Evening star., 1940-01-03


seeks to undermine democracy and
substitute dictatorship of whatever
sort for it. But it is at least equally
important that in combating sub
versive groups of this character
nothing be done which would under
mine the fundamental structure Of
constitutional liberty itself.
One method which can and should
from time to time be used Is the
method of investigation to inform
the American people Of the activi-
ties of any such organizations IN
their Nation. This is the real pur-
pose of the House Committee to In
vestigate Un-American Activities.
BY un-American activities we mean
organizations or groups existing in
the United States which are direct
ed, controlled or subsidized by for
eign governments or agencies and
which seek to change the policies
and form of government OF the
United States in accordance with
the wishes Of such foreign govern
ments.
For almost year and half, the
committee has taken testimony
from scores of witnesses, most OF
whom have had flrst-hand knowl-
edge of subversive and un-Amer-
can activities.
Dictatorships of Hitler
And Stain Converge.
1t has happened that in certain
European nations dlotatorshlpS
have been set up in recent years.
The most noteworthy examples OF
such relationships are the Com
munist dictatorship of Stain IN
Russia and the National Socialist or
Nazi dictatorship of Hitler in Ger
many Starting out with ideals
which apparently differed widely
from one another, these two dicta-
torships have converged upon one
another, not only in the matter OF
their foreign policy but also with
regard to their domestic programs,
until today we find little to distin-
guish one from the other and
even find that these two Dictator
ships are cooperating together in
Europe for their supposed mutual
benefit.
Both Stains communism and
Hitler's nazi-ism pursue the policy
of attempting to build up in other
nations groups of followers who
could be depended upon to protect
the interests of the European dc
tators under every circumstance.
There is evidence Of similar efforts
by the italian Fascists. The pri-
mary representatives of these ef-
forts in the United States have
been the Communist parties on the
one hand and the German-American
Bund on the other. Up until the
time of the signing of the pact be-
tween Stain and Hitler. the Com
munist party on its part was about
to gain its greatest influence in the
United States by attempting to rep
resent itself as the spearhead Of an
"anti-Fascist" movement, and the
German American Bund on the 9TH
er hand was about to make its most
effective appeal by representing it
self as the spearhead OF an anti
Communist" movement. Signlf1-
cantly enough, in the first case the
movement was, supposed to be anti
Fascist on the one hand, but not
Communist, and in the second
case to be ti-Communist, but not
anti-Fascist.
At the present time. with the sign
ing of. the Soviet-Nazi pact, these
movements have been severely Grip
pied and this tactic is far less ef1ec-
tive than formerly.
AS further background for an ade-
quate understanding of the findings
of the Committee on Un-American
Activities, a brief outline OF changes
in the party line" or tactics OF the
Communist party is important. Es-
sentially. communism is an lnterna-
tional revolutionary movement seek
ing to replace democratic govern
ment by a so-called dictatorship OF
the proletariat. This is the aim and
goal of all true Communists and fun
damentally it never changes. The
greatest danger to a movement OF
this kind is obviously the existence
of successful efforts to peacefully
and progressively solve the economic
problems of a people within the
framework of a constitutional demo-
cratic government. Progressive re-
form movements, therefore, must
always be eliminated in order for a
communistic movement to be ultl-
mately successful, and such move
ments can never expect to benefit
from united 'front.' activities with
Communists.
Communists Change Policy
To Outward Cooperation.
Beginning in 1885, however, the
Soviet government of Russia at
tempted policy of cooperation
with the capitalistic democracles IN
attempting to build what was known
as collective security" agalns:
Fascist and Nazi nations. In accord
with this, the tactics of the Com
munist party in the United States
were changed and for approx
mately four years the party pursued
policy of pretending to COOP
crate with all progressive and lib
eral forces with the primary idea in
mind of gaining greater and greater
influence within, and ultimate con-
troll of such forces, and thus being
able to influence the policy Of the
United States in accordance with
Soviet interests. 1t is in this four
year period, while pursuing this
particular line or policy. that the
Communist party in the United
States has succeeded in extending
its influence among so called
front" organizations and in some
labor organizations as well. 1t is
important to remember in this con-
nection that the Communist party
at this time was deliberately re-
framing from preaching commu-
nism In any real sense of that
term.