Highest growth rate ever

Bulgaria's economy booms |

SOFIA — In 1973 Bulgaria’s
industrial output increased by
10.6% in comparison with 1972
(the highest growth rate in five
consecutive years); and its an-
nual growth. rate in the last
three years has been 9.4%.

From 49% in 1970, industry’s
share in generating the national
income grew to 52% last year.
At the same time, changes in the
structure of this basic sector led
to an increase in the relative
share of machine-building, the
chemical, petrochemical and me-
tallurgical industries and power
production. :

In 1973 the output of machine-
building increased by 57% in
comparison with 1970, and by
18.6% (the highest growth rate

in the last three years) in com-
parison with 1972. Machine-
building has come up to nearly
23% of industrial output and to
38.8% in the country’s exports.
The production of electronic
hardware, instrument making,
shipbuilding, radiotechnics and
other important branches is
growing at an even faster rate.
Real Incomes Up :
Results in the field of agricul-
ture are also good, its output for
the past year being 3% higher
than in 1972. The agro-industrial
complexes (mergers of coopera-
tive and state farms) help speed
up the processes of concentra-
tion, specialization and intensi-
fication of production and to
gear it along industrial lines. In

70,000 Chileans now

residing in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES — More than

70,000 Chileans have crossed
the border and taken refuge in
the Argentine province of Men-
doza since the military coup

- that. overthrew the constitu-

tional government of President
Salvador Allende.

In a report from the provin-
cial capital of the same name,
the Buenos Aires daily newspa-
per Clarin says, “there jis an
endless flow of Chilean citizens”
that official estimates put at
“70,000 men and women: who
have arrived from the neighbor-
ing republic” as of last Septem-
ber.

, suvenneottl

It's not how many, but in whose interes

By VASILY ZAICHIKOV

Since the Communist Party is
the only political party in the
USSR, the question is asked:
Isn’t a one-party system a con-
tradiction of democracy? —

The one-party system is not

an imperative in the transition -

from capitalism to socialism. If
we look at the countries that
took the road to socialism later
than the Soviet Union and under
different conditions, we find that
a number of them have multi-
party systems (Bulgaria, Czech-
oslovakia, the German Demo-
cratic Republic and Poland).
Others have one-party systems
(the Mongolian People’s Repub-
lic, the Republic of Cuba, Ruma-
nia and Yugoslavia) .

The Socialist Unity Party of
Germany is a merger of two
workers parties—the Commun-
ist and-Social Democratic
parties. The fact that all the
leading bodies of the new party
were staffed on a strict parity,
basis had a most favorable
effect on its subsequent activi-
ties. The Christian, Democratic
Union, Liberal Democratic
Party, Democratic Farmer Party
and National Democratic Party
cooperated on all levels, from
the People’s Chamber to local
communities. They declared that
the recognition of the leading
role of the Socialist Unity Party
of Germany did not in any way
curb their initiative in matters
related to the construction of
a socialist society.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1974—PAGE 8

The paper says the refugees
haven’t all stayed in Mendoza,
that many went on to other
provinces or to other countries.

However, it goes on to say
that, “A large contingent has
remained here due to the job
possibilities and the stability in

. Mendoza, especially in the har-

vest period, which is now in full
swing,” and for which there is
a great shortage of workers.

Most come trying to better
their lot, saying that “things in
Chile have hit rock bottom,” a
direct reference to the terrible
socioeconomic situation now
prevailing there.

Whose Interests Are Served?

The point is not the number
of parties but whose interests
they protect. If one or another
country has several parties, all
of which represent the interests
of only one group in society,
what democracy is there in fact?

Czarist Russia had many
political parties. So many, that
if the level of democracy were
gauged by their number, the
country that was called the
prison house of peoples should
have been recognized as one of
the most democratic states in
the world.

The parties of big business
and the landlords left the politi-
cal arena together with their
respective classes. There were
several parties that called them-
selves socialist. The Bolsheviks
did not rule out the possibility
of cooperation with .them and; in
fact, worked sincereiy for such
cooperation,

When the Right- Socialist-
Revolutionaries and the Menshe-
viks, who shortly before had.
represented a mass ‘ political
force, rejected this possibility
and opposed the shift of power
to the Soviets, they lost their
influence and their role as more
or less independent factors in
the political life. of the country.

The situation was different
with the Left Socialist-Revolu-
tionaries. After the October
Révolution they were supported

for some time by a considerable

part of the peasantry. A few
hours before the formation of
the first Soviet government, the

recent years the average yields
of wheat, corn, oriental tobacco
and a few other crops are among
the highest in Europe. __

In the 1971-1973. period real
incomes per head of the popu-
lation rose more than 20%, the
corresponding figure for cooper-
ative farmers being 25.5%, while
retail prices were kept at a
stable level.

The large-scale modernization
and reconstruction of industrial
enterprises (34% of the capital
investments are allotted to this
end), the adoption by the indivi-
dual sectors of new, up-to-date
technologies, the purchase of
licence and delivery of the most
modern equipment, along with
other factors, secure a steady.
rise in labor productivity.

Modern Methods

Between 1948 and 1970 the -

average annual growth in labor
productivity has been 8%, while
between 1960 and 1973 it in-
creased 2.5 times. In the past
two years, 95% of the annual
national income growth was
thus obtained. Last year some
80% of the growth of industrial
output was also ensured by
higher labor productivity based
on these methods.

The country’s current five-
year plan provides for this indic-
ator to increase by about 40% in
industry, 45% in agriculture,
49% in construction, etc.

It was recognized, however, at
the National Conference of the
Bulgarian Communist Party, held
in March (and the highest Party
forum since the 1971 10th Con-
gress) that Bulgaria still lags be-
hind other European socialist
countries, and advanced West-

Central Committee of the Bol-—
shevik Party offered the Left

Socialist-Revolutionaries a place

in the government. At first they:
refused but-later agreed to ac-

cept the posts of people’s com-

missars (ministers) of agricul-

ture, justice, post and telegraph,

state property and local self-

government. Two Left Socialist-

Revolutionaries became mem-

bers of the government in the

Capacity of people’s commis-

sars without portfolio.

Hopes for Cooperation

In his -report to the Third
Congress of Soviets late in Jan-
uary 1918, Lenin spoke with
great hope of the possibility of
similar cooperation in the gov-
ernment. However, the Left
Socialist-Revolutionaries were
hesitant throughout and finally
ended the coalition. At the
Fourth Congress they opposed
the conclusion of the Brest-
Litovsk peace treaty, received
no support and withdrew from
the government. The Fifth Con-
gress of Soviets put a period
to the hope of the Left Social-
ist-Revolutionaries that they
would win a majority in the gov-
ernment by democratic means
and with it a change in policy.
They then left the Congress and
started an anti-Soviet armed re-
bellion which was suppressed
the same day. -

As we see, the coalition with
the Left Socialist-Revolution-
aries collapsed, but for reasons
for which the Bolsheviks were
not responsible.

ern countries, in labor produc-
tivity. ‘

“It is imperative to discuss in
detail the problem of acceler-
ating the labor productivity
growth rates, and to map out
the necessary measures,” the
Party conference declared. ““This
problem,” is said, “is considered
a cardinal one as regards. the
fulfillment of the Sixth Five-
Year Plan (1971-75) .. . and rais-
ing the population’s living stand-
ards.”

Party Leader

Todor Zhivkovy, first secretary
of the Central Committee of the
Bulgarian Communist Party and
president of the State Council of

_ the People’s Republic of Bul-
“ garia, reporting to the Confer-

ence, spoke of 1) implementa-
tion of economic, social and
Party policy during the past
three years, 2) labor productiv-
ity, 3) the international situa-
tion.

The report emphasized the
importance of intensified inte-
gration with the Soviet Union,
of the most extensive and com-
plete utilization of the scientific
and technical achievements of
the advanced countries . ..

‘Later, during the Civil War
forced on the people. by the
counterrevolution, all middle-of-
the-road parties and trends dis-
integrated completely. Counting
on the White Guards and the
interventionists to support
them, the leaders of these
parties acted against their own
people and tried, despite the
popular will, to seize power.
They were put down. Address-
ing the Seventh Congress of
Soviets in December 1919, Lenin
concluded his speech with this
statement:

“We accept with the greatest

pleasure anyone who wants to
help, irrespective of his past and
irrespective of all titles. And we
know that more and moré such
people are coming to us. from
other parties and from among
the non-party people and this is
a guarantee of our victory.”
_ This is how, from the histor-
ical point -of view, the’ one-
party system took shape in the
Soviet Union. Ever since, the
Communist Party of the Soviet
‘Union has been fulfilling its
honorable and difficult responsi-
bility. of leadership. a

Party Guidance

Obviously every political
party attempes to influence and
Perhaps even control the mass
organizations of the people of
its country. That is the nature
of a political. party..Some suc-
ceed, others fail. The Commu-
nist Party of the Soviet Union.

‘succeeded. To find out whether

party guidance’ promotes or

The resort town of Nessebar, one of the many spots *
garian workers spend their summer vacations. ,

_working people;

_and, with the

The section in the
tional situation gave
appraisal to the east
sions in Europe and ¥
and to the good prorh
extensive mutually |
and fruitful cooperation”
states with  differem
systems”. ‘

The development 0!
political and econom a 6
with Western count.
stressed .. . The fora
istet. of the Reding
of Germany was 0” wt
Bulgaria in March, Pig)
foreign ministers. ‘ aly 4
Great Britain and visit
also scheduled 10"

aria this year.
schieved in the develo™
good - neighborly f°"
among the Balkan
was noted with
The stand of the
Communist Parl in
convening a ne
conference of the oa
workers parties Wa. |
A conference of ! ;
considered . to he a
given the prese™ ial
stances, the Bulga”
munists stated.

organizations, We js
into how the guida™
cised.

The cCPsu_ rules
party organizations
place the governm pera"
trade unions, ot tions
other public orgat ey. p f
permit the functies
party and other b ot ai?

The party does gil
the people, as. 5X pind
party decision party
non-members. No org?”
may force a hoses regu
to adopt its line ©. rsh?
character on me a
leading bodies. HF
' When we say ae
guides and directs, pide
ing of political oy oe
direction. The Pips
masses see the tion
events, the a and
events are moVINP oss.
own role in, this Po
party’s function # 0
scientific princiPle>s mint
late problems,
contradictions

sa
ust

2

nen nem eas
ing them. e

the people * +. wh
through Commur tes?
active members 4; cO
izations. Commu tg

45% of the depute’ it
Soviets. About 1° 124g
raunists are in the

union bodies an® ~~
in YCL bodies.