WORLD SCENE

CHEMICAL, GERM WARFARE BARRED

The General Assembly of the United Nations has declared the
use in war of chemical and germ weapons, including defoliation and
poison gases, such as tear gas, illegal. The United States, Australia
and Portugal voted against the resolution which was passed 58 to 3
wtih 35 absentions. President Nixon last month declared that. the
U.S. would not be the first to use chemical and bacteriological weap-
ons in war but omitted tear gas and defoliants. The U.S. is using
both in Vietnam and “anti-riot” chemicals at*home against dissent-
Ors.

RIGHTS OF PALESTINE REFUGEES
The U.N. General Assembly has adopted a resolution which up-
holds the right of the Palestinian refugees and points out that their
plight is aggravated by acts of collective punishment, arbitrary ar-
rests, destruction of houses and property by Israeli military forces.
The U.S. and Israel voted against the resolution.

WAR HURTS ISRAELI ECONOMY

Israel’s foreign currency reserves diminished by $23 million. in
October. The $487 million balance is below the $500, million danger-
line. Crisis measures will have to be taken, among them a possible
devaluation of the Israeli pound, higher taxes and increased import
duties. The result will be to place heavier burdens on the working
people because of the adventurist foreign policy conducted by the
ruling circles. A major cause of the current financial crisis is pur-
chase of arms abroad.

FOR PEACEFUL MEDITERRANEAN

A conference of left wing and democratic organizations of Italy,
Algeria, Libya, United Arab Republic, Syria, Palestinian guerrillas
and anti-faScists of Greece and Rortugal have completed a confer-
ence on “The Mediterranean Region of the 1970s — For self-deter-
mination and progress of the people, against the policy of blocs.”
The main theme was the transformation of the Mediterranean into
a sea of peace and the struggle against: U.S. imperialism.

ULTRA-RIGHTISTS GET VIETNAM GUNS
A gang identified with ultra-rightists in-the United States, Cuba
and Haiti, as well as with racists, has been getting U.S. guns from
_ South Vietnam. An Atlanta businessman and an Air Force lieuten-
ant colonel are being investigated. The businessman, Mitchell L.
Werbell, 3d, executive vice-president of the Sionics Corp. was in-
dicted in 1967 as involved in a plot to invade Haiti and Cuba.

MODERN ARMS MORE CRIPPLING
_ Modern weapons have increased the rate at which soldiers are
crippled. “This war has been a terrible crippler,” Sen. Alan Cran-
ston (D-Calif.) told the U.S. Senate subcommittee on Veterans Af-
fairs. He said that the rate was 4.4 percent in World War II, 6.7
percent in the Korean war and 12.4 percent in the Vietnam war.
Commenting on the number who have lost limbs or are paralyzed,
Dr. James Lieverman, a National Institute of Mental Health psychi-
atrist, said: “It’s easier to visit a cemetery than some hospital

= SOVIET SUPERTANKER

_* A supertanker with a dead weight of 150,000 tons is being built

, in the U.S.S.R. It will have a speed of 16.5 knots and be able to
travel 22,000 miles withou refueling. The 35 crew members will
have their own cabins. :

_ RUSSELL REMOVES SCHOENMAN
Lord Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher, said today his for-
mer secretary, American Ralph Schoenman, a Trotskyite, had been
_ removed from all participation in the Bertrand Russell Peace Foun-
_ ‘dation. .

_ “T have tried to obtain from Mr. Ralph Schoenman of New York
_-an undertaking that he will not use my name in any way whatso-
ever to suggest that I am associated with his activities or he with

_ mine,” Russell said, and added: “My request has been ignored.”

VIOLATE PRIVACY OF MAIL IN US. .

“Mail is being intercepted by the U.S. Post Office and the contents
‘recorded for a so-called “confidential” survey sent to the Justice
Department. The mail cover was begun six or eight months: ago.
‘ The excuse is that alleged membres of the “Mafia” and other busi-
_ fessmen are sending money to foreign bank accounts in Switzer-
_ Jannd and other countries.

_ $3 BILLION ITALIAN-SOVIET DEAL
Italy has signed a 20-year agreement with the Soviet Union on
_the delivery of natural gas from the U.S.S.R. Italy will sell the
Soviet Union pipe and other equipment for the gas industry. The
existing pipeline which runs through Czechoslovakia will be ex-
tended. The value of the contract is estimated to be about $3 billion.

