Friday, 28 February 1930

Russia:  

The campaign against religion continues.  Atheist, trade groups and city soviets report they have closed 81 churches throughout Russia in the past week.  The president of the Atheist League gives a speech, broadcast nationwide, in which he urges even more intense religious persecution.  “We must be cleverer than the Pope.  We mustn’t use the institution of stake burning and the guillotine, like the Roman church.  We must propagandize.”  Soviet officials continue to characterize the closings, and the arrests of religious leaders, as prosecution of political dissent, rather than religious persecution.

Berlin:  

Meanwhile in the Reichstag, nationalist party members announce that they intend to question the government of Chancellor Hermann Meuller on its policy toward the religious persecution in Russia.  On the same day, a bill to approve the Young Plan is approved by a conference committee, giving rise to optimism that it will be approved by the full legislature. 

And finally, reports surface that secret meetings have been held in Hamburg, Danzig and Vienna between representatives of the Third International and communist leaders from the United States.  These reports also speak of a worldwide demonstration of communists and the unemployed set for March 6. 

Madrid:  

Unrest over King Alfonso’s rule continues.  Demonstrations rise at a local university, while the cabinet says it supports the monarchy unswervingly.  The Minister of the Interior says the government will take “whatever energetic measures are necessary” against disturbances.

Oakland, USA:  

500 unemployed riot in front of the state employment agency, the sixth such riot in two weeks.  Five demonstrators and two police are injured.