The following news item appeared in the Tiarch 25th issue of the Daily Mirror under the heading "Massacre of the pigs to keep up prices" from Brian Hitchen, New York: ‘Hundreds of pigs have been shot in trenches, then covered with quicklimre - to keep up the price of pork. Pig framers in America's mid-west states each sent one or two pigs to the mass killing to beat the effect cf a slut in the pork market. The National Farmers Orzanisation planned the slaughter to reduce the supply cf pigs and drive up the price to farmers by 4d 2 pound. Pigs were herded ints trenches, hundreds at a time, and shot dead, Farmers shovelled quicklime and earth on top of the carcases, But yesterday the Farmers Organisation changed tactics. They took 1,8 pigs from Illinois to a prison form in Misscuri. The animals will be slaughtered there - but the pork will be given to poor people in the city of St. Louis. Farmer Gerald Nollett of Highlend, Illinois said: "This is a better deal than just killing the pigs. It might demonstrate to the people of this country that the poor feed the poor.' US may resume Greek military aid Financial Times report State Department cfficials believe that they have detected several encouraging developments in Greece over the last month, end there is a possibility that full-sccle US military aid may be renewed by fall. But responsible officials here sre still cauticus about assisting Greece despite the recent publication by the Military jJunte of 1» new political consitution, State Department views came to light during background discussions at e foreign policy conference for various non-fovernmental organisations and also in subsequent interviews with US cfficials, The officials said that the US had exerted influence through diplom:tic contacts with the militery junta, along with other NATO naticns, and was pleased that progress had continued tcwards a return to democracy since the junta seized power April 24, 1967. A key date now is September 1, 1968, when a plebiscite will be held to approve or reject the junta's draft constitution. Officials say that if the constitution is accepted, the chances for resuming US military aid to Greece will be greatly improved,'
We have been asked tc publish.-the following appeal: ‘April 21st, 1968, marks the black anniversary of the military ‘unta's takeover in Greece, The regime has spent the last year tightening its rrip on the country: by eppointine its own men te key positions in 411 areas of public administration, end by making the “oath cf lovalty" a pre-requisite tc the right to work. In the recent report of Amnesty Internati: ‘nal it stated, "The Security Police and Military Police sre unrestricted today in Greece. Since, in Mr. Pattakos's words, "the lew sleeps", the police may arrest anyone, in any place, at any time, with no chligaticn to charge him or inform anyone of his arrest". From the detcils given in this report, it is no exasperation to state that the methods employed by the Greek security police, including torture, sadism, and bleckrail, have not been parallelled in the western world since the heyday cf Nazism. Resistance tc the regime within Greece prcows stronger, Two major resistance movements, Demccratic Defence and Patriotic Front, organised by representatives of all political parties, outlawed since last April, ere working tcorether for a common aim .... the establishment once and for all of true democratic ° government in Greece, The hope for Greece rests at the moment with DD and PF, but they must be able to rely on support from demoerats all over the world, All these in this country who are cutraged by the military regime's very existence, let elone their barbarous methods, and who wish to express their support for the Greek resistance movement, will heve the opportunity to do so at a Rally to be held ot Trafalgar Square on Sunday 21st April at 2.30pm. This will be followed ty a march via Downing Street to the Greek Embassy letters of protest will be delivered at both. The actress Melina Merccuri will be ccmine from New Yurk specially for this demcnstration, and will. speak at Trafalgar Square; together with Greek Democratic Movement leaders, end invited representatives of the political, tradeunion, religicus, academic, and artistic worlds, It is hoped that the BBC Greek Service will record the voiced approval of all those present for a resolution condemning the military regime and expressing solidarity with the Greek resistance mcvement, This will later be broadcast to Greece. This letter is being sent to many crgenisaticns in this country, 211 of which enjoy a freedom that their equivalents in Greece are denied. we hope that. your members will support this. demonstration in large numbers, and that we can rely on you to publicise the event. Posters and leaflets WAY be available very shortly, and will be sent on request. A later bulletin will be issued, giving details cf all the speskers at Trafalgar Square, and cf other events planned for the weekend cf 19th-2lst Arril. Should a suitable cccasion arise before the rally, we would like to send one cf our speakers tc eddress your members on this subject.! The week urges all its readers and supporters to attend this rally and make it it widely known throughcut the movement, We are not completely in agreement with the political implications of everything that is said in this appeal and will be making our views known to the participants. We believe thet Greece is ripe for a struggle for socialism and that the role played by NATO and US imperialism has to be understood if we are to draw all the necessary lessons from the Greek tragedy.