Preparing for October (1)

All serious politicians in the Labour movement are preparing for October, Mr, Wilson has made his Government changes and is trying to suggest that he intends to do something about unemployment, The left - the clearest and most consistent section being the organisers of the Scarborough Sunday teach-in - is likewise preparing for the Labour Party conference, Needless to say, nobody is suggesting that Wilson's new moves are the start of a new policy: they are merely designed to cover up the mistakes he has made, Much of the switching of Government posts is window-dressing but there are a few changes worth noting Firstly, as explained elsewhere, some of the changes seem to be linked with Mr, Wilson's desire to come to an understanding with the Snith regime, That he should be making these moves just as guerilla warfare breaks out in Rhodesia is no co-incidence: the essence of Wilson's Rhodesia policy has been to prevent a mass movement against Smith, Wilson is astute enough to know that any struggle which begins against Smith's Apartheid policies is bound to end with an attack on British capitalism's investments in Rhodesia, Moreover, once the struggle starts in Southern Africa it will be difficult to prevent it spreading to British imperialism's second biggest trading partner: the Republic of South Africa. There are signs that the liberation movement in these countries understand that their struggles are linked: this is entirely commendable and should be assisted in every way possible, Mr. Wilson's economic measures - seen-with the back-cloth of the removal of Jay merely tinker with the problems, They seem to be designed to make it appear that something is being done about growing unemployment, As has been noted by Labour M.P's and other the measures will do nothing to assist the areas most badly affected by the Government's policies, Mr. Jay's remarks in his resignation letter are worth noting: ".,,..a great deal needs to be done by this Government in the promotion of social justice, the expansion of exports and the reconstruction of the Development Areas...."(And so say all of us!) The degeneration of the Wilson Government is clearly shown by this incident: Douglas Jay, an enthusiastic supporter of Gaitskell, is very much to the left of the present Cabinet, This whole situation makes it more important than ever that a firm struggle be waged against the Government at the Scarborough conference, Wilson is clearly perturbed by the prospects of defeat at the Labour Party and T.U.C. conferences: this in itself is vital confirmation of the attitude of those who have argued that it is important to defeat Wilson at Scarborough, Like all manipulators, Wilson is appalled at the prospect of rank and file mass opposition, Defeat at Scarborough could do much to increase the prospects of mass action against the Government, All those who are serious on the left should endeavour to turn this prospect into a reality.