NATIONALISM IN THE SATELLITES

Created: 7/29/1949

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NATIONALISM IN THE SATELLITES

Although the widespread purges of Satellite Conummlst parties during the past year were motivated largely by the Kremlin's desire toising "nationalistic" sentiment, there remains little likelihood that resurgent nationalism wUl lead any of the Satellites to emulateationalist revolt ln the near future. In this eastern European nationalism, however, the Kremlin faces an elusive opponent which grows tn proportion to the Kremlin's efforts to destroy It. Many of the rank and file Satellite Party members who have adopted the economic and social theories of Communism are becoming Increasingly restive under Soviet exploitation of their nations. This feeling, which Is also nurturedong tradition of anti-Husslanlsm, will undoubtedly have continuing though Ineffective repercussions within the various Satellite Communist hierarchies as Party leaders continue to be faced with the choice oftheir own national interests or accepting mountingby the Kremlin.

At the present time, however, Satelliteoth within and outside the Communist parties, Is anand leaderless force which the Kremlin Is fully capable of controlling. Moreover, growing numbers of thoroughly loyal Kremlin followers being installed in power In theare consolidating their control of the Satellite security forcesombination of blind loyalty, Intensiveand ruthless terror. Nationalist Communists who have succeeded In reaching positions of authority either have been, or are being, eliminated. The Kremlin's successful ouster, without overt repercussions, of such popular Communist leaders as Gomulkaajknd Koatov (Bulgaria) Is sufficient warning to other Satellite leaders with 'nationalistic" tendencies.

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In Poland, where nationalism is probably as strongly ingrained in the Communists as anywhere ba eastern Europe, tight Kremlin controls and the Soviet occupation troops render any "anti-natlonallst" coup within the Party highly Improbable at this time. The least secure sector of the Soviet power position in eastern Europe is located In isolated and tiny Albania, but even there the USSR has been making strenuous efforts to maintain an unpopular pro-Soviet group In power through repeated purges of 'nationalist" elements. In Bulgaria and Hungary, effective nationalist opposition has been eliminated for the presentesult of the recent dismissal and disgrace of Bulgarian economic czar Rostov and Hungarian Foreign Minister Rajk. Czechoslovakiathe only Satellite where the Communist Party has not been publicly purged during the last year of "nationalist" tendencies and elements.

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