NTERNATION COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANISATIONS lath, mm \?r.vm
FACTS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANISATIONS
April, 1957 CONTENTS
Page Page Introduction—The Organisations International Association of Demo- Defined cratic Lawyers (IADL) 61
World Peace Council (WPC) World Federation of Scientific Workers iWFSW) 67 World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) 19 International Organisation of Jour- nalists (IOJ) 73
World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) 33 World Congress of Doctors (WCD) 79
International Union of Students International Broadcasting Organi- (IUS) 41 sation (OIR) 83
Women's International Democratic International Federation of Resist- Federation (WIDF) 47 ance Fighters (FIR) 85
World Federation of Teachers' International Committee for the Unions (FISE) 55 Promotion of Trade (ICPT) 89 THE ORGANISATIONS DEFINED
What is a front organisation?
A front organisation is an auxiliary unit of the crats but too individualistic to join the Communist Communist army. It may be only a national one, Party. in which case it assists the local Communist Party; • On those occasions when the Communist or it may be an international one, which supports, Parties are pursuing a "popular front" or "united and obeys, the international Communist move- action" policy (as in the 1930*8 and now), front ment directed by Moscow. This booklet is con- organisations are used, seldom with success, cerned only with the international organisations. as a bridge between the Communists and the It is not clear how the term front organisation Social Democrats—or as a Trojan Horse to originated, but it is used because these organisa- infiltrate the Socialist ranks. tions, though directed by the Communist Party • They act as a cover for secret Communists machine, pretend to be independent and en- and sometimes, where has deavour to attract as many non-Communists as Communism been outlawed, for the Communist Party itself. possible in order to appear "respectable," They thus become fronts or facades behind which Lenin called them "levers" or "transmission Communism operates. belts" because they linked the Communist Party with the masses. They are also termed "demo- What is their purpose ? cratic" or "mass" organisations in Communist Their purpose is to advance the cause of Soviet jargon. As Lenin put it: Communism in various ways. Their main task "Every sacrifice must be made, the greatest is therefore to disseminate propaganda. They obstacles must be overcome, in order to carry are, in fact, Soviet-controlled agencies of political on agitation and propaganda systematically, warfare, continuously engaged in attacking non- perseveringly and patiently, precisely in those Communists and defending Soviet policies. In institutions, societies and associations—even addition: the most reactionary—to which proletarian or • They recruit, work upon and eventually semi-proletarian masses belong." (The Essen- hope to convert to Communism, those "pro- tials of Lenin, vol. II, p. 596, Lawrence & gressives" who are too "left" to be Social Demo- Wishart, 1947.)
[ 5 ] What are the international front organisations have been recently closed down but which con- called ? tinues to function on a national basis: XThe largest are : 13. International Committee for the Promotion of Trade (ICPT). 1. World Peace Council (WPC)
2. World Federation of Trade Unions(WFTU) What is their relative importance ? of Democratic Youth 3. World Federation It is difficult to assess their relative importance (WFDY) because each operates in its own sphere, and size 4. International Union of Students (1US) is not the only criterion. In one sense the WPC is the key organisation because all the others are 5. Women's International Democratic Fed- help to disseminate its "peace" eration (WIDF). linked with it and propaganda. It has also been the most successful These all deal with the category of people in attracting non-Communists, but consequently indicated in their title, the WPC being the has had the greatest difficulty in keeping in line broadest based. Then come a group of profes- with Moscow.
sional organisations : WFTU, on the other hand, is undoubtedly the 1 6. World Federation of Teachers Unions best organised and most liberally financed of all (F1SE) the organisations. As its members are well-
7. International Association of Democratic disciplined troops in Communist-controlled trade Lawyers (IADL) unions, with considerable possibilities for in- dustrial and economic disruption, WFTU is 8. World Federation of Scientific Workers (WFSW) potentially the most dangerous of the fronts even though much of its membership is in the - Organisation of Journalists 9. International Soviet orbit. The WFDY and WIDF both claim (IOJ) large memberships, but the former is more 10. World Congress of Doctors (WCD) effectively organised.
11. International Broadcasting Organisation (OIR). What have they in common ? The most noticeable thing which these organisa- Next is an organisation which is restricted to tions have in common is their complete sub- the countries once occupied by the Nazis : servience to Moscow. When Stalin quarrelled Federation of Resistance * 12. International with Tito (a fellow-Communist, not a 'capital- (FIR). Fighters ist"), the Yugoslavs were promptly expelled Lastly there is an organisation for business from every front organisation. When Khrush- men. the headquarters of which is believed to chev reversed engines, they all invited the
[ Yugoslavs back. But they were politely rebuffed. ignorance but leave again when the fraudulent
The second thing is their financial depend- nature of front organisations is exposed. They ence on Moscow. No accounts are ever pub- have been particularly unsuccessful in Europe, lished, because to do so would reveal the source where people are more advanced politically. of their extremely large funds. (The number of Western Europeans who are officers of front organisations is quite misleading The third fact is their complete lack of demo- in this respect.) Latterly the front organisations cratic control. Each is autocratically directed by have been concentrating on Asia, Africa and a Secretary-General (sometimes by the President Latin America where they hope to have more where there is no Secretary- General), who is a success. They are particularly exploiting Afro- dedicated Communist receiving instructions direct Asian nationalism. from Moscow. He is assisted by an inner circle of hand-picked men, usually Communists, who Their lack of success is due, secondly, to the fojm the Bureau and with whom policy may be existence of genuine organisations in each field discussed. All the other bodies simply act as which free people can join, such as the Inter- mouthpieces. The Secretariat usually consists national Confederation of Free Trade Unions only of trusted Communists. No real voting (ICFTU), the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) takes place either over the "election" of officers or the International Student Conference (ISC). or the approval of policies. It is all done by Lastly, the front organisations have been "acclamation." hampered by the policies (and particularly the Some Council members are well-meaning sudden changes) of their Soviet masters—the dupes—believers in co-existence, or Asian neutral- Berlin blockade, the attack on Korea, the vetoes Council, trials, ists—not Communists. But nearly all the officers in the Security the treason the are trusted Communists. One of the WPC Vice- denunciation of Stalin (which has never been Presidents, the Italian Socialist leader, Nenni, mentioned by any of the front organisations) and appears to be one of the few exceptions. lastly the rape of Hungary (which has shaken them profoundly). All these events have worried How successful have they been ? even loyal Communists and have had a disastrous In spite of the enormous sums expended, run- effect on those flirting with Communism, and on ning into millions of pounds, the vast barrage of neutralists. propaganda they have ceaselessly put forth, and So although the front organisations constitute the countless activities they have sponsored, the a dangerous fifth column in the free world, they front organisations have been singularly unsuc- are not as strong as they would like to pretend. cessful. The best way to keep them in check is to make This has been due primarily to the common ordinary people aware of their aims and activities. sense of ordinary people, who may join in "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance."
( 7 ] WORLD PEACE COUNCIL (WPC)
The official title is World Council of Peace, but it is usually known by the shorter English version, World Peace Council, or the initials WPC. The French title is Conseil Mondial de la Paix.
HEADQUARTERS State." (Observer, February 3, 1957.) It has Originally the headquarters were in Paris, but now been invited to Prague. in 1951 they were expelled by the French Govern- ment for "fifth-column activities" and had to HISTORY the moved again, move to Prague. In 1954 WPC The World Peace Movement really dates from Vienna, where it established itself under Soviet to August, 1948, when a World Congress of protection at Estate-Haus, Mollwaldplatz 5, Intellectuals for Peace was held in Wroclaw. Vienna IV. The Minister of the Interior pro- Poland. A continuing organisation called the tested strongly because the permission of the International Liaison Committee of Intellec- Government had neither been sought nor given. tuals was set up, which in turn called the First
added ; sharp watch will be kept on the He "A World Peace Congress in Paris in April, 1949 World Peace Council, for it has nothing to do (part of the meeting had to be held in Prague with peace. Vienna is becoming more and more because of visa difficulties). This launched the established as the headquarters of Cominform World Committee of Partisans of Peace, which, organisations plotting to undermine the free in November, 1950, was renamed the World withdrew West." When the occupation forces Peace Council. and Austria regained her independence, the WPC was for a time permitted to remain on condition The World Peace Council has been more that it observed Austrian laws, but on February 2, successful than other front organisations in 1957, the Ministry of the Interior announced that winning non-Communist support. From the the WPC had been banned and its offices closed beginning it has attracted a certain number of down because it "interfered in the internal neutralists, internationalists, pacifists and Left- affairs of countries with which Austria has good wing Socialists. Though many have become and friendly relations" and its activities were disillusioned and resigned, the WPC has succeeded "directed against the interest of the Austrian in keeping up a How of replacements, particularly
[ 9 ] from Asia, The diversity of its membership has, 4. Mme Eugenie COTTON, of France, however, led to special difficulties, and its Com- President of the Women's International Demo- munist officers have had more trouble than those cratic Federation (WIDF) and of its French in other front organisations in keeping the affiliate Union des Femmes Francoises ; Stalin membership in line with Soviet policy, particularly Peace Prize winner, 1950. just recently. There have been no mass defections, 5. Ilya EHRENBURG, of the USSR, mem- however, as with the World Federation of Trade ber of the Supreme Soviet ; Stalin Peace Prize Unions (WFTU). winner, 1952. OFFICERS 6. Prof. Leopold INFELD, of Poland, a member of the Council of the World Federation The President is Prof. Frederic JOLIOT- of Scientific Workers (WFSW) and Professor CURIE, a well-known French Communist. He of Physics at Warsaw University. is also President of the World Federation of 7. Dr. Saif-ud-din KITCHLEW, of India, Scientific Workers (WFSW) and is a Stalin Peace President of the Peace Committee, Prize winner (1950). A leading physicist, Joliot- AlMndia Curie was removed from the directorship of the and Vice-President of the Asia and Pacific
Peace Liaison ; French Atomic Energy Commission for security Committee Stalin Peace Prize reasons. winner 1952. 8. KUO Mo-jo, of China, President of the The Secretary-General is another French China Communist, Jean LAFFITTE, who describes Peace Committee and Vice-President of the Asia and Pacific Peace Liaison Committee himself as an author. ; won a Stalin Peace Prize in 1951.
The ten Vice-Presidents are : 9. Nils Artur LUNDFCVIST, of Sweden, an 1. Emmanuel d'ASTIER (de la Vigerie), of author. France, Progressiste (i,e. pro-Communist) 10. Pietro NENNI, of Italy, Secretary- deputy, director of the newspaper Liberation, General of the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) and joint President ; of French Peace Movement. won a Stalin Peace Prize in 1951, but gave the 2. Prof. John D. BERNAL, of Great money to Hungarian refugees in 1957. Britain, who is a Vice-President of the WFSW There are eight Secretaries, who form the and also of the British Peace Committee. Secretariat under the direction of the Secretary- A leading physicist, he won a Stalin Peace General : Prize in 1953. 1. Mme Isabella BLUME (Belgium). 3. Gen. Lazaro CARDENAS, of Mexico, 2. Gilbert de CHAMBRUN (France). -^\~ a former Mexican President. He received a 3. Vincent DUNCAN-JONES (UK). Stalin Peace Prize in 1955. 4. Professor Nino FOGLIARES1 (Italy).
[ ] 5. LI Yi-mang (China). The Executive Bureau, which meets two or 6. Riccardo LOMBARDI (Italy). three times a year, decides the policy and plans 7. Hon. Ivor MONTAGU (UK). the work. This consists of the 20 officers (see 8. Kinkazu SAIONJI (Japan). above) and 40 ordinary members. Most of these are either Communists or close collaborators, STRUCTURE though a few of them have recently disclosed certain misgivings about Soviet actions in The full Council, which is composed of indivi- Hungary. dual "peace fighters," leaders of national Peace The Secretariat does all the work, keeping Committees and representatives of other front contact with national peace committees, arranging organisations, constantly fluctuates in member- meetings and editing publications. ship, but the present figure is thought to be about 450. Members come from nearly every country in the world, with Western Europe, MEMBERSHIP Latin America, China, India, Japan and the Membership of the World Peace Movement, USSR predominating. The Council has met as as it is called, is organised on a national basis. figure total follows : No exact of the number of members has ever been given, but it must be very large. February, 1951, East Berlin. National Peace Committees are affiliated from November, 1951, Vienna. 74 countries, and these in turn run local branches July, Berlin. 1952, East open to anyone who cares to join. It is, in fact, June, 1953, Budapest. the only front organisation which is designed to November, 1953, Vienna. appeal to everyone. Many people join under the May, 1954, East Berlin. illusion that they are supporting a genuine pacifist November, 1954, Stockholm. organisation which is above politics. April, 1956, Stockholm. Special efforts have been made, with varying degrees of success, to attract people from all As will be seen, a distinct preference was shown walks of life. early as in the past for Berlin and Vienna. This was As November 29, 1949, because meetings could be organised under Soviet the Cominform journal contained this directive on the "Defence of Peace and the Struggle protection, but still have the appearance of being Against the Warmongers" : outside* the Iron Curtain. (Though this no longer applies to Vienna.) In recent years, Scandinavia "Particular attention should he devoted to has been a favourite choice. As guests and drawing into this movement trade unions, observers are usually invited, these meetings, too women's, youth, co-operative, sports, cultural, large for conducting Council business, are used educational, religious and other organisations, mainly for propaganda purposes. and also scientists, writers, journalists, cultural
ii [ ] workers, parliamentary and other political and exception of the International Broadcasting are : public leaders who act in defence of peace and Organisation) sitting on its Council. They
against war." WFTU : Louis Saillant.
FISE : Paul Delanoue. FINANCE WFDY : Bruno Bernini. Each national organisation is supposed to be Jacques Denis. information is available self-supporting. No IUS : Jiri Pelikan. the enormous expenses of the head- about how WIDF : Mme Eugenie Cotton. quarters organisation are met. Mme Angiola Minella.
IOJ : Jaroslav Knobloch. PUBLICATIONS IADL : Joe Nordmanm a monthly review, published in (a) Horizons, FIR : Col. Frederic Manhes. Paris by Pierre COT and edited by Claude In addition, the WFSW is represented by on behalf of the WPC. Formerly MORGAN Joliot-Curie and Professor J. D. published in Professor called Defense de la Paix, it is and Bernal ; the WCD by Major-Gen. Sokhey, 13 languages and circulated in 24 countries. Its the ICPT by Robert Chambeiron. In each the Editorial Office is at 33, rue Vivienne, Paris 2. most important figure, or figures, act as liaison (b) World Council of Peace Bulletin, & bi- with the WPC. monthly record of the activities of the WPC and This does not mean that the WPC in any way its affiliated organisations, is published by the controls the other front organisations, but rather Secretariat. that it uses all of them to support and to publicise (c) Press Service releases are issued by the its campaigns and propaganda. Sometimes it Secretariat as required. renders a similar service in return, as, for example, (d) Pamphlets. These are produced at irregular when it supports the World Youth Festivals run intervals, usually for the purpose of publicising by the WFDY and IUS. But whereas the Peace Congresses or WPC campaigns* In 1954 WPC's appeal is universal, that of each other one was published called : What is the World front organisation is limited to its particular Council of Peace ? field. RELATIONS WITH OTHER (b) United Nations ORGANISATIONS The WPC has never had consultative status with the UN or any of its agencies. (a) Front Organisations Though many of the front organisations are (c) Other Organisations the has, as part of the interlinked, the WPC is the only one which has In recent years WPC strategy, great efforts to official representatives of all the others (with the post-Stalin detente made
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woo non-Communist organisations such as From the beginning, the WPC has devoted its genuine pacifist bodies and religious groups. energies to defending the policies of the Soviet This campaign has not been very successful, Union and attacking those of the Western Powers. largely owing to the fact that, however it tries, In particular it has attacked the Marshall Plan, the WPC is unable to maintain for long the Western Union, the European Defence Com- pretence that it is impartial and pacifist. munity and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisa- tion—in short every attempt by Europe or the AVOWED AIMS Atlantic bloc to defend itself. The avowed aims of the WPC are very simple. The Cominform journal on October 31, 1952, They are to mobilise " the peoples " of the world, in a leading article about the Vienna Peace if necessary in opposition to their governments, Congress, wrote in defence of peace, to expose the "warmongers" "While preparing for the Congress, the and to bring about a peaceful settlement of fighters for peace are vigorously and inde- international differences. fatigably exposing the warmongers, the enemies of mankind, who seek to enmesh the peoples ACTUAL POLICIES in lies. The peace partisans are carrying to the masses the truth about the genuine peace As Communist dogma has divided the world policy of the Soviet Union and of the into the "peace camp" (which means the Soviet People's Democracies, they are exposing the orbit) and the "war camp," the defence of peace Pharisaical peace camouflage of the US-British becomes, for the WPC, the defence of the interests ..." of the Soviet Union and of international Com- aggressors munism. Cominform resolution published in A Double Standards the Cominform journal dated November 29, 1949, peculiarly inconsistent policies of the gave the following orders to European Com- The WPC, which have continually attacked Western munists : defensive measures while supporting or ignoring "The struggle for a stable and lasting peace, those in the Soviet orbit, were well illustrated by for the organisation and consolidation of the this statement in Prace, the Czechoslovak Trade forces against the forces war, should of peace of Union journal, of March 28, 1952 : now become the pivot of the entire activity "A strike in a capitalist country is a very of the Communist Parties and democratic effective way of fighting for peace, since it organisations." aims at paralysing war production and the (Note: A "democratic organisation" in transport of arms. But here it is a question Communist jargon means a Communist- of building up the greatest possible strength controlled, or front, organisation.) in the shortest possible time. ... To put the
] arms of outstanding quality which we produce peace is the immaculate conception into the of the hands of the defenders of peace, into Soviet bloc." the hands of our People's Army, that is an act of peace." Support of Soviet Union In other words, the production of armaments One of the most telling criticisms of the WPC is an act has of peace in Communist countries, but come from Burma, one of the Socialist warmongering in other countries. governed "neutral" Asian nations. New Light In spite of its of Burma on March attempts to ensnare genuine 18, 1955, wrote : pacifists, neither the WPC nor its Communist "A suspicious step in masters have the activities of the ever had anything but contempt for World Peace Council is that all peace move- pacifism. The Hungarian paper Magyar Nemzet ments blindly and unanimously support the of July 16, 1952, in an editorial entitled "Pacifism political ideology of the cannot be Communist countries tolerated within the Peace Movement," irrespective of whether it is right or wrong put the position quite clearly : The strangest fact of all is that all the con- "The Soviet Union is the most significant ferences held by the World Peace Council power for peace, which is only denied by the unquestionably accept the policy and pro- warmongers. We cannot tolerate within the gramme of the Soviet Communist Party or the Peace Movement any Soviet symptoms of detrimental Government, and, what is more, they pacifism. , . . The military strength of the disseminate propaganda on its behalf Soviet Union and the People's Democracies is Another strange thing is that the Communist- an important factor in the defence of peace." dominated World Peace Council pronounces The British sweet phrases about Methodist Church leader and well- peace on the one hand known while, on Left-wing pacifist, Dr. Donald Soper, has the other, it incites hatred and warned animosity his countrymen against the WPC, having of the masses in various countries like most other true against the States, systems pacifists, no illusions about it! and individuals it He wrote in Tribune on February dislikes. Such an organisation can never 4, 1955 : be regarded as the hub of a peace "I am quite satisfied that the World Peace movement. It is impairing peace as long Council, and the British Peace as it disseminates Committee, the which is propaganda of peaceful co-existence its typical representative, are primarily on the organs one hand, while, on the other, it of Russian propaganda. I would mounts a want to psychological warfare campaign discourage peacelovers in England from against all allowing countries refusing to comply with its themselves to become the well- desires." meanmg but inevitable pawns of the Russian Disagreement Over Hungary Party line, with its insistence that war is the Though the WPC continues original sin to act as a psycho- of the Western Powers and that logical warfare agency, it has found increasing
1 [ ] : ; ;
difficulty in keeping its members in line with an expensive apparatus if it cannot control its Soviet policy. The first signs of restlessness came policy. in 1956, when the Soviet Union started rearming the Arab States and supporting them against ACTIVITIES Israel. An open split was revealed in November, (a) Congresses 1956, when Soviet tanks brutally suppressed the Since the Congress of Intellectuals for Peace, Hungarians who rose in defence of national held in Wroclaw, Poland, in August, 1948, to independence. After a long and heated Bureau launch the Peace Movement, the WPC has meeting in Helsinki on November 18-19, a organised four Peace Congresses. No pretence statement was issued admitting that "there exist was made that they were other than large-scale serious differences both in the World Council propaganda demonstrations. They were held as and in the national peace movements" and that follows it was found "impossible to formulate an agreed evaluation of events." However, it put forward April, 1949, 1st World Peace Congress, Paris a face-saving "desire for the withdrawal of and Prague ; Soviet troops in accordance with the terms of an November, 1950, 2nd World Peace Congress, agreement between Hungary and the USSR." Warsaw Peoples for Though it regretted the "tragic bloodshed," no December, 1952, Congress of the condemnation of the Soviet Union was expressed, Peace, Vienna although many members wished this to be done. June, 1955, World Peace Assembly, Helsinki. The Italian Nenni Socialists refused to sign the Up to 2,000 delegates met at each congress to declaration, and many others were extremely listen to long pro-Soviet speeches and pass wordy uneasy about the whole matter. For the first resolutions. No expense was spared, particularly time the WPC was really split as a result of Soviet in regard to publicity, which poured forth from policy. every Communist propaganda medium before, during and after each congress. Soviet actions in Hungary, in fact, brought to By 1952 the true nature of the WPC had become a head the basic dilemma of the WPC : the more so well known that it became necessary to dis- successful it is in attracting non-Communists, the guise the sponsorship of the congresses in order more difficult it is to keep it in line with Soviet to attract non-Communist support. For this policy. On the other hand, if it never shows any purpose an International Initiating Committee was independence of the Soviet Union, it cannot set up as camouflage, and this technique was succeed in recruiting genuine pacifists. To fulfil later imitated by other front organisations. its allotted propaganda task, it must appear for independent, without actually being so. Yet the The next World Peace Congress is planned Soviet Union is unlikely to go on paying for such Peradeniya, Ceylon, in May, 1957.
