New Greek ‘amnesty’ ATHENS—Here in Greece no- body bothers any more to discuss seriously the amnesty supposedly offered to opponents of the pres- ent government. The facts are so widely known that even pro-gov- ernment newspapers avoid com- ment. The concentration camps where political deportees are held and tortured have not been dissolved. Almost all the officers of ELAS, the guerilla army that fought and defeated Hitler’s troops, are held in these camps without any formal charges against them. About 30,000 people have been sent to the camps on different islands. The amnesty has released fewer than 7,000, although the im- pression abroad appears to be that the amnesty meant mass re- lease of these political prisoners. ‘Made to order’ crisis PARIS—The Ramadier govern- ment is “manufacturing” an eco- nomic crisis to justify accepting American aid on American terms, the 6%4 million-strong General Con- federation of Labor (CGT) charged. A broadcast by Premier Paul Ramadier stampeded French housewives into hoarding potatoes —so that prices soared to new heights—despite a bumper crop, the CGT said. Though cattle in France are as plentiful as in 1939, it added, the government has forced butcher shops to do busi- ness only two days a week. Oil bosses to ‘eat more’ FORT WORTH, Tex.—Top ex- ecutives of the nation’s oil com- panies will not have to eat less, according to Securities and Ex- change Commission figures print- ed by the International Oil Work- er, newspaper of the Oil Workers International Union (CIO). Twenty-seven. such officials re- ceived gross salaries totalling $2,- 080,316 in 1946. High man was W. S. S. Rodgers, chairman of the board of the Texas Co., who got $125,000. A close second was Presi- dent W. T. Holiday of the Stand- ard Oil Co. of Ohio, who netted $120,000. Jail for peace makers PEIPING — Government agents claimed to have disrupted an in- cipient opposition movement with- in government ranks in carrying out a series of sudden arrests here last week. The persons jailed are believed to have been key operators in an attempt to organize a third-party movement to turn against the Nanking gevernment, make peace with the communists and form 4 new national coalition regime in conjunction with them. Evidence points to the possibil- ity that a disgusted, democratic group was in touch with the com- munists and had plans to swing a considerable portion of the nation- al armies into their camp. Egyptians seek 8-hr day CAIRO—While the strike of 30,- 000 textile workers at Mehalla el Kobra continues, thousands of other Egyptian workers have walked out im sympathy with the textile workers and for their demands as well. : Eight thousand workers have walked out in another industrial suburb of Cairo, while 10,000 em- ployees of the National Spinning Mills in Alexandria are also out. They are demanding that the workday be cut from 12 to eight hours with no reduction in pay. The strike movemertt involves professional people as well. School principals and teachers are forbid- den to strike by royal decree. How- ever, though they continue to hold classes, they have refused to cor- rect homework as a sign of pro- test. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1947 U.S. Slave labor law compliance may split AFL By ALLEN L. FLETCHER SAN FRANCISCO—The NLRB’s decision that top AFL and CIO offciers need not file affidavits before their individual unions take part in collective bargaining elections has not yet removed the possibility of a blow-up on the issue at the AFL’s 66th annual convention here. While John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers and an AFL vic on whether the NLRB’s change of:policy has affected his opposition to signing the required anti-Communist affi- davits, sources close to Lewis in- dicated that it had not Lewis has consistently refused to have any part of the Taft- Hartley law on the grounds that making use of the act was “mor- ally indefensible.” His opposition, until the board reversed itself, had blocked the entire AFL from making use of the NLRB. Green said that since the rul- ing meant the AFL’s 15-man ex- ecutive board would no longer be required to sign affidavits, each international union could decide for itself whether it would comply with the act. President Daniel J. Tobin of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters similarly welcomed the decision and said it would “not compel me to withdraw from the AFL” as he had threatened to do if Lewis prevented full board com- pliance with the act. He laid his finger, however, on one of several crucial issues that may yet provoke a major split in AFL ranks. The entire executive council, he said, will still be re- quired to sign the affidavits to permit the 300,000 members of federal labor unions, which are directly under the AFL top lead- ership, to take part in elections. Still to be decided, also, is whe- ther the new ruling will permit unions to bring unfair labor prac- tice charges and petitions for un- ion shop elections, as distinct from collective bargaining elections, be- fore the board without complying with the affidavit requirement. The NLRB decision covered only collective bargaining elections. | Members of Lewis’ delegation indicated that he, with the back- ing of President William L. Hur cheson of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, would continue to fight the issue regardless of the new ruling. There was also some indication Lewis and Hutcheson both might walk out of the AFL if it should fail to accept a gen- eral policy of boycotting the NLRB. (The Denham ruling that all e-president, would give no comment To sign or not to sign. . . Top AFL officials meeting in San table: President W. C. Birthwright of Barbers, Hairdressers and erty of Letter Carriers Association; President Herman Winter of Bakery and Confectionery Francisco at the 66th AFL convention. Left to right arowsl Cosmetologists; President W. Workers; President Chas. MacGowan of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; President Daniel Tobin of International Brotherhood of Teamsters; AFI. Secretary-Treasurer George Meany; William Green; President William Hutcheson of United Brotherhood of Carpenters; Joseph Webber of American Federation of Musicians; President J. L. Lewis of United Mine Workers, and Presiden Harry C. Bates of International Union of Bricklayers, Masons and AFL President t Plasterers. top officers of the AFL and CIO must swear to non-com- munist affidavits, was over- ruled 4 to 1 by the National Labor Relations Board on which Denham is general counsel.) While the NLRB ruling on the Taft-Hartley provisions eased the situation somewhat for top AFL officials, the ‘crisis’ is by no means ended. — President William Green an- nounced that a _ constitutional amendment to redesignate its vice- presidents as council members and thus eliminate the need for their unanimous approval in complying with the Taft-Hartley act will be Stalingrad heroes are not villains overnight PORTLAND, Ore.