ridiculously biased statement which yet again ducks coverage of the courtroom the only real challenge facing it: Curtained farce in Gibraltar can’t mask evidence (plainly proving savage When will ‘democracy’ finally cold-blooded murder by the SAS explain why it is ‘impossible’ to Tory bankruptcy followed by the clumsiest of consider ‘forcing’ the Orange cover-ups) will at this stage of colonialists to accept Ireland’s [ILWP Bulletin No 463 28-09-88] capitalism’s crisis still carry the full independence (reunifica- It is the capitalist system itself than just the Government’s day ‘for Britain’ with imperial- tion), but it is right to force (by which is in crisis, – from the confused paralysis on so many ist-corrupted workers. Black & Tan bayonets in 1921) IMF/World Bank punch-ups catastrophic problems incurably But millions of more thought- the majority population of Ire- in Berlin to the collapse of the undermining it. ful people in Britain will either land to accept partition, (-just as Lebanon. On top of the difficulty of easily immediately spot the fo- the Irish were forced to accept Thatcher’s mess of trying having no workable policy from rensic guilt of Thatcher’s Rambo colonisation for 700 years before to run British imperialism’s Downing Street on so many death-squad, or else be just as that); - and the legitimate Irish 9 end of the crash-and-slump- issues, the monopoly-capitalist alienated by the ineptness of national-liberation tradition threatened market anarchy thus establishment faces the unnerv- the obvious cover-up, and by the is still being forced to accept has far more to contend with ing prospect of the internation- strong-arm Goebbels propa- partition via the war against the EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 IRA & Sinn Féin? “because in carrying a heavy with this police-state intimi- encouraged among sections of This degenerate humbug machine-gun (the poor dears), a dation of potentially growing petty-bourgeois opinion (for use of ‘parliamentary democracy’ wet army finger (oh the terrible opposition to the appalling at the appropriate time when presiding policyless over an conditions) had slipped on a mess British imperialism has the right imperialist warmon- endless bloodbath in partition- trigger (!!!)” –– and no less than inflicted on Ireland in defence gering cause can be found), – all ridden Ireland, is summed up three times!; the middle shot of its last remaining colony, the the signs still point to the oppo- in the disgusting farce of total killing McAnespie through the Tory establishment would have site conclusion entirely. All the Parliament silence at the aston- back! But total silence from all to be ready to turn the conflict signs still point to plans for a ishing brazenness of the ‘court’ our ‘democratic guardians’. The in Ireland into a serious colonial British imperialist withdrawal decision to not prosecute for crash will speed their revolu- war of aggression by Britain, at last from Occupied Ireland the murder of Aidan McAnespie tionary overthrow. Douglas Bell - inevitably going as far as in order to finally allow (after punitive action against the Irish 800 years colonising interfer- Ministry of Thought Control: Republic itself. ence) full independence once If London burned all its boats again to a united Ireland, (a plan announcement and did this, then temporar- being imposed on London by ily a Falklands war spirit could Washington and the NATO-EEC [ILWP Bulletin No 466 19-10-88] be whipped up to dragoon the powers to try to draw Ireland Do not listen to this man largely petty-bourgeois ‘public into the Western alliance fully, because the case for Ireland’s opinion’ into applauding even and to avert the possibility of national-liberation struggle is greater monopoly-fascist control the national-liberation strug- unanswerable. over ‘press freedom’ and even gle there ever developing into a Despite there already being worse Goebbelsian propaganda fullscale communist revolution) continual censorship of televi- brainwashing (such as was so (ILWP Books vol 8 & 15 Ireland). sion and radio programmes successfully imposed to cover up King has again said that which try to interview Gerry the glaring cold-blooded murder the Anglo-Irish Treaty giving Adams and other Sinn Féin of the three Irish nationalists Dublin a say in the affairs of the spokesmen, the argument for in Gibraltar, and the clearly Occupied Zone is the only way the cause of Ireland’s reunifica- theatrically-staged ‘shoot-out’ forward, and he has now spe- which butchered three more cifically castigated the Orange tion, and for ending the British survival of Britain’s monopoly- colonial partition imposed in Republicans more recently at leaders of British colonialism imperialist ruling class. Drumnakilly, – on that occa- for being out of touch with their 1921 at the point of Black & Even if Britain is forced Tan bayonets, – keeps winning sion completely inventing an own colonist mass support in to give up its colonial police- ‘armed mission’ that the three the question of the British plan- through. military dictatorship over part Despite Goebbels-level were allegedly engaged upon tation at last being ready to call of Ireland eventually by world (when in fact the three were it a day on the myth of a ‘British controls keeping Adams off pressure, it would badly damage Channel 4 discussions, etc, lying low after the Ballygawley Ireland’ (in the ripped-out bits the international capitalist sys- bus incident, and were dragged of six of Ulster’s nine counties while flooding the media with tem if Sinn Féin’s revolutionary complete official fabrications to captive to the Omagh Road which the savage Black and Tan politics was shown to have been ‘shoot-out’ scene).) colonial terror tried to legiti- conceal the recent SAS massa- correct all along. cres of unarmed nationalists in Such a Third Reich tyranny mise as ‘Northern Ireland’ when The Irish national-liberation of blitzkrieging mindlessness the last great Irish national- Gibraltar and Drumnakilly, etc,- struggle is unbeatable, but deca- the justice of the Republicans’ could be kept going for as long liberation war won independ- dent British imperialism would as British colonial aggression ence for 26 of Ireland’s counties independence war is becoming prefer not to broadcast the fact ever more obvious. continued to be successful. in 1921). too widely in case it gives other Opponents of Thatcher’s policies And now Western imperial- The exposure of Britain’s people who hate the injustice fascist-colonial methods, – espe- could easily find themselves ism’s stooge ‘Irish nationalist’ of capitalist crisis too many interned (with the ‘great Seamus Mallon has in frus- cially by armed revolutionaries, revolutionary ideas. – would jeopardise the entire democratic movement of ours’, tration at the slowness and – i.e. the fatuous Labour Party muddle of the whole convoluted and the Parliamentary system snail’s-pace British withdrawal Imperialist decay still confusing the in general doing absolutely from Ireland (which will give nothing about it, as now it is petty-bourgeois opportunists Irish picture doing nothing effectively about like Mallon all the spoils, he [ILWP Bulletin No 470 16-11-88] the existing levels of Goebbels hopes) staged his outburst as thought control in Britain.) the rigged ‘inquest’ proceedings The Goebbels propaganda Thatcher’s nazi diktat. Even But is British imperialism into the original 1982 death- dictatorship being imposed by those middle-class who have really embarked towards such a squad killings of unarmed Thatcher (banning press free- slightly more stoutly feigned to catastrophic final act of crimi- Irish nationalists. A class- dom for Irish nationalists; pro- defend the rights of ‘democracy’ nal stupidity, which would not collaborating reformist worm hibiting Spycatcher; outlawing from these fascist threats (such only bring disaster eventually like Mallon would only pull such trade-unionism from sensitive as some broadcasting journal- down upon its own head (from a stunt in the knowledge that government establishments; ists who offered a token strike the impossibility of defeating Britain is getting out anyway spreading deliberate disinfor- against the prohibition of inter- an Irish national liberation and that his ‘anti-imperialist mation about the SAS death- views with the Irish national- movement fought by the whole stand’ is backing a certain win- squad killings in Gibraltar; liberation movement) still all of Ireland and by the entire in- ner. What Mallon fears is that refusing to allow normal rules protect their cowardly backs by ternational ‘Irish’ nation (nearly if London delays too long from of evidence at the Craigavon insisting that their wish to defy 50 million strong in the USA, kicking the Orange diehards inquest; etc) is inevitably having the ban on interrogating Sinn Canada, and Australia if British into line, then the Sinn Féin/ the effect in some sectors of the Féin supporters is “entirely in military-savagery really lashed IRA national-liberation struggle population of to some extent order to tackle the evil of terror- out as hypothesised), and armed will win even more powerful encouraging a fascist response. ism even more effectively”, etc. and funded by most of the rest Bolshevik positions among Local decisions banning Thatcher’s big stick has stifled of the world too), – but would the Irish proletarian masses, speakers from Sinn Féin as a – as it was meant to – some of also guarantee the enmity making any longterm future for panic-stampede follow-on to the additional questioning of of every ‘free’ world country pro-NATO reformist capitalism the national censorship decision British colonialism’s disastrous (let alone that of the socialist in Ireland seem even less likely 10 keeping them off television and role in Occupied Ireland which camp)? (– or any other cosy stitch-up at- radio are one degenerate feature might have been expected to Despite Thatcher’s Gestapo tempt between London, Dublin, of petty-bourgeois spineless- have arisen by now. tactics and despite the fascist the Church, and the SDLP (and ness eagerly capitulating to But to go through all the way response this has deliberately Washington) to keep Adams & EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Co firmly out of the picture of entire end-of-empire fascist the UN because it is they who local Republicans, butchered on the new Ireland.) role of British imperialism are allegedly guilty of ‘terror- the road at Drumnakilly in an But as the game is seen to beginning with the farcical out- ism’ (because many PLO factions entirely phony ‘IRA operation’ be increasingly up for British rage of the 1921 partition itself. have naturally fought back staged completely by the British colonialism in Ireland, more Douglas Bell. against this endless imperialist police-military dictatorship), challenges will be made to the tyranny.) – is why Irish public opinion This clumsy provocation remains touchy on the question shows all the signs of the ultra- of extraditions to ‘British jus- Thatcher and Reagan are the real reactionary imperialist circles tice’, – not to mention the 1982 terrorists in the USA, whipped up by a death-squad RUC killings, and blatant press stunt by the Zion- the subsequent nazi police-state [ILWP Bulletin No 472 30-11-88] ist New York Times, hoping to suppression of the Stalker in- If Patrick Ryan has been help- military technology’. pre-empt any ‘liberal’ interna- quiry, all of which has now come ing the Irish national liberation And when this has not suf- tional pressure on the incoming up again at the rigged Craigavon struggle against the ludi- ficed to completely eliminate Bush administration to be ‘more inquest. crous Orange-fascist tyranny the Palestine national-libera- reasonable’ towards Palestinian The imperialist plan is to re- and colonial police-military tion struggle, direct invasions aspirations. store Irish unity via the Anglo- dictatorship imposed on the have been unleashed into Arab This CIA-Zionist outrage Irish Treaty but at the price of Occupied Zone of Ireland by lands by Western military might richly confirms the Bulletin’s closer Dublin involvement with British mercenary Black and Tan to inflict further devastating line that a scientific analysis Western imperialism, and of bayonets in the artificial and suffering. of incurable fascist-military ensuring at all costs that revolu- criminal Partition of 1921, then In 1956, the imperialists from imperialist aggression was tionary ‘violence’ is never seen good for him. Britain, France, their Zionist needed in the Middle East, not to be winning, or that Sinn Féin And if Yasser Arafat was stooges pulverised Nasser’s Arafat’s disorienting ‘collabora- revolutionaries get nowhere really dedicated to the military- Egypt, then the fight-back hope tion’ pleas, – and a Leninist near power. revolutionary fight to end of the Arab national-liberation revolutionary struggle as the Loathsome Irish opportun- the Western-imposed Zionist struggle, - wrecking Egypt’s only answer to this capitalist ism would go along with all colonisation of Palestine and main revenue-earner the Suez degeneracy. this, but Sinn Féin and the IRA the attempted land-genocide of Canal, and obliterating Egypt’s The pity of the Ryan case is just won’t be beaten. And this its people, then that would be a armed forces. In 1967 and 1973, that the cowardly Green Tories makes such class-collaboration feather in his cap too. US intelligence and military in Dublin won’t tell London dangerous for the SDLP, Dublin The real issue in both cases is technology helped the Zion- that British imperialist Tories, Catholic hierarchy, etc. not the so-called ‘terrorist of- ists to inflict further crushing terror (such as the murdering Thatcher’s Goebbels-like ‘anti- fences’ of these latest victims of blows on Arab pride and power, in cold blood and subsequent terrorist’ hypocrisy is now near imperialist bullying and bluster annexing more Arab territory grotesque cover-up, of first the to apoplexy. but the very real fascist ter- in the process. In 1982 the US Gibraltar Three, and then the Gerry Mole rorism being used by the ‘free fleet and US marine landings world leaders’ to force obedi- helped the Zionist thugs subdue ‘Oppose terror my way or I’ll thump ence to London & Washington the Lebanon when ‘Christian’ diktats. agents of the Jehovah-fearing you’ The ruling monopoly-finance colonists deliberately carried [ILWP Bulletin No 473 07-12-88] circles in the West are deter- out the barbaric massacres in mined to maintain the Zion- the Sabra and Shatila refugee Thatcher’s tactics of self-right- this anew. ist military tyranny over the camps. Not many months later, eous fascism are now paralys- That this ‘constitutional’ farce Near East as their best terror- US regional military dominance ing the bourgeois-imperialist (of a ridiculously gerryman- weapon for trying to keep at bay allowed and enabled the Zionist camp almost as damagingly as dered higgledy-piggledy border proletarian revolutions among hitmen to bomb Iraq’s leading is the Irish national-liberation carving bits out of six of Ulster’s the Arab and other national- military technology into the struggle. nine counties just to give the ist movements in the area, - dust. Then the US and British Sinn Féin and the IRA have British colonial settlers an deemed so ‘crucial’ to the West’s imperialists themselves un- an unanswerable historical artificial ‘majority’) has always ‘strategic interests’. dertook the terror-bombing of case on their side (as well as the been a criminal provocation to Every day of the year, Zionist Libya after the brutal menace of entire modern anti-colonialist Ireland (as well as to all human airborne military terror strikes the US naval blockade had failed movement) in favour of immedi- fairness and reason) is problem sickening fear into the Palestine to silence Gadafi’s support for ately reversing the barbaric 1921 enough. refugee camps evicted into the the Palestinian cause. Shortly colonial partition and restoring That the Thatcherite wing Lebanon. Thousands of Palestin- after, Syria was directly threat- unity to a whole and entirely of the British Establishment is ian women and children have ened with similar treatment if it independent Ireland under a now dementedly making even been ritually massacred in this did not reduce its commitment majority Republican govern- the ‘democratic’ charade in the way to daily demonstrate to to the Palestinian struggle. ment of its own choosing. Occupied Zone look ludicrous the conquered Arab people ‘the But it is the Palestinians’ The thinnest of thin ‘argu- means problems escalating unbeatable strength of West- national movement which is ments’ allegedly ‘justifying’ uncontrollably. ern financial organisation and now denied the right to address Britain’s brutal refusal to allow The ‘resist-terrorism-at-all- Ireland’s reunification rests costs’ line was hard enough completely on the fraud that to hold in the Western world if the Irish in the Occupied at large (when it was a case of Zone wish to agitate for ending Sinn Féin taking London at the unnatural and murderous its word and adding its colos- partition, then they should sal ballot-box success to its only do so ‘democratically’ as already undoubtedly unbeatable the bastard ‘Northern Ireland’ guerrilla-war struggle, and in statelet’s ‘constitution’ pretends the process virtually Bolshevis- to permit. ing the entire Irish population Calling Ryan ‘guilty’ without of the Occupied Zone through trial; banning Sinn Féin effec- its brilliant ‘local Soviets’ work), tively; defending PTA barbarism; – bearing in mind that the Irish refusing full independent judi- nationalists are fighting for 11 cial inquiries into the silencing their liberty within their own of Stalker; and other fascist bias country, against a renowned of British ‘justice’, etc, questions historical invader and imperial- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 ist oppressor. etc) now the Thatcherites are to Ireland’s full Independence. Western imperialism’s hopes That ‘no-to-violence’ line has demanding that all nationalist But the Green Tories ruling of not facing revolutionary become increasingly difficult sympathisers are pronounced Dublin will continue playing struggle on their own patches) to hold (as a rallying point for “guilty” even before they have along with the US-NATO-EEC has now become so demented ‘Western opinion’) as the brutal been tried; that the European plan for an unembarrassed that her hysteria is making it vicious reality of British colonial Court of Human Rights condem- snail’s pace withdrawal from difficult for Dublin to continue injustice and terror-methods nation of the racist-Gestapo ter- the Occupied Zone by British selling out Ireland’s national- have become more and more ror weapon (humorously known imperialism under the leisurely liberation heroes with impunity. embarrassingly obvious to the as the ‘Prevention of Terrorism reunification provisions of the Hence their mealy-mouthed ac- ‘free world’. Act’) be ignored; that the joke Anglo-Irish Treaty designed to ceptance that there is a case to Now Thatcher’s “refusal-to- ‘democracy’ of the Occupied exclude Sinn Féin revolutionism answer over the Ryan charges, countenance-violence” hypoc- Zone shall no longer be allowed from a reunified Ireland, and but that following Thatcher’s risy is close to self-parodying the responsibility of voting to allow the petty-bourgeois insulting tirades, it was not itself into complete collapse in against Sinn Féin sympathisers ‘free’ world (from Dublin to felt that in this instance justice the opinion of many bourgeois if it wishes, – such nationalists Washington) to claim that there could be seen to be done if a sectors (just as fearful of Sinn being banned from standing in was “no giving-in to the men of trial was held in England. Féin’s revolutionary leanings as the ‘elections’ in the first place; violence” despite the reality that Thatcher could eat humble pie is the Tory Government.) And the Labourite ‘bipartisan’ it is the unbeatable Sinn Féin/ and agree to stick to the Treaty’s As if all the existing scandals class-collaborators with British IRA national-liberation struggle snail’s pace withdrawal. But of bullying imperialist injustice imperialism are punishing any which has forced the West to such a resounding slap in the were not bad enough (such MPs who dare to vote against oblige London to abandon its face might one day spark off a as the RUC/SAS death squads; this last fascist provision in the Orange-fascist colonists at last, profound reaction within Brit- the nazi-style suppression of House of Commons. and to get out of Ireland. ish imperialism’s Gestapo-die- Stalker’s exposure of them; the Many bourgeois sectors are But Thatcher’s small-minded hard circles against any retreat repeat of these Gestapo tactics shaking their heads at this grasp that “defeating terrorism” from Ireland at all. in the cold-blooded Gibraltar Brownshirt display of sanctimo- is the obligatory posture (for Douglas Bell murders of three Irish national- nious authoritarianism, – order- ists; the even more outrageous ing the world to be ‘democratic’ butchery of the staged ‘shoot- and ‘anti-terrorist’ along strictly Anti-Irish racism damaging but not out’ at Drumnakilly when regimented paths (for imposing three Republican captives were ‘justice’ on Irish nationalists; the cause of jingoist backwardness – slaughtered during a pretend for ensuring no support for the ‘IRA action’; the constant acquit- Sinn Féin national-liberation lack of Leninism the real problem, all tal of British army murderers; struggle; for dictating how the frame-up of the Birming- voting should go in the alleged sides ham Six, Guildford Four;, “free parliament elected by a [ILWP Bulletin No 478 18-01-81 – section] McGuire family, etc,etc; the free people”; etc). ceaseless midnight terror raids Thatcher’s frustrated demen- The black nationalist inter- liberation struggle at the end of on nationalist homes; the no- tia is a threat to the US-EEC ventions at the ILWP national the 1960s in the Occupied Zone jury courts; the concentration- plan to pacify Ireland (see ILWP meeting were equally backward in order to complete Ireland’s camp internment and Gough Books vol 8 & 15 Ireland). M on the question of Ireland, formal independence, a strug- torture-barracks routines; etc; summarising all difficulties gle more difficult than any yet there as merely ‘British racism’, attempted because the biggest ‘Insult to Britain’ hysteria at Thatcher’s and implying that all whites, – part of Ireland has for decades ILWP included, – were equally been sickly-remote from the humiliation responsible. anti-imperialist movement, and [ILWP Bulletin No 474 14-12-88] But ignorance of Lenin- busy corrupting itself with pro- ism, – especially among Irish imperialist collaboration. Dublin’s refusal to extradite Pat- the RUC death-squad murders in nationalists, – has always done These catastrophes have rick Ryan because of improper Armagh in 1982-83 (exposed by far more damage to the anti- resulted from purely nationalist pre-judgement of his ‘guilt’ in the silenced Stalker) were only imperialist cause than the racist ‘anti-racist’ sentiment over- the British capitalist press and ever regarded by the London es- ignorance regularly whipped up riding scientific anti-impe- parliament has mortified the tablishment as tests of national among British workers against rialist revolutionary under- London establishment. strength and superiority, not as Ireland. It was the ‘anti-racist’ standing (Marxism) in the The public disgrace of Brit- tests of ‘justice’. shallowness of petty-bourgeois Irish liberation movement. This ain’s prime minister by a tiny It is only a pity that the colos- Irish nationalism which led smug sectarian self-satisfaction foreign power for her clumsy sal humiliation for Thatcher the petty-bourgeois Sinn Féin failed to grasp how deeply the stupidity has stirred the pomp- from the government of the Re- majority to accept the half-a- continuing influence and crisis ous fury of imperialist arro- public of Ireland is just a one-off loaf imperialist treachery of of Western imperialism would gance from Owen & Ashdown to seasonal gift to Irish nationalist the 1921 Partition Treaty, which still carry on dominating and Whitehall circles. sensitivity. then inflicted more suffering on blocking Irishmen’s anticipated However personally despised Although it is damaging Ireland than imperialism itself ‘freedom’ from beyond imperi- the Tory leader is, reactionary enough for Thatcher to be so had done for decades. alism’s alleged ‘grave’ in the 26 British nationalism is now so publicly told that, in the specific The ‘Ourselves Alone’ oppor- counties. touchy and demoralised by the case of Patrick Ryan, there is tunism, which dreamed that 26 And even within the truly past 50 years collapse of British now no chance of any fair trial counties-worth of Gaelic Catho- revolutionary wing of Sinn imperialism that Thatcher’s for him in Britain, - this is far lic ‘emancipation’ from British Féin, now conducting a brilliant shame is being taken as an short of what should be stated, - ‘racist’ domination would lead bolshevisation process among ‘insult to Britain’. namely that British imperialist to such a flowering of national the Irish proletariat within the The Ryan case is being ‘justice’ for Ireland has only ever aspirations as to easily achieve Occupied Zone, - all of the most turned like everything else meant, and can only ever mean, reunification soon, – in reality important political develop- into one of macho pride by the - permanent colonial-tyrannical only then led to Irishmen butch- ments so far in the revolution- British Rambos, just as the terror in all cases until the ering Irishmen in the bloody ary national-liberation strug- cold-blooded murder of the criminal infamy of the colonial 1922-24 civil war; followed by gle have come from the more Gibraltar Three Irish national- ‘partition’ is wound up and the years more dictatorial strife ‘Leninist’ wing around Adams, 12 ists by the SAS death-squad, Occupied Zone, ripped in six including death penalties and McGuinness, and Morrison the Drumnakilly slaughter of gerrymandered counties by long prison sentences; and even- rather than the more ‘nation- three Republican captives in an Black& Tan bayonets out of Ul- tually only leading anyway to alist’ wing of Gaelic-Catholic army-staged mock ‘IRA raid’,and ster’s nine counties, is restored the need to renew the national- conservatism so satisfied with EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 its ‘anti-British racism’ limited unless racism was understood, there has been endless super- ing with class-collaborating or perspectives. then the revolutionary strug- exploitation of blacks by capital- anti-Leninist muddle some- It would be better still if the gle against imperialism could ism because they are black. where along the line; – [their ‘more Leninist’ wing of modern not be understood. Repeatedly, Repeatedly, the ILWP national hopelessly inadequate analysis Sinn Féin were truly fully the national meeting explained meeting explained that the and activity during the Grenada Leninist and even further away that this was the exact oppo- super-exploitation of the lowest counter-revolution being one from merely nationalist(anti- site of the truth, - giving many echelons of the proletariat (so- obvious disaster, showing their racist) spontaneity and could examples, – that only by fully cial poverty and disorganisation complete inability to know how give the entire Irish proletariat, understanding the class-ex- coupled with factory slavery) to challenge wrong revisionist - and the British and interna- ploitation essence of capitalism had always been a permanent decisions emanating from Mos- tional proletariat too, - a more (and the only possible solution feature of capitalist divide-and- cow and Havana; - and all now inspiring and effective world- to capitalism - proletarian rule, and that for more than two put into the open by the recent revolutionary perspective to revolution,) - was it possible to centuries, the super-exploited 4th WPJ Congress proposal by their struggle against decaying fully understand the question of sub-proletariat of capitalism leader Munroe and chairman British-colonial imperialism and racism and the solution to it. (experiencing ill-health, bru- Haughton inviting non-Marxist Green Tory reaction in Dublin, Repeatedly, black national- talisation, poverty, and child- ideologies to join the WPJ - a perspective explaining the ist arguments tried to convince labour exploitation of inhuman “..and to defend their ideology within the origins of Ireland’s struggle in the ILWP national meeting proportions, e.g., – even by WPJ...As such they should not be required to capitalist crisis, linking it to all that white workers won’t listen some of today’s foul examples take party educational courses in Marxism- communist revolutionary strug- to Leninism because they are of capitalist exploitation from Leninism... Marxism-Leninism adapted to gle around the world from the racist. Repeatedly the national the Third World) – had all been Jamaica therefore has hegemony in the WPJ; it does not have monopoly in respect Bolshevik Revolution onwards, - meeting explained that this white workers. So the sub-pro- of other progressive ideologies”. and explaining that no people’s was a fundamental misunder- letariat is exploited because it is national aspirations can be truly standing, – that all workers can at the bottom of the heap of the And even then, six Central satisfied until the vary basis of be diverted by nationalist and capitalist system, – not because Committee members resigned all exploitation and inhuman- racist divisions and provoca- it is black. because this was not sufficient ity, – the class exploitation of tions because they have all been And so the solution is not to ‘repudiation’ of Leninism which the capitalist market system, - steeped in Britain in the long end ‘racism’ (impossible under “is narrow and dictatorial... its organisa- has been wiped out internation- reformist labour-movement capitalism), but to overthrow tional forms require that individual mem- ally by the universal dictator- history of trade-unionist the imperialist system world- bers are subordinated, manipulated and stifled...” ship of the proletariat. consciousness, or bourgeois wide. That means building an But Sinn Féin’s nationalist consciousness as Marx called international Leninist party of This WPJ is a party of screaming (anti-racist) limitations will not it, (i.e. class-collaborating, revolution, not a black national- petty-bourgeois opportunism let it develop such an under- anti-Leninist consciousness, of ist party of centrist reformist and black nationalist back- standing so far (see ILWP Books which nationalism is itself an confusion, - talking ‘revolu- wardness. Its thinking offers vol 8 & 15 Ireland). example). tion’ like the Workers Party of only disaster to the workers of Repeatedly, black national- Repeatedly, black national- Jamaica used to love to do (and Jamaica, or anywhere else.].... ist arguments tried to tell the ist arguments tried to tell the still tries to get away with), but Joe Harper ILWP national meeting that ILWP national meeting that in reality endlessly compromis-

mised in the heroic hunger National-liberation struggle in Ireland strikes and stunning election needs Leninism, not revisionist victories for Bobby Sands, then Owen Carron, and then Gerry Popular Front Adams, – that Western imperi- alism generally came to the con- [ILWP Bulletin No 480 01-02-89] clusion that imperialism should Irish nationalism alone is an own” as implied, – then the Re- wind up its colony, and begin unnecessarily limiting feature publican revolution is suffering the snail’s pace reunification of Sinn Féin’s historic struggle from damaging confusion. under Dublin rule envisaged in for independence, and now for If the report that Sinn Féin the Anglo-Irish Treaty. reunification. “now accepts that its goals can This national-liberation But it is limited because of only be achieved by tapping into struggle is being won, but it its ignorance of Leninism and mainstream Irish support” is is a long fight which does not its failure to see proletarian really the explanation of Adams depend on the heroic efforts dictatorship and the revolution- quoted words: “We’re saying the of Sinn Féin and the IRA alone ary overthrow of capitalism in elitism and dogma is finished”, but also on the ripening crisis crisis internationally, in unity as Fleet Street indicates, the conditions of Western imperi- with the existing socialist camp muddle is worrying. alism as a whole, and of British Orange-colonial stubbornness as the only real perspective for Despite its non-Leninist limi- capitalism in particular. in refusing to abandon its il- the people of Ireland (and every- tations, the national liberation The real fear in Adams legitimate imperialist domina- where else), – not because of any struggle has made sensational sketchily-reported remarks is tion of the Occupied Zone of failure to find common cause progress against British imperi- that Sinn Féin are being tripped Ireland. with the Green Tories in Dublin alism in Ireland (see ILWP Books up by their non-Leninist in- It will be a tragedy if Sinn or the British colonist mentality vol 8). The armed struggle has ability to see their own struggle Féin start losing heart at the of the Orange-fascist statelet proved unbeatable to the cream in the longterm perspective of length of the struggle because in the Occupied Zone, – as the of NATO’s forces and ultra- the general crisis of capitalism of their non-Leninist failure capitalist press reports Gerry sophisticated infiltration, sur- and the general advance being to grasp how dramatically the Adams telling Sinn Féin’s an- veillance, and covert operations made worldwide by national-lib- British position will begin nual conference at the weekend. warfare techniques and equip- eration struggle and communist to suffer once the imminent If Adams really urged del- ment, But even more important- revolution. Western economic crash starts egates “to see themselves from ly, the mass proletarian political The international balance of to savagely batter the cosmetic the point of view of Northern struggle among the Irish in the class forces is the decisive factor ‘confidence and efficiency’ fraud Ireland Protestants in order to Occupied Zone has produced governing how badly British of Thatcherism and Reaganism, understand their perceptions elements of bolshevised soviets confidence and Western ‘free and once further revolutionary and fears” as reported; and if (which now so totally reject the world’ public opinion generally blows commence hammering 13 this was really linked to Adams anti-communist, anti-violence’, feels damaged by the brutalities the ‘free world’ complacency “formally recognising that we anti-revolutionary tyranny of of national-liberation strug- and indifference to suffering can’t win this struggle on our ‘British democracy’), – epito- gle being inflicted by London’s (such as that of the Occupied- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Zone Irish) from the direction scientific revolutionary leader- ernment which butchered the ‘celebrating’ the 200th anni- of El Salvador, Palestine, South ship, – not the faded ‘Republi- Malayan socialist revolution, versary of the French Revolu- Africa, Lebanon, Guatemala, can’ posturing of opportunists the Greek socialist revolution tion, Thatcher has dramatically Chile, Sudan, Namibia, Paki- like Hume or Haughey, or the (by its triumphant Red partisan escalated the jingoistic rivalry stan, Somalia, etc, etc – mak- addle-brained confusion of the forces), and attempted counter- within the West’s cut-throat ing Leninist revolution the doomed ‘British-Irish Orange revolutionary overthrow of trade war. ever-clearer way forward for all colonialism in the Occupied socialist revolutions in Yugo- If the pro-USA line prevails mankind. Zone which can only remain slavia and Albania in favour within the British imperialist Sinn Féin certainly should paralysed, – or venomously of similarly discredited fascist establishment, then Thatcher turn to new forces, - but they fascist, – until imperialism is monarchies to the reactionary can hardly be thought to be should be the Leninist revolu- overthrown. Build Leninism, Greek royal circus. losing her pre-eminent position tionary consciousness of the not Popular-Front revisionist Thatcher will have no trouble, among the political performers. entire Irish proletarian masses, muddle. in time, in imposing class Only if the line is completely deliberately agitated by a Douglas Bell collaboration on this modern changed to a pro-German im- corrupt trade-union tradition perialism stance will her recent Tory splits in face of worsening eco- which now has little to distin- apparent clumsiness of political guish it from the corporatist touch become clearly suicidal. nomic crisis will only strengthen trade-unionism of modern But in the most reactionary degenerate imperialism, - now circles, Thatcher’s tub-thumping establishment nationalist reaction that its pretended ‘defiant un- crassness has gone down well, defeatedness’ is being shown up and even in slightly more (plus trade union reactionariness on as false promise from the NUM ‘polite’ society of Oxford and Ireland – discussion sections) to the TGWU, and now that the Cambridge, there have hardly full appalling significance of the been outraged demonstrations [ILWP Bulletin No 504 19-07-89] TUC’s class-collaboration with of dons and students against the postwar anti-communist the monstrous brainwashing Whatever local market forces “defiant port-workers’ bolshe- crusade of the imperialist campaign, typified by Thatcher’s in their favour these trade vism”, etc. Labour Government stands out outbursts, by the entire media disputes can take advantage Even as the TGWU was prepar- clearly in all its rotten Cold War to distort the whole significance of to thwart employers or the ing in conference for a suicidal light. of the French Revolution. government, the syndicalist defence of its outmoded closed There may be more difficulties The wholesale philistinism delusions which inspire them shop ritual on the docks (which facing Thatcher’s untroubled which has either criminally are hopelessly out of date. Class made sacking any individual future on the score of her much misrepresented or completely collaborating union-employer virtually impossible, or recruit- publicised differences with ignored the whole significance partnerships at government ing blacklegs, but which seldom the Common Market’s social of the Revolution’s uncompro- level are a thing of the past in or never used its trade-union charter, embracing German mising defeat of reaction’s at- the old terms, - a purely tempo- monopoly power in the inter- chauvinistic trade-union class- tempted counter-revolution (led rary phenomenon of the purely ests of the working class as a collaboration at its heart, - than by British intervention) reveals temporary brief era of majority whole, and even more rarely on her supposed misjudgment a feverishness about present Labour governments. in the defence of the interna- of the railmen’s’ dispute. day Western society of almost In the harsh reality now of tional proletariat hammered It seems to be a matter of terminal proportions. cut-throat international trade- by Western imperialism, – the opinion about how far the What real difference is there war competition which British delegates (port representatives railway labour aristocracy between the current grotesque imperialism is systematically included) were giving a standing has already accepted the new historical distortions of hith- losing, only a new kind of hard- ovation in Brighton to Orange chauvinistic class-collaborating erto accepted understanding working chauvinistic class- colonial bigot John Freeman spirit which is being encour- of the heroic revolutionary collaboration in the economy (TGWU regional secretary in the aged, and how far they still overthrow of decadent French and politics will work, along the Occupied Zone) for his dema- needed to be pushed into it by feudalism and its subsequent lines of the virtual company gogic denunciation of the Irish being given a new thrashing by impact against reaction all over unions set-up in West Germany. national liberation struggle as the management and the courts, Europe, and the monstrous re- Most British trade-unionism ‘terrorism’. supposedly. writing of history which Goeb- is halfway there already, in- They cheered mention of the But ruling-class differences bels and German imperialism cluding half the national dock SAS death-squad murder of Re- over how closely Britain should specialised in during capital- labour force. The other half in publicans in Gibraltar, ridiculed identify with the EEC trade-war ism’s last great economic crisis the scheme ports are on a hiding MPs such as Ken Livingstone camp led by German imperial- of the 1930s?? to nothing in this current vain who have campaigned for ism (as opposed to sticking with The phenomenal ignorance dispute to defend the indefen- Troops Out, sang the praises of the US ruling class) are much of Thatcher’s remark that the sible ‘registered docker’ closed the British army’s police-mili- more serious. epoch-making Jacobin resist- shop practices which have never tary dictatorship, and rejected This issue has already once ance to reaction’s attempted worked in favour of the working any changes to Tory-imperialist dramatically split the Tory come-back gave her unpleasant class as a whole in any industry, policy which so much as hinted Cabinet with senior ministers reminders of communists resist- but only in favour of the pro- at the desirability of the reunifi- Heseltine and Brittan having ing counter-revolutionaries in Labour trade union bureaucracy, cation of Ireland from its vicious to resign and Thatcher herself modern times, - should have specifically protecting the petty- colonial partition by British close to it over the Westland brought a storm of derision and bourgeois trade-unionist phi- imperialist creation of the bo- Helicopter affair which con- contempt from any half-civi- losophy of perpetual class-col- gus ‘Northern Ireland’ Occupied trasted the merits of greater US lised society. The not-inaccurate laboration within a permanent Zone at the point of Black and imperialist influence against parallel comically places Thatch- capitalist-ruling-class-dominat- Tan bayonets in 1922. more involvement with the er in an almost self-styled Marie ed economy and parliamentary These are not the general German-led EEC monopolies. Antoinette class of ‘Let them eat system, but pretending to be workers union dockers of 1920 By her outspoken agitation cake’, in answer to bread riots. ‘reforming’ imperialism all the who went on strike to prevent against German imperialism In all directions, every com- way into socialism. the loading of more imperialist- being given too much inde- mentator is running away from It is the fake-’left’ posture of intervention munitions from pendent authority within the the crucial historical lesson that this phony ‘socialist’ tradition Britain to aid the counter-rev- anti-communist military and the Revolution was an essential which remains to be disposed olutionary 14-nation Western political alliance (despite Bonn’s development, and its conscious 14 of; – and paradoxically, enforced onslaught on the young Soviet undoubted economic mastery), ‘Red Terror’ defence against the capitulation to Thatcherism on Republic. These are the labour and by her outrageous calcu- White Terror of counter-revolu- the docks will help play its part aristocracy dockers of the 1945 lated insults to France during tion was one of its most heroic in debunking the myths about Labour imperialist-colonial gov- the farcical antics supposedly and far-reaching achievements, EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 for one reason or another. the nationalist population into Irish nationalists must always submission using detention remain hostile to any continued without trial in concentration British rule (either directly or camps, death-squad killings, indirectly represented largely by torture barracks and supergrass the Orange colonists) because destabilisation, endless Gestapo capitalism can never fulfil the midnight raids on Republi- national aspirations of small can housing estates, plus the nations, - especially not in the constant deliberate provocation epoch of imperialist crisis, - no of UFF-nazi brutality against matter what ‘fair employment’ the Irish by leaked ‘suspect’ in- legislation or other ‘human formation such as is now being rights’ tarting-up is done to the revealed. system. Far from there yet being any And the old racist-colonialist British agreement to Common domineering ethos of the Market, NATO, and US pressure ‘Orange ascendancy’ must for finally openly disowning the British Redcoat slaughter of 1798 Irish rebellion inspired by the French Revolution always be dangerously disturbed phony ‘majority rights’ of the by even the most hollow of artificially-created Orange colo- as was the Revolution’s subse- systematically slaughtered cosmetic ‘democratisation’ and nial rump in the ripped-out bits quent forcible impact against according to some accounts, ‘decolonisation’ changes, - no of Occupied Ulster (which would the reactionary feudalism of with whole villages wiped out matter how securely capitalist/ mean London’s acceptance that Europe, - for all that these deci- in order to terrorise the rest of imperialist rule was still in real- the entire Partition farce since sive actions by the emancipated the subject population from any ity guaranteed, - or how remote 1921 has been nothing but a national-democratic bourgeois further Republican dreams for from genuine ruling-class domi- vicious and cruel deception of France were inevitably sur- independence from the British nance some of the ‘protestant’ on the world and on Ireland’s rounded by much ideological imperialist monarchy. foot-soldiers had in practice right to independence), - the delusion and confusion. And even when British televi- always been. rotting remains of colonialism Only decrepit current British sion did mention in passing this The underlying fascist-col- are splitting apart internally to imperialist society could have real White Terror reality of the onist ‘culture’ of the ‘unionist reveal by their own stench that so wretchedly failed to spell out French Revolutionary times, it tradition’ in Ireland remains the ‘British Ireland’ stunt is now loudly to Thatcher that just one presented the story of British deeply alien to any genuine re- well past its best. White Terror action during the imperialist barbarism entirely establishment of Irish sover- Although nothing new, the period of the French Revolution- from the aspect of ‘the end of eignty over the island regardless circulation of hit-lists finger- ary turmoil, - namely the British the United Irishmen move- of any amount of claimed or ing Republican nationalists to imperialist punitive action ment’ with the emphasis on the promised ‘special arrangements’ the UVF/UDA fascist extremists against the Irish independence so-called subsequent ‘sectarian- made over the Occupied Zone from the British intelligence echoes of the French demo- ism’ dividing Ireland, allegedly, (misleadingly called ‘Ulster’ and RUC files is now being given cratic explosion, - butchered — instead of concentrating on when it is in fact only the prominent publicity within the far more truly innocent victims the real issue of British military ripped-out gerrymandered parts Occupied Zone establishment than the Red Terror had even domination and terror provoca- of six of Ulster’s nine actual itself. And when such a dirty dreamed of guillotining among tions, eventually successfully counties). ‘secret’ reaches the status of its vicious aristocratic foes,- as inculcated into the Orange colo- The distinctive ‘group spirit’ widespread public acknowledg- many as 40,000 Irish patriots nial diehards. Joe Harper of British colonialism is a Frank- ment in all directions, then enstein monster implanted on something will have to appear Leaking from an empty hulk Irish soil (and in scores of other to be done about it at long last. colonial tragedies around the Thatcher’s instant whitewash- [ILWP Bulletin No 514 27-09-89] world, past and present), and ing of the UDR Regiment last The implied ‘death squad’ counties of Ireland depends it will continue to poison the week on her visit was to some threats to Irish nationalists in on monopoly-imperialism’s whole political situation until extent a misleading signal the spate of intelligence docu- continued domination being a genuine British imperialist even if typical of her personal ments which have ended up in camouflaged by the appearance retreat and defeat is agreed and narrow-minded dementedness. the hands of UFF British fascists of “full democratic rights” and acknowledged, and full Irish The imperialist stitch-up over (‘Ulster Freedom Fighters’) the “complete rule of law” at sovereignty at last restored. Ireland is in deep trouble with betray weakness not strength last being established in the Oc- This could easily be achieved this latest mess, and no amount among the colonial warmongers. cupied Zone. by a brief total reversal of the of glib Thatcherite Hitler- The leaks of confidential These leaked hit-lists coming direction of the current ‘polic- posturing is going to resolve it Republican suspect-lists reflect from the very heart of the Brit- ing’ operation in the Occupied easily. damaging splits within the ish establishment show what Zone-from suppressing Irish The trouble is almost cer- Orange-racist tyranny ruling total nonsense that ‘democratic’ national-liberation movement British imperialism’s Occupied boast must always essentially by a police-military dictator- Zone rather than a united colo- be under imperialism no matter ship to suppressing Orange- nist intention not to be deprived what cosmetic appearances can fascist backlash by the same of its ‘traditional’ rule over part be kept up for no matter how methods. Within months, the of Ireland. long a time. already moribund character of More Irish nationalists may The essence of the British the Orange colony would have be killed as a result of this boost ‘presence’ in Ireland remains co- died a complete and natural to the fascist-colonist death lonial occupation, - the same as death, - and Ireland’s long squads around the UDA/UVF Un- it has always been, - no matter 700-year ‘troubles’ would have ionists, but more ‘liberal’-mind- how the ‘democratic’ processes been solved virtually overnight. ed Orangemen will be appalled, are cleaned up, manipulated, or Instead, the vicious ridiculous and the masterminding-British gerrymandered. farce continues of the alien imperialists and their Green And because of the funda- British imperialist presence Tory sidekicks in Dublin will be mental ruling-class/exploita- needing a fullscale permanent utterly discredited by this farce. tion pattern of production and police-military dictatorship to The whole class-collaborating property relations under im- barely hang on to ‘control’ over 15 fraud of the Anglo-Irish Treaty’s perialism, then all attempts at the Occupied Zone despite a promise of renewed Dublin cosmetic changes, - however far- 20-year terror tyranny (in this control eventually over all 32 reaching, - were always doomed latest run) to again try to cow EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 ‘democratisation’ and ‘reunifica- tion’ half-heartedness that all further Dublin-London rela- tions of the Anglo-Irish Treaty kind would be at an end, - thus imposing the very ‘no surrender’ stand they want to see adopted. It would be a truly hopeless gamble if this is what has hap- pened, because British imperial- ism’s feeble position within the Western alliance, and the nerv- ous condition of that alliance itself on all matters where the genuineness of the West’s pre- tended ‘anti-colonialist’ stance is being challenged, - make it impossible now for British dis- sembling ever to retreat too far from the feints towards reunifi- cation and steady anti-colonial democratisation implied in the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Thus any such UFF arm- twisting would only be likely to push the corpse of Orange colonialism even faster towards the inevitable grave which alone awaits it. Dublin’s position is the most difficult of all in this unplanned round of renewed ‘principles’ posturing. The Green Tory capitalist establishment around the Dail never dares stray far from its ‘republican’ electoral stance, and its bogus tainly inseparable from the united, God-favoured commu- of ‘Popery’ or ‘perfidious Albion’ ‘nationalist’ ingenuity will be crisis-conditions of the Orange nity”, - remarkably mimicking and the like. stretched to the limit trying to establishment itself. the murderous atmosphere In this increasingly desperate keep up a credible performance It would be one thing for which now marks the similarly- atmosphere of hopelessness, of ‘implacable determination to external police investigator doomed apartheid colonialist some of the more deranged see real changes made’, etc, etc, Stevens to clear up and punish ascendancy in South Africa, or fascist-colonists will inevita- over such blatant skulduggery the leaks (as highly unlikely as the wretched faction-ridden bly turn to killing their own as the police-military establish- even that is). Smith thuggery before it (try- discredited leaders rather than ment in the Occupied Zone be- It would be another difficulty ing to prevent Rhodesia from the ‘enemy’. ing caught so clearly in cahoots entirely to then try to deal with becoming Zimbabwe by every The die-hard deathsquad with the UFF fascist underworld. the reasons for which the Or- fascist method in the book.) wings of the RUC and UDR may No wonder such unprecedented ange establishment has let slip Even more hopeless signs of have been grassed on by their bleats are being heard from this damaging information (if it doom among the British colo- own Orange bourgeoisie, fearful Dublin about “something having was them) about the leaks in the nial remnants in Ireland have that the enflamed UFF thugs to be done, - and soon”, and “it is first place. been the idiotic empty gim- will not care whether their kill- time to question the whole ex- One group thought likely to micks in tactics and strategy, ings are restricted to Republican istence of the UDR”, etc, as Irish have