Socialist parties and strengthening the revolutionary Marxist cure rents.
“Small, higher-fare buses that carry no standees.
NEW STEP TOWARD SOCIALIST UNIFICATION IN CHILE
Santiago de Chile
The Partido Socialista Popular [PSP] was formed just a year _ago through the fusion of the Partido Obrero Revolucionario [Por], a Trotskyist formation, and some groupings which had left the Socialist and Communist parties, of which the principal one was the Movimiento Revolucionario Comunista [urc]. See World Outlook Mareh 6, 1964.] On April 16-17, the PSP held its first national congress.
-Delegates were present from the provinces of Coquimbo, Santiago, O'Higgins, Linares, Talea, Llanquihue and Aysén. A most encouraging rise in recruitment in recent months was reported, the new member s being mostly young workers, peasants and students.
An outstanding success in the past period was’ the unification of the MIDI [Movimiento de Independientes de-Izquierda, Regional Santiago] with the PSR. This movement crystallized .from the Comités Allendistas [committees that campaigned for Allende for president in the 1964 election].
Humberto Valenzuela was re-elected secretary general of the PSP. In the election for the central committee, José Valdéz received the highest vote and was named political secretary.
Documents on the international and national situation in relation to the mass movement in Chile and the program of socialism were discussed and approved. One of the main points was an appeal to other revolutionary Marxist groups to join in creating a United Party of the Chilean Socialist Revolucion,
In connection with this, a "socialist round table" ["Eneuentro Socialista"] was held April 18. Besides spokesmen of the PSP, the Vanguardia Revolucionaria Marxista was represented, sectors that have left the Socialist party and the well-known labor figure Clotario Blest.
Agreement was reached on convoking a founding congress of the proposed new party in the near future, The Vanguardia Revolucionaria Marxista will take up the question of ratifying the call at its national congress on May l.
The Committee of Socialists, which is organizing a rdankeandfile congress, particularly of the Juventud Socialista, against the reformist leadership of the Socialist party, has settled on May 21 as the date for this gathering. At that time they will consider the programmatic base on which they could unite with the other’ Marxist-Leninist sectors.
The unification process going on in the revolutionary left. and the actions they have initiated are of national interest, being handled with more and more attention in the press and on the radio. For example, the Catholic magazine La Voz, which supports the Frei government, placed a feature headline on the front page of the current issue, "The Secret Life of Extremism." This referred to a two-page spread on the positions of the Marxist-Leninist groups, presented in a style that sought to appear objective.
The article reported the PSP congress, particularly the meeting open to the public on the first day. It gave the texts of speeches by Clotario Blest, Martfn Salas, Enrique Septilveda (of
Vanguardia Revolucionario Marxista), Oscar Waiss (PSP), a delegate of the Socialist writers and artists who greeted the delegates, and remarks by a spokesman of the Espartaco youth who were present.
La Voz ended its lengthy article: "The three movements of major importance in the world of political extremism are: Espartaco, the Partido Socialista Popular and Vanguardia Revolucionaria Marx= ista." [La Voz, No. 403, April 22, 1965.]