on both sides shaping up for the decisive battle heel of the working class. issue back against the ruling class.
The loyalists demonstrated through their general strike last year that if British imperialism wanted to retain any kind of base in that section of the population, then it would have to deliver some goods.
What the loyalists wanted were measures which would enable them to go on trying to solve their problems at the expense of the anti-unionist working class. The victory of that strike made even Rees feeble protests about the need for "power-sharing disappear. The so-called Irish dimension that Rees had blethered The struggle in Ireland is today at the crossroads, with the forces developing confrontation between the classes in Britain itself.
Our aim must be to turn the Irish about now disappeared into the fourth dimension.
Not only has the belligerence of the loyalist forces continued, but their confidence has been boosted by the massive concessions which the Labour Government has dished out to them.
Just consider the question of the hated Royal Ulster Constabulary police force, The reserves for this force have now seen thrown open to the loyalists in a new way. Previously the ceiling figure on rec ruitment to this force was 4000; the new figure is 7000, There is no trouble picking up recruits to this direct to it. The RUC Reserve is the para-military organisations: as the numbers in these gsoups decline so the numbers in the legul repressive institutions of the state go up:
time it has to keep up its harrassment and repression of the antiunionist population, The presence and ghettoel just as heavily during the ceasefire, and lifting operations repression is not enough. The British Government is also making a desperate attempt to bring together itarily.
the realisation by the Provie Tead force because the old loyalist paramilitary organisations are recruiting just the other side of the see-saw to The British Government continues to compromise and accommodate to the loyalist forces. But at the same of the troops was felt in these areas were only slightly abated. Of course the "middle ground" through a strategy of demobilising the anti-unionist population politically as well as mil What the ceasefire showed was crossroads ership that a certain demoralisation had taken place within the minority.
After years of bitter and heroic struegle the armed struggle had not been integrated into a clear, over-all pers pective for the struggle as a whole.
This lack of any clear way forward other than the military campaign confused whole sections of the antiMass action must be organised and not simply spontaneous The Provie leadership needed to get a grip on this situation. With the ceasefire they were saying in effect that they recognised the milstary campaign alone to be insufficient, and acknowledged that a poutical initiative was needed.
What is wrong with all this is that the politics still have not been revealed, To launch a ceasefire when the British Government is using the force of its army to make more and nure concessions To the loyalists, und not make the removal of that army and the preparation of adequate sell defence the main issuc, is a big mistake, But to make the main slogan, as the Provie leaders have, Peace with Justice" was even worse. It just gives political cover and credibility to col laborationist forces like the SDLP.
Many Republicans realise that al though the anti-unionist population is confused, it is not defeated. The events after the burning of Long Kesh prove that the basis is there for a new way forward. They also understand that in a situation where the British army is not on the verge of being kicked out, but where the loyalists increasingly call the tune, mass action is the number one But a realisation that the population needs to be involved and drawn into the running of their own lives through new institutions outside of the British and Orange state means that the question of self defence is posed very directly. After Long Kesh was burnt the army launched a reign of terror in the camp. Their reaction to any direct threat to the state would be That is why militants in the British labour movemeat have to show another. solidarity with those sections of the anti-unionist population who see the need to prepare, through the mass opposition to internient and rep ression, mass self detence against a any British Government attempts to opments since the draconian' ant Irish legislation was introduced by Jenkins, In the first place there has been an increase in the anti-trish chauvinism of the working class on which that legislation was based.
But there has also been an upsurge of sentiment for the withdrawal of troops, although it is true that this upsurge is not based on anti-imperi ist feelings in the working-class, but is often reactionary.
Significant in terms of what they reveal about the situation within the British iabour movement are the dec Tarations of various Labour MPs, and the reports that as many as 80 of them want a break with Lahour's 'bi partisan" policies. This is a clear signal that snarp divisions are dev. cloping within the Labour Party and the trade unions on this yatestion.
The Trade Union Conference on Ireland which is being erganised is a selection of this-situation. But it seen a real Orps-eth balance of foroes in tho labour maverient against the interests of amperialism. Success in this would he a major blow against imperialism - in Ireland and in Britain.
The attempt of the National Union of Students to forge links between students and the labour movement in a campaign aguinst internment is a step in the right direction in this situation. But the fight cannot be seen simply as ag ainst internment. The internees exiSt because of the struggle against British imperialism in Ireland, Rees has made it clear that internment will only end when the anti-unionist population is defeated. The lab our movernent must reply that we intend to end internment by getting British troops out of Ireland, THREAT The playing of the Irish card is a massive threat to the British working class. The vicious legislation embodied in the Prevention of Terrorism Act is a clear warning. The activities of Powell and his cohorts is The situation is now at the crossroade and that is why the British working class has to be won to apposition lo any handover to the loyalists, for troops out now and for self-derermination for the Trish people.
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The question now is whether the liberation struggle will reach a new and higher level or whether that struggle will be set back and defeated. In Britain the Irish card' has once again been cyn- ically played and events in Ireland are now a major factor in the
The danger facing us in the British labour movement is that Ire- land and British chauvininism will tum out to be the Achilles
event for all militants)- a body sorkers moverpen forjed in the