Poland

Press, 15 January 1982, Page 12

Poland

Sir, - M. Creel has been writing to "The Press" extolling the virtues of socialist countries. Socialism has proved a flop in Poland and he blames the private farming for the country's plight. There is no such thing as all farm land is owned by the Government. A family might be allowed an acre of land to provide for themselves, not for the nation. Farming skills have been handed down for hundreds of years and have proved their worth in all capitalist countries where there is a surplus of food of all sorts. The bureaucracy took over farming in the Communist countries and this has been a disaster for the majority of people under that rule.— Yours, etc.. J. LOGAN. January 12, 1982.

Sir. — I must disclaim V. H. Anderson's flattering attribution to me (January 8) of the status of spokesman for the

Soviet ■ Union. 1 am merely concerned, in a modest way. to correct misinformation about the Soviet Union. The "tacts" that V. H. Anderson cites, as proof, in support of his arguments. are not proved. Afghan army deserters, rebel battle successes are pure flights, of fancy. The Afghanis overwhelmingly support their Government's efforts to liquidate Afghanistan’s age-old, feudal backwardness and build a socialist society. The rebels are the dispossessed feudal dynasty and its myrmidons whb. supplied with arms, money, and training by the United States. China. Pakistan and Iran, are trying to restore themselves to power. Soviet troops will leave when the United States. China. Pakistan and Iran cease their wasted eftorts. The Lady Astor anecdote sounds apocryphal. Today, doubtless, the unemployed British working man and his family envy the Soviet workers' job security.— Yours, etc..

M. CREEL. Januarv 9. 1982.