This has been written for the Bulletin by an active Young Socialist who was a delegate to the Conference. wd. note.
The atmosphere at this year's Young Socialist Conference was much more business-like than the first one, held a year ago, and while we by no means got through the agenda, the most important resolutions were dealt with. Keep Left supporters were restrained and, especially during the various attacks on them, well-disciplined. The heckling came mostly from the right-wing who were extremely vicious especially towards individuals they identified as 'Trotskyites'
The general tone of the speakers was predominantly left-wing, and where several resolutions were put forward on a subject, the more radical one was most popular.
In spite of much manoeuvering, the left have an absolute majority on the newly-elected National Committee, outnumbering the middle—to-right by 7 to 4. All seven of these being comrades who identify themselves with Trotskyist ideas.
The right-wing as usual were very well organised, though in a minority in example of this was the way in which the resolution on Keep Left was railroaded through, and an extra 14 votes for the right appeared from nowhere at the recount. With the party bureaucrats to help them the right can out-manoeuvre us every time unless the left -wing is much better organised and better disaplined. A tactics meeting held by Young Guard supporters achieved very little. This time should have been used to decide which issues were most important, what points should be stressed in speaking, instead of the whispered consultations that took place during the conference.
As marxists working in the Labour Party we must employ tactics and strategy, so that we do not give the impression of submerging ourselves in the Party. By consistently putting forward a class point of view at each twist and turn of the right wing, the left in the party present an alternative leadership, and we must guide the left in this struggle.
It is important to consolidate the gains of the conference, first of all within the Young Scoialist movement by making sure that the newly-elected committee act on the resolutions passed.With the left in a majority this should not be difficult.
secondly, we must make sure that we are just as well organised as the right by calling a joint Keep Left, Young Guard tactics mecting before <c conference.
We should press for the resolutions to be accepted within the adult party, not by the National Uxecutive Committee but at Constituency level as well,
For example on the Common Markets; while the Parliamentary P-=rty E dither about this, the Young Socialists passed a resolution which looks like a chunk of the Fourth International. It not only puts forward a Trotskyist conception of the United Socialist States of Jurope, but calls on the Labour Party to convene a conference of “iuropean Socialist Parties and Trades Unions to draw up plans for protecting the workers in the Common iarket. Such a practical step should appeal to the rank and file, and would expose and isolate the right wing. N.B. We want to publ ds as much relevant material on the Young Socidtlists _ _ Conference as possible. Many of the readers of the Bulletin were delegates
and we would appeal to them to send their impressions in time for the next
issue of the BUlletin, that is, immediately. In particular as soon as the
the official report of the Conference is available we would like to print
the | ern text of some of the most important resolutions,
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