POLITICAL STRATEGY OF COMMUNISM A Presidential Dilemma
The "Popular Front" in Spain by the election of a suitable president is hoping to crown the triumph of communism at the recent elections. It is not going to be easy, since, in its present insecure position in Spain, communism cannot altogether ignore the fact that if it is ever to repeat its electoral triumph it must make a good showing nationally and internationally. In this connection so much depends on the president.
It is not a matter of conjecture but of fact, that the election tactics of the Popular Front have been dictated by Moscow; and, although the approach to the electors has been cunning, it has never been either indirect or secret. Moscow would never be so foolish as to accept the barren triumph of a presidency with loss of prestige.
Strategy in Three Stages
The politics of Moscow with regard to Spain are worth examining. Three stages can be distinguished : (1) pre-electoral moderation which won over the bourgeois class; (2) following the elections, power was handed over to the bourgeois element of the Popular Front which consequently was saddled with responsibility for the "incidents" that occurred then; (3) the realisation of the preordained revolution because of these incidents.
This was meant to be the model of communist tactical penetration.
The, choice of a president has been left entirely to the Popular Front. Last Sunday 473 compromissars were elected to designate the president; and the withdrawal of the Right has resulted in a body of electors representative solely of the Popular Front. . The position is an invidious one and too exposed for tactical purposes. The candidature of Senor Azana is supported by Largo Caballero, but there is a fear that, since he is everybody else's candidate too, the Popular Front will be broken. Yet, without Azana, the cornmunists have little hope of being able to realise the programme of the Popular Front.
Matters are further complicated by the dislike of certain communists for Senor Azana. Senor Cesares Quiroga, for instance, has threatened to resign if Azana is designated for the presidency.
Meantime incidents continue—so much so, that henceforth "to avoid distortion of news" press representatives are to be supplied twice a day with "official information."
Communists Still Active
In the Seville district more churcheE have been destroyed by fire. The house: of prominent Catholics have suffered alsc in like manner. At Coria del Rio, neat Seville, the communists have turned one of the churches into a House for du People.
A civic reception has been accorded ai the Escurial to 121 communists who lefi Spain for Russia after the incidents ol October, 1934. They were the guests ol honour at a banquet prior to their depar. ture for Madrid where they were welcome by the mayor.
Bela Kun, the Hungarian terrorist al Barcelona, is only there on holiday, ac. cording to his own statement. Asked NvIt he did not visit Germany he said that there were plenty of communists there.