DETEST GERMANY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1940, Page 8

DETEST GERMANY.

British Communists' View Of War. LIBEL ACTION CONTINUED. (Received L3O p.m.) LONDON, May 1. Mr. D. N. Pritt, K.C., opening the defence in the "Daily Worker" liber action, said the euse was important because it involved the serious question whether the use of the law of libel endangered the right of the Press or anyone else to utter legitimate criticism. The Communists claimed that they had been consistently and strongly an anti-Fascist party, and sincerely desired to get rid of Hitler and Hitler's Fascism, but did not think this was possible by carrying on the war. They believed the detestable regime in Germany could be defeated only from the inside. Mr. Pritt submitted that the articles in the "Daily Worker" were fair comment. The action is one in which Sir Walter Citrine and six members of the General Council of the Trade Union Congress have sued E.R. Pountney, proprietor of the "Daily Worker," for damages. Sir William Jowett, K.C., M.P. (Lab., Ashton), for plaintiffs, said the libel referred to plaintiffs' visit to France in December to initiate the Franco-British Trade Union Council. The "Daily Worker", was the official organ of the British Communist party, which was affiliated with the Communist International at Moscow.