VOTES
The Swedish Communist party decided May 15 at its twenty-first congress, held in Stockholm, to change its name to Vaensterpartiet Komunisterna [Left Party (Communist)].
According to an official announcement the change was made to indicate that the party is only one component of the socialist movement.
Observers believe that it also reflects the desire of C.H.Hermansson, head of the party,-to build a bridge to the Social Democrats who constitute the government.
SPANISH STUDENTS
Some 3,000 students at the University of Madrid locked themselves in the faculty of economic sciences May 16 to protest the arrest the night before of three representatives of the "Democratic Union."
They also protested against the reprisals instituted against five students who participated May 10 in a meet-
Few police were stationed to keep an eye on the marchers except at the U.S. embassy.
The home of the U.S. ambassador was picketed and the place was chosen as a convenient spot for a rally with speeches directed against the U.S.
A heavy downpour occurred as the marchers entered Copenhagan. Although this discouraged onlookers, the marchers continued in the driving rain until the final ceremony was held at the town hall square.
The NLF ambassador to the USSR, -‘Nguen Vandong, gave a speech in which he thanked the marchers in the warmest way, welcoming their action as a great sign of the widespread public opinion favoring the Vietnamese cause.
The marchers responded with a.resounding shout: "Long live the NLF! Long live the NLF!" -
Later a collection of 25,000 kroner [about US$3,660] was presented to Nguen Vandong. As a token of appreciation, the ambassador gave the Nord Vietnam Solidarity Committee a beautiful flag.
TO CHANGE NAME
Up to now the Social Democrats have rejected all overtures from the CP for.collaboration. This no doubt is due mainly to the fact that in the last election the Social Democrats won 46% of the votes, the Communists only 6%.
A considerable minority at the CP congress opposed the change in name. They argued that neither a revolutionary line nor the Marxist-Leninist theory of the dictatorship of the proletariat have been outmoded.
It remains to be seen whether this minority will now carry out a split.