SOVIETISM PROGRAMME

Evening Star, Issue 25676, 27 December 1945, Page 5

SOVIETISM PROGRAMME

RUSSIAN ZONE IN GERMANY AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT'S TOUR (Rec. 11.35 a.'rn.) LONDON, Dec. 26; With veteran