Summary - Matthew Johnson Scholar Russian History - REVIEW: Stephen Goodson book - 'A History of Central Banking and the Enslavement of Mankind'

Summary Matthew Johnson Scholar Russian History REVIEW: Stephen Goodson book - 'A History of Central Banking and the Enslavement of Mankind' RE:  Author:   Stephen Mitford Goodson Book:  A History of Central Banking and the Enslavement of Mankind http://www.blackhousepublishing.com/central-banking Stephen Mitford Goodson South African banker & politician leader:  South Africa's Abolition of Income Tax and Usury Party candidate for the Ubuntu Party  2014 General Elections former director of the South African Reserve Bank (2003–12) previously a financial consultant in Pringle Bay Wikipedia editors indicate Goodson: / maintains WWII provoked by economic success of Germany / book:  Bonaparte & Hitler Versus the International Bankers Wikipedia editors indicate that Goodson (& others) admired Germany's defeat of quote:  'banksters' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Goodson  COMMENT:   Wikipedia entry is classic Wikipedia public opinion shaping SEE:  Kerry Bolton book review: "Goodson was smeared by the Mail and Guardian the following month.[21] Goodson had made some heretical remarks about Germany in a radio interview with Deanna Spingola in 2011, which were used as a pretext to launch the campaign against him." Bolton Article & image of author Stephen Mitford Goodson http://www.counter-currents.com/2014/11/central-banking-and-human-bondage/ *I'm yet to read the Bolton article properly; just quickly skimmed here and there. ---------------------- ---------------------- SUMMARY  + EDITS / additional info, as marked MATTHEW JOHNSON REVIEW OF STEPHEN GOODSON CENTRAL BANKING ENSLAVEMENT BOOK source Matthew Johnson scholar of Russian Orthodox history & philosophy Eurasia Review A review of Stephen Goodson's A History of Central Banking and the Enslavement of Mankind (Black House Publishing, 2014) http://www.sott.net/article/291745-Book-review-A-History-of-Central-Banking-and-the-Enslavement-of-Mankind ---------------------- ---------------------- Capitalism & Communism -- share more in common than in conflict -- US banking & industrial conglomerates: financed Soviet Red Revolution -- US banking & industrial conglomerates built Soviet industry -- state control of entire economy one place is bankers' paradise -- one plan, one banking system, one social system -- banks merely forward cash - expecting STATE (not economy, as such) to REIMBURSE bankers w/ interest -- so:  COMMAND ECONOMY is most banker-friendly -- no necessary connection b/w private banking & a state-owned economy -- it is as simple for a banker to work for a political party as it is to work for Goldman-Sachs Capitalism & Socialism -- are based on MATERIALISM -- production + utility = goods -- EFFICIENCY in methods = ESSENTIAL -- both systems oriented to technology, hold linear view of history --  & seek mechanisation of ALL ASPECTS OF HUMANITY -- as both develop, ECONOMIC SYSTEM & STATE merge into SINGLE MACHINE -- error of libertarians:  insisting that state & private capital are opposed -- opposite is true -- LARGE CONCENTRATIONS OF CAPITAL ARE DEEPLY EMBEDDED in the state -- the STATE is both a PERSONAL BODYGUARD and REGULATOR that keeps market entry impossibly high -- see Microsoft 2010-2012 defeat of US Dept. of Justice -- demonstrates IMBALANCE OF POWER between PRIVATE CAPITAL & STATE Goodson = served on Board of Central Bank of South Africa many years = ie. NOT an isolated academic = witnessed tight control of economic life by banking conglomerates world over -- in vivid colours = book is study in history, not technical economics = to grasp economic phenomenon, economics must be seen = as product of MANY DECADES OF HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT = each aspect of whole reinforces the other & whole is constantly changing like organism = presenting new challenges, new projects & new victims NOTE = secret life of banks = not confined to dictates of small group of men = such men were ACTORS WITHIN A HISTORICAL STREAM that goes back to MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILISATIONS = & ancient zenith in Rome = whole continually based on same set of assumptions, regardless of civilisation within which banking is embedded MANIFESTLY MADE CLEAR IN THIS WORK: -- essential distinction b/w MONARCHY & REPUBLICANISM -- broadly speaking, is:  ECONOMIC -- republics are normally OLIGARCHIES or its seeds -- monarchies are perpetually at war with own nobility, rejecting assumptions of oligarchy -- ALL FORMS OF STRONG STATISM MAKE WAR ON BANKING MONOPOLY:     - China, socialist party     - Belarus     - St Petersburg royal bank (czarist Russia)     - Augustan era centralised dictatorship EDIT - Additional info provided (Augustan Era)  Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD)  LINK | Source First Roman emperor  /  Golden Age of Latin literature Augustan era centralised dictatorship STRONG STATISM {not beneficial to banking monopoly} -- marked by civil peace & prosperity -- highest literary expression in poetry -- themes:  patriotism, love, nature -- Virgil; Horace; Livy; Pollio; Ovid SEE  http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/augustus.html ------- NOTE:  No authoritarian leader  will accept competition from  an all-powerful economic mediator ------- DESPITE few exceptions on both sides,  HISTORY IS CLEAR that: STRONG STATES =  based on TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY, reject alchemy of MONEY & INTEREST ROME - 1% -- by Cicero, Rome moving from Senatorial oligarchy  -- to military empire of Sulla & successors -- result following civil wars:  minting centralised & usury controlled -- Julius Caesar sought to LIMIT interest & BANNED COMPOUND INCREASE OF INTEREST -- any accumulated interest could NEVER EXCEED original principal EDIT - additional info provided (Byzantium) Byzantium -- ancient Greek colony on site that became Constantinople (later Istanbul) -- colonised by Greeks from Megara in 657 BC -- emblem:  6-ray star and crescent motif (but motif assoc. w/ Sassanid Persians) -- Byzantines devoted to:     -- Hecate / Hekate - goddess shown holding two torches or a key / later in triple form     -- crossroads, entranceways, dogs, light, moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs & poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, sorcery     -- key, rope, and dagger  /  key to underworld     -- rope:  umbilical cord, rebirth, renewal     -- dagger:  symbol of ritual power     -- one of main deities worshipped in Athenian households as protective goddess     -- goddess only visible to dogs / her name called at night at crossroads of cities     -- said to live near tombs of victims of murder     -- Italy by the lake of Avernus, there was a scared dark grove of Hecate     -- demonised by Catholic authorities in Middle Ages     -- known as Queen of Witches / Queen of Ghostworld     -- Depicted wearing a gleaming headdress of stars     -- Carian origin (Karkiya, Kakisa) mentioned Hittite records     -- Luwian ancestry poss. / crests on their helmets     -- according to Stabo (Gk philo/hist.) -  Clarians of all barbarians,  tendency to intermingle with Greeks     -- roamed whole of Greece as mercenaries     --  owl is her messenger, and the willow is her tree SOURCE - Wikipedia & below     http://www.sibyllineorder.org/history/hist_hecate.htm Byzantium - 5% -- the Roman Empire eastern branch -- interest officially limited to 5% (approx) -- Basil II rejected interest altogether & forced wealthy landowners to financially assist poor peasants -- strength such as this common, but usually followed by:  ARISTOCRATIC REACTION -- such rulers replaced with PUPPET EMPERORS in Constantinople by greedy aristocrats (elite) -- even so, eastern Rome (Byzantium):     -- vibrant, populist economy     -- currency was global standard as far east as China     -- peasants were free landholders feudalism existed nowhere     -- inflation DID NOT EXIST     -- trade flows always favoured the capital     -- for this reason, oligarchic states:         -- Venice         -- Dubrovnik         -- Sicily (Norman interlopers)     -- CONTINUALLY FINANCED ROME'S ENEMIES 1204 - after Norman Crusaders sacked Constantinople -- dominance of Venetian oligarchs was established -- Byzantium MARKED FOR DEATH once emperors of 1300s & 1400s (14th C. & 15th C.) -- GAVE AWAY THEIR FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR REGULAR INFUSIONS OF VENETIAN MONEY -- LOST ALL ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE - immense wealth flowed east in interests payments to Italy -- Byzantium finally collapsed under ITALIAN-FINANCED TURKISH INVASION in 1453 -- Venice became Turkey's most significant ally ---------------------- ----------------------------- NOTE:  when INTEREST TIGHTLY CONTROLLED, continued COMPOUND LEAKAGE of cash to banking centres does not exist. Blocking financial haemorrhaging means, value remains with small businessman & small landholder WITHOUT GEOMETRICALLY INCREASING MASS OF INTEREST a fraction of today's labour was sufficient to maintain monetary stability, supplies & a NOBILITY FORCED TO SERVE THE STATE rather RULE the state With modern system of usury, CENTRALISATION UNAVOIDABLE as COMPOUND INTEREST continually INCREASES FLOW of REAL VALUE out of economy to coffers of banking cabal ------- ENGLAND -- prior to Norman invasion, Anglo Saxon England, after Viking attacks, in FINANCIAL GOLDEN AGE:     -- small landholders norm     -- urban trade maintained low prices     -- lack of liquid capital forestalled noble centralisation     -- feudalism could not exist under this system     -- USURY WAS BANNED IN MERCIA under Offa the Great     -- even under Alfred's attempt to centralise power in Wessex against Danes,     -- Alfred also REFUSED 'SERVICES' OF BANKING CABAL     -- William's planned assault on Anglo-Saxondom to remove Scandinavian influence from England     -- interested ITALIAN BANKS     -- USURY PERMITTED FOR FIRST TIME UNDER NEW NORMAN HEGEMONY     -- old Anglo aristocracy was SLAUGHTERED     -- William imported a new nobility w/ close ties to ITALY     -- feudalism made first appearance on English soil     -- Ireland, several centuries later, would also see 'benefits' of Norman progress     -- under Stephen, such progress would lead to banking system charging average 33%     -- on collateral lands & 300% on capital (ie tools in the cities)     -- in TWO GENERATIONS a full 66% of England's lands     -- wound up in hands of ITALIAN & JEWISH BANKERS     -- this fuelled constant drive to take more & more FRENCH LAND for Angevin Empire     -- this was lot of Norman Britain until reign of Edward I (d. 1307)     -- Edward I limited Byzantines (where many Anglo-Saxons served after 1066)     -- Edward I:         -- tightly LIMITED interest & its accumulation         -- EXPELLED BANKERS from England         -- ushered in prosperity         -- {cut short by plague}         -- just as Byzantium gave away economic sovereignty to Venice for use of their navy         -- Britain moved in opposite direction against Italy & Rome         -- England was prosperous until plague         -- first time since Edward the Confessor, rule of small holder had returned         -- a working year amounted to 14 WEEKS -- all essentials obtained         -- church calendar (eastern & western Europe) required over 100-140 DAYS OFF a YEAR         -- capitalism was to make war on the church & seek Protestant sanction for eliminating saints days         -- once Luther's influence had waned, Reformation had different ideas on money         -- after War of Roses &  Henry VII stabilisation of Britain         -- time ripe for rise of banks         -- Reformation & immorality of Henry VIII gave banks excuse needed         -- Reformation was Stuarts attempt to centralise power after old nobility had slaughtered itself         -- monastic lands were secularised         -- land markets were developed         -- priority:  financing long-distance trade         -- Henry VII was last gasp of powerful traditional state         -- from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I:         -- NEW OLIGARCHY GAINED POWER that required pomp of monarchy to hide behind         -- once it became confident in its role, it required William of Orange to justify oligarchy                 SPAIN         -- once Islam ejected, opted to expel Sephardi, normal allies of Muslim Caliphate         -- Spain's nationalism substantial:  both church & state radically reformed & purged                 AMSTERDAM         -- Sephardi expelled from Spain moved to Amsterdam         -- Sephardi rebuilt banking base creating a 'square' of influence that contained         -- four (4) corners:             -- Baltic, grain trade             -- Amsterdam, banks             -- Constantinople & Turkish market             -- Poland (most importantly)         -- these = overland routes of modernity  as GRAIN PRICES SKY-ROCKETED IN WEST         -- forcing east to EXPORT more and more                 ELIZABETH I         -- during & after English Revolution / Spain was the enemy         -- Catholic Ireland sought Spanish assistance vs. Elizabeth I dispossession of native Gaels         -- Cromwell to punish this with genocidal harshness                 SPAIN         -- Spain import of silver from New World threatened RULE OF BANKS         -- BANKING REGIME FINANCED Dutch rebellion against Spanish         -- world's PRESS spared no excess DENOUNCING Spanish army in Northern Europe         -- British ENEMIES OF BANKING ELITE looked to Spain for assistance                 BRITAIN         -- 1645 - Charles I defeated         -- 1653 - Cromwell military dictatorship instituted over Britain & Ireland         -- BANKING REGIME now had its enemies destroyed & its position assured         -- 30 years later (William) - BANKERS have England to use against France & Spain                 JACOBITES         -- spent their time attacking BANKING ELITE that had taken power         -- James I & James II did not believe in divine right of kings         -- neither wanted to impose dictatorship         -- Cromwell sought that honour         -- yet James I & James II accused of every imaginable crime         -- James sought religious tolerance not Spanish theocracy         -- Whigs later claimed         -- Whiggery was PARTY OF USURY and, therefore, partly most VEHEMENT         -- in seeking WAR with France, Spain &, eventually, Russia                 BRITAIN - PARLIAMENT         -- parliament now INSTRUMENT of CAPITALISM & of EMPIRE         -- seeking any excuse to take revenge on Spain         -- 'democracy' & 'will of the people' were considered as         -- INCIDENTAL to INTERESTS of URBAN MERCHANTS and TRADERS         -- Britain was now an OLIGARCHY         -- Roman Catholic rulers long forbidden to rule in London         -- irrespective of James I desire for neutrality         -- William WAR with FRANCE - FINANCED BY AMSTERDAM BANKING     [mention of Stuart marriage, childless ... relevance not clear (to me)]                 UKRAINE & POLAND                 -- CAPITALISM / BANKING REGIME         -- West growing population + centralisation of states = INCREASED DEMAND for GRAIN         -- result:  NOBILITY INTENSIFICATION OF SERFDOM OVER PEASANTS         -- FORCED PRODUCTION TOWARDS *EXPORT*         -- Britain:             -- Cromwell slow genocide of:                 -- Irish resisters                 -- English Jacobite resisters                         -- Polish nobility gave Jews full monopoly over:             -- overland trade             -- urban life             -- lease-holding             -- alcohol         -- mainstream on Ukrainian history all forced to admit this         -- IMPOTENT POLISH MONARCHY         -- sought to gain power via alliance w/ towns         -- POLISH NOBILITY countered this with Khazar Jews         -- after fall of Italy [?] centuries prior         -- Poland new Jewish home         -- mainstream power & success reached such heights         -- that common rabbinic claims were that 1600s were 'messianic' time           -- common claim amongst the more religious Jews that messiah at hand ** 'HETMAN'  = political title.  