dated August 31, 1951: Forces seeking to subvert Stalin

From the Editorials: ``The American press reports a new development, perhaps a logical outcome of the present `Cold War'. It is a plan for organising a centre in Europe to wage a political campaign against Stalin's regime in Russia. During the last war, the Germans reported serious dissatisfaction in areas like the Ukraine, but the Nazis, with their purely aggressive outlook, were not able to exploit that sentiment. Now, no less than five different Russian groups have discussed at Munich an anti-Communist platform. Prominent among the delegates was, Alexander Kerensky, the Premier of the Russian Provisional Government of 1917, which was overthrown by the Bolsheviks. The new centre is to be financed by a private organisation: The American Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia, headed by Eugene Lyons. It will operate a powerful radio station. The Russians-in-exile have agreed that when Communism is overthrown in Russia, the various nationalities shall choose between independence or autonomy on a federal basis. They also stand for the abolition of the collective farm system which is not popular in Russia, and transferring certain sections of the economy from State control to private enterprise. None of the groups support the restoration of the monarchy.

``Similar groups of exiled leaders already exist for the restoration of democratic regimes in East European States which have gone Communist. None of them enjoy the support of the American or British Governments, but they may hope to gain such support if the Cold War becomes hot. Inside the democratic countries, Russia is able to work for Communism through the local Communist parties, and no opposition parties are permitted to exist in Russia or in Eastern Europe. Moscow has recently been faced with two serious obstacles to the carrying on of Communist infiltration abroad. The first is the strong action being taken in America, and elsewhere, against leaders of the Communist Party, and those suspected of espionage. The second is the growth of nationalist-minded dissidents in the Communist parties of France, Italy and Norway. These dissidents have before them are example of Yugoslavia, which refused to submit to economic dictates from Moscow. Such trends have been ruthlessly suppressed in other countries in East Europe; but nationalism is a powerful force and it may still burst the barriers built by Communist ideology.''

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