LONG STRIKE IN ICELAND

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27642, 26 April 1955, Page 13

LONG STRIKE IN ICELAND

Bid To Overthrow Government

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 25. Seven thousand Communist-led strikers from 13 unions have paralysed Iceland, the Reykjavik correspondent of the “News Chronicle” reported today. Ostensibly the strikers want higher wages, longer holidays and other concessions, but in fact their purpose is to overthrow the Government, the correspondent said. The correspondent described the position as at last night as follows: Petrol sdles are controlled. by the strike leaders, who barricaded the main roads, stopping and searching vehicles. The fuel ration issued to doctors and nurses when the strike began on March 17 has now been stopped. Doctors have to travel by bus. They have issued a radio warning that they can only answer urgent calls. Taxis are allowed petrol, the only condition being that they serve the strikers for a specified number of hours.

Reykjavik’s fishing fleet is tied up in port for lack of fuel although Icelanders live mainly on fish. The Post Office staff is not allowed to remove mails from incoming shipping, including diplomatic bags. All aircraft is grounded with the exception of Pan American machines passing through Keflavik. The correspondent said that Iceland’s 120 police appear powerless to prevent the paralysis. Iceland has no railways and it was plain that both the Government—an Agrarian-Conservative coalition —and the 150,000 islanders were being held to ransom.

The. strike, which is the longest in Iceland’s history, was called by Communist leaders of unions without any vote being taken, the correspondent said.

Duststorm In Oklahoma.— The worst duststorm of the year rolled across Oklahoma yesterday as delegates from all over the world gathered in states nearby for the International Arid Lands conference. Meanwhile, delegates from Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Syria, India, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt, and Tunisia gathered in cities Li Arizona and New Mexico to co-ordinate research on Sroblems of the desert.—Oklahoma ity, April 25.