Stop That Boat?

The problem of Rhodesia is having a disturbing effect on the pattern of British politics, We are a long way now from the "national unity" approach to Mr. SmitHs wbellion, Both major parties are split and there has been a walk-out of the House of Lords, Even the Communist Party has not been free from dissension on this matter = a speaker at their national congress who criticised the Daily Worker's lavish preise of the Archbishop of Canterbury got a slow handclap from delegates, Such is the state of British politics that as some issues become much clesrer in the crisis,others become more blurred, Mr, Wilson's attempt to achieve national unity has indeed split the coumtry and the major parties right down the middle. Why should this be so? The short answer is that very conflicting interests are 2t stake, The remarks in the House of Lords about "Mr, Smith's fifth cclumn" and the "undisclosed interests of members of the House" cut deepe But there is more at stakes: what is essentially involved is British capitalism's attempts to adapt itself to a changed world. The men who use poison gas in remote parts of the world, far away from the glare of publicity, are not primsrily concerned with moral issues. This Labour Government of ours, unfortunately, approaches this question purely from the interests of British capitalism, How else do we explain their kid-glove treatment of Smith whilst going through all kinds of contortions to placate the nationalist governments of Africa? The role of the Tories is to make life as difficult for Mr. Wilson as possible if he looks like leaning too far towards concessions to the African Governments. The right wing of the Tory party combines a genuine ideological approach « their belief that White rule should continue - with naked self-interest, Mre Wilson's Ministers attempt to use this Achilles heel of the Tory Party to put that party on the spot. But into this confusion comes a single clarifying issue: that of the tanker on its way to Mozambique, There is no answer whatsoever to the simple demands if Mr, Wilson is serious about stopping the establishment of a second South Africa end all the suffering that would mean, he should stop that boat. There are no legal, physical, political, moral, or practical reasons for him not to do sO» Eric Heffer, a sponsor of ours, is to be conzratulated on his skill in making this question a national issue, A combined fight in and out of Parliment must follow this inititiave. Our opponents are in confusion and decisive antinan annlaA hrine roanlta.