Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-06
Morale in Satellites Is Low;
Life Is Confused, Unhappy

confusion, it has not seriously
threatened the stability Of the
satellite governments. Allied in
telligence officers see no chance
of a major upheaval at this
point. either as the result of
quarrels among the leaders or Of
rebellion from below.
The same generalizations apply
in the economic field. Through
out the satellite states, both the
new course" with its emphasis
on consumer goods, and the more
recent return to heavy industry
have been from the beginning
more talk than fact.
In Poland and Czechoslovakia,
there has never been any con-
vincing de-emphasis Of heavy
industry. In Hungary, Bulgaria
and Romania, where the basis for
heavy industry never existed in
the first place, no real effort to
create one is expected now.
When the new series of five-
year plans are launched next
year. what is expected rather is
more realistic approach to eco
nonic problems. Specialization
will be encouraged, leading to
greater interdependence between
the various satellite countries.
Production schedules will be
tailored sharply to be brought
within reasonable limits. At
present, the failure Of the Com
munist industrial program is too
obvious to be tolerated. In many
areas, a production schedule
which averages so per cent of
quota norms is considered good
record.
Farm Picture Worse
The agricultural picture is even
worse. Food production through
out the satellite states has
reached a disastrous level as the
result of political mismanage-
ment. Faced with resistance of
farmers to Soviet-style collec-
Invitation and enforced produc-
ton for the state. the Communist
leaders have vacillated ineffec-
lively between liberality and
harsh repression. Neither has
worked. Many cases of sabotage
by crop burning have been re-
ported within recent months.
Despite severe penalties, farmers
have continued to hide produce
from the state inspectors and re-
fuse to meet their delivery
quotas.
The Communist radio stations
supply particulars in abundant
detail. Radio Kossuth in Czecho-
slovakia reported:
Almost nobody has met his
delivery obligation. So far the
town has delivered only a. per
cent Of its milk. 1913 per cent of
its egg and 90 per cent Of its
poultry quota. And many peas
ants are still in arrears on last
years deliveries :"
In both industry and agricul-
ture, a new toughness by party
leaders is indicated with the
return Of the old order. Police
and terror methods are back in
fashion as the accepted way to
maintain discipline. Enforced
collectivization. halted in an
effort to iberalize the farm pro-
gram in 1858, is expected to be
ruthlessly revived.
However effective these meth
DDS may be, it seems unlikely
that they viii provide the cure
for the real problem Of the
satellite regimes: The intense
unpopularity of communism
throughout the area and the
stubborn, low-pressure resistance
Of the people.
Sabotage Continues.
Sabotage continues as an &C.
casional nuisance. In Poland,
two workers at the Bytom coal
mine throw explosives into q
stove, damaging drilling ma
chimes and mechanical equip
ment. Another losses q piece of
burning paper onto a transmits