WOODWORKERS' CONFERENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002100690002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 3, 1999
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 17, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

CLASSIFICATION ^.?.~:;' ",~..
Approved For Releas"l Q94WE T#Z0021006 f" NO.
INF'ORMA' ' "Imo.
COUNTRY Lebanon
SUBJECT ' Ttoodw rkers I Conference
25X1A
PLACE
ACQUIRED
7 Drr.. 1.9"3
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES 3
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
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25X1 C ,,w^ r, SUPPLEMENT T
REPORT NO.
Comrent. The following report on the Woodworkers' Conference
I-S-VOUIC se Mad in view of the fact that the Conference was re--
portedly arranged by the Communist Party and was to be dominated b
Communist Party leaders, particularly by 'ustafa 'Aris. 25X1A^
I- The Woodworkers I Conference was held as scheduled on 7 November 19148, in
the offices of the Federation of Unions. I.fustafa 'Aria, the chairman,
criticized the goverrment for failing to apply the Labor Law, particu.
larly with regard to the woodworkers who are CoLmunists, following which,
workers attacked their ezaployers, accusing them of cruel exploitation.
They denounce(~th~eXg~overnflent for its failure to protect national industry.
2. The -workers fi ~i ' ed6 the Conference by drawing up the draft of the de,-
ci.sions which, had been dictated previously by the leaders
of the Communist Party, and which are as follows:
a. To protect national industry, to reduce the volume of imports, to
adopt an independent economic policy, and to ask the unions and the
industrial organizations, including the woodworkers' unions, to par-
ticipate in the realization of these aims,
b. To reduce the customs tariff on raw materials for the wood industry,
and to limit the profits from these materials.
c. To continue efforts to have the Labor Law applied.
d. To endeavor to create a social security fund, to introduco?free educa-
tion, and to see that the unions have a voice in, and help i plermInt,
these actions.
e. To obtain compensations for the workers who have been released from the
French .'Lissy, and to obtain financial aid for unemployed workers from
the government, through the unions.
To endeavor to have the Labor Law applied to the woodworkers in work--
shops.
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To combat competition among "piece mork" workers, to show what in.
justice the workers suffer through such a systems and to urge the
workers to work on time bases.
h, To try to safeguard union liberties, and to organize the woodworkers
of North and South Lebanon and the Biqa', in order to obtain adequate
guarantees for union.members against pressure from employers*
i. To change the license of the carpenters' union in Beirut to one
. Mich would cover the whole of Lebanon.
J. To warn the reuponsible authorities to stop discriminating against
the working classes, to warn the workers against these authorities,
and to try to strengthen the unions' unity*
kd, To support the efforts that are being made to obtain a license for
the Federation of Unions,, in accordance with Article 106 of the
Labor Lawn
1. To encourage union culture, to invite the workers to read union
literature, particularly the carpenters? publication which is to
become the mouthpiece of the woodworkers in Lebanon, and to hold
cultural meetings.
m. To make efforts to get the workers to join the union, to encourage
them to attend its general meetings, and to take part in its activi-
ties, in order to strengthen it.
To increase contacts and collaboration between the "command" and the
masses, and to encourage the workers to criticize their own mistakes
and the mistakes of their colleagues, both workers and leaders,,
oa To demand the release of Hanna Zarqa and Mustafa Liurad, and to oppose
the arbitrary arrests which are contrary to the Constitution.
25X1A Comment. Zarga, Secretary'-General of the Typographers'
Union, and ur3are both Communists who were interned in Ba'afbek in
May 1948, As announced in the Lebanese press in late Octobers the
Comet detainees still remaining in Baalbek are Baruyr Yeretzian,
Yusuf Khattar Hun, Hanna Zarqa, Mustafa LSirad, Rafiq Rida and
25X1 C Muhammad Llustafa Dib j Marie Pashabazian was still detained in
Dekwaneh, the women's detention camp. 25X1C
25X1C Far , head o Sure ,
had managed to keep these few Communists detained only after a
struggle in which many highly placed government officials, including
the M nister of the Interior, Gabriel iturr, had tried to force him
to release thews on 18 October, I:iurr had promised a large delegation
that Hanna Zarqa mould be released soon.)
To send a massage of support to the striking miners in France,
q. To ask the Executive Committee of the Conference to try to implement
these decisions.
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CENTRAL INTELLMICE AGENC!
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After these decisions had been made, the Conference elected an Executive
Committee as follows: Yusuf Rashid Shartuni, an old associate of Ibustafa 'Aria;
Ni'matallah Atallah; Nasri Sharfan; Mustafa Badawi of North Lebanon;
George Furajhah, Communist propagandist; Atallah Atallah), Husayn Limmad Th 1il;
Nicola 'Aft from the Biqa'; Shaklb Bayruti; As tad Abu Sabi Aria Achabashian.
Comment. Source stated that the Executive Committee was formed of
t ve people,, This Committee was em-
powered to hold meetings at which to select persons to execute the above
decisions.
4. After the meeting, the command of the Communist Party in the various.
Lebanese districts issued orders to spread propaganda among the working
classes to support the Woodworkers and the decisions adopted at the
Conference. Consequent action taken by Tripoli workers led to the
arrest and imprisonment of a number of Communist Party members, namely,
iustafa Badawi, a member of the Woodworkers, Conference Committee,
Khal.id Hamawi, Nitma Qarutah, kiub mmnad Bari, and Elias L urayj.
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