Russians To Spend More On Defence

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31498, 12 October 1967, Page 13

Russians To Spend More On Defence

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, October 11.

The Soviet Union yesterday increased its defence budget for 1968 by 15 per cent in a move apparently geared to its military aid commitments in Vietnam and the Middle East.

The Finance Minister, Mr Vasily Garbuzov, told the Supreme Soviet that military expenditure during 1968 would total 16,700 m roubles. Last year 14,500 m roubles was earmarked for defence.

But even with yesterday’s large increase, the Soviet

Union’s announced defence bill is only about a quarter of that of the United States, which this year is $70,000m—--53.1 per cent of the total budget. Britain’s defence spending amounts to $2205m —19.9 per cent of her budget, and France devotes 20 per cent of the budget, $1731m to defence.

Mr Garbuzov told the 1517 delegates in the Kremlin Palace: “International tension calls for greater attention to the strengthening of our. defence potential. Our State has maintained and will continue to maintain its defence Capacity at the highest level.”

Support For Vietnam

The Sovjet Union would maintain and defend its policy of peaceful co-existence, he said, stating that Russia decisively supported the Vietnamese people in their struggle against United States imperialism. The Soviet Union would also support the Arab struggle against Israeli aggression. Last month Moscow pledged a large amount of new aid to Hanoi including planes, missiles and guns.

Mr Garbuzov also seemed to be referring to Soviet military supplies to the Arabs to make good their losses in the June war with Israel.

The Communist Party chief, Mr Leonid Brezhnev, the Prime Minister, Mr Alexei Kosygin, and the President, Mr Nikolai Podgorny, listened as Mr Garbuzov said that this year’s record increasealtogether 2200 m roubles (SNZI6OOm) over last year—was due to increased world tension.

Diplomatic observers said the increase could also indicate growing Soviet concern about China’s power. The Associated Press said that about half of the Soviet Union's actual military spending is believed by Western analysts to be hidden under other headings in the Budget. The analysts said that the published defence budget is primarily a reflection of political trends. Hidden Expenditure It also included a 10.8 per cent increase in the science appropriation, which is believed to contain some hidden military expenditure, as is the space programme. Mr Nikolai Baibakov, chairman of the State Planning Commission, told the session that for the first time in recent Soviet history the output of consumer goods would increase faster than heavy industry. The output of refrigerators, television sets, clothing and other consumer goods would rise by 8.6 per cent, compared with a planned 7.9 per cent rise in heavy industry products, which have received preferential treatment until now.