Libel actions against newspapers are comparatively rare— though settlements out
of court are less so—and it is curious not only that two should have been reported in Tuesday's papers, but that both should have concerned the Daily Worker. In the first case there was no allegation whatever against that paper. The action was brought against two provincial papers for suggesting that the funds of a certain trade union had been used to further Communist activities and have given advertise- ment contracts to the Daily Worker instead of .to the Daily Herald. Actually certain advertisements had been given to the Daily Worker because it was cheaper ; the union won its case and got £150 damages. In the other case the Daily Worker was sued for libel by the Polish General Anders and £1,500 damages were awarded against it. That is a fairly heavy blow for the Daily Worker, which keeps going by collecting £3,750 a month with some difficulty from its readers. This month, with more than half the month gone, it has got £498 towards that amount. Costs, of course, have to be added to the £1,500. And then there is an election fund to raise.
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