RUSSIANS ON U.S. TOUR

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27750, 30 August 1955, Page 11

RUSSIANS ON U.S. TOUR

Admiration Of Farm Methods

[By FRANK OLIVER] [Specially written fpr the N.Z.P.A.] NEW YORK, August 23. The most remarkable and most profitable exercise in Russian-Ameri-can relations has just been concluded. The exchange of visits of farmers and agricultural experts appears to have beefi the perfect supplement to the friendlier summit relations established at Geneva. Moreover, the visit of Russian farmers here is taken as clear evidence that the Russian policies have changed. If what they say is sincere—and it rings true—they will now go home salesmen for a number of things American. Seldom, if ever, has salesmanship in Russian-American affairs achieved so much for so comparatively little cost.

A spokesman for the Russian group has said frankly in public that there will be changes and innovations in Russian agriculture as a result of his group’s visit to America. In particular, he said, he wanted for Russia, American farm machinery and American livestock for breeding purposes. He frankly concedes that American farming methods are more economical than Russian, and he intends to work on that problem. The newspapers here have tended to give the impression that the Rus-

sians have been doing little more than eat their way through twelve States, seriously depleting the country’s supplies of beef, ham, chicken, eggs and ice cream, but it is quite clear that they have travelled the country with intelligent eyes wide open.

They have also learned something about human nature in America, for as their leader, Mr Vladimir Matskevich, smilingly said in Washington, they visited twelve States and found each one the largest the biggest, and most beautiful in America.

Mr Matskevich has obviously been kept closely informed by Moscow about the travels and experiences of the American farm experts touring Russia.

Some proposed improvements in Russian agricultural methods, he indicated, would come as the result of suggestions and criticisms made in Russia by the visiting American farmers.

Americans are wondering what these visitors now think of the propaf;anda Stalin hammered into them or years, that the West was still living m the dark ages, and although they are never likely to learn the answer to that, they feel that only enormous good can come from these exchanges.