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UL" 'PRESS BULLETINPUBLISHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OP THE SECRETARIAT OP THE WORLD COUNCIL OF PEACE
_________________ Sstate-Haus U<511waldplatz 5 Wien IV______
Ko. 54 January 31, 1955.
The Japanese government announced on January 25 that it had authorised an o ffic ial trade mission from the People’ s Republic of China to ccme to Japan*
On this occasion we are publishing the text of an interview given to the Information Service of the 7crld Council cf Peace by Io*.Kinkazu Saionji, former senator and managing director of tit liberal newspaper Nichiyo Shlmbun.
Question - The problem of the establishment of normal relations between Japan and the Soviet Union and between Japan and China has been a matter of widespread concern in Japan for a long time. Can you explain the circumstances which gave rise to this trend of ©pinion ?
Rejlv; - The problem of the normalisation of relations between Japan and t.ie Soviet Union and China had already arisen before the signing of tF'e San Francisco Treaty which was to aggravate the division of the world into two opposing blocs. At the tixe . Japanese progressisves, including progressive neutralists , the members of the two Socialist Parties and the Communist Party, as well as many intellectuals, forcefully stated that Japan ought ratner to seek a general peace treaty with a ll the countries concerned. They foresaw that by signing the San Francisco Treaty Japan would find itse lf destined’,to .become a source of d ifficulties , tension and provocation in Asia . One of their arguments was the fact that the Indian Prime Minister, i.r. Ilehru, took nc part in his treaty for similar reasons. Very lively controversies went
on in both houses of the Japanese Parliament.
^Ho£,ever the trea*y was finally signed and ratified by x a r n ^ ie n t . m e result was as we had foreseen : the rearmanent or Japan was steadily pushed ahead in spite of the Peace Constitution cf our country. As a consequence .of this war policy, imposed on Japan by the United States and accented by the Yoshida government, tae normal reconstruction of cur economy was jeopardised ana tne standard cf living of our people fe ll lower and lower.
^ - 2 -( g ) e > a ~
One serious consequenoe of this nolicv was thnt Tononi. * * !? ? >rtt!}, Chlna “ 4 the Soviet Union was reduced p r a c t i c a l l f u
I ,t r?3 at thls polnt that the problem of n o ^ U s i ! tion of relations arose and that an association was started with t h e of promoting Sino-Japanase tS S d .!
tae association scon realised that the development of trade was not possible without the re-establishment of normal relations
Union611 ° countries* ^ sarae thing was true of the Soviet
c . T So a preparatory committee for the normalisation of Sino-Japanese and soviet-Japanese relations was set up.
Tag xirst task was to persuade the s *•« b „ i l .
a ld i ^ i r u l t rStel b?tw?en Japan and China and vice-versa. This was » d iffioult struggle to carry on against a government whose prinej.inister, Yoshida, was wholly ia favour of keeping in line with the
t> i t some individuals succeeded in reaching the
returned 01 China by going to Europe f ir s t . But when they
thecountry t j S k th* prohiblted J p * liv ing *
t i a ^ Cweyer» 1953. increasing economic difficulties in
Slno^Japanese \°AlVZV• J T " °f
*
n o U O T f t ^ 1’ WaS °Ur ?irSt viot°rr- second Was even nore
sw e jw a n s w™.E S 5*4they* reached8the ehearts°cf ^ " j a p a S e ^ p e o ^ ^ . ^ " fra» kness £ *
movement thestimulated it considerably. w ^ t i o n s wit.* China and
§Hf£|i£2.. - After the resignation of the Xoshida Cabinet, what was the attitude
the new Japanese Government to this problem ?
Re£l£, - Since the B ikini erperimsnts. the horrcr whirh
i > p s
atomic weapons h&3 increased in strength very rapidly Now, to work for friendly relations between all nations is another way of preventing war. This explains why a keen desire to have good relations with the Soviet Union and China is widely shared by all sections of the Japanese people.
Support for the Yoshida government diminished to such an e::tent that he finally had to resign. His successor was !!r. Hatoyama, and although the la tter 's political views are not far removed from those of I!r. Ycshida, nevertheless he undertook tc take the necessary measures for the normalisation of relations with the Soviet Union and China.
This constitutes an important victory for public opinion.
- 3 -
Question - Can you give us a brief sketch of the present situation in Japan ?
Re^ly - In October last, the Preparatory Ccmmittee for the Normalisation of Relations with the Soviet Union and China was replaced by a considerably enlarged body - the National Council for the Re-«stablishuent of Normal Relations with the Soviet Union and China.
