army in partnership with the present torces represents precisely the sort of solution Britain is Patrioțic Front's call for United Nations troops to play a part would represent a dangerous sacrifice of the independence of the statement the conference the Front insisted that by its acquiescence in the racist regime 'right' decals posed by imperialism have threats posed by imperialism proved even more potent than it had reckoned. It is this continued British Zimbabwe's affairs The important solidarity demonstration on 11 November is therefore unlikely to take place shadow of lifting sanctions. probable are behind-the-scenes Tory manoeuvres in pursuit of its sort of settlement. Such a threat makes solidarity more not less important.
We should not be deceived if the Tories ditch Muzorewa in their search for a deal any more than we were deceived when lan Smith withdrew to the shadows. If Lancaster House has made one thing certain it is that the Bishop, never capitalism's convincing defender, is near the end of his given historical role.
murder a counter-intelligence officer in February 1971. But after becoming one of the first victims of the 'silent the Intercontinental Press More extensively in the latest Intercontinental Press/Inprecor [Vol 17, No 341. As well as reports and interviews, there is a statement by a delegation from the United Secretar iat of the Fourth International, and a review of assessments made br ache left most trial goes on combined it i recor Cuban again featured Kampuchea, issue of [inchucing Scinfist SLHAVING just purchased a copy of Denis MacShane's book Using the Media I think his bland words on the • subject in your paper earlier this month need some comment.
The book is certainly full of helpful and practical information, and on that score it ought to be in every activist's war chest. But MacShane considerably overrates the effectiveness of having a practical and 'professional' approach to the media.
No doubt there are sympathetic journalists dotted around the place, together with nooks, crannies, and contradictions within the media apparatus itself. All these should be exploited to the full, but let's not run away with the idea that this will change much MaçShane acknowledges this, yet that's as far as he goes. To really deal with the media, activists need to know how to confront it, and MacShane barely touches on this.
The demand for the media to provide a right of reply has to be shouted from the skies (not to mention the picket lines), and it's about time we came to grips with the appalling trade union journals — which MacShane sweeps under the carpet.
If Denis MacShane wants to be friends with the lefts in the trade union bureaucracy, bully for him, but that won't get the working class very far.
There's too many union members - at the bottom of the tree as well as the top - who are quite happy to have a slanging match with Fleet Street without bothering to do anything about the rubbish rolled out from the unions own presses.
Let's knock some press freedom into the lot of them!
DENISE AARVOLD, London NW3 DESPITE the overall correctness of your support for the Irish struggle, we felt it necessary to make some criticism of your coverage of the mobilisation for the Troops Out simply a newspaper but an instrument of the struggle.
BRIGHTON Socialist Challenge Forum Irish peers WHILE I applaud your taking the Daily Star to task for their hysterical Irish-bashing after the Mountbatten incident, I think you ought to get your facts right.
First of all, Guinness has got two "n's and the head of this, in fact very, Irish firm is not Tory MP Jonathan Guinness (who is connected with the Guinness Mahon merchant bankers) but one Lord Iveagh.
I here are lots of Guinnesses on the board of Arthur Guinness, and most of them are similarly highly anglicised Irish peers.
CHARLES FOSTER, London N16 READING issue 110 (23 August), I chanced upon that itinerant column News from Nowhere. After I had read the Guardian style hash made of the Rentaprop item, I was horrified to read the Animals one.
Naturally I would agree that the issue of party democracy is the most important one for the forthcoming Labour Party Conference, and it is to be regretted that another motion on another topic should be used to supplant it.
However I wonder if you would have thrown away the ren acement topic so dismissively if it had been about gay rights or something else.
1 know hardbitten revolutionaries like yourselves find it difficult-to take anuma issues or environmental ones seriously — you chewed up articles on Torness by myself and another comrade to become short chunks of gibberish.
However, lack of inclination is no excuse. Short paragraphs in NfN are no place to start or finish a serious: analysis DI anytig.
PAUL HUBERT, Newcastle-on-Tyne A tactical error AFTER the most successful world-wide propaganda action yet carried out by the Provisional IRAI find it extraordinary that the paper limited its coverage to the exposure of the shooting of the civilian at Warrenpoint - interesting though this was (6 September).
It is not the job of socialists in Britain to tell the liberation fighters how to conduct their campaign, but it is to consistently bring to the labour movement and public the need for unconditional troop withdrawal.
'The Irish Problem' has been the talking point of the nation/media for the last week and its virtual absence from Socialist Challenge was an important tactical error.
Otherwise may I congratulate you on keeping alive the banner of non-sectarian sanity in the lett press. MJONES, Co Durham I FEEL obliged to reply to your misleading report in News from African Barbarians been hoping InclusIon racial lines in South Africa meeting is being mandate our delegates to vote against the interests of party democracy.
together to ensure the success of a conference resolution on Labour Party workplace organisation — it was unfortunate that the choice in the final ballot for the second resolution involved a motion on animal welfare and the splittist Militant position on pally uemoraly.
