“The inability of the present Official leadership to develop…”

The inability of the present Official leadership to develop a coherent, not to mention correct, strategy for the post-Sunningdale period is alarming many rank and filers and supporters. In a situation where membership has fallen to an all time low, where the circulation of the United Irishman has dropped by a third in a very short period and many longstanding leaders have been expelled or resigned, the prevailing course of the Officials can only discredit the organisation further.

UWC — Progressive and Fascist!

As early as August 1969 the Officials strategy of trying to win the Protestant working class by restricing the struggle to purely civil rights issues was proven to be totally false. But the leadership had so miseducated its followers and staked so much on this strategy in its controversy with the Provos that it lacked the ability and courage to change course once its mistake had been proven. Instead of recognising the growth of reactionary politics among Protestant workers they continued to pretend that the Loyalists were striving for unity with the Cathobe community When the UWC strike occurred they found ~~ themselves in an acutely embarrassing position. They could not deny the reactionary nature of the strike without appearing out of touch with reality. The Costa Seasta of Officiaf Sinn Fein, in the June United Irishman, deciared that politicies are fascist, the tactics are fascist and the basis now exists for a complete fascist take over in the North’.

It is obvious that if the UWC leaders are “fascist and that the way is open for a fascist take-over then the Catholic working class is in great danger and that the elementary duty of socialists is to prepare the strongest possible opposition to the UWC. But those who are currently directing the Officials policy proved incapable of peking this next step in the logical development of their argument. in the editorial of the same issue of the United Irishman it wes stated that “The UWC success in smashing the middle class alliance executive has added a new dimension to Northern politics. It is too early yet to say whether or not the central feature of the Council is the workers dimension. But the cool treatment of West-Craig-Paisley by the 21 man committee augers well for the future.”

The fascist nature of the “21 man committee” was overlooked, the fascist tactics ignored, the immenant threet of a fascist coup was forgotten Instead of opposing these reactionary leaders it was suddenly necessary “that Republican must seek to develop an understanding with the UWC.”

Revolution or Counter-Revolution With such a confused understanding of the Loyalist strike it was impossible for the Gardiner Place leaders to appreciate to what extent the strike changed the political BRITISH ARMY of essentially working class leaders” and it stated confidently “on this occasion the splits in the ranks (of Orangism) will be deepened by a growing awareness of how the (Protestant) workers were manipulated by the old Orange guard”’.

Who needs enemies . . . ?!

Having so drastically misjudged the implications of the UWC strike the Officials were led to the most reactionary conclusions. The strategy they projected was one of abandoning the Catholic minority to the tender mercies of Loyalism.

On the 10th of August Tomas McGiolla, president of Official Sinn Fein, called for the formation of a United Front Against internment as they key to unlocking the potentials of the present period. The basis of this united front he suggested should be formed by what he claimed were the only two organisations to carry out mass mobilisations. ‘These two organisations ate the UWC and NICRA” he said.

To see what this perspective implies it is necessary only to examine a statement issued by NICRA a few days after McGiolla’s speech. NICRA pointed to the growth of Loyalist militarism and correctly stated that Rees ' stalling on the “third force” was giving prestige to the para-military groups who constituted one of the most malignant elements in a deteriorating situation of sectarianism. But the most energetic para-military groups behind the “’third force” idea are the Orange Volunteers, the Ulster Volunteer Service Corps, the Red Hand Commandos and the Ulster Special Constabulary Association — all of which are on the UWC. In other words, according to NICRA (long dominated by the Officials) it is these very forces which comprise the backbone of the UWC that were leading the fight for an unequivocal return to Protestant ascendancy. And it is with these forces that the current heimsmen of the Officials recommend that the Catholic population should unite to fight for democracy!

Worse still the Officials leadership wilfully ignores the fact that West, Craig Paisley are members of the UWC. And it was Craig who on June 7 warned that any attempt to prevent a return to Protestant ascendency would result in bloody confrontation. “If there is no other way to achieve a constitution or maintain the heritage we believe in” he said “we will be waging civil war in the full sense of the word”. So it is with such cut-throats on the UWC that the Officials seriously suggest that the Catholic workers should form an alliance to defend themseives.!

What direction?

The line now being pursued by the Officials is not just another mistake by a group of sincere revolutionaries. A determined clique now has its hands around the throat of the organisation. Whereas in the past, the mass base and activity of the Officials could be relied upon to prevent such people reigning for too long or bring their policies to logical conclusions, this is now unlikely. The Officials are now little more than a political sect buoyed up by the prestige of yester-year. They are slowly sinking into oblivion. Any major attempt to change course now will only result in further disintegrating the organisation. Those within the Officials who wish to continue the fight for revolutionary politics must be prepared to accept this obvious consequence otherwise they will end up like others — helplessly towed in the wake of reformism.

DUBLIN BRANCH R.M.G.