| OCR Text |
Show NEWS REVIEW Rough on Reds: Byrnes; AFL Overrides Lewis MEMOIRS: No Patience James F. Byrnes, who, when he was secretary of state, was a veritable veri-table personification of "patience on a monument" in his dealings with Russia, stepped down from his pedestal ped-estal and announced that it was time to start slugging. In his published memoirs, "Speaking Frankly," Byrnes proposed pro-posed that the U. S. reply to Russia's Rus-sia's "obstructionism" on atomic energy and German peace treaty agreements with "better and more" atomic bombs and a decision to drive the Red army out of Germany, by force if necessary. Exponents of the "get tough with Russia" policy now have a sturdy champion in the I! former secretary jt j N of state, who re-" re-" f signed that post Jjr$' only last January 'fT Vn because of ill IV fO health. ' JK Byrnes p r e- I sented a 10-step f-fy a "course of action i for restoring "" I peace, basis of pvDvm which must be the conclusion of satisfactory German peace treaty. At the same time, he conceded con-ceded that the plan of action conceivably con-ceivably could lead to World War III if Russia refused to co-operate. First of all, said Byrnes, the U. S. should ask the Big Five to call a full-dress conference of all nations on Germany "early In 1948." If Russia refuses to participate or if she boycotts the conference, the other nations should proceed without with-out her. Then comes the stinger which Byrnes advocates. If Russia refuses to sign the treaty and likewise refuses re-fuses to withdraw Red troops from western Germany, other nations should ask the U. N. security council coun-cil to order her out. And if Russia vetoes the security council order, then the tl. S. must drive her out of Germany by force. However, Byrnes Is firm in hit belief that the U. S. probably will not have to resort to warfare. He thinks Russia will withdraw her troops from western Germany upon completion of a peace treaty. REFUGEES: From Soviets Streams of refugees are reported to be coming through Russia's iron curtain to the southeastern coast of Sweden. Reason for their flight they say, Is that the BalUc lands where they made their homes, now under control con-trol of the Soviet Union, are being combed by the Russians for men and women to be deported to Siberia. A secret transportation route out of the Soviet xone manages to spirit the refugees to Sweden. Cost for uch a Journey 2.500 Ccrman marks. BELABOR: Lewis Downed "On this Issue 1 don't think the federation has a head. 1 think Its neck has Just grown op and haired over." Thus spake John L. Lewis, he of the king-sized eyebrows, at the American Federation of Labor convention con-vention In San Francisco. The issue to which he so lustily referred was that of whether the AFL should vote to wipe out its 13 vice presidents, of which Lewis Is one. And despite Lewis' name-calling and hammy, mane-tossing histrionics, histrion-ics, the AFL did vote tc abolish its ppss-ri vice presidents in a move to make the ( 1 1 entire federation S T I eligible to use the t "j j national labor rela- ' V J tions board under ' l U the Taft - Hartley ,V I law. tf I The action, which ; I leaves only William Green, president JOHN L. and George Meany, LEWIS secretary - Irpsa. - - -- - urer, as top federation officers, was taken in order to permit the AFL officers to sign non-Communist affidavits affi-davits for AFL federal unions which have no national officers of their own. No union may have access to the facilities of the national labor relations board under the Taft Hartley Hart-ley law unless their officers sign the affidavits. Lewis previously had adamantly refused to sign the non-Communist affidavit on the grounds that he would be making a concession to the Taft-Hartley law, much reviled by labor. REPARATIONS: Germany Pays European aid took a different turn with an announced plan by British and American military governments govern-ments to dismantle 682 German industrial in-dustrial and war plants In their two zones for reparations. Purpose of the move, slated to bt carried out as swiftly as possible, is to expedite European economic recovery. Most of the factories at i metal, chemical and electrical engineering, engi-neering, shipbuilding and power plants. The announcement points up the problem, still not fully solved, of whether completely to destroy Germany's Ger-many's war potential by cancelling out her Industrial strength, or to rebuild re-build the German industry for peaceful production. Obviously realizing the possible adverse effects which the dismantling disman-tling of the plants might have upon the German people, the U. S. and Britain issued a Joint statement emphasizing em-phasizing that they would consider suggestions from the Germans for substitution of equivalent Individual plants. |
