INTERNATIONAL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1938, Page 10

INTERNATIONAL NOTES

THE NON-POLITICAL NAZI. [Contributed by ‘‘Left Wing.”] A few points about Count Von Luckner, who is only here on a “goodwill” mission concerning his yacht. He has on board powerful transmitting and receiving sets, a tremendous number of films portraying life in Nazi Germany, boxes full of German newspapers and an expert camera man. This man who has the latest photographic apparatus is going round photographing scenes all over the country, sealing up the negatives and sending them home to be developed. The count says that he is doing this so that he can be publicity agent for New Zealand when he gets home again. His interest in the welfare of the country is overwhelming. He has often stated in his explanations to reporters that he knows nothing about Germany, but at the same time cases of German newspapers and other publications arrive for him, frequently from there, as well as cases of table delicacies (bottle and otherwise). Von Luckner’s ship is a real wealthy man’s yacht, and as far as that goes he has not much need to be interested in the “politics” as long as the Nazi flag is there flying at the mast head, protecting his position and the sanctity of the Von Luckner monogram emblazoned on the stern. With regard to the statement made that he had not been in Germany for about nine years, someone has blundered badly here, because, on the count’s own admission, he left Hamburg, the home of Andre and Thaelmann, at the beginning of this trip less than a year ago. In dealing with returned soldiers he makes use of the fraternal spirit that exists to-day towards old enemies. This is quite a good spirit but it must be pointed out to these comrades that he is an enemy still, not of the N.Z. returned men alone, but of the whole of the working class and democracy. Even with the returned men, his colossal conceit and the ridicule that he pours on the attempts of the N.Zmilitary to hold hirii in this country has made some of them a bit sore. We have a few victories to record in regard to this Fascist agent, as he was termed by the trade union movement of this country. He was refused a civic reception by the Labour City Council of Auckland, in line with resolutions passed by trade unions in this town, and we believe he has been refused permission to show films in this country, as he also was refused in Samoa. The trade union and Labour movements of this country do not want Von Luckner, but they have not said so sufficiently strongly yet. We must not shut our eyes to the dangers of these people in our miast, but urge on and strengthen the Labour movement to take firm steps with them. Let our slogan be: “No Nazi agents in New Zealand.”—J. Locker N.Z. LABOUR FEDERATION, s TO HELP SPAIN AND CHINA. After exposing the true nature of Hitler and the visit of the Fascist adventurer, Count Von Luckner, the President of the Labour Federation (Mr. A. McLagan), when presenting the annual report, on behalf of the Executive, said:-— “A further effective method of replying to Von Luckner’s visit is to increase our efforts to raise support for the peoples of Spain and China in their fight against Fascism. Your National Council has interviewed Mr. Savage and his fellow Ministers and has urged that the Labour Government endeavour to get the British Government to support collective action of the democratic States under the auspices of the League of Nations in defence of any people attacked by the Fascists, and we received a favourable reply. We also discussed the boycott of Japanese goods, and here again we were in agreement. Your National Council recommends this Conference, the Trades Councils and affiliations and members generally to redouble their efforts to collect funds for the Spanish and Chinese peoples, and to intensify the boycott of the purchase of Japanese goods in New Zealand.” CAPITALIST PRESS DISTORTION “NEWS” FROM MOSCOW. A, Soviet report anent Trotskyist wrecking in the Northern Sea Route Administration provided the local capitalist press with a new handle for its villainous slanders. This time it centred around Prof. Otto Schmidt. The Moscow cable Stated that, due to wrecking activities, some 800 lives had become endangered in the Arctic. Leaders of the Northern Sea Route Administration, including Schmidt, were criticised for lack of vigilance. But the press scribes here twisted it round to read that Schmidt himself / was being charged with Trotskyist sabotage. And they headed it “from Moscow.” HERRING DUMPED. Over 100 baskets of net herring secured at Ballantrae Banks were dumped at Girvan. This means a big loss to several Girvan fishermen who depend mainly on this time of the year for their livelihood. The glut was caused by big fishings at Ayr. ANTI-NAZI DIES IN HITLER CAMP. Hans Litten, famous Berlin civil liberties attorney, who was arrested by the Nazis during the gory night pf the Reichstag fire, died a few days I ago in Dachau concentration camp, after almost five years of imprisonment, it was learned recently.