In the general elections, which are tv be held on February 27, it is net impossible that conservative as well as progressive candidates w ill advocate the re-establishment cf normal relations with the Soviet Union and China.
But who does not understand that to make possible the re-establishment of normal relations with these countries, it is necessary for Japan tc abandon her warlike rearmament policy and tc stop ceding m ilitary bases to the United States?
Even i f the forthcoming elections c'c not result in any groat changes as far as the.peace forces are concerncd, tae essential fact is that public opinion is uer .2 and more in favour of t.iese ideas and we are entitled to say that this trend of opinion is now winning the agre^mont and the support cf very wide "•'rr.les, including those who do not belong to progressive movements.
Oo o
/ o ) 0i
PRESS BULLETINPUBLISHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE W O R LD COUNCIL OP PEACE
Estate-Kaua Lollwald-Platz 5 Wien IV _______
n°55 February 2 , 1955,
We are reprinting in this communique the text
of the editorial appearing in the Information
Bulletin n°4 (2nd . Year) of the Secretariat
of the World Council of Peace,
THE WORLD CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATOMIC WAR
The great ca.-npaign against the preparation cf atomic war is the answer to a grave danger. For in the recent decisions of the NATO Council the representatives of the governments concerned! decided to base the whole m ilitary organisation of NATO on the use ef atomic weapons - a decision which brazenly flouts wcrld public opinion.
This is no mere tr ial balloon put up by individual politicians , no mere threat of some big brass-hat. It is an act of responsible governments. It means that armies are to be reequipped on an atonic basis; it means a great increase in the number cf dangerous experiments for their use. It applies to any conflict which may arise in the future. It is an encouragement to m ilitarists and adventurers to precipitate aggression. I t - strengthens the possibilities for blackmail and pressure en small countries. It means that any war which might break out in any part of the world would inevitably be transformed into atcmio world war. It threatens every country without distinction , just when scientists agree in recognising that atomic war cculd lead humanity to destruction.
Every military disposition taken or planned up t i l l now becomes yet more threatening after the deoisions of the NATO Counoil. • t
The plans to rearm Germany beoome an even greater danger \ to world, peace, since they would, in fact , arm the former Hitler I generals with thermonuclear weapons. '
In other parts of the world too, the atomic danger beoomes much sharper: in Asia because of military blocs like SEATO and of repeated provocations; in the oou.itries of Latin America and in the Middle E ast , placed under the permanent threat of the use of force.
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A * * -- 2 -
Such are the new dangers which led the Bureau of the -orId Council to set going with great urgency a campaign against the preparation of atonic war. This w ill be a signature oampaign. It is based upon simple demands and common- sense solutions : the destruction in a ll countries of stocks ox atomic weapons and an immediate halt to their manufacture. These demands must be taken up by the whole human race.
In 1950, the Stockholm Appeal received 500 million signatures. The immense support given to this Appeal has been a decisive element in preventing the use of the atomic weapon in the wars which havo now stopped.
Today, though it is true that the danger has beccme even greater, it is true too that the peoples1 opposition has continually Increased. This has shown itse lf on the widest scale In every country, far outside the circles of those who signed at the time of the Stocldxolm Appeal.
For these reasons, the campaign which has now started should lead to a protest movement inoor.parably greater than that of five years ago. The important thing is that the campaign should be developed quickly, to enable public op in io nto express itself before it is too late . The ’.'orId Assembly for Peace, which is to take place cn the 22nd !;ay at H elsinki, must be in a position to e::pres3 the irresistible w ill of the peoples t* oppose the preparation and the outbreak of atomic war.
■Jife ) £■ J*PRESS BULLETIN
PTIR1ISHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OP THE SECRETARIAT OP THE W O R LD C O U N C L OP PEACE
£state-Haus, ..'ien IV , 11811':& 1d-Platz *>_________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0
VICB-PREM^R OF
\
Uo. 56
• ,’e give in this c o J h S A S 'fhe text «x a declaration that Mr. Otto iiuschke , V1c;e-Pxemiex of t.be
German Democratic Republic ,mation Service of the Secretariat o^ the ..orid
Council of Peace.
