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∂AIL Readers Write↓%2Christian Science Monitor%1↓Boston, MA∞

To the Editor:

	The %2Monitor%1 (April 22) rightly deplores the Chinese
rescinding their Constitutional "guarantees" of freedom of expression.
However, our opportunity to deplore comes partly from the honesty
and explicitness of the reversal.  This honesty may be an idiosyncrasy
of Vice-premier Deng, since it doesn't correspond to the practice
of other communist countries or to previous (or future?) Chinese
practice.

	More typically, the Stalin Constitution guaranteed not merely
the right for the people to speak, publish and demonstrate but also
guaranteed them printing equipment to do it with.  Of course, the
people express this right through the people's organizations, i.e.
the puppets of the Party.  This makes the work of their apologists
at home and abroad much easier, and the Chinese communists will undoubtedly
feel some incentive to abandon their candour.

.sgn