Peace groups in E. Europe

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For you redouby later to THAVE no doubt that some you SO a few weeks on the subject of the dissident or unofficial in the Soviet bloc.

SHOUSL izeable of, such groupie the Swords into Ploug shares" movement in the German Democratic Republic.

There is also a movement of similar size and political composition emerging now nungary • WABI there is the Moscow East-West Trust Group.

This grouping in has received publicity . the West in quite inverse proportion to its size because the Cold War press in the West wishes to use the ey thee of iet persortion as a propaganda weapon against the Western peac small in mp itself is very membership and leading individuals by the harasswueu KGB.

Group's only crime has been break away from the official Russian peace council and to call for creative dialogue between citizens of the USA and USSR on the nuclear arms race and hence creating trust between the "super powers".

Liberal

By Western political standards the group would be described as liberal or apolitical but in no way could it be described as adopting a stance of Cold Warsaw Pact despite the cynical way its plight has been highlighted NATO apologists and rabid right wingers (like Ronald Reagan in his speech at the United Nations special session on disarmament) soon after the group was first formed.

Any comrades who would like further information on the whole subject • of dissenting peace groups should refer to the following sources of information 1. An article on the East German peace movement Tribune Two in the February 10 issue of 2.: pamphlet presently in print, publish ed by the Campaign for European • Nuclear Disarmament (END). "The New Hungarian Peace Movement' by Ferenc Hobzrgz and E.P. Thompson and the 'Moscow Indepent Peace Group' by J. Stead and O. Grunberg, price 90p and 75p respectively. They can be obtained. from 227 Seven Sisters Road, London N4.

As a third source of information suggest the current edition of Labou rocus on Eastern Europe"

Solidarity

Lastly I would like t propose the same question as before. Will a Trotskyist group such as SO show international solidarity with the dissenting peace groups? Will it adopt after proper debate a position of unconditional defence 01 such groups as we would for persecuted peace campaigns in the West, while making correct and proper political criticisms of their sómetimes reformist politics?

I hope this will be the case and that comrades do not fall into the trap of believing that Soviet defencism means we must ignore or condemn groups whose sole motivation is the desire to freely discuss in their own countries the most important question facing the human race -nuclear war.

ALEX SIMPSON Cambridge CLP THE NEW HUNGARIAN HUNGARY Pamphlets on the East European peace movements are available from END.

THERE ARE Socialist Organiser groups in most major towns and cities. See below for details of your area -and if you want more details, or if there is no group listed for your area, fill in and return the 'Get Organised' form.

• SCOTLAND Glasgow. For details of meetings contact paper sellers or Stan Crooke, 114 Dixon Avenue, Glasgow G42. SO is sold at Maryhill dole (Tuesday mornings) and Rutherglen shopping arcade (Friday lunchtime). Edinburgh. For details of meetings ring Dave, 229 4591. SO is sold at Muirhouse (Saturday 10.30-12) and the First of May bookshop, Candlemaker Row. • NORTH-WEST Wirral. Contact Colin Johnstone, 1 Wellington Road, Wallasey. Next meeting: Thursday April 14, 8pm, at the Labour Club, Church Road, Seacombe: 'SO's role in the local and general elections Liverpool. Contact 733 6663. SO is sold at Progressive Books, Berry St, and at News: from Nowhere, Whitechapel.

Manchester. Public meeting, Thursday March 24, 7.30 at the Millstone pub:

'Workers' Democracy or Tebbit's Democracy?' -Speaker: John Mellroy.

Business/Educational meeting: March 17, 7.40 pm, UMIST Students Union.

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