The first National Conference of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign was held in London last week, when agreement was reached on the Statement of Aims of the Campaign. This important document is reproduced below, together with details of the newly elected National Council and the list of organisations sending delegates. A full report of the Conference, with the text of the resolutions ‘ passed, will appear in next week's issue. s t f the V S a Cc ign. . The Vietnam Solidarity Campaign is a movement committed to the victory of the Vietnamese struggle against the war of aggression and atrocity waged by the United States. We regard the struggle of the people of Vietnam as heroic and just. We intend to work in all ways available to us in their support. We will campaign strenuously against the British Government's complicity in the Vietnam wer, We declare complete solidarity with the National Liberation Front and the Demovratic Republic of Vietnam in their resistance to American imperialism, Only the defeat of this vicious aggression, only the withdrawal of American Forces, weapons and bases and the triumph of the NIF and the Democratic Republic over their oppressors will serve justice and the principle of selfdetermination, The promotion of these aims is the purpose of our movement. The Vietnamese people alone have the right to determine the conditions for ending the war. The negotiations proposed by Johnson and Wilson are fraudulent: words of peace to mask aggressive acts of war. We reject them contemptuously,. The Structure of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign 1) That this conference elect a national council to be the governing body of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign. 2) That the national council be answerable ; to national conference, which shall be the final authority. 3) That a : national conference be held amually as long as the need for a Vietnam Solidarity Campaign remains. 4) That the national council be composed of eleven elected members. 5) That the national council have the right to co-opt up to five further individual members and representatives of supporting organisations and local supporters’ groups. 6) That the president of the Campaign be elected by annual conference. 7) That the national council's chairman & be elected by annual conference, 8) That the national council normally meet three times a year. 9) That the chairman of the national council be also the chairman of the executive. 10) That the national council appoint from amongst its number an executive committee of seven to be responsible for the day-to-day work of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign. 11) That the national council make all necessary further arrangements for the effective working of such a structure, including the preparation of a constitution, 12) That a constitution be adopted by the next national conference. 13) That membership be open to allithose who accept the aims of the ca paign and pay the required subscription, and 14) That the national council take immediate steps to set up local solidarity groups. 15) That membership fees be determined by the incoming national council,
Vietnam Solidarity Conference Continued/
List of Organisations sending delegates : Arab Revolution; A.S.S.E.T. (London District Council); Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation; Bristol Sponsors for Peace in Vietnam; Cambridge Ad Hoc V.S.C.; Committee for the Rights of Oman; Croydon South Young Socialists; Brighton YCND,; Ealing No.2 NUR Branch; East Walthamstow Young Socialists; Edinburgh Ad Hoc V.S.C.; Edinburgh A.S.L.E.F. No.1 Branch; Exeter University Socialist Society; Ex-Servicemen's Movement for Peace; Haringey Committee for Peace in Vietnam; Hammersmith North C.L.P.; Hampstead Young Socialists; Hackney Young Socialists; Hackney Central C.L.P.; Hornchurch C.L.P.; Horley Council for Peace in Vietnam; Humberside Voice; Hull Vietnam Solidarity Committee; International Socialism; Iraqui Students' Society; Lancaster University Socialist Union; Lewisham Trades Council; London Workers Committee; L.S.E. Socialist Society; Merton B.C.PiF.; Mid-Beds C.L.P.; National Awami Voice; Oxford Vietnam Peace Movement; Putney C.L.P.; St.Mary's (Twickenham) College Socialist Society; St,Pancras North Young Socialists; Southall Indian Workers' Association; Socialist Action (Bromley); Sussex University Vietnam Conmittee; The Week; Willesdon Clerical & Administrative Workers' Union; Willesdon East C.L.P. Organisations sending Observers : Australian Medical Aid for Vietnam Fund; Waltham Forest Council for Peace in Vietnam; Wood Green C.L.P.; Zenit (Sweden).
Officers Elected at National Conference : PXxESIDENT: Bertrand Russell. CHATRMAN : Ralph Schoenman. National Council : Ken Coates (Nottm V.S.C.) Chris Farley (B.R.P.F.) Quintin Hoare (New Left Review) Dave Horowitz (New Left Review) Pat Jordan (The Week) Ted Knight (Lewisham Trades Council) John La Rose (Individual) Ian Millar (Edinburgh V.S.C.) John Palmer (International Socialism) Ralph Rosenbaum (Individual) Jim Scott (Young Socialists) Ernie Tate (Individual) Tony Topham (‘iumberside Voice, “ull VSC) Barbara Wilson (Individual)
14 people were nominated from the floor for the national council and a motion was carried unanimously that the three unsuccessful candidates be co-opted on to the national council under provision (5) of the Structure.
The list is made up of people with good records of struggle on the question of the Vietnam War, and most are well known to readers of The Week, Two people ~ Ken Coates and John Palmer - have fallen foul of Transport House because of their militant policies. Chris Farley and David Horowitz have been stalwarts of the B.k.P.F. Quintin Hoare, Ralph Hosenbaum, Ernie Tate and Barbara Wilson have put in countless hours in preparing this Conference as members of the Preparatory Committee, Pat Jordan was Secretary of this Committee. Ted Knight is Secretary of his Trades Council with a good record on Vietnam. John La Rose is a West Indian who has taken part in National Liberation struggles in his homeland. Iam Millar and Jim Scott have struggled, in the Labour Party and Young Socialists, against the Wilson policy in Vietnam. Tony Topham has been the main force behind Humberside Voice, which has a record second to none.