DELEGATES to a national Troops Out Movement conference in Leeds on September 10 rejected proposals from the South London branch, endorsed by the new Editorial Committee, to water down TOM's traditional anti-imperialist objectives.
This would have involved building an ad-hoc Peace Committee, with the specific aim of campaigning for "peace" in Ireland.
There was a clear majority at the meeting for continuing to build TOM on its two basic demands - "Troops Out Now" and "Self-determination for the Irish people as a whole".
Forgotten
Many speakers in the debate voiced fears that if TOM did not campaign for these demands, anti-imperialist objectives would be forgotten.
Delegates also voiced fears that TOM's anti-imperialist solidarity role would be submerged in "popular front"type politics.
Attempts by the Editorial Committee to get through a resolution welcoming the IRA ceasefire were also defeated, as being contradictory to TOM's basic objectives, and traditional stance of not takrepublican armed struggle.
It was agreed to hold the next Bloody Sunday march and rally in Manchester. It was also decided to hold a November day-school on the current situation in ireland, for TOM members to fully debate their views on the current political situation there.
Italian SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 69, September 24 1994, Page 5