Ortempt Shown to Anti-republicans

One of the by-products of the most recent upsurge in the national struggle are what have become known as Pro-imperialist"Socialists", They are best defined by the title taken by one variety of the crop - Socialists against Nationalism ", Connolly's oft quoted line - "The Irish working class remain the only incorruptable irheritors of the fight for trish freedom" - holds no meaning. They refuse to accept that the struggle against British Imperialism is a class struggle - Irish working people against British capitalism and its gombeen allies. In fact they even go further and claim that the National Struggle is an obstacle to the "bread and butter", "cloth cap", uncomplicated "real class struggle", Support for Britain's efforts to criminalise the Irish struggle was an obvious and easy next step, The outpourings of Gerry Fitt were 4 great boost to the anti-republican rantings of these groups and individuals, Yet, despite this, and having a sympathetic mass media at their An important feature of the 1974'5 recession was an agricultural crisis in '74 followed by a major boom in '75. The upturn helped disposal, the H-Block/Armagh struggle has weakened the already marginal influence of Pro-Imperialist "socialists" in the workers! movement. At Trades Councils and Union Branches up and down the For them country, members of Sinn Fein -Workers Party (SF WP), BICO and assorted independents of a similar disposition, have experienced defeat after defeat when opposing resolutions of support for the prisoners. Their victories in this area were very few and far between, Perhaps the contempt with which workers in general view the pro-imperialist politics of these people was shown clearest in the events in Alcan on the Shannon, West of Limerick. There, over 400 workers struck for half a day on Dec 10 in support of the prisoners, One of the chief shop stewards on the Island refused to participate and made it clear that he wouldn't "lose a minute's pay for the f...ers and they could die" as far as he was concerned, A couple of days later the workers dismissed him as their representative! Being in the business of ignoring reality, Pro-Imperialist "Socialists" find it easy to claim wide support for their stance on the National Question. Any survey showing disapproval of the military campaign is taken as support for their view. Transitory "peace movements" are further confirmation of widespread acceptance of their politics, And when all else fails, parties like SF WP will point to their elected representatives as proof that their politics hold sway on the left. However, this claim does not stand up under the slightest scrutiny.

In this regard a case in point is Jim Kemmy, independent socialist, who was elected to the Limerick City Council about 9 years ago. Since then he has refused to seriously debate his pro-imperialist views on the National Struggle on the grounds that he has nothing to prove. He claims the vote he re- class struggle, ceived shows support for his politics on this issue, However, the every indication that it poses the single biggest obstacle to his new year's wish - "A seat in the Dail" (Limerick Chronicte Dec 30 '80).

As with Kemmy, there is little evidence that any other Pro-Imperial-— ist "Socialists'' owe whatever influence they have in the workers! movement to their anti-republican rantings. Likewise, in the future Pro-imperialist "Socialists" will have little part to play in the formation of a socialist opposition in the Labour Movement. in the fight for the leadership of the movement such a socialist opposition tendency would have to develop a strateay which could be seen to offer a way forward for workers, It would have to enter into political combat with the present reformist leadership and argue for a more realistic Strategy to protect workers! interests - one which would take into account the effects of British Imperialism in Ireland. Those who believe Britain plays a progressive role in Ireland will find it impossibie to give a coherent answer to the questions raised by the developing term stability it needs for rapid and steady development. in addition, EEC regulations restrict the canning and processing of meat