Cominform - Expose the provocateurs and Spies

No. 19 (46), FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1949 31

EXPOSE THE PROVOCATEURS AND SPIES 

Hungarian volunteers who took part in the Spanish liberation war, former fighters of the Rakosi Battalion and other units of the International Brigade adopted a resolution at a meeting held in connection with the trial in which they express their indignation at the subversive espionage activities of the agents of imperialism. 

Hungarians who took part in the liberation war in Spain want to remind their comrades who fought alongside them that while the bitter struggle was being fought against the Franco gang another bitter struggle was also being fought against the spies, provocateurs and trotskyites who got into the ranks of the International Brigade. It should not be forgotten that the fifth column was also able to penetrate into the ranks of the fighters for Spain’s freedom and that at the time it was possible to expose only a part of it. It was particularly difficult to fight the fifth column in the units organised by the underground Communist Parties where the leaderships were engaged in factional struggle. As far as we know such was the case not only in the Hungarian Party but also in the Yugoslav Party where the police of the Prince Regent, Paul, successfully took advantage of the factional struggle to send their spies and provocateurs into the ranks of the fighters for Spain’s freedom. 

The fact that such a provocateur as Rajk, who grouped around himself similar traitors who had been to Spain, has been exposed in Hungary makes it clear that the task of honest Yugoslav fighters who fought in the International Brigade, is to put their ranks in order, vigilantly and strictly, so as not to give shelter to Rajks. It is particularly important to make a careful check on those who were released by the Gestapo in 1944 from  the French internment camps and sent back to Yugoslavia. 

The overwhelming majority of honest Yugoslav emigrants have only now learnt with a shock that among their Party leaders, Ministers, Ambassadors and generals are Gestapo agents. It is clear that the Gestapo was not prompted by generous feelings when it released those men. The Gestapo was working in alliance with the police of Prince Regent Paul. By releasing and sending home traitors, who had been carefully selected, the Gestapo knew it could rely on their services in Yugoslavia just as it relied on Rajk’s services in Hungary. The fact that a considerable number of the spies sent home by the Gestapo in 1944 now spearhead the provocative and vicious campaign of the Tito-clique against the People’s Democracies building Socialism, against the Soviet Union and their own Communists, proves clearly that the Gestapo was right in its calculations. 

Honest Yugoslav fighters for freedom in Spain can defend the glorious memory of the liberation war in Spain, equally dear to all of us, by exposing and branding the spies, and provocateurs of the Gestapo, by expelling them from their ranks as we have done in Hungary. In this way they will serve the great cause of freedom and peace which we defended in Spain and which was foully betrayed by Tito and his gang. The resolution is signed by Lieutenant General Ferenc Munih, Colonel General Mihaly Falvay, Colonels Rezco Szanto, Andras Zalka, Imre Mezo and Sandor Sziklai.