OPPRESSED NATIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 36, 1 April 1942, Page 2

OPPRESSED NATIONS

UNITY IN TIME OF TRIAL

DECLARATION IN AMERICA

The following joint declaration by national representatives of Czechoslovakia, Greece, Poland and Yugoslavia was made to the international Labour Conference in New York. The Government, employers' and workers' delegations of the Central European and Balkan countries represented at the International Labour Conference have unanimously adopted the following declaration: 1. With feelings of indescribable sadness, we pay a tribute to our tormented peoples, to their unconquerable spirit, their courage, and the magnitude of their scarifices. We proclaim the solidarity of our countries in the common struggle for freedom. 2. We protest before the civilised workl against the innumerable and unprecedented atrocities that are being daily committed by the invaders and their satellites. We send a fraternal greeting to the otjier oppressed nations of Europe, to the great and valiant pecr ples of the British Empire, of the Soviet Union, to the great American nation. Our most sympathetic

thoughts go also to the- people of China. 3. We solemnly assure our peor pies that the struggle for their liberation, carried on jointly with the world's great democracies shall be continued untiringly until the day of victory. 4. I'n pursuing this struggle we count on the help and wholehearted support of all the free nations, and above all of their organised working people. The duration of the war depends very largely on the extent to which these nations and especially their workers show a spirit of sacrifice. 5. The countries of Central Europe and the Balkans reaffirm their profound devotion tCi the democratic principle, and express their solidarity Avith the great democracies. (J. We express the firm conviction that the peace that will folloAV victory Avill bring to our peoples, as well as to all peoples throughout the world, enjoyment of the four freedoms defined in the RooseA'eltChurchill declaration. We hope that the end of this war will save a hundred million inhabitants: of Central Europe and of the Balkans from their present state of wretchedness by assuring them the possibility of stable employment, guaranteed by reconstruction and by the development of their industries and agriculture, and that those peoples will be included within the sphere of international exchanges of i goods and services.