August, 1939
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
294
Views and Reviews of Current News By DAN GILBERT Washington, D. C., and San Diego, California
continues to flood the nation to stir sentiment in favor of America’s “back* ing up the Soviet-British forces” in case of another war with Germany. One of the fountainheads of this “war propaganda” is found in the organized forces of communism. Earl Browder, the present head of the Communist Party in America, has gone so far as to try to make it appear that the United States is in need of Soviet support, and that the real purpose of an American- Soviet tie-up would be the benefit of America rather than of Russia. In an article in the New Republic, Browder says, “At the present moment in world affairs, America needs the cooperation of the Soviet Union for her own protection from warlike aggression far more pressingly than the Soviet Union needs América for the same pur pose. For the Soviet Union is fully prepared to defend herself . . . But America, rich and full of potential booty, is still considered by the world to be in a pacifist funk, and contains powerful forces that would Welcome Japanese aggression for their own fascist ends.” No argument is too fantastic for use in this campaign to lure and deceive America into fighting the wars óf for eign nations for them. Every effort is made to make it appear that war would be to America’s “own interests” and in her “own behalf” and for her “own defense.” NAZI “CULTURAL” ADVANCE: It used to be held that the pen was mightier than the sword. Modern strat egy, however, seems to be to have the two work together. Propaganda is quite as important as poison gas in totalitarian “conquest.” So far, in the case of Hitler, propaganda has played the principal role. Military experts say that it would be insanity for Hitler to engage in war so long as Czechoslovakia remains in its present, uncooperative condition. In [Continued on page 324]
section of the country where the In dian National Congress holds power. This region comprises more than half, of the nation. SOVIET INDUSTRIAL, SLAVERY : The first prosecution under the new labor laws prescribing summary dismissal for workers absent or late without legit imate reason, and criminal charges of violating labor discipline for industrial executives who fail to discharge such truants, has begun in the people’s court in Moscow. The defendant, P. B. Kudelin, is man ager of the force and punch press shop of the “caliber” factory in Moscow, en gaged in the making of precision instru ments. Kudelin is charged with the “crime” of being “lenient” with “tru ants”* or workers who arrived at the factory late. If convicted, Kudelin will be subject to a term of three years imprisonment. Hence, -even human sympathy be comes a felony under the Soviet slave driving system. According to Kudelin’s own statement, he “felt sorry” for work ers subject to dismissal, and ultimate starvation, simply because they were unavoidably late to work. Consequently, he took a “lenient” attitude toward them. For that, he will probably be sent to prison! NO LET-UP IN WAR PROPAGANDA: Despite a rising wave of resentment on the, part of Americans who believe that our nation should adhere to Washing ton’s policy of “no foreign entangle ments,” propaganda from many sources
DIPLOMATIC JfARCE: The widely heralded British-Soviet “accord” has turned out to be a first*rate diplomatic farce. Or, as one commentator has put it, the Moscow-London “understanding” has developed into a “travesty of mu tual distrust.” After months of “negotiating,” Britain and Russia have yet to agree upon a definite and specific formulation of their alleged “undercover accord.” As this is written, the well-known foreign correspondent, H. R. Knickerbocker, re ports: “Despite their mutual distrust, •the negotiators are earnest in their efforts." He reports Britain as favoring an al liance with Soviet Russia, even though it may be foredoomed to failure. He says, “The British government thinks the alliance is worth having even if it cannot be depended upon in a pinch, because it may now exercise a deterrent effect' upon Hitler; because if it fails after so much advertisement of its im portance, it will badly weaken or even cause the collapse of the circle around Germany and encourage Hitler to new aggression.” Even the most ardent promoters of the British-Soviet line-up concede, in advance, that it cannot last, that it in evitably will break down. PROHIBITION IN INDIA: On August first, prohibition will become the law in Bombay and its environs. More than a million people live within the area from Which alcoholic beverages will be legally banned. If the experiment is deemed a success, it is probable that prohibition Will come to prevail throughout that
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