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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1957
Hungary Revisited
The scene is Budapest, exactly one year ago today. The time is 9 p.m. Three young men (students at the Engineering University in Budapest) and the 12-year-old sister of one of the students approach the Radio Building. The young girl is carrying a white cardboard placard upon which is printed the 16 demands upon the Hungarian government that a rally of students formulated earlier that day. They hope to have the demands broadcast to the Hungarian people.
It is cold and their breath can be seen in the night air as they start to enter the Radio Building. A member of the secret police stops them. He tells them that they can't enter the building, or have their demands broadcast. He slams the heavy door in their faces. They resist. More secret police appear. There is the rattle of a machine gun. The three students and the 12-year-old girl with the white placard lie dead on the sidewalk. The first blood has been let; the Hungarian Revolution swings into full motion.
Until then the demonstrations had been silent and there was no bloodshed. Earlier that afternoon 200,000 students and workers, one-fifth of the population of Budapest, had demonstrated in Parliament Square against government suppression. They had marched ten abreast and silently chanted. Only two words were said, "Ruszkik ki, Ruszkik ki." It means, "Russians get out." Several Communist speakers had tried to speak, but they were howled down by the crowd.
The next day, Oct. 24, the throngs again gathered in Parliament Square. Again they protested against government suppression. Soviet tanks appeared and fired upon some of the soldiers who were fraternizing with the demonstrators. Shortly the bodies of 360 students and 250 other demonstrators littered the square. House to house fighting began.
In the days that followed, the anti-Communists took control in the provinces, the bulk of the Hungarian Army was in rebellion, Premier Imre Nagy promised free elections, and an end to dictatorship, Cardinal Mindszenty was freed, and old political parties appeared. The Russian Army had withdrawn and the revolution seemed a success.
Then, for the tremendous action, there was a reaction. The hopes for Hungarian freedom dimmed on Nov. 4 as 5,600 Soviet tanks, accompanied by 200,000 soldiers, rumbled back into Hungary. Within a few days the once beautiful face of Budapest was horribly scarred. Thousands were killed. The first of 130,000 refugees began to pour across the Austrian border and the first of many eye-witness accounts shocked the Western world.
Untrained civilians using strange weapons are a poor match for a trained army. The violent revolution waned. Soon only isolated bands of rebels and sporadic strikes in factories remained. Premier Nagy was replaced by Soviet puppet Janos Kadar. On Nov. 14 the Soviets began their systematic mass deportation of potential revolutionary—those under 25 years of age—to the USSR and Siberia. Some observers predict it will be generations before Hungary will feel the effects of losing thousands of their youth, either through death or to the Soviet work camps. The damage to the Hungarian economy was astronomical; the wound to their spirit is inestimable.
It is interesting to note how the Russians justified the slaughter: "Soviet troops are carrying out duties as allies, rendering brotherly assistance to Hungarian people in defending their Socialist achievements by crushing counter-revolutionaries."
In the meantime the workers have gone back to their factories, the students have returned to their studies. On the surface Hungary seems normal. Even the Communist organizers have resumed their haranguing and party forming. But the overwhelming result of the revolution still remains—hatred of the Russians. In this the Hungarian people are firmly united. They have been warned against demonstrating on the first anniversary of the revelation. Recent dispatches estimated that there would be no demonstrations today. We'll soon know.
In the early months of 1957 the Hungarian people had finally resigned themselves to temporary defeat. A demonstration planned in March to celebrate the anniversary of the 1848 revolution was quelled before it got on its feet.
This is not the first, nor the last time, that a free spirit has seemed to be crushed by totalitarianism. To shout "Tryants" when such an event does occur is easy. It makes one feel good, rather like a participant.
Some feel this is enough. But there is more. The major portion of sin must logically be borne by the oppressor, but observers too must share a certain blame. They have seen a crime and forgotten it. To be sure, the UN has condemned the Russian actions and created a committee to act upon the UN's condemnation, but this promises to beg down in the maze of present world events. If the last history book to be written notes one appalling sin of the human race it will be man's short memory. Condemnations aren't a solution, neither is war, but the alternative to such crimes won't be found by apathetically forgetting them.
John Eaton
A Symbol For The Masses
England's Queen Elizabeth and her royal troupe received a tremendous fanfare during their short visit in America. Her coming to strengthen ties weakened in the post war period between the two countries, particularly over the British entry into Egypt, is a fine subject for a celebration.
In America, where we are not used to royalty, the Queen represents the pomp and circumstance of English government. To the British people she is a symbol of a government that once ruled the seven seas. She represents the aesthetic ideal that men like to grasp to renew their courage and give them new strength.
The British people need just such a straw to grasp in these trying days for their country. While once the acknowledged master of the world, England has slowly slipped backward until today she is faced with a multitude of problems.
The rise of West Germany as an economic giant has increased the competition for manufactured goods in Europe. Although Prime Minister Maec millan has cut defense spending, England is still trying to keep pace with the U.S. and Russia in the armament race. Then too, the pound has fallen off a bit on the world market in comparison to the American dollar and the West German mark.
While England is not about to throw in the towel and give up, she must make readjustments to keep pace in the stepped up world. The British people see in the Queen the very symbol they are striving for. The Queen is a necessary factor in England's drive to recapture its lost glory. If for no other reason, the tremendous cost of maintaining the British royalty can be justified because of its inspirational value to its people.
—Dick Brown
Dailu Transan
University of Kansas student newspaper Founded 1889, became biweekly 1904, trivweekly 1908, daily Jan. 16, 1912.
Telephone Vikling 3-2700
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Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. News service: United Press. Mall subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year. Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. Holiday charges per periods. Entitled at a second-class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan., post office under act of March 3, 1879.
Extension 231, news room Extension 375, business office
Bob Lyle ... Managing Editor
NEWS DEPARTMENT
Marilyn Mermals, Jim Bannan, Richard Brown, Ray Wingerson, Assistant Managing Editors: Bob Hartley, City Editor; Nancy Holmes, City Editor; City Editors: Leroy Zimmerman, Telegraph Editor; Nancy Harmon, Assistant Telegraph Editor; George Anthur, Malcolm Applegate, Sports Editors; Mary Crosler, Assistant Martha Crosler, Assistant Society Editor.
Harry Turner ... Business Manager
Kent Pelt, Advertising Manager; Jere Glover, National Advertising Manager;
George Pester, Classified Advertising Manager; Martha Billingsley, Assistant
Classified Advertising Manager; Ted Winkler, Circulation Manager; Steve Schmidt, Promotion Manager.
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Short Ones
Larry Boston **Editorial Editor**
John Enten *Del Haley*, Jim Sledd, As-
sistance
We see that campus politicos are currently skipping around the campus in search of 20 per cent of the students to sign a petition requesting that the election bill be submitted to the student body in a referendum. Where do they think they will find that many interested students?
Many male students are beginning to think they may be doing their graduate work in Syria.
Gee, it's Oct. 23 and still no queen has been announced. But they say the weather is changing too.
All Married Students
Don't Forget
THE SPOUSES' SHINDIG
Friday, Oct. 25 - 8:30 - 11:30 p.m.
Dancing to the Don Conard Quintet
Kansas Room, Student Union
When You're In Doubt, Try It Out—Kansan Classified Section.
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