Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1931 MOSCOW’S ANTI-BRITISH CAMPAIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 25 June 1931, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1931 MOSCOW’S ANTI-BRITISH CAMPAIGN

TIIB Riga correspondent of the Condon “'rimes" recently revealed In that journal what he asserted to he. the plan of campaign formed hv the Communist International of Moscow for “an immediate and resolute intensification of offensive operations against the British Empire.” The chief efforts, it seems, are to he made in Croat Britain and in India. In tlie former the Moscow Communists claim to 1 have enrolled 20.000

“comrades,” hilt, it seems, that before they can begin any concerted movement in Great Britain they require to increase their adherents to 100.0C0, in order to launch their campaign in a sufficiently spectacular manner to command the degree of success which they desire to

| achieve. In regard to India, however, they have formulated a spectacular programme, which they propose to put into operation forthwith. It is as follows: Complete independence of India by the violent destruction of British authority. Abolition of _ all .debts. Nationalisation of all British enterprises. banks, railways, shipping, and plantations. Establishment of a Soviet Government. Destruction of Native Rrincipalities (that is. of States governed by Native Princes in their own right, under the Viceroy). Creation of an Indian Federation ol Soviet Republics. Confiscation without compensation of all lands belonging to landlords. Native Princes, Churches, the British Government, and oflicials. Cancellation of all contracts and peasants’ debts to hanks. The programme enjoins the waging of war on mass lines, including the mutiny of native soldiers, rather than individual terror-

ist acts. This is a comprehensive programme which, if carried out in its entirety, will bring the emissaries into direct contact with all the important classes of people in India, irrespective of race, caste, or religion. Tf put into operation it would eclipse the movement for Swaraj led by Gandhi, and would seriously jeopardise, the success of that leader as surely as *t would threaten the British Raj in India. Us weakness of course lies in its being 100 cul-and-di'ied and too comprehensive. It is so framed as to unite all classes of property owners, whether Hindu or Moslem, Native Princes, merchants, tradesmen, and all those who have made a success of the advantages of individualism. The Indian peasants, ; l is notorious, are almost invariably in debt to the money-lender The Bolshevists of Moscow would make a bid for the Indian peasants’ support by can celling their debts. Of course the Indian Government and the, Native Princes, who between them rule all India, will not be idle or inactive under such threats. AA lull action thee will take cannot he surmised at this distance, but undoubtedly the Bolshevist? projected campaign in India will ho vigorously resisted. That being so, it is interesting to nole_ what Mr Bernard Shaw had to say recently in reference fo the British attitude towards the Soviet Government of Russia. He was addressing a gathering of London journalists, and voiced the following opinion:— In the way we have treated Russia we have noL only thrown away a tremendous commercial opportunity butthrown away a political friendship which might be of the greatest possible value to us.

Mr Shaw has said many extraordinary things in the course of his long lite, but surely lie lias never said anything more unreasonable than that. How is the British Government to form “a political friendship’’ with the Soviet Government of Russia, when that Government allows the Moscow International (which is only the Russian Government under another name) to plot against the Government of Lidia? Fortunately no one in Great Britain seems to take Mr Shaw seriously when he airs his Socialistic opinions. But If is to be expected that his words will encourage the Soviet Government- in its anti-British policy, both in Great Britain and in India. That it should he permitted to frame snclr a policy anil prepare to implement it, without emphatic protest from the British Government, seems to indicate to what a low standard of patriotism that Government lias fallen.