Spectacle Last Saturday's 'Conference in Solidarity with the Spanish Working Class' turned out to be a typical example of fiery words being substituted for concrete actions.
The contradiction between calling a conterence in sonaarily win tr working class and inviting to it representatives of bodies (the opposition Democratic Council and Democratic Platform) that include self-designated spokesmen of the capitalists was resolved by the organisers through a systematic blocking of any attempt to discuss practical moves for solidarity.
•nus we nad the spectace ol Michael Foot telling the Conference about the need for the labour move ment to face up to its international duty and the need for the Government to concern itself with the Spanish situation, without uttering a word of criticism of the actual collaboratior of the Labour Government with the expressed in sucn acton: as the sending of an official representative to Franco's funeral and Juan Carlos's coronation, and plans to invite Spain's foreign minister to visit this country.
Successful The resolutions which were adopted call for an ongoing campaign of solidarity with the struggle of the Spanish workers for trade union and democratic righis, and demand an immediate amnesty for all political prisoners and the return of all exiles. But they give no lead as to how these aims are to be fought for.
The only proposals for action were contained in amendments supported by delegates from the International Marxist Group and the International Socialists, which proposed the organisation of a campaign to boycott all Spanish trade. a fight for the Labour Government to break all diplomatic ties with the dictato ship, and the calling of a mass, national solidarity demonstration. But the platform refused to give delegates the chance to vote on these proposals - much less This was topped off by the Conference organisers insistence that the elected commitee whien nev nad promised would come out of the Conference should simply be a perpetuation of the existing self-appointed organising Committee.
The solidarity movement in this country urgently needs a national lead Tor is acuvues, ms me conrerence organisers firmly refused to give.