POLISH INTELLECTUALS AGITATED BY KOLAKOWSKI'S EXPULSION
By George Novack
In 1956 Gomulka's government was swept into power on the crest of popular indignation in Poland against Stalinist domination while Kadar's government was installed in office in Hungary when the associated uprising of the Hungarian masses was crushed by Soviet troops and tanks. Yet neither of these Communist regimes saw fit to hold elahorate national ceremonies to commemorate the tenth anniversaries of their differing origins this fall. .
Both thought it politically advisable not to stir up the memories of the masses about the momentous experiences of a decade ago. And Gomulka did not wish to give offense to the leaders in the Kremlin with whom he has long since made his peace.
However, the Polish premier did mark the tenth anniversary of his accession to office in his fashion by expelling from the party the noted Communist. dissident, Leszek Kolakowski, professor of philosophy at the University of Warsaw. The developments .following his expulsion indicate that the critical ferment among the advanced intellectuals and student rebels which stimulated the "little revolution" of October 1956 continues to assert itself despite the restrictive measures of the regime.
Kolakowski was ousted from the Communist party because of the opening speech he made at a meeting held October 21 at the University of Warsaw to draw up a balance sheet of the accomplishments of Poland over the last decade. The meeting was organized with university permission under the auspices of the Union of Socialist Youth.
The scholar is reported to have told the students and faculty members who jammed the lecture hall that there was no reason to rejoice at the anniversary, despite the gains made since the pre-October days. There is still no genuine democratic freedom in Poland, he declared.
Advances were made in 1956, Professor Kolakowski conceded, but the political liberty of the Poles remains severely restricted. There has been no change in the way Poland selects her leaders, he said, and the right to free assembly and public criticism are greatly circumscribed.