COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R003400070006-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 13, 2013
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: November 23, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

50X1 -HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
.111. +ft.
BERLIN, MAY 1953 ? NO 5
INFORMATION BULLETIN
OF THE EUROPEAN WORKERS COMMITTEE AGAINST THE REMILITARISATION OF GERMANY
FROM THE CONTENTS -
1. Comrade Fritz Thrun.liberated
Page
1
2. European Workers Committee greets Inter-
national Miners' Conference against the Schu-
man Plan 1
3. From the Pravda-article on USA President
Eisenhower's speech 2
4. News in brief 3
Comrade Fritz Thrun liberated!
On April 1st, our comrade Fritz Thrun, President of
the German and Vice-President of the European Wor-
kers Committee against the Remilitarisation of Ger-
many, was released from prison by the Adenauer
government.
Comrade Fritz Thrun had been illegaly imprisoned
since Christmas 1952. He was accused of "High Treason".
His "crime" was his courageous, determined struggle
for peace.
The arrest of this upright and popular working class
leader aroused a violent storm of protest. Thanks to
his activity as a member of the European Workers
Committee, a large number of factories and workers
from all European countries addressed letters and pro-
test resolutions to the Bonn government. Workers in
France, Italy, Finland, Holland, Denmark, Hungary,
Bulgaria and the other countries of people's democracy
and particularly West German workers persistently
demanded the release of Fritz Thrun.
Under pressure from this protest movement, the
Supreme Federal Court was forced to issue an order
for. his release.
On his return to Hagen he was enthusiastically wel-
comed by a large crowd of citizens and workers of the
metallurgical works at Hagen-Haspe.
5600 of his workmates of the metallurgical work
expressed their great joy at the return of Fritz Thrun
by reelecting him a member of the shop stewards coun-
cil with an majority. Fritz Thrun decla-
red, that he was ready to continue his work as chairman
of the shop stewards council immediately.
The secretariate of the European Workers Committee
addressed a message of greeting to Fritz .Thrun on the
occasion of his release from prison.
European Workers Committee
greets International Miners Conference against the Schuman Plan
The Secretariate of the European Workers Committee
has addressed the following message of greeting to the
International Miners Conference against the Schuman
Plan, which met in Berlin from April 15th ?17th:
"The Secretariate of the European Workers Com-
mittee against the Remilitarisation of Germany
would like to convey its fraternal greetings to the
International Miners Conference against the
Schuman Plan, wishing all success in its work.
In the Situation created by the ratification of the
war treaties of Bonn and Paris, this miners confe-
rence will contribute to welding and reinforcing
the unity of action among the entire working
class of Europe.
It is today more important than ever to overcome
all obstacles of different religious and political
views, in order to act jointly with regard to the
preservation of peace and against the catastrohpic
consequences of the Schuman Plan.
Long live the unity of action among the working
class.
European Workers Committee against the
Remilitarisation of Germany."
The Conference was attended by an all-German dele-
gation of West German, Saar miners and miners from
the German Democratic Republic, including National
Prize Laureate Adolf Hennecke.
Of the capitalist countries of western Europe dele-
gations from France, Belgium, Luxembourg ?and
Sweden were present at this? conference. The Poeple's
Democracies were represented by a delegation of Polish
miners. Delegations from Italy and Holland were
prevented from participating in the conference by
provocative measures on the part of the governments
of their countries.
The aim of the conference was to intensify the struggle
against the Schuman Plan, a plan of American war
preparations in Europe in the sphere of economy and
?
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80S01540R003400070006-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80S01540R003400070006-7
to work out more detailed lines along which to carry
on this struggle.
The General Secretary of the International Union of
Mining Workers in the W.F.T.U., Henri Turrel, stated
in his report:
"If we succeed in mobilising all miners for the
struggle in defense of their claims and for exten-
ding our activities to all sections of the population,
drawing in the middle class and peasantry, then
our common struggle will achieve positive results...
Only by acting in this way, by taking the lead in
this struggle, can we be certain of forcing the
Schuman Plan adventurers on the retreat."
