WHAT COMMUNIST PARTIES SAY Fascism in Hungary would mean threat to peace of whole world (Below are excerpts from statement on the Hungarian crisis issued by Communist and Workers parties in var- ious countries. | ‘Sitges ritain HE Hungarian events have reached a climax, in which the c’ass issues now stand out clearly after days of con- fusion. The broadcast of Cardinal Mindszenty ...in which he called for the restoration of capitalism and_ landlordism, was the sign that the forces of counter-revolution were on the point of seizing power. Coming after the murder and lynching of Communists the open hostility of the Nagy government to the Soviet Un- ion, and the repeated conces- sions which it made to the re- actionary forces, Cardinal Mindszenty’s broadcast was the warning to all Hungarian patriots that the danger of fascism and Western interven- tion was acute ... The best elements in the Hungarian working-class movement took heed of. the warning Under the leadership of Janos Kadar, first secretary of the newly formed Hungar- ian Workers’ Socialist party, they left the Nagy government and formed. a new govern- ment ... The new government has de- cared its opposition to the wrong policies pursued by the Hungarian Workers’ party un- der Rakosi and Gero, and its intention to put right the mistakes and injustices of that period: but the choice was the defense of socialism or the restoration of capitalism and fascism. In the critical situation ex- isting in Hungary, with the forces of counter-revolution on the offensive, with agents and emigres pouring in across the western frontier, and with many of the police. and sol- diers loyal to the cause of so- cialism having been slaugh- tered by reaction, the new government called on the So- viet forces stationed in Hun- gary under the Warsaw pact “the victory for assistance in preventing of the counter- revolution. What would the advent of a fascist Hungary have meant? It would have meant a bas- tion of Western imperialism and reaction in the heart of Europe; an ally of Adenauer Germany and its Nazi mili- tarist forces; a spear thrust into the midst of the socialist states of Eastern Europe; a hotbed of future war. The choice for the Soviet forces was clear; whether to help the Hungarian Commun- ists and Socialists fighting to prevent a return to fascism or to stand by and watch Hun- garian and Western reaction crush the Hungarian people; whether to help preserve the achievements of socialism in Hungary, or allow imperial- ism once again to take over Hungary and use it as a base against the socialist countries. The Communists, Socialists and working people of Hun- gary will have many diffi- culties to face in the coming period. But the socialist system 1s being saved. The restoration of fascism is being prevented. This is the basis on which they can go forward to correct the errors of the past and streng- then socialism in Hungary. The executive committee of the British Communist party considers that the new Hun- garian government and the action of the Soviet forces in Hungary should be supported by Communists and Socialists everywhere and expresses to the Hungarian working peo- ple its solidarity with them in their fight against counter- revolution and reaction. Chino SUCCESSFUL restoration of counter - revolutionary rule in Hungary would mean a serious threat to the inde- pendence, freedom and secur- ity of all the European and socialist countries from the imperialist aggressive forces. In fact, the Hungarian peo- ple, with the assistance of the Soviet Union, have rapidly de- revolutionary comeback This is also a tremendous contribu- tion to world peace and to the entire struggle against imper- ialism and colonialism. The defeat of the Hungarian people would encourage the imperia ists and the colonial- ists to rampage; on the other hand, the victory of the Hun- garian people damps their ar- dor and confidence. It is quite clear that the Hun- garian people have won their victory with the help of the Soviet Union. The stand of the Soviet Un- ion toward the Hungarian ev- ents has. been the just stand of internationalism. The So- viet Union has respected the territorial integrity and sov- ereignty of the Hungarian People’s Republic and has not interfered in its internal af- fairs. But when the Hungarian government, representing the will and the national interests of the people, asked the Soviet Union for its help, and when the people of Socialist Hun- ary might have been reduced to fascist slavery without such help, the Soviet government and people saw no reason to stand aside with folded arms. To he'p the working people of their brother country rid themselves of agonizing disas- ter, the gallant Soviet people did not hesitate to shed their own blood, as they did once before. The importance of the great friendship of the Soviet Union for the peoples of © socialist countries has been gloriously proved once more in the Hun- garian events. Some people underestimate the immensé importance of So- viet friendship, the spirit of internationalism of the Soviet people, the necessity. for soli- darity among all the socialist countries, the necessity of the Warsaw Treaty, the need to hold fast to the principle of pro‘etarian -