Fraternity-Testvériség, 1964 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1964-07-01 / 7. szám
2 FRATERNITY War. This assumes that tension itself is the danger, rather than just a symptom of it. We forget that the causes of tension are the Soviet conquest of Eastern Europe, the Chinese conquests in Asia, and the relentless efforts of both to subvert other countries. If we are willing to relax on the basis of the status quo, why should the Communists abandon their goals? Relaxing tensions and “improving the atmosphere” before there are fundamental changes in the Communist bloc, and/or completely inspected disarmament, only creates that false sense of detente against which Secretary Rusk warned. It destroys the sense of urgency which is essential for the maintenance of any democratic alliance. It is we who have relaxed, not the Communists. In pursuing this goal of relaxation, the West has virtually ceased to respond to the longings of the captive peoples for real freedom. We are embracing the Communist minority governments which originally betrayed their countries to Soviet control, on the dubious theory that these local leaders have either the will or the power to become really independent. Unlike Yugoslavia, these countries are all surrounded by Soviet armies which not only prevent independence from Moscow but protect the Communist leaders from the revenge of their own people, as shown by the uprisings in Hungary and East Berlin. Progress so far in Eastern Europe has been mainly due to the lessons learned by Soviet and satellite leaders from the Hungarian and Polish Revolutions, and to their fear of possible future revolutions. Soviet economic exploitation and local police state rule were eased as the only way to reduce people’s passive resistance and increase production. In other words, concessions to the people were won by pressure. The present economic crisis increases the pressure. The West is in a position to relieve it by offering Western trade and credits in return for further concessions to the people. Yet present U. S. plans call for the expansion of trade with Eastern Europe without bargaining for increased political freedom in return. We continue aid to Poland and do not even threaten to reduce it, although the limited individual liberties won by the Polish people in 1956 are being steadily whittled away by the Gomulka government. All this is happening when the economy of the Soviet bloc is harder pressed than at any time since World War II. Khrushchev and his Communist satraps desperately need our trade and credits. Thus we have a corresponding bargaining power, if we would only use it. If we give Khrushchev the breathing spell he needs without demanding concessions in return, we will be helping him maintain his subsidies for subversion around the world, from Cuba to Laos. We will enable him to continue the arms race and resume threats of aggression in Berlin or elsewhere, whenever the further erosion of NATO provides an opening. The Communists use trade as a weapon of subversion; the free world must use it as a weapon to defend freedom. The Communist bloc has suffered its worst economic crisis despite the great increase in Western trade during recent years. Therefore, it is still not too late to use our economic bargaining power. Recent
