RADIO FREE EUROPE
Jan Novak was a happy man. That was enough to build more stations to step up this voice of
to make him unusual, because not many people in truth which goes into the Russian satellite nations.
Czechoslovakia are happy today. Novak wasn’t his Exposing informers and stooges like Jan Novak
real name, but that isn’t important, because he has is only a part of the activity of Radio Free Europe,
undoubtedly changed it again by now. But, under It points out the chasm between Soviet promises
any name, he liked this new kind of life under the and Soviet actions in the satellites. For instance,
Communist regime. It just showed that it wasn’t it reminds Rumanian listeners of the bread ra-
too hard to get along with the Communists if a tioning in their countries, and then mentions the
man only used his head. fact that trainloads of Rumanian wheat are mov-
And Jan was getting along fine with the local ing across the border into Russia. If a Communist
agents of the Kremlin, and he was one of the few bigshot is carrying on with someone else’s wife,
people in Czechoslovakia who was eating well and the delectable details come from Radio Free Eu-
living comfortably under the Communists. That is, rope. In order to know these things, RFE has its
he was until one day when powerful Radio Free correspondents behind the Iron Curtain, name-
Europe mentioned him in one of its broadcasts less, faceless men who find out the truth about
from a station in the American zone of Germany. Communism, and then risk their lives getting the
"Patrons of the Narodni Cafe in Prague are warned facts out across the borders,
of Jan Novak,” the broadcaster said. "Novak is an Two stations are broadcasting from Germany
informer who poses as a waiter. He eavesdrops on now: one short-wave transmitter in the Frankfurt
conversations among diners, and reports to the area which divides its broadcast day among Hung-
state police whenever he overhears any remarks ary, Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania and Albania; and
uncomplimentary to the regime. Be careful around a giant medium-wave station at Munich which
this man. Here is a description of Jan Novak: broadcasts only to Czechoslovakia. The Commun-
age, 33. . . .” ists would give a great deal to stop this barrage
A report to Radio Free Europe from behind the of truth which is making life miserable for them.
Iron Curtain a few days later was very satisfying. They have ranted and raved against Radio Free
Jan Novak had disappeared from the cafe, his use- Europe in their newspapers and over their radio
fulness to the Communists at an end. It isn’t known stations. They have tried jamming the big Munich
what has happened to him, but whatever it is, he station, with practically no success. They even made
can thank the 16,000,0000 Americans from of- a formal protest to the American State Depart-
fices, factories and homes who dug down a year ment, but with even less success, because Radio
ago to give the money that made Radio Free Free Europe is privately-owned and answers to no
Europe possible. These millions joined the ap- government controls.
propriately-named Crusade for Freedom under the The most important thing is that RFE broad-
leadership of General Lucius D. Clay; this year casts are getting results behind the Iron Curtain.
25,000,000 members is the goal, and $3,500,000 (Continued on page 19)
Last fall 400,000 people
gathered in western
Berlin to join in dedi
cating a ten-ton Free
dom Bell, gift from
Americans. Tens of
thousands slipped across
the line frorn the Rus-
sian-controlled. sector.
The Freedom Bell
sparked the member
ship and fund drive of
the Crusade for Free
dom before being taken
to Berlin.