On the Left

In the Geneva Spirit. American Communists have been quick to exploit the mythical “Spirit of Geneva” to their own advantage. Before the U.S. Court of Appeals in the case of Claude Lightfoot, convicted Communist leader, John J. Abt, counsel, cited in sworn testimony as a former member of an underground cell of the Communist Party operating in Washington, D.C., argued that the easing of international tensions had weakened the government’s charge that the defendant represented a “clear and present danger” to the United States. He posed the question whether “calmer times” had now arrived.

Red Tribulations. Since 1950 the Communist Party has suffered a loss of 10 per cent in membership each year, according to a report to a recent New York State Committee conference of the party. Particularly heavy were the losses among Negro and Puerto Rican members.

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C. B. R.

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In the Geneva Spirit. American Communists have been quick to exploit the mythical “Spirit of Geneva” to their own advantage. Before the U.S. Court of Appeals in the case of Claude Lightfoot, convicted Communist leader, John J. Abt, counsel, cited in sworn testimony as a former member of an underground cell of the Communist Party operating in Washington, D.C., argued that the easing of international tensions had weakened the government’s charge that the defendant represented a “clear and present danger” to the United States. He posed the question whether “calmer times” had now arrived.

Red Tribulations. Since 1950 the Communist Party has suffered a loss of 10 per cent in membership each year, according to a report to a recent New York State Committee conference of the party. Particularly heavy were the losses among Negro and Puerto Rican members.