blown the whistle on the zig-zagging from one hollow hit-lists or extended to include ministers struggle to maintain criminal-nazi circulation of ‘no surrender’ stunt to the the odd ‘Orange traitor’ or two. a ‘statesmanlike’ pose faced in Republican hit-lists to the UFF next almost oblivious to the Another mentioned candidate reality with the intolerable non- fascists is the ‘liberal’ Orange ludicrously small support the for exposing the leaked hit-lists sense of the partition of Ireland bourgeoisie which is itself ter- Paisleyite ‘acts of defiance’ are are the UFF thugs themselves. by colonialism. rified that the more extremist actually getting from the former The suggested logic of this is This Green Tory ‘republican’ UDA/UVF unionist thugs it has colonial population. even more twisted, - and even pretence may struggle through carefully nurtured over the As well as resignedly accept- more indicative of irreparable the hoop yet again this time, years will eventually turn their ing their fate (by their indif- and terminal divisions within but the writing is on the wall for dying nazi-vengeance mentality ference to Paisley’s antics), the the former British colonialist the whole snail’s pace game of as much against ‘responsible’ mass of former Orange colonists ‘protestant ascendancy’. the Anglo-Irish Treaty’s gesture Unionist politicians (who start are also now leaving the In despair that the ‘no sur- towards Ireland’s reunification. agreeing with some of the pro- colony in droves, - especially to render’ political leaders of It is the rotten dying Orange Dublin reforms the British are Australia, New Zealand, South unionism and their like-minded bastard statelet which cannot reluctantly trying to introduce) Africa, the USA, and Canada intransigent colonists in the stand the strain and is cracking as against the Irish national- and other more successful areas RUC and UDR hierarchy (and apart at the seams. No amount liberation fight. of colonial supremacy over the the civil service) are ever going of counter-revolutionary pro- The classic pattern of rats natives. to really stand up to the gentle Western imperialist ‘statesman- deserting the sinking ship is As this demoralisation deep- British reunification pressure, ship’ will be able to prop up this already well advanced among ens and the splits widen, the Or- - and even less make a real UDI leaking hulk for ever. the wretched Orange-colonialist ange colonial rats deserting the militant stand unilaterally In the absence of revolution- community. Unionist politics sinking ship typically tend to throwing off London control by ary Leninism cutting right 16 have long been a total farce start blaming each other more an act of military rebellion, - the through the tortuous capitalist for the number of irreconcil- and more for their failure rather UFF fascists could have decided crisis in Ireland, revolution- able hate-filled splits that have than just pour out this bilious- to embarrass the establishment ary nationalism will continue occurred within this “unique, ness against the usual enemies so thoroughly over its own to make the running in the EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 artificially strangulated political ation struggle become. up, and other notorious cases of for British imperialist injustice atmosphere, - no matter how The only rational demand by nazi ‘justice’. hanging onto the Occupied hysterical or indignant the Brit- British workers must be for the But the whole record of Brit- Zone, and propping up the fas- ish establishment’s denuncia- defeat of British imperialism. ish bourgeois lies and cover-ups cist Orange colonists. The anti- tions of the IRA’s national-liber- Build Leninism. Douglas Bell. will be put on trial one day. imperialist struggle is leaping The Guildford Four verdict forward from South Africa to El No justice yet is being squashed because the Salvador, from Chile to the Phil- Irish national liberation strug- ippines. Imperialism is doomed. [ILWP Bulletin No 517 18-10-89] gle grows ever more humiliating Build Leninism. Douglas Bell Justice will not be done for the of terrorist war in the first place cause of the Irish nation (and by the monstrous imposition of British imperialist decadence is key to people connected with it such Partition in favour of the rem- as the Guildford Four) until nants of the British colony in ‘Justice’ debacle the entire British ruling class Ireland (which was defeated by responsible for the continued the national-liberation struggle [ILWP Bulletin No 518 25-10-89] imperialist victimisation of of 1916 to 1921), imperialism has Ireland is in the dock, – and not never since shirked from impris- The Guildford frame-ups are vigour is draining out of much just the police and judiciary who oning “terrorist suspects” on a political crisis of Britain’s of the ‘rough justice’ of the accepted the joke ‘confessions’ little or no evidence deliberately whole relationship with Ireland, triumphalism. It is now begin- beaten out of the persecuted in order to continue fanning – not a ‘judicial’ matter at all. ning to all look like a sorry Four. the anti-Irish flames of colonial The British capitalist state sordid mess which has ended in Not content with 700 years of chauvinism. has basically failed in its deter- disaster. colonial domination of Ireland, And now without a word said mination to defeat the armed And behind all this lies the the British bourgeoisie has about the jingoist atmosphere national-liberation movement even deeper catastrophe of the specialised in also vindictively of witch-hunting hysteria (the ‘men of violence’) in the general decline overall of Brit- punishing people just for having always whipped up by bourgeois Occupied Zone, or to deny them ish imperialism’s position in the Irish connections, regardless of propaganda in these ‘terror- any remote hint of victory at world, of which its Irish difficul- ‘ justice’. ist’ show-trials, the ‘justice’ least for their revolutionary ties have been a reflection and reunification struggle. a symbol. Even before the Guardian’s dis- system calmly announces that the Guildford Four verdict was Neither brutal armed repres- How far the rot will go on closure today that officials work- sion of the Republican cause, this occasion is not yet clear, ing for the Director of Public a farce, – after they have spent Prosecutions before the Guildford 15 years of their young lives rot- nor the diversionary deal with but whether or not it is all the Four’s 1975 trial deliberately with- ting in jail with life sentences. the Dublin Tories to concede way to the complete collapse of held evidence from the defence, the But the BBC voice of the Brit- a snails-pace reunification British imperialism’s disgrace- role of the DPP’s office at the time ish bourgeoisie then has the through the Anglo-Irish Treaty ful involvement with Ireland, had become highly controversial. fascist insensitivity to insist on but without admitting defeat for – this scandalous frame-up On the basis of the confessions playing spine-chilling record- imperialism, – has succeeded in aspect can still be only un- by the Balcombe Street gang to Mr making disappear the revolu- derstood as part of profound Imbert, Detective Superintendent ings of the tragic indiscriminate butchery of the pub bombings tionary impact of what Sinn political questions. Bill Hucklesby — later to become Féin and the IRA have achieved Equally unmistakably, the head of the anti-terrorist squad — on the crass Goebbels basis that concluded that there was enough it was fair enough for some- over the last 20 years. barnyard of critical squawking evidence to charge one of them, one to have been found guilty The summary imprisonments which has exploded around Edward Butler, with the Woolwich because the suffering was so ter- handed out 15 years ago along these startling admissions is blast. rible, – even if it is now agreed with much other ‘rough justice’ itself another deeply political There was not only an uncon- that these four just happen to such as internment without phenomenon to do with the tested, voluntary confession, but be innocent. trial in Long Kesh concentra- whole relationship of British also the forensic evidence prepared tion camp, the Gough torture ‘bourgeois democracy’ to the by Dr Douglas Higgs, linking the Could monstrous thick- skinned imperialist depravity barracks, and the judicial death- Guildford and Woolwich cases to squad shootings, etc, – were all later explosions after the Guildford go further? Four’s arrest. The recordings to play on part and parcel of a ‘triumphal’ But, like the alibi witnesses in re- the admission by Britain of classic ‘counter-insurgency’ spect of Gerald Conlon which have yet another gross imperialist campaign messianically planned only now come to light, details of injustice were the record of nazi by the British military and the confessions to Mr Imbert and Mr brutality in the scorched-earth fervently believed in by both Hucklesby’s report to the DPP was policy in Malaya; or the death- Tory and Labour Governments not made available to the Guildford as a smug demonstration of Four’s defence. Their solicitors camps inflicted on the libera- tion movement in Kenya; or the Britain’s ‘counter-revolutionary learnt of them months later from an- strength’,etc. other source. death-squad killings imposed It was the DPP’s office which de- in the Occupied Zone of Ireland But the long war is proving to cided not to act on Mr Hucklesby’s and in Gibraltar where sus- be a catastrophic undertaking, recommendation, omitting the pected liberation fighters have comparable in some politi- Woolwich bomb from Butler’s in- been gunned down in cold blood cal ways to US imperialism’s dictment. without even a warning let Vietnam. The British military At the Balcombe Street trial in alone any trial; or the record of ‘cause’ in Ireland is a disastrous- 1977, it emerged that Dr Higgs had ly unpopular one in the eyes of been asked to suppress references the British establishments nob- bling of John Stalker as he tried international public opinion in reports to the Woolwich and (causing acute embarrassment Guildford bombs. to expose these judicial murders He assumed that the instruction, and their cover-up. to the whole ‘freedom-loving’ passed on by an officer in the bomb But the British bourgeois West and NATO); there is no end squad, had originated from the DPP’s ‘free’ media does not want to to the war in sight; all the diver- office. know anything about such con- sionary political stunts to avoid The developments in the Guildford nections, or too much about all the appearance of imperialist case will increase the pressure to the other framed-up ‘verdicts’ defeat only add to the turmoil free the Birmingham Six, whose re- in the Occupied Zone and in newed appeal was rejected by the imposed on the Irish national- liberation struggle on zero evi- British-Irish relations. Court of Appeal last year. In both With no glorious conclusion cases, the principal evidence con- dence merely in order to pursue 17 sisted of disputed confessions. hate-filled chauvinist imperial- to the ‘triumphal’ sweep of ism, – such as the Birmingham 20 years’ counter-insurgency’, Having driven the youth of Ire- and with none in sight, - the land to the despairing heroism Six farce, the McGuire frame- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 colonial war. Only superficially The vast quantity of evidence created to pin more ‘crimes’ on of parliamentary democracy is it to do with such issues as below gives just a tiny glimpse detainees than ever before. itself in being the inevitable ve- ‘proper review procedures, the of what appalling tyranny has This Gestapo-level barbarism hicle for the unbroken continu- appeals system, the rules of evi- been (and is still being) inflicted by British colonialism which ation of British capitalist-impe- dence, supervision of the police, by British imperialist ‘justice’, – quickly framed and brutal- rialism as the ruling power in the role of parliament and legal especially in crucial areas where ised the Guildford Four, the Britain, and it is crass hypocrisy reform, the need for extra-judi- the counter-revolutionary Birmingham Six, the Maguire for Labour Party campaign- cial oversight, the standards of colonialism and racism of the family, etc, just for being Irish, ers in particular to overlook justice, the role of punishment,’ bourgeois state is under attack. – was a fitting fascist ‘demo- Labour’s pivotal role in holding etc, etc, about which the petty- And central to it all, – un- cratic’ follow up to the 1969 the capitalist-democracy fraud bourgeois academic furore kids mistakably, – is the government Labour Government’s criminal together for so long. itself it is making waves. of the day which holds together stupidity in reimposing police- The pretence now by past British imperialist public the essential ring of ‘law-and- military dictatorship over the Labour ministers that ‘regretta- opinion is so devastated by order’ humbug without which Occupied Zone of Ireland in the ble mistakes’ were made during these political setbacks that it such criminal ‘legal’ outrages first place (instead of ordering their time in office (or that of can only flap round in lame and such as those listed would have the disbandment of the totally parliamentary colleagues, La- hopeless circles. Not one word of been swept away by an indig- discredited black spot of all bour or Tory) is obscene. leadership or sound statesman- nant population. British imperialism’s long and There were no ‘mistakes’. True ship has been heard throughout It is the ‘democracy’ fraud, brutal history, – the shameful to the long barbaric tradition of the whole sordid saga. – concealing the real bourgeois- dismemberment of Ireland British imperialism which in- The ruling class in Britain dictatorship rule in Britain, – to deny it its independence after troduced hostage-taking to the has so long been corrupted by which is vital for keeping alive its successful national-libera- Middle East this century when its own colonial repression of the pretence that ‘the peoples’ tion struggle in 1916 to 1921 and the children of rebel tribal lead- Ireland (as well as half the rest will’, ‘the rule of law’, and ‘wis- impose Partition instead under ers would be held to be executed of the world at one time) that a dom and justice’ are all ‘bound the armed colonist minority in if areas in revolt did not agree clumsy and humiliating mess to prevail in the end’ and are the ripped-out parts of six of to be ‘pacified’, the continuing was inevitable once judicial ter- in fact effectively ‘synonymous Ulsters nine counties.) colonial tyranny over Ireland ror against the Guildford Four with each other’. By reinstating Partition un- demanded collective punish- could no longer be concealed. None of this is remotely true. der armed British colonial rule ment. The revelation that these The 1974 Labour Government in 1969, the Labour Government Just as every tenth soldier young people were deliberately was not even elected by Tory- opened the door directly to the was shot to quell rumblings of framed by the ‘law’ and left to imperialist votes but yet by its subsequent infamies of deten- mutiny threatening to over- rot for 15 years in jail because long and conscious conditioning tion without trial (the Long throw British imperialism at the Britain’s colonial dignity as and training from the bourgeois Kesh concentration camp), the end of World War I, – so did the the dictatorial power in the establishment, the capitalist military torture barracks (ex- IRA terror-bombing campaign Occupied Zone of Ireland paymasters, and the parlia- posed in the Bennett inquiry), demand that Irish people be demanded that ‘terrorist mentary circus fraud, – the the nazi-style midnight terror selected and severely punished. culprits’ be found, – has been Labourites were eager stooges raids to smash up Irish homes in All imperialism has used such admitted to with extreme reluc- of vengeful British colonial the Occupied Zone on suspi- tactics against resistance, – tance and maximum humbug by interests as soon as they got cions of ‘Republican activity’, most notably at Lidice and even the most liberal bourgeois into office that year (and just as the supergrass and anonymous Oradour by German imperial- media (see subsequent capital- they had shamefully been at the evidence rackets in front of ism, by the British at Hola ist-press extracts). service of counter-revolutionary no-jury courts, the deliberate Camp in Kenya, by the French Thedirect responsibility Western imperialist Cold War maiming and intimidation of systematically in Algeria, and for this criminal outrage by and anti-communist subversion public protests with plastic by US imperialism at My Lai in parliamentary government from 1945 onwards, – crushing bullets, and ultimately the Vietnam. has been conveniently ignored national-liberation struggles direct death-squad killings of The only serious ‘regret’ that by the entire petty bourgeois (Malaya, Kenya, Aden, Egypt, ‘suspected’ Republicans without middle-class ‘democrats’ can idealist campaign, from pomp- Greece, etc), subverting the any trial at all as were being now truly display is to join the ous clergy to posturing hacks. socialist states, and trying to uncovered by John Stalker be- revolutionary or national-liber- The middle class would pre- nuclear-blackmail the Soviet fore he was ‘judicially’ silenced, ation struggle against imperial- fer to find partial piecemeal Union. See ILWP Books vols and as happened so blatantly in ism, – for it is absolutely certain scapegoats or wallow in general 6,7,9,& 10). Gibraltar. that the next barbaric ‘scandal’ dishonour rather than accept The Labour Government did The Labour Party has never is just waiting to happen for as that under capitalist elitism, it not just lamely submit to the seriously challenged any of long as the capitalist system is the ‘democratic’ system itself anti-Irish chauvinist hysteria these developments by British remains un-overthrown. which is the guarantee of cor- of that year’s mainland military imperialist tyranny, and was It is equally foolish for the ruption. campaign by the IRA national- indeed largely instrumental in petty-bourgeois campaigners There was an elected govern- liberation struggle, - but actively introducing them. to now be pretending that they ment in Britain in 1974 when orchestrated the jingoistic dicta- The 1974 Labour Govern- have won a ‘victory’ for human this vicious nazi persecution torial response. ment’s role in helping to create rights, or that now ‘reforms’ can began. Under bourgeois de- The notorious PTA (Preven- the witch-hunt atmosphere in be introduced to correct the ‘few mocracy, it is precisely elected tion of Terrorism Act) was which bourgeois-mob hyste- flaws’ in the democratic system. governments which alone rushed through Parliament ria could ruthlessly persecute This partial retreat by the allegedly provide the ‘final in just one day without one anyone with Irish connections imperialist establishment from safeguard’ that the ‘independ- single Labourite, – fake ‘lefts’ or descent was part and parcel its usual aggressive arrogance ence’ of the judiciary and included, – having the guts to of that central-government is connected to much, much police-service is always properly vote against this monstrous imperialist tyranny. Tens of deeper phenomena than the subjected to ‘democratic’ super- racist stunt. thousands of Irish people have pathetic hand-wringing by a vision. The Home Secretary is Ever since as a result, the been relentlessly harassed few bleeding-heart liberals or the highest public office after capitalist police-state authori- under the PTA ever since, and the timid campaign by a few the Prime Minister because of ties in Britain have felt securer others like the Guildford Four, journalists. When it feels itself the enormous powers to order than ever in inflicting their the Birmingham Six, and the on the offensive, the ruling retrials and appeal court hear- bullying fascist tactics on any Maguire family, have been bru- class rides roughshod over a ings, or even squash convictions ‘suspect’ Irish who come within tally framed. few conscience-stricken petty 18 outright, or set up a public reach, including the great new It is therefore total nonsense bourgeoisie for far longer than inquiry if the ‘legal’ system has PTA powers of 7 days detention for all these belated middle- 15 years. appeared to have been acting without a court appearance so class campaigners for ‘justice’ to British imperialism has been anything but legally. that more ‘evidence’ could be now be ignoring the prime role deliberately propping up fascist EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 now sunk into such odious and guilty stupor over its anti-Irish tyranny lies elsewhere than in just the chance events around the ‘justice’ campaign, or even in the more substantial and convoluted Anglo-Irish Treaty relations which, while indirect, are still a much closer reflection of international imperialist reality (see ILWP Books vol 8). Essentially, the wretched and damaging anachronism of Britain continuing its ancient colonial domination of Ireland has coincided with a dramatic historical weakening of British imperialism’s competitive posi- tion overall (relative to its now far stronger imperialist rivals). In the postwar national- liberation climate, even a strong British imperialism would have been repeatedly embarrassed by hanging on to its gerryman- dered fascist colony. But British capitalism is now so bankrupt, in international monopoly-in- dustrial competition and trade that even its routine bourgeois political standing and its ele- apartheid in South Africa for been deliberately artificially around specific outrages such mentary cohesion and confident far longer than 15 years despite kept going by London for 68 as the Guildford Four frame-up self-respect is now suffering many a ‘democratic outcry’ years so as to keep the option are only a follow-up extension from it, let alone from the added against some of the more sordid of warmongering chauvinism of the mess imperialism has burden of prolonging an unjust or blatant sanctions-busting or against the Irish in play, when already been put in by more colonial tyranny and doing that even deliberate warmongering one quick decision and a brief basic material revolutionary- very clumsily and badly too. collusion and secret-police liai- police-military transitional international factors, – the This fundamental decline of son with BOSS for anti-commu- role by the British or UN forces national-liberation struggle by British imperialist strength and nist intrigues; and did much the would achieve the completely the Sinn Fein/IRA at the heart know-how has coincided with same for Ian Smith’s nazi rule harmonious reunification of of them. one of the most clear-thinking in Rhodesia. But nothing was Ireland with no long aftermath Thus it is much truer to say and determined revolutionary ever done about it, – despite in a very short space of time. that British imperialism has struggles ever produced by the whole armies of hand-wringing This could have been achieved changed its mind over the legal Irish national-liberation move- bishops and ‘sincere’ Labour at any time from 1921 onwards, rackets victimising Irish prison- ment. Sinn Féin’s political grasp MPs, – until the revolutionary and the refusal to do so is the ers because it is in a mess, rather falls woefully short of a Leninist struggle itself in South Africa real core crime of British impe- than that it is now in a mess just scientific understanding of the (as earlier in Zimbabwe) began rialism against the Irish nation, because it has now felt forced international balance of class to force a change. inflicting 68 years more totally to admit the injustice, – how- forces and anti-imperialist On Ireland itself, the infa- needless warring and suffering ever much that mess is added to revolution, but its ‘socialist’ mous tyranny of the Partition (to go on top of the 700 years by the revelations so painful to nationalism has permitted a racket itself has now been of colonial troubles already the self-deluding ‘democratic’ more penetrating analysis and running for 68 years artificially imposed by British bullying petty-bourgeois liberal circles. cleverer tactics to organise a establishing the Orange-fascist a bloody national-liberation If British imperialism was united proletarian Republican statelet by Black & Tan bayo- struggle which will never go still set on a confident arrogant movement more powerful than nets as a deliberate perpetual away). aggressive course in general, ever before (size for size) in warmongering provocation to And no amount of ‘democrat- and if there were no specific Ireland’s liberation struggle. Irish national-liberation to keep ic’ protesting has driven British military or other disasters All of this is constantly it sickly-divided and keep a imperialism back from this staring them in the face out of undermining British imperial- toe-hold in case the Republican vicious continuation of colonial the Irish colonial situation in ism’s position in Ireland, – and movement should ever turn reaction in the Occupied Zone of particular, – then the ruling the signing of the Anglo-Irish Leninist-socialist. Ireland, – nor could it, by itself. class establishment would be Treaty and its subsequent devel- This disgraceful dismember- Only an enforced change closing ranks and whipping the opment is a reflection of those ment of Ireland was imposed in the general conditions for petty bourgeoisie into line as difficulties, and, in a small way and has been kept going with British imperialism, or in the authoritarianly as ever over the a further dimension to them as the conscious certainty by specific circumstances of the Guildford Four and countless well. British imperialism (under occupation of Ireland, could numbers of other ‘judicial’ The UDR scandal (being its parliamentary-democracy achieve this – with ‘democratic’ crimes imposed in the name of caught actively helping the Or- façade) that such a poisoned domestic agitation augmenting capitalist ‘democracy’ (in rela- ange fascist-terrorist gangs to colonialist rearguard would the real blows by the national- tion to Ireland and every other intimidate the Irish underclass never be digestible for any liberation struggle and the ad- aspect of national and interna- in the Occupied Zone) has come peaceful harmonious develop- vancing worldwide revolution- tional affairs). to light much as the revelations ment of Ireland (to keep Ireland ary climate forcing imperialism If the police and judiciary of the British imperialist au- from ever being fully sovereign back all along the line. wanted to go on enough, thority’s own ‘legal’ criminality, and a possible ‘threat’ to Britain The best campaigning in Brit- covering up for their brutal – at a period of growing disarray in its own backyard, etc). ain would be for the revolution methods and criminal injustic- within the British imperialist 19 The gerrymandered police- defeat of British imperialism in- es, – then they would do so. camp overall, – including and state tyranny by the bigoted side Britain and in Ireland too. The key to why the British especially within its degenerate Orange-colonist minority has Any useful piecemeal campaigns imperialist establishment has Orange-fascist colonists and EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the only way to retaliate is to give it to the paramilitaries. “You get given a montage of pic- tures and it says ‘Known IRA man, Observe and Report’ — end of story. It was out of sheer frustra- tion, out of not being allowed to do the job. When you have picked up pieces of your comrades who have been blown apart and put them into a black plastic bin bag — it’s the only way you can get revenge. People don’t know, they don’t understand. “I don’t condemn those who have handed documents across. I would hate to see any innocent person murdered. I am not a bigot.” The former sergeant-major, still has close contracts with the regi- ment he left in the late 1970s. “This has been going on for a long time and will continue to go on. It’s the only way we win and get rid of them. “The frustration of the young UDR soldier in having been to the funeral of his colleagues — they will give to the UDA and UVF in their day-to-day dealings in pubs and clubs, in the hope of revenge. If they are asked for it they will give it. These are neigh- bours and friends you are drinking with, before they were paramilitar- ies, they were ordinary citizens. We went to the UDR, they went to, the paramilitaries.” His colleague, a former private who left the UDR five years ago, ad- mitted his son had been in a loyalist paramilitary group. “He left home when he was 16. They were going to refuse to let me re-engage in the UDR at one stage because of that, but a senior officer who had served with me in the regular army over- ruled them. The UDR has suffered as many casualties as the British Army beyond that within the broader military revolt (which Carson Common Market, which have during the Troubles, but they have police-state framework on the and the Tories so freaked timid ordered Britain’s pull-out, fear never permitted the UDR to be called mainland. Home-rule Liberal advocacy could turn into Leninism.) the Royal Ulster Defence Regiment.” Large parts of the petty- with at the beginning of the It is certain Paisley and Co The former sergeant-major said: bourgeois establishment are be- century, but which Paisley & will have already been fuming at “They used to send us on six-hour ginning to lose their nerve and Co have so miserably failed to the recent Anglo-Irish commu- patrols in Republican areas, they are treating these lads like dirt. Now their imperialist loyalty as the resurrect, and which retired niqué accepting Dublin’s right they are arresting them. I feel so an- enormous mess accumulates, police-chief Hermon apparently to jointly-approve many ‘reform’ gry I want to burn my citations and resulting from Britain’s toppled promised to lead ‘if ever it was recommendations for the UDR medals.’’ world position, – as can be seen needed’, but in reality in order (Ulster Defence Regiment) as The IRA also gained information from the extracts dealing with only to see the rebellion dwindle well as openly declare their de- from the UDR, the ex-sergeant-major new doubts about the Kincora harmlessly towards nothing). mand for many more far-reach- maintained. “As a senior instructor bumboys exploitation, black- The reptile Green Tories in ing changes, – with the British I’m sure I helped train a company mail, and cover-up, and some Dublin have never behaved Government of the Occupied of the IRA. At that time the idea was of the more sordid secret-police more wretchedly than in the Zone respectfully dissenting but to get as many Roman Catholics as possible in the force.” activities vaguely associated past 20 years, – terrified of still listening. One Catholic sergeant from the with these kinds of intrigues. revolution and cynically helping It is guaranteed that the Ardoyne was removed after ammu- Stalker’s own role in blowing the British imperialists to avoid Orange-fascist mob will now nition was discovered in his locker, the whistle on the death squads having the whole of Ireland be in apoplexy over the latest he said. where four other police-military united in national-liberation British acceptance of inadequa- “1 believe he was a supply officer inquiries into the allegations political revolt against them. cies in its dealing with the Irish for the IRA. He was never charged, had refused to do so despite But even Haughey and Co have question. just forced to leave the UDR. Another knowing the degenerate impe- not been able to forego putting The colonist reactionaries will one stole files from signals. They rialist truth just as surely as the boot further in over the feel more threatened and belea- can take away the UDR, but if they remove them there will be an even Stalker knew it, – points in the humiliating and criminal UDR guered than ever before at Brit- stronger UDA and UVF.” Both the men same direction. revelations, and further still ish imperialism’s humiliation, said they had been assassination The splits in the Orange over the now-admitted ‘legal’ and will seek new aggressive UDI targets and declined to be identified. ranks, – bandying about in- tyranny against Irish ‘suspects’ defiance to try to cover up their Loyalist paramilitary groups see formation about how the UFF in British courts. bleak embarrassment: themselves as sharing the aims of fascists ‘will always be backed’ The Anglo-Irish Treaty is still “Not only men from my regiment, the UDR in defeating the IRA. One since their murderous fight to on course to provide a snails- but men from the Paras, other regi- senior figure in the Ulster Defence the death ‘represents the true pace reunification of Ireland as ments and the RUC, have given doc- Association said that whether a man ‘loyalist’ spirit’ – are a desperate a way of easing British imperial- uments and records,” said one of joined the UDR or the UDA, he was 20 the men, a former’ sergeant-major still engaged in fighting, the same last ditch gasp by the reac- ism’s disgrace but yet denying war. tionary establishment in the victory to the armed revolution- who served for seven years in the UDR. “They gave them over out of A UDA man said: “Most of the RUC Occupied Zone, – itself trying ary national-liberation struggle sheer frustration. When you have live in comfortable houses in Bangor belatedly to organise the UDI (which US imperialism and the buried so many of your colleagues and Carrickfergus. They earn good EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 money and have fast cars and holi- feel that anyone else but them- they allowed the court to hear. Prosecutions was made aware of day homes in Spain. “I suppose its selves must be responsible for The true picture of what happened these admissions in December 1975 almost a class thing. The UDR live the disgrace now heaped upon then is now clearer than at any other and has chosen to do nothing.’ Later here in the community. They are their beloved ‘parliamentary time in the past 15 years. The four that year, when the Guildford Four ordinary working class Protestants young people — three Irishmen went to the Court of Appeal, they fighting for their country.” democracy’ and ‘rule-of-law’ and an English woman — were, to hoped to persuade the court to order system, (the most obscene jokes put it bluntly, fitted up. Police - of a retrial in order to put the Balcombe Tragically, there can be no currently being perpetrated ficers faked evidence by concoct- Street gang’s confessions before a guarantee from the collapsing upon civilisation). ing interview statements and then new jury. The judges heard evidence British imperialist side of the Even more depraved is the lied about the circumstances in in person by the self-confessed tortured developments in Ire- delusion that this entire crisis which the interviews had been con- IRA bombers, but chose to square land that the demise of colonial- for British imperialism is just a ducted. Whether they also brutal- the circle by concluding that both fascist chauvinism will continue series of ‘regrettable mistakes’ ised and intimidated the four, as the Balcombe Street gang and the to sink smoothly. as the ex-Labour Ministers who has been claimed, remains for the Guildford Four had been responsi- judicial inquiry under the former ble for the bombings. No ‘reason’ or ‘conscience’ has organised the frame-ups now penetrated the British bourgeois Appeal Court judge Sir John May, It was, as it seemed to the defence like to put it, and which will all and the criminal investigation un- team then and seems to most observ- establishment generally over now be ‘hopefully speedily re- der Detective Superintendent Peter ers now, a strange, even perverse, these revelations of criminal formed’ so that they could never Brock of Avon and Somerset police, decision. It also was highly doubt- wrongdoing to Irish national- occur again. What abysmal to find out. ful on purely legal grounds, for the ist aspirations. Just listen in drivel: It will take many months before Court of Appeal had taken upon it- the following extracts to Tory the full truth emerges. There may be self the right to, hear new evidence MPs urging that any concession “THE STORY of the Guildford Four criminal proceedings against some from witnesses who had not been is not just a personal tragedy: it is to liberal campaigners would of the Surrey police officers involved available to the jury, decide upon the a scandal. How else to describe the in the original inquiry. But the in- credibility of that evidence, and rule be far more deadly for ‘British wrongful imprisonment of four in- justice’ than the odd wrong- sistent questions are already burn- accordingly. As the eminent former nocent people for 15 years, not be- ing to be answered: why did it take Law Lord, Lord Devlin, later re- ful conviction or two, and that cause someone, somewhere made so long to establish the truth? Why marked, the appeal process seemed it would still be fine to bring an understandable, if regrettable did the courts not recognise that a to have become ‘one of imperfect re- back hanging which by being mistake, but because of a deliber- terrible miscarriage of justice had trial by judges’, a process not envis- the only serious (!) punishment ate, organised attempt to pervert occurred? And, perhaps most insist- aged in English legal tradition. would “make police and judici- the course of justice? ent of all, what can be done to pre- No one at that stage — indeed, no ary behave” reverently towards The Home Secretary, Mr Douglas vent it happening again? one until last Tuesday— dreamt that Hurd, told the Commons of his ‘anx- evidence, and “not meddle” From the moment of their trial at lying in the files in Guildford police iety, regret and deep concern’. He the Old Bailey in September 1974 — station was proof that the prosecu- with it (‘.), which apart from should be outraged and appalled, its irrelevance, audacity, and in the same courtroom where they tion case against the Guildford Four not only at the apparently criminal heard last week that they were to was fatally flawed. Nor was it until challengeable stupidity, is also behaviour of some Surrey police of- be freed — the Guildford Four have April of this year that lawyers act- an unintentional admission ficers, but because the nation’s judi- protested their innocence. Their ing for Gerard Conlon discovered that for all matters in which the ciary appears incapable of noticing contested confessions were, they that a vital alibi witness they had death sentence is not absolutely the sheer nonsense which is some- said, the result of brutality, intimi- been unable to trace had already, mandatory, – bourgeois law is times presented to courts in the dation and fear. in fact, been interviewed by Surrey all completely untrustworthy, guise of prosecution evidence. At their trial in early 1977, one of police in 1975, a crucial piece of evi- The Court of Appeal, presided on a Tory MP’s say-so. the Balcombe Street men read out a dence which had been kept quiet for over by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord statement. It said in part: ‘We are all 14 years. Not that the bleeding-heart Lane, had no option last week but Guardian liberals have come out four Irish Republicans. We have rec- AT THIS STAGE, the story be- to quash the convictions. Had the ognised this court to the extent that comes murkier still. For it is known of this humiliation for British court been given the choice, prec- we have instructed our lawyers to that this evidence was passed by democracy and justice any bet- edent strongly suggests that their draw the attention of the court to the Surrey police to the office of the then ter than the Tory thugs. Lordships would have been reluc- fact that four totally innocent peo- Director of Public Prosecutions, The badly-stung champion tant in the extreme to overturn the ple — Carole Richardson, Gerard Sir Norman Skelhorn, who appar- of ‘Western human rights’ was original jury’s verdict. Hence the Conlon, Paul Hill and Patrick ently decided, in contravention of in contortions over the painful decision of the Director of Public Armstrong — are serving massive long-established legal principle, Prosecutions to make it clear to the realisation that grotesque nazi sentences for: three bombings, two that it should not be made availa- court that there was no longer any in Guildford and one in Woolwich, ble to the defence. Its existence was injustice had been going on room for doubt. The convictions of under the noses of the great which three of us and another man discovered only when detectives the Guildford Four were unsafe, and now imprisoned have admitted from Avon and Somerset, acting at ‘free press’ for 15 years (in just belatedly, the authorities had stum- that we did. The Director of Public the request of the Home Secretary, one particular outrageous case bled upon the truth. of ‘judicial’ tyranny) with the Sir John May, who now must con- mightiest democratic media in duct a judicial inquiry into this sorry the world doing absolutely noth- mess, has an unenviable task. As a ing about it, – and now being retired judge, he will not find it easy to say what needs to be said about seen clearly by all to have done the abysmal performance of his fel- absolutely nothing about it. low-judges on the Court of Appeal So how did the Guardian salve when the Guildford Four came be- its conscience? Its editorial fore them in 1977. It was already launched into an immediate clear that the convictions were far Goebbels-style knee-jerk reac- from safe, for the Balcombe Street tion, – spending far more space IRA team had by then been arrested condemning the Irish national- and had confessed to the Guildford liberation struggle than the and Woolwich pub bombings. Yet the appeals failed. As was seen tyranny of British ‘justice’. But again last year at the appeal of the six what cause or connection do IRA men convicted of the Birmingham military tactics have with an pub bombings, judges do not take entire century of British imperi- kindly to being told that police alist criminality and brutality of sometimes frame innocent people, which the Guildford Four trag- fabricate evidence or lie on oath. It edy is but the latest admitted is to be hoped that they now have disaster from a long-degenerate a better understanding of the real colonial system? No connec- world. The integrity and majesty of the law are no longer to be assumed: tion whatever, – except in the they have to be proved. It is deeply 21 hysterical brains of troubled disquieting to think that the prose- petty-bourgeois ‘democrats’ cuting authorities may have known whose conceit must make them more about the alibi evidence than EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Douglas Hurd, found the relevant Paul Hill and Gerard Conlon ’has bered that the integrity of the West the floor and shaking his head by papers among the Surrey force’s shattered our belief that there is no Midlands police at the time of the the hair. Mr Blake denied this. He files. one in any English prison serving Birmingham bombings is already in also denied that he had attacked Roy Amlot, QC, who threw in more than a year who has not been doubt. Mr Conlon, making him strip and the towel on the Crown’s behalf found guilty by a jury which has John Stalker has said that the judi- squeezing his testicles, Mr Blake on Thursday, made no reference heard substantially all the relevant cial inquiry into the police handling said he had not seen Mr Cordon to this aspect of the story when he evidence. Our constitutional law of the Guildford case must be al- on the day of the alleged assault. addressed the Court of Appeal. on which our freedoms depend has lowed to reach all culpable officers; Detective Sergeant Richard Jermey Indeed, he emphasised that, had it been disordered.’ as he put it, it must address itself to also denied threatening Mr Conlon, not been for the uncovering of the Nothing can bring back the 15 “root and branch”. provoking the defendant to protest faked police evidence, the Crown wasted years of the Guildford Four. No officer who was a party to the from the dock that the officer was would have had every intention of The judicial system stands accused affair, no matter how high up the lying. He had to be restrained by defending its case against the appeal of gross inadequacy. constabulary tree he may since have prison officers. due be heard early next year. Mr Alastair Logan, a lawyer rep- climbed, should remain unanswer- Mr Eric Myers, QC, counsel for Yet there was a curious para- resenting one of the Guildford Four, able. Ms Richardson, alleged that WPC dox here. The appeal would have yesterday accused the office of the The freeing of the Guildford Four Anita Mills and Detective Constable been heard as a result of the Home Director of Public Prosecutions goes part way/ Martin Wise slapped her. These Secretary’s decision to refer the case of refusing to release documents The freeing of the Birmingham claims were also denied. A state- back. That decision was made on which would have showed discrep- Six and a full, unhindered and open ment by Ms Richardson which was the basis of representations from an ancies in police statements. criminal investigation into those el- read to the court, although not given impressive array of campaigners, Discrepancies in police custody re- ements of authority at all levels who on oath, said that she was punched including former Home Secretaries cords were eventually uncovered by have obstructed justice in these two in the ribs, and that her confessions Roy Jenkins and Merlyn Rees, for- detectives from Avon and Somerset cases and in that of the Maguire “were virtually dictated to me and I mer Law Lords Lord Devlin and and were largely responsible for Seven would go some way further. wrote down what they said and sug- Lord Scarman, and the Archbishop casting doubt on the evidence of five gested to me”. of Westminster, Cardinal Basil police officers, leading to the quash- ************ Mr Conlon, speaking to ITN, said Hume. Those representations were ing last Thursday of the Guildford Addressing the jury at the end of there was “not a lot of bitterness in concerned exclusively with new al- Four convictions. the trial of the Guildford Four in my heart. I feel bitterness towards ibi evidence which had turned up in Mr Logan said he had asked for October 1975, Sir Michael Havers, the judiciary, towards the police the years following the 1977 Appeal the records in 1975 after it was re- QC, counsel for the Crown, set out who framed me, who fabricated evi- Court hearing. alised that one of the four, Patrick the implications of the defence case. dence, but I have nothing but time It ail seems curiously hit and miss. Armstrong, had not been at “Accusations of the most appalling and respect for all the English peo- For one thing, Home Secretaries Guildford police station at a time kind have been made against the ple who helped and there have been have remarkably wide powers of when he was supposed to have been police during this trial. so, so many of them.” discretion over whether or not to questioned there.’My recollection is “If true, there has been a really gi- He said the Guildford, Woolwich order a rehearing of a criminal case, that we were told they were internal gantic conspiracy between the two and Birmingham bombs had been powers which they seem to vary police documents and not going to police forces — the Surrey police a tragedy. “But you don’t compound from year to year. be released to us,’ he said. and the bomb squad — through of- the tragedy by making other trag- In the case of the Guildford The former Master of the Rolls, ficers of all ranks. If the allegations edies. Four, as we now know, the Home Lord Denning, said yesterday the are true, there has been a most ap- “If you’re Irish, and you’re ar- Secretary was right to order the case criminal justice system was in ru- palling perversion of justice.” rested on a terrorist, political type reopened. But for the Birmingham ins as a result of the Guildford Four It is now clear that if there was a of offence, you don’t stand a chance, Six, whose appeal last year was also case. Lord Denning said it appeared conspiracy, it also involved the then you just don’t stand a chance. Maybe heard following a referral by Mr that the former DPP, Sir Norman Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir now that they’ve been big enough, or Hurd, the prospects are less good. Skelhorn, had committed a very se- Norman Skelhorn, who died last there’s someone who’s been honest The Home Secretary insisted last rious criminal offence, perverting year. It was his office which pre- enough to admit the mistakes that week that there is ‘clearly no point or the course of justice.’Sir Norman pared Sir Michael’s brief and de- were made, maybe the Birmingham sense’ in referring it back yet again, was a very good friend of mine. I cided unlawfully to withhold evi- Six will be next.” because, as he put it,’ the police wish he was alive to stand up for dence of incalculable value from To the ranks of journalists waiting crawled over . . . the evidence there himself.’ defence lawyers — the corrobora- outside the Old Bailey, he said: “I’ve just as the Avon and Somerset police tion of Mr Gerard Conlon’s alibi and been in prison for 15 years for some- have crawled over the evidence on ************* the detailed confession to police of a thing I did not do. I watched my fa- Guildford. IN January 1980, Lord Denning, fifth innocent person, who claimed ther die in a British prison when he ‘The Court of Appeal spent a the Master of the Rolls, decided to have planted the Guildford was innocent. The Maguires is inno- month quite recently going into it to uphold the appeal of the West bombs but was allowed to go free. cent. And let’s hope the Birmingham all again, including five days on Midland Police and to halt the civil His story conflicted with those of Six are freed.” the question of confessions. At the action taken out against the chief the other four. Earlier, as he left the court, Mr end of all that process they decided constables of the West Midlands At the three-week trial, many se- Conlon was asked by a police of- that the original convictions were and Lancashire and the Home rious allegations were made by de- ficer whether he wished to speak sound.’ Office by the six men convicted of fence counsel against individual to his solicitor. “I want to get out,” But there have been two signifi- the Birmingham pub bombings. officers in an attempt to establish he replied. “I am an innocent man. I cant developments since then. First In doing so, he said: “Just consider that the Guildford Four’s confes- should never have been in here.” came the inquiry into the activi- the course of events if this action is sions—the only substantial evidence On the day of his arrest in Belfast, ties of the West Midlands Serious allowed to proceed to trial... If the against them—were false. he says he was beaten. “My clothes Crimes Squad, at least one of whose six men win, it will mean that the Lord Wigoder, QC, counsel were covered in blood and my fam- members was involved in the pre- police were guilty of perjury, that for Mr Conlon, accused Chief ily had to bring clean ones. They paring of confession statements by they were guilty of violence and Superintendent Wally Simmons, were slapping me all over the place.” the Birmingham Six. At present, threats, that the confessions were who led the Surrey team, of threat- At a police station near Heathrow, that inquiry does not go back as far involuntary and were improperly ening his client during interroga- things got worse. “It was cold and as 1974; campaigners are now press- admitted in evidence and that the tion, and extending his threats of frightening. There was a reception ing that it should be extended. convictions were erroneous... This violence to Mr Conlon’s family in committee. There must have been Second, the outcome of the is such an appalling vista that every Belfast. Mr Conlon alleged that Mr about 25 policemen all crowding Guildford Four case itself has a rel- sensible person in the land would Simmons threatened to have his round me, all glaring and shouting evance, for the complaints of a po- say: it cannot be right these actions mother shot in an “accident”. Mr things like ‘You Irish bastard.’ lice conspiracy closely echo those should go any further.” Simmons denied these claims. “They made me take off my clothes made by the Birmingham Six. It has now been accepted the just Mr Armstrong had claimed in evi- in front of them all and they made Indeed, there is a striking similar- such an appalling vista was the set- dence that he was struck in the face sarcastic comments. Some were spit- ity between the material unearthed ting for the wrongful prosecution of by Mr Rowe when he refused to con- ting on me. They took me down to a in Guildford by the Avon and the Guildford Four. fess, and called a “lying bastard”. cell. All it had was a wooden bench. Somerset police, which showed that Surely it is now time to reassess He said he answered the questions I was like that until 12 o’clock the interview records had been falsified, the case against the Birmingham because he was frightened, and an next day. People kept coming down and allegations made by lawyers for Six in the light of this, especially as officer had threatened to throw him and looking at me like some animal those convicted of the Birmingham so much of the weight of their pros- out of the window and “put it down in a zoo.” 22bombings. ecution rested on uncorroborated as suicide”. He paused: “I thought it can only A year ago, Lord Devlin and Lord confessions, the use of which as evi- Detective Inspector Tim Blake was be a matter of days before these Scarman said in a full-page article dence has now been seriously ques- accused by Mr Arthur Mildon, QC, people come to their senses. This in the Times that the fate of Patrick tioned as a result of the Guildford counsel for Mr Paul Hill, of knock- is probably the strangest thing I’m Armstrong, Carole Richardson, case. Further, it must be remem- ing Mr Hill down, pinning him to going to say, but living in Belfast EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 him up and carry him to the judicial inquiry. Not in a spirit of revenge but I just want to be vindicated. It’d be nice if they (the police] could spend 15 years in jail thinking they were never going to be freed.’

