ONE YEAR AGO the Labour Party conference rejected, posite 33 the removal of all American bases, 'early warning' systems and military vessels from British territory, and the termination of military links with America.
This year conference is again discussing withdrawal NATO and the removal of American bases; the time of writing we do not know what we upsaot will be but there is pretty good chance that the vote will be similar, with most of the big unions casting block votes in support of NATO.
Do their member:
ROOTOVE ON even Unions totalling 6,000,000 members are allerated te and Cl policy is to oppose NATO CND, and Labour Party WOLVISS WICIRCINE Young Socialists, could do JELLICE great service by launching debate the BRECHEE about NATO's role and its relation the nucicar deterrent.
does it matter?
Because scrap the missiles without leaving NATO. The •Western Alliance, which Inks America and Europe military SCE!
Reagan and the Pentagon by 5,206,000 votes to 1.000.619 comcalling for withdrawal from NATO an integral wace strategy Europe nuclear. They use the threat of nuclea war, as opposed to conventional plicitly as the main threat which will be held over Russia's head.
But the real function of this threat is not to stop soviet 'aggression" but to ensure that Russia Linucs to stand back from or try to derail, third world revolts in places like Cen tral America. It is part of the Pentagon's strategy and American inLOLOBLS everywhere would therefore be weakened by any holes in the European nucicar umorena.
Britain, as the country American policy, would spark off towards the denuclearisa tion of Western Europe if SUCCESS THEE CEOISS mament went through.
But it Is patently ob. vious. the moment you think about it, that cannot have nuclear European strategy if no European country is willweapons on its soill ciear allow TITTEN nuclear disarmament is therefore completely contrary to American and they would fight it tooth and nail. But how would they fight? Well, NATO is one of the main weapons they wised use How can Simply, WISC because NATO also pro so-called overseas interests'. NATO special WATe understanding between Britain and America, con SCOOTE World War, in which Britain was slowedte remain a world military power in exchange for acting America's junior partner.
Our of this role have extracted major adthe that capital can TCOSUNS flood out of Britain every time a Labour government comes to office for example the fact that *spheres protected by of fluence* Britain's military role provide a bolthole for the money to flood to. The arms trade is major lynchpin of British activity, and in fact Britain WiLS tina's fourth largest military supplier before the South Allantic war!
But because Britain is getting weaker, IL nOW relics on American suphand in hand with Reagan Thatcher WORKED No NO CRUISE o support the dictators ir the only European countr lo send observers to the r there. In return, Reagan farcical backed up Thatcher in th South Atlantic. NATC