All over the country, loudspeaker vans boomed out a monotonous tattoo: "Tak, tak, tak!" (Yes, yes, yes!) It was Communism's voice urging the Polish people to vote yes on all three questions of the national referendum and thus to uphold Poland's Communist-dominated regime.
All over the country, throttled but still clear and firm shouts of "Nie!" (No!) rang out in answer. It was the voice of Vice Premier Mikolajczyk's Peasant Party, which had chosen the first question on the referendum ("Do you favor abolition of the Senate?"*) for a test of strength. As in France, the Reds wanted a legislature with...