COMMUNIST AIMS IN THE U.S.A.

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 August 1948, Page 5

COMMUNIST AIMS IN THE U.S.A.

Overthrow Of The Government By Intrigue And Force ■' wived 8.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 The Communist Party of America was a “fifth column of So-•■•-i Russia,” committed to destruction of the American Republic, ;aid Louis Budenz, American ex-Communist leader, today.

Budenz, who renounced Comin 1945 to become a Ronan Catholic, told the Senate Committee, which is investigating subversive influences in the Lnited States Government, that ihe Communist Party’s status was proved by three factors: <1) The Parly had never found -ny defect in Russian policy and its =aders had to do what the Kremlin ordered at any specific moment. (2) The Party for years received uiect subsidies from Moscow in the orm of news. (3) Eighty to 90 per cent, of the J artys leaders had been trained in ’■ioscow. Budenz, who is now a professor at /ordham University, New York, told Senators that Communist party operations were finalised partly by dues jnd gifts from wealthy persons. He idded: ‘‘There was a very big take rom Hollywood.” Communists were Iso receiving funds from abroad. Budenz replied ‘‘that’s right!” when if the avowed purpose of the

Communist party was the overthrow of the United States Government by force. Budenz named the late Jacoo Golos as a former head of a highly secret Communist Party Control Commission in the United States—an agency which Budenz said was useo to discipline party members and keep them in line. Budenz said Golos was the chiet contact with the party for Elizabeth Bentley, who has testified that she got military secrets from Government officials and workers which vere channelled to Moscow. Budenz estimated that possibly thousands or Communists had filtered into Federal employment. In the past he said several score had held jobs he considered fairly important, while “there had been several hundred in relatively important places." In addition, the party operated an “underground lobby” in Washington, vigorously attempting to influence Government policy. Budenz, who said he had to leave Wasnington today, told reporters he was going out of the country on a confidential .mission for the Government. He declined to elaborate.