The fortieth anniversary of the start by actions in solidarity with today's struggles by Spanish workers against the beirs of Franco.
An appeal distributed in the labour movement last week by the Spanish Civil War Commemoration supported by a numCommste ber of left and solidarity organisabons - points out that the dictatorship established after the civil war over the bodles of tens of thousands of Spanish workers is now crumbling as the working class rebuilds its strength.
"But such a seasoned and ruthless enemy will not retire peacefully: it will have to be beaten in struggle. The workers of Spain are today engaged in that struggle: massive strikes, buge demonstrations, and mass meetings are taking place all across the country in a determined fight against the dietatorship's attack on living standards, to build a united trade union movement free from state control, and to win basic democratic rights.
The Committee proposes to make the main focus of action a mass picket of the Spunish Embassy in Belgrave Square on Saturday 17 July, starting at 2 p.m. It emphasises that it is no good relying on the Labour Goverment to lead the of the Spanish civil war will be marked fight against the repression in Spain. Already Callaghan has weleomed the Spanish Forign Minister to Britain, and seems only too anxious to take the supposed 'reforming" intentions of Franco's successors at face value.
"But it is these "reformers" who, over the past months, have banned workers meetings and demonstrations broken them up with ferocious polIce attacks, spilling the blood of dozens of workers on the streets murdering eleven militants in cold blood, and jailing and torturing many workers leaders. Forty years ago the solidarity of the international workers movement played a crucial part in helping the fight of the Sparish workers against fascism. Today they need that kind of solidarity once again.
The broadest possible sponsorship from the labour movement for the picket and other actions is neded the Commitiee is nos preparing posters, leaflets and other publicity material for its activities; it also offers assistance in providing information about current workers' struggles and (orwarding financial aid. Furtber details from: Spanish Civil Mar Commemoretion Commit. tee, cio Flat 12,45 Broadwick Street, London W1. courts, The emergoncy regulations have also been used to enact constitutJonal amendments which prevent anyone from challenging the actions of the éxecutive in the courts.
CON-TRICK The 20-point programme has also TONE IS TIGUE LN LWD WOCH 200 the Labour Minister, Raghunath ditficult to evolve a rational minimum wage for agricultural workers at the moment, Agnin, a guvernment working group on the employment of children has come to the conclusion "that it is neither leasible nor desirable (sic) 1o ment" (Economic Times, 25 May).
The proposal to abolish ibe rural debt has also been a con-trick. The real beneficiaries of rural credit facilities Have been the rich and middle peasants.
and the rich. have generally benefited from the State of Emergency. When the Finance Minister, Mr Sabrananiam, presented his Budger two months ago he spoice at length on the neod to take effective steps to prevent tax erasion. Accordingly he reduced the income tax and welth cater and introduced lavish Inditect taxes on luxury goods were and discipline trought about by the re further relaxed planniog controls and retrospectively legalised investments