"I welcome the Appeal of the Bureau of the '..'orld Council
of Peace demandin' the destruction of all stocks 0 1 atomic . .
weapons wherever they nay be and the immediate stoppins Of their |
manufacture. The sentence: 'Now and in the future, we shall
oppose those who organise atomic war' exactly expresses the
w ill of a n tendencies and or3anlsations for peace and particu
larly of Christians throughout the world. Fcr Indeed the hyarogen
bomb is incompatible with the Sermon or. the Mount and the
Christinas Message.
ii i a iso we 1 core the Bureau's decision to call a greci
'./orld Assembly of Representatives of All Organisations arui^r n~
dencies for Peace in Helsinki on May 22 . This '/orld .'.ssembxy
w ill have to act as the conscience of the peoples. It v '
represent all humanist tendencies whatever their p h ilo s o p h ic
views or religious convictions. in Germany sil U do our ut:r. -
to extend the influence of the neace forces and vi more and
more men and women to join the './orld Counbil of Peace in it?
work. That is the lever of Archimedes that can topple the pol.c
of strength and the plans for a b litzkrieg .
ft • ____________________
■T
PRESS BULLETINPUBLISHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE W O R LD .COUNCIL OF PEACE
___________ Eetate-Hsus Mollwald-Platz Wien IV_____________
N° ^7 8th February, 1955
We give in thia communique the text of an interview accorded to the Information Service of the tforld Council of Peace by the Dutch film director Mr. Jori« •Ivena. {
t
In addition to many oniversally appreciated documentary films, Mr. Ivens is the author of 'Peace tfill Win' , } a film shot In Warsaw during the Second tforld Congress of 1 the Peace Movement. {
1
His latest film 'The Song of the Rivers ' , inspired . » by the World Federation of Trade Unions, was made in collaboration with the PVench writer Mr. Wladimir Pozner and the Soviet composer Mr. Dimitri Shostakovich during the Third World Trade Union Congress. J
1
Mr. Joris Ivens was elected a member of the World Council of Peace at its Stockholm session, November 18-23, j 1954.
•»
Question - tfhat do you think of the proposal of the tforld Council of Peace to call a World Assembly of representatives of organisations and tendencies for peace in all countries in Helsinki on May 22nd ?
Answer - My work takes me about the world a great deal. As a result 1 have aeen for myself in many countries how much the people want peace. This feeling in people’ s hearts arises from real and pressing dangers. The enemies of peace have shewn themselves in their true colours: more and more ordinary people are seeing the danger that threatens the world.
In this situation I should like to see many artists, intellectuals, writers and poets taking pert in the forthcoming World Assent)ly for Peace; it is their job to help the peoples to see clearly in an international situation which demands immediate aid effective action.
Through our objective art we have as artists to warn the peoples. To do this we must reaolutely set aside the
differences born of the variety of schools and methods of work, for now the issue is the fate of mankind. To serve society and culture means above all saving it from destruction.
Artists must oppose the war preparations; they are stif- 41 ling culture and ert in every country.
Question the first man you meet in the street and he w ill ! say that he is for peace. This popular w ill must be reflected and expressed in the Assenbly, for it is the cumulative effect of a ll human wills that w ill be able to prevent war. The whole world must be present at the May Assembly In Helsinki.
In my opinion the Assembly must pay particular attention ; to the problan of weapons of mass destruction which, as a result of the N .A .T .O . decision, is directly linked up with German rearmament.
For four centuries my country with its nine million inhabitants has battled with the sea to preserve its lands. One single bomb would be enough to deprive Holland of this land for which we have struggled for four centuries.
Question " You have mentioned the role of intellectuals in the struggle for peace. Would you like to go into this point a bit further ?
Answer - Art in the hands of those who want war restricts the imagination of men by cultivating fear and hatred.
It is our task to give hack to men their own values by creating works which exalt peace and hurmn greatness.
From this point o f view cultural meetings are very valuable. I think that we mast encourege and develop exchanges on an ever-increasing scale through books , wireless, the cinenB and so on.
In this sense, the anniversaries which the World Council of Peace has re commend ed for 1955 should promote cooperation in cultural work: with Andersen we can illustrate the most simple and most moving of human feelings; with Whitman we can show the fundamental sanity of the people of the United States.
Question - Your last film , 'The Song of the Rivers' , has been a great success in maity countries. Could you tell us your plans for the future?
Answer - 'The Song of the Rivers' was recently televised in Brussels. I am watching its distribution throughout the world as one watches a child 's first steps.
At the moment I am working on another international film on the living conditions of women throughout the world. Both professional actors and ordinary people are taking part in it . A group of producers are preparing the five parts of this film, the scenario of which takes in a number of countries. I hope that we shall have finished this summer.
