‘Khrushchev Under Pressure At Home ’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 13

‘Khrushchev Under Pressure At Home ’

(Special Crspdt. N2.PAJ LONDON, March 13. There are strong indications that Mr Khrushchev is under pressure in his position as Soviet leader, that he is meeting sustained criticism over his economic policy and probably his defence policy as well, said the “Financial Times” commentator on Soviet affairs. The last few months have been difficult for the Russian economy. The disastrous 1963 harvest had forced

Russia to make massive foreign wheat purchases and, in addition, Mr Khrushchev’s Government had found it necessary to announce large increases in investment in fertiliser capacity. which were bound to involve “humiliating” purchases from the West. Cuts also were announced in defence spending.

“Apart from the inevitable public dissatisfaction over the food situation, there has also been growing restlessness about the level of consumer goods production and about the quality of goods,”

the corn. pondent said. “Mr Khrushchev has been searching round for ways to put new efficiency into industry to help this situation. Again he has decided to turn towards the West—for artificial fibre plants. “It would, in fact, be surprising if he did not feel pressures in connexion with all this: on the one hand from people who are imi patient with the pace of imorovement and on the other from hard-line Communists who are apprehensive about dependence on the West, about the possible weakening of defence and heavy indu*-

try through concentration on consumer items, and about reform generally.

“There is no reason to believe that Khrushchev is tn imminent danger of falling from power, but it does seem that bis political reputation is suffering a certain battering. “With the tough-line men on one side and the impatient consumers on the other, he has clearly had to choose the alliance of one group or the other. He has chosen the consumers: he will have to show soon that he can fulfil his promises to them,” said the correspondent.