INTERNATIONAL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 17 October 1936, Page 9

INTERNATIONAL NOTES

SPAINSNEUTRALITY ” FAVOURS FASCISTS. (By “Left Wing”) In a stirring call to action in defence of the Spanish Republic,_ the Communist Parties of Great Britain, France and Belgium declare: Four weeks ago Fascist rebels opened civil war in Spain. These rebels, who have risen against the Spanish Government set up by the will of .the peoplebear the heavy responsibility for the events now drenching Spain in blood. Order would already have been re-es-tablished in Spain if the rebels had not been supported from abroad by Hitler and Mussolini, who are both pursuing their plans for war. Following his aggression against Abyssinia, Mussolini wants to secure complete control of the Mediterranean; he wants to put his hands on the Balearic Island and to undermine the strong position held by Britain through Gibraltar. At the same time, Mussolini and Hitler aim at cutting off France from North Africa. The establishment in Spain of a Government taking its orders from Hi'tler and Mussolini would mean the unleashing of a European war. by Fascist 'Germany and Italy. This would mean the submergence of the Central European countries and a Fascist onslaught on Belgium, France and Britain. The people of Spain, who are defending liberty and order, at the same time are defending the peace of the world. No sincere advocate of peace can ignore the criminal acts of Hitler anu Mussolini in arming the rebels, supplying them with airplanes and arms, m defiance of international law thereby committing hostile acts against the Government of Spain, a member of the League of Nations. A “neutrality” which results in imposing a blockade on the Spanish Government' in reality favours the rebels. We demand that the Spanish Government be allowed to obtain its requirements from Britain. France and Belgium, ami that what amounts to economic sanctions should not be imposed against it. We demand that our Government maintain normal relations with the legal Spanish Government. We demand' that t'he material ordered by the Spanish Government to ensure the viretory of order . In’ furnished without any restrictions. We demand that the part of Tangier be opened to warships of I he legal ,‘Spanish Government. We call on all workers and adherents of peace to demand that the Spanish people be no: made the victim of a blockade, which would cripple its heroic struggle. Down w th the Fascist murderers who are shedding the blood of Spain! Long live the international solidarity of the peoples for liberty and peace! Long live the Spanish Republic! The Labour movement of New Zealand faces a grave situation. A tremendous rospoiis bility rests on its shoulders. Spain’s People's Government elected in February with the backing of all Labour and progressive forces is threatened with destruction at the hands of Fascism, brutal enemy of till workers and all democrats. The fate of Madrid hangs in the balance. Why have the Fascists been able to advance so far. in spite of the fact that the overwhelming majority of the Spanish people back their Government? Because they have been armed by the Fascist powers of Germany and I/taly. Because France and' Britain have refused to sell arms to the Spanish Government, the'reby breaking all international laws Sanctions were not fully applied I against Italy when it launched its war of aggression against Abyssinia. Yet the democratic countries tire effective !y applying sanctions against, the Spanish Government, guilty of. no aggression, which is defending democracy against Fascism. Neutrality must be stopped! “The Army in Overalls” ISpain’s Worker Militia, are r;irrrying on their heroic struggle without the arms to which they arc. entitled under 'international law. Pena, Socialist' Asturian leader, told' a delegation of French and Swedish, Socialists on August 30th: “Only one in live of the miners besieging Oviedo have rifles —but a foreign Fascist. ship has just arrived at Corunna with a big supply of arm's for the rebels. . . . If we had amis for the thousands who are ready to take them up we could finish the civil war in a few days.” Alderman D’obbie, former Mayor of York, revealed on October 2nd. that “had' the Government had Heavy Artillery and high Explosives,” the Alcazar at Toledo, vital point in the struggle, could not have lasted two hours. What can we do to stop this position whereby the lives of Spanish workers are being sacrificed because, the Government cannot buy the arms to which it is entitled? We can and must: Demand that our Labour Government address an urgent request to the British Government, to lift the arms embargo on Spain’s Legal Government. We can also call on the Labour Party National Executive to hold a special urgent meeting to consider the most effective means to mobilise support for Spain. We must ao these things in our own interest. Think of the glee of N.Z.’s anti-Labour forces if a progressive Government was overthrown by Fascism and the forces of democracy did not lift a finger to save it. Remember that ill Spain th.! possession <>f a. trade union card is i death warrant should yon lull into tile hands of the Fascists; that’ when Fascists captured Badajoz 1500 workers were hoarded into the bull-ring and mowed down with machine guns; that, a victory for Fascism in Spain would cut Britain off from the Mediterranean and enormously help the drive to world war.”