&PRESS BULLETIN
PUBLISHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OP THE SECRETARIAT OF THE V O R L D COUNCIL OF PEACE
Zstr.te-He.us »-ollffald--pla t 2 5 r,len IV----- -
n° 61February 19, 1 r5
’ e are reprinting in this ~or .un iq ue the text \
of the editorial appepring in the Infer'...' :>r. ,
Pulletir. n°5 (,2nd. Year) of the fiecrsta-iat »
of the ’ 'orld Houncil of ^eace.
— A. PJ.TOC- FOR P- ACE —
Tn a number o*" countries 'the campaign against the preparations for atomic war is already in fu ll swing The ^ p o n r - of Public opinion to the Appeal of the orld Council of 8 frt3that the Appeal has cone at the ri^ht time and tha*. it mecto
universally felt need.
Further, these first experiences confirm the correctr.ess of the 5 orld Council's decision to conduct the actior agavnjt I/.*? preparation of atonic '-var in the form of a signatur~ O'inpaign.
'"hy a signature campaign people uay ask.
Because the deliberate and considered ac+, of prcting one* sienrture to a text which is both clear and explicit is the active In fc o n c r .t c expression of one's w ill . Because the signature means that one has understood. Because it is a political un erta d n g , a contract which begins with the Physical act of writing one s n , :e and is fu lfilled in work to get others to sign an<3 to sen the c ...non will realised. Because p great number of signatures la opposition to the forces of destruction necessarily leads politica . forces im. organisation*; of all kinds to ta’ e a stand, for they cannot run the ris'- of becoming isolated from the hundreds of millions of me.* and women who, by the pledge they have given, are dcfenr ing their own an their, children »s lives , and the lives of their fellov; men.
Because, in short, the fixed intention of certain governments to hurl the world into atonic war can be blocked by a powerful barrier: the firmly expressed will of a ll the peoples.
These are a few of the reasons for the specific lorm of
our campaign.
Cler.rly, to carry It through successfully Imposes grgat tasks on every Peace Committee and a heavy responsibility on every meiiiber of the Peace f'ovement. For this must he no mere mechanical collection of signatures. If each signature is to he a solemn contract pie!ging the writer to win his neighbour to sign too and ma'-e their ccrwnor will prevail, it will be necessary to explain, to pefrsiv-.de, to c^r.vinfi.e o? a gigantic scale. And i f the number of signa- tore.; is to stay t h a 'birds of *-^ihose w h o ^ ^ t . hesitate to prepare for a war waged Wxtli nyft^b^w^TOmBs, htti and woman must begiven the ntxAcA^and^^t^i- ous part in this
decisive struggfcjC^ V N .
This implies that tl^e Deace brin£ intooperation every means at i i . It w ilr be necessary to seek out each man woman’ at nbme at their plkce of work, in office or factory, in the workshops and in the fie ld s . It will also be necessary to compile canvassing lists an?1 to do detailed organisational work. For this the defenders of peace must use the means at their disposal, together with those they acquire in their daily stru■ «Tle and through the exchange of experiences* the means, too, at tie disposal of the big national and international organisations which are working for peace in their own particular f ie ld s ; and lastly the new Feans that will arise in the course of the campaign as the latter grows through the feeling of human solidarity aroused by a threat that is comr.ion to all countries.
Every defenter of peace is animated by the profound conviction that he can be victorious over the forces of negation and destruction. He Imows that public opinion has already shown It s e l f strong enough to stay the hah", of those v/ho menacingly brandish the atomic bomb and to bring to the negotiating table governments that refused to go of their own accord, and that it can also irave itse lf strong enough to impose the destruction of atomic weapons and the stopping of their manufacture. That is the meaning of the Appeal and of the campaign launched by the v'orld CO'ancil. By understartding it aright, hundreds of millions of men and vroroen in every part of the world can transform it into a material force powerful enough to win victory for aims which are those of reaeon a M common-sense.
^ ) S *4 C'r ~ i% ( . PRESS BULLETIN
PUBLISHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OP THE SECRETARIAT OF THE W OR LD COUNCIL OF PEACE
Iil3 tr.te-Mp.us ’ 'ollwald-Platz 5 r,l en IV_________ .
p m}' e are reprinting in this e or. .un iq ue the text?
| of the editorial appearing in the Infer'. v'.-’.’i ,
JBulletin n°5 (2nd. Year) of the Secrsta--at >
j of the ’ ’orld Council of ^eace.