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(/>) Meetings for the Relaxation of Tension Peking in October, 1952. Its purpose was the In June, 1954, the WPC organised a carefully co-ordinating of peace activities in this wide camouflaged Meeting for the Relaxation of area under the leadership of the Chinese Internationa] Tension in Stockholm. This took Communists, but in line with Moscow. to American "intervention" and place with very little publicity, unlike other WPC Opposition meetings, and did succeed in attracting a number Japanese rearmament have been its main still in being, it has not been of Asians. It was followed in April, 1955, by themes. Though a Conference of Asian Nations for the Relaxation very active lately. Its Secretary is LIU Ning-yi of International Tension, organised by Mrs. of China, a WPC Bureau member and WFTU Rameshwari Nehru in Delhi. (This in turn set vice-president.
up a series of Asian Solidarity Committees, which 3. Committee for the Peaceful Solution of the may supplant the established Peace Committees German Problem. This originated from a in the main countries of Asia. They have been Conference for the Peaceful Solution of the set up in India, Japan, China, North Korea and German Problem held in Paris in May, 1951, the Soviet Union. Many of the officers are the though the Permanent Committee was not set same as those who serve on the Peace Committees. up until the second conference held in East The purpose seems to be to make Communism Berlin in November, 1952. It has a Permanent more palatable to Asians by dressing it up with Secretariat in Paris run by a Frenchman, Asian nationalism, neutralism and the Bandung Michel Bruguier, and has organised a number principles of co-existence). of meetings against German rearmament and the European Defence Community. Though (c) Regional Organisations still nominally in existence, it has done little The WPC, following recommendations made since the ratification of the Paris and Bonn at its Berlin meeting in February, 1951, set up the Treaties. following subsidiary organisations on a regional basis (d) Campaigns
1. Nordic Peace Conference. This was held The main activity of the WPC, apart from the in Oslo in November, 1952, with the object of foregoing, has been the organising of world-wide rallying the Scandinavian Peace forces against propaganda campaigns, usually involving the mass NATO and EDC. Although a Permanent collection of signatures in support of a simple Secretariat was set up, little more has been appeal. heard of it. 1. The Stockholm Appeal. This, the first 2. Peace Liaison Committee for the Asian and and most famous, was launched at a meeting Pacific Regions. This was established at an in Stockholm in March, 1950. Millions of Asian and Pacific Peace Conference held in signatures were collected all over the world in
[ 16 ] support of a demand for the banning of atomic this was a renewal of the Warsaw Appeal. weapons. This has continued to be a favourite When the Soviet Union finally agreed to meet theme of the WPC. the Western leaders in Geneva in 1954, the WPC claimed the credit for "forcing" the 2. The Warsaw Appeal. A second signature Western Powers to negotiate. campaign was launched from Warsaw in November, 1950, calling for the immediate 5. The Vienna Appeal. Issued by the WPC convening of a Five-Power Conference to in January, 1955, this repeated the Stockholm settle current disputes, including the Korean Appeal against atomic weapons and denounced War. Six hundred million signatures were "preparations for atomic war.*' Over claimed, 650 million signatures were alleged to have 3. Germ Warfare Campaign. It was the been collected for this appeal, though, as WPC, at its Bureau meeting in Oslo in March, usual, the bulk came from the countries of the 1952, which started the now notorious "Germ Soviet orbit. The Austrian Socialist Party Warfare** campaign against the American and newspaper, Arbeiter-Zeitung^ said of the Vienna
UN forces in Korea. Aided by the Women's Appeal on January 23, 1955 : "The Com- International Democratic Federation, the Inter- munists, following the decision of one of their national Association of Democratic Lawyers Swindle-Organisations, the so-called World and the World Federation of Scientific Workers, Peace Council, are again going to canvass for it flooded the world with the grave charge that a signature campaign, this time against atomic the American forces in Korea, fighting under warfare. If the truth be known, all these the UN flag, had committed the most terrible campaigns serve not world peace but only the atrocities, including the use of "bacteriological current policy of the Russian Government. weapons." Requests for an impartial inquiry World peace, which all decent men, all free by the International Red Cross were refused, people desire, can certainly not be attained or and the only "investigations** allowed were by furthered by unilateral support for Russian the front organisations mentioned above, who, policy." needless to say, confirmed the charges. This colossal fabrication was finally exposed when (e) Cultural Commission captured US airmen were returned by the In 1951 a Cultural Commission was set up to Chinese after the Korean armistice and related organise exhibitions and exchanges. Its main how "confessions'* of conducting germ warfare function is to select each year ten or so artists or had been forced out of them by torture and writers of world renown whose anniversary is starvation. then celebrated by the WPC. It also encourages 4. "Negotiate Now" Campaign. Launched National Peace Committees to set up subsidiary by the Vienna Congress in December, 1952, organisations for artists and writers.
[ 17 ] (/) International Peace Prizes Economic Conference in Moscow in April, 1952, The WPC decided in 1949 to award three which gave birth to another front organisation International Peace Prizes annually, worth £5,000 called the Committee for the Promotion of each, for literary, artistic, film or scientific con- International Trade (later changed to International tributions to peace. Few recipients have been Committee for the Promotion of Trade), which announced, possibly through lack of funds, but is believed to have closed down at the end of 1956. one was awarded in 1954 to Charlie Chaplin, the American film actor. These prizes are quite (h) World Congress of Doctors distinct from the Stalin Peace Prizes, worth about The WPC also gave birth to a front organisation £9,000, which have been awarded by the Soviet called the World Congress of Doctors for the Government to nearly all the leaders of the WPC. Study of Present-day Living Conditions, by (Renamed "Lenin Peace Prizes" in 1956.) sponsoring its first Congress in Vienna in May, (g) Promotion of International Trade 1953. The WCD is still in existence, though its The WPC took the initiative in calling a World activities are limited.
I 18 ] WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (WFTU)
The French title of this organisation is Federation Syndicale Mondiale.
HEADQUARTERS the new organisation. But the Russians insisted, the price of their co-operation, having their The headquarters were first established in Paris as on Saillant, as in J945. But in January, 1951, the WFTU was- nominee, Louis Secretary-General. expelled by the French Government for subversive Saillant called himself a "socialist," but actually' activities. It then moved to the Soviet sector of proved to be a dedicated Stalinist. He followed Moscow's orders implicitly and proceeded to occupied Vienna where it lived under Russian protection. In February, 1956, however, the pack the Secretariat with other Stalinists. As a full-time official he than Austrian Government, having regained its in- became more powerful dependence with the departure of the occupation the President. forces, ordered the dissolution of the headquarters He was still, however, answerable to the on the grounds that the WFTU had broken its General Council, Executive Committee and own statutes and was endangering Austrian Executive Bureau ; but this did not trouble him neutrality. The headquarters were thereupon long. These bodies were elected—the number of transferred to their present address Janska 100, votes for each affiliated organisation depending Prague I. on the size of its membership—so Saillant and his Soviet masters worked to gain control of each by HISTORY increasing the Communist vote. First of all the Ironically, it was the British TUC which took trade union centres of Eastern Europe were all the initiative in setting up the WFTU. In 1943 it brought under Communist control, the last being issued invitations for a preparatory conference Czechoslovakia which was only captured by the which finally took place in London in February, putsch of 1948. Then the Communist conquest of 1945. An administrative committee was set up to China also helped considerably. Lastly member- draft a constitution and when this was ready a ship figures of these and other Communist- Foundation Congress was called in Paris in controlled national union centres (which could October, 1945. not be checked) were artificially inflated until the In recognition of Britain's leadership, Sir Communists had control. Walter Citrine was elected the first President of By 1948, Mr. Arthur Deakin, who had sue-
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ceeded Sir Walter Citrine as President, v/as Mr. Arthur Deakin reported to the Trade Union
complaining : Congress in September, 1949 :
"The WFTU is rapidly becoming nothing "We started with an honest intention, but we more than another platform and instrument for were not dealing with honest men." the furtherance of Soviet policy." It was a classic example of the capture of a democratically-controlled organisation by the To show how powerless he and other non- manipulations of a determined and unscrupulous Communists were to prevent this, he gave the Communist faction. From January, 1949, on- following figures of how the Communists had wards the WFTU has been a Communist front captured control organisation : it represents not the workers of the 1945 1948 world, but the Soviet Government, Executive Bureau Communists 4 6 Non-Communists 5 3 OFFICERS Executive Committee Communists II 14 Since 1949 the President has been an Italian, Non-Communists 11 8 Giuseppe DI VITTORIO, who is Secretary- General Council Communists 26 34 General of the Communist-controlled Confedera- Non-Communists 38 30 zione Generate Italiano Lavoratori (CGIL). He is also a Communist Deputy and a member of the By January, 1949, the position of the non- Central Committee of the Italian Communist Communists had become intolerable and, led by Party (PCI). Di Vittorio is not a full-time WFTU the British TUC, the American CIO and the official, but is nevertheless more than a mere Dutch NVV, they withdrew from the WFTU. figurehead. Later, in November, 1949, they set up their own organisation, the International Confederation of The Secretary-General is a Frenchman, Louis SAILLANT (see above), who was formerly Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) ; inaugurated in London, it established its headquarters in Secretary-General of the Communist-controlled Brussels. Confederation Generate du Travail (CGT) and is a Bureau member of the World Peace Council the non-Communists from Although knew (WPC). As a full-time paid official, he is in their experience between the wars that it was charge of the large WFTU headquarters and difficult to get the Communists to co-operate as responsible for all the day-to-day business. equals in trade union matters, they had been There are twelve Vice-Presidents, ail of whom determined to make one more try in the new are Communists or near-Communists : atmosphere created by the joint victory over Germany and Japan. They failed because, as 1. Bertus BRANDSEN (Netherlands). usual, the Communists could not be trusted. As 2. S. A. DANGE (India).
[ 20 ] 3. Abdoulaye DIALLO (French W. Africa). Each affiliated organisation sends a number of delegates, varying according to its membership. 4. Victor V. GRISHIN (USSR). The Congresses are much too large to conduct 5. Alain LE LEAP (France). any business and have a purely propagandist 6. LIU Ning-yi (China). function. 7. Vicente LOMBARDO TOLEDANO Next down the hierarchy comes the General (Mexico). Council, which is supposed to meet once a year, 8. Ramiro LUCHESI (Brazil). but in fact only does so about every two years. of 93 full members and 9. NJONO (Indonesia). This at present consists 86 substitute members, nominated by affiliated 10. Lazaro PENA GONZALES (Cuba). organisations. This, too, is a propaganda plat- 11. Herbert K. W. WARNKE (E. Germany). form rather than a policy-making body. 12. Frantisek ZUPKA (Czechoslovakia). The Executive Committee, which has 36 full Assisting the Secretary-General are six Secre- members and 36 substitute members, includes the taries, namely : 14 Bureau members (see below), the six Secre- 1. Vladimir BEREZIN (USSR). taries and six representatives (three full members Departments. 2. Giuseppe CASADEI (Italy). and three substitutes) of the Trade It is supposed to meet twice a year, but does not 3. Luigi GRASSI (Italy). always do so. It mainly confirms decisions 4. Henri JOURDAIN (France). already made by the Bureau and issues directives. 5. LIU Chang-sheng (China). The Bureau, consisting of the 14 officers (Roumania). 6. Elena TEODORESCU (President, Vice-Presidents and Secretary-Gen- Like Saillant, these Secretaries are all full-time eral), does most of the work. It is supposed to salaried officials. meet once a quarter, but seems to be convened as usually in Eastern Europe. STRUCTURE required, Under the Secretary-General and his six The highest authority of the WFTU, in theory, Assistants, or Secretaries, comes a large is the World Trade Union Congress. Though Secretariat, which is divided into sections supposed to be held at least every two years, the dealing with the following subjects : Congress has only met as follows : U Press and Publicity. October, 1945, Paris. 2. Relations with national centres. June, 1949, Milan. October, 1953, Vienna. 3. Trade Departments (see below). Social questions (including The 4th Congress is planned for October, 1957, 4. Economic and in Leipzig (Soviet-occupied Germany). UN).
f 21 ] 5. Regional Liaison Bureaux (see below). affairs generally. Ferdinand C. SMITH of
6. Colonial questions. Jamaica, is in charge of Caribbean affairs. 7. Women's affairs. MEMBERSHIP 8. Administration and finance. According to its constitution, membership of REGIONAL LIAISON BUREAUX the WFTU is only open to national trade union federations. But in practice many splinter groups (a) Asia and Australasia. This was set up at a from the free world have been accepted, because Conference of Asiatic and Australasian Trade the national centres mostly belong to the ICFTU. Unions held in Peking in December, 1949. It has a Secretariat in Peking under a Chinese, LIU The WFTU is understandably reluctant to Ning-yi, but little activity is reported. give details about its membership, because the fact that the bulk of it comes from the Soviet (70 Latin America. The Confederation de orbit rather weakens its claim to represent the Trahajadores de America Latina (CTAL) was workers of the whole world. The last time it actually founded in 1938 and was only made a gave any details was in December, 1954, when it Liaison Bureau of the WFTU in February, 1949. announced a total membership of 80.7 million It has its headquarters in Mexico City (Plaza de workers in 64 countries. A breakdown of this la Republica 6) and publishes its own monthly figure showed that only 16.3 million came from bulletin Noticiero de la CTAL. It is run by its the free world, the remaining 64.4 million being President, Vicente LOMBARDO TOLEDANO, made up as follows : a Vice-President of the WFTU. He. is assisted Million by three Vice-Presidents : USSR .. .. 35 Jesus FAR I A (Venezuela). Soviet Satellites . . 18.4 Ramiro LUCHESI (Brazil). China .. .. 11 Lazaro PEN A GONZALES (Cuba). Even ,'the relatively modest 16.3 million This is the only Liaison Bureau which really claimed in the free world (as against the ICFTU's functions. 54.6 million) was grossly exaggerated. An (c) Others. Liaison Bureaux have been pro- independent check made by the ICFTU revealed posed for Africa and also for the Middle East, that the actual figure was no more than 1\ but nothing has materialised. At one time a million. In France and Italy, for example, the WFTU office was said to have been set up in WFTU claimed over 10 million members, Japan, but no details are available. Abdoulaye whereas factory committee elections revealed a DIALLO of French West Africa (WFTU Vice- combined strength of less than 5 million in these President) is thought to be in charge of African countries.
