Socialist Republic: October 1977

SOCIALIST

REPUBLIC

STATE BRUTALITY NORTH & SOUTH

DEFEND THE RIGHT TO WORK!

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OPPOSITION

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700 YEARS IS TOO MUCH

The focus for such comran action is abylously Boverunent to be their new guarantors, "expasurea" of the SBLP. Ther will only really affects even the nost passim sections of the we must disappoint the shir.

Lodge shovs) and is quicky becoming a Battara roal fiet co end any brutality sud to Resistance grows Paddy Devlints resignation sa chafrperadn of the SloPis Consticuency Reprosentatives Corentttee and his sabsequen: loss of «11 positions er respanaiitlite highlights the crisis nich bis wracked the SDLF fer the Jast year or more. Now that British Inerialien has whandoned power-sharing and opted to rescore loralist doninacion the original perspective of the SDE has be~ meandarless, The SILT can no longer come expect to hold che legianoe of the Cathe olie tosses on the assurance that Hritain is gradually givine recegnition to the legitinate and historde aspirations of the Catholie massed. Dut any attempt to cover their naked collaborationist past vith a tig-leaf 1e bound to give credence to anti-inperialist sentinent and cesmine revive the nada resistance to Inperialian.

THE SOLP AND TROOPS OUT

The SDIP*s dilemma presents the left and the anti-duperlalist novenent with important The role of the SDLP as a opportunities. buffer betveen the Catholie masses and the nilitant vanguard is under strain.

With correct tactics the hold of the SOLF on the Catholic masses can be snaaled and the musses abd ranguand united ance more in connon strugzle on the scale of the Ciril Rights navement.

Despite the erisis of the SILP the teak of exposing and leolating tben will nec be too easy, Simple demunciations or then will achieve little becsuse it is necessary not only to win the Catbolio population war fron but to win them to the side af the SILP She anti- immerialist resistance, The Catholic nasses do not have the necessary level of political consciousness to understand theoretical and propagandistic understand the treachery of the SOLP throngt their ova practical experience, Consequencly it 1s vital and urgent co toros che SCIP inco common action along sido the anti-

END LEGALISED

INTERNMENT

On Thursday wight, Ist Sopconber a brotest.

neeting was held in the Micku Hall In Marlborouch Street, by the Heapulty Defence Comittee, Jolen Natulty, Beneral Secretary of Peoplas Democracy, has been held on remand fa Belfast since July 5th on a spurious trunged up charge of possession ar documenta" likely to be of assistanco to terrorists", at an unspecifind date betson January 176 sad March 177 ,Ibo speakers at the meeting inclued Fincent Browbe, an independent Journalist, and urguy Orlare of Peoploa Denocracr, A Jetter tron John was read out at the meeting, Fergus urHare stressad that remand vos being wed br the Hedeish as a legalised tom of intarmant, inperialist vanguard, 8o that the Catholic population can judge who in prastice are their defenders or betravers.

the denand for the withdrawal of Deitiah Troops, As Britain has leaned mare and nore towards the loyalists the brutality and viedauness has grovo accordingly, Ibe indigcrininate violence of the Deitish Arm catholio communitel as the reactions of the Peace People to the dragoondne of lurf I Come concern to the Catalie population get tie troops out, siereby peaplo are decadned for long periods DI time, sonetines ovor a vear, hefore ever condne to trial. In many cases were tbe defendant carmat be properly frated! thee abarges are simply dropped, Jin Cicer, a Jeading activist in the Relatives Actioo Cornictee, who was arrested oo sinilar changes ta Mcanalty last September, and remanded since, Has released last wook after a goar en cenand, The Cometeo ancounced that it in to Iyanch an interatiami patition er proctrebe numbers of the Labour Havenent and other individuals calling iur the release of Momilty and the ending of retand as a font af internet, at Large as vell as in the chettons -rsh Moreover the shipts emphasia on the Dinension" and British withdrawal can have andy one concrete meaning for the Cethello minority - the withdrawal of British troops.Trus even If the SILP doea it coc openly and call for the mediato withdran at troope it will nonetheless be croatins an atnosphere wiere such a drand will apo Tessonalie and Just.

AN OPPORTENIST ALLIANCE ?

Sone pearle in the anti-inperialist nevement any objact to any form of joint activ Wich a bourgeois Party Like the 5DLP on tic grounds that such a united front! would be an abandonnent of tbe varicing class and anti-duperialist independince, This objeatio bas alecady been raised by sane aoclalists against the Irdah Front in Rears which includes tbe Nationalist Parry in its ranks Certainly any alliance with a bourgeois par rums the risk of opportundan. But ebit is only a potential danger, Indopendance means only one thing Han ability to pash forwar in a real way the struggle against exploitation and oppression, The beargeoizio cries to curt tola independenoe by oncesirs it within the welle of "bourgoods denocroti Institutions", le, or preaching reliance on parlianent, the courts, the Consticution, etc, Mierefor the principle arom which socialists Jefend the independance of the working class 1s got opposition to emory and any alliance with bourgoods political croup ingo, but apposition to any for af дортас оп.ар 1]union 3л Зовсія denogratic inatitutions. The principle do which tbe independence of the working class rests da mass mobilisation in the course of which the working class builds its own democracie institutions (eg action ettees, mobiliaing and defence cttees eta) wilch can orentuall provide the working claas and its allies with a genudnels denocratie alternative to the bourgeois state The criterion for deciding a parcicular alliance deciding if a percicular alliace is revolutionary, doos at depend an whether it contains beorgols parties or individual.

but wether it wagen a struggle for spacific coals, in the Intereats of the voricing class, by reuns of mHas nobilisations.

DONT LET IMPH OFF THE BOOK

Today as the SnIP find thanselves left ligh and dry by Hritish Imperialien thay are in s vulnerable position, They want the Soutlero They realise that thia will pose dangerous the Maritish presence and questions about the role of the "security forces" But they are hoping no one idll pose theso questions teo clearly or too loudly.

We must aar to then: Motions speak louder thet words the must darnd that they Join Dara Me Fra Movement for a Socialist Republi

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38 CLANAHLEY ROAD, DUBLIN 5

SUPPORT PRISONERS

ies have inposed what the RUC calla "an officialforces of screvs and Joyalists ataged Ay a realt the average prisener jo locked uphing a campaign for hia release becallse talist prisaners dantt let anyone forget tet over 1,000 peopla are now being held in u majorder of civilian deaths tarough sectar miciplying. This Lagalised interrent mist have Little success in catching those respons- a genoralised offensin rainer the stea Secretary of State Roy Mason and ROC Chief denobilised pronging nass nobilisecions, Conatable Kennoth Newman has been to claim inately nothing will be achiaved unless these that thin la simply resentment at the grow- are built on a sole similar to the ones chat joint initiatives with che Relatives Action , that altinatoly tbe novenent one te rebuilt, tomittees, the Turf Lodge Nanous Actien Ottee @gandsational aniry betveco Hepublicans, the crucial task tar Backal at Reputilean Etchole community which arn under the most solidarity actions with those sections of the a trebendous move forward,and can defre also on succific aspects of the platfor, and against it, the Irish Front can plas a book both on the question or the troops and Howerer, in recognising the advance shich It 1s now just oven one year singe Kleran Nurent has gone "on the blanket" in protest at being denied political status.

This right vis granted to the prisoners under pressure of the russ movement, especially in I972/73.

The British moved to abolish it at the sang time as they were beginning to recoyer fren the blows dealt to then and their precious puppet statelet in the earlier phase of the struggle and, especially since the peacet denonstratians of sagust/sepcenter 1975, bave usod this issue as part of their overall spatagy of fortifying the sectarian fourelations of the 30 Tar they bave had sone success and the antiimperiallar forces have not been able to deal adequately with the new situation, Them are now over I90 nen in the H Block at Leng Kesh, sen 2n 1Tagtl age in R, did an errant 1 Farkhurst, England, Shane Q*Doherty, all of when ana refasing to vear crininal uniforms Action Connittee (BAC) - the prison authorit- (sic) blackout" about H Block - the prisoners have had to double up in solitary continent pells because of overcrowding.

all reading naterial except the Bible. Even this is not so easy. Kieran Nugent Has fours that after a year of starine at the erfshite coloured walls (in other cases sonetines grey) in a brightly lit islation cell, hits evesight has begun te

LOYALIST PRISONERS USED AS STOCGES

Accose to radio, IV, and any ganes or recreational actibity is also prohibited.

In addstion, thay have been denied bedding and blankots during the day, letters; and infomation about their relatives and friends and stat is bappening outside. If any or the prison stuff in see the person roche es and parcels and keep all prisoners uD 24 hours a day, They refuse all prisonersarequests, even for nedical treatment.

