Evening star., 1953-10-01
Soviet, Trying TO Lift
Living Standard, Cuts
Foreign Policy Stress
By WiIIiom l. Ryon

MOSCOW, Oct. 1.-The gov
eminent of Premier Georgi
Malenkov, throwing its full
power and might behind the gi-
gantic task of raising signifi-
cantly the standard of living
within short time. apparently
is so deeply wrapped up in it's
domestic program that foreign
affairs seem distinctly relegated
to second place.
The impression is unacceptable
that, to the Kremlin, foreign af-
fairs are a necessary but bother
some aspect of government at
this moment when the home
program is being given such over
riding precedence.
No Haste in Comment.
Not only did the new Soviet
reply to the Vests bid for Ger
man-Austrian talks appear with
out fanfare of any kind, but
publication was delayed full
day. When it came. there was
no editorial comment. Comment
probably will be forthcoming,
but the regime is showing no
haste about it-aS if it was a
matter which could wait on
more important domestic con-
SiderationS.
The note was couched IN
terms the West is unlikely to
accept. The West had asked a
meeting of the Big Four on Ger
man and Austrian problems but
the reply, published mere yester-
day brings the peoples of China
into the picture for an allover
discussion of world tensions.
Diplomats here feel that the
Soviets are not too interested
either, at this moment, in the
top-level meeting first proposed
by British Prime Minister
Churchill and now urged by In
dia. Again, the observers think
preoccupation with the domestic
program plainly takes precedence
over all other activities.
Agricultural Base Sought.
In the forefront of this pro-
gram is an agricultural campaign
whereby the government within
three years intends to greatly
widen the distribution of CON-
sumers goods and establish a
firm agricultural base. The So
viets feel this, hand III hand with
the industrial base, will not only
establish the reputation of the
regime but also will enhance the
U. S. S. RS international au-
thority.
Instead of giving chief PROM
inence to the latest Soviet note,
as they would have six months
ago, newspapers merely printed
the text on their second pages.
Editorials and special articles
were concerned entirely with the
domestic program.
Pravda'S editorial said raising
the productivity of labor was the
most important condition for
lowering costs of products, and
called for widespread socialist
competition for exceeding state
plans in all fields.
Meanwhile the campaign to
persuade Communists, techni-
clans and specialists to head for
the fields continues full blast.
Agriculture Minister 1. A. Ben
ediktov pointed out recently
that the Soviet Union has $4,000
agricultural specialist from high
er and middle schools, but only
10000 on the farms. The rest
apparently are holding desk jobs
and the like.
This is to be changed by
spring, when at least 100000 ore
specialists will be working on
collective farms along with lot
more Communist functionaries
and young Communists who are
being sent to the fields to boost
production.
Improve Living Standards.
The press also continues to
pay major attention to the cur
rent propaganda campaign aimed
at helping the government
achieve its pledge of improved
living standards within the next
two or three years.
The third of a series of sup
Elementary DEGREES designed to
boost farm production was issued
by the government and Commu-
mist Party today. 1t calls for
improvement in the work of trac-
tor machine stations, a target Of
recent criticism.
In the two previous DEGREES
Several more are eXpected), the
authorities upped prices paid for
livestock to spur production, Or
dered greater tractor output and
outlined program for more po-
tatoes and vegetables.
These measures supplement
the governments new agriculture
program, outlined in a general
decree September 7 and in the
September IL speech by Nikita
Khruschev, first secretary of the
party.
With all this, international
politics often is relegated to the
back pages of newspapers, Great
ing the impression that first
things come first"