© February 19, 1 "5
— A PLTOO~ FOR PVAC2 —
In a number o*- countries the campaign against the ^reparations for atomic war is already in full swing The rc-spora ? of public opinion to the Appeal of the ’ orld Council of Peato s r *a that the Appeal has come at the ri^ht time and that it meett> a universally felt need.
Further, these first experiences confirm the correctness of the 'orld Council’ s decision to conduct the actior agaiast ti.e preparation of atonic war in the fcrra of a signature c>impaign..
•' hy a signature campaign *?•, people may ask.
Because the deliberate and considered act cf pvctlng one's signature to a text which is both clear and explicit is the active and concretc expression of one's w i l l . ’ Because the signature ne.^ns that one has understood. Because it is a political undertaking, a contract which begins with the physical act of writing one's nc;:e and is fu lfilled in v.’ork to get othefs to sign and to see the c .nnon will realised. Becauc e r great number of signatures in opposition to the forces of cstructlon necessarily leads political forces and organisetions of all kinds to ta’ e a stand, for they cannot run the risk of becoming isolated from the hundreds of millions of men and women who, by the pledge they have given, are defending their own and their children 's lives, and the Dive's of their fellow men..s i *•' • •*« „
Because, In short, the fixed intention of certain governments to hurl the world into atomic war can be blocked by a powerful barrier: the firmly expressed w ill of a ll the peoples.
These are a few of the reasons for the specific form of our campaign.
Clearly, to carry it through successfully imposes great tasks on every Peace Committee and a heavy responsibility on every meuiber of the Peace Movement. For this must be no mere mechanical collection of signatures. I f each signature is to be a solemncontract pledging the writer to win his neighbour to sign too and ma’-e their commoi will prevail, it w ill be necessary to explain, to n e rs rd c , to c ^ v ia ^ e p.? a gigantic soale. And i f the number of signature;-, Is to stay tha tuu.ds of v^ h Qse J&o .tftASpX hesitate to prepare for a war waged Wj.tR n^Yb^n^W>nTB8. woman must begiven the Possibilit»y<t^^ j*«3wt*^Vtt rNdLXAcifc nd^pailSftiou6 part in this
decisive struggfcjC*. .
This Implies Jthat t^e ^eace bring intooperation every means at it . It w\lr be necessary to seekout each man and woman' at nbme^j^'at their pl&ce of work, in office or factory, in the workshops and in the fie ld s . It w ill also be necessary to compile canvassing lists and to do detailed organisational work. For this the defenders of peace must use the means at their ist»osal, together with those they acquire in their daily
•stru>gle and through the exchange of experiences: the means, too, at tie disposal of the big national and international organisations which are working for peace in their own particular fie ld s ; and lastly the new means that will arise in the course of the campaign as the latter grows through the feeling of human solidarity aroused by a threat that is common to all countries.
Every defender of peace is animated by the profound conviction that he can be victorious over the forces of negation and destruction. He Imows that public opinion has already shown it s e l f strong enough to stay the hanf. of those who menacingly brandish the atomic bomb and to bring to the negotiating table governments that refused to go of their own accord, and that it can also orove itself strong enough to impose the destruction of . < atomic weaoohs and the stopping of their manufacture. That is the rne;ming of* the Appeal and of the campaign launched by the v,orld Council. By understanding it aright, hundreds of millions of men and women in every part of the world can transform it into a matjrial force pov/erful enough to win victory for aims which are those of
reason a>1 comnon-sen3e.
• '
’■?--• *3*$ . •«.///•■* ' ;-4 t-??''. ^4* r* . vv’’'>’'‘£*A - *4*j&- * 'jp *T.£fc
PRESS BULLETIN 'PUBUSHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OP THE SECRETARIAT OP THE WORLD COUNCIL.
__________ » » *« **-*« &
>?&&$■
Vo 62 February 22, 1955
-
-■ -*»PAUL H03ESOW COHCEKT’ ItfVlT.
V v‘ > ' '
ASABROAD CCWmiUE'
Ur. Paul Robeaon, moxcber of tho'Yi/Vlfe Council of Peace and mfmoer of th* Jury f%r the International Peace Prised, ana of which ho received in 1950, has for several years been unaoje tc go abroad, to accept engagements offer-ed him in a fcurabtr of countries and to trjce part in international raeatiufja for peace. As is known, the United States authorities withdrew his passport in 1950 and have ever since persisted In their refusal to grant him the
legitimate rigt.t to have one. As a result, the $reat singer has been deprived of tho possibility of pursuing his art and of earning a living from his profession.
Following a new approach by Ur. Robeson to the U.S. State Department, the Provisional Coonittee to Restore Paul Robeson's Passport, set up in Mew York, published the following ccnmunique.
riQvisiOMAL couurmE to hestoiePAUL ROH£S0H»S PASSPORT
135 West 125 Street, - Suite 6 m i YORK 27, H. X.
On January 1 5 ,>Paul Robeson, through his attorneys, Leonard &• Boudin of lew York and Jtune.? bright of Washington, L .C ., aaked the Federal District Court in the nation's papital to direct the State Deportment to grant him a passport.
Vhile the brief was being filed in ashington, the world-renowned singer and'actor announcod in Her' York that he has received an invitation to appear in concert at the national Opora House in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Prague National Or>ore hj-s few peers euboe the leading opera houses of the world; it was there that Ifojart conducted his own great work* and attracted the attention of the music—
lev log world.
lir, il&b scsn n&nes Secretary of State John Foster Dulles as defendant in the e tit and claiiaa ther Dulles' actions in denying hin the privilege of travel ehroad "are arbitrary* cr.priclous and without v/nj-rant or authority in the lawn of
r the United States including the Passport Act of 1936 and are contrary to the Universal Declaration of Hunan Rights of the United Rations."
/
’»
0 o>
Basing hia cottplaint on the traditional gucranteea provided in the U.S. Constitution, Mr. Boboaon declarea that the denial of a passport has interfered
with the practice of (his) profession and with his earning a livelihood resulted in considerable financial injury to him." He further contends that the action of the Secretary of State baa interfered with ".hie freedaa of belief, speech and aaaociation, thus caufing irreparable injury to the plaintiff in vio
lation of his rights under the First and Fifth Anendiieato.*
Mr. flobesortbajMritf * o^ing him to viai$
Canada, Mexico and other T e ^ r n l(ooi3phorr ^ o u i^ ies -not required. It points_ou, C «5 i f f * W jfc^V ^trari yprevented from leaviS§S**U.a>v*> ^ v W ^ W a s o c ia l orderof the Stttto Department "relating apocifically- and ^ :xc\ii*a*a\Y^ to r-im*
J> ~ V *
Mr. uobeson had held and used GgjitiAiouily since 1922, when .the Stato Department announced in August 'l^^^th a t it hud cancelled hia pasaj.ort end inforoei .-11 U.S. bordor officials to detain the artist should he attempt to
leave the country.
In an earlier suit m vhich the U.S. Court of Appeals reached no doci- ■ion in February 1952, the ^ovnrnnont brief admitted that revocation of the pass
port wolo duo to the fact, among others, that Mr. ?.obeson "ha3 been for years extremely active politically in behiJLf of the indopcndenco of the colonial pooplos
of Africa........M
/unong the oany invitations which continue to reach Mr. Hoboaon for
appearances abroad are thoso from Lindor Productions, Ltd., to play "Othello" in London; from the National U;-uon of Mine ..orkers in Edinburgh, Scotland; frc* the All-India Po&cc Council in Hew Delhi; from the Opcrc. Comiquo in Paris which recently signed the young tonor, Charles Holland, as the first Negro interpreter of a major role; from the lending cultural agency in Tel Aviv, Israel, and from
the recent Soviet ..riters Congress in Isosccw.
I «i
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a ) £ 2 2 9PRESS BULLETIN ^
PUBLISHED BY T H E IN F O R M A T IO N SERVIJB
OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF PEACE
Estnto—I aits, uSUioldplati 5j H i® IV.
Uarch 3, 1955
Vo 65
On tho occasion of the twontioth anniversary of the j discovery of artificial radio-activity, Professor Joliot- j Curio, President of tho World Council of Poaco, gavo on intorviow to Ur. Manuel Alpodrinha of the Portuguese nows-
pnpor Roaublica which is published in IAsbon. In this conmuniquo wo givo oxtenflivo extracts from this interview
as it cp poarod in the January 10 number of Ropubllpa*
It was with thoBO momorios,happy ones for the French scientific world nnd highly flattering for Franco - alarmed by tho threat of atomic destruction but full of hope in tho possibilities offorod by atomic energy - that wo proposed to visit the nan who di3covoro<l artificial radioactivity ohd ask him to give an intorviow for tho readers of .lobublica. We wore accompanied by onothor scientist of groat worth, our follow countryman Dr. Manuol Valdaros, frlond and collaborator ef the
Joliot-Curios and ono of Portugal’ s most brilliant men,
'Jiih a zrdlc of profound human sympathy on his expressive face,Professor Joliot-Curio rccoivcd ua in his study at tho Colldge de France. It was in this room, where perhaps sono of tho finest droaus of atomic science were discujsod,
that wo told tho sroat Frcnch scientist of our dosiro to hoar what ho had to soy on tho grcr.tost problems of our time - tho discovery and uao of atomic energy - beginning with what he and his wife folt at the particularly exciting timo of the first discoveries. Abovo all, what woro tlieir first ijqprossions t-fl eci.ontiflts and
human boings on that famous day in 1934, now so distant?
