Most of our readers will [illegible] more humourous side of [illegible] which are common knowledge [illegible] left circles. This pamphlet * takes them to task on some of their "theoretical" blunders. Anyone who has not the sheer persistence to plough through the turgid repetitiveness of S.L.L. propaganda should thank the author, Bob Purdie, for his [illegible] summary and discussion of the postures adopted, and congratulate him on the success of his uninviting task.
What does emerge quite clearly is the method of the "Banda School of Falsification", in which isolated sentences and phrases are lifted out of the writings of political opponents to make a caricature in amalgam-style, which the enlightened commentator then proceeds to refute. Marxists know of course, who first brought this method to perfection. Anyone noting the "contradictions" [illegible] in the position of the S.L.L. has to take account of the fact, of course, that the "Clapham International Command" mechanically constructs its dogma by reversing and negating the positions of the rest of the marxist movement. Nor should we be surprised that the S.L.L. comes out solidly in favour of the Red Guards; a more accurate assessment would be too complex to appeal to the KEEP LEFT Young Socialists whose ideological sophistication has provided an inexhaustable supply of witty tales for the British Labour movement. All is sacrificed to the desire to put forward a clear-cut slogan, no matter what the factual base of it may be.
What emerges in the question of Cuba is a deliberate refusal to face facts, but in the case of "Black Power" there is an obvious turning against the marxist position of support for oppressed minorities. We may say categorically that it was an unfortunate thing for the world revolution, and for the S.L.L., that Che Guevara was killed in Bolivia; readers of this pamphlet will see, however why we separate the reactions of the two.
Finally, all those who follow V.S.C. activities should buy this document as a good supplementary explanation for the absence of the banners of the S.L.L. and KEEP LEFT Young Socialists in the March 17th demonstration in Grosvenor Square.
* [illegible] On Cuba; China; Che Guevara; O.L.A.S.; Black Power; and the S.W.P.", available Pioneer Book Service, 8, Toynbee St., London E.1., 1/9d, Post paid,