" UNITED FRONT" British Communist Progress

Rome Knows More Of England Than England Does Documentation Of Events
LAST SUNDAY THE " UNITED FRONT," IN DEFIANCE OF THE LABOUR PARTY WHICH HAD CONDEMNED IT AS AN ACT OF DISLOYALTY, WAS ESTABLISHED IN GREAT BRITAIN. THE SOCIALIST LEAGUE AND THE INDEPENDENT LABOUR PARTY HAVE JOINED WITH THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND VIRTUALLY REBELLED AGAINST THE LABOUR PARTY.
The " United Front " unites the extremists and, in effect, strengthens the Communists by softening their own programme which can now steal the Labour Party's thunder without frightening the working man, and yet, in doing so, taking another step forward along the line pointed out by Moscow.
" WE STAND FOR ACTION, FOR ATTACK, FOR THE ENDING OF RETREAT, FOR THE BUILDING OF STRENGTH, UNITY AND POWER OF THE WORKING-CLASS MOVEMENT."
In view of this important date in the progress of Conununism an account of recent Communist and Left activities in this country, pub lished in Lettres de Rome, is of great interest. Lettres de Rome is a hi-monthly documentation " on the directly or indirectly anti-religious activity of militant atheists throughout the whole world."
It looks like a case when Rome knows more about what is happening in Britain's Left hand than does Britain's Right hand.
The document states:
We have gathered from the Daily Worker alone (Organ of the Communist Party in Great Britain) the following notes on the demonstrations organised in England on behalf of the " Reds " in Spain between November 12 and December 6. Space does not allow of our extending them over a longer period.
Our list is certainty very incomplete: it is however extensive enough to convince the most sceptical that the English Communists display extraordinary activity. Not all the demonstrations spoken of by the Communist journal were organised by the Communists; many of them on the contrary were the work of mixed committees, especially in the Youth organisations. This would seem to show that the idea of the " Popular Front," which is the nightmare of the leaders of the Labour Party, is making rapid progress, thanks to this common action on behalf of the " Reds" of Spain.
Keen Co-operation
There follows a list of Communist meetings and events occurring between the dates mentioned above. The list gives startling evidence of the fact that on nearly every day of the year active Red propaganda is being carried out in Great Britain.
It is striking to see the close working of various Communist organisations dotted about the country. On November 22 meetings were held at Leeds and Fulham. Both meetings passed similar resolutions insisting on " the immediate organisation in all countries of a series of demonstrations whose result would be to hasten international assistance for the Spanish people who fight for their democratic rights, and on the lifting of the ' nonintervention pact,"
There are numerous other instances where the same co-ordination of effort can be seen.
The editors of Lewes de Rome admit that their list is far from complete, but it is at least full enough to be extremely convincing of the great undercurrent of Communist work in nearly every town in the country.
The pamphlet takes the following points as being fully proved: (I) The Communist Party is making use of this campaign to work for the establishment of a " United Front " in England. We must acknowledge that to a large extent they have succeeded by organising meetings in which the speakers came from different parties.
The public who take part in these meetings are not essentially Communist, but they listen to vigorous invectives against the management of the Labour Party. The " United Front " is being created " from below."
(2) The Communists have made great efforts to attract the Catholic clement, which is very influential in the Labour Party, in the struggle against Spanish 'Fascism.''
It was with this intention that they sent for the Rev. Leocadio Lobo, and the Daily Worker gives sympathetic news of the Sovereign Pontiff's illness, But we have had many and various proofs that in England. as elsewhere, the progress of Communism marks at the same time a progress towards anticlericalism and the Haired of God.
Even in Churches Recently in a small parish, half rural and half industrial, in Lancashire, the rector noticed that his choir were talking during his sermon: " If you do not wish to be silent out of respect for the preacher at least show respect for the House of God." " God is nothing to me," was the reply of the ringleader. The rector felt obliged to dismiss him, the whole choir resigned as a sign of solidarity. They had been perverted by the Communist " worker.
Not long ago a " Catholic " of Liverpnol was heard to proclaim his ardent
wish to burn down his parish church. These threats of setting fire to churches are heard in England, France. Beleium, the United States, and elsewhere. The burnings of Spanish churches have made a great impression on the working classes, influenced as they are by the Communists. At the first opportunity we must expect to see the churches in flames.
In England people were wont to be courteous and when a priest entered a hospital and said his "Good morning" they would respond. It seems that now one frequently meets with people who reply with looks of scorn and hate.
The Communists, for the purpose of their subversive propaganda, exploit the very human sentiments of compassion and solidarity which exist in the hearts of al! men. Everybody, except the perverted, feels pity for those who suffer.
Psychological Strategy
By collecting money. linen and food. the Communists have not only obtained what they wanted, they have also gained the devotion of all those who offered something to the cause in which their co-operation was invited.
There is a psychological fact here. the value of which cannot be over-estimated. We are only gained over to causes for
which we make sacrifices! Now. in many countries, a great many good people, in bringing their gifts have given themselves, and the more they gave the more has the Communist cause won them over.
(3) Let us acknowledge once again the strength of the Communist organisation which has been able to mobilise such enormous masses in so short a time. Masses of poor people. students, professors. writers. artists, ecclesiastics and aristocrats. Masses so blinded that they believe that when they give their support to Communist initiatives they are helping " democracy," The Christian Idea Let us once more draw the conclusion that organisation is the first and essential condition of all efficacious activity.
(4) More than political contrivances and diplomatic bargaining it seems that it is ideas which are more and more to agitate the masses. And it is more and more evident that we can only give humanity one idea which is capable of arresting the devastating progress of Communism. That is the Christian idea, lived to its heroic fullness. All other 'efforts, however useful and perhaps necessary they may be, will crumble away if they do not spring from the deep faith which alone can conquer that other "faith" which is the essential clement and the motive power of the subversive activity of the Bolshevists.