The government clate chat this is a petvato denonstration by the acres is not credible sinco no diaciplinary action is ever taken and they still collect full pay.

In the last izque of Socialiat Republic we printed a lettor fran the Irish Prent in Derry, asking for support and cooperation in the day of protese acadast the visit of the Hritish Queen, To Hovement for a Socialisc Repablic hai a delegation on the nobilisacion, and have rade pullic our carlete support and solidarity with the Irish Front.

Comprising to data of six Anti-imperialist groupings in Derry city, the essential festure of the Front is the agreenent to a cornea platform in the direct interests ar the Cathalie nibority, on which all organisatiens can vock, regardless of programatic differences. 1. An And to harassnent, torcure, and intim- 2. Full support for political status leadine to an unconditionel general amnesty. 3. Repatriacion of all Irish pelitical prisoners, 4. Withdrawal of Bedtiab Troops and an and to British interference in the political cultural and econonic life or Treland.

The importance of such an initiative must be stressed sharply, and 1s 1s: presning task for Republicans and Socialiacs thraughout the 32 counties to build suppart for che Front and broaden Itts scope of influence, The irvolvenent of the Nationalist Party, such individuals as Eddie Meaceer, ise of Frank NeManas, and Prank McQuire on such 4 Diation is an Inportant step is to ensure that this is extended to real Joint action on the streets, on the shole and to ensure that the plattom is used to indefate 4 concrete drive tavande extendine, nene for the vitadrawal at troops, the Front heyond Derry. Matataining the Front in isolatton in Derry, BROCHATIC CONTROL can onis allow the KationaLists off tbe use of loyalist prisoners.

According to the Relativest nade to forcibly integrate Reputlicous and loyaliats in Grundin How Candiel bloody attacks on antidnperialist to prevent any further They are denied bloodshed, Repubitcan prisaners lagroed!

to rotate exercise periods with the loyaltats forces should throw their weight be- 22 hours a day. Furtherrore the pro-ingerthey have been responsible for the raat ian asese inations. Iley keep the other prisoners awake screaming seccarten pose and the panes of their victins inta the narly hours of the reming.

their quaint way refer to these as Inet- Iveless murders?

TORTURE MORE WIDESPREAD

Recentls there has been a groving volurr of conplaints about the use of torture co extract 'confessionst, Ing tsuccess! of the state forces and to ruke iRish fRont

ON THE MARCH

political status, and allos then the scope to strengthen their ierluence, rather than being forced into actirity under pressure Catholic somunity ital, fron the Catholic russes. Dr organising hy fighting for broad 32 couty support and severe prossure, and have been organtsire crucial role in rebuilding the musa movethe fantustic claim chat people taken in for questinning are infliccing, vounds on thensolves, Ile enorary of this lie is clear abon ve refer to the Taut that. 805 of reoent convictians baro been basad on Toanfessions!

and chat runy of these have realted fo prison sentencas ranging from 15 years to life. One need only ark ir aay moderately sane person would voluntarily confess to charges made against then when they swere of the Jail terns ahead of then, bot te speak of the Increasingly brutel prison regime, to see shy the use of torture in them casea is inevitable. And of course legislation facilitates this: the Prom Yention of Terrarise Act provides for 7.

Days detention, that in plenty of time for embarrassing vounds to beal,

REMAND - LEGALISED INTERNHENT

another crick of the RUd trade is rurand for over a year co apurious "holding' charges and drag toon aien che case cones to court, This Is ntat in being Jano to the General Secretary of Poop- Jets Democrocy, Join Medulty. The NSR beldeves that all anci-inpondalist a videspread abose can then be highlidited: sin lar paiber and the numbers ate he fought and a campaign against it ta a vital part of any programn co rebail!

the sass naresent,

THE WAY FORWARD

and for some strange rooses What is the best way to launch rolline growth of state repression? One way Dot to do it has been ehow by the Provitional INt, When a carpaign einst Political Stetus was startod in 1975 tbay starbad killine screws+ he have already pontioned the disastrous results this had inside cho prisons, The response of but, much nore inportant weside this activity 0Le- Lontd p T hua boen nute in the struggle through the scabilisation of the Froot over the last ten mathe, a severo weaknesa can he detected in thie following statenect releasad in nid-January : "Dar nain activicy bes been the eatablishmeat of local area pomittees, to propagate the agreed aine and objectives of the Prant, se as to bring hone to the Peaple tae vital necessity or mity in this ponce of the struggle azadnat Dritish Irrevi liant sidle in full agreenent with the main thrust of the statenent, in, the establishnent of area comittees, it in not dirt difficult to detect fron it the elitiat conception that the Pront leeds, waile tha people support. In practice, this bea Zed to the area ettee reprecentatives playing a "support" rola in tho Front itself, ithout full voting rights etc.Itta clea tron the democratio arganisation of the Rati, la. One or the sharpost lessons of the last atae years of seruggle has been the disastrous consequences of politicel helitien, end the importanco at sil tims or basing joint activity on, and firiting for political self-organisation withip tbe It is only through this self-organisation Nationalists and sociallats, is in ital formand the confidence in the gettoes, but it cannot aubetitute for the resenergence of the straggle itself, If the Irish Front is to break and nove besond the mintober of the pest, it must throw apan itty organisation and itts contral, to the people or the Beside and traggan. Lotti FInalete.

clesters and one general labourer emplor- ander the det is being paid a "personal" emplorees receve more pay for "historical" Noriens Ottec and Batcen Top hope to proride being paid a higher rate oo grounds ether In tbe current atnospbere of extrene FLE than sex (nanely on compassionate groundnboacility to egual pay the Labour Courtis Ireland has today the vorst level of unemplaynent in the 15C, The last two pears has seen unemploynent soos to a Level not seon im Irland since the 19501a.

TRADE-INTON LEAIERS OPT OUT.

In both itts social and political effects unemplayment Is a scourge of the whole veriding class. Dochecked by the organised trade union movenent it can only Lead to desoralisation, particularly arong che poorly organised aections of the vorking class,on this account alcon the trade union leadership bears a beavy respons- Ibility, Despite the endless resolutions nothing has been done, eitber to organiao the unernloved or to initiste a campaion against emplegent Vith sone notable excepcions, ag tha Local Governent ani Public Service Union, Iittle actonpt has been nade ac intagrating unemployed embers into the union structures.

There is lictle Joubt that the Coalitions record on onemplamment played a major part in their defeat and the election of Flanna Fall.Fianna Fail 1s only coo avare of how explosivo an issue it is, the main featune of itta election propaganda vas arcand precisely that issue. Tet thair rospouse to the problen er anengloynent since they hare taken office sbows that they will go no closer to tackling the problen than tha Cealition did, Their criy response in that of maleshift achenes leg. 600 extra achoel ceachers, and a build up of the police force to daal with unernoyed mouth 1 let the alection of Fiarna Fail with. their corresponding lond ef pronada doas croate an acnosphere for placing demandss on the Covernent and winning concessidos fer the The overriding need for. a national tRight to Workt campaign is more pressing chan ever, The Irish Transport and Caneral Worka as Union passed a resolution at itts 1975 annual conference, calling fer the launching of a Right te Work canaies, yat like nany other resolutions it wasint acted en, lhe groudwork for such a carpalan has cot erg been inielaced by the unions, The interration of memploved nenbers and their representation on the branch ettoes is one vital step wilch coald lay deep roots for The trades councils can such a canpaign. Equal Pay & Equal Work In an astonishing deciaion dasped in the last week of Aurust the Labaur Court har driven a coach and four streicht throut the equal pay legislation.

In Harch, 1976, Arklow Branch susnitted a claim for equel pay betheen chree voner ed by NET. The Equel Pay afficer reconnended in the vonens faveur on che grounds chat all four people did very similar o The company chen appealed to the Labour that the male labourer was "personal concession" Court argueing be was receiving the full Labourers rate Invitation is bound to be received wich even thougb he was plissically uable to range of labourers dutias) carry ou the tul Since there is no one employed na a general Labourer doine a fuller ranee of duties than tbe nan, it 1s inpossible to see the sais for the compentyle assertien [actual chat a broder ranging jol of general This man will never give to the fund drive or subscribe why dont youl STACT RENSI, in poder co ineg se ingular distributior, Sn !? matter low smil, plesse sens it to tea adlebr.

, co- 38 Claranley Read, Dualin s

UNEMPLOYMENT

STAND UP

AND FIGHT

- WORKERS

F WANT. WORK

2 NOT DOLE

labourer actualle existe. Cortainly the Labour Court ruling contadns no indicstion as to why it choze to believe NET.

