COMMUNISTS: What the Moon Will See

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Inside Sofia's National Theater, 1,000 delegates rhythmically clapped their hands and set up a monotone chant, "Dimitrov, Stalin, Dimitrov, Sta-lin." Led by Premier Georgi Dimitrov, Bulgarian Communist bigwigs and visitors from 18 foreign Communist parties strode up to the stage. The first congress since 1922 of the Bulgarian Communist Party was called to order. By week's end, it had mapped out a program to fit the line from a Communist Youth song: "In five years, the moon will look down and will not recognize Bulgaria."

In a six-hour keynote speech, Dimitrov set forth the aims of Bulgaria's new five-year plan:

t>Nationalization of all but 5% of the country's retail trade.

>Collectivization of 60% of all arable farm land.

>A population increase of 40%.

>Recruitment of new "labor cadres" from "unproductive" Bulgarian housewives.

The congress moved smoothly ahead on schedule. Delegates applauded on cue, unanimously approved one after another of the government's proposals (including the one to increase the population). Looking forward to unsettled times, the Bulgarian Union of Sports denounced tennis as a bourgeois pastime; henceforth, sportsmen will be instructed in "shooting competitions, handling and unmounting of different weapons, the use of ordinary and automatic rifles, pistols and machine guns."

Dimitrov assured his comrades that he is now receiving advice on Bulgarian affairs "from Stalin personally."