- In such a situation, particularly when no debate or amendment is possible, the only option as far as I'm concerned is abstention.
checks its sources more carefutly before repeating idle gossip, particularly when it concerns such a central issue as party democracy -worthy I would hope of more serious political comment.
CAROLYN MAXWELL, Southampton Stop the Barbarians!
ON Monday 1 October the South rugby team arrives in this country. It has already banned from entering France and Ireland, but the Tories are more prey rede hoping ll with the toke. SART.
that token A coach black and Coloured players will divert attention from the tour match the continued organisation of sport along Camborne in for the first match, Some hope! Stop All Racist Tours [SART] are planning a hot reception for the Barbarians, to include trade union boycott action. A big public organised Militant and ILP members voted apprentices.
thing - profit the rest.
I suggest that Socialist Challenge capitalist nemselves | October in London to focus attention on the campaign; it will be held in Central London Poly, New Cavendish Street, W1 at 7.30pm, and the main speaker will be Peter Hain of will leave after the meeting, at 10.30pm, for the second following day Cornwall. Transport at Exeter on 3 is also being organised by SAKI. for further details please ring SARI c/o Anti-Apartheid at 01-581 5311. Readers in the South-west are particularly asked to get in contact.
• had training 'FREE IMG 8371.
electrician at work, for example, described horrendous behaviour and WOMEN attitudes on the part of male sondaTily On the face of it, since management is interested in only one Lancaster — it is quite possible that they would be keener to have women doing traditional men's work than male workers are, since the latter fear for their job security, status, and Unless American male workers are programmed quite differently (and if so, how?), one is drawn to the conclusion that Ilona Gersh's rosy picture has something to do with the view that the working class is wartless.
So goodbye to women's, blacks' and gays' caucuses — the oppressed have got nothing to fight but the Wonderful!
KEN PRICHARD, Bristol Odidry Opportunist logic become more important, the article still implies that if we believed we could organise qualitatively more people on the withdrawal demand then we would have to change our minds — a thoroughly opportunist logic by any standards.
The right of self-determination is 1 a fundamental principle of our movement. It is not negotiable and should certainly not be conditional on the whims and manoeuvres of British imperialism. What are British promises worth anyway?
An equivocation on the Troops Out Now demand inevitably compromises the question of self-determination. We are not asking for Ireland to be left to settle its affairs when Britain decides that the time is right, but now!
In my opinion the editorial will sow confusion in our ranks as to our reasons for supporting the 12 August demo, and in our future orientation to currents such as this.
Wedidn't join the march in order to link arms with the Liberals, but to politically disarm them and build UTOM. We shouldn't sponsor these people or we will end up disarmed ourselves.
Two competing solidarity movements would be disastrous for UTOM and place great strains on our already fragile unity DAVESHILLINGLAW, Aberdeen WHAT'S LEFT : group has Merseyside. Donations towards cost of rent rand to Socialist challenge Box 4) x tractly receIved 50. London N1 2XP.
BOOKS for Southern Africa comrades money is desperately needed for this vital field Or send any book . Books for Southern Africa 102, Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, Londo POLITICAL PRINTSHOP, person for design work. Printshop experience would be useful asset. Applicants must hav Applica ali would be gi Challenge (Print), London N1 2XP ABORTION on Demand' and 'No each, bulk 12p each. Make cheques or POs ou UNION CPSA; 30 Sept, NALGO; 21 Oct, health; 3 N rail. For details write to Centre or phone 01-35 BATH: SOCIALIST CHALLENGE on sale at 1985 Books, London Road, and Satrudays 2pr SOCIALIST CHALLENGE Group meets regularly. Details from Gravesend Tigers, Box 13, Gravesenc AND cortercice fo involved _ In iris work or interested in becoming lOam, St Matthews Church Road, London available. Registration: London: waged £1.50 50p. Chelsie REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNIST Tendwedness. or erectve solcarity with the Irist struggie. boeaker, Kate Marshall ri sor London. Goodge St/Warren St tubes Koenuck Tottenham Court Road bocaKers vishnu narma.
Wed 1008c 7.35pm Easim Town Al High St South, London E6 COMMUNITY - energetic, capabie persoi ¡cucu to town can communty weverooment centre in cardir from: Riverside Community Centre, Brunel St t34o casing oate • Details Riverside. Cardif. Tel: 0222-22310 PUBLIC MEETING: Beyond the Fragment
----- pull-quotes -----
Knocking in some press freedom
A macho mobilisation?
Chewing up animal lib
Southampton LP hits back