THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1951.
The only British Communist
Moscow trusts
BY COUNCILLOR CHARLES H. DARKE,
T
of Hackney, member of the British Communist Party for 18 years, who has resigned from the party because 'I realised I was being duped.' HE most intenso of launched by a spontaneous,
the
Communists' non-political expression of or
dinary working folk, postwar activities in Britain has been undoubtedly the World Peace campaign. And it has proved, I think, a very damp squib.
the first I organised meeting of the national campaign at Stoke Newing ton Town Hall. The prin- Mr cipal speakers were
MP. Zilliacus, the Labour since expelled by his party, Canterbury
the
Dean of
and myself.
the
It was at the time of
people Berlin crisis and 000 turned up to hear us speak,
As a Renuine enthusiast for world peace, I was naturally delighted that my efforts had given such a successful send off 10 the country-wide crusade.
From secretary Harry Polift I received the usual ambigu ously-worded circular urging me to oppose civil defence as a
for war preparation
which offered no guarantee of protect ing the people.
With funds voted by the unions, the organising machi- nery was set in motion.
Out went the posters, the Press advertisements, and a flood of
I was instructed to raise the printed propaganda.
subject in the borough council Circular letters, appealing for public
the on every occasion, support of
In written instructions, cadre trades council's lead, were
like myself were despatched to churches of all leaders
teachers'
advised in general terms to denominations, housewives troups, and a host Foclutions, youth organisations, "ght against elvil defence." of other bodies.
15-
The outcome was a foregone conclusion. For the Communist groups in all these organisa-
lons were already primed.
MY APPEAL
I knew that when my appeal came up for discussion at the committee meetings, the Com- munist members would support it to the hilt. Delegates would be sent
than ANY PRICE
And so it happened. More 900 unsuspecting human Alles were lured into the Com mmunist spider's web,
No fewer than 700 members the audience signed the peace pelltion forms.
of
He can move an audience when he speaks. But his type of eloquence is more likely to send a shiver down your spine. While at meetings addressed
my faith
by such speed restored.
Communism
But backs at home with my family and the homely poople doubts creeping back.
Hackney I found the old
of
I found there were things I had not the nerve to do. There are people in Hackney whom, as a barqugh esunelllor, I found t necessary to help. Widows and invalids socking pensions, people without homes.
I was instructed to get these people, 26 4 token of their gratitute, to sign the peace petition. The suggestion revolted me. I ignored fl.
REFUSED
At private party meetings we learned how that broad phrase should be interpreted into
In Hackney a boys' cycle nelion. By exploiting grievances, creating strikes, and adopting club, for whom I won a track, every sort of frustrating tactles. honoured mc with their
Our party line, as explained
med presidency.
to me, was that the more I was told by the party that
the Western money
Powers these boys, Domo of whom rpent
on wages, goods and
were nearing call-up age, might services, the less they would
care to help their benefactor have to devole to rearmament by signing the peace petition, and defence.
Angrily, I refused, saying: "It that sort of thing is to be done you had better get someone else to do it"
As further unsavoury.tasks spell of the spoken word. For were imposed on me by the the Communist Party possesses party. I began to feel like a some of the finest oralors in
wolf in sheep'a clothing. the land.
Looking back, I wonder how I fell for those ingenious argue ments.
I think the secret lies in the
these
At meetings where phoney campaigns have been discussed I have had my doubts dispelled by the eloquence of
I appreciate now how com pletely I was hoodwinked by the Communist Party line. The
The petition, together with a public were not so slow.
The campaign was launched copy of the meeting's resolution under the guise
spon urging Immediato Government Harry Pollitt of n taneous, non-political expres-
was forwarded under action, alon of the cominon people's cover of a trades council letter desire for peace at any price. to the Foreign Secretary, Mr
It collapsed like a dedated Bevin.
balloon Immediately people realised that it Wus Just another Communist manoeuvre:
became
The pesco peillion the cause with
Thus, the irreat peace cam paign was born, in a matter of days the cry for peace was being sounded in every town and hamlet in the country.
Peace committees sprang up and
of much hilarity, practical Jokers children signing phoney names as a lark-but its motive was sinister.
now now that the object of the campaign was to in
Govern- timidate the British
stand at ment, weaken our UNO and induce us to accept the Soviet terms,
1
trusted
ABOUT HARRY
before. It
this ubout
leader.
is
269
"That woman let me talk for twenty-five minutes
before telling me I had the wrong number!"
Mr. MALIK
and THE COLLAPSE
IN COCOA
by R. M. MacCOLL
11 pallent: Madame, I have) NEW YORK, June 30. INLIKE Father Divine, wonderful nows for you.'
"Not madame-mademoiselle,' whose favourite slogun got dy
is "Peace-it's wonderful" "In that case, I'm afraid I the 1,375 members of New have very bad news,' said the
doctor," York's Stock Exchange Merry Malik can come up were muttering "Peace, it's with what American show busi- I began to worry less about
not so wonderful" tonight. nesa calls "a snapper"to pro- what the party thought of me and more about how I was
For the radio words of Jacob face the extra laugh. in the cgarded
eyes of the Malik, the blond bombshell from
(HEADLINE: "Selling comca British citizens
TKharkov, spoluan last week-end, in two big waves.) patriotic
have had a markedly depressing represented.
And so Malik No longer could I attempt to effect on stocks.
these good people with the party's ban-the-otom cam- paign terror line,
LCATA
be needed to
'Z' PROTEST
name
When a bystander heard him
are some who
is one blond the gentlemen of make the vodka joke to a re- Wall Strozi do not prefer.
porter, he said: "But I didn't When little Jacob (his middle realise you had vadka for break-
is Alexandrovitch, and
Riposted merry Malik: "In my even the American reporters have
never yet dared to call him country there Jake) was first placed in his start on the vodka at night and
Then off he marched. mother's arms that day in 1000 are still on it at breakfast ume" In the Ukrainian capital, prob ably Mrs Malik did not think that one day her son's words would cause a furore among the bulls and bears of Manhattan.
But they did
"Ruinouts (HEADLINE: peace disturb staples.")
Never thought
RUT he can be a very handy BUT
man with a scowl too, when of he feels like it.
(HEADLINE: "Rebound Jelt In afternoon but general post- tion weak.")
If Molotov gave the world his Malik has giverr "cocktail" Wall Street some bitter medicine. (HEADLINE: "Collapse in cccod.")
Can be jovial SOLID gentlemen who normal. ly regard their golf scores as a conversational "must" over their luncheons have suddenly
No. Mrs Malik never thought! become mighty Malik-conscious.
"Peace vid-her-little-Jacob would cause... (HEADLINES
collapse in cocoa,
Genial, humorous, liable Harry Pollitt. A man who left
This argued that while 100 the party himself during the atom bombs vould make com- wartime
controversy and re- paratively little impression on turned
a greater power than the vast Soviet Union, only
few would is when he Is speaking paralyse Britain. everywhere. They claimed to that you really understand why be non-political, but were, of he has wovon such a spell over
Inspired and directed by the rank and nic. course, Communists or fellow-travellers For there is a mystic quality The most recent Communist somewhere in the background.
ex-boilermaker's campaign--the "Z" call-up pro- Like other Communist voice and smile which makes fest-was another phoney move organisers, 3 found no diffeully it well
nigh impossible to. I found no heart to support. recruiting respected and doubt in
the sincerity
was organised by cadre of his This personalities, from words.
leaders In the Communist ex- I received my first instruc parsons to peers, or in obtaining He is not the only leader Service group. tions in a letter from the signaturas for the petition, with (1 winning platform By
exploiting anomalies of party ordering me to attend a
Which is not really surprising.
There personality.
also the call-tip system the agitators special meeting to discuss the
For Is there anyone in the Arthur Horner, the fractious were carly able to induce non- International situation and
and who does_not_. yearn for but much. admired. miners partyex-Servicemen to form mave for peace,
peace?
rotest groups. Here I was informed that n
The Communist invasion of
Werker editor, And Daily
But I
that found
this, bo national campaign was to
South Korea seemed a glaring Johnny Campbell, who sends ostensibly a move to correct in- launched in support of the re-
of the allegation an audience into tucks of justices, was another attempt to cent International Congress et contradiction
that all the warmongers Intellectunts in Poland.
be laughter with his clowning and embarrass the Government by With other group leaders, I longed to the West. How.
I mimicry at the expense of the creating the impression-a false wondered.
CX- can the party "pathetic, misguided capitalists," one, I am sure that British revolt Would But the man who, I think, presented plain that away?
ex-Servicemen an enigma to everyone and refuse to fight in any war. Palme Cult, the intellectual, I am convinced that the, and Aleri-hard Marxist, who has all the other aspects of the
described 1 been
only phoncy praco
campaign --- 50 received Instructions io plug British Communist that Moscow well exposed by the Press
Then a picture at least? she the party line that the North is willing to trust,
wero nothing less than the
pleaded. Koreans attack was merely a Palme Dutt ก brilliant and Kremlin's attempts to weaken defensive anticipation of planned passionate speaker. Tall, sallow, the defences of the West, as an He roared with laughter, "My aggression by the Americans.
he said, the dear young woman," thoughtful, with horn-rimmed essential preliminary to
"taking u the odd final drive for world domination. interview is like having vodka
picture without Having softened up the popu- glasses, he gives me lation with the warning that impression of a doctor who is
without breakfast." the Western nations were gang- working himself to death, ing up for svar, it was a logical He is the bogey-man of the claim that Britain's party-the Marxist who seta of the party line for all the big
campaigns.
received my brienng.
we
were
First. with the background story of how the Western Powers were Konging up for war against the Soviet. The "evidence" But, was largely a reiteration of the Lirades by Molotov and Vyshinsky at UNO.
Then followed the plan of action-organisation of unit
peli- war committees, rallies, tions,
marches, and other de- monstrations to demand inter- national peace talks and the banning of the atom bomb.
MY ORDERS
from headquarters,
We were told that the party step to Ilne Was (n) to brand the defence plans were proof West as warmongers and (b) warlike intentions, to oppose defence preparations
on every front.
OUR TASKS
Leaders impressed on Us that, to win the support of ine people, it was essential that the protest committees should have n non-political | constitution.
It was openly admitted that if the public once suspected the campaign of being Com- munist-inspired the
Wo
Y
as the
What happens to a city when there's-
NEXT WEEK
Is there a sabotage ring in Britain? (World Copyright Reserved- London Express Servica.)
JAMES COOPER watches an experiment in paying cash
NO MORE 'TICK'
TORONTO.
result YOU must live on this would be a tremendous flop.
week's wages this week were allotted our various roles. Mine was two instead of on next year's fold. As a Hackney Borough....that is the thought for Councillor, I must plug the citizens
peace theme at every council
meeting. As chief mass leader latest curbs on hire
This is too much even for in all "heavy consumer goods" workers who earn upwards of washing machines, refrigera-
is weekly.
tors, and stoves-the house- hold gods of Canada.
Thirteen weeks ago a buyer
H used to be said the might have had to wait three months for delivery. Today he Canadian housewife is so keen behind Canada's can have his choice and drive on labour-saving devices for her
pur- it away from parking spaces
home that she has to go out jammed with new cars, still
to work to earn the money to with the brown paper round
pay Instalments on the devices They are all part of a now the bumpers.
to save her housework. war on lifo-on-tlek, And they
There KOW. slump have already caused a
But..."Not has 1,000
families who cats, many put down £40 on a new re-
in the area, I was also respon chase. sible for the organisation of
public peace demonstrations and petitions.
was
to
One Toronto firm
lend.
This is how the first non-in the demand for new cars; cars for which it cannot and aren't political" peace rally was ora alump that may, if it con- buyers. ganised by me in Hackney. tinues, affect the jobs of 25,- A customer can get as much frigerator.
The initial move
000 out of 130,000 in ons On- us. £120. off list price, with "We do not know where it have a peace resolution passed turto city alone.
500 gallons of peiro tough" bellevert that the only way to
will
The manufacturer by the Hackney Trades Coun But it is difficult for many it he bargains hard enough, ell, representing 15,000
to livo In Canada
on this
was to produce Now car sales are down by bent inflation unionists in the aren...
Now, if he cannot
his costs produce fewer and
trade
Aa
Wan secretary of the council,. this was a simple matter.
THE 'PROOF'
week's wages....They are 78 percent and makers just do more goods he will have to | often already heavily mort- not know what to do with the sell the
gaged to meet, payments dus surplus.
on goods bought months or Export them to the United will go up over and above the years ago on the never-pover. Staten? No, for, apart from increase in the tax on them."
Now what is worrying this duty, the tax in seven pet- All this may mean that The resolution urged that, motor city of Windsor? Thir cont, comparn) with. Cana others besides the motor work- In view of the grave detorio- teori weeks ago the Govern- da's 30. They cannot eend
introduced ration of the international ment.
regulations them to Europe, where
thero era will be out of work and
situation,
masu meeting increasing the deposit
for the curbs may lead to depres money, are no dollars to pay": should be called of all peace on a new car, from one-third them.
But Canada's, Liberál Govern- loving, citizens, to appeal for to one-half, and reducing pay-Second-hand car
who ment seems determined to take
sales aruN P
a close unity between East ment time from 18 months, to almost goro, as the man and West, and the banning of one year he p the atom bomb wa
y can afford only a the chance. Apparently it That means a biyer has to can usually para condhand wants to see what is is like to Karo was the Oprootit fod 400 Gravarego pay her the price as deposit, have too many goods chasing over the point were question £800 car, and pay nearly 240 One big mamilacturer says too little soupy ed, that the empedans wei a month,
w that, the position in the ermeni (London" Keren Servier),
brings slump in stocks.")
They an even dusting off the old wisecrack, usually attributed to Britain's Sir Gladwyn Jebb.
pense." "Honi soit qui-Malik
Malik himself, a joviat fellow an occasion, not at all in the Molotov or mould of moody vicious Vyshinsky, was asked the other day by a woman naporter If he would give an interview.
He refused.
ת
Yes, Malik must be getting a big kick out of the knowledge that a comrade can cause just as big a commotion of Wall Street as the best of capitalists.
(HEADLINE: "Stock list down sharply but late upturn cuta toss. July sugar dropa.”)
'Snapper' expert AND it was Malik who, re-
buked by a Western diplo- mat for interminable wrangling over a single word, retorted
"But a single word can be so Important! Do you not know the story of the doctor who told a
DRINK
(London Express Service.)
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