assigned to military commanders.  second-in-charge after monarch [derived from Germanic dialect] COSSACK HETMAN BOGDAN KHMELNYTSKY revolt resulted:         -- fought opposite to Cromwell direction         -- Cossacks fought AGAINST long-standing oligarchy, while Cromwell sought to establish one                 -- 1648 rise of Khmelnytsky - defined Ukraine nationalism for eternity         -- Poland almost collapsed         -- Jews fled for lives         -- Crimean Tatars freed themselves from Ottoman Turkey vassalage         -- Rome was in a panic as churches (with long history of usury) were burnt         -- their existence was based on ruins of Orthodox churches a century before         -- reeling from Reformation, Rome now faced the eradication in the east, too         -- Hetman Khmelnytsky declared:                     "The Monarch of All Rus." Russia, Vienna, Prussia & Paris           by Patriarch of Jerusalem, Paisios                   -- now centralised power could defy Rome         -- Russia had issue w/ Rome since it was PAPACY         -- that declared CRUSADE against northern Russia 1256 ROME financed MONGOL expansion  & declared POLISH ATTACK on Ukraine 'holy war'         -- Paris & Vienna remained Catholic - but a national Catholicism         -- Paris & Vienna CROWN selected Bishops; not Rome                 -- ROME talked Crimeans into abandoning Orthodox Slavs         -- 1657 led to division in Cossack host         -- b/w hetmans of the two banks of the Dnieper river, at war         -- Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky & Pavlo Teteria sought Polish alliance         -- Briukhovetsky (in east) went to Moscow         -- Doroshenko, desperate, turned to Ottomans / Turks         -- 1708 - hetman Ivan Mazepa allied with SWEDES DISASTER:  old Ukraine culture mercilessly destroyed by Peter I, Turks & Crimean Tatars         -- Ukraine historians refer to this period as:  'Ruin'         -- Russia:  moved closer to Dnieper River         -- Vienna, alarmed re potential Russification of most of east (incl. Balkans)         -- Vienna mobilised against Russia         -- [weakling, sneaky, rotten, cowardly, spineless, greedy Polish nobles return]         -- 100 years later:  Cossack Haidaimak rebellions         -- led to: Treaty of Andrusovo, 1667 (treaty of 'eternal friendship')         -- treaty b/w Poland & Russia divides Ukraine b/w the two empires         -- Cossack Haidaimak rebellion crushed by effort of Russia & Poland         -- all returned to as it was prior to 1648         -- Cossack rule, like England, society = counties - full local democracy         -- ABSENCE OF INTEREST & USURY         -- traditional Slavic smallholder communities re-emerged & basic political         -- & with this economic equality re-emerged         -- St. Petersburg financing Cossack nobles = imposition of OLIGARCHY that         -- made very easy for Catherine II mid-1700s to put end to Hetmanate forever UNITED STATES -- decentralised colonies generally prosperous -- plentiful land; excellent ports -- founders of America differed on issues, but unanimous on one:  banking -- issued own money (called colonial script) & NO INTEREST -- exception was Alexander Hamilton -- dollar remained steady until 1917 EDIT - definitions / look-ups camarilla =  group of courtiers or favourites who surround a king or ruler =  group of confidential, often scheming advisers; a cabal fm. Spanish - dimunitive of 'camara' - room / fm. Latin 'camera' - chamber] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/camarilla cabal -- secret or exclusive set of persons; clique fm. French 'cabale' / fm Medieval Latin:  cabala - see kabbalah http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cabal UNITED STATES, since Civil War, following boom bust cycles set stage for privately owned camarilla:     -- rise in federal power;     -- WWI;     -- coming American imperium (empire / supreme power) result:  'Fed' or Federal Reserve (as in shipping company 'Federal Express' vs. government controlled) FEARS OF ANTI-FEDERALISTS WERE CORRECT: WASHINGTON US GOVT. EXTREMELY POWERFUL & CUT OFF FROM COMMON AMERICANS -- had long been in thrall to oligarchy in embryo which burst forth in form of:     -- Fed     -- Rockefeller Empire     -- Carnegie Cult     -- the warfare state (tested in Spanish American war)     -- WWI (final months only) USA - 1914-1920 -- prices rose 125% -- dollar lost almost 60% of its value in SIX (6) years -- Federal bonds saw VALUE DROP by 20% -- older bonds became more dear -- newer bonds led to recall by banks -- this meant the money came due -- rail-roads & other transport more expensive:  instability -- long-standing linchpin of American prosperity, small farms - PRICED OUT OF EXISTENCE -- massive wealth transfer from the countryside to the cities -- agriculture production dropped by 50% -- war on rural America declared & is yet to end -- DEFICIT soon to be made up by Agribusiness -- centralised credit to attract large conglomerates, rather than small businesses -- 1927 - Fed lowered interest rates (INCREASED MONEY SUPPLY) -- oligarchy of roaring twenties - open, confident entity without serous resistance -- money seen as value and power in own right, detached from manufacture -- wealth generated went to stock market, boosting demand & inflating prices -- margins augmented by DEBT -- price-earnings ration went as high as 50:1 -- ie stock prices many times higher than actual productive nature of invested capital -- ie stock prices had no relation to financial health of firms, productivity of labour or value added -- 1927 - US stock market was a FRAUD -- prices based on speculative investment, easy money & perception that faux grown could last forever -- 1929 Fed INCREASED INTEREST RATE to 6% -- stock market as a whole, value drops by 83% -- 10,000 banks became insolvent -- brokers working on debt bubbles were ruined RUSSIA -- state controlled serfs freed by Tsar Nicholas I -- 1861 Alexander II liberation of serfs -- economic prosperity & growth commenced -- autocratic of monarchs = confidence to pass legislation in interest of peasants ---------------------- ---------------------- UNLIKE:  liberation of Austrian serfs; unlike freeing of American slaves: ***  RUSSIAN SERFS WERE EMANCIPATED WITH LAND *** -- state compensated indebted nobility & over time peasant was to repay state -- payments were VERY LOW -- Tsar Alexander III cancelled payments altogether -- one more nail in nobility's coffin -- Russian serfs had never been slaves -- serfdom - was a reaction to Swedish  Polish invasions of 1600s -- affected only southern peasants in black earth regions -- never existed in the north or in Siberia -- central Russia, affected only serfs required to perform labour -- by 1840s most peasants paid money rent -- making peasants tenants rather than serfs -- serfdom in Russia meant the guarantee of peasant land ownership -- & also assurance of noble incomes as they served the state, usually in military capacity -- as everybody served somebody, system was balanced -- Tsar Paul & mother Catherine II:  nobles liberated from state service -- nobles became politically sterile RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY / JUSTICE -- peasants had FULL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN COMMUNE where all posts were elected -- the VOLOST or county government was ALSO WHOLLY ELECTED -- with EQUAL REPRESENTATION from all classes -- COURT SYSTEM both at VOLOST & COMMUNE level was supported on peasant democracy -- communal judges = exclusively peasants -- volost courts = 2 noble and 