Evening star., 1946-09-20
Soviet 10 Try Officials
OF Collective Farms
In Purge Of System
BY the Assoeioted Press

BY the Assoeioied Pres.
MOSCOW, Sept. 20 Soviet
today decreed "liquida-
ton of violations" in the collec-
tive farm system, the backbone
of this country's agricultural
economy, with prosecution of va
riouS officials for theft and other
crimes.
Prime Minister Stain and Col
Gen. A. A. Zhdanov, secretary of
the Communist Party Central Com
mittee, signed the decree, the latest
in a series of measures affecting
Russia's postwar affairs.
tOn June 26 officials disclosed
the autonomous republics of the
Crimea anc Chechen-Ingushh had
been reduced to the status of
provinces and many of their in
habltants resettled in other parts
of Russia for wartime treachery.
Action has been taken against
local party leaders in the Ukraine
accused of attempting to revive
"burgeois nationalist concep-
tions" and against composers,
writer's and editors who incurred
the Kremlins displeasure. The
release of Maxim M. Litvinoff,
former Ambassador to the United
States, as deputy foreign min
o1cN
ulation abroad
The decree cited incorrect pay
ment for workdays to collective
farmers, mlsappropriatipn Of pub
lie lands for personal use, which
1t said had reached mass proper
tions'; the filching of collective
farmers property. and undemocratic
administration of the farms.
Communist party Soviet govern
ment and agricultural officials. were
declared to be among the violators
of the collective farms and agricul-
tural agreements to be called to ac-
count in court. The decree said they
were 'law violatorS and enemies of
the collective farm system"
The abuses and violations are
deeply harmful to the collective
farm cause and extremely danger
Gus for the entire Socialist construc-
ton of our country" it said.
Council to Be Created
The decree called for creation of
a governmental council for collective
farm affairs.
1t said that overstaffing of COL
lectiVe farm administrative person.
mel had reached such a point that
many collective farms were ex-
periencing a shortage of able bodied
field workers while service officials
are plentiful, doing nothing but re-
celving salaries higher than" the
workers.
This practice. it said, may conse-
quently cause collective farmers to
lose interest in collective farm labor.
The decree said the mass misap-
preparation of lands was carried out
by the administration and presi-
dents of some collective farms who
Illegally cut off sections to increase
their personal property at the eX-
pense of the public economy.
Filching of collective farm prop
erty. the decree said. took in live
stock. grain, seed, fodder, meat milk,
butter. honey, vegetables and fruit
removed without payment or paid
for at less than legal prices.
The decree said other abuses in
Guided the appointment rather than
the election Of farm officials in many
cases. The order said this was not
democratic, adding that some farms
had gone for years without elec-
tions.
A report was ordered by January
|, 1947, on the implementation of
the decree and liquidation of the
The decree said filched
collective property must be returned
to the farms within two months.
A Pravda editorial broadcast by
the Moscow radio said the move
was "a political significance of the
first importance"
1llC SOIllllluAiSI Po1ty 1lCNSpdpCl
said the practices outlined were
harmful and alien to LeniniSm"
The decree it reported, says
that workers in the party, state and
rural organs and chairmen Of the
collective farms who arel guilty
of embezzlement and unlawful dis
position of collective farm property,
communal land and monetary
means will be dismissed from their
posts and put on trial as trespasserS
Of the law and enemies of the COL
lective farm structure.
Atmospheric conditions hindered
monitoring of the broadcast, but the
london Daily Telegraph said falsifi-
cation of books was also mentioned.
All collective farmers will greet
with great satisfaction the decision
published today" Pravda said.
The Daily Telegraph said the Off
cial Soviet news agency broadcast
the text of the announcement at
dictation speed to all Russian pro-
vincial newspapers.