Evening star., 1947-04-02
Ban on Communists
Held Unnecessary
Law Urged to Force Disclosure
Of Foreign Sources of Funds
By David Lawrsace


of Foreign Sources of Funds
By David Laurence
Many proposals to outlaw" the
Communist Party in America are being
discussed inside and outside Congress.
To outlaw q political party as such
would be unconstitutional and an inter-
ference with . fundamental right Of
any group Of law-abiding citizens. But
to regulate political parties and to insist
on certain requirements has been upheld
as valid and constitutional exercise
of power by Congress where Federal
elections are concerned.
The vice Of q political party which
owes its inspiration to or Is supported
by the funds of citizens of foreign
countries or OF foreign governments is
well understood here. No matter whether
political party does or does not have
rs its purpose the overthrow Of con-
stituted Government in the United
States. Congress would not hesitate to
prohibit the formation of political
parties by foreign governments or
foreign nationals acting in reality in
behalf Of foreign governments.
Congress already has required by law
that agents of foreign governments be
registered with the State Department
and that full publicity be given the
names of such agents. Congress could
also limit or regulate the operations Of
foreign government agents.
The problem of political party which
is supported by funds furnished by .
foreign government is not new. During
the period between July, 1914, and the
time the United States entered World
War I, evidence was uncovered that
the German Embassy used huge sums
to support organizations of persons in
this country who engaged in political
activity in order to influence legislation
pending in Congress with respect to
embargoes on arms destined for the
Allied side.
Extent Of Funds Not known.
The existence of strong pro- Russian
group In America today is well known.
The extent to which the Soviet govern
ment supplies funds for the activities
Of pro-Russian organizations Is not well
known. For many years the United
States Government. prior to the recog-
milton Of the Soviet government, insisted
that Russian propaganda within the
United States cease. This was covered
in exchange of many notes.
Now, however, the phase of the prob
lem which has arisen Is how to police
the operations of any foreign govern
ment which undertakes through Ameri-
can citizens to undermine our form of
Government or the leadership of labor
unions. The Truman administration is
opposed to any law barring Communists
from labor unions, and cabinet officer
has suggested that. If any outlawing is
done, it should cover all communistic
activities.
Then when proposal is made to cover
political activities, the constitutional
angle comes in to block action. It be-
gins to look as If the effort to rid the
country of communistic activities, espe-
cially in labor unions, is being blocked by
some well-meaning persons who want
to cover too much ground at one time.
Any political party which advocates
the overthrow of government by force
can be banned and should be, bat such
law would mean little because no
political party would ever avow such an
objective. 1t would no doubt be diff
cult to prove such a case against the
officers or candidates of such party.
The only laws, therefore, which can
be effective are those requiring full dis
closure and full publicity Of all activities
of any political party which has any
connection with foreign government.
Party Needn't Be Named.
The Congress could provide by law for
disclosure of the sources of all funds
and for severe penalties for failing to dis
close whether any foreign government.
directly or indirectly, contributed funds
to such a political party. Furthermore.
ineligible for membership in labor unions
any persons belonging to any group or
organization receiving funds from
foreign government, directly or indi-
rectly
1t is not necessary to name any party,
but the prohibition can be made to apply
to any political party. 1t is conceivable.
for instance, that pro-Russian groups
would attempt to gain strength by boring
from within in major political party.
The law would reach any such subversive
activities II the statute barred support
by any foreign government or foreign
group or their agents.
Very often one reads speeches and
addresses by Americans whose own
loyalty is beyond question, but one never
knows how many Intermediates were
used by foreign government or Its
agents to plant such views on gulhble
Americans. The remarkable similarity
between certain speeches and the views
broadcast by foreign governments in
their radio propaganda has often caused
astonishment and some questioning. 1t
been duped by Intermediates whose con-
nection with foreign governments is
clandestine.
More funds to back up the Federal
Bureau of Investigation would be help
full in running down the intrigue which
lies behind the tactics of foreign govern
ments in attempting to influence Ameri-
can foreign policy through stooges who
supply data or find ways and means Of
reaching certain Americans of pro-Rus-
sian sympathy. This technique OF en-
ploytng intermediates was used by the
Nazis prior to 1941. 1t Is apparent that