; 0 the government and in public.
it advocates in its propaganda is the
-*8 what it advocates in the govern-
'0n the other hand, being a member
d coalition and retaining full inde-
© of opinion and political action, it
agreements that call for reciprocal
Ons. As we see it, it is fair to re-
this attitude on the part of all the
aS Of the coalition.
| Month of August produced a new of-
f° Sy reaction aimed at the process of
e-atization and decolonization.
Offensive took various forms, ap-
Y Unconnected: meetings to discuss
ii, ility of a coup or to recruit people
H_eeantic anti-communist propaganda;
eS and slanders to break the cohe-
by the armed forces and to checkmate
“sional Government; attempts to
fate the economic situation by arti-
i. “eans, coupled with a demagogic
/ © Condition of a political shift to the

a 150 million contos of investment
@ '000 new jobs.

; hese were obviously not accidents;
hung leads one to see them as parts
Rencerted, planned and ordered action.
it Ction’s. August offensive, like those
preceded it, ended in a defeat for re-
M. At the same time, it is necessary
take a precise evaluation of the signi-
ace Of the defeats of reaction in the of-
eS it has tried since April 25. The es-
Ni! Significance of the routs of reaction
it was blocked and thrown back and
6 ls plans have failed. But let there be
(, 10ns. When reaction is forced to re-
» thas done so tactically, with its for-
My, tact, and has gone about preparing
“for another offensive.

It must not be given respite. The pro-
cess of cleaning up must be pushed firmly.
Economic weapons must not be used to
sabotage the national economy. Counter-
revolutionary fascist propaganda must
be prohibited and those responsible for it
must be punished. We must be wary and
vigilant — detect, uncover, unmask and
punish any and all conspiracies.

The complex political situation calls for
careful examination of the effectiveness
and consequences of the forms of struggle
to be adopted. There are no forms that are
absolutely, abstractly good. A form of
struggle may be indicated in one situation
and inadvisable in another. .

There is much discussion as to the util-
ization of strikes in the present political
situation. The PCP strongly defends the
right to strike. It strives to have that right
established as broadly as possible in new
legislation. It has pointed the strike weapon
out to workers and will continue to do So,
where this is the best method for defending
their legitimate interests. But at the same
time it stresses that in the present com-
plex political situation and under certain
circumstances, strikes may be serious mis-
takes and even turn into a weapon that re-
action takes advantage of, rather than a
means of workers’ defense.

Reaction is very much interested in
provoking unrealistic demands, in exploit-
ing the workers’ problems to cause dis-
content and protests against the govern-
ment, against the armed forces, against
the present ‘democratic policy. Reaction is
interested in creating an atmosphere of
uneasiness and insecurity that will give it a
pretext for demanding a Strong rightist
government or even proclaiming a state of
a This makes it urgent to use strikes only
after exhausting every other form of strug-

gle and after careful examination of the
social and political repercussions. It makes
it necessary to firmly oppose the actions of
small groups who use threats and black-
mail and: reject democratic forms of con-
sulting the interested parties. in an effort
to bring about strikes that are not wanted
by the working masses. It makes it neces-
sary to oppose and isolate the adventurist
or provocateur elements who, on the basis
of demagogy about.concrete situations. try
to start reckless strikes which. as in the
case of Portuguese Airlines (TAP), then
take on a political character aimed at the
Provisional Government and the Armed
Forces Movement.

[= xperience is proving that despite some
hesitations and confusions the working
masses realize the actual situation better
and better and increasingly refuse to take
part in actions that can facilitate the sub-
versive activities of reaction and compro-
mise the process of democratization.

Today more than ever we need unity of
those who want to consolidate freedom
and carry on present policy until a stable
democratic regime chosen by the people
itself has been inaugurated.

__ As things stand, it must be stressed that
the decisive importance of unity is not
realized by everyone.

There are some who:seek to divide the
working class by means of anti-commun-
ism, intimidation and anti-democratic prac-
tices. There are some who in discussing the
law for union freedom are already dream-
ing of splits in unions, in disputes and con-
flicts between central unions formed arti-
ficially for the purpose of serving parties
as a means of action. There are some who,
just when reaction is raising its head, pre-

fer to start calculating votes and find it in
order to attack the Democratic Move-
ment and other organizations of unity. fear-
ing that thev could be rivals in elections.
And finally. there are some who try to pro-
duce friction and even: confrontations be-
tween the workers and popular movement
and the armed forces.

All these anti-unity activities and ten-
dencies serve to weaken the forces of de-
mocracy and reinforce reaction.

Thev must be opposed and defeated.

Unity of the working class. trade union
unity. unity of the democratic forces and

.their alliance with the Armed Forces Move-

ment are conditions that are essential to
the final victory of democracy.

Every blow against unity is a blow at
the cause of democracy. is a lessening of
the chances of final triumph. Every step
towards strengthening unity is a new
source of confidence that democratization
will go forward, that the elections for the
Constituent Assembly will be held, and that
tthe people will freely choose their own
future.

Unity of action has always been, is now,
and will be in the future. a complex pro-
cess.

The problem must be faced up to. and
the dominant concern must be to avoid di-
visions and to reinforce unity and alliances.

Unity of the popular movement and the
democratic forces, and their alliance with
the Armed Forces Movement will decide
the fate of the democratic policy now pre-
vailing.

The PCP will do everything in its power
to see that this unity and this alliance are
consolidated and become indestructible,
so as to bar the way to reaction and assure
continuation of the present policy until
democracy and peace are definitively vic-
torious in our country.