WRITERS IN EXILE
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sion: to tell the American people about the differences between
two systems, or rather, about the system under which the Soviet
people live.
However, there is another important mission for this litera–
ture in exile: to tell the Soviet people the truth about the Soviet
Union. I think this conference and its organizers, the editors of
Partisan Review,
as members of the publishing community here
in America, can put pressure on the Soviet government to admit
the emigre literature inside the boundaries of the Soviet Union.
At least they can put pressure on the United States government
to have Russian-language books published in exile admitted
into the Soviet Union. I know some Soviet emigres will think,
"They won't let us," and of course they will try not to. And
Americans will say, "This is interference in their internal affairs,
so they are right in not letting us."
UNIDENTIFIED AUDIENCE MEMBER: What kind of peace
movements are going on around the world? Are the Soviet peo–
ple aware of the movement in this country against the prolifera–
tion of nuclear weapons, and what are their feelings? I think this
is an overriding issue among all the peoples of the world, not
only among Americans but among the Soviets and the French as
well.
EFIM ETKIND: I live in France and can say there has not been
anything like what has been happening in West Germany in re–
cent months. In West Germany there have been enormous
demonstrations for peace. These demonstrations produced a
dual impression.
It
appears that Germany wants to disarm, and
quite a bit has been written in the Russian press about these
demonstrations, that they are a capitulation to the Soviet Union.
I have read quite a number of articles recently suggesting that
these demonstrations are financed with Soviet money. I think
that in a sense there is some truth to this view, since the move–
ment that has taken place in Germany serves the purposes of the
Soviet Union. This does not mean at all, however, that it is actu–
ally instigated by the Soviet Union.
I was in Germany when President Reagan was heard on the
radio there talking about the possibility of a limited atomic war
that might confine itself to Europe. And I saw what a violent
reaction these words brought forth in the most varied circles of
the German popul a tion . To tell the truth, both President