Nazi Chancellor Adolf Hitler considered him as a personal foe, and each time Litten’s term of sentence was up during the past two years, personally Intervened to prevent his liberation. Litten defended Communists, Socialists and trade unionists against the Nazis in numerous trials before Hitler took power. In one trial he. attacked Hitler, who has been compelled to take the stand personally as a witness. During his five years’ imprisonment Litten was repeatedly tortured and beaten.

Some months ago his aged mother, under Nazi pressure wrote to the Communist newspaper in Prague, "Duetsche Volkszeitung,” that she had visited her son at Dachau and found him well. The Nazis forced her Io write that Litten wanted the "Deutsche Volkszeitung to stop printing reports of his

mistreatment, as he was in good health. CHILDREN KILLED IN SPAIN. LONDON. According to an official statement from Barcelona, child victims of rebel air raids and bombardments in loyalist Spain totalled 10,709 killed and 15,230 wounded from July, 1938, to March, 1938.—(“Evening Post.”) APPALLING CONDITIONS IN FASCIST ITALY. From data gleaned from official Government sources, another appalling drop in the Italian standard ol living has been recorded (says the “Workers’ Weekly”). Flour consumption dropped 15 per cent, in 1936 from the 1930 figure, while in the case of other foodstuffs where the percentage wasn’t as great, the effect was worse because there was no room to come and go on. Thus, the consumption of meat, which was 47 pounds in 1930, was down to 40 by the latter year, while there are evidences that the real figure should be slightly over 23 pounds—much less than half a pound per week per i person. Sugar consumption now only averages 162 pounds; fruit, always a major article in the Italian diet, has dwindled from 90 pounds in 1930 to 70 in 1936. It would be monotonous to publish further figures—they all tell the same tale. Enough to state that beer consumption has lessened 70 per cent, and not because of any temperance campaign but because of the Ethiopian and Spanish campaigns.

It is necessary to bear in mind that all these figures would show a further sharp drop if the consumption by tourists were subtractedAnd as far as the mass of the population goes, further allowance must be made for the fact that they bear the full brunt of the reductions —the upper caste in Italy has been coining money and has felt no need to economise on foodstuffs.

The Mussolini regime would be like the Leaning Tower of Pisa if the weight at the top were constantly increased at the same time as its foundations were being constantly whittled away. Fascist economy has reached such a desperate pitch that pro-Fascist circles in Great Britain have come forward to save it. That is the mainspring of Chamberlain’s v .present policy. COLOUR BAR IN AFRICA. One of the most noticeable applications of the colour bar in South Africa is in the field of education. As in the South of the United States of America, there is a rigid separation of European . and non-European students in the schools of the country. Not only is this so. but the various types of non-Europeans are largely separated from one another In the city of Durban, for example in addition to the European high schools there are three separate schools for noh-'Europenns, one for Indians, one for Bantu and one fc.i "coloured" pupils, that is, those of

nixed race. Occasionally one or two of these groups are combined. Sometimes the Indian and “coloured students have a single high school between them. Occasionally, the “coloured” students attend a Bantu high school. In Durban there is a Government hospital for Bantu and Indians, while “coloured” patients occupy a separate ward at the European hospital. In no case, however, do we find European and non-European pupils sitting on the same school “benches There was a time when certain outstanding Bantu institutions, such as Lovedale, carried a certain number o’ European students. In fact, a former Chief Justice and Acting-Governor General received his education at Lovedale Institution. Exceptions of this kind are no longer found. Boycott of Japanese Goods at Hongkong.—Japanese imports into Hongkong have'’ dropped 50 per cent, in six n ohths as a result of the boycott. For the first quarter of 1931 they totalled approximately £980.000; for the second quarter they were £398,000. Sweden Collects .15,000 Kroner for China. —There are now 70 local Aid China organisations in Sweden reports the Stockholm Central Aid China Committee and over 15,000 kroner has already been collected. Large consignments of foodstuffs and medical supplies have been sent over

