Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-29
Russia Shows High Competence
In Building Its Industrial Might

war supporting potential. Over
and above the general strength
ening Of the industrial base. 1t is
expected that the output of the
electr0nics industry, which con-
tributes many essential items re-
quired in high performance mill
tary equipment Including guided
missiles), will be tripled. Also,
in the field of special heat re-
sistaDt alloys where the SOviets
have done SO much for funda-
mental research, the new FIVE
year plan calls for a skiold
increase in production.
Can the new goal be achieved
We have already commented on the
major effort which the SovietS are
making in the field of scientific
and technical education. 1t is now
to look at their plans for improved
mechanization. Do they have COM
mand of the necessary technology?
The SovietS have placed very
great emphasis on the production
of machine tools. We have already
observed that their output in 1855
exceeded ours. Not only can they
produce these tools in volume. but
they have the capability to produce
complex high-precision tools.
Storts in Automotion
The sixth five-year plan out
lines in some detail Soviet plans
for the future. These call for the
introduction of automatic processes
in the metallurgical, eXtractive,
machine building, electro-technical.
chemical and construction indus
tries as we'll as number of con-
sumner goods industries. In the
building industries it is
proposed to put into operation some
200 automatic and semiautomatic
lines and shops. Obviously, this is
just a start.
In order to assure the rapid in
PRODUCTION of improved production
processes, new ministry has been
created-the Ministry for Instru-
ments and Means of Attenuation.
What this seems to mean is
that the SOviets have now passed
the point where expansion of out
put is to be achieved by simply
adding more plant and equipment
to the existing stock of capital.
Questions of plant mOdernizatiOn
and equipment replacement, of
better work methods and pro-
cesSeS will command increasing
attention as the more economical
means for achieving output goals.
That the rapid pace of Soviet in
disqualification has commanded a
high price in terms of consumer
living standards and particularly
in terms of agricultural production
is clear. Both manpower and in
vestment have been diverted from
the farms to the urban centers.
The result is that the growth of ag-
ricultural output over the past two
decades has been lower than the
growth of population.
There is an approach to the ag-
ricultural problem. however, which
the Soviets may exploit regardless
of how well they succeed in meet
ing their agricultural goals.
AS Soviet industrial capabilities
rise and as costs of production de-
cline, the opportunities for trading
Soviet industrial commodities in
world markets for agricultural sup
plies will undoubtedly appear in
creasingly attractive. Moreover,
their economic capabilities appear
TO fit nicely with their political OBJ
Jective of increasing the volume of
trade with underdeveloped coun-
tries.
Thus it may well turn out that
the industrial growth which the
SOvietS have pushed so agrees
sively will provide a solution not
only to the problem Of feeding
their growing population, but also
the means for furthering their
political ambitions in the under
developed areas of the world.
The Soviet industrial and educa-
tional systems which 1 have been
describing depend upon the dicta-
torial controls inherent in the Soviet
system. l have suggested that the
emphasis they have been placing
on heavy industry has been at the
expense of the standard of living
and consumer goods for the people.
Their educational system has like
wise been subject to the dictates
of the state.
How long will the Soviet people
tolerate this situation; what courses
OF action, what alternatives do they
have? Education. after all, is a dam
gerous drug for dictators. The Soviet
educational processes, even though
tied in with much Marxist indoc-
trination. and characterized by great
emphasis on the physical as opposed
to the political sciences, has taught
the people to think and to question.
Industrial development on the