HUNGARIAN WRITERS DEMAND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Created: 9/27/1956

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEgLT REVIEW 27 September

WRITERSREEDOM OK EXPRESSION*

writers who have spearheaded tbe drive for policies have resumed their offensive against the Communist regime,wo-sooth period of relative restraint. They met lo Budapest ln mid-

SeptOBbor to rally support for their cause and to re-ondorse as their leaders thosewho bave led them in their flgbt for freedom of expression Altbougb viewed with varying degree* of disapproval from

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY REVIEW6

tbe regime, tbe writers' program la more apt to be motcompromise then with

Renewed At tack

Tho uneasy cease-firetbe first weeks of the Gero regime between the government nod tbe writers, whotrong political role ln Cos-aunlst nations, was broughtramatic cloaeeptember by GyulaeadingCommunist writer. Hay,

agazine article, demanded complete freedom of expression for "both Marxists and non-Marx lets, tbe rlgbt to believe la God or mot to believe ln God, tbe rlgbt to criticize anybody or anything, and to like or not to like any of Hungary's leaders." Hay's post Hon vas democratic ln tone and concept and, in effect,ublic donlal of Communist omnlpotonco.

This attack, doscrlbed by the American legation inas tbe dearest challenge to Communism yet publicized, set tbe stage for the genersl meeting of the HungarianAssociation which opened oneptember. Speaker after speaker. Inspired by Bay's words and angered by two Bashed Bap editorials oo the eve ef the meeting.la deflsst speeches against Hungarian regimesod reglse "reactionaries."

The writers,ody, vigorously re-endorsed tbelr leadership and also elected to high office ln tbelrs number of members sho had been censursd for "sntl-party" views during Rakosl's tenure In office. Hay was elected vice president and several non-Commualst writers were elected to tha presidium.

The writers repeatedly asserted their unwillingness to compromise on any points. As one writer stated, "Woentergentlemen's agreement' with anybody, we must go stralgbt to our goal."

roup, the writers appeared sensitive to the fact tbat some of their attitudes are known only in literaryaod hence do not havepopular support. To rectify this, one literary leader proposed that groups of writers visit factories tothat their point of view ls received by working groups.

Party Reaction

Since Rakosl's ouster, the new party leadership, headed by doctrinaire party firstGero but including; aof moderate Communists, has moved steadily toward moderate domestic policies.ignifleantly more concessionary attitude toward theReaction within tbe party, however, to the presentdemands of the writers will be mixed. The natural response of party first secretary Gero, who personifies the doctrinaires, presumably vould be to resist. The regimehole, however, vblchignificant number of party moderates,to have littleto crack down on tbe writers for their beliefs at this time sod may grant added concessions in an effort to appease the

But the "moderate" forces ln the party are not unanimous ln their views. Oneignificant number of party Intellectuals and activists who support former premier Imre Nagy, lssympathetic to and active ln support of tho demaods of the writers.

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But other "moderate" ele-meati Id the party who are willing to permit the natural development of political and lotellectual endeavor wltblm certain limits may object to at least some of Bay's demands.

members of this group aro sufficiently good Communists to reject proposals whichirect challenge to tbeof party discipline and, in effect, the primacy of the party In society. In addition, this group, whlob may include polltburo members Stalal, Kovaca and Kadar, may be waryoo rapid llborallzatlom of policy lest the domestic situation get out of control and lead tbe Soviet Union to Interfere.

Soviet Attitude

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Soviet leaders undoubtedly recognise the risk involved ln giving tbe Hungarian writers free rela to work out their own ideological standpoint and.are awaroere "braking action" will not be enough to forestall demands forfreedom ln other fields. Reliable Western observers ln Budapest reportedhat they felt Sovietof an unspecified nature, was likely in the near future. If there ls no Sovietat this time. It might Indicate that the USSR hasa further gradual In Hungary and that tbe point nan not yet beenbeenwbere tbo USSR will attempt

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Original document.

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