COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Ts the venerable Spectator becoming an organ of Com- munist propaganda ? In the issue of October 16th, two articles, one by Mr. John Strachey, and another by Dr. Haden Guest, are typical Soviet pamphlets, and, as usual, quite without substance to anyone who knows the facts. Mr. Strachey says a "community by adopting this system. . . can certainly abolish poverty, unemployment, economic crises and war." But England could do all this without waiting for Communism simply by murdering all capitalists and property-holders and slaughtering some two million citizens, as was done by a usurping pagan dictatorship in Russia. Does your reckless correspondent consider that to be an improvement on modern England ? If so, what is the value of his opinion ? Communism is merely a return to the slavery and serfdom of the feudal system, where inferiors have duties but no rights, and superiors rights but no duties. "By their fruits ye shall know them." "Can men gather figs of thistles ? " A system based on murder is no other than a thistle. Look at it in Spain.
Dr. Haden Guest says "religion in all countries is losing its power, position and prestige "—but he ought to have finished the sentence by adding its logical conclusion- " among the unintelligent and worthless." For the surest proof of a lack of intelligence is the inability to appreciate what the best minds most value. An intelligent mind has a sense of eternal values. The world's greatest minds and noblest -characters regard Jesus Christ as the most perfect incarnation of moral beauty, goodness and truth that mankind has ever known. Then, how can any one, or any system, be either intelligent or good, that rejects the best, or is even neutral towards it ? Treason to the highest is naturally and inevitably cruel. Think of the slaughter in Russia and in Spain, again! Intellectual, it may be. But intelligent and [Is "Christianity and Communism" not a question to be discussed? If it is, should no place be given to a statement of the claims of Communism ? Mr. Strachey's article was preceded by a sweeping condemnation of Communism by Dr. Inge, and is followed by one equally sweeping by Father D'Arey. As to Dr. Haden Guest's description of the position of religion in Russia today, it is not clear whether Dr. Bryan believes Dr. Guest's statements to be inaccurate or considers that though accurate they should not be published.—En. The Spectator.]
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