DEMONSTRATIONS against the war took place. all over Britain on Sunda. A march of 10,000 people went from Hyde Park to AFTER heated debate and much back-room negotiation, the annual terence of the Wales ConLabour Party in Swansea on 22 May rejected further military intervention in the Falklands. The final resolution stated: 'in view of the landing of An estimated 10,000 marched against war in London, and a further 5,000 up and down the country Trafalgar Square to hear Tony Benn denounce Thatcher's war drive as the poison nationalism'.
He argued that the Tories forces we in the Wales LP for cease-fire and for the introduction of a UN peace keeping forces to supervise Ene Samancous drawal of Argentinian forces and for the UN supervise diplomatic settlement. were using the war divert attention from problems at home and that Thatcher Was using war 'for her own political purposes'.
Among the speakers was the of one of the sailors on board Sheffield when it sank. Representatives of severa unions together with Argentinian oppositionist Rafael co also spoke. Rafael Runco said that Thatcher was playing the game of the Argentinian dictatorship'.
people marched through Manchester to opGreater Manchester CND Socialist Challenge sup porter Dick Withecomb the denounced the war as one of shed More lies bloodshed other people marched Edinburgh in a highly suc CESSIE demonstration organised by Edinburgh Stop the War Committee Andy Bar chairman Run- the Scottish burgh CLP, Judith Gray oI North cainburgh of YCND and Socialist Challenge supporter Kevin Holmes. At the same time. people marched through Glasgow and than about you?
of Total so far Should be Shortfall
THE LEADERSHIP of tendency in the Labour Party has rejected the demand withdrawal from the South Atlantic and called on its readers not to build the growing mass movement against Thatcher's war.
editorial article by Ted Grant in the 21 May edition of the paper, entitled 'Demand to withdraw is no answer'.
In the 13 May edition of Socialist Challenge we appealed to Militant to join the movement against Thatcher's military advenrureSuch a demand is completely unrealistic and futile, 'says Grant; his article, which spells out his reasons for this outrageous position, is a socialist endorsement for continuing the war.
It is a model of what Lenin called 'socialism in words, and chauvinism in deeds'. Against such policies which sent millions of workers to their deaths in the imperialist war of 1914, Lenin organised the Bolsheviks Russia and the Third International in 1919.
Grant's first argument is that the Tories cannot be the Militant for Its position appears in a full page its impracticability, does Grant not place it on his programme for Labour governmell which, he says, will bring peace?
His actual justification is far more serious: now ine lask lorce is nere, ne says, it cannot be stopped because the working class support it.
One wonders, on this basis, socialist organisation is necessary; perha similar tou hassimilar thoughts. 'Once the task force has been sent, the die is cast, he says. 'The lefts, by putting forward pacifist position, cannot gain the support of the working " He tells us. 'Marxists must take haughty, superior titude' to workers feelings.
this extraordinary position, he puts Militant on the right of Andrew Hellos At the very moment when thirtyopposition imperialist war. impact of World War I. after branch of the Labour Party reacts with outrage to Foot's betrayal 'The job of Marxists is not to ve uke ine ultra-leti sects on the fringes of the beating thei breasts and strutting around slogans, ' he informs us as Scargill puts the case fol Argentinian sovereignty Lenin and Martov, founders of Russian socialism. Lenin argued for Martov's Britain and the Falkland America and the Isle of Wight?
Argentina and Britain are completely complemenLul. he generously. Of course they bloody well are: because the people of class group disintegrated under the Militant, who have the threaten to miseducate generation of Labour Par. ty members on the most Militant will also weaken the Labour left, which has taken a stand against the war. It now possesses a clear basis on position their positions will earn them will never defend itself if it tries to pick and choose, or take factional advantages of errors by throwing some OI lts members wolves. Organisational measures SuCH expulsions will not deal with a political problem Militant's stand on the war must be defeated in open political struggle The most important task for socialists mobilise the Young Socialists against this war and against the line of Militant's leadership YS branches should as Michael Foods stand : Michael Foot's stand the war. backing those MP's who voted against it the Commons, affiliating to local ad-hoc committees and calling on the YS leadership to endorse this They shole Wite Youth, Militant and Labour Weekly asking for their positions be published order that they may be debated out. socialists in the YS, in cluding Militant sup.
to join us campaigning to commit the YS against the war.
The considerations apply in the unions, where Militant readers are working alongside other broad left activists on Hially issues. Broad lefts should allow themselves to be deflected from building trade union opposition to the war; the should be openly discussed out and Militant's case, as well as the alternatives, should be published and broad left journals so that the membership can give its own verdict.
However, a particular duty Militant readers and sellers. On future of socialism and our cass sLaKe blind loyalty to Militant's board Canno transcend class loyalty We appeal to Militan readers to build the antiwar movement : on a class Militant readers' meetings them de likewise; and to write to Militant stand and demanding reversal: and to launch a thoroughgoing discussion about the Marxist attitude to war going back to the historical capacite of our class in the First World and in imperialist revolts.
Comrades of the Militant tendency; in the interests of vour class. Ine time has come to • your leadership to order.
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Wales Labour Party rejects Thatcher's line