Russian Defence Of Slave Labour System

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1949, Page 4

Russian Defence Of Slave Labour System

GENEVA, Wed. (11.30 a.m.). —Countering Britain’s demand for a United Nations investigation on conditions of “more than 10,000,000 victims of slave labour,” the Soviet delegate to the Economic and Social Council accused the British delegate of trying to discredit the Soviet Union in a hostile, slandeious campaign.”

Russia made a counter-proposal that a comprehensive trade union commission should investigate forced labour on a world-wide scale. The council was debating a resolution to set up a commission to investigate forced labour in member nations. Charges were brought by the American Federation of Labour, directed primarily against Russia. In making his demand for an investigation of forced labour in Russia, the British delegate (Mr Corley Smith) said: “Today we are dealing with a new slavery, organised on a mass-production basis and in violation of fundamental human rights. “We believe this new form of slavery is extensively practised in Russia.” MILLIONS FLEE WESTWARDS Mr Smith said forced-labour camps were spreading to eastern European democracies, causing millions to flee westward. • Mr Smith said: “This is visible proof that the popular democracies are as unpopular as they are undemocratic. “Otherwise, why would workers flee a workers’ paradise?” Mr Smith said it was hard to give accurate figures of this “widespread and dreadful system,” but the best information showed there were more than 10,000,000 victims.

Dr Amazask Arutiunian (Russia) said it was impossible to treat Britain’s demand for a commission in a “businesslike manner.” The British delegate was only trying to discredit the Soviet Union in a hostile, slanderous campaign. Dr Arutiunian said forced labour existed in many countries. Britain, in particular, made no effort to abolish it in her own territories. “MOST HUMANE” The British Labour Government’s policy towards the working classes was demonstrated by "monstrous police measures” against trade unions. Russia’s Czars would never have dared to employ such methods. Britain’s large capitalists were the only group satisfied with the Labour Government. Russia’s penal system was the "most humane in the world.” Dr Arutiunian claimed that the Russians’ penal policy is a progressive one of the corrective labour type.” . Dr Arutiunian continued: “Its aim is not only punishment, but also reeducation to enable prisoners to return to the society of workers.” Dr Arutiunian ended a fiery 90-min-ute speech with the surprise counterproposal that a comprehensive trade union commission should investigate forced labour on a world-wide scale. The American delegate (Mr Williard Thorp) followed the Russians’ proposal by urging a joint inquiry commission nominated by the council and International Labour Organisation.