Evening star., 1961-04-04
Poison Pen Pals?

VISOu Gil OIS.
In an article in The Star
of March %, on the subject
Of Soviet school children
looking for pen pals among
District students, John
Rosson of your staff writes:
THE letters from the two
Russian children show no
physical signs of censorship,
probably because they didn't
need it. The youngsters love
of country is far from dis
guised. AS a matter Of fact,
they're a first-rate chamber
Of commerce all in them
selves"
Despite the Skepticism i'm
piled by Mr.. Rosson in re-
spect to censorship, the para
graph quoted above may be
misleading to some of your
readers. 1t is possible that in
the Brave New World" of
communism, school children
in the Delta" and Gamma"
categories are SO well indoc-
trinated that they parrot the
Soviet propaganda techniques
unconsciously. However, in
my opinion-based on many
years Of extensive and inten-
sive reading Of all types of
Soviet literature ranging
through almost the entire
gamut Of human activities
the writing of these letters
was guided by propaganda
experts, or at least the letters
were selected from among
others for their propaganda
value.
With a difference in sub
ject matter and a somewhat
more sophisticated writing
style. the letter quoted would
be the same as innumerable
others in Pravda or any
other Soviet newspaper from
a field worker in the virgin
lands or a miner in the DON
bass who is ostensibly happy
in doing his bit for the
building Of communism" un-
der the best possible condi-
tions. Or, with the same
qualifications, it could be an
editorial in almost any Soviet
periodical. extolling the sue
cesses achieved, but (an i'm
portant word in the Soviet
propaganda lexiconD also
pointing out shortcomings
that are invariably being
eradicated.
Dimitri M. Gallik.
I read with interest John
Rosson's article dealing with
the fact, that Soviet school
children were seeking pen
pals from the District. I know
Of a retired school teacher
who travelled through Russia
last year and while on her
venture met a young school
child. Since then they have
been carrying on a regular
correspondence, exchanging
cards, stamps and other small
paraphernalia. The idea Of
American and Soviet school
children effectin9 a Junior"
le-to-People program is
one that deserves immediate
encouragement from every
possible source. The estab-
lishment of a personal rap
port between the youth of
each country can only work
as a unifying agent and be a
plus factor for furthering the
chances of peace.
In 1859, former President
Eisenhower was quite en-
phatic when, in a speech
delivered at our Embassy in
Chile. he declared: I'VE have
got to get better acquaint-
anceship with people be-
hind the Iron Curtain be-
cause in their hearts there
is this fundamental desire
for peace, and hatred for
war is just as firm in their
hearts as it is in ours
you are going to get no peace
except by understanding
people if we could get to-
gether People to People,
so well in our understanding
that we could forbid govern
ments to get us into war, that
would lift a great burden
from the backs of men,"
Every contact and cultural
exchange employing use of
the creative arts between the
Soviet bloc and the West
represents an intelligent al
tentative to wal and viol-
ence. Continual efforts must
be made to promote People
to-People contacts so that
both powers will have more
in common than the mere
wish for survival.
Frank B. Christopher.
Chairman, People = to-
People Subj Committee Inter-
national Affairs Photographic
CAatnNxy - 49, a,,taA