Evening star., 1944-08-01
Russia Not Turning
10 Capitalism, Says
| Johnston After Tour
~ ERIC A. JOHNsTON,
Pfsstdsnk United otatss chanhsr oi
HAnSunarNa

~ 00DAN ~ 0Vx8xy0 = 0xye
rrsstdsnk Omitted otAtss chamhsr oi
Commerce.
(Copyfisht. 1874. " North American
Nswspapss Allianes. lnc.)
Is Russia, tho worlds most COL
lectivized state, beginning to shSr
around for . few stylish. free enter
prise garmentsf
Anxious enthusiasts Of this theory
lot change eagerly scan the eco
nomic horizon for signs. Their
straining eyes frequently ~ specks
which are n1agntf1ed into indica-
tions that the Soviet Unions eco
nomic life is becoming more like
Americas.
But are there really any evi-
dences that Russia Is interested In
free enterprise In numbers?
No Signs sf Change.
We spent SIX weeks In the Soviet
Union q their oflcial guests. Dur
ing this period, We Travelled from
battle-scarred Leningrad on the
west, to rough and turbulent ST.
IBERIA on the east, to the sun
scorched borders Of Afghanistan
and Iran on the south. We talked
frankly and freely with leading
Soviet omcials from Marshal Sta
lin to the governors Of provinces,
the mayors Of cities, and to the di-
rectors and workers Of factories.
Nowhere was there the slightest
indication that there was either de-
sire or intention OF departing from
the social, political and economic
theories Of the Russian brand of
Communism.
The Soviet's life Is based on the
states ownership Of all the means
OF production. Everything from the
plow to the hydroelectric dam
from the barber shop to the steel
mill, from the farmland to the
apartment house, is owned, managed
and directed by the state. In con-
trast, American life is based on pri-
vate ownership, management and
direction Of the means Of produc.
ton.
Here you have the fundamental
basic difference between the .vo
systems, with all the Implications
that now therefrom.
People Devoted to It.
There Is absolutely no evidence
that the Soviet Union intends to
abandon. even in the smallest de-
gree, this principle Of the states
ownership of all the means Of pro-
duction. In fact, the peoples deyo-
ton to this system has been
strengtneped by the successes of
war. This is true not only with the
members Of the Communist party,
who number about 2 per cent of the
population, but also with those who
are not members. There was a
time perhaps, before Russia was at
lacked Dy Germany. when some may
nave doubted this system's en-
cheney. If any doubts then existed.
tney have been buried by the ava
lanche of the Red Armys victories
over the horrid hordes Of Nazis.
AS one high government of1icial
told me at q banquet:
We Soviets are moving awav
from international Communism to
National Sovietism. We can get
along as q Communist state even
though the rest OF the world is
capitalistic. If We provide fun en-
ployment In Russia, increase the
standard Of living Of our people and
develop our country, and thereby
make Communism work, then the
rest Of the world may follow us
This is world revolution by example
not by force"
But why do some feel the Soyiet,s
economy is veering toward ours?
Here are some of the DEVELOPMENTS
to which they point:
The abandonment Of Karl Marks
principle, Ito each according to his
needs" and the substitution of
the principle Ito each according to
his contribution"
For instance, almost all Rus
sian production is on q piecework-
time basis. Every incentive is used
to increase this production. Upon
achieving the given NORM" or
quota, the workers remuneration