From the Pravda-article
on USA President Eisenhower's speech,
On April 16th 1953 President Eisenhower spoke before
a .meeting of the American Society of Newspaper
editors on problems of the international situation. The
"Pravda" published a leading article in its issue of
April 24th 1953, commenting on this speech. In this
article it was stated, that it was the Soviet people, who
bore the main burden in the second world war of liber-
ation from the fascist yoke. The Soviet Union con-
stantly defends cause of peace among the nations,
working now as before for the development of inter-
national cooperation. The "Pravda" describes President
Eisenhower's speech "as an answer to recently made
declarations of the Soviet government on the possibi-
lity of a peaceful solution of all international differ-
ences". ?
The "Pravda" goes on to show the contradiction
between President Eisenhower's words, that "every one
of these differences ? be they great or small ? can
be solved peacefully, if only there is a will on all sides,
to respect the rights of other countries" ? and other
parts of his speech.
"Why did the President find it necessary to threat the
world with an atomic war in a speech calling for
peace?" asks the "Pravda". With regard to the Korea
problem, the "Pravda" states, that the Soviet people
have always supported such steps, aiming at the conc-
lusion of a just armistice in Korea.
On the German problem, the "Pravda" states, that the
solution of this problem requires consideration of the
vital interests of all Germany's neighbours, of the
interests of securing peace in Europe and, above all,
consideration of the national hopes of the German
people. The article further states, that President Eisen-
hower's speech contains no indication towards a solu-
tion of this problem. He refrained from taking the
Potsdam agreement of the four powers on the German
problem into consideration. The "Pravda" states: "The
point is, to conclude a peace treaty with Germany as
quickly as possible, so as to give the German people
the chance of uniting in one undivided state, taking
their due place in the community of peace-loving
nations, and creating the basis for a withdrawal of all
troops of occupation from Germany, whose upkeep
rests as an additional burden upon the shoulders of the
German people."
The "Pravda" continues to show, that the President's
speech contains no mention of accepting China as a
member of the United Nations, on its international
rights there, or on its legal territorial claims. The
"Pravda" regards this omission of dealing with inter-
national problems of such great urgency to be a policy,
dictated by the desire to turn back the wheel of history.
Thereafter the article discusses the "Five Command-
ments" formulated by Eisenhower, which, according to
his own words, "characterise the attitude of the United
States with regard to international affairs". In these
"Commandments" it is stated, that "every country
posesses the sacred right of creating a form of govern-
ment and an economic system of its own choice".
2
This declaration, states the "Pravda", is not based on
deeds, and that in fact the policy of the USA has so far
taken very little heed of this kind of declaration with
regard to the solution of many international problems.
Concerning the peoples of eastern Europe, the "Pravda"
states, that their forms of government had by no means
been forced upon them from outside, as Eisenhower
said.
Facts have proved, that the peoples of eastern Europe
have come to their present popular democratic forms
of government only after a long and hard struggle for
their rights. It is not to be expected of the Soviet
Union, that she should ever intervene in favour of
resurrecting the reactionary regimes of these countries,
which were overthrown by the people.
The "Pravda" also gives an answer to Eisenhower's
words to the effect, that the Soviet Union should make
use of its influence in the communist "world to hold up
the liberation movements of the colonial and semi-
colonial peoples in Asia against the century old yoke
of capitalist slavery and oppression. It states: "It is
difficult to expect a real understanding of international
problems, as long as national liberation movements are
regarded as a result of the influence of individual
'malevolent' persons."
It points out the necessity of democratic cooperation
between all countries, with boundless respect of the
national sovereignity of each one of them, and without
enforcing any kind of political conditions upon such
countries, receiving economic aid.
The "Pravda" article goes on to comment upon the
International Subsidiary Fund suggested by President
Eisenhower, stating, that USA "help" is decidedly
being rejected by the peoples. It is stressed again and
again, that the Soviet side is ready at all times to sup-
port the peace calls contained in the President's speech.
" It is, however, not easy to overlook the fact, that so
far the course of USA foreign policy is far off from
these peace calls." In support of this statement, the
commentary to the President's speech made by USA
Foreign Minister Dulles two days after the speech, is
quoted. According to the views of leading Soviet states-
men, proposals, sincerely aiming at peace can very well
serve as a basis for improving the international
situation. This does not, however, imply, that they
were prepared to accept new variations of old methods
as such proposals.
