The Eighth Tribe, 1977 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-06-01 / 6. szám
June, 1977 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 9 AN OPEN LETTER To the Honorable Cyrus R. Vance Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. National Suggestion Box P.O. Box 20Ö9 Washington, D. C. 20013 Dear Sir: Since my concerns lie with Central East Europe, it is with pleasure that I read of the new Carter administration’s reprimands of Russia and Czechoslovakia for their disregard of human rights. Our major problems exist with the captive nations and it is in this area that you can provide leadership and score points against the Soviets, not only reaction against Soviet atrocities. Central East Europe needs American recognition of its personal and political slavery, if only through moral support. I submit my concepts to the “National Suggestion Box” because I would like to believe that by working together we can make the Carter Government a government for all people. A. To ensure the flow of constructive ideas to your desk, reorganize the Central East European and Soviet sections of the State Department, making it the largest and most visible section. B. Recruit “Idea-men” from our universities Russian-Communist studies departments. Hire full-time intellectuals and readily available volunteers from among the refugees from Communism. C. Enlist the World Press and the Central East European Press in exile for their thoughts and ideas on the captive nations and your source of new possibilities will flow constantly. D. Confront the Russians with these constructive ideas, making all diplomatic offensives public. Let the whole world see and participate in these peaceful actions, as the world well knows of the captive nation’s struggle behind the Iron Curtain. E. Your success or failure lies with the captive nations. Enlist the Nato governments as well as the U.N. for consultation, giving them a chance to be part of the peaceful, eventual liberation of Central East Europe from Soviet domination. An intensive, active, as well as a constructive foreign policy, could bring freedom to Central East Europe without war. If the U.S. displays a persistent activity with determination, the Russians could simply withdraw. Since the Russians have stated many times that they would withdraw their forces, now is the time to test them For the past 30 years, U.S. leadership has been too weak and the Russians have gone unchallenged. The nations involved could be neutralized, as is Austria today. The Central East European region from Finland to Austria could be handled as a separate entity for the benefit of all concerned. With a persistent policy, the Carter Government could put the Soviets at ease concerning safe withdrawal. Economic ties should not be disrputed between the People’s Republics and tbe Soviets. It has taken 30 years of time, sweat, blood and work to build the trade and enforce it. Backward and underdeveloped Russia has the raw materials and the Central East Europeans, like industrially advanced Hungary, would benefit in a free-trade concept as free nations. A free nation could deliver better and more products to the Soviets than they produce today as puppets of Communism. The Soviets and their political followers were outlawed in most of these Central East European countries before 1945; Communist parties were illegal and persecuted. If the Russians withdraw, Communist organizations could be legalized and the Soviets can claim that they liberated these countries! A measure of political freedom for each country has become a future necessity. The Russian language was ignored by the public schools of these surrounding countries. The language of so close a neighboring country should not be banned and Russian could be taught as a major foreign language after a peaceful military withdrawal. Central East Europe will wear the Communist imprint long after Russian withdrawal, especially from the People’s Republics Socialist’s economy and state-ownership. There is no danger that former owners, the so called capitalists, will return and demand their factories back. Hardly anyone is alive today who owned the shops and the factorits. The industrial plants have had many face-liftings since 1945; new machines added, new organizations built. Only a freed nation can claim ownership. Today’s economic ties need not be interrupted; they would in all likelihood be strengthened. The “Voice of America” and Radio Free Europe should now tell the captive nations that a constructive research program is underway, with the goal of eventual self-determination for the entire area. Invite the listeners to submit ideas on the neutralization of their countries. After the successful revolution of 1956, the chosen Hungarian government
