Egypt's people hai new economic plans A nationwide referendum was held in Egypt on May 15 of this year. It approved what is known as the “working” or “October” document, an action program outlining the main lines of the country’s development. As the » document stresses, “the domin- ant positions” in the economy are given to the state sector. “The state sector helped to achieve a considerable growth in production and carry out mighty projects. Its revenue continued to be used for financing the de- velopment program. The state sector assured the economy’s Stability after the aggression.” It also promoted the economic independence of Egypt which served as a solid basis during the long confrontation with the forces of imperialism and in the struggle against the Israeli ag- gression. Another thing that must not be overlooked is that the- state sector has become an _instrument for overcoming the exploitation of the working sec- tions of the population, a basis for carrying out reforms in their interests. It should be noted that the policy in respect 'to private do- mestic and foreign capital is un- dergoing changes. In May this year the ARE People’s Assembly adopted a law on foreign invest- ments in Egypt. The law extend certain privileges to foreign in- - vestments, guara'ntees them from nationalization, confisca- tion or sequestration, and pro- vides for the establishment of “free zones” for foreign invest- ments. In ‘July the law was passed which envisages return of the sequested land and other property to their former owners, or the relevant compensation which should not exceed 30,000 Egyptian pounds. Credit pledges have been received from a num- ber of capitalist countries, in- cluding the United States, Japan, the FRG and Iran. Egypt also keeps to attract capital from the Arab oil-producing countries. These measures, known as the “open-door policy”, have pro- duced a stir in the press of Egypt and other Arab countries. The reactionary quarters have again begun to entertain hopes for the revision of the basic: principles determining the pro- gressive course of the country. Warning against the unwar- ranted hopes for a “miracle”, the newspaper Al Goumhouria wrote about the serious economic dif- ficulties which could be handled only by the state sector where effective steps are being taken to implement development pro- grams which envisage. the con- struction of large industrial pro- jects, the development of land and the electrification of the country. It was precisely the reliance on the state sector that permitted the Egyptian govern-’ ment to adopt in May this year the decision on increasing the minimum wage from 9 to 12 pounds a month and on exempt- ing the low-paid groups of the population from taxes. Periodically statements by prominent Egyptian leaders in defence of the state sector show that the struggle around the ways of Egypt’s development continues. STARVATION KILLS : BOGOTA — The department of Nutrition of the Institute of Family Wellbeing issued a com- muniqué, published here, which ‘Stated that one hundred children die of starvation every ‘day in Colombia. The agency also said that 45% of all infant mortali- ties under five years were due to malnutrition. Fighter against racism, famed boxer By JIM ARNISON LONDON Len Johnson, Communist fighter against rac- ism and champion boxer on the late ’20s, died last month at age 70 in a hospital near here. During his career he was known throughout, the boxing world as the best middle and light heavyweight never to hold the British title. He beat title holders galore but was never recognized as champion because of bar which operated against Black fighters —a ban which remained until after the war when Dick Turpin became British ' middle-weight champion. Equal Pay © But Len was always conscious of the need for an even more important fight than any he had ‘in the ring. : He fought within the trade union movement for equality of pay and opportunity for Black workers and often stood as a Communist candidate for. elec- tions to Manchaster City Coun- cil in the Moss Side Ward. He was a great personal friend of U.S. Black artist Paul Robe- son and did sterling work among the immigrant community in Manchester during the worid- wide campaign to restore his passport. A former bus and transport driver, Len played a leading role passes away for many years in the Manches- ter trade union movement and always encouraged young people to take their place in the move- ment and to join the Young _Communist League. In the 1950s he waged a suc- cessful campaign to break the color bar operated in some Man- chester area pubs and fought a test case against a landlord who broke the ban on serving Black customers. : He was a founder and secre- tary of Manchester’s New Inter- national Club, which was associ- ated with such famous personal- ities as Jomo Kenyatta, the late President Nkrumah of Ghana, | and West Indian cricket player Learie Constantine. Ts —Morning Star FIGUEROA DEPRIVED OF CHILEAN CITIZENSHIP The Chilean fascist military junta has deprived Luis Figue- roa, President of the outlawed United Confederation of Labor (CUT) of his citizenship. Figue- roa is in Paris and recently took part in several activities de- nouncing fascism in Chile. Pre- viously, the junta had taken similar: decisions with regard to other Chilean patriots, among them Hortensia Bussi, wife of the late President Salvador Al- lende, and journalist Herman Uribe. