Labour and Communists
The Communist Party's sole claiin to political notice in this country has been its determination to make itself a nuisance. The Labour Party has been among the principal sufferers, and it is now making a bid to rid itself for good of the Communist Party's repeated applications for affiliation. The object of these applications is, of course, to secure the Communists a recognised place within the Labour Party, and the latest one has the support of the powerful Amalgamated Engineering Union. The Labour Party Executive's attempt to protect itself takes the form of a proposed amendment to the Party's constitution. A new paragraph is.to be inserted defining the sort of body which may not be affiliated to the Labour Party, drafted in such terms as to exclude the Communist Party but not the trade unions, co-operative societies and local Labour Parties. As a demonstration of the fundamental allegiance of the Labour Party to democratic principles as opposed to the cynical brand of authoritarian nonsense favoured by the British Communists the attempt is praiseworthy. Whether it will succeed is another matter. A completely watertight formula is very difficult to find, and the Communists will no doubt make further opportunities for time- wasting. But if the amendment goes through at the Labour Party's Whitsuntide Conference they will find it harder to get a locus stancli for these activities. Whatever may be said about the Labour Party's qualifications as a potential manager of the country's economic life it is at least doing its best to steer clear of that sub- ordination of reason and personal freedom which is the characteristic of Communism everywhere.
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