A
Mr Chapple of the EETPU said that his union supported peace but wanted a balance in criticism. The Western Powers were by implication blamed in the motion for threats to world peace whereas in reality account had to be taken of Soviet actions in Berlin, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The motion did not refer to the size of the Soviet military establishment, to its expenditure on arms which was increasing faster than its national product, to its provision of arms in Africa or to the belief of some Russian militarists that a nuclear war could be won. The EETPU amendment was seconded by another delegate from the union who gave details of the size of the Soviet army, navy and airforce and of the number of missiles it had aimed at the West. Mr Jones rejected the EETPU amendment on the grounds that it was not helpful to lay blame on one side or the other and that anything which might encourage a revival of the cold war was to be avoided. Mr Jones said he was against double standards anywhere and that he would fight against propaganda bringing the threat of war nearer.
But peace could not be achieved through isolation. The main motion was adopted by a large majority but the EETPU amendment was lost.
Chile
15. Mr O'Brien of the National Association of Operative Printers Graphical and Media Personnel moved a motion calling on the Government to reaffirm its condemnation of the fascist dictatorship in Chile and not to give financial aid, support trade or - most importantly - supply military equipment to the Junta, even under unexpired contracts with the Allende Government. The movers accepted an amendment to the motion put forward by the TGWU which expressed appreciation of the spontaneous actions and practical assistance given by various sections of the trade union and labour movements and reaffirmed full support for the Chilean people in their struggle for self-determination. The amendment also called
on the Government to continue to withhold the British Ambassador to Chile until satisfactory details were disclosed regarding the whereabouts of 2,000 disappeared political prisoners. Mr O'Brien said that the coup in 1973 had been aided and abetted by international finance and that the Chilean regime could not be allowed to succeed. The practices of the regime were reminiscent of the Gestapo as had been shown by a recent Amnesty International document. Prominent Chilean trade union leaders had been among those who had disappeared without trace and had probably been executed. The Junta should be required to give a full explanation of their disappearance and no financial aid should be made available to Chile until an account had been given to the world. The British Government should vote against a proposed substantial IMF loan for Chile and should prevent
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/British banks