Evening star., 1949-04-21
Workers in Britain
Will Not Fight Reds,
Peace Congress Told
BY the Assoeioted Press

PARIS, April 21.-Konni I'll
hacus. leftwing British legislator.
told the Communist-sponsored
world Peace Congress today the
workers Of Britain will not fight
or be dragged into fighting against
the Soviet Union"
Paul Robson. American Negro
singer. told the delegates yester-
day that Negroes IN the United
States would never fight the
Soviet Union and his statement
brought a quick retort from a
Negro leader in New York.
The clapping of 1000 delegates
from more than so nations be-
came so loud when Zilliacus made
his declaration today that his next
word could not be heard. When
the hall quieted. Zilliacus was
saying:
THAT is why the new China Is
victorious. The workers will not
let themselves be turned into a
blood bank for politicians inca
pable of solving their problems
in any other way"
Detailed Proposals Asked.
Zilliacus, a member of the Brit,
ish Labor Party, called on the
delegates to produce a reasonably
detailed, set of proposals "for
settling issues between the east
and west"
The audience followed the
speaker only listlessly during his
attack on the North Atlantic Alli-
ance and American foreign policy,
attacks which echoed yesterdays
opening barrages.
The keynote speeches bristled
with attacks on "imperialists"
and "warmongers."
The opening sessions featured
q statement by Paul Robson.
American Negro singer. that
Negroes in the United States never
will fight the Soviet Union.
Statement Brings Retort.
;Robeson's statement brought a
quick reply from the head of the
National Association for the Ad-
vancemept of Colored People in
New York City.
I'm the event Of any conflict
that our Nation has with any other
nation, we will regard ourselves
as Americans apd meet the re-
sponsibilities imposed on Ameri-
ca" said Walter White. secretary
and leader of the NAACP.
1--WE do not feel that Mr.. Robe
son voiced the opinion Of the over
whelming majority of the 14.000,-
900 Negro Americans" Mr.. White
added.
Robson had said 'it is unthink- !
able" that American Negroes
would go to war on behalf of
those who have oppressed us for
generations" to fight the Rus
slams.
Among the speakers today will
be Alexander Fadeyev, Russian
writer who delivered a blistering
attack on the Western nations at
the 1948 Congress of Intellectuals
at Wroclaw, Poland. @
Asks .Amity With Russia.
Robson brought the delegates
from 60 or more countries to their
feet nj cheering applause with his
call for a fight for friendship"
with Russia, the Eastern democ-
racies and a free China. ,,gns |
He ended his appearance by
singing a re-write of "Ole Man
River" which substituted the
words "Show a little grit" for
"Gita little drunk" az ! . 4
'I bring you a message from the
Negro people of Americaahat they
do not want a war which would
send them back into a new kind Of
slavery" Robson told the con-
gress.
He declared President Truman's
program for colonial develop
ment, coupled with what he
called the invasion of Africa by
former Secretary Of State Ed
ward Stettinius "and his mil
lions" meant new slavery for
Africans.
He obviously was referring to
the multi million dollar de-
velopment scheme for Liberia
being backed by Mr.. Stettinius.
In Washington two Negro leaders
voiced much the same sentiments
expressed by Mr.. White.
Perry w. Howard. veteran
Republican national committee
man from Mississippi. called