2 peasant representatives -- for most part, Russian nobles fiscally worse off than peasantry; were drowning in debt & w/out useful work -- nobles little to do but buy expensive Western luxuries they could not afford -- peasant commune had the right to nullify federal law -- peasant commune:   generally self-sufficient in economics and social life -- Tsarist Russia suffered from excess democracy. ZEMSTVO REPLACES VOLOST 1861 -- 1861 volost replaced by zemstvo, county administration with:     -- lower house (peasants)     -- upper house (nobles, usually more to mid wealth) -- zemstvo in charge of education; infrastructure; church life; tax collection; police. -- there was NO PART OF PEASANT LIFE THAT WAS NOT BASED ON LOCAL DEMOCRACY -- 'land captain' - usually poor noble -- elected to mediate conflicts between peasants and nobles -- peasants would go to land captain if issue with commune or the zemstvo authorities BRITAIN almost ENTIRELY financed REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT, but:     -- freedom of serfs     -- freedom of press     -- zemstvo     -- educational improvements (many) -- undermined the British / banking regime financing of revolution in Russia -- 1881 - Alexander II was assassinated for it -- Alexander III continued father's reform programs -- Alexander III smashed the revolutionaries -- Alexander III premature death:  1894 -- Alexander III established:     -- Peasant Land Bank - early 1880s         -- giving INTEREST-FREE LOANS to peasants         -- sought to channel investment money into agricultural movement RUSSIA MOST COMPREHENSIVE LABOUR REGULATIONS IN EUROPEAN HISTORY -- drafted & passed by Tsar Alexander III and his Finance Minister, Nikolai Bunge -- Tsar Alexander III son, Nicholas II, added continually to labour regs until WWI ---------------------- ---------------------- CHILD LABOUR WAS ABOLISHED IN RUSSIA 100 YEARS BEFORE IT WAS ABOLISHED IN GREAT BRITAIN 1867 -- all races in the Russian Empire had an equality of status & opportunity / unparalleled in modern world -- Czar Nicholas II (1894-1917) & his state bank created a workers paradise unrivalled in history of mankind -- equally autocratic German emperor passed similar legislation -- economic growth in both agriculture and industry averaged 15% yearly -- population growth boomed -- Russian:  peasants were given free land & tools in lush, southern Siberia (not the frozen north) -- to colonise Siberia:  vast empty location about twice the size of the US -- 1905:  90% of arable land in Russia was in hands of peasants / no industrialised society matched this -- peasants were buying noble land in massive quantities in Russia -- Russia almost completely self-sufficient in production & resources -- Russia domestic market almost 99% of production & resources -- Russia domestic market almost 99% of production / needed nothing from abroad -- all Russia received from West is ideology RUSSIA PROTECTION -- GEORGIA sought Russian protection from Islamic neighbours -- Tibet, XIII Dalai Lama of Tibet, Thoubten Gyamtso sought Tsar Nicholas II Russia protection -- to defend Buddhist monarchy drowning in British opium -- Russia seen as saviour of al who fought British & Chinese imperialism -- Russia was 'White Saviour' long prophesied by Chinese Sages -- oil discovered in Baku (today's Azerbaijan) - then Russian Empire ---------------------- ---------------------- ROTHSCHILD DYNASTY -- Rothschild dynasty:     -- declared war on Russia     -- financed Russian revolutionaries     -- created ANTI-RUSSIAN COALITION IN FRANCE -- Rothschild alliance created in retaliation for Russian success -- based on FINANCING:     -- Turkey     -- Turkish tribes of Russian south     -- Persia     -- Japan (most menacing) -- colonial Turkish occupation of Balkans was approved by Rothschilds -- BECAUSE without Turkey, pro-Russian states (eg Serbia & Bulgaria) would have filled vacuum -- British press praised Turks as liberators from 'Orthodox superstition' & held Russians to be Mongols -- whose 'fangs' must be kept out of Balkans [COMMENT:  British press were always propagandist assh*les] RUSSIA -- helped finance Bulgaria & Serbia -- sought to unify China once Manchu state fell -- indirect protectorate:  Tibet -- protectorate:  literate & urbanised Georgian state THUS:  UNSTABLE BALANCE OF POWER B/W:     1. BANKERS' PARADISE         vs.     2. WORKERS' PARADISE ---------------------- ---------------------- EDIT info re Japan / Asia region: 1879-1880 Anglo-Afghan War -- Russia supported Afghanistan against England -- Japan recreated under auspices of Royal navy      Japanese Navy = third largest navy in the world by 1920      {behind British Royal Navy & US Navy}          British supplied Japan with ship building:           - Kotaka destroyer 1887          - Yoshino fastest cruiser in world 1892          - Chyoda armoured cruiser 1889 plus other      What followed:          - Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)          - Suppression of Boxer Rebellion (1900)              - with Western powers              -- Japs supplied 18 of total 50 ships              -- Japs 20,840 army of total 54,000          *allowed Japs to observe Western combat methods         1904-1905 - Russo-Japanese War         - 6 battleships (all British-built)         - 8 armoured cruisers (4 British-, 2 Italian-, 1 German-built Yakumo, and 1 French-built Azuma)         - 9 cruisers (5 Japanese, 2 British and 2 U.S.-built)         - 24 destroyers (16 British- and 8 Japanese-built)         - 63 torpedo boats (26 German-, 10 British-, 17 French-, and 10 Japanese-built)                 * majority of Jap losses = hitting Russian mines                 Result:     Japanese victory; Treaty of Portsmouth                 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Navy#British_shipbuilding          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War                   Boxer Rebellion 1900-1901                       Opium Wars of 1839-1842 and 1856-1860              British forced the Chinese to accept the import of opium              in return for Chinese goods              trading centres were established at major ports              largest @ Shanghai              French, German, British, & American merchants demanded large tracts of land              asserted "extra-territorial" rights:  subject to laws of their own country not China              weak China govt failed to resist inroads on sovereignty              did not resist demands from Europeans              eg. right to build railways, & concession              resentment created among large sections of population              anti-foreign sentiment - eventually led to Chinese Revolution 1911, toppling imperial dynasty                      -- 1899 the I-ho-ch'uan & other militant societies          -- combined in a campaign against westerners & westernised Chinese          -- missionaries and other civilians were killed, women were raped          -- European property was destroyed          -- uprising spread beyond the secret societies          -- West decides to intervene to protect territorial & trade ambitions          https://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/boxer/ Author of review, Matthew Johnson Eurasia Review, speculates what may have happened had Russia not been party to WWI & how world might have appeared. Speculates: -- England & mercantile capitalism may not have developed -- Germany may have allied with Russia over Vienna -- African colonies would have been liberated earlier ---------------------- ---------------------- EDIT - include info re US take-over Hawaii HAWAII UNITED STATES financed the Hawaiian crown's overthrow [1893] "The United States had previously recognized the Kingdom of Hawaii’s independence. But on January 17, 1893, U.S. troops took part in a conspiracy led by a small group of wealthy businessmen and sugar plantation owners to overthrow the monarchy of Queen Liliuokalani. Most Hawaiians opposed the nearly bloodless coup, as did incoming President Grover Cleveland. Once Cleveland left office, however, the United States fulfilled the conspirators’ wishes by annexing the islands in August 1898. Hawaii became a formal territory two years later and a state in 1959. Seafaring Polynesians discovered Hawaii perhaps as early as 200 A.D. by paddling double-hulled canoes across thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean.  ..." " ... early-arriving whites brought over Hawaii’s first venereal diseases and mosquitoes, along with smallpox, measles and other epidemics that reduced the native population by roughly 75 percent over the span of just a few decades. " "Under King Kalakaua’s reign from 1874 to 1891, Hawaii ceded away the rights to Pearl Harbor and signed a free-trade agreement with the United States that greatly benefited the islands’ sugar planters, who came to control about four-fifths of all arable land. Yet the white business class remained unsatisfied. Under the threat of force, they pushed through a so-called Bayonet Constitution that turned the monarch into little more than a figurehead. The constitution also enfranchised more whites even as it diluted the voting power of native Hawaiians and Asian immigrants. Kalakaua, meanwhile, drove the kingdom and himself deep into debt with such expenditures as the construction of a new palace." http://www.history.com/news/hawaiis-monarchy-overthrown-with-u-s-support-120-years-ago Author:   "Compared to English colonialism, Russian expansion was never exploitative, but defensive." -- Russian imperialism was not profit seeking as the British empire -- Native populations were normally treated well -- eg.   Armenians and Muslims of Asia, never forced to convert to Orthodoxy or speak Russian -- eg.  Islamic subjects took their oath to the Tsar on the Koran -- Poland was granted one of the most liberal constitutions in the world -- Finland, colony of Russia, was totally independent in every respect except foreign policy How is it conceivable to imagine Russia Empire great expansion, had Russia not been involved in WWI? See Russian potential below: ---------------------- ---------------------- RUSSIA 1860 - State Bank of Russian Empire -- founded to boost trade turnovers & strengthen monetary system -- auxiliary institution under Ministry of Finance to 1894 -- 1894 - turned to banker of bankers, operated as instrument of govt policy -- issued coins & notes -- regulated money supply -- provided industry & commerce w/ low interest loans thru commercial bank -- continued large-scale  development, population growth & industrialisation -- threat to usury -- Russian state planned & directed investment w/ local funds (more then private capital did) -- French were only substantial external stakeholders in Russian industrialism -- if this was replaced later by Russo-German joint projects, usury would be severely disadvantaged -- London motivated to act: Congressman L.T. McFadden speech to House of Reps 1932 (quoted by Goodson): -- Western banks financed Trotsky's mass meetings of discontent & rebellion (held New York) -- Western banks paid Trotsky passage to New York from Russia -- Western banks aimed to destroy Russia with Trotsky help -- Western banks fomented & instigated Russian Revolution -- Western banks placed large American dollars fund at Trotsky disposal in Sweden bank branch -- Western banks aimed to break up Russian homes & have children flung on the streets -- Western banks have begun break up American homes, dispersing American children [Comment:  this would probably be reference to repossession of mortgaged homes, as it was the Depression era] McFadden & Goodson were silenced. Usury Exploitative Lending - Compound Interest -- no issue like usury -- no power that can match that of compound interest -- the left is the product of banks as much as the neocon 'right' -- monarchy was overthrown as a barrier to financial penetration -- monarchy replaced w. global oligarchy controlling over 80% of the global GDP -- all established in the name of 'freedom', 'progress' and 'democracy' -- result:  continued monopolization of wealth and labour North Dakota example given: -- North Dakota established state-owned bank -- revenues of state deposited into state bank -- state bank provides low interest loans to farmers & small business -- all profits revert to state -- no compound interest charged against citizen -- North Dakota not affected by real estate disaster 2007 -- state GDP growth almost 100% since 1997 -- personal per capita growth around 140% in same time -- those that claim North Dakota small petroleum industry responsible -- look at Alaska, Nigeria -- look at Somalia & Chad (sitting on rivers of oil) -- look at Indonesia & Burma, also large oil reserves -- these remain fairly undeveloped Goodson contends that whenever state banks rule finance of a society, economy does well: -- Goodson did analysis of 1930s Germany, Italy & early 20th Century Japan -- all these featured state-controlled banks, low interest loans, state directed investment -- & aversion to libertarian free markets -- all these reaped:  triple digit growth rates, zero unemployment, low inflation -- today, China, Taiwan & Belarus = had modern-day state banks system Belarus, Ukraine & Russia came unstuck -- once IMF & Harvard University helped the Mafia arrange private deals -- Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko stopped privatisation, centralised power & nationalised finance -- Ukraine has lost 70% of its industry & witnessed 80% of well-educated population living below poverty line -- Belarus however, unemployment at 1%; industry grown since 2000. Matthew Johnson remarks that what three countries did with economic success = they cannot be held up as standard-bearer for healthy society [comment:  I think he means Germany, Italy & Japan ... but I'm not sure.] 1997 - George Soros engineered Asian currency meltdown -- only TWO economies UNAFFECTED = state-controlled banks:  China & Taiwan -- these former powerhouses became official wards of IMF as consequence of monetary vulnerability:     -- South Korea     -- Japan     -- Thailand -- lifetime employment policies were abolished; living standards have fallen. Libya & Syria -- prior to attacks on these countries, both registered double-digit annual growth -- countries were reaching first world status -- both countries had STATE CONTROLLED BANKS & state-directed investment IRAQ -- Saddam Hussein's Iraq was also reaching first world status -- USA then engineered war with Iran -- USA then attacked Iran 1990 BURMA / MYANMAR -- Burmese not taking chances -- Burmese state bank under control of Ministry of Finance -- headed by Major-Gen. Hla Tun (Western education in finance) -- deputy is Colonel Hle Swe -- Burma a target for Western speculation & political attacks b/c:     -- oil;     -- rich soil;     -- minerals;     -- close ties w/ China;     -- increasingly educated population. Burma contending with: -- ongoing & multi-front civil war -- Western sanctions -- Western-backed (?) separatist movements -- but has still built x10 universities; several dozen dams & increased literacy to 80% -- & ensured peasants own own land since 1999 WWI - Gavrilo Princip | Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand -- did not start WWI -- Serbia exhausted after Balkan Wars / could not fight again -- target, Archduke Ferdinand, was most pro-Serb of royal family -- target did not make sense -- Serbia acceded to Vienna demands after assassination -- Germany was impressed by Serbian desire for peace -- Austria itching for casus belli (case for war) since Serbian rebellion vs. Austria occupation of Bosnia -- & artificial creation of 'state of Albania' (Austrian colonialism) -- Serbian national day (Vidovdan) when nationalistic spirit high - odd choice -- coincided wit highly inflammatory military manoeuvres in Bosnia -- lacked normal security detail for visiting hostile territory -- motorcade inexplicably rerouted by own handlers where assassination group waiting -- Vienna DECLARED WAR BEFORE Serbian answer to Austrian ultimatum received ---------------------- source Matthew Johnson scholar of Russian Orthodox history & philosophy Eurasia Review A review of Stephen Goodson's A History of Central Banking and the Enslavement of Mankind (Black House Publishing, 2014) http://www.sott.net/article/291745-Book-review-A-History-of-Central-Banking-and-the-Enslavement-of-Mankind ---------------------- ---------------------- COMMENT The review article covers areas of history and politics that interest me.  It covers things in a straightforward way, so it was really enjoyable doing this summary. There's a lot of information I wasn't aware of, which is cool. And it gives a nice overview of some history that's useful keeping in mind. Got a bit lost when he started talking about something financial ... think it was shares or speculation. Can't remember exactly what it was ... and I'm too slack to go looking, now. I've spent forever on this and I'm going to need a break from it, as I'm reaching the limit of my meagre ability to concentrate. Reading this, I really didn't like the sound of the self-interested, spineless Polish nobles. It looks like all nobles are bad news, and the modern-day nobles are those that control corporations rather than estates. Not impressed with Italy financing Turk take-down of the eastern end of the Roman Empire (Byzantine) 1453. From the sound of this article, England lost its sovereignty hundreds of years ago. America assigned sovereignty when she handed over control of finance to private bankers in the early 1900s. So does that mean the death warrant has been signed for the American Empire and it's just a matter of time? It's interesting learning that capitalism and communism are similar, materialistic and production focused, mechanising, or whatever ... etc. Rome financing Mongols is beyond belief:  Rome deserved to fall. Christianity is absolutely loathsome.   Europeans need to go back to the traditions of their ancestors.  I like the sound of Cossack Bogdan Khmelnytsky and his church burning.  lol    Must read some more about him when I have more time. This will sound silly, but I wish I could be right there in the past -- all of the past -- sort of safely observing like I am now, only a bit more closely.  Wouldn't that be great? If I had a genie in a bottle my wish would be time travel ... which is stupid, I guess, because the time and everything in that space of time is forever gone. PS ... NOTE:  Europe only required 14 weeks a year of work for all essentials (above).  Church had over 100 calendar holidays!  WTF ... modern labour really is SLAVERY.  lol

Britain - Free Political Prisoner Assange

Britain Free Political Prisoner Assange UKGov J4A ---------------------- ----------------------

European History - Early Zionism, Austro-Marxism, Nationalism

Info SOURCE as marked European History  Early Zionism, Austro-Marxism, Nationalism Anti-Defamation League (ADL) former : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith international Jewish NGO, based USA f. 1913 B'nai B'rith = Heb. 'Children of the Covenant' formerly: Söhne des Bundes (Sons of the Covenant) NOTE:  THAT TRANSLATION IS NOT CORRECT 'BUNDES' IS 'Federal' (or  union?)  So it would make them the union or federation of sons? However:  'Bündnis' is the following, which also includes 'covenant': alliance coalition covenant league entente f. 1843 by Jewish immigrants from Germany early activities, 1800s & 1900s: mutual aid, social service, philanthropy 1851 - Covenant Hall:  1st  Jewish community centre USA 1875 - lodge established in Toronto 1875 - lodge established in Montreal 1882 - lodge established in Berlin 1887 - lodge established in Cairo 1888 - lodge established in Jerusalem Jerusalem lodge 1888 established: 9 years prior to: Theodor Herzl First Zionist Congress Basel, Switzerland 1881 -- mass immigration of Eastern European Jews to USA 1903: meeting B'nai B'rith Executive Committee Washington DC & its President: Simon Wolf / re presentation of petition to Russian govt -- Kishinev riots US govt attendees: Theodore Roosvelt, US President John Hay, US Secretary of State Kishinev progrom / riots (Russia Empire, Bessarabia)  -- anti-Jewish riot --  then capital of Bessarabia, Russian empire (now Moldova) -- 2-day violent attack / 47-49 Jews killed / many injured -- 700 houses destroyed / 600 stores pillaged -- followed by subsequent political protest against Czar, -- that turned to random attack on Jews -- 19 Jews killed / 56 injured -- 600 such riots swept over Russian Empire -- followed October Manifesto of 1905 October Manifesto 1905 -- issued by Emperor Nichoals II -- influence of Count Sergei Witte, Minister of Finance -- as response to Russian Revolution 1905 -- following state-led industrialisation attempt -- through foreign investment & imposition of tariffs -- industrial devel. not accompanied by further political reform -- expanding working class agitating -- however, peasants still formed 80% of population -- Emancipation of Serfs 1861 -- liberal reforms to abolish serfdom throughout Russian empire -- 23 million people granted liberty -- gained the full rights of free citizens, incl: -- rights to marry without having obtaining consent -- right to own property -- right to own business -- peasants could buy land from landlords -- Georgia emancipation later: 1864 -- state-owned serfs on imperial land, emancipated later: 1866 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_reform_of_1861 ----- Pre-Zionism 'Zionist' - Territorialist  Israel Zangwill d. 1926 -- forefront of British cultural Zionism of 1800s -- close associate of Zionist Theodor Herzel -- territorial movement / territorialism -- territorialism  = Jewish political movement -- calling for creation of Jewish territory     (not necessarily in Palestine or autonomous) Israel Zangwill's play The Melting Pot (1908) in the wake of the Kishinev riot Jewish hero emigrates to America   Mordecai Manuel Noah first Jew born in USA to reach US prominence b. 1785 - d. 1851 playwright, diplomat, journalist, utopian Portuguese Sephardic most important Jewish leader in NY in pre-Civil War period -- 1811 appointed by President James Madison as consul at Riga      (part Imperial Russia) / declined -- 1813 appointed Consul Kingdom of Tunis -- rescued US citizens kept as slaves by Moroccans -- 1815, removed from position -- US Sec. State James Monroe:  Mordecai Manuel Noah's religion an obstacle re exercise of consular function -- reportedly outrage among Jews and non-Jews -- Mordecai Manuel Noah protested & gained letters from:     -- John Adams     -- Thomas Jefferson     -- James Madison     in support of separation of church and state & tolerance for Jews    Mordecai Manuel Noah establishes newspapers in New York: The National Advocate The New York Enquirer (later merged into the New York Courier & Enquirer) The Evening Star The Sunday Times 1819 play produced:  She Would be A Soldier established Mordecai Manuel Noah as first important Jewish American writer Prior to development of modern Zionism: tried to found Jewish refuge at:   Grand Island in the Niagara River     / ie a town & island in New York USA (area 86.2 km square)     gained by British in North America part 1764 Treaty of Cessation     following:  French & Indian War     1815 island purchased by New York State (with other small islands)     for:   $1,000 annually + perpetuity of $500 (paid every June) - ongoing -- intended settlement name:   'Ararat'   'Ararat' after Mount Ararat, biblical resting place of Noah's Ark -- 1825 purchased land at $4.38 per acre to build refuge for Jews of all nations -- it was the 50th year of US independence -- believed that the American Indians were from Lost Tribes of Israel -- had faith Jews to return to rebuild Judaea  -- & called on America to take lead in