[ 22 ] In September, 1956, the WFTU calmly announ- There used to be a Hindi edition, but this ced, without any details, a membership of 88 appears to have been dropped. Certain items million members, an increase of 4.3 million in are reprinted in Arabic, Persian and Indonesian. less than a year. No significant additions had (b) World Trade Union News. This is an come from the free world, so this figure could information bulletin, issued fortnightly in German, only be reached by inflating the affiliations from Russian, French, English and Spanish. Russia and China. In any case such figures are (c) Each Trade Department quite meaningless. Leaving aside the question of (or TUI) publishes whether trade unions in Communist countries its own bulletin. are merely government agencies, it is a fact that (d) Special pamphlets are produced at frequent for many grades of workers membership of a intervals, often as supplements to World Trade union is virtually compulsory ; and the only Union Movement. Mostly these deal with Con- international affiliation permitted is to the gress or General Council proceedings, but several WFTU. are on special subjects. One in 1952 was called Stop the Crime of Bacteriological War : The FINANCE American Aggressors Indicted. Four were pro- duced for a WFTU Conference on Social Though the expenses of the WFTU are Security in 1953. Another published in 1953 was enormous, no details of its income or expenditure The Struggle of the Colonial and Semi-Colonial have been disclosed since the Communists gained Peoples for National independence, a favourite control in 1 949. It claims to be financed entirely WFTU theme. Two, published in 1956, were by affiliation fees. Ten Years' Activity of the WFTU in the UN and More and Better Unity, PUBLICATIONS SOil Work for (a) World Trade Union Movement. This is a RELATIONS WITH OTHER well-illustrated magazine, published monthly in ORGANISATIONS German, Russian, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, Roumanian, (a) Front Organisations Japanese and Chinese. In 1953 circulation of The WFTU has since 1950 maintained close some of these editions was given as : contact with the World Peace Council (WPC),
German . . . . 25,000 several of its officers being members. It has also
Russian , . 10,000 co-operated with the World Federation of Demo-
Roumanian . . 8,000 cratic Youth (WFDY) on youth questions
French . . . . 6,500 (including the World Youth Festivals, which it
Chinese . . 6,000 supports) and with the Women's International English .. .. 5,500 Democratic Federation (W1DF) on social security
[ and the rights of women workers. In addition "(c) To carry on the struggle for the extermin- WFTU works with the other front organisations, ation of all fascist forms of government and such as the International Association of Demo- every manifestation of fascism, under whatever cratic Lawyers (IADL) and the World Federation form it operates and by whatever name it may of Scientific Workers (WFSW). be known ; "(d) To combat war and the causes of war and (b) United Nations work for a stable and enduring peace." The WFTU is at present the only front organis- Such aims are acceptable to most Trade Union- ation to enjoy the privilege of close collaboration ists. with the United Nations (UN). It has category A consultative status with the Economic and Social ACTUAL POLICIES Council (ECOSOC)—an honour accorded also Since the Communists gained full control in to the ICFTU, but to few others—and has 1949, however, the WFTU's methods of fulfilling consultative status with the International Labour these aims have been unacceptable to any but Organisation (ILO), the Food and Agriculture Communists. It has acted as a major propaganda Organisation (FAO) and UN Educational, Scien- agency for the Kremlin, bringing cold war tactics tific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Its into the trade union field. It has followed every status with ECOSOC enables it to take an active twist in Moscow's policy. Its vast apparatus part in the regional organisations, Economic and numerous publications have churned out Commission for Europe (ECE) and Economic propaganda in support of the current Communist Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE). Party line and of the peace movement. Owing to its size, its well-organised machinery, its status AVOWED AIMS in the UN and its pretence of defending the worker, it has probably had more influence than According to its constitution, which was any other front organisation. If it has been less adopted in 1945, the WFTU exists "to improve successful than the World Peace Council (WPC) the living and working conditions of the people in ensnaring non-Communists, this is because of all lands." The constitution further states of the existence of the non-Communist Inter- that the prime purposes of the WFTU are : national Confederation of Free Trade Unions "(a) To organise and unite within its ranks (ICFTU). WFTU remains potentially the most the trade unions of the whole world irrespective dangerous of the front organisations, because nationality, religion of considerations of race, of the number of organised troops at its command, or political opinion ; viz. workers in Communist-controlled unions, "(b) To assist wherever necessary, the workers such as the French CGT and the Italian CGIL. in countries socially or industrially less de- Though not all Communists, they obey Com- orders. veloped, in setting up their trade unions ; munist 24 I ] direct the attention of the free trade Kremlin Domination "We now union movements of the world to the facts When the non-Communist unions broke away contained in this statement and would urge from the WFTU in 1949, the British Trades their consideration of their own position in the Congress (TUC) published a pamphlet Union WFTU, now completely dominated by Com- Trade Unions Leave the WFTU, explaining Free munist organisations, which are themselves why they had done so. It said: controlled by the Kremlin and the Comin- centres which are "To those national form." Communist-dominated it was important that The pamphlet also complained of the way in the Federation should be an instrument for which the WFTU's publications had been the world-wide dissemination of their propa- misused : ganda. Many of them had little or no experience of international trade union work "The nations of the Western Hemisphere presented and the part which should be played in the and their Governments have been 'servile essential industrial, social and economic func- in the Bulletins as 'warmongers' and monopolies and tions of a World Trade Union International. instruments of the capitalist political has a word of criticism of Their conceptions were determined by trusts' . . . Never ideology. Russia been tolerated." "On the other hand there were those national Expulsion of Yugoslavs centres with a long experience of trade union of the WFTU's complete work in the international field. From experience A good example was its treatment of the they demanded that the Federation should be subservience to Moscow when Stalin quarrelled with sound structurally and administratively, that Yugoslavs. In 1950, opinion Tito, the Executive Committee obediently ex- it should represent world trade union Yugoslav representatives as "traitors" fairly, and that it should fulfil trade union pelled the Fascist Tito clique." Moscow objectives. Those who struggled for these and "agents of the line again after "destalinisation," and essentials did so in the face of constant mis- changed its the Yugoslavs to representation and abuse. in 1956 the WFTU begged the rejoin—so far in vain. "It became impossible to continue on the East faulty basis and with the lack of goodwill which Other examples were provided by we had constantly striven to remedy. German riots in June, 1953, and the Poznan in June, 1956. In both cases the "According to our mandate, we sought a (Poland) riots members of WFTU, went on strike for recommendation to national centres in favour workers, better pay and conditions and were forced back of a suspension of activities which would give to work by troops supported by Russian tanks. time for wiser counsels to prevail. This also Instead of backing up their members and pro- proved to be impossible.
[ 5 ] testing to the Polish and Soviet Governments, the 1956 October revolution in Hungary provided a WFTU turned a blind eye on these shocking "moment of truth" and caused many defections. events, because it could not criticise its masters As Omer Becu, President of the ICFTU, in the Kremlin. declared in December, 1955 : But Hungary the real provided proof of the "We regard the WFTU as a Communist WFTU's true nature. When the nation-wide espionage apparatus and one of the arms of revolt broke out at the end of the workers 1956, Cominform. We regard the WFTU as an were prominent among those fighting for their ** enemy of the workers everywhere . . independence. One of their first acts in the brief hour of freedom, before they were crushed ACTIVITIES by Soviet tanks, was to elect a new Central Trade Union Council and to disaffiliate themselves from Campaigns the WFTU. All workers in the free world, and (a) Against the Marshall Plan and Atlantic Pact even some WFTU affiliates in Italy and Poland, Communist opposition to the Marshall Plan, deplored the Soviet action and applauded the or European Recovery Programme, was one of courage of the rebels. But the WFTU, so-called the things which precipitated the secession of the champion of workers* rights and of the freedom free trade unions in 1949. It was attacked as a of subject peoples, supported the repressive diabolical American plot to enslave Europe measures of the Soviet Union and copied like and the WFTU's members were ordered to parrots the Moscow line about "fascist torpedo it, A resolution of the Executive reactionaries" and "counter-revolutionary Bureau, meeting in Peking in December, 1949, groups." In a statement issued on November stated : 27, 1956, a WFTU delegation which had visited "The policy of the imperialists is most Hungary said : glaringly expressed in the so-called Marshall **. . . It can be regarded as proved that Plan and in the Atlantic Pact, both of which counter-revolutionary elements, exploiting the serve the aim of enslaving nations economically confusion in Hungarian political, economic and politically and are the instruments for and social life, aimed at dealing a mortal blow furthering the aggressive designs of the in- at all democratic organisations and achieve- stigators of a new war . . . The Atlantic Pact ments of the working class ..." is a compact for the preparation by aggressive In view of the fact that the most determined forces of a new world war ; it is a plot against resistance to the Soviet forces of oppression took the Soviet Union and the People's Democracies place in the factories, this statement was believed —a compact to crush the democratic and by no one, not even by Communists. For national liberation movement throughout the Communists and WFTU affiliates everywhere the world."
[ 26 ] J
European workers, particularly transport and action to defend the interests of the workers. dock workers, were ordered to refuse to handle In spite of repeated rebuffs, the WFTU has American arms, though few political strikes of continued to persevere with its "unity" campaign, this nature were successful. The campaign both on the national and international level. against NATO still continues. (d) Against "Colonialism"
(b) Against the European Defence Community Not only has the WFTU openly encouraged and German Rearmament all those who have taken up arms against their rulers, in Viet Malaya, A long and intense campaign against the EDC "colonialist" such as Nam, Kenya, Algeria Cyprus, but it has culminated in the staging of a European Trade Morocco, and also exhorted all "colonial or semi-colonial" Union Conference Against the EDC in East Berlin people to fight for their independence. in June, 1954. The EDC was denounced as an "aggressive military bloc" and "the direct road World Trade Union Movement of January, 1956, to war." carried a leading article entitled "Independence of Colonial Peoples Common Demand of Two Conferences of European Workers Against —A the Workers of the World." This stated, inter German Rearmament have been organised by alia : WFTU—in East Berlin in March, 1951, and in Leipzig in April, 1955. "One of the outstanding historic features of the post-war world is the steadily growing When the EDC plan was dropped, the campaign movement for national independence in the was renewed against the London and Paris Colonial countries ... In this historic;! Agreements. Resolutions against German re- process the workers and their trade unions are armament are still being passed—even though playing an ever more important role . . . Ever Germany is now a member of NATO. since its foundation in 1945, the World Federa- tion of Trade Unions has stood resolutely on (c) For "Unity" the side of the colonial workers against For two years after the was founded, ICFTU imperialism and colonialism." i.e. from 1949-1951, WFTU attacked it with On March 16, 1956, the Czechoslovak Telegraph every weapon at its command. It denounced Service (CTK) issued the text of a resolution on its leaders as "splitters of the working class," and by "lackeys of American imperialism." No term "Independence for Colonial Peoples," passed the Executive at their 29th meeting, held of abuse was bad enough. When, however, it WFTU 13-18. It said : saw that the ICFTU could not be overthrown, in Prague from March the WFTU changed to "smile" tactics. The "At present the struggle of the enslaved Executive Bureau, meeting in Vienna in July, peoples to achieve national independence has 1951, suggested joint consultation on united grown stronger and has achieved remarkable
[ 27 ] ; ;
successes in many countries such as Morocco, union international centres and with autono-
the Sudan, Malaya and Jordan. The Executive mous trade unions ; Bureau considers it necessary to stress that the "(Z>) Promote the exchange of delegations WFTU has always defended not only the of national trade union centres, trade federa- economic and social interests of colonial tions and workers between the under-developed peoples but also their right to national countries themselves, and also between these independence. The realisation of the aspira- countries and the industrialised capitalist and tions of the enslaved peoples to free themselves socialist countries, to strengthen personal from colonialism is absolutely necessary for the contacts between the leaders of trade unions of fate of the working masses in these countries all trends ; to be improved, and for peace to be "(c) Improve the work of the Press, propa- strengthened. The Executive Bureau is con- ganda and educational activities directed against vinced that it is necessary in colonial countries colonialism." to achieve a state of affairs in which the trade The "struggle against colonialism" well union organisations lead an indivisible front may become WFTU's chief activity if this intensification of struggle for the carrying out of economic and takes place. social demands, for national independence and peace ..." (
[ 28 ] Nina Popova, Secretary of the Central Council Department was created in the WFTU head- of Trade Unions in the Soviet Union, wrote in quarters, ended with a much publicised Conference
Trud on October 2, 1955 : of Women Workers in Budapest in June, 1956. "The WFTU and the trade unions belonging As usual the theme of the campaign was that to it constitute the fighting vanguard of the conditions for women were so much better in great movement of peace partisans. The Communist countries. But, as the ICFTU WFTU actively participates in all the mass pointed out, no Western Government allowed *** women to activities of this movement . . do the heavy work they had to do in the Soviet Union and China. (g) Charter of Trade Union Rights For a 40-Hour Week In December, 1954, after a long and much (/) In 1955 the WFTU also started campaigning publicised campaign, the WFTU produced a for a 40-hour week or reduced working hours "Charter of Trade Union Rights." The ICFTU without loss of pay. The demands, of course, publication Spotlight for May, 1955, commented were directed at Western Europe, not the Soviet that the Charter : bloc, where much longer hours are worked. A ". . . looks as if it might have been drafted small International Conference on the 40-hour by a democratic labour organisation which is Week was organised in Turin, Italy, in April, genuinely concerned with safeguarding and 1956. extending the freedom of action of the trade Regional Activities union movement. Many of the demands in Special emphasis has always been given to it were, in fact, lifted straight from the Manifesto regional activities, particularly in the under- and the programme adopted at the 1949 developed regions. The Regional Foundation Congress of the ICFTU." Liaison Bureaux were planned for this purpose. The following The ICFTU went on to point out, in a pamphlet Regional Conferences have been held : entitled Another Hoax, that 90 per cent of the November 1949 Peking T.U. Con- WFTU's members were behind the Iron Curtain, ference of yet virtually none of the "rights" claimed in the Asian and Charter existed in these Communist countries. Australasian A Charter which did not apply to nine-tenths of countries its membership must, the ICFTU decided, be 1950 classed as a hoax, March Monte- S. American video T.U. Con- (h) For Women's "Rights" ference In 1955 the WFTU started a campaign for the October 1951 Bamako African * "rights" of women workers, including equal pay. Wo r k e r s This campaign, for which a special Women's Conference
[ j In addition efforts have been made during the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the problems recent months to hold an Asian-African Trade presented by language and travel have apparently Union Conference with a view to setting up a been too great. Really promising students are permanent regional organisation based on the sent to Moscow to complete their training. Bandung Powers. So far disagreement between (3) Delegations the countries concerned and hostility from non- Communist unions have prevented much progress The WFTU is frequently sending delegations, in this direction. particularly to Asia, Africa and Latin America. These vary in size, but the purpose is usually the
: to recruit new OTHER ACTIVITIES same members. (4) Radio Programmes (1) Solidarity Fund In addition to the written word, the WFTU In March, 1950, the General Secretary asked puts out a great deal of propaganda by radio. It all affiliates to contribute to a Solidarity Fund. has facilities at most of the radio stations in the Few details have been given of either receipts or Soviet orbit, but those principally used are disbursements, but the official WFTU report to Moscow, Prague, East Berlin and Peking. the Vienna Congress in 1953 did mention that the fund had been "directed mainly towards the (5) Films workers in the colonial and dependent countries The WFTU has produced its own full length of Africa, India [sic], Latin America, the Near documentary film called "The Song of the Rivers." and Middle East, and Asia.** A large grant was Produced by a Dutchman, Joris Ivens, it has recently made to Hungarian workers, presumably music by Shostakovich and a commentary as a counter to the considerable sums sent by which has been recorded in many languages. It non-Communist trade unions. was filmed in five continents and production must have cost a great deal. The theme, as (2) Training Schools might be expected, is a simple one : workers It was announced at the Vienna Congress in the world over suffer exploitation, degradation, 1953 that training schools were to be set up in and misery—except in the Communist countries unspecified places behind the Iron Curtain and led by the Soviet Union where all is sunshine and that both long and short courses on Trade Union- dancing. ism would be held. Few details have been divulged, but it is known that the central school (6) Legal Commission was at one time near Budapest. It is since When the WFTU was expelled from Vienna in believed to have been closed down in favour of February, 1956, by the Austrian Government, a more decentralised system. As the WFTU the General Secretary claimed that certain has concentrated on students from Latin America, incriminating documents were forgeries and set
[ 30 J :
up a Commission of Enquiry with the help of the One of the main tasks of the Trade Departments International Association of Democratic Lawyers is to recruit local unions which do not, (IADL), Apart from one meeting in Prague in through their national centre, belong to the April, 1956, nothing more has been heard of this WFTU itself. Thus can the WFTU extend its enquiry. The only names known are : influence.
Professor Yoshitaro HIRANO (Japan) : The full titles, addresses and leading officers WPC Bureau member. of the Trade Departments are as follows Maitre KOROVINE (USSR). Agricultural and Forestry Workers' TUI
Joe NORDMANN (France): IADL Sec- Address : Rome, Via Boncompagni, 19. retary-General. President : Suleiman TJUGITO (Indo- TRADE DEPARTMENTS nesia). Secretary-General : llio BOSI (Italy). The Trade Departments, or Trade Unions Internationals (TUIs), as they are also called, are Building, Wood and Building Materials organisations of workers by trade or craft. They Industries' TUI number eleven and were mostly set up in 1949 Address : Helsinki, Fredrikink 28 B, and 1950 as a counter to the International Box 281. Trade Secretariats (ITS), which are associated President : Jozsef KOBOL (Hungary). with the International Confederation of Free Secretary-General : Erkki SALOMAA (Finland). Trade Unions (ICFTU). The TUIs claim a Oil Allied Workers' combined membership of 58 million, but this is Chemical, and TUI Sztalin-ter 17. mostly a part of, and not additional to, the Address; Budapest VI, membership of the parent body—the WFTU. President : Luciano LAMA (Italy). Though the Trade Departments try to appear Secretary-General: Ferenc BOZSOKI independent—each has its own headquarters (Hungary), and officials, holds its own meetings and publishes Food, Tobacco and Beverage Industries and Hotel, its own bulletin—their policies are closely Cafe and Restaurant Workers' TUI controlled the special department by WFTU (also referred to as "Food, Tobacco and Catering which supervises them. The only one which Workers' TUI") works quite separately, though it never strays far Address : Sofia, Pozitano 8. from official WFTU policy (i.e. the current President : Vincenzo Moscow line), is the Teachers' TUI (FISE), which ANSANELLI (Italy). is really a professional association, not a trade union organisation. (For this reason it is dealt Secretary-General: Anton G. DICHEV (Bul- with separately.) garia).
I ] Leather, Shoe, Fur and Leather Products World Federation of Teachers' Unions Workers* TUI (Fe'de'ration Internationale Syndicate de VEnseigne- Address: Prague 11, Jerusalemska ment—FISE) 9/IV. Address : Believed to operate from the
President : Fernand MAURICE (alias Editorial office of its jour- Mozes BAJTSTOK) nal, "Teachers of the (France). World," at 10, rue de Solferino, Paris 7e. Secretary-General : Jaroslav MEVALD (Czecho-
slovakia). President : Professor Henri WALLON (France). Metal and Engineering Workers' TUI Secretary-General I Paul DELANOUE (France). Address : Prague 1, Janska 100.
President : Gen. Giovanni ROVEDA Textile and Clothing Workers' TUI (Italy). Address : Milan, 43, Corso di Porta Secretary-General : Marcel BRAS (France). Vittoria. Miners' TUI President : Mme Irena PIWOW- Address : Prague 1, Janska 100. ARSKA, (Poland).
President : Stefan CIOLKOWSKI Secretary-General : Mme Teresa NOCE (Italy.) (Poland).
Secretary-General : Victorin DUGUET (France). Transport, Port and Fishery Workers' TUI
Public and Allied Employees' TUI Address : Prague 1, Janska 100,
Address : E. Berlin 0.17, Fritz-Heckert- President: Alphonse DROUARD strasse 70. (France).
