PEACEFUL PENETRATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12483, 26 June 1926, Page 5

PEACEFUL PENETRATION

COMMUNISTS’ ACTIVITY IN THE EMPIRE REVEALED

“WE MUST WORK TO ALLAY FEARS”

CONNECTIONS WITH NEW ZEALAND ESTABLISHED BY SEAMEN

Evidence of the “ceaseless, patient burrowing’* of the Communists throughout the British E mpire, under instructions from Moscow, has been published by the British Government. Reference is made to the Communists’ activities in Australia and New Zealand.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.X. Cable Association. (Received June 25, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 24. The Government has issued a bluebook containing the documents and correspondence seized when the headquarters of the British Communist Party was raided last October. The papers show the close relationship of the British Communists with the Third International, and also with the Red International of Trade Unions of Moscow. One significant letter from Moscow advises the Communists to organise committees and instructors, and offers cinoma films and lantern slides for elementary courses of instruction in Marxism and Leninism. The Moscow organisation, in welcoming the headway made by Communists among the British workers, says: “This was particularly shown in the recent industrial disputes.” In seven documents, between December, 1924, arid August, 1925, detailed suggestions are given for the establishment of a central training school in Britain; and there is also a detailed syllabus of the subjects to be taught. LABOUR LEADERS CRITICISED Dealing with the 1924 election, the Utter states that Moscow’s instructions included a sharp criticism of the MacDonald Government’s conduct, unmasking its Imperialist character. The statement shows that the Communists’ expenditure in the last election totalled several thousands of pounds, and included £SOO for Mr Stewart in Dundee, £3OO for Mr S. Saklatvala in North Battersea, and £250 each for other constituencies. A list of London factories employing 35,000 workers shows that only 239 could be definitely classed as Communists. COLONIAL WORK The Toung Communist League’s programme of colonial work, dated July, 1925, included opposition to governmental and other emigration schemes. The programme continues:— “We must work to allay fears, and eventually to gain the confidence of the masses of colonial slaves, by exposing Labour lead-

era and carrying on an open, defiant struggle for the break up of the Empire, and showing that the only hope for the salvation of the white and native masses lies in the dissolution of the Empire.” It advocates resolute propaganda against the migration schemes of the Barnardo Homes and the Salvation Army, through the medium of which “thousands of destitute young Britishers are yearly exported to Canadian and Australian slave-drivers.” The Communist Party, in September, 1925, reported 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 by post does not mean secure or very reliable contact.” “Through tho medium of seamen, connections with New Zealand have been established, but they are unsatisfactory. Two or three opposing groups claim to be the Communist Party, and the resultant confusion makes the work most difficult.” In commenting on the blue-book, the “Daily Telegraph” s.lys: “The fact that the documents contain little or nothing new does not detract from their importance. Tho famous Zinovieflf 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 continually subjected by ceaseless, patient burrowing of Soviet emissaries and agents.” MR MACDONALD PLEASED Mr Ramsay MacDonald, in a statement, said: “The Labour' 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 the Labour Government and myself by the Communist propagandists, in the form of attacks.”