Heverer, event nore seriaus is the courts un questionine acceptance of the arguenent.

thet 4 man who it agrees is doing like worl rate waich sbould not almo be extonded to womens Thie reasoning la an open invitation co every coupany to argue that itts male reusans op because of Man anomaly ar as a glee by employers throughout the country: Extract talen fron "Liberty) paper or the Irish Iransport and General workers Lnion, Septenter 177. play a aujor rola in co-ordinsting compon action at a local and national lerol,

NEW INITLAFIVES

The Tauration of the Dublin Fight Uneuplernant tonriteee in a good example of how Local groupe of trades uicniste or unerplaye can play an impercant part in laying the hasis for a batical campaign and richtbeck.

Ilis comittee af nemplered trades uniardsta tegan to campaign arogne tao issue of iree publie travel for cbe anenployec. They Lagued "fare fight" tickets wiich sore piven co bus condesters instond of fares, The cetee rose to commity assoclations and trades unions asking then tor support far tho carpaiga, The rasponse vas io gederal pesitive. a group of C.L.L.

employees appecachen the comictee sod offores their supporc, Many trade unien leaders including Micheal Maller (Gen.Sec 1TTWL) bed alec andorsed the idea, Nere recentle the Dublin Trades Council declared Ita support,Alao a group of trades wion delerates and social workers have aprend to represent the denand for tfree fares • to the Dept, of Social WelTare.

In Limerick a similar initiatiro is being pursued. The Unemployed Workers Comittee and the Botton Bog, Ca local rank and file trade unian newspaper) ure demanding free gas and electricitr and bave received sune backine fron vorkers in the lacal mas varice.

Iboy hare alse enlisted the suppart of lecturers and stadenta in the Xationel Insticute for Higher Elucation to carcy out a musey on aremplasment and jab potential in the large working clasa aren of Southill.

Fron tada chey will Jrak up a plen to clear up che area, prapide recreational facilities and carry out nuch pended repairs, wich ther vill put to Linarick corparation, Thar will also have a list of warkers prepared to da ti the jobIn tais vay the Linerick Chemployed a concrete focus araund shich to organise.

A NATIONAL CAMPAION

the Lacitade for chie kisd of work is obvioas and other initiatives around local publie works, ete, cat be instrumental le organising the userpleyed.Whdle local carpaigna sined at improvins the position or the wenployed cannet substitute for a national Right co Work compalen, but theg can plas a vital role in lavine the basis for auch a carpaten. The problen with previoas campaigna on menlogat, auch as the Jofne Unenleyed Workers Sssociation - Melin Trades Concil carplign vas that they tried to nabilisa arouni abstract denands, the Doblio Pight Chenplogent Conicteo and che Limerick Botton Dog campaions hare aveceone this br relsting to the problens voich the wenplured lace ses surployed, and by naking, denands tor core Joba very specific and concrete. If thi: nethou of sork is uoderceken in otber areas and co-ordinated on a national scale, le cauld provide che basis for the energonce of a national, ongoing fight arainst inemployant,

and National Liberation collective neither sens itself as substituting Ingerialist and capitalist exploitation.

wonen, and ubove all the econonic and political historic movements of vonm vichin it. That realities which face the movement, Any novenent historically, for oxanple,a rujority of dealing Just as in Spain, the novement renained ignore Rather we must identify the roots never loose sight of the fuct thar altinately which face as and tha nans of irish wonen, provision of atate nurserios, or tbe right of discussion have taken place, with the Through the wunner, discussions hare taken placo in Dublin and Helrast, culinating in the fomation of a 32 Councy Anti-Imperialiat Womenis Collective, which has taken as tets main project, the productien of a quartarty кадазіло, Through the ragazine, It is hoped co provide a torun for discussion, until nov abaent, on the relacionship between the developing fragnented struegles for womens liberetion throughout the 32 Counties, the fight for national liberation itself, and the role which vomen have historically and are currently playine in that strugele, The for a 32 county movesent which does not exist, nor for the vital day to day work wrich the women will continue to curry on in their on areas, but as an arena for discussion, exchange of experience and analysis, which it sees as an essential part in the development of a strategy fer the Lileration of women in Ireland,

INMEDLATE RELEVANCE

The development of the Wonens Hovenent, arall and fragmented, in both the Bix and Twenty- Six countles has in itaif been an 111mration of the necessity for anti-imparialist.

vonen within it, to take the Lowd in clarifyine and fighting for an understanding of Ingerialion, itty inpact an the lives of no matter how atrong, will altinitely Tall into spontenaisn, defest and dosoralisation 1f it fails to understard the nature af che state forces and institutions with which ittg stall and isolated, until it recognised that their could bo no ioves forward for wonen until the defeat of Faacion, and it aligned itself fimly within the Anti- Fascist novenent, in Ireland, the anly way forward for wonen will oom with the defeat of Imperialist donination Northe and South, nad the establishment af a 12 Dounty Workers Repuhlic, Io immediate relevance to the vomeos novament of chis can be understood, it we examine on the one hand where tbe real novenents of vonen actually endates in the Bolfast ghottoes where woren are arganis ine autenonously of political currents against the troops; arvand Equal Pay: Rainst redundancies ete in the South, The existine Feninist movement in the South has made only niner and unconsolidated atcerpts to relate to these developments, On the other hand the novement for itself has nade little attonot to understand the historic lack of a struggle anons Irish wonen for sexual liberacion, the doninance of the Churches Karth and South, the freedon with er which che Stace has been able to block even niner atteupts st socialisation.of "worlong" Labour, ie, nuraeries, hospital care etc. Sinilarly, while sana wonen have begun to look towards the axperience af wanen in other European countries, the novenent as a whole bas as yet shown little interest io the struggles and experience of women marth of the border, or in the fight to raise the dananda for che liberacion of vonen within the struggle for nacional emancipation.

IRENTY - SIX COUNTY FRAMESORK

lecauso the Foninist movement in the South has contained itself rigidly within a treaty-six county framevork, it ha: been blinkered, and has not begun to in practice that the 26 County reCORDiSe State in not a bourgeois denocrace in the sense that Britain, Prance and Ameries etc, aro, but a deforned state hampered by itts subjection to Imparialian. It bas neither the Inperialise rosense to plysically pay for such referts an Equal Pay, Inereased.

Women's Liberation employment for vones, state nurseries etc, nor in it capable of dispensing with the church as a central force used to control the mass of working people, Talist states have lent sing The weakness and isolation c novenent cannot be broken ai subjective desire on the part.

of feminists to do so The breakdown of the influence pr the church will anly take place within the context of the growth in streneth of the workers novenient and the drive of the class as a viole tovards freedon fren Womena fight for sexual liberacion wil1 not eneroe spentaneously, bot as an inregral part of cheir experience of struggle of organisation, and of viccery.

As such, che battle for existence und expansioo which faces the Peninist noroment in Ireland is to any the least, laneting, We will cot "ninculously" crav in a country soro the churches the the Canily are entrenched as part er the state stractures be must be capable ef confronting the political realities, if ve are to copcribute to changing then, If the feninise novement is rot to continmously surfer from denoral isation end Tragnentation, then it is cracial that ie begins to fight for an underscanding of the nature er our on alaterand the active women in Ireland lure consciously placed the strugele against Imperialiso over and alove their own struggle as wonen, do not something that feminists can afford to at our oppression as a people, while lookin alvays tavards those sections of vonen who ace active and fighting that oppression, and their oppression as workers, if we are co discover the koy to a stracers for the liberation of Irish von.c.

LIENTIFY INK TASKS PACING 0S

suet u strategy cunnot be developed stile the experience and lessons at the day co day atruccle of vomen North and South of the border romin rigidly confined within the division which Imperialien has imposed on us. while in the imediate future, our denanda will remain different, confined ns they are within the separato states, vo most our struggle is one. Been che fight for women to work in the South, can be an idealistie and denoralisine task for the most radical vinee if the goal renains trapped within the context of a poverts stricken 25 county state. To those vonen organising, ve must do nore ther support, no must ho capable of explainine how such denands can lo achieved, it every stage of the strucele ve must an aurselves and other woren with the confidence that such refortgund far nore, are accessable chrough the relamation ar our resources feen Ingerialistender varkers control, ac lave a groat deal to laura fron cho winee of lurE Lodge and Andersonston, fran word an the picket. Linee, and fron the practical experience of the struggle to rosalse the day to day problons of worea in all areas of cheir lives,But on it's on this cannot substitute for nationel discussion, rascastent of war vefve laarut, the fight. for ideas among ourselvas as an essential part of confrontine the tasks The first moves towards such outional forthconing All Ireland Nonens Liberstion Conference at the begining of October.

such a conference can one bo a step forver for the entire novenent, and bopefally provide a basis for contimed comparation with the general dicection or a united novenent. Anti-Ingerialist women, North and South, have a very specifio and inportant role to play in thia procens, Tae tomation at the Collective, and the regular production of a magazine can bring toother the first threads of a national perspective, based on current end historical experdeoss, but essartially based on the knowlade that the liberation of Irish homen can only be von with the liberation of the Irish people as 1 whole. Anti-Irportalist woned car begio to examine collectivaly and in depth the real inplications of thiy for our dos to day work in the South and tao North, and for the grovta of the feminiat movement as Plunkett, Lotte.

