PORTUGUESE COMMUNIST LEADER INTERVIEWED ‘The aims of the democratic revolution will be achieved Alvaro Cunhal, general secret- ary of the Portuguese Commun- ist Party, recently expressed the views of his party on the devel- oping political situation in his country, in answer to questions from Pravda’s Lisbon correspon- dent, V. Yermakov. Following is a major portion of the interview. * & * : What, in the opi- nion of the Portuguese Com- munist Party, are the most im- portant problems facing Portugal today? Answer: Democratic Portugal is confronted with big, diverse and complicated problems. First of all, the matter con- cerns political problems, i.e., the upbuilding of a democratic state, the cohesion of the popular masses and the democratic forces, and the strengthening of the alliance between the people and the armed forces. Secondly, economic problems, namely: economic and financial stabilization and the initial stage of a new policy of development, leaning on the recently-adopted large-scale measures — the na- tionalization of banks and key - sectors of Portuguese industry, and also the expropriation of part of the landed estates. Hen- -ceforth, property in non-irrig- ated land will be limited to 500 hectares, and in irrigated areas, to 50 hectares. (1 hectare=2.47 acres) Thirdly, the problem of deco- lonization and its consequences - for the internal life of the coun- try. Even this simple enumeration of the most important and pres- sing problems show the com- plexity of the Portuguese revo- lutionary process. Nevertheless, we are sure that the great aims of the democratic revolution will be achieved within not a very long period. Q: What is the essence of the transitional period which should pave the way to a socialist re- construction of Portugal? A: The transitional period is conditioned by the content of the revolutionary process, which is based on the alliance of the -people with the Armed Forces Movement (AEM). Under pre- sent-day conditions, and especi- ally after the_elections, the in- volvement of the AFM in the political affairs of the country is » ALVARO CUNHAL not a threat to freedoms, as this is being presented by those who would like to” halt the Portu- guese revolution. On the con- trary, it guarantees the protec- tion of these freedoms. Q: A good deal is being said in the papers about the need of reconstructing the state appara- tus and local bodies of govern- _ ment. What is your opinion on this question? A: The state apparatus has al- ready undergone major changes. . The principal component parts of the fascist state — the gcvernment, National Assembly, political. police, corporations, etc. — have been eliminated. ~ Thanks to the revolutionary action of the AFM, the armed forces, which were one of the pillars of the fascist dictator- ship, have, in the main, become a vital element of protection and consolidation of the free- doms the people have gained, and the creation of a new, democratic system. The Revolutionary Council and the Provisional Government now make up the basis of: political power in the country ... However, there still are rem- nants of the old state apparatus, notably, in the para-military units, the judiciary, the diplo- matic apparatus, and also many cther sectors. The municipalities, which. in the period of the fascist dicta- torship, were blind tools of the policy of the authorities, have now in many cases become bo- dies of democratic government. However, this question has not yet been completely solved. Soviet peace appeal brings wide response By JOHN WEIR Tribune Moscow Correspondent MOSCOW — The call of the Soviet Government and_ the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to the peoples and gov- ernments of the world to put an end to cold war policies, and to concentrate their efforts for peace, has received responses from. several quarters. British Prime Minister Harold Wilson stated that his govern- ment will study the document “with the care it deserves,” and agreed that “the prevention of future war is our common.aim.” Several Labor MPs have an- nounced their agreement with the call. Irish Labor Party Chairman R. Connoly stated that the prin- ciple set forth in the call of securing genuine guarantees of effective and equal participation of all countries and peoples is of special significance for Ire- land. Romesh Chandra, secretary of the World Peace Council wel- ccmed the Soviet call and urged all peoples to unite efforts in the struggle for stable peace. The immediate task of enor- mous importance is to achieve an end to the arms race, he said. The Soviet Union and the social- ist‘ community plays a decisive rcle in the struggle for peace, is a strong supporter of the peace ~ movement, and that is why anti-- Sovietism is incompatible with the peace movement. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JUNE 13, 1974—Page 8 Q: Can we say that the alli- arice of the people and the AFM is one of the most characteristic and distinctive features of the Portuguese democratic and na- tional revolution? - A: Yes, we can... This alli- ance is essential for continued democratization of life in Portu- gal, for the construction of a: new democratic Portugal and for deep-going economic and sociat reforms the need for which inevitably arises on the road to socialism. Neither the Armed Forces Movement without the support of the popular masses, nor the Portuguese people without the AFM, would be able to accom- plish these historic tasks. -Q: The Western bourgeois press is extensively speculating on the results of the recent elec- tion. Those who just a short time ago attacked the new Por- tugal, now suddenly claim to be its friends. How do you explain this apparent change of tack by imperialist propaganda? A: To grasp the significance cf the recent election one should remember that Portugal does not yet have an established democratic regime. We are liv- ing through a revolutionary pro- ‘cess of its emergence. Reactionary propaganda