Evening star., 1947-11-16
US. Easyfor
Fifth Column
Existing Laws Called
Inadequate for
Protection
By Constantine Brown

High French officials possess au-
thentic documents proving that the
fifth column, which caused the
rapid French military debacle in
1910, was organized long before
World War II broke out. These
papers show beyond all doubt that
French Communists worked with
and for Nazi military authorities
after 1886.
Te present troubled political situ-
alton in Western Europe has pre-
vented publication of these vitality
important documents, but it is be-
lieved that some American officials
have been given the opportunity to
look through these papers, which
are still held top secret.
The expansion Of French aviation
was handicapped by Pierre Cot, the
Socialist Minister of Aviation, WHIT
today is q Communist member o.
the National Assembly. He helc
that post until 1889, when it was
too late even to think about mass
production Of aircraft in the anti.
quated French factories, where pro-
pellers were still made by hand In
order to provide more jobs on the
unions demand.
Protected by French Law
The Maginot Line was never COM
pleted, because the General Ccnfed-
GRAFTON OF Labor protested against
soldiers building those fortifications
and threatened a major strike
against the government. The
French War Ministry refused to in
trust that highly secret work to
people who, 1t knew, had foreign
agents in their ranks.
The activities of the fifth column
lists, who succeeded SO superbly in
destroying Frances resistance to the
Nazis, were protected by the French
constitution and French laws.
These things are now being real
lied because Of certain activities In
the United States by new brand of
fifth columnists who, under the
cloak Of the American Constitution,
are serving a foreign power which
no longer. conceals its hostility
toward us-Russia.
That we have a large number OF
fifth columnists In our midst Is we'll
known to all those who take the
trouble to look into matters through
out the country. But constitution
ally there is very little that can be
done about 1t.
The American Constitution did
not foresee Trojan-horse tactics in
theological conflict, and existing
laws are inadequate. AS q matter
Of fact, extreme restraint must be
exercised by the intelligence services
of State and Defense Departments
and the FBI.
Loose Talk Harmful
The superb resistance of the So
Wet armies against the Nazis Gre
ated q feeling of deep devotion and
gratitude among the rank and file
of American people toward our new
war associates. This was tmmedi-
ately exploited by the Communists
and their stooges In the United
States on orders from Moscow. Gov
eminent departments-including the
the sensitive services, that is, radar
and atomic energy groups-under-
went infiltration of Communists and
their sympathizers. None dared act
against them, because the admins
tration had full confidence in our
new Ally and did not want to offend
Moscow, even by implication.
A hue and cry is being raised
throughout the country because Of
the dismissal Of . fey-very few
officials by the State Department
and Central Intelligence Agency as
. result Of suspicious as to their
loyalty.
The ",mconsciously" disloyal can
do as much harm, however, es the
ordinary spy But being Glib
eral"-usually Of the very pink va
riety-he sees no reason why, simply
because OF his position, he should
avoid contacts with the "termites'
who are crawling in Washington.
Since the war the Russians have
managed to break down even the
most hght-hpped civil service in
the worh-the BritisE. But they
States. y