After going into some detail in the question of cutting
down armaments, which had been dealt with by Eisen-
hower, revealing yet another contradiction between the
words of the President and facts in USA policy, the
"Pravda" continues: "It is generally known, that the
Soviet Union has at all times expressed its willingness
to discuss all international problems in a friendly
athmosphere with the aim of finding a peaceful
solution, on condition, of course, that proposals put
foreward by any one of the discussion partners were
in some way acceptable and did not contradict the
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
? ,
interests of the Soviet Union and the peace-loving
peoples. In his speech the President of the USA for
some reason thought it possible to bind his peace-
proposals to a number of conditions which he makes to
the Soviet Union, although he makes no mention of
any kind of obligations on the part of the United
States. This kind of porposal has already met with
just resistance in different international circles."
The " Pravda " points out, that leading Soviet statesmen
make their call for a peaceful settlement of inter-
national problems dependent upon no kind of conditions
to the USA or to any other country joined to the
Anglo-American block.
The article concludes with the following words:
"The policy pursued by the Soviet Union can not cont-
radict the interests of the peace-loving nations. It
fully accords with the interests of all states, who are
ready to contribute to the development of international
cooperation, regardless of their social systems. This
policy of the USSR is at the same time an expression
of the sincere desire of our people for. srengthening
world peace."
This leading article in the "Pravda" has met with a
wide response among world public opinion. All peace-
loving peoples regard this article as a new proof of
the consistent rieace-policy of the Soviet Union and of
its readiness for making use of every chance of
preserving world peace.
NEWS IN BRIEF
West Germany and West Berlin
The bourgeois paper "Fuldaer Volkszeitung" in its
leading article of May 2nd settles accounts with all
those elements, wishing to undermine all ways of
reaching an agreement between east and west, out of
greed for higher profits. Recalling events at western
stock exchanges following the first Soviet peace moves
after the first world war, the paper states: "We should
like to remind of the fact, that this happened merely
as a precaution against the "danger" the possibility of
serious peace talks between east and west in the near
future. What would happen, if peace was in fact one
day to "break out", and if all nations were united in
a common desire, never more to fight each other?
The mere indication of such a possibility makes certain
people tremble! Financial losses for a certain category
of people would indeed be enormous. The "New York
Herald Tribune", one of the most representative
American newspapers, recently declared quite openly,
that any possible "outbreak of peace would create a
serious situation for American economy".
The paper points out the difference between those
fearing war and those fearing peace. "The fear of war
is alive among the masses of the people in all parts of
the globe, they know from experience, that war would
only bring them blood and tears, death and disaster.
The fear of peace, on the other side, is only awake
among a small clique, but . . . since this clique is in
posession of huge material means and power, its
influence is many thousandfold greater than what one
might expect of a small number of people. That is all
the more so, since they again and again succeed in
finding fools, who are willing to let themselves be
harnessed to their propaganda machine."
The paper goes on to warn: "History proves beyond
doubt, that so far every armament has led to war." It
comes to the conclusion, that Adenauer, too, is going
the same way. Whether he will succeed, depends,
according to the "Fuldaer Zeitung" upon whether the
West German population will continue to look on in
silence, how Adenauer "steers the stormbeaten vessel
of state".
The number of bancrupts has risen even higher in
West Berlin, owing to Reuter's "Front Line City" policy.
In the course of April 13 bancrupts and 7 court
proceedings were registered.
The West German railway intends to dismiss 45.000
workers within the next 3 years, thus "saving plan
situations". This was made known by the right-wing
socialist chairman of the West German Railway Work-
ers Union, Hans Jahn, in West Berlin. By these mass
dismissals the West German railway administration
intends to save an annual expenditure of round
200 million marks, which Adenauer needs for addit-
ional rearmaments measures.
