first conference of European vanguard youth organizations met here March 11-12 to consider joint action in defense of the Vietnamese revolution. The 153 delegates came by foot, car, bus, train and air to sit down for two days of serious discussion in preparation for international coordinated action. They represented several thousand young people who are in revolt against the opportunism and passivity of the European Social Democratic and Communist parties.
Despite their differing political backgrounds and different experiences there was remarkable homogeneity in their outlook and their determination. They had no time for empty rhetoric or entertainment. They came to work. They were eager to meet and get to know their counterparts. And when they completed their business at the end of the second day they closed their very impressive gathering by standing with clenched fists singing the "Internationale." It was a stirring sight. Among these youth there was already evident the cadres of a new generation of socialist leaders.
The conference was initiated by the Belgian Young Guard Socialists (JGS) and grew out of the Liége demonstration sponsored by them last October. The hosts had se-
cured two modern meeting halls equipped with simultaneous translation equipment.
Originally scheduled for April, the date was advanced to provide time for coordinating actions in support of the April 15 demonstrations in the U.S. A young American present from the antiwar movement across the Atlantic gave a description of the work and movement of his country. It was clear that the courage and the dedication shown by the American youth movement against the war in Vietnam have made a profound impression upon youth everywhere.
Eleven youth organizations in Belgium, France, Italy, Great Britain and Ireland, and Holland were officially represented. Observers were present from Germany, Spain, the United States and Canada. Other organizations which could not send delegates in time sent greetings and offers of cooperation. The conference was also officially greeted by a representative of the north Vietnam delegation in Paris.
The principal political resolution included the following points:
"(1) A large protest movement against American imperialism and in support of the Vietnamese revolution now exists in the world. The vanguard youth organizations must play an important part in this movement, but it is necessary to coordinate their activities. It is for this purpose that the spring 1967 conference has been convened on the initiative of the National Federation of Belgian Young Socialists (FNGS). The FNGS considers that one of the main weaknesses of the movement in support of the Vietnamese revolution is precisely the absence of coordination. The present document, the general line having already formed the subject of a prior discussion during the meeting that followed the International Antimilitarist demonstration of October 15, 1966, in Liége, constitutes the basis for convening this conference.
"(2) The struggle of the people of South Vietnam against American imperialism and the ruling class of Saigon is not only a struggle of international importance -- Vietnam is the key to the world situation, a decisive test of strength between American imperialism and the colonial revolution and the whole labor movement. The international capitalist alliance directed by the American government (NATO, SEATO, Treaty of Manila) is locked in combat with the Vietnamese revolution which is an integral part of the worldwide socialist revolution.
"(3) The victory of the NFL [National Front for Liberation] over the American aggressors and their accomplices would stimulate the revolutionary movements of the world. The purpose of our action is not to implore American imperialism for a compromise peace but to help the NFL win victory.
"(4) Conversely, the success of the American aggression against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the defeat of the NFL in the south would endanger victories won from capitalism in long and bitter struggles. The defensive potentialities of the socialist countries as a whole would be weakened. The people's republics of Asia, particularly the Democratic Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China -- as well as Cambodia -- are directly menaced.
"(5) Therefore the American imperialist intervention in Vietnam is the focal point of the general confrontation between the oppressed peoples of the world and international capitalism. Its aim is to transform the present relationship of forces to its favor, to block for a long period the development of the forces of the world revolution.
"(6) The duty of the vanguard youth organizations as well as all revolutionary socialists is thus to support the struggle of the Vietnamese people in the most appropriate and effective way. Consequently any campaign of support must include the demand for unconditional and immediate withdrawal of the imperialist forces, a demand which is included in the "five points" of the NFL and the "four points" of the Democratic Repubic o ietnam.
"(7) It is necessary to struggle for a united front of aid and action involving the labor movement and the socialist countries without excluding anyone. Every step of the imperialist escalation must be met with the worldwide escalation of the antiimperialist struggle and political, military and material assistance in all forms for the Vietnamese revolution.
"This united front will serve as a counterweight to the political positions of those who wish to impose a compromise contrary to the proclaimed aims of the fighters of the FNL and North Vietnam. The youth organizations at this conference support the positions of all those in the workers movement and socialist camp who are struggling for genuine unity in aiding the Vietnamese people.
"The worldwide escalation of the anti-imperialist struggle involves in Western Europe the intensification of the struggle against the capitalist government and against its political and military instruments, including NATO above all."
The conference authorized the organization of a Coordinating Committee of seven members representing the youth of the United Independent Socialist party of Italy, the Socialist Students of Belgium, the Young Socialists of Belgium (FNGS), the Revolutionary Communist Youth (JCR) of France, the Socialist Students of the United Socialist party of France, the Socialist Students of Holland and the left wing of the Labour Party Young Socialists of Great Britain around the organ, Rebel.
The first coordinated action will be preparation for demonstrations in solidarity with the April 15 demonstrations in the United States.
The conference closed with a call to all young workers and students of Europe to:
" ~- Organize volunteer brigades prepared to go to Vietnam when asked by North Vietnan.
" -- Reply to the imperialist escalation by escalating political and material aid of all kinds to the Vietnamese people.
" ~- Fight for the unconditional withdrawal of imperialist forces from Vietnam and an unconditional and definitive end to the bombing of North Vietnan.
" ~~ No to the Atlantic Alliance!
-- Not a man, not a penny for imperialism and its war!
-- Long live solidarity with the Vietnamese people!
-- Long live the Vietnamese revolution
HUGE MARCH IN BRUSSELS