Evening star., 1949-03-10
Clues 10 Soviet Plans
Awaited as Russia's I
Parliament Convenes
By the Assoeioted Press

MCSCoW, MAI. 1U.-SOFlet
Russia's Parliament convened
today for important sessions
which may give significant clues
to Kremlin intentions.
The .world-and its ENJOYS to
Russia-had an ear cooked for
answers to many burning ques-
tions which may be heard in the
sessions of the Supreme Soviet,
the national parliamentary body.
What lies behind Russia's re-
cent shakeup of government
leaders?
What military expenditures does
Russia propose for the coming
months?
How has Russian economy re-
acted to recent far-reaching gov
ernmental DEGREES?
2,000 Gather in Moscow.
Some - possibly all of the
answers are expected to be heard
before this fifth convention of the
second Supreme Soviet closes.
Whether they will be full or
partial answers remained to be
seen.
From the far corners of Rus
sia's broad reaches the nearly
1000 legislators came in colorful
groups, speaking many languages
and attired in the characteristic
garb of their regions.
They compose two parlia-
mentary chambers having equal
status. the Council of the Union
and the Council of Nationalities.
Soon after assembling, the Par,
lament voted to consider the
Soviet Unions budget for 1949 in
joint session.
A. I. Mikoyan was present as
member of the Council Of Nation
alities. He recently stepped aside
as minister of foreign trade at the
same time v. M. Molotov relin-
quished his post of foreign min
lister to A. Y. Vishinsky. Both Mr.. /!
Molotov and Mr.. Mikoyan still are
deputy prime ministers.
Last years budget Of 100000
100000 rubles. the biggest in So
Wet history. included $4,000. .000.-
900 rubles for defense. The de-
fense item was about 2,500,000,-
600 less than for 1947, while the
total budget was up 9,000,000,00o
Military Budget Watched. I
Foreign observers, especially
from the West. noting rising
budgets in the United States and
for their armed forces. are
intensely curious to know what
Russia plans to spend for her mill
tary services.
CA budget proposing total
expenditures of $41.858, ,000, 900.
including s14.3oo,ooo.Oo0 for
defense. is pending in the
United States Congress. The
House of Commons has ap-
proved Britain's biggest defense
budget since postwar .demobili-
cation. S3,o39 100000.
CThere is no free market to
determine the value of the ruble
in international exchange. The
ruble is worth about 19 cents,
however, at present official ex-
change rates. "a
Russia devalued the ruble
In December, 1947. decreeing |
the exchange of most old rubles
10 for one new ruble. The
decree left wage and salary
rates unchanged, and cut some
consumer prices.
(The sweeping order came
after Robert A. Lovett, then
Undersecretary Of State. and
other Washington sources had
reported a buying panic" and
runs on banks in the Soviet
Union. Further cuts in the
prices of many goods and COM
modities have been made sinceD /
Stain Speech Quoted.
Pravda today quoted a speech
by Prime Minister Stain 10 years
ago to list the bases Of present
Soviet foreign policy.
The official Communist neWspa-
per said Mr.. Stain at that time
set the following policies:
/. To ceaselessly carry out
policy of peace and strengthening
commercial ties with all countries.
2. To keep from being dragged ,
into a war by provokers accus-
toned to letting other people drag
their chestnuts out of the fire.
3. To strengthen the Soviet
armed forces.
q. To strengthen ties of friend
snip with workers Of all nations.
These wise Stalinist principles,
Pravda said. were and remain
the bases of the foreign policy of
the U. S. S. r"
The editorial emphasized the
Importance of the speech Mr..
Stain made to the congress and
reviewed it thoroughly. That ad-
dress and speech made by Mr..
Stain in l946 before the last cleo
tions to the Supreme Soviet were
termed blueprints Of Communist