ly their fear that Britain has decided to quit the North, and is presently engaged on the economic isolation of this part of Ireland.
The first person to give vent to the economic withdrawal theory was Sandy Scott, the convenor of the unions in Belfast shipyard. Last month Scott told a meeting of 5,000 workers in East Belfast that no new investment was coming problems are more directly related to the bankruptcy of British capitalism and the Six Counties' colonial status than any conscious plan of economic withdrawal on the part of the rust movernment at me same umeris iker boackae British Labour Government will utilise to the full the present economic crisis in its attempts to force agreement between the Ulster Loyalists and the SDLP.
One illustration Bill Craig's scheme for voluntary coalition between the UUUC and the SDLP is one illustration of this. At one time he was able to produce statisties pointing to the feasibility of an independent state in Northern Ireland, but the economic crisis and the collapse of industry here has forced him to abandon these, if only temporarily. Craig understands the need for imperialist finance, and believes that this will not be forthcoming unless some deal is reached with the SDLP He understands also that a few Cabinet seats for the SDLP could well be cheap at the price if it led to the disarming of the anti-Unionist population and prepared the way for a full-scale assault on the nationalist ghettos by the RUC and Loyalist para-militaries under Stormont control. This accomplished, the SDLP could be despatched back to the opposition benches suitably chastened.
The majority of the UUC, of course, reject any notion of power-sharing with the SDLP, and the Ulster Workers Coun cil has now commented that Craig's proposals represent 'a new and sinister threat to our heritage and future. This debate is by no means ended, however, as Craig's success in winning a majority on the Vanguard Party Council shows scale. anese Loyalist work to this.
them in a real sense? left as a strategy. power trom themselves. rather disappointing. vsis of the situation Unfortunately, tant community.
- the anti-Unionist Interview with JIM McCORRY, Chairman of the Andersonstown Branch of the Irish Republican Socialist Party.
• What is the position with respect to the feud with the Officiais?
Their position seemed to be that we had no right to exist as a political organisation. But the feud now appears to have died down and, we hope, ended. For the past eight weeks there nas been no physical conflict except on a limited The IRSP position is that we are vehemently opposed to sectarian tit-fortal assassinations, and we would see no usuncauon in mem rom a socialisi point or view. ve would see them as being counter-productive.
• What do you see as the way forward in the present situation?
First of all, that we try to get some kind of united action trom the various group: that exist within the minority community in une worn. we are noping that in a short time the united anti-internment committee will become a united resistance movement, and that the Officials and Provisionals will play a full role in moblising our people - in mobilising them in a real sense. We can't see any alternative • What do you mean by mobilising First of all that the concept of mobilisine une beoole isn simo detting inem on the streets. we re talking about crea ting structures that would meet the immediate needs - the economic needs, the needs of defence, the needs of our old people - structures within the Cath onc community, Inat would be regarded by many of us as providing the embryo of a much longer term tactic in relation to creating structures as an alternative to tne present state structures. Many of us feel this should be regarded by the • Do you feel that the Provisionals ig nore this aspect of the struggle? The Provisionals pay lip service to giving power to the people. The reality would seem to be that once any attempt is made to give power to the people, they regard it as being an attempt to take • But vou are finding it possible to work with the Provisionals?
Yes. we have a high regard for many o the Provisional people. I don't think there s anvone in inis oroanisation who would call into question their leadership of the national struggle - the struggle against imperialism - and they have play ed a very important and courageous role • Some people would say that the development of the IRSP has so far been The development of the IRSP is disap: pointing to people outside. They expec ted sometning oramatic to nappen. " fact the hope at the time of the formation of the IRSP was that it would do nothing dramatic, other than work very nara to create a sebate withhe orcan sation so inat even peopie wo clan t want to come into the organisation would contribute to developing an anal• Are you trying to get to grips with the different positions inside the Proteswe are saying tart we claim to be Marxists, if we claim to apply the ideology of class struggle to bringing about a socialist revolution, then we can't ig nore that. There must be class contradictions internal to the Protestant community, contradictions of the values of the Protestant working class in general, anc the interests of the Protestant working class in general.
Very few left-wing groups have made any attempt to engage in struggle other than on the national question. No work has been done by any organisation in determining the relationship between national struggle and socialist struggle, Don on an aeological lever ana or d tactical level.
• It is said that you have an armed wing, the People's Liberation Army? It is completely untrue. There is no armed group over which the IRSP have • The PLA nas come out with state ments of support for the IRSP, and it was formed at about the same time as the IRSP.
Yes, but there are also people like the isn rreedom renters wno nave come out in support of the IRSP position. Any group naving a socialist perspective nas no choice but to come out and support the position of the IRSP.
No doubt there are members of the IRSP in the PLA, but the relationship between the nor and any armed organisation is non-existent.
wwnat are vour perspectives tor the TUTure:
AL unis beroo or ume it does seem that there is going to be direct conflict between the Republican and anti-imper ialist population in the North and the Loyalist population Given the relative positions of the Southern bourgeoisie ano une wortnern perry bouraeoisie ane une cosition or sausa amoenarism what we may be facing - if we're not able to defend our people and if we don't get support from the British left -is a reaction of right against left which could even overflow into England • How do you intend to forge unity inside the Catholic working class against Along with comrades from PD and RMG we re oroanisine a series or weekeno meetings. We are also engaging with them in trying to develop an overall strategic plan, particularly say for Bel Tast. in me event or a covalist contron tation we see organisation and agitation as being essential. We are also making overtures to the Provisional and Official movements to join in that sort of work as a matter of urgency • What's you attitude to the Provisional truce and the way in which they're talking about negotiating the British withdrawal?
The Provisionals have to their credit en gaged in the struggle almost single-hand edly, being attacked from behind by people wno snould also nave been supporting that struggle. They're at liberty to engage in whatever type of discussion they want But I feel that in doing so they have left a complete vacuum and have isolated the people, and allowed a demoralisation within our own communities. And in that vacuum, created by their failure to intorm te people or wnat was nap pening, tney nave retused - or been un able - to do any political social or economic work.
But the vacuum created is extremely dangerous; it allows the British too much leeway to do as they want and try to persuade our people to see that the establishment can and does work. I believe the Provos have had very little from the British, and in many ways they have trusted them when they shouldn't