1549 The Socialist Students maintained thoir left line this year, in spite of a C.D.S. delegation from Oxford. The Zixecutive introduced a motion critical of Mr. Wilson, as follows: :
"This conference, while welcoming Mr. Wilson's opposition to the indep-
endent British, Buropean and NATO doterrent, declares his recent state
“ments in the US to be an inadequate basis for a Labour foreign policy.
Conference calls on Mr. Wilson to raise the issue of disergagement and
the withdrawal of foreign bases with the US and calls on the Labour
Party to campaign at the next election, not on firm loyalty to NATO and
the Atlantic Community, but on disengagement, the need for new disarman
-ent initiatives, and Britain's primary loyalty to the U.N." (For, 52, Against 5, Abst.,8). NALSO's own uniletoralist policy was reaffirmed overwhelmingly, The Nottingham resolution on Clause 4 received strong support and was passeé with 46 for, 10 against, 8 Abst. It read as follews:
"NALSO considers that the present unemployment problem and the regional un-balance of economic development, together with the complete failure of the ~ Tory governnent to solve th.se problems, demonstrates the inability of a capite alist class to avoid the social crises created by a market esonomy, and prov ides further evidence of the bankruptcy of the capitalist system. NALSO thore= fore calls on the Labour Party to prepare plaris for nationalisation in accordance with Clause 4, of the banks, insurence houses and major incustrial concerns, 80 that investment may be directed where it is socially necessary rather than where it is in the interests of private profit. " The resolution also demanded "Work or full pay" and work sharing.
The Nottingham resolution calling for Unions to fight the Fords vice timisation was carried overwhelmingly. The Co-op Colloge amendment urging acceptance of the Jack tribunal decisions, . was heaviiy d »feated. ALeC also supported - nem con = a demand that a campaign be organised to help the Angolm refugees. Full solidarity was also expressed with the Ben Bella govoerrnent and the Labour Party was asked to organise aid for the Algerians. Repression again calling for solidarity with “the revolutionary Venezuolan people in their struggle against police terrorism and economic imperialism" (for 29, against,10 abst. 16). » Peet <2 qa ae
On the Common Market, the Nottingham resolution asking the TUC to take the initiative in calling a linropean Conference of Christian, Socialist and Communist unions to formulate a common plan of defence against attacks on their members' living standards, was carried. The demand that we should unite behind the docunent "signposts for the Sixties" was throvm out for the second year ruming, as was the Oxford resolution that Crosland's ideas should be made the basis of Labour's domestic policies, George Brown was asked to resign either from the Mirror or his Labour Party positions. The stormiest debate at the Conference was on the Young Socialists. The main resolution under discussion was from Nottingham and read as fcllows s
" NALSO believes the YS should be given greater independence and there
ore deplores the attitude of the NEC of the Labour Party towards the YS.
NALSO: (a) prctasts against the expulsions from the National Committee
of three members,(b) expresses solidarity with those who resigned or
walked off the Committees (c) Calls on tho Labour Party in the event of
further expulsions to convene re-elections, rather than co-opting mombers.
(d) Asks that this resolution be presented to the YS National Conferonce. Speakers foryvthe resolution concentrated on the bal showing of the N.%.C, Speakers against concentrated on the nature of the Keep Left organisation, and its alleged incompatibility with Labour Party principles, Many amongst tho Left were against showing sympathy to Keep Left, and it was claimod that the resolution in quostion would provide political capital for them. An amendment to the resolution, which said (e) Supports the proscription of Keop Loft, led toseveral recounts, finally being defeated 29 ~ 30 - 4. i.e., WY cna vote. However, to add to the confusion, another resolution calling, amonst other things Sr the lifting of the ban on Keep Left failed 22 - 35 - 8.
NALSO iteclf seems to be at a turning point. Most of its affiliated clubs take no intersst in it. The problem of "Socialism in one Club" came under discussion, In an attempt t give NALSO some national identity the new Executive is thinking of organising a national demonstration, possibly on the issue of Portuguese student rights, That the position is worrying is indicated by the fact thatt two clubs are only just being restrained from dis-affiliajing, and that only 70 delegates turned up to the conference instead of the 114 who promised to be thers, NALSO is now clear, however,from financial difficulties, and has a keen iixecubive,