refuge for Jews Judaea -- Island project failed, for reasons unclear -- Mordecai Manuel Noah then set sights on settling Jews in Palestine 1827 to 1828 -- led NYC Tammany Hall political machine -- writings alternatively for and against slavery -- concerned that emancipation would divide US https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordecai_Manuel_Noah 1903 - British Uganda Program -- British cabinet ministers  -- suggest land for Jewish state in Uganda (modern Kenya) -- Theodore Herzel rejects, preferring Palestine -- 1903 Kishanev riots Russian Empire, Herzel -- introduces proposal to 6th Zionist Congress -- to investigate Uganda as temporary measure for Russian Jews -- opposition -- walkout led by the Russian Jewish delegation to Congress Jewish Territorialist Organization (ITO) -- led by Israel Zangwill -- split off from the Zionist movement -- considered various territories:     -- various parts of America (e.g. Galveston)     -- Africa     -- Asia     -- Australia ITO was dissolved in 1925 Zionist Socialist Workers Party aka 'Zionist Socialists' or 'SS' -- Jewish socialist territorialist political party -- in Russian Empire & Poland -- emerged from Vozrozhdenie (Renaissance) group 1904 -- held founding conference in Odessa, 1905 -- favoured favoured Jewish territorial autonomy outside of Palestine -- most activities of party = revolutionary activities w/in Russia -- Zionist Socialists played active role in 1905 Revolution -- key figures:     Nachman Syrkin     Jacob Lestschinsky     Volf Latsky-Bartoldi     Shmuel Niger -- 1906 many members went into exile in Western Europe -- central organ:  Der Nayer Veg (Yiddish weekly newspaper) 1911 - SERP - Jewish Socialist Workers Party  AND --   Poalei Zion  =  Marxist-Zionist Jewish workers =  Poland, Europe & Russian Empire   -- seek recognition of national character of the Jewish people -- by signed petition to:   International Socialist Bureau Jewish Labour Bund (aka 'the Bund') aka General Jewish Labour Bund -- in Lithuania, Poland & Russia -- Yiddish for German 'Bund' meaning;  union / federation -- secular Jewish socialist party Russian Empire 1897 - 1920 -- allied itself w/ Russian social democratic movement -- aim:  democratic & socialist Russia -- Russian Empire, incl:   Lithuania Latvia Belarus Ukraine Poland (most) -- these areas, most of worlds Jews lived then   -- Jewish Bund sought legal minority status for Jews in Russia -- 1903-1904 - Czarist state repression -- of Jewish Bund / arrests & imprisonment -- Jewish Bund founding collective member: -- Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) first congress, Minsk -- Bund was sole rep of Jewish workers in RSDLP next 5 years -- RDLP second congress:  1903, Brussels & London -- Bund autonomous position w/in RSDLP rejected under Bolshevik pressure -- Jewish Bund reps left Congress - first of many splits -- 1906 4th (Unification) Congress - Stockholm -- at which Jewish Bund rejoined RSDLP / but party fractured along ideological & ethnic lines -- Jewish Bund sided w/ Menshevik faction (leader Julius Martov) vs. -- Bolshevik faction (leader Vladimir Lenin) -- in factional struggles preceding Russian Revolution 1917 -- in Polish areas of Russian Empire,  -- Jewish Bund was leading force in 1905 Revolution -- later, went into period of decay -- 1909-1910 labour activism strikes concentrated 10 cities led to deepened backlash re party. -- 1910 Bundist legal trade union in only x4 cities (Bialystock, Vilnius, Riga, Lodz) -- Bund split 1912 -- Bund became federated part of:   Bund became a federated part of -- Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Menshevik) -- Jewish Bund eventually came to strongly oppose Zionism -- arguing that emigration to Palestine was a form of escapism -- Jewish Bund did not advocate separatism -- Bund fucused on culture rather than a state or a location as glue re Jewish nationalism -- idea borrowed extensively from Austro-Marxist school      (further alienating Bolsheviks & Lenin) Austro-Marxism -- led by Victor Adler, Otto Bauer, Karl Renner and Max Adler -- members of the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria -- in last decades of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy -- & in First Austrian Republic (1918-1934) -- known for theory of NATIONALITY & NATIONALISM -- & attempt to fuse it with SOCIALISM in imperial context -- Otto Bauer believed 'personal principle' was way to gather divided members of same nation -- Otto Bauer wrote:  'Social Democracy & the Nationalities Question' (1907) "personal principle wants to organise nations not in territorial bodies but in simple association of persons" RADICALLY DISJOINING THE NATION FROM THE TERRITORY & MAKING OF THE NATION A NON-TERRITORIAL NATION [Comment:  also sidestepping the tribal heritage of a peoples that form a nation that is a holder of ancestral lands and political power that attaches to heritage and lands.  Good for imperialist interests (combining patchwork of people) and good for minority interests.  But not so good re indigenous or other principal populations, as they cede political power, by the look of things.  It's more than that.  It is ceding STATE power -- eg. ceding ability to raise taxes etc.  It's the Balkanisation of political power and of state power.  That's first impressions.  I've not read more on this 'personal principle'.] *** MORE -- LINK | here  *** Looks like it's based on some Ottoman system:  LINK  | here -- movement visible from 1904 in socialist magazines -- not homogeneous movement / diverse thinkers & politicians -- eg.  neo-Kantian Max Adler & orthodox Marxist Rudolf Hilferding -- 1921 Austro-Marxists formed:  International Workers Union of Socialists) -- (k.a. 2 1/2 International or Vienna International) -- aiming to unite 2nd & 3rd Internationals -- but failed Austro-Marxism -- inspired inspired later movements - eg. Eurocommunism & the New Left -- that were seeking for DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST middle between communism & social democracy -- in way to eventually unite 2 movements Austro-Marxism -- put into practice as precursor of radical reform in Europe:  eg social economic reforms, -- healthcare, housing, educuational system in Vienna -- which inspired Scandinavian social democratic parties & the British Labour Party Austro-Marxism -- first movement in Europe to see supporters mount armed resistance -- to growing FASCIST government / 1934 - fascism wins Austro-Marxist - Principle of National Personal Autonomy -- later adopted by various parties, incl.     -- the Bund (Gen. Jewish Labour Union)     -- left wing Zionists (Hashomer Hatzair) - in favour of bi-national solution in Palestine     -- the Jewish Folkspartei (b/w WWI and WWII)     -- the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania - after 1989 Adler = Ger. 'Eagle' Victor Adler -- Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria (SDAP) -- Foreign Minister of Austria, 1918-1918 -- succeeded by Otto Bauer b. Prague son of Jewish merchant from Moravia (Czech) University of Vienna medical graduate 1881 / assistant at psychiatric dept. Gen. Hospital {resided at address that became famous as office of Sigmund Freud} -- initially supported German national movement led by Georg Shonerer -- increased anti-Semitic policies& amendment of Aryan paragraph -- Victor Adler focused on social issues -- 1886 - Adler published Gleichheit (Equality) journal (Marxist) -- advocated the Anschluss (unification) of Austrian state with Germany -- died of heart failure on last day of WWI, before he could pursue project -- the father of Friedrich Adler Adler = Ger. 