Soviet was unanimous.
Party.
SMITH reports.
ted for the writing of a new constitution the Soviet leadership hasproduceda New Draft". JEwill Supreme Soviet in the autumn. SIGNIFICANT The text differs very litrle from the Stalin Constitution of 1936: both solemnly Soviet people the right to freedom masand demonstrations criticisms shall persecution for declaring that prohibited'.
Yet, as any honest observer of the Soviet scene knows, af groups monitoring the Helsinki human imprisoned Cast weeke been Last week's Socialist Challenge publisbed Crisorenso's appeal to the West ern CPs on behalt of some of these 1,200 documents proeners are being met in s confiscated. Many Victor protesting, alang much tbe same ünes as the British Communist against the invasion of Czechslovakia. On 16 June, Leonid Brezhnev became President of the Soviet Union. Needless to say, the vote in the Supreme Having brushed Podgorny, the previous President, Brezhnev combines this post with that of First Secretary of the Communist For reasons of 'protocol the Soviet Union has now fallen in line with most of the other East European states in making the party leader head of state. PETE The *the privacy of correspondence, telephone conversations and telei registered leers tom e letters from Woked the Ko. We being Hocked by NontottEst bracisces will end with the passing of this new draft the The only significant change baked to beappearance! thenew draft is the promotion' of Brezhner to the Presidency, and TREMeSATE Or a neW clause allowing a deputy president to operate.
UNDERPINNINGS But the real value of the jew of the Soviet bureaucracy i nar it codimes the basic 100 Stalinist wanted a version that would stress MS CHONE IOCOLOMANI BOSL tions as agaiast the Senlinism of 1936, This was blocked by opponents un TENC Agreemen: on the now draft is a sign of the ascendancy over the various currents within the Sover leadership.
The most significant fact about the new draft & ics failure to Channe one basic component Di aside past coostitutions: the view national misprities. brev's rule there has been 8E increasing arise for centralisation power in th All-Union authorities, combine with a massive effort to "Russify the Used natimalities within LIQUIDATION Some ideologists were arguing For the Liquidation of the nationa republics and the removal of all taik about the right to secession. no tact mar such wase ol taken place is a sign of th are heing FIRE ULTE BE BREE LOUE logical change in the constitution Otherwise the new draft's signi ficance lies largely in the greater political autharity it gives to the Party as a monopolistic Soviet state, Article 6 states: The COIDOUTS TORY DEIC DONI Union is the leading and guiding force of Soviet society and the nucieus of its political system, bi all state and public organisations. No other parties are permitted.
As far those Sovier curiens risbing to campaign for genuin lockers" democracy in the UISS) unmistakeable take the phrases about politica liherries too seriousle. Article 39 declares that citizens injure the interests of Society and his ICAOCTAITO the ss shall be obliged en which safeguard the intereses of the Soviet stare, to prestige.' its own party membems.
Uader Brezhands of the employment. The seme Goverment which Implements if is now gagging BERUFSVERBOT: the word refers to the banning of faft-wingers Irom state
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