President : Rene DUHAMEL (France). Secretary-General : Rafael AV1LA GONZALES
Secretary-General : Paul WOLFF (E. Germany). (Cuba).
I 32 ] WORLD FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC YOUTH (WFDY)
The French title is Federation Mondiale de la Jeunesse Democratique
HEADQUARTERS OFFICERS Until 1951, when they were expelled by the The President is Bruno BERNINI, an French Government, the headquarters were in Italian Communist and Bureau member of the Paris. Since 1951 they have been at Benczur- World Peace Council. utca Budapest VI. During the Hungarian 34, The Secretary-General is Jacques DENIS, rebellion at the end of 1956, the officers retired a French Communist and WPC member. to Prague for safety. But once the Russian tanks eight Vice-Presidents, four come from had made it safe again for them, they returned Of the the rest are either Com- to Budapest. the Soviet orbit and munists or fellow-travellers. They are : HISTORY 1. Rev. Tom COLVIN of Scotland. The WFDY was founded in November, 1945, 2. Doris COPPELMAN of USA. at a World Youth Conference convened in 3. HU Yao-pang of Communist China. London by the World Youth Council, a Com- 4. Helena JAWORSKA of Poland. munist-controlled body which has since been 5. Aleksandr SHELEPIN of USSR. " wound up. Many bona-fide youth organisations 6. Valdes VIVO of Cuba. the belief that they were founding a joined in 7. Miloslav VECKER of Czechoslovakia. non-political organisation for bringing youth of 8. Place reserved for India. all races, countries and creeds together. They were soon disillusioned, for the Communists There are five Secretaries: captured all the key posts from the beginning and 1. Orlando GOMEZ of Brazil.-*^ proceeded to turn the WFDY into a pro-Soviet Hsi-chuan of China. propaganda organisation. By 1949 most of the 2. HO Malcolm NIXON of UK. non-Communists had left in disgust to found 3. of USSR. their own organisation, the World Assembly of 4. Valentin VDOVIN Youth (WAY). 5. Place reserved for India.
[ 33 ] :
The Treasurer is a Hungarian, Tamas 6. Administration. LORINCZ. 7. Cultural Activities and Exchanges.
The officers are all subject to confirmation by 8. Sports and Open-Air Activities. the Fourth Congress. 9. Rural Youth. 10. Working Youth. STRUCTURE 11. Young Girls. The Congress is the highest body of the WFDY In addition there is a Broadcasting Committee and all affiliated organisations are represented and an Editorial Committee. at it. It should meet every three years, but in practice has only met as follows : MEMBERSHIP November, 1945, London. Membership is open to any youth organisation, September, 1949, Budapest. national or international, two-thirds of whose July, 1953, Bucharest. members are under 30 years old. The Fourth Congress is planned for August, In 1955 the WFDY claimed to have 86 million 1957, in Moscow. members in 96 countries, but the bulk of these Council is the next highest is The body and come from the Soviet orbit, largely from Russia supposed to meet every year, though it does not and China. Membership in the free world is so. It from always do consists of one delegate mostly confined to small Communist or fellow- each affiliated organisation. travelling organisations. The Executive Committee, which should meet twice a year, does most of the planning. It FINANCE consists of 48 persons in all, and includes the The WFDY claims to be financed by affiliation officers. fees, but no details are ever given. The Financial Control Commission or Audit Committee consists of seven members. PUBLICATIONS Secretariat. Secretary is in Each charge of (a) World Youth. This is a large, glossy one or more of the following departments or magazine published monthly in Chinese, English, bureaux French, German, Hungarian, Polish, Roumanian, 1. Defence of the Rights of Youth. Russian and Spanish by an Editorial Committee 2. Liaison with National Branches. of 12, under Chief Editor Andr6 SAVARIS of 3. Co-operation with Colonial Countries. France. There are also bi-monthly editions in 4. Press and Information. Arabic and Swedish. 5. World Youth Editorial office. (b) Information Service. A fortnightly news
[ 34 ] bulletin published in English and French, with has particularly attacked conscription (except a Spanish edition issued monthly. in the Soviet orbit).
(c) Special Bulletins are published for Con- (b) United Nations gresses, Festivals and special events. The WFDY was granted Category B Con- (d) Quarterly Bulletins are published by the sultative Status with the Economic and Social special Bureaux (see above) in English, French Council (ECOSOC) in March, 1947, but this and Spanish, e.g. Rural Youth, Working Youth, privilege was withdrawn in July, 1950. Sub- Culture and Youth, Sports and the Open Air. sequent applications for reinstatement have been (e) Pamphlets. The proceedings of congresses rejected. It is, however, on the register. and council meetings are usually published in this Similarly, the federation enjoyed consultative form. In addition there are pamphlets on special status with UNESCO from 1948 until December, subjects, such as The WFDY Delegation in Korea. 1952, when it was relegated to the register. (/) Radio Programme. An international radio Applications for reinstatement have failed. programme is broadcast weekly in seven languages (c) World Assembly of Youth (WAY) from Budapest Radio. When the WFDY virtually forced out its non- Communist members by its pro-Soviet policies, RELATIONS WITH OTHER the "splitters," as the WFDY called them, ORGANISATIONS started a new organisation, the World Assembly of first was attacked (a) Front Organisations Youth (WAY). At WAY in the most intemperate language, but later, with The WFDY works very closely with the the new post-Stalin strategy of the detente, the International Union of Students (IUS), though WFDY started a "unity" campaign, suggesting always as the senior partner. Not only the joint actions for youth. After a long corre- World Youth Festivals, but several regional spondence, the WAY agreed, with considerable youth conferences have been organised jointly. misgiving, to hold joint talks on the subject of It has also had close contact with the World future co-operation. But WAY found no basis Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), particularly for collaboration, and the talks, held in Paris in over questions of young workers. In March, May, 1956, were therefore abortive. 1953, they jointly sponsored an International Conference in Defence of the Rights of Youth AVOWED AIMS in Vienna. According to its constitution, the aims of the The WFDY has given full support to the World WFDY are such as to command wide support. Peace Council (WPC) and its various campaigns They include : against Western rearmament and the manu- (a) The promotion of international under- facture of atomic weapons. Like the IUS, it standing.
[ 35 ] (b) International co-operation in economic, Moscow, was the expulsion of the Yugoslav educational, cultural and social activities. "People's Youth" in January, 1950, owing to Stalin's quarrel with Tito. Although the Yugo- (c) The maintenance of freedom of speech, Press, religion and assembly. slavs had taken a leading part in the WFDY, organising International Youth Brigades each (d) The defence of the rights of youth, par- summer, they were ignominiously thrown out, ticularly as regards standards of living and being described in the Executive Committee conditions of employment. resolution as "traitors to the cause of peace and ACTUAL POLICIES democracy and deserters into the camp of the imperialist warmongers." Now they are being In practice, however, the WFDY has been less begged to return as if nothing had happened. concerned with the welfare of youth than with waging political warfare on behalf of the Soviet Attitude on Hungary Union. It made its real aims clear in a manifesto The WFDY has continued to follow every addressed To the Young People of All Countries turn in Soviet foreign policy. It has, as mentioned in September, 1949. This contained ; above, helped the WPC in its many campaigns, "warlike pre- (a) Condemnation of the which has always laid the blame for world tension countries, led by parations" of the "capitalist" on the Western Powers, and never on the Soviet the American "imperialists." Union. It has also taken the lead in the anti- (b) Attacks on the Marshall Plan and the colonial struggle, but was strangely tongue-tied North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. when the Hungarian people rebelled against (c) Allegations of the violation of demo- Soviet colonialism at the end of 1956. freedom in all "imperialist" countries cratic A statement issued on December 6 regretted (i.e. the Western Powers). the "tragic events" in Hungary and admitted (d) An appeal to youth to support the differences about the interpretation of them. It "invincible army" of peace partisans "headed did not condemn the Soviet Union, however, for by the mighty Soviet Union." its brutal intervention, during which a large (e) A call to youth organisations to "render number of young people were killed, but merely utmost support to the young democrats of expressed the hope that agreement would be India, Viet Nam, Burma, Malaya, Indonesia reached between the Soviet and Hungarian and other colonial and dependent countries Governments on the withdrawal of Soviet
in the struggle for peace and the independence troops. Warsaw Radio } broadcasting on Novem-
of their peoples." ber 25 about the Hungarian revolt, said : A good illustration, if any more be needed, of "You will ask, what did the WFDY, the complete subservience of the WFDY to whose headquarters are located in Budapest,
L 36 1 do in those tragic days? We are very sad 5. March 1953 Vienna: International about this and truly ashamed. The federation Conference in played no role whatever. It turned its back Defence of the on youth." Rights of Youth After describing how a draft resolution declar- (jointly with ing solidarity "with the struggle of Hungarian WFTU) youth" (i.e. the freedom fighters) was suppressed, 6. May 1954 East Conference of Warsaw Berlin: Radio continued : European Youth Against EDC 'This fact shows clearly how remote from 7. December 1954 Vienna: International life and corroded by the mistakes of the past Gathering of period are the federation and its leadership." Rural Youth 8. February 1955 S5o South American ACTIVITIES Paulo: Youth Festival (a) Meetings (jointly with IUS) Apart from the three congresses mentioned (b) Festivals above and regular council and executive com- Every two years, in conjunction mittee meetings, the WFDY has held the following with the IUS, the WFDY organises a large-scale World special conferences : Festival of Youth and Students. They have I.March 1947 Cuba: Latin American always been held in the summer in an East Youth Confer- European capital, viz: ence 1st 1947 Prague 2. February 1948 Calcutta: South-east 2nd 1949 Budapest Asian Youth 3rd Conference 1951 East Berlin 4th 1953 Bucharest (jointly with 1US) 5th 1955 Warsaw Some 30,000 foreign visitors are invited, 3. August 1948 Warsaw: International together with 80,000 to 100,000 youngsters from Conference of the host country. Great efforts are made to Working Youth make the festivals appear purely cultural and 4. 1948 Mexico: Latin American sporting in order to attract non-Communists Youth Confer- to them. But the underlying motive is to per- ence suade the visitors of the superiority of the "People's Democracies" and to win them for the April 14: Day of Aid to Spanish "fight for peace." No expense is spared and Youth everything—sports, dancing, music, theatre, films, April 24: World Youth Day exhibitions—is organised on a lavish scale. Against Colonialism The Polish paper Trybuna Ludu of May 28, 1955, and for Peaceful Co- writing about the last Festival, said : existence. "It must be realised that the festival is not (d) Anti-Colonial Campaign only for song and amusement: it is, above all, Ever since its South-east Asian Youth Con- a political event on a world-wide scale. . , . ference in Calcutta in February, 1948, the We must help the youth to understand the WFDY has taken the lead in encouraging lasting link between their work and the struggle youth "struggling against imperialism." Special waged by their revolutionary fellows through- propaganda has been put out on February 21, out the world. . . . Young people from the "Day of Solidarity with Youth Fighting capitalist and colonial countries . . . must leave Against Colonialism" (April 24 has only just the festival with a still stronger faith in the been adopted). Liaison between youth in invincibility of the peace camp and in the colonial countries is kept up by the correctness of their struggle." WFDY Department for Co-operation with Colonial The next festival, planned for Moscow from Countries. A great deal of space in World July 28 to August 11, 1957, promises to be even Youth and other WFDY publications is devoted more grandiose than any in the past. As before, to colonial issues, and a "solidarity fund" exists arrangements are being made by an International to help colonial youth. Preparatory Committee, assisted by a Youth The report of the Secretary-General to the Festival Committee in each country. A special council meeting in Warsaw in August, 1955, magazine Festival is being published monthly in stated : order to publicise the event. "Our federation should further strengthen (c) Anniversaries its campaign in defence of the rights of young The WFDY, together with the IUS, celebrates people in colonial countries, supporting on a greater scale their rights the following dates each year : against oppression and discrimination, their claim to a better November 10: World Youth Day. life, to liberty and the real independence of their February 21: Day of Solidarity with countries. It should give more ample in- Youth and Students formation about the conditions in which the Fighting Against Colo- young people in these countries are forced nialism. to live, awakening solidarity with them and March 21-28: World Youth Week. strengthening the fight against colonialism."
] (e) Peace Campaign (g) Young Girls As already mentioned, the WFDY has always In 1956 the WFDY planned a Gathering of given the closest support to the World Peace Young Girls of Europe for Peace and Friendship. Council and its many campaigns. A directive After being refused facilities in Paris, an attempt in the Cominform journal, For a Lasting Peace, was made to hold it in Brussels in October, 1956. for a People's Democracy! of June 9, 1950, When permission for this was also refused, the stated : gathering was abandoned. "The WFDY and the organisations affiliated
to it more and more persistently place the (/z) Delegations struggle for peace in the forefront of their The WFDY has frequently sent delegations to activities, pointing out to youth that, in view various countries. The most important have of the criminal manifestations of the war- been to the Far East, Middle East, Africa and mongers, the struggle for democracy, for the Latin America. national independence of peoples, for a better life, is bound up with the struggle for peace." * (i) 'Unity" Campaign Rural Youth Campaign (/) The federation has recently made special an For some years the WFDY conducted efforts to woo non-Communists. It has not intensive campaign to recruit members from only made approaches to the World Assembly rural or peasant youth (as opposed to urban of Youth (see above), but also to various other youth, who tend to be more easily organised). youth groups, particularly those connected with of Special emphasis was laid on the problems religious bodies. It has, in addition, approached young people in backward areas, such as sugar UNESCO and the World Health Organisation plantation workers. The campaign culminated (WHO). in an International Gathering of Rural Youth in in December, 1954, and it looked as Vienna "Friendship Vacations" though a special organisation for rural youth (j) might be set up. However, apart from the Each summer the WFDY sponsors a number publication of the WFDY quarterly, Rural Youth, of summer camps in both Eastern and Western little has happened since. Europe.
[ 39 ] INTERNATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS (IUS)
The French title is Union Internationale des Etudiants,
HEADQUARTERS because of the Stalin-Tito quarrel. (Now that line has changed again, the Yugoslavs The headquarters have always been in Prague. Moscow's are being begged to return.) Formerly at Vojtesska 12, Prague XI, the present left the IUS address is Vocelova 3, Prague XII. The non-Communist unions who decided to form themselves into an entirely new HISTORY body called the Co-ordinating Secretariat of National Unions of Students (COSEC), with The IUS was founded at a World Student headquarters at Leiden, Holland, which organises Congress held in Prague in August, 1946. It was an annual International Student Conference (ISC). attended by students of all political and religious persuasions who all, except for the Communists, OFFICERS thought that they were founding an impartial and The President is Jiri PELIKAN, a Czech, who universal student body—or, as the constitution is a WPC member and a former IUS Secretary- put it, "the representative organisation of the General. The office of Secretary- General has democratic students of the whole world who recently been abolished and Pelikan combines work for progress." But the Communists both functions as a full-time official. managed to gain control of the organisation from follows: the beginning by securing the key posts and pro- The Vice-Presidents are as viding both the headquarters and most of the 1. Yuzo TANAKA, of Japan. to turn it into "the funds. They proceeded 2. Zoya TUMANOVA, of USSR. student section of the Cominform," as it was 3. A representative of Ecuador (to be described by the President of the British National nominated). Union of Students. 4. A representative of the Sudan (to be the Communists to In spite of great efforts by nominated). keep the non-Communists within the fold, most The Treasurer is Werner GERBETH, of of them had left by 1950 as a result of the IUS's East Germany. pro-Soviet activities. For many the decisive Secretaries, of whom are seven , factor was the expulsion without a hearing of the Lastly there nominated by India, French Yugoslav Union of Student Youth in 1950 three are still to be
[ 41 ] Africa and Tunisia. The four already in office The real work of the IUS is done by the are: officers, most of whom are full-time, assisted by
1. Sadek BABAK, of Iran (also Head of a large Secretariat, which is divided into the Colonial Bureau). following departments: 2. CHENG Chi-Ming, of China. 1. Education, Culture and Travel. 3. Aleksander JANKOV, of Bulgaria. 2. Physical Education and Sport. 4. Oscar ZAMORA, of Bolivia.. 3. Student Needs and Welfare. Of these 13 officers, five come from the Soviet 4. Press and Information. bloc and the rest are all Communists or close 5. Administration and Finance.. sympathisers. Pelikan is, of course, the key In addition, the following subsidiary organisa- figure. tions are run from IUS Headquarters:
STRUCTURE (a) International Student Relief (ISR). This The Congress is the highest statutory body, and was set up in 1950, when the old World Student should meet every two years. All affiliates and Relief (WSR) broke up into Communist and non- associates send delegates. Observers are invited, Communist factions. The former became ISR with the right of speaking but not voting. and the latter, World University Service (WUS). Although theoretically independent, with a World Student Congresses, as they are called, Council and working committee of its own, in have been held as follows: practice it is simply a section of the IUS. August, 1946, Prague. Faculty Bureaux, These were started in August, 1950, Prague. (6) August, 1955, for students of medicine, agricul- August, 1953, Warsaw. ture, architecture and education. Each publishes August, 1956, Prague. a Faculty Bulletin three times a year and The Council used to be the next highest organises seminars. authority, but was abolished in September, 1956. (c) Bureau of Students Against Colonialism. The Executive Committee consists of the Originally founded in 1948, this section was recon- officers (see above), plus 12 ordinary members. stituted in August, 1955. It publishes its own Each member must represent a different country. bi-monthly bulletin and also organises seminars Usually it has met once a year, but may do so on colonial problems. It has assisted youth and more often now that the Council has been the WFDY in celebrating February 21 each abolished. year as the Day of Solidarity with Students A Financial Committee of four members works Fighting Against Colonialism and will also in under the Treasurer. future assist in celebrating April 24, recently
[ 42 ] adopted as World Youth Day Against Colonial- PUBLICATIONS ism and for Peaceful Co-existence in memory of (a) World Student News, a glossy illustrated the Bandung resolutions. As well as acting as a magazine published monthly in English, French, liaison bureau for student groups in colonial German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Norwegian countries and colonial students studying abroad, and Arabic. It is produced by an Editorial it acts as a clearing house for scholarships, or Board of eight, under a Chief Editor. grants from solidarity funds, many of which are (b) JUS News Service, a fortnightly bulletin offered by countries in the Soviet orbit. published in English, French and Spanish. MEMBERSHIP (c) Faculty Bulletins. The following are pub- in English, French and Membership is open to national unions of lished three times a year (see above) students, or to groups of students where no Spanish, by the Faculty Bureau Student, national union exists. concerned; Medical Student, Educational Architectural Student and Agristud (Agricultural In September, 1956, the IUS claimed a member- Student). ship of 3i million students, organised in 36 unions. The bulk of these members come from (d) Other Bulletins. Bulletins are also pub- countries of the Soviet bloc, over 2 million being lished by departments, e.g., a bi-monthly Bulletin from Russia and China. Only four genuinely on the Problems of Students in Colonial Countries, national students' unions outside the Iron called Students Against Colonialism. Curtain belong—Japan, Burma, Ecuador and (e) Pamphlets. Pamphlets are published after Sudan, each congress reporting the proceedings, and also In an attempt to keep contact with non- on special subjects, e.g. US Education in Crisis; Communist unions, the IUS created a form of Twenty-one Unforgettable Days in the Soviet limited affiliation called associate membership. Union; Colonial Education; Students Fight for Several unions, such as the British NUS, became Freedom, associate members for a time, but withdrew when they found that they were still drawn into RELATIONS WITH OTHER IUS politics. At present only the unions of ORGANISATIONS Iceland, Israel and Tunisia are associate mem- (a) Front Organisations bers. The IUS has always worked closely with the FINANCE World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), it an "autonomous associate It is claimed that the IUS is financed by affilia- of which was once both in running tion fees, sale of publications, bazaars and other member." It assists the WFDY every two years and activities, but no detailed accounts have been the World Youth Festivals made public. also in "anti-colonial" activities.
