BUDAPEST STRIKE TO CONTINUE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 11

BUDAPEST STRIKE TO CONTINUE

Workers’ Demand For Independence

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 9.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 15. Budapest’s industrial workers, who bitterly fought Soviet tanks and troops, voted today to continue their general strike, Endre Marton, an American Associated Press correspondent, reported from Budapest.

He said that the workers vowed that they would remain on strike until they won their demands for free elections and independence from Moscow.

They insisted, first of all. on the return to office of the former Prime Minister, Mr Imre Nagy, who favoured free elections, freedom from Russian domination and a policy of neutrality for Hungary.

The workers also demanded that Soviet troops leave Hungary as soon as possible “in the interest of friendship with the Soviet Union.”

Marton said that a few hours before the vote, the Soviet Union's choice of Prime Minister for Hungary, Mr Janos Kadar, rejected neutrality, refused to negotiate with Mr Nagy while Mr Nagy remained in the protection of the Jugoslav Embassy, and made

vague responses to the workers’ demands for a free ballot.

Budapest’s Central Council of Workers, representing all industrial workers in the capital, voted to continue the general strike at a meeting in the Budapest Tramway Company building. The session was interrupted, the correspondent said, when two Soviet tanks, three armoured cars, and Russian troops appeared outside. The soldiers stormed in, announcing they had been informed weapons were being distributed.

One worker telephoned Mr Kadar. who apologised and ordered the Russian commander to withdraw his forces.

The resolution adopted by the Council of Workers said they insisted on the right to strike again, if necessary, even if Mr Kadar agreed to the reinst. tement of Mr Nagy and to discuss with the Kremlin leaders the withdrawal of Russian troops from Hungary, Marton reported. Among other things, the workers had called for the exclusion of former security policemen from Hungary’s new police force. Many workers in industrial centres outside Budapest were reported to have joined in backing the resolution. Soviet Takes Factory

While the Workers’ Council was in session, the Russians took over the Budapest factory of Mavag, one of the largest machine factories in Hungary.

Marton said the new Soviet director told the few workers in the factory: “You had better resume work, because we will leave only when a crab climbs the steeple of a church and begins to crow.” The last newspaper in Budapest, the Kadar Government’s “Nep Szabadsag,” ceased publication when the printers joined the general strike. The decision to stop work was taken after three printers were arrested for printing a rebel leaflet. The Russians closed all bridges over the Danube between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today after it was reported that Budapest residents planned new mass demonstrations.

Marton said that Mr Kadar was b e ing snubbed on all side® in his efforts to obtain political support for his government. He and a handful of Communist politicians were living in virtual isolation in the Parliament Building, protected by Russian tanks and troops.