*************** THERE is a small department in the Home Office whose job it is to investigate suspected miscarriages of justice. A considerable amount of their work, it is said, is devoted to parking offences. But Sir David Napley, a past president of the Law Society, recalled a few years ago in evidence to a Commons Select Committee, that it had never “as a result of its own investigations felt able to recommend a pardon”. Where the case is a high profile ter- rorist offence and the principal char- acters are Irish, the chances even of a reopening instigated by the Home Office must be zero. Where then do lawyers of families turn, who be- lieve that people have been wrongly convicted of IRA crimes? In 1977 when their case last went to appeal, the three Irishmen and one Englishwoman convicted of the Guildford bombings had the strong- est new evidence anyone could hope to get: three IRA men convicted after and seeing people tried before the dole money on drugs.” Mr Conlon they had arrested innocent people. the Balcombe Street siege, and an- Diplock Courts, I was sure British is bitter because two alibi witness The manuscripts have been availa- other who had been arrested sepa- justice couldn’t make a mistake of statements taken by the police in ble from day one.” He had confessed rately, gave detailed accounts as to this magnitude.” January and June of 1975 from Mr because the police had threatened to how they and not the Guildford four, He was interrogated for two days. Charles Burke, who saw him in the charge his pregnant girlfriend with had planted the bombs at Guildford “I couldn’t believe police officers, hostel where he was living on the murder. and Woolwich in 1974. They had people who are supposed to be se- night of the Guildford bombs, were He had been brutalised in a police volunteered to lawyers information rious, intelligent people, could go never given to the defence. station, where he had been stripped that could have been known to no down to that level. I couldn’t believe A few days before his father, naked and taken into a room where one but those who had carried out anyone could go off the handle like Giuseppe, died in prison in 1980, he was shown photographs of dead the bombings. Besides the vague, they did. Two officers were particu- he was allowed to see him in hos- bodies. garbled and mutually conflicting larly hard on me. One said he would pital. (Giuseppe Conlon was one He said that he had been repeat- statements of the Guildford four, show me an old RAF trick. He put his of the Maguire Seven, convicted of edly assaulted by prison officers this new evidence was impressive hands behind my ears and pulled conspiracy to cause explosions af- during his 15 years in prison and and convincing. me up off the chair. It was very pain- ter being implicated by some of the even received compensation for one But the Court of Appeal rejected ful. Guildford Four.) “He pulled his attack. He would now campaign for it The three judges, led by Lord “Another senior man was more mask off and said he was going to the release of the Birmingham Six. Roskill, decided the Balcombe Street aggressive verbally than physi- die. He said he had to die to clear my “This case, as with the Birmingham men were lying. The new evidence cally. But he slapped me in the face, name. He told me to put my hands in case, was an example to the Irish was never heard by a jury, as it wagged his finger and pulled my my pockets when he died, and not to community. It was a method of ter- should have been. nose. He told me, he assured me, attack any of the prison officers who rorising the Irish community. I Since the Appeal Court judges did that I would make a statement. had treated him badly. They didn’t never thought I would be free. I have not consider the new statements “It seemed they would do any- even have the decency to give me just spent 15 years in hell.” alongside those of the Guildford thing to convict me. They were un- five minutes alone with my mother. Hill refused to co-operate with the four, the vital task of comparing der enormous pressure from the Compassion is not a word in the prison system by accepting work the quality of the two sets of “con- press and television. Even if the prison vocabulary.” rosters during all his years inside. fessions” was never done. As Lord truth came up and hit them in the “I am going to dedicate as much As a result, he spent more than 1,400 Devlin later pointed out the case had face they would have knocked it time as possible to getting the days in solitary confinement.’I told been tried in two halves, before two down.” Birmingham Six out of prison. I them I was innocent, and that in- separate courts, and only half the But threats from a senior Surrey couldn’t live with myself if I was to nocent men can’t be forced to work. evidence had been considered by a CID officer, made, him sign two con- walk away; I was as much a hostage in there as jury: in his view a fundamental er- fessions. “He told me an accident “I want to let people know what Terry Waite is. ror. could be arranged for my mother prisons are really like, harsh, cruel ‘I never accepted the situation I With the failure of the 1977 appeal, and sister. He told me if a soldier shot places. There is no bigger handi- was in, and I never took part in any hope died for Patrick Armstrong, my mother it would be put down to cap than being Irish and convicted review hearing. I just told them: “I’m Gerard Conlon, Paul Hill and an accident and British soldiers were of a political offence. Some of the an innocent man” and walked out of Carole Richardson, the four young never convicted in the courts. That’s governors were very decent and the office. To have accepted the sys- people in prison. In the words of when it became a whole different sympathetic and they told me they tem would have been an admission Armstrong’s lawyer, Alastair Logan, thing. I knew he could probably do believed I was innocent, but they of guilt.” “I was incredibly depressed and what he said. I don’t think I was the didn’t put themselves out to do any- He spoke bitterly of the police of- disappointed, and felt I had been strongest of people. thing about it. ficers who, he said,’brutalised’ him a party to something dishonest.” “I was never so relieved to go to “Until yesterday I was a category and threatened to arrest and charge Gerry Conlon felt much the same. prison and get out of that police sta- A prisoner. I got four strip searches his pregnant girlfriend.’They left me At the end of the appeal he wrote to tion, so they would leave me alone. yesterday [the day of his release]. in no doubt that if I didn’t confess, his mother, “Mum, We were fitted I couldn’t give them any informa- One minute I was one of the most Gina would be “screwed”, as they up something rotten... we will prove tion about Guildford because I had dangerous prisoners in the country put it, for the Guildford bombings our innocence one day.” never been there. I couldn’t see how and here I am on the street. In 15 too.’ As he spoke, his daughter Kara, Alastair Logan was absolutely any sensible person could believe years I have never had an open visit who was born while he was on trial convinced of that innocence. He what we had written. People living with my family. There were always at the Old Bailey, sat silently at his couldn’t put the case behind him. in squats and hostels, people drunk prison officers standing there asking side. Apart from their confessions, there 23 on the Kilburn High Road. But even me to speak up.” ‘I am profoundly sad that [Det had been no evidence against the after the trial nobody said that’s After his release, Hill said during a Insp Tim] Blake [whom he claims four, which meant there was noth- a strange ASU (active service unit] BBC interview: “I am of the opinion was the officer who treated him the ing to chip away at nothing to over- they’ve got there, spending their that police knew from day one that worst] is now dead. I’d love to dig turn. EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Paddy Armstrong wrote to him mitted a second programme, A Case tary for the prevention of future claimed she had illegally handled from prison, “You tried your best.” that Won’t Go Away. We had found miscarriages of justice if the exact explosives while maintaining, with And “Where do we go from here?” and interviewed a new alibi witness way in which the police manage to the present Master of the Rolls, that But Logan no longer knew. for Paul Hill, and unearthed expert fabricate and concoct the content, there was no connection whatsoever He appealed to the media, hardly opinions that threw doubt on the as well as the technical structure of between the Guildford trial and the anyone was prepared to recognise confessions of Carole Richardson. interviews, had been made more ex- Maguire trial. that there was a story in what had They had been commissioned by the plicit. Technically correct as this asser- happened. A few lone voices took it Home Office itself and their contents But what even Lord Lane scarcely tion may have been, there has al- up — David Martin in The Leveller; never published. alluded to was the possibility that ways been something about it which Gavin Esler and Chris Mullin in the Again, an internal inquiry was an- allegations of improper pressure never did seem quite right to the New Statesman; David McKittrick nounced, but it was later expanded man on the Clapham omnibus (and in the Belfast Telegraph — but it was — only, I believe, as a result of the probably also elsewhere) and will scarcely mainstream news. continuing pressure of Cardinal At last, as the four sat seem noticeably less so after yester- In 1980 the BBC Northern Ireland Hume’s team — into a fullscale po- through their 15th day’s disclosures. programme, Spotlight, featured the lice investigation. One still disturbing question arose death in prison of Gerry Conlon’s At last, as the four sat through year in prison, a full in the mind as we walked out yes- father Guiseppe. Guiseppe Conlon their 15th year in prison, a full 12 12 years after their terday into the lunchtime sunshine, was convicted with the Maguire years after their last appeal and as last appeal, a new ap- delighted to know that the disgrace- family in the explosives case linked Carole Richardson, 17 at the time of ful Guildford Four convictions were to Guildford, another case for which her arrest, contemplated the likeli- peal was announced about to be quashed. It was this: if the evidence has always been seri- hood of spending half her life locked the lack of integrity of the Surrey po- ously suspect. Panorama devoted up, a new appeal was announced in in January. lice of that time, now established by part of a programme on the short- January this year. Now, it seems, and brutality against certain of the the Crown and leading to criminal comings of forensic evidence to the that appeal will never be heard. lacking-in-integrity officers may proceedings, had been known by doubts hanging over the Maguire Television has played its part in get- well have contained some sub- the jury at the Maguire trial, would case. But it was not until 1984 — al- ting the case back into the public eye, stance. Indeed, if they didn’t, one their verdict against her have been most 10 years after the original con- but it was a belated part. Without in- is left with the absurd conclusion the same? victions — that the first networked fluential pressure it would almost that these nonsensical confessions Although no trace of any bomb- TV documentary to consider any certainly not have succeeded. were agreed to by the accused just making or other illegal equipment of the cases was transmitted. It was The reasons for yesterday’s devel- for the inventive fun of it. For the ex- was found in her home or in the sur- made by Grant McKee for Yorkshire opment have yet to be disclosed, but planation at the time of Sir Michael rounding area she was convicted on Television’s First Tuesday and con- for those of us who have lived with Havers — namely that it was all part evidence of nitroglycerine traces al- sidered the Maguire/Conlon case in this case, there is, for the moment, of skilled IRA counter-intelligence legedly found there on some medic- full. relief that the nightmare for the four technique — now has to be aban- inal plastic gloves a few days after The journalist who brought the is about to end. doned together with the supposed she had been arrested for a murder idea to First Tuesday, Tom McGurk, After our first film in 1986 Carole integrity. to which she refused to confess. had also mooted the idea of a pro- Richardson wrote, “I think that is Mention of Sir Michael (as he then To put the question another way: gramme on Guildford. But with so what hurts most... nothing is dif- was) reminds one of other matters if the jury at her trial had known (as little evidence against the Guildford ferent now to what it was 10 or 12 that are somehow curiously swept we now know) that the Guildford four there was little that was new to years ago. The evidence, or should I under the carpet, if we are not care- police fitted up the Guildford Four, investigate. (Panorama did a substan- saw lack of it, is still the same. All ful, in rejoicing in this admirable de- would they have returned a verdict tial amount of research on the case, that’s changed is the people telling cision to quash the convictions. For of guilty against her? but their film never appeared.) What it I don’t know. Unfair isn’t a strong instance, Anne Maguire was rightly When the campaign for the remained was some strong alibi evi- enough word for what I feel about it mentioned quite a lot in Mr Amlot’s Guildford Four began to get seri- dence and two witnesses who had all, but I can’t think of another one.” survey yesterday of the confes- ously under way a few years ago, a remained faithful since 1974; the After meticulously summarising sions in which she figured both as a police officer informed one of those commitment of Alastair Logan and each of the Four’s confessions in all bomb maker and as a bomb planter. engaged in it that he would never relatives of the four; and the appar- their fantastical and often contradic- Indeed, in the Guildford trial itself get anywhere with it because it was ent nonsense of the confessions. tory detail in such a sober way that Sir Michael had made some consid- opening up a whole “can of worms”. I think it is safe to say that no one one could almost think he was again erable play with the passages from There are a number of worms still in who had read the statements of the presenting them as fact, Mr Amlot one of the confessions in which the can. Balcombe Street men alongside for the Crown revealed that so- these allegedly murderous roles those of the Guildford four could called contemporaneous notes of the of Anne Maguire were performed. ************** remain easy about the authenticity interviews which had allegedly pro- What was not mentioned in yester- TOP Whitehall officials, including of the latter. During the making of duced these confessions, and had day’s proceedings is what happened the most senior civil servant at the “Aunt Annie’s Bomb Factory” on the been presented to the court as such, to Anne Maguire after Sir Michael Ministry of Defence, are pressing Maguire case, the conviction grew bad in fact been nothing of the sort. had finished bandying her name for a public inquiry into allegations among the YTV production team that Handwritten for bogus verisimili- about in this way at the trial. that the security services were in- Guildford had been an appalling tude, they had been copies of mate- She did not just disappear off the volved in a cover-up of homosexual miscarriage of justice. rial already worked out on a type- face of the earth as one might have abuse at a Belfast boys’ home. First Tuesday went on to produce writer for suitable effect in court imagined if just listening to Mr The MoD’s permanent secretary, a film about Guildford: Guildford “ when presented as contemporane- Amlot’s survey and the rest of yes- Sir Michael Quinlan, has asked Time Bomb”(ITV July 1986). It made ous notes. Disturbing differences terday’s proceedings. She in fact dis- his colleagues, including Sir Robin no claim to present new evidence; between reality in the Guildford appeared six months later into Her Butler, the Cabinet Secretary, to pre- the facts spoke for themselves. The police station and that reality as pre- Majesty’s prisons, having been sent sent ministers with concerted advice day after transmission the Home sented to the court then emerged, there by the same judge who had that there should be a full and inde- Secretary, Douglas Hurd, called for particularly in relation to the times so wholeheartedly approved of his pendent inquiry to clear up finally an internal inquiry: it was back to and number of interviews in which jury’s verdict against the Guildford allegations which have been linked the Home Office. Everything went the Four had been involved. Four at the time, the present Master to the Kincora boys’ home in Belfast quiet. While this enabled Mr Amlot to of the Rolls, Lord Donaldson, for for the past nine years. But in the wake of the film and talk of officers having seriously mis- whom yesterday must have been an It is not known whether the offi- of Robert Kee’s book Trial and Error led the court and abandoned that even more painful business than it cials have told the Prime Minister that followed it, the 1974 Northern paramount integrity on which juries was for Lord Lane. of their concern. Earlier this year, Ireland Secretary Merlyn Roes, the must rely in cases where confessions Anne Maguire in fact then disap- Mrs Thatcher told the Labour MP 1974 Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins, are the only evidence, it also enabled peared for nearly 10 years. What Mr Ken Livingstone that allegations Lord Devlin and Lord Scarman him to ascribe these failures largely made her disappearance particu- about Kincora have been “fully and joined forces with Cardinal Hume, to technical procedures. Lack of in- larly disturbing was the fact that at carefully investigated by successive whose disquiet about the case tegrity could thus be used conveni- her own trial — which would never inquiries”. dated from meetings with Guiseppe ently as a sort of blanket dry rot to have come about if these now dis- Four separate inquiries have Conlon on his deathbed in prison cover the whole area of the confes- credited confessions had not led looked into Kincora since allega- back in 1980. Together, persis- sions without going into too much the Guildford police to charge her tions of homosexual abuse first sur- tently, they lobbied for a review of detail about the way in which the with murder, too — not only did faced in an Irish newspaper in 1980. the case. In January 1987 Douglas imaginative invention of the police the same judge who had imprisoned But their terms of reference ensured 24Hurd announced that the case of the had been at work to procure the the Guildford Four send her down that they concentrated on the fail- Birmingham bombers would be reo- details. The dry rot effect of lack of but she was prosecuted by the same ures of the welfare services rather pened, but that Guildford and the integrity was rightly used to invali- Sir Michael Havers. The same Sir than the intelligence connection. Maguires would not. date the confessions as a whole. Michael who had called her a bomb Despite repeated ministerial as- In March 1987 First Tuesday trans- But it might have been more salu- maker in the previous trial now surances that there is nothing in EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 them, claims that elements in the in co-operation with elements of MI5. Democratic Unionist Party to the security services were aware of the He says that in 1973 he was ap- SDLP. the exact way in abuses but kept quiet to blackmail proached by army intelligence of- In March this year, Mr Ian Stewart, which the police loyalist politicians and extremist ficers, who asked him to leak to the then Northern Ireland minis- Protestant groups have not been laid the press information about Tara, ter, announced that three former manage to fabricate to rest. It is also known that one sen- Kincora, and its alleged links with Kincora residents had received and concoct the con- ior civil servant, now dead, used to Unionist politicians. a total of £22,500 in out-of-court visit Kincora. While MI5 wanted to keep the in- compensation payments. “If the tent Last week, the former Labour formation secret (partly, Mr Wallace Terry and Hughes inquiries found Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr has suggested, to protect Tara, nothing to be worried about, why The answer, sadly, is that they can, Merlyn Rees, renewed his call for an which was proving useful provok- are these quite large sums being and almost certainly still do, when inquiry. “Allegations about how the ing disarray in Protestant extremist paid?’” asked Mr Kevin McNamara, the police, prosecution and judici- intelligence community made use of circles), the army wanted it out in Labour’s Northern Ireland spokes- ary are under great pressure to get what was going on at Kincora have the open. But the press did not bite. man. results. This pressure can arise not got to be cleared up,” he said. In 1974, Mr Wallace wrote a four- There are other twists in the long- only after a terrorist outrage but The call within Whitehall for page memorandum to superior offic- running controversy. The Hughes also, for example, after an Inner City an independent inquiry has been ers. It included details about abuses inquiry said that Mr Wallace de- riot when a police officer is mur- prompted partly by a series of at Kincora, the death of a 10-year-old clined to co-operate; Mr Wallace dered. Parliamentary questions tabled by boy, Brian McDermott, and an inter- insists he was willing to help, pro- Winston Silcott’s conviction, with backbench MPs, notably Mr Tam nal RUC report on Tara. vided that he was given full legal two co-defendants, for the murder Dalyell, and by a book about Colin After a spate of press reports in protection and was accompanied of PC Blakelock in the Broadwater Wallace, a former army press of- 1980, the Northern Ireland health by his lawyer, Mr James Morgan- Farm riot is a classic example. ficer in Northern Ireland, who says authorities set up the first inquiry Harris. Mr Morgan-Harris said last Although the Act was not yet le- the Royal Ulster Constabulary into Kincora in January 1981. It was week that he was not given such as- gally in force at the time of the in- and army have been aware of the shortlived; on the very day it met, surances. vestigation, it was being given a trial Kincora scandal since the mid-1970s. three of its members resigned in On Sir George Terry’s team from run by the police force involved. But it may also be part of a wider protest against its restricted terms Sussex police was Detective Chief Nevertheless, the course of events effort in Whitehall to try to clear up of references, which prevented it Inspector Gordon Harrison, the of- which appears to have led to Silcott’s outstanding issues in an effort to put from considering the allegations of a ficer involved in the prosecution of conviction has many parallels with faltering Anglo-Irish relations on a cover-up. A second inquiry that year Mr Wallace on murder charges — the Guildford case. new footing. was limited to looking at “standards later reduced to manslaughter — in 1. Public and police outrage. In answer to parliamentary ques- of residential care” at Kincora. 1980. 2. The arrest of a man with minor tions about Kincora, defence minis- Meanwhile, Mr James Prior, the In 1987, Mr James Miller, a former teenage convictions and a subse- ters have repeatedly said that if MPs then Northern Ireland Secretary, MI5 agent, claimed that the intelli- quent history of antagonism to the had new evidence then they should asked Sir George Terry, chief consta- gence services had known about the police. pass it on to the “appropriate au- ble of Sussex, to investigate the way activities at Kincora for a number 3. The announcement, readily ac- thorities”. On Thursday, Mr Archie the RUC was conducting its continu- of years and believed that the boys’ cepted by the popular press, that Hamilton, the armed forces minis- ing inquiry into Kincora. home was used to entrap men for the ringleader of the riot had been ter, promised to write to Mr Dalyell, The Terry report, completed in use in blackmail. arrested. who raised the Kincora affair during October 1983, has never been pub- 4. Widespread attempts by police the debate on the defence estimates, lished. Sir George said he had con- ************** investigators to persuade witnesses “to answer all his points”. cluded that there was “no substance to name the accused. to allegations that army intelligence THE REASON given for the dis- 5. The impression given to alibi missal in 1975 of Colin Wallace — ************** had knowledge of homosexual witnesses that, if they confirmed the leaking information to a journalist accused’s alibi, they too were likely KINCORA, the name of a boys’ abuse at Kincora.” But doubts about — is ironic, given that leaking was to be charged with serious offences. home on the Upper Newtownards this soon arose, amid reports that part of his job as an army press of- 6. Denial of solicitors to those ar- Road, in east Belfast, has been syn- one of McGrath’s former colleagues, ficer. rested, even after a magistrate, in onymous with murky scandal ever Mr Roy Garland, had told army in- Mr Wallace, described by critics as one instance, had insisted on a pris- since the first allegations of homo- telligence all about Kincora in the a Walter Mitty figure, was dismissed oner having legal assistance as a sexual abuse there were made nine company of a preacher in the mid- after writing a memorandum to su- condition of continued detention. years ago. 1970s. periors about Kincora and after he 7. Detention in solitary confine- Despite four inquiries, one ques- Sir George’s conclusions were began to question dirty tricks. ment and interrogation of juveniles tion has not been answered: were roundly dismissed by Ulster poli- The most notable of these was in such oppressive circumstances boys used is pawns in an attempt ticians from different parties who Clockwork Orange, black propa- that the trial judge dismissed their by elements in the security services were now convinced of a cover-up ganda to smear leading Labour evidence as fantasy and instigated a to discredit or blackmail prominent involving both the army and the and Liberal politicians as well disciplinary enquiry. Loyalists? RUC. as Conservatives, including Mr 8. A leaked police mug-shot, pro- There are subsidiary questions: Four separate inquir- Edward Heath. claiming the guilt of the accused, did members of the security ser- Mr Wallace says the material was covering the front page of the Sun. vices visit Kincora, and did their ac- ies have looked into provided by elements within MI5. 9. No forensic, circumstantial or tivities contribute to the resignation Kincora since allega- On appeal, Mr Wallace had his identification evidence put to the of the then coordinator of security dismissal overturned when his su- jury. in Northern Ireland, Sir Maurice tions of homosexual perior, Mr Peter Broderick, acknowl- 10. Not even a signed confession. Oldfield? abuse first surfaced edged that “with the full agreement Just an unsigned police record of The scandal surfaced in 1980 when of the army in Whitehall” a special an interrogation containing some the Irish Independent newspaper ex- in 1980. But [not on] unit, called Information Policy, had ambiguous remarks which the jury posed child abuse at Kincora after the intelligence con- used “psychological means to assist were invited to construe as a confes- years of unsuccessful complaints to operations strategically and tacti- sion. the local health authorities by in- nection. cally.” He subsequently resigned. 11. Refusal of the trial judge to ac- mates and social workers. In 1981, Wallace was given a 10- cept that there was insufficient evi- They were told that the Royal The scandal would not go away. In year prison sentence for the man- dence to put to the jury. Ulster Constabulary was investigat- January 1983, Mr Prior announced slaughter of a friend, Jonathan 12. A jury which, after a three- ing the home. But it was only after the setting up of yet another in- Lewis, in Sussex. month trial, must understandably the newspaper’s disclosures that quiry, this time under a retired cir- Now at liberty, he maintains his have concluded that, with so much three men were jailed for sexual cuit judge, William Hughes. But its innocence; his lawyer voiced doubts smoke, there must have been a fire. offences dating back to 1960: the terms of reference were also limited: about his trial; and the journalist, 13. Confirmation in the mind of warden, Joseph Mains; the assis- the inquiry considered why social Mr Paul Foot, wrote a book suggest- the public of the justice of the ver- tant warden, Raymond Semple; and workers had not detected abuses ing he was set up. dict by widespread dissemination of the housefather, William McGrath, earlier, but it kept away from allega- completely false information about founder of a Protestant sect called tions of cover-ups and the role of the ************** the accused’s “vicious character and Tara. RUC and the intelligence services. long history of robbery, violence, Among those who knew about the The report, completed in early YOUR LEADER (October 20) asks and drug dealing.” allegations against McGrath, and 1986, concentrated on pointing to whether miscarriages of justice, 14. Refusal of the Appeal Court, who reported them to army intel- failures of communications be- such as those in the case of the chaired by Lord Lane, to allow an 25 ligence, was Mr Colin Wallace, an tween social workers and absolved Guildford Four, could happen appeal. army press officer. One of his tasks any individuals from blame. It was again now that the treatment of Silcott was convicted in March 1987 was to spread black propaganda and attacked by politicians across the suspects is regulated by the Police of the murder of PC Keith Blakelock undertake psychological operations spectrum, from the right of the and Criminal Evidence Act. EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 during the Broadwater Farm dis- the six were sound. The police had under the heading “knowledge of”, their convictions, which have again turbances of October 1985. He con- “crawled over the issues, the evi- the information that the interview- been questioned after the Court of fessed to nothing. No witnesses tes- dence, there just as the Avon and ing officers would have known at a Appeal quashed the convictions of tified against him. The prosecution Somerset police have crawled over particular time. It failed to mention the Guildford Four last week. produced not one piece of photo- the evidence on Guildford. one interview that was recorded The officer, whom we have under- graphic or forensic evidence. Yet he “The Court of Appeal spent a elsewhere, while details of another taken not to name, said last night was sentenced to life imprisonment. month going into it all again, includ- were crossed out and annotated and that he saw five of the six men naked, The entire case depended on the ing five days on the question of con- the word “OUT” underlined three soon after their arrival on remand at following alleged statement from fessions. So there is clearly no point times. At the appeal, defence law- Winson Green jail in Birmingham. Silcott: “You ain’t got enough evi- or sense in my putting that case yers alleged that the “Read sched- As he joined a renewed assault, he dence. Those kids won’t give evi- again.” ule” was an aid to the fabrication of saw that they bore marks of earlier dence in court. No one else will The evidence adduced in the evidence: if the inquiry were being injuries, sustained in the custody of talk to you. You can’t keep me away Guildford case by Mr Roy Amlot, conducted honestly, there would be the police to whom they had con- from them.” Silcott never signed QC, included the detention sheets no need for a list of this kind. fessed. the police notes of his supposed re- drawn up by the police at Guildford At the 1975 trial, Mr Justice Bridge The six, Patrick Hill, Hugh marks. But on the strength of these giving details of the times of inter- said that for the allegations of false Callaghan, John Walker, Richard 26 words, Silcott was sent down for views with suspects and the names confessions to be true the police McIlkenny, Gerard Hunter and a minimum of 30 years. Tightening of the interviewing officers. There “must have spent many hours try- William Power, have maintained the rules of evidence would not have were serious discrepancies between ing to ensure that their lies would their innocence since their ar- impeded one bit the ability of the au- the sheets and the details contained accord with each other.” He believed rest shortly after bombs killed 21 thorities to frame Silcott — because in the records of the interviews. this was impossible. in two Birmingham public houses there was no evidence against him There were examples where inter- At the appeal, it was put to Mr in November 1974. At their trial in in the first place. Silcott was found views were set down on the deten- Read that the schedule was “a blue- 1975, at their first appeal in 1976 and guilty because he was black and tion sheets of which no other trace print as to how officers must, pre- at the second appeal ordered by Mr lived on Broadwater Farm. remained and, conversely, what pare their evidence.” He replied: Douglas Hurd, the Home Secretary, purported to, be contemporane- “That’s certainly not so... I can’t ex- in 1987, they claimed that their con- ************** ous notes of interviews which were plain now. I can’t. It’s as simple as fessions were obtained by threats never recorded on the detention that due to the lapse of time.” and violence by police, and that YOU ARE right to draw attention to sheets. The Court of Appeal under Lord they were beaten further at Winson the Fisher Inquiry into the Confait In the Birmingham case deten- Lane ruled that the schedule was Green. The Crown has always ad- Guardian case ( , October 20), cited tion sheets existed but had been an “informal document” of little im- mitted that an assault of some kind by Douglas Hurd as a precedent for left blank. Defence lawyers said portance and that there had been no took place at the prison, but denied the May inquiry. That inquiry was that neither in Morecambe nor in attempt to deceive the courts by the the allegation of earlier beatings. a total disaster, reached absurd Birmingham, where the men were police. The officer has retired after suf- conclusions, purported to reconvict interrogated, had details of their Ms Christine Crawley, the Labour fering mental illness, the result, he two of the innocent victims of the detention been supplied, suggest- MEP for Birmingham, has initiated said, of guilt feelings over the case. original miscarriage and exoner- ing that this procedure had been a debate on the Birmingham Six at He first spoke about the men’s pre- ated Inspector Graham Stockwell, adopted as a policy for the inves- Strasbourg next month, supported vious injuries to an internal prison the policeman who wrote down the tigation. At the appeal last year by Mr John Hume, leader of the SDLP. inquiry in 1974. He repeated his al- confessions. new evidence unearthed by po- legation in a statement to Devon and The worst aspect of it, however, lice from Devon and Cornwall was Cornwall police during inquiries was its procedure, under which Mr ************** produced—a schedule of interviews initiated by Mr Hurd before the 1987 Donald Farquarson, QC, on behalf with suspects drawn up the officer A PRISON officer who was one of appeal. of the Metropolitan Police, used, in charge of the original inquiry, 14 acquitted in 1976 of beating up He said: “I saw these men naked. over a period of days, his formida- Superintendent George Read. the Birmingham Six has admit- All these years on, it’s difficult for ble forensic powers to cross-exam- Divided into columns, it listed not ted his guilt for the first time. His me to remember specific injuries. ine the three innocent young men only times and personnel but also, statement casts fresh doubt on But my attitude has been consistent succeeded in causing one of them to break down and walk out — be- haviour which was perfectly natu- ral in the circumstances but was clearly construed by Sir Henry Fisher as evidence of guilt. (I can- not believe it was a coincidence that Mr Farquarson, now a judge, was chosen to sit with Lord Lane on the Court of Appeal.) I now bitterly regret advising my three constituents to co-operate with that inquiry. I would advise the Guildford Four to have nothing to do with the May inquiry, unless lay assessors are added to it. I cannot see how any member of the legal establishment, sitting alone, can be expected to pass im- partial judgment on the decision of that same establishment in the DPP’s office in 1974 to withhold alibi evidence from the defence.

