“Sometimes all we can do is smile, because the questions are so uninformed and so much based on Just propaganda. There is a desire from most people we meet to find out the truth about our country, but Somuch has been distorted and the information which comes from our country is systematically destroyed.” f You can sense the frustration — and hope of overcoming it — in the quiet, steady, mature voices of the leaders of the Czechoslovakian youth organization, the Socialist Union of Youth (SSM) as they talk about their country and its ten years of development since the Crisis of 1968. A decade has passed since the drama of Prague, 1968, when the decisive actions of the Warsaw Pact nations caught the attention of the world. Socialism won the battle of Prague, but not before the capitalist propagandists found a martyr which it has effectively exploited ever since. The an- Miiversary of the Czech crisis earlier this year provided the Setting for a renewed barrage of propaganda as television stations, newspapers, magazines and radio re-lived the crisis and used it to whip up anti-socialist and anti- Soviet sentiments. Ten years later the western media is still trying to extract every little bit of propaganda value from the events of 1968, but a lot has changed since then and it isn’t SO easy anymore. The very fact Jaroslav Jeneral and Jarolim Antal are here in Canada to tell their side of the story and to replace misinformation with first hand answers to the questions pondered by most young people in this country testified to the changes that have taken place. Jeneral and Antal are top of- ficers of the SSM; Jeneral the vice- chairman of the organization and chairman of the Czech section, and Antal, deputy of the SSM’s in- ternational department. But what 1s significant about their visit to Canada is not only the impressive credentials they carry, but also the fact that they are here as official guests of the Young Communist League of Canada(YCL). The delegation is more than a. small breakthrough for the YCL which has had similar delegations in the past continually refused by immigration authorities, which for unstated reasons would deny visas to delegations from socialist countries. The SSM leaders with their in- terpreter Blanka Termarova were in Vancouver from Sunday to Wednesday this week as part of their two week study tour of Canada to see the country and find out more about the YCL. But the most important aspect of the tour is to tell Canadians albout Czechoslovakia. “1968 is really history for our members. They know about it of course, but more as a_ basic lesson,’’ Jeneral said spanning ten years of development, ‘Looking back now it is a lesson about the importance of the all around development of young people and society as a whole. We _ un- derestimated the bourgeois ten- dencies that still existed and un- derestimated the importance of ideological development, and the whole Party and society soon found itself in a crisis.” Those years are behind them now, Jeneral insists, and with social problems like unem- ployment, financial barriers to education and a housing crisis “also matters of history found in the text books”, it is the Czechs turn to make propaganda on the west. “Tt is true that there are still a minority of young people with pro- western views, Jeneral admits, “Imperialism hasn’t given up on its objectives. And it should be remembered that more than half the children in the country can watch western television programs from Austria and West Germany. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, under the direct control of the CIA, are heard every day. And everyday the BBC and Radio Canada broadcast in either Czech or Slovak. “Remember too that we are a small country, only 15 million people, and that every year about 17. million people visit Czechoslovakia and one third of those are from capitalist countries. “Tn the ideological sphere there can be no peace.” The SSM has been winning the war of ideas among the young generation steadily since 1968, however, and Jerenal says that the secret has been an all around approach. Culture was one of the most important considerations, he said, but warned that “‘you can’t divide up ideological develop- ment.” Also crucial are study of Marxist classics, the history of the labor movement, political debate and most important, co-operative labor. ‘‘We have a slogan,” he said, “To work in a socialist way, and live in a socialist way.” The slogan captures the whole approach of the Czechoslovakian state and its communist movement since 1968. Hard work to improve - Can provide. | the Tribune. ; ‘Thank you for 451 subs, but eoo __ Even with 451 subs or 50 percent of our target of 900 subs during our fall circulation drive, we are slightly behind the pace that we will need to make our drive a success. We have 50 percent of our new subs target as well with 96 new readers already added to the subscription lists. But there are only five weeks to the end of our drive and we are after another 100 new subs .. . in addition to about 350 subs coming due for renewal during those weeks. More Tribune readers will mean a stronger labor and democratic movement in B.C. It will mean that more trade unionists, civic activists, peace workers and others in the progressive movement will be better informed and armed with the analysis and militant policies that only this paper Finish off the year with a blow for labor : sell a sub to We need thousands [ more Tribune readers a, > L “Years of crisis have passed ao any Sof attaeemeerncen In this country as guests of the Young Communist League, Jaraslav Jeneral, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Czecholslovak Union of Socialist Youth [left], Jarolim Antal, head of the Union’s international department [right] and their interpreter, Blanka Yermarova [centre] will tour several Canadian cities. the economy, the development of socialist methods of work, would pay off in higher living standards. And it has, the SSM leaders said, eager to expound endless statistics and reports of one program or another spicial benefit introduced sonce 1968. In 1973, a law for ‘‘the care of the young generation” was adopted which set in motion a whole series of incentives for young people. Educational opportunities were expanded with new technical and vocational schools opened, and