congresses, says that it is now necessary to re-evaluate that historical period and along with it even certain aspects of Stalin's work." Some writings by Stalin like Questions of Leninism or The National estion could be reissued "for they have retained their validity." : _ Pancaldi cites some. recent significant occurrences. Last October 8, Pravda published. ‘the summary of a report delivered by | Trapeznikov, the the head of the scientific sector of the Central Committee's "Tdeological Committee." In accordance with the current schema that "neither the cult nor. its consequences could be generated by a socialist regime, for they are alien to its nature," Trapeznikov sharply criticized those historians and writers who have the deplor- ‘able habit of viewing that historical period "from the angle of the personality cult." The report concluded by referring to a group of. young historians who had completed a study project on errors in collectivization and by declaring that the period of "socialist" transformation in:the countryside and accelerated industrialization should .be considered among the most glorious in the. "history of building | socialism: in the USSR." _
At the end of January, Pravda publishea an article signed by
the historians Yuknov, Trokanovski and Schunkov, in which the expression "period of the personality cult" was condemned as "“anti-Marxist, subjective and deeply erroneous," for it "denies the greatness of a whole period of Soviet history."
Recently, at the’ end of a lecture by Rumiantzev about “how to apply economic laws," a student asked whether it is still: possible to use Stalin's book Economic Problems of Socialism in economic studies, or whether. this would be an error.
The former editor ‘of Pravda replied: "Tt is clear that it would be an error. That work does not correctly’ handle the problems of a socialist economy. There are very many errors in it like the statement that the kolkhoz hindered the planned. development of socialist economy. In this work Stalin took a number of erroneous positions; it is therefore not to be recommended as a reference."
In his report to the Moscow party organizational conference, Secretary Yegorisev took up Trapeznikov's ideas amd criticized those cinema people, historians, writers, artists, who, while dealing with the theme of the personality cult, end up Dy obscuring a "glorious period" and giving the public, especially the youth, "a falsified delineation of the past." After all, Pancaldi declares, the school textbooks this year appeared with the chapter on” the personality | cult modified and attenuated along this line.
"The confrontation of positions, " Pancaldi concludes, "is continuing and sooner or later is bound to end in a decision on Stalin's role in building socialism. As the problem is not only historical but political, the nature of the decision will have its influence on other aspects of the life of the country. ‘The twentythird congress, which will begin its deliberations in Moscow on March 29, could provide an orientation. with respect to this.
NERVE GAS