OST Galy a ree: individunl wuld be oo old at $0 mabaceeanian Sire tactoas to the outcome of the present crisis in the YS, Guerilla. . warfare between Transport House and the movement as a whole, if it contimes for much longer will lead to the defeat of one of the participants — and the YS is the certain candidate, With local excep tims, the YS is babely holding its ow in the field of recruitment and growth. In addition to the atruggle against Transport House, many branches are enggt,ed in fratricidal faction " fighting, albeit around "principled" issues, This can only lead to the move— ments detox oration. To new members this stateof affairs is essentially repugnant, Disintegration and demoralisation will be the reward of the Left if this contimes for long. The surprising thing is that, after three years of pitched battle with Transport House, no more ruin has occured than the present Situation — this being a tritute to the staying power of many Young Socialists.
Two remedies exist: (a) A democratic :tructare controlled by the movement and not its parent, and (b) the transformation of the YS into an effective campaigning body, constantly and consistently fighting on issues affecting youth. Becunse of the present set-up, on many occasions attempts to conduct important campaigns have foundered becauee they have inadvertently tended to cut the YS away from the Party. CLP support has often been half-hoart— edly sought and the subsequent action of the Branch or Federation concerned has incurred the wrath of the less militant party. In the last analysis, until campaigns can be launched using a formila which will mean that one can fight without this cmising suspensions, etue;, the only significant political eanitai that the YS, as a militant movement fighting for viable left slogans possessen, is the fact that it is, and contimes to be, the youth section of the mass
Suceess in transforming the YS into a campaigning force and in esining a democratic structure can only be achieved by strongthaning our ties with the Party at all levels, This involves complete integration, both as individuals in the Party and as an organisation . This memns constant work in Wards, Constituencies, Womens Sections (where appropriate) Co-op Branches and of course. the unions. It means pushing the left, pulling it and moving with it, throughout the entire calendar of the party's life. YS Branches should in every way cement their existence with the Party and adopt the role of catalysiné agents.
The extent to which Party wembership and integration, and the necessary degree of autonomy can be had, has a partial preeedent in NALSO, the Party's other current youth movement. Those critics of a NALSO cons for the YS, who claim that it is a move to separate the YS from the Party are wrong, because this sort of fomla does not, mst not, and cannot, preclude full integration with the Party at all levels « If a NALSO constitution were to rid the mowemertof many of its petty restrictions and irritants, easier — relations with CLPs would often accrue. The area of friction would diminich whilst the area of contact would contimue. If our integration is maintained, and the CLPs' responsibility! for the Branch removed, our work with and within those same CLPs would be eadior and more fruitful, "A NADSO constitution" is essentiallya shorthand expression for a YS whose National Committee would have Sxecutive functions, but would still be an integral part of the Party's structure. In fact, many advocates of this formula, want te see increased parti¢i;-tion in the Party's affairs. Only in this way will the disasters of the last year be prevented from crippling the YS - the proseription of Keep Left, the attack s on Young Gusrd,suspension of Felerations, and so on, Only by the gaini ng of such a formula, with the active suppert of our allies in the Party will the YS avoid the fate of Labour's previcus Youth sections,