Communist Influence In Great Britain

Chronicle (Levin), 23 January 1948, Page 5

Communist Influence In Great Britain

Received Tlmrsduv, 7.10 p.m. LONDON, .luii. 22. A i;iijiir ]iuiiulox aboul British Coiri niiuiisiu imlay is, Jirsth. that both tlu m«*iu>it'rslii|) of the Communist Party :ui(i its political iniiuence nro oii the waue, and, set iMully, tlie industrial inliiieiuc of the Communi.sls hua probably Meyer been potentially more disturbing, sa_v> Mr. Trevur Kvans in the Daily I Xpll'S.N. 11c L commei;i liisr on a motion car ried by ihe Caii.bruige •h,'on Debating Society "tliitt Comintinism presents Iht great i'st contcniporary nienace in Brit-i.-ii liberty. " l)es[iite tlie defeat oi' Air. Jatnes llammo'ie as juesident of the Lancashire mniers. ihe Cuimuuiiisls and tliose who Mipport theiu unwaveringly, th.uigh iiexer i'ormal meinbers of the party', have never held 'more liey jobs ih trade unions tlian they do today -M . Kvans eontinue-e .Asking what is the difference between a Conununist politically and .in dtutrially; he says it is a differeh.ee oi degree. A Communist of the political platform ttrges the overthrow of the present constitution. A Communist in a trade ttnion office is not for e-cr proaching revolution or even acting the prc lude to one. He. tempers his handling of trade tmion affairs because he is a Communist but he still does his job as a niilitant trade union leader. An exaiuple is Air. Arthur llorner wlio was voted to his present position as secretary of the Xational Aline Workers' I'nion because of his nego liatiiig record. • .Mr. Kvans says it is estiiuated tha 'oniinunisl.s holct 20 per cent. of paid o.'iico aiuoug the niiners, 15 per eeut. ot eieeted ofliees ainong engiuesrs, buihiers and electra al workers, slightU less among railuaymeii and below 10 per eent. among trausport workers, general workers and lailors. They have made no appreciable iihpact upou textile operatives and agricultural workers. Air. Kvans adds tliat tlie gene.ral coi.'iieil of the T.U.C. lias kept euriously ^ilenl during ihe reeeut eonlro\°rs\ about tlie monaco of Communism, bccaii.se to ban Communiflts from trade miioiis would invite the eroation of rival organisations. It prefers to urge :ill l riule unionists to imitate the energy of the Communists, which is their maia strength.