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solved by the vorkine class. Some socialists say In short, it is through the naciens!

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THE TWO

Connolly wrote that that che Irish working clans alone rentins the incorruptible inberitar of the fight for Irish freedom, the "nationel question" becae a "cines quest- There aro few socialista in Ireland today sto would disagree with this proposition.

ebere we differences over what is meant br saying that the national queation can only bo that national Independence, ularisn, civil rights etc, will be acheloved only arter the working clase seizes paver by struggling on issuee such as mages, that socialists should espouse national deranda they place their nain and central emphasis on econonte fasuas,

NATIONAL DEMANDS

There we a number of things wrong with this Interpretation. Identifies the strutzle for socialion with the struggle for the econonic needs of the vorking c1a88. synonenous with ecenerie dominis.

This conception of "socialist demands" is far tea simplistic, needs of the vorkers is not simply a cuestion of twisting the aras of the englagere or of gettine rid of their altogether- This muster of posing the guestien world be acceptable to an average refomist ie the with the state. chat even to satisfy thie neat nodest needs whole structure of society.

power, smash it, and replace it with a new tom of dencescy. eneny in the intereste of the workers.

sectalist derands are not simply denanda

NEO-COLONIALISM IN IRELAND

so 1r political demale are the bey to pushing forward the strugale for socialisa, question it is tirac of all necessary to note chat tho state in Ireland, to political change is British de, but simply to say that by thetselves the Irish bourgeoisie would noc be politically streag enougly to paintain a sfabia atate appenatus a British Imperialian belpe te maintain a reasonably stable state power in Ireland by dividing the vorking class (through particion) by denying civil righta to the Catholic Protestant comunity) by relying on Thus Catholic and Procastant, cajoling an cerpelling the Korthorn and southero gorerateota to ruintain ine cicurions. cupression of Ireland tbet the Irish wificatioc, seehaureolale and British inmordalton maintain a state pover that provents to satisty ic's own needed rational denanda are decising for elage tovade the abolition of the capitalisc state and capitalist «aploication, clava derands of Irish sorbers

BCONCHI: JEDSINDS

None cr this implies that eccoonic Ho elenentary zlass consciousness.

But by themselves day to day strugeles will netor convince the workine class of the need to seize State posor.

KILL atterpts by socialists to lendm these struglos ma politicel character" lene, denmiline coononic comeselens bot only frau the cumloyers but fron the state as well) bridge the gap.

Why ? The Pirat is that le Thus sactallat deninds becene the econorde Sating veilich, Labour Party who sauld be heppy to prossuriso the argilagons and ever replace then altogethor what separates socialista Den rofomistrig* class. of the corkera it is esantial to chango tae and in order to do that it 1s necessary to soise hold of state Warters' power is an incispensible prerequisite for reorganising the ec- Thus as Lenin and Trotsky incessantly pointed out for ocononic gain; socinlist demands ane above all else palitical desands le, donanda afned * the understandalla what precisely should these Jenands he in Ireland? To answor this North and South, is a neo-colonial ong That in to say the fundamental barrier Imperialism, This is not to exhonarate the Irish boargeoiale, as the Stalinista minority(voile supporting a privileed" the obscurantian of the churches, both and by lake and the working class tron changing society directing the attention afthe vorking Natienal detaods, in Boss. denuade an unimportant, Doriously thes are inportant for the muterial, day te Mark ra want are were they sin vita survival of workers, tboy giro Ког Becanso the fundsrencal contradictions of capitalisa is not in tho sphere of distribation of walth. 4 rise in vorkers living standarin is quite compatable vith an increase in the rate of capitalists profits. Dy itself the economic struggle does not even necessarily cause basic conflict withis the bourgeetsie. The real notor force of class semanzle In capitalist society is not the diyision of wealth betveen classes but the actual production of that It is in the sphere of proc- -actica that the basic gontradiction cocura.

This de the contradletion between the productian of use values and le the contes-, value is oxtracted fron the working and as Marx emphasized, thts process is mystified and concoaled Iron the waricing clase by a vole range of social and political custore, traditions and distituties.

*11 Once it in understood that production (and roc distributien) in the sporce of coplaitation and class scragle; wu ance it is undorstood that tha process of produatioo itself is mystifiod by socal and pelicical relations, then it beganes clear that (a) the day co Jay econonts experience of the working elass 1s warped and defansed be the contradietory values of che procees of production, (b)That consequently it le fustle to try and build on this deforned expertence so as to extend 1e to socialint conscious- (c)Ibe fight to bring a goentne socialiat consciousness to Ebe vorlorg must begin not with their eccoonic axpardance but by attacking tbe sacia and politieal forces weich datorn that experience, Junes Cocoas Read inprecor Infomation Journal of Faurth International Available fron SR seller and 38, Clanawley Road, Dublin.

URNING TO THE WORKING CLASS?

ver the past Tex months the Provas, specially in Belfast have been critcally evaluating their past pelitical trategy. This balance sheet has enonstrated one inportant leason tor be Proves - the need to tura to the orking class, Sneakine at the 1977 nemal Wolf Tone Commaration, inny brun proclained toat yo need positive tia in with the nass of the rish people — We need co make a casd on econoric issues and on every ay struggles of peaple." my Proves velcon this new fram thought as a fresh wind that could or gone new life into the national beration atruggle. But it is cessary to look at the origins of 1s turn and itty practical inplic" ions before giving unqualified pport to such optindatio hopes.

I REASON FOR "THE TURNT

is no secret that for sou tine If Provos have been uneasy about the serratisu and redomina of tbe renents polities over the past feu tra. Most of the disconteit: has arently originaced fron the milicary le af the movenent, This is peradox- 1 since andan of recant tines, Jinny im, in his Hodenstow speech, e a spacific conle of bow this pens: Hatred and reseneront of e British) army cannot sustain vory and the isolacion of sociallat oublicans around the armed straggle dangeroas and has produced at least sone cirples, the reforist notian at mistert in the insan, wilch can nehow be resolved without the blisation of the workids class in te 26, comtien" asy be added that the military ruggle has noc only loud to innoring 26 county sartara, but also to

HE PROVOS:

oring the working class in the lo 1a The Provos concept of arned struggle an elitiat one based essentially on aa underestination af cho rarolacionarg potentialed the vorking class.

The nore Isolated an elitiac nilicacg carpaign view of the vorking elina it engenders; the more refernat and reactionars itts polities become. And so it iz no real surpriso co flid that thefailure of the Erovos arnod strugale to attain its objectives has resulted, nature of che armed struggla deselt, bit, in a vatering down of ita objactives. Thus at che end of che day the Provos held on to their military prestige bat an Jing Drum pointed out they traded in their secrecent Ideal of a "united Ireland" for a plastic "Sine County Uster", The nore isolated the military carpalen becate the mere Bizarre becano tho political rationalisations util eventually the ordinary rank and file Proves were left with nothing naninetall or roalistio to say to anyobe. bagan to wideo letazen the Provos and oven their stamchest wecking clesa supporters in the gaettoos.

NOT CRITICAL ENOCCH

It in clear that any atcempt te lese that dangerous gap between the anti-ingorialist righters and tho reases must begin with & critical evaluation of the arned-struggle.

Infortunately thore 1s do evidenos to suggest that such an exeroise is being undertaken, The auspicious turn to the working class, into a cul do seca intry Drum's speech failed te cramp the wettle of arned struggle and displayed a ccutinminz underestination and oven patronisacien, of the porkine classe Crumns becomes the nore nogaciro a struzale, to square one. of the Provos.