[ ] In addition, the IUS gives full support to the tional development: to this end to render to various activities of the World Peace Council the students and peoples of these countries all (WPC), mainly by publicising them in its possible assistance in their struggle for freedom periodicals. and independence."
(b) United Nations The IUS enjoyed consultative status with ACTUAL POLICIES UNESCO from July, 1948, until December, 1952, The above aims may sound generally acceptable when it was relegated to the register. It applied to students, but in practice the IUS has been for category A consultative status with ECOSOC much more partisan. Like all front organisa- in February, 1950, but was rejected. tions, it has carefully followed every twist and turn of Moscow policy. Every opportunity is (c) Others taken to criticise conditions in the free world, The IUS still maintains contact with several while eulogising conditions jn the Soviet orbit. national unions of students, which are no longer For example, the IUS pamphlet US Education in members, observers sent being to each other's Crisis alleged that the "depressed state of educa- conferences. It also tries to keep contact with tion" in America was "clearly similar to the World University Service (WUS) and various general economic crisis in the United States as a religious organisations such as the World Student whole, for which the banks and monopolies seek Christian Movement. war as their only solution." The pamphlet Twenty-one Unforgettable Days in the Soviet Union, on the other hand, praises the high AVOWED AIMS standards and democratic nature of Soviet According to its constitution, the aims of the education, and declares: IUS include the following: "The life and conditions of the Soviet youth (a) "To secure for all young people the right and students, proud of the leading role of their and possibility of primary, secondary and country in the world struggle for peace, help to higher education, regardless of sex, economic show the way to a brighter future for all student circumstances, social standing, political con- youth." viction, religion, colour or race.** Anti-Colonialism (b) 'To promote among students ... the love Students anywhere who have allegedly been of freedom and democracy." fighting against "imperialism" or "colonialism," (c) "To assist the students of colonial, as in Greece, Burma, Indonesia, Cyprus or North semi-colonial and dependent countries to Africa, have always been given full IUS support. attain their full social, economic and educa- This concern for freedom, however, did not
] extend to those students who dared to fight against (2) World Youth Festivals Soviet imperialism—in Prague in 1948, in East The IUS have been co-sponsors with the WFDY Germany in 1953 and particularly in Hungary in of the World Youth Festivals, held every alternate late 1956. Regarding the Hungarian rising, the summer, always in Eastern Europe: IUS issued a statement expressing its "sincere 1947 Prague. condolences" to Hungarian students and offering 1949 Budapest. aid, but not daring to support the freedom 1951 East Berlin. fighters in their struggle against the Soviet forces 1953 Bucharest. of repression, even though the students were in 1955 Warsaw. the forefront of the battle. The 1957 one will be held in Moscow from July
Special support has been given to the various 28 to August 1 1 . Thirty-thousand foreign campaigns of the WPC, in particular those against visitors are expected. the defence preparations of the free world. The (3) Faculty Seminars high cost of armaments is blamed for lack of The Faculty Bureaux (see above) each organise educational facilities and conscription is attacked regular Seminars on their particular subject, ceaselessly as a disruption of student life—in the usually in Eastern Europe. free world only. Nothing is said of the fact that conscription in the Soviet Union is more rigorous (4) Student Editors' Conference than in any NATO country. The IUS organised an International Conference of Editors of Student Periodicals in Vienna in ACTIVITIES December, 1955. It planned to set up an Inter- national Student Press Bureau in Brussels to pro- Conferences (1) vide for permanent liaison between student In addition to the congresses above, mentioned editors, but nothing has materialised so far. the IUS has held regular meetings of its council (recently abolished) and executive committee. It (5) Support for Colonial Students has also co-operated with the World Federation The "Bureau dealing with the Problems of of Democratic Youth (WFDY) in various regional Students of Colonial Countries," as mentioned youth conferences, viz: above, publishes a bulletin and acts as a clearing house for aid to colonial students, particularly February, 1948 Calcutta South-east Asia in the form of scholarships to study in Russia and Youth Conference East Europe. It also organised a Seminar on the 1948 Mexico Latin American Problems of Students in Colonial Countries in City Youth Conference Prague in April, 1956, after several unsuccessful February, 1955 Sao Paulo South American attempts had been made to hold it in Western (Brazil) Youth Festival Europe.
[ ] —
(6) Anniversaries to achieve world domination, to prolong their The I US celebrates each year the following: existence and further their enrichment, are pre- paring to unleash a International Student Day, November 17. new bloody shambles, especially against the Soviet Union and the International Student Week, November 11-17. Peoples* Democracies." Also, in conjunction with the WFDY, it observes: Having driven the non-Communists out and forced them to start their own non-political Day of Solidarity with Youth and Students organisation, the IUS spent the next four years Fighting Against Colonialism—February 21 ; attacking those who left them as "splitters/' Internationa] Day of Aid to Spanish Youth "traitors" and "lackeys of Wall Street." Then in April 14; World Youth Day Against Colonialism 1954 the strategy changed. Since that time the and for Peaceful Co-existence—April 24. theme has been "unity," and COSEC's members have been asked to forgive forget. (7) World University Games and Joint activities, including a Conference of Unity, have The IUS organises both winter and summer been proposed, but COSEC has firmly maintained student sports competitions for its members. that as the ISC now represents the bulk of the These are not supported by other students, whose world's students, whereas the IUS only represents sports competitions are organised by the non- the Soviet bloc, student unity can only be re- political Federation Internationale du Sport Uni- established if the IUS tells its members to join the versitaire (F1SU). ISC. But the IUS only wants unity on its own (8) Asian Students 7 Sanatorium terms, which means the liquidation of COSEC and the ISC. The IUS has helped the Chinese to set up and to run a sanatorium in Peking for tubercular Nevertheless the IUS has been much more con- students belonging to the IUS. ciliatory and less polemic of late, in a continuing attempt to woo non-Communist support. This (9) Unity Campaign has led it into difficulties with its more ardent The Communist controllers of the IUS, by their Communist members, who wish it to go on pro-Soviet propaganda and unbridled anti- attacking the Western Powers as of old. It has Western attitudes, drove the non-Communist also found itself in difficulty with its Afro-Asian element out of the IUS by 1950, thus destroying members, who wish to keep up an all-out the unity of world students. It was done by campaign against the "colonial" Powers. The partisan resolutions and such attacks as this (made IUS officers have been trying to tone down the by Shelepin of Russia, a Vice-President, at the anti-colonial campaign because it was in danger Prague Congress in 1950): of upsetting the unity campaign, which still has "The Anglo-American imperialists, in order priority.
[ 46 ] WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FEDERATION (WIDF)
The French title of this organisation is Federation Democratique Internationale des Femmes.
HEADQUARTERS Mme Vaillant-Couturier as Secretary-General. Until January, 1951, the headquarters were in She is a member of the WPC. Paris, but at that time they were expelled by the Under the Secretary-General are two Assistant French Government. Since then they have been Secretaries-General, a Frenchwoman, Simone at Unter den Linden 13, Berlin W.S (Soviet Sector). BERTRAND, and a Russian, Zoya IVANOVA.
HISTORY The WIDF has 14 Vice-Presidents. They are : The Federation was founded—in Paris in 1. Professor Erzsebet ANDICS, of Hungary, the November, 1945, at a Congress of Women a WPC member and President of Hun- organised by a Communist-dominated organisa- garian Peace Committee. tion, the Union des Femmes Francaises. The 2. Dr. Andrea ANDREEN, of Sweden, a been under Communist control from WIDF has WPC member and a Stalin Peace Prize winner the beginning ; no non-Communist women's (1953) ; she is President of the Union of organisation of any importance has ever joined it. Swedish Women ; a director of the Stockholm
Central Clinical Laboratory ; Chairman of OFFICERS the Permanent International Committee of
The President is Mme Eugenie COTTON, a Mothers (see below). Vice-President of the WPC and a Stalin Peace 3. Mme Pushpamoyee BOSE, President of Prize winner (1950). She is also President of the National Federation of Indian Women. the Union des Femmes Francaises and a director of the French National Centre of Scientific 4. Mrs. Monica FELTON, of Britain, a Research. WPC Bureau member and Stalin Peace Prize (British) The Secretary-General is an Italian, Mme winner (1951) ; President of the Angiola MINELLA, who was Deputy-Secretary- National Assembly of Women and Vice- Generai until November, 1954, when she replaced President of the British Peace Committee.
[ 47 ] 5. Mme Branca FIALHO, of Brazil, a It will be seen that few of these numerous WPC member, President of the Federation of officers are unconnected with Communism or Brazilian Women, and wife of a Vice-President the World Peace Council. of the IADL. STRUCTURE 6. Mme Raicho HIRATSUKA, of Japan, The Congress is the highest organ of the WIDF, a WPC member and President of the Federa- and is supposed to meet every three years. In tion of Japanese Women's Organisations. fact it has only met twice since the Foundation 7. Mme Dolores IBARRURI, a Spanish Congress in December, 1945, in Paris. The
Communist now living in Moscow, also known dates were : M as La Passionaria." December, 1948, Budapest. 8. Mrs. Ransome KUTI, of Nigeria, a June, 1953, Copenhagen. headmistress and President of the Union of Its fourth meeting is planned for December, Nigerian Women. 1957, but the place is not yet known. The 9. Mme Seza NABARAOUI, of Egypt, a Congress is composed of representatives of all WPC member, and President of the Union of affiliated organisations and does little more than Egyptian Women. provide a propaganda platform. The Council, which consists of one delegate 10. Mme Nina POPOVA, of the USSR, a from 64 member countries, should meet at least WPC member and Stalin Peace Prize winner once a year according to the statutes, but in (1953); member of the WFTU General practice it meets only Council. about every two years, the last meeting having been in Peking in April, 11. Mme Maria-Maddalena ROSSI, an 1956. The Council is in theory the policy-making Italian Communist deputy; former President body between Congresses ; in practice it mainly of the Union of Italian Women. approves decisions taken by the Executive Com- mittee or Bureau. 12. Mme TSAI Chang, of China, member The Executive of CP Central Committee ; President of All- Committee is made up of 32 China Women's Democratic Federation. members including the officers (see above) and is supposed to meet twice a year, but in fact it 13. Mme Marie-Claude VAILLANT- seldom does so. COUTURIER, French Communist Deputy ; The Bureau, which consists of the officers only, member of CP Central Committee, former really controls the organisation. assisted Secretary-General of WIDF, It is by a Secretariat comprising five secretaries, a 14. Mme Lilli WAECHTER, President of treasurer and a financial control commission of West German Union of Democratic Women. four.
[ 48 ] MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS Membership is open to women's organisations, groups of women or individuals. In April, {a) Front Organisations 1956, the Secretariat stated that it maintained The WIDF has always had very close relations permanent relations with women's organisations with the World Peace Council. Many of its in 74 countries, and with individuals or groups officers (see above) also hold office in the WPC, to the in 13 others, i.e. it had members in 87 countries. and the WIDF has given full support The claims of total membership (which there is various campaigns of the WPC, particularly to no means of checking, owing to the complete those against atomic weapons. It was a sponsor held in Paris absence of details) have been surprising : of the first World Peace Congress, all women 1945 80 million. and Prague in 1949, and appealed to to support the third World Peace Congress, 1951 140 million. which took place in Vienna in December, 1952. 1955 "over 200 million." The Federation has also co-operated with the of children, and with FINANCE WFDY over the defence WFTU over women's rights. It supported the The organisation claims to be financed by World Conference of Women Workers which accounts are published. affiliation fees, but no WFTU organised in Budapest in June 1956. The expenses of its headquarters, meetings and publications must be considerable. (/)) United Nations The WIDF had Category B Consultative Status PUBLICATIONS with the Economic and Social Council until the privilege was withdrawn. (a) Women of the Whole World, a glossy April, 1954, when reinstatement have monthly published in English, French, Spanish, Subsequent applications for Register Russian and German. been rejected. It is not even on the ofECOSOC. (b) News in Brief, a newsletter published Federation had Consulta- frequently, but irregularly, in several languages. With UNESCO, the tive Status until December, 1952, when it was (c) Special Information Bulletin, a bi-monthly relegated to the Register. report on national organisations.
(d) Radio-Press Bulletin, a weekly news release. (c) Other Women's Organisations efforts recently to In addition the WIDF publishes pamphlets The WIDF has made great with other international from time to time, mainly about its Congresses. work in co-operation though so far without One about alleged American atrocities in Korea, women's organisations, for this is clearly to achieve called We Accuse, was published in 21 languages. success. The motive
[ 49 ] an aura of independence and respectability in quarrelled with Tito, but "annulled" this decision order to improve its appeal to non-Communists. in April, 1956, because Khrushchev had patched At the same time close contact would enable the up the quarrel. WIDF to influence the other organisations, The WIDF's constant theme is particularly over such matters as anti-colonialism that the living conditions and the peace campaign. of women and children in the Soviet orbit are ideal, whereas in "capitalist," and, worse still, AVOWED AIMS in "colonial" countries there is oppression and exploitation, with inadequate According to the Charter of the WIDF, its food, housing, medical attention or education. aims are extremely broad and are in fact similar to those of other longer-established women's Bad conditions in non-Communist countries " organisations, such as the International Council are, it is alleged, largely due to war prepara- tions," of Women. They are not over-political and are which depress the standard of living. Nothing, obviously designed to appeal to all reasonable however, is said about military expendi- ture in Communist countries. women. They include :
(a) The world-wide co-ordination of demo- In supporting the various campaigns of the cratic "Peace" women's organisations ; Movement, much stress has been laid on the danger to women and children (b) International co-operation for peace in of radiation from atomic weapon tests, as the political, economic fields well as the threat and cultural ; to their future constituted by the danger of (c) Equal rights for women, particularly atomic war. But always it is American and equal pay ; British experiments which are condemned, never (d) The safeguarding of public health and the similar ones conducted in the Soviet Union. children's welfare.
ACTUAL POLICIES ACTIVITIES Regular Meetings. In practice, however, the WIDF has strayed (1) Congresses and Council Meetings, being both far from such noble and unpartisan aims. Most large-scale affairs with a largely propaganda purpose, take of its statements and activities have been in up a go_od deal of the Federation's time. support of current Communist policies or of campaigns launched by other front organisa- (2) Regional Conferences. A Conference of the tions, notably the World Peace Council. Never Women of Asia was held in Peking in December, has it deviated from the Moscow "line," however 1949, and a Latin-American Women's Con- much it contradicted itself. For example, it ference took place in Rio de Janeiro in August, expelled the Yugoslavs in 1949 because Stalin 1954.
