The National Bditorial Board of Young Guard met in Leeds on Saturday and Sunday, the 4th and 5th of November, 1961. There were 11 delegates present and 15 visitors. These represented: London and Southorn it,gion - 33 Bast Midland: - 23; Liverpool - 23 Manchester - 13 Leeds — 13 South Wales - 1, Glasgow — le Among the visitors were four from Hull who intend to local support and guarantors, this will mean that they will be delegates to the next NB.
The reports and discussion on the general running of the paper showed that whilst the paper was quite well recieved there were many criticisms. Complete sales reports are not available but in addition to London (1,300), Zast Midlands (350), South Wales (50) good numbers are sold in Glasgow, Liverpool, Ilull and Leods. Copies are also sold in Surrey, Oxford, Ramsgate, Birmingham, Northampton, Yarmouth, Manchester, Leicester, etc.
The discussion about lay-out and the function of tho Working Editorial Board became at times very acrimonious. With people from both tho 5.R. and Rally taking hypercritical positions. liventuelly things were smoothed over by the intervention of the Mast Midlands' delogation and it was gonerally resolved that (a) the deficiencies in the layout wore mainly due to the inadequacy of the printer and ti.:t in future more notice will be taken of tho technical advice of BBs (ov) that therc had been a certain bias towards state cap idoas in the first issue, this was inadyv ertant and would not be repeated.
The main political discussion was around the old issue of the 'workers bomb! and arose from the Liverpool and South Wales objections +o tho slogan, ‘ho to all the bombs — No to all the tests'. The Southorn Region delegate proposed that a position be taken condemning all bombs and all tests. Liverpool countered with a resolution, denouncing the tests and bombs of the West, and condemning the Soviet Union for testing but explaining why they do this from a socialist point of view. As those could both said much the same thing amendmonts wore drafted hardening out the positions, At this stage the Jast Midlands delegates called for an adjourment which was carried. After discussions the Liverpool, South Wales and Gast Midlands dolegates propoes the following amendment, which was carried unanimously:
That the Editorial Policy of Young Guard be based upon the socialist analysis that our onomy is our own capitalist class and that our task lics in fighting our own bourgoiosie and not in attacking their enemy, the astern bloc. That this policy soek to condemn. bombs and tests, not from a state cap or workors' statist position, but basing itself upon revolutionary defeatisn.
On Sunday a number of itoms wore discussed including improving rolations with NALSO. On the latter it was agreed to omlate the Nottingham decision of inviting a delegate from the local University Socialist Socioty to the Young Socialist Federation, Interosting items on NALSO activity would be included in Ys reports, After consid rable discussion it was decided through a composite resoluti01 to tighten up the whole financial set up.
It was moved by the Hast Midlands delegate that organising for the Young Socialist National Conference should commence immediately and include plans for a pamphlet. The Liverpool people dropped a bombshell by announcing they were already in the process of printing their Youth Charter as a basis for this. However it was eventually resolved that the working 3B should commission people to write separate parts and that the result should be submitted to tho next National Sditorial Board in February, next year.
Tho mesting ended upon a discussion around a proposition that the representation to NEB be reviewed. “%ventually it was decided that in future this should be upon tho basis of money collected and sales with a 30% discount off Lencon sales, the latter boing in roco tion of the advantage in London of all the mass mectings.
There will be a comment in tho noxt issue of I.F. Bulletin.