CONCLUSION

not in un examination of tbe after internnent. i credability sup Do the Westa, particular,

DAYLI CARROLL

On the relstionship between the anted struggle and nees support speech was confusing, Ho argues that because an aolated armed canpaign breeds reformist illusions It is necessary to turn to the vorking CLASS to broaden the base of the military struggle. And so he says "The forging of sprong links between The republican noveneat and tho parkera of Ireland and radical trado unionints sill create an irrepressible support for the copcirming wad Hat va on the amned compign enlated in the Yarst Place?, Lecause it did not bave the support of the voriora - - and see aro back Leless che Initial weakness of chearned cangaigo ia adritted It to meantrgless to talk about "turning to the working clang", The failure of the new tore be the Provos to break decisively with elitist military actitudes is reflected in a failure to break viti a passive conception of the harking Thus when Jiry Crum apoke about turning to the sarkie class it was not in ender to got che verkers to cake up the "catioral questior", oa, the nattonal grosties vas to remain the sacced preserve oF the Provos + Ibe Proves vere to aid the noriters in the day to day trind so chat the Jatter vould sympathise with the anti-inperialise strugles Hut. the anti-imperialist scrunea vas to numin exclusively in the hands While the tenor of Jimy Drums speech be still downt is to be welcaned, aigonl a decisiye turn to the vorking claas by the Proves, A cunt to tbe nocking class roas nose than calking scout bread and butter issues, It means nadelising workers to right fer tbeir cational rets. And ebo only foons af strugale canable of doing chat are mas antians and perkur dempersar: * Contol from p3 took place in the early 170tg, partieuterty Under the colossal pressure whose generated, the No-ce areas were atronghteoed, the Brits and the Loyalist mitties, both official (AU/s) and mofficia (um/079), were denoralised, and the anti-inperialises - guined their greatest angle victory aince partition, the abolitian of Sternt, After that British concessians ombined wich ercers made by the leadership of che anti- Iperialist struggle, allowed the SOLr to cone crawling out of their halas and rootin credibility with the Carholto menses.

Though that hold 1s still strong as shawn da the recont local governeat results they are now under pressuce because Brited sees na reason to make any serious concessions and has been connistently noying towirds the Loral- Asts, culminating in che undertiand Westminster coal, in oppercurity tbus axists to rebuild tbe links between the seei-inperialtar ranguard and the russes throuch usinz the 111fecline created hy the repression poLicios to demand of the SULP land the new Maciteer/ NacHarus parts) thet they suppert protest actions against the state brutality, Failine to do this in the caning persod can onig unan ane thing - more Iritish suedenat name rotiveless minders'; nore frician reginenty All of bich will Lead vicious synten ar discrinination directed againt the Catholica. This bes got to he stopped and gen ho stopped. More All te a bie price to pay It it imit.

THE BOLSHEVIK FACTION

The growing menber of groups on the tar left today has the effect of puzzling nany militants, particularly when a mumber of Chese groups declare the National Questien to be the central focus or activity for revoLutionaries in Ireland, The road to unifying these groups in Ireland who doclare thenselves Trotsicylat, eventually under the barer of the Fourta Intertacions!

1s beset with-many obstacles, one of which is confusion over what constitutes the basis of splits and fasions, Hary of cheze currently Justify their separation fyon the F,I, by invoking Lenins nane and wbat they assume to be his methods.

The MSR has taken the first and what ve believe to be a fundamentally important step, that of unity in action with a nurber of political organisations we find ourin different fields of vork During whis active unity we will all fiad ourselves having to overcono divisive obstadles. Most then are ve princiales for real units, for fusioo, ani what are the coocrete denaris of che Irish gicuation that vould make unicy a erinicipled and workable one?.

in the question of regroupent has been posed bath he the pressure of the objectivo Bicustion, and discussion among certaia political organisations, in this and subsequent articles we show what Lenin and Trotaky's position really was it's mere general and in the case of Ireland specific, application to the problen of building a revolutionary party.

Thie conceptian sometimes held ci Lenin es an inveterate "splitter", cannot be upheld in any serious study or Lenias right to establiah & rerolutionary perty In Russia, During the eleven roar strucie which Lenin had with the Mensheviks, culminatinr in a complete break in 1914, there were Many tines when Lenin tout for unity with the Nensheriks as against a aplit, His netbod of fiencine can be divided into two separate Historical periads,, before 1914 and after, Lenins struele after the formation of the Bolshevik faction in 1903, was a political and ideolorical struggle against the Heosberiks, and simotaneously for a unifiad party, sadnet what be termed the anarchistic actions of tbe Hansheviks, which threatened the party with a splic. Durug this perdod lenin was weill avare of the reformist implications of Menshivisn. But he did bot advocate a melie because of chis. He was tocally syposed to a aplit so long as thes Menshiricks obered the revolutionary Escipalne ar Races from his waitines i 1138t this • *The refusal at Marcor to serve en the editorial board (of Intra), his refusal and that of other party writers to collaborate, the retusal of a nuber of persons to vork on the Central Comictee and ebe propaganda af a boycott, or passive resistance, are boißd to lead even If against split in the party (i) in tbe party is incritable and essential as lem na it is coofined within bounda appraved by the connon consent of all against the right wing of toe perty, bounds " (Li). Thus Lenin decided noc to apt for a spite in the ASDUP, but to use the metbod of faction struggle, ic of an orvanisation within a Party, united not by itts place Nor was his flexability on political where the Bolshovicky found thenselves in a minerity, abey the najority decisiens of the the of us, and explain bearing a Cadet nane, When eventually Lonin decided, in 20E that & split with Menshivian was neonasar; Ids decision was besed exclusively on onganisational celteria i.e. of the Menshiricks to cbey party discipline. Thus he compladned of the Menshivicks "using the colums of legally publisbed nagazines to heap slander and abuse on the Illegal party

(RSDEP),

the nuclei of the party and itts hierarchy is deadl eter It sea becauso of tbese acts of organisational sabotage and not becanse el political differences thar Legin A fev separated fron the reforists, Of course Lenin wes well aware of the treacherous trplications of the Menshdyieks politics; he was also avare that their reformisn inderlar their anillineneas to phold revolutionary party discipline, recognised the relative antonony of political porspectiros and organdsational логяя, and the fight for the Party the wishes of Marcov and his frdenda, to a Lenin declared his couplete opposition to asplit in the pars"(i)4 struggle of shades conrades and party genbors, And our struggle ut cbe Congress, agatist kinor and Axelrod Martynor and Martor, in no way exceeded these

MIT.

of work, language or other objective conditions Mrasbovieks. but by a particular viev on party questians" differenoe and his Insistance on orgenisntion elsapline based on the fact that corneated, he had a najority vithio the RSPLP. Even Lenin insisted that they Menshovies, For exanple he wrote hafter competent bodies have decided all Ha nembers of the party, mist. As party. can, A Bolsherick In Odessa (wher from the party. Che Helshevicks were in a najordey) must cast into the ballot box a ballos paper even if it sickens on tbe anwillingness and inability calling on workers te recard Ireland today, References. (111)......... (ir)... Hut he It was on this understandine of the relative autonony of the political and the orgarisationel that his concept of "denocratic-centralist nu based i,e.

maxim freedom in discussioo , Jocit unty in action, when eventually Lenin die break olitically with che Menshericks it vos not over abstract questions of pelitical te over concrete quescions o tical prantia Ihe Manzhevicke openly supported che Zsarist regina war policy during the 1914-IB Inperialist For Tenin thia demonatratod that in would be futile te loge for organisetiond unity for revolutienary geele with the He declared thet Intornational Menshevien had definitively passed over to che historic cups of the haucrcoiste, and tha their parties, although composed of worker mere now politically bourgeois parties. H • The collapse or the (2ni) Interrational is now clearly the zallapse of appertemian abich is now captive to the ourgeatsie" (vi). Ibe split was final and foreror, The vies which had previously been considered positions to polenicise against sitain the were now views which mast be exclu "As the first shot in the nass slaughter, che chief parcies or the 2nd International betraved the working cla and each of then on the pretext -defence et the fatherland1, went over to the sade of the tourneolaie - (viil.

As Trotsky clearly put ic, "the degroe oi degeneration al a revolutionacy party camos as a rule be established a priari en che basis of symptons alone, The liring verification of events is indispeasable"(viii) As if the record of Lenins struggle vote not suffient to illustrate this question, hevever ve have a second gruat experieace - Trotskyls strucele withia the Commist International and then his split.

The noxt artile in thia serten will outline the experiences of frotsky and the birth of the Pourth International, and Jok rerolutionaries can build the party in (U) Lenie Collected Works Vol,7 p.351. (1L) Lenin Collected Norks Vel.7 p,343. Val 17 p.265 vol,17 e.val. Fol,T3 p.323, [VL)................... Ve1,2I p.38.

