Forum Reveals Polish Poverty, Housing Dearth

"There is no sense denying that there are great differences in the standards of living of the Polish people and those of many other European countries," said Adam Szpunar in a talk on "The social and economic conditions in Poland and Yugoslavia," last night at the third public session of the Harvard Summer School International Seminar.

Though "unskilled and white collar workers are certainly underprivileged," he felt that by 1970 the standard of living would equal that of Western Germany, and the present inadequate housing conditions would be reasonably improved.

His co-speaker, Stanko Grozdanich, legal counsel of the Yugoslavian trade unions; stressed Yugoslavia's wish to preserve its independence and to maintain relations with all countries. "As civilization grows, countries actually become increasingly dependent upon one another," he noted.

In the opening topic, "Japan Today," Tadamasa Hashimoto appealed to the U.S. "to trust our country, look upon us as a friend, and trade with us." Friendship with the U.S., he felt, is of great importance in feeding his overpopulated country, preventing communist gains among its people, and increasing its industry.

Mrs. Akiko Mori, speaking with Hashimoto, hilariously debunked the idea that Japanese women have attained full social equality. Their greatest problems are coping with fathers-in-law and making the most of their scarce leisure time.