LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
STRIKES AND DEMOCRACY
SIR,—It was heartening to see from your leading article that you are not one of those who have been induced to believe that the dock strikes were not, after all, Communist instigated and Communist led. It is deplorable to witness the attitude of some politicians to this grive issue. Who are the Communists? It is known beyond any doubt that many of Russia's firmest supporters have been encouraged not to join the party because they would be more useful outside than in. We have all met them. They start off by saying: "I am no Communist, but—" and then proceed to put over the usual propaganda, so familiar in the pages of the Daily Worker. The size of the Communist Party in this country is no indication of the strength of the movement in our midst. Of the rank and file of the party, many arc merely sheep in wolves` clothing, but these undeclared Communists are wolves in sheep's clothing, and all the more dangerous because of that. There is every indication that what is happening in this country, in Australia, India and Canada is all part of one great conspiracy recently set in motion. And do we not now see more clearly what was so puzzling at the time—why the recent Foreign Ministers' conference came to be called at Russia's suggestion? It is a well-known Communist tactic to seem to relent in one direction while putting on the screw in another.
You say that Communism is a public enemy and add, "Whether it is a public enemy against which the Government should take legal action is much Jess certain" Is not the deciding factor the seriousness of the menace and the methods employed by the enemy? Let us make no mistake ; we are in the midst of a fateful struggle which may decide our way of life for years to come. It is no misuse of words to talk of a " cold war " (and not so very cold either), and the Communists are the fifth column. During the recent war we put the Fascist fifth column under restraint Were they potentially more dangerous to our cherished liberties than are the Communists? There are many who would doubt it. Can we afford to be tolerant of such utter intolerance as the Com- munists 'manifest? Can we look upon them as just another political party? As a life-long Liberal, to whom liberty of speech and action is a most cherished ideal, I believe sincerely that if we treat the Communists with Liberal tolerance we shall, as a nation, lose the fight, for they will take advantage of that very tolerance for our undoing.—Yours, &c., The Hazels, Mount Pleasant Lane, H. G. LYALL. Bricks Wood, Watford.
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