(vil) Resolution of the first conferonce at the Comuinist Incernational on tbe Hortie posterence of the Second Tatemactonal, (vag) Tean Trotsky, that Nextr.

working lans struggle has begun - trapping Workers! Party have constantly nobflized against to a Scattish national assontly, but exclades the role of the Trades Dion bureaucracy ards would lead to econone georth, just Like of the Nationel Front and cbe National The growing social, political and econoric crisis in Britain, finds the Briciah labour Party in a crisis that is alnost certain to bring about it's downfall at the next general election. The pact between the Labour Covernent and the Liberal Party in March of thin foar via preceded by the worst eleccoral defeats suffered by the Lubou Party since 1931, with sbifts of nore than 20% against then in sone by-elections, They stand to loose up to half their seats in Setoland to the Scottish Natienal Party in the nast general election, Allied to this the Fascist National Front are oat anly push- -ang the Liberals in to fourth place in sone constituencles, but will fight every sear in the corine general election.

SCOTLAND

411 this occurred in a period that has seen an unprecedented rise in the conbatirity of the British working elass, with Sore than a nillion days lost in strikes in, March 1977, after two years of relative insativity. Ibe present inpasse of the Labour dovernent stens from two criees, one of Scotlund and the other of Econonic policy. The position in Scotland combines all the elementa of the crisis.l combination of econnie deg rivation, social curneil, and the advent of the oil industry has given ney resonance to Scotlands national and decocrucie denends. To stand fer Scottiso self-deternination vould fly in che interests of their Cit ruling class,so lie good social Denocrats they here propased a reformist solution shich tries te prevent the erosion of their porking class beae.

This "devolution" hill gives linited righta It fren control over the decisive sectors Labour, hovever, has proved incapable of carrying the Bill, because of right ving Lsbour and Tory opposition, and thus lost SNP support in confidence necions.

The collapse or labours Scottish policy vas only natched by the continuing crisis of Tabour's econonic policy. The wage controls inposed in 1975 were sold to Hritish workers on the basts that a ane-year to ciektaen month period of reduction in living stand- right-wing polteles bas been the rise the 1950tg and 1960ts,Dut there da no real recovery in sicht.Over ane and a half Bailing Out South Africa

BRITISH

million are wenplored and living standards have declined, all this before Rritia in hit Ly a new recession in 1976/79.

Thus, as cridenced at this yoars TVC, Labourfa been complary, policy or increasing impoverisation la securine indefensible,& now rise of the Labaur Government betveen ruling class denauls for restraints, and the new sorcing class militancy. It is here that becones nore and nore obvious to the russ offigrant commity.

workers, Brery struggle agadnat wage control takes on the signiticance of a major battle GROVIE OF REVOLUTIONARE FETT es the Ill, bureaucracy manoeuvres against then to tsave the government, It 1s becaring nore and nore obvious that it 1s precisely the implerectation of these quaterity measures that will bring down tha Labour Governent, by producing massive demoralisation in the working cisas.

A very dangereas by-protact of Labour*s The support chey have received hea not been of a fascist character - it has madi such united opposition invalying ebe The white suprenacist states of Rhodesia and South Africa continue to amolder with the discontent and rage of centuries of oppression.

The atrategic inportance of tbeir geogruphic location, their natural scalch, and the huge atake of nestern imperialist lovestnents nake any easy retreat by Inperialian fron then impossible. Although Rhodosta is in nety respe respects a frontier sane of Souta Lfrica, her denise from the racist orale vould be a bamer blow to white morale and a turtler scep in the enefrelement and isolation of the poveriul suprenacist rodne in the South Benon the deep interest of the western povers de tbe region and in particular, the diplonatic iniciatims ati crusades of, first Hany Binninger, and now of British Foreign Secretars, Coon, and of UN antassador, Young, But the shite rulers of Rhoi sin, with the ayopia of long fraot line involvement, aee their ou consierable states in Rhodesta to the possile excluşion of a dooned future. Imertaliandch itta wider horiaons, moognisen the beed for a steble transition to a docile regime voich is as broadly tused as possiblo, It secks to peacefully establish the type of Black neo-colonial state vich, to a greater or lesser extent, bas been achiared in mich of the rest of the continent, The recent Rhodenian general election confimed the unity and resolva of the witer behind Snarh. In the face of a lost situation it renadas to bo seen to what extent Snith and the Rhodesian whitas will opr for the Anglo- American sottlenent plans with their paeudo- International legitimacy', Conte bock page ...

CRISIS DEEPENS

been a raciat one. Ptysical actacks on inn- 1grunts are now commonglace.

the action of the revolutionary left bas Both the International Hansist Group (British Sactien of the Fourth Internationel) and the Socialise fascian and racisn. The recent Lewistan mobillisation vas one of a series of mot tHations organised by the revolationary Left with the Invelvenent ef the local im- The andlecze for the idean of tbe rovolutionary Left is now greater in Beftain than At a tine when prowing mailore of wurkers look to the revolutioneries far cadership the noad Do overcore existine livinions end build too strogoar possible andted organisation is crucial.

iters are on the agenda for socialists in Beltein today. The tirat is the building or a class struggle opposition in the labour novement, a united front of ali those prepared to engage in action aguinst the polfeles of the government. Only revolutionary left, the Comunist Parcy und left social Danocrate, i malicical reapocoe te tbe crisis frar the workine class, Cafortunately both ebe CP 4od the Laf: Social Tenucrats, tied as cites aro to sections of the trade union bureancracy, refuse to engage in united action, At anotber level organisations 1ikn the Socialiat Workers? Parts adapt a sectardan attitude towards other revlucionary socialist argentsattons, For exangle in receet bye-elections tbe SuT has rorused to take part in andred nacialist ampaigna, do the ocher band the Interstional Mariat Group were invelved in settig up be Sacialist linity campalen, whose candidate in the recent Ladend bro-election received over three tines the vote of the SKP. Teupite the sise of che rote for the revolutionary cocialiats che National Front are seem as the stronger voice - something vodet a united carpaign would bave aroided.

The second teak that lies aliend follows free SIT arganisttion capable of challenging the CP in & cunter ar apores. Sach an organisation vould be in a strongor position to fore both the CP and left Social Denocracy into united action, 1 perepeative al remolitionars regroupment is thas set by the Interratlegel Hancint Droup as u central part or cheir vark, Such a perspective if the only talistic one if revolutionardes aro to inter- Tene in the decisive struggles at the frite ish working class.

RIATRI MACKSELE

art becomes a commodity..

Ireland Sa regarded internationally an a very literary nation, Not because the Irish people as a whole partieipate in or identity with literature any nord than the peoples of other nations. But because • Tew Irish individuals have played a particularly prominent role in "English! Literature", Each summer sees hundreds or atudents come to Ireland from all over the world; and behind them are the wiversitios fron Tokyo to New Mark voore several thousand people car reasonable livinge by lecturing sod writing about Irish literature, One might expect chat this international reputation vould nean that writers bad a corparatively eusy life of it here, with plecty of vork and untaxed at chat, Notbing could be further Iron the truth. In many countries it is pegaible for vriters to cam livinga without resorting to teaching, digging ditobes or clerking; in some they even get i minimum vege. Barill ang Irish writera, boveter, darn evea the major part of their money from vidting.

Where this atate of affairs in part- Scularly harntul, and where it becones of a certain political interest, 1u toat in order to cet any nones for their vork, Irish writers have to vrite for foreign markets. Ireland is a small territory and thus a small markoc for any products; and Just as an independent Ireland would need inmediate econonic screenents with other countries, so, tao, Irish writers cannot prosper en

JOIN

MALISKEY 15 P., AND UM M-MAHON/M.S.R.A

News of the struggles or Republican peteanars to delend tbeir right co policical status, the incarceration or prisoners in che notorious H block; tbe experiences Di those who so on the blanker A.c, kept. baked except for a blankot, locked up 24 hours a dare or these who do loo ise boarda" (bread and water diet and all furaltare taken away), reached che cars of neny nenbers of the Irish solidarits noverent and members of revolutionars socialist organisatdons in the Cited States ef Anerica, The upportunity to speak to these poople new provided ly the American supporters at the Tourth International (11), the Sociallet Workeror Party (SAP), who ace premonted fron affiliating by reactiobury lordslation. Tor SAP, who were holding thedr 29th, Armial Coopentioo, bed invited Bernadetta ches eater the international narket.

Irish vriters beconing the backs of turope and Irish culture geterally being the primitivo pot of Burope (7 hope to deal with this in relation to Irinb music at a later date.)

short scories, and a conservativa one at that - New Irish Writinell in the Trish Press', If your scary de pub- Ished there youll get about 530; but more eften you ll have co cattle for a all magazine that dosanit pay de all, It, however, yea can break incronse dranetically. If you have a covel and you want a good advance wich As many copies sold as possible, then yeatll go to a London publisbar, whe Ireland, It Lies vith editors who lave & particular inage or trelend and whe interested in ntet confome to che Simply fran the polat ur vies of being understaod by foreigo readers, is is necessary to alter enels writing.

