Communist Intrigue In United States

Chronicle (Levin), 4 August 1948, Page 6

Communist Intrigue In United States

( N.Z.P.A. -

- Reuter ,

Copyright)

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m, * . WASHINGTON, August 2." The Communist, Party of America . was a "ftfth column of SoAviet RussiaJ ' committed to the, destruction of the American Republie, said Louis Budenz, an American ex-Communist leader, today.- Mr. Budenz, who reripuncect 'cqmmuixisip • in 1945 to'b.ecome a Romfih Chtliolie, told. the ^en'ate Cbmmittee which is iixvestigating(subversive injiu^nces. in the United States Goyernmeiit^ that thp Coinniunist Party 's status Avas" pf.oved. by three factors: . Firstly, the Party had never found any defect in Russian policy and its lcaders had to do Avhat, tlie' Krcnilin' ordered at any speeific nionxent. Secondly, the Party for years r'eceived direct subsidies from Moscow in the "f orui of nevvs. . . . . • Tliirdly, S0 to 90 per cent.' of the Party 's leaders had been trained' in Moscoav. .. Mr. Budenz, who is now a professor at Fordham University, New York, told Benators that Communist Party pperatioixs Avere fiuauced partlv by dues aifd gifts from wea'lthy fiersons. He added. "Thbre Avas a veiy big take from Ilollywood." The Coinniunists were also receiving funds from abroad. Mr. Budenz replied "That's right," when asltcd if the avoxved purpose bf tlie Communist Party was the overthrow of the United States Government by force. He named the late Jacob lGoIos as a former head of a highly sccret Coinniunist' Party control couxmission in tlie United States — an agency which, Mr. Budenz said, Avas used todiscipline Party merpbers and lceep them in line. ^Ir. Budenz said G'olos was cliief contact aa'ith the Party for

Elizabeth Bentley Avho has testified ,she got military seci'ets from GoA'ernment officials ahd wOrkers which wero chaTmelled to Moscow. • • Mr. Budenz estimated that possiblv tkousands of. Commun.ists had filtered into Federal emplovment. In the past, he said, several score had held jobs he •considered fairly important aa'hile ''^tltere have been sQA^eral liundred in u"elatxvely.inxppi^^ptLplaees,'f h . . .1 In' aiiditibii, Mb- Pbrty :bpdrate4 an

' ' underground lobby ' ' in Wasliington vigorously attenipting to influence - Governnient polic,y. Mr. Budenz, Avho said he had to leave Wasliington todav, told reporters he Avas going out of the country on a confidential mission for the Government. He deelined to elaborate.