Evening star., 1937-06-27
By PERTINAX.
7 Y YHAT 10 the true character Of
\A/ the Soviet regime ~ 1t
w exists today? Beyond

0oVICt 1OVAlIV - ~
w exists today? Beyond
Russia's frontiers. what is
the purpose that Soviet diplomacy
wants to fulfill? Is world revolution
its primary object? Or Is 1t correct
to say that under her red rulers
Russia Is merely striving to safeguard
her national interests and for the
time being Is doing her best to safe
guard European peace and check Ger
man expansion in the East. just as the
Russia Of \ quarter Of 4 century ago?
What reliance can be placed on her
attitude, and upon her strength?
have recently conducted an inquiry
among some Of the most trustworthy
observers Of the Soviet's power. And
here Is the balance sheet that can
fairly be drawn up.
That Stain consistently tries to
build up = dictatorship nobody can
deny To the credit side OF his ac-
count, two favorable elements can be
put down. A strong army has been
organized and the heavy industries
created under the two successive five-
year plans are now in full swing-a
very striking achievement If one keeps
In mind that 10 years ago Russia
had neither army nor industry worthy
OF the name.
Army Likely at Peak.
Within ITS possibilities the Russian
Army by now has probably rea ached the
top Of its form. It would be wrong to
believe that. In wartime, the Russian
military system could be indefinitely
extended to the measure of R,lssia's
formidable man power through the
regular process Of mobilization. But
such as it is the Red Army constitutes
a nghtlng machine of about l l,200, 900
or 10000 men that deserves to be
taken into serious confederation. The
air forces consist Of no less than 1000
Alrplanes, some 800 OF them with
a radius OF action unparalleled In other
armies
As to the heavy industries, not only
do they supply 90 per cent Of the
requisite war material and ammuni-
tion, but, in addition. they now work
upon . profit basis. Last year 10
billion roubles had to be taken out of
the budget In order to give them a
sunicient working capital. This year
not only has that mode OF subsidy
been suppressed, but out Of the gains
6 billions have been appropriated for
the general requirements Of national
defense. 1t Is true that the li1ht
industries textiles. agricultural i'm
plements. clothing, etc. still lag
behind. and In 1897 need to be sup
ported by the budget to the extent Of
s billions.
Those are the two achievements Of
which Stain can boast. But now
two seats OF difficulties and failures
come into the picture.
Asrarhn Situation Had.
To begin with. the asrarian policy
Of the government has taken 4 turn
for the worse. and every hope Of
making 1t even relative success
must be given up The 77b.0oo
kholhoz. or collective farms, are in 4
very bad way. This year the ara
under crops will be much more re-
stricted than in 1895.
The Soviets have failed. 40 far IN
eaten the PEASANTS psychology. Red
tape weighs heavily upon the land.
Each kholko1 Is placed under the
management Of . committee OF either
nve or nine members appointed in
MOSCOW over the heads OF the local
thlers OF the soil. The peasant Ia
promised = share in the profits N tho
kholkoz, In addition to his salary.
once all the taxes have been paid into
tne public chest-a share proportion
ate TO his labor. In practice, however.
he gets very little.
The whole agricultural policy Of tn.
sovsets' therefore, urgently calls for
revision, and since Stain, after all,
u prince OF opportunism, al the
liabilities are that, sooner or later.
ne will scrap the policy which has
proved 80 grossly inadequate and try
to make . fresh start. After all. 10
years ago, wasn't he hostile to the
nve-year plan, and didn't he take
the leaf out OF the book of his worst
enemies? He knows how to chang,
his mind and reverse the stream when.
ever ne deems it useful or necessary.
Discomfort in Ranks.
But more than anything else, the
seethng discomfort within the ranks
OF the Communist pay keeps him
ousy. His main care Is to overcome
sne trouble: Hence all those criminal
proceedings before the Military Tribu-
nal OF Defense, which bid fair to
continue for considerable time. The
oso adheren1 to the Communist
doctrine fully realize that 4 dictator
snip Is being methodically put into
shape. They wonder where the
country is being led. Stain who
bears, in physical appearance, some
likeness to Aristide BRAND, and who
rivals him in his skillful handling Of
men (of course, with that yerv
material difference that. really, for
him. human life does not COUNT
must be deeply disturbed. He knows
tnat the Communist party, notwith-
standing the control welded by the
old G. P. U. and its 3o0.oo0 policemen
OF all descriptions, evinces an obstinate
vltahty and does not resign itself to
oeng merged into the population At
large and deprived Of its monopoly Of
political influence.
IL must not be overlooked that In
RUSSIA 1lliteracy has been cut from IS
70 70 per cent. and such 4 drastic
cnanee means that despite the crush.
ing apparatus Of the state. criticism
OF the powers that he and ..@;u.