Apart from decails that could have to be explained or oxcluded, there are whole anens of life one night wish to vrite about, whole approaches to lite 29th Socialist Wishes res National Convenin

CHE SHP:

THE IRISH CONTINGENT AT THE RECENT S.M.P. CONVENTION IN OMIO IS.A.

Left to Right: FERGOS OMARE (RD: ANN SPEED (MS.R.) BERNADETTE arish Socialists Tour the U.S.A. MacAllakey of clie Independent Social.

at Party (ISP), Borcus Offare of Peoplets Timocracy (P), to fain ince Speed of the MSR, Section of che Fourth Internattocal, in taking part in a speaktor tour and atcend the Conventien, it public meetings sponsored by the 5WT, in rumerone radio Intervicha and at internal party wormhops, the Irish cies. of the political probleme, tbeir perment and the rolo of revolutiocars Marxists in the caning period.

raluable sori of the Holativear Actica Camittee (RAC) in toe 3ix Countios, tha trutal torture ar priscoere ia Cantlarush ROC barracka, tbe sarda brutallty, and the prisas cooditians to the South vero also doscribed.

the basts of Trish distribution alone, The crucial point is the terns on aditch Commolly referred so the possibility of Irish vorkers hecondne the seebe of Europe, The possibility also exista or Ibere is anly one roal outlet for will also hopefully sell foreign rights.

Thus editorial control lies outside beltero that their readers will endy be extrenely inpreesive. Statas Iyerialian. bationalities there, the Trish fornaire (LCH) in Franca gave up to date enalvsos spectives for rebuilding the nasa nov- served to provide eton greater stimu Ibe ions, and to writing, which vould simply noc conform to the caricaturo or Ireland which provides the only acceptabla Images the editors will My. It is, in tact, part and parcel of colonel and geo-colonial dominacion to be rocardad internationally in a particularly restricted way. So, without necessarily making any conscious decisions, the vriter will adjust to survive, The Ireland s/he writes about will not contliet wick prezoboeptions, And the result, as Antbany Cronin bas pointed out, evietnigs provincialien, Of course) chia is nat eecirely true, because seite will persevere, nay even be quite uncle to rufust. Dat ther mur not te published at all, let alone be able to naxa any kinc cr a living.

Ihere cal be no real solution af the problen short of full cational independanca, Solving totally new international relationshipee That dees nat rows that nothing can be done to inprose the situation; but the tasks are daunting and the Likely achievementn searingly Part 2 or tate urticle will be pablished in ou next isaue.

STEFE MACHONOCH

The ocher part of the Ls trip - attendance at the ShT corvectian - was for the 1SR odes, yea attended an moellent appartunite to eot with within the Incernational.

In apice oi tao ract thet this nar only a Nactoral Bonvention, the Presence of cdesa fron sections and sympathising organisations in Is difrerent countries, was Ibe convencion of the ST cerves an a focus for norbers of the FT in Latin anerica, Canada and Quebec.

Recently 2 organisatiaos claining allegiance to the FI have fused in Canada and Quaces putting the strenath of the Interrational at well over 50D tbere, and and creating en gogoing daris for furtber regroupent none Trotskyist forces.

For the cdes. of the PE and ISP Is afterded an opportunity co see In concrote reality the presenoe, grouch, and allite or clie odes, In the FT to intervene in the world alasz strugale and to begin to cut into the heart of the argitelist vorld - United Nearly 2,003 delegatns and abservers purticipated in discussions on perspectives and interventions in tho lebour novertent, the wonens? movement, and don to tight for the defence of to curren until the chore in Be to Cuc the Blacir profided excellent illustrations of hea our odes, in the USA are condig to grips vith najor politteul cuestions. Revolutionasy greetings fron tao Lique des durriera Revolutionnaires/ Revolationary vardangt Inague (LOR/RL), too new united Quebee/ Canada section, the Lique Corrundere Revaint- Hod the lnitag Secretariat of the Fourth Incarcetional, and a deeper appreciation of the vori of the rene sectsons and evimathieng organisot- Revelutionary Internationalian for toe cornades of the F1 is not a fine aspiration but a Living yorklar realits and che trip to the USA proved pace noce that the test way to go forard is co baild che fourch International,

AN PIARSACH - beathaisnéis nua what oxtent private property ray be held by chose inmen dosires in Pourse wich had -Patrick Pearac1 Tho Triumh of Tailure by Ruth Dudley Edwards (London: Victor Collance Lte. 1977) E7,95209 TA.I.

"Kings with plumes nay adorn their bearse, Pet sees it anna ta Patrick Pearse," Highig an aughes den Phiarsach a sanhlafoth don ar scoll, ir an tooth efle, biom daoine nar chan- Cris b Briain ag jarraich a chur chiir ina Tul orsinn gor fangiceach no agarpeach de shaghas 61gin a bhí am.

North aon naanh E, an Plarsach, na sen cholrpeach ni fanalceach ach an eiread.

Ki raibh am ach daine-of gur dhuine go raith daonnschtulacht thar an scoitiantacht ae buint leis, toine go raith so ina • reabhloid!.

CHRA RAINICEACH

aLf cülra raidicench caobb thiar den Seeriatineach ab ea a athair, bPiarsech. a Id go nor i botabhar Pharnel1 azus an tsaordotinnigh raidicigh, Charles Bradlaugh, MP. CE gur tiresatail Padrade co rialta ar thotimeacha an chreddinh Chaitlicigh - Rohineigh, nt raith son Jelsce air rtanth ag cur i gcoime nu cléire, i goursul polsttfochta be culcurcha; deir ndar anA •thestludanelsefa lins: We had Title or Pranst the automatic reverence for the priesthood canon among his conterpotaries.

ven only eighteen when he sade his firer public critician of the clerzy: in a speach to the central branch of the Gaelic Langue he is deseribed as alluding to the conparatively poor support which the Irish clergy • • were extending ...1= Nuade a bhí ne in eagarthoir ar An BaLleanh salula, iris dhitbeangach al dchoilsich Conradh ta Gaeilge, serfobb sof "There 18 . . . no longer any roon fer doubt.

The Bishops Keve done their worst against Irish-Ireland," ("The Dismissal of De CHickey, " 26 Neithoach 1909), Agas ers: "... ve claim and vill alves eercin the right to criticise any action of the Hiahopay as of any ocher body of Irielten, which affects the welfare of the Irish language . . ." (7 Linass 1909)-

GLIWEREACHT NA MAAK

Latelona an leathar seo go reith an Flarsuch i thad chun tosadeh, le lucht a chonbeingtre (agus, 1 conortsa le badar an leabhair seo), Ina dearcadh ar a lan cursal, Mar shamplar ... his sense of natural justice had Nade hin an early sympathiser with the noverent for equal opportunicies and pay for soren," (Ich, 126) Naisiunel tríd in trad ab ca an Piarsach, ach i dtosach ba nhó a shuin i ecurent culturtha na i goursel I, Praetafaker 2. Riograpby 3. Great Lack-out +. Rectionary polaitfochta, De reir a chelle, thainig se inteach ar chursal polaitiocht: Nuair a charla an Prichubtradh M6i 1, 1913, thachhaigh se leis na hoiheithe. Bh anneas sine ar Sbeanes O Lorcain (agua ag 9r Lorcanach airsean frelsin: chair né a dbi hac gr 8001l chuig sn targach), Neidtr Je Seanas D Conghaile, deir se t-mar Ident "Connolly vas to have a profound impsot on ahliain roinh an BirE inach: had certainly fallen under his spell br now. He had red Labour in Irish History Acpublic remalarly. Hia carlicr ¡lirtation wich the distressed workere!

cause in 1913 had been consoliested by some serdous study, interested in the canoe writings or Janes Fintan Laler . . ." (Ich, 244)

SERLIN POLATTILA

• He thiadyint an Phiarsaint, Preiain, dain se an-tiaitrean as Fron Hartitang in tradar "so videly sympathetie to the Bapublin, 3 Tull 191s). Ag Fazairt do (Workers Bepubiia, 18 Marta 1915).

¿ scroll sE i Meita, 1916, deir an properte is good as against the public rigat or the nation," Leunar sE air: "Ti is for che nstion to dotamine to that. all souroes of wealth whatsoeter are the property of the nation. and chat all surplus wealth shall go to the 1 goomortas national treasury to be expended on go minic, national purposes, rather than bo accumulated by private perseas."

