It appears that the degeneration of the Communist Party knows no limits. At the Young Workers Conference in Manchester last Sunday (7th Feb.), they stooped to the level of rank reformism.
The conference, organised mainly by the Young Communist League, was generally aimed at persuading the more aware sections of the British working class to support the impotent and disgusting alliances between the Stalinists and certain "progressive" Labour Party and trade union leaders.
They invited one such leader -Lawrence "Lord Aif" Daly-to be the guest speaker for the morning session. With the recent miners" troubles still fresh in mind, some delegates demonstrated their objections, only to be threatened from the chair.
Throughout the conference the main theme was "we are here to discuss the problems of youth in industry, so don't bring politics into it". We were told by the chair that there was a wide range of political opinion represen ted. By this he meant the Young Liberals and other representatives of the bourgeoisie.
The most blatant show of repression of discussion was the way in which the amendments committee tried to stop any political amend ments being put to the conference. One such amendment from the Spartacus League called upon the TUC to call a general strike to defeat the Industrial Relations Bill, explaining that while we supported such propagandistic actions as the Feb. 21st, the only way to inflict a defeat on the Tories was by the action taken by the working class at the point of production. The Stalinists tried to get their resolution on the Bill-a weak ineffective gesture-passed by the conference without any discussion whatsoever. When the chair refused amendments or discussion, there was uproar. It was only then that the amendment from the Spartacus League was put to the conference. Due to the manipulating tactics of the Stalinists, the amendment was defeated, with only two speakers allowed.
It was evident from talking to people in the lunchtime break that there was dissatisfaction not only with the way in which the conference was being rigged, but also with the politics of the self-styled conference leaders. Yet neither did those sincere members of the Labour Party Young Socialists who as we know are fellow party members of "comrades Wilson, Castle and Weinstock" have any perspective for the conference outside the Labour Party.
Yet it is quita clear from the Manchester conference that despite the manipulations of the Communist Party, it is possible to build a Young Workers Moverent in Britain that is free from the domination and influence of the TUC big boys and their apologists.
The Spartacus League has the perspective of working in the Young Workers' Committees which are fighting all struggles affecting young people, from the fight for trade union democracy to the struggle to inflict a defeat on the Tories, For any further information regarding the Young Workers" Committees, contact: The Spartacus League, 182 Pentonville Road, London N.1, or ring 01-837 6954.
2222222222222 Gay Liberation Front demands:the occupation of the Director's flve-bedroomed centrally-heated flat in Clare Market, which has been empty for four years, while students have been exploited by private landJords into paying high rents for slums.
the abolition of Oration Day and Freshers Conferences, and the holding of a three-day Acts/Pop Festival at the beginning of each acadenic year. - the continuation of the fight to close Houghton Street and the planting of trees to create an open-space communal area.
the Board of Governors to join the Society of Friends of LSE and to coase to have any say in the internal affairs of the School.
the LSE Students Union to seek to join the TUC as apprentices, and to fight the Tories' Industrial Relations Bill. moro lockers for students. At present four out of five can't have a locker. - an elected committee to catch the thieves who steal wallets from the Library. About six wallets per week are stolen in termtime. - a feasibility study to assess the possibility of a swimming pool, squash courts, and better faciSites for studen ts in the present Library when it becomes vacant. - more public telephones: six (usually out of order) are not enough. - higher wages for the permanent bar staff. - Connaught House to be renamed Dutschke Hall.
2222222222222 EVENTS MONDAYS: Birmingham Red Circle, 7.30, The Black Black Swin, Bromigrove Street, Digbeth WEDNESDAYS: Stafford Red Circla, 8.00, Dog & Partridge, South Walls.
THURSDAYS: Glasgow Red Circie, 7.30, Christian Institute, Bothweil Street SUNDAYS: Ealing Red Circie, 7:30, The Anchor, Uxbridge Road, West Ealing Inext to Danielsl: FEBRUARY 16th; Leicester University, 7.30 p.m. Taria Ali on "The Struggle for Revolutionary Sociaham FEBRUARY 16th: London Socialist Woman Group onen meetino. 8 om. George IV pub, Pantonwlc Ho (correr Cumming Stl. (Kings X or Angel) FEBRUARY 17th: Hendon Tech. Soc. Soc. Tariq Ali on "Why the Spartacus League"
FEBRUARY 19th; What is women's liberation about? Brixton Town Hall, 7.30 p.m. Street thee tre, controversiel readings, speakers, literature. Refreshments. Organised by Battersea, Peckham, Streatham, Wands worth W.L. graups.
