COMMUNISM IN AMERICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 10

COMMUNISM IN AMERICA.

The activities of Communists in the United States have been receiving the greater attention of recent. months because of the Russian Government’s wheat dumping tactics. . The accusation was made that this was part of a deep-laid scheme on the part of the Soviet to ruin American agriculture as a preliminary to the advancement of its own peculiar ends. The existence of unemployment on ' a large scale in the United States has helped to bring Communism into prominence in that country, as something at least to be guarded against, lest it seize favourable opportunities for inciting lawless demonstrations. The Committee of Congress, under Mr Hamilton Pish, which in July last was scrutinising the alleged propagandist activities of the Amtorg Trading Corporation, found in the selling of Russian . wheat another’ subject for investigation, without apparently anything upon which to base any sensational disclosures. This committee has now, however, presented a report which covers the whole field of ■ its inejuiry into Communist activities and is not without its stx’ikiug features. The burden of the committee’s finding is that from 500,000 to 600,000 Communists are organised under leaders who are directed from Moscow and .are agitating for the overthrow of the political and economic systems in America. It recommends what are described as the most stringent measures of repression ever advocated in the United States in times either of peace or of war.' This will certainly be interpreted as indicative of the existence in the United States of a definite Communist menace. The numerical strength of the Communist organisation, as estimated by the Congressional Committee, will probably cause some surprise, even if the presence, of half a million “Reds” in a population of 120 millions in a country which, over. a. long .period,, has ■ absorbed

a-large polyglot influx of immigrants from Europe, may not seem by any means . It is of interest to note, however, that the numbers indicated by the committee far exceed some recent calculations. In an examination of the Communist movement in America in a recent review article Mr R. S. Kain, of the International Year Book staff, estimated that the present dues-paying membership, of all Communist groups organised on a political basis was less than 10,000, whereas in the’ Communist heyday- of 19i9 the movement had between 35,000 and 40,000 actiye adherents. Upon the assumption that the number of Communist sympathisers was four for each paying member he calculated the total number of members and sympathisers to be about 50,000, as compared with four.times as many ten years ago. It is to be observed, also, that in July last the , Moscow journal Pravda claimed 15,000 members .only for the" Communist ‘movement in the United States,, and that Mr James O’Neal, author of .a volume on American Communism . published three years ago, giving evidence before the Fish Congressional Committee, accorded, the American Communist Party a membership -of 7000 .only. If the Congressional, committee is correct in its estimate, it can only be concluded that the view that the Communist movement has'been a declining force in the United States has been based on some misconceptions, and. that its actual capacity for mischief has been underestimated by some inquirers. Possibly the committee has had exceptional opportunities for judging of the extent to which Communism, though “ forced underground,” is still ra- subversive influence more to be reckoned with than outward appearances might suggest.' ’'/ ’ ’ ’ ' ' ’ \ The .proposals for the adoption of strong . measures for the suppressipn of the movement discourage the idea that the United States is'likely in the'near future to become impressed with the desirability—as one American patriotic society recently suggested the country .should—of according recognition to the Soviet Government.' 'The attitude of the United States towards Russia has been consistent. It is an inherent part of the policy of the Soviet Government to endeavour to instil among the peoples of'other countries , the peculiar principles for which it stands. It is not content' to confine its political experimentation to Russia. The real reason for, the aloofness of the United States lies no ' doubt in the instinct of self-preservation. The Government of the United States* .declines to accept the view that, while 'the central purpose of the Soviet is to promote world revolution,'Russia can possibly observe friendship to it. Demands by powerful groups of . American capitalists for recognition of Russia, so that they might 'find an unrestricted market., for their wares, have not moved .it from that position. If the safeguarding of the financial and political institutions of the United S tates against attempts at, their overthrow be'the animating .motive,.--it- is probable that nr the American- case' it represents a' wise precaution; ■ In the meantime the reactions of Moscow to the report of the Congressional ,Committee may be interesting. ’: - ;