COMMUNISTS GAIN STRENGTH

Chronicle (Levin), 20 March 1947, Page 6

COMMUNISTS GAIN STRENGTH

Received Wednesday, 11.5 p.m. CANBEERA, March 19. The disturbauce in the Doniain yesterday was described by the Leader of the Opposition ( Atr. R. G. Menzies) in the House of Representatives today as an ' ' organised Conmiunist attack on free speech." He moved an adjournment as a matter of urgent national importance to discuss the culpability of the Commonwealth over the civil disturbauce and responsibility for curbing further simiiar outbreaks of violence. After threequarters of an hour's debate the Governnient "gagged" the motion which was defeated by 39 to 26 votes. "The incident is one which inust have created a feeling of grave uneasiness for all Australians, " said Mr. Menzies. "Communism does not believe in free speech. Those men involved in the disturbauce were not ordinarv lionest laliour men. They wbre disturbing revolutionaries. They have now reached a point at whiclrthey offer violence to citizens who express their views in a public place. Thc Conimunists have gone' from strength to strength and their leaders have en hanced their reputations as apostles of disorder. Those responsible for yesterdav's disturbauce were no more Australians than they were Turks. They were hostile to Biitish institutions and were determined that there would be no freedom ,of speech. Tliis was not just a Sydney ihcident. It was an incident which sh'pws that there is in Australia a gravp challenge to all civil liberties. 1 The Attorney-Gencral (Dr. Evatt) said that those Aho called the meeting were entitled to freedom of speech. There appeared to have been an attempt to inteifere witll that right. The fact tliat arrests were made shovved tliat freedom of expression was guaranteed. yThe Prime Miuister (Mr. Chiflev)' said he deeply regretted such incidents. "I don't care whether they are Liberals or Coinmunists they are entitled to express tlieir views."