HUNGARIAN UNIVERSITY REFORMS EMPHASIZE "DE-SOVIETIZATION"

Created: 10/22/1956

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EASTERN EUROPE

university reforms cmphaslzo "de-5ovletizatlon":

Budapest radio onctobertatoraent of theyouth organization (OISZ) which ondorsed certainreforms called for by undergraduates and local DISZat major Hungarian universitlea. According0 October article in the youth paper Szabad Ifjusag, tho regime bas already announced measures in compliance with student dooands.

The DISZ statement demanded that language instruction ln universities be made optional and that instruction ln Marxism-Leninism be given in "correct proportion and the numberreduced." The declaration also called for thoof "formal physical training"re-examlnatlon of the quostion of national defense instruction in the universities."

An article in thectober Issue of the partyHep condemned tho dogmatism prevalent in the teachingwhich arises when atteapts are made to demonstrateas the only law, the perfect law to be followed ln Certain aspects of Soviet law are Incorrect,as applied to the Hungarian scene, and thesebo criticized." Tho editorial concluded that theprinciples of socialist state organization mustln Hungaryay difforont from the way they arothe USSR."

Comment: In contrast to Polish moderates, Hungarianln the past have avoided diroct criticism of Soviet practices in their recent liberalization of domestic policy.

Efforts by DISZ to remove the more onerous types of training presumably have been encouraged by party moderates who havein part, in having their concepts of tho youthaccepted. Lastarty doctrinairo admitted tho validity of the moderato view that the youth organization should bo based on nationalistic heritage) which might beat be realized undor the popular front.

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