'Eagle' Freidrich Adler Austrian socialist politician & revolutionary -- assassinated Count Karl von Sturghkh 1916 -- member SPO, Social Democratic Party of Austria -- editor Der Kampf magazine, from 1907 -- at Uni Zurich considered to chair physics dept. / deferred to Einstein -- editor of Volksrecht newspaper (Zurich) -- engaged in international trade union movement -- became sec-gen of SPO Vienna to 1914 -- after start WWI / agitated against SPO policy of supporting war -- anti war killing: -- shot the Minister-President of Austria Count Karl von Stürgkh three times with a pistol, killing him -- sentenced to death, a sentence which was commuted to 18 years imprisonment -- 1918 - released after outbreak of revolution -- active as leader of Arbeiterräte (workers' councils) & as member of National Council of Austria -- more international socialist workers roles -- outbreak of WWII fled to USA; died Zurich 1960 Bauer = Ger. 'farmer' Otto Bauer Foreign Minister of Austria 1918-1919 b. Vienna Jewish University of Vienna, PhD Law book:   Die Sozialdemokratie und die Nationalitätenfrage (1907) (ie Social democracy and the national question) -- Austrian Social Democrat -- Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria (SDAP) -- founded Der Kampf, the theoretical journal of the party -- leading left-socialist Austro-Marxist thinker -- an inspiration for the New Left movement & the Eurocommunism movement in 'third way' attempt re DEM.SOC. -- WWI - served in the Austro-Hungarian Army -- captured on Eastern Front early months of WWI -- 3 years POW in Russia -- 1917 returns to Austria -- after Foreign Minister Victor Adler death 1919, Bauer appointed leader -- Otto Bauer a Marxist socialist w/ pan-Germanic & nationaist ideas -- negotiated w/ Wiemar govt re accession of Austria to Germany by March 1919 during German Revolution -- was disappointed when Treaty of Versailles prohibited union of Austria w/ Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Bauer German Revolution of 1918–19 aka Novemberrevolution -- conflict in German Empire at end of WWI -- result of replacement of imperial govt with republic -- revolution from Nov. 1918 to Aug 1919 establishment of republic (Weimar Republic) -- Engelbert Dollfus (plus parts Christian Social Party) & Heimwehr -- installed authoritarian corporatist dictatorship in 1933 -- Social Democrats failed uprising 1934, Feb. -- Otto Bauer forced into exile -- d. Paris 1938, just after Austria became part of German Third Reich.  Renner = 'winner' (variations:  Sieger) Karl Renner 1st Chancellor Austria, 1945 Law / University Vienna Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria (SDAP) b. to wine growers in Margraviate of Moravia Austro-Hungarian Empire described as:  Roman Catholic, German family -- party prohibited during Austro-fascism period from 1934 -- Renner welcomed Anschlus 1938 -- WWII distanced from politics -- set up provisional govt just before collapse Third Reich -- Austria treated as unwilling party to Third Reich association -- provisional govt recognised by all Four Powers -- Renner first post WWII Chancellor -- relatives moved to USA & Canada -- Renner died Vienna 1950 -- one of the founders of discipline of the sociology of law -- developed a Marxist theory of the institution of private law -- argued separation of public & private law is a creation of capitalism, -- where state enforces interests of capital owners -- Renner & Otto Bauer ideas re legal protection of cultural minorities taken up by Jewish Bund -- such ideals fiercely denounced by Vladimir Lenin -- Joseph Stalin wrote criticism re 'Cultural National Autonomy' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Renner ---------------------------------------------------- Mainstream Zionist movement: -- rejected the idea of a Jewish state anywhere but in Palestine -- referred to as:   Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) ---------------------- ---------------------- COMMENT This was really interesting stuff. Above is just a summary of what I looked at.   Not sure if all the links are there ... it's all from the same source:  Wikipedia. Don't know that I'll remember this ... I'm pretty sure I did a summary re Georg Shonerer weeks ago ... but I've already forgotten him.  Think he was killed in a duel.  Nope.  That was some other guy.  I think I have a pic of that guy's death mask somewhere. Might have to check out George Shonerer some other time  ... I've had it.

British Council & Who really killed Aung San?

Who really killed Aung San? Volume 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3huRoNnq2A&feature=share British Council founded 1934 British Foreign Office initiative / arose in the 1920s British competing with French, German & Italian 'cultural' organisations initial aims - indoctrination of foreigners with: British education British culture during WWII educational activities in refugee camps 1939 Resident Foreigners Division established to manage refugee education by end WWII, British Council centres in: *London *Liverpool *Manchester *Birmingham *Oxford *Stratford-on-Avon *Wilton *Edinburgh *Leith, Scotland *Cardiff, Wales Plus: centre for:  Society for Visiting Scientists *Allied Lawyers' Foyer 1940 Royal Charter granted Post WWII, British Council focused = Europe & closure of offices in many other locations (lack of funds) British forced to pull out of following countries for political reasons: *Eastern Europe *China *Persia (Iran) 1943-4 - Bland Report (Foreign Office review post WWII intelligence requirements) concludes best cover for British intel: *small business solely run in interests of SIS *recruitment of established British businessmen who ran own private concerns *cover for semi-national & non-profit institutions in foreign countries *railway companies, airways corporations Report supposedly states the Council previously unwilling to assist (oh, sure). Burma 1947 - classified documents [journalist Feargal Keane, BBC investigation] Hidden by British Foreign Office to 1997: High ranking British government officials involvement in assassination of Burmese independence leader Aung San (father of Aung San Su Kyi) per 1948 document Rangoon Chief of Police to British Ambassador Video - above A Gaddafi daughter received certificate dated 2007 from British Council, Tripoli, Libya / said to have been killed in US raid on Gaddafi residence in 1986 It looks like Russians had the common sense to give the British Council the heave-ho in 2007 / but I've not checked if this is a permanent shut-down of British Council ops in Russia British Council Teaching Centres in 53 countries / world's largest English-language teaching org. [comment:  *and a massive British spy org, no doubt] Program: International Association of the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience - 80 countries offers students, studying in the UK internships as part of an international placement undergraduates studying a technical degree i.e. engineering, science, architecture or pharmacy Sports 'Peace English' - Africa & other, FCO & MoD - improving English of military abroad, incl. police services in 28 countries ... eg.  Libya, Ethiopia, Georgia [comment:  Brits would be using Georgia to probably cause some problem for Russia / we know what they've done to Libya / and Ethiopia's probably been assaulted & robbed or is about to be] British Council involved in Palestine Festival of Literature [comment:  quite odd, given the British stand firmly behind Israel, which they helped to establish] British Council - closures of libraries & services across Europe   British Council intend to focus - Middle East, North Africa, Central & Southern Asia. entry mentions focusing on strategic & commercial importance:  China & Persian Gulf   Alliance française + Goethe-Institut expanding & replenishing libraries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Council ---------------------- ---------------------- Went into this after coming across the very unusual case of Comrade Bala (here).   I've previously done a summary of the British Council & it's probably right here somewhere on this blog ... but I've forgotten what the go was with this organisation, so I've done myself another summary. No time to watch that video.  Must sleep. Sounds intriguing.