*
Tho roply c.aoo quickly:
#__ »Tho discovory of artificial radioactivity was tho roeult of resoaroh hj
Urs. Joliot-Curio and mysolf on the production of neutrons and tho amission of positively charged oir*<*trons during certain nuolecr rea^^one. Most specialists did not accept the first explanation of this lattor phenomenon, the omi nsioa of positively ohargod oloctrons, which wo pxve a few months before the discovory
itself.
’Confronted rrlth this scepticism, wo oalmly went on with our work at the Rodim Instituto. A sinplo experiment, carried through in leee than 20 minute* *•I remember it was about eight in tho ovoning in tho basement of tho Inotitmte -
was to convince uc that wo had "created* a rum radioactive oleasnt which doos not
oxist in naturo.
*
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*1 was os happy as a ehildj I bogan to run and * i p U the vast basement dosorted at that time of day* I mis think lag of the o o o N fm c n that tho die- *
oo*«i-y could have. At tho b o m time wo Tore happy to have rounded off la way Pierro ond Mario Curio*e diseovery of naturally redioeetive elevate. —utir 40 years previously.
'The follacring morning Uarie Curio, dirootor of tho Institete, voe the first parson to bo o c repetition of the experiment tho* had gives us eo rrrh Joy, *
M7o had to continuo tho work for a few nooks more to verify tho idootity of tho radioactive olamonts which had boon croatedi radiooctivo nitro
gen from boriua ond radioactive phosphorus from olisrtnius. Thu* wo eetahllehodfor tho first timo - and this brought addod joy - tho chomLcal proof of tho trans~ mutation of olononts,
•Ue inacdiatoly real ieod that our discovery could bo usod for buwnitarian purposes end this furthor incroasod our happinoas,'
* T Tho world, hoyever, wo pointod out, has a less optimistic, baa indood agrievous improssion of its first ozporioncos of tho power of tho atcau IV destruction and cornago of Hiroshima and Nogosaki oro still prosent in overveno's aaorr- and then thcro was tho case of tho Joponoso fishermen who wore ehooorod with radio- eetivo ash producod by tho oxploaiona in tho Pacific. Theso woro oonsoquancos of
tho first diacovorios in tho fiold of radioactivity, porhops thoir first applies^ tion on a grand scale!
* 'Yos, that is truo! XJo ourselves hod gravo foars after reaching a oer-tain point in our rosoarchoa, long boforo tho groa* oxploeiona you Ittvo asntioood ond other oven groator dnngore hanging over our heads tc iay.
IThon, in 1957, I waa nominated profoaaor at tho Coll&go do FTonoo, I set up tho Laboratory of Nucloar Physica ond Chomiatry. Immediately after Hahn and Strasmann succoodod in splitting tho uranium atom as tho rosult of our disoovory
of artificial radioactivity throe yoara previously,Iga*> a physical proof of this fission: i showod tho onormous quantity of onorgy liboratod ond I predicted
that this phenomenon would bo occoopaniod by tho omission of noutrora. Indood. I provod that this happcnod together with my two former pupils, Balban cad Kovaraki end wo immediately had tho idoa that it would bo possible to sot off divorgink * chain reactions in a mass of uraniimi, thus generating energy. Thia idoa of reaction had prooccupiod mo for yoara and I hod ovoti given on account o f it at tho ond of my Iiobel locturo in 1955. But thia time, in 1959, after tho experiment which openod tho way for attempting chain reaction with a groat probability of succosa, Halban, Korrarski and mysolf had long discussions in my study at
auch^r°diecovoryC ^ profoundly diatmOod st tho possible oonaoquooooe of
*H° cloarly saw tho two aspocts of tho preblomi tho good the bad, tho benoficontend tho dc**ructivo. Unfortunatoly, aiz year* later, tho world woe to learn that nucloar chain roactions hod boen producod through tho horrlDlo neve that atom bombs had boon droppod on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - tho most terriblo aspectof tho discovery.*
. . Tborc ia °f othor devices, oven moro torriblo, capable of bringing about important chemical changes on the oarth, togothor with dangerous notoorolo- gical changes ond transformations in animal and voflBtablo life . . . . A hearts*t
6 * * 9
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g w s i lKSSTS’L ^•W *a and Nagasaki boabsf^ P^xUglouolj *aro dostructi™ than
5 f . ^ * « « . . it i i possUlo
would wipo out rich * * • • no distinctions that itcapitalist# end proletarian, bolisw s ond oonsarroti^oo,
^ <*Wovo it S ° S T 0nl7 U pOMlblt*
tM* bo don° isnodiSIJlJ? *° ®° *n*r * • **» PoacofU. uso of atomic energy, oould
oolvoa vithd^ocSStion?ab^J tto T z i J52? “«> a lot of pooplo who divurt tho—
s=i=-s a a j ^ g s S t y & y a r g j *OXTgy « » OMlionfc, lUlLI U (t e l a b ^ i y S ^ ^ * ^ « » W , i* h». at<mic
- - ' S T “
^ , tr* 1,0 * • pwt ono * , « quostion to hin:
tho poacoful applications al»o benefit fro.
