The success of V.S.C. in building a united front of support for the Vietnamese liberation struggle will be evident on March 17th, as it was in last October's mobilisation. Another achievement of V.S.C. -has been to outrage the leaders of the C.P. and the S.L.L., just about the only isme on which they have achieved unanimity. There has been a stream of articles in "The Newsletter" lately, attacking V.S.C. and "The Week" for everything from Pacifism to supporting "indirectly" the C.P, bureaucracy. The high point came in the issue of March 5th, when Cliff Slaughter, chief Guru of Clapham High Street, attempted to interpret the ramblings of Betty Reid's article in "Comment" (which has been dealt with in previous issues of "The Week"), Faced with the contradiction between the S.L.L's accusations of support by V.S.C. for Stalinism, and the C.P's attack in "Comment" he concludes that; "Her real aim is to lick them into “ shape, as part of bringing all the "Left" protest groups under the control : of the Stalinists directly. (So this is what the unity of opposites means!) Such a claim may convince the more dedicated adherents of Slaughter's band . of transcendental meditation, but its falseness will be exposed as V:S.C. builds support for the N.L.F. on a genuinely non-sectarian basis. This is, of course, what the S.L.L. opposes, they are filled with horror at the sight of Maoists, L.P, members, Trotsyists, New Left, Trade Unionists, etc. working together and achieving a genuine unity on the most vital issue facing the International Working Class movement. This is why, last Spring, they denounced the first mass demonstration in the U.S. against the war, under the cynical headline, "Genocide in Vietnam, Euphoria in Sheep Meadow," But, of course, they have loum. and long proclaimed their solidarity with the N.L.F., and have lost no opportunity to boast of it. But alas! this golidarity does not extend to supporting the call by the Vietnamese ‘for International demonstrations to mark the ammiversary of the first Anti- American demonstration in Saigon on March 19th, 1950, They have also ignored the appeals of the Vietnamese for Medical Aid, and whilst ¥,8.6, supporters have worked hard to raise funds for the aid of the Vietnamese Revolution, their support has been confined to the printed page. We might well comment, "Genocide in Vietnam - Hypocrisy in Clapham High Street, However, they do not intend to kick their heels, for the latest in the pro~ liferating issues of the "News letter", carried a statement from the "National Committee of the Young Socialists" (the body which was set up after the split of the S.L.L. supporters from the ¥.S. in 1964, ani which has been in residence in Clapham High Street ever since, despite somewhat extensive and frequent changes in personnel) in which they call for a week of . demonstrations from Marck 24th to 31st, mainly on Vietnam. Lj :
It has been a consistent complaint of the S.L.L. that when they have called : for a Lobby or Demonstration on a certain date, the 6.P. have followed by calling for one shortly after, in order to divert support from their effort. Could it be that they are taking a leaf out of Gollan's book on this occasion? Of course, even so they have no chance of success,