BRITISH "REDS"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 26 June 1926, Page 7

BRITISH "REDS"

SEIZURE OF DOCUMENTS RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA TO RIiKAK UP BRITISH EMPIRE (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 24. The Gvernment issued a Blue Book containing documents and correspondence seized when the headquarters of the British Communist Party were raided last October. The papers show close relationship between British Communists and the Third International, also the Red International of Trade Unions of Moscow. One significant letter from Moscow advises Communists to organise a committee and instructors, and oilers cinema films and lantern slides for elementary courses of instruction in Marxism and Leninism. The Moscow organisation, welcoming Communist headway among British workers, says this was particularly shown in recent industrial disputes. Seven documents between December 1924 and August 1025 detail suggestions for the establishment of a central training school in Britain with detailed syllabus of subjects to be taught. Dealing with the 1024 election '( states that Moscow's instructions included sharp criticism of the MacDonald Government's conduct and unmasking its Imperialist character. ■ The statement shows the Communis* expenditure in (his election totalled several thousands and included £SOO for Stewart (Dundee). £3OO for Saklalvala (North Battersea) and £250 each for other constituencies. A list of London factories employing 3f.,()00 workers shows? that only* 230 could be definitely classed as Communists. The Young Communist League's programme of colonial work, dated July, 1925, included opposition to governmental and other emigration schemes. The programme continues: "We must work lo allay fears and eventually gain the confidence of the masses of colonial slaves by exposing Labour leaders and carrying on an open and defiant struggle for the break up of the Empire, showing that the only hope for salvation of the white native masses lies in the dissolution of the Empire." It advocates resolute propaganda against the Barnado and Salvation Army migration schemes, through the medium of which thousands of destitute young Britishers are yearly exported to Canadian and Australian slave drivers.

Tho Communist Party reports in September, 1925. having established working connections with India, Palestine, Syria. South Africa. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, and says: "In Australia we have our own party more or less established, but contact is thrugh the medium of the seamen. Conections with New Zealand have been established, but they arc tinsatisfactry. Two or three opposing groups claim to be the Communist Party and the resultant confusion makes the work most difficult." Commenting on the Blue Book the Daily Telegraph says: "The fact that the documents cntain little or nothing new does not detract from their importance. The famous Zinovieff letter contained nothing new, yet it had startling political effects. This correspondence should have a similar effect in awakening in the British people a sense of the danger to which the country is cntinually subjected by the ceaseless patient borrwing of Soviet emissaries and agents." Mr Ramsay MacDonald in a statement said: "The Labur Party ought to pass a hearty vote of thanks to the Government for publishing the Blue Book. Conservative speakers and writers cannot now mix us up with Communism, except by dishonesty. We greatly appreciate the tributes paid to the Labour (iovernment and myself by the Communist propagandists in the form of attacks."