CND says no to 'freeze' slogan

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THE proposal to campaign for a 'Freeze' on nuclear weapons (as distinct from scrapping them) was rejected by a two-to-one majority. The conference decided overwhelmingly to "campaign actively" for British withdrawal from NATO (though it referred to CND council a stronger resolution which called the CND leadership to account for its failure to carry out similar resolutions passed by 1981 and 1982 conferences).

By huge majorities the conference decided to step up cam aigning against Trident anc work in the 8oour movemen.

Cheed for CD to work with called on (LO WOIK wilt trade union organisations, duly encouraged successful blacking of dumping of nuclear waste, to mol0118e mullons of trade union members into activity, effective industrial action, against work connected with nuclear weapons."

The loudest applause in the whole conference was for Jenny Prideaux's speech against the Freeze. 'Freeze is a step back", she said.

"It would mean freezing Cruise, US bases, commitment to NATO, and the obscene profits made by the arms companies.

'The trade unions and the Labour Party conference voted for unilateral nuclear disarmament. It's bad tactics to go for a Freeze. We've been calling for endless talks and treaties since 1948, and we know where that has led."

The Freeze was adopted as a olicy by the CND Council i or the October ace deal ostran of the October 22 demonstration. But the people arguing for it at the conference were very shamefaced.

No-one would venture to say more than that CND should support a Freeze campaign as something strictly secondary to its unilateralist stand.

MARTIN THOMAS reports from Sheffield Moreover, those arguing for a Freeze campaign were divided. Neil McKechnie from Scottish CND called for a unilateral freeze by Britain as a "first step in a process of nuclear disarmament.

John Shepherd from South West Region CND suggested that CND should instead call for a Freeze by the two superpowers. a Chance!