Norwich bulletin., 1921-09-23
Soviet Government
 Of Russia Weakens
People Left to Their Own Re- sources = Government is Dodging Responsibilities.

Moscow, Sept. 22-(By the A. P)- Everywhere throughout Russia the So- viet government is unloading respons- Utilities it is unable to meet. Factory workers are being urged to botain their own materials, run their own affairs and obtain their own food.
 ''Decentralize do it yourselves, and do not depend upon the central government for everything" is the burden of instruc- tions broadcast by the government since domestic ire trade was instituted and the new economic policy of the Bolsheviki was declared. Provincial officials. labor unions, cooperative societies and famine relief committees are all told the same thing.
 M. Kalinin. chairman of the Russian general committee for famine relief. chose this admonition as the text of his speech es during his recent tour of the afmine areas He berates Acal officials for turning their eyes toward Moscow, and urged them to go out and get food, them selves, in districts where it was ob- tainable
 Departments are being reduced and large numbers of men are being thrown out of employment. Those who have been receiving food have been placed on reduced rations, and workmen in nation alized factories are being paid in man ufactured products or in money instead of ofod. so that the food responsibilities of the government may be frightened. | It seems, however, that Russians with the exception of the extreme communists. are pleased with the governments change of policy. Attempts at general central ization of everything proved so disas- trous for thre years that it is probable anything new would be welcome as DOS sible promising relief off the average citizen. Communists stoutly insist that the war and the blockade were wholly | responsible for the breakdown of the cornmunistic plans, and are explaining that the new system adopted is really modified communism and nat capital ism. It is impossible, however to find peasants holding land who will admit the government owns the soil. Apart from the ardent communists | there seems to be a general opinion that the scheme of granting concessions to operate industries is only camoufiaged capitalism. The military control that is being exercised and communist party discipline are so strong that the Soviet government apparently has not been weakened by its change of policy and it is probable it has been strengthened as the general public, tired of strife is hopeful that further changes in the economic policy of the government will be made.
 Outside the famine area. the condition of peasants is much easier under the new plan, which fixes definite amount
 which must be paid in products, anC guaranties the peasants against requsi ticns above that amount. It also en
 ables growers to sell or exchange theil
 surplus foodstuffs without violation O
 the law.
 The unemployment problem with win
 ter at hand and little fuel available
 threatens to become acute however I
 is far more serious in Russian industria
 centers than in countries avowedly cap
 italistic, where the fool situation il
 country district is easier and transporta a
 tion is under less rigid control than il Russia.