Anti-communist clause dropped

WINNIPEG — Delegates to
the Manitoba Federation of
Labor convention voted to re-
move the anti-Communist clause
from the federation’s constitu-
tion, thus “bringing it into line
with recent amendments to the
constitutions of the Canadian
Labor Congress and the Winni-
peg &. District Labor. Council.
The resolution, submitted by the
Carpenters & Joiners, Local 343,
received the endorsation of the
Constitution Committee and
passed with no opposition.

This year’s convention saw a
strengthening of organized la-
bor’s independent position on
policy matters which brought it
into opposiiton to the policies of
the NDP government of this
province. This was reflected in
the call by MFL President Len
Stevens on Premier Schreyer to
remove the regressive 5% sales
tax and the sharp reaction to
the minister of labor’s “advice”
to the trade union movement

that strikes have become out-
dated. (See story by Bruce Mag-
nuson in last week’s issue.) It
was expressed sharply in the
resolution adopted by the con-
vention that “the Manitoba Fed-
eration of Labor make stronger
presentation to Premier Schrey-
er and his cabinet not to bring
about price and wage controls
for Manitobans.”

Speaking in the debate on the
resolution Bernard Christophe of
the Retail Store Employees
Union pointed out that Premier
Schreyer had indicated on a
couple of occasions that the
government was _ considering
wage and price controls and
“that’s the signal for us to take
a strong stand against it.’ Such
controls, Mr. Christophe said,
“only ensure that the poor stay
poor and the rich stay rich.”

Other resolutions put the con-
vention on record as favoring
the development - of secondary
industries in Canada; that - all

natural resources be put under
the control of the Canadian peo-
ple; that power grids run east
and west to distribute our ener-
gy to develop these resources;
that the MFL support the boy-
cott ef the United Farm Work-
ers and pressure the Canadian
and provincial governments to
direct all their purchasing agen-
cies to stop buying all U.S.-
grown lettuce and grapes not
picked by the UFW.

The director of the women’s
bureau of the provincial depart-
ment of labor told the delegates
that unions were doing a poor
job in organizing women work-
ers and in eliminating discrimin-
atory wage rates. Nearly 40%
of the province’s labor force are
women who need the organiza-
tion that unions can provide,
she said. But, there is not a
single woman on the MFL exec-

utive and there are few women-

holding top positions in union
locals.

guaran-

appropriate

ensuring security

llective effort is di:

es noisoning the
ESeoare and heigh-
ternational tension.
nue to make absurd
d ms on the Soviet
kes the eye is. to-
ahs les in the
oh, Bee the Chinese
ey say that they are
socialism and peace-
tence, but in fact they
Of their way to" under-
Minternational positions
the vitalization of the
military blocs and
bnomic groups of capi-

. »peal

cisions of Oct. 22 and
i withdrawal of Isra-
from the occupied
‘It supports the ad-
of European secur-
ity urges that in Asia
H&forts be made toward
kent of a system of
@ security in the Ban-
The atmosphere of

thould be used to end
‘race, and finally to
ersal and ‘full dis-

or

ht years public opinion
Mme a tremendous new
world affairs, and the

(@® adopted a document
‘My action in the future.
il] organizations, parties
ements to continue

in the spirit of coope-
lalogue and concerted

lat characterized this

durable peace—Brezhnev

Touching upon the develop-
ment of relations between the
USSR and the USA, Mr. Brezh-
nev pointed out that the Soviet
Union is faithfully fulfilling its
obligations under the Soviet-
U.S. treaties and agreements
and intends to continue to do so
in future. Naturally, we expect
the other side to do likewise, he
said,

On the situation in Europe,
the Soviet leader pointed out
that maintenance of peace in
the continent has in substance
become an imperative necessity,
and the utmost development of
diverse peaceful cooperation
among the European states the
only really sensible solution.

Arms Limitation

Mr. Brezhnev expressed the
hope that the political founda-
tion worked out at the European
Conference, and the day-to-day
peaceful cooperation, will be
supplemented and_ reinforced
with measures aimed at achiev-
ing a military detente in the
continent.

He noted that the standards
of peaceful coexistence and
peaceful cooperation should pre-
vail in Europe and Africa, and

- in South and North America.

Speaking of the arms limita-
tion talks, the general secretary
stressed that a sincere desire to
check the arms race, reinforced
by mutual restraint, and not
new military programs are need-
ed for success. The process of
limiting and arresting the arms
race, like the process of detente,
should spread ever wider, in-
volving new states and areas of
the globe.

Tragedy of Chile

The tragedy of Chile has
echoed with a pang in the hearts
of millions of people, in diverse
sections of democratic opinion
in all countries, Mr. Brezhnev
said, The name of Salvador Al-
lende, the names of other heroes
of that country, who gave up
their lives for the sake of free-
dom and peace, will always be
remembered by us. Behind the
Chilean tragedy stand home and
foreign reactionaries who are
ready to commit any crime in
order to restore their privileges,
contrary to the clearly and free-
ly expressed will of the people.

