East-West Publicity Tussle At Japan Trade Fair

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28559, 12 April 1958, Page 13

East-West Publicity Tussle At Japan Trade Fair

(Rec. 9 p.m.) OSAKA, April 11. Citizens of Osaka were today awaiting with keen interest the opening tomorrow of the fifth Japan International Trade Fair, which they expect will provide an occasion for a vigorous EastWest publicity contest.

The United States and the Soviet Governments have built pavilions of their own to which each of them hope to attract as many Japanese visitors as possible.

In a bid to impress the Japanese people with Russian industrial and scientific achievements, the Soviet Union has packed its pavilion (the largest among Government pavilions), with almost everything it has. The goods range from sputnik replicas, heavy machinery. and precision instruments down to such consumer goods as vodka and perfume.

Another feature of the Russian pavilion are the many models of equipment and facilities for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including a research reactor, the first Russian nuclear power station, and a remote control system for handling radioactive matter. That political propaganda is by no means absent is shown by a red streamer hanging over the pavilion which says in white letters: “The Soviet Union has suspended nuclear tests.” Japanese experts said some of the Russian displays, including bicycles and cosmetics, were not so impressive technically They were apparently there just to show the Russians can make them.

The Americans have brought more selected exhibits into their two pavilions, although their variety is much more limited than the Russian display. -l