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| 3* WORID COMMDNISM one of complete subservience to the Comintern, Browder occasionally tried to hew an independent line. Such deviations were tolerated during*^the ?7ari but the postwar reaction was swift and final. It is only in this perspective that American Communism becomes complete- ly intelligible. American Party policies can be explained best in the light of Soviet foreign policy. Thus, we might divide American Communism into four broad spheres of action: general propaganda; infiltration of foreign language groups; infiltration of minority groups; and infiltration of the labor movement. In the first three spheres, the normal procedikre is to set up front groups and attract followers into these organizations. These groups can then collect funds, indoctrinate members, and propagandize the general public. They can also bring pressure to bear upon government. In the case of labor, the procedure is rather to seize existing organizations, attempt to divert their funds into front groups, and use their prestige for propaganda purposes. As a secondary program, 3abor itself is indoctrinated and some few converts are won. It is of the highest iinportance that this orientation of'Communism be realized. Otherwise, neither the menace of Communism nor the antidote to this menace will be fully understood. Ue might fall into the pitfall of concentrating upon a tactical phase of Communism and overlooking the strategic pattern* Thus, for example, it is often said that Communists do nothing more than preach the social justice which we should be stressing more sanely and more intelligently. This statement contains much truth, but not the whole truth. During the recent War the Communists dropped completely their program of social justice. Such alert Catholic publications as the Wage Earner. America. and the Labor Leader refused to call them leftists during this period, since their Line was to the right of the National Association of Manufacturers. Yet never was their prestige or propaganda influence upon the public higher. They lost some followers from labor and Negro groups, but they gained among liberals, publicists, and intellectuals. Their front organizations and pressure groups waxed strong and prosperous. They came critically close to swaying public opinion and government policy to their Line in regard to China and Eastern Europe. Accordingly, it seems more correct to consider Communism as a disciplined organized'movement, seeking primarily to foster Soviet policies, and using social justice as an indidental tactic. This pattern of Communist power will become clearer as the Party apparatus is studied in detail in subsequent chapters. As a preliminary step, however, it will be useful to give a brief summary of the trends of Soviet imperialism. Most of this material was not carried in the general American press. The Catholic press carried more articles on the subject, particularly in regard to Poland. The New York Times gave the subject good coverage, while Time was fair. Scattered articles appeared in the Readers' Digest. The best single source on the new totalitarianism is the Social Democrat publica- tion, the New Leader. Indeed, the writer would respectfully suggest that editors, priests, and others interested in following World Communism should subscribe to this valuable source of information. (Weekly: $3*00 per year; 7 Bast 15th St., New York 3> N.Y.) |