[ ] let the imperialist cannibals tremble and know (3) International Women's Day. International that we shall defend the children, we will Women's Day, March 8, was originally a Social ,* future . . . Democratic celebration, started in 1910. Since defend thcjr lives and 1945 it has been appropriated by the WIDF, (5) International Conference for the Defence celebrate it widely. It is made a particularly who of Children. In 1951 the WIDF set up a sub- occasion in Communist countries, led important sidiary body, called the International Committee Soviet Union. An example of how it by the for the Defence of the Rights of Children. This original purpose- has been distorted from its organised, after several setbacks, an Inter- further the emancipation of women—is to national Conference for the Defence of Children by the Manifesto issued by the Central provided in Vienna in April, 1952. Carmen Santi, then Communist Party of the Soviet Committee of the a Secretary of the WIDF, explained to the Union on March 8, 1952 : WIDF Executive Committee : "International Women's Day is marked by "The aim of the Conference will be achieved working women of the whole world under only if it results in an extension of the move- the slogan of increased struggles for peace, ment for peace and in defence of children, against the war which is being prepared by and if we are able to draw into the ranks of the American- British imperialists . . . Working fighters for peace new sections of the people women of all countries demand the pro- who have so far stood aside from this move- hibition of the atomic weapon, a reduction in ment." armaments, the conclusion of a Peace Pact. the following resolution, They protest against the bloody aggression of At the conference true nature of the American imperialists in Korea." which well illustrates the gathering, was passed : (4) International Children's Day. Since 1950 "We condemn the American genocides, who the WIDF has celebrated June I each year as are resorting to bestial germ warfare against International Children's Day. Like International the peoples of Korea and China . . . We Women's Day it is used mainly for pro-Soviet demand that an end be put to the policy of propaganda of the more virulent type. For aggression and plunder pursued by the American example the Bucharest paper Scanteia wrote on imperialists and their partners in the Far East June I, 1951 : and Europe. We protest against the rebuilding " gigantic difference between the What a of the American-Nazi Wehrmacht, tool of war States and the dark life of children in capitalist plans directed against Poland, the USSR and children ... On Inter- happy life of Soviet other free nations ..." national Children's Day we must close our International Committee of ranks still more, side by side with the hundreds (6) Permanent Mothers. The functions of the "Defence of of millions of peace partisans everywhere ;
[ 51 ] Children" Committee seem to have been taken In May, 1952, Mme Vaillant-Couturier, WIDF over by a new subsidiary body called the Per- Secretary-General at that time, addressed an manent International Committee of Mothers in Open Letter from the WIDF to the American Defence of their Children, which was set up as a people accusing the US Forces in Korea of continuing organisation by a World Congress of "deliberately spreading deadly diseases among Mothers organised by the W1DF in Lausanne, the Korean and Chinese peoples." The only Switzerland, in July, 1955, (For further details investigation into these terrible charges allowed see the end of the WIDF section.) by the Chinese and Koreans were by Communist front organisations—the WFSW, IADL and (7) Commission to Korea. In May, 1951, a WIDF. As with the other atrocity stories, the women's commission was sent to Korea "to allegations were demolished by returning acquaint itself with the atrocities committed by prisoners-of-war, who described how "con- the aggressors" (the latter being, in the WIDF's fessions" were forced out of them by torture. It view, the Americans, not the Chinese Com- is interesting to note that Mrs. Felton received a munists). Though claiming to be independent, Stalin Peace Prize in 1951. it was in fact organised by the WIDF at the invitation of the North Korean Ministry of (9) Anti-Colonial Campaign. The WIDF has Propaganda. A report was published by the always interested itself closely in colonial questions, commission accusing the United Nations Forces, giving full support to all those fighting for their particularly the Americans, of the most barbaric independence (from the "colonialist" Powers atrocities. It was later disclosed by returning only). As early as February, 1947, the Council prisoners that much of the "evidence" on which set up a Permanent Committee for Women's this and similar reports were based was obtained Questions in Colonial Territories under an from American and British prisoners by force. Algerian Communist, Mme Sportisse, but little The report formed the basis of a protest by the has been heard of it. Commissions of inquiry WIDF to the UN, and also of a pamphlet called were sent to South-east Asia in 1948 and to We Accuse. North Africa in 1949. An Asian Women's (8) "Germ Warfare" Campaign. In 1952, the Conference was held in Peking in December, 1949, WIDF joined the WPC, the World Federation of to discuss the "union of women in Asia and Scientific Workers and the International Associ- other parts of the world in the struggle against ation of Democratic Lawyers in propagating colonialism." A resolution was passed declaring: the notorious "germ warfare" slanders. Mrs. "The WIDF leads the all Monica Felton, a Vice-President, visited Korea women of imperialist countries in their struggle against and accused the United States of the "final and their governments ..." unspeakable outrage of bacteriological warfare," of which she claimed to have seen "full proofs." Messages of support have been sent to the
[ j women of Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Egypt and PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL North Africa, in their "struggle against COMMITTEE OF MOTHERS (PICM) imperialism." The latest development, as in other front organisations, has been an emphasis (Subsidiary organisation of Womeris International on Afro-Asian problems, under the banner of Democratic Federation.) the Bandung principles. HEADQUARTERS (10) Peace Campaign. As already mentioned, the WIDF has from its early days been closely It shares headquarters with the Women's associated with the campaigns of the World International Democratic Federation (WIDF) at Peace Council. The President, Eugenie Cotton, Unter den Linden 13, Berlin IV& (Soviet Sector). declared at an Executive' Committee meeting in
June, 1951 : OFFICERS "The entire activity of the Executive Com- is Dr. Andrea ANDREEN, of mittee is linked mainly with strengthening the The Chairman Vice-President of WIDF. The Secretary peace movement, because this is now the most Sweden, of Great Britain. important task facing all peoples." is Mrs. Dora RUSSELL,
The Cominform journal of March 7, 1952, made it clear that the Communist Parties, the HISTORY were inter- "Peace" Movement and the WIDF The Permanent Committee was set up at the dependent. It stated : World Congress of Mothers held in Lausanne in "The Communist and Workers' Parties in July, 1955. The Congress was organised by an Committee consisting all countries highly evaluate the militant International Preparatory in the activity of women and their selfless struggle almost entirely of leading figures WIDF. the Defence for peace, and in the future will do everything It issued a Declaration of Mothers for War. report to further the struggle to foil the machinations of Children against the Danger of A pamphlet. of the warmongers and to draw all women of the proceedings was published as a into the Peace Movement." It is difficult to see why this subsidiary organisa- revive the Like the WPC, the W.IDF has attacked tion was set up, unless it was to of the WIDF, NATO, the rearmament of Western (but not activities of a previous offshoot of Eastern) Germany, "colonial" wars and atomic the International Committee for the Defence moribund since weapons (except Soviet ones). It has performed Children (set up in 1951 and cannot a useful task as a propaganda agency of the 1952). As a camouflage for the WIDF it Kremlin. be very effective, as it is so clearly a part of it.
[ 53 ] MEMBERSHIP the "peace" theme, stressing the dangers of war The Permanent Committee met in Geneva in to children and the lowering of living standards February, 1956, and was attended by 62 dele- caused by the arms race. It supports the World gates from 36 countries. The meetings seem to Peace Council (WPC), particularly its campaign be called as required. against atomic weapons. It has recently sent a delegation POLICIES to the United Nations to pursue these aims. An Asian Mothers* Conference has Its policies have been indistinguishable from been suggested, with Indonesia as a possible those of the WIDF. It concentrates mainly on location.
t 54 ] .
WORLD FEDERATION OF TEACHERS' UNIONS (FISE)
The French title of the organisation is Federation Internationale Syndicale de l'Enseignement, by the initials of which it is usually known.
ADDRESS It is the only true professional organisation Trade Departments (the Public The address is not known. Until 1952 it was amongst WFTU's organisation is mainly for in Paris, but the Federation was then expelled by and Allied Employees' Civil Servants). It the French Government for "fifth column manual and lower-grade independent existence, and for activity.*' Following its parent body, the World leads a largely is dealt with in a separate section Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), it settled this reason it the Soviet Sector of Vienna until February, in OFFICERS 1956, when it was again expelled as a danger to who security (this time by the independent Austrian The President is Prof. Henri WALLON, of Government). Since that time FISE has had no is an official of the French National Institute affiliated to the official headquarters, but is believed to be working Education, a body which is Generate du from the office of its journal, Teachers of the Communist-dominated Confederation World (10, rue de Solferino, Paris 7e). Travail (CGT). The Secretary-General, Paul DELANOUE, is HISTORY also an official of the French National Institute of Education. In addition, he is a member of the FISE was re- Though founded in 1946, World Peace Council and of the General Council organised in 1949, when it became a Trade of WFTU. Department of the WFTU. It is noteworthy that Assisting them are six Vice-Presidents and two this step was taken when the free unions had just Secretaries. The Vice-Presidents are all Com- quit the WFTU, leaving it completely in Com- munists or Communist-sympathisers, namely : munist hands. FISE has never enjoyed non- a Senegalese, a Communist support, as have some front organisa- 1. Gueye ABDOULAYE, official. tions in their early years. former WFDY
[ 55 ] :
2. Antonio BANFI, an Italian Communist FINANCE Senator. No details of FISE's finances are ever revealed. 3. FAN Ming, a Chinese Communist. It claims to be supported entirely by affiliation 4. Cesar GODOY URRUTIA, a Chilean fees. Communist, substitute member of WFTU Executive Committee. PUBLICATIONS 5. Ivan GR1VKOV, a Russian trade union The main publication is a large illustrated official. magazine called Teachers of the World, published 6. Prof. Enrique SANCHEZ, Secretary- monthly in English, French and German. It is General of Mexican Union of Teachers. distributed by WFTU. There are also separate Latin-American (Spanish) and Japanese editions. The Secretaries are Dimitri TAPTIKOV, a Russian, and Maria MARCHANT, a Chilean. FISE also publishes a Quarterly Review and special pamphlets, such as those on Hiroshima STRUCTURE and xhe Teachers' Charter. The above officials constitute the Bureau, which in practice runs the organisation. In theory the RELATIONS WITH OTHER controlling body is the Administrative Committee, ORGANISATIONS which meets once or twice a year and consists of the Bureau plus 12 ordinary members (seven of (a) Front Organisations whom come from the Soviet orbit). As will be seen from the list of officials, FISE At irregular intervals FISE holds a World is closely linked with the WPC and the WFTU. Conference of Teachers. It also co-operates with other front organisations.
The Administrative Committee, meeting in MEMBERSHIP Budapest in January, 1956, passed this resolution In August, 1956, FISE claimed a membership "The Administrative Committee considers of seven million in 34 countries. As the leading that united action by teachers for the improve- teachers' organisations in the free world are not ment of education and for peace will be more affiliated to FISE, but to the non-Communist fruitful if it is organised in collaboration with World Confederation of Organisations of the working class, youth and women's organisa- Teaching Profession (WCOTP), the bulk of tions. . . . This activity for the development FISE's members come from the Soviet orbit. of general education can be carried out in Membership is to open teachers* organisations collaboration with the WFTU and its national catering for all grades. centres and all workers* trade unions. . .
[ ] :
At the same time, while strengthening the links Such aims are, of course, acceptable to many with the WFTU, the Secretariat of the FISE besides Communists. will develop co-operation with the WFDY, the WIDF and the IUS." (Teachers of the World, ACTUAL POLICIES March 1956.) In practice, however, FISE's aims have been distorted to serve the political ends of the Soviet United Nations (b) Government. First of all a dual standard is It direct status with the UN, but is has no applied : education in the Soviet orbit is lavishly represented through WFTU, and also through the praised as a shining example to the rest of the Joint Committee of International Teachers' world ; while education in the free world, par- Federations (or Comite d'Entente) of which FISE ticularly in the USA and the British Common- is a member. wealth, is ceaselessly criticised. Secondly, educa- tional problems are never studied as such, but AVOWED AIMS always from the "class angle" or political point of view. Thirdly, FISE, like other front organisa- The avowed purpose of FISE is to organise tions, never fails to follow every twist and turn in teachers of all grades in one world-wide organisa- Soviet foreign policy and to give it all possible tion. It claims to fight for teachers' "rights" and propaganda support. It has given its full backing for higher educational standards. In particular, to the main campaigns of the other front organ- according to a resolution adopted at its Warsaw isations, particularly the WPC (see below). conference in August, 1949, its aims include One of the chief aims of FISE, constantly (a) The establishment of universal free reiterated, is to integrate teachers into the working education ; class and to cure them of their "bourgeois" out- (b) The outlawing of text-books propagating look. Teachers, like scientists and other profes- "militarism, imperialism or racial domin- sional groups, are to form the vanguard of the masses, the brains of the proletariat. ation" ; working They are also essential for the large-scale in- (c) Opposition to military training and doctrination of youth with Communist ideas.
corporal punishment ; According to Lenin : "He who has the Youth, (d) The training of teachers in a "democratic has the future." spirit" and their inclusion in the "active struggle against reaction and for peace, ACTIVITIES
progress and democracy" ; (a) Conferences of (e) The emancipation of schools from Church FISE organises a World Conference influence. Teachers, which used to be held annually but
[ 57 ] is now rather irregular. Past world conferences of the USA, Britain, France, Western Germany have been: and of other countries have signed the Paris 1946 Paris 1949 Warsaw agreements which integrate Western Germany in an aggressive military bloc. docu- 1947 Brussels 1950 Vienna NATO ments openly speak of the use of atomic 1948 Budapest 1953 Vienna weapons. ... On behalf of seven million The next one will be held in Warsaw in August, affiliated teachers of France, Italy, Germany, 1957. the Latin American countries, Africa, India, China, the people's democracies, and the (b) Campaigns USSR, and on behalf of all those who support In conjunction with the other (non-Communist) us, we declare that we shall continue to intensify members of the Joint Committee, FISE has com- our struggle against the inspirers and organisers
this . piled and distributed a "Teachers' Charter." of armaments drive. . . Much publicity has been given to this and
October 1 is now celebrated as "Teachers* (d) Support for WPC Campaigns Charter Day." Thanks to the influence of FISE's Full support has been given to the various collaborators, this document, unlike FISE's usual campaigns of the World Peace Council (WPC). publications, is quite unpolitical. The Administrative Committee, at its Budapest FISE has also conducted a campaign against meeting in January, 1956, adopted the following
"horror comics" (as have other bodies) and this resolution : has provided a useful vehicle for the Federation's "The Administrative Committee, convinced anti-Americanism, that the school can only develop in an atmo- sphere of peaceful co-operation between differ- (c) Support for Soviet Foreign Policy ent peoples, calls on the teachers, in collabora- Like other front organisations, FISE is fre- tion with the workers and all peoples, to quently passing political resolutions, all of which extend their efforts for the reduction of arma- follow Soviet policy closely. For example, the ments, relaxation of international tension ^nd Administrative Committee, at its meeting in national independence for all peoples. ... It Vienna in December, 1954, issued the following is important that the Teachers' Trade Unions
"Appeal to all Teachers" : in different countries should play a significant
. . The danger of war is increasing in the part in the Peace Movement, and should extend world. Militarist forces are striving to cancel their activity among students and parents. The out the successes scored by the peoples in the Administrative Committee notes that the FISE struggle for easing international tension. They has in the past collaborated with the WPC and are setting up military blocs. The Governments considers that this collaboration must be
[ 58 ] further strengthened in future." (Teachers of "The Administrative Committee notes with the World, March 1956.) satisfaction the increasing extension of the struggle of the oppressed peoples in spite of (e) Anti-Colonialism savage and brutal oppression by the imperialists. The Committee solemnly denounces this policy FISE has made special efforts in Asia, Africa, of force, demands the peaceful solution of the Middle East and Latin America, and has taken present conflicts, the recognition of the rights a leading part in the Communist crusade against of all peoples to independence, and the aboli- "colonialism." It is preparing a "special study" tion of all forms of discrimination. on education in these areas and devotes a con- siderable proportion of its magazine Teachers of "The World Federation of Teachers' Unions, the World to these regions. Special conferences faithful to its programme of progress, liberty have been held in Africa and Latin America and and peace, agrees to increase practical help to others are currently planned for the Middle East the teachers in the colonial and dependent and Asia. Delegations have been exchanged with countries who are now struggling for their these areas and a "Co-ordinating Committee for rights and the achievement of their national Asia" is planned. The Administrative Committee, aspirations, and to strengthen the movement of meeting in Budapest in January, 1956, passed the solidarity with them." (Teachers of the World, following resolution : May, 1956.)
[ 59 ] INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS (IADL)
Association Internationale des Juristes The French title of this organisation is Democrates.
HEADQUARTERS OFFICERS The President of the IADL is Denis Nowell The secretariat is at 234, rue du Trone, Brussels, Q.C., President of the British Peace having been expelled from Paris in 1950 by the PR1TT, Bureau member of the World Peace French Government. A certain amount of Committee, Council (WPC) and a Stalin Peace Prize winner organisational work is also carried on from not admitting to Communist Warsaw. (1954). Though Party membership, Pritt is active in many Com- munist-controlled organisations, in addition to HISTORY those already mentioned. at an The Association was founded in 1946, The Secretary-General is a French barrister International Congress of Jurists held in Paris, named Joe NORDMANN. He is an open organis- under the auspices of a para-Communist Communist and also a member of the WPC. ation, the Mouvement National Judiciaire. Many are at present only six Vice-Presidents lawyers attended this congress, and subsequently There Arab and a Japanese have still to be joined the organisation without realising its (as an appointed). They are : political nature. However, the Communists had control of the organisation from the beginning President of the I. Henrique FIALHO, the non-Communists had and by 1949 most of Brazilian Democratic Lawyers' Association the IADL was resigned. The true nature of and member of the WPC. (His wife Branca clear in October, 1949, when the Yugoslavs WIDF). made Fialho is a Vice-President of the because Stalin had quarrelled with were expelled President of 2. Prof. Jerzy JODLOWSKI, Tito.
[ 61 ] the Polish Lawyers* Association and member the others have of parliament Communist-front connections Communist control of the organisation is not 3 Peter KOUDRIAVTSEV, Vice-Minister therefore difficult. of Justice in the USSR.
4. Prof. STRUCTURE Leon LYON-CAEN, first Honorary President of the French Court of Cassation The Congress is the highest organ of and the IADL member of the on which each affiliated Communist-controlled organisation is repre- tomite de Patronage Progressiste sented. It is de Droit supposed to meet at least once Franeaise. every three years. Although it used to meet yearly, Congress has 5. SHEN Chun-ju, only met twice since 1949 President of the Supreme 1 as follows : Court of People's China and Chairman of the China Democratic League. October, 1946, Paris. July, 1947, Brussels. 6. Umberto TERRACINI, an Italian Com- munist Senator, Vice-President of the FIR. September, 1948, Prague. October, 1949, Rome. a Be,gian barri^r, Jean DEGUENT.rZr\^^u K September, The Secretary-General is assisted 1951, East Berlin. by six Secretaries ; May, 1956, Brussels.
1 Prof. Ferdinand BOURA, Czechoslovakia. The Council, which is supposed to meet yearly, consists 2. Prof. Sergei GOLOUNSKY, USSR. of the officers, plus one representative of each affiliated organisation Istvan and co-opted 3. KOVACS, Secretary-General of members. Hungarian Lawyers* Association. The Bureau is composed of the 17 officers 4. Mme Hilde NEUMANN, (see Editor of above) who are, according to Neue Justiz, the Statutes, East Berlin. elected by the Council. The Secretariat corn- 5. Prof. Leteiba RODRIGUEZ DE prises the Secretary-General, Secretaries and Treasurer. BRITTO, Secretary of Brazilian Democratic Lawyers' Association. MEMBERSHIP 6. Leslie Stuart SHIELDS, a British lawyer- Hon. Secretary of Haldane Society. Membership is open to organisations groups
[ 62 J FINANCE World Peace Council (WPC), especially over the anti-atomic weapons campaign. It supported the The Association claims to be supported by WPC and the World Federation of Scientific affiliation fees and donations, but no details are Workers (WFSW) in allegations of war-crimes in published/ Korea, and has assisted the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in protesting against its PUBLICATIONS expulsion from Vienna (see Activities, below). It some- (a) An Information Bulletin is published has also collaborated with the Women's Inter- to be what irregularly (though it is supposed national Democratic Federation (WJDF) and the monthly) in Brussels. International Union of Students (IUS). (b) Law in the Service of Peace (Le Droit au Service de la Paix), a review, should appear every (b) United Nations six months, but does not always do so. It is The IADL had consultative status with printed in English and French, and occasionally ECOSOC until July, 1950, when it was rescinded. in Italian. Subsequent applications for reinstatement have all been rejected. (c) Pamphlets, among which are : Report of Proceedings of 4th Congress, It has no formal relationship with UNESCO. Rome (1949). Report of 5th Congress, East Berlin (1951). AVOWED AIMS Reports by IADL Commission on War The main aims of the IADL are, according to
Crimes in Korea and China (1952). its statutes : Defense des Liberies Democratiques, a report 1. To develop mutual understanding among of the International Conference for the Defence the lawyers of the world. of Democratic Liberties, Vienna (1954). aims of the United Nations, Lawyers Take Position Against Experiments 2. To support the through common action for the and Use of Atomic Weapons, reporting the especially democratic liberties. resolutions against atomic weapons passed by defence of in Leipzig (June, 1954). the Council meeting 3. To co-operate with other groups to ensure respect for the rule of law in international RELATIONS WITH OTHER relations and the establishment of a durable ORGANISATIONS peace.
