Since these tourists were not politically prepared they could not do any effective propagandizing themselves and. in any case. the people they were allowed to meet were not free to act. even if the democratic visitors convinced them of the evils of totalitarian regimes. The recent rave reports from German newspapermen about finding Soviet conditions so much better than they expected. is a case in point. When it comes to visitors which the Communists send to the West. they only select people who are such disciplined and privileged members of the Communist system that they are not tempted to become penniless refugees. and this includes not only officials but scientists. artists. and technicians. As an added safeguard. they keep a hold on the visitors by holding their families as hostages. Every Communist visitor to the West. therefore. is a trained propagandist.
Identified stereotypes
Communists only send disciplined and privileged members who are not tempted to become penniless refugees.