Different general views of the manifestation.




Initials



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Background: It was announced that the protest manifestation of the Catholic Syndicates would go on as planned, this Saturday afternoon with about 20,000 participated. During a press conference, Mr. Cool, President of the Catholic Syndicates, said that he had been received by the Prime Minister, Mr. Eyskens. He also said that the Syndicates have three objectives in organizing this manifestation 1) the adaptation of the professional, taxes; 2) the vote on the project on the closing of certain enterprises; 3) a guaranteed weekly salary. The president r minded that these revendications had already been put under the Van Acker Government. The only paint he was all to discuss with the government to-day was the adaptation of the taxes. The two other points have to be submitted to the Parliament.

The point of the syndicates is that the barema of the taxes was made up in 1951 and that since 1957 the actual cost of living raised with 18%. During the same period the salaries raised conventionally with 17.5% but actually the workers lost an average of 2.5% of their raises, due to taxes.

The manifestation took place as planned and enormous crowds, evaluated at 20,000 poured into Brussels this afternoon. The manifestation grouped the entire country and the 9 provinces ware represented Flemish as well as French. The manifestation took place very quietly, without riots or counter-manifestations, as the huge procession walked through the centre of Brussels.