THE PROBLEM OP AMERICAN COMMUNISM IN 1945 and Recommendations Rev, John P. Cronin, S# S, A Confidential Study for Private Circulation LAILIMI Uh KUbblAN LUNIKULANU INhLULNCE USSR IN 1939 [I) "TRUSTEESHIPS'ASKED BY RUSSIA RUSSIAN ANNEXATIONS. T939-45 OUTPOST FOR BALTIC CONTROL RUSSIAN OCCUPIED AREAS AND (3) RUSSIA CLAIMS TURKISH TERRITORY COMMUNIST PARTY STATES ® UTILIZATION OF COLONIAL UNREST STRONG RUSSIAN INFILTRATION (D SHARE ASKED IN OCCUPATION OF JAPAN CHINESE COMMUNIST AREAS J—i _Q_ TliE NETWORK Information Bulletin on European Stalinism 124 W. 85 St., New York 24, N.Y. (Tel. TR 7-0793) October 15, 1945 ii INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY This is a confidential survey of the problem of American Communism. At the outset it is important to note the restrictions which must neces- sarily govern the use of this Report. The writer faced the choice between a more general study which might be used extensively, and a detailed analy- sis which names names. The latter alternative was chosen as being the more j valuable to the sponsors of the survey. Accordingly, instead of confin- ing the reporting to material which is generally available to the public, the author used accurate but confidential sources. The usefulness of these * sources would cease if their names and positions were revealed. This is particularly true i»^en__the ultimate source is a well-placed member of the Communist Party. " " " !—• ----- ' • ,1 Because of the accuracy of the sources, it is often possible to 1/ name definitely as Communists individuals who would publicly deny their jj affiliation. The publication of such names would certainly lead to a challenge to produce proof and possibly to a libel suit. Since this writer has solemnly pledged not to reveal confidential sources—-an indispensable condition for obtaining information—-he'would not be in a position to aid any individual who is thus challenged or sued. Because of this, it is recommended in Chapter V that a modified version of this Report be pre- pared for limited distribution. This edition would be carefully examined to prevent any possibility of the dangers just noted. The use of confidential sources brings up another problem. How are the readers of this Report to be sure that the investigator was not deceived in his reliance upon certain types of material? Certainly in this field the opportunity to deceive the incautious would be great. Accordingly, as an added check upon the accuracy at this Report, advance copies are to be sent to certain of the group sponsoring the work, where it is known that these sponsors can have it verified by well-informed individuals. Finally, the nature of this work prevents the author from express- ing his thanks in an adequate manner to those who contributed so greatly to the final result. All that can be said is that the devoted few have the deepest gratitude of this investigator for their service to God and country. Great credit must be given to those who prepared so carefully the answers to the questionnaires sent out last December. The answers were factual and accurate, and contributed in a definite way to the contents of this Report. In certain cases, further information was sent regularly in the course of the present year. All this is appreciated, even though thanks are expressed in a general rather than a specific manner. As a final introductory observation, it must be noted that the in- vestigation was confined strictly to the subject assigned. As a result, an unavoidable distortion of perspective occurred. As an example, in many of the foreign-language fields, Communist-controlled organizations were singled out. No mention was made of non-Communist groups in the same community. Again, while the menace of Communism was stressed, it was not the duty of this writer to note other situations which may be equally menacing. Thus, if widespread unemployment were to prevail in this country within the next ten years, it is possible that some demagogic group other than the CommunistSmight exploit the situation. At this moment, the so- called "hate organizations,*1 many of them anti-Catholic, are not well iii INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY organized or closely federated. But they represent a potential threat. Finally, as was noted by Pope Pius XI in several of his social encyclicals, the many social tensions and injustices which have not been eradicated from modern life constitute real problems* An instance of this would be the substandard life of the Negro population, and this not necessarily in the South, since conditions in many Northern cities are pitiful. Because of the great complexity of the troubles which beset America, the writer has attempted to introduce elements of evaluation and perspective, in ad- dition to factual reporting. This will be particularly the case in the summary which follows. Summary of the Report. The first chapter of the Report sets a tone for the rest. There it is noted that