ore than sirty years ago the
tepresentatives of the work-
ers’ parties of various countries
declared the First of May to: be
4 day of labor and brotherhood.
he people who labor knew the...
future was theirs.
An old Russian poet said:

No matter how cruel the ex-
Perience you are subjected to,
What can withstand the first
- breath of Spring?
. The working people were sub-
Jected to the bitterest experi-
€nees. Winter still covered :the
farth. Their spokesman knew,
€ven then, that neither the St.
&tersburg gendarmes, the Prus-
Slan generals, the French bank-
he hor the Mississippi slave-
olders would conquer, but those
Who work, struggle and think.
ton othing brings people closer
®Sether better than labor. The
iy who makes things, builds
Cities or tills the land, cannot,
°V@ war. If we ponder over the
res of history we will see that
8 glorified rascals and para-
‘ad Importunate gamblers .and
Brees: professional liars and
a atds who have put their trust
-) Military attacks. For those
fe or there is nothing more
“etul than war. It destroys the
gs created by inspiration
t 1, murders the future —
ey youth, infants and children
and disperses peoples.
spruttanity remembers. the
murke of 1945, the end of the
soldi the first quiet night, the
er's dream of peacefulness, |
a of life. Eight years have
; aoe ne time and the
eo know
Many ted ple have known
ee year, spring came with
ehin Irth of a new hope, heart-
ed shes Peoples. On the tortur-
Wound of Korea transports bear
War ans and sick prisoners of
their “e! are now living through
- tst hours of freedom. The
and Ke posals of the Chinese
the rosy et. Soverninents led to
talk, ™Ption of the armistice

one this spring is linked not
munjo 1th the new talks in Pan-
Yepre m. The declaration of the
Rovers watives of the Soviet
dissgracent that all questions of
Peaces ‘ment can be settled by
ul theans, was approved
Welcomed by the people.

clearly poviet government said
erate yi at it is ready to coop-
oth ith the governments of
Preserve” Countries in order to
eartil € world peace, People
Lerye, Support this statement.
Mono] ne understands that if
for gie4eS continue the time
r nt °8ues will come. For the
Rtiation, talks are not only ne-
Pose th S- Discussions presup-
© goodwill of all partici-

* ie

=

TOPE

By ILYA EHRENBURG

pants, a desire not to talk, but
to agree,

If an armisticé is possible in
the hot war which now lacerates
Korea then everyone can see
that an armistice in the cold
war which is ruining all peo-
ples, is also possible — an ar-
mistice which must be followed
by peace.

Why are the newspapers in
the five corners of the earth,
and all the long and short radio
waves filled with discussions of
the Soviet proposals? Why do
people speak of them with hope
in the British House of Commons,
the departments of Paris factor-
ies and on the farms of Michi-
gan? :

Surely because all honest peo-
ple in Britain, France and the
U.S. are sick of the cold war, of
the ceaseless question as to
where and when the first atomic
bomb will fall, of the theatrical
boasts about death-dealing wea-
pons, of soul-corroding lies, the

propaganda of hate, incitements
of “holy wars,” calls to liberate
certain countries from their own
people, and false “Christian”
teachings about the need to de-
stroy a “godless system” —
teachings in which even the
deafest ear can distinguish the
ominous growl of the stock ex-
change.

The Congress of Peoples at the
end of last year voiced the feel-
ings not only of those present,
not only of the hundreds of mil-
lions who sent delegates, but.
of literally all working people
when it said: “Enough destruc-
tion of cities and countries!
Enough stockpiling of deadly
weapons! Enough of the cult of
hatred and calls to war! It is
time to start negotiations, time
to come to an agreement!”

The cold war ruins the work-
ing people. Because, of it, the
homes of the poor are chilly.
The cold war prevents people
from building schools, hospitals
and houses. It creates- distrust
of tomorrow, casts a dark

shadow on the cradle and pois-
ons the best time of man—ycuth.

The cold war helps to enslave
peoples, restricts their sovereign-
ty and turns their fields into
foreign air bases.

The cold war prevents nor-
mal trade and cultural exchanges
between states. It is like a block-
age of the veins, fatal to the or-
ganism.

That is why people greeted
with such hope the declaration
of the Soviet government about
the necessity of mutual under-
standing and peaceful settle-
ments of all disputed questions.
e

There are, of course, enemies
of agreement. For them spring
is not spring.

First news of the talks in
Korea caused a sharp drop in
some shares. For the owners
of factories which manufacture
bombers’ or bombs, peace is
ruination. For those journalists
who stuff their hands into slan-
der and propaganda for military
attacks, the end of the cold war

is the greatest misfortune. For
politicians who hope for un-
heard-of bloodletting to change
the course of history, the peace-
ful coexistence of different sys-
tems is catastrophe.

All these gentlemen — stock
exchange speculators, libellers
and would-be Napoleons, did not
dare openly to refuse negotia-
tions. They shout about their
love of peace — and at the same
time do all they can by the use
of lies, provocations, threats and
crudities to make negotiations
impossible.

They are not so numerous, but
they have many newspapers and
radio stations. Their voice is
heard too loudly. I will not quote
their articles or commentaries,
which exude slander, evil thou-
ghts and the fear of peace. No
one takes their voice to be the
voice of. the people.

One political figure in Britain
recently reminded us of the say-
ing, common in many countries,
“One swallow does not make a
summer.” That is true. But one
swallow does not make a winter
either. One swallow is but the
first. Behind it many others
come flying.

e

I know that it is not easy for
people to compel certain goy-
ernments to refrain from force
and to agree to the peaceful set-
tlement of disputes.

We are rightfully proud of the
honor which lies upon the gov-
ernment of the state in which
there are no shareholders in
uranium ore, and no politicians
dreaming about subjecting the
whole world to themselves.
There is nothing surprising in
the fact that the call to peace
comes from the country where
labor has triumphed. The Soviet
people have spoken distinctly. ...

We have confidence in the
mind and conscience of the peo-
ples. This spring is, for them as
for us, a spring of hope. Certain-
ly snow sometimes falls in May.
There - will be the unavoidable
frosts. But history has its way,
like nature.

The first days of spring can
never be mistaken for Indian
summer. And if it is difficult
to respond to this or that policy
of this or that country, or to say
in advance how many obstacles
still stand in the path of peace,
one thing is sure: the fraternal
hand of the Soviet people has
wrought many changes. Not long
ago “hopeless” was the word
most often used in the West.
Now linotypers everywhere are
setting the word which is as
warm, green and bright as May
itself—““Hope.”

@ Condensed from an article
written for the May Day is-
sue of Pravda, Soviet Com-
munist party paper.

Received to June 3: $3,740.00

SEND YOUR DONATIONS TO:
LPP PROVINCIAL ELECTION FUND, ROOM 502, FORD BUILDING, 193 EAST HASTINGS, VANCOUVER 4, B.C.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — JUNE 5, 1953 — PAGE 9

é
&

wae

Kaas

eS aga