Evening star., 1961-07-31
Paradise Anon

.
Figuratively speaking, one needs to
stand on ones head to read the text
of the new 20-year program of the
Soviet Communist Party. For the. docu-
ment, as If excepted from George
OrwelpS 1884," turns the truth upside
down and uses words like freedom"
and democracy" to eulogize the tyranny
that exists everywhere behind the Iron
Curtain.
BY way of example, the captive
lands, including brutally suppressed
Hungary, are referred to as "free and
equal nations" whose peoples have been
/, liberated" from capitalistic "exploita-
tion." Actually, of course, these peoples,
if they were given the liberty to elect
governments of their own choosing,
would sweep away the grim and hated
deSpotiSm now holding them down.
Another measure of the Orwellian
character Of the Kremlin's latest pro-
nunciamento-regarded as the most sig
nificant since. Lenir'S in 1919-is its
implication that the USSR, and, only
the uSSR, saved humanity from Fascist
enSlavement." One would never suppose
from such a statement that countries
like Britain and the United States played
an overwhelmingly decisive role in de-
feating the Berlin-R Rome Tokyo Axis,
and in helping the Soviet Union to
survive.
Distortions and Misrepresentation
lof this kind abound in the text of the
new Soviet program. In effect, they add
up to another striking example of how
adept the Communists are in using the
technique of the Big Lie, including the
lie that the United States has become
the worlds chief "exploiter' the most
evil of all the practitioners OF "im-
perialiSm," and an international gen
darme" intent upon "unleashing aggres-
sion against people struggling for their
independence"
All this, along with the assertion
that capitalism is already in the pro-
cess Of dying, and along with the boasts
about communismS alleged economic
magic, constitutes propaganda well de-
signed to appeal to the newly indepen-
dent underdeveloped lands Of the world.
Most Of these lands are vulnerable to
such talk; they live primitive ways Of
life, with most Of the population so
ignorant and uneducated that they are
hardly equipped for self-rule, or for
Self-protection against the threat of
Red totalitarianiSm.
Above everything, however, 1t may
safely be assumed that the Kremlin
has put forward this new program
which consists largely of formal re-
statement of points already made by
Premier Khrushchev-to dangle a kind
Of carrot before the people Of the
Soviet Union. There is to be pie in the
sky by and by. There is to be paradise
anon. The masses, over the next 20
years, are to have all the good things of
life that they lack now. just let them
be patient. Just let them wait and wait,
and all will be well-eventually.
Here is promise-a promise to do
away with such things as indescribably
bad housing conditions and severe short
ages Of consumer goods - that the
Russian people must welcome with great
enthusiasm. For it presents the alto
gether pleasing prospect Of great and
standards in every particular, including
diet, which is now dreary because of the
almost unbelievable backwardness of
Soviet agriculture.
Certainly, wholly apart from some
Of its absurd theological and economic
dicta, this is program that the USSR
ought to be able to carry out successfully.
At any. rate the -grievously exploited
Russian people have reason to demand
such action, and If Mr.. Khrushchev is
honestly seeking to improve their lot,
he will scarcely want to start war over
places like Berlin. r..
War, after all, does not fit in with
the sort Of economic progress called for
in the new Soviet program. To that
extent at least, regardless of the anti
American Big Lie involved, it is pro-
gram that may be said to be some
what reaSsuring. -