The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-03-17
AFL Delegation
Tells Acheson 1t
Will Back Pact

Washington (LPA) - A far
reaching program to fight the in
roads of totalitarianism and bolst-
er democracy was presented this
week to Secretary Of State Dean
Acheson by the AFL's Internation-
al Labor Relations Committee. Pre-
sident William Green Of the AFL
conferred with Acheson on the pro-
gram.
Major recommendation made by
the AFL to the State Department
were these:
1-"Our country should not only
put it's own defense into complete
readiness and hnvincibility, but
should also provide arms and enter
into a defensive military alliance
ag ainst totalitarian aggression
which may threaten friendly ma
tions in Europe, Asia or elsewhere.
In this connection, we heartily en-
dorse the projected Atlantic Pact.
2-"Our government delegation
to the United Nations should rally
the fullest support for our pro-
posal that it be made a crime
against international law and an
act of aggression against the peace
for any government to organize or
support directly or Indirectly any
fifth column or fifth column activ-
tiles in any country with which it
is at peace"
3-"We reiterate our demand for
the economic and political inte-
grafton of all zones of Germany
not occupied by Red troops into an
independent German state with a
democratic constitution fire ely
adopted by the Germans. ;. We fur
ther demand that no position of
authority in the rebuilding Of Ger
many should be given to any indus
trial or financial magnates who
have been friends and supporters
of German militarism and Nazism.
4-"In order to give the world
the democratic and constructive
leadership it needs, our country
must not shut its eyes to crimes
against humanity and freedom, no
matter by whom perpetrated. We
must not condemn assaults against
human liberty when committed by
Communist totalitarians and then
condone, by our silence, similar
crimes perpetrated by the Franco
Fascist regime. The continued
torturing and mureding of free
trade unionists and liberals by the
Franco regime is reprehensible.
No aid should be forthcoming to
the Spanish totalitarian dictator
ship until the rights of workers and
other democratic rights are restor
ed >to the Spanish people"
5-"America's vigorous opposi-
tion to totalitarian crimes and per-
secution should likewise be reflect
ed in our policy towards South
America. Our government should
make its voice clearly heard and its
influence fully felt against the
totalitarian depredations against
democracy and free trade union
ism now rampant in Venezuela and
Peru" !
6-Under this point, the AFL
called for labor advisers in AM
erican official delegations to the
Economic and Social Council and
the U.N. General Assembly; also
the appointment of labor liaison
representative in the department.
The latter would "keep our top
governmental leaders fully appris-
ed of labor's undertakings in inter-
national affairs and facilitate CO.
operation of our government with
the independent activities of demo-
cratic labor on the world scene in
behalf of democracy and interna-
tional peace"
The AFL also declared that "our
government must do nothing which
might directly or indirectly lend
aid and comfort to any expression
of totalitarianism-w whether it be
Communism, Fascism, Nazis m,
Falangism, De Gaullism, or the
fellow travellers thereof"
eve must everywhere support
only the democratic elements who
show by their actions they are de-
termined to safeguard and streng-
then democracy" the AFL added.