THE COMMUNIST PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24370, 4 September 1942, Page 2

THE COMMUNIST PARTY

Maximum support of the Russian people in their struggle against Nazism and the deepest sympathy with them in their sufferings do not commit anyone to the adoption of the Communist Party as well. In an attempt to exploit the feeling for Russia, the party has been attempting to insinuate itself in various directions. A sharp rebuff has just been administered by the national executive of the British Labour Party. In a warning to members, it accuses the Communist Party of carrying on subversive activities under the cloak of friendship for Russia. This is straight talk from a responsible body whose motives are above suspicion and which is backed by the Labour Conference's rejection by an overwhelming majority of a proposal to co-operate with the Communist Party. The executive reminds members that the Communist Party is not supporting the war effort because Britain is in danger, or because freedom is at stake, a reminder that is fully borne out by the tortuous course pursued by the party since the outbreak of war. That applies not only in Britain, but in many other countries as well. Less than a year ago I the New Zealand Labour Party and

the Federation of Labour issued a joint declaration refusing collaboration or association in any way with the Communist Party. The declaration exposed the unblushing opportunism of the party's policy, first branding the war as an "Imperialist war" and then, when Russia joined in the struggle, abandoning this charge. The declaration also noted the complete indifference of the party to the British people's sufferings under continual bombing, and its open hostility to schemes for relief. Now that the party has been unmasked and nakedly exposed by such responsible organisations, no one should any longer be taken in by its specious pleas and pretensions.