AUGUSTIN JEAN GRUENAIS, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE TRADE UNION INTERNATIONAL OF SEAMEN AND DOCKERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R005000470011-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 18, 1999
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: June 20, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

wooff IFAX 21 CLASSIFICATION S I:T,/C01Q,T 10L - J'00, Oiri CI LS OI5,!
`/'Approved For ReI TERA19 H9MM~ICU4AMB82-0045XR9015DOI34
INFORMATION REPORT CD2NOO.1A2g
COUNTRY France DATE DIST
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
INFO.
Augustin Joan Gruennis' Secretary General of
the Trade union international of Seamen and Dockers
25X1A6a
R:{, _.
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
DATE OF SUPPLEMENT TO 25X1 A2g
IAL i idance with the
ober 1978 from the
Central intelligence to the
N~ psiylevf Date: 2008
Approv C1 or h(eleacP 1Againaina;+
-) :?j (2 W),
25X1 X6 REPORT NO.
lb Augustin Jean Gruenais, Secretary General of the French Federation of
Maritime Unions. Is also Secretary General of the Trade Union international
of Seamen and Dockerso an affiliate of the World Federation of Trade
Unions. Source reports that Gruenais plays an important part in the
anti-MAP campaign,, but has no evidence to support this statement.*
20 Gruenais is described by source as intelligent and a hard worker. He is
well thought of by leaders of the French Communist Party and the Confed-
eration Generale du Travail (CGT) 0 Although a leader in his union'
source believes that Gruenais is not of a. high enough caliber to rise any
further in the CGi
Gruenais was born on 9 August 1909 at Saint-Helen (Cotes-du.-Nord), France,
Both his parents' Eugene and Henrietta Gruenais, are dead. He served in
the French Navy from 6 September 1939 until July 1940' and in the Royal
British Navy from July 1940 to September 1942.
4. During his residence in the United Kingdom Gruenais was known as a Com-
munista He was in contact with the headquarters of the British Communist
Party and was reported to have addressed a May Day meeting in London in
1943 which was organized by the Party.,
5d While in London F, Gruenais was on friendly terms with Waldeck Rochet** the
French Communist peasant leader, and often sought his advice. one
rlenouer*** a nrllitant member of the Port and Dock Union of Le Ha rreq was
Gruenaise assistant, Source believes that if Menouer remained with the
Le Havre Dock Union' an affiliate of the CGT? he is probably new one of
the most prominent personalities in the harbor irk of that organization,
6, On 21 September 1942 Gruenais was appointed Secretary of the French Sea-
men's Union' International Transport Workers Federation' 25 Euston Road'
London' NoW,, 1a In 1943 Gruenais visited the Free French headquarters at
CLASSIFICATION SEcR /CONTROL - U.S
NAVY NSRB_~_Ti 64STRIBUTION
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This document is her raded to
 Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R005000470011-7
SECRV~CONTR0LL - U.S. OF.FL Gt.l LS ONLY
CENTRAL I1JTELLI GLANCE AGENCY
25X1A6a
25X1A2g
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A1gerias After August 1944 he appears to have divided his time between
France and Fngiatzd until 24 July 1946 when he again took up residence in
Franceo His wife, nee Peggy Higgs, a Commaniat and employ" of the
Dail Worker of London,, accompanied him to France. She was born in Canada
KRre dad in England since 1940. Gruenais holds French passport
No. 03972 which was issued on 17 January 1946,,
Gruenais' alleged role in the anti-MDAP campaign was reported pre-
viously in by s. source who is in. no way connects.d with the
source of pare gr tph 10
25X1A2g see whi cat ' contains some biographical information concerning
Waldecc Ro of and an account of his stay in London during the warn
25X1A6a - Comment. 25X1A6a
In a report dated a certain MenouerD an Arab and a
native of Algiers,, is described as one of the most aggressive or-
ganizers of the French Seamen's Union and an active member of the
Comniiz i st Party. He was an intimate friend of Becu ; the head of the
Union Beige dos Ouvriers do Transport of Antwerp, and of the Dutch
Union leaders vrtth whom he associated in London during the war.
Another report states that a Le Menouer v`ras Secretary of the Se n's
Union of Rouen in March 19480
T/CON`r'ROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R005000470011-7