"According to calculations made by the Federal Office
of Statistics the necessary expenses of a working class
family of four, which were estimated at 367,87 marks in
August 1952, can not be covered", states the christian
monthly "Befreiung", commenting on the living condit-
ions of West German workers. The average income of
wage-and salary earners amounted ? again according
to official figures quoted by Bonn, to 294 marks.
Dr. Fritz Gajewski, director of the IG-Farben trust in
Leverkusen has been awarded the "High Service Cross"
by the Adenauer government, according to a statement
in the "Bonner Bundes Anzeiger". Gajewski is the
former General Director of the AGFA and former
member of the "Council of the Gods" of the IG Farben
trust. He is one of the 24 directors accused of war
crimes and of crimes against humanity at the
Nuremberg IG-Farben trial.
The August-Thy'ssen works, which have been formally
re-founded, have been rebuilt with the tax payments
of West German workers. The Thyssen works, which
are now to be drawn into West German armaments
production. They have been granted credits by the
Bonn government and the provincial government of
North-Rhine Westphalia for extending their armaments
production capacity. This was made known by the
chairman of the supervisory council, the Nazi banker
and intimate friend of Adenauer, Robert Pferdmenges,
in a speech at the foundation conference. Pferdmenges
added, that the works were again in posession of their
old shares in the cokery, and that coke would be
delivered regularly according ta a 30 years agreement
with the Hamborn Bergbau AG.
Every West German man, woman and child is obliged
to pay 260 marks for the financial year 1953/54
as an armaments contribution, even according to
official figures published by the Bonn institute of
"Finances and Taxes". Thus every West German
family is on the average burdened with payments
of over 1000 marks, which the Adenauer govern-
ment spends on rearmaments. According to the
calculations of the Bonn institute, armaments costs in
irtr-94' STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
"
West Germany have risen from 83 marks in the financ-
ial year 1949/50 ? the official beginning of rearmament
? to 260 marks per head in 1953/54 ? that is more
than threefold. According to these calculations, West
German tax payers have to pay the highest armaments
costs besides Britain and France.
Officials of the American Marshall-Plan administration,
sent to western Europe and West Germany by the
Eisenhower government in order to controll the stand
of war preparations are "advising" the Bonn govern-
ment increasingly to draw in West German shipbuild-
ing industries on rearmaments production. According
to their calculations, West Germany "had the greatest
possibilities of all European countries for making the
largest contribution" to rearmament, since the recon-
struction of West German armaments production was
"by far the most advanced in comparison with that of
all other western European countries". In order to
guarantee the payment of war materials provided by
American sources for the West German mercenary
army, the Adenauer government is to take on according
credit obligation.
Eversince April 25th 1953 14 000 dockers have been on
strike in Bremen and Bremerhaven in defense of
their just claims. Social democrats, communists, christ-
ians and unorganised workers have joined hands,
irrespective of their different views, in order to fight
for a wage rise of 8 pfennigs per hour. Together with
employers, rightwing trade union leaders are making
every effort to smash the united fighting front of the
workers. In their so-called strike reports they slander
the communists, they sabotage strike meetings, serving
the reinforcement of the fighting front, and try to
split organised and unorganised workers, by refusing
all financial aid and even solidarity to the latter.
Right-wing social democrat ? and trade union leaders
are violating the principles of trade union democracy
by ressorting to dictatorial measures, in fear of their
treacherous conduct coming to light. They propose
measures to progressive trade union leaders, elected
by the workers, by which they try to force them to
betray their political conviction under threat of
releaving them of their posts. Only very few of these
trade union leaders however, have given way under
the pressure of these undemocratic, unconstitutional
measures taken by right-wing leaders.
"All dismissed dockers must be reinstalled and all
repressive measures are to cease." This is the most
recent claim voiced by the 14 000 dockers on strike.
In unbroken fighting spirit pickets continued patrolling
outside the dockyards on the 18th day of the strike.
In many places the dockworkers have reinforced their
picket lines. The solidarity movement growing with
every day has firmly convinced unorganised dockers
of Bremen, Bremerhaven and Vegesack, that the
solidarity of the workers throughout Germany and
the international fraternity of all workers will help
them to continue their. strike until its victorious end.
