from an Irish reader on
The following extracts are from a leaflet published by Socialist Forum, for distribution to delegates to the Labour Party Conference which takes place in Dublin this weekend, Socialist Forum is the Irish equivalent of the Centre for Socialist Education, in England. "The developing crisis in Irish society has led increasing numbers of the politically-minded to join the Labour Party, They recognise that no just society is possible within the framework of Irish capitalism, They look to Labour to end the crisis accordingly. But how this is to be done continues to perplex them..ec.e- "In these circumstances, a number of us, varying in background, but united in Socialism, are proffering an immediate programme to signpost for the Labour Party the road to the Workers' Republic, "The Workers' Republic is an aim for all Ireland, not just for the twenty-six counties. However, if it is to be practicable, as such, it must be hacked by thirty-two county movement trarscending religious differences by its class analysis. Accordingly we put forward the demand that as a first step in this direction, the Council of Labour be composed of delegates elected directly by the rank and files of its constituent parties........ "We have no hesitation in moving unswerving support for the National Liberation Front of Vietnam in its struggle against the ultimate imperialist power today - The United States of America.,.... "More immediately relevant to Ireland is our motion opposing entry to the European Economic Community. Socialists must regard this organisation as being merely bigger (and no better) than the British market, However, at the same time, a Socialist cannot accept the xenophobia inherent in the propaganda of Sinn Fein, The achievement of Socialism will be maintained by a United Socialist States of Europe. "The internal forms of the Workers' Republic are crucial to its importance as the only permanent opponent of imperialism, The petty bourgeois concept of orthodox Republicanism cannot withstand imperialism adequately. Only a society in which property rights have been vested in the people, as a whole, can initiate the struggle to end imperialism, since only such a society can withstand its enemy's offers, "In the industrial field this entails complete control of all means of production . by their former employees. This cannot be confused with the capitalists tactic of workers' participation in industrial decisions. This is simply, the placing of employee scapegoats to share the blame for decisions made by the capitalist majorities controlling theeconomy, This technique is used most obviously in the N.I.E.C. "The other side of the picture is in the proposed anti-trade union laws brought to shackle the free action of the Trade Unions. "Taken together, the above policies are reminiscent of the fascist Corporate state. The workers' task must be to oppose them utterly to maintain their freedom of action,....."