Thursday, March 20, 2014

Thursday, 20 March 1930

Soviet Union:

Moscow:  Newspapers run headlines, articles and cartoons ridiculing the Pope’s prayers on behalf of Christians in Russia.  Pravda runs a cartoon of a warrior wearing the Pope’s headpiece, riding a horse and carrying a banner that reads “Anti-Soviet Crusade.” 

Yet at a meeting of the All-Union Congress of Atheists tonight, speaker after speaker reminds the audience that religion cannot be stamped out of Russia overnight, and warns against excessive force or zeal in closing churches, synagogues or mosques.  The chairman of the meeting says removing God from the people should be done by peaceful persuasion, propaganda and scientific argument.  Special and intensified propaganda should be brought to bear on women and children, says one speaker. 

Elsewhere in the Soviet Union, reports say peasant revolts are flaring up in several places, as the people protest food shortages and having their lands collectivized.  Factory workers are living on black bread and thin soup, and striking for better food.  The OGPU (secret police) is arresting strike and revolt leaders.

London:  

At the naval conference (still going), the meeting is deadlocked.  Italy and France cannot come to agreement on Italy’s insistence for parity with France, and France’s demand for a high level of naval tonnage.  An unnamed British officials says, “My reasoning tells me that the present deadlock will not be broken . . . .”


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