APPENDIX II

Note on the policy of Communist publications since the imposition of the ban .

From material provided by Home Intelligence

1. The Daily Worker

There have been a number of changes in the form and policy of this paper, since its banning for export. It is now run by an Editorial Board consisting of Prof. J. B. S. Haldane, Sean O'Casey, Councillor Jack Owen, and R. Page Arnot. During recent months the Daily Worker has concentrated largely on domestic policy and has urged the provision of deep shelters, more highly developed A.R.P. services, better compensation, commandeering of large houses and West End premises and large private shelters not available to the public, etc. The paper has given the utmost publicity to the recommendations of the A.R.P. Co-ordinating Committee, (an organisation consisting of technical experts who are mainly Communist in complexion) and to the activities of the Tenants Defence Leagues, People's Vigilance Committees, etc. During the last fortnight the motif of the editorials has been “How long?”.

2. The Five Principal Communist Periodicals

The policy of these papers has virtually undergone no changes and may be summarised as follows:-

(a) Challenge . This periodical which is the organ of the Young Communist League, directs its attention almost entirely to problems connected with working youth. These include higher fares, factory hours and wages, the siren policy, conditions of young men in the Forces, etc. In addition points which receive attention in the Daily Worker are also viewed from a youth standpoint, e.g. profits in war-time, Haldane shelters, etc.

(b) Russia To-day . This is only concerned with extolling the Soviet Union and the conditions under which the people of the Socialist State live and work. For the most part the comparison between Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. is implicit rather than explicit.

(c) Inside the Empire . This is entirely confined to the alleged injustices, maltreatment and exploitation of our Empire subjects and regularly draws attention to the large number which are politically unrepresented.

(d) World News and Views . This paper is devoted to the progress of Communism throughout the world and does not favour any one country with more space than is given to another.

(e) Labour Monthly . This is the literary and intellectual magazine of the Communist Party and deals with major questions occupying the attention of the Communist Party of Great Britain. Besides matters of interest at home it discusses the problem of India, our war aims and resolves into anti-Socialist terms and moves made by the Government and the official Opposition before the coalition.

3. It should be remarked in connection with the policy pursued by the Daily Worker , that a number of other papers, e.g. the News Chronicle, the Daily Mail, the Daily Herald, the Evening Standard, and the Star, have taken up many of its suggestions. Those which have been adopted most widely are, the plea for deep shelters, and for more active steps on the part of the government concerning the commandeering of larger houses, and general organisation of the civilian population in heavily bombed areas particularly the East End.