************** SUPPORTERS of the Birmingham Six, convicted of the November 1974 pub bombings in which 21 people died, have reacted with dismay to the firm refusal by the Home Secretary, Mr Douglas Hurd, to reopen the case. They said that key elements of the new Birmingham evidence heard and rejected by the Court of Appeal last year bore striking similari- 26ties to the reasons advanced by the Crown last Thursday for freeing the Guildford Four. Mr Hurd said last week that he was sure that the convictions of EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 over the years: that some of them the vital evidence of two members shortly that the Government will not decay finally catching up with were recent, and some were too old of the Balcombe Street gang (who comply with last year’s European dying British imperialism rather to have been caused in prison cus- claimed to have planted the bombs) Court ruling against UK legislation than with any particular errors tody.” instead of sending the case back for allowing terrorist suspects to be Thatcher is now committing. The officer worked as a warder in consideration by a jury. The judg- held for up to seven days before be- the prison hospital, and had under- ments of Lord Justice Roskill was ing brought before a judge or mag- The Tory mercenary-profi- taken a three-month medical course. unfair and inaccurate. The truth istrate. teering hardline approach is He said: “There was a variety of in- is that the judges of the Court of The court decided that these still much in force and is indeed juries, a multitude of injuries.” They Appeal who had the opportunity powers breached article five of the more popular than ever with included cuts and bruising, which of comparing the hardened terror- European Convention on Human many of the bourgeoisie. It is the officer saw as the men were ists known as the Balcombe Street Rights, which stipulates that de- hardly ‘socialism’ which is chal- brought to be bathed and again as- gang with the pathetic Guildford fendants must be brought promptly lenging the long Tory lead in saulted in the bathroom. Four ought to have concluded that before a court. the opinion polls and 10-years’ The men had already been as- the latter were innocent. Their fail- For the last year, ministers have election results. saulted, about an hour before, in ure to stop the nonsense at that been trying to find a way of obeying the prison reception area. The of- stage is the most shameful episode the ruling without losing the oppor- Just the opposite. Kinnock ficer said: “If you kick someone, it in the whole story. tunity for lengthy detentions which and the Alliance reptiles have doesn’t show immediately. Some of The Labour MP Mr Chris Mullin the police deem necessary to combat had to wreck what little ‘demo- the bruises were turning colour. I alleged in the Commons that it was terrorism. cratic equality’ integrity was left formed the impression that some of not credible to pretend that it was all None of the four was charged to the Labour Party in order to the injuries were older than other the fault of a handful of Surrey po- within the normal two-day deten- catch up with Thatcher’s appeal injuries: they’d got so many injuries, lice officers. tion period. It is arguable that the to bourgeois individualism. I can’t be more specific.” Walker, as After the arrest of the Balcombe extra time provided the opportunity But the philistine ‘market later emerged in court, had lost sev- Street IRA unit, everybody knew for false statements to be concocted. mechanism’ bourgeois—ideal- eral teeth. The others had black eyes, they were responsible for the It was not clear yesterday whether multiple bruising, and cuts requir- Guildford bombings, he said. ministers had yet appreciated the ist ideology is faltering because ing stitches. “Everybody, up to the level of Sir extra political damage which could imperialism overall is faltering, Speaking slowly and deliberately, Michael Havers, the prosecutor, and be done by this aspect of the case. however paradoxical that may visibly under great strain, the officer Commander Peter Imbert, knew Beside the politicians, however, seem in the light of Gorbachev’s referred to his trial with 13 fellow they had got the wrong people. They the judges sit stonily mute. In 1977, continued full-flood retreat officers in 1976. He said: “I lied, and chose not to face up to that.” Lord Justice Roskill, who heard the from workers state socialism you’ve got to write it, because it’s the Yet even as Mr Hurd made this Guildford Four’s appeal, did not towards world bourgeois values, truth. This has burdened me for 15 week’s statement, Mr Ivor Stanbrook, merely turn it down but professed and in the light of the nauseat- years.” hardline MP for Orpington and a the kind of certainty for which the ing bragging done by Bushism, He had been playing dominoes leader of the “triumph for British judicial temperament is only too with other officers and swapped justice” school, felt able to offer a famous, stating: “We need only Thatcherism, the rest of the with a colleague in order to join the warning sneer at the campaign. He say that so far as the new evidence complacent corpulent West, and bathing party. He said: “I don’t mind told the Commons: “If we were to is concerned we reject it in all its by Labourism trotting loyally in incriminating myself, but I won’t allow the due process of law to be aspects. That evidence, therefore, the wake of the in-fact decrepit implicate others: they were good, diverted at the behest of cardinals gives rise to no lurking doubts what- ‘market forces’. decent men. You’ve got to remember and archbishops, British justice ever in our minds.” The worst insoluble economic the climate of the times. These men would be no better than that of the crisis in its history is immi- had confessed to the most horren- Ayatollah Khomeini.” Thatcher, at least, – as the nently about to befall imperi- dous crime.” alism; and the international The men were taken one by one ************** extracts show, – is having none from cells on an upper landing and of it. To keep the 7-day frame- revolutionary anti-imperialism PROBABLY the stupidest comment hurled down the stairway to the up facility, the government is struggle has in fact never been so far made about the Guildford bathroom. The officer refused to in better shape, ready to take up Four was uttered last Friday prepared to defy the Common elaborate, saying only: “The alle- the opportunities for proletar- night by Mr John Redwood, the Market avuncular advice (which gations against me in 1976 were by ian-dictatorship overthrow of Conservative MP for Wokingham. helped force Britain into the and large true.” Then, he was said Appearing on Radio 4’s Any Anglo-Irish Treaty snail’s-pace capitalism which will instantly to have grabbed the men by the hair Questions, he was answering the follow all round the world out of and thrown them violently into the retreat from Ireland in the first proposition that the wrongful the inter-imperialist warmon- bath. place) yet again in the maverick conviction of the Four on faked gering/slump debacle the West Courts have heard a variety of evi- British ruling-class style of evidence finally put an end to the dence supporting his story. The 1974 still wanting to appear to be will plunge the planet into argument for capital punishment. trial of the six was told by the prison ‘powerfully independent’ as a inevitably. Not a bit of it, said the very right doctor, Dr Guy Harewood, that the Thatcher may yet play a role wing Mr Redwood, a former pil- world power long after the real- men’s injuries predated their arrival individually in the possibly seri- lar of Mrs Thatcher’s think tank. ity of world power has almost in Winson Green. ous splits, which could ravage If death had been the likely conse- disintegrated in defeat within At the trial of the 14 officers, Dr quence of convictions, he argued, the merciless inter-imperialist the Tory Party and British rul- David Paul, a senior forensic con- then the police wouldn’t have med- ing class generally, over which sultant, used photographs of the economic cut-throat rivalry dled with the evidence. The sheer power-block to most closely ally men to argue that some at least of (which Britain is dramatically enormity of what they were doing with as the capitalist trade-war their injuries were sustained in po- losing, - see last week’s Bulletin). would have made them behave. lice custody. Two prison officers, Thatcher is deeper than ever and arms-race hots up murder- Mr Redwood is an Oxford MA and who had been among the 14, told in trouble from all the recent ously. PhD. Like Keith Joseph, he is a for- the 1987 appeal that the men were But the context in which this mer fellow of All Souls. His remark momentous events, – from the already injured on arrival. is likely to happen, if necessary, gives further proof that academic economic disasters, to the Irish Lawyers acting for the six said last is bound to be one of general distinction does not guarantee com- fiasco, and the constant humili- night they would continue to press mon sense. ation politically internationally chauvinistic warmongering Mr Hurd to reopen the case, despite hysteria anyway, - of the kind his refusal last week to do so. at such meetings as the Com- ************** monwealth Conference over at which Thatcherism has her loyalty to South African already proved so adept in the ************** MRS Thatcher has decided to Falklands, and in kow-towing THE SOLICITOR general, Sir defy the European Court and fascism (now doomed), around Nicholas Lyell, has said that the ju- cling to powers for detaining ter- the NATO-Common Market alli- to US Ramboism elsewhere, diciary involved in the Guildford rorist suspects which were in- ance over her hatred of German from Grenada to Afghanistan, case were “undoubtedly blame- troduced in December 1974 in dominance, etc, and many other Kampuchea, and other Western less. “May I refer him to chapter 36 response to the IRA bombing cam- matters. counter-revolutionary colonial of Time Bomb by Grant McKee and paign in Guildford, Woolwich and But once again the petty- outrages. Ros Franey which deals with the Birmingham. bourgeois idealist approach of In which case a National Gov- hearing of the case by the Court The powers were probably used ‘mistakes to be corrected’ or ernment is as likely an outcome of Appeal in 1977. After reading for the first time to detain some of 27 ‘reforms to be made’ misses all of Thatcher’s difficulties as any, it. Sir Nicholas may well wonder the Guildford Four while evidence or a government so Tory (even if whether the conduct of the judges was being fabricated against them. the richness of Thatcher’s sud- of that court can be called “blame- Mr Douglas Hurd, the Home den clumsiness and vulnerabil- led by Kinnock) that makes no less”. They improperly evaluated Secretary, is expected to announce ity being much more to do with difference anyway. EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Thatcher could stay on, but postures. (not by chance) deal between But what becomes immediate- could equally be easily dis- Intensified jingoistic flag- Dublin and London to proceed ly obvious from all these sordid pensed with tomorrow. But waving will be the general aim further with the ‘constitutional’ manoeuvres is what cynical it will not make much differ- whatever regime takes over snails-pace British withdrawal hypocrisy was all the American ence in the long run either way (see ILWP Books vol 11). Only from the colony, forced out by bluster earlier (echoed by their because the crisis for British conscious Leninist revolution- weakened British imperial- pathetic British sidekicks) about imperialism is already here. ary preparation can adequately ism’s inability to cope with Sinn “the greatest threat to man- The personal humiliation make ready for such develop- Féin’s revolutionary struggle, kind since Adolf Hitler” which of the Thatchers of this world, ments. but covering it up with a last- must be “totally disarmed and plus the general governmental In the rapidly-changing up- ditch international bour- dismantled as a regime in its paralysis, etc, - are much more heavals ahead for capitalism in geois conspiracy brokered by entirety”, etc. symptoms of deeper imperialist Britain, only a party of Leninist Washington, NATO and the EEC Another criminal aspect decay than to be seen as causes theory can give any real leader- with the Green Tories to dress emerging to all the lies told is of that decay, however much ship to working people. The the scuttle up as ‘law-governed the deception of the ‘free world’ their disgrace and turmoil then revolutionary proletariat will further peacefully-negotiated over why the Saddam regime helps fan it further by making finally be forced to speak by progress in the ancient relation- in particular had to become visibly conscious the ruling the disastrous decay of events; ship between these islands’ etc. the target of unprecedented class’s general loss of nerve and and the sordid machinations of (see ILWP Books vol 8 & 15). Western-imperialist colonial direction. parliamentary democracy and But even more immediately warmongering preparations be- Far more important is under- bourgeois-media opinion will significant from imperialism’s cause of the sickening violence, standing the general class-war become increasingly sidelined, point of view, the Middle East the gross disregard of all human dimensions imposed on desper- not before time. Build Leninism. scene of monopoly capitalism’s rights, the flouting of even the ate British imperialism both in Spread the ILWP Bulletin. latest supposed ‘triumph’ in re- most basic norms of civilised its domestic and international Joe Harper versing the rate of revolutionary democratic behaviour” etc, etc, and national-liberation decline -- carefully playing down the Hypocrisy over Gow in the West’s power is looking Western monopoly-bourgeoi- unhealthier by the minute. sie’s real complaint which was [ILWP Bulletin No 557 01-08-90] Slowly, bit by bit, the real against Saddam redrawing the The endless cynical demands (three were left in the Republic story of reactionary brutality, old colonial frontiers of the for Irish Republicans to ‘use because they had too many nazi propaganda, and illegiti- Arabian peninsula (which the the democratic process’ and not independence supporters) where mate seizures of land, property, colonists themselves so juggled ‘pointless terrorism’ has been the British colonist vote is in a and wealth in the region is com- with to their own best advan- answered by the national-liber- permanent rigged majority. This ing out, - all of it perpetrated by tage before leaving)./ ation struggle in the way taught is a stinking fraud denying Ire- imperialism and its degenerate /Cutting omitted/ it by British fascist-imperialism. land its rightful united national feudal allies, - as sections of the ...But the serious question is Sinn Féin’s independence independence for ever. It can bourgeois media are themselves how much in vain was all this programme won an overwhelm- only be replied to by a national- beginning to acknowledge: out-of-date colonial reaction? ing majority of Irish seats in liberation struggle. /Cutting omitted/ What are the Western monopo- the British elections of 1918. The Goebbels-trained ‘free’ ...But not only is the Jaber lies’ chances of hanging on to The Irish MPs refused to take British bourgeois press is simply Sabah gangster dynasty now their domination of the Arab oil up their seats in London and dispensing meaningless de- being seen in its truly revolt- wealth via their despicable feu- declared an independent Dail in praved lies in churning out the ing medieval land-grabbing dal stooges around the Arabian Dublin instead, in 1919. oldest most discredited British colours. The monstrous Saudi peninsula? British imperialism’s reply colonial refrain of all: ‘We will feudal tyranny is not very far Astonishingly, one of the was to send in the Black and not let bombs drive us out’. behind in rearming up to the worst problems the West may Tan terror troops to smash the But such is the precarious eyebrows to squat down more have to handle is that the independence movement, and to hold by British imperialism over oppressively than ever on its filthy-rich medieval greed-gangs impose partition in 1920. one of its last colonial territo- even larger illegitimate share looting the regions resources Sinn Féin used the ‘democrat- ries that the entire avalanche of Middle East Arab oil wealth. in conspiracy with imperialism ic process’ to win an overwhelm- of manipulated ‘public political And the Western imperialist might be bankrupting them- ing majority of Irish seats in the comment’ on Gow’s assassina- ringmasters themselves are selves, - their luxury-loving and British-imperialist run elections tion all ultra-carefully avoids quickly confirming not only that armed-protection-loving eyes of 1918. even any mention of the idea all talk of a blitzkrieg invasion proving even bigger than their Their reward was the bayonet, that the deadly war of national- to “defend freedom, and secure grotesque-enough bellies and and the bullet and the dis- liberation could cease tomorrow Middle-East peace and disarma- wallets. The Saudis are already memberment of their ancient if British imperialism would ment” was pure humbug but seeking loans to tide them over united island nation-state. hand over all power in Ireland in that they don’t really object to an expensive period in their Now they are told the ‘[to] use good order to a Dublin govern- regimes like that of Saddam parasitic billionaire existence. the democratic process again’ ment exactly as should have Hussein himself, - but only to Now the Kuwaiti mafia are run- in six gerrymandered bits of happened in 1918. his making a nuisance of him- ning into similar problems,/... Ulster’s original nine counties Douglas Bell self to the West:/ /Cutting omitted/ /Cuttings omitted/ ...The new arms race is already Imperialist degeneracy-marking time Maybe Saddam will yet be top- well out of control, and feelings but not for long pled as a result of the damage of revolutionary war fever have Western imperialism did inflict been stirred in country after [ILWP Bulletin No 589 20-03-91 section] in order to force Baghdad back country as a result of the impe- into line with the US monop- rialists’ murderous interven- Although world development legal paraphernalia of Britain’s oly—capitalist diktat for the tion. will, in appearance, seem to alleged ‘lawful’ colonial tyr- region, and maybe American Bush’s mindless propaganda remain paralysed until the next anny over the occupied zone of interventionism will even play about a ‘new world order’ is soon US imperialist catastrophe, in Ireland is proving too costly in out the colonial role to the full likely to be the last thing which reality capitalism’s slide into every respect. and ensure its own new stooge the Washington colonial strate- deeper slump disaster continues Even more significant than regime gets appointed in Iraq, gists will want the region to be relentlessly. the Birmingham Six finally deciding to dispense once and concentrating on, preferring The British bourgeois system’s having to be let out of jail after for all with the aid and encour- instead a ‘period of calm and 28 Budget makes sick reading one of the dirtiest frame-ups agement it gave to its former stability’, - meaning a con- and comes on top of the ruling by officialdom in history stooge Saddam over the last 20 tinuation of the US-dominated class’s High Court admission (backed by a 16-year ‘free press’ years. imperialist status-quo./ that the whole regime and whitewash) is the simultaneous EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the bourgeois press coverage:/ tem as a whole, it has done terrible /cutting/ damage to public confidence in the law. ...Not to be outdone, British imperialism can still compete ************** with the best when it comes to the appalling brutality and Mr Justice Bridge, now Lord Bridge, summing up at Lancaster hypocrisy of its ‘dirty’ war crown court in August, 1975: “If of shoot-to-kill death squads the six men are telling the truth... and judicial frame-ups against the police have been involved in the Irish national-liberation a conspiracy unprecedented in struggle in the name of ‘justice’ the annals of British criminal his- and ‘democracy’, etc, with even tory.” Sentencing them he said: the best bourgeois scribblers “You stand convicted on each of unable to make ‘terrorism’ 21 counts, on the clearest and most seem ‘responsible’ for British overwhelming evidence have ever heard.” colonialist mayhem despite The late Lord Widgery, then Lord their most snide and cynical Chief Justice, refusing the men leave comments: to appeal in March 1976: “There was Of all the IRA’s dirty victories this is no evidence to suggest the Six had perhaps the bitterest. Their atroci- received any knocking about in cus- ...But the shattering impact war out of the USA and Britain ties created a climate of loathing tody beyond the ordinary.” and fear which ended up contami- Lord Denning, the Master of the has may have made it impossible themselves as their panic- Rolls, dismissing the men’s civil ac- for US imperialist influence to stricken market hysteria strug- nating British justice itself. Even to- day, with the system struggling to tion against the police and Home survive without offering at least gles vainly to digest increasingly reclaim its honour in the only way Office in January 1980: “Just con- some sops to outraged Arab disastrous world trade-war news it can — by admitting a dreadful sider the course of events if this ac- nationalist opinion. These will (in the cutthroat banking and mistake — the victor remains the tion is allowed to proceed to trial. almost certainly be regarded industrial competition which IRA. We let our rage get the better of If the six men fail, it will mean that as totally unnecessary and Japan and Germany are still us, and the result is that they won a much time and money will have indigestible by Western impe- comfortably winning), plus the round, a victory over the best thing been expended by many people for rialism’s well-armed Zionist- related political news of a no- in a free society, the rule of law. no good purpose. Of course, it is deeply unpleas- “If the six men win, it will mean colonialist frontmen. longer-impressed Third World in the police were guilty of perjury, It is an insoluble contradic- revolt against the old Anglo- ant to admit that terror can pay. But it does. With the cynicism of that they were guilty of violence and tion just waiting to happen. Saxon colonial order:/ the wicked, the IRA can claim, in threats, that the confessions were in- And Washington will be /cutting omitted/ Londonderry, in Belfast, in Dublin, voluntary and were improperly ad- amazingly lucky if the incurable ....But although the danger- in Irish communities throughout mitted in evidence and that the con- Palestinian-Zionist conflict is Britain and North America: you see, fessions were erroneous. ous warmongering blitzkrieg “That would mean the Home the only major-sized debacle on appears to have come off at we told you — an Irishman cannot get justice in British courts; or if he Secretary would either have to rec- its plate before the end of the least on the immediate military year. The revolutionary political can, he gets it 16 years late. ommend that they be pardoned or front backing the feudal sup- In the wake of the men’s release, he would have to resubmit the case pressure on the Egyptian and port strategy, the international to the Court of Appeal. That would Syrian reactionary opportun- we will have to revise other agree- markets have hardly gone wild able fables. One of these is that we be such an appalling vista that every ist recruits to imperialism’s with excitement so far, even in came through the terrorist Seventies sensible person in the land would class-collaborating feudal set-up Britain and America. unscathed: due process of law, civil say: It cannot be right these actions in the Gulf must soon become If it does turn out that the liberties and democracy more or less should go any further.” unbearable. survived. West Germany did not al- Lord Lane, the Lord Chief Justice, only market certainty is to be dismissing the men’s appeal in These Arab bourgeois-nation- continuing uncertainty, then low the Baader Meinhof threat to overturn its democracy; Italy came January, 1988: “The longer this hear- alist regimes get little enough the gloom by the autumn might out of the West’s neo-colonialist through the Red Brigade atrocities ing has gone on the more convinced easily plunge into not just a cou- without descending into fascism; this court has become that the ver- arrangements anyway. When ple of Black Fridays and Black dict of the jury was correct.” the international monopoly- and Britain managed to fight a ter- Mondays but a black every other rorist war without descending to Lord Denning in the Spectator, capitalist market system finally day of the week too. terrorist means. August 1990: “We shouldn’t have plunges into fullscale slump af- In one way or another, a fair Who will believe this so con- all these campaigns to get the ter a series of inflationary-debt number of imperialist chickens fidently after the Guildford and Birmingham Six released if they’d crashes, it will be impossible to Birmingham cases? We all repeat, been hanged. They’d have been for- have begun coming home to gotten, and the whole community hold back or hoodwink the mass roost lately as the monopoly- like a mantra, that terrorism is futile; terrorism never wins, but it won a would be satisfied.” movement demanding change capitalist system of neo-colo- throughout the Third World any nasty little victory in a Birmingham Lord Justice Lloyd, at the first pre- nial exploitation, via military police station. And what about the liminary hearing in December 1990, longer. domination through fascist on being told there was a “mindbog- And the incipient Arab revo- Prevention of Terrorism Act? Since stooges or direct intervention, its inception in 1974, 18,000 people gling” amount of material to read: “I lution is only part of the West’s has plainly become a complete have been detained, but only 250 don’t think we are going to let this problems, - and not necessarily obstacle and contradiction to have been charged with offences. spoil our Christmas.” the most explosive part either. local mass requirements and un- Are we quite sure that there is not Lord Denning, in February 1991, The revolutionary ferment in another shabby little terrorist vic- after the DPP made clear he no longer able to halt imperialist disinte- regarded the men’s convictions as India alone could finally swamp gration anyway. tory here: thousands of people de- tained, without charge, for periods safe and satisfactory: “As I look the imperialist market-domi- Washington’s CIA-covert nation system off its last legs of time which violate European con- back, I am very sorry because I al- action subversion of the lame ventions on human rights? ways thought that our police were entirely. And other giant eco- Popular-Front Allende govern- splendid and first class and I am nomic basket cases like Brazil, The terrorists want nothing so ment in Chile in 1973 (the CIA much as to disgrace our legal sys- sorry that in this case it appears to Pakistan Argentina, Indonesia, of which George Bush was for a tem; they seek nothing more ar- be the contrary.” Nigeria, etc, are queuing up while during that period the Re- dently than to prove that our Lord Justice Lloyd yesterday: “In behind India and the Arab world publican Administration head) commitment to civil liberties is a the light of fresh evidence which has as likely to prove beyond the hypocritical sham. They may have become available since the last hear- has finally been officially tarred ing in this court, your appeal will be West’s ability to control once with its correct fascist descrip- no hope of forcing the British to abandon Northern Ireland, but they allowed and you will be free to go the anti-imperialist revolt really tion, even if US imperialism’s gets under way. have gone some way to poison the as soon as the usual formalities have 29 masterminding of Pinochet’s institutions and the convictions of been discharged.” Meanwhile some of the first coup and the rest of the West’s the society that refuses them what As it happens, the cynical signs of the old order finally open support for the murderous they seek. Even if one believes the anti-IRA comments could not breaking up for ever may come regime is now played down in case is not typical of the justice sys- he more wrong. The national- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 liberation war, has always been of this war, - but the vicious and insoluble inter-imperialist ever under her ‘supply-side’ fought ‘honourably’ by the colonial authorities frequently rivalries reasserts itself. tax-hand-out greedy lunacies, – Volunteers who have always deliberately refuse to let the Thatcher, – the symbol of the will be paid for eventually by an made proper warnings avail- public know that an IRA military West’s non-existent ‘final vic- explosion of anti-capitalist and able whenever military disrup- action is imminent. tory over communist revolution’ anti-parliamentary anger and tion has been aimed at civilian This is exactly what happened at the entirely illusory ‘end of organisation. targets. Exactly the opposite has at Victoria Station recently history’, – has to be bundled out As for the real revolutionary been the brutal terror tactics resulting in innocent civilian of No 10 to the knackers yard challenge facing Western impe- of the mercenary MI5, Special death when the IRA gave fair like some old nag in service that rialism from the colonially-ex- Branch, and SAS hired killers warning of a bomb there, having had gone barmy. The tottering ploited world, – aside from the in their death-squad murders already blasted Marylebone ear- British ruling class has not yet empty smiting of imperialism’s of young Irish men and women lier, but the authorities refused remotely begun to pay the huge own reactionary stooges-gone- merely ‘suspected’ of just being to warn rail passengers on the price that will now inevitably be wrong like Galtieri, Noriega ‘connected’ with the IRA/Sinn grounds that “we cannot allow incurred for having strung along and Saddam Hussein, – let the Féin (and not even provenly the IRA to disrupt the capital’s an entire generation of yuppie- heroic tiny Irish national-liber- members of an ‘active service train services”, etc, - a piece of minded lager louts with totally ation struggle be the judgment unit’ which in itself is not ‘guilt’ savage political gamesmanship empty fantasies about having on the international bourgeois of anything), - as happened in and criminal irresponsibility. ‘won the battle of history’, etc, monopolists’ phony ‘historic some of the ‘judicial’ murders Hours later, every single main- etc, by having merely put the triumph’. which John Stalker investigated line terminus was closed down boot into decrepit closed-shop The political revolt and the before he was victimised out of in London for the whole day, - trade-unionist class-collabora- guerrilla war refuse to be cen- the police and his report sup- and again on several subsequent tionism (which in the end will sored, tortured, shot-on-sight, pressed. No ‘15-minute warning’ days that week, - in response to have done the working class a or otherwise terrorised into for these ‘innocent civilians’ mere phony bomb scares. favour by eventually forcing it silence or giving up; and it is the butchered in cold blood by the This ruthless hypocrisy and back towards real revolutionary disgraceful colonial partition British state. muddle is the real ‘dirty, shabby, socialist perspectives), and by statelet run by Orange fascist And even considering a hy- poisonous atrocity’, and, like having put on a mere Punch & bigotry backed by British mili- pothetical argument that terror the outrage of the Birmingham Judy show of reviving Britain’s tary thuggery which is saying it against civilian targets might be Six frame-up, is the mark of international imperialist glory cannot take any more of its own a dubious tactic, only bourgeois- every single action of British and strength through defeating degenerate existence, – as the imperialist arrogance and imperialism towards Ireland, - (just) the ludicrous mini-fascist capitalist press itself admits: blind racist prejudice can fail obvious to anyone but the most Argentinian Junta. It is not only the English who are to note that the Irish national- complete reactionary bourgeois The 12 years of garbage about “fed up with the whole bloody liberation fighters provide the arsehole. having ‘freed the people for thing”. Since 1921 (at least) the public notice within the ‘rules’ Joe Harper endless unbounded prosper- “bloody thing” is a history of ity’ and having ‘brought new Protestant rule asserted by weight Irish struggle advances expose bour- standards, aspirations, and of numbers and a fair old use of hope to public and social life in force and discrimination, met Britain’, etc, all the time that by a counter-force of organised geoisie’s phony ‘historic triumph’ hooliganism, ratified as political the longterm British bourgeois struggle for a united Ireland. Most [ILWP Bulletin No 597 15-05-91] entrepreneurial decline was in decent Catholics and Protestants — fact disintegrating faster than Daily new revelations about the Angleton debacle at the CIA; last week’s resignation of the latest CIA boss Webster over either the Tehran hostages scandal incriminating Bush or over the agency’s latest humiliation in Moscow over a series of KGB coups affecting US Embassy work; greed scandals hitting the Bush cabinet, taking over where the Reagan cabinet cor- ruption left off; and more and more detailed idiocies of the astrology-ruled Reagan mafia itself; – all point to a sick society rotting fastest at the head like a mouldy fish. The news is little better for European imperialism facing bitter internal trade-war as well as a grim struggle with the USA and Japan internationally, plus balkanisation political problems in all directions daily demon- strating the utter worthless- ness of so-called ‘free’-market capitalism to do anything but exacerbate ancient nationalist rivalries by its system of cut- throat greed and exploitation. Here too, the suppos- edly ‘triumphalist’ politics are 30 humiliatingly unmasked as their exact sordid disreputable opposite as the reality of impos- sible economic contradictions EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the latter a majority with a minor- colonialist mentality, – were all bombing funerals and gunning bigots in limbo. ity complex — are fed up with it achieved against the supposed down children in sweetshops, Such a deal, it is hoped, would also. They will tell you that “it can’t Thatcher regime of ‘unstoppable meanwhile crawling behind the serve to isolate republican go on”, not least because neither imperialist triumphalism’. retreating colonisers in the hope politics from some of its more side has the beating of the other, whether politically or by mutual In fact so unnerving are the of eleventh hour crumbs. confused nationalist support gangster-murder. real difficulties in economic and Demanding the right to take and thereby either marginalise “You want your children to have political crises that imperial- redundancy counselling from it to extinction or assimilate it a normal life, have a normal edu- ism is suffering worldwide chairman Brooke instead of harmlessly within some glossy cation, without fear of being blown that moves are rife in Britain, chairman Carrington is hardly bourgeois “new order”. to pieces,” said Robin Newton, America, and elsewhere to try the stuff to stiffen the sinews of Such hopes are getting no Paisleyite DUP city councillor and to keep all really deep conten- wavering colonists. If the game’s encouragement at present from member of Paisley’s congregation. tious questions of class war and up anyway, what’s to choose these joke “talks”, at which the “The last 20 years just can’t be re- political philosophy out of the between a dubious golden most eloquent voice is inevitably peated.” Left behind, politically and economically, by most of the rest electoral struggle altogether, handshake from the cynical coming from the empty chair in of Europe, under direct rule from and to try to fob the people off mandarin aloofness of the the corner, awaiting occupation Westminster and lacking normal with trivial surface issues and Foreign Office tradition which by the uninvited Irish national democratic process, Ulster cries out coalition-politics mentality. prepared the way for the Anglo- liberation movement. for redemption. Some of the weirdest diver- Irish Treaty sidle away from The harder imperialism tries On all sides rival politicians, osten- sions now emerging reveal the empire, or from the flustered to deny that it is the unbeaten sibly at each others’ throats, spoke of depths of bourgeois ideological middle-management now forced armed revolutionary struggle their “new realism”, their readiness despair, such as David Icke say- to smile lamely through the against national oppression for “flexibility”, their “sensitivity” ing he is the Messiah heralding resultant debacle? which is forcing it into shambol- to the anxieties of their opposite numbers. Even Paisley, according to the end of the Earth; and the It was Brooke, in any case, ic retreat, the harder it tries to his deputy Robinson, was “very de- Politically Correct movement in who a long time ago had to gag the leadership of that strug- termined to sit down and talk with American universities denounc- admit that the struggle against gle, and the harder it tries to Gerry Collins [the republic’s foreign ing the whole of human culture national oppression could never deny the decisive role that revo- minister] and no one will stop him”. as the product of DWMs (dead be beaten militarily; the current lutionary nationalism will play For such political crimes as this the white males) and demanding talks are part of an attempt to in Ireland’s future, the more good doctor used to call down fire that college entry be forbidden limit the struggle politically, by glaringly obvious it gets that it and brimstone on the foe, in the to any who refuse to ‘champion stitching up some deal between is imperialism which is being name of God and Ulster. the rights’ of perverted sex the “green” bourgeoisie in Dub- shoved aside by history, and the SO is this a revolution in feeling, with old enemies; converted to rea- freaks, or who use the word lin, the “constitutional nation- anti-imperialist struggle which son and at last embracing? Of course denigrate or the word manhan- alist” sell-outs in Belfast, and is making all the headway. D.H. not. Paranoia and bad faith, stalk dle instead of personhandle, or the soon-to-be stateless Orange [Dominic Hull - ed] every conversation, hands closing who believe knowledge is power, into fists at the slightest provocation. etc. Paisley is bluffing Hume of the SDLP sees the Such sick moralising ideal- Unionists as “oligarchical, not dem- ism is going to achieve nothing [ILWP Bulletin No 603 26-06-91] ocratic” by instinct, and saddled towards solutions for Third The Orange fascist colonialists liberation struggle, which has with “17th-century intransigence”; World starvation and war & dis- the Unionists see Hume as “whis- in Occupied Zone of Ireland are transformed the situation. pering in the ears of Dublin”. At the aster suffering, and neither is it basically finished. (See ILWP And as the tide turned same time, each party to the talks meant to. Insisting that the dis- Books vol 8 & 15 - Ireland). against the old imperialist has persuaded itself that all the oth- abled can only be referred to in The Ulster Unionist postur- promises to the Ulster colonists ers have been driven to the negoti- future as the differently abled, ing to hold up or disrupt the that they would ‘never be ating table by weakness and fear for and that emotionally retarded new Brooke-agreement talks abandoned’ all the time they their own political futures. or distorted sexual development for new governmental arrange- wanted to rule on over the And the final Irish defeats such as inter-male buggery shall ments for the north of Ireland, occupied part of Ireland, – so of British imperialism in the he declared normal and whole- the island of Ireland, and the did the militant settler spirit world-shattering hunger strikes some rather than a perversion British Isles as a whole, – is all a of the colonising Orangemen which made necessary the of human sexuality, – is done last-ditch stand by this colonial and their chauvinistic working- eventual signing, under US and only to give the practitioners anachronism just to impress its class ‘Protestant’ foot-soldiers EEC pressure, of the Anglo- of Political Correctness a self- few remaining fascist followers begin to wane. Irish Treaty (at last admitting righteous sense of wellbeing in that ‘British Ireland’ will not As the Bulletin reported Dublin’s rights to a say of what a crisis-ridden petty-bourgeois be given up ‘without a fight’, weeks ago, frank admissions should happen to the Occupied world which would rather con- etc, etc. can now be found from among Zone of Ireland) which hugely centrate on diversions than on But the game is up. The the ‘British’-Irish settlers that accelerated, – along with the Gulf Wars, and mass starvations triumph of the Hunger Strikes, the constant strain from the unbeatableness of the IRA, - the and revolutions, to which it has and the Sinn Féin/IRA pro- non-stop national-liberation demoralisation of the Orange no answer. Jack Bradshaw gramme to advance through struggle is proving too much to the ballot-box and the armalite, bear any longer. Ireland: Colonialism retreats in – persuaded Washington and And now, in the middle of his the Common Market that too latest ‘No surrender’ postur- disarray. long a continuation of the na- ing (for the umpteenth failed tional-liberation revolutionary- time), – Ian Paisley himself [ILWP Bulletin No 600 05-06-98] guerrilla war (and civil war) has been incautious enough to The real depth of class-humil- venues and chairmen, daily in- on the streets of such a senior get himself reported as having iation being suffered by the creases the certainty that - like partner in the NATO ‘free given up on his fascist rear- British bourgeoisie in its forced all the other participants - they world’ myth would be gravely guard action. retreat from colonial entrench- really have nowhere else to go damaging in the long run. The The British capitalist press ment in Ireland is on full display politically. pressure was on London to find reported recently, – discuss- in the current long-drawn-out The “keep Ireland British” a way to extricate itself from ing the ‘peace’ talks, and the farce of “talks about talks”. aspirations of the Orange colo- its outrageous police-military prospects for a new deal: Just how much more sick nists have slumped catastrophi- dictatorship over the Occupied “The Rev Ian Paisley, in unusually breath is left in this particu- cally from the days when sig- Zone of Ireland as quickly as reflective mood, put it rather well lar “strand” of the “process” nificant sections of the British possible but without appearing in a recent interview. He said there 31 is uncertain. But the obvious political and military establish- to concede any victory to the is always a great deal of bitterness reluctance of the Unionist gang ment could be roused to lend ‘terrorists’. and mistrust at armistice confer- to quit the talks to date, despite support to “no surrender” rheto- But it is precisely the ‘ter- ences, but that they have to hap- their endless moaning over ric. Now they are reduced to rorists’ - i.e. the Irish national- pen because they are the only way EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 of bringing wars to an end”. Other capitalist press com- But which of the two war- ments confirm this analysis, ring parties has declared an between the lines: armistice? Certainly not the IRA Have 21 years of violence, nearly national-liberation movement. 3,000 dead, and an economy in ru- It is fighting harder than ever. ins beneath a subsidised top layer And Sinn Féin is politically and an elaborate security indus- organising defiance of the impe- try at long last brought wisdom? Is peace at hand? rialist British presence more On both sides of the border there successfully than ever. seems to be a growing convic- So the only declaration of tion that a wide variety of changes armistice can have come from in Ulster, in the Republic and in the British colonial side, – a uni- Europe have produced a new kind lateral decision to end the war. of chemistry in Ireland, and that In other words, the West- change means hope, and that hope ern pressures on London to is now in order. Even those who feel finally withdraw from its hated that the Brooke talks may well fail speak mainly of problems of tim- colony are at last being put into ing, or argue that “the fruit may be practice. The Ulster colonists ripening, but it is not yet ripe”. If are being told by London that Peter Brooke cannot shake it off the the game is basically up, and tree, he or another Secretary of State that the best deal that can be will at a later attempt. With every arranged with Dublin and the allowance made for self-deception, ‘constitutional Irish’ of the Euro-romanticism and the South’s north (the SDLP) should be ac- capacity to clothe its traditional as- cepted as soon as possible. pirations, as one hard student of the changes in nationalist thinking has The capitalist press confirmed written, “in a new language of plu- this situation in several other ralism’’, the evidence suggests that oblique contributions: they are right. “What has given grounds for hope “I’m interested in arranging my has been a growing sense that own quality of life,” said a typi- some at least of the main play- cal late Irish recruit to the “Me” ers have decided that the time is generation — in this case a Belfast right for a peace settlement which Protestant. “I like wind surfing, I could, in the long term, lay to rest like clothes, I like travel. I’m not too the hatreds of the past. None of interested in what flag flies above.” the leading politicians is getting ...it is the withdrawal of the new any younger, and more than one of kind of consumer from the old kind them now has his eyes firmly fixed of politics and even from national on the history books”. allegiance as ordinarily conceived that is interesting here, Once again, exactly one half of A T Q Quinn, a Queen’s University the main players, - Sinn Féin historian who is generally regarded and the IRA, – have announced as a moderate Unionist, muses in no such ‘decision’ that they will what he calls the “last oasis” left in abandon their national-libera- Belfast for men such as he, the Ulster Reform Club. tion struggle. It can only mean to endure the abuse heaped on us by that the imperialist colonisation For him, as for many Unionists, the changes that matter are ominous the English.” is at an end. ones. “Undoubtedly something is This is the difficult, contradictory Paisley’s latest bluster that going on which has to be described world of the Unionist, as difficult Collins and Hurd can meet in as an attempt by Britain to get rid and contradictory for a scholar like July under the Anglo-Irish Com- of the province...not that they par- Quinn as for ordinary folk. What munity agreement (or whatever) ticularly want to hand it over to the is the Union, what was the Union, but not under the Anglo-Irish Republicans but they want to hand is there still a Britain, and, if there Treaty,– is more pure theatrical it over to someone...That is what is, is it a place with which Unionists the IRA have succeeded in doing — can identify any longer? The con- when a policeman or a Unionist farce. tradictions surface again in talking politician was killed. We’d say, well, Orange truculence may yet they have re-opened the question of Ireland.” about “the end”, the day of the final we got another one” — she made a disrupt the Brooke talks (to- In his cultivated and intellec- betrayal — if it comes — when the chalking up gesture. “In the past wards Irish reunification in all tual way Quinn touches on all the British pull out their troops. On the year — Oh, for longer than that — but name) (see ILWP Books vol Unionist fears, the deepest of which one hand, “You would have blazing we wince when what we used to 8 & 15 on Britain’s decision for a is that there used to be a thing called towns ... and troubles on the scale call one of the enemy is killed. We snails-pace withdrawal from its Britain that may soon no longer ex- of 1921.” Then again, “If you say would like it to stop. We have gone Irish colony). ist. to us tomorrow you are no longer as far as we can go in terms of armed But the current bluster is only Britain, anyway, with its huge British, well, we’re over 21, we’re struggle. We know the Unionists are coloured and Muslim minorities, perfectly capable of negotiating beaten as such... the same as the Paisleyites have with the South ourselves.” Finally: The young Unionist politicians been posturing with ineffectu- is not what it was. “There’s a day not far off when people may be “I’m British, I want to stay British. whose leading role in the push for ally for the past 10 years or so, saying, thank God we live here in If it comes to it I’ll just go back to talks is quietly acknowledged in -threatening military UDI, or Northern Ireland and not in main- south-west Scotland.” In one conver- both Belfast and Dublin do not es- taking the law into their own land Britain... sation he has covered all the dooms- sentially differ in their analysis of hands in other ways, – march- “I know it sounds pedantic to day possibilities — stay and make events. Unionists have suffered an ing and parading, – but always an English ear but we have to ask war, stay and talk, and flight. “By irreversible but not a final defeat, ultimately capitulating to the question of whether people in definition,” says Quinn, “Ulster”, by and there is a continuing danger steadily-growing (if mild) Brit- England feel people here are British. which he means the Unionists, “is that Britain might be pressured Of course it has happened before losing.” or provoked into acts that would ish imperialist pressure for an DOWN in Dublin, over another, amount to a full-scale betrayal of all-Irish solution to the hopeless to West Indians, to Hong Kongers, who woke up one morning to find virtually identical, pedestrianised the Unionist community. Where perspectives for the British they were, yes, British, but not quite street full of happy shoppers, Nell they would differ from the pessi- 32 occupied colony (endlessly British enough.” Then a sentence or McCafferty, a journalist of northern mism of Quinn or, of course, the ul- besieged by the unbeatable Irish two later: “I heard a Unionist say the origin and strong nationalist views, timate confidence of somebody like national-liberation struggle other day that he would rather live would agree with him. “Twenty McCafferty, is in believing that the under Sinn Féin and the IRA.) in the Irish Republic than continue years ago we would have laughed link with Britain can be best pre- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 flict into perspective has been de- modation” and “structures”. There veloped by academics like Richard is no shortage of such words today: Kearney, professor of philosophy reconciling the “two traditions” in at University College, Dublin. He “mutually acceptable structures” is would argue that since the British the kind of thing almost any politi- and Irish nation states are both be- cian in Ireland will give out at the coming less important in a Europe drop of a hat. It is undoubtedly true where power is moving up to the that some of this talk on the part of supranational level and down to the nationalists contains the not-so-hid- regional level, the whole question den implication that one tradition — of Ulster’s attachment to one or the the Unionist one — is pathological, other becomes less significant. while the nationalist tradition is rel- He notes that “at its simplest”, atively healthy. The discussion then Europe means that John Hume, Ian takes on a quasi-medical tone, as Paisley and James Molyneaux “get ways in which the Unionists could on a plane together to Strasbourg be cured of their odd ways are can- or Luxembourg. They talk together vassed. and vote together.” Then Professor Yet at its best “two traditions” talk Kearney goes on to paint a picture genuinely concedes validity to both of a future in which a quasi-auton- communities’ beliefs and interests, omous Ulster operates within a fed- and goes beyond the renunciation eration of the islands of Ireland and of the use of physical force to recog- Britain, and in turn within the larger nise that Unionists are not going to European community. be peacefully persuaded of the de- It is Southern Ireland and sirability of a united Ireland either, Northern Ireland that would de- at least not in the foreseeable future. velop the closest relationship, or as The hopes for peace in Northern another academic put it, “Unionists Ireland ultimately rest on the cal- might realise that they have more in culation that both nationalists and common with people on this island Unionists not only want an end to than with people on the other is- the killing but that they have each, land.” Behind some Irish talk about over two painful decades, gradually Euro-regions may lie the older idea come to recognise the limits of what that the British state is an artificial is politically or militarily possible. construction, and that the Scots and The betting must be that Paisley the Welsh will sooner or later make & Co will go on capitulating to the same choice as the Irish. THERE are students of the New the end-of-empire inevitable, - Ireland Forum who see it as an exer- the reunification of Ireland. cise in repackaging: the old nation- Build Leninism. Spread the alist demands were simply dressed ILWP Bulletin. up with trendy words like “accom- Douglas Bell Letter Colonial sour grapes will not keep Ireland partitioned for ever [ILWP Bulletin No 605 10-07-91]

the DUP’s urban pragmatists. The The Unionist political face of movement which has forced Unionist approach envisages an in- British imperialism’s police- such new considerations onto ternal settlement that, it is believed, military dictatorship over the the conference table, – namely would share power with nation- northeast corner of Ireland was the Sinn Féin/IRA spectacularly alists administratively while pre- serving majority rule in the formal hardly aggressively triumphant successful armalite/ballot box sense, and as a last resort. As for the in spite of the so-called ‘break- campaigns of the last 20 years relationship with the Irish Republic, down’ in the Brooke initiative which have virtually created a the removal of the claim on the ter- (to make further progress in form of internal independence served by reaching an internal set- ritory of Northern Ireland presently the snails-pace withdrawal for many Irish-populated areas tlement with the nationalists. contained in the Irish constitution from the colony, in favour of within the British colony, – the “If there is a desire on the part of would make acceptable to Unionists, reunification under Dublin bourgeois politicians of par- Britain to divest themselves of re- it is implied, some form of Irish in- authority). liamentary opportunism and sponsibility,” says Peter Robinson, volvement in Ulster affairs through The Washington and EEC- class-collaborationism have the deputy leader of the Democratic parliamentary links. Unionist Party, “Then...if Northern A similar view comes from Tom dictated plan for London to made a rod for their own backs. Ireland isn’t a problem, there is Rowley, a Protestant who runs one slowly disengage itself from What is the point of now not the same desire to get rid of of Belfast’s integrated schools: “The such an embarrassing colonial complaining that the ‘men of Northern Ireland.” Such an ap- combination of war weariness and entanglement but without ap- violence’ are making ‘solutions’ proach turns Unionist fears inside anger with politicians has reached pearing to be giving in at all to impossible when the whole out: it moves away from the nega- an extreme point...How many funer- the latest guerrilla-war phase sense of the Sinn Féin-exclud- tivism that rejects all deals on the als do you have to go to?” Rowley of the 700-year Irish national- ing Brooke talks was that the grounds that they are stations on touches on another issue quoted liberation struggle, – has again ‘constitutional parties’ had the line to a united Ireland by look- on both sides of the border: Europe. been delayed by Paisley’s usual everything within their control ing for a deal that would, in effect, “People are aware of the broader stop the train at a particular station. context now, they know there’s this ‘No Surrender’ disruptions. to ‘end the troubles’ and to Robinson’s resolute optimism huge thing called Europe of which But the Orange fascists open the way for a completely about the talks seems to reflect a we are a part and here we are squab- are themselves now almost new future for Ireland. conviction that this idea of preserv- bling over two or three acres, and as badly compromised over If the ‘constitutionalists’ can ing the British link by taking the the rest of the world is peering in at “not giving in to the men of get on and ‘solve’ everything strain off it is the only intelligent us and marvelling.” violence” as the Unionists without any involvement of the strategy for Unionists. His stony SOUTH of the border, the argu- are always complaining that movement which has backed features, like those of the most un- ment that European developments London is. the national-liberation strug- 33 compromising of accountants, stare change the whole context of the By the farce of ‘talks to gle, then why do they not get out from under the slogan “No Ulster problem is a fashionable Dublin Rule” on posters, but he is one in intellectual