—“I cannot believe that the heroes of Stalingrad have become the villains of the Kremlin sud- denly and overnight. There is Senator Glen H. Taylor (D, convention here. “The something funny,” Taylor said, is American foreign policy, which he charged was bolstering reaction all over the world and depriving us “of every friend we ever had.” The state department has been turned over to the mili- tary with a Wall Streeter second in command, Taylor said, demand- ing: “Do they want to get us into war, or do they want to keep us just short of war so that there will be billions spent on arma- ments?” The U.S.-supported regimes in Europe, South America and China are cardboard govern- ments which do not represent the people, Taylor charged. “In Greece we sent money and guns to support such a government; in Indonesia, the French and Dutch are using our arms against the people.” Even in _ South America, he went on, “the people would seize the chance to kick over the reactionary re- gimes we have kept in power, and would not lift a hand to help us.” Taylor, who left after the con- vention for a speaking tour, said he was prepared to warn the na- tion of what is happening in Washington, even if it means his political defeat. “I would a thou- sand times rather go back to something funny somewhere,” Ida.) told the Oregon CIO SENATOR GLEN H. TAYLOR Told CIO ‘we are losing friends’. earning my living as a metal trades worker than sit in the Senate serving any other interests than those of the common people,” he declared. recommended to the convention. The announcement followed a tense three and one-half hour meeting of the AFL's national council in which, it appeared, complete harmony did not reign. Asked whether the council’s de- cision to recommend the amend- ment had been unanimously ap- proved, Green replied: “That you'll have to find out for yourself,” President John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers, whose lone stand against compliance with any part of the act had until recently barred any AFL union from mak- ing use of NLRB facilities, refused to comment on the council’s ac- tion, but members of his delega- tion earlier indicated he ‘would force an open fight on the issue. The constitutional amendment, which would merely redefine the vice-presidents as council mem- bers, would thus make it neces- sary only for Green and AFL secretary treasurer George Meany to sign the required documents. This, Green indicated, they would do. However, it would require a two-thirds vote of the convention to amend the constitution and it is believed that Lewis, with the support of President William L. Hutcheson of the United Brother- hood of Carpenters, would have sufficient votes between them to block the action if they wished. Other highlights of the AFL 58? Francisco convention include! @ Speech of top-ranking Ge? eral Mark Clark praising the ae. cord of labor in World War I a urging, against a backdrop # anti-Soviet redbditing to “be PP pared to do it again.” @ The death of 56-year old a seph A. Padway, legal adviser the AFL executive, strickeD. fart a cerebral hemmorrage while _ dressing the AFL convention 9 the Taft-Hartley slave law- @ Speech of American Legio? National Commander James a O'Neil, urging ‘the AFL to vy verse its stand on compulsy military training, and accusing Soviet Union of using slave to undermine U.S. economy- re rattling O’Neil warned the to “stand firm against slave af bor.” : ja © Heard AFL International s af presentative Irving Brown jnto the AFL to “extend its powe& tree the international field .. - 34 are trade union forces in Europe ‘AKL looking more and more to the biP for guidance and leaders against communism.” Urged formation of an AFL body counter the WFTU.” nee ‘hints’ new The despatch, datelined Ottawa, is reminiscent of the inspired re- ports and Drew Pearson broad- casts which preceded the “spy scare” in Canada in February 1946. The Star says: “Hinting broadly at an expose More sensational than the one touched off by Igor Gouzenko when he uncovered Canada’s first major spy ring, an authoritative spokes- man close to the investigation said here today ‘so far only the surface has been scratched in the espio- nage story. “‘There is no doubt a well or- ganized and widespread network is operating in this country right now,’ the informant declared. “When the previous roundup in both Canada and the U.S.—‘an expose more sensa’t” than the one touched off by Igor Gouzenko,” is reported news story appearing in the Toronto Daily Star.) Inspired press story spy scare $ A “hint” of a new “bombshell of intrigue and espionage, tion4 was made in Ottawa and monte only a small portion of the 20 was uncovered. We know this and we suspected it at the “(Persons who have 8? mained in the background ae der scutiny and investigato™® “.j- gathered a vast amount *10de a dence which may shortly exP new bombshell of intrigue cae" espionage activities in poth re- ada and the U.S. ory “The next phase of the se may be unfolded at any time informant said. He pelieved the investigators were satisfie® ond case was coming to 2 heal tne added: ‘When they strik®, nea move will come suddenly, tionally’.” Si ace g PACIFIC TRIBUN