Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-28

I
army regime. The students, in
other words, have not seen real
democracy or heard impartial
accounts Of democratic theory
and practice.
Yet, the students showed
considerable open-mindednes
Their remarks about OPPOSE
ton parties and borrowing from
capitalism showed independent.
liberal thought.
Confused by Dogma
They still are confused by the
Communist dogma that the
party can in fact represent the
wishes Of all the people and
that all people in a Communist
society think alike. But when
it gradually is demonstrated to
them that everyone in Poland
does not think alike, then these
young people will be ready to
give the dissenters a fair voice
in the government.
This is contrary to Com
munist principles even in
liberal Poland. The Party here
insists there never can be an
opposition party.
The Communists say also
that Poland must retain a
Marxist-Socialist nomy.
The students, however. are
quite willing to adopt anything
capitalistic that works.
They we're quite interested.
in fact, in the workings of the
American economy and the role
of the American labor move
ment. They were impressed by
the fact that American workers
apparently have found a way
| to be rich (by Polish standards)
and happy even under capital
ism. They said they doubted
if Poland had the resources to
make capitalism work, but
they were willing to expert
ment.
A group Of editors of a youth
newspaper in Warsaw showed
similar openmindedneSS. They
were somewhat older than the
students and all considered
themselves Communists. They
were emphatic in insisting the
Communist party must itself be
democratic and that news
papers and the people should
keep a sharp eye on all party
actions.
Political Representation
The editors also in effect
wanted all non-Fascist and
non-Stalinist groups to have
political representation and
wanted Poland to be a free
market place of ideas. IF we
have discussion over whether
Marxist or, say KeyenSian
economics is the best for some
phase of the economy and
Marxism loses, then out with
MarxiSm in that area" one of
them said.
Students took an active part
in Poland's recent revolution.
and they doubtless are Poland's
leaders Of the near future.
Poland lacks leaders who are
in their 40s and SOS. They
were killed by Germans and
Russians. So there is a crying
need for talent which these
young people will supply.
The Polish youth may be
Marxists today. but if the
Communist Party does not
supply a brand of Marxism
that works-that is truly DEM
ocratic and economically effec-
tive-then these people will be
ready to try something differ
ent.
Unless Poland reverses the
direction of its new expert
ment. it is hard to see how the
students can help but grow
more liberal. Their university
is leading the way.
In the past year Warsaw
University has announced
great basic changes in its curri-
culum. and university officials
say there will be even greater
changes in the coming school
year.
Approach TO Freedom
Prof. Adam Schaff. who a
year ago was a professor of
Marxist philosophy and who
now is a professor of just plain
philosophy, explained that the
university is approaching COM
plete freedom for ideas. I'VE
have teachers of philosophy
logic and history. for instance,
who are not Marxists." Prof
Schaff said. Some are even
ti-Communist.
students can choose theh
. classes and professors freely,
and the university is nearly in
. dependent from the Ministry
of Higher Education.
THE emphasis used to be on
} Marxism throughout the uni
versity. Now it is broader. And
even more basic changes will
come in October"
Stanislaw said the old cur
riculum was Just an imitation
OF the Russian system. The
new one. he said. would be pat
termed after Western univer.
|. sites.
! There should be no polite.
. in the social sciences" Stanis-
law said. HE is a sociology