Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-21
Continued from First Page

Continued from First Pag,
to reach the same goals BY
somewhat different m e a n s
Given the realities of the Polish
political and economic situation
It seems to be impossible tt
stray too far from basic Social.
list doctrine. however.
The Polish people meanwhile
demand rapid economic prog.
ress and Party officials prom
Use they will produce the better
things In life just as fast as
possible. The biggest complaint
against the Communists now
Is that they are not providing
q higher standard of living, sc
the Party has plenty of incen-
tive.
Is the popular pressure
enough to make the Party relax
on doctrine and let in what
ever amount Of private enter
prise Poland usefully can alb
serb? Which will give way
doctrinaire Socialism or rapid
Progress?
Probably not even the Com
munists know the answers, but
It is interesting to note that
since the October revolution
the new government already
has admitted some private en-
terprise by the back door while
maintaining a firm Marxist
front.
This is encouraging fiexibil-
fty. But to build the economy
the government also will need
time and stability. These can
come only from the patience of
the Polish people and from a
leSsening Of world tensions.
Before looking at what's good
and what's bad about the Pol
ish economy, it is useful to re-
cite some recent history which
indicates that the economic
mess here cannot be blamed
entirely on communism.
Before World War I, Poland
was partitioned by Germany,
Austria and Russia. and her
economy was drained by these
countries. Between wars Po-
land saw imitation, then depres-
sion and then a capitalism
which was run on behalf of a
small privileged class. During
World War II. Germany and
Russia ravaged the country
killing six million Poles and
leveling cities.
: After the war the Russians
continued to suck the nation
dry. The little remaining pri-
vate industry and trade was
crushed.
Starting with nothing, the
country pulled itself UP i'm
presSively in a reconstruction
boom that accompanied the
nrSt three-year plan, 1947-49.
The subsequent six-year plan
was also reasonably effective
But with the postwar boom
ended, the current five-year
plan is tagging. Industrial ex-
panSion is leveling of.
3 So the Poles have seen their
economy ruined by forces
having nothing to do with
Socialism and then partially
revived by a combination of
reconstruction boom and Stall
mist SocialiSm-the kind of
socialism that is applied with
. heavy whip.
! Since October the Commu-
nists here have given up the
whip.
Two Major Problems
How does Marxism fare in
an atmosphere of freedom?
Not too well. There are two
major problems:
First. Poland lacks the ma
terial ingredients of a pros
porous economy-an industrial
base. skilled workers, invest
ment capital. raw materials.
etc.-and neither Marxists nor
anybody else could produce
them quickly.
Second, basic human prob
lens remain unsolved-prob-
lems Of incentive. of bureau.
cratic red tape. Of planning in
adequacies, Of public impatience
and anti-C Communism. These
ere problems which could best
be solved through capitalism.
Most interesting are the hui
man problems. Here is what
Polish socialism is faced with:
: First. the problem Of incen.
ttves. No way has been found
10 induce people to work effici-
emily. The government gave up
the terror incentive after last
years uprising but 1t has not
found an adequate substitute.
3. In q capitalist country the
managers work for bigger prof.
It's. the employees work for
higher pay. Both work out Of
. sense Of pride. Of personal
accomplishment and personal
ownership.
s In Poland under socialism
there are no real profits for
the managers to work for. EN-
ployes' pay is low and the gov
eminent cannot afford to pay
more. And anyhow there are
no goods to be bought II wages
did 90 UP. People have little
pride In their state jobs, and