FEBRUARY 20th: SPARTACUS LEAGUE CONFERENCE, For details contact Deboie Dodge, 182 Pontonville Rosd, London N.1. (01-B37 8954) FEBRUARY 21st: Ealing Red Circle (see above). Topic: The Middle East.
FEBRUARY 20th public meeting: Eva Figes, author of Retriarchal Attitudes, on The Family, Discussion. 8 p.m., Ecumenicel Centre, 5-7 Denbigh Roed, V.11, near Notting Hill Gete tube igo up Pembridge Roed, turn left at Pembridge Crescent which leads into Denbigh Roodl, Organised by London Socialist Woman( Group, prosseds to March Bth Ad Hoc Committee. MARCH Eth: "WOMEN UNITE" demonstration, 1.30 Speakers Corner. Rally Trafalger Sq. 4 p.m. Contact Manch 6th Ad Hoc Committoe, 23 Baalbec Roed. London N.5 01-226 3911, Posters & Ipaflets available. MARCH Sth: Frank Keane Defence Committee Social. Kings Head, Fulham Broadwsy Inaxt to the station). Extension to 12. Entrance 5,MARCH 28th: Day Seminar on Social Geuses and Consequences of Addiction", organised by Socialist Medical Association. Ring 01-346 5867 for details. Campaign aginst the Tory attack on the NHS-"Your Health in Doncer" Ienflete Rosciahia from the SMA 31 Lionel Street, Birmingham 3. Ring 021-236 0835.
5952522222222 TEACHERS RED CIRCLE A teachers Red Circle is beig set ap. Hs aim is to develop a political aalysis of education and the following topics will be ineluded: Education in a capitalist society; The role of edocation in the exploited contries/ Educatioo in Russia 1917-1970 (From the Revolution to the Degeneration): Education and women;: Edocation and Black children.
Any people interested in this group sbould contact Jane Porter at 182 Pentrnville Road, London N.1. (The meeting meetirigs will probobiy be held fortnightly at Sunday lanchlimes). RED CIRCLES/RED MOLE CONTACTS BELFAST: Alan Morris, c/o Red Mole. BIRMINGHAM: Val Graham, 72 Cambridge Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham 14. BRISTOL: Dave Prior, 7 Ravenswood Road, Redland, Bristol 6.
CANTERBURY: Brian Grogan, Elliott College.
CanterburyCARDIFF: Susan Lukes, 92 Llandaff Road, Canton, Cardiff.
CHELMSFORD: John Jones, c/o Red Mole. COLCHESTER: Ken Browne, Flat 7, Room 10, Bertrand Russell Tower, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex.
COVENTRY: John Presland, 27 Paynes Lane, Coventry, Warwicks.
EDINBURGH: Brian Gilmore, 17 Hilliside St., Edinburgh.
GLASGOW: Roland O'Brien, 38 Pendeen Road, Glesgow E.3.
HERTFORD: Malcolm Harding, B Parker Aie., Bengeo, Herts.
HULL: Malcolm Ball, Students Union, Hull University, Hull.
IPSWICH: Kavin Barter, 2 Carmarthen Close, Ipswich, IP2 80G.
KEELE: Jason Hill, Flat 37, The Hawthoms, Keele, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs.
KIDDERMINSTER: Nigel Brown, 44 The Deansway, Kidderminster, Worcs KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES: Robin Bonner, 33 Effingham Road, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Surrey:
LANCASTER: Brian Heron, 29 Clarendon Road, Lancaster.
LEEDS: Ron Thompson, 132 Askeren Chase, Hunslet Grange, Leeds 10.
LEICESTER: Jean Holman, 7 College Street, BERIERSTAE LINCOLN: Dave Thompson, 65 Tower Cres., Lincoln.
LONDON NORTH: John Weal, 182 Pentonville Road London N.1.
NORTH-WEST: Tony Fry, 101 Park Avenue North, NW10.
SOUTH: Tony Jones, Furzedown College of Education, Welham Road, SW17.
EALING: Will Rich, 8 Burlington Gdns, W4.
(994 6862 weekends).
HAMMERSMITH: Eddy Amavoudian, 20 Thorny Hedge Rd, Gunnersbury, W4.
LOUGHBOROUGH: Ann Black, 4 Russell St, Lougborough.
