WEFTU ties pretext for Brazil union ban By MAURICIO DE QUEIRO RIO DE: JANEIRO—(ALN)—Brazil’s Confederation a : Labor (CTB) has been outlawed because the gover objects to its ties to the Latin American Federation of La (CTAL) and the World Federation of Trade Unions, a cording to Minister of Labor Morvan De Figueiredo. 7 De Figueriedo made his state- a ee ment at a press conference called B iti i seek - Soviet pact to justify President Burico Gas. LONDON — The British Press Roundup of world news Witch-hunt refused SYDNEY—Labor Prime Minis- ter J. B. Chifley has flatly rejec- ted a suggestion from conserva- tive opposition parties that he follow President Truman’s lead in purging Communists and _ their sympathizers from government posts. Chifley said he “doubted whether it was wise to embark on : a purge such as ,that President Truman is reported to have start- ted in the U.S. Such a purge means setting up a kind of Ges- tapo and might damage people who are in no way associated with Communists.” par Dutra’s order of May 7 that union property be seized by pol- ice and all elected CTB officials be removed. The order has already been implemented, with police seiz- ing headquarters of uni f ons d left wing ranging from metal workers to | both conservative an tain Dutch blockade trade gaciotss reported this week that Brite was negotiating a food agree hich with the Soviet Union| Wi’, might cause ‘consternation’ i United States, Sharply criticizing Amerie foreign’ policy, especially in the tion to the German food Cristea SYDNEY—The Indonesian re- public, in keeping with its policy of granting collective bargaininy rights to all unionists, has signed a contract with the 850,000-strong Estates Laborers’ Federation, granting higher wages and im- While serving as labor minister, De Figueiredo is also vice-presi- dent of the Federation of Indus- tries, Brazil’s National Associa- tion of Manufacturers, Since his appointment last Jan- proved conditions. Under the Dutch, from whom the Indonesians won independence after a bloody postwar battle, tea, rubber, copra, cinchona (quinine) and other plantation workers were not allowed to organize. The Indonesians are now seek- ing two-way trade with the U.S. and nations in the Pacific area. -Export stocks of rubber, tea, to- bacco, sugar and quinine are m the harbor, government spokes- men say, but the Dutch have set up a trade blockade to prevent the new republic from prospering. Unless the blockade is broken, the Indonesians threaten to re- fuse future trade with the Dutch. Labor split rejected HAVANA — Rejecting an at- tempt to split the Cuban labor movement, delegates of all politi- cal views attended the fifth con- vention of the Cuban Labor Fed- eration here, reelecting by an overwhelming vote General Sec- retary Lazaro Pena, who stvwvt for a united movement. . A resolution adopted by the conference was sharply critical of the American Federation of La- bor, which is seeking to organ- ize a new Latin American labor group. AFL attempts to fight the Latin American Federation of Labor, the resolution said, can only serve to weaken labor’s posi- tion. Spanish labor unites MADRID — The -General Work: ers Union and National Labor Confederation, dissolved when Franco = seized _ power 10 years ago, have almost completed re- organization in several important industrial centers. The unions operate underground here but have representatives operating openly in France. ; The two bodies are united in opposition to the Franco regime, according to underground’ leaders, and will work together in all forms of resistance, Demand US troops go MANILA—The Philippine Con- gress of Labor Organizations has: demanded removal of American troops and bases from the islands and repeal of the Bell trade act giving U.S. businessmen the right to own and exploit all Philippine’ resources and industries, including public utilities. Though the Philippine republic was granted independence and is a liberated—not occupied—nation, the U.S. has maintained 79,000 troops here since the war’s end. Under a recent pact signed with the U.S.sponsored government of President Manuel Roxas, the U.S. has acquired extensive military bases throughout the islands. FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1947 ‘Women at work In this country people are asking: “What’s become of Rosie the Sosssannaats Riveter?” In the Soviet Union, women like this welder Year Plan. here are busy on construction work under the Five- Chinese Red Army belt buckles. Lest American red-hunters think this is some wily misdeed by con- cealed fellow-travellers in Wash- ington, let it be said at once that every item of this equipment has been captured in battle from the troops of Chiang Kai-shek, to whom .the U.S. gave it. The only part of the soldiers’ outfit and armament that is not American is the shoes. The men don’t like GI combat boots, which they say are too heavy. Often marching 40 miles a day, they prefer their own light cloth slip- pers. , The former arms of the New Fourth Army, captured from the Japanese during the war, have been inherited by the ‘min ping’, or armed peasants, of the village militia. ; A friend of mine who just req turned from a bicycle tour of the entire East Shantung penin- sula says he came very close to the U.S. Marine base of Tsingtao, but still in Communist-held terri- tory. ) When he attended a movie showing films brought from the coast all the peasants sat on the floor amid piled up rifles, bay- onets, grenades and land-mines, which form their equipment. They weren’t expecting to fight any- one but had brought them to the ‘show out of “civic pride in their new-won right to bear arms.” The land hereabouts has been divided among tenant farmers which makes it clear why the landlords will find it very hard to come back. Time sued for libel NEW YORK.