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Show Citizenship for Communists? . OVER In San Francisco an avowed communist is being tried in federal court on the charge that he concealed his membership in the party when becoming a naturalized citizen in 1927. The case Is important because It Is expected to establish a precedent as to whether or not membership In the Communist party bars an alien from citizenship. What the legal decision on that question will be or should be, we don't know. That's up to the courts to decide. But as far as common ense and patriotism are concerned, there Isn't the slightest question In our mind. No avowed communist Is entitled to Amcr-Ican Amcr-Ican citizenship. That view Isn't based on the factthata communist's social and political beliefs are at variance with American democratic Ideals. In this free country a person has a right to hold . any political views he wishes, to expound them and to advocate them. But there are two excellent reasons why no communist has a right to become a citizen of this country. First, because It is a known and established fact that communist doctrine In America advocates advo-cates the overthrow of our democratic form of government and the Institution of a communist regime by revolution, force and violence. That Is absolutely opposed to our democratic system, and anyone who Is not willing to abide by democratic processes In furthering his political and social views Is an enemy of democracy and "-not entitled to Its protection, Its rights and privileges. Second, because It Is a known and established fact that communists owe their first allegiance to the Third International, which Is nothing more than another name for soviet Russia. As has been demonstrated Innumerable times. In cases of conflict over policy between this government gov-ernment and the (Russian government, the communists always stand by Russia. No avowed communist, therefore, can honestly take the oath of allegiance to the United States, because his love for and allegiance to communism as represented by soviet Russia and the Third International In-ternational comes before any love for or allegiance alle-giance to this nation. Any communist admitted, to American citizenship Is either a potential or active traitor tg his adopted country. There Is little we can do about native Amer-cans Amer-cans who turn eonununists other than deal with them as traitors If and when they prove themselves them-selves to be traitors. But we certainly can and should refuse to accept as citizens of this free democracy those alien agitators whose sole . purpose In seeking citizenship is to cloak themselves them-selves In the protection of the American flag while they undermine and destroy the government govern-ment and political system which shelters them. |