tiao or another^ hasr* PiaX»d a loading rols a t __aovclep*** of o t h c r ^ o ^ ,O U * “* * * T tb^aro
»ro tho °L e f C ^ c ° J n^ hJ ^ f 1L tanP<a^»lljr backward in tho lnAwtrlnl* the, possos urruiiua C ^ g * * * 5 * ~ £ £ £ £ £
hand» thoy should <” ugtrloa do too things. On tho oba
tJ? futuro ro^urcoo, tho full ^al^ f’ J f ? ^ 1 th°y ohould not nortgogo
« » JsssS?S H ! - £ S 2 t &poowo Of a d a ^ S n ^ * ^ ? J l i f f * #cl4ati"<» oo^oto»oo
vV i .W . • ■
BULLETIN~ PUBLISHED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE
OP THE SECRETARIAT OP THE WORLD COUNCIL OF PEACE
Ectato-flaua, llSHw*Xdplet* 5, T7ion I f
No 66March?, 0955
for « » praparatlono
Albania, Argantina, Auatria ^E" 3'A°OU!l S ^ * ’ b la d in gHolland, Hungary, India IndcmruH-' t+ Chinn, Finland,Middle Congo l & n c h
* * £ 5 ^ ^ Pol‘B4' » -
Hniaa and *,adan, p r a p a r i t E n T ^ l ^ ' J ^ * * j T v *
tha aaapoign during Uarah ar at tha *“ “*
Sifflultonooualy with tho 4enable tho groatost poealblo number of urooontatlvo public ficuroa +*- F®®W* to al^a, wmrjr rc»- views ara df ff°r° ° t J»litla<a and r J u g t m T
.ignlng the ^ t^ al0fPraral or tt. a U . at tt. a a ^ b ,
poapxa t a X ^ T S T ^ a a S ^ r ^ 1- " * »
~ , B*** Joeue de Caatro
A ^ ^ 0fi!he U£**ed N®tiona Food and Agriculture Organisation
Bi&ns tha Vienna *pp#al
UniversityJ^ UBraziiaSd°Erector*!* the*?* f ^ ' ° ’, £rorte80r mt thaRio de Janeiro has just signed the Annlllli £ J e of Wutr*tion at for atomic war adoDted in v w na B ppasl against tha praparationa World Council of P ,a « . 00 *■"“ « » x» «>/ the bureau of the
88tJ ^ Dr* de Castrohis d Sn g te3 entm c^re«M N*tiana Organl-fn *:w l ® ! ? P ^ i s t i o i p r o b lS L . to i i ^ h e ^ S t h ^ o ? W0Pl(5 * ^ r S S i
Wlth thG * * bl« » f °o d , w o r k e d
has been publish ^i^ o r t ^ e i i ^ ^ l n ^ l l & ^ ^ i ^ ^ L S f * 01***1 ^ 1951* Russian, German, Swedish, JapaneaeTsiiJ^ Italltn»to have great success a Foliai apd continues
«*tS fcnsS^Sr8" 0 "•**£’88 tSEs&s? sssi.
Collection Number: AD1812
RECORDS RELATING TO THE 'TREASON TRIAL' (REGINA vs F. ADAMS AND OTHERS ON CHARGE OF HIGH TREASON, ETC.), 1956 1961 TREASON TRIAL, 1956 1961
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