—Palmiro Tog- liatti, leader of the Italian Com- munist Party is suing the Rome correspondents of Time ‘maga- zine for libel. The suit is based on an article which appeared in -the May 5 issue of Henry Luce’s news magazine which asserted that the leader of the 2,000,000- strong Communist Party of Italy betrayed his Socialist com- rades to the Italian fascists. A spokesman for Time con- firmed the fact that the suit had been filed, but made no comment. has U.S. equipment By ANNA LOUISE STRONG CHEFOO (ALN)—AIl the regular troops under Chen Yi, leader of the communist-led New Fourth Army which holds this seaport, are American-equipped—right down to Assets untouched LONDON — Britain and the U.S. shell ott millions of dol- lars to feed the German peo- ple while leaving untouched . .far greater sums in Nazi as-. ‘sets, British M.P.’s charge. German investments in Ar- gentina alone amount to at least $400 million, Martin Lind- say, M.LP., claimed, while in Switzerland there are 500 Ger- man industrial firms as well as bank accounts and gold loot- ed ‘from occupied countries. | It was partly because the Germans managed in 1919 to keep their assets hidden abroad, Lindsay said, that they were able to prepare for World War Two. uary he has been fighting for the right to appoint and fire all union leaders. He tried unsuccessfully to dissolve the CTB when he first ‘| stepped into the government post, ‘but at that time Dutra was still abiding by the constitution, which protects labor’s right to organize. De Figueiredo told the press conference that the CTB’s for- eign ties prove that it wants to “organize Brazilian workers against the nation’s laws.” He did not explain his statement nor did he say whether the government also regards as anti- national affiliation to the Unit- ed Nations or to ‘international employers’ groups. According to official spokes- men, Dutra’s order, which coin- cided with a court ruling outlaw- ing the Communist party, was de- signed to “cleanse the labor move- ment of communistic elements,” In practice, however, the order is being used to bust the entire labor movement, which was formed last September following the repeal of fascist laws pro- hibiting national unions, The fact that the order hits the entire labor movement is proved by the protests voiced by union leaders of every politi- cal color. Francisco Manabeira, . head of the Social Christian Workers’ Movement, a strongly anti-communist organization, has an article in the conservative newspaper Correio de Manha attacking Dutra’s action and warning of a national catas- trophe unléss the government returns to constitutional rule. se In the federal chamber, leaders of the Uniao Democratica Nacio- nal (UDN), second largest party, which has two ministers in Pres- ident Dutra’s cabinet, declared they would fight for legality of the suspended Communist Party. press generally took the line a Britain was being forced to to the Soviet Union for help. The reports said negotiatio a have reached an “advanced aes: ’ and that Russia would supply ‘als tain with food and raw yaa f in exchange for scientific infor’ a tion. It was stressed, howeVve'’ jthat revelation of atomic enele secrets would ‘not be part © bargain. The usually well informed, lar borite newspaper THE PEO 2 said that “the inside tip of ait plomatic experts is that see : will pull off a surprise deal ths Russia in the next six meal and it may be one that Wo cause consternation in Ame! ie ica.” : r The conservative newspaPr Empire News bannerlined eae s sia would exchange 1,000,000 toe wheat and grain, timber, and oi] products for 2 r0- jet-propelled aircraft, plastic ae cesess and other post-war te¢ al and scientific secrets. The newspaper reported deal would not include # r0- energy secrets. It hailed the one posed barter, however, to end bread rationing in 1ease “Both governments are P with the advance stage reached,” it concluded. Trade Pact Urged OTTAWA—In_ the House Commons this week, H. Bb ; ridge (People’s CCF, Koo aie West) urged the King 80V’ ment to take “immediate * th to conclude a trade treaty W aie Russia” as a means of PYOV ing Canada with an impor foreign market. French auto workers win strike demands PARIS—(ALN)—The strike of 30,000 Renault auto workers, which caused a reshuffle in the French government, has been settled with workers winning their demand for a production bonus. Atlhough the amount of the bonus—2%c an hour—was substan- tially smaller than the workers’ original 8%c demand, the agree- ment sets an important precedent for labor because the government for the first time has accepted the ‘| principle of raising pay as output up. This principle has long been fought for by the General] Confed- eration of Labor (CGT) in na- tionalized industries. Because these industries are not run pri- marily for profit, the CGT hag | said, the workers have been will- ing to accept low wages until pro- duction started rolling. However, with output rising, the workers want a chance now to earn » living wage. Their discontent has been heightened by the government’s failure to control prices. _ Im addition to the 2% hourly : foe Gn fe production bonus, the Renault workers will get a flat payment of 1,600 francs (about $14) apiece for the time .they were out on between the General Confedera- tion of Labor and the govern- ment. * (Unions negotiate with the goy- ernment not only for nationalized plants, such as Renault, but for all plants, sice the government controls wage levels.) : The idea of a production bonus instead of an outright pay in- crease was first suggested by the Communist party, whose ministers were removed from the French cabinet by Premier Paul Rama- dier because they backed the strikers’ Position. The Socialist premier at first refused to con- sider a pay boost Communist ost of- fice, have been replaced es Hinde Socialists and one Popular Repub- lican. Vice Premier Maurice Thorez, fifth Communist cabinet member, will not be replaced. ; strike as a result of negotiations } MAURICE THOREZ He will not. be replaced a8 premier. : PACIFIC TRIBUNE: