The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-13
KING OF NORWAY
SUPPORTED BY
COMMUNISTS

Christiania, June 1.-THE King of
Norway as chief executive; the Cabs
net, and the Radical Party of Premier
Blehr are today all closely allied poll
tically with and supported by the
Communist Party, group generally
credited with taking orders from the
Third Internationale at MOSCOW. -The
Russian organization is pledged to
obtaining the dictatorship of the
proletariat by revolution against
existing forms Of government.
1t is doubtful if the Communists are
supporting the Cabinet for nothing
They are believed to have made their
terms, and as result certain elements
here expect to see further legislation
along Communistic lines Already
Norway has adopted a commercial
treaty with the Russia Bolshevik1 and
granted them diplomatic reights. The
Bolsheviki have established head
quarters in Christiania and the Red
flag flies from the top of their build
ing.
The government today is taking an
active part in various trades and in
dustries which formerly were private
''socialize'' everything. The burden of
taxation is becoming heavier and
heavier, and the end is not yet. The
latest laws taxes incomes and de-
posits Of foreigners in Norway, and
Norwegians living abroad, to the eX-
tent of rs per cent. A foreigner with
investment in a Norwegian industry
will receive only 25 per cent. of profits
due him. The government takes the
rest. AS a result it is expected that
foreign capital will withdraw from
Norway.
The Communist Party-it was until
recently known as the Socialist Party
is said to have accepted Bolshevik
doctrines, and is believed in certain
quarters to be working for the over
throw of the present government of
Norway and the establishment of
dictatorship on the Russian model
Its leaders have constant and close
relations with Moscow.
The Communists last fall secured
80 seats in the Storthing, or national
parliament The Storthing has $50
The strongest faction, the Conserva-
tives have 63 seats and the Radical
Party of Premier Blehr 81 seats.
Next come the Communists.
The recent efforts to secure ma
tfonaI prohibition in Norway aroused
opposition in Spain and Portugal,
producers of wine, who in retaliation
refused to buy Norwegian fish. This
party ruined one of the principal in
dustries in Norway, and resulted in
financial stringency with consequent
unrest.
The Radical ard Conservative
Parties proposed a combination but
split on this question of national pro-
hibition. Seeking another combina
ton the Radicals came together with
the Communists and the latter agreed
to forego in labor disputes. Through
their leader in the Storthing, o. |
they announced they would
vote for the arbitration proposal a
issue on the Radical pro-
gram. Premier B1ehr accepted the
aid of the Communists and this bill |
has been passed.
The original opposition of the Com |
munists to the arbitration measure
was based in the belief that enact
ment would shift power from the
labor organizations to the arbitration
court. There is here, as elsewhere,
an effort to reduce wages to pre-war
basis. and the Communists have been
considering a strike of protest. But
the present is a most inoppCrtune
time for a strike, so much so, that
the Communists preferred even to ac-
cept the arbitration measure. Hence
they combined with the Radical, the
King and the Cabinet, and put the
arbitration measure through.