OLIVE GIBBS REPLIES TO GEORGE CLARK from Dick Nettleton*
The lead-in by a 'special correspondent! (in last week's issue) was loaded. The Canon's statement said that there was something “amiss at COND headquarters", it did not show that there was, as per your report. Of course, there is always something wrong "at headquarters" in any organisation, but by and large Carthusian St. does a good job, is much less bureaucratic than other "headquarters" and, in my experience, has its ear near to the ground.
Olive Gibbs (acting chairman of CND) has replied to the accusations along the following lines:
"I am sorry that so soon after my election as acting chairman I have to write to you about internal dissension within the Campaign. I believe that our immediate objectives should be to unite in a determined effort to put the independent policy of CND in the forefront of the Election, to link it to a widespread campaign against Polaris and to solve our financial problems...the statement issued by George Clark...can do great damagee.sel will answer them" (the charges) “one by one.
‘George Clark has accused the E.C., the Disarmament and Strategy Group, the General Secretary and the Information Officer of attempting to change CND policyeese.eA statement of policy, based on resolutions passed at the last Conference has been agreed by Council and Executive, was published in the December issue of Sanity and will shortly be issued as a leaflet. This is the policy which we all accept and which is being implemented by Council, Executive, officers and staff of the Campaign. The Disarmament and Strategy Group is also portrayed by George as a sinister group set up to alter COND policy. There is . no truth in this. This group was established after the Annual Conference to implement the Resolution on interim objectives.....[ts task is to establish communication and a dialogue with strategists and others outside the Campaign, to organise letters and articles in the press, to make contacts with radio and television, to ensure that our case is presented as widely as possible...It does not deal with the production of literature and has no policy-making functions....l must emphasise that no one on the Executive or Council, in the Disarmament and Strategy Group or on the staff has changed their opinion on NATO.
",..1 must remind you that"(the Crewe)"resolution which calls on the USA and USSR unilaterally to disarm was defeated at the last Annual Conference, No one on the E.C. would question the right of a minority to seek to win the majority to its point of view. But the minority has no right to accuse the H.C. of ignoring Conference decisions because they disagree with the majority point of view. Personally I hope and beli€ve that these two conflicting points of view can co-exist in the Campaigneeeece
"In his statement, George Clark says: “at the beginning of the year I resigned from the position of Field Secretary because I wanted to draw attention to our high administrative costs." This is not what he said in his letter of resignation." The statement then gives George Clark's letter of resignation. teeetne B.C. has reported fully to the Council and to the Groups over the past 6 months on our financial difficulties...The Movement cannot complain that it has been kept in the dark, for full information has been supplied to Groups and Regions month after monthe...
"George Clark's final criticisms are of the method of working and efficieney of our H.Q staff....Michael Howard...gave an interim report..on April 11th. he stated that the office was seriously understaffed..conditions..were very bad, the staff had no security....they work long hours and get no overtime..they do not get union rates...."