SOISIALACHAS

Is leir, ner ain, go reith an Piarsach ag druinin i derco an a diseast, and read the barkers! (balinchan dialstia scrfach an Piarsach, toilsiche L Meitheart 1915), toine go malab chitaion and andralis, workera! Corkers chaintload an Pilarsaigh, Choats, seriobh se: "It ought to be spread by the thoasand."

In The Sovereign Peonle, painflead • • - A mution ray determine (bodh a thios an auch honighnewsachta. Brittah army gur lanachalb ind. ag Jabbairt ag naigb Wolfs Tone' 1 Heitheath ne hilara seo, go geespaan a Scaladaich go bhfull desigriachtanas arn ceangal a cheutal Idir pa daone atd ag cur 1 geoinne thoreigean na Breataine 5 thuaith agas ne ceandonmannatche raidicache (aclo ate se troid ar sin a goearta Maidir Jeis in, thi atlas or cutoe de cheannadeT na Sealadach a Toeico/ll ag Lahastit ag culd de na norshiúlta ague ra crimithe a chair Coiste Cosanty na Matrithe ar bun tanell beag 6 skin, Bedth no ar sull go leantaiah na Sealadaisb lais an gourse prionsabalta sin agus po scurfear ina luf ar gach utte bhall de no SerIadeigh an tallacht ahốr ate ag baint le mershillta agus cruinnithe den chineil sea,

FILAS SUEMIUTI, YAOIN DPIARSACE

Kusir nach noons, wat an leathair seo ag larrsidh a tunirin fein a thri chan froin bliarasch, Lfich so paipeir agan irist in shreatain, tie thrader agus 6 charpartas ana scciledna, mal an-miens aigo ar phlistf geca he nhwinteeir «r-counsach Twinnear intach i nuach acein dar chug sể nutthi, fear min, mile & thi an: THe was witwat cruelty bimelf, and denlored the primitive and collaw atricude of the Irdah peonle to enlightened approsch of the Eaglish. (1, 132.

Tấ se ri-shaileir, ane, asch n-sootaionn an t-udar le dearcadh polaitfocata en Phiarsaigh, Ach, in Jonad beelach cile a char ronhain, serfollue el a leitheld sea facin biarsect agus faoina chorradaithe: "Punkett . , wa dying anyway from consung tion, and be souft a more heroic and, Pearse had neching to livo for (Ich, 311); "My this stare at his 2ito; nat shrivelled thou poplect bed been forcibly suppressed-pith olle exception, He still longed for success • . ." (1. 199), Deanum af ferrect fredato a chur in lni orinn gur haraigmdasads, I naan thies do tein, eb eu an Piarsach. P5 bornighnessach eu agua an dream a Choilsion i go cran.

alahher cearta no höne igmdasach), 75in san anhina, inh, an drabharfadh an t-miar seo an neid sia adre don cheist claonta chort nor san in qoàst.3h na Har sto fein, cour catacoe an since • Flublairt doo ucar, catulifear a ní ro inTone si go maith an riiteas in tandirt an Piaraschi ",, bloodshed is e cleansing and a sanctifying thine, sod the nation which regards It as the final horror han lost tea ranhood," Dada co t-udar: "His stetaric of Wood as in keeping with much af conterporary policical ricing, in republican and sacialist pepers, whose tore had to conpete with the croning hysteria of aul firl Anuch, ce go goroideans daoine firitha sa reintos . ash nior Phiarsaich fein a lauh in discacht lein, "in Seasons Sinlach"

NO MORE WAGE CUTS!

Arter seven years de locks like the end of the road of the National Wage Agreementa. Right from the begiming it wus ebvious that Nwars would not serve the interests of workers; but it is also clear today that they havent even helped the employers that mich either,

NOBODY VINS

Table 1 shovs how workers wages have Cared since 1970, Anybody earning nore than E20 in 1970 has suffered a vage cut, (the arerage of a nale industrial vorker in 1970 mus 121,30), And that le not the whole story.

Sone 100,000 workers have not yet recicrod Increases due to the under the various SwAts, An most of these are in the poerly organdsed low-payed industries, it is obylous tbat the increases attributed to those who vone arnang t40 -215 in 1970 ara grestle exacerated o without even mentioning the hidded bacure o the Censuner Prion Index, Agreoments hare resulted in a real auge cut for the vast majority of workers.

This Jecline in vages hen not been anywhere neur big enough for the Imployers to solve their crisis of proficubility at the workera! expense.

Notwithatanding the cut in workers! incone Table 2 shaus that over the last decade the inability of the employers te invest and moderaise has neant a drastic reduction in their share or wealth being produced. Considering all the cher problens the englogers haro, a mica greater reductdon In wages will be necessary if they are to vorking class pay tor the crisis of Today a situation has been reached where National Wage Agreenents have become burden for vorkers and too strain of this contradiction a further NWA would collapse in chaos.

But the caployers are not in a good position to entorce a wage bargaining framevork favourable to themselves. Not alone have the NAts failed to solve the econonie crisis, they have failed co undemcine the basic adlitancy of the workers.

while the exerplury contatirity at che T9601s wis moderated under the Nutts it has not at all been eradicated. Last year, for examplo, vorkers went on strike for a pordod of 776,949 mandays - figures which cane close to the peak figures for the GOTs strike wave.

recent talk about changing the Cranevori of vege bargaining, tharefore, is one saliant foct - a sharp palerisation of the class Since the caployers are not in a posit- of age or a0xe ton to maia najor concessions and the too strong to be apenly and directly defeated the initfacive in this sitation lies with. the Of course the employers and the trade union bureaucrats vill try to buy off che corkers with some kind of class collaborationiar toocial contracte class polarisation a cleur class atnagale amative vill have a much stronger purchase an the inagination od the vorkers.

TABLE 1.

Scource: Trade Grigo Inferration, Spring 177.

Reade pay at Decenber 1970 F10 25.02 Total increases under 170-173 National Wage Agreetenta 5 Incredsa Est, increase in C.P.T. Noromber 170 - 7-177 Est % channo in par increased in real terms. IAHLE 2, Scource : Newsletter Conrederatien of Irish Industry, Mily 19th.

Sector 5 sbare of ant output of sector Industry Inployee other incone Diatribution Employee Transport e ather Incene Camerantostion Emplovee agricultural otber Incone (orcl, Puhlic Jinda + Patence

CLASS STRUGGLE ALTERNATIVE

In opposttion to any form of Social Contractt in which wage restruint would be traded for spurious prondeos of increases in social welfare and empley- Socialists in the unions should nobilise around the following demands: For centralised callective bargaining vithout strings vitadron Dron the National Biloger-Lataur Confereace. Ne farther negotiations until all at crown have been paid, For an indes linked 230 a week rat rate it- Hoddiscrimination against wonen - the male rate for the job. Support the low paid workers - for a nattonal animur take hone pay of tAS a veek irrespective Against unemplesment - reduca the work week 3 hours as recormended by the Suropean Trade Union Ceafederation. These demands sbould be capable ar writing the tar left, the Officials, the Comundat Party sto, in a coman struggle to Lead the trade union rank and file in a fisht to derand the basic interests of the vorkieg E13 220 225 230 S40 27,25 30,75 34,20 36, 26 45881 250.2 161,7-153.7 157.0 127.6 114.5 152 152 150 152 152 132 739.0- -132 40,7 0 9,7 -10,9 1958 19755 77,8 87.0 22.2 12.4 75,0 62,4 25.0 17.6 66.4 75 33,6 24. 8

SOCIALIST

REPUBLIC

CLASS-WIDE

NEEDED

To YEAR

VEE N

• SOUTH AFRICA coNcu The inglo-derican plan peelably bod its greatest citoct anong the hlack politicians ring for power, It was velcened Er Rishop Mazerous are Siebole ,But the countries six million blacks might not be so easily bought off,All that can reasonably be expected fron Nagy of the hack leaders is the single channa of large farns, Tha land acts of it onbert i 930 and of 1969 made for the pourese laug Tertile land to he held by the blacks,lty tha 19701g each atite propretor has cor I0o cines nore Land than the black, per capicu.The result is impaserdabnent and the large labour reserve that is necassary for a buddine capitalism, But the unstale intenational ecobany - wemploynane 1y increasing in Rhodesis in recent oars - and che parilousness of the elitist regine in its present forwill not allon for ant capitalist devolopment, The Zintaiween people are huget for land and bread The have been crushed for too long by one of Inperialises meat bideous effaprings.

1 voriers and pessants upsurge would base profound consequences for sinbabne la peuplo na vell na for the encire continent.