(a) Front Organisations Such aims, in 1946, were supported by many. of implementing them was As will be seen from its activities and from its But the lADL's way acceptable to non-Communists. officers, the IADL has close links with the too partisan to be
[ 63 ] ACTUAL POLICIES ACTIVITIES
In practice the IADL has : (a) Conference for the Defence of Democratic Liberties 1. Supported every move in Soviet foreign policy, and attacked Western policies whenever In January, 1954, the IADL organised an this was in line with Soviet propaganda. International Conference of Lawyers for the Defence of Democratic Liberties in Vienna. 2. Denounced as a "violation of human Elaborate steps were taken to disguise its true rights" any prosecution against Communists nature in order to attract non-Communist or Communist parties outside the Soviet orbit, support (which the IADL had little hope of while denying or ignoring the existence of any doing under its own name). An "International violations of human rights behind the Iron Initiating Committee" was set up, headed Curtain. For example, the Rosenberg trial by three lawyers, who though not officers of the in America was castigated as "judicial murder,'* IADL, had connections with it. This method but the Slansky trial in Czechoslovakia was of camouflage is often used by front organisations, never mentioned. but was not very successful on this occasion. Although the "Initiating Committee" was retained 3. Assisted wherever possible the dissemina- after the conference as the "Committee of the tion of Soviet propaganda, particularly the International Lawyers' Conference for the Defence notorious "germ warfare" allegations (see of Democratic Rights," nothing has been heard below). It has also supported the various of it since. propaganda campaigns of the WPC. (b) Regional Meetings 4. Organised, as a contribution to "mutual The IADL has also held the following regional understanding," visits of groups of "progres- meetings : sive" (i.e. pro-Communist) lawyers to the Soviet 1. First (Latin-American) Continental Union, its satellites and China, who, in return Con- ference of Jurists, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for lavish hospitality, extolled the perfections in November, 1952. of "people's democracy," particularly its legal system. 2. Second Continental Conference of Jurists in Guatemala in October, 1953. 5. Attacked the West for "imperialist agres- 3. Congress of Asian Democratic Lawyers sion" in Korea, Indo-China, Malaya, Kenya, in Calcutta in January, 1955. Cyprus, Algeria and Egypt. (But failed to make any protest against the brutal suppression of (c) Commissions freedom by Soviet tanks in Poznan and Periodically, when the Soviet or Chinese Budapest.) propaganda machines, or other front organisa-
[ ] Referendum had in fact been organised by the tions, wish to make some particular point, the German Communist Party and had been IADL is asked to set up an "Investigating West Commission consisted Commission" to create the impression of imparti- declared illegal. The of officers and met in Paris. It ality. mainly IADL condemned the trial as "a trial of opinion, Enquiry on Korea. This was 1. Commission of worthy of . . . Hitler and Mussolini." sent to Korea from March to April, 1952. It 3. Commission on WFTU expulsion from was composed of eight lawyers selected by the Vienna. This Commission was created in Febru- IADL, four of whom were known Communists. ary, 1956, at the request of the WFTU, "to study On March 2, before their enquiry had begun, what action should be taken concerning the the Soviet Tass Agency announced that : 'The publication and use of forged documents which Commission was sent to Korea in accordance were used as a pretext by the Austrian Ministry with the decision of the IADL to investigate and of the Interior for expelling the WFTU Head- establish the crimes committed by interventionists quarters from Vienna and for arbitrarily seizing in Korea.*' As was expected of it, the Commission its goods." The Commission sent a delegation announced on March 16, 1952, in a telegram to to Prague in April, 1956, to discuss its work with the President of the IADL, that it had gathered the WFTU Secretariat, but little activity has been "indisputable evidence" of germ warfare. Later, reported since. The delegation consisted of the in its official report, the Commission claimed that IADL Secretary-General, Joe NORDMANN, a its investigations had convinced it that the facts, Soviet lawyer, KOROVINE, and a Japanese "verified with all the rigour of judicial discipline," member of the WPC Bureau, HIRANO. No constituted "an act of aggression committed by report has yet been published. the United States, an act of genocide and a humanity." particularly odious crime against (d) Campaigns also waged by the WPC, The campaign was The IADL has assisted the WPC in its campaigns and protests were sent to the WIDF and WFSW against atomic weapons. It has also supported UN. the WFTU in its "struggle for Trade Union Moreover, the IADL has been in the 2. Conunission on Karlsruhe Trial. This was rights." the "anti-colonial" struggle, con- set up in 1954 "to examine the Karlsruhe trial forefront of "persecution" of colonial peoples of the organisers of the Referendum against the demning the imprisoned or on trial. remilitarisation of Western Germany." The and defending those
[ 65 ] WORLD FEDERATION OF SCIENTIFIC WORKERS (WFSW)
The French title of this organisation is Federation Mondiale des Travailleurs Scientifiques.
HEADQUARTERS from the post of head of the French Atomic security grounds. He The headquarters are in London, although there Energy Commission on President of the are regional centres in Paris, Prague and Peking. is an admitted Communist and World Peace Council (WPC). Another is planned for India. Formerly 1 5, Half Moon Street, London, W.l, the address is now The Secretary-General is Dr. Pierre B1QUARD, 27, Red Lion Street, London, W.CA. a close friend and scientific collaborator of Prof. Joliot-Curie, who was also removed from the HISTORY French Atomic Energy Commission on security The WFSW was founded in 1946, at an grounds. International Conference organised in London Chairman of the Executive Council and also a by the British Association of Scientific Workers. Vice-President, is Prof. Cecil F. POWELL, Eighteen organisations of scientists from 14 F.R.S., a British physicist, arid Nobel Prizewinner. countries were represented. Although it purported He is a Vice-President of the British Peace to be a non-political organisation, Communists Committee, a branch of the WPC. succeeded in obtaining most of the official The other four Vice-Presidents are : posts and soon had control. There has been no Prof. John D. BERNAL, another British mass walk-out, as with other front organisa- L physicist, who is also a Vice-President of the tions, some affiliated bodies are known to but WPC. be restive as a result of the pro-Communist policies pursued by the WFSW. 2. Prof. LI Tse-kwang (also known as Prof. J. S. Lee), Minister of Geology in the Chinese OFFICERS People's Republic. The President is Prof. Frederic JOLIOT- 3. Aleksandr OPARIN, member of Presi- CURIE, a French scientist, who was removed dium of USSR Academy of Sciences and former
[ 67 ] Deputy-Chairman of GOSPLAN. At one The Bureau, which really runs the Federa- time a member of the WPC. tion, is composed of the 1 1 officers (see above), all of whom are drawn from the individual 4. Prof. Linus C PAULING, Professor at membership of the Executive California Institute of Technology, USA, and Council. a Nobel Prizewinner in Chemistry. MEMBERSHIP The Honorary Treasurer is Dr. William A. WOOSTER, a lecturer at Peterhouse, Cambridge, Membership is open to organisations of and Vice-Cnairman of the British-Czechoslovak scientific workers or to individual scientists where Friendship League. no national organisation exists. In April, 1956, the Secretary-General reported a total membership The three Honorary Secretaries are : of 150,000. Apart from the individual members, these come from 19 organisations in the following 1. Prof. CHOU Pei-yuan of the Chinese People's Republic. 17 countries : Albania Mongolia 2. Dr. Edward G. EDWARDS, Principal of the Liverpool College of Technology (UK). Bulgaria N. Korea China Pakistan 3. Prof. Ivan MALEK, Head of the Biological Czechoslovakia Poland Department of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Denmark Roumania E. Germany UK STRUCTURE France USA The Assembly is the highest body of the WFSW, Hungary USSR to which all affiliated organisations send dele- Japan gates. Meetings have been as follows : 1948 Dobris (Czechoslovakia). FINANCE 1951 Paris and Prague. The Federation is supposed to be financed by 1953 Budapest. affiliation fees, but no accounts are published. 1955 East Berlin.
The Executive Council is theoretically the PUBLICATIONS controlling body between Assemblies. It consists (a) WFSW Bulletin is issued at intervals, to of 25 members, of whom 17 are chosen on an members only, in English, French, Russian and individual basis and eight are regional repre- Chinese. Dr. E. G. Edwards (see "Officers," sentatives. It meets irregularly. above) is the Editor.
] (b) Scientific World started publication in always worked closely with the WPC, particularly January, 1957, and will appear quarterly, in on the campaigns against atomic weapons. It in French, English, Russian, German and Chinese. has also collaborated with the WFTU : on Its Central Editor is Dr. E. G. Edwards, and the 1949 the two organisations issued a statement those fields in which they have Regional Editors are : "joint activity in a common ground," Paris : Dr. P. Biquard.
Prague : Prof. L Malek. (b) United Nations
Peking : Prof. Shen Chi-i. Although once on the Register of ECOSOC,
(India) : Dr. R. Ahmed. Aligarh its name was removed. Applications for con- sultative status have been rejected. (c) Science and Mankind, a journal, which is scheduled to appear twice-yearly in four or more WFSW once had consultative status with languages. It is published in Prague. So far UNESCO, but this was also withdrawn and only the first issue has appeared, on "Hunger and applications for reinstatement have been turned Food," edited by Dr. Josue de Castro of Brazil, down. ex-Chairman of the Council of the UN Food and It was, however, represented at the UN Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and President Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations of the World Congress of Doctors ( WCD). There in August, 1955, and also at the Geneva Con- is an Editorial Board of eight. ference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy held in the same month. (d) Pamphlets. In addition to publishing special reports on WFSW Congresses, the Secretariat on Germ Warfare in Korea in issued a pamphlet AIMS 1952, and another on the dangers of atomic AVOWED the radiation, called Unmeasured Hazards, in 1956. According to its constitution, the aims of The latter appeared in six languages. WFSW include :
1. "The fullest utilisation of science in promoting the peace and welfare of mankind." RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS 2. "International co-operation in science co-operation and technology . . . through close (a) Front Organisations with UNESCO.** As its President, Joliot-Curie is also President and co-ordination of scientific of the World Peace Council, and as several other 3. "Freedom work both nationally and internationally." of its officers are active in it, the WFSW has
I ] 4. "Closer integration between the natural ACTIVITIES and social sciences." (a) Meetings
ACTUAL POLICIES Apart from the meetings of the Assembly (see above), a special meeting In practice the WFSW has faithfully carried of Asian scientists took place in New Delhi in April, out its role as a front organisation. It has 1955, in conjunction with the invariably attacked the "imperialist" countries WPC-sponsored Conference of Asian Nations for the and praised the Communist ones (with the Relaxation of Inter- national Tension. This exception of Yugoslavia during the Stalin-Tito meeting set up a quarrel). "Permanent Liaison Committee for Asia" "to carry on the tasks of scientific collaboration It has waxed indignant at the "victimisation" between Asian scientists," but little has been of scientists in the United States, when from time heard of it since. A second regional conference to time a scientist has been refused a passport was held in Prague in October, 1956. Another or removed from his job on security grounds. regional meeting was planned for Paris in Novem- It has said nothing about the purges, trials and ber, 1956, but never materialised. continual restrictions on scientists in the Soviet orbit, from which most of its members come. (b) "Germ Warfare" Campaign Some idea of the WFSW's real attitude to In 1952, at the request of its Chinese members, scientific truth may be gained from an illumin- the WFSW sent an Internationa] Scientific ating speech made by General Hruska at a Commission to China. Six "scientists," care- scientific conference organised in Brno, in fully selected by the WFSW, duly investigated February, 1952, by the WFSW's Czech affiliate. the "evidence" produced by the Chinese (which He said, inter alia : has never been accepted by any impartial body) "It is essential that Marxism-Leninism should and reported that "bacteriological weapons" had penetrate into every branch of science ... A been used against the peoples of Korea and particularly strong attack must be delivered on China by the Americans, {Report on Germ cosmopolitanism ... An attack must also be Warfare in Korea, 1952.) launched on the deliberately misleading re- The report stated that the Commission was actionary hypothesis of the 'non-political* completely "impartial and independent" (though nature of science and its position 'above party.' selected, conducted and financed by Communists). The fight against cosmopolitanism must be It further claimed that it had been sent because stepped up and an end put to scientific the UN World Health objectivism." Organisation and the International Red Cross Committee (whose offers {Prague Radio, February 26, 1952.) to investigate the charges had been rejected) were
[ 7 1 not "sufficiently free from political influence to American and British nuclear bomb tests, but be capable of instituting an unbiased enquiry.'* have never mentioned those made by Russia. (In other words they were likely to prefer scientific The WFSW's latest contribution was a pamphlet objectivity to Marxism-Leninism,) This campaign on the dangers of radiation called Unmeasured was conducted for months, in conjunction with Hazards, (See "Publications" above.) the WPC, the Women's International Demo- An International Conference on Atomic cratic Federation (WIDF) and the International Dangers was proposed in 1955 and should have Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL). taken place in 1956, but failed to materialise. Prof. Bcrnal, in an address to the 4th Assembly (c) Anti-Atomic Weapons Campaign in East Berlin in September, 1955, said that the The WFSW has given full support to the WPC prevention of war and the outlawing of nuclear (as mentioned above) in the campaigns against weapons was the WFSW's "most important and atomic weapons. These have condemned urgent task/*
[ 71 ] INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF JOURNALISTS aoj)
Internationale des The French title of this organisation is Organisation Journalistes.
HEADQUARTERS assertion was given by the IOJ in 1950, when it expelled the Yugoslavs because Stalin had Originally in London, the headquarters were quarrelled with Tito. In 1955, when the Soviet moved in June, 1947, to Opletalom 5, Prague II, attitude to Yugoslavia was reversed, the IOJ Czechoslovakia, where they have remained. apologised for their "error" and invited the Yugoslavs back (so far in vain). HISTORY The IOJ was founded in June, 1946, at a OFFICERS congress in Copenhagen. The pre-war Inter- The President is Jean-Maurice HERMANN, French national Federation of Journalists and the war- who is Secretary-General of the the time International Federation of Journalists of Journalists' Union (which is affiliated to Generate Allied and Free Countries were both formally Communist-controlled Confederation disbanded. du Travail) and is also active on the French National Peace Committee. At first most Western journalists' unions joined the new organisation and for a short time it was The Secretary-General is a Czech, Jaroslav truly representative. But the Communists had KNOBLOCH, who is a member of the WPC. from the beginning succeeded in capturing the The four Vice-Presidents are : key posts within the organisation and gradually front organisation. turned it into yet another 1. Jozef KOWALCZYK, Vice-President of with- By 1950 all the non-Communist unions had the Association of Polish Journalists. drawn because the IOJ had become, in the words 2. Kaisu RYDBERG, a Finnish of its first President, Mr. A. Kenyon, "a branch Mme office of the Cominform." Confirmation of this Communist deputy.
[ 73 ] 3. Konstantin SIMONOV, a deputy of the MEMBERSHIP Supreme Soviet,"editor of the Literary Gazette. Membership is open to journalists in the 4. TENG To, President of the (Communist) following categories : 1 All-China Journalists' Association. . National Unions of Journalists. 2. National groups of the IOJ. Thus of the six officers five at least are Com- munists. 3. Individual members-. In October, 1955, the IOJ claimed to have STRUCTURE 60,000 members in 51 countries. However, national organisations were only affiliated from The Congress, though supposed to meet every the following 14 countries (of which only two two years, has only met twice since the foundation are outside the Soviet orbit): congress in Copenhagen in June, 1946—in Prague Albania Hungary in June, 1947, and in Helsinki in September, 1950. Bulgaria All affiliated organisations and groups are repre- Korea sented at Congress; individual members and China Mongolia groups numbering less than 20, however, may Czechoslovakia Poland not vote. Finland Roumania The Executive Committee consists of delegates France USSR from each national organisation, or national E. Germany Viet Nam group. At present it is composed of the six In addition, there are national groups in two officers (see above) and 27 ordinary members. countries, Ceylon and Mexico. The remaining Of the latter, 24 come from the Soviet orbit. It 35 countries must therefore only have individual is supposed to meet at least once a year, and members. usually does so. Between Congresses it is the supreme organ of the IOJ. FINANCE The Bureau, according to the statutes, is The IOJ claims to be financed entirely by elected by Congress and consists of the President, affiliation fees, the rate being set by the Executive the Secretary-General and six Vice-Presidents. Committee. But no accounts are published. (At present, however, there are only four Vice- Presidents.) It meets as required. PUBLICATIONS The General Secretariat maintains relations The Secretariat publishes a monthly journal with affiliated organisations and prepares IOJ called The Democratic Journalist, in English, publications. French, Russian, German and Spanish.
[ * ] It also published a booklet in April, 1956, about (ECOSOC) in March, 1947, but this was with- the organisation, entitled The International drawn in July, 1950. Subsequent requests for Organisation of Journalists. reinstatement have been rejected. The IOJ also enjoyed consultative status with RELATIONS WITH OTHER the United Nations Educational, Scientific and ORGANISATIONS Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), but was rele- gated to the Register in December, 1952. Although for reinstatement have been (a) Front Organisations subsequent requests turned down, the IOJ has in fact enjoyed fairly The 10J has always had close contact with the close relations with UNESCO. World Peace Council (WPC) and has helped to publicise the latter's activities and appeals. (c) The International Federation of Journalists According to its constitution, "... The main (IFJ) aim of the IOJ is the struggle for peace all over the non-Communists in the IOJ walked co- When the world. . . To attain this end, the IOJ out (see "History," above), they restarted the operates with other international organisations old IFJ. After treating the latter with scorn and which fight for peace." abuse for several years, the IOJ in 1955 switched, The IOJ statutes also include a reference to in line with the new Soviet strategy, to the offensive "support for the Trade Union movement in the de sourire. It begged the IFJ to co-operate in struggle for journalists' demands," which in "burying the hatchet" and eventually to form a practice means support for the World Federation new universal journalists' organisation. As a first of Trade Unions (WFTU). step it asked the IFJ to co-sponsor two con- ferences—a Latin American regional one in The Democratic Journalist for December, 1953, Montevideo and an International Meeting of stated that it was the job of all "democratic" Journalists in Europe. The IFJ refused to co- journalists to "concentrate greater attention on operate in either ; the first was abandoned and the activities of the WFTU and its various the second, after many postponements and organisations" (i.e. Trade Departments). changes of venue, was finally held in Helsinki In addition the IOJ has given support to the in June, 1956. (See "Activities," below.) other front organisations, particularly by helping In rejecting the IOJ's overtures, the IFJ wrote to publicise their congresses and campaigns. to them as follows :
(/>) United Nations "The suggestion that an International could The IOJ was granted category B consultative be formed to unite the International Federation status by the Economic and Social Council of Journalists and the International Organisa-
l 75 ] tion of Journalists takes no account of recent opinion. The struggle against the spreading history. We can say that we played a very of war psychosis and war propaganda, against considerable part in forming the International Fascist propaganda of any sort, against Organisation of Journalists at Copenhagen in nationalist or racial hatred and against the 1946, and it was only because of the persistent creation of international tension by means of use of its forum for political propaganda of a falsehoods and calumnies. particularly virulent kind, that we were forced to conclude that no useful work could be done "2. The protection of freedom of the Press within its framework. We—that is to say and of journalists against the influence of most of the organisations now represented in monopolist and financial groups. The defence the IFJ—left the IOJ for this reason. of the right of every journalist to write accord- ing to his conscience and conviction. The "It is not possible for us to consider a re- protection of the rights of colonial peoples and unification until a radical change is effected in of national minorities to publish in their native the conditions of the Press in those countries language. Support to journalists who have which are represented by national organisations been persecuted for having taken up their pens in the IOJ. Our firm adherence to the prin- in defence of peace, progress, justice, the ciples of a free Press, which our constitution liberty and independence of their countries. defines as 'freedom in the collection of informa- tion, freedom of opinion and comment, and "3. The protection of all journalists* rights. freedom in the dissemination of news,' makes it The struggle for bettering material conditions impossible for us to collaborate with those of their existence. The gathering and dis- organisations representing countries in which semination of all information concerning the the journalists do not enjoy those freedoms." living conditions of journalists in all countries. (IFJ Information, July-September, 1955.) (Collective agreements, salaries, right to organise.) Support for the Trade Union move- AVOWED AIMS ment in the struggle for journalists' demands. According to its constitution, as published by "4. The protection of the people's rights to the IOJ itself in a booklet dated April, 1956, the receive free and honest information, the IOJ is "a union of progressive and anti-fascist struggle against falsehood, calumnies and journalists"." Its aims are listed as : systematic misinformation by the Press, as well "1. The maintenance of peace and the as against every form of journalistic activity in broadening of friendship among the peoples, the service of individuals or particular groups as well as international understanding through of society whose interests are contrary to those free, accurate, honest informing of public of the working masses."
