The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-26
BY FREDERICK KUN
United Press stan Correspondent
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'SopfIlRAt. 1888. DY united Press
BERLIN, Dec. 26.-Opposition of
Russian peasants to the Soviet gov
ernment's agrarian policy will force
early abolition Of grain collections,
in an effort to help relieve the food
shortage, the writer has been adj
vlsed by Russian source, generally
considered reliable
The Russian government has de-
cided to make this most important
change since the new conomic policy
was laid down in 1921 by Lenin. as
a result Of the highly accentuated
peasant opposition.
This has thrown grain collections
behind schedule despite vigorous
press campaign, and various
"cleansings' made by the govern
ment in important grain producing
regions.
Stain 10 Discuss Policy
The change is considered so inn
portant that Josef Stain, virtual
Soviet dictator. will break an eight
cen months silence to enunciate the
project personally at an eXtraor-
binary session of the Communist
central committee, the most impor-
tant body in Russia.
A special session of the central
committee is without precedent, and
the fact that Stain will speak out
indicates the Importance Of the sit
uation.
Bolshevik leaders were convinced
of the necessity Of an abrupt about
face by events CT the last three
months, in which peasants obstruct-
ed the government collections of
grain, sometimes by passive resist
ence and some times by sabotage.
Food Shortage Feared
Counter-revolutionary and bandit
elements made it apparent that I'M
less there was a change of policy,
the peasants might not plant
enough wheat next spring to feed
the nation during 1888 and 1884.
The government attempted to
eliminate the peasant resistance by
executing several score communists
in north Caucasian villages during
November, and occasionally resort
ed to the requisitioning of grain.
Then it decided on a system of
taxation in place of the collection
method. The tax will be a tax in
kind, based on acreage, the size of
farms, and the number of cattle
kept. The new system will follow
Lenin's new economic policy on
general lines.
Victory for Peasants
The central committee will meet
Jan. 5, and continue through Jan. 8
to draft the decree which will put
the plan in effect.
Obviously, it will be the most i'm
portant Soviet development of re-
cent years.
The new acreage tax means vic
tory for the peasants. Although it
entails no departure from the COL
lectivization policy itself, the tax
will represent a government conces-
sion to the peasants, who opposed
the arbitrary manner Of carrying
out the grain collections.
Peasants were dissatisfied because
collections were made from standing
crops, thus penalizing the growers.
Stimulate Production
Moreover, the methods of cOllec-
ton kept the peasant in a continual
state of suspense, because the gov
ernment's agents, after making one
collection. might return for more.
Under the new acreage tax
peasants will be told before their
planting the exact amount of tax to
be demanded of them. The govern
ment thus hopes to Stimulate pro-
duction and build up a surplus
which may be sold on the open
market at uncontrolled prices.