Says Stalin Unmasked Warmongering Campaign

Northern Advocate, 7 November 1946, Page 5

Says Stalin Unmasked Warmongering Campaign

(Rec. 12.20 p.m.)

“Carrying out of the peace programme has met resistance organised by reactionary elements in a number of states—in the first place in Britain and America,” declared the secre-tary-general of the central committee of the Communist Party (M. Zhdanov) speaking at an October Revolution anniversary meeting in Moscow. Reuter’s correspondent says M. Zhdanov, in Stalin’s absence, gave the impression that he was speaking on the highest authority.

M. Zhdanov added: “There is also a tendency to go back on all joint declarations made by the Allies not so long ago, thereby undermining Big Power cooperation.

“Lately the Soviet Union, as a focus for the democratic forces of the world, has been the target of greatly expanded slander and propaganda by those for whom war is a profitable business and who are afraid of the rising forces of democracy. “The blood of our people was not shed for imperialist expansionists and pretenders to world domination —for atom blackmailers. We must consider the interests, not only of our Allies, but also nations who have thrown off the yoke of Fascism and entered the way of democracy. “The powers of democracy are gaining ground, not only in those countries which were democratic before the war, but also in those which followed Hitler.

“The Labour victory in Britain was a sign to the Left; the same thing can be observed in France and in the colonies.

"Marshal Stalin unmasked a warmongering campaign and showed that the Soviet Union cannot -be frightened by threats of a new war.” M. Zhdanov continued: “M. Molotov’s proposal to curtail armaments is the most important step in the cause of peace. The Soviet Union thus acts as initiator in the struggle for peace.” M. Zhdanov declared that two tendencies were apparent at the Paris Conference. “One, the Soviet Union’s determination to carry out the principles of the United Nations; the other to disrupt international cooperation. This was accompanied by antiSoviet propaganda and threats of a new war.”

The meeting sent greetings to Marshal Stalin, whose apparent absence, says the Associated Press correspondent. was not explained.

M. Zhdanov repeatedly quoted Stalin, and the audience applauded every reference to him. Warning Russians that their recovery could not be accomplished with-

LONDON, Nov. 6.

out sacrifices, Iff. Zhdanov contrasted the smoothness of the Russian recovery with “grave economic and political crises which have attended the postwar period in Britain and America, although both countries were not occupied during the war.” M. Zhdanov repeatedly stated that Russians had no fear of unemployment and added that there were more than 3,000,000 unemployedd in the United States, where industrial production in 1946 was more than 33 per cent, below that in 1943.

M. Zhdanov declared that the output of industrial and consumer goods in Russia in the first three-quarters of 1946 rose 19 per cent, compared with the corresponding period of 1945. Calling for a greater effort by workers, he stressed the necessity for a lower cost of production of consumer goods and the supply of urgently needed machinery. He promised that foed rationing would be abolished in 1947, and explained that a drought had caused postponement of abolition this year.

M. Zhdanov declared: “We are confident that lasting peace and security will be successfully achieved in the end, despite whatever forces at present are resisting its establishment. Forces working for peace daily grow more organised and more powerful.” An Order of the Day, which Reuter’s states was issued on behalf of Marshal Stalin by the < Vice-Minister of Defence (General Bulganin) on the occasion of the anniversary of the Russian revolution, said:

“The might of the Soviet Union and the superiority of her social structure makes it sure that all tasks will be fulfilled.

“The absence of any threat of war should not engender complacency. Constant battle readiness of the Red Army and Navy is a pledge for the security of our country and stable peace throughout the world. “Having fulfilled a great historic mission in the cause of destruction of Fascism, the Soviet Union mow consistently is striving for a stable, democratic peace throughout the world, for the security of nations and honest collaboration among nations. “It may be hoped that a just, democratic peace will be ensured, despite opposition of international reactionaries and enemies of peace.” The order concluded: “Long live the great Stalin.” The order was signed by General Gulganin.