RUSSIA RULES BY FEAR

Chronicle (Levin), 3 June 1948, Page 5

RUSSIA RULES BY FEAR

(N.Z.P.A.—

Reuter ,

Eastern Germany Becoming Police State

Comiright)

EeceiYfcd Wednesday, 7 p.m. BEKL1N, June 2. The British element of the Oqiitrol Commissioii, iii a 6000 word statement, accused , Eussia of establishing a pplie^.^tate di^Ehsl-1 ern Germany whef'C ifi'di-yidual rights ceased to existjfe jhlhd statement said: ' h-y.' ; ^ "Oppositions * by individiiais; beconie inerea^ingly dangerous cases of resistance almost iiivariably followed by the arrest or flight of the persons concerned,^* . The statement added that - an atmosphere of fear and suspicio'n had been created and the relent^ less neutralisation of any opponents had led'to a feeling of hopelessness. The inhabitants of Eastern Germany felt that conditions were unlikely to improvp except by force. The statement went on; "The pressure most feared by political workers in the East, is undoubtedly the physical persuasion exercised by the M.V.D. (Soviet Secret Police).- Although this is normally employed as a last resort, the M.V.D. has already elaimed -sufficient victims for it to be generally feared and detested. The Qiethods vary from third degree interrogation to- physical mishandling and beating. Sufficient iiiimbers of such victims .have subsequently escaped to the West for the veracity of these Gestapo conditions to be proved." The statement also alleged that a vast "informer system" had penetrated every aspect of politi- , Cfll and economic lit'e in the Soviet Zone. The informers themselves, drawn from all walks of life, had often been blackmailed into following their unsavonry profession. "Virtually all organised resistance to the Soviet plans and policy in the .East ern Zone -has now been elimina-ted :and opposition by individiiais 'has become increasingly dangerous. " , ' The, Daily Telqgraph 's Beflin correspondent says the BritishGerman language newspap'er Die Welt has reported further big scale dismautliug of Eastern German factories by the Eussia ns and deportations of (ferman workers, to Eussia. The paper named six large works which are involved and thirteen others whieh, it said. are shortly-to- be moved to Eussia