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i aw. + Cate tg Wee f een? x * oP er tel SNP TE ae $ i wy Pa ee Co ae Tae 4 a. vr ‘ ‘ CoNFIQARITIAD ft NY 100-25857 | pase Fe 5857 . | | | ae Arey Miscellaneous New York T-2, a confidential source i abroad, furnished information that PAUL ROBESON was — present during and participated in the celebration of the So-called "pressefest Neues Deutschland" in East Berlin in late July, 1960, or early August, 1960, Cy) 1 This information stated that he had made at least two appearances. On one occasion, he joined a * number of German artists in the public festival, i which took place in the open air on Stalinaliee. During each appearance, he spoke to the audience in German préopr to, and during the performance; explained that he "was - working for his oppressed, biack brothers in America™.*—~ He announced his own songs and explained them prior to singing; they included such numbers as "Old Man River" --- and others, which depict the misery and oppression of the colored people. Ca : ok . eo According to this information in July or August, 1960, ROBESON paid a visit to the FDJ Central HQ school located at Bogensee, near Bernau, Bezirk Potsdam, and was conducted on an inspection tour of the installation. During the inspection, the students were assembled in one of the large auditoriums and introduced to the singer. - Informant did not Imow who sponsored the visit, but he stated that a representative of the school made the introductory speech. He described the diffdculties ROBESON had encountered in obtaining a passport, spoke briefly on the singer's fame, and then turned the meeting over tothe guest. ROBESON spoke for about ten minutes and explained that he was travelling on a mission; the mission of bridging the gap between nations by music. He told of his early trials in life, of his successes, and mentioned that these had brought him an income large enough so that he was able to contribute to the relief of his oppressed brother. He expressed his pleasure in ©