circles. The gen- finally settle the Irish problem’ on and do it? well known as the most flexible of eral view that the sense of being being held with everyone pre- By having nothing but the in Europe will help to put the con- sent except the very political farce of disagreements about EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the chairmanship and where Féin capturing 80% of the entire to meet, etc, – the Unionist electorate for full independence heavyweights of the fraudulent in the island-wide general elec- ‘constitutional’ racket have tions of 1918 conducted by the maintained a façade of fire- British colonial government of breathing ‘No Surrender’ but Ireland. have pushed their entire ‘British So insoluble is this Irish for ever’ posture to the brink of determination to regain full ridicule. national unity and liberty (what Much of the imperialist-gen- such bourgeois concepts are erated and religion-generated worth given the continuation of ‘British Ireland’ colonial-settler world imperialist domination is spirit has been disappearing a totally different matter) that over the last 20 years as effort blame for the ‘troubles’ could after effort by the Paisleyites to even begin to be put on the resurrect the military rebellion heads of the Paisleyites. “You traditions of Carson’s threat to said you could make a peaceful declare UDI earlier this century, solution without the IRA. But petered out for lack of enthusi- the troubles are still continuing. astic response. So you are responsible, - you let It will be interesting to see the talks fail,” etc. how well supported are the ritu- By proving to be unbeatable, al marching season parades this the guerrilla war for Ireland’s summer, and how convincingly independence may be closer the die-hard fascist-colonist than ever to forcing the greatest thug element responds (to the change ever in British imperial- continuing national-liberation ism’s relationship towards Ire- struggle by the IRA/Sinn Féin) land, forcing an abandonment with vicious sectarian murders of that continued colonisation of catholics, etc. which makes that guerrilla war nity to stand behind the men and going British withdrawal from the The Irish nationalists for inevitable. women of the UDR. Province. their part are correct to keep up If Paisley & Co do not quickly “They have been sacrificed despite It said in a statement: “In cynical the pressure of their guerrilla take up again the shared power the immense price paid in casualties terms, it reduced the likelihood of war struggle, which has just in the island of Ireland which over the last 21 years. Army personnel from Britain being “It is little wonder many of them killed, while at the same time in- been given another heroic boost was really on offer at the back of have said they will resign rather creasing the risk to our own popu- by the bold jail-break from Brix- the Brooke initiative talks, they than remain pawns for cynical lation. ton Prison of two IRA suspects. may find that the Western-dic- English politicians.” “The Ulster people see the decision By refusing to allow the Brit- tated snails-pace reunification Mr Wilson said the only comments for what it is — an insult to the fallen ish colonialists to enjoy their of Ireland will resume its slow so far from the UUP had come from of the UDR and a further concession ill-gotten gains in the Occupied progress without the Paisleyites’ security spokesman Ken Maginnis, to Dublin and Irish Republicanism Zone of Ireland in peace, the na- agreement at all, -challenging who he accused of “swallowing the in general.” Government line.” tional-liberation struggle puts them effectively to finally put Of course the whole reason for the Western ‘free’ world boasts up their aimed Carsonite rebel- “We are seeing a re-run of the way the UUP behaved when the disbanding the B-Specials and about ‘independence’, ‘liberty’, lion threat and declare UDI, - or B-Specials were betrayed. now the merging of the UDR ‘democracy’, and the ‘rule of law’ to finally shut up. “If Mr Maginnis does not speak with “the Irish” Royal Irish under constant strain. If bourgeois-nationalist for the majority within the UUP, then Rangers, is precisely because of British imperialism parti- reunification issues can be got why doesn’t someone in authority the success of the Irish national tioned Ireland by brute force out of the way, then Ireland’s say so. liberation struggle carried out against the wishes of the socialist revolution can begin The losers are those who stand on by Sinn Féin/IRA, which is also overwhelming majority of the to make much more certain and the front lines every day facing the demonstrated by the need for IRA,” he said. people of Ireland, with Sinn rapid progress. Douglas Bell the Anglo-Irish Agreement and Of course these thugs are cor- the Brooke Talks etc. Letters rect in the significance of the In strict military terms, merger. The B-Specials were there was no need for the UDR British slow march withdrawal from controlled solely by Stormont to be merged with any regi- from when the six counties ment; the UDR was already the Ireland were partitioned from the rest largest regiment within the of Eire. British Army. It is hard to see [ILWP Bulletin No 611 21-08-91] The B-Specials were then this merger as anything but a Splits within Orange fascism traying the armed forces by its disbanded in 1969, and the UDR very political decision on the can only become deeper and acceptance of the amalgamation formed, with the supposed aims long and slow road to reunifica- more vitriolic as the recent deci- of the UDR with the Royal Irish of encouraging the national- tion. Yet the reply to the merger sion to merge the UDR with the Rangers,” Sammy Wilson said yes- ist community into it, but also statement demonstrates how far terday. Royal Irish Rangers demon- crucially taking over control Orange fascism has been weak- The DUP press officer also hit out at from Stormont to Westminster. strates. the Government for needlessly try- ened over the past two decades. On top of the humiliation al- ing to please the nationalist commu- This was the start of the process The last time there was any talk ready caused by London against nity. to take power out of the hands of power-sharing during the the Unionists, from the Anglo- Mr Wilson said: “In an attempt to of the Unionists (who later lost Heath government in the 70s Irish Agreement to the Brooke buy off nationalist politicians and all direct control over the six the proceedings were brought Talks and countless bigwigs in churchmen, the UDR is to be axed, the counties, when Stormont was to a halt by the Paisleyites; now the British establishment who part-time element is to be scrapped dissolved) and taken over by the Unionists are only going to have openly declared that the over a period of time and a large ele- London who thought they could oppose ‘the betrayal’ by “action ment from the Irish Republic is to be game is up for the Unionists control the situation better then in Parliament if necessary”;- so introduced.” the Unionists. Yet this merger (from Judge Pickles to Brooke He said even this did not satisfy what! can only be yet another small 34 himself). Now there’s another nationalists. UNIONIST chiefs was urged last stab in the back for Unionism. Mr Wilson called on all unionists step towards reunification: night to convene a meeting of all Sections of the Orange can to support the armed forces: The Ulster Independence loyalist groups to discuss the way see this quite clearly: “At this time of betrayal one would Committee said yesterday that it forward. expect the whole unionist commu- The call came from the right wing “THE Ulster Unionist Party is be- was a further indication of the on- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Ulster Clubs in the wake of what it zens of Ulster against this erosion of Protestant workmen is something of organisation and revolution- called “the betrayal of the UDR”. their British citizenship”. no normally functioning brain can ary understanding, as have the A spokesman said the unionist They called upon the unionist comprehend. frequent ‘liberated areas’ local leadership “was prepared to waste leadership “to oppose this betrayal The IRA are often accused of hav- military actions. The continu- 10 weeks in secret talks with those by all-out action in Parliament, if ing ‘twisted’ minds. Quite the con- who wish to take us out of the necessary by continuous disruption trary. Their minds run in dead ing electoral and propaganda United Kingdom”. of the proceedings there”. straight lines, like blinkered race- successes are a model of how to “Will they now refuse to talk with horses. The builders were working exploit ‘legal’ means whilst basi- those who support Ulster’s position The national-liberation struggle for the military, therefore they were cally conducting a revolt. The within the United Kingdom? We will continue; Orange fascism part of the occupying force, there- skilful and stubborn interna- await their response to this call.” will be defeated. fore they deserved to die. Wrapped tional battles over extradition The Clubs made the call because of Build Leninism. up in the cocoon of their ancient my- jurisdiction and the like, are the “revulsion felt by the British citi- W.S. Kram thologies, the IRA are incapable of an outstanding example of this seeing how their deeds destroy the impressive national fight. Last rites of tortuous British humbug fondest hopes of their cause. The hunger strikes were a could be the only remaining barrier to The hypocrisy and self-delusion world-shattering symbol of of this are breathtaking. dedicated heroism unprecedent- Ireland’s reunification The outrageous partition ed in modem history, and from of Ireland, under the built-in which the British colonialist [ILWP Bulletin No 633 28-01-92] permanent ‘majority’ of the cause could never recover, The loud whining from various no concessions to violence” and Orange-fascist colonial dictator- regardless of the dubious values types of petty-bourgeois defeat- “the first and only priority must ship over gerrymandered shreds of martyrdom. ism in Britain over London’s be to defeat terrorism”, etc, has of six of Ulster’s nine counties, But it is of course on the catastrophic policy towards its sounded far less confidently and was unassailable and not open ideological front that the Irish Irish colony could indicate that insistently than usual. to any question until 1968 when national liberation struggle an end to the 750-year imperial- There have been times when the national-liberation rebellion remains vulnerable. ist occupation is finally close. Brooke’s gaffe of doing a live resumed in earnest. The courageous resistance to The obvious continuing hesi- sing-song on Dublin TV, only The core of that rebellion the British imperialist police- tant delays by the present Tory hours after such a major act has been the IRA’s phenomenal military dictatorship, replacing establishment could well be a of guerrilla-war terror as the ability to tie down a third of the the Orange-colonial fascist or- strategy of deliberate paralysed blowing up of the military- British army for 24 years with der, continues to be sure of what neglect precisely to allow a base workers bus, would have just a handful of self-trained it is achieving, as An Phoblacht mobilisation of ‘public opinion’ brought non-stop howls of volunteers, and not only remain records: to demand a decisive ‘solution’ indignation. unbeaten despite the concen- The ira’s continued ability to which would permit the ruling This time, not only was there tration camps of internment strike so effectively was echoed in class to betray past pledges no ministerial resignation, but – without trial, despite the MI5/ the columns of every local news- to ‘never’ desert the Orange it was the Ulster Unionists who RUC/Army death-squad terror, paper. The talk was all of failed colonists but to not feel too came as much under attack as despite the British Army torture security and political embarrass- dishonourable in doing so. anyone for their “consistently barracks, despite the midnight ment as the dust of the latest mas- The paratroop commander of negative vengeance cries”, etc. terror-raids on Irish residen- sive city centre explosion began to the 1972 Bloody Sunday mas- But all this growing British tial districts of the Occupied settle over High Street and repair sacre in Derry is now mentally petty-bourgeois realism about Zone, despite total censorship workers and damage assessors prepared by the failure of Brit- the need above all to find a of Sinn Féin agitation, despite moved in to salvage what they ish repression and terror tactics, way of ending this hopeless vicious anti-Irish frame-ups in could of the most recent targets: to publicly accept that more repressive-military involvement the British courts, despite foul the ruc Police Authority and decades of an unwinnable war in the Occupied Zone of Ireland, super-grass infiltration and Northern Ireland Tourist Board by Britain would be pointless, – including even the abandon- bribery, etc, etc, but even take headquarters. The establishment’s and to publicly accept the conse- ment of all the sickly-shallow the independence war onto the mood was perhaps best summed quences of that conclusion, - to past emotional pledges to “stand British mainland. up in a despairing Tuesday headline give up the fight, to pull out by the majority of the people of How the smug ‘parliamenta- which asked “How do they do it?” of Ireland, and to see Ireland Northern Ireland for as long as ry’ and fake-’liberal’ traditions The extent of British embarrass- reunified. they want us to”, etc, etc, – still of the complacent British petty- ment over this latest blow to their Current British military cannot avoid being accompanied bourgeoisie hate the thought of credibility could be gauged by the leaders are also going on record by the most nauseating humbug being thrashed and shown up by fact that their security minister, to express their respect for the and arrogance towards the a bunch of Irish rebel fighters. Brian Mawhinney, (who boasted unbeatability of the skilful Irish victorious national-liberation The capitalist media would only three weeks ago that he was national-liberation struggle, struggle. love now to pretend that any going to grind down the ira) would and to complain that tying up The following capitalist press forthcoming ‘reasonable set- not even make himself available one third of the Army’s strength comment is typical: tlement’ was solely as a result for interview. Instead his whinging of “a constant and humane in the Occupied Zone of Ireland First, the demands from the understudy Richard Needham was continuously ridicules all the concern by the British Parlia- once again brought to the rubble Unionists for Mr Peter Brooke to ment to do justice eventually rest of Britain’s ‘global defence’ resign have nothing to do with to give an unconvincing vow that posturing. his awful singing on an Irish talk by all who have dealings with no matter how many times the ira Simultaneously, the capital- show, and everything to do with Britain, changing what needs to succeeded in detonating bombs ist media in Britain are now the fact that he seems to them dan- be changed, but holding firm to the British would rebuild bigger frequently heard giving space gerously close to finding a solu- what deserves to be upheld”, etc, and better. to arguments for including Sinn tion. I suspect he won’t, but there is etc, – on the way to disfiguring nothing which panics many Ulster That promise by the British Féin in the desultory ‘political history with more mountains of ignores an underlying reality which politicians more than the fear that British imperialist savagery and solution’ talks conducted be- someone might settle things, and even a totally subservient press tween London, Dublin, and the bullshit. was unable to ignore: Britain, remove their raison d’être. Mr The other vehicle of impe- Occupied Zone. Major was correct to refuse his (itself in dire financial straits,) cur- And a noted recent feature resignation, and would have been rialism’s defeat has been the rently bails out an absolutely failed of all the commentary on the right even if Mr Brooke had sung frequently brilliant political ‘Northern Ireland’ economy to obstacles to a ‘political solution’ Nothing Compares 2 U standing on achievements of Sinn Féin de- the tune of £2 billion per annum; has been an increasing British his head in sequined Y-fronts. spite the permanently damaging add to that the multi-million Second, the stupidity of the IRA impatience with the intransi- limitations of its small-minded pound compensation and refur- continues to beggar belief. The only 35 gent blustering of the Orange- nationalist ideology. bishment bills from sustained and thing standing against a united The ‘independent’ economic colonist diehards in the north. Ireland is Unionist unwillingness. ongoing ira incendiary and van In particular, that old ruling- and political services run by bomb attacks and the mounting How this attitude might be changed Sinn Féin have been a triumph class dirge about “there can be by murdering eight innocent pressure on Britain’s occupa- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 views that in the event of a cease- is!) everything isn’t on the table at fire republicans were “entitled” to the other end. a place in political discussions. The British will not agree to And so back to Brooke’s Talks: discussing or considering with- framed in a partitionist context, drawal, or be open to even being with a pre-set British agenda, persuaded about the merits of a subject to an ever-growing list of declaration of intent to withdraw, unionist preconditions, and with in any circumstances bar the one a sizeable part of the nationalist stipulated above. community excluded from them, Until they agree to do so it is these non-talks nevertheless doubtful if, all obstacles having continue to use up considerable been removed, there would be column space, air time and politi- great value, other than raising its cal energy, without delivering the prestige, in Sinn Féin being part just settlement which Irish people of such talks. Unless, of course, if are entitled. republicans came to believe that This bourgeois-nationalist anti- by joining the ‘talks process’ they Marxist inability to see British could seize the moral high ground imperialism as a class enemy and turn the tables on Britain, (aided by the Green Tories in or, that a ‘European’ solution had Dublin and the Catholic Church) become possible, acceptable and lays Sinn Féin politics perma- negotiable. Republicans have a moral duty tion or the Six Counties is there they abandoned the armed strug- nently wide open to appallingly to examine all possibilities but for all to see. Every bomb which gle. But even this precondition dangerous class compromise of the prevailing mood is that the detonates signals that the British, outraged the unionists, who would the kind which saw the 1921 par- British government can be forced sooner rather than later, must like Sinn Féin not just banned from tition disastrously installed in by armed struggle into a truly exercise the only option left to the media, or even from local the first place, – as this current neutral position on Ireland where them — they must disengage from councils, but banned altogether. comment shows: they start looking at the door and Ireland. A communiqué issued by Peter If all sides don’t participate in talks where we can say to the union- Brooke and Dublin Minister Gerry But the worldwide political skids and agree to a settlement then it ists, “they are going to leave. Let’s Collins after the last meeting of under British imperialism, con- is obvious that there is no settle- find a way of sharing this place and the inter-governmental confer- sistent with the economic drain ment. But let’s return to the Car- becoming friends”. of its beleaguered Irish colony, ence, and which contained a dinal’s proposal: a Sinn Féin seat are still not quite grasped by reference to the need for the talks at talks in return for an end to the Completing Ireland’s national Sinn Féin, which continues to to produce some administration ira’s armed struggle. Given that liberation will be a great tri- refuse to amend its verdict on for the North that was accept- the ira is unlikely to be defeated umph over imperialism, and the the hunger strikes as a ‘failure’, able to all, sent the unionist daily by the British government or be struggle will continue to get the or accept the Anglo-Irish Treaty Newsletter into a panic: what was deserted by its constituents, but unconditional political support as a preparation by London for meant by “all”? did that include that come what may republicans of Marxist-Leninist science. withdrawal (see ILWP Books vol Sinn Féin? The ira? The British are confident that they will ulti- But British imperialism 8 & 15 Ireland), – noting only government was going soft on ter- mately be at the conference table would be smart to do a deal with continued British imperialist rorists, the Newsletter concluded anyway, then what real incentive Irish nationalism soon because intransigence: - from this word “all”… is there for the ira to sacrifice its patriotic tricolour waving, gaelic-speaking, and sectarian The whole wearisome pattern But it is not only unionists who key form of pressure in return religious education in schools has re-emerged: the British are have colluded in the British efforts now for an unsatisfactory agenda? will not withstand for many trying to produce some illusion of to marginalise the republican view- None. years longer the challenge of political movement, and possibly point. The sdlp was quite happy The British may say that they socialist revolution (as a more get the unionists and the sdlp to to participate in talks in which the are neutral but they contradict relevant national motivator for discuss some administration for views of more than one third of this by sticking rigidly to the pre- the exploited Irish people in the Six Counties, while the union- the nationalist electorate were not condition that they will only with- the Occupied Zone as imperial- ists are working hard to obtain represented. And Cardinal Cahal draw from Ireland if the unionists ism’s international economic the indefinite suspension of the Daly has repeatedly condemned agree to reunification. (A key part crisis deepens), - an ideological Hillsborough Agreement, and the Sinn Féin and refused to meet its of the republican analysis is that transformation which would in sdlp and Dublin manœuvring to leaders for talks. It was even more loyalist intransigence has its roots turn have a dramatic influence retain it. surprising therefore to hear Daly in this British position.) on the colonial working-class in As Sinn Féin President Gerry declare on New Year’s Day that if So you see, while Charles the north and on Irish workers Adams pointed out in his New the ira ceased its armed strug- Haughey and John Hume may in the south too. Year statement, the current initia- gle there was “a clear respon- boast that everything is on the Douglas Bell tive is incapable of delivering real sibility on the Irish and British table at their end (and it certainly peace. Not only is the agenda pre- governments to find some means set by the British, but republicans whereby the Sinn Féin tradition of In an orgy of humbug, the are excluded from the talks. This republicanism can be fully repre- “undemocratic” and “ludicrous” sented at the conference table”. establishment considers conceding exclusion “seriously undermines This was hardly more daring the ability of any talks process to than what Brooke had said in his negotiations to the IRA reach a comprehensive settlement 100-day speech in November and deliver a real peace to the 1989. Once again republicans were [ILWP Bulletin No 635 11-02-92] told they were not entitled to the people of this island”. Everyone from bishops to news- violence” declared at one stage democratic right of being heard The whole issue of including paper editors is suddenly being of anti-imperialist struggle to unless they complied with require- republicans in talks is bound up encouraged by some mysterious be “totally out of the question” ments not imposed on the British in the British policy of criminalis- hand to start mentioning the for negotiating with, but who or the unionists. Yet Daly’s words ing and marginalising Sinn Féin, unmentionable, – bringing Sinn have then become “honoured were still found objectionable embodied in particular in the ban- Féin into the talks about a solu- independence leaders” at a later by unionists. Paisley in particular ning of republican spokespersons tion to the crisis in the Occupied stage of the struggle. could not resist remarking that 36from the live media since Octo- Zone of Ireland. This happened to Kenyatta this revealed “where the Cardi- ber 1988. In his first few months British colonialism is poised in Kenya, Nkrumah in Ghana, nal’s true sympathies lie”. And in office, Brooke hinted that to add Gerry Adams to the Makarios in Cyprus, Jagan in the Church of Ireland Archbishop republicans could be talked to if long list of supposed “men of Guyana, Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Robin Eames objected to Daly’s EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 etc, etc, – all of them, and many previous considerations, – and innocent Irish people for up to And there is now the very real more, locked up, or restricted, or that because “too many people 17 years in British prisons on practical problem of what can censored, or ignored in one way are now getting hurt”, – then a totally trumped-up charges; British imperialism now do to, or another before finally being ceasefire priority overrides all and operating a shoot-on-sight in fact, avoid getting defeated in accepted as legitimate spokes- earlier aims. policy against mere “terrorist the Occupied Zone. men for their people. But the truth is that the IRA suspects”; and then covering It is now a prodigiously costly The press, radio, and tel- set out to make Britain’s illegal up the evidence with the rigged police-military dictatorship evision have been remarkably colonial retention of a corner Gibraltar trial, and by suppress- exercise, not only with just adventurous in recent days in of Ireland ungovernable, – and ing the Stalker inquiry with the meagre results but with the giving space to comments de- they are at last close to succeed- most astonishing frame-up in increasingly likely prospect that manding that the Irish national ing. modern police/MI5 history; and there will never be an end to liberation struggle be invited to As a result, the bourgeois running torture barracks which the national-liberation struggle the talks about the future of the imperialist establishment is had to be condemned by the all the time that Britain holds Occupied Zone and about the having to consider doing a European Court; and regularly onto its colony in Ireland under need for a ceasefire there now. deal with the Irish national staging its own terror raids af- whatever guise. At the weekend, the religious liberation struggle, despite all ter midnight on Irish-populated Not only has British colonial- establishment was hard at the previous protestations that housing estates in the Occupied ism had its day, but also the rot- work preparing the moral and the authorities would “never Zone (still not discontinued). ten fiction that the day-to-day emotional ground for such a consider negotiating with men The British concern now is economic and political repres- volte-face by the authorities. of violence”. that its already shaky position sion (since the disgraceful parti- “There are reasonable men on The supposed “worry” about internationally – both economi- tion of 1921) has been carried all sides” cooed the bishops. the current level of “suffer- cally and politically – will be out by a so-called “British Irish” “Things are now so desperate ing” in the Occupied Zone is a further shattered if this colonial tradition, – giving the “Brit- in the Province that it is vital monstrous deception. British mayhem goes on much longer in ish British” the opportunity to that all men of good will and imperialism has been mas- the Occupied Zone of Ireland. pretend “that they are staying reason be summoned to a su- sacring and torturing the Irish British imperialist ability on in the Occupied Zone “solely preme effort to end the killings nation for more than 700 years, will look bad and increasingly in order to impartially separate and to achieve the peace that all and it would not shrink from incompetent if the bloodshed the two squabbling Irish tradi- are longing for”, etc, etc. trebling the level of “suffering” escalates without any solution tions living there”, etc, etc. What stinking hypocrisy.! now if it really saw it as in Brit- in sight, – which is bad for Lon- The falsely-labelled “Ulster The pretence is that the ish imperialism’s interests. don’s standing in the increasing- Unionists” are in fact British recent “avalanche of sectarian It has only just finished ly political (as well as economic) colonists through and through, murder” has swept aside all cheerfully incarcerating many inter-imperialist rivalry. regardless of how “Irish” they

37 EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 like to present themselves as clearly go on for at least another organising the guerrilla-war colonists as ‘Irish’. being from time to time. 700 years if necessary until all downfall of imperialism, and Since the definition of ‘Irish’ If many of that tradition of Ireland is finally free again of the skilful political campaigns could be what anyone wants survive to live within the even- British political rule, – united and propaganda which have it to be, then that could well tually re-united Ireland under and independent. backed it up, possibly making be true in a variety of cultural an Irish government in Dublin, The destructive fascist hatred Britain’s position even more ways. And maybe the Orange then they will have done so spat out by the dwindling untenable than even the armed community will become a valu- under the belated recognition and increasingly demoralised struggle has done, – but still able part of the future popula- that Ireland is for the Irish, and hardcore colonist British gangs naïvely philistine about the tion of a united Ireland. they had better live as Irishmen (which already have to be bol- broader international political But politically right now, if they want to stay on happily stered by the mainland National implications of the fight against in the need to isolate British playing a full part in the com- Front to keep going) would be a imperialism as a worldwide imperialism’s colonial policy for munity (as many from Britain nine-day wonder, no more. economic class system. what it is, it would greatly help have done over hundreds of The Bulletin has for more than It is because of Sinn Féin’s clarify matters if the diehard years in Ireland, and as many a decade consistently charted complacent ignorance of Unionists were referred to for so-called ‘Rhodesians’ have the steady decline in the spirit Marxist-Leninist dialectical- what they are politically by the done, for example, in what is of the Orange colonist commu- materialist science that they nature of their class orientation, now properly Zimbabwe.) nity in the Occupied Zone (see continue refusing to identify a – British colonists and imperial- It will become increasingly ILWP Books vol 8 & 15 - Ireland) class role of the British colonial ist stooges. Only those in the unlikely that the wrongly-titled which has seen several disas- community, and therefore add Occupied Zone who accept the “retaliation violence” by the trous failures by Paisley & Co to London’s propaganda confu- need for reunification of Ireland dwindling gangs of fascist to re-ignite the UDI rebellion of sion-mongering by themselves now, should be allowed to call hardliners among the colonist Carson and the Curragh Mutiny referring to the Orange fascist themselves ‘Irish’. Douglas Bell community will help the British in the diehard resistance to imperialists to hang on “help- Home Rule in the pre-1914 lessly”, pleading that they must period. Sneering at national-liberation stay on in an “impossible” posi- The Ulster colony is now a struggle for “not being socialism” is tion in a “security” role in order doomed and dying community, to prevent a total bloodbath. as moribund and pointless in petty bourgeois defeatist philistinism As part of even the estab- comparison with the aggressive lishment’s own logic is begin- Union Jack wavers of 1912 as is [ILWP Bulletin No 640 17-03-92] ning dimly and reluctantly to toothless and bankrupt modern [...] People who want to deny all movement have always demand- concede, the colonist-fascist British imperialism compared to these historical achievements ed the bluntest of exposures. gangs go crudely berserk at the the British imperialism of 1912. [of the Soviet Union etc - ed] are But that the ANC/SACP is at culmination of a period of grow- Increasingly, the British just academic morons who have the heart of the democratic ing doubt that the colonial order colonist violence will be seen no real interest in the actual revolution in South Africa there will really manage to “hold firm” internationally as an utterly un- struggle against imperialism, can be no doubt, nor that it has and to see off the “men of vio- necessary and pointless deliber- or in the true advances made by been a real revolution, – fought lence” (meaning the Republican ate destruction and genocide the proletariat’s international frequently with arms in hand, ‘terrorists’). which any half-competent mission. and always fought in revolu- There is not the remotest authority could rapidly put a Yet this petty-bourgeois tionary confrontation with the parity between the war waged stop to by forthrightly adopting ‘revolutionism’ is still postur- white imperialist absolutism. by the national liberation strug- the purpose of Ireland’s reunifi- ing mightily on the fake-‘left’. Only irresponsible counter-rev- gle against the crown forces cation, and firmly declaring an Listen to the ‘revolutionaries’ olutionaries can set out to try to and their agents, – and the early date for it, and then taking of the so-called ‘Leninist’ (who utterly destroy all confidence in utterly pointless terror-killing even firmer measures to back it have declared themselves to be the leadership of the necessary of Catholics and Irishmen by up. The 700-year-old ‘troubles’ the CPGB in the wake of that democratic-nationalist revolu- the British colonists just for would be over in months. revisionist rump’s self-liquida- tion in South Africa while the being presumably “nationalist” There are signs that the Brit- tion), tackling the revisionism struggle is still in full flow, or “republican”, but really just ish government may even be of the SACP in “Everything is – which is the effect of the igno- because of their race. It is legiti- wanting this inspired swell of rotten” terms: rant muddled-up sneers of the mate guerrilla war on one side, public opinion calling for talks “The leadership of the SACP is directly be- ‘Leninist’ armchair socialists. and pure nazism on the other, – with everyone including Sinn traying the interests of the South African Wishful thinking might day- despite the sustained deliberate Féin, – to ‘push’ London into revolution....For the SACP and its ally the dream of some alternative truly- campaign by the British radio, such a re-unification declaration ANC, the oppressed black masses are rap- Leninist organisation being in press and television to present it of intent, probably dressed up idly just becoming a stage army which is wheeled on when required to give a push the leadership of the bourgeois- indiscriminately as “all sectar- as a need and a wish to “give up to the imperialist backed ‘peace negotia- democratic revolution in South ian violence”. the thankless burden of keeping tions’, - a reactionary charade if ever there Africa. But it is not the case. Only a completely criminal impartial order” in the Occu- was one”. The ANC/SACP has led that establishment (as they showed pied Zone, and a commitment Now the ILWP has been never revolution, a necessary devel- when stitching up John Stalker, to hand over authority there at reluctant to polemicise with the opment, and in the interests and framing dozens of innocent some future date to whoever can SACP about its revisionist weak- of the completed proletarian- Irish prisoners) could pretend be organised at an international nesses, and in particular has revolutionary struggle of some to equate nazi terror with a conference to “take on such a been outspoken in its denuncia- future period. national-liberation struggle. responsibility”, etc, etc. tion of the reactionary anti-Len- Certainly, in line with Nor is there any real compari- It will be capitulation to the inist retreat of Joe Slovo’s (the Leninist science, – there may son between the actual policing Irish national-liberation strug- then SACP boss) pamphlet ‘Has not be much need to dwell over- problems posed for the depart- gle in all but name. The UN or Socialism Failed’ (see Bulletins long at the bourgeois-democrat- ing British authorities (or any the EEC will probably come in 623, 602, 601, 539, etc). ic stage of the total revolution- incoming UN or Irish authori- under the guise of some “supra- But it creates total confusion ary defeat of imperialism in ties) in their so-called “impos- national” authority. But Ireland to then muddle up the bourgeois South Africa. sible situation” facing all-out will be reunited, and another democratic revolution in South Similarly, Leninism welcomed blind bigotry and race-hatred great victory will have been Africa with the socialist revolu- the February bourgeois-demo- on the streets of the Occupied won by armed anti-imperialist tion which must follow. cratic revolution in Tsarist Rus- Zone. revolution. 38 There can be no question sia, but immediately agitated The Irish guerrilla war The only tragedy will be the of adopting any uncritical at- those who had grabbed the reins resistance to continued British continuingly feeble bourgeois- titudes towards the ANC/SACP. of power (after the overthrow of colonial rule has now lasted, nationalist politics of Sinn The revisionist postures and the autocracy) to continue with more than 700 years, and it will Féin and the IRA, – brilliant at illusions of the revolutionary an uninterrupted revolution EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 all the way to socialism on the grounds that the bourgeois- democratic phase in those 1917 circumstances could only continue Russia’s participation in the catastrophic and deplor- able inter-imperialist war for colonial plunder and monopoly- capitalist booty.) But even in those extremely rapidly changing circumstances and faced with such enormous dangers of chauvinist-imperial- ist corruption of the revolution or of counter-revolutionary intervention by rival imperialist powers, and in circumstances where the Bolshevik Party had massive opportunities for inde- pendent action, – still Leninist science tactically spent many months in between February and October of 1917 in urging all power to the Soviet leadership of bourgeois-democratic com- promise, or urging defeat for the Kerensky regime’s enemies (without confusing workers that the Kerensky government was actually worthy of any workers’ confidence or support.) It is not impossible for the ‘Leninist’ ivory-tower ‘revolu- tionaries’ to be merely currently exposing the undoubted revi- sionist weaknesses of the SACP/ ships. staging a silly sectarian ‘putsch’. anti-imperialist sentiments ANC movement whilst fully The leadership of such a mili- But Lenin rejoiced in the em- through their long association prepared later on, if necessary, tary struggle will still have all barrassment caused to British with CPGB revisionism in a to give unconditional solidarity the revisionist illusions which imperialism, and correctly, in yuppie world of total petty- with any ‘democratic ‘ govern- many national-liberation con- those prevailing circumstances, bourgeois philistinism. ment which replaces the white flicts of the past have suffered urged the Fenians on to ever Meanwhile in the real world, imperialist autocracy. from in other anti-imperialist greater acts of terrorist courage. one difficulty of confronting But the language of “Every- wars. Only the most obscene bourgeois philistinism head- thing is rotten” Trotskyism does But are these petty-bourgeois Trotskyite sectarianism could on is the statistical problem of not look promising. It sounds anti-communists of the CPGB take any different attitude never being able to say quite like a sectarian complete stab- going to keep up this “betraying today. It is Sinn Féin/IRA which when the capitalist economic in-the-back for the revolution the revolution” disruptive sneer has led the anti-imperialist crisis is doomed to finally in South Africa whilst still at the ANC/SACP if this happens, struggle in the remaining destroying everything around it in mid-battle at this stage - a mimicking the rest of the ‘left’ zone of Ireland occupied by in an explosive slump-collapse, treacherous stance which many swamp who have for years pro- British imperialism. Every then plunging on directly into petty-bourgeois posturers in moted anti-ANC/SACP splittists embarrassment to the British all-out trade war and sabre- the ‘left’ swamp have continu- of the anti-Soviet (Kitson, etc) police-military dictatorship is a rattling chauvinistic recrimi- ously kept up for years in their kind, or the black nationalist blow against the international nations opening the road to anti-communist hatred against (PAC, etc) kind, driven by their imperialist statue-quo. inter-imperialist WWIII. the Third International and Trotskyite “everything is rotten” Nationalism remains a The complicating factor is the any suggestion of expanding bile. potentially appallingly reaction- obscure matter of bourgeois the regimes of workers-state Many phases of the long ary philosophy. And terrorism market confidence. At some proletarian dictatorship, via the international anti-imperialist remains an appallingly unsat- stage, it will have disintegrated SACP/ANC in this case. struggle have been, and are yet isfactory and double-edged entirely, – demoralised by the It is not even strictly true, as going to be, led by movements weapon, potentially destructive ever-spreading incontrovert- the fake ‘Leninists’ elaborate, which have far from Leninist of serious revolutionary politi- ible evidence that there is no that the SACP clarity about the historic class cal theory and agitation. way out of monopoly-capitalist “is acting as a conservative restraining influ- war against capitalism. It is But Sinn Féin/IRA remains competitive contradictions for ence on the black masses and is channelling unbelievable sectarian nonsense the only serious anti-imperialist world domination than through their revolutionary anger and energy into to posture that ‘real Marx- struggle going. outright imperialist-state con- the dead end of reformism”. ist revolutionaries’ will ‘not It is unbelievably sectarian frontation. The revolutionary struggle so compromise an inch’, etc, and anti-Leninist nonsense to not Many bourgeois establish- far against the autocracy, going will ‘ruthlessly expose’ any anti- only refuse solidarity to the ments will be terrified at this back 70 years or more, has been imperialists who are not ‘proper national-liberation war, but to stage, – afraid of what they far from reformist. And the revolutionaries’, etc, etc. join British bourgeois-idealist might lose. Some will be aggres- shaky position of the Deklerk This was not Lenin’s way. philosophy in contemptuously sively cocky, grimly determined regime of bourgeois-imperialist Such Trotskyite sectarians condemning the independence about what they might win in compromise with the national- should study Lenin’s response movement as ‘mere reactionary spite of the frightening cost. All liberation struggle could mean to the 1916 Easter rebellion in bloody terrorism’, as many of will be resigned to some very the ANC/SACP revolution revert- Dublin by out-and-out bour- the Trots have done. disrupted and dangerous mar- ing back to the arms-in-hand geois Irish nationalists, who The problem with these ket conditions ahead. The world 39 struggle as well as the non-stop were, moreover, accused by bar-room ‘revolutionaries’ of economy will nosedive. civil revolutionary confronta- most of the ‘official’ Second-In- the fake-‘Leninist’ type is their Precisely predicting how tions at work and in the town- ternational ‘Marxist left’ of just ivory-tower isolation from real and when, or guaranteeing EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 that there cannot possibly any that the entire world market real agenda for the talks has programme and that the orders to last-minute ‘recovery’ false- is always there to be won for been set by Britain and is about hand over material that could iden- dawns before then - remains an anyone bold enough to seize the strengthening partition”. tify the source were not in the pub- extremely hazardous business. opportunity), - are stoked up It may yet happen out of Brit- lic interest. Source , who was interviewed in All that can be repeatedly towards international chauvin- ish ruling-class weakness versus silhouette with his words spoken stressed is that the contradic- ist conflict as never before in its own diehard fascist-colonists by an actor, alleged widespread col- tions of rival surplus-capital history,[...] of the Orange Order, but it is lusion between the security forces, investment mountains (based Build Leninism. Spread the not the obvious intention of loyalist paramilitaries and members on credit-creation and the ILWP Bulletin. the long suppression of Belfast of the Northern Irish business and bourgeois entrepreneurial faith Jack Bradshaw self-rule, the Treaty’s unheard- professional community in a secret of provisions for a Dublin voice organisation — of which he was a Imperialist system begins to lose in the northern zone’s affairs, member — dedicated to a campaign the increasing application of of political and sectarian assassina- tion. crucial support in its own middle-class some features of the British Andrew Collins, QC, for the police-military dictatorship Director of Public Prosecutions, ranks (Channel 4 News revolt) against UVF ‘loyalist’ thugs and read the court an affidavit from the Unionist sectarianism as well programme’s researcher who said [ILWP Bulletin No 659 28-07-92] as the Irish nationalist move- he or she had been explicitly asked Developments concerning where total chaos and defeatism ment, etc, – spelled out recently by source A if he or she was pre- in greater detail than ever in the pared to go to prison rather than re- Ireland, Italy, and Britain are all have been sown in the workers veal his name. That assurance was currently illustrating how the movement by the confusion previously unthinkable Dublin/ Belfast/London negotiations. given. “I have not the slightest doubt economic crisis, underlying dif- in the minds of ‘the fake-‘left’ that had I not been prepared to give ficult political conflicts, is shak- anti-Leninist sects, causing But Sinn Féin talks only of the undertakings required, A would ing petty-bourgeois confidence desperate damage to the work- defeat and of strengthening par- not have agreed to say anything to in the capitalist state. ers movement in Britain and tition because its spontaneous me,” the researcher said. Ireland. anti-imperialist achievements The videotapes of the interview [...]It is not the case that the in political and military strug- with the source, where he was not workers revolutionary party has Even Sinn Féin itself, – whilst the undoubted heroes gle have never been backed-up disguised, were destroyed before to become expert in the most by any scientific grasp of the transmission in order not to break up-to-date developments in of the Irish national-liberation the undertaking. The same was movement’s tremendous degeneration of imperialism as every field of human knowledge a world system, or of British im- done with interviews with other (though it would do no harm at anti-imperialist struggle, – has anonymous sources. repeatedly undermined its own perialism’s specific weaknesses “This seemed to be the only way all if it were). within that dying system, or But it is necessary for the colossal military and political we could guard against their iden- of the necessary economic and tity becoming known through bur- cadre party to understand achievements (of forcing Brit- ish imperialism to a hopeless political face-saving retreats glary by any of the interested par- enough about current affairs now forced on the British ruling ties, or even through carelessness,” of all kinds so as to be able to and damaging stalemate in the Occupied Zone), by describing class (by its US and EEC “allied” the researcher said. “It was not done draw vital historical conclu- rivals as much as anything else) with legal seizure uppermost in our sions about the next crisis the staggering hunger-strike minds.” and related political triumphs as a result of the embarrassing developments in capitalist inability to defeat a so-called The RUC, which has rejected the al- society in time enough for the as “a defeat”, for example, or the legations in the programme, applied Anglo-Irish Treaty enforced on “tiny handful of criminal terror- to the court because the dossier working class to not be left in ists and their political front”. total confusion by events, and a paralysed and embarrassed given to it voluntarily by Channel Although such defeatism 4 did not contain the source’s without a glimmer of reliable British government as “another setback and barrier to Ireland’s in Sinn Féin’s outlook is more name. and knowledgeable leadership than compensated for inside Claims in the programme about on the horizon to which workers reunification”, etc. Only this month, when it the national-liberation move- the “Inner Force” which planned could respond, -(given sufficient ment itself by the stubborn assassinations, with the further al- efforts in quantity and quality has become clearer than ever legations that one third of RUC men that the British ruling class resilience and resourcefulness by the party). of the independence struggle, were so disaffected they supported And if this is the route for- really is seeking the snail’s-pace this approach, were of the “utmost withdrawal from the Occupied the advantages lost worldwide seriousness”, Mr Collins said. wards, and the only one, then by failing to explain to the in- the requirement on every con- Zone (without loss of face to the Mr Collins said, “but to say this ternational workers movement was conclusive evidence was to dis- scious worker is to constantly “terrorists”, of course) as ex- plained in the Bulletin’s analysis the tremendous importance of play a degree of arrogance.” deepen the party’s collective the political defeats inflicted Material identifying Source A was understanding of Marxist-Len- for years (ILWP Books vol 8 & 15 Ireland), – Sinn Féin declared of on British imperialism (IRA the key to the RUC’s investigations inist science, and systematically undefeatable, hunger-strike into the allegations. strive to broaden the party’s the unprecedented three-strand humiliation for the UK, political Although Grade and Attenbor- influence, whenever possible. negotiations between London, embarrassment for London of ough have so far only uttered Irish developments are Belfast and Dublin about an Sinn Féin’s electoral triumphs, the usual remarks about another excellent example of all-Ireland solution that “the collapse of Paisley’s attempted “protecting journalistic sources” new Carsonite Curragh-mutiny and “invidious choice between ‘no surrender’ fascism, etc etc) breaking the law and putting – are a priceless opportunity lives in danger”, etc, – there has being missed. long been developing a middle- Further encouragement class distaste in Britain to give to banish defeatism could be any more support to the brutal- drawn from the remarkable ity of the failed imperialist-state stand being taken by the British policies towards the Occupied television petty-bourgeois lay- Zone. ers in resisting court orders for Even if Channel 4 finally ca- the RUC to be given the name of pitulates to court pressure, this an informant on RUC involve- is another example of how some ment in judicial assassinations petty-bourgeois layers who help of Republicans in the Occupied to run the imperialist state in Zone: normal times are now like rats 40 Channel 4, which faces unlimited preparing to desert a sinking fines or sequestration of assets if it ship, or thieves about to fall out. is found to be in contempt, intends And while Ireland has always to argue that it was an important been a particularly uncomfort- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 able problem for the British economic crisis ever, the middle and the Loyalist community. murder circles inside the British bourgeois-imperialist mentality, class’s readiness for disaffection I considered that the RUC was be- colonial establishment is the it must be suspected that as the on almost any issue will become ing used to implement the Anglo- most ludicrous gibberish ever capitalist state becomes more ever greater.