NEWS FROM EUROPE

Grey River Argus, 25 June 1925, Page 6

NEWS FROM EUROPE

SERIOUS GERMAN POSITION WILL WORKERS REVOLT? According ti> a speech delivered by Thaelmaun, tlie Communist candidate for the (■ernian Presidency, the German workers will revolt, seize power, and form a (dose union with Russia. Speaking at Berlin the other day, he attacked the Dawes ]>lan. He did not think it could be carried out because the money invested in Germany by American capitalists could not be re. covered from the impoverished Ger. man workers. To meet the obligations imposed by the Dawes plan, Germany would have to export and produce more cheaply. That meant longer hours and lower wages. The German workers would not long tolerate such conditions, and the Dawes plan would collapse when the German workers revolted and seized power in their interests. Thaelmaun added that when the German workers controlled the Republic they would form the closest union with Soviet Russia, and hasten (he coming of the world revolution. Thaelmnnn attacked the League of Nations, characterising it as a capitalistic gang determined to exploit the workers of the world. The Communists would oppose Germany’s entrance into the League, also the se. euritv pact, which was an artifice for guarding the Versailles Treaty .«

1 to rou tlie weaker nations of I I sonic of their territory. Sad Plight of 'Women Workers. Berlin housewives are not spending I much money if they belong to the | working.class. Here is how one woman worker sees the position: I am 62 years old, and am employed by the city as a cleaning woman in in office. 1 earn 14 pfennigs per hour (•’HI), and working 54 hours a week. My Avages are 23 marks and 76 pfennigs (23s 9d). From this 1 have pay taxes, insurance and sick benefits (it two marks ami 77 pfennigs (2s 9(1), thus leaving 21 marks (21s) for Fixing expenses. I am a widow, and have a son at home who is unemployed, and who received no unemployment benefits. We have a room and a kitchen, for which 1 pay 13’ marks per month. My working hours fire from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m. I spend two marks per week on tram far* *. For fuel, food, funeral benefits, rent, union dues and other expenses, 1 p?. 19!. marks, and with the other 1 A marks wc have to buy clothes, repair slier , etc. We simply exist from day io day, and try not to think too much.” Hixty.two years old, going to work every morning at seven, working ~ I hours in the week, and doing her own housework and mending, and living chiefly on potatoes. Some wiseMTe once said: “If the working-class knew how Io save they would get along better. ’ ’ Railway Workers. Strikes still continue to take place en many divisions of the former national railways now under tie Dawes plan management. Up to date, Ihe institution of the Dawes plan has been responsible for the dismissal of three hundred thousand railway workers, and the speeding up of those who have been retained in the service.-*. 54 hours week has been imposed, while the wages of the workers have been cut down to such an extent that the 750,006 railway workers in Germany arc getting lower pay than the already starvation wage average of German workers as a whole. The Arbitration Commission refuses to grant the railway workers any concessions whatever, although the railways are showing huge, profits. Wages are now below the pre.war level, while ireight end passenger rates are mm than in pre-war days. The railway workers demand an effective eight hours day as provided m tlie German constitution. and abolished by the Dawes plan; abolition of the contract system of speeding up workers beyond their endurance; and the abolition of the bonus system. A joint conference of railway unions is set down for June to discuss united action against the Dawes plan railway management . Norway’s White Guard Army. According to a declaration by the Norwegian Labour I’arty there is a I.ii*’(‘ secret army of White Guards in that country, 4000 of which arc m the capital city, Oslo. Anns for this sec ret force are being smuggled and several well-known firms in file arms trade arc said t" be involved in the traffic. Questions put to the GQvcrn. ment by Labour leaders have been onlv vaguclv answered. The Labour Party has addressed a memorandum to the Government demanding the following answers: (1 > Are the authorities aware that all over the country secret nrmed corps :ire being established under the control of private individ uals, designed to be used against the working classes? (2) Are these corps founded with tlie sanction of the Gov. ernment? (3) Js it a fact that the per. son mainly r. sponsible, for the armtt.g of the men is an officer high in the Ministry of Defence? (i) Are the an thorities aware that most of the commanders of these street corps are army officers? Incidentally, it is stat, ed that the Chief of Police at Oslo lias recommended the formation of a Fascist -niard. Whatever is under way. Labour’leaders are taking steps to ’oe prepared for any possible attacks -n the workers. Outlook in Scandinavia. The lockout in Sweden of the workers in five industries, affecting 130,090 employees, lias been called off. A compromise agreement has bet n reached between the officials of the I General Labour Federation and the association of employees. | In Denmark, 50,000 workers arc locked out of the basic industries. In a few days at least 100,000 will be involved. Wage demands made by the workers in cement factories, metal works, sugar and butter_making plants have been refused b ythe employers, despite the fact that the cost of living is going up by leaps and bounds. The outlook is said to be serious. Release of Prisoner. Stanislav Lazutsky, a Communist Deputy in the Polish Parliament, who was on trial at I’rzmysl on a charge of attempting to overthrow the Government of Poland has been acquiftcd. He "as indicted because of a speech he delivered to railroad workers at Przmysl on November 1923. Before his trial it was freely rumoured that he would be sentenced to death. During the trial he was refused the help of counsel. When the trial com. menced, a world-wide demonstration was launched protesting against the . proposed execution of Lanzutsky. Protests poared in from everywhere. Evidently the authorities got cold feet, for Lanzutsky was released.