YES, WE HAVE NO COMMUNISTS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2838, 27 January 1925, Page 4

YES, WE HAVE NO COMMUNISTS

THE NEW LABOUR PARTY SONG

In Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, the political Socialist Labour Parties are all very busy a]; present, seeking to persuade the public that they have nothing or almost nothing, to do with the Communists. We can understand such British Labour leaders as J. H. Thomas, .T. R. dynes, and Philip Snowden being deeply incensed at the Communists who have done so much injury to their party. Mr Thomas in an article in “John Bull,” 22nd November, 1024, says “Communism is a canker in our midst which no medicine can cure, and which can only be removed by an operation. The rank and file of the Unions must perform this operation and stamp out from the movement Communism which so seriously threatens to ruin the work of tho past, and to cloud the prospects of the future.” Mr Clynes denies that the Communists are the left wing of the movement. He says: “A Communist is no more a left wing member of the Labour Party than an atheist is a left-wing mcinlber of the Christian Church.” These are very plain words of condemnation. We would welcome similar plain repudiation from the leaders of the “New Zealand Labour Party,” but they arc not forthcoming. Instead we find the “Worker” writing fulsome nonsense ahoul the Bolsheviks “constructive work” —that of a party of destruction. Mr W. A. Nash, Secretary of the “N.Z. Labour Party,” in an explanation of many words explaining nothing, leaves the impression that the Communists are angels of light—a little misguided but still angels. The condemnation of the Communists in Britain has been expressed in plain words from leaders of the Labour Party and by resolutions -of the Party and Trade Union Congresses. It has been repeated like a song which justifies' the paraphrasing of another topical ditty into the words “Yes, we have no Communists.” WORDS AND ACTIONS. After all, the Labour Parties must he judged not by the words of their leaders or the resolutions of their party conferences. These are put. into circulation to effect political results and are framed accordingly. Wlmt the parties cannot get away from is their past activities on lines which the Communists can heartily approve of “By their acts ye shall know them” applies, just here. “Councils of action;” their ignoring of the restraints of law in order to force their will on the nation all of these were an endorsement of the Communists policy of “socialism by force of compulsion.” The “New Leader” official organ of the British Socialist Labour Party, says of the Communists: — “They are on the same side of tho dividing trenches as we are. Their aim is to make an end of the system of exploitation called capitalism, and that also is our aim.” Such is the fact to he faced. The patient and the disease both stand for the same' thing—abolition of privato property; socialisation of tho means of production, distribution and exchange. How is the operation suggested by Mr Thomas, to l»e carried out.when the patient is called upon to cut himself up. The Communists are not a party outside of the Trade Unions and Labour Party but is inside, the very members and. sometimes leaders of these bodies. If Communism is a disease in the Las hour movement it is of the nature of a cancerous gi’owth and the radium lias not yet been found which can “stamp it out.”

Whilst Messrs Thomas aiul dynes condemn Communism, Messrs Purcell, Brantley and Tillett, official representatives of the Trade Union Congress, return from the Mecca of Communisnif —Russia, not to repudiate Communism, but to bless it and recommend it to their party in England. Of the Russian situation, Mr Purcell exclaims “may we live to see changes like this in England.” Comrade Ben Tillett “begged the Russian comrades to never forget how big they were, and to go on in tire spirit of Benin, remembering always I hat the workers of the world depend upon the Russian revolution.” If then, the rank and iile of the Unions are to stamp out Communism what are they to do with the Purcells, Tilletts and other Communist sympathisers and advocates in their Unions and party. The Party’s words seem to oppose communism. Its acts, on the other hand, protect, encourage and recommend it in many ways. The British Socialist Labour Party in office as the Government of Britain spoke harshly to the Communists but at the same time invited them to take up permanent residence in the English Home giving them a free run of all that is in it. The Party’s acts deny the leaders words. WHAT OP NEW ZEALAND? In our own little country the Socialist Labour Party is attempting the task of keeping the Communists with the party and at the same time persuading the public that Communism of the Bolshevik order is something it cannot countenance. Communists are prominent in some Unions attached to the party and are being put forward as Labour Pally Candidates. Will they be rejected by the National Executive is the question discussed in the Press. It would surely be an amusing situation were these diciples of Karl Marx to be ejected from a party of which the leader declares himself a Marxian Socialist. The Party’s Secretary says, “the prime essential of progress is an open mind.” The party will apparently

keep an open mind and an open door. The public will ho told that C'om'mirnists are not admitted. Meantime those inside shall remain and the party through its organ the “Worker” will express due sympathy with the Soviet comrades of Russia. It is a yes —no attitude. This can lie understood however, when we enquire—what is the difference hot wen Socialism and Communism? Answer: —The only difference is that of appearance or degree. The object of both is the same. Socialism is the theory; (Communism or Bolshevism) the practice. Socialism appears more respectable —it is Bolshevism with a clean shave and hair cut. The final goal of both is revolution and the inevitable means -is civil war, bloodshed and destruction. The Labour Parties may sing their song of “no Comlmunism” still their socialist drift leads ever on to the Communist outburst which the people must repel or suffer severely by. (Contributed by the N.Z. Wei-) fare League).