" 9 VSC activities, " 10 #=%Howard Petrick case, "11 World-Wide Inflation, " 12 More Political Notes, CROSSMAN!S "SAME MEDICINE AS BEFORE"
According to Frank Cousins, Richard Crossman has the habit of "blurting out truths as he sees them at the moment," when from the Government's point of view they are better left untold. In other words, the anger which Cabinet — members have shown is because Crossman let the cat out of the bag, ‘Crossman's denial and explanation that he had unemployment in mind, if anything, shows up the Government in a worse light, The Financial Times, in a recent survey of the British economy demonstrated that the improvement in the balance of payments position was due to two factors: a shift in terms of trade favourable to Britain (the world market cost of British imports dropped as against the world price for British exports) and reduced imports due to a reduction in home demand caused by increased unemployment, etc. Thus all the talk about "getting Britain going" is shown up for what it really is: verbiage to cover up oldestyle Tory economic policy,
The "best"interpretation that one. can put on Crossman's remarks — by taking him at his word -— is that the Government is thinking in terms of re-intrcdjucing unemployment measures should it fail to hold down wages, At worst - and this seems themost likely explanation -— his statement means that the Govermment will bring in the wages! standstill whenever it thinks fit. There is no doubt whatsoever that the Government is geared to anti-working class measures as a permanent feature of its policy. Many in the movement, because of the fine working class tradition of loyalty to its organisations, have been persuaded to support the Government because they thought Wilson's policies were a temporary feature, They have been prepared to give the Wilson Government the benefit of the doubt. Now there is no doubt. Let us turn the furore over Crossman!s boob into a campaign to clarify this issue, Let us use this situation to do all in our power to ensure that this year's Labour Party Conference and T.U.C. reject Wilson's policies, Only mass action against the wage freese will destroy the incomes policy — but this mass action will be much facilitated. (and perhaps impossible without) the left being able to speak unambiguously in the name of the movement and with an alternative programme of anti-+ capitalist demands,