CRITICISM IN FRANCE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27999, 20 June 1956, Page 13

CRITICISM IN FRANCE

Rise Of Stalin To Power

(Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS, June 19. The French Communist Party, following the example of the Italian Communist leader, Mr Togliatti, has criticised Soviet communism for permitting the rise of Stalin.

The party’s political bureau in a long statement issued last night said:— “The explanations so far given of Stalin's faults, their origin, ana the cir-

cumstances under which they happened are not satisfactory. “A profound Marxist analysis is indispensable to determine the complete circumstances under which Stalin’s personal power could be exercised. “It is not right to attribute to Stalin alone anything that has been negative in the activity of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union,” the statement said.

The statement made no criticism of the present Soviet leaden. “The French Communist Party, faithful to the principles of MarxismLeninism and conscious of the outstanding role of the Soviet people, would remain closely linked with the Soviet Communist Party,” the statement said. It would know how to do its utmost to make a living reality of the unity of action of the working class in order to advance towards a Popular Front and towards a Socialist France, the statement said. “L’Humanite,” the French Communist Party newspaper, published the statement on its front page today. It also carried, on an inside page without comment, extracts from Mr Togliatti’s 'article. Comment in Britain

British newspapers today expressed sharply-divided views on the significance of Mr Togliatti’s article. The “News Chronicle” said that it would be dangerous to assume that communism throughout the world was breaking up.

An article in the “Daily Mirror” said it was believed that West European communists were trying to break free from the Kremlin.

The "Daily Herald" said that Mr Togliatti had asked a question which every Communist should be called upon to answer.

“We await Mr Khrushchev’s reply with interest,” the "Daily Herald” said.