Y Bobl yn Union—y Byd yn Un!

Y Bobl yn Union—y Byd yn Un!

One World, One People!

The Socialist Party stands for socialism; a social system in which the things which man uses to make and to distribute his wealth are owned by the whole of humanity, in which the barriers of race and colour are recognised for the falsities which they are and in which mankind is truly free.

In 1925 Plaid Cymru was formed. The Socialist Party and nationalists see society from different perspectives. For a socialist society is divided into two classes: a capitalist class who own the means of production, and a working class who, having no property and are obliged to work for the capitalists. The interests of these two classes are opposed and between them there is a class struggle. This transcends national boundaries. The socialist argues that the working class have no country. A nationalist, on the other hand, sees the inhabitants of one particular area as having a common interest, ignoring the class division of society and the class struggle. For the nationalist the nation is all-important and encourages the worker to believe he or she has a country. Thus socialism and nationalism are opposed. Plaid Cymru sees the cause of Welsh social problems in English domination not in the economic system of capitalism and its production for profit. Independence will merely mean that the capitalists of Wales will pay their taxes to a government in Cardiff instead of to a government in London—a change of no interest to the workers of Wales. As a mere constitutional change the setting up of a sovereign government will contribute nothing towards helping to solve the problems facing workers. An independent Wales would inevitably be a capitalist Wales where the means of production would continue to be governed by the laws of capitalism. And where the problems facing its citizens would therefore continue to exist, as the eloquent example of Irish Republic where unemployment and emigration have continued despite nearly decades of political independence, clearly shows.

The Welsh nationalists claim to stand in the interest of the workers in Wales. It is not concerned with the fact that because of the international nature of capitalism, workers are exploited everywhere and therefore the attack against exploitation must be on a broad front recognising no national barriers. The romantic nationalist conveniently forget (at least they never mention) that Wales was as much oppressed (i.e. the people) when she was governed by the Princes of Wales of “Welsh blood” as she has been ever since the statute of Ruddlian: that she has been oppressed in common with the workers of other parts of the British Isles from the inception of capitalism is not so much history but a tale of yesterday and today. In early mediaeval Welsh there were two classes—the Free and the Unfree, the Princes (Tycoysogion) knights and gentry (Boneddwyr) and the slaves (Caethion). The Nationalists completely ignore the progression of history commencing with the gens and developing into the nation, and the fact that the development of world capitalism tends eventually to break down national barriers.  If the Nationalists get their way it will be the tale for tomorrow as well. Being enthusiastic about the fostering of the Welsh language and literature has little to do with combating capitalism.

The question that socialists in Wales will put to the nationalists is—if Wales succeeds in obtaining national sovereignty what will be the political outlook of the Welsh Government? Will industry be carried on for profit? Will monetary considerations rule the field of planning and production? The answer is clear—all the machinery of capitalism will be in operation; nothing will have changed basically. The Socialist Party is not concerned with making capitalism continue more palatable but with its eradication. The Socialist Party is not interested in national liberation movements. We in the Socialist Party strive for the elimination of capitalism and its replacement by a nation-less world devoid of frontiers, caste systems and religious barriers.  Workers know that Welsh bosses are no different from English bosses – a capitalist has to exploit his workers in order to survive as a capitalist. In Wales, the bosses work together with English bosses to rule the country. It doesn’t matter the nationality of the bosses. It is absurd for a worker to have any patriotic commitment to boss-ruled Wales.

Since these problems arise from the way in which society is at present organised they can only be solved by a change in the social system: by the social revolution involved in replacing class monopoly and production for profit by the common ownership and production solely for use of socialism. For this reason the Socialist Party is opposed to Welsh nationalism and does not support the demand for Welsh independence. From the point of view of the Welsh workers, the position would remain broadly the same – he or she would remain the vehicle creating surplus value for the wealthy to appropriate. The male-voice choirs of Wales should raise its voice in a mighty chorus which would reverberate through the hills and valleys and beyond. “Workers of all lands, Unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains, you have a world to gain.” This is the real message of freedom: these words spell freedom in any language. Our message to Welsh fellow workers is the same as that to the world working class: join the "Liberation Movement," which really counts—the struggle for socialism."