INFILTRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 25941, 5 November 1946, Page 6

INFILTRATION.

Few things can he more embarrassing to the Government than the vocal support some of its candidates receive from the Communist movement. It is true that the party is making a token appeal to the electors by putting up two or three candidates, significantly in electorates where Labour had- a substantial majority in the 1943 election, in apparent opposition to the Government nominees* but the public is unlikely to take that action seriously. In English-speaking countries the Communists have never made any determined effort to capture a Parliamentary, majority, but they have made their influence felt—usually to the detriment of the rest of the community—in other ways. They have regarded it as sufficient to have a ’ spokesman, but their principal activities are underground. A? Mr T. L. Macdonald, National candidate for the Wallace seat, pointed out in ,a broadcast address last night, infiltrations is the chosen method of the Communists. The electors will know that the support of the Communist element in this country, which is possibly greater than is generally realised, will go largely to Labour candidates. That is a kind of backing about whioh Government speakers will prefer to remain silent. The Labour movement doubtless feels no‘objection to Communist votes, but it is helpless to prevent the underground infiltration into its affiliated groups, which is a different matter. To some extent 'Communist influence has been apparent in certain off the militant trade unions; but at no time has it been so obvious as in Australia, where the trade union movement has been split wide open through the Communists skilfully reaching positions of power and taking control. While it bides its time and waits for opportunities to seize power, ' Communism has no faith in constitutional procedure, but is a revolutionary movement, repugnant to the great majority of tho population. Labour parties in several countries have shown that they are particularly vulnerable to Communist activities Some o f the candidates carrying the Government banner in this election have disclosed a readiness to flirt with the Communists to ensure success at the polls, but the party leaders are anxious to avoid any suggestion of association with the revolutionary movement that, ewed its origin, if not its

continued existence, to Russia. They rely on the repeated rebulfs they have administered to the Communists when applications have been made for affiliation, but they have not entirely succeeded in keeping tfrem out. The nomination of two or three Communist candidates _ in the election is designed only to give some suggestion of opposition to Labour, but it is well known that whatever influence the party lias will be used generally to assist the return ctf Government* candidates.