[ 76 ] ACTUAL POLICIES Attempts to inveigle the IFJ into co-sponsorship of this meeting failed (see Relations with IFJ, In practice, the IOJ's "struggle for peace" has above), but elaborate steps were taken to attract been the defence of the "peaceful policies" of the non-Communist journalists by pretending that Soviet Union and attacks on the "imperialists." the meeting was independent of the IOL In fact Its oppdsition to "war propaganda" and Press secretariat organised from start to finish "calumnies" has meant condemning any article the IOJ the International Meeting of Journalists, which criticising the Soviet Union or Soviet Communism. finally took place at Otaniemi, near Helsinki the "protection of Press freedom" and As for (Finland) in June, 1956. With few exceptions, "journalists' rights," this has been most blatantly participants were all Communists or IOJ Alleged cases of persecution in the selective. members. The meeting set up a continuing and British colonies are USA, Latin America organisation called the "Committee for the Co- journalists of the constantly being publicised and operation of Journalists," which now publishes free world criticised for being under the thumb a Bulletin of its own from 109, rue de Turenne, "capitalists." the other hand, nothing is of On Paris 3e. said about the censorship, official directives and similar measures of Press control which are (c) Regional Groups common to all Communist countries. An abortive attempt was made in 1955 to hold leading article in The Democratic Journalist The a Latin American regional conference of journal- of January, 1954, accused "capitalist" newspapers ists in Montevideo. This was partly to further "poisoning the souls of the people" and praised of the "unity" campaign and partly to establish a Press for "developing in the the Communist Latin American regional grouping. It failed which are leading the struggle for countries owing to lack of support from any but Communist from imperialism." independence journalists and to active hostility from official quarters.
ACTIVITIES In connection with the Helsinki meeting, some in setting up an Arab Federa- (a) Meetings progress was made tion. A number of Arabs attended the meeting, As there has been no IOJ Congress since 1950 but little activity has been reported since. The (without any explanation), activities have centred emphasis now is being placed on Afro-Asian round Executive Committee and Bureau meetings. groupings, which include the Middle East. (b) Unity Campaign This was started in June, 1955, when the (d) UNESCO "Initiating Committee for an International Although the IOJ has been relegated to mere Meeting of Journalists" met in East Beriin. Register status with UNESCO (see Relations with
[ 77 ] UN, above), it has succeeded in getting a good The Democratic Journalist for September- deal of co-operation out of it. It sends delegates October, 1956, even went so far as to suggest, to UNESCO conferences and the LOJ President in an article on unity, that UNESCO should take addressed a UNESCO conference, on the training the lead in bringing the lOJ together not only of journalists, in Paris in April, 1956. UNESCO with the IFJ, but also with the International was also persuaded to send an observer to the Press Institute (IPX). UNESCO refused, however, international Meeting in Helsinki in June, 1956. to sponsor a joint conference with these bodies.
[ 78 ] WORLD CONGRESS OF DOCTORS
' ;
' ^VviV, (WCD) • & '
World Congress of Doctors for the yjy title of this organisation is the French title is Congres Mondial Study of Present-day Living Conditions. The de la Vie. des Medecins pour l'Etude des Conditions Actuelles
until May, 1953, in Vienna. HEADQUARTERS It was not in fact held Meanwhile the International Preparatory Com- The headquarters were transferred from Rome mittee had become the "International Secretariat to Vienna in April, 1953. The address is also of the World Congress of Doctors/' which Wollzeih 29/3, Vienna L superseded the original 'international Union of of Doctors for Peace." The "World Congress HISTORY Doctors" was formally established in Vienna as a in June, 1954, and was began under the wing of the Peace permanent organisation The WCD 1955. registered under Austrian law in December, Movement, but in June, 1954, it was established as an independent organisation. It originated at the World Peace Congress in Warsaw in 1950, 2nd OFFICERS when 61 doctors who attended decided to form an "International Union of Doctors for Peace" The most important figure is the Secretary- Austrian and a conference was proposed to deal with the General, Dr. Friedrich SCHOLL, an of the "pernicious influence of war preparations" on the pathologist who is also Vice-President to the health of the people. In February, 1951, the WPC Austrian Peace Council and a contributor the instructed its Executive Bureau to support Communist Tagebuch. project and an International Preparatory Com- Brazilian, Prof. Josue de National Committees were The President is a mittee was set up. was chair- Pre- CASTRO, who until November, 1955, also established and in November, 1951, a of the Executive Council of the UN Food paratory Meeting was held in Rome. Plans to man Organisation. He is an expert Congress of Doctors in and Agriculture hold the first World Brazilian on nutrition. Vice-President of the Montecatini, Italy, in October, 1951, fell through.
[ 79 ] Peace Council, he is also the holder of a WPC PUBLICATIONS International Prize (1954). The only publication is Living Conditions and The Vice-President is Dr. Philip D'ARCY Health—a Quarterly Medical Journal, which HART, MD, FRCP, OBE, who is Director of the appears in German, English, French, Spanish, Tuberculosis Research Unit run by the British Russian and Chinese. It only started in Medical Research Council. He is also a member September, 1956. of the Expert Advisory Panel on Tuberculosis of The WCD also assists the International Union the World Health Organisation. of Students (IUS) with its Faculty Bulletin, The The Treasurer is Dr. Francis LAZARD, of Medical Student, which Dr. Scholl helps to edit. France. RELATIONS WITH OTHER STRUCTURE ORGANISATIONS The WCD's executive body is the Inter- As a child of the World Peace Council (WPC), national Committee, consisting of the officers (see the WCD has always had close contact with that above) and 14 ordinary members. The actual body, particularly over the campaign against day to day work is done by the Permanent atomic weapons. It also collaborates with the Secretariat, consisting of the Secretary-General IUS (see above) and with the World Federation and three Secretaries. In addition there is an of Scientific Workers (WFSW) : WCD's Pre- Editorial Board, which controls the WCD's sident, de Castro, edited the first issue of the publication Living Conditions and Health. All WFSW journal Science and Mankind. In April, meet at irregular intervals. 1952, it assisted the Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF) with its "Inter- MEMBERSHIP national Conference in Defence of Children" in Vienna. Membership is open to medical organisations or individual members of the medical profession. WCD has no formal contact with the United No claims as to total membership have been Nations. made, but the first World Congress of Doctors was attended by delegates from 26 countries. AVOWED AIMS FINANCE The avowed aims of WCD are the promotion of health throughout the world, by the prevention No details have been published, but it is known rather than the treatment of disease. To this end that the has WCD to operate on a rather small it concentrates mainly on questions of living budget. standards.
[ I
ACTUAL POLICIES were in fact highly political. As with all front organisations, the WCD has to earn its keep by has concentrated mainly In practice the WCD denouncing conditions in the West and praising problems : first, the danger to health on two everything in the Soviet Union. through the lowering of living standards caused second World Congress of Doctors was by wars (especially "colonial" ones) and prepara- The second, the planned for September, 1955, but was postponed tions for war (in the West only) ; organisation difficulties. Attempts to radiation hazards caused by the testing of atomic owing to were also abortive. It is now and hydrogen weapons (again by the Western hold it in 1956 scheduled for September 27-29, 1957, in Cannes Powers only; Soviet test explosions are politely ignored). (France). In May and June, 1955, the WCD organised an "International Medical Conference on Radio- ACTIVITIES activity" in Japan. The purpose of this con- radiation damage done The main activity of the WCD, apart from ference was to exploit the American atomic publishing Living Conditions and Health, is to Japanese fishermen by an of the bombing of holding conferences. The first World Congress weapon test, and the effects furtherance both of of Doctors (or International Medical Conference, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in propaganda and of the WPC anti- as it was originally called) was held in Vienna in anti- American report was published May, 1953. In spite of promises to delegates that atom-bomb campaign. A the discussions would be purely medical, they in pamphlet form.
[ 81 ] —
INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING ORGANISATION (OIR)
7%e French title is Organisation Internationale de Radiodiffusion, by the initials of which it is usually known. HEADQUARTERS STRUCTURE The highest body is the General Assembly, The headquarters are now at Liebknechtova 15, year, and on which Prague XVI, Czechoslovakia (formerly Mozartova which meets once or twice a every member organisation is represented. Below 15). that comes the Administrative Council (or Execu- tive Board), which is supposed to meet at HISTORY least twice a year, and consists of about 12 mem- is Presidium It was founded in 1946, at a conference in bers. The main work done by the Brussels. Many countries participated at first, (or Bureau), which meets as required and com- but not the British Broadcasting Corporation prises the four officers mentioned above, plus one (BBC) which in 1950 took the initiative in setting ordinary member (at present Kurt HEISS of up a rival organisation, the -European Broadcast- East Germany). ing Union (EBU). All the non-Communist In addition there is a Technical Commission and countries except Finland have since left the OIR, a Programme Committee, which meet as required. mostly to join the EBU. The OIR has always Apart from the foundation congress in Brussels been under complete Communist control, in 1946, all meetings have been held behind the Iron Curtain. OFFICERS MEMBERSHIP
The President is Frantisek NECASEK, head of Membership is open to any broadcasting the Czech Radio, and the Secretary-General is organisation. At present organisations from all another Czech, Josef WEISER. The two Vice- countries of the Soviet orbit belong, plus one Presidents are J. RISSANEN, a Finn, and WEN solitary representative of the rest of the world Chi-tse of Communist China, Finland.
[ 83 ] FINANCE AVOWED AIMS No details have ever been disclosed. OIR's official aims are non-political, viz. the mutual assistance of broadcasting stations. PUBLICATIONS OIR publishes a monthly Documentation ACTUAL POLICIES Review and a quarterly, Information and Docu- In practice the OIR and all its affiliates except mentation Bulletin, in English, French, Russian Finland have constituted an official mouthpiece and Chinese. of Soviet policy and propaganda. No attempt has been made to maintain any pretence at RELATIONS WITH OTHER impartiality, ORGANISATIONS The has links OIR with several UN bodies : it ACTIVITIES is on the Register of ECOSOC, it has informal The meetings of the General Assembly and links with UNESCO and is admitted to the Administrative Council are partly organisational administrative conferences of the ITU (Inter- and partly for propaganda purposes, i.e. resolu- national Telecommunication Union). Though tions supporting Soviet foreign policy and attack- it has no formal links with other front organisa- ing the West arc usually passed. The Technical tions, it has often supported and assisted them, Commission and Programme Committee are both particularly the WPC, by purveying propaganda. strictly functional.
[ 84 ] INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RESISTANCE FIGHTERS (FIR)
des Resistants The French title of this organisation is Federation Internationale des Victimes et des Prisonniers du Fascisme. It is usually known by the initials FIR.
HEADQUARTERS The Deputy Secretary-General is Aleksander a Pole. In addition there are 10 The headquarters are at Castellezgasse 35, SZUREK, Vice-Presidents, five Secretaries and a Treasurer, Vienna If, but a small secretariat is also main- many of whom are also Communists. tained at 10, rue Lereux, Paris XVI Until 1952, the headquarters were in Warsaw. STRUCTURE HISTORY The supreme body is the Congress which is supposed to meet every three years, but in fact The FIR was founded at a congress organised has met as follows : in Vienna in July, 1951, by its predecessor, the "International Federation of Former Political June, 1951, Vienna. Prisoners of Fascism" (FIAPP). FIAPP itself November, 1954 Vienna. had been founded in Paris in 1947, but did not The next Congress is planned for October, 1957 include Resistance fighters. (place not yet known). OFFICERS All affiliated organisations attend this Congress, as well as guests. The President is Col. Frederic MANHES, who the General Council (also called is also President of FIR's French affiliate Next comes which should meet at (FNDIRP). He is a member of the World "Executive Committee") Peace Council (WPC) and of the Central Com- least once a year, but does not always do so. It has repre- mittee of the French Communist Party (PCF). is in theory elected by Congress and sentatives from all member organisations. The Secretary-General is Andre LEROY, who actual work is done by the Bureau (or is an ex-member of the Central Committee of the The yearly and French Communist Party. Presidium), which should meet twice
[ 85 ] consists of the officers (see above), plus 13 RELATIONS WITH OTHER ordinary members. ORGANISATIONS In addition there is the Bureau Secretariat (or FIR has close relations with the WPC and also General Secretariat), consisting of the President, with the International Association of Democratic Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, rive Lawyers (IADL). It is not represented in the Secretaries and Treasurer; and an Auditing Com- United Nations. mission of five persons.
MEMBERSHIP AVOWED AIMS These are Membership is open to organisations of former to keep alive the memory of those who died Partisans, resistance fighters, political prisoners fighting Fascism underground, to protect the rights and victims of Nazism or Fascism. It is also of those who survived and to prevent a re-emergence open to individuals, for whom there is provision of Nazism or Fascism. for associate membership. A total membership of 4,000,000 is claimed, drawn from 18 European countries. ACTUAL POLICIES
In practice it has not collaborated with resist- FINANCE ance associations organised on a national, non- party basis, but only with those under Communist No details are published, but the FIR purports control. While genuinely fighting "Fascism," it to be financed solely by affiliation fees. has also supported every move of Soviet foreign policy. Opposition to Nazism has been used as a PUBLICATIONS lever to attack the EDC, NATO and any other attempt by Western Europe to defend itself. (a) Resistance Unie, a magazine published every two months in French and German. A circulation of 15,000 has been claimed. ACTIVITIES (b) Service d* Information de la FIR, a weekly (a) Concentration Camp Rallies bulletin about FIR activities. Each year rallies are organised at one or more (c) Pamphlets are produced from time to time of the former Nazi concentration camps such as on deportations, the Resistance Movement and Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Mauthausen, Dachau Concentration Camps (Nazi only). and Ravensbruck.
[ ] ference ("Study Days") on Legislation and (b) Special Conferences the Rights of Resistance Fighters. In addition to regular FIR congresses, the following special events have been organised : (c) Medico-Social Centre May, 1953—Stuttgart—International Con- It was proposed at the Copenhagen Conference ference of Former Resistance Fighters. (see above) that a Medico-Social Centre should be set up for helping disabled members of the FIR. 1954 Copenhagen — International June, — Nothing further has been heard of this proposal. Medico-Social Conference. (d) Holiday Camps 1954 Vienna—International Re- November, — These are organised in various countries each sistance Rally. summer for the "orphans of resistance fighters October, 1955—Brussels—International Con- and victims of Nazism,"
[ 87 ] INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PROMOTION OF TRADE (ICPT)
[Note: The ICPT is believed to have disbanded itself in late 1956. The following information is given (a) for reference purposes; (b) because it looks as though the national committees will continue to Central Committee may reappear under another name.] function ; (c) because the
The ICPT was for some years known as the " Committee for the Promotion M of International Trade but changed its title in December 1955. The French title is Comite International pour le Developpement du Commerce.
HEADQUARTERS represents a pro-Communist group in the Vosges — pour un Nouveau Front Populaire." Until 1953 its headquarters were at 9, rue "L'Union President has never been named. Pergolese, Paris XVI, when it moved to Prinz The Eugenstrasse 2, Vienna IV. Its last known address was Anastasius Grimgasse 40/3, Vienna XVI1L STRUCTURE The International Committee was composed of HISTORY the President, Secretary-General and 30 members, The organisation was founded at an Inter- and met infrequently. national Economic Conference held in Moscow officers and in April 1952. This was organised by an "Inter- The Bureau, which consisted of the more fre- national Initiating Committee" which had been a few key committee members, met quently. following members of the Inter- set up by the World Peace Council in 195L The national Committee were particularly active in OFFICERS the organisation and may therefore have been Bureau members: The ICPT was run almost as a "one-man show" by its Secretary-General, Robert 1. Baron Antoine ALLARD : WPC mem- CHAMBEIRON. He is a French deputy, who ber, President of Belgian CPIT.
I 89 ] 2. Prof. Josef DOBRETSBERGER : PUBLICATIONS
Austrian ; economist WPC member. The main publication was International Trade 3. Victor Manuel GUTIERREZ : Guate- which ceased in August 1956. Many national
malan Communist ; member of WFTU committees published their own bulletins or Press Executive Committee. reviews.
4. LIU Ning-yi : Chinese member of WPC and WFTU Vice-President. RELATIONS WITH OTHER
5. Mikhail V. NESTEROV : Soviet member ORGANISATIONS of . WPC. As will be seen from the Bureau members, 6. Jack PERRY : British director of textile close links were maintained with the WPC and firm. WFTU. The ICPT had no link with the UN.
MEMBERSHIP AVOWED AIMS No figures have ever been published, but The avowed aim of the ICPT was to increase Branch Committees (or Councils) for the Promo- trade between all countries of the world. tion of Trade were started in the following countries : ACTUAL POLICIES Argentina Colombia Israel In practice it concentrated exclusively on East- Austria Czechoslovakia Italy West trade. While it was undoubtedly respon- Belgium Denmark Japan sible for concluding many bilateral trade agree- Bolivia France Korea (N.) ments, most of its energies were directed towards breaking down Brazil E. Germany Mexico Western embargoes on strategic materials. Much propaganda was directed at Bulgaria Hungary Netherlands Western businessmen to persuade them to bring Ceylon India Switzerland pressure on their governments to relax all Chile Indonesia UK restrictions. China Iran Uruguay ACTIVITIES FINANCE Many attempts were made to hold a second Each branch was self-supporting and also con- World Economic Conference, preferably in tributed to the central committee. This was done Peking, but this never materialised. Instead many by of means commission on trade deals concluded, bilateral talks were organised and two joint but accounts no have been published. meetings of West European CPITs were held.
[ ] NOTES
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