~ CHILEAN COMMUNIST HEADS STUDENTS

Alejandro Rojas, a well-known Communist, was elected presi-
dent of the Chilean Student Federation, the principal student or-
ganization, on a united front ticket which is composed of the same
parties now discussing a United Front slate for the Chilean presi-
dential election next year.

COMMUNIST LEADERS KILLED IN CRASH
_ The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Guadoloupe,
_ Fevremond Gene, and the General Secretary of the CP or Martinique,
- Banidor Dolor, were killed in an airplane crash while they were
returning from Chile where they attended the 14th Congress of the

WARSAW PACT APPEAL!

End Middle East aggression

The Socialist Countries in the
Warsaw Pact, in a recent meet-
ing, issued a Statement on the
Situation in the Middle East,
which says in part:

“In the Middle East area of
late there is again a dangerous
growth of tensions, as a result
of the aggressive policy of the
most bellicose circles of imper-
ialism.

“Israel is organizing armed
provocations against the United
Arab Republic, the Syrian Arab
Republic, Jordan and other Arab
states on an_ ever-increasing
scale. On the occupied Arab ter-
ritories,, Israel is pursuing a
policy of colonidl plunder, op-
ression and violence with res-
pect to the Arab population.
These actions on the part of.
Israel are extremely perilous,
they are impelling- develop-
ments in this area towards a
new armed conflict.

“The provocatory Israel pol-
icy, which places obstacles in
the way of the establishment of
a just and lasting peace in the
Middle East, is an expression of
designs directed against the pro-.
gressive regimes in the Arab
countries, against the liberation
movement of the Arab peoples, -
which is playing a preeminent
role in the struggle against im-
perialism. The imperialists seek
to regain the positions they have
lost in the Middle East in order

‘to go on plundering the national

riches of the Arab countries,
and first of all their resources
of oil. It is precisely for this rea-
son that the imperialist circles
of certain Western powers, first
and foremost the USA, are vi-
gorously encouraging the Israel
policy of annexations in the
Middle East, and are giving
Israel ever-increasing financial,
military and other aid.

“Two years have elapsed since
the Security Council adopted a
resolution directed towards the
establishment of a just peace in
the Middle East, and obliging Is-
rael to evacuate its troops from

A Nixon Administration cam-
paign to blackmail the Ameri-
can Jewish community into sup-
porting the President’s Vietnam
war policies is going full blast.
Despite large scale opposition
to the war among American
Jewry, particularly the Jewish
youth, the present Israeli gov-
ernment headed by Golda Meir,
has’ endorsed the Nixon war
program as part of this concer-
ted drive.

The. blackmail campaign,
which began in the Johnson
Administration, has emerged
full-blown in recent weeks and
is today an issue of sharp debate
in American Jewry. Zionist lea-
ders here are working in tandem
with Mrs. Meir, and Israeli dip-
lomats in Washington and at the
United Nations are reported
busily engaged in _ lobbying
against the anti-war struggle.

This policy, based on trading
Israeli support for the war in re-
turn for U.S. bombing planes,
comes into sharp collision with
the .mood of American Jewish
youth and a substantial section

the occupied Arab territories.
However, this resolution has
still not been carried-*out, be-
cause of the brazen, adventur-
istic position of Israel, which is
stubbornly ignoring the will of
the United Nations Organiza-
tion, and the will of the world
public.

“Israel and its patrons are de-
liberately thwarting the possi-
bilities afforded for a political
settlement, in the hope that they
will be able to annex the cap-
tured Arab territories. Following
the recent general election in
Israel, which proceeded in an
atmosphere of chauvinistic hy-
steria, the positions of frankly
reactionary, extremist forces
that are prodding the Israeli
people to continue and deepen
the conflict with their Arab
neighbors, have’ gained in
strength in that country.

“By thwarting a political set-
tlement of the Middle East con-
flict, Israeli ruling circles are
increasingly involving the Is-
raeli people in a criminal drawn-
out struggle against the Arab
people. This policy creates a
grave danger in the first place
for the Israeli people themsel-
ves, and is also pregnant with
a threat to universal peace.

