Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-22

The touring Soviet farm dele
CATION received an official Gov
ernment welcome here today
and at the same time heard
Secretary of Agriculture Ben
son praise the American free
enterprise system.
Mr.. Benson, luncheon host to
1.-THE IL visiting agricultural ex-
Iperts, declared their tour of the
United States is q symbol Of hope
flor world peace through bet
liter understanding between this
Nation and theirs.
/ ct am glad that you could
come to see u.s." the Secretary
said. II hope circumstances will
permit you and others to come
back and see US again. I hope
that the things we have been
able to show you-our agricul-
Itural research, our farm tech
lnology-are things you will be
liable to adapt and put to use
len the farms of your own land.
sour harvest in America
promises to be a rich one this
year. In a sense it is richer
because you. our Russian neigh
bors, have come to see it. Your
presence here is a symbol that
in this harvest there is hope
not only Of plenty, but peace
as WELL"
I Halls Free Enterprise
Mr.. Benson made this COM
ment after noting that the
United States Government tries
Ito interfere as little as possible
with the basic right of farmers
Ito make their own management
decisions.
I I'VE realize" he told the Rus
slams. that when people are
free to grow what they choose.
some will do badly. But we
know that others will do very
well. 1t is our faith that those
who do well will more than
make up for those who do badly.
Our great abundance is due
to our American way of life
our free enterprise system. 1t is
our conviction that most of the
progress made in agriculture in
America is due to the fact that
our farmers have been free to
make their own decisions.
Discusses Crop Surplus
The Secretary acknowledged
that this country's major agri-
cultural problem is a huge sur
. plus of crops. But, he said
/ Americans would rather risk too
much production and be sure OF
plentiful supplies of food and
fiber than to have too little.
Then he added:
I'VE believe that balance can
be struck between two much pro-
duction and too little. We are
working hard to achieve that
balance without disturbing the
individuals freedom. which we
believe plays such a Fundamental
part in the productivity and
prosperity you have witnessed
here"
Earlier Secretary Benson con-
ferred privately with the head
of the delegation, Vladimir Mat
skevich, Russian first deputy OF
agriculture. Then he received the
full delegation for benefit OF
photographers.
In a little ceremony at that
time. MIR. Matskevich presented
two handsome lacquered boxes
for the personal use Of Secretary
and Mrs. Benson. In turn, the
Secretary showered the visitors
with gifts.
Get Farm Yearbooks
He removed his own gold tie
clasp, bearing the All Club
emblem, and affixed it to the
shirt Of Mr.. Matskevich. Then
he handed the delegation chief
a copy CT the Agriculture De-
partment yearbook and a photo
graph of the Benson family
astride horses. Yearbooks and
copies of the photograph were
. given also to all the delegates
,, The Russians. who arrived last
night by airplane from the West
Coast. held a round of confer
. ences today with top officials of
the Agriculture Department.
Subjects discussed were farm
administration, economics and
planning. livestock. wheat. corn
and farm machinery.
For the luncheon a menu SINH
lar to one served President
Eisenhower soon after his in
: auguration was brought forth,
It included:
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