Evening star., 1947-06-02
On the Record
Europe's Reds Find Way
10 Bolster Porty Funds
Moscow Aid Is Held Supplemented
Even by Rlackmailing Fascists
By Dorothy Tho,np pson

n
Sumner Welles' charge that the italian r.on.
munist Party received funds from MOSCOW
which brought vehement denials from sivnor
Togliatti, Italian Communist leader. now is
supported by Luigi Antonini, president of tha
Italo-American Labor Council In New York
Mr.. Antonini quotes Pietro Nenni, leader Of
the left-wing italian Socialists-now effectively
merged with the Communists asking. in
1914, for funds to Offset the immense con-
tributions to the Communists coming from
Moscow
Regarding Moscow contributions to italian
Communist Party finances this column cannot
testify. But that the party commands more
funds than any, rival hardly is questionable.
It Is stated by professional salaried organizers
IN which 1t is unique among Italian parties,
II covers the entire country, maintaining a
formidable pay roll Its propaganda output
is prodigious, sufficient to outshout all other
parties together. And all this is certainly not
contributed by the "proletariat"
But European Communist parties have means
OF financing other than Moscow, especially
when they participate in governments. de-
tailed account of Communist financial methods
In France recently came to me in confidential
report from reliable French Journalist In
partial explanation Of the recent expulsion of
the Communists from the French government.
Bank Notes Were Seized.
He reports that during the Paris uprising
in connection with liberation, Communist
partisans of the resistance, occupying banks to
drive out collaborators, seized bank notes to
the amount Of hundreds Of millions Although
the note numbers are known, powerful politi-
cal pressures have made recovery impossible.
This initial source Of income since has been
supplemented by three other means apart from
party dues.
All ofdcials elected to offices on the party
ticket or list are required to return q sub.
stantlal portion OF their salaries to the party.
Communist government officials have swol-
len party funds by extortion. In France today
it is impossible to perform any business with
out the proper paper or priority. In every
bureau controlled by Communist, 1t has been
regular procedure to extort from each appli-
cant fee for the party. My informant be-
heves that such is the discipline of the party
that most of these monies. blackmailed out of
businessmen, have gone into party funds
though some has probably stuck In the pockets
OF the extortioners.
Enemies Forced to Join Party.
Finally, a thriving business Is done In the
sale Of absolutions and party memberships to
former collaborators. This, may add, is hap
pening in all European countries, and for 1t
have much prfma facie evidence The one
certain way by which former Fascist, NaN or
collaboration can rehabilitate himself Is to join
the Communist Party. The party has eficient
intelligence services, and the threat Of de-
nunciation has terrified thousands into party
ranks.
Nor are they accepted for nothing. They
not only join. They pay. The party which
is entirely authoritarian-ruled from the top
does not fear these politically dubious acqui-
sitions, for it always holds over their heads
the dossier that the slightest deviation may
bring to light.
In short the European Communist parties
are highly organized and lucrative rackets,
supported by extortion, bribery, and blackmail--
and not by their friends, but by their very
enemies-as industries in this country have
been forced to cough up for protection" TO
corrupt trade unions.
There Is nothing new or extraordinary In
this for party which justifes any means
to achieve its ends Stain himself particle
pated in bank robbery In early revolutionary
days, lending to others the force of his eminent
example.
But 1t does explain why the participation
OF Communists in governments inevitably
brings about the corruption and demoraliza-
ton OF the state and society as a preface to
the seizing of total power
(Released by the Bell Syndicate; Inc)