Toward a New Central Europe

`THE POET YEVTUSHENKO AND PEACE IN CENTRAL EUROPE

G. H. SIKORSY

AN interesting poem written by the well known Russian poet, Yevtushenko has been published in translation in several East European literary reviews.

Does the Russian want war?

Ask the wheatlands, the willow and the linden tree,
But first of all, the soldiers
In whose soil they are rooted,
And ask youth.

I think not for a small stretch of land
Did so many suffer death but in order
That madness should not further threaten
The peoples of the earth.

When the trees in Paris, New York and elsewhere
Whisper and murmur in the night
Ask in your dreams:
"Does the Russian want war?"

Though he is a good soldier and knows how to fight,
who wants the miserable death of our earth?
Ask the mothers, the wives.
They know.

What Should We Ask and Whom?

The question Yevtushenko asks is also platonic or merely poetic The answer to "Do people want war?" (including the Russians) is obviously a universal NO. Unfortunately, the wheatlands: the wil- lows and linden trees would not understand nor could they answer any questions. Certainly mothers, wives, youth and soldiers could be

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asked but let us add workers, peasants, writers, teachers, scientists intellectuals, engineers, all the people and not only the Russians but their neighbors to the West, South and East; the Czechs, Slovaks, Rumanians, Hungarians, Poles, Mohammedans and the Israelites.

Instead of useless platonic questions let us ask politically realistic, useful questions, from the Central European nations and great powers. E.g., ask the Central European nations concerned if they want to continue the uncertainties of the post-war world with its Iron Curtain, Berlin wall, and nuclear powers directly facing each other in Central Europe where World War III could break out at any time. Or do they want military disengagement, the army of each nation stationed in its own country and an internationally guaranteed neutral Swiss-type buffer zone between such hostile powers as Russia and Germany. The present military expenses could be greatly reduced both in the NATO and Warsaw Pact countries. These pacts could even be dissolved and replaced by international agreements between the nuclear powers guaranteeing the neutral zone and promoting mutual disarmament. This would raise the present low standard and, in a few decades, raise the per capita income to the Swiss or even the American level.

Useful steps have recently been taken toward international agree- ments: atomic tests have been banned from the atmosphere and the proliferation of nuclear weapons has also been recently forbidden in an agreement. Let the search for international agreements continue.

An Historic Precedent

Almost all the agreements reached at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 have become outmoded. One exception was the neutralization of Switzerland between three neighboring powers. Thereby Switzer- land became a haven, a model country for the peaceful co-existence Of several nationalities.

Specifically, we urge a Conference on European Security and/or a plebiscite of all East and Central European nations under UN supervision on the following questions:

I. Are they in favor of neutrality like Switzerland and Austria or do they want to continue living under the domination of far greater powers ?

2. Do they want peaceful co-existence of all nationalities in the multi-national area of Central Europe along the Swiss pattern or should one nation possess privileges above the others (minorities) in the so called "national states"?

Yevtushenko's Invitation To Central Europe-

The Russian poet visited Cuba and the United States a few years ago. Why not visit Central Europe now and ask these questions from the Slovaks, Hungarians, Czechs, Rumanians, Croatians, Serbians?

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The Soviet Union and the Western powers took the first step toward an effective peace when they signed the Austrian State Treaty of 1955. The benefits of a neutralized zone in Central Europe should be obvious to all. We trust that Yevtushenko and all Central and East European intellectuals and politicians will recognize this vitally important idea. Rather than posing poetic or theoretical questions, practical ones that lead to peace, security and a reduction of arma- ments should be asked. Instead of propaganda poems writers have the obligation to listen for the true interest of the nations concerned! and express it. On the other hand, the statesman of those nations possessing nuclear power can do much more in the interest of peace than increase their military potential.

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Toward a New Central Europe