The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-06-16
Comment On
World Events
By p. DAILIDE
Former Minister of Lithuania

Now that the civilized world re-
cognizes the Bolshevik system, it
is very difficult for it to reject the
direct consequences of that system
the iron curtain. Indeed, this
curtain would seem beneficial not
only to the Bolsheviks themselves
but even to the rest of humanity.
A country whose government calls
dictatorship "progres-
sive democracy, which proclaims
abject slavery to be liberty, and
considers pauperism and misery to
be good fortune of the inhabitants,
must be fenced off from the outside
world somewhat like a home for
the insane is fenced off.
The Bolsheviks seek to impose
by force, subversion and diplomacy
way of thinking and of life
upon all others who think differ
emily, both in their own country
and throughout the world. Cooper
alton with them by other countries,
in carrying out treaties
with them, recalls the
legend about the building of the
tower of Babel; nowhere can one
come to terms with them since all
their concepts are disturbed.
\ 4 \
1t is particularly difficult for the
free world to find common ground
with the Bolsheyiks on the ques-
ton of human rights. 1t is here
that the respective concepts differ
most. Information about the in
human Bolshevik cruelties is con-
stantly coming from behind the
iron curtain. This news depresses
the conscience of the free world.
The Western democracies try to re-
strain the Soviet Union with inter-
national treaties intended to en-
force respect for human rights.
Moscow has signed many such
Yet every time that
the question of the violation of
human rights in the Soviet Union
arises in the free world, the same
retort is always heard from Mos
COW: this is cur internal affair in
which the outside world has no
right to interfere.
Moscow is now seeking to use
this same shield of internal affairs
to protect itself against UN action
in connection with the question of
forced labor in the Soviet Union,
raised by the United States Feb.
Ia. According to available evid-
ence, this labor may be compared
to sserfdom in the Middle Ages,
except that the conditions are so
much more horrible. In the mean
time, the Bolsheviks are gradually
killing from 8 to Is million people
in forced labor camps. This is a
clear violation of the pledges the
Soviet Union made in signing the
United Nations Charter, which con-
tains many regulations concerning
the protection of human rights.
1t should be evident even to a
layman that UN has the right to
the enforcement Of the
Charter and to demand observance
by those members who disregard it..
In this respect, the guise of inter-
nal affairs is altogether inappro-
pirate.
The United Nations Economic
and Social Council, which is in
charge of enforcing human rights,
does not have the same authority
as the Security Council. :. 1t func-
tions only by means of moral per-
However, no one should
think that this means it is of little
real value. Although the Bolsheviks
bow only to physical might, they
are afraid to admit to their coun-
try an international control COM
which has no other power
behind it than world opinion. Their
fear is that the harsh Bolshevik
reality in their country might be
to the world beyond the
possibility of denial. By hiding be-
hind the cover Of internal affairs,
they admit that they themselves
have doubts about the legality of
their position.
On no other questions do the
have more advant-
ageous positions in the cold war
with the Bolshevik dictatorship
than those offered on the issue on
human rights. The democracies
should now fortify these positions
the United Nations by
the facts placing Boil
shevik totalitarianism in the dock
of public opinion, side by side with
its twin brother, Nazism.
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