KEESING'S CONTEMPORARY ARCHIVES WEEKLY DIARY OF IMPORTANT WORLD EVENTS WITH INDEX CONTINUALLY KEPT UP-TO-DATE ESTABLISHED IN 1931 Reports, Statistics and Data selected, condensed, translated, summarised, and indexed from news­ papers, periodicals, and official publications of Great Britain, the British Empire, and Foreign Countries; as well as from information supplied by the recognised international news agencies VOLUME No. VI 1946-1948 KEESING'S PUBLICATIONS LIMITED (of London) 65 Bristol Road • Keynsham • Bristol Jan. 31—Feb. 7, 1948. KEESING'S CONTEMPORARY ARCHIVES 9085 A. GERMANY. — Alleged Communist Plans for intelligence services" of having produced 44 Protocol M," Sabotage in Western Zones. - Publication of " Protocol which it described as 44 a clumsy provocation . used to M " by British Foreign Office. divert attention from the heavy assault Anglo-American The British Foreign Office published on Jan. 16 the text of monopoly capitalism is making on the German people," the a document allegedly issued by the Cominform and containing statement adding that the party had been aware of the existence Communist plans for fomenting strikes in the Ruhr with the of this 44 scandalous document." The Soviet organ Pravda, aim of defeating the Marshall Plan. This document, known as on Jan. 25, described 44 Protocol M " as 44 a villainous forgery " " Protocol M," was first published in the French-licensed of British origin which had been circulated 44 in order to justify paper Der Kurier in Berlin on Jan. 14, and was reproduced in the repression which is being prepared against the democratic the British and American papers in Berlin the following day, movement in Western Germany." it being authoritatively stated at the time that the existence Replying to a question about 44 Protocol M" from Mr. of the document had been known to the British authorities Piratin (Comm.) in the House of Commons on Jan. 21, Mr. for some time previously. Hector McNeil, the Minister of State, said he had nothing to 44 The text of " Protocol M " consists of a preamble and 5 sections, add except that H.M. Government believe this document the preamble reading as follows : " The coming winter will be the to be genuine."—(Times - Manchester Guardian - New York decisive period in the history of the German working-class. Through Times - New York Herald Tribune) persistent battle, and in conjunction with the working-class throughout Europe, it will conquer the key positions in production. This battle B. INDIA. — Junagadh State occupied by Indian is not concerned with ministerial posts but is for starting positions Forces. - Pakistani Protest. - Forthcoming Plebiscite for the final struggle for the liberation of the proletariat of the world. on Accession. The unconditional prerequisites for the final victory of the working- Dominion of India troops, on Nov. 1, entered without class are the maintenance of discipline among the comrades and the unscrupulous employment of all functionaries. There must be no opposition the small Kathiawar States of Babariawad and doubt that in order to achieve this final victory all the weapons of the Mangrol, both tributaries of Junagadh State, whose accession proletariat are utilised. The home of Socialism, the Soviet Union, to Pakistan had led to a dispute between the two Dominions can and will support this battle against the monopoly-capitalist (see 8860 A). A communique by the Indian States Ministry Powers with every means at its disposal. The Communist Information said that the Government of India had received reports that Bureau in Belgrade (Cominform) will co-ordinate the common battle the Junagadh authorities were taking 44 oppressive action " of all Socialist movements in Europe. Although the German party against the people of Babariawad, whose chiefs had announced is not yet a member of this Bureau, it has nevertheless a key position in the impending battle it will have to fight for the centre point of the accession of that territory to India ; that attempts had European production, the Ruhr. The working-class of all nations been made to force the Babariawad chiefs to denounce the will provide the necessary assistance. The task of the German accession to India and substitute for it accession to Pakistan ; party is to utilise this assistance unscrupulously wherever it will that Pandit Nehru, on Oct. 21, had informed Mr. Liaquat produce the best results. The main objective of the winter battle is Ali Khan (the Pakistani Premier) that the Indian Government to break the attack of the monopoly capitalists, which they are could 44 tolerate this state of affairs no longer" and were launching through their so-called Marshall Plan." 44 in honour bound " to take measures to protect territories Part 1 laid down that the " centres of mass struggle " were (a) which had acceded to India ; and that Indian troops had the Ruhr, and (6) the transportation system of N.W. Germany, entered Babariawad and Mangrol under a flag of truce, the with special importance attached to the Bremen-Dusseldorf and