Paul Freeman (communist)

His deportation became a cause célèbre amongst the local labour movement, whose direct action tactics ultimately failed to prevent his removal from the country.

In 1920, Freeman travelled to Soviet Russia and secured the patronage of Bolshevik leader Fyodor Sergeyev, who had previously spent time in Australia.

[1] His 1981 entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography concluded that he was probably born in Germany in about 1884,[2] but later research published in 1989 noted that there is "little or no direct evidence of German birth".

[1] Although he denied making anti-soldier remarks, Freeman's activities brought him to the attention of the mine's management, and in October 1918 he was reported to Military Intelligence as an "undesirable alien".

[6] Both Military Intelligence and the Queensland Police compiled reports on Freeman, noting his association with radical groups but failing to find evidence that he had committed an offence or prove membership of a proscribed organisation.

[1] Chief of the General Staff James Legge nonetheless recommended to Defence Minister George Pearce that Freeman be removed from the country under emergency wartime powers.

He was interned at Darlinghurst Gaol for three days before being returned to Sonoma, in breach of the prison's own quarantine regulations during the Spanish flu pandemic.

His cause was quickly taken up by the labour press, with The Australian Worker stating that he had been "denied the justice which, under the constitution of this country, is supposed to be the inviolable right of every citizen".

In addition to the press campaign, his supporters employed direct action tactics, which included demonstrations, strikes and riots as well as an attempt to board the ship by force.

[9] According to William Earsman, he intended to secure recognition as an Australian representative at the Second Congress of the Communist International, but was rejected due to his lack of credentials.

[10] Freeman came to enjoy the patronage of Fyodor Sergeyev (known as "Comrade Artem"), a Bolshevik leader who had previously spent time in Australia and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI).

Freeman favoured his former colleagues in the ASP, of which Artem had also been a member, while the Trades Hall group enjoyed the support of the Russian consul-general Peter Simonov.