The midland journal., 1946-06-14
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COMMUNISTS LOSE OUT
AT BALLOT BOX
By PAUL MALLoN :

COMMUNISTS LOSE OUT
AT BALLOT BOX
WASHINGTON. - The Russian
program for world political action
is losing, and a change of front
may eventuate from the Browder
talks in the Kremlin.
Severest setback to Communist
plans for postwar political aggres-
sion was defeat of their new consti-
tuition for France. Moscovites con-
trolled the spirit of the French gov
ernment since they defeated De
Gaulle's policy of a strong army,
and acquired collaboration of the
Socialists. Their constitution pro-
posed single center of government
authority in the chamber of depu-
ties with subservient president
and cabinet.
Facially this appears like ut
most democracy - somewhat
like the superiority of the Brit
ish parliament you might say.
The majority of the French
electorate was not fooled.
Every time the Communists go
to the electorate, it seems, they are
being rejected. In the French ref
erendum on the subject last Octo-
Der, their proposal for weak ex-
ecutive was defeated, although they
succeeded in electing the largest
bloc of delegates to the convention.
In the connivances of international
conferences and domestic political
dickering, the Moscovites have
won the most ground, but at the
ballot box they have proved weak.
Labor Bans Communists.
Less conspicuous events than the
French election disclose their forced
retreat with even greater clarity. A
spare three paragraphs in the Lon
don Times recently revealed the de-
cision of the British Labor party to
change it's constitution so as to deny
membership to Communists. This
decision follows the disclosure
made in this column a few weeks
back, and not yet generally pub
ished, that the left wing unions in
CIO were taking similar action, in
similar quietude. The constitution
of several CIO unions is being
changed to ban Communist party
members, and unquestionably labor
in the two democracies is attempt
ing to purge itself of the Communist
influence.
1t was in the light Of these
world changing events that
Earl BrOwder few to Russia ON
his unexplained mission. The
CP postwar political action i'm
this country has been in the
hands Of the Fosterites who op-
pose cooperation with capital
ism. BrOwder was Ousted from
party control here because he
brought CP into cooperation for
production during the war. Will
the Moscovites now order a pc
riod of cooperation again?
I doubt it. Look at the matter the
way Moscow looks at it, if you
would find the answer. Capitalism
was the first enemy chosen by Com
munism. Fascism became a later
enemy. Fascism has now been
eliminated as world power. Com
munist aggression against capital
ism can stop only through genu-
inc reorganization of its totalitarian
ideals, and this is hardly to be ex-
pected now as the Russian govern
ment, flushed with victory and new
won power throughout the world,
sees its greatest opportunity for
world achievement.
Superficial Cooperation.
But there is another stronger
reason for doubt. Democratic capi-
talism is struggling to its feet, fol-
lowing war. If the Communists CO.
operate and we get production, we
may grow strong again. Therefore
the Browder mission is likely TO sue
ceed only if the Kremlin becomes
convinced capitalism will fall any.
way, and a period of false appease-
ment is justified as a temporary
strategic retreat. The decision could
favor CP face lifting, and superb
cial cooperation, but could hardly
run into genuine depths.
In these fundamental cur
rents, some are saying the
ultimate conflict will be be-
tween Socialism and Commu-
nism. But Socialism is a word
which has lost more of its orig
inal definition than Communism.
The Nazis were Socialists, SO
were the Fascists. So is Russia.
The name Of that Communist ma
ton is The Union Of Soviet So
cialist Republics. British Social
ism, ON the other hand, clings to
law, the parliamentary system
and Democratic forms.
Events therefore are shaping the