[...] Irish agreement and to suppress any heard. Loyalist opposition to it. and more disastrously para- Adam Carr I believed that this was carried Channel Four’s allegations re- lysed over the most frightening out on the directions of the Dublin main unchallenged. The Source government and that this was be- A whistle-blower has not been The ‘New World Order’ deeper in the ing done to give the RUC credibility shopped to RUC vengeance. among the minority community. The RUC stands accused of mire I decided then that I would attack monstrous fascist tactics, of any credibility that the RUC had been failing to investigate these judi- [ILWP Bulletin No 660 04-08-92] given by the minority as a result of cial murder circles, of trying to this exercise. persecute Channel Four instead, [...]All round its own patch, the protect Ulster from the Anglo- ‘I invented a story about their ‘free’ world continues to degen- Irish Treaty. being an inner circle in existence and of then issuing the daftest erate towards total decrepitude. According to Annesley’s tor- within the RUC and that members cover-up story in history. British imperialism’s Irish tured logic, this RUC hoaxer who of this inner circle were prepared to As the Bulletin was explain- colonial morass continues to had totally fooled Channel Four take part in a coup in the event of a ing, these developments suggest drag down the reputation of the (ignoring the scores of other united Ireland. a fundamental breach between capitalist state establishment. witnesses talked to in making There is one flaw with this piece the British imperialist state Lord Justice Woolf in the the exposure of these judicial of fiction, – so glaring that it policy (for an undeclared snail’s High Court could find the will murder circles at the top of Or- raises doubts whether anyone is pace withdrawal from its Irish to slap only a derisory fine on ange society), had worked it out left in the British colonial set- colony but without conceding Channel 4 (for contempt in that the Treaty’s survival was up over the Occupied Zone of anything to the Irish national- still refusing to name Source A crucially dependent upon the Ireland who is not a brick short liberation struggle), and the who had revealed to television nationalist community begin- of a full load. outlook of the petty-bourgeois his membership of a leading ning to have some confidence The Treaty had to be brought circles required to make the Orange-community committee in the RUC as a responsible, in to universal acclaim because British capitalist state function of businessmen and state offi- reliable, and impartial police the Irish population of the Oc- (including the journalists run- cials devoted to illegal ‘judicial’ force for all of the citizens of the cupied Zone, – and the rest of ning the bourgeois television murder of Irish nationalist Occupied Zone. the world beyond, – could never and newspaper monopolies). opponents of continuing British Therefore, reasoned Annes- trust the old Orange dictator- The middle class are simply rule over the Occupied Zone ley’s phantom RUC hoaxer, if it ship in Ulster to ever be any- rapidly losing all confidence in of Ulster), – and was incapable was widely got out and believed thing other than a gerryman- London’s policy towards Ireland of making it a recurring fine, that the RUC was in fact con- dered tyranny and unacceptable any more. backed by a jail threat, for Chan- ducting a secret illegal judicial for all time. And this devastating collapse nel Four’s continued refusal to murder campaign against And the Treaty was a very of confidence in the British name names. leading nationalists, then the mild antidote to that tyranny imperialist ruling class position Parts of the London media ‘trust’ basis of the Treaty would (marginally involving Dublin by its own petty-bourgeoisie is petty-bourgeoisie, – completely collapse, - and hence the Treaty with a say in the Occupied a far more crucial development disillusioned with imperialism’s would collapse: Zone’s affairs for the first time than the imagined ‘greater dif- hopeless failure to continue ever). ficulty’ now alleged to be threat- The chief constable said that in his ening investigative journalism tying down its Irish colony, – statement, the witness told the RUC: So if that Treaty failed, then it took an unprecedented stance In early 1985 the riots took place in could only possibly lead to a new in the Occupied Zone. against the previously hallowed Portadown when the RUC banned and much more anti-colonial The fairly token £75,000 fine Prevention of Terrorism Act the Orange processions and this Treaty some time in the future. and mild words of admonish- to suggest that the RUC and was followed by the disorder and Annesley’s attempted cover- ment from Lord Woolf, (who the British government might confrontations between the RUC up for these infamous judicial actually spoke of the “real and have been better chasing up the Orange assassination commit- tee rather than persecuting the television journalists who had uncovered the scandal. Aware of the grotesque spec- tacle which the corrupt colonial establishment was making of itself in the Occupied Zone (and wider afield) over this explosive question of judicial murder (bearing in mind the entire fraught history of the notori- ous shoot-to-kill policy and MI5 assassination of the Gibraltar Three, [see pp7-10] etc), the RUC boss Annesley felt obliged to speak out. The attempted cover-up was the most farcical joke yet. An- nesley said that the whole saga of the judicial murder circles inside the Ulster establishment had been deliberately made up by an RUC officer in order to deliberately blacken the RUC’s reputation in the eyes of the Irish nationalist population of the Occupied Zone and the 41 wider world outside. And the purpose of this bizarre action was really so as to EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 genuine dilemma” facing Chan- obscurantism to the harsh logic Northern Ireland during these last paedophile tendencies was another nel Four when its open defi- of reason and class struggle as 20 years is equivalent to 110,000 dead side to the covert war which the ance of a court order under the never before. in a population the size of Britain British government has struggled previously sacrosanct Preven- The Irish national libera- and half a million slaughtered in the unsuccessfully to cover up. There US. is also little doubt left that British tion of Terrorism Act was all tion struggle, led by Sinn Féin Faced with this carnage, succes- intelligence arranged the bombing that should really have mattered and the IRA, has already won sive British governments authorised of Dublin so that revulsion at the to the very imperialist judicial some prodigious achievements a covert war in which the security slaughter would be blamed on the establishment) almost ignored against British imperialism but forces were free to use the methods IRA and thus speed the Republic’s a challenge to the rule of law with the best still to come of of the IRA to defeat the IRA as long as own Prevention of Terrorism Act which in any other circum- final reunification and full inde- they didn’t get caught. through a reluctant Dail. stances would have been being pendence at last. It has done so There is no serious commenta- Twenty years on, it seems that described as a “basic threat to arms in hand and occasionally tor on the course of the war who nothing has changed. The system- the whole fabric of the British verging on some revolutionary would privately deny that the British atic discrimination against Catholics forces have used the shoot-to-kill in housing and employment, which constitution and requiring jail anti-imperialist understanding, policy against suspected IRA volun- sparked the violence a generation for Grade and Attenborough” at though never far enough, and teers, both in Northern Ireland and ago, continues. All government at- the very least. always bleakly philistinely anti- Gibraltar. When public pressure tempts to end it have failed. The re- Now that that has not hap- Leninist. forced the Government to concede cent trial of Brian Nelson, who oper- pened, then a logical expecta- But the movement’s spon- an inquiry which it expected would ated as a spy for British intelligence tion is for the Three-strand taneous successes have also be the usual whitewash, it made the inside the UDA, was cut short by a negotiations which have helped to expose Sinn Fein’s mistake of putting John Stalker in deal which prevented the public rev- programmed the Orange order own bourgeois-nationalist na- charge. But even after he had been elation that British intelligence had to talk to Dublin for the first ïveness and defeatism. (See last smeared and discredited while striv- allowed Loyalist paramilitaries to ing to get to the truth his successor import vast quantities of arms from time ever since Ireland won its week’s Bulletin). found the evidence so overwhelm- South Africa currently being used in partial independence from the The British proletariat and ing that the Government refused to the new wave of killings. British empire) – to cover more the international revolutionary publish his report and took no action The private advice from British in- unprecedented new ground movement will nevertheless, against those involved. telligence to our government is that when they resume in the au- despite Sinn Fein’s own confu- Nor were covert actions confined it is not possible to eliminate the IRA. to British territory. Army captain tumn. sion, gain enormously from the Take up the IRA’s tactics with Slowly, dying British impe- humiliation of British imperial- Robert Nairac led an assassina- tion squad of Loyalist paramilitar- the IRA, not with the manipu- rialism is finally giving up its ism at the hands of the heroic lated ‘public opinion’ of the last, oldest, and most blood- revolutionary spontaneity of ies across the Irish border to kill IRA volunteer John Francis Green. But as imperialist power responsible the national-liberation struggle stained and traumatic colony with all covert actions, things ran for imposing endless war on Ire- of all. As Marx said, it will be in Ireland. out of control. When Edward Heath’s land in the first place. Just tell an enormous liberation from The British colonial connec- government engineered a power- British imperialism, – and every the chauvinistic prejudices of tion is on the last stages of its sharing government into Stormont part of its rotten ‘democracy’, – British working-class mental- journey to the graveyard. Its fi- Castle the security forces worked to get out of Ireland. ity to no longer have Ireland to nal burial will help clear the way with Loyalist paramilitaries to or- kick around or look down upon towards a more straightforward ganise the Loyalist workers’ strike Douglas Bell with hatred (even just on a part revolutionary anti-imperialist which broke the power-sharing ini- of one partitioned community struggle by workers in both tiative. The following year, when Harold there). countries for a socialist solution Wilson’s government negotiated a And for the Irish proletariat’s to the capitalist system’s unend- ceasefire with the IRA, rogue ele- revolutionary socialist destiny, ing crises of war, tyranny and ments in MI5 systematically and cold- the ending of the conditions slump. bloodedly armed and organised favouring fake pacifist ‘Repub- Build Leninism. Spread the Loyalist paramilitaries in an assas- licanism’ in Dublin will expose ILWP Bulletin. sination campaign aimed to end the Green Tory reaction and Church Gerry Mole ceasefire by unleashing sectarian vi- olence. This goal was only achieved Letters after the shooting of Ireland’s No.l pop group, The Miami Show Band. Ireland The alleged use by MI5 of young- sters at the Kincora Boys Home to [EPSR No 692 23-03-93] entrap, blackmail and thus control The Irish who have been writ- century. Read what the capital- leading unionist politicians with ing into the British imperialist ist press itself writes about national media to apologise for Britain’s imperialist role: the Warrington bomb blasts and For more than a decade, Britain’s rushing to lead the condemna- leaders have spoken in private of tion of the IRA, want to stop having achieved “an acceptable being such cowardly turncoats. level of violence”. What they mean It is British imperialism is that the horrifying upsurge of which is the cause of all the killing that followed the introduc- trouble in Ireland and in tion of internment 20 years ago had particular the evil partition of declined to roughly the present levels of violence by 1976 and has the country left behind when lately stayed at that level ever since. revolutionary war forced the And, of course, the level of vio- British colonisers out of 26 of lence is only acceptable to British the counties in 1921, leaving be- leaders when it is happening a long hind a sick and twisted colonist long way away in Ireland and not in minority to administer fascist- their own constituencies. The IRA police rule over the remaining 6 knows, this attitude only too well counties with their ludicrously and it fuels its determination to gerrymandered realigned bor- bring the carnage of the war to the streets of Britain. ders to make sure Orangemen Proponents of the acceptable level outnumbered Irishmen. theory seem to forget that the pop- The partition and continued ulation of Northern Ireland is only 42 colonisation of the Occupied one and a half million. They have Zone of Ireland remains one no answer when it is pointed out of the greatest political crimes to them that the number of people of this century or any other blown to bits and shot to death in EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 West so weakened by trade-war night- mare that even simple ‘democracy’ is now beyond it, as in UK paralysis over its anti-Irish crimes [EPSR No 701 25-03-93] The British ruling class is in a in successful British imperial- desperate plight with its £50 ism, made necessary by that billion deficit but it would be a imperialism’s declining world mistake to interpret the latest role), – the Cabinet has also hardline threats to the welfare decided to brazen things out as state as being some kind of far as the collapse of its policy thick-skinned strength. Fascist on the Occupied Zone of Ireland and Woolwich pub bombings. con-trick. It is an attempt to re-write menaces are the exact oppo- is concerned. Prosecution of the police took history, an attempt to reconvict the site, – the product of appalling Caught red-handed framing three-and-a-half years to reach, Four.” bourgeois weakness, – a confes- group after group of innocent court, thereby fettering the inde- Mr Armstrong, now aged 43, said: sion of total bankruptcy and Irish so as at least to be able pendent inquiry into the Guildford “It was a whitewash from start to complete inability to carry on to victimise someone for the case set up by the Home Secretary finish. I sometimes wondered why ruling with the most effective fictional ‘terrorist crimes’ of the in 1989 and headed by Sir John May. they even bothered to go through and insidious weapon capital- national-liberation struggle, The delay cannot be attributed to the the motions.” ism ever devised, – the fraud of London’s decision to ‘tough it preparation of evidence. The case “It was an ingenious plan just to against the three detectives was ar- blame the Surrey officers for the ‘parliamentary democracy and out’ by admitting no individual gued on two documents alone, the Guildford convictions. justice’. guilt for the many ‘miscarriages same two documents that lay at the That separated them from the A hated vindictive ‘demo- of justice’ is pure defeatist de- heart of the Appeal Court decision bomb squad, who interviewed us cratic’ government (which might spair, and not strength at all. on October 19 1989 to quash the con- over Woolwich, and the RUC. They survive for a while to hammer The rigged ‘convictions’ victions of the Guildford Four se- deliberately chose the grounds for working-class living standards couldn’t stick because the anti- cured on confession evidence alone. quashing our convictions so awk- due to the utterly class-collab- imperialist advance of history The delay served in part to dis- ward questions would never be orating futility and feckless- itself is making a mockery of the tance present events from that ex- asked.” ness of the Labour and Liberal ridiculous pompous hypocrisy traordinary day at the Old Bailey He thinks the public must be bewil- when four bemused young people dered by now. “If I were the man in ‘opposition’) can hang on to of Britain’s police-military dic- who had spent over half their lives power but represents a danger- tatorship over the last colonised the street, then I suppose I would in prison walked free. In the words be thinking, there’s no smoke ous defeat as far as the real corner of Ireland pretending to of Crown QC Roy Amlot that day: point of bourgeois democracy is stand for ‘law and order’ in that without fire. But that applies to “Evidence of great significance has the police as well. If that evidence concerned, which is to bamboo- gerrymandered hellhole, reek- come to light. [It] throws such doubt was good enough at the Court of zle and swindle the masses but ing of Rule Britannia bigotry. upon the honesty and integrity of Appeal to have our convictions to get them to regularly vote to But there is no smart and a number of the Surrey officers in- quashed, why is it not good enough be skinned nevertheless. cunning British imperialist vestigating this case in 1974 that the to pursue a conviction against doc- It is an even greater weakness strength left at all to turn these Crown now feels unable to say that tored evidence? the conviction of any appellant was “But the truth is never going to for the bourgeoisie’s survival ‘legal’ setbacks into a ‘making- safe or satisfactory…” when an unpopular parliamen- a-clean-breast-of it’ virtue. come out now. All these matters Home Secretary Douglas Hurd about what evidence was withheld tary system has to give way to That would have required a told a sombre House of Commons, an openly capitalist dictatorship confident putting of Paisley & and why, nobody is going to be held “There has been a serious miscar- to account for that.” system. Co in their place, and no such riage of justice which has resulted Counsel for the police officers German imperialism’s confidence exists. It would have in wrongful imprisonment for many had been allowed by Mr Justice enforced turn to Nazism in the required telling an increasingly years.” Macpherson to make an address to 1930s was in fact not a clever nervous and resentful British The unexpected quashing of the the jury before the prosecution be- trick to use the ‘democratic police force that they would convictions pre-empted an appeal gan calling witnesses. They alleged set for the following January in Mr Armstrong, whose interview re- process’ to deprive the masses have to take the rap for the which other serious points would of democracy but a fatal capitu- Guildford Four stitch up, but cords were the core of the trial, had have been raised: points which “sung like a canary”, and was an IRA lation to suicidal delusions of a their Federation conference’s the legal establishment and the ‘short cut’ to capitalist ‘recovery’ ecstatic welcoming of the Old member. Government has yet to answer. But But the Balcombe Street gang, success which ended in total dis- Bailey ‘not guilty’ verdict, and it is safe to assume that, if the Crown an IRA unit cornered at a siege in aster just 12 years later unleash- the Government’s acceptance of still believed in the guilt of the west London after a long mainland ing a postwar revolutionary it, indicates that there is little Guildford Four, it would not have bombing campaign, admitted the avalanche which did not stop strength of will to make out a thrown in the towel. Guildford and Woolwich bombings until a third of the planet had plausible case of ‘who was really In his judgment Lord Lane said after they were arrested in 1975. the entire case against the Guildford Government scientists have admit- turned socialist, (despite the responsible’ for the injustices, Four rested on the integrity of the continuing class-collaborating but a great amount of blatant re- ted that forensic evidence to support police. The so-called contempora- their claims was suppressed. feebleness (with imperialism lief that the whole sorry mess of neous notes of the interviews with on a worldwide basis) of the failed policies towards the Irish Armstrong were not contempora- wretched Moscow revisionist national-liberation struggle can neous: “The officers must have been A SIMPLE issue faced the Old leadership.) be swept under the carpet yet lying.” He added: “if they were pre- Bailey jury of six men and six It is similarly a weakness, again for a brief while longer. pared to tell this sort of lie, then the women: could there be an inno- not a hard-nosed strength, of It is worth recording just how whole of their evidence became sus- cent explanation for the existence the present Tory government in ludicrous the decaying British pect.” of a set of typed police notes, with The sole evidence against them scribbled additions, of an interview Britain that on top of threaten- imperialist state is making itself was their confessions. They alleged with Patrick Armstrong, one of the ing to destroy welfare-state look with this renewed bare- officers had beaten and intimidated Guildford Four? living standards for the masses, faced cover-up: them at Guildford police station. The notes came to light four years provoking open rebellion The innuendo whispered in le- Alastair Logan, solicitor for Mr ago. Avon and Somerset detectives, (and of a revolutionary kind, gal and police circles for the last Armstrong and Carole Richardson, re-reading the Guildford convic- as opposed to the reformist three years was finally aired. The said: “The only chance the po- tions of 14 years earlier after the revolts of the 1960s, 1970s, and Establishment still cannot come lice had to be acquitted was to put four prisoners had submitted fresh 43 1980s when class-collaborating to terms with the fact that Patrick Armstrong and [Gerry] Conlon on evidence claiming their innocence, trade-unionism was trying to Armstrong and the rest of the trial. That’s what they have done. discovered them in the archives at “It’s been a nonsense of a criminal Surrey police headquarters. resist any reduction in its stake Guildford Four had nothing what- soever to do with the Guildford trial. It is a con-trick, a dirty lousy The papers immediately set alarm EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 bells ringing. The Guildford officers day hearing in June 1991, Mr Bartle be the Metropolitan Police commis- ures — understood to include senior who had questioned Mr Armstrong dismissed the charges. sioner? Surrey and Metropolitan Police of- had presented a handwritten re- The High Court reversed the dis- Some of those matters would have ficers, prosecuting counsel and offi- cord of the interview to court, said missal in January last year. Lord been raised at the Guildford Four’s cials from the Home Office and DPP to have been contemporaneously- Justice Neill said, as Mr Bartle had appeal, which had been due to begin — to give him evidence in private. recorded, which was similar to the argued, there might be some preju- early in 1990. Questions would have He has promised that transcripts typed notes plus additions. dice because of the time lapse. But been levelled concerning, among of their evidence will be published Avon and Somerset police be- “a jury would be perfectly capable others, the late Norman Skelhorn, with the report, to be presented to lieved the typewritten notes must of deciding the case on the evidence Director of Public Prosecutions at the Home Secretary by September. have preceded the handwritten without regard to what they might the time of the trial, and the late document When they received un- have seen or read three years or so Lord Havers, who, as Sir Michael The establishment is being just satisfactory replies from the officers ea rl ier ”. Havers, had been prosecuting coun- as ostrich-like over its fortunes Allan Green, the then Director of After a year’s delay to allow the sel in their 1975 trial before becom- in the undeclared war against Public Prosecutions, was consulted. three officers to engage counsel of ing Attorney General. the Irish national-liberation In October 1989, he announced their choice, the trial finally got un- But the then DPP, Allan Green, struggle. the prosecution case against the derway at the Old Bailey last month. stepped in dramatically in October It is going disastrously badly, Guildford Four was crushed. Two The defence was, unusually, al- 1989. The verdicts were quashed, as it has been from the start days later, Roy Amlot QC, for the lowed to outline its case immedi- but the Guildford Four’s lawyers say because the criminal colonial Crown, rose to his feet before a spe- ately after the prosecution. The of- they were never able to tell the full repression of the north-east cially convened Court of Appeal to ficers exercised their right not to go story. The result, they concede, is a say why. into the witness box. lurking doubt about their innocence. comer of Ireland is a farcical Gareth Peirce, solicitor for Mr historical anachronism which As well as the Armstrong notes, Kenneth Clarke, the Home Conlon, said: “They were cheated was doomed from the very Avon and Somerset detectives had Secretary, said: “I hope we can put out of a proper appeal. beginning when an already ail- discovered Surrey detectives had the whole unhappy episode be- Had it gone ahead, we had four lied about another interview, with hind us.” Mr Justice Macpherson ing British imperialism savagely grounds, any one of which would Paul Hill. They had also found a du- of Cluny, the trial judge, indicated imposed the artificial partition have been sufficient. plicate custody record, correspond- he thought sleeping dogs should be as a last vengeful act of a failed “There was the alibi evidence; the ing to the timetable of interviews left to lie. But the trial leaves unan- 800-year attempt to make all of forensic evidence, which demon- which had been forwarded by the swered an array of questions sur- Ireland a province of Britain. strated the gang which had carried Guildford Four. Neither of those ar- rounding the 1974 Guildford and out Guildford and Woolwich was Orange fascism has been eas was to become the subject of a Woolwich pub bombings, which operating when the four were al- laughed out of every public criminal trial. killed seven and injured more than ready in custody; Lord Roskill’s fail- opinion court on earth as a fit Mr Amlot told Lord Lane, the then 60. ure to send the case for retrial after ‘authority’ for the gerryman- Lord Chief Justice: “The Crown says □ Why did the prosecution with- the Balcombe Street people had used that not only did three officers — hold two alibi statements which dered occupied bits of Ulster, their trial to highlight four innocent and not only junior officers — mis- would have proved Gerry Conlon the most historic heart of people were in prison; and then we lead the court, but because of the was asleep, more than 30 miles away Ireland. discovered evidence of widespread notes, preparation and statements on the other side of London, at the Now the British police-mili- falsification of notes.” they gave, clearly they agreed to- time of the Guildford bombings? tary dictatorship remnants of Sir John May’s inquiry, set up un- gether to present their notes in this □ Why was forensic evidence, indi- der the former Appeal Court judge that failed colonisation are still fashion.” cating the Guildford and Woolwich on the day the convictions were incapable of suppressing Irish Lord Lane, quashing the convic- bombings were part of a wave of quashed, would have investigated independence struggles, in spite tions, had no doubts: “The officers mainland attacks carried out by the these issues. of all the incredible watchtower must have lied.” And, in a refer- Balcombe Street gang, an IRA unit He would have asked why, given ence to the prosecution of the offic- captured in 1975 after a siege in west surveillance; walled-in ‘republi- the sole evidence against the four ers, he added: “May we express the London, deliberately altered? can’ ghettoes; Hitlerite no-jury was the confessions, there were 180 hope that nothing will be allowed to □ Why was Carole Richardson in- ‘courts’; ten years of ‘detention- discrepancies. But Sir John was frus- stand in the way of the speedy pro- terviewed, when she confessed to without-trial’ concentration trated over the long delays in bring- gress of those proceedings.” the Guildford bombings, soon after camps; murderous’ shoot-on- ing the Guildford officers to trial. Although 12 Surrey officers were receiving an injection of pethidine He was effectively forced to cut sight’ killing gangs run by army named in Avon and Somerset’s to help her over barbiturate with- short his public investigation, tak- and police out of uniform; criminal investigation, only three drawal? ing written evidence to allow him to Gestapo silencing of Sinn Féin were charged with conspiracy to □ Who was behind the decision not complete a report before the Royal spokesmen on radio and televi- pervert the course of justice. to charge members of the Balcombe Commission on Justice’s deadline Ronald Bartle, the magistrate hear- Street siege gang with the Woolwich sion; torture ‘interrogation’ next month. ing the committal of the three offic- and Guildford bombings, which barracks condemned by the Where questions remain unan- ers at Bow Street, central London, they admitted in interviews with, European Court; etc, etc. swered, Sir John has asked key fig- was to play a key role. After a five- among others, Peter Imbert, later to The IRA is still blasting Britain and its colony to bits, and Sinn Féin is still winning massive electoral support from the Irish voters. The Tory government’s pre- tence that ‘Britain is keeping a stiff upper lip and going about its business determined not to be disrupted by these pointless bombings’, etc, is no display of ‘strong will to see the battle against evil through to a suc- cessful conclusion’ but paralysed weakness to know what to do next. In spite of the news blackout, the story is still getting out that the City of London, for example, suffered crippling losses from its recent bombings. Fully a month after the latest blast on Bishopsgate, no less 44 than 21 acres of prime City money-making territory is still walled off behind an 8-foot high iron fence, needing a pass to get inside. Snippets in the capital- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 ist press this week reveal part exposed the shoot-on-sight face just by letting happen what of the story which the D-notice killing system) is proof that it knows is now inevitable, the censors do not want told: this ‘tough-it-out’ attitude is reunification of Ireland: Edward Henty, a News of the World just paralysed weakness bear- RARELY can the onset of the photographer, was killed and 44 ing an enormous cost, and not Northern Ireland “marching” sea- injured in last month’s bombing. strength at all. son have found Unionists in more Up to 20,000 City employees were The attempted frame-up bitter mood than today. Their abid- displaced and by this week only a of Manchester’s deputy chief ing paranoia about the Anglo-Irish handful had returned to work in constable, one of the country’s Agreement has been provoked the immediate vicinity. leading policemen, did great once again by renewed pressure Rear Admiral Rowe and the 35 damage to the British estab- from Dublin for talks this autumn staff at Leathersellers Company are irrespective of opposition from the among the few City workers who lishment’s reputation with the Unionists. Their despair has been have returned to their offices since middle class, and will continue heightened by opinion polls show- April 24 — the second time in a to do such damage for a long ing majorities north, south and in year that the premises at St Helens while to come, in fact until the Britain for a new inter-governmen- Place have suffered bomb damage. monopoly imperialist bourgeoi- tal initiative. Their suspicious an- Most buildings nearby are shrouded sie’s overthrow. tennae twitch for the least sign of in scaffolding, while less than 100 And this colossal price was influence from Washington, where yards away, work continues at the the Clinton administration has not paid because the Tory hierarchy on Anglo-Irish matters, feels he is epicentre of the explosion on repair- could not find a way of arrang- yet made up its mind over Irish af- ing a severed sewer. The smell can fairs but has sent a Kennedy as am- too cautious. Nationalists think he be excruciating. ing for a few scapegoats from bassador to Dublin. does not have a strategy any more. The influx of workers on to the the colonial establishment to Domestically, they are no more Unionists believe he has abandoned neighbouring building sites created ‘take the punishment’ (early re- reassured. Sinn Fein comes slowly them. So while others push the a serious problem for female staff, tirement, sideways promotion, but surely in from the political cold agenda forwards, the British gov- said office worker Fiona Barras. elevation to the House of Lords, — talks with John Hume, endorse- ernment falls back on assertions of “Things got so bad we made an of- etc) for the illegalities Stalker ment for talks from Michael Mates, an ancestral unionist faith which stirs no enthusiasm at home, cuts no ficial complaint.” discovered. a handshake with Mary Robinson — But male executives have had all signs that the unthinkable is now ice in Northern Ireland and melts no The same is happening now hearts in the south. Mr Major and Sir problems too, Mr Marler added. over the crippling spate of being thought. At Westminster the Meeting clients is difficult when the Labour Party breaks with the long Patrick seem to have lost their politi- local wine bar is a pile of rubble and bombings. tradition of consensus, floats the no- cal touch just at a moment when real “you feel a complete and utter twit Under pressure from most tion of joint rule over the north with creativity over Irish affairs is most going on the Tube with your hard ‘free-world’ capitals, London Dublin and stands its ground when called for. hat ”. has long since accepted the attacked by the Northern Ireland Even the Orange colonists at need for a snail’s pace with- Secretary and the Prime Minister. The scale of devastation, disrup- last seem to be admitting that drawal from its last colony. But The armed forces minister suggests tion, and losses from this, from the Irish independence spirit is so decadently weak is British that the army presence in Northern the previous City bombs, and unbeatable: imperialism now that it cannot Ireland may have to be scaled down. from four new town-centre find a way to oblige the colonial So when yesterday the IRA set off THE mood of the crowd was one of blasts in the past week must a bomb in the centre of the rela- severe shock as residents stared at establishment in the Occupied be close to beyond the gov- tively peaceful town of Newtonards the devastation. Zone of Ireland to accept this ernment’s insurance scheme Unionists felt even more abandoned, It was not just that Newtownards final retreat. capacity to bear (in view of the beleaguered and angry than ever had finally fallen victim to the IRA’s Hence the paralysed stu- £50 billion deficit already), plus — and told the visiting Sir Patrick remorseless bombing campaign. pefaction as the remnants of Mayhew so with some force. It was disillusion at the manner in politically making the Tory Cabi- British imperialism are bombed That hardening of mood goes which one provincial town after an- net and British imperialist state towards ever more ruinous some way to explain the most im- other could be torn apart. look fools. financial deficits.[...] portant recent event in the north, “I have to say something which I The monstrous suppression the coordinated weekend loyalist ri- thought I would never have said,” of the Stalker inquiry (which Joe Harper oting against the security forces in the local Ulster Unionist MP, John Belfast and several other predomi- Taylor, confessed on local BBC ra- Worsening financial trade-war mocks nantly Protestant towns. But the ri- dio yesterday morning. “That is that ots mark a significant deterioration the IRA are certainly winning in Tokyo ‘recovery’ smokescreen. Massive in the political situation in their own Northern Ireland. right. Such scenes have long been fa- “We have got to have an urgent re- destruction of ’surplus’ capital is impe- miliar, though not for some time, in view of the security policy...Clearly Catholic areas. Until now they have the army GOC should be removed. rialism’s only ‘solution’. US fascist bul- been rare in Protestant ones. The We will have to tell the chief con- weekend roll call of 35 shootings. stable that he must come up with lying is the shape of things to come. 11 bomb attacks and 63 hijackings another security policy within six will feed rather than assuage the months or he too will be removed.” Revisionism’s remnants must be swept mood of defiance. Only the alleged Mr Taylor is a hardline Unionist, a willingness of the security forces former Stormont security minister. aside by a revival of serious Marx- to negotiate in the Shankill district An insurance assessor estimated with representatives of banned the damage at between £1 million ist-Leninist science. Witch-hunting organisations — something they and £5 million. Four bombs in late would never have done with the May have already added £28 million Kruschev instead of honestly analys- IRA — marks the confrontations out to the bill for Northern Ireland this from those which have occurred in year. Others in Strabane and Newry ing the grotesque errors of the Stalin Catholic areas. There is no mistak- have further pushed the cumulative ing that an important shift has oc- running toll for bomb damage to- era is a hopeless diversion. Imperial- curred on the security and public wards £40 million. order front. It is unlikely to get better Ian Paisley MP, the leader of the ism has found no new ways of hanging before it gets worse — and it could Democratic Unionist Party, ap- get a lot worse very soon. peared in the town around lunch- on, - in Ireland or anywhere else. It is striking that the most forceful time. He too called for resignations. [EPSR No 708 13-07-93] declaration of unionism by a British The Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir prime minister in recent times last Patrick Mayhew, was booed and [...]Another area where pre- circles are now grasping the Thursday made absolutely no differ- heckled by councillors when he vis- tended imperialist ‘strength’ reality of British imperialism’ s ence whatsoever. British ministers ited Newtownards. only hides real weakness is in enforced snail’s pace withdrawal seem in general to have little feel for the present fluidity of Irish events. Decadent British imperialism is 45 the highly symbolic threat to from its oldest colony, and now completely out of its depth British ruling-class integrity almost noting as well the weird Sir Patrick Mayhew aims to please but pleases no one. The Dublin coa- on the world colonial-exploita- from the Irish national-libera- phenomenon of the London tion and political-bullying stage, tion struggle. Even bourgeois establishment stumbling on its lition, though far from radical itself EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 and looks farcical trying to still hold down the last six gerry- mandered-county bits of Ulster, having been forced from the rest of Ulster and the rest of Ireland by the national-liberation war of 1919-1921, ended only by the savage treachery of partition. If the snail’s-pace enforced withdrawal does continue (see ILWP Books vol 8 & 15 – Ireland) under US and NATO-imperialist pressure (who seek a more stable counter-revolutionary set-up in Ireland), it will be a colossal advantage to communists fight- ing the class struggle in Britain if workers are no longer so susceptible to racist-chauvinist ‘no surrender, defend the United Kingdom’ hysteria, pouring out hatred against all the Irish (and by extension against all ‘foreigners’) every time the bourgeois-nationalist IRA fight back against the continuing British police-military dicta- torship over the last colonised corner of Ireland, with terrorist tactics on the mainland. Build Leninism. Douglas Bell concurrently hearing the appeal Hurd, the voices of certain Irish Ireland of the Birmingham Six. The MPs could not be broadcast. [EPSR No 717 14-09-93 (SouthWest Bulletin)] Court refused to lift the injunc- Although the Broadcast Ban is The sick manipulation by the 1985 BBC Open to Question, a tion until after it had rejected almost certainly itself illegal BBC Panorama programme of the discussion programme broad- the appeal. under European conventions, family of the child killed in the cast in Scotland, was dropped 1988 Channel 4 Network 7, a it has never been challenged Warrington blast, with its ‘let’s after Sinn Féin president Gerry magazine programme, was in court by the broadcasting try and understand’, plumbs Adams accepted an invitation to prevented from broadcasting institutions. new depths of BBC hypocrisy. appear. live a discussion entitled “Should 1990 UTV The Struggle for Democ- Below are reprinted some of 1985 UTV Witness, a religious the troops remain in Ireland?” The racy, a documentary by Central the 98 TV programmes censored programme, was dropped IBA demanded that a phone-in TV, was banned by Ulster TV by the capitalist lie machine after David Bleakley, general poll be dropped, as it was “open after four Ulster Defence Regi- because they might lead people secretary of the Irish Council of to abuse by unrepresentative ment soldiers were killed. A UTV to the ‘wrong’ understanding Churches, warned of endemic opinion”. executive said it would have of the Irish liberation struggle fear in Northern Ireland, and 1988 Channel 4 After Dark - A been “insensitive” to broadcast against British colonialism: said that what was needed late night discussion pro- it. 1983 Channel 4 Green Flutes, a was “a politics of doing things gramme, was dropped after 1990 UTV Shoot to Kill, a four- documentary about a republican together”. protests against the planned hour Yorkshire TV dramatisa- flute band from Glasgow, was 1985 BBC Songs of Praise was appearance of Gerry Adams. tion of the RUC’s killing of six delayed three times, and cuts scrapped after certain Protes- 1988 BBC Panorama delayed and unarmed men, was banned on made to its sequence on North- tants refused to cooperate in cut a programme on the SAS “legal advice”. ern Ireland. the wake of the signing of the after Director General John 1991 BBC Children of the North, 1984 BBC Open Space on the Anglo-Irish Agreement Checkland and his deputy, a four-part thriller set in the media coverage of Ireland was 1986 BBC Question Time from John Birt, intervened. The north of Ireland, was with- dropped. Belfast was dropped when programme was finally shown drawn because it was decided 1985 BBC Panorama, critical of Unionist MPs refused to take after part of an SAS training “it was inappropriate to air a “policing” in Northern Ireland, part video, showing an exercise with programme whose theme was was dropped on “legal advice”. live bullets in the SAS’s “killing violence when British troops 1986 Channel 4 Eleventh Hour house”, was removed. were fighting in the Gulf”. The programme was one of the was forced by the Independent first to deal with claims that the Broadcasting Authority to drop 1989 Channel 4 The Silent 1991 Channel 4 In a three-week Royal Ulster Constabulary ran a a film about the use of plastic Scream, a documentary about season entitled Banned, a film “shoot to kill” policy. bullets in Ireland. Entitled They the use of plastic bullets in itself previously banned by 1985 BBC Real Lives, a documen- Shoot to Kill Children, the film Northern Ireland, was dropped. Channel 4 was finally shown tary about the lives of two Derry included an interview with a The official reason given was its in a censored form. This was politicians, was banned after boy who was hit in the face with “lack of structure”. Programme Mother Ireland, which examined the then Home Secretary, Leon a plastic bullet when he was 12 makers were told: “We have to the tensions between feminism Brittan, wrote to the BBC, say- years old. keep our heads low; Ireland is a and Irish republicanism. Foot- ing the film was “contrary to the sensitive issue.” age of a woman immediately 1987 Channel 4 Court Report after she had been blinded by national interest” and “likely to was banned after the Attorney- 1989 BBC Forever Divided, a pro- give succour to terrorist organi- gramme to mark the 20th anni- a rubber bullet were removed. General was granted an injunc- An interview with Mairead Far- sations”. He hadn’t seen it. In a tion by the Court of Appeal. The versary of the arrival of British rare move, BBC journalists went troops in Ireland, included an rell, who was one of three IRA 46 subject was the Birmingham members shot dead by the SAS on strike, and BBC management Six. The Court of Appeal, which interview with Gerry Adams finally relented, after demand- in subtitles only. Under the in Gibraltar in 1988, was dubbed included the Lord Chief Justice, with the voice of an actress. ing cuts. Lord Lane, was the same court “Sinn Féin ban”, decreed by the then Home Secretary Douglas 1992 BBC Hands Across the Water, EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 a documentary tracing the links said: “provided it didn’t offend seemed to be much more one of having trouble enough asserting between Ireland and Bristol, people’s grief, there’s no reason “The violence must stop first be- its undoubted international eco- was postponed twice, then to ban it. We have got to discuss fore anything can be discussed”. nomic and military and political finally transmitted with virtu- the issues openly. The horrific This might well prove accept- domination over Indo-China, ally no publicity. events in Warrington were able to the national liberation Central America, Somalia, 1993 Channel 4 Hidden Agenda, awful beyond words, but people struggle, (– as cheeky as it is Lebanon, etc, at various times. Ken Loach’s award-winning fea- talk about it as though it bears since it is obviously the British In which case, what chance does ture film about British under- no relation to British practices army’s occupying presence for the far more decadent British cover operations in Ireland, in Northern Ireland. Foremost 700 years which is the sole cause imperialism have of hanging was dropped in the wake of the among the men of violence are of the violence in Ireland, and onto its ill-gotten colonial gains Warrington bombing. Loach the British.” the related 17th century colo- in the Occupied Zone of Ireland? nisation land grab in the north The disgusting, paralytic, The final demise of British colonial- east, followed by the evil parti- dead-hand hanging onto the OZ tion of 1921 to try to hang onto by British imperialism whilst ism remains the key to solving the those stolen territories. If Brit- doing nothing at all to resolve ish imperialism would just undo the inevitable colonial-war crisis Irish question, and a British imperialist the terrible work of its armed one way or the other, - has only invasions, take down its flag, been got away with for as long withdrawal from control of the Occu- and depart, handing over sover- as it has because of the equally eignty to a re-unified Ireland, – contemptible anti-Leninist pied Zone of Ireland is closer than ever the determined ‘British’ colonist philistinism by the entire phony in spite of all the hypocritical bluster remnants would collapse as a ‘opposition’ to imperialism in community immediately.) Britain, – from the Trots to against the national- liberation war. The national-liberation the more ‘enlightened’ Lib-Lab struggle’s unbeatable cam- politicians. Every aspect of the escalating armed paign of military resistance This crass ignorance has to the British occupation has been out in full force in the last struggle is ridiculing London’s “crimi- been scoring such spectacu- couple of days, refusing to set lar bombing successes on the the fishshop bombing tragedy nals” response and bringing talks to mainland and in the OZ, and in its proper historical context end the evils of partition closer. Only waging such a relentless war of (of the still-burning injustice attrition against officialdom of of the 1921 partition of Ireland paralytic British parliamentarianism every kind connected with the to cheat the national-liberation British occupation, – that the struggle of the country’s justi- (and its fake-’left’ support) is holding fascist colonists and their Rule fied war-earned independence, Britannia supporters have felt and to pay off the depraved colo- up Ireland’s reunification. obliged to take the ‘law’ into nist minority with a permanent [EPSR No 723 26-10-93] their own hands in more ways police-military dictatorship than one (genocidal murders of over the Occupied Zone’s gerry- The end is in sight to the British response to the Irish nationalist Catholics just for being Catho- mandered bits of six of Ulster’s ruling clash’s failed 700-year peace-feelers put out by Dublin, lics; endless frame-ups of Irish nine counties, – an injustice campaign to successfully colo- Sinn Féin, and the SDLP. people in British courts just for which has driven generations nise Ireland, or part of it. And while nothing is certain, being Irish (Birmingham Six, of Republicans to desperate For more than 10 years, the and all sorts of unexpected Guildford Four, the Maguires, sacrifices such as the ten hunger Bulletin has been explaining developments are still possible, etc); ludicrous censorship of strikers who starved themselves (see ILWP Books vol 8 & 15 - British imperialism’s snail’s Republican nationalists just for to death rather than accept the Ireland) how historical condi- pace withdrawal from its last being nationalists (Gerry Ad- ‘criminalisation’ stigma in the tions now make it impossible for impossible colonial entangle- ams, a Westminster MP, unable prison and concentration camps the colonialist remnant in the ment continues to be the main to be broadcast using his own of British summary ‘justice’, and artificial statelet of ‘Northern question in spite of all the Brit- voice, or even travel to England, such as the high toll of mount- Ireland’ to be sustained as a vi- ish establishment’s bluster to etc); summary execution of IRA ing terrorist campaigns against able community. the contrary. suspects without trial (the three a vastly-superior-equipped British imperialism itself has It sounds increasingly Death-on-the-Rock murders police-military dictatorship and had its world standing demol- whingeingly inept for Major by MI5 instead of arrests on imperialist power.) ished by nearly a century now of to demand that Gerry Adams suspicion of a terrorist attack on Previously, this philistine relentless economic decline in stop the bombing now if he has Gibraltar, etc). ignorance has always failed to the inter-imperialist interna- influence to get it stopped, and All of which only has helped set the Irish national-liberation tional trade wars and scramble not to link any cease-fire to a to prove the Republicans’ point struggle in its proper historical for political influence; and the positive London response to the that they are waging an Irish and political class-force perspec- reactionary ‘British’ spirit in the peace proposals. national-liberation war against tive, – missing entirely the most Occupied Zone has inevitably There was a time when this the British, not just disjointed crucial factor of all in this which been dying a comparable slow stalling by British imperial- ‘criminal’ acts. And it has also is the international crisis for the death. ism always accompanied such a all helped to prove what the whole imperialist system, and The tragically miscued IRA at- ridiculous wooden posture with Bulletin has always sought to misidentifying the character of tack on some UDA offices above a vain threats that the ‘men of explain, – that British impe- Sinn Féin and the IRA, which fish shop in Belfast on Saturday violence’ would be ‘rooted out rialism is now so historically has not helped the understand- is giving Colonel Blimp diehard and punished for their criminal degenerated (along with the ing in Britain of the colonial British colonialist mentality a activities’, etc. entire imperialist international war. last fling of indignation over That note of deluded, market-forces system) that it Even Sinn Féin itself has this ‘murderous terrorist vio- whistling-in-the-dark confusion might find itself forced by world misread British imperialism’s lence’, posturing that the Irish and complacency seemed less opinion (particularly from more crisis, at one stage identifying national-liberation struggle in evidence this time round, – influential monopoly-capitalist its own heroic hunger-strike ‘must not be allowed to bomb its either from Whitehall or from rivals like the USA, the Common and election-victory successes way to the conference table’, etc. the Orange fascist community Market powers, and NATO, etc) and sacrifices as ‘another defeat’ But it is this dated uptight in the Occupied Zone. to stop embarrassing the ‘free’ when in fact it was British impe- reaction which sounds out of The tone on this occasion, and West with this disastrous colo- rialism which had been humili- 47 place, not the majority of voices for several times in the recent nial repression any longer. ated internationally (see ILWP demanding that the British past of a mounting IRA military The supposedly ‘all-powerful’ Books vol 8 & 15 – Ireland). government at last show some and terrorist campaign, has US imperialism has had, and is Many fake-‘left’ groups EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 of Trots and Stalinists have fascist rump towards despair of liberation struggle in process, ruling class’s bourgeois ideol- failed to declare unconditional losing their unstable, unhealthy, - that it was all just the criminal ogy, demoralised, paralysed, solidarity with the national-lib- and untenable position of ar- antics of a few deranged anti- and unsure of itself to a certain eration struggle against British rogant colonial privilege in Ire- social elements who would all extent, – could even make a imperialism (which could have land’s Occupied Zone that the soon all be locked away for good, mess of surrendering. added to London’s isolation on national-liberation struggle’s out of sight and out of mind. Certainly some of the capital- this issue) because of trying military campaign has achieved Even the dim squeaking hys- ist media coverage of the latest to measure Sinn Féin against unexpectedly most of its politi- teria of the lightweight prime traumas in the Irish question their own bogus ‘revolutionary’ cal success from its latest feats minister could only manage to has seemed not to know wheth- criteria instead of seeing petty- of arms. challenge the IRA with: “What er to explode with indignation bourgeois nationalism for what By forcing the genocidal opportunity does that give for and hate-filled revenge at the it is, – very unstable and poten- Orange murder gangs out into any constructive dialogue? We ‘evil mass murderers’, etc, or to tially self-destructive idealism. the open, hating all things Irish have been asking for a long time plug the ‘dark deeds and suffer- A misunderstanding of Sinn in reality, and dropping all for messages from both sides ing on both sides’ line, demand- Féin, plus their own fake ‘Marx- pretence now of being the ‘Brit- that people are actively going to ing a ‘solution’ at long last. ist’ posturing, has led some Trot ish Irish’, etc, – the Sinn Féin/ seek peace.” Even the hysterical Today on groups to disgracefully give a IRA war of independence has The Sinn Féin/SDLP proposals Radio 4 re-enacted a lengthy phony ‘left’ cover to outrageous effectively undermined totally do exactly that. A real problem statement from Gerry Adams British-parliamentary ‘denun- the previous British efforts to is the floundering British impe- explaining Sinn Féin’s case, and ciations’ of IRA tactics, which dismiss the Republican Volun- rialist leadership’s inability to gave fair coverage to all sorts of have then led on to draconian teers as ‘just petty criminals, cope with its own historical de- SDLP, nationalist, and Dublin ‘anti-terrorist’ legislation which extortion hoodlums, etc’. feat, (– in its failed Irish colonial ‘peace’ spokesmen as well as has been an additional reaction- No sane person can now pre- war as everywhere else.) Dublin government spokesmen ary burden to the whole genuine tend any longer that this libera- There is no lack of construc- all day. anti-imperialist struggle in tion war, now rapidly escalating tive talks initiatives from the And the BBC all day only very Britain. towards open colonial war/ nationalist side. It has always gently challenged the John The Tory leadership is partly civil war, – is nothing but the been the British government Hume initiative to involve Gerry still wallowing in this ignorant bad behaviour of a few deluded or its Orange-fascist stooges in Adams in peace feelers, Hume ‘public opinion’ atmosphere of ‘criminal elements in society’ the Occupied Zone who have correctly saying firmly, without hysterical propaganda con- which will supposedly ‘all be poured scorn frequently even opposition, that the latest demning Sinn Féin and the IRA, over once they are caught and on any idea of talks with Irish tragedies made the search for a pretending that Gerry Adams given the prison sentences they nationalists, the Dublin regime, negotiated settlement involving is the hypocrite for a so-called all deserve’, etc, etc. or Republicans, – usually on the all parties to the Irish question ‘blackmail’ proposal to try to ar- There will never by any end grounds that the cause of all the more urgent than ever, not pro- range a ceasefire if London will to the attempted imprisonment trouble, – the gerrymandered vide an excuse for abandoning open some serious negotiations of the Irish national-liberation bogus ‘majority’ position in the the talks. for a new deal for Irish national struggle because that struggle artificial Occupied Zone ‘North- The more liberal end of Fleet aspirations. itself will never end, generation ern Ireland’, – was ‘not open for Street showed some remarkably The hypocrisy is entirely the after generation, until Ireland’s discussion until that majority even-handed approaches, even British parliament’s (and its legitimate national independ- wishes it’ etc. while adopting the standard fake-‘left’ middle class ‘revo- ence aspirations, – re-united It is always British imperial- shock-horror hysterical attitude lutionary’ supporters in and and unpartitioned, – are at last ism’s Orange-fascist colonial to the tragic deaths and to Sinn around the Labour Party). It is satisfied. stooges who have been consist- Féin’s alleged ‘cynicism’ and the remains of British coloni- Paradoxically, by driving ently boycotting series after some informative reporting got alism which has insisted on the despairing Orange-fascist series of talks because they have published, basically ridiculing maintaining a viciously sectar- dregs out onto the streets in a ‘involved Dublin’, or ‘refused to the stock British imperialist ian tyranny of ‘law & order’ sick genocidal fury, most deadly re-establish Belfast’s legitimate pretence that the IRA bombers in favour of the artificially, dangerous to themselves, – the authority’, or ‘implied a reward and gunmen were estranged constructed ‘majority’ popula- Irish nationalists have won for violence’, or some other such psychopaths, hated and feared tion of the torn-out Occupied some of their most marked monstrous hypocrisy. by all: Zone of Ireland who are in real- political progress. And just as frequently, it has “IT’S REGRETTABLE that chil- ity a small minority of the whole In all of the hysterical anti- been the British government dren were hurt,” a young woman island’s inhabitants, allowing IRA propaganda blitzes over itself which has pulled the rug out walking in Ardoyne conceded this degenerate anti-Irish tail to the weekend, no one was any from under negotiations, or yesterday, “but it’s also regrettable wag the whole being of genuine longer maintaining very loudly ‘talks about talks’, or peace feel- they didn’t get the Ulster Freedom Irish-national aspirations. at very great length the fiction ers, etc, because of a nationalist Fighters. If they did this war would It is by driving this sectarian that there was no Irish national- refusal to surrender uncondi- be stopped. tionally to the British police- “It had to happen. The loyalists were shooting into black taxis when military dictatorship. they didn’t know who was in it. They Even more stupidly, no were shooting nationalist women in serious-minded adult alive front of their children. can be in any doubt that it is “Obviously the bombing went precisely the Irish national- wrong and it’s very sad but it’s hap- liberation struggle’s uncompro- pening all the time. mising military and political “The majority of people killed here independence campaigns, – down the years have been Catholics. challenging acceptance of the I have seen a friend of mine, aged 14, shot dead going to school. It’s terri- old-established gerrymandered ble when innocent people get killed ‘Northern Ireland’ order which but innocent people are always was deliberately fixed to last for killed in a war.” ever, – which has at last opened Across the narrow street, an IRA the door for a final solution to memorial commemorates “volun- the Irish question. teers” from Ardoyne, the Catholic- The trouble with Major being dominated area of north Belfast, out of his depth in comment- who have died since 1969. The name 48 ing on this issue, however, is of Thomas Begley, killed by his own bomb on the Shankill Road on that in negotiating what will be Saturday, will, no doubt, soon be another formal British ‘defeat’ inscribed in what little room is left in its rotten colonial history, the above the Celtic cross. EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Outside his home yesterday a loyalist community were just group of young men stood guard. as legitimately ‘Irish’ as the Police Land Rovers patrolled the Irish, and therefore had just as streets. An army watchtower, 500 much right to maintain their yards away, beyond the so-called peace line, surveyed movements in ‘British-Irish’ traditions as the Ardoyne. nationalists did their Irish-Irish “People don’t like kids being traditions. killed,” said a man out cleaning his As was revealed, this has car. “If it was the UFF leadership, that always been just sly British-im- would be all right because they are perialist propaganda to justify the ones killing ordinary Catholics.” hanging on in Ireland ‘to protect After dark