CRITICISM IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26125, 30 May 1950, Page 5

CRITICISM IN RUSSIA

FRANK ARTICLES IN NEWSPAPERS

CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AND INCOMPETENCE

c „ ■■ , , LONDON, May 28. Surprisingly frank articles are being Published m Moscow accusing officials I T COl o p , e \ ence - corr uption and “lack of the Bolshevist ideologj-,” saj's the btocknolm correspondent of the Daily Mail."

A booklet which reached Stockholm this week-end, "Protection of Social Property m the Soviet Economy." sets itseli up as a guide to the suppression of “spivs,” thieves. black marketeers, ana swindling shopkeepers. i The foreword says: “The first condition for normal trading is the protection of goods. The loss of valuable materials through misuse, carelessness, swindling and theft must cease.” 1 he booklet calls for stricter control at every stage of State trading. Hotel customers are urged to make sure that the “wine and beer have not been watered.” The Moscow newspaper “Pravda” features a bitter exposure by Mr D. M. Swirnov. secretary of the Communist Party of Gorki, who declares: “Leading posts have been taken by men who have no ability other than to pull strings.” “Izvestia” accuses the Kiev housing authorities of misappropriating £32.000 over repairs to two buildings alone. The satirical weekly newspaper “Crocodile” attacks the Trade Ministry for lack of consumer goods. The usually well-informed Stockholm newspaper “Svenska Dagbladet” this week gave prominence to an article declaring: “The Soviet regime is in the midst of a serious political crisis, which has been developing since the war.”