The Hungarian revolt
Ten years ago...
Ten years ago Soviet tanks rumbled through the streets of Budapest spreading fire and death among that city's inhabitants.
Ten years ago Janos Kadar betrayed Imre Nagy, popular Hungarian national leader, and was rewarded by the Russians by being appointed Hungarian premier.
Ten years ago Josef Cardinal Mindszenty fled to the American Embassy in Budapest seeking sanctuary.
Ten years ago the force of Russian arms crushed the Hungarian Revolution, the first and so far the only armed national uprising against a Communist government.
THE HUNGARIAN revolution, a spontaneous people's uprising, began Oct. 23, 1956, when unarmed students and workers marched on the Parliament building in Budapest. Soviet troops and the hated Hungarian secret police, "Avos," fired on the marchers. This act caused the revolt to spread to the provinces.
Nagy took over the premiership Oct.24,1956 and tried to negotiate with the Russians for a troop withdrawal. He even urged his people to lay down their arms.
His appeal was to no avail. It was too late—the fighting already had begun. The fighting cost the lives of at least 13,000 Hungarians. An additional 20,000 persons were executed later by the Russians as a direct result of the revolt. Two hundred thousand Hungarians fled their country. More than 30,000 fled to America.
The bulk of the fighting ended Nov. 4,1956 even though scattered pockets of resistance held out for another two weeks. General strikes against the Communists racked the country until the first of the year.
IN AN ATTEMPT to return the country to normalcy, Kadar mixed terror with promises of concessions. He promised a higher standard of living, abolishment of the dreaded "Avos" and the restoration of religious freedom. At the same time, he decreed death for all prisoners captured taking part in the Revolution.
As the country quieted down, Kadar took a middle-of-the-road course. He made concessions. Food prices were lowered, more houses were built, and some U.S. news publications were made available after censoring.
Because he had to, Kadar let the country live beyond its means. The people accepted Kadar's material blessings but were not brightened.
Now, 10 years after the revolution, Kadar is trying to get people to tighten their belts. Food prices and other costs are increasing. For example, meat and dairy prices have risen 30 per cent. Carfare has risen 50 per cent.
KADAR IS DEMANDING an increased output from Hungarian industry. He expects workers to work more. Agricultural quotas have been increased.
"Work for this crowd, no," say the Hungarian people. Agricultural workers produce only enough to support themselves. Factory workers refuse to work or at least they grumble about the increased hours.
In the universities, lectures on Marxism-Leninism are practically unattended. The people are apathetic to communism. They accept what the government gives them in the way of material benefits but they do not strive to do anything which might be construed as supporting the hated regime.
To answer the growing apathy, Kadar is resorting to old methods. The secret police have been given new prestige. The people have responded with the fear of the midnight knock and the sudden arrest. Indeed, there has been a resurgence of activities.
The stage is being set for another revolt. Students pass out leaflets boldly printed "Tiz Ev!" (Ten Years). The people continue to mutter about the increased prices, additional work and the ever-present 50,000 Soviet troops.
CAN THE REVOLT recur? Yes, it can. Hungary is being primed for an explosion. All that Hungary needs is that final straw, that spark to ignite the tinder.
What will the United States do if the revolt breaks out again? There has been recent publicity about Russia and the U.S. drifting closer together in a mutual fear of Red China. Indeed, when recently asked to comment on the Hungarian revolution of 10 years ago, the administration maintained a discreet silence.
If another Hungarian revolution breaks out the United States cannot afford to remain silent. We would be judged by the entire free world on our actions in the event of such a crisis. We could not live down our shame if we again ignored the Hungarian people.
We must guarantee Hungary's independence in the event of another revolution. In this way we can show aggressors that we are not always on the defensive. We must show that we can take the initiative.
THE TEXT OF A POPULAR Hungarian poem making the rounds in Budapest today reads;
"What will happen to us?"
Is there no freedom but in the grave?
No answer. There is only blood
And the tears of the mourning. . ."
For us to maintain our freedom, we must advance the freedom of others.
By MAURY BREECHER
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
"NOW THERE'S A STUDENT WHO'LL GO PLACES."
Official Bulletin
Muslim Society, 1:00 p.m. Friday prays held at Kansas Union.
Freshman Football, 2:30 p.m. Missouri at Memorial Stadium.
sout of midnortheast Sidney.
3:30 p.m. prof. Prof.
George Schoolfield, U. of Pa., on
Rilke's Last Poetry, West Reading
Room, Watson.
Popular Film, 7 & 9:30 p.m. "The
unskiable Molly Brown." Dyche
cation
Balah' Observance of Holy Day, 8 p.m. Meeting to follow, Speaker, Mr. Winston Evans. Public cordially invited, 1000 Ohio St.
Peace Corps Exam, 8:30 a.m. Downtown post office.
University Theatre, 8:20 p.m.
"Oliver."
SATURDAY
Football 1:30 p.m. Band Day.
Colorado, Memorial Stadium.
India Club Dipwali Day Dinner &
Banquet
International Club. 8:30 p.m. Kansan
Palen. Palen discussion and
party.
Program, 6 p.m. Community Building
Popular & Film, 7 & 9-30 p.m. The
Chinese Theater
SUNDAY
University Theatre, 8:20 p.m.
10 o'clock
Popular & Famous 1 & 3 p.m.
Unainkable Molly Brown "Dyeh."
KU Duplicate Bridge, 2 p.m. Jay-hawk Rpg. Kansas Union.
Lutheran Students Assoc. 5:39 p.m.
Meeting with Gamma Delta. Exercises in modern worship, Good Shayat, Lolitheran Church, 2812 Harvard Rd.
Popular Film, 7 and 9:30 p.m. "The Unhakable, Molly Brown." Dyess, 112.
2
Daily Kansan
editorial page
Friday, November 11, 1966
RGreary
"Nice birdie-you're coming home with me now."
NEW BOOKS
PIONEERS AND CARETAKERS, by Louis Auchinloss (Delta, $1.95)—Portraits of nine American women novelists, by the critic who has written several successful novels with New York brownstone settings. Which means that Auchincloss is especially qualified, by temperament, to deal with such figures as Edith Wharton and Ellen Glasgow. Women seem to be better at treating themes of traditionalism, one would conclude from this absorbing book. Whether it is Sarah Orne Jewett down east or Carson McCullers down south, it is a preoccupation with the past and with values of the past that marks many of our most successful women writers. Wharton in New York. Glasgow in Virginia, Elizabeth Madox Roberts in the frontier areas, Willa Cather in Nebraska—all have concerned themselves with meanings of the American experience. Auchincloss' other portraits are of Jean Stafford, Katherine Anne Porter and Mary McCarthy. His work has a refreshing quality, a relief to read after the near-rantings of, say, Leslie Fiedler.-CMP
* * * *
FOREIGN AID AND FOREIGN POLICY, by Herbert Feis (Delta, $1.95)—An enlightened discussion of the role foreign aid has assumed in American life, by a writer best known for his interpretation of the path America and Japan took to Pearl Harbor. It is history as well as essay, as Feis sketches the development of foreign aid in the late forties, and where it stands today. The successes and disillusions of the aid program are outlined, as Feis shows how many aid recipients have become among the most angy of America's critics. Feis is somewhat of an optimist; he believes in foreign aid, and he hopes it will continue despite its vicissitudes in recent years.
* * * *
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING, by Herome H. Perlmutter (Delta, $1.75)—A volume by a man who has produced many documents in the Department of Agriculture, and has prepared writing guides for the State Department. Here is a handy volume for the many persons who have reason to prepare papers, letters, reports—anything, for that matter, to be written.—CMP
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY kansan Serving KU for 77 of its 101 Years
KANSAN TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Newsroom—UN 4-3646 —— Business Office—UN 4-3198
The Daily Kansan, student newspaper at The University of Kansas, is represented by National Advertising Service, I8 East 50 St., New York, NY. The Daily Kansan offers second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University yr. except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays and examination periods. Accommodations, goods, services and employment advertised in the University yr. are offered to all students without regard to color, creed or national origin.
The opinions expressed in the editorial column are those of the students whose names are signed to them. Guest editorial views are not necessarily the editor's. Any opinions expressed in the Daily Kansan are not necessarily those of the University of Kansas Administration or the State Board of Regents.