The number of enterprises, where strikes have been
taking place has risen by 35% last year, compared
with the year before. This was stated by the Bonn
office of statistics in the journal "Wirtschaft und
Statistik" recently According to calculations made by
this office, strikes took place in 2522 factories in the
course of 1952, while in 1951 the number of enterprises
affected by strikes is estimated at 1878. In the time
4
passed since 1949, the number of strike affected enter-
prises has almost trebbled.
At a meeting of provincial leaders organised by the
"Stahlhelm" organisation in Bonn, the former Nazi
Generalfleldmarshal Kesselring took over the active
leadership of this fascist soldiers league. The presidency
over the "Stahlhelm" had already been offered to
Kesselring earlier, during his imprisonment at Werl.
Kesselring, who had commanded a troop detachment
in Italy at the end of the last war has been- proved
guilty beyond doubt of the slaughter of more than
1500 civilians. He had issued the command in Italy,
to shoot ten Italians for each German soldier killed
by members of the Italian army of liberation. For this
crime he was condemned to death by shooting by a
British military court in Venice, in 1947. Two weeks
after it had been pronounced, this verdict was reduced
to life imprisonment. Eversince 1947 Kesselring has
been imprisoned at Werl, from where he was released
"On Parole" recently.
In order to establish yet closer contact to all former
Nazi-Generals in the Bonn government, the Head
Quarters of the "Stahlhelm" is to be moved from
Cologne to Bonn at the beginning of June. Former
Nazi Generalfieldmarshal Kesselring declared at an
internal meeting, that the young generation should
"once again be educated to military thinking". By
"military thinking" the war crininal Kesselring presu-
mably meant the murder of 1500 civilians, which
he had committed during the Nazi occupation of Italy.
Former Generalfieldmarshal Erich von Mannstein, who
is guilty of the murder of a large number Of Soviet
citizens by German soldiers, for which crime he had
been condemned to 18 years of imprisonment, has been
set free.
At a special conference, convoqued on? the initiative
of the council of the German Gathering, the "German
League for Unity, Peace and Freedom" was founded.
Ex-Chancellor Dr. Je:eph Wirth, Freiburg, and ex-Lord
Mayor of Munich-Gladbach, Wilhelm Elfes were
elected chairmen of the parties. In a proclamation to
the West German people, the "German League for
Unity, Peace and Freedom" declares the f9llowing to
be its aims:
"The German League for Unity, Peace and Freedom
faces the people as a powerful gathering of all
Germans, regardless of their social origine, their
profession, beliefs or political views, who are willing
to make an end to the shameful rule of the Adenauer
government, which subordinates 'German interests to
American power politics, and to replace this regime by
a strong governing body of responsible, nationally-
minded Germans." The League intends to take an
active part in the coming elections to Federal Parli-
ament, putting up its own candidates, declaring: "The
German League goes forward to take part in the
elections for the new Federal Parliament, in order to
conduct a truly German policy for unity and peace,
according to the wishes of the people."
Finland
In the time from May 10th-17th a Peaceweek is to
be held in all parts of Finland. The Finish Peace
Committee has called upon the population to join
hands in the common struggle for peace. In this
appeal, it is stressed that the conclusion of a peace
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
&
treaty between the Big Five corresponds to the inter-
ests of the Finish people, since it would ban the danger
of war and instead open wide perspectives for the,
development of economic relations.
Spain
The government of the USA and Franco Spain have
reached an agreement on the conditions under which
Franco would be willing to allow the creation of
military srongholds for USA air-and sea forces,
according to a report of the Madrid correspondent of
the "Sunday Times". After much bargaining, Franco
has been promised 225 million dollar, ? twice the
sum first offered by Truman. This agreement is to
remain in force over a period of five years. The USA
are to receive airfields in the district around Madrid,
Sevilla and Burgos, as well as maritime strongholds
in the north, near la Coruna and near Cadiz and
Cartagena in the south and south-east of the country
on the basis of this agreement.
France
Means originally allocated to the state domestic budget
for the current year have subsequently been cut by
more than onehundred milliard francs by the Mayer
government. The main burden of these drastic cuts
rests upon the shoulders of French workers, since
restrictions etc. are to be accomplished by means of
cancelling government subventions. Furthermore an
increase of railways tarifs by 25%, as well as other
Indirect taxes are planned. The total deficit in the
budget for the year 1953 amounts to round 800 milliard
francs.
The bitter earnest of the financial crisis in France ?
a result of the North-Atlantic-Pact policy pursued by
reactionary ruling circles is expressed, among other
things, by the fact, that the currency of banknotes
had reached the record figure of 2 137 283 million
franc by the end of April. At a banquet of employers
Prime Minister Mayer was obliged to admit, that:
"the present development is painful", since it- led to
the rise of unemployment and a reduction of the
purchasing power of the workers.
A national conference for negotiations and peace has
been convoqued by the peace movement to take place
in Paris from June 27th-28th.
In the appeal launched by the permanent committee
of the peace movement it is stated, that the conclusion
of a peace treaty among the Big Five would lead to
relieve international tension, creating improved living
conditions for French working men and women. France
it continues, is interested to end the hopeless war it
nas been waging for the last six years in Indo China, by
taking up negotiations. France, whose rulers are
willing to accept the revival of German militarism,
must insist upon negotiations for the peaceful solution
of the German problem.
The permanent committee calls upon all Frenchmen
to make every effort of forcing the government to
give a positive answer to the message of the People's
Congress for Peace, taking up negotiations for the
security of France and of world peace.
The participants of the Congres held by the Paris
organisation of former prisoners of war, numbering
over 54 000 members, have declared themselves against
the war treaties of Bohn and Paris in a resolution.
e
These former prisoners of war pledged themselves to
stand in the front ranks of those, fighting for the
preservation of peace.
On April 15th the workers of the Reynault works in
Paris went on strike. The unity of action between the
trade union organisations of the C.G.T., the catholic
organisations and the "Force Ouvriere" gave this
strike the character of a real mass action.
The workers and employees of the Paris underground
and bus services went on a 24 hour strike on May
12th. The workers and employees of the Paris transport
services have been staging strikes periodically for
more than three months now, in order to put a stress
on their wage-and salary claims. After a strike in
1951, the city transport cooperation had agreed to
raise wages, without having kept their word. In all
French mediterranean ports trade vessels lay still on
May 5th, which are not being attended to in conse-
quence of the strike of officers in the merchant navy,
who have been joined by the sailors in most ports.
The strikers also enjoy wide spread solidarity among
the dockworkers.
Tramway workers in Marseille staged their eighth.
Sunday strike for higher wages on May 10th. Tramway
workers of the city of Rennes, department Ille-et-
Villaine also stopped work for 24 hours on May 10th.
This was their fourth Sunday strike for higher wages.
Belgium
"Europe has no desire of becoming a second Korea.
Europe is opposed to the remilitarisation of Germany,
because this means one step nearer to war". This was
stated in a manifesto, issued by the Belgian Committee
for the peaceful solution of the German problem. The
large number of personalities, who have already
declared themselves in favour of this manifesto by
giving their signatures, include Baron Allard, the
Prasident of the Students union of the Free University,
Brussels, Barse, deputy Isabelle Blume and the director
of the Royal Library, Verlant.
In this manifesto the war treaties of Bonn and Paris
are sharply condemned. It states:
"The German problem can only be solved by a
conference of the Big Four, which will reestablish
German unity and draw up a peace treaty, in
order to prevent the rebirth of militarism."
At a mass rally in memory of the 13th aniversary of
the occupation of Belgium by Hitler's troops, the
population of Brussles protested against the remili-
tarisation of West Germany and the revival of a
revengeful German army. Demonstrators carried a
great number of slogans such as: "Peace is our hope",
"We shall not tolerate the rearmament of our hench-
men of yesterday, ? we are against the establishment
of a European army" and "We demand that the
deputies and members of the Senate refuse to ratify
the E.D.C.-agreement!" The demonstation was follo-
wed by a mass rally, where the member of the Belgian
Peace Council, Allard, adressed the population. He
called all demonstrators to continue and reinforce the
struggle for a policy of peace and against the present
policy of war. Amidst loud applause telegrammes of
greeting by the organisations of former French and
Dutch inmates of concentrations camps were read out.
"We, former soldiers, prisoners and invalids of two
wars, political exiles, widows and orphans, flgthers
5
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
*:
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80501540R003400070006-7
of the resistance movement, swear to put up joint
resistance against the new danger threatening our
lives," with these words participants of the demon-
stration swore to fight, in order that "never again shall
there be another Wehrmacht, which has twice occu-
pied our' country. Never again shall German
militarism be allowed to threat peace. We swear to
defend the security and independence of Belgium. We
defend peace, our lives, our towns and villages, the
bread of the workers and the future of our children."
Greece
Rice prices have risen by 51% in monarcho-fascist
Greece in the time from April 9th ? May 6th this year.
At the same time wheat prices have risen by 25%, those
for Maize by 40%, for coffee by 21%, for soap by 19%,
for paraffin by 28%, for cotton by 25% and for leather
by 51%.
Italy
During the first quarter of this year Italian import
traffic has risen by 4,5% compared to the same period
last year, while exports have fallen by 9,9%. Thus
the deficit in Italian foreign trade rose to a total cf
169,Wastilliard lire, that is 30% higher than during the
firstgbarter of last year. The export of textile goods
expcnenced a particular decline.
? ?ar
(10 GreatCBritain
TheZational Society of Peace in Great Britain has
appgaTed to the British government to shun no effort
in order to bring about an armistice in Korea. The
PeaeemSociety is -a pacifist organisation, headed by
Lordahn Boyd-Orr.
In taik? appeal they call for the end of rearmament
in West Germany and for a careful examination of
the Soviet proposals for a peaceful solution of the
German problem. The aim of western policy should
directed point towards removing all obstacles in the
way of concluding a peace treaty with Germany.
Austria
In western Austria a new aggressive army is being
established under the protection of the occupation
authorities, according to reports of the democratic
Austrian press.
At present police and military units count 32 000 men,
compared with 18 000 in 1938. Troops are being trained
in special training courses in the use of tanks, arm-
oured cars, heavy machine guns and wireless sets.
The democratic press further reports new large scale
dismissals in Austrian factories as a consequence of
the catastrophic policy pursued by the government.
Thus on the eve of Mayday 22 workers were sacked from
the Vienna woodworks. More than half of the workers
from the Vienna woodworks. More than half of the
workers and employees of the Vienna factory "Graz-
Pauker " about 60% of the workers at the heavy
engineering works "Eisert" in Heidenreichstein, as well-
as part of the workers of the firm " Boblin" at Gmiind
lost their places of work.
The average earnings of Austrian workers and employ-
ees is far below the established minimum, according
to official figures published by the right-wing leader-
ship of the socialist party of Austria, in their journal
"Wirtschaftswoche".
While for covering the normal costs of living of a
family of three a minimum of 1600 shillings per month
are needed with the present price situation, average
earnings of workers employed in industry do not
surpass 1200 shillings. Agricultural and wood workers
on' the average only earn 960 shillings. The "Wirt-
schaftswoche" is forded to admit, that "prices at
present existing in Austria by no means coincide with
the income of the broad sections of the population."
According to reports and statistics of the institute for
econothic reasearch, real wages of workers and employ-
ees in 1952 have fallen by 14,5% in comparisson to last
year. From reports in the "Presse", ? organ of Austrian
trading and industrial circles, it is evident, that the
Raab government is already 'planning new increases
of food prices. The decline in purchasing power
necessarily leads to a parallel decline in consumma-
tion and goods traffic. Thus, according to the Vienna
newspaper "Wiener Borsenkurier", the sale of food-
stuffs and textiles fell last year by ? and 15% respec-
tively. The recent rise in milk retail prices, which
was favoured by the government, brought about a
further decline in the consummation of milk and
dairy products, which found its expression in a decre-
ase of 12-14% in the sale of butter during the last
few months.
The result of this steady worsening living standard is
confirmed in reports of the World Health Organisation,
the Food and Agricultural organisation in ? UNO,
according to which as early as 1951 50% of all Austrian
children of school age were undernourished and in a
bad state of health. -
- Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP80S01540R003400070006-7