American Communism is primarily a menace because it is a branch of world Communism. The American Party is a slavish tool of Soviet imperialism. To_document this thesis, it was first^ shown that the Party impiicitiyTollows the Moscow line"7 and secondly that" it has special front organizations and a controlled press to influenceTEe American public towards the Soviet point or view. Thus, in the cases of Poland and the Baltic States, the Balkans, Western Europe, South America, the Near East, and Asia, there are organized campaigns to deceive the American public. The maximum objective is support for the Communist program, and the minimum is the creation of confusion and uncertainty, and a con- sequent weakening of American foreign policy. As a result, there is a real danger that Communism may be imposed by force of arms over extensive and heavily populated areas. It is evident that the Soviet aim is enforced Communism in most of Europe and Asia, with the rest of the world weakened by propaganda and domestic fifth columns. This point is summarized on page 15. The second chapter treats of the organization and functioning of the American Communist Party. A distinction is made between Communists, fellow-travelers, opportunists, and dupes. National Communist strength is. given as 75,000 members, and a breakdown of important concentrations by dioceses is given on page 18. There follows a brief study of the Communist press and the current Party Line. The technique of the front organization is analyzed. Finally, specific front organizations and programs among the foreign-born, the Negro, the Jews, youth, and miscellaneous groups are treated. A brief summary is offered on page 30, Chapter III deals with the Communist infiltration of the labor movement. The Party1s aims and tactics are first discussed, and then the degree of penetration v;ithin the American Federation of Labor is noted. Next a more extensive study of Communism within the Congress of Industrial Organizations is given. Special attention is paid to the Political Action Committee, C.I.O. and the World Federation of Trade Unions. The'chapter concludes with a breakdown of the members unions of the C.I.O. in terms of Communist influence. This analysis, on pages 43 and following, led to startling conclusions. The extent of infiltration and control was greater than.this writer had previously realized. In Chapter IV, some of the remaining Communist activities were dis- cussed. It was stated that Communists are as opposed to religion as they always were, but that in the United States, attacks are usually made through iv INTRODUCTION AND SOM&£AEY front organizations rather than directly. Stalin is using the Russian Orthodox Church ax a front for his Pan-Slav, policies. Next the infil- tration of Communism in government was treated. Unfortunately this phase ' of the study could not be done adequately, because Communists in government have been driven underground by the Hatch Act and the Committee on Un- American Activities. It is reliably reported that they do not even meet in Washington. Their only liaison with the Party is through their home units. Accurate information on Communism in government is available, but this in- vestigator was unsuccessful in efforts to secure access to it. Rather than use inaccurate material, only a brief treatment of infiltration in govern- ment and in the Army is offered. The same difficulty prevented a lengthly discussion of Communism in what might be called the "public opinion" field. Scattered facts are given about Communism in the press and publishing busi- ness, among teachers, motion picture and radio performers and writers, and the like* Thus, such a conservative publication as the New York Herald Tribune has pro-Soviet Joseph Barnes as foreign editor, Bert Andrews as chief of the Washington Bureau, and many Communist sympathizers among the book reviewers. It is difficult to purchase anti-Soviet books in Brentanofs and Macy's, Perhaps these scattered items will fit together more coherent- ly when the activities of the front group, the Independent Citizens' Committee on Arts, Sciences, and Professions, brings Communist sympathizers into the open. The treatment of Hollywood presents a different problem. Here the writer had an abundance of material compiled with great diligence. Adequate presentation of these sources would have required a SHparate chapter. Furthermore, the problems of Hollywood are so unique that perspective and insight could be acquired only by a lengthy on-the-spot study. Time was lacking for such an inquiry, particularly when the publication of the Duclos article add the consequent reversal of Communist policy made obsolete much of the material gathered during the first six months of the investigation and forced a renewed study of other fields* The key section to much of Chapter IV is the discussion of liberals on pages 52-55# The same subject is treated with great discrimination by Eugene Lyons in the Red Deacde.