"An Act of Conspiracy"

In recent weeks Iraqi Communists have used their virtually unchallenged control of the country's press and radio to push for their next objective: membership in Premier Karim Kassem's Cabinet. Last fortnight mild-spoken General Kassem replied with characteristic obliqueness: "I do not encourage parties and party life at present." The Reds continued to praise Kassem as "our savior leader," kept up their insistent demands for office. But last week the left-wing National Democrats, the only political party with open representation in the Cabinet, and a party that has often worked in the past with the Communists, decided "in response to the opinion of the Prime Minister" to suspend political activity.

That left the Communists as the only major group operating as a political party in Iraq. Embarrassed and unready for any open test, the Communists tried to say that the National Democrats had misinterpreted Kassem's wishes. Thereupon, Kassem called a press conference to say that he still opposed "political party activities during the transitional period." And though he said it with a smile, his meaning was plain: "Any group that works against this I would consider as having committed an act of conspiracy against the government." The Communists reluctantly called off their campaign.

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