Lonid Brezhnev described as
-hypocritical the campaign being

conducted in the West in “de-

fence of human rights” in the
Socialist countries. Let us call
a spade a spade, he said.

With all the talk of freedom
and democracy and human
rights this whole campaign
serves one purpose: to cover up
the attempts to meddle in the
internal affairs of the socialist
countries.

We have no reason to -shun
any serious discussion of human
rights, the general secretary
pointed out. Our revolution, the
victory of socialism in our coun-
try not only. proclaimed, but
have in effect secured the rights
of the working man of any na-
tionality, the rights of millions
of working people, in a way
capitalism has been unable to
do in any country of the world.

100,000,000 Unemployed

From the bourgeois point of
view such human rights as the
right to work, education, social
security, free medical aid, rest
and leisure, and the like, may be
something secondary or even
unacceptable. Just one figure:
Nearly a hundred million people
are at present. unemployed in

the non- socialist countries.
Many capitalist states infringe
upon the rights of national min-
orities and foreign workers, and
the right of women to equal pay
for equal work. This is probably
why many Western powers have
not yet subscribed to interna-
tional covenants establishing
the social and political rights of
man.

The general secretary ex-
pressed conviction that the prin-
ciples of peaceful coexistence
are now coming to the forefront
of the struggle to strengthen
peace. i

First and foremost, this means
cooperation ‘in settling the still
existing armed conflicts on a
just basis.

This means creating a collec-
tive security system in Europe
and Asia which would make it
possible gradually to eliminate
the present division of the world
into military and political blocs.

This means ending the race of

nuclear and other armements’

through honest observance by

the states of freely accepted”

commitments and — this is és-

pecially topical — involvement
of all the major countries in this
process. This would. mark the
beginning of a gradual reduction
of the material basis for a mili-
tary confrontation.

This means the development
of economic, scientific, techni-
ca} and cultural cooperation
based on complete equality and
mutual advantage without. any
discrimination and without at-
temps to interfere in the inter-
nal affairs of each other.

’ The long years of cold: war,
Leonid Brezhnev noted, have
left an imprint on the minds,
not only of professional politi-
cians, of prejudice and suspi-
cion, and poor knowledge —
even a reluctance to acquire
knowledge — of the real posi-
tions and possibilities of others.

And it is not at-all easy to
turn over a new leaf.

But this has to be done; it is
essential to learn to cooperate.

The Soviet people were and
remain in the forefront of the
struggle for the interests of
mankind, Mr. Brezhnev said in
conclusion. |

Boycott Chile junta Congress call —

By BORIS KOROLYOV
Moscow (APN)—It was with

‘pain and wrath that Chile, the

Chile of Salvador Allende and
Pablo Neruda, addressed the
peoples of the world from the
rostrum of the Kremlin Palace
of Congresses.

A wonderful and courageous

‘woman from a wonderful and

courageous country spoke about
the tragedy of her people.
Hortensia Allende’s grief, mul-
tiplied by the brief of the tens
of millions of Chileans, was
shared by 3,200 delegates from
144 countries. The World Con-

gress of Peace Forces stated its .

solidarity with the heroic Chi-
lean people who had fallen. vic-
tim to the outrageous fascist
coup. It was three years ago
that the miners, peasants and

‘fishermen of Chile entered the

Moneda Palace together with
Salvador Allende. It happened
because Salvador Allende was a
president of the people, a presi-
dent for the people, a president
elected by the people.

His last address to the people
of Chile was. broken off by rock-
ets which struck at the Magal-
lanes radio station. Chile was
not destined to hear it to the
end, But today his address re-
sounded in the Kremlin Palace
and it was heard -all over the
world. The tape with President
Allende’s last speech was brought:
~to Moscow by his widow.

This speech is a call for strug-
gle. This revolutionary and and
democrat, whom Leonid Brezh-
nev called one of the most pure-
hearted and noblest leaders of
our time, addressing the nation
in the last hour of his life, ex-
pressed his firm belief in the
victory of the forces of national
independence and social —pro-
gress.

He wished to attend the Con-
gress of Peace Forces. And the
Congress declared:- “Salvador
Allende is with us, his ideals are
with us, the aims of the indefa-
tigable fighter for peace are our
aims.” The .country which dur-
ing the three years of the leader-
ship of the Popular Unity. Gov-

ernment traversed a road equal
to decades, does not leave Al-

‘lende to past history. He lives in

the deeds and struggle of pa-
triots. The people of Chile heard
him say, “I believe in man and
his destiny. Some of you will
live through this dark ahd bitter
hour when a bid for power is
made by betrayal. You should
know that the day is not far off
when a wide road will open
again for free men to tread, and
to build a better life.”

“The people called him their
comrade,” said Hortensia Al-
lende about her husband.

This is the highest honor the
people can give to their presi-
dent. j

The delegates to the Congress
stated their determination to de-
mand of all states and govern-
ments to boycott the military
junta which plunged Chile into

bloody terror. The World Con- -

gress of Peace Forces demands
— Stay the hand of the butch-
ers! Free Luis Corvalan! Chile
lives arid fascist junta will never
win!

J

Gl.

.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1973—PAGE 7.

JHG