Fraternity-Testvériség, 1964 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1964-01-01 / 1. szám
FRATERNITY 7 These are still police states, ruled by tight little groups at the top who brook no opposition and ease their grip only when they think it will serve their purposes. The populace is generally deeply discontented — both by their lack of personal liberty and by the painful contrast between their drab standard of living and the Golden West. Generalizations have become dangerous in Eastern Europe. The differences between the members of this once monolithic "bloc" strike a visitor even harder than the similarities. Romanian’s Communist rulers, for instance, currently are displaying the greatest degree of independence from Moscow but maintain perhaps the tightest check-rein on their own people. Hungary’s Premier Janos Kadar is on very cozy terms with Nikita Khrushchev but has done more to liberalize his internal regime than have any of his neighbors. The stock phrases like “captive nations”, “Soviet bloc” or “Communist satellites” no longer are adequate. There is still a kernel of truth in these cliches but they have become more misleading than useful. Take them one by one: THE IRON CURTAIN This is a pretty tattered piece of cheesecloth. Travel from the West into Eastern Europe is almost completely free — and within the Communist countries you can go pretty much where- ever you want. The local authorities are actively seeking Western tourists and businessmen. They need their money and products, and are not going to let a Stalin-like suspicion of foreigners block the way. Communist visa requirements and border formalities are laxer than our own country’s. Travel to the West for Eastern Europeans, however, is still very much restricted. Communist officials claim this is mostly due to the shortage of Western currency. Proof that this isn't the entire explanation is shown by the fact that it is generally harder for trained and useful workers to get an exit permit than for the sick, the old and the unskilled. Poles and Hungarians have the most opportunities to travel. Czechs are expecting a break soon, but the “Iron Curtain” is still a one-way valve for Romanians and Bulgarians. CAPTIVE NATIONS? The Eastern Europeans are still on a Moscow leash — but the leash is getting longer and looser.