the streets of Ardoyne the legitimate British-Irish tra- will be deserted, a woman stand- dition’, but in reality to protect ing at her front gate said. “It’s very frightening. There will be retalia- the worst colonial-racist jingo- tion. You don’t know what’s going to ism that monopoly-capitalism’s happen.” fascist decadence can produce: A group of youths on a street The new leadership reflects a grow- corner said they would have to ing extremism among hardline loy- avoid meeting outdoors. “We are alists - extremism partly fuelled by not involved, we’re ravers. I’ve got a perception that since Unionists on his arm that reads, “KAI, Kill All state’s guardians, the RUC is no Protestant friends but I don’t like the lost their veto on Northern Ireland Irishmen” and he is patiently ex- longer trusted in hardline areas, Ulster Volunteer Force. It shouldn’t politics, their powerbase has been plaining that he supports the British where graffiti accuse its members of have happened but war is war.” slowly eroding. Since the sign- National Party because they hate the being “Dublin’s boot boys, paid in Behind the security grills in a club, ing of the Anglo-Irish agreement, IRA and loyalists need all the sup- pu nt s”. lunchtime drinkers were unfor- which officially gave the Dublin port they can get. giving. “There’s a war going on in government a say in the running of This shows the pure racist- SHANKILL residents have long Ireland and the sooner people real- Northern Ireland, the alienation of prided themselves on being the ise that the better. It’s a sad thing. colonist mentality among these the Protestant community has been armed thugs resisting Ireland’s aristocrats of loyalism, confident “The local Ulster Defence steadily increasing. In July this and self-reliant, owing true alle- Association commander on the year protestants on the Shankill reunification and complete inde- pendence at long last. giance only to themselves and the Shankill riddled a home with bullets Road rioted in protest against “po- Crown. Their descent into mass here on St Patrick’s Day. He comes lice harassment” and the level of Much other Fleet Street cov- unemployment and deprivation jogging here around the Ardoyne surveillance. erage this year has concentrated has thus been the more shameful. picking out houses to attack. Old friends in the RUC and British on the crisis undermining the Many of the original 77,000 popula- “It’s only when something horrible Army became enemies. Earlier this colonist community, reflecting tion have abandoned the area, and like this bombing happens that peo- year a Protestant prison officer was the crisis of British imperialist of the 26,000 or so remaining, more ple speak about it. I feel sorry in a murdered by Protestant paramili- confidence generally: than a quarter are pensioners. Jobs way but again I don’t feel that sorry taries in a parole protest. The most are rare. Most young people aban- because there’s a war going on.” recent thorn in the side of Ulster A symbol of Unionist supremacy, doned their education as soon as Outside, people were beginning to loyalists was the announcement Bonfire Night, like the “Twelfth” they could, often before they were await the return home of the body of of secret talks between the Social itself, has become an anachro- 16; joyriding, glue-sniffing, drugs Thomas Begley. “I was at the front Democratic and Labour Party leader, nism. The old certainties on which and alcohol are their everyday pur- door earlier,” a man said, “The RUC John Hume, and Sinn Féin’s Gerry Ulster’s Protestant heritage is suits. slowed down in a Land Rover and Adams. The “pan Nationalists” con- based have vanished. Catholic re- Unionist politicians watching the shouted: spiracy was upon them and the UFF, publicans on the Falls Road, less disintegration of their community ‘The Shankill butchers will get bolstered by this latest betrayal, be- than half a mile from the Shankill, appear powerless to halt the drift. you’. gan murdering Catholics with vig- are no longer afraid. They know MPs express outrage that they are “It’s going to be a tragedy for the our. that times have changed and that apparently excluded from the po- people of the Ardoyne as well as the “The bottom line now is this,” says at the start of the marching season, litical process. On the floor of the people of the Shankill Road. Here the UFF’s PR man. “The Northern when present-day loyalists place House of Commons. Mayhew is ac- they are used to burying their dead Ireland state has failed in its duty their feet in the grander shoes of cused of ridiculing Ian Paisley’s ac- probably even more so than on the to protect Ulster Protestants and we their forebears, history is moving cent; outside in the bars, ministers Shankill.” will protect ourselves.” No surren- inexorably in their direction. are said to prefer the company of ge- A car drove past slowly with four der. “We have our self respect, we Loyalists feel this, too. They have nial nationalists to dour Unionists, men inside. He waved. “That man’s will not allow ourselves to be wiped watched the devaluation of their whose noisy loyalism, expressed in brother was killed in a loyalist out like the Jews in Germany. For 23 history gather pace in recent years, gutteral tones, is seen as an embar- shooting on the Ormeau Road about years we have been taking it lying so that the dominant culture even in rassment. five years ago. down. Protestants in the Republic Belfast has become that of Ireland, At the Anglo-Irish conference, “People in the Ardoyne can un- were ‘ethnically cleansed’ [by inter- not Britain: and they are looking where matters of mutual importance derstand why there was an attack marriage] we cannot allow the same desperately for some means to turn are discussed between civil servants against the UDA. That people were thing to happen to us. We will fight the tide. Their sense of betrayal is and politicians from the Northern killed is a tragedy but if it had been fire with fire.” palpable. At the end of a week in Ireland Office and the Irish gov- 10 UDA men then no one here would Mad Dog is bored with it all. Speak which the Irish foreign minister, ernment, John Hume, leader of the have cared. up, the PR man keeps saying, but he Dick Spring, called for joint sover- SDLP, the main nationalist party in “The Begley family are still can’t be bothered. eignty over the province by Dublin Ulster, can allegedly rely on the ac- shocked. The RUC went round and He’s driving downtown with a and London — a call rejected, with- tive support of Irish civil servants raided the house last night. There’s steady eye on the back mirror. His out apparent rancour, by Sir Patrick based at the secretariat, near Belfast. another fellow from the Ardoyne Volvo is a smart job. Police intelli- Mayhew, the Northern Ireland sec- According to David Trimble, the who’s in custody in hospital as well. gence says he’s dipping — cream- retary— talk is increasingly of even- Ulster Unionist MP for Upper Bann, The people here are not going to be ing off extortion profits. He says: ing the score. these Dublin officials are only too jubilant about this tragedy.” “We have support among the mid- The doubts they harboured about happy to ask Hume and other na- dle classes. There are businessmen the efficacy of merely containing tionalist figures in to discuss the But in the previous week, the terrorism, without defeating it, dimwitted philistinism of the backing us, supporting us finan- Catholic community’s grievances cially.” were put to one side in the belief over a drink, but would not dream Guardian had made remark- Ask Mad Dog what he is and he that Britain would not, in the end, ably little of some surprising of eliciting the ambitions or fears of says an “Ulster man”. Ask him desert them. But a long sequence of Protestants. admissions which slipped out in what he is going to die for and he events, beginning with the Anglo- Trimble, a lawyer and legal af- a feature on the very same Mad says: “The Crown. If you didn’t sup- Irish Agreement of 1985 and build- fairs spokesman for the Unionists, Dog fascist killer who was the port that, what would you support? ing up to the conviction that Dublin says that he and his colleagues are target of the IRA’s bomb attempt Dublin? The Pope?” He shrugs his now calls the tune on everything, regularly snubbed by the Northern on the UDA offices on Saturday. shoulders. from public appointments to the Ireland Office. Ministers who would In Rathcoole housing estate, built routing of Orange marches, has con- speak to him, or even take him to 49 These interviews contained vinced large numbers of Protestants frank confessions which totally in the fifties and trumpeted as the lunch, in London, avoid him in largest in Europe, the men in the that Britain is preparing for a united Ulster, where officials hold sway demolished the ancient British Cloughfem Arms bar speak of him Ireland. imperialist pretence that the and where Irish ministers, not lo- in hushed tones. One has a tattoo From being thought of as the cally elected politicians, are seen as EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the appropriate partners in debate. ticians and more with harrying the These colonial British rem- the tragic Irish question, and The result of this alleged neglect IRA and the Dublin government. nants would obviously be wel- openly announce it is righting of the majority community has been John Montgomery, speaking from a come to stay right where they the wrongs of the past by hand- a damaging series of decisions in room overlooking the Shankill, in- are and playing a full part in the ing over to a reunited Ireland key areas, Trimble says. He blames sists that his men no longer go for the one-third fall in the number of soft targets but only “known repub- community once they accept in an orderly withdrawal. The locally recruited part-timers in the licans”. He is quite unmoved by the Irish sovereignty. The degener- dismal little minds of the Brit- Royal Irish Regiment (an amalgama- charge that his gunmen frequently ate British imperialist pride, ish ruling class parliamentary tion of the Royal Irish Rangers and kill innocent Catholics. refusing to accept its historical circus (all parties) will probably, the Ulster Defence Regiment) on “Innocent Catholics?” he asks, defeat (on any subject) will be however, continue their para- Dublin’s determination to sabotage as though amused by the idea. the sole cause of possibly mon- lysed snail’s-pace withdrawal one of the last bastions of Unionist ‘’They’re innocent at the time. Then, strous further suffering by its by default, leaving behind the security. two years later, you find their names sclerotic inability to face facts, maximum mess and confusion. He believes, too, that all 4,000 ap- inscribed in Millfield [a Catholic acknowledge its culpability for Douglas Bell pointments to semi-official bod- cemetery with a republican plot] on ies, such as the Local Enterprise the roll of honour.” Development Unit and the Housing He denies that the UDA (proscribed Economic collapse and trade war are Executive, have to be approved by last year by the Northern Ireland the inter-governmental conference secretary) is tainted by gangsterism the only prospect for the ‘free’ world. and that recent, controversial de- and drugs. The RUC might dispute cisions to re-route certain Orange this. Any further GATT-type deals will fall marches, which for generations had paraded through areas now largely apart within months. British colonial- Catholic, were taken chiefly at ATQ Stewart, reader in Irish history Dublin’s behest. at Queen’s University, Belfast, and ism’s humiliating climb-down in the Jim Rodgers, another Unionist author of several volumes of north- The Narrow councillor from west Belfast, su- ern history, notably Occupied Zone of Ireland is another Ground pervises training programmes for , says that Mayhew, like his young people in the Shankill com- predecessors, listens mainly to the pointer to the weakest links in imperi- munity centre, using grants from “silver-sounding syllables in his the government that he says are in head” and not to the Ulster people. alism’s chain, with Italy not far behind “There is something that equips short supply. He is worried that so [EPSR No 726 16-11-93] little is being done for the Shankill Catholic men and women in Ireland and claims some Protestants have to deal effectively with the British. They are perhaps more amusing, Whatever the result of all system, – the earliest casualties taken to describing themselves as the international trade bloc being among the most ailing of Catholics in job application forms more cultured, more emollient, and to avoid the “equal opportunity” re- London pays heed to their values in manoeuvring over the next few the imperialist competitors. quirements of the Fair Employment a way it never does with Unionists. months, the monopoly domina- The decadent British monop- Commission (known locally as the From the moment I was born, I have tion of the free-market system oly bourgeoisie is a prime candi- Fenian Employment Commission). felt British. Now I feel defensive by finance capital continues in date. The Bulletin’s longstanding Rodgers believes that frustration about it. Like Garibaldi, I’m made general to plunge towards all- analysis (see ILWP Books vol 8 & among Protestants at the positive to feel a stranger in the land of my birth.” out war, - World War III.[...] 15 – Ireland) of British imperi- discrimination allegedly shown to alism’s enforced snail’s-pace Catholics at every level is doing al- From such a psychologically Some careful international news management just managed to withdrawal from the colonised most as much as the IRA to swell the screwed-up anachronistic Occupied Zone of Ireland has ranks of the loyalist paramilitaries. stem the tide for the moment. community facing a crushing come even more into view this “There’s no doubt,” he says, “that defeat of more than 300 years of But the crash is coming, – the the strength of the UDA is growing. week with John Major’s mealy- false imperialist ambitions and biggest in history, – no mat- Even middle-class businessmen are ter what anyone does or says. mouthed announcement that giving them donations. Everyone’s traditions, there are bound to be the gerrymandered ‘majority’ recruits to murderous wreck-it- Monopoly-imperialism’s inbuilt afraid of the drive towards a united insoluble contradictions are veto by the Orange-fascist Ireland. There’s a real fear that we all mayhem like Mad Dog. about to explode. colonial remnants over a final are being sold out. All government But history is running out for peace settlement with the Irish departments are being pushed this fraudulent ‘British-Irish’ A holocaust of trade wars, revolutionary civil wars, and national-liberation struggle, – down that road.” posturing; and firm policing of a could no longer apply. The UDA, unsurprisingly, is less inter-imperialist world wars reunified Ireland would quickly This almost imperceptible concerned with unemployment and see an end to this outdated and are inevitable because of this the injured feelings of Unionist poli- totally unmanageable capitalist shift in London’s arrogant intolerable colonial nonsense. propaganda, – still breathing fire against any accommoda- tion with ‘terrorist violence’, etc, – nevertheless still further shifts the ground in favour of a negotiated end to the national- liberation struggle, and towards the eventual reunification of Ireland. The emphasis is all now on getting a ‘peace agree- ment’, – accepting therefore what London had for so long tried to deny, – that what was going on in the Occupied Zone was not just ‘terrorist outrages by isolated criminals’ but a legitimate war of independence. The emphasis is also all now on removing all ‘unnecessary’ obstinacies and blockages to the peace negotiations, namely Orange fascism’s refusal to even contemplate no longer being the 50 colonial bosses for ever of the Occupied Zone. British imperialism has given in because the Irish national- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 liberation struggle has proved or NATO, or the Common Mar- [...]Yet Italy, with its uncomfortable In the latest twist of semi-public unbeatable, and because the ket, or Dublin, – or else, much political and institutional muta- negotiation with the Irish govern- general collapse and crisis of more likely, the Orange colonial tion, is in the van of the political ment and the political parties in the British imperialism has left community in the OZ would just evolution of Europe. In reaction to province, the Prime Minister an- the collapse of old political certain- nounced that London is prepared London badly exposed to inter- rapidly disintegrate completely, ties and party formations, it is lead- to table its own comprehensive national condemnation, uncon- making reunification a formal- ing the way in the dissolution and proposals for a constitutional set- fident of undertaking any major ity. recomposition of movements and tlement, in weeks if necessary, if controversial international The die-hard Orange colonists ideas. Indeed, despite all the differ- it would hasten the resumption of action on its own any more, and will either leave, or fall apart, ences, Italy’s travails are a refrac- round table talks with or without painfully aware that the degen- or be gunned down, or finally tion of our own. Where Andreotti Paisleyite participation. eration of the Empire spirit has agree to negotiate with Sinn and his like helped wreck the ethi- That amounts to a calculated in- left the Orange-fascist colonial Féin and the whole history and cal status of Catholic Christian jection of flexibility into Whitehall’s community in a terminally sick spirit of the Irish national-liber- democracy, so Mrs Thatcher and previous position which was to get Thatcherism helped undo the all — or most — of the parties to condition. ation movement, – a completely ethic of old toryism; in the ideo- resume talks before unveiling its The occupying forces of the new arrangement for Ireland, logical black hole where the Italian ideas. But Mr Major coupled it with British police-military dictator- steadily putting an end to the Communist and Socialist parties renewed warnings to the IRA and ship may end up fighting harder savage imperialist evil of parti- lie, Labour lies too; in the search for loyalist paramilitaries, and their in the Occupied Zone against tion and the barbaric fiction of a new “centre” there is as much po- political sympathisers, that the vio- the ‘Brits’ than against the non-existent ‘Northern Ireland’. tential space in Britain for the rise lence must stop. Irish, but such a bizarre paradox The imperialist system is of the Liberal Democrats, as for re- “A statement of intent is not would not last long. London falling apart just as rapidly lated third forces in Italy. enough,” said Mr Major in an ap- would either abandon control to elsewhere, notably in Italy:[...] In particular, as the fading of the parent reference to the unpublished “European Dream” continues, the Hume-Adams plan. But he also de- the forces of the United Nations, Joe Harper gradual recovery of national and re- nounced the view that “the dead gional identities will doubtless gen- must endlessly be avenged” and Revolutionary situation relentlessly erate similar movements to those warned Ian Paisley’s Democratic of the Leagues in Italy. And “who”, Unionists (DUP), the most intransi- developing in Italy as the corrupt, the Italians asked themselves on gent Protestant party, that “no party Sunday — giving a confused an- or organisation can exercise a veto anarchic, ‘free’-market capital-system swer — “can renew our country?” on progress”. In funereally depressing Britain, the As tens of thousands of Protestants proves its total unsuitability for mod- same might be asked. and Catholics in 16 towns and cities across Northern Ireland joined the ern society’s needs. British imperial- One thing being attempted is largest peace rallies seen in recent for the London establishment years, Mr Major appeared to down- ism must similarly prepare for its own to rid itself of the humiliating grade his legislative programme for embarrassment of being unable the new 1993/94 session of parlia- demise as it struggles to rid itself to defeat the Irish national- ment when he told the Commons liberation struggle which has that the search for peace “must re- of one of its last poisoned festering made life impossible in the main at the head of our priorities”. colonial limbs in the Occupied Zone Occupied-Zone-remnant of Brit- Mr Major’s careful words on ish colonialism’s 800-year-long Northern Ireland followed an en- couraging response from his Irish of Ireland, now that the international effort to subdue Ireland. counterpart, Albert Reynolds, and The independence move- foreign minister, Dick Spring, to balance of class forces has at last suffi- ment has also terrorised the Mr Major’s Guildhall speech on City of London, turning it into Monday, which also saw a last- ciently undermined the London estab- a besieged fortress, which is minute injection of Anglo-Irish hardly good for the fragile busi- diplomacy dominate headlines lishment. The rest of imperialism will ness confidence, now thought so previously expected to be basics- follow. crucial for avoiding a markets orientated. crash. “The two governments are going through a process of borrowing each [EPSR No 727 23-11-93] It was significantly in the other’s language,” said one senior Prime Minister’s annual politi- The Italian local election results But that the ‘stable Western official who described the process as cal-keynote Guildhall speech, in sending signals to maintain momen- are an astonishing and graphic democracy’ of Italy should have the heart of the City, that Major tum ahead of meetings between the illustration of how rapidly so suddenly and dramatically gave unprecedented importance two premiers next month. the international imperialist polarised into two such obvious to ‘finding a solution’ to the Doubts about alleged secret con- economic crisis is driving the extremes of class-war feelings problem of Ireland. tacts between the Government and capitalist system back towards and intentions tells the whole This continued the noticeable the IRA were given a fresh twist generalised warmongering and story.[...] new theme of recent weeks of yesterday by the republican leader, civil war. [...] And while still incapable Martin McGuinness. In his first challenging the Orange fascist- public comments on the affair, he The class-collaborating of publishing any generalised colonist right to veto any new ‘centre’ of post 1945 parliamen- conclusions about the impos- claimed that he had had “direct arrangements for the Occupied and protracted contact” with a gov- tary politics, – the Christian sible contradictions of the Zone which did not suit their ernment representative about the Democrats and the Socialist capitalist crisis itself, the primitive imperialist illusions. province’s future earlier this year. Party in Italy, – has been wiped bourgeois media has also made This challenge to the colonists They ended when an understanding out completely. some quick admissions about ‘No surrender’ bunker mentality with the Ulster Unionist Party res- In its place, the supposed how disruptively explosive are was given even more promi- cued Mr Major from defeat over the class-war ‘extremes’ of the for- the developments of the Italian nence in the Queen’s Speech Maastricht Bill in July. mer Communist Party versus elections and the corrupt chaos “This contact was at an official outlining the main government level and no preconditions were the Mussolini-ite and Northern that has led up to them, – not programme for the coming 12 League fascists have swept the only for the fate of the Italian set upon it,” Mr McGuinness said. months: “Sinn Féin is ready to engage in board. establishment, but reflecting talks at any time to create the condi- Obviously, the PDS are not on equally hair-raising crises JOHN MAJOR upstaged his own domestic agenda for the second tions in which a peace process can real communists but mere ‘left’ further afield too such as in time in a week when he used the be constructed and a political settle- reformists, – and it is possible Britain (with the usual petty- Queen’s Speech debate in the ment reached.” that the League separatists and bourgeois illusions about the Commons yesterday to promote the the Mussolini Party are not the role of ‘bad individuals’ and the peace process in Northern Ireland OPENING the second day of the 51 final form that armed fascist nonexistent opportunities for rather than the Government’s Queen’s Speech debate in the counter-revolution will take non-existent ‘liberal democ- “back to basics” programme or the Commons on Friday morning, either. racy’):[...] day’s 49,000 drop in the number of Douglas Hurd told a near-empty jobless. House: ‘We have to be able to de- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 liver what we undertake, and learn one without the other. pace withdrawal by humiliated (at the time of the fighting and not to undertake what we cannot Keeping in step, Mr Reynolds told and dying British imperialism negotiations which eventually deliver. the Dail last Tuesday: ‘We are not and its decadent Orange-fascist resulted in partition) is slightly ‘That approach has been at the in any sense saying that peace is a colonial remnants in the Oc- artificial in both cases. heart of British foreign policy un- precondition for the resumption of der this Government. It will re- talks. The government therefore see cupied Zone (see ILWP Books vol A better conscious under- main there during this session of the parallel pursuit of the peace and 8 & 15 – Ireland). standing of the correct pro- Parliament. It produces modest, talks processes as complementary.’ The essence of revolution- gramme, strategy and tactics hard-fought advances.’ Mr Reynolds also said that, while ary party building is to keep is eventually a crucial factor in As one of the most experienced he hoped for progress before the end on struggling to gain an ever making it possible to triumph and capable men in the Cabinet, of the year, ‘no absolute deadline has clearer understanding of what over reaction, and important it would be curious if the Foreign been set in respect of either process’. is happening in the world, on mistakes might well have been Secretary had not applied the same But Mr Spring came back into the every subject, on every front. made in these two conflicts. rule to the Prime Minister’s gamble fray again. In a speech at the Johns And only by constantly But the right programme, on Northern Ireland. Hopkins University, Maryland, last It was also noteworthy that Wednesday, he defined ‘comple- fighting polemically, and trying strategy and tactics can only Northern Ireland had been placed in mentary’, the key word: ‘Provided always to further the analysis to successfully play off a correct the overseas, rather than the domes- the goal is a deep and lasting ac- the highest point of new devel- estimate of the balance of class tic, section of the Queen’s Speech commodation, rather than marginal opment, can the party find out forces in the given equation, last Thursday. changes, all approaches are comple- what it has got right and what which can be decisive. For those outside the talks being mentary’. still needs correcting. It has been argued that the held on the future of Ulster, it is of- Certainly, the goal set out in the Recent renewed turmoil over 1921 Sinn Féin leadership should ten tempting to see signals where no document leaked from Dublin on difficult aspects of the national not even have considered ac- signals are intended. But it is also Friday — which included a call for question in Ireland and Pales- cepting a 26-county free-state important to read the words that British acknowledgement of ‘the full are spoken with infinite care; they legitimacy and value of the goal of tine make it worthwhile to try with the gerrymandered bits of are the footsteps of the diplomatic Irish unity by agreement, cherished to clarify what are the essential the remaining six counties left dance. by the greater number of people liv- historical forces at work, and in British colonial hands to cre- A senior Whitehall spokesman ing in Ireland’, along with accom- what issues are secondary. ate the grotesque and damaging said last week: ‘The two govern- panying executive and legislative The most crucial point to fiction of ‘Northern Ireland’. ments have been borrowing each structures, is in time with that re- make is what a monstrously Its acceptance by a majority of other’s language.’ quirement. criminal act it was by the the leadership led to a split and That meant that there had been As a subsequent article Western imperialist system to the civil war in which the Irish careful co-ordination of statements try to partition these countries nationalist leaders killed each and speeches across the water, as examines (see issue 727), the John Major and Albert Reynolds essence of Marxist-Leninist in the first place, – but also how other (where the might of the tried to coax and encourage the revolutionary science is being ultimately futile. British army had been incapable Unionists on to the dance floor. able to explain to the masses These considerations dwarf of achieving this before). The dance took a new twist on being exploited and destroyed all speculative argument about It is a good argument that in the following Saturday, when Mr by capitalist-system crisis, what what might have been bet- this case in Ireland in 1921, – Reynolds told a Fianna Fail confer- are the real forces at work in his- ter tactics and strategy by the unlike the case in Palestine in ence: ‘Peace cannot wait for a politi- tory, in which direction are they national liberation struggles in 1947, – a ‘refusal to accept’ the cal settlement; it is needed now. But all going, and how to apply con- both lands at different epochs of partitioned-off 26 counties (as peace will improve the prospects of the conflict. half a loaf being better than achieving a durable political solu- scious programme, strategy, and tion... Together, we can make the be- tactics to provide the necessary The monopoly-capitalist sys- no bread at all) would have left ginning of peace a reality before this subjective input (the revolution- tem still dominated the planet a still-unified Ireland, albeit year is out.’ ary party and movement) before at the time of both partitions, without any temporary or par- While Dublin was putting peace the objectively-maturing cir- in 1921 and 1947, and in both tial independence at all and still first, as a prerequisite for produc- cumstances of imperialist crisis cases, imperialist force was in a totally under the domination of tive talks — and putting a year-end can be turned into a successful position to impose almost any British colonialism, – but with deadline on it — London was giv- proletarian revolution. brutal diktat that it wanted the vast majority of the popula- ing no timescale. It was certainly The Bulletin has for 14 years to on colonised Ireland and tion still obviously demanding not proposing initiatives to get Sinn Palestine. national liberation and still all Féin involved. consistently explained the na- It was time, therefore, for Mr Major tional-liberation struggle in Ire- The notion that the national- united (unlike the situation to take the lead for a change. He did land and the direction in which liberation struggles might have decades later when complacent that in his Guildhall speech last it was bound to keep heading, ‘completely changed history’ majority opinion in the Irish Monday. His first step back was on - towards an eventual snail’s- by making different decisions Republic hardly lifted a finger participation by Sinn Féin. The line that got the headlines — as it was meant to, guided by the manipulative hand of the Prime Minister’s office — was the sentence in which Mr Major said Mr Paisley would not be allowed to veto partici- pation by Sinn Féin if it ended vio- lence ‘unconditionally and forever’. Having overcome his queasy stomach, he added: ‘If the IRA end violence for good, then — after a suf- ficient interval to ensure the perma- nence of their intent — Sinn Féin can enter the political arena as a demo- cratic party and join the dialogue on the way ahead.’ However, the vital sentence of the speech was not included in the ‘child’s guide’ extracts issued to the media by Number 10 that night, and, on the British side of the water, it was not given any prominence at all. Mr Major had also said: ‘We need 52both a permanent cessation of vio- lence and intensification of the polit- ical talks. These objectives are com- plementary.’ London had accepted the Dublin point: you could not have EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 to help the embattled Irish-Re- publican minority in the north’s Occupied Zone.) It could be argued that such an overwhelming majority and united Irish nationalist popula- tion of Ireland would have obviously carried on struggling for its full independence all at one go, unpartitioned and rejecting the 26-county sop, – and would have been bound to have succeeded in gaining full unpartitioned independence for the whole of Ireland, – prob- ably in the post-1945 period (of the great worldwide national- liberation movement ending the whole international system of imperialist colonisation), if not sooner. But looking at it the other way round, what if the real thrust of British imperialism’s threat of a massively escalated all-out based, – was doomed anyway. side door towards oblivion. rebirth of Marxist-Leninist blitzkrieg war on the whole of British imperialism did get It would always have helped theory as the only possible sci- Ireland if it did not negotiate a away with murder (literally, matters enormously in Ireland’s ence of modern society and all 26-county deal only, – was not as well) in fobbing off Irish troubles if the nationalist con- historical developments. so much to fob Irish nationalism national aspirations with the sciousness had been far stronger National-liberation in Pal- off with only three-quarters of a rotten partition-maiming of in revolutionary socialist estine in 1947 had even more loaf, but much more in order to 1921 which was bound to never understanding about the whole complex problems to face. ensure that British imperialism cease festering painfully. century’s anti-imperialist per- There the strategy on negotia- retained control over the north- But the longterm assessment spectives overall. Millions have tions over the rotten deals that east corner of the island, come of that should not so much have suffered spiritually and physi- imperialism was intending to what may. been ‘Irish nationhood, half- cally from the vast confusion, impose had to weigh up the What if the British imperial- strangled at birth’ but ‘British uncertainty, and defeatism, – prospects for fighting not only ist determination was to set up colonialism in Ireland, only half plus artificial cultural chauvin- the established colonial power its Occupied Zone at all costs, buried at death’. ism and reactionary political & Britain, but even more impor- – behind defended borders if It is heading towards final full religious nationalism, – of the tantly for taking on the increas- necessary, – simply abandon- burial now because the balance petty-bourgeois ‘Irish independ- ingly aggressive, competent, and ing the 26 counties whether the of class forces internationally ence’ mentality (where a much well-backed (by the USA) new Irish nationalists wanted to since 1921 has seen a further 70 more up-to-date and realistic Zionist colonists, – especially take control of them or not? years’ decadence accumulating anti-imperialist perspective of in the light of the hopeless divi- The question then for Sinn in the British monopoly-capital- proletarian revolutionism would sions on the Arab side where an Féin’s London negotiators would ist bourgeoisie. have served them better). effective Palestinian national have been what would be the In particular, the entire spirit But in these preliminary entity still hardly existed, and balance of class and interna- of the imperialist ethic has been bouts against the increasing where reactionary Arab op- tional forces (at that primitive on the retreat since the era of decadence of the international portunist regimes themselves colonial-world time of 1921) if socialist revolutions began in imperialist system (as the strug- had designs on the Palestinian Irish nationalism had taken 1917, and the sick little colonial gle for liberation has in fact territory. on the full force of a British community in the Occupied turned out), – only completely The argument there has imperialism determined to Zone of Ireland has declined zombiefied armchair-socialist sometimes tended to go in defend the bit of Ireland it could in step with the worried and academics like the Spart bu- the opposite direction to the still pretend to claim was ‘part confused enfeeblement of its reaucratic sect would actually speculations about Irish his- of Britain’. British imperialist parent. have opposed Ireland’s war of tory, – namely that the smart Such all-out open war Conscious decisions, and independence, – pointlessly thing would have been for the against what was still the most getting the right programme, ridiculing petty-bourgeois na- Palestinians to have accepted influential (and potentially strategy, and tactics, are still tionalists for not being ‘revo- begrudgingly the 46% of their most powerful) of all the Great crucial, and there is still more lutionary Marxists’ (which the own territory on offer in order Powers, – would have been a work to be done in the continu- Sparts themselves, along with to get their own state going vastly different undertaking to a ing conflict over Ireland’s full the whole of the rest of the fake- independently for the first time guerrilla war as had been fought and final independence in which ’left’ anti-Leninist swamp, do ever, while still totally refus- up to 1921 just to (successfully) the modern nationalist forces not remotely come near to being ing to accept the legitimacy of make Ireland ungovernable as a could still make costly mistakes, in spite of all their strident the 54% control handed by the whole island, forcing London to delaying developments by a few posturing). United Nations (under Western seek a negotiated settlement. It years or more, or possibly for a Now on the way to securing imperialist dominance, but on might not have been a very wise while even wrecking prospects the completion of Ireland’s na- that occasion with the notorious move. for progress completely by a tional-liberation, an important class-collaborating connivance As it happened, history re- wrong move, – in theory. ideological blockage is being of the idiot Soviet revisionist mained on the side of the Irish But in practice it looks likely usefully removed from British stance) to the Zionist colonisers. national-liberation struggle (in that the central determined workers consciousness which Once again, in practice, it spite of the disastrous and dam- fighting core of Irish national- has left them made backward by would probably have not made aging splits which the British- liberation around the IRA and Great-Nation chauvinism for far much difference in the long imposed partition caused in modern Sinn Féin will come too long. run. The very confused and the ranks of the nationalists) together with all the national- It will become more profit- chaotic condition of Arab affairs in that the capitalist system on independence forces for an able and more vital than ever to in the area, plus the blistering 53 which British imperialism’s en- obscure deal which will let press forward now in Ireland, single-minded certainty and tire perspectives, programmes, defeated British imperialism Britain, and everywhere else, US-aggression-backed imperial- strategies, and tactics were slide ungraciously out of the with the fight for the serious ist determination of the largely EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Western-funded and Western- on the domination and exploita- the Irish nationalists, going all the smokescreening and origined Zionist settlers, would tion of the less successful by the beyond the Anglo-Irish Treaty covering up and disinforma- almost certainly have seen a more successful, and that US of the 1980s, and reopening the tion, – as a way of softening the general state of war breaking imperialism specifically would whole question of the notorious colossal impact on petty-bour- out between Arabs and Zionists continue to rule the roost for as supposed ‘peace agreement’ be- geois reactionary opinion of sooner or later. The Palestinians long as anyone could foresee. tween British imperialism and the increasingly plain fact that themselves were still only just Both perspectives are hope- Ireland, – the disgraceful 1921 far from any ‘smashing of tiny in the process of learning about lessly ill-founded, and the whole Partition of Ireland retaining pockets of deranged criminals modern statehood, and had very Zionist dream is, in the only colonial control within the Oc- who speak for no one in Ireland’, little realistic chance of remote- form it has ever been cast in cupied Zone of just six counties there are moves afoot to negoti- ly grasping in advance what has during the 20th century, a very of Ulster with gerrymandered ate a completely new peace only become ‘obvious’ to some fraught delusion. borders to give a ‘permanent’ agreement with these ‘cowardly observers with the great benefit Palestinian nationalism British colonist majority. thugs of violent terrorism who of hindsight, – namely that if needed and needs to understand Disregarding all the Tory will all be pursued until they are a pocket-handkerchief-sized that the continuation of the government bluster (about Sinn all locked away in gaol for a very ‘independent Palestine’ around capitalist system will always Féin ‘propaganda’ or ‘disinfor- long time’ as former British-im- Jericho and Gaza makes sense play into the hands of the mation’), and lies (about the IRA perialist propaganda outbursts in 1993 as at least somewhere to Zionist monopoly-imperialist ‘seeking to surrender’,) – sig- were putting it until just a very begin the process of building a bourgeoisie or else that of the nificant bits of prominent public few short weeks ago. liberated Palestinian state, then equally reactionary Arab-mon- opinion (petty bourgeois philis- The wretched bourgeois press, how much more sense would it archist feudal regimes or that tinism) immediately continued which itself had so hypocritical- have made in 1947 to have taken of their tame Arab bourgeois- to follow the trend apparent for ly refused ever to mention con- with both hands the 46% of the nationalist rivals. a long time now, – seeing the sistently the historical justice whole of Palestine on offer then. Only revolutionary socialist need for a fully representative of the Irish nationalist cause, – But as with Ireland, the first perspectives reliably offer Arab peace conference on the conflict namely the 1921 Partition diktat most important issue to grasp is nationalism a way out of this over Ireland rather than the imposed by British violence on a proper historical perspective alien and stifling domination by need for any more point-scoring Ireland to the undying hatred on the fate of the imperialist powerful monopoly-imperialist against Sinn Féin, the ‘men of of the overwhelming majority system itself. interests. violence’, the IRA, or anyone of the people of Ireland, – and The cocky Zionist prattle As vast civil-war areas of else. which has never missed an op- about their colonial implanta- the world now plunge towards Symbolically, it was Ian portunity to vilify the IRA and tion of ‘Israel’ on the Palestin- similar endless turmoil to that Paisley who was thrown out of Sinn Féin, justifying summary ians’ land now being ‘for all which has afflicted Occupied the ‘democratic’ ring for bad be- ‘judicial’ murder of national- time’, etc (with significantly Palestine and the Occupied haviour, while Gerry Adams had ists as worse than vermin, – is less heard these days about the Zone of Ireland, as the insoluble more national media exposure already even scoring points off at-one-time equally confident contradictions of imperialism’ in Britain than ever before. the Establishment politicians claims for Eretz Israel becoming s economic crisis continue, The BBC’s Ireland correspond- for this turnaround, sneers permanent too, – the inclu- – so will the need for Marxist- ent calmly told nationwide TV they could equally as well direct sion of the West Bank, Gaza, Leninist scientific revolutionary news that all the talk about a against their own stinking ‘free the Golan Heights, and parts understanding of the warmon- ‘framework for peace’ was syn- press’ performance of endless of Lebanon and Transjordan gering collapse of the capitalist onymous with the idea of mov- lies and disinformation: too, plus possibly Egypt’s Sinai system scream out more loudly ing towards a united Ireland. Tories denounced him. Official peninsula) is based entirely on than ever. At the peak breakfast listen- Labour tried to ignore him. In the the notions that the imperialist Build Leninism. Spread the ing time on Radio 4, Colin Parry, event, the Home Secretary issued system will rule for ever based Bulletin. Alf Lee the father of a casualty of an IRA an exclusion order against the bomb in Warrington, unhesitat- Sinn Féin leader banning him from Ireland’s national-liberation struggle ingly approved the idea of nego- even entering the country. That tiations with the IRA and Sinn Mr Adams might have something at last publicly wins a humiliated and Féin, ignored the government’s useful to say about resolving the Northern Ireland crisis, of which pretence that no such talks were begrudging agreement from British his organisation is such a prime taking place or on the agenda, cause, was regarded — even when imperialism to reopen the question and condemned the Ulster Un- the Hume-Adams talks had been ionists for putting up obstacles completed — as literally unspeak- of the criminal Partition of Ireland (by in the way of the peace process able. by trying to score old political How far we have come in the short British bayonets in 1921 against the marks instead of seriously look- time since that episode. Last week, ing for new compromises. the very thought was denied. This wishes of the overwhelming majority Speculation about the week, the documents are on the ta- ble. Yesterday’s exchanges in the manoeuvres around the leaked of the population of Ireland), further House of Commons about Northern information is endless. But Ireland will come as no surprise to vindicating the Leninist analysis, the the best guess is that British historical wiseacres who know that imperialism’s control over its the British always talk to terrorists only science of the forces of history. continued degeneration is in as in the end. But they were extraor- bad a state as the health of the dinary exchanges nevertheless, and [EPSR No 728 30-11-93] monopoly bourgeoisie itself - it is important to register just how far the political centre of gravity on British imperialism’s long- ment, it is now admitted, have heading for complete paralysis and then collapse. this issue has shifted in not much delayed snail’s-pace withdrawal been intensifying over the past more than a month. Conservative from the Occupied Zone of three years. It made little sense for the benches, which for years have con- Ireland (which began more than And now come the public government to claim that Sinn tained not one person who would 12 years ago following Sinn revelations (of all these secret Féin was revealing a completely ever publicly countenance the idea Féin’s sensational international contacts) which can only add distorted view (of peace feel- of communication with Sinn Féin or political triumph of the hunger considerably to the pace at ers which had taken place) ‘in the IRA, now contain barely a single objector to what Sir Patrick Mayhew strikes, the subsequent electoral which things are changing, – order to cause trouble’ if it was allegedly Sinn Féin and the IRA has been forced to reveal about his victories, and the IRA’s proven (for whatever reasons all these many and detailed contacts with un-beatability (see ILWP Books leaks are taking place). which had asked for help in the 54 first place because ‘the conflict those same organisations. Labour, vol 8 & 15 – Ireland)), – is speed- Pressure is building up always readier to flirt with repub- ing up. relentlessly towards an open is over’, etc. licanism but in practice content to Direct negotiations with the discussion of a new negoti- It made much more sense to follow the lead of the SDLP, offered Irish national liberation move- ated political settlement with see the government as behind barely a cheep of protest against Sir EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 and constructive role in persuading ing Ireland by violence in 1921 the Unionist community to reach an against the wishes of the major- accommodation with the rest of the ity of its people, in return for Irish people. the IRA’s willingness to call off 7. Your disavowal of any prior ob- its national-liberation struggle? jective is contradicted by your com- Beneath all the incredibly mitment to uphold the Unionist chaotic muddle of deliberate veto. The consequence of uphold- confusion, lying cover-ups, plus ing the veto is, in effect, to set as your objective maintenance of par- sheer embarrassed incompe- tition and the six-county statelet, tence in these latest propaganda and of the primary source of the broadsides, the plain fact seems conflict. to be that the armed revolution- 8. We recognise that the concerns ary fight has at last succeeded in and perceived concerns of the forcing the sclerotic British im- Unionist population about their perialist establishment to offer position in an Irish national de- Irish nationalism some serious mocracy must be addressed and negotiations on the cause of all resolved in the form of the great- the problem, – the monstrous est reassurance possible, including 1921 Partition of Ireland, – after legislation for all measures agreed having refused for 72 years to in the course of the process of ne- concede any such thing. gotiations. This process of national reconcili- The deviousness and disin- ation must secure the political, reli- formation surround[ing] these gious and democratic rights of the developments does not inspire northern unionist population. great confidence that British 9. The most urgent issue facing the imperialism will contribute any- people of Ireland and Britain is the thing but its usual bad faith and need for a genuine peace process vicious skulduggery to the dis- which sets equality, justice and po- cussions, and a positive outcome litical stability as its objectives and must remain highly dubious. has as its means, dialogue and all- But however dim the pros- embracing negotiations. pects still remain because of the haunted decrepit position of November 5 message from the the British ruling class gener- Government and accompanying ally, and whatever outrageous ‘’Procedural Annex” illustrated the manoeuvres still remain the huge progress both sides had made incurable way of life of British towards the negotiating table. This message said in part: imperialism, nothing can stop There can be no departure from [a the historical requirements of Patrick yesterday. The shift in the Preconditions represent obstacles previous statement] that there could the situation in Ireland, – for politically permissible has been seis- to peace. Moreover, after more than be no secret agreements or under- the eventual total satisfaction mic — and very welcome. two decades of conflict and political standings between governments of legitimate Irish nationalist impasse, we hold as self-evident the and organisations supporting vio- That it is the British imperialist aspirations covering their whole view that democratic, political and lence as a price for its cessation. country once again, – from be- government which has shifted practical imperatives clearly require “There can also be no departure ground is obvious even from the ing fulfilled. the open involvement and inclu- from the constitutional guarantee Whether London’s crisis- suspect ‘documented’ version sion of all political views if a demo- that Northern Ireland’s status as of events now handed out by cratic resolution is to be sought and part of the United Kingdom will not ridden monopoly-bourgeois Whitehall. achieved. change without the consent of a ma- interests try continuing to The following summary of jority of its people. obstruct progress dog-in-the- 3. The route to peace in Ireland is manger style, or just carry on what London admits Sinn Féin to be found in the restoration to the “You ask about the sequence of was still saying plainly at the Irish people of our right to national events in the event of a total end to making an appalling cock-up of hostilities. If, as you have offered, end of July, five months after self-determination — in the free ex- attempts to get out, – Ireland ercise of this right without impedi- you were to give us an unequivocal must inevitably ultimately gain the beginning of that latest assurance that violence has indeed lengthy flurry of talks about ment of any kind. its reunification and full inde- been brought to a permanent end, pendence at long last, (for what talks, is not remotely demon- 4. British sovereignty over the six and that accordingly Sinn Féin is strated as having been retracted counties, as with all of Ireland be- now committed to political progress it will be worth in the light of from by the nationalists, and fore partition, is the inherent cause by peaceful and democratic means the much more serious problem yet the already notorious Gov- of political instability and conflict. alone, we will make clear publicly of the towering economic crisis ernment statement of Novem- This must be addressed within the our commitment to enter explora- worldwide of the basic imperi- democratic context of the exercise of ber 5 is offering public negoti- tory dialogue with you. alist-dominated free-market the right to national self-determina- “Our public statement will make system of which Ireland is an ated dialogue with Sinn Féin by tion if the cause of instability and clear that, provided your private as- early January 1994: equally-suffering part along conflict is to be removed. surance is promptly confirmed pub- with all other countries). 5. We seek to assist the establish- licly after our public statement and If there is some machiavellian 1. We welcome this contact and ment of, and to support, a process that events on the ground are con- sistent with this, a first meeting for notion in the secret control cen- hope it can help create a healing which, with due regard for the real tres of the British establishment process which removes both the exploratory dialogue will take place difficulties involved, culminates in for driving Ulster Unionism into causes and the consequences of the exercise of that right and the within a week of Parliament’s return conflict... Republicans are not re- end of your jurisdiction. in January.” self-defeating anger and despair luctant to face up to our responsi- in order the better to expose 6. We believe that the wish of the So what ‘political progress’ is in bility in this but the British govern- view, involving what ‘explora- Orange fascism’s outdatedness ment clearly has the power and the majority of the Irish people is for and intransigence, or if some Irish unity. We believe that an ad- tory dialogue’ with Sinn Féin, in major responsibility to initiate the public as early as six weeks from other such barmy deviousness necessary process. herence to democratic principles makes Irish unity inevitable. now, if it is not about a British is in operation, – it could only 2. Our long-standing position has The emerging political and eco- imperialist wish to concede a have the effect, if any, of helping been of willingness to enter into to push things further in the nomic imperatives both within reopening of discussion on the 55 dialogue with a view to resolving Ireland and within the broader con- whole criminal cause of the direction in which historical the conflict. In all of this we do not text of greater European political un- unending national problem over necessity was already taking seek to impose preconditions nor ion support the logic of Irish unity. It Ireland, namely the intolerable them. should preconditions be imposed is our view therefore that the British That direction is towards the on us. government should play a crucial and doomed evil of partition- EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 final revolutionary defeat of increased IRA mainland bombing Irish national aspirations into geoisie’s own lying media. British imperialism itself, in meant ‘the trail went cold’. the ground, and was effectively If the Fleet Street counter- line with the general crisis of John Hume, leader of the Social doing so. revolutionary propaganda the world economic imperialist Democratic and Labour party, con- Such shallow impression- machine is now freely discuss- firmed to The Observer yesterday system, and inevitably encom- that he had been informed of the ism now faces a complete rout. ing the IRA in terms of being a passing the social, political, and contacts in May. He subsequently Despite government statements legitimate national-liberation cultural decay of the Orange met John Major to discuss his own that Sinn Féin had approached struggle (as in the following colonial mentality within that talks with Gerry Adams. the British declaring ‘the con- quotes) after a sustained 20- dying imperialism. The communication link was flict is over’, implying that the year campaign to convince the The capitalist press commen- said by the source to be a message- IRA were surrendering, Gerry world that the nationalist guer- tary itself is the best evidence of delivery service run by unofficial Adams is adamant that it was rillas were nothing but common what the Bulletin has consistent- intermediaries; deniable ‘heroes’ London which made the first criminals, out to murder and ly argued, – particularly against who began operating after British diplomatic peace feelers: bomb for profit, extortion, or Ministers’ public overtures — going the petty-bourgeois defeatism back as far as 1989 — brought a posi- Whitehall’s version, denied by Sinn psychotic fantasies, – it seems of the ‘left’ swamp, – namely, tive reaction from the IRA. Féin, was that the terrorists’ open- obvious that a massive re-think that British imperialist domina- The process, so secret that it was ing plea on February 22 had been and re-adjustment is going tion over Ireland’s complete na- not even disclosed by John Major that “the conflict is over” and “we on within British capitalism’s tional aspirations was doomed, to Albert Reynolds, the Irish Prime wish to have an unannounced ‘democratic’ institutions to and that under world imperial- Minister, was described as an essen- ceasefire in order to hold dialogue”. prepare to accommodate this ist pressure, the British ruling tial response to the terrorists’ ‘peace Gerry Adams, president of Sinn new phenomenon of a peace class was reluctantly accepting feelers’. Féin, countered by accusing minis- agreement with yesterday’s ters of persistent lying, and saying that it would finally have to get The go-betweens included clergy- ‘Irish terrorists’: men, professionals and business- that disclosure of contacts between out of Ireland, and was already men. The Observer source said that the Government and the IRA had The view was formed that if enough in the process of preparing the messengers often put their own been “most unhelpful.” economic and political progress ground for this humiliating lives at risk. Although the source But last night he said that despite was made in Northern Ireland, the defeat, – or ‘intent to withdraw’ emphatically denied direct govern- the “duplicity”, he was prepared to terrorists might conclude that the in the self-serving words of the ment involvement, Sinn Féin chief of “forgive” and resume dialogue im- results of violence were no longer Observer’s leaking source: staff Martin McGuinness and oth- mediately. worth the risks involved. ers have said that a civil servant was Mr Adams last night said the A key British source put it much A SECRET communication chain used. November 5 message was a tacti- more positively last week, when has been running between the In a separate development, Mr cal dodge. “This unsolicited com- he told The Observer that the Government and the IRA with the McGuinness tells BBC TV’s On the munication from them was a trans- Provisional IRA was imbued with an Prime Minister’s approval, an au- Record today: ‘John Major knows parent manoeuvre to synchronise ideology and a theology. thoritative British source has told who the contact is.’ He claimed their public and private positions He then added the breathtaking The Observer. meetings had sometimes taken in advance of this contact becoming statement that its ideology included Contacts with Sinn Féin, insti- place daily, and were continuing. public in a climate of rumours and an ‘ethical dimension’ — that mem- gated by the Government and us- According to The Observer’s infor- leaks.” bers would not continue killing for ing intermediaries, had been going mation, the chain of contacts led to But the 10-week timescale is in the sake of it. on for more than a year. In some in- a key meeting with Mr McGuinness stark contrast with Unionist de- He went on to argue that the stances, they involved business and just after the Warrington bombing mands for a Sinn Féin quarantine of Provisionals did not kill ‘for no pur- professional people. on 20 March, when both sides ex- up to five years. pose’, and that if that purpose was More than a dozen documents changed formal ‘position’ papers. After Sir Patrick denied that these removed, there was no reason why were passed from the Government According to Dublin sources, a exchanges represented “negotia- they should not stop the killing. to Sinn Féin and the Londonderry further meeting was planned at tions”, Downing Street — and Tory That assessment of the mind of meeting followed these exchanges. which each side would be repre- backbenchers — endorsed his ex- the IRA explains much that is now The intermediaries were always sented by four ‘negotiators’. It was to plicit willingness to renew the fast- happening in and between the is- well briefed with notes authorised take place outside Ireland — possi- track offer. The sombre Commons land of Ireland and Great Britain. by the Northern Ireland Office, the bly abroad. Britain was said to have mood was marred chiefly by the re- Compared with some of the clichés source said. pressed hard for it to take place at fusal of Ian Paisley, the Democratic and hysteria that are commonly de- The meeting was set to take place Easter, but said that it would be con- Unionist leader, to withdraw unpar- livered by Ministers and politicians, on 22 March — two days after the ditional on a two-week ceasefire by liamentary charges of “lies” against that statement sums up the maturity Warrington bombing — and there the IRA. Sir Patrick — which led to his sus- of judgment and level-headed cal- was concern on the Republican side The long-delayed official admis- pension. culation that is being applied to one that it might be cancelled because sion of contacts, sanctioned by Sir Martin McGuinness, the chief Sinn of the deadliest and most pervasive of public outrage over the bombs Patrick Mayhew, Northern Ireland Féin negotiator, last night alleged crises of British political history. which killed two children and in- Secretary, will put peace on a knife- that several key documents released It has been a painstaking march. jured 56 other people. edge in the run-up to Friday’s by the Northern Ireland Office were In an interview in November 1989, It went ahead but was then nearly Anglo-Irish summit. bogus. It was untrue that the repub- Peter Brooke, then Secretary of cancelled by the Republicans when The Observer’s British source said licans initiated the intensive series State for Northern Ireland, said: ‘If only one person turned up on the that recent months had brought of exchanges in February, he said. in fact the terrorists were to decide British side. Ulster closer to a settled peace than The Government has based its de- that the moment had come when Sinn Féin became angry and sus- for decades past. fence on the fact that it felt it had a they wished to withdraw from picious that the meeting was not Stating that no direct talks or ne- duty to respond to an IRA document, their activities, then I think that the being treated seriously. It was per- gotiations had been held involv- allegedly declaring: “The conflict Government would need to be im- suaded that it was important, partly ing Ministers or civil servants, the is over but we need your advice on aginative in those circumstances as by the briefing note obtained by The source stressed that the chain of how to bring it to a close.” But Mr to how that process should be man- Observer, showing the contact was contacts had been used to communi- McGuinness said: “I totally refute aged.’ fully backed by the Secretary of cate messages, questions and clarifi- the claim. No such communication In that context, it is worth recall- State. cations on the position of each side. was ever sent. ing the joint statement issued by The British side made clear that One of the key triggers had been “His claim that a communication John Major and Albert Reynolds any declaration of intent to with- the statement in 1990 by Peter of November 2 [which suggested a after their Brussels meeting at the draw from Northern Ireland would Brooke, then Secretary of State, that state of desperation] to the British end of last month, when they said probably be impossible but if they ‘it is not the aspiration to a sover- government was from Sinn Féin is that if the IRA renounced violence, could have a face-to-face meeting eign, united Ireland against which equally bogus. The British govern- and demonstrated its renunciation over a period of four or five days, we set our face, but its violent ex- ment’ has been telling lie after lie in of violence, ‘then new doors could they believed they would be able to pression... the British Government recent times to disguise its rejection open and we would be prepared to convince the IRA and Sinn Féin that has no selfish strategic or economic of peace in Ireland.” respond imaginatively to the situa- such a declaration was ‘not neces- interest in Northern Ireland’. Mr Adams also denied that his tion that existed’. sary’. party had begun the dialogue. “The When Mr Brooke’s interviewer But it seemed the British side began For years, the anti-theory latest phase of contact was initiated asked him if that meant he would 56to get cold feet. The possibility of a fake-’lefts’ have argued, from by the British government,” he said. consider talking with Gerry Adams, Government defeat over Maastricht different sectarian standpoints, president of Sinn Féin, the Secretary and the importance of securing for various reasons, – that All of the evidence points of State said: ‘Let me remind you of Unionist support, increased Loyalist intransigent British imperial- towards that conclusion too, the move towards independence in violence in Northern Ireland and ism would carry on trampling especially that from the bour- Cyprus and a British Minister stood EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 up in the House of Commons and contact with a Government ‘rep- agree with them, then Her Majesty’s ings, stretching all the way used the word “never” in a way resentative’ took place in October Government would present no ob- to outright lies to the Ulster which, within two years, there had 1990—the month before Mr Brooke stacle. All this is indeed well known, Unionists and to the House of been a retreat from that word.’ made those comments. and already constitutes a binding Commons.? And why would the Certainly, the word was not on Sir Patrick Mayhew, the current obligation.’ the lips of Mr Brooke. A year later Secretary of State, went even fur- If the IRA could indeed be con- Orange colonist remnants be so — shortly before Baroness Thatcher ther in a speech at Coleraine last vinced of the sincerity of that par- incensed if what Downing Street was ousted from office — Mr Brooke December. ticular argument, one of the central was shielding was in fact an IRA said in a London speech: ‘Only if He stated: ‘The political develop- planks in its platform of violence surrender? violence is abandoned can a true ment process in which we are en- would have been withdrawn; the The reality seems obvious reconciliation be achieved. There gaged seeks the prize of a compre- case for terrorism would begin to that the British ruling class is is a need for reconciliation at three hensive political accommodation, dissolve — if you believe, as the simply humiliated at having to levels: between the communities in encompassing relationships not Government now claims it does, finally capitulate to a legitimate Northern Ireland; within Ireland; only within Northern Ireland but that there is an ‘ethical dimension’ national-liberation struggle and between the peoples on both also within the island of Ireland and to the Cause. these islands. between the two governments. According to Observer sources which its notorious police- ‘The terrorists constitute a major ‘Within this process, the British in Dublin, Belfast and London, military dictatorship over the impediment on the road to peace Government is not guided by any there is evidence to suggest that Occupied Zone of Ireland has and greater understanding and to blueprint or master plan, leading the Provisional are indeed mov- failed to defeat, and is trying to new political institutions which ad- to some pre-selected constitutional ing: whether because of the random cover up traces of that proposed equately reflect everyone’s interests.’ outcome of our choice. We have threat posed by so-called Loyalist retreat for all it is worth. (That statement, too, has to be com- none. We want to see broad agree- terrorists, or the withdrawal of pub- And yet another leaked pared with what Mr Major said in ment developing, democratically lic love by the nationalist commu- document, if read carefully, the Commons debate on the Queen’s sustained. nity, or the fear that their own chil- demonstrates that it is British Speech this month: ‘We seek both a ‘That is why, 20 years ago now, dren — the next generation — were permanent end to violence — and a the 1973 Constitution Act made poised on the brink of another 25 imperialism which has been political settlement.’) clear that Northern Ireland’s status years of terrorism, or because of the forced to acknowledge yet an- However, the key that was meant as part of the United Kingdom will overtures of London. other historical catastrophe as to unlock the mind and heart of the not change without the consent of Certainly, it is accepted and under- it degenerates totally alongside IRA was delivered in Mr Brooke’s the majority of the people who live stood on all sides that there is no risk the world imperialist system next sentence at that speech in 1990. there... of the IRA losing its war. There could now deep in insoluble economic He went on to say: ‘The British ‘But, as it has equally made clear, be no winner in what most describe crisis: Government has no selfish strate- Her Majesty’s Government would as a ‘Mexican stand-off’. But if the gic or economic interest in Northern never try to impede any body of IRA can help win the peace, then it JOHN MAJOR and the Northern Ireland: our role is to help, enable opinion in working to achieve a may reasonably reckon to gain po- Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick and encourage. Britain’s purpose, place for Northern Ireland within a litical dividends from that. Mayhew, have evaded telling the as I have sought to describe it, is not united Ireland, provided they work full truth to the public and MPs to occupy, oppress or exploit, but to only by democratic and peaceful And if these contacts were all about secret contacts with Sinn ensure democratic debate and free means. about an IRA surrender, why Féin. democratic choice.’ ‘If by such means, they were to would the British imperialist Documents leaked, via a Unionist According to Martin McGuinness, persuade the greater number of government have needed to be MP, have uncovered a web of con- one of Sinn Féin’s leaders, the first those living in Northern Ireland to so cagey about these sound- tacts involving members of Sinn

57 EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 Féin and the British Government at ‘You should also emphasise These peace negotiations ‘recovery’ in the free-market the highest level. to your interlocutor the British could all still collapse in view system of economic anarchy is A transcript of an aide-mem- Government’s acknowledgement of Orange-fascist intransigence pure wishful thinking. oire, delivered orally to Sinn Féin that all of those involved share a and the fundamental historic British imperialism’s living leader Martin McGuinness at a key responsibility to work to end the meeting last March, just after the conflict. We agree on the need for a weakness of decaying British standards are now financially Warrington bombs, along with a healing process. We wish to take a imperialism. bankrupt. Ferocious class written document, ‘Annex C’, set out positive view of these developments But it is good to note for the struggle over who is to pay for the parameters of Britain’s position. and hope that it will be possible to record how so far, all the above capitalism’s slump is all that lies This is the full transcript: continue to do so. capitalist press admissions go ahead, especially once GATT’s ‘You should be aware that the ‘The following instructions should towards confirming the ILWP’s supposed ‘world trade agree- above has been personally approved be delivered orally to [name de- longstanding Marxist analysis ment’ only eventually results in by SOSNI [Secretary of State for leted] when you hand over Annex of this aspect of imperialist worsening inter-imperialist con- Northern Ireland]. In fact, all but the C in written form. crisis. flict over which mountains of first sentence of the first paragraph ‘In handing over this written is his own wording. In other words, Today’s budget will also ‘surplus ‘ capital investment are message — and you need make it is not negotiable.’ underline the even more im- to be destroyed first. Marxist- no bones about the fact that it On 7 November, when there were portant background message, Leninist science remains the is a written message that you suggestions of contacts between also consistently studied by only way forward. are handing over — you should Sinn Féin and the Government, a the Bulletin, that the supposed Jack Bradshaw emphasise that this process is Downing Street spokesman said: fraught with difficulties for the ‘We have made clear on many oc- The confused degeneracy of British British Government, as must be casions that we don’t speak to those obvious. They are nevertheless who carry out or advocate or con- colonialism in Ireland is more ruled by done violence to further their politi- prepared to tackle these and ac- cal aims.’ the imperialist system’s international cept the risks that they entail. On 11 November, a Unionist MP ‘But it must be recognised said that an ‘insider’ had told him economic crisis than by local political that all acts of violence here- of contacts stretching back through after could only enhance these many months. The Northern Ireland spinelessness. The approaching world difficulties and risks, quite Office dismissed the suggestion: ‘No conceivably to the point when such meetings have taken place.’ markets crash could sink London’s the process would be destroyed. On 17 November, Mr McGuinness If that were to occur, the British confirmed he had been ‘in direct mischief-making. contact with representatives of the Government would consider British Government’. that a potentially historic op- [EPSR No 732 04-01-94] portunity had been squandered. Fresh confirmation that this British imperialism’s bizarre imperialist system in general. ‘The paper gives out substantive whole furore is basically about performance of trying to retreat And trying to guess what will advice in response to the initial mes- a victory for the Irish national- from its colonial occupation of happen next in London and sage. As it makes clear, we wish to liberation struggle is emerging part of Ireland while pretend- Dublin’s tortuous manoeuvres establish whether this provides a hourly, such as Adams’s report ing to be ‘imposing peace’ on is probably more governed by basis for a way forward. We on our that London asked the IRA for a the supposed ‘men of violence’ what can be predicted about the side are ready to answer specific 2-week ceasefire back in May to questions or give further explana- continues to be as complex as next stages of inter-imperialist tion. smooth the path for some more its decisive background, — the trade-war conflict than by what tortured manoeuvres or other. worldwide economic crisis of the can be deduced about the inter-

58 EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 nal feuding among the decadent economic and political suprema- end on the terms laid down by the situation. Tory ruling-classes and their cy conflict. Downing Street Declaration. Downing Street fears that offering petty-bourgeois hangers-on. The bourgeois ‘free’ press “The British government holds the any encouraging interpretations to US imperialism is still strug- remains utterly confused and key to peace,” the statement con- republicans would precipitate the tinues. “The IRA reiterates its deter- unravelling of the agreement and gling to dictate terms to the confusing about who is defeat- mination and the determination of undermine the support of the Ulster whole of international monop- ing who in these latest ‘peace’ our activists and supporters to see Unionist Party. oly-capitalism for an end to the moves over Ireland and its a just and lasting peace established Almost every comment by the debt crisis and the problems of national liberation struggle. in Ireland. No one should doubt our Prime Minister since mid-December supposedly ‘surplus’ produc- Some of the more cretinous determination.” has been aimed at reassuring the tion capacity which would be coverage in Fleet Street and In an interview with the Dublin- Protestant community. The consti- favourable to the United States on television is still trying to based Sunday Business Post, Mr tutional safeguard that the major- of America. pretend, – in line with Downing McGuinness insisted that the re- ity in Northern Ireland must decide The possibility of further Street’s sick propaganda, – that publican movement was still con- their own destiny has been relent- sidering the Downing Street dec- lessly hammered home. decisive intervention by Wash- the whole question of talks with That sounds remarkably like fa- ington into the affairs of Ireland Sinn Féin and the IRA has arisen laration. “The document is so ambiguous miliar partitionist rhetoric to re- would have to be examined “because the terrorists want to publicans and makes nonsense of in the light of the traditional surrender”. that it needs clarification,” he said. “People are asking, is this a signal Albert Reynolds’ pleas from Dublin American pressure carving up This widely-accepted fraud, that the British government intends for “peace without a pre-determined its ‘oldest Western ally’, and immediately exposed as such at some stage in the future to disen- f ut ure”. of the most recent US forays by the Bulletin, is now being gage from the six counties? We want Even the miserable Green Tories into European politics gener- seen with every passing day to an answer to that question. in Dublin, who will surely ally which have been unusually be more and more clearly total “If the British government is say- end up with one of the most fraught and uncertain (e.g. their nonsense. The armed national- ing [its] private position is the same treacherously infamous roles of policy towards the imperialist liberation struggle has recom- as that articulated by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, any group in all history, have break-up of the Yugoslav social- menced after the Christmas felt obliged to prod the mealy- ist federation). traditional truce; and just then the prospects for the declara- tion, as far as republicans are con- mouthed London Declaration a But broadly, the prospects are prior to the holiday, but after cerned, are worthless. bit further with Reynolds’ latest still following the pattern first the Downing Street declara- “The British have to become the nibble at the notion of eventual analysed by the ILWP more than tion, the military campaign’s persuaders... anything short of a ‘demilitarisation’ of the Occu- 12 years ago, – that for a con- London bombing attacks and decision by the British government pied Zone (which approaches tinued snail’s-pace withdrawal security scares had reduced the that they are leaving this country the same vexed question of a by British imperialism from capital city of British imperial- would be unacceptable.” guaranteed ultimate British the Occupied Zone of Ireland ism to one of its worst traffic- The only matter on which Mr McGuinness suggested a shift in military withdrawal from its because of the unbeatability of dislocation paralyses on record. colonial occupation, but from a the national-liberation strug- And Sinn Féin spokesmen have traditional Sinn Féin thinking was the length of time for Britain to slightly different angle): gle, because of the increasing lately become increasingly as- withdraw from the province. He in- decadence of British imperial- sertive against the treacherous Mr Reynolds’s statement said: “The dicated that the former demand of peace declaration makes clear the ism in its internal relations and delays and obscurities delib- withdrawal within five years could its international standing, and erately built into the London British government’s declaration be stretched to eight years. of self-determination for all the because of the ever-sharpening declaration by British imperial- IT IS increasingly clear that the re- Irish people in line with the Hume- struggle between the imperial- ist intransigence and fear of publican movement is moving rap- Adams public statements.” ist powers for top-dog position humiliation: idly towards rejection of the joint He added: “It also makes clear that in the world war for trade and declaration. both governments and both com- THE Provisional IRA yesterday Not a single Sinn Féin voice has political domination which signalled its determination to con- munities will become persuaders for called in public for a ceasefire on a new agreement on the future of the means exploiting every weak- tinue its campaign of violence de- the terms laid out in the document. ness of rival nations (provided spite the joint declaration for peace whole island. The time has come to Party councillors have appeared re- start the process of demilitarisation the situation is never pushed signed by London and Dublin. laxed in recent weeks, reflecting the too closely towards true com- In a hardline new year’s message of the Northern conflict.” fact that they face no hard decisions. Unionists yesterday launched ver- munist revolution (see ILWP — and the first issued since the There is little of merit in the declara- Downing Street Declaration — the bal attacks on the Taoiseach. Ken (EPSR) Books vol 8 & 15 – Ire- tion, they have concluded. Maginnis MP, the Ulster Unionists’ IRA leadership insisted that its re- The dominant reasoning remains land). solve was unbroken. security spokesman, said it had It has still not emerged clearly as it has been for 25 years: that vio- been a mistake for Mr Reynolds to The message reinforces a consen- lence continues to shift the British as to what specific pressure the sus which emerged earlier this week elaborate on the declaration. John government marginally forward. Taylor, UUP MP for Strangford, said new Clinton administration has from a meeting in County Tyrone The conflict should continue. It may been putting on London over of Provisional prisoners out on the call for demilitarisation was “ill- be an unpleasant prospect, but it is timed and ill-advised”. the Irish troubles. Christmas leave. That gathering saw familiar territory. However, the difficulty little if any merit in the document Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, signed by John Major and Albert however, welcomed the comments. remains a traditional one for Martin McGuinness’s comments “It has always been Sinn Féin’s posi- bourgeois law-and-order the Reynolds but was reluctant to reject it out of hand. yesterday in the Dublin-based tion that demilitarisation will form world over, – the discomfort for The IRA message, carried in Sinn Sunday Business Post are only the an essential part of a negotiated set- the establishment of seeing a Féin’s weekly paper, An Phoblacht/ latest — although the most hard- tlement,” he said. popular armed struggle defying Republican News, makes no reference line — of negative republican reac- Earlier in London, John Major’s ad- imperialist authority and win- to the joint declaration but says: tions since the declaration in mid- visers insisted he was unconcerned ning. This sets a revolutionary “It is the resilience of the republi- December. by Mr Reynolds’s contentious state- precedent which is by-and-large can struggle which has forced the The killing of a young Guardsman ment, issued late on Sunday after considered a ‘bad thing’ for British to focus on the realities of the in South Armagh and the wave of discouraging signals had been re- futile war in Ireland. firebombs in Belfast at the weekend ceived from Sinn Féin. every bourgeois establishment reinforce his sentiments. Those with In Dublin, the statement was be- on earth. “As we face 1994 the efforts of our volunteers and supporters will con- the guns, it seems, are the most com- ing presented last night as a means The dilemma for rival monop- tinue to focus on the need for keep- mitted to pushing forward without of encouraging the IRA to abandon oly-imperialist powers is being ing the question for a resolution of delay to a united Ireland. its military campaign and enter into torn between helping London the conflict firmly centre stage. The Government’s public position democratic: talks as quickly as pos- to defeat such ‘revolutionary’ “Our struggle has endured and of refusing to clarify any ambigui- sible. upstarts for the good of the en- outlasted one British offensive af- ties in the document is reinforcing Mr Reynolds’s use of phrases com- tire capitalist order; or helping ter another. It remains solid and in- Sinn Féin’s sense of exclusion from monly used by republicans infuri- to meddle in London’s discom- stant. The right of the Irish people to the process. ated Unionists, with Ian Paisley, national self-determination and the This was emphasised in the state- Democratic Unionist leader, alleg- 59 fort in order to gain maximum ment from Gerry Adams, the Sinn ing the Taoiseach had come out in advantage over British imperi- question of lasting peace are inextri- cably linked.” Féin president, last night accusing his true colours with a declaration alism’s ever-worsening plight Such a formulation suggests Mr Major of using “belligerent” that bore “the bloody thumbprint of in the wider inter-imperialist that violence would be unlikely to phrases and creating a “stand-off” the IRA”. EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the bogus ‘free’ press when the damage to the City of London’s financial-security reputation is discussed from the aspect of IRA bomb destruction but without making any connection at all to British imperialism’s desire to politically retreat from this last uncomfortable comer of Empire (but without appearing to be having to do so for reasons of ‘great power’ prestige, etc): The IRA has already warned for- eign banks in the City it views the cordon as a challenge: one to be breached. Paul Condon, the Metropolitan Commissioner, has privately expressed his doubts, worrying the terrorists might sim- ply switch targets. The Home Office believes the IRA has been handed a propaganda coup. But the public display of stiff up- per lips masked the fears of foreign financiers. Some 27 were affected by Bishopsgate and suffered an esti- mated £200 million of damage to for- eign-owned property in the Square Mile. Patience was wearing thin. The Japanese were the first to ex- press their worries. On April 26, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry wrote confidentially to the then Home Secretary Kenneth The Taoiseach’s statement — like the rest of the Irish people.” aging Dublin initiatives and the Clarke, in tones that belied their the declaration itself, a masterpiece Although linking the “veto” to Hume-Adams talks — and fear measured official statements. It of political ambiguity — summa- continued violence suggests that the that Whitehall speaks with a spoke of “the serious daily danger rised the document in republican IRA plans to continue its campaign forked tongue. Far be it from us to life, assets and business posed language without changing its for the time being, Mr Adams wel- to deny that possibility altogether. by the threat of IRA terrorism” and terms. comed the declaration’s commitment But it would be a mistake for the concluded with their own none-too- “Demilitarisation” in republican to the right of self-determination. Irish to underestimate the British veiled threat: “There is a real possi- terms normally implies the with- But, he added, it was contradictory Government’s achievement — un- bility that Japanese companies will drawal of British troops from the for Britain to recognise such a right premeditated though the form have to look for a safer alternative, streets, if not from Northern Ireland, and then “presume to dictate” how and circumstances were — in rid- another financial center within the as well as an end to the IRA’s cam- it was exercised. National self-deter- ing out Monday’s Commons chal- EC, if security measures are not paign. mination, he implied, should be on lenges in such good order. At some improved.” The message was clear: The term “persuaders”, also used an all-Ireland basis. point in the process, the possibil- The City was being given notice of in the statement, means taking an “Partitionist solutions cannot cre- ity of Britain and Sinn Féin sitting the foreign financiers’ intention to active role in urging Unionists to ate the conditions of peace and de- down together had to be acknowl- quit if another bomb went off. accept the unification of Ireland, in mocracy in Ireland. Until the issue edged publicly. It was always going But the IRA threat to London is on contrast to Mr Major’s repeated em- of self-determination is resolved to be a moment of potential desta- a different scale. It is specifically phasis on their de facto veto. there can be no lasting nor viable bilisation. Now that has happened, anti-British, yet at the same time un- Downing Street officials gently peace on these islands. The dead- and the Government has emerged predictable. After the Bishopsgate suggested they would have pre- lock has not yet been broken.” less damaged than it had a right to bomb, the terrorists pressed home ferred Mr Reynolds to have used the A Downing Street statement after expect. their propaganda coup by writing to phrase “advocates of peace”. the speech said: “We will study Mr The elaborate political process 50 of the top foreign financial organ- London took comfort from the Adams’ words very carefully but must nevertheless move on. The is- isations in the City, telling them that helpful remarks made by Dick what the people of Northern Ireland sue now, as Dublin rightly recog- their continued presence in London Spring, the Irish foreign minister, need is a sign from the terrorists that nises, is the form of Anglo-Irish would make them vulnerable. Amid who said there had been over-re- there will be a permanent cessation context in which a demilitarised the ranting condemnation of British action to Mr Reynolds’s comments. of their violence.” political solution can be established. imperialism was the warning to for- The Taoiseach was not trying to This is frightening ground for the eigners: “You will get caught in the “nudge” the Downing Street decla- Reading between the lines, some Unionists, and difficult ground for blast by reason of your location.” ration closer to the IRA’s position, as of the British bourgeois press the British Government which is There were no American banks on claimed by Unionists. has felt the need to make some the Unionists’ guarantor. But it has the IRA warning list, leading to the The row illustrates the complex- ‘objective’ best-of-a-bad-job by at last been reached, an almost un- conclusion that they did not want to ity of the Downing Street declara- some chirpy admissions in the thinkable achievement only a few alienate US support. tion and the precarious nature of direction of what is the general months ago. The momentum needs Commissioner Kelly argues that the coalition which supports it. Even historical thrust of Declara- to be maintained. the IRA letter was another propa- though subsequent examination of tion developments, – further ganda stunt. “We have already This sort of approach man- given them two propaganda coups Mr Reynolds’s statement showed towards the final reunification it signified far less than was first ages to demolish the general with the big bombs. It has been ar- feared, it prompted Unionist calls of Ireland and the ending of bourgeois-press fiction about gued that we are throwing down for a moratorium on further public British imperialism’s brutal and an ‘IRA surrender’ but without the gauntlet with the extra security, debate on the declaration until the criminal partition, – one of the having to say so too bluntly. It but all the indications are that they IRA accepted or rejected it. foulest acts of colonial vindic- tries getting back to the old idea would be attacking us anyway, re- Speaking to Sinn Féin activists tiveness ever: of capitalist-idealist philosophy gardless of what measures we took. in west Belfast Mr Adams said: “We have never claimed we could Some Irish ministers appear to that the era of Empire (at least “Partition and continued support prevent another bomb getting think that London is losing inter- as far as Britain was concerned) for the loyalist veto are a recipe for through. The aim is to reduce the est in and letting slip the means ongoing conflict. Unionists will re- was wound up by the British risk of it happening, and to increase of achieving the kind of solution main locked into their no-change themselves in the benevolent the risk to them of getting caught. 60 which Dublin believes is still pos- mind-set. interest of all involved. The City is a vulnerable key point sible. They examine the revelation “There will be no incentive, no mo- But the lie to this self-serving in the economy. If you damage that, of London’s secret contacts with tivation, no reason to move towards you damage the City’s place in the the IRA — at a time when British middle-class gibberish is given a democratic accommodation with international markets, and the coun- ministers were publicly dispar- elsewhere in the fine print of EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 try’s position worldwide.” This dispute has continued ever point came on 24 November, when confused and confusing. But in private, many are wor- since. By and large, British military a huge consignment of arms from And it also helps to explain ried that the Corporation is not do- intelligence has sided with MI5. Both Poland, ordered and paid for by the the background to the very curi- ing enough. One American banker co-operated to sabotage the power- Ulster Volunteer Force, was seized ous muddle which Whitehall got sums up their approach: “We realise sharing government of 1974 with the by MI6 at Teesport. that they have a difficult job to per- Ulster Workers Council strike (mas- Using their Orange contacts MI5 itself into over the revelations form, making the City safe without terminded by a British intelligence leaked the ‘aide memoire’ which about talks with Sinn Féin and making it an armed camp. But our agent), the bombing of Dublin with proved the contacts between the the IRA, another fascinating own security people just cannot weapons put together with the help British government and the IRA. sub-plot in this chaos: see how the measures we have now of military intelligence and, more At once “sources” in the Northern THE Northern Ireland Secretary will stop another big bomb. We will recently, the negotiations between Ireland Office also leaked the news was forced to admit last night that have to spend a lot more money on British intelligence agent Brian (published in most British papers there were inaccuracies in the doc- our own building’s security to try to Nelson and the South African com- on November 29) that the two “un- uments he published on Monday make it bomb-proof, as well as the pany Armscor for the shipping of authorised” contacts had been made about government contacts with cost of setting up alternative dealing arms to the Loyalists. by MI6. Thus MI6 emerged from a the IRA this year. centres.” As Northern Ireland became more week’s furious leaking as the vil- The admission by Sir Patrick There is a real possibility, in the and more expensive, both in terms lains. Mayhew was a fresh blow to the technologically sophisticated world of money and lives, the conditions This middle-class cynicism Government’s credibility and a of electronic finance, that these will for a settlement improved, and MI6 propaganda coup for Sinn Féin, not have to be in the Square Mile. started to counter-attack. The appar- of course misses the entire historical sweep of what is really which has been claiming for two “A number of our compatriots are ently conciliatory approach of the days that the Government doctored making contingency plans to estab- IRA culminated in the Hume-Adams happening in Ireland, – the final its version of the written messages to lish alternative sites in the event that initiative, in which the IRA agree to defeat of imperialism by a heroic give the impression that the IRA was their facilities will not be usable af- lay down their arms and accept the longstanding national-libera- the first to seek a ceasefire. ter another bomb. I guess the danger government of Northern Ireland tion struggle coupled with the Sir Patrick’s admissions last night is that these become permanent, and provided some part of that govern- general decline of the British of 19 inaccuracies confirms that Sinn the City loses out.” ment can be reached by representa- ruling class in its international Féin’s versions of the messages were The increased terrorism risk will tives of Nationalist/Republican poli- position, and the subversive the more correct. also play a part in future plans to ex- ticians. Sinn Féin claims the changes un- pand in London. One German bank, These historic concessions won meddling in London’s difficul- ties by foreign imperialist dercut the suggestion that the IRA which is in the process of expanding some response from the British gov- had been seeking advice on how its London share-dealing business, ernment. They led to the banning of powers. to end the conflict or that it would says that those plans are proceed- the Protestant military organisation, But it does give a valuable fla- take part in talks. It also claimed the ing smoothly — for now. “Another the UDA, and some very limited con- vour of exactly how the British Government wanted to hold peace bomb would not be a great help. Our tacts between the IRA and suitably bourgeoisie tries as a decrepit talks in Scotland or Scandinavia fol- people in London are trying to per- distant, non-ministerial representa- class to shape up to its latest lowing an IRA offer of a two-week suade Frankfurt to meet the cost of tives of the British government. humiliation, – very uncomfort- ceasefire made on May 10 — a claim the investment. Their case would The old guard in MI5, by now indis- ably, unconvincingly, and para- dismissed as rubbish by Downing not be advanced if there was another tinguishable from the Loyalist ul- Street. bomb.” tras, regarded all this as a surrender lytically. It is hardly surprising The real danger the City faces is to the forces of evil. The breaking that the situation remains so Clearly, much of the coded that, rather than a wholescale exo- dus, foreign institutions would sim- ply forego future expansion in the City. The effect would be the same — the IRA would have achieved its aim of damaging the City’s earning power and Britain’s financial reputa- tion in the world. And as one intel- ligence source said: “The problem with a ring of rubber is that it can rebound on you.” But the rest of the world is making the right connections between London’s endless secu- rity disruptions and Downing Street’s secret negotiations for a ‘peace’ deal with Sinn Féin and the IRA, – as also are squab- bling factions within the British ruling class, – now apparently at each other’s throats over whether or how to retreat from Ireland, -according to this fur- ther bourgeois press report: THE REVELATIONS over the Government’s contacts with the IRA cannot be understood without appreciating the 20 year vendetta between MI5 and MI6. The services have been at logger- heads since the mid-1970s, when MI5 effectively replaced MI6 as the main intelligence unit in Northern Ireland. The feud between the two was based on two completely differ- ent political perspectives. MI6, which was in Ireland chiefly because the South of Ireland (Eire) was a foreign country, took a de- tached view of the conflict in the North. They favoured an even- 61 handed attitude which looked for- ward to an eventual settlement. MI5 adopted a much more partisan pol- icy, siding with the “Loyalists” EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 talks-about-talks between the course of political dialogue as a Ireland are so persuaded, both gov- British imperialist subjugation London and the IRA have been real and substantial threat to their ernments will support and give leg- of Ireland (or part of it), and about other ways of promoting way of life and ethos, or that can be islative effect to their wish. that the fraud of the monstrous the reunification of Ireland in represented as not being fully con- The British and Irish govern- 1921 partition is at last to be sistent with a modem democratic ments will seek, along with the return for a ceasefire in the pre- and pluralist society, and under- Northern Ireland constitutional par- quietly buried (even unnotice- sent war of national liberation. takes to examine any possible ways ties through a process of political ably and imperceptibly buried if As the Bulletin has already re- of removing such obstacles. dialogue, to create institutions and London has its way). ported, the essence of the Lon- Such an examination would of structures which, while respect- But exactly how Britain’s don Declaration was to confirm course have due regard to the desire ing the diversity of the people of ruling class copes with this; hu- that the whole ’Irish trouble’ to preserve those inherited values Ireland, would enable them to work miliating climb-down remains was the frustration of Ireland’s that are largely shared through- together in all areas of common in- to be seen. legitimate (and irresistible) wish out the island or that belong to the terest. This will help over a period In the background, some of to at last gain the full united in- cultural and historical roots of the to build the trust necessary to end the pressure from defeatism has people of this island in all their di- past divisions, leading to an agreed dependence of the whole island versity. and peaceful future. Such struc- been temporarily lifted from the of Ireland from British colonial The Taoiseach hopes that over tures would, of course, include in- decadent imperialist bourgeoi- domination. time a meeting of hearts and minds stitutional recognition of the special sie (and in other countries too) The gist of the long passage will develop, which will bring all links that exist between the peoples by the farcical euphoria on already quoted was repeated the people of Ireland together, and of Britain and Ireland as part of the the world’s free-market stock again and again, including one will work towards that objective, totality of relationships, while tak- exchanges (where share prices intriguing reference to the Brit- but he pledges in the meantime that ing account of newly-forged links are being driven through the ish government itself also work- as a result of the efforts that will be with the rest of Europe. roof without any relationship to ing “to end past divisions”: made to build mutual confidence no the cutthroat competitive real- Northern Unionist should ever have All of this coming after 73 In recognition of the fears of the to fear in future that this ideal will tormented years of what was ity of the international over- Unionist community and as a to- be pursued either by threat or coer- supposedly the ‘final solution’ to production crisis which can lead ken of his willingness to make a cion. the Irish ‘troubles’, – namely the only to a devastating trade war personal contribution to the build- Both governments accept that artificial carving out of the bas- within months), and entirely on ing up of that necessary trust, the Irish unity would be achieved tard colonial statelet “Northern the idealist delusion continu- Taoiseach will examine with his only by those who favour this out- Ireland” as a ‘separate country’ ing that “communism has been colleagues any elements in the come persuading those who do not, which was to be ‘British Ireland’ defeated”. democratic life and organisation peacefully and without coercion or That capitalism is still scared of the Irish state that can be repre- and part of the United Kingdom violence, and that, if in the future a of its own underlying insoluble sented to the Irish Government in majority of the people of Northern “for all time”, etc; can only mean that the game is finally up for contradictions is plain from EPSR Leaving the world to be run by the greed of the capitalist *********** monopolies can never stop resulting in periodic crises where “For many a decade past”, wrote Marx and Engels in the Communist trade-war destruction must rule, and to which the only anti- Manifesto of 1848, “the history of industry and commerce is but the his- dote is Revolution and a strong workers state, --- as these tory of the revolt of modern productive forces against modern conditions of production, against the property relations that are the conditions for the essentials of Marxist-Leninist science explain. existence of the bourgeoisie and of its rule. It is enough to mention the com- Only the crisis events of collapsing imperialist rule inter- mercial crises that by their periodical return put the existence of the entire preted in this Marxist-Leninist light will educate a mass bourgeois society on its trial, each time more threateningly. In these crises a workers party of leadership to do the necessary tasks. great part, not only of the existing products, but also of the previously created productive forces, are periodically destroyed. In these crises there breaks out The Revisionist retreat from the Soviet workers state an epidemic that, in all earlier epochs, would have seemed an absurdity - the because of crawling to shallow Western glitz and shame at epidemic of overproduction. Society suddenly finds itself put back into a their own past bureaucratic mistakes has only proved the state of momentary barbarism; it appears as if a famine, a universal war of soundness of Lenin’s State & Revolution science about a very devastation had cut off the supply of every means of subsistence; industry long period of proletarian dictatorship being the only way and commerce seem to be destroyed. And why? Because there is too much for the world to see-off monopoly imperialist warmonger- civilisation, too much means of subsistence, too much industry, too much ing, now back with a vengeance. commerce. The productive forces at the disposal of society no longer tend to further the development of the conditions of bourgeois property; on the *********** contrary...they have become too powerful for these conditions, by which they It is often said and written that the main point in Marx’s teachings is the are fettered, and so soon as they overcome these fetters, they bring disorder class struggle; but this is not true. And from this untruth very often springs into the whole of bourgeois society, endanger the existence of bourgeois the opportunist distortion of Marxism, its falsification in such a way as to property. The conditions of bourgeois society are too narrow to comprise the make it acceptable to the bourgeoisie. For the doctrine of the class struggle wealth created by them.” was created not by Marx, but by the bourgeoisie before Marx, and gener- ally speaking it is acceptable to the bourgeoisie. Those who recognise only *********** the class struggle are not yet Marxists; they may be found to be still within The conditions of bourgeois democracy very often compel us to take a the boundaries of bourgeois thinking and bourgeois politics. To confine certain stand on a multitude of small and petty reforms, but we must be Marxism to the doctrine of the class struggle means curtailing Marxism, able, or learn, to take such a position on these reforms. (in such a manner) distorting it, reducing it to something which is acceptable to the bourgeoisie. that - to oversimplify the matter for the sake of clarity - five minutes of every Only he is a Marxist who extends the recognition of the class struggle to the half-hour speech are devoted to reforms and twenty-five minutes to the recognition of the dictatorship of the proletariat. This is what constitutes the coming revolution. (Lenin Dec 1916: Principles involved in the war issue.) most profound difference between the Marxist and the ordinary petty (as For a £40* annual subscription to receive EPSR by first-class post, write to (but well as big) bourgeois. This is the touchstone on which the real understand- send no money initially): EPSR, Bulletin Publications PO Box 76261, LONDON, ing and recognition of Marxism is to be tested. And it is not surprising that SW17 1GW [*Pls pay any cheques to Bulletin Publications] when the history of Europe brought the working class face to face with this If you wish to contact the EPSR to offer support or arrange discussions please question as a practical issue, not only all the opportunists and reformists, but write to the address above or email [email protected] all the “Kautskyites” (people who vacillate between reformism and Marxism) proved to be miserable philistines and petty-bourgeois democrats who repu- diate the dictatorship of the proletariat. Name ...... *********** Address...... “The last cause of all real crises always remains the poverty and restricted 62 ...... consumption of the masses as compared to the tendency of capitalist produc- tion to develop the productive forces as if only the absolute power of con- Postcode...... sumption of the entire society would be their limit.” (Capital. Vol III. P568.) EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2 the latest “let’s pull our socks up” rooting for a “new global monetary order”, ludicrously ignoring that the current total disorder is the very essence of the free-market system. Trade war is the only reality, and it will soon be shatter- ing every instituted financial arrangement in sight. There is ludicrous talk of renewed American economic domination of the entire ‘free’ world, based on the USA’s fightback in the trade war of late, plus further delusions that ‘safe’ American world leadership will make the ‘world’ safe too (i.e. capital- ism). Such super-imperialist or supra-imperialist daydreams are as old as the inter-imperialist warmongering system itself. The iron laws of insoluble capital- ist contradictions are what will prevail. Build Leninism. Joe Harper. EPSR Books listing 1) Workers’ Party manifesto (original version - no longer pub- 13) Gorbachevism: How step by class-collaborating step the lished*). Gorbachev group has pretended to ‘remedy’ Stalinist revi- sionism (on war and revolution, and how to tackle imperialist 2) The Workers Party and the struggle to re establish Bolshe- aggression) with even worse capitulation to defeatism, - fur- vik traditions. ther than ever from revolutionary Leninism.

3) For a Leninist Party and world socialist revolution; against 14) To come Solidarnosc, Trotskyism and bureaucratic centrism. 15) Leninist perspective (19 - 1994) on the triumphant Irish 4) For Lenin’s line combining world socialist revolution with national-liberation struggle Pt 2 peaceful coexistence between camps; against E P Thompson, the Trots, and the reformist/revisionist CPs. 16) The defeat for Western ‘democratic’ influence in China is the best possible development for frustrating US imperial- 5) Lenin’s arguments for a strong socialist state against Trot- ism’s counter-revolutionary plans and capitalism’s arms-race sky’s ‘permanent’ counter revolution. tilt towards World War III.

6) Moscow should denounce reactionaries in the CP move- 17) Workers states are the way forwards but minus Moscow ment, as well as anti-communist Trots. weak revisionist leadership chaos [Originally published as EPSR Future Perspectives 2001] 7) Lenin’s proletarian dictatorship versus the CPGB, Trotsky- ism, ‘left’ Labourism, Moscow’s weaknesses and the Morning 18) For open Leninist discussion of imperialism’s fascist slump Star. crisis and drive to war, the significance of the Soviet historical achievement, the world proletarian dictatorship future, and 8) Leninist perspective (1979 - 1988) on the triumphant Irish the bankruptcy of Third Internationalism: national-liberation struggle Pt 1. Five polemics concerning the Indian Workers Association (IWA) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) published between 1991- 9) The collapse of the ‘municipal socialism’ fraud is one obsta- 1993. cle removed. 19) Driven by insoluble “over-production” crisis the monopoly 10) Reformist ‘socialism’ is finished. Down with ‘labour move- imperialist system is gearing up for perpetual inter-imper- ment traditions’. ilaist war [originally EPSR Perspectives 2002] For class war against anti-communism and against collaboration with imperialism. Proletarian dictatorship is the only worthwhile democracy. 20) Occupied Palestine, Nazi-Zionism, imperialist crisis and war. Jewish religious freemasonry and the conspiracy/fraud of 11)On the inevitability of inter-imperialist war: “left anti-semitism”. Inter-imperialist WW3 well already under preparation. Proletarian revo- lution the only possible way forwards for mankind – led by Bolshevism 21) Unanswered polemics v Lalkar/Proletarian (2003). Against based on Lenin’s complete break from social-democracy’s class-collab- museum-Stalinism: orating treachery and petty bourgeois opportunism Re-assessing the giant achievement of the 20th century workers states is crucial in the great debate stirring as revolutionary turmoil 12) How revisionist retreat from Leninism played into US erupts against capitalism’s world crisis catastrophe. But taking on 63 imperialist hands for subverting the Grenada Revolution and anti-communist brainwashing (including Trotskyite biliousness) and pillorying the NJM majority. resolving the great outstanding questions is flawed by blind Stalin wor- ship, denial of errors, cover-up and sectarian paralysis. Leninism needs rebuilding. EPSR Books Vol 15 Ireland pt2

Bloody Sunday’s cold-blooded killings by British paratroopers 1971

A third book on the Irish P&P Economic & Philosophic Science Review EPSR national-liberation strug- Bulletin Publications March 2021 gle up to, and beyond, PO Box 76261, London the 1998 Good Friday London SW17 1GW Agreement and the 2006 Contact email: [email protected] St Andrews accord is in Website: www.epsr.org.uk preparation

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