The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1941 SABOTAGE IN UNITED STATES

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21356, 26 February 1941, Page 4

The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1941 SABOTAGE IN UNITED STATES

In implementing its policy of assisting Britain with increased industrial production the United States will have to face—is already facing—the “ fifth column ” element which will do everything in its power to sabotage productive capacity. Several serious strikes have occurred and others are threatened. The difficulty is to distinguish between honest efforts to improve the lot of working men and strikes which are engineered for the express purpose of preventing the supply of materials to Britain or for the defence of the United States itself. This is where the agents of Germany are displaying their cunning. Under the guise of an effort to secure the rights of the working men they are achieving a sinister purpose. In the light of the facts disclosed by the Dies Committee which is inquiring into “ un-American activities,” it is not difficult to see that the whole economic fabric of the United States has been honeycombed by Nazi agents, who masquerade in a hundred different colours. Baulked in its attempt to prevent American aid to Britain by official threats, Germany has turned to subtler means. There can be no doubt that Nazi agents throughout the States have had instructions to interfere by every possible means with the production of war supplies. One of the most effective means is to foment strikes, and that is an aspect which the United States will need to watch very carefully. Several war production plants have already been affected more or less seriously. Are these strikes aimed only at securing better wages and conditions for the workers ?

Mr Westbrook Pegler made statements to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee which will no doubt receive close investigation. He said that “ under the present Federal labour laws the Government drives men into unions but does not give them protection from the union bosses. The Government refuses to take any steps to protect unwilling members of labour unions.” Mr Pegler alleged that the elections of union officers were crooked and farcical, that accounts were juggled and that criminals were maintained in office by manipulation and terrorism. If that is so it does not say much for the intelligence of the great body of union members. It is known, however, that union “ bosses ” do wield extraordinary powers and have committed some amazing acts in the name of the workers’ interests.

America’s industrial methods are perhaps primarily her own concern, but because American production is of such vital importance to Britain and all the democratic countries, it is impossible for British people not to regret deeply that the “ fifth column ” should have shown its hand so effectively. A New York newspaper says that strikes already have blocked defence orders totalling 60,000,000 dollars. Insofar as those strikes are purely due to arguments over wages and conditions of work, they are an American concern. If, however, they are due to the work of Nazi agents, they concern the wide world. Britain as well as the United States will be closely interested in the results of inquiries that are now being prosecuted.