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1974—Page 8 LONDON — Communist Party national industrial _ organizer Bert Ramelson hit at the social contract and the anger it has caused millions of workers in the three. weeks since the gen- eral election. Speaking at a public meeting in Doncaster, he said he was sure that many union leaders - would respond to workers’ dis- satisfaction with policies. of wage restraint, which is what the social contract really means. More Jobless “It is heartening to witness the much more realistic approach of hundreds of thousands of . workers’ throughout the country and throughout industry who are struggling for wage increases in circumstances of constantly ris- ing prices. (Throughout Britain, truck drivers, railway workers, sewage workers, teachers, auto workers, meat workers — especially in Scotland — are now on strike.) “They demonstrate in action that they realize the social con- tract is the road to needless sacrifices for themselves and a bonanza fer big business,” he said. : “I hope that the trade union peoples’ movement that over- threw fascism will win new vic- tories, the Communist Party of Portugal met here on Oct. 19-20 to hammer out the Party’s poli- cies under the new conditions. The first legal Party congress in 38 years attracted more than one thousand official delegates and more than five thousand in- vited representatives from local party organizations, democratic peoples’ organizations and jour- nalists. Also present at the congress were delegations of the national liberation movements from Gui- nae- Bissau ,(PAIGC), Mozam- bique (FRELIMO) and Angola (MPLA). The congress was consideréd, a major political event in the de- velopment of the new Portugal, since the Communist Party had emerged from the period of fas- cist dictatorship as the strongest and best organized political party. In the opening speech Oct. 19 by Party General Secretary Al- varo Cunhal and in the appeal adopted ‘and issued Oct. 20, the course of democratization in Portugal received clear contours. Hailing the victory over coun- ter-revolutionary attempts on Sept. 28 of this year, Cunhal said LISBON — Confident that the - I Warning to British workers Social cont British construction workers in South London hail victo i after four week strike that won them job continuation gual leaders, many of them on the left, who mistakenly saw in the social contract an easing of the crisis, will now realize that un- - der capitalism, even with a Labour government it could only be to the disadvantage of the workers and a boon to employ- ers, “Its operation would be dis-. . astrous and a setback to the great advances made in turning the trade union and labor move- ment leftward with growing unity between the rank and file and trade union leadership over recent years,” he said. Imposing rigid directives from on top in favor of wage restraint policies will only lead to a return that reaction still has not been unarmed, and continues to hold important positions in the state apparatus. Still Powerful “It has economic power which is used against the process of democratization and decoloniza- tion,” he declared. Pointing out that such a state of affairs cannot remain for long. Cunhal said, “Either monopolies and latifundists will regain poli- tical power and establish a dic- tatorship again, or the demo- cratic forces .will put an end to the economic power of monopol- ists and landlords.” Latifundists are absentee landlords of large landed estates which are general- ly worked by serfs. Need Unity The appeal states, “The ‘fight for democracy must be won poli- tically as well as economically. The consolidation of democratic liberties and establishment of a stable democratic system are -inconceivable without an anti-- monopoly, anti-latifundista pol- icy The Portuguese CP appeal also declared that the Party is pre- pared to discuss, together with the Armed Forces Movement, the Socialist Party, the Demo- cratic Movement and_ other democratic parties and organ- ract must be rejec n _and the government, be jead territories had left the tec ot , ry OC to the ’50s and early be 00 workers had to resort be cial action, said Mr. Ram They had been embittt added, because they 40 had to fight, not only the cases their own unl0 ships. ja Mr. Ramelson hope id trade union leaders W® that “the only way. to enc? support for Labour 1s ee nds age justified wage de wile the membership and MOU movement to influence ole our government to fy the ratlical elements © program. _M ornin§ =e afl izations, the strengthenint vi day-to-day _ cooperation levels. od, ne Ht Since the fascist Te idl its colonial plunder ° of Portugal Party adopted an platform of politica 4 mic activities. This Prt pe! cording to Cunhal, Me oni cluded in the Party's oe Bir ta gram of primary 1) extraordinary platform “4 strengthening — the acid! state; upholding final. economic stability wit cd of ensuring further a progress; and the conta the decolonization pr° It was further pointe® specific peculiarities ne tuguese Revolution, © alliance of the people : Armed Forces Mover created opportunities is oot! ful. realization of. soci : reforms in Portugues ”- il “Portugal’s future “oP apt selves to decide,” the ~, for the Portuguese peor us! said. “Therefore the” ts OW Communist Party ins Ds organization of elect nat Constituent Assembly portil give the people the peel | to express their wi al y ue —_— nt, . = > Unity of- all democratic forces movement and other d in Lisbon, is essential in Portugal, the Arm emocratic parties and organizations as shown in the mass demonstra to the consolidation of democratic advance in Portugal, says the Comm vement, the Socia 1’ ‘ list Party, ™ tio! unis?