I read with great interest the letter from the Lancaster comrades which appeared in The Red Mole 37, and I took particular interest in the part which I.S. played in the expulsion of the 1.S.C. from the Irish "Solidarity Alliance' on account of the principled stand which the 1.S.C. took in regard to the slogar. "Victory to the I.R.A."
Up until 4 weeks ago, the Manchester branch of the I.S.C. of which I am a member, consisted of the International Marxist Group, Workers Fight, I.S., Revolutionary Workers Party, Clann na hEireann, and about fifteen individual members, e.g. Irish nurses, building labourers, etc. From the formation of this branch, Clann na hEireann had been opposed to the slogan "Victory to the I.R.A. and four weeks ago they pulled out of the I.S.C. and after talks with the Provisional Sinn Fein, decided to set up an Anti-Internment League.
Until this point, things had been going well with the branch and its members had been carrying out various activities such as pickets, leafletting and holding public meetings. A compromise had also been reached with I.S. whereby they accepted the slogan "Victory to the I.R.A: provided the other groups accepted the slogan For a 32-County Workers Republic" and this was agreed on. At this juncture, there was tremendous scope for the IS.C. in the aftermath of the Derry massacre. The Manchester Socialist Women's Action Group had affiliated as had the Gay Action Group and there was also an exteral affiliation from the Manchester College of Commerce Student'y Union sal of the I.S.C. wasn't going to be realised so easily. The national organisation of the 1.S. must have been getting embarassed by one of their branches getting up and raiting the slogan "Victory to the I.R.A." for no sooner had the Anti-Interment League been set up in Manchester than IS. as an orpanisation dropped out of the 1.S.C. and joined the ALL They did not intend, however, to lose their two seats on the committee of the I.S.C. so they told their members that they could remain in the I.S.C.: as individuals.
As anyone will agree, this is a very strange state of affairs and I, for one, would like to see I.S. justify its actions.
Comradely Greetings Manchester I.S.C. member.
Kollontai's AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SEXUALLY EMANCIPATED WOMAN.
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IRISH SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
The Irish Solidarity Campaign holds alternate forums and business meetings every Friday at 8 p.m. at the General Picton pub, Caledonian Road junction Wharfdale Road) nearest tube Kings Cross.
Friday, March 17th: Anna de Casparis on *Orangeism and Paisleyism-Fascist movements?' INTERNATIONAL MARXIST GROUP (British Section of the Fourth International)
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