The Hungarian Student, 1957 (1. évfolyam, 2-8. szám)
1957 / 4. szám
18 The Hungarian Student RESOLUTION 4: MOSCOW FESTIVAL We, the Association of Hungarian Students in the United States, at our first Congress, make the following statements about the VI World Festival of Youth and Students for “Peace and Friendship” which will be held in Moscow this summer. We call upon you, who were with us in your sympathies, during the October Revolution for Hungary’s freedom, not to attend the Moscow Youth Festival. Having had such a Festival in our country in 1949, we know what they are like. Their objective is to spread the lies that Communist imperialism is morally correct and that the Communist Police State is the best form of government. The Festival is arranged so that these lies may be spread throughout the world. At the 1949 Festival in Budapest, the delegates from Hungary did not represent the students of Hungary in any way. They were chosen carefully by the Communists to promote Communist goals. Other students were forced to attend in groups. School classes were brought and roll-call was taken. Students were given flags and marched in the great processions, thus giving the impression that the satellites were happy beneath their oppression and exploitation. The cultural and athletic contests were also arranged to demonstrate the great propaganda lesson of the Festival. Most of the national athletic stars of Hungary became “students” for the duration of the Festival. There were, for example, only two bona-fide students on the champion Hungarian student basketball team. Our guests from non-Communist countries were kept in a specially-built dormitory above the city and brought to the conference halls by a specially-built railroad. The only Festival events open to the general Hungarian public were the athletic contests, where they heard great speeches praising the athletes of the Soviet bloc. The Western visitors were exploited in such a way that they could not protest. For example, foreign students taken on a tour of Budapest were shown a fine new apartment building built for party workers and officials. Their pictures were taken and used to demonstrate the admiration of the West for the achievements of the Communist state. During the Festival food and consumer goods, more than we had seen for some time, filled the stores to impress the visitors. But after the visitors went home, there was a food shortage. The purposes of the Festival were clear to us. They were: 1. to create a sense of inferiority in the students and the youth of the West by beating them in athletic and cultural contests 2. to demonstrate to the neutralist nations the superiority of the Soviet system 3. to strenglhen the hold of Soviet imperialism upon the satellite countries The Soviet Union has murdered our country. The blood is still wet upon their hands. They have proven that they are no different than they were in 1949, when they exploited the people who were foolish enough to attend the Festival the Communists held in our country. Don’t let the Communists use you. Do not attend the Festival. Do not forget so soon the lesson of murdered Hungary. The Hungarian Students’ appeal has already had an effect. Below are excerpts from a letter written to the University of Moscoiv by the President of the Student Association of the Academy of Commerce, St. Gallen, Switzerland. President : Faculty of Economics, University of Moscow Committee for the Preparation of Seminars Moscow, Mokhovaya St. 9 May 25, 1957 You have invited us to partake in a seminar for students of economics during the 6th Youth and Student World Festival in Moscow. As its theme you propose: “Economic Cooperation and its Effect on the Development of the Folk-economy of Various Countries.” Furthermore, you ask us to submit remarks and proposals for the seminar program. For your friendly invitation, we want to thank you warmly___ If we visited Moscow this summer, we would have a good opportunity to widen our geographical horizons .... But not one Western visitor gets to see what he wishes in the Soviet Union. Moreover, he must be contented with seeing only what is shown him. We could send you boys from the Academy of Commerce of St. Gallen who would draw their own conclusions on the basis of the things not shown them. But this is not necessary, because since last fall 31 refugee students have been living at our Academy, and have given us all the information we need to form a clear picture of your communist system. The reality of this picture is attested by the bloodshed of these students, and of their fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. Respectfully, The Student Body Academy of Commerce, St. Gallen. The President: Hans Oester, mag. oec.
