The Soviet empire
Sir : Tibor Szamuely is to be congratulated on his series of excellent articles exposing the real aims and consequences of Soviet Russia's do- mestic and foreign policies. Dzyuba's and Chor- novil's works (16 August) reveal the tragedy of the Ukrainians—a tragedy common to all non-Russian nationalities within the Soviet Union and one which requires incessant ex- posure.
The cynicism and content of Lenin's pro- mises to the Ukrainians fifty years ago resemble those of Stalin's to the Baltic peoples in the 1920s and 1940s, and those of Kosygin's and Brezhnev's to the Czechs on 4 August .1968. So much for the myth of 'it's all different now.'
Lest it be thought that the Ukrainians, being the largest nationality in Soviet captivity, are singled out for special treatment, let me draw attention to the Latvians—one of the smallest —whose independence was cut short by Soviet invasion in June, 1940. Since that time the pro- portion of Latvians in the population of Latvia has dropped from eight in ten to only six in ten now—a decline of 25 per cent in twenty-eight years. Between 1959 and 1966 the absolute number of Latvians in Latvia increased by a mere 2.4 per cent, in sharp contrast to the 23 per cent increase recorded by other nationali- ties, predominantly the Russians.
The deportations and mass murders of the 'forties and early 'fifties are undoubtedly the major causes for the disastrously low birth rate amongst Latvians in that period, but by no means the full explanation of these population 'trends.' No, the real cause is the Soviet policy of 'fusion of fraternal nations: which involves the enforced resettlement of peoples throughout the Soviet Union. Thus, in 1956 some 40,000 Baits were sent to distant parts of the Soviet Union; but between 1959 and 1961 some 100,000 foreign nationals were settled in the Baltic states. The policy of fusion is pursued with particular vigour in the cities—the population of the three largest in Latvia now being less than 40 per cent Latvian (42.5 per cent in Riga, the capital city; 33 per cent in Liepaja; and only 18 per cent in Daugavpils). These are statistics for 1965. By 1975 Latvians could well be a minority throughout their own country!
Chilling as these figures are. Russian presence is even more disturbingly portrayed by those for the news media, publishing. education and cultural activities. Soviet Russia clearly seeks, as it has since its inception, a final solution for all non-Russian nationalities within its grasp. We in the West should never again allow the conspiracy of silence to descend over the mon- strosities perpetrated daily by Soviet-style Tsars. It happened after Hungary, don't let it happen
DOW.
Please do not publish my name; I still have relatives in Latvia.
Toronto, Canada
Previous page
