Imperial Valley press., 1943-07-05
caPitaI Talk
-by-
Peter Edison

The amazing alacrity and agility
with which important public per-
Sonages, commentators and people
who should know better have
jumped on the Soviet bandwagon,
following Stalins recent decree dis
solving the Comintern, is really
something to behold. The bland as
sumption and conclusions so blindly
leaped at have been this Moscow
order ending the Third Interna-
tional was a death warrant for
world communism. IT wasn't any
thing of the sort.
Communism today is just as
much world wide political force
as il ever was and the chances
arc good that far from passing
out as a result of the Stain death
warrant, communism will continue
TO grow as separate nationalistic
movements i'm all countries where
there are radical minOrities dis
satisfied with the way things are
being run now. AS a number Oi
national movements, communism
might even grow faster than II
did under Soviet guidance. People
of any country miCht be reluctant
TO ioin UP with movement run
by Moscow, but willing enough to
ioin mp with purely domestic
political party which they thought
offered them a better deal.
These statements are not made
gloatingly, in support OF COM
munism. On the contrary, they are
made to point out that the danger
of communism-if it is danger
still exists, and they are supported
by facts which should be obvious to
anvone who can read his newspaper.
COMMUNISM IN ITALY,
GERMANY
The strongest elements OF the
underground opposition to the Nazis
in most countries OF occupied
Europe are unquestionably Com
munist. 1t is admitted by many OF
the refugee governments. 1t Is par
ticularly true in France. 1t Is true
of Italy, and if there IS any active
opposition to the Nazis in Germany
itself, 1t comes from communists.
These movements in the case OF
Germany and italy were under-
ground even before the war started
As international Communist move
ments. they bore the label OF anti
German or anti-Italian movements
With the curse of the Third inter-
national now removed what's tC
prevent the growth of Italian ano
German Communist parties in the
post-war world of the Four Free
domS?
Gen. Charles de Gaullc has ad-
mittcd that the strongest element
in his support came not from
the rightist Catholics. as he had
expected hut from the Com
muniits. With the possible cx-
ceptions of the Netherlands aid
the scandinavian countries. similar
Communist anti NaZi strength
car be found throughout Europe.
Young Communists do lot Of the
guerilla fightinE in the Balkans.
a grave concern of many OF the
refugee governments i'm exile Is
that they do not represent these
fighting elements that have stay
ed ho,nc to take the punishment.
2 and that is the greatest weak
S ness in their postwar position.
: STRONG IN LATIN
: AMERICA
I Similarly, in China, though Ma
= tionalists and Communists hav
= Joined for United China move
l ment to beat the Jap, the grea
fear of many Nationalists is tha
after the war is over China will b
thrown into civil war - Com
munists versus the field-tor ultl
mate domination.
Communism is definite revO-
= lu.ionary force to be reckoned
e with in Latin America. The party
is perhaps strongest in Chile
where its elected deputies sit In
o The congress. The movement i'
(, strong i'm Mexico and has beer
: strengthened by Spanish leftist'
: driven to the new world attel
= Frances victory.
e Communism is perhaps weake
II in the United States, where it
legally recognized as politic
e party. It's leadership has reported
II never stood in much esteem wit
Moscow, and its greatest threat HI
= been its potential nuisance valu