“The present grave situation
in the Middle East demands ac-
ceptance of urgent steps. The

states are fully determined
do their best to frustrate th
plans of the aggressors in
Middle East. The socialist co
tries will continue giving evé
assistance to ‘the Arab sta
struggling to preserve the P!
gressive gains of their peo
and to beat off the encroac
ments of Israel and its patron

“On behalf of our Partié
peoples and states we are urgilé
all nations, all peacelovi
states to give effective supp?
to the Arabs.”

Unions in USSR

increase pensions

The Presidium of the Al
Union Central Council of Tra’
Unions (AUCCTU) has approve!
a new budget of state social
surance to the sum of 14,843:
800,000: roubles in the U.S.
This is nearly 1,000 million r0
bles above the last year’s leve!

10,379,500,000 roubles ha’
been allocated for pensions th
year. The remaining 4,464,300
000 roubles will be spent 2°
other kinds of social insurancé

582,900,000 roubles (46,300,00
more than in 1968) will be spe
on the working people’s recre#
tion, including treatment

peoples of the world must com-
pel Israel to pull its troops out
of the seized Arab territories.
There can be no lasting and just
peace in that region without the
settlement of this issue. The
package deal must also include
fair guarantees for the legiti-
mate rights and interests of the
Arab people of Palestine, who
are waging a courageous nation-
al-liberation and anti-imperialist
struggle. €

“Events show that the imper-
ialists continue their attempts to
topple Arab progressive regimes
by using the ruling Zionist cir-
cles of Israel as their instrument
for this purpose. :

“Our Parties, peoples and

of U.S. Jewish adults. Recent
evidence of this is set forth in a
1,000-word dispatch of the .pro-
Israeli Jewish Telegraphic Agen-
cy describing wide Jewish par-

ticipation in the giant Nov. 15

anti-war demonstrations.
_ While Mrs. Meir was public-
ly silent on Vietnam during her
visit to Nixon on September,
she more than made up for it by
endorsing President Nixon’s
Nov. 3 pro-war speech.

Earlier, Jacques Torczyner,

‘president of the Zionist Organi-

zation of America, -joined the
pro-war parade, appealing to
American Jews to back Nixon
on the ground that “a Commu-
nist victory in Asia” would “en-

- courage the enemies of Israel.”

Both statements were swiftly
converted into Nixon political
ammunition. House Republican
Leader Gerald Ford referred to
the Meir endorsement gleefully
on the House floor and Herbert
Klein, director of communica-
tions for the Nixon Administra-
tion, bracketed the Meir state-
ment with the Torczyner hand-
out in a full-dress speech to a
Zionist Organization dinner
Nov. 23. =

In Israel the Meir position
created a furore. The Premier

oe

health resorts and holiday hom
for seven million factory and
fice workers, 442,000 more t
last year. *
6,220,000 schoolchildren W*
rest in health-building ‘camp:
500,000 more than last? yea
Nearly 900,000 working peop
will be given dietetic meals.
1970, 250 new dispensary-healt
resorts will be opened.
Beginning with 1969 trad
union organizations are given
right to spend additional su
saved due to the reduction of th
temporary disablement of
working people, on the improv*
ment of the health-buildit
service. :

was compelled to defend he
statement in the Knesset (P
liament) on Nov. 26 agai
criticism of ‘outspoken pea
forces who pointed out that
stand would repel Israel
friends in the U.S.

She ignored the charge of 4
opposition critic, Uri Avner
that her message was “an 2!
tempt to make the Vietnam W
‘kosher’ ” and that “its pur
was to enable Nixon to usé |
publicly and among U.S. J
specifically.” -

Mrs. Meir alluded to Israel
dependence on U.S.. arms —

‘clear reference to the pledge

50 supersonic Phantom jet fi
er-bombers (hardly ‘defe
weapons!). “It is in our vi
interest that our ties with
U.S. be as friendly as possib
she told the Knesset.

Ranged against the Meié
position are not only the Jew
youth, members of both seculé
and religious organizations,

also the American Jewish C0?

gress, the American Reform C0
gregations and a_ substant!
section of the Orthodox Jew
Congregations of Ameri
American Jewry is not buy
the Nixon-Meier blackm
scheme. Akg