TROTSKYIST—ZINO VIE VISTS TERRORISTS. The Wellington ” Worker's-Weekly ' ’ special service says:-— London, August 28. —“The Trotsky-ist-ZinovievlsT'~i.errorists were fairly and judicially treated. The courts of anv country in the world would have passed the' death sentence,” declares the famous English barrister and King’s Counselor, D. N. Pritt, in the following cable to-day to the London “News-Chronicle,” protesting against the telegram sent by leaders,of the Labour and Socialist (Second) linternationtil to the Soviet Government: “Greatly shocked to read the telegram of Brouchere and Citrine To the Soviet Government concerning the trial of Zinoviev and others. “I personally attended the trial in Moscow and followed tlhe proceedings carefully, I am satisfied that the ease was properly conducted and the accused fairly and judicially treated. Their appearance and demeanour indicated complete absence of ill-treatment or fear. “They voluntarily renounced counsel and addressed the court freely up* often as they including

final speeches after the State Prosecutor had finished. “I am personally satisfied that there is no ground whatever for insinuating that there was any unfairness. 1 consider the whole procedure and treatment of the prisoners through .the trial as an example to the world. “In a ■case, wlhere prisoners admitted their guilt in a deliberate conspiracy to murder the leaders of the State and overthrow the Government, I think the courts of any country in the world would have passed the death sentence and would have carried it out.” Similar opinions were expressed by three well-known British and American law yers in a cable to the International Committee for Political Prisoners headed by the liberal Roger Baldwin. J. B. KING’S MESSAGE. Before a large audience in Auckland Town Hall on October 4th, J. B. King N.Z. Labour hero recently returned after five years in the Soviet Union, delivered his stirring message. It was an appeal for all progressive forces to close their ranks in a joint struggle for the maintenance of peace and the prevention of Fascism. “We (must uphold democracy,” he declared Ih'e outlineil the amazing industrial progress of the Soviet Union, in which he took a leading part as an organiser of the gold industry. The Soviet Union’s economic advance was on the j basis of planned Social production. / He stressed the Soviet Union’s caim- ; est desire for peace. “Nothing -would , cans the Russians to overstep their t borders in a war of aggrandisement.” i he stated. Nevertheless the .Sovi-.t." ! Union faced a serious threat of armed i attack from Germany and Japan. Tine ; military programme of Fascism was i the biggest threat to world peace. He i was convinced that a peace bloc of j Great Biiain, France and the Soviet | Union would be sufficient to maintain , the peace of the world. At the conclusion of his address the big meeting ; passed a. resolution in favour of the ; People’s Front for the defence of demo- ; cracy and peace. Meetings for J. B. i King are being held in the neighbour | hood of Auckland this week. Intense I interest has been aroused throughout ; the Dominion wherever the news of hi- '■ coining has been announced. In Napier , and Christchurch particularly energe . tic preparations are being pushed lor- ! ward. A representative of the Organis- ! mg Committee in Wellington, inter- \ viewed by a “Weekly”, reporter stated j that it- might, be necessary to cam.’ ; a number of smaller meetings orgma 1 ;■ iy planned owing to file limited t.m. , at the disposal of Air. King but tha: : every effort, would be made to see that i his message of unity in the fight for I peace and democracy was carried as j far .as possible Through the country, i Everywhere the opinion is being , expressed that the visit of .1, B. King . and his companion, “Dido” Miller, also j a New Zealand Labour veteran, will mark a 'big landmark in the history of 'working-class unity here.

MAX RISKE. C. G. Watson writes in the “Worker’s Weekly”. Eighteen mouths ago in N.Z. Congress of Friendship to the Soviet Union. Max .Riske, (who visited Russia) asked the delegates to stand in solemn silence in memory of Kirov,great Soviet leader, murdered in Leningrad by a' follower of Trotsky. To-day he is making use of tile columns of “N.Z. Truth” to attack the Soviet Union and defend the assassins of K'.rov. If Max Riske can sink so in eighteen months, why should he be surprised at the degeneration of Zinoviev and Kamenev over a period of eighteen years which led finally to their execution as self-confessed' murderers?

FOOLISH ATTACK. There was a foolish attack on the Communist Party ou the Editorial Page in the' “Standard” for September 30th. At a time when the Communists <iie doing' everything xu their power to close the split in th? Labour movement by applying for affiliation to the N.Z. Labour Party, such an attack is not only foolish but dangerous. Most of the material for this attack is taken from the Australian “Labour Daily”. organ of the notorious “Inner Group” of the N.S.AV. Labour Party, which is splitting the Party right and left with wholesale expulsions and disaffiliations :n order to maintain its bureaucratic hold. Take a typical sentence: “Running true to form, the Communists. after having remained underground during the regime of fho anti-I.about Govt’roment in New Zealand, have been conducting an In-easant white-anting campaign again.-t the present Labom Government.” What a despicable he! Thousands of workers will never forget the part played by the Communist, Party in the fight, against. Coates and I-’orbes. Against, “an incessant ■white, anting campaign against the preseut Labour Government.” What.' evidence? From the very beginning the Communist Party has made clear its readiness to defend the Government against all attack of reaction.