PEACE “BASIS OF RUSSIAN POLICY”

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 7

PEACE “BASIS OF RUSSIAN POLICY”

“The Soviet Union was born w’ith the word ‘peace,’ and its struggle for peace has become the unchanging basis of its entire foreign policy,” said the first secretary of the Soviet Legation in New Zealand, Mr V. A. Roslavtsev, last evening. He was speaking at an evening held by the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Society for Closer Relations with Russia to mark the fortieth birthday of the Soviet Union.

“Representatives of the S iviet Union actively come out in the international arena against the cold war, and in favour of a lessening of international tension, the cessation of the armament race, the complete prohibition of atomic and hydrogen weapons, and the cessation of the tests of these arms.” he said. The Soviet Union had no need for wars. There were no groups in the socialist society which were interested in war. The task 2f getting the tension in the world relaxed was a noble one and it would triumph, said Mr Roslavtsev.

“Forty years ago the Soviet Union was born as a result of the great October revolution. Having no models or precedents and fearing no hardships or adversities, the Soviet people after the revolution pursued courageously unknown paths in creating a new life, he said. “They have paved the fundamental way into the bright morrow.”

Only a few decades ago the Soviet Union was 50 years to 100 years behind the United States. Britain, and Germany in its economic development, he said. History of Soviet

Covering the history of the Soviet Union, he said the first five years of power was taken up with freeing the country of the invaders from 14 different nations. The next five years were for rebuilding the economy of the country devastated by famine and war.

The next 12 years were spent in laying the material and cultural foundations of socialism. “Then the Nazi armies attacked. ’ he said.

During the 40 years of the existence of Soviet power 18 years had been taken up with wars that had been forced upon it, said Mr Roslavtsev. “With the restoration of the national economy the Soviet people performed glorious deeds.”

He said the Soviet Union had become a mighty industrial power. “In 1913 our country produced two times and a-half less pig iron than Britain, and less than France. Today we turn out more than Britain, France, and Belgium together.'

The Soviet Union now held first place in Europe and second place in the world in coal output, and a third place in oil production. Last year’s increase in oil output exceeded the whole of pre-revolu-tionary Russia’s annual output by nearly 50 per cent., he said. “In the absolute volume of industrial output the Soviet Union has long ago far outstripped the biggest capitalist countries of Europe.” he said. “We are successfully coping with the task of overtaking and surpassing, within a historically short period, the

most advanced capitalist countries, including the United States, in per capita output.” The atom has already made its way from the laboratory of scientists to plants and factories, doctors’ offices and granaries, he said. Proof of the great successes of Soviet science “are the two manmade satellites now circling the globe,” he said. The rapid development of industry had enabled the undertaking of the socialist reconstruction of agriculture. Collective farming had transformed the Soviet Union into the most large-scale agricultural country in the world.

“The ignorance and illiteracy of the working people have gone to the remote past, he said. “More than 50m persons are studying in our country at present.” “Your activity, directed towards extending cultural relations between the Soviet Union and New Zealand, towards achieving better understanding between the peoples of our countries is a large contribution to the cause of peace and is mutually beneficial to both countries.” he said.