Mr Sullivan Issues Grave Warning Concerning Spread Of Communism

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 28, 9 March 1948, Page 5

Mr Sullivan Issues Grave Warning Concerning Spread Of Communism

Communism, like Nazism ? using its power to plunder, was striding toward the West, and South East, threatening the Democracies which, in self-preserva-tion, must take notice, said Mr W. Sullivan, at the annual meeting Of the Whakatane branch of the National Party. Mr Sullivan made pointed reference to the growth of what he called the “Russian Empire” and cautioned against the activities of Communists in this countrv.

“Communists are in our midst,” he said. “They are representatives of one of the greatest powers of all time, and anyone who thinks that they can be taken lightly does not know 1 what he is talking about. They are the white anters of our society, and if they thought they had a fifty-fifty chance here, they would do as their tutors have done elsewhere.”

“In the second World War, the •Communists were -obstructionists, until Russia was attacked,” he added. “Communists everywhei’e seek to bring about chaos before jumping in. Their one object is to improve their political power rather than the lot of man.. Responsible Governments the world over must face the facts. We in New Zealand must do likewise and determine whether we •are going to act, or just look. on, whilst the pillars of Democracy are demolished.” Soviet Expansion

Concerning the expansion of Soviet influence, Mr Sullivan said people who loved our democratic way of life should know what was going on. If the Soviet Government retained the areas in Europe and Asia over which, since 1939, it had extended its control either by annexation, occupation, puppet Governments or any other way, there would be added to the Communist Empire the following populations: From Poland, Eastern Germany, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithunia, Latvia, Estonia and

Albania, a total of 101 million people. In addition there were Northern China, Manchuria and North Korea, with a total population of 130 million people. Now Czechoslovakia and Austria were gone, with Finland threatened, those countries carrying a population of 25 million people. 426 Million People The total addition to Communist strength might thus be 256 million people. The population of Russia itself, exceeding all the countries named was 170 millions. The full population. of countries annexed added to Russia’s population would total about 426 millions. “New Zealand’s Ambassador to Moscow is now here in New Zealand, and it would be interesting to hear what his views are,” Mr Sullivan concluded. “His reports, if any, are made to the Government, and the Labous Caucus. To the people who pay, his voice is silent. One wonders what we pay for, as £106,000 is the cost for four years’ representation. Trade relations are at zero, and this seems quite a tidy sum to pay for nothing both ways.”

Influence In Unions

; The vice-president of the / New Zealand Timber- Workers’- *-Union and of the Auckland branch, MrJT. Freeman,- who is the 'union’s delegate to the Auckland Trades Council, has urged trade unionists to rid their organisations of Communist influence.

Churchill’s Warning

Auckland R.S.A. Member Wants Yugoslavs’ Passports Cancelled: Fears Communism

Sharp division of opinion over the return of Yugoslavs to their country arose at a meeting of the Auckland R.S.A. executive between the president, Mr A. P. Postlewaite, and Mr K. C. Aekins. Mr Aekins said that it had been suggested Yugoslavs would come back to New Zealand after being inculcated with communist doctrines. He therefore moved to the effect that the Government should be asked to cancel the passports of all Yugoslavs leaving the country. Mr Postlewaite: I’m not going to accept that motion. We have Yugoslavs as members of our association and there is nothing to say that they are communists. There is no communism here. There were cries of dissent. Mr Postlewaite: It’s only in our minds. He added that by that he meant that there was no communism compared with that in Australia. There was none in the R.S.A. Voices: If you only knew! Mr Postlewaite: No man has the right to use the R.S.A. to control socalled communism. Mr Smith: The motion is out of order as it is political. Mr Postlewaite: Someone is trying to use the R.S.A. Mr Aekins (heatedly): I object to that. I’m not being used by anyone. Eventually it was decided that Mr Aekins should defer his motion until a meeting in March. He promised in the meantime to prepare information.

“We are moving into a terrible situation at home and abroad,” said Mr Churchill in a letter to Mr Fred Harris, Conservative candidate in the North Croydon by-election. “Not only bankruptcy and privation approach us in this island, but also the menace of a third world war rolls towards us with every act of Russian imperialist aggression and Communist violence and intrigue.” “We are all earnestly working for peace and earnestly hoping there will not be another war, but we must be prepared,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, addressing London territorials. '