A new left-wing newspaper needs some justification; the observer on any big demonstration could be forgiven if he thought that every conceivable variety of view and need on the left was already catered for. However, the first thing we must say is that International is not really new: it represents the continuation and development of the ideas and campaigning objectives of THE WEEK. It is true that the style and content will be very different but this is a reflection of changes which have taken place in the British political climate rather than a change in the ideas of the team which brought out THE WEEK.
THE WEEK was brought out in the expectation that a mass left would arise in the Labour party once Labour was in power. It was designed to service and co-ordinate the left. Instead it had to take on a different function: that of outright opposition to Wilson's increasingly right wing policies; and a critique of those former "lefts" who refused to fight Wilson.
THE UNITED FRONT
Secondly, it needs to be said that in our opinion there is no existing British journal which combines with the method of the united front. THE WEEK always stood firm, no matter how "unpopular" this might have been, on issues of principle. Started at the beginning of the year which saw the election of the first Labour Government for over 13 years, it had, unfortunately, to part company with many former established left-wing leaders who capitulated to Wilson. The fact that many of these people are now carrying out the dirtiest of Wilson's jobs justifies our stand, no matter how painful it was at the time.
We have, however, always stood for the united front. THE WEEK always sought to collaborate with any tendency on the left with which it had agreement on particular issues. This method is best expressed in the creation of non-exclusive organs of struggle on important and principled issues. The Vietnam Solidarity Campaign and the Workers' [illegible]
We believe that these bodies have helped to establish a new mood in the British left, one in which people with very differing views can work together. Such a mood is vital if we are to reverse the [illegible] these lines both in active politics and political argumentation.
COMBATTING SECTARIANISM
Thirdly, and, in our opinion, most important, no existing journal is dealing with certain vital political questions in a style that "gets across" to rank and file militants. Such issues as Black Power, the Cuban Revolution, the concept of the united front, the method of using transitional demands, workers' control, and many others, are not dealt with in an objective manner, by and large. (There are some worthy exceptions, but these journals are directed towards a different audience. We will continue to support these journals.) Unfortunately, most of the journals on the left proceed from factional considerations and adopt positions on these questions from a point of view of organisational sectarianism. To give just one example: just as Stalin decreed that Yugoslavia had become fascist overnight, after being a model for people's democracy, because of his differences with Tito, so certain very vocal sectarian groups have decided that Cuba is capitalist, against the overwhelming weight of evidence, because of their differences with other political groups. INTERNATIONAL will do its best to clear up the confusion these groups have caused.
Because it will appear monthly and concentrate upon fundamental ideas that underpin day-to-day activity - INTERNATIONAL will carry a different type of article from that appearing in THE WEEK. The latter's main function was that of an organiser and co-ordinator - a task now undertaken by other journals and organisations. Because of this, THE WEEK's contents were dominated by reports of past and coming activities, new campaigns and material contents will be dominated by articles dealing with the political theory which determines our attitude towards these day-to-day issues. It will, however, carry some of the old-style material.
INTERNATIONAL will not, however, be a theoretical magazine: space considerations and the task we have set ourselves precludes this. But we will, by our coverage and advertising of books, pamphlets and theoretical magazines provide the militant with the means by which he, or she, can probe more deeply into these questions.
POLEMICAL BUT NOT FACTIONAL
INTERNATIONAL will be far more polemical than THE WEEK. The latter journal usually turned the other cheek when accused of "Pabloite revisionism", "ultra-leftism", "selling out to Wilson" because we put forward the slogan of "Open the Books" and "adventurism." This new journal will, as the contents of the first issue demonstrate, polemicise fiercely against those who distort the method of marxist analysis in such a crude manner. But this [illegible] — in the interests of building the united front. The terrible crime of the sectarians is to ruin revolutionaries, especially young ones, by their crude simplistic and social-fascist approach. THE WEEK was ill-equipped to argue against sectarianism and its twin, opportunism*, and on occasion was forced to bring out special issues just for that purpose.
But this will be the by-product of the main function of INTERNATIONAL: the creation of a first marxist core in the Labour movement. The whole experience of the left since the election of Labour Government in 1964 [illegible] such a marxist core which is [illegible] into the Labour movement. [illegible] in 1964 - a grouping which neither ran away from the struggle at the decisive moment nor lacked the courage to make a stand - the evolution of the left under the Labour Government would have been an entirely different story. INTERNATIONAL will make every effort to remedy this lack.
HOW OUR READERS CAN HELP
This, then, is the task we have set ourselves. One which is determined by the vital interests of the British working class, for unless the present impasse is broken we could be in for a whole period of political reaction in this country. A firm mass left wing opposition to the policies of Wilson is vital [illegible] this opposition will become disoriented unless it has a firm marxist core.
We ask our readers to assist us in our aims obviously the bigger INTERNATIONAL is, and the more frequently we are able to produce it, the more effective it will be. There are three keys to this: firstly, circulation; secondly, coverage of important questions (we will be happy to receive articles along the lines we have indicated); and, thirdly, as always, financial support.
THE WEEK, throughout its existence, had loyal support from its readers; we are confident that INTERNATIONAL will receive similar help.