Evening star., 1953-06-18
Revolt Behind the Curtain

Revolt Behind the Curtain
The violent anti Communist rioting in
East Berlin places in an entirely new perspec-
tive much that has been going on behind the
Iron Curtain since the death of Josef Stain.
It is a revelation, spectacular and indisputable,
that all has not been harmonious under the
Red totalitarian rule. It is a confirmation, in
effect, Of the less dramatically substantiated
reports Of unrest stretching all the way from
East Germany to Chfna-in Czechoslovakia, In
Bulgaria and in the Ukraine, as the most recent
examples
It supports, in fact, theory that has been
advanced by relatively few in the Western world
that the Soviet peace offensive" aside from its
aggressive motivation Of attempting to divide
the free nations, has had defensive aspect
arising out Of troubles within the Communist
nations and uncertainties or even serious
rivalries within the Kremln hierarchy. For in
no area under their domination have the
Communist conspirators made in recent weeks
such sweeping gestures toward conciliation and
seeming benevolence as has been the case in
East Germany. For example: The East German
government and the newly appointed Russian
civilian high commissioner have attempted a
reconciliation with the German Evangelical
Church to which an overwhelming majority of
ordered cessation of farm collectivization and
extension of state credits; have circulated new
policy line" of intent to raise the living stand
ards for the middle and lower classes; have
issued general amnesty to political prisoners;
have abandoned condScation of ration cards as
political punishment; and have invited back
all refugees with a promise to restore their
properties.
The initial Interpretation, outside the Iron
Curtain, of these gestures was that they were
intended to soften up-aS illustrations of kindly
Communist intentions-the West German popu-
lation before the general elections in that
country later this summer. While this explana-
ton may still have validity, it now seems
evident that there was at least one other
reason, namely, need to combat discernible
dissatisfaction with Communist rule in East
Germany. In the face of this apparent problem
and the steps being taken to meet it, it is
surprising that the Communist regime moved in
the opposite direction in its ordinance requiring
a 10 per cent increase in production at the
same fixed wage level. For it was this directive
that prompted the East Berlin demonstration,
the violence of which seems effectively to have
dispelled the myth that German life under
Russian rule has been happy paradise.
The Summoning of Russian troops and the
imposition of martial law appear to have re-
stored Communist order but it must, indeed, be
considered an uneasy peace. East German
production particularly in foodstuffs, is an i'm
portant factor in the economy behind the
curtain. Assuring it at gun point is method
of uncertain value. The Kremlin and its Ger
man Communist puppets, If any dare or are
able to function, are faced with difficult and
vitally important challenge.
To the West, the Berlin disorders have
IL
Adenauer, addressing an enthusiastic session
of Parliament in Bonn, has taken note of the
most obvious of these implications-that COM
munism has no assured public support in East
Germany and that genuinely free elections
throughout the currently divided country would
demonstrate an overwhelming favor for an
anti Communist Independent and united Ger
many. With the Chancellor's own hand
strengthened by this riotouS display of anti
communism the Western position stands to
benefit accordingly, not only throughout Ger
many but within other European free countries
where the deceitfully soothing talk from Mos
cow in recent months has tended to encourage
doubts or allay suspicious about the true nature
Of the Soviet menace.
In broader sense, the disclosure of such
deep anti-C Communist feeling and the daring
of those who assaulted the Communist authori-
ties and defied the Russian guns lend new
strength to the conviction that if unity can be
maintained among the free nations they will
prevail over the weakening structure of inter-
national communism. For the eruption in East
Berlin proves again that communism as imposed
by the Kremlin bureacracy is not peoples
movement, that it is instead an instrument Of
oppression that can drive men to angry revolt
The alternatives of genuine liberty and freedom
are not resisted in revolt, and they may yet be
achieved for the world through the unity which
President Eisenhower called for in his recent
Minneapolis speech-a unity Of "comradeship,
patience and compromise among the free
nations"