By Margrit Pittman

sta

Top:
Berlin at the end of World
War li.

Bottom:
A young family in today’s
Berlin, GDR.

ility.

of socialism

> [. Czechoslovakia and the German Demo-
cratic Republic, people look forward to the
new year with confidence: in the Federal
Republic of Germany and West Berlin, with
apprehension.

It is quite clear that 1976 will further
demonstrate that the quality of life offered-
by socialism is far superior to that in capit-
alist countries. In socialist countries the
people celebrate the new year with the cer-
tain knowledge that their standard of living
will not only remain stable, but will im-
prove. ;

For example, on January 1, three mil-
lion pensioners in Czechoslovakia will re-
ceive increased pensions — that is, 93%

of all recipients. This increase was adopted °

by the Czechoslovak Federal Assembly
in November. The 1976 economic plan for
the country — adopted on December 16 —
calls for an increase in real wages of 5.2%.

In the GDR the 1976 economic plan,
voted into law on December 8, provides for
increases in take-home pay of 4%, plus
benefits from added social services which
are part of the real wages. These include a
total of 30;000 additional places in chil-
dren’s institutions (creches, nurseries and
extended day care for children from six
weeks to ten years) and construction of an
additional 134,200 apartments. Charges to
the public for housing and child care facil-
ities are below cost, largely subsidized by
the state.

A decisive factor in the stability of the
socialist economies during this time of
crisis in the capitalist countries is econom-
ic integration through the Council for

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JANUARY 9, 1976—Page 10

Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA).
Long-range planning creates job security
and makes more rational production feasi-
ble. Plans call for a 50% increase in trade
among CMEA member countries in the

1976-80 period. Particular emphasis is -

being placed on machine building, where
far-reaching specialization is to be
achieved.

~ Other projects include the construction "
of joint facilities in the metallurgy and

cellulose industries and completion of the .

natural gas pipeline from Orenburg. All
this means job security, price stability and
a steady rise in the standard of living.

In the FRG and West Berlin, on the ©

other hand, the outlook is gloomy. Last
May, FRG Chancellor Helmut Schmidt told
the Bundestag, ‘“‘We are in a phase of
world economic recession with strong infla-
tionary tendencies such as has never before
occurred in this combination and on a
worldwide scale.’’ FRG politicians hold out
no hope for improvement to the people. The

gross national product was down 4.6%

compared with 1962 during the first six
months of 1975, and unemployment reached
5%. In addition, 890,000 workers were on a
reduced work week. While there are con-
stant variations in these statistics, no real
improvement is in sight. In this situation
the Bundestag in Bonn voted to reduce
social spending by 4 billion marks, adding
3.8 billion to the tax burden in 1976. Eco-
nomically, West Berlin is closely tied to
the FRG and the outlook there is also for
continued hardship.

In this situation, FRG and West Berlin
authorities resort to a new wave of anti-

communist, anti-socialist and anti-Soviet
activities. In addition to an intensification
of anti-communist propaganda, there is
new discriminatory legislation which bars
progressives from public service jobs.

‘Teachers and jurists are particularly af-
- fected, and there have been mass investi-

gations among government employees.
While no-such law exists in West Berlin,
the Senate (the city’s leading body) has

initiated a campaign to fire communist —

faculty members at universities.

There are two main fronts of struggle in
the international arena which will be im-
portant during the coming year. One is the
fight for further implementation of the
European Security Treaty, signed last
June. While the FRG tends to back-slide on
the issue and West Berlin politicians ac-
tively hamper progress, plans are being
made in socialist countries to take new
initiatives. This was expressed in the com-
munique by foreign ministers of the Euro-
pean socialist community who met in Mos-
cow on December 15-16. They determined
to take measures on the European conti-
nent to create a ‘“‘more concrete and ma-
terial basis to increase the process of de-
tente.”’ : :

The other direct issue of international
concern in Europe is the question of dis-
armament. In this connection, further initi-
atives by the socialist countries can be
expected. Support for disarmament meas-
ures was shown by the United Nations
General Assembly on December 12, when
112 nations approved a resolution offered
by the Soviet Union for conclusion of a
treaty to ban development of weapons of
mass destruction. Another proposal, ap-
proved by 94 UN member states, calls on

all atomic powers to start negotiations by

March 31 for a treaty to ban all atomic
weapons tests. ‘

Successful conclusion of the SALT nego-
tiations in Vienna is also high on the
agenda of socialist foreign policy, and there
is increasing interest shown by all peace-
loving people of Europe in the early con-
vening of a world disarmament conference
by the United Nations in accordance with
UN Resolution 3260. ‘Such a conference is
particularly urgent,’’ the World Peace
Council said in a-message to UN General
Secretary Dr. Kurt Waldheim in June
1975, ‘‘because the arms race has already
led to an enormous waste of human and
material resources. New, comprehensive
and multilateral efforts for disarmament
would free vast funds which could be used

for the solution of the most urgent global

problems confronting mankind.”’
So while 1976 will be greeted with con-

fidence by some and with fear, insecurity .

and poverty by others, there are real pos-

sibilities that new advances on the road
toward peace and progress will be made by

all.

oo

(opie Bh