MANCHESTER: Steve Cohen, 43 Brantingham Road, Whaley Range, Manchester 16. NORWICH: John Harris, c/o lan Douglas, 1 Cow Hill, Norwich, NOTTINGHAM: Nick Beeton, 25 Henry Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham OXFORD: Bernard Reaney, 27 Southmoor Road, Oxford.
POTTERIES: Jason Hill, Stüdents Union, University of Keele, Staffs.
READING: John Brendan Troy, 56 Gloucester Road, Reading, Berks.
STAFFORD: Graham Jones, 19 Lovatt Street, Stafford.
ST. ALBANS/HATFIELD: Chris Pailthorpe, Fairshot Court, Sandridge, Nr. St. Albans, Herts. (Tel: St. Albans 51854)
SHEFFIELD: Paul Neville, Ranmoor House, Shore Lane, Sheffield, S10 AY STAFFORD: Graham Jones, 184a Silkmore Lane, Stafford.
STIRLING: Donald MacDonald. 6 Tarduff Place, Stonevwood, Dennv, Stirlingshire.
WEST LOTHIAN: Anne MacLellan, 5 Victoria Place, Bo'ness, West Lothian.
YORK: Phil Hearse, Goodricke College, Heslington, York.
MERCHANT NAVY (at sea]: Peter Turner, "Orlana", c/o 182 Pentonville Road Landon N.1.
"THE RED MÓLE HOLE"-club for revolution aries. Meets in the "Hearty Goodfellow" Inn.
Arbury Road, Stockingford, Nuneaton. For further info., write to: M.P. Cheshire, 10 Wastbury Road, Stockingford, Nuneaton. This is the first report from the Mole's new Fifth Column. We shall appear each month. We shall try to give you the stories behind the news. We will not have all the background to all the news, bur we will try. You can help. If you know of scandals involving any section of the bourgeoisie, Join the Fifth Column. Let us krow. We will ler the world know.
The decision to send the Duke of Kent to Ireland caused a wave of fury in the Unfree Press. The Sunday Express carried the headline "Riot Risk to Duke"'. The People proclaimed "Palace in Row over Duke's Posting". The screaming banner in the Sunday Mirror asked "Who decided to send the Royal Family to Ulster?" All the press affected a concern that the Duke could be singled out for kidnapping or execution. The thought that His royal blue blood might flow in reland was used as an excuse for an orgy of stores about the bravery of our Royalty. To drive the point home, the Ministry of Defence in London issued a statement on Feb. 7th saying that there was no question of special security arrangements being made for the Royal Ponce.
This last statement came as some surprise to journalists, who that same day had visited the Duke's command - "Charlie" Squadron, Royal Scots Greys-at Omagh, Co. Tyrone. During the visit they were herded into a pen made of steel barriers and guarded like prisoners by soldiers with sub-machine guns and dogs To all members of the Angry Brigade. The man known to you as "Duncan" is a pig. The man who went to Manchester before Jan. 12th is a pig. Ask yourselves, are you being used by the pigs?
Few, if any, of the Left press have dealt with the question of Khrushcher's memoirs. TimeLife, the original publishers, have consistently refused to reveul witere they got the manuscript from. Even Edward Crankshaw who edited the English edizion was not informed. Nobody now believes thur the memoir are gentine, The question now asted is, who forged them? And for what purpose? Was it the KGB? Was it the CIA?
Victor Zorza in a series of articies in the Giardian on Jamnary 21, 22, 23. 25, 26, 27, effectively indicts the CIA.
Whar should then be arked is why Victor Zorza, who, to put no finer point ou it, is nor unconnected with M/.6, chose to expose the ClA, their erstwhrle allies Perhaps the answer lies in the CIA'3 recent refusal to share Middle Fost informaton with what they call "the bumboys from Leconfield House.
As we write, two Irishmen, Frank Roche and Bowes Egan, are on trial in connection with one of the most effective demonstrations of support for the Irish people which took place last year, Frank Roche for allegedly throwing two 121 CS gas canisters into the House of Commons, where men and women sit who condone its continued use in Ireland, Bowes Egan for allegedly conspiring to create this "public mischief".
Remember, two (21 canisters. Now think of this: between Sept. 1969 and Oct. 1970 the British Army threw 8,330 CS canisters and 1,478 CS grenades at Irish people and into Irish streets and frish homes.
When the British Army driver of a careering Armoured Car in Belfast was informed that he had knocked down a middle-aged woman, he remarked: "I dido't knock her down, I mowed her down." Remember that when our brave boys start coming home... in coffins. The Red Mole 16-28 Feb 1971 Page 11