June 19, 1953, The Rosenbergs murdered The American state’s shame NEW YORK — On June 19, 1953, between 8 and 8:10 p.m., U.S. citizens Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for a crime they did not commit, based upon a trial permeated by perjury, fraud and gross illegality and governmental misconduct. June19, 1978 is being marked as a day of remembrance and tri- bute to Ethel and Julius Rosen- berg for their resistance to repres- sion and aggression and for their struggle for peace, democracy, equality and freedom for all, at the peril of their lives. In these words the United 25th Anniversary Movement in Tri- bute to Ethel and Julius Rosen- berg asks people and organi- zations from every country to participate by sending messages - Of greeting and expressions of international solidarity to the Movement at 36 W. 44th St., Room 705, New York, N.Y. 10036, USA. In a document issued by the Rosenbergs’ sons, Michael and Robert Meeropol, and Morton Sobell, their co-defendant who spent years in prison, and his wife Helen who campaigned tirelessly for justice and his release, it is pointed out that: “‘The exposure of heretofore secret files of the FBI, the CIA and the Department of Justice expose not only the evil motivations of the trial, but also the total disregard of fair or lawful procedures and reveal the subor- dination of perjury and the con- trivance of false evidence by the prosecution in a trial presided over by a judge secretly and un- lawfully conspiring with the prosecution. “The Rosenbergs have been vindicated by the facts and by his- tory,”’ states the document, echo- ing the sentiments of millions who campaigned to prevent their legal: murder by the Government of the United States of America. ‘‘Their bravery and resistance has been ‘an inspiration for all those who fight for peace, freedom and against repression, fascism, col- onialism and racism. They are vindicated by all those people throughout the world who fight for ‘peace, bread and roses’. “On June 19, 1978 we have re- solved to commemorate what the Rosenbergs stood for by gather- ing at the moment of their execu- tion. On that day, we will pledge to continue their struggle ... we call upon you to join with us again, in the spirit of international solidarity, to reassemble in your public squares, in your cities and towns, give honor and tribute to all who resist fascism.’’ Twenty-five years have passed since this legal murder took place. It was the hope of the American government that the story would SE IN REMEMBRANCE — JUNE 19, 1953 — New York, isc Prepared for the Canadian Tribune by Steve Amsel You shall know, my sons, shall know why we leave the song unsung, the book unread, the work undone to rest beneath the sod. Mourn no more, my sons, no more why the lies and smears were framed, the tears we shed, the hurt we bore to all shall be proclaimed. Earth shall smile, my sons, shall smile and green above our resting place, the killing end, the world rejoice in brotherhood and peace. Work and build, my sons, and build' a monument to love and joy, to human worth, to faith we kept for you, my sons, for you. The above poem was written by Ethel Rosenberg in the death row of Sing-Sing Prison on the 24th of January 1953. She called the piece, If We Die, and dedicated it to her sons, Michael and Robert. =f Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, 1953. end there, but the story did not end, and the progressive move- ment in the United States did not end. The question remains — Were they: guilty? Of espionage, of course not, however . there were some ‘‘unforgivable crimes’’ that they were guilty of. They were both involved in the peace movement opposed to Un- ited States involvement in Korea. They were both Jewish, at a time when this was another word for Communist, which was another — word for spy. It was the govern- ment’s hope that by killing these two people, the Communist and progressive movement would run in.all directions and would be no more. Well, their plan did not work. There were some who ran; — they know who they are; I only — hope they can sleep well these days. CPC sends message TORONTO — The Communist Party of Canada has sent the fol- lowing letter of solidarity to the Un- ited 25th Anniversary Movement in Tribute to Ethel and Julius Rosenberg: 3 **May we join with you in mark- ing June 19 as a day of remembr- ance and tribute to Ethel and Julius Rosenberg for their resis- tance to repression and aggression and for their struggle for peace, democracy, equality and freedom. In Canada as in other parts of the world democratic Canadians raised their voices against this monstrous frame up U.S. im- perialism is so ‘‘famous’’ for. The world can now see that the execu- tion of the Rosenbergs, so cynically — and cruelly carried out, was an in- tegral part of the acts of U.S. milit- ary aggression abroad. Two brave people were silenced but U.S. im- perialism could not silence the world nor the coriscience of Ameri- cans. Events have fully vindicated the Rosenbergs as.it has indicted those responsible for their death. Their noble spirit and what they stood: for will not be erased from the memory of man.’’ The letter was signed by William — ; Kashtan, CPC general secretary, on behalf of the Central Executive Committee. ee ee, ae ee ee ee In the flood of recent public pro- nouncements by Carter, Brzezinski, Huang Hua and the NATO summit — on __ the arms build-up versus disarmament, _ on Zaire, Cuba, and the Soviet Union — contradictions are plentiful and cynicism rife. The insights and comparisons of our brief round-up are offered as a help in evaluating these intertwined develop- ments of the past few weeks. ~ Carter and detente | U.S. President Carter’s Annapolis speech, June 7, leaves considerable- doubt about the USA’s serious intent to work for detente. The question remains: ‘What does the United States intend to do to make a real, constructive contribution to the promotion of cgoperation in the field of disarmament, and to the bridling of the cold-war revenge-seeking forces on the basis of existing agreements. That question posed by a Soviet jour- nalist, is in the minds of peoples around the world. Vice-president Mondale at the UN Special Session on Disarmament only threw sand in the gears, and Carter at the NATO summit led the arms escala- tion chant. A document signed in May 1972 by the USA and the USSR speaks of the need for peaceful co-existence as the only al- ternative to nuclear war, and states that differences in the ideology and in the so- cial systems of the USSR and the USA are not obstacles to the bilateral de- velopment of normal relations based on the principles of sovereignty, ‘equality, non-interference in internal affairs and mutual advantage. It speaks of the joint intentions to continue their efforts to PACIFIC TRIBUNE—June 23, 1978—Page 6 International focus limit armaments on a bilateral as well as on a multilateral basis. At Annapolis, Carter again missed the opportunity to take up the disarmament proposals presented by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko to the UN Special Session on Disarmament, but made it appear that Soviet foreign and domestic policy would have to be model- led to suit the U.S. ruling class before the world could have disarmament. In response to Carter’s impermissible criticisms of the way of life of 250.million Soviet people, and offer of the ‘‘favor’’ of “‘choosing”’ confrontation or coopera- tion, Soviet public opinion lets it be known that it has long ago made its choice and expressed it in peaceful prop- osals. Brzezinski lies President Carter and Adviser Brzezinski lied to their countrymen and all who would listen when they reported the charge they knew to be false that the USSR and Cuba had taken part in the attack be displaced Katagans on Shaba province of Zaire. The White House knew on May 17, the same day that U.S. chief diplomat in Havana, Lyle Lane spoke with Premier Castro, that Castro not only disclaimed any role in the liberation probe, but said he had advised against it. Eight days later in Chicago, Carter made unfounded accusations concerning Cuba’s part-in the fighting in Zaire. Still later, on May 28, fresh from a visit to China, whose government has been “‘very critical of the Soviet-Cuban intru- sion into internal African affairs,” Brzezinski went on TV to lie again that the USSR and Cuba were guilty of creat- ing the eruption of fighting in Zaire. As Soviet journalist A. Petrov put it: ““How could he (Brzezinski) prove this ‘involvement’? He could provide no proof, since it ‘does not exist. Today’s reality in Zaire is not a mythical ‘Soviet-Cuban intrusion’ but quite real American war plans and Belgian and French paratroopers conducting military operations.”’ Far from promoting ‘‘international stability’ and ‘‘international accord,”’ to which Brzezinski paid lip service, his and Carter’s deliberate lying to the American people are meant to intimidate them with *“Moscow’s intrigues”’ as justification for ever new escalation of armaments spend- ing and build-up, as agreed to by NATO. U.S. human rights The U.S. play on human rights was strangely distorted in Carter’s support of Mobutu of Zaire, who, Associated Press noted recently, had ‘‘grossly violated human rights.’’ But then what of the USA’s loyalty to its South Korean ally, whose record on human rights is grim. And there’s — Pinochet in Chile. A leading American historian, Henry Steele Commager, sums up: ‘‘What we are saying, in effect, is that it is intolera- ble for those countries whose policies we disapprove to violate human rights, but tolerable in those countries whose stabil- ity seems, somehow, relevant to our security.”’ Human rights have become the new banner under which post-Vietnam America returns to its postwar claims to world leadership. NATO in Africa While the political drummers are busy with phoney propaganda accusing the Soviet Union and Cuba of meddling in Zaire, the real méddlers are going all out to proclaim that neo-colonialism can prosper with the aid of the despot -Mobutu. Now the reason for the invasion of Shaba province by U.S., French and Belgian military personnel can be more clearly seen. é As a follow-up, 12 countries began meeting in Brussels June 13, to plot the total seizure of Zaire militarily and politi- cally to add to the economic stranglehold © the multi-nationals have held consistent- ly. (The countries involved are: Britain, . France, Belgium, West Germany, Italy, Holland, the USA and Canada heralding NATO’s expansionist drive, along with Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran!) © Their plan, with Mobutu’s conni- vance, is to put Europeans in direct con- trol of all the country’s transport (rail and river), electric power transmission, cus- toms and internal tax collections. Be- sides they will lay hold of allindustry that _ counts to direct it to the profitable exploi- tation of Zaire’s mineral wealth. Further, they, or their mercenaries, will man the security front to see the people of Zaire © ' never gain control of their own country ; and its wealth. One should not judge from the sheer cold-blooded audacity of the scheme that all is agreement among the imperialist powers. Close observers note the con- flict between the $80-billion voted by NATO for just expansionism, the old rights of empires past, and the U.S. hunger for world domination.