Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
RUSSIA WELCOMES TOURISTS
Soviet Makes Entering More Easy for Visitor in Hope of
Building Prestige of Nation as Well
as BankrOll

strawberries and fruits being sold on
the streets, and of men and women
lounging around In open spaces taking
sun baths gave one much the feeling Of
being in an American city In Summer
time.
The fact that most Russian men now
adays are smooth shaven tat least in
the cities and In the Summer) was an
other surprise for tourists. Even the
peasant young men are not SO much
addicted to whiskers while many men
have their hair cropped close during the
warmer months.
Many go to Russia with specific lines
OF investigation in mind, such as the
theater, art or schools, cultural and
economic institutions generally. The
traveller who goes intending to see any
thing and everything will get the richest
reward. Because the Communists burned
all bridges behind them, there Is some
thing new wherever one turns, some
thing challenging to ones convictions
prejudices, training and emotions. How
one reacts to the arresting ideas Is
ones own business.
It has been stated that Soviet leaders
want tourists because they feel Russia
Is ready to accommodate them and be.
cause Of the financial benefit. Tourists
mean much more than stimulation to
a line Of business in country which
does not profit by tourist expenditures,
even while hotels get the major share.
Tourists buy souvenirs In many forms to
take home, and that helps business. The
baggage of Americans leaving Russia
proves 1t. The same is true Of Ameri-
cans leaving France or any other
country
The question suggests itself. what will
= - 80 NSsn
invasion, such as now seems to be set
ting In? Will the sight of SO many
prosperous persons from capitalistic ma
lions cause Communist Russians to
think longingly of corresponding COM
| forts and luxuries? The tourists are
visible proof that capitalism does turn
out infinitely more prosperous citizens
than Communism so far has been able
| to produce.
The question Is answered by the Com
munistS with the assertion that Russia,
too, In time will turn out more pros
pNrous citizens. though possibly never
up to the individualistic level of the
United States, because Russia Goes not
allow individual forging ahead. The
aim Is to lift the whole mass OF the
people simultaneously and to spread
prosperity out over the whole mass, in
stead Of having a particular class nota-
bly, prosperous.
Americans Grow Enthusiastic.
| Soviet leaders have apparently
weighed all the arguments fer and
against tourism, and have decided in
favor of cultivating 1t for Russia. They
undoubtedly look for a leavening OF
thought In America and elsewhere by
returning tourists who are expected to
report substantially that Russia is mot
as bad as painted" That much of q
negative compliment would be consid-
cred in Moscow as an advance over a
general ignorance Of Russia based on
lack of actual contacts and on written
reports sometimes unfair to Russia.
It was observed that the psyche.
logical effect on American visitors in
Russia in 1929 was virtually as outlined.
BY finding Russia better than it was
expected to be the Americans grew
somewhat enthusiastic, even though
conditions were such as they would not
want to endure themselves as bona fide
residents Of Russia. The tourist nat
urally gets creamy view OF Russia.
Statesmen in all countries might as
we'll begin taking into consideration the
effect that seeing Russia at first hand
will have on the nationals Of their re-
spective countries. On the other hand,
Soviet leaders may in time see reactions
within Russia from such contacts I'M
like those they have anticipated.