which had slandered the young Portu- guese democracy, then suddenly - began to praise it, erroneously thinking that the results of the election by themselves can ques- tion the revolutionary process, obstruct and even reverse it. This, however, will not happen. The election is part and’ parcel of the revolutionary process, but not its decisive factor. The right groupings gained votes above all in regions where . the normal democratic situation. still has not prevailed, where it is impossible to freely conduct propaganda educational work, and which have not yet have their April 25, 1974. The PCP, despite a most ex- tensive and spiteful anti-Com- munist campaign, despite pres- . sure brought to bear on the electorate from within. and without the country, despite acts of violence against Com- munist activists, won over 700,000 votes. In industrial cen- tres and regions where farm workers make up a majority of the population, as much as 30, 40, 50 and more per cent of votes were cast for the Com- munist Party. This shows that the PCP has deep roots in the working classes, in broad mas- ses of the people. _ Q: What would you like to say to the readers of Pravda in connection with . . . the 30th anniversary of the victory over fascism? A: I want to ... express the deep gratitude of the Portuguese Communists for the contribution which the Soviet people have made to the liberation of the peoples of the whole world by’ routing fascism during the Sec- ond World War... After the overthrow of the fascist dictatorship, when the Portuguese people have started to build a free, peaceful, pro- WORLD NEWS SOUTH AFRICA RECEIVING MILITARY AID FROM NATO NEW YORK—NATO is giving secret military aid to South Africa)) the United Nations revealed on June 4. Edwin Ogbu (Nigeria, ‘chairman. of the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, ma public a number of photo-copies of documents revealing the NA South Africa ties, at a news conference at UN headquarters. documents included letters, shipment orders for arms, NATO cod books furnished to South Africa, and other documentary materia Ogbu said the documents had been “placed at the disposal” the UN Anti-Apartheid Committee by “various sources” which did not identify. Correspondence between the West South African Defense Ministries, NATO checklists German. of arms al spare parts for military equipment furnished to South Africa, pills | cf lading from NATO arms warehouses in France, Britain, an@) West Germany, were included, as were similar documents from) the U.S. Committee chairman Ogbu expressed deep indignation at the behavior of the NATO powers and their hypocrisy in regard 1 the question of arms sales to South Africa. He said that wot public opinion ought to condemn these dirty deals and put end to the. secret NATO-South Africa ties. Corvalan moved, — By V. SHUKHANOV Special to the Tribune MOSCOW (APN) — The life of Luis Corvalan, senator, gene- ral secretary of the Communist Party of Chile, is in danger. Ar- rested by the military junta dur- ing the very first days after the state coup, he was. transferred to the Tres Alamos concentra- tion camp in the vicinity of San- tiago a few days ago. _ Luis Corvalan was placed in a room on the third floor of the office of the camp’s comman- dant and is under the surveil- lance of Colonel Conrado Pach- eko, known for his inhuman treatment’ of Chilean political prisoners. Luis Corvalan is com- pletely cut off from the rest of the world, and he is forbidden to see his family and friends. This new step of the junta with regard to a political prison- er; who has not during the en- tire time spent in prisons and concentration camps had. any specific charges laid against/him, is evidence of complete disregard for world public opinion, which demands that Luis Corvalan and all the other political prisoners of Pinochet be released. Only the insistent appeals and the solidarity of millions prevented the junta from annihi- _lating Luis Corvalan on the gloomy Dawson Island in the Strait of Magellan, in the Rito- que concentration camp, or at the Puchuncavi concentration camp to which this main pri- soner of Pinochet’s regime was secretly transferred. The junta’s stubborn’ refusal to free Luis Corvalan and other gressive and independent Portu- ~ gal, new wide opportunities are opening for strengthening and developing fraternal relations and cooperation between our. peoples and states. political prisoners of the fas¢ _ his life in danger — political prisoners, its’ awkwatl attempts to conceal its rel tance to do so are evidence the monstrous hypocrisy of & ringleaders of Chilean fascis™ The junta has repeatedly al nounced to the whole worl “sincere ‘striving” to free all litical opponents of the regi” swearing that it would end ib tortures of political prisoners: | By violence and repression directly or indirectly affecti™® all the citizens of the count the junta had tried to turn tl Chileans ‘into an “obedient 14) tion.” But it has miscalculat@” The popular masses have reje° ed the regime. And even tho) who formerly supported ©. junta now clearly see its ant) popular and anti-humane sence. : .. . Luis Corvalan, His na™ is respectfully pronounced by millions of people. And th | millions today again dema that the handful of generals wh have betrayed their people “Fre Luis Corvalan”, “Free all ui regime!” : Canadians! Take time today" ‘bambard the fascist Chilean f presentatives in Ottawa wy protests over their contin! imprisonment of Luis corval## ‘and thousands more political pe) soners, Demand their rele?) Send protests to: Embassy a Chile, 56 Sparks St., No. 9 Ottawa, with copies to Cana¢ External Affairs Departt which cooperates in keeping i fascist junta afloat on the bl?’ | of Chiles patriots. _A soldier from Portugal's Armed Forces Movement (MFA) talks ; villagers in one of the country’s rural areas. The MFA has std medical brigades an engineering unit and two groups of elect" | tion experts into the countryside.