11.3 6.1 12.15 7.4 8.4
Growing opposition to war in Britain national campaign to win public support for this statement.
by Penny DUGGAN
War hysteria in Britain reached a highpoint when the Sun newspaper-popular pro-Tory daily-accused the BBC, Independent Television News, and the Daily Mirror and Guardian newspapers of treason, for their allegedly 'pro-Argentine
The Daily Mirror riposted by describing the Sun as being to journalism what Dr. Joseph Goebbels was to the truth....it has fallen from the gutter to the
Henry Kissinger, viewed on British radio, commented: 'If the US government had had the backing in Vietnam which the British government has over the Falklands, I would be the happiest man alive?
The effects of the barrage of proTory war propaganda were shown in the results of the local elections in Britain on
These elections were held midway through the term of the most reactionary government Britain has had for
The Thatcher government is responsible for unemployment standing at over four million, slashing cuts in living standards, and attacks on the organisational strength of the trade unions. the Conservative Party held on to, and slightly increased, their strength in the local councils won four years ago under a Labour government. All political comattribute this success to the
Just before the crisis over the Malvinas—or the Falklands as they are known in Britain-broke out, the Tories commanded 35% of popular support in the opinion polls. Now their support has jumped 11 points to 46%.
The Labour Party leadership has failed to provide any alternative to the jingoistic warmongering of the Tories. Indeed, in the early days of the crisis, Labour outdid the Tories in national chauvinism. Even now, when Foot declares refusal to give the government blank cheque he has in fact supported every military action.
However, despite this barrage of propaganda from all sides, there are increasing signs that support for Thatcher's war is only skin-deep.
While some 70% of British people polled for the television programme Weekend World on May 9 support the retaking of the Malvinas, only 55% would do so if it involved further British deaths. These figures represent a decline in the numbers prepared to go the whole way necessary to retake the Islands. It is now obviously impossible for Britain to win back the islands without loss of life. The loss of HMS Sheffield has begun to make an impact on British public opinion.
Since the beginning of the crisis, Tony Benn, the best known leader of Labour's left wing, has opposed the sending of the fleet and called for its return.
Arthur Scargill, recently elected president of the National Union of Mineworkers, made the following statement:
Britain has no right to start talking miles away. We are being used as cannon fodder in an international conflict that can only be resolved by diplomacy and
There should have been no task force sent and it should be recalled. The matter should be resolved through the UN. We should take account of what the Falkland Islanders want and recognise dangers that will arise if we continue with
The Tories are generating jingoistic fervour on an unprecedented scale, aided and abetted by the capitalist press-who are besides themselves in attacking Argentina-and this sickens me.
Tragically, it may only come home to people when thousands of young men
We have seen the price of British imperialism over the years. we had learned the lesson in the labour and trade-union movement. leader come out and condemn this Tory madness which could lead us into a nuclear holocaust. ing Judith Hart, present chairperson of the Labour Party. While few of these MPs repudiate the British claim to sover eignty, their stand has aided mobilisations
"Falkland effect'.
This resolution was put to the meeting of the Labour Party National Executive Committee on Wednesday, April 29.
That this NEC, which has consistently, over many years, attacked and deplored the appalling denial of human rights by the fascist junta in Argentina, and the sale of arms to Argentina; while condemning the occupation of the Falkland Islands in clear breach of international law, believes that there should be an immediate halt to all British military action in the region of the Falkland Islands.
It particularly draws attention to those aspects of mandatory Resolution 502 which the Prime Minister ignores, namely, the preamble calling on the government of Argentina and the UK to refrain from the use of threats of force, and points 1 and 3, which demand: an immediate cessation of hostilities and that both governments seek a diplomatic solution.
1). That the proper response for Britain to adopt is to support all UN initiatives, including direct negotiations to secure a settlement which will safeguard the legitimate interests of the Falkland Islanders.
2). That the Falkland Islanders wishing to leave should be helped to resettle elsewhere with generous compensation.
3). That the question of sovereignty must be negotiable. The NEC also wishes to make it clear that the Labour Party will not support the government in a war with the Argentine which could spread; would put innocent lives at risk; and isolate Britain in the eyes of the world. calls upon the government to suspend hostilities forthwith, by accepting a cease fire and withdrawing the Task Force to South Georgia; and intends to launch a Tony Benn Judith Hart is supported by twenty other MPs, includ-
It therefore
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), which last autumn mobilised 250 thousand against Cruise missiles, has formed an Ad Hoc Committee to oppose the war. This committee, supported by left Labour MPs, has been holding weekly demonstrations, the last of which, on May 9, attracted over three thousand
It has planned a major national demonstration for May 23.
In all the major local cities in Britain, demonstrations, meetings, and other activities have been organised in opposition to the war. The issue has become a focus in the actions already planned by the local CND groups and Reagan Reception Committees' in opposition to the visit of that other chief imperialist warmonger, Ronald Reagan.
Supporters organised around Socialist Challenge, (the newspaper sponsored by the International Marxist Group, British section of the Fourth International) have been in the forefront in organising and building these activities. The main thrust of the mobilisations has been to stop the war. Socialist Challenge has supported them on this basis although there has not always been clear support
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for the Argentine claim to the Malvinas. For example, the CND Ad Hoc Committe calls for a settlement in the framework of the UN Security Council Resolution which supports However, opposition to war hysteria is still in its early stages. And the reaction of the Labour leadership has created confusion inside the working class. confusion centres on what attitude to take toward the Argentinian regime. But while British workers are revolted by these butchers, they do not want to find themselves allied with Thatcher and the Tory government who have never done anything for them. The beginnings of broad opposition movement thus allow real opportunities for winning further opposition to
Local Labour Party and trade union bodies are beginning to pass more and and Labour Party leaders that they stand by the principles of socialist internationalism with the policies
-Down with the war,
-Mobilise the working class to bring down the Tory government.
We recognise the sovereignty of Argentina over the Falklands and call for the withdrawal of the fleet!
Most resolutions have been along the lines of that from Sheffield Trades council which demanded:
all preparation for war and
*Seek a peaceful settlement through framework of Security
Council Resolution 502.
'Guarantee the safety of the settlers with compensation and the right of return to Britain'
Already, an active minority of trade union and Labour Party militants are prepared to oppose the war. But the Foot take on the task of challenging this leadvictory for Thatcher over the will immeasurably strengthen the position of the Tory government at home and increase its confidence to continue with attacks on British workers.
The initiative of Labour MP Ron Brown and Socialist Challenge in appealing for the British Trades Union Congress and the Argentine trade union federation to meet to discuss the question illustrates what is needed. In the early days of the conflict, a delegation from the Argentine CGT touring Europe asked to meet with the TUC to work out a way for the international labour movement to achieve a peaceful settlement' The British TUC deny having received this request. However, the recent appeal has begun to receive some publicity. The Labour Party leadership, which claims to be concerned about the fate of Argentinian workers un-
Thatcher's more resolutions opposing war. Liverpool Trades Council was right again squandered any claim to speak on itself in this attempt to work out a socialon the ball on April 15 with the following resolution:
We therefore demand of the TUC leadership of the Labour Party have yet
The growing behalf of working people.
movement in opposition to the war has to der the fascist junta, should also involve ist internationalist policy to resolve the