Evening star., 1949-03-13
By J. M. Roberts, Jr.
Assoeieted Press Stoff Writer


A.seeiated Press stoff Writer
The new Russian budget sub
mitted to the Supreme Soviet in
Moscow last week. studied in the
light of information from Russian
sources which has been assembled
in the United States over a Is
year period, indicates that Soviet
military expenditures this year
will equal and possibly exceed
those of the entire Western
powers.
The American sources of this
information cannot be identified
lest their pipelines to Russia be
uncovered, but their authority is
unquestionable.
Exact comparisons between Rus
sian and Western military budgets
are almost impossible. Ruble ex-
penditures have little meaning in
Russia itself because Of the many
differences in price-making wage
payment and subsidies in many
industries. Although pegged at 19
cents in Russia, the ruble is not
convertible in international ex-
change.
A vast proportion of Russian
expenditure goes into new plants
and machinery either directly de-
signed for or easily convertible to
war purposes. This is also true
in the West, where general indus
trial strength is recognized as a
part of military potential. But. in
the countries where industrializa-
ton has reached a vastly higher
level, there is a much smaller pro-
portion of new plant construction
with an eye to possible war.
War Budgets Hidden.
The United States and other
countries also have hidden budgets
for war purposes, such as for vari-
Gus parts of the atomic energy
program and for espionage.
But the United States military
budget, according to information
obtained during the 25-year study;
is incomparably more open and
realistic than the Russian.
The $4,000, 900 900 allocated to
the American armed forces this
year covers almost all direct mill
tary items, including everything
from adding machines and chairs
in the Pentagon to planes, tanks,
roads and strictly military re-
search. It includes $525 .000, 900
for stockpiling strategic materials,
a type of project which in Russia
would be handled by other de-
partments.
On the other hand, if Russia
still follows her standard budget
ary practices (and there is evil
dence she does. her $15.000,000,-
900 for the armed forces in 1949
represents little more than SAL
ary. housing. food and upkeep
fund for the army.
Planes, tanks and atomic plants
come from the 100000, ,000. 900
item in her budget for the ma
tional economy" Research comes
under education"
The national economy" item
also covers plants producing
purely consumer goods. and no.
body has ever been able to break
down the figure as between these
goods and munition production.
American sources say, however.
that while expenditures under this
item have been jumping upward
In the last three years, consumer
goods production has not in
creased at anything like COM
parable pace, despite Russian
propaganda to the contrary.
They say that ALLEGATIONS under
the national economy" item give
. definite "Hitlerian form" to Rus
sian industry. Plants, for in
stance. are primarily designed to
produce tanks. and then put to
immediate use making farm trac-
tors. Or tanks and tractors may
be made side by side in the same
plant.
Here are the expenditures under
the national economy" and
armed forces" items Of the Rus
sian budget since 1928. with fig-
ures in billions Of rubles: