Not content with manipulating Merlyn Rees like one of the 'Muppets, ine American clandestine services' have let it be known that demonstrators who gerttoo cose to the American Embassy may get STOL.
Incredulous members of the Defence Committee to prevent the deportation of Philip Agee and Mark Hosenball were given this news by the police while plans for a demonstration and picket in Grosvenor Square were being discused. Faced with the combined opposuon or me sonce ame unknown numbers of American gunslingers, modified its plans, and other activity is now planned to follow the picket of the Home Office at noon on 11 December CIA lapdog Merlyn Rees is unlikely to be as upset by this news as by me growing support for tne defénce campaign. Given fourteen davs at first to build sup port, there has already been meeting of 350 in Central Hall Westminster, and three pickets of GENIAL MICHAEL FOOT, deputy Labour leader erstwhile "left', has just flown back to London after a 24-hour trip to spain. The purpose of his visit, he said, was to try to fond out what is happening in Spain today'.
It is open to doubt whether you can find out much about Spain in one day unless you happen to see the murder of a working class militant by the Guare — aere nave been 40 days like that in the past year or the arrest of 154 Basque revolutionaries, or the attacks of the fascist bands on class neighbourhoods. Michael might have learned something if he had visited the political prisoners in carabancner.
He did not bother to find out Instead he was in Madrid aureno the congress of the PSOE, Spanish acmocarc barty He was in distinguished Olaf Palme, Congaliy. from his electoral defeat in Sweden, was there. So was Willy Brandt, the big daddy of European social democracy.
MISSING There was one tamiliar tace missing. Mario Soares, with ule resoons on ues ocoverment weighing heavily upon nim. decided not to attend perhaps on the advice of his namesake, the Spanish Prime Minister.
It was probably a good thing the Home Office; and a teach-in on the CIA, the picket on Saturday ane a nanona demonstanon tro Grosvenor Square) are now under of the National Union of JournalIsts were Que to go on suiKe dunne the 8 December Day of Action'.
The first London public meeting of the campaign revealed the depth of support for the two journalists. With no publicity and only four notice, Central Hall packed. Judia hare anean Mikardo said that support for Agee and Hosenball in Parliament was growing as the implications Rees's action sank in. Alan Sapper, of the cine-technicians union, ACTT, pledged his union's support, and historian E.P. Thompson completed a broad-based platform.
But the greatest help to the Serence commuce ane me camonly paign as a whole has come from Arce himsell. Despite the pressures of fighting "legal" procedures which might have come from The Trial — no charges, no witnesses, re-run of events in Portugal. and These luminaries all their allotted role in the jamboree, the first legal congress of the PSOE since the 1930s. Palme piled on the socialist rhetoric, Pietro Nenni of Italy made them cry with stories of the 1930s. Brandt told them that the Socialist International would support the PSOE come what may. And Michael told them jokes.
DEMAGOGY It was left to Felipe Gonzalez, the party's general secto spell out what the PSOE policy means in practice. The PSOE legalisation of the Communist Party, since it would rapidly lose ground it i were seen te to be clearly to the right of the It has consistently bined demagogic left positions, for example on the boyfresh cott of the syndical elections, with a willingness to negotiate with the Government.
This still holds true. It has been the PSOE been in the forefront of setting up a joint negotiating team with ame Governmens which the CP (not to mention te revolutionary len organsations) will be excluded.
Gonzalez welcomed reform' plans drawn premier suarez as towards democracy, and took an extremely equivocal attitude towards the referendum, because this would be a time no cross-examination - and despite being harassed by dozens of ollen Agee has supported all the actions preparation. And several chapels organised in his defence.
campaign changed now that the have been set for the New Year. Having driven the back to the extent of allowing Agee and Hosenball a few more weeks, une camoan winow concentratt was on getting home the message that the CIA is operating through the Home Office in Britain, and in building for a national demonstration in January.
The calendar Weekly readers should note is a follows: 12 noon, Decem Der. picket of the Office, to be followed by further protest action; Sunday 9 January, national demonstration. Posters, "CIA briefing' pamphlets, stickers and other NCCL, Road, London WCI. perience of had masses in the past 40 years. The mobilisation which take place is of those workers, Darucularly in ine country, who through the reform plan and will be organising a boycott of the referendum.
What Gonzalez mention was that the PSOE the Basque country would be supporting this boycott. the recent arrest of 154 Trotskyists and the mass action to secure their release, the retormist parties were dragged into united action to oppose ine Government and the referendum Gonzalez been too happy about this, but supports he kept his mouth shut.
wny nas ine socialist international, including the British ers like Jack Jones, been so assiduous in its attentions to the PSOE? Why £350,000 this year to bolster the PSOE's ailing trade union wing? Felipe Gonzalez gives the answer. It is support for 'project alternative for society which has MEMBERS?
This means central ning, but no nationalisation of the banks, up by tion or a vester european step taxation system. That's it nets me son or somalisil which will win the neared Brandt, Michael Foot and their rather sorry state today. ournausts.
has 'hearings Home Office torture La socially necessary which all Saturday 11 them to pray. Home information available 186 Kings Cross THEIR RIGHT mobilising une will Basque have seen did not in After cannot have did it give Socialist planand the introduc of Willy This photograph shows a 'Peace Peop/e' supporter at work on the 27 November demonstration in London, and highlights once more the importance of securing free speech on Ireland. majority of the arrested pickets at the 'peace' rally have opted to plead not guilty to the charges made against them, which will be heard towards the end of January.
Millitants should be prepared to use this occasion to underline the denial of free speech on the iris question pointing to the hypocrisy of a 'peace' movement which relies on the type of strong arm tactics illustrated. TO THE DEATH!
weias RICE AT ANY PRICE WHAT'S ON 1. Con one Come Đm on the Man on the Moor • Weren and Wee
WEEKLY
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