occupation having been peacefully effected. Hamburg-Bielefeld railways, and Dortmund being named as the Following the occupation of Babariawad and Mangrol, centre of the transport workers' strike. " The party," it was said, " must refrain from direct participation, under all circumstances. Indian troops entered and occupied Junagadh on Nov. 9 It must take into account that the military authorities will attempt without opposition in response to a request by the Junagadh to liquidate the party. It is therefore necessary to implement the Executive Council, the Pakistani Government being informed new organisation as soon as possible. In the light of previous experi­ of this action. ence it must be taken into account that Ruhr workers, owing to the The Nawab of Junagadh, who is a Moslem and who rules over a considerable privileges they enjoy, will reject the idea of strikes State predominantly Hindu, had gone to Karachi for consultations from opportunist motives. Here the transport worker must play with the Pakistani Government on Oct. 24, and prior to the Indian his part. ... It is important to reconnoitre all possible routes and occupation of Junagadh had been visited by the Dewan of that State, to try by all possible means to prevent the smooth running of their Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto. The latter, in a press statement from supply services. It is not essential to destroy food supplies but merely Karachi on Nov. 10, explained that whilst no temporary or per­ to hinder their timely arrival. The timely co-ordination of delays manent agreement had been negotiated with India, and Junagadh in the arrival of food transports and the organisation of strikes leading to loss in production is an essential feature of the operation." was still regarded formally as part of Pakistan, the State authorities had asked the Indian Dominion to assist in the maintenance of law Part 2 stated that the " agitation cadres" (Agitationkaders) and order, which, he said, was being " threatened by aggressive entrusted with implementing the alleged plan had the " special task elements outside the State," and that the Nawab wished the Junagadh of finding out weak points in the organisation of the SPD " (the question to be decided constitutionally between the two Dominions. Social Democratic Party); that such weaknesses must be " relent­ The " aggressive elements " referred to by the Dewan were the lessly exploited " ; that " internal trade union discussions must be supporters of a so-called " provisional Government of Azad (Free) started forthwith " ; and that every attempt must be made to Junagadh " which had been set up in Rajkot in September ; this control the Metal Workers' Union, which was described as " from the body, which received no official support from the Dominion of India, organisational point of view the centre of gravity." had proclaimed the State's accession to the Indian Union, its adher­ Part 3 stated that propaganda agitation must have 3 aims, viz., ents having from time to time carried out raids into Junagadh to show (1) that the Marshall Plan was " a plan of enslavement territory. by the monopoly capitalists of the U.S.A." ; (2) that " the strikes The Pakistani Government, which on Oct. 8 had announced in all monopoly capitalist countries are signs of the increasing decay its willingness to negotiate with India on the Junagadh of capitalist society " ; and (3) " the steady and constantly pro­ question, sent a protest to New Delhi on Nov. 11 against the gressing development of the Eastern European economy under the Indian occupation of Junagadh, declaring that it could not protection of the Soviet Union." This section also stated : "As 44 the prohibition of all party organs in West Germany must be reckoned recognise a military coup d'etat", that the Indian action 44 with, radio stations and a developed courier net will ensure a constant constituted an unwarranted violation of Pakistani territory," supply of propaganda and information material. It must be guar­ and that neither the Dewan nor the Nawab of Junagadh had anteed that all receiving sets are installed in good time and in secure any authority to negotiate on the matter with India. places." The " agitation cadres " were also charged with " popularis­ The Indian States Ministry announced on Jan. 15 that the ing a plebiscite and the socialisation of the Ruhr," which should be question of the accession of Junagadh and of Babariawad, " used as a common basis for initiating a campaign of demonstrations Mangrol, and other tributary States would be decided by the in connection with the SPD." 44 free expression of the wishes of their people," a referendum Part 4 laid down the following time-table, which could be " altered for this purpose being held in February.—(The Hindu, Madras - according to the situation " : (a) " until the end of December, the Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners' Offices, London - achievement of a common SPD-KPD (Socialist-Communist) basis Times - Manchester Guardian)(Prev.