Paris. Socialists and Communists together urge Japanese Boycott.—A call to boycott Japanese goods has come from the joint compiittec of Socialists and Communists in the Paris district In a resolution adopted at their meeting they urge the French people to refuse to buy Japanese goods and to keep a careful check on all raw material such as petrol, nickel, heavy oil and minerals which the Fascist dictatorship uses in its war preparations. They further urge an embargo on all war materials destined for Japan. United States Notabilities Urge Boycott of Japanese Goods.—ln a broad progressive appeal issued by the Committee for the Boycott Against Japanese Aggression, United States people are urged to boycott Japanese goods, especially silk. Over 150 notabilities have signed the appeal, mostly national leaders, such as Senators, Congressmen, Professors, Government officials and heads of civic, cultural, religious and libera organisations. Signatories include William Dodd, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Senator Noris and Mrs. Ulysses Simpson Grant. Soviet Russia and China.—The new Soviet Ambassador, M. Lugauets Orlecky, presented his credentials to the Chinese President on January 24th. at Chengking. More important than the ceremony itself is the message which he brought to the Chinese people on that occasion and which he delivered before the actual rites nf crepitation. He said:— “I am a proud bearer of an important and urgent message which I wish| to deliver before anything else. The ; U.S.S.R. has the utmost sympathy towards her friendly neighbour, China, and wants to see her emerge victorious in the present struggle for the preservation of her existence and independence." Soviet Russia wants to see China

/o emerge victorious in the present e- struggle, and no doubt she will help 1” China to achieve it. e'1- UNEMPLOYMENT IN FRANCE. ;h ■ v- PARIS, February 26. a- For the week ending February 19. the number of unemployed registered o in France was 409,770, which is six fewer than for the preceding week, id For the corresponding period of last Is year there were 415,580 unemployed, ■s There is thus a reduction of 5810 as t- compared with 1937. ■>? PLAN FOR SOVIET LIGHT V INDUSTRY. >r at MOSCOW, February 26. >f In comparison with 1937. Soviet light industry is to increase its production by-13 per cent., in accordance ?- with the' Soviet Government’s 1938 n plan, which will mean a still further t. improved standard of living for the ■y Soviet people. ir During the second five-year plan e production in light industry has almost doubled. r il BOYCOTT OF JAPANESE 1 GOODS. d >0 SYDNEY. 1. It has been stated by authoritative d trading sources that the boycott of! - Japanese goods is 36 per cent, effec-] i- tive. A number of stores are said to [I be clearing out their Japanese stocks, e All workers and middle-class people I ,s should intensify their efforts to make the boycott more successful and not - rest until it is 100 per cent, effective, o o ANTI-LYNCHING BILL. y WASHINGTON, February 26. 't The anti-lynching bill which has ... been discussed for the past 29 days 0 was discarded yesterday by the United r States Senate by a 58 to 22 vote. e GRANTS FOR ADOPTING a SPANISH CHILDREN. v ( BRUSSELS, February 26. d The Belgian Government has de- < cided to grant financial aid to families r who have adopted or are caring for Spanish children. All State aid bus reaux have been instructed by the , Minister of Labour and Social Well'- fare to allocate monies to families _ concerned. r YOUTH FILES ITS PROTEST. j The Labour Party League of Youth v at Portsmouth—in a telegram typical ._ of thousands being sent by youth ore ganisations all over the country—de- ( clared its conviction that—- , “This country is being led headlong “ into a disastrous war," and wired to 1 the Tory M.P. for Portsmouth Central I as follows: "Urgently request stop support of Chamberlain Pact, with Fascism—Remember Guernica." To the National Council of Labour 1 they wired: “Urge united action to J defeat National Government."