Saye eo nat:

Sar aren

Aid to underdeveloped lands |
— whole country involved

AS IN OTHER Socialist coun-
tries, both the govern-
ment and people of the

German Democratic Republic

take very seriously the ques-

tion of aiding underdeveloped
countries.

For example, when .a con-
ference of African‘ states in Ad-
dis Ababa called for a boycott
of South African goods, the
GDR immediately stopped trad-
ing with that country. The fin-
ancial loss was far from neglig-
ible. Expanding trade — with
South Africa was bringing in
needed dollars.

The modern, highly competi-
tive merchant navy of the GDR
had been carrying freight to
and from South Africa, again
for dollars. When the boycott
was called GDR ships stopped
calling at South African ports.

The membership card of a
GDR trade unionist has two
spaces for monthly stamps. One
space is for regular union dues.
The other ‘is for voluntary
“solidarity stamps”.

The solidarity stamps come
in various denominations. The
higher-priced stamps are in
greater demand. It is obvious
that an effective sum is avail-
able for practical aid to other
countries when six million
union members make generous
monthly contributions.

The solidarity organizations
can often purchase goods at a
good discount, so the money
available actually multiplies. ~

The money is used to buy
shoes, clothing, textiles, medi-
cines and medical instruments,
agricultural implements, sewing
machines, etc., which are sent
to people who have suffered
from colonial rule. Algeria is an
example.

I recently came across evi-

dence that the colonialists also
exercise their own _ interna-
tional solidarity. When small
agricultural. implements were
shipped to Angolan refugees
settling in African countries,
for example, customs officials
of countries through which the
goods passed in transit, includ-
ing British officials, did every-
thing they could to cause delay
and added expense. In some
cases forced storage charges
were so high the recipients
could not pay and the goods
had to be auctioned.

There are many ways in
which a variety of organizations
and the government practice in-
ternational solidarity. For ex-
ample, 50 members of the Free
German Youth_ organization
have been trained for work in
Algeria where they will build
a complete village for 160 fa-
milies in six months. All ma-
chines and materials come from
the GDR.

While it is true that Asian
and African students study in
various countries, in the GDR,
as in the other socialist coun-

Socialist

tries, the government often
pays for their full maintenance.

At government expense many
persons from. underdeveloped
countries are training in in-
dustry. When they return to
their own countries they help to
train others, often using ma-
chinery supplied by the GDR.

African officials came here for
courses on town planning and
administration, and on organiza-
tion of health services. Clinics,
ambulance depots, hopitals are
being established in these coun-
tries with the aid of the GDR.

Because of the high reputa-
tion of medical care in the GDR,
high ranking African officials,
including cabinet ministers,
have come here for treatment.
And Germans have learned the
lessons of the past. There is no
discrimination.

Cypriots wounded in Turkish
air attacks have been flown
here for treatment. The GDR
government has constructed, at
no cost to the people of that
island, a block of apartment-
buildings in Zanzibar.

ties

benefit GDR ~

MEMBER of the socialist

Council for Mutual Eco-

nomic Assistance, East
Germany has fraternal economic
relations with other — socialist
countries. Referring to the eco-
nomic relations of the GDR and
Soviet Union, Walter Ulbricht,
chairman of the GDR state
council, recently said:

The German Democratic Republic is sending vast quantities of

the most diverse material and equipment to scores of underdeveloped
countries. This 55-fcot tall high voltage testing apparatus is for
expoit io the United Arab Rerubti-.

“The delivery of industrial
raw materials and equipment, of
‘fuel, materials and other goods
from the USSR plays an. im-
portant role in meeting the
needs of the GDR.

“The Soviet Union is giving
technical aid to the GDR in the
expansion of metallurgy, energy
and other branches of the na-
tional economy of the GDR as
well as by carrying out geolo-
gical survey work on the con-
tinental area of the German
Democratic Republic and_ its
continental shelf.

“The GDR on its side pro-
duces machines, appliances and
other equipment for a number
of branches of Soviet industry,
builds ships and delivers to the
USSR products of its chemical
industry as well as mass con-
sumer goods.”

Between 1966 and 1970, the
GDR will supply the Soviet
Union with complete installa-
tion for the chemical industry.

The Soviet Union will supply
equipment, undertake designing
work and send technical experts
to increase the productive capa-
city cf the Eisenhuttenkombinat
metallurgical works, The Soviet
Union will also build for the
GDR_ two _ high-capacity. heat
power stations.

At the request of the GDR,
the Soviet Union will deliver
complete boring equipment and
supply technical experts for
geological survey work for oil
and natural gas.

ee
site
Before the war, Leuna, 23 miles east of Leipzig, was ue ani
one of the world’s largest, most productive and versatile deri
plants. At the very end of the war the Allies, in order ent oy
the future Soviet occupation zone of its industrial capacity: * des"
bombers with more than 85,000 bombs in an all-out drive ' ot o
it. Now completely rebuilt, Leuna II is providing chemicals to Me
for the GDR but for most of the socialist countries. Our panes \
some of its giant structures: the smallest is 50 feet, the h!

_ pag
October 9, 1964—PACIFIC TRIBUNE