Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.

by WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.
Travel in Soviet Russia has been made
less difhcult than in former years, be-
cause the government now actively en-
couraRes tourist trafflc where formerly
it was barred. Hence various def
ciencies and perils attending visit to
Russia either have been overcome or
largely reduced.
In other words, having decided to
seek tourists, Russia is doing what
France or any other Continental nation
is doing-trying to provide facilities that
will make tourists comfortable, al.
though Russia is considerably behind
the remainder Of Europe in this under
taking.
Outside Of the large Russian cities,
the hotel and other travel accommoda-
tionS still need much improvement.
The fastidious traveller might hesitate
before going through Russia, but the
traveller capable Of taking things as
they come and who Is not oversensitive
will find conditions better than he ex-
Russia in August, with other rich
foreigners.
BY the time Of next years tourist in
vaSion, the season running from May
to September Except for those going
specifically on business. there doubt
less will be further Improvements in
travel facilities and arrangements. The
points of most interest to visitors now
are fairly we'll charted. and lessons were
learned from this years business.
Aware Of U. S. Tourists Part.
The Soviet Is fully aware of the great
Fart American tourists have played in
the financial rehabilitation Of Central
Europe since the World War.
The United States Department Of
Commerce estimated that Americans
1929 $24o 1000 Oo0 or more than all the
allied nations would pay in the year on
war debts to the United States. Soviet
leaders now want to turn some of this
stream Of American gold to Russia.
Why they are willing to admit tour
lists with comparative freedom now has
back Of 1t an important explanation
They believe the Soviet regime il sum-
GENTLY strong to stand the scrutiny Of
tourists. They believe. further, that the
Socialist state can stand the reports
which tourists take back to America and
other capitalist nations.
Where cameras formerly were rigid
" supervised In Russia, the Amer
lean tourists of 1929 went about
freely, taking pictures as they pleased.
One group of American students in Rus
OUTFIT, and found no restraint upon Its
use. Why? The explanation seems to
be that the Soviet government believes
that everything uncomplimentary to
Russia has been photographed 80 much
already that nothing Is left to depict
that will do much harm to outside
opinion.
Trying to Sell Nation.
Moreover, the Soviet leaGers seem to
believe that most Americans will return
home feeling better about Russia than
they did upon arrival, even II they are
not converted to the Socialistic view
point. This is what advertising experts
call selling" . country. With Russia
government Is undertaking to sell IL to
the world by opening the doors and adj
hitting the world.
There remain certain formalitleS for
entering Russia more dificult than
those encountered elsewhere. The indi-
vidual traveller must get permission from
the foreign ONCE In Moscow, since no
consular ofIlcer of Russia is authorized
to grant q visa on his own initiative.
tVher direct by mail to Moscow or
t trough q Russian consul. Moscow
stlen will write or wire favorably or
unfavorably.
Most visitors to Russia so far have
gone In groups or parties, and their
visaS were obtained by the travel or
ganization sponsoring the tours. These
organizations, Of which several now are
in the held, have established relations
with the Soviet government, so that
their applications for visaS get special
consideration and applicants seldom are
refused admission to Russia. Some
Steamship lines also are conducting
tours to Russia and attend to the visa
requirements.
AS there are no Russian consuls in
the United States, applicants for visas
must write directly to Moscow or apply
through travel organization specialize
ing In Russian trips. For the first visit
to Russia Of the average traveller 1t Is
found by experience that going In q
group Is preferable, though the smaller
the group the better. Perhaps the chief
obstacle to touring there Is the Ian
Ruage. They do not use the same
alphabet that we, or Europe generally,
use. Thus reading street signs or seek
ing guidance from other written matter
Is more dimcult than in Spain, France
or some other country for the person
having no linguistic attainments.
Interpreters From Government.
The State Travel Bureau in Russia,
which is q, government institution
tthece being no American Express,
Cog 4 or similar private travel agen-
ciS = supplies neutrality-suspicious., both
men and women, who speak excellent
English and who have been schooled in
the art of inparting information about
Russian history. the present Soviet re-
giTne and its activities in education, art,
industry, culture and through the whole
range Of Socialist activities.
VINS- d rtnkA - so -
that the they won't let you see any,
thing they don't want you to see" policy
has been abandoned in Russia, judging
by 1929 experiences. If Americans had
any restraints upon their curiosity, they
were not apparent. Naturally visitors
cannot poke around forts, munition fac
tories. military and naval reservations,
and the like, any more than they may
in the United States But the idea that
police or secret ofIicers are watching
ones every move and will ppunce upon
the traveller at unexpected moments can
be dismissed.
The traveller who might have come to
Russia with Interior motives-that is to
say, who tries to get into touch with
Russians suspected Of counter.revolu-
tionafy aims, or who are otherwise un-
der suspicion OF the Soviet authorities
no doubt soon would be spotted. What
ever, refers to the normal tourist who
merely wants to see and learn all he
can about q strikingly new govern
mental and social order, and who has
neither secret nor open intentions of
interfering in the L4ternal affairs Of the
country.
At the border the customs and other
regulations are surprisingly easy. The
guards are interested in any books or
k,.v Of nature
that o traveller may have, and 1t il Tor
Uasl ranIlirad that traYAlera state how