FOREIGN AGENTS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 9

FOREIGN AGENTS

BUSY IN SOUTH AFRICA

ORGANISING COMMUNISM

SPECIAL LEGISLATION

United Press Association—By Electric Tele.

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(Eecoived 15th February, 10 a.m.)

CAPE TOWN, 14th February

The Union Assembly appeared unimpressed by tho speech of the Minister of Justieo on the second reading of the Biotous Assemblies Bill, giving the Minister power to prohibit public gatherings to prevent tho engendering of hostility between Europeans and other sections. The necessity for the Bill arose out of a Communist leader's speech in the Supreme Court, contending that tho doctrines he espoused and preached were bona fide. The minister announced that the Berlin Internationale had dispatched a notorious agitator to organise. Communism in South Africa, and since October, 1928, the Internationale had sent funds, though the Government failed to trace the amounts or tho method of transmission. An off-shoot of tho League against Imperialism sent money to cover the expenses of two delegates to a conference. The Frankfurt Workers' Internationale, which was connected with the infamous Atheist campaign, had three known branches in South Africa. The Minister read recent Intcniationalo instructions, advocating a general strike of natives, non-payment of taxes, and an unemployment demonstration on 6th. March.

Characterising recent events as danger signals, the Minister stressed his warning that if once Europeans got out of laud and lynch law was introduced, "our lifetime-: would never sep it expunged." lie1 announced ait amendment, excluding European trade unionists from the operation of the Act as far as the advocacy of the trade union movement was concerned, and also reputable newspapers from tho clause against propaganda." Opposition Labour is pressing for the recognition of the supremacy of the Courts before referring the Bill- to a Select Committee.