COMMUNIST INSPIRED SEAMEN'S AND DOCKWORKERS' STRIKE/LABOR DISTURBANCES/VIOLENCE AND RIOTING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R001200020001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 1, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 1999/09/10: CIA-RDP83-00423R001200020001-5
25X1A2g
SUBJECT: Communist Inspired Seamen's and Dockworkers'
Strike/Labor Disturbances/Violence and Rioting
PLACE ACQUIRED:
DATE ACQUIRED :
DATE :
25X1A2g
Jul 53
25X1A6a
1. The strike called. by the Seamen's Union, which I understand to be a Communist
organization, against Socony-Vacuum Oil Company was in full swing during my
25X1X visit . It seems that the Indian Government
maintains a clearing point through which all seamen are hired and then given
physical examinations. All this is done in Bombay and it serves all of India.
However, due to widespread venality among the examiners who conduct the
physical examinations, all sorts of misfits and physically disqualified persons
pass this examination. Socony-Vacuum hires these seamen thus passed and then
runs them through its own physical examination with the net result that at
least 50% of such employees are rejected for physical disabilities. Because
of this extremely large number of rejections, the Seamen's Union has charged
foul play and has gone on strike, with regular picket lines. I understand
that this happens constantly. On 4 Jul 53 the strikers were out in front
of the Socony-Vacuum office with two rather large black flags and with signs
reading, "Down with Socony-Vacuum." There were a number of policemen present
so all was quiet. On Friday, 3 Jul 53, one of the newly recruited seamen
was attacked as he walked out of the Socony-Vacuum office. One of the
strikers walked up to him and hit him on the head before the police could inter-
vene. The net result was one broken head and two seamen jailed. From what I
have seen of the jails in India, I believe that, if I had any preference in
a case such as this, I would prefer a broken head to a term in jail, however
short.
2, The Anchor Steamship Line has its Bombay office in the Neville House as does
Nowjororsee Wadia Ginning and Pressing Company, Ltd. On my visit to the latter
office, I encountered striking dockworkers out in front, chanting and standing
around. The police were there and had a walk-way cleared to the building. The
strikers seemed a bit curious about me, my brief case and everything about me
in general, but nothing overt happened and, although several of them addressed
me, I could not understand what they were saying, even though I was told that
some of it was in English.
3. I understand that violence in the small villages in India is the general order
of the day. This violence seems to be quite widespread but is generally
regarded as the usual course of events. Typical of these episodes was the raid
on the village of Chidi by a notorious outlaw, or Dacoit, by the name of Nathia
and his armed gang. They raided the village and escaped with a large plunder.
In the encounter one villager was killed and another seriously injured.
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Approved For Release 1999/09/10 : CIA-RDP83-00423R00129gM 1-5
 Approved For Release 1999/09/10 : CIA-RDP83-00423R001200020001-5
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4. Speaking of violence, the Hindu Sikhs have a warlike tradition and have been
regular soldiers in India for years. In Nander I visited the Sikh Temple and
25X1X the shrine which has been built around the tomb of one of the great Sikh holy
25X1X
1708./ I mention all this because I understand that Sikhs from all parts of
India come hero to worship and it is considered their mecca. Recently the
police chief of the Nander District raided the shrine and found concealed
therein a great number of illegal guns and ammunition. He entered the temple
and informed the head man that he knew of all the smuggled arms and wanted
them turned over to him. After a few minutes of thought, the head man
surrendered them to him. In my opinion, it took pure raw courage to walk
into a lion's den like that.
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Approved For Release 1999/09/10 : CIA-RD -5
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