waiting lists were cut down con- siderably. Incidentally, Jeneral added, there is a different type of student today. In 1968, for exam- — Sean Griffin photo ple, only about 40 percent of the students at the universities came from working class backgrounds. Today 60 percent of the campus population is working class, and the result is a much more stable student body. Then there.are the incredible incentives for young married couples to have children, patterned after the East German experience. Loans of 20,000 crowns (a dollar will exchange for six crowns these days) are available for newlyweds with 2,008 crowns forgiveable after the birth of the first child, 4,000 after the second and another 4,000 after the third. Travel and vacationing is also Czechs vastly expanded, especially after the creation of a youth tourist agency a few years ago. About 30,000 more young people are travelling outside of the country every year, two thirds of them to other socialist countries where there are no currency problems. The tourist agency works on the: basis of exchange programs, rather than purely commercial package tours, so it requires a partner agency in this country to open up youth tourism on an ex- change basis. That may be a useful spin off of the SSM visit here. Family income has also im- proved and a working couple will take home an average of 5,000 crowns per month. Rent for a two bedroom apartment with all utilities, television and cablevision costs included will range from 400 to 450 crowns. And state spending on social services such as free medical care, pre-school services, education and So on now amounts to 7,000 crowns per capita. All of that amounts to a greatly changed situation in Czechoslovakia, which has nothing in common with the crisis of 1968, the Czechs say, but it isn’t yet fully understood, not even among progressive youth. “From one country to another, the misinformation is passed, almost with pleasure,’’ Antal remarked, “Some story will be passed off in a European newspaper,’ then it will be picked up in a Canadian newspaper, and so on. It is‘a circle with no way out. The only way to break it is through exchanges, actual visits to our country so that people can see for themselves.” China affirms link with Continued from pg. 1 of Socialist Salvador Allende.”’ In his statement, Altamirano noted that China, almost from the first day of the military coup, had built up its relationship with the fascist junta and noted that anti- fascists who had sought political asylum in the Chinese embassy had been turned away. “The Chinese regime has been strengthening its relations with the junta,’ Altamirano charged, “so that today, China has the dubious distinction of being fascism’s best friend in Chile next South Africa and Paraguay. “Today we must stress, our _ people have fallen victim to this insane foreign policy by which the People’s Republic of China has put itself in reality on imperialism’s side.” The Cubillos’ visit gave ominous confirmation to Altamirano’s charge since, — again according to AFP—agreement was reached between the two governments to exchange permanent military ‘missions which would be stationed in the nations’ capitals. Military attaches could evidently be in their respective posts before the end of the year. The military agreement has been seen as having special significance since it indicates that China may later supply arms to Chile as well as military advisors. While all but the most reac- tionary of regimes throughout the world have curtailed or severed relations with the junta in Chile, China’s relations, particularly in the area of trade, have increased in the last five years. Chile junta Trade has tripled since 1973 and China has now become ghe third largest customer for Chile’s copper, produced from denationalized mines. Cubillos reported that 70,000 tons of copper go to China in addition to some: 120,000 tons of saltpeter, shipped as part of an agreement signed in recent weeks. Cubillos’ visit also triggers a flurry of diplomatic invitations as Peking extended an invitation to Pablo Barahona, the fascist junta’s minister of the-economy. For his part, Cubillos said he was bringing a message from Pinochet to Chinese prime minister Hua Kuo- feng for him to visit Chile. He added that he hoped a return invitation would be extended to Pinochet to visit China. - CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING COMING EVENTS Nov. 18 — Come and celebrate with Mike and Helen Wishinski on their 25th Wedding Anniversary, Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. - ? Open house, 121 Mundy St., Coquitlam. Supper, refresh- ments and entertainment. Ad- mission $5. For more in- formation call 526-1309 or 942- 7379. No gifts by request, donations to the CQ Social Club. Nov. 19 — The AUUC presents an enjoyable afternoon of Ukrainian "songs, dance and music. Guest performers. Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m., 805 E. Pender. Admission $2., children 75c. Nov. 25. — Saturday, November 25, Banquet and Dance opening. winter season, sponsored by FRC at Russian People’s Home, 600 Campbell Ave. Supper at 6:30, dance from 9 p.m. to 1. Nov. 25 — Christmas bazaar table and World Youth Festival slide showing at 832 Calverhall, North Vancouver. Food and refresh- ments. Admission $2. ‘Dec. 9— Come help celebrate Jack Phillip’s 65th Birthday on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m., Ukrainian Hall, 805 E. Pender. Admission $5, unemployed and pensioners $4. Tickets on sale at Co-op Books, 353 W. Pender. BUSINESS PERSONALS ROOF REPAIRS — Reasonable 254-5836 and 277-3352. Nei Sle: Gallen: JEWELLERY REPAIRS, remodelling, appraisals at reasonable charge. For ap- pointment phone 254-7678. Will pick up and deliver in Vancouver at no extra charge. MOVING? CLEANUP? — Wanted articles for resale. All proceeds . to P.T. Phone 526-5226. “The : Goodie Bin”. WANTED Single progressive worker seeks living situation in Vancouver with like minded folks. Call Richard 738- 8991. HALLS FOR RENT ‘WEBSTER’S CORNERS HALL — Available for banquets, meetings, etc. For rates: Ozzie, 325-4171 or 685-5836. 2 RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 9805 East Pender St., Vancouver. Available for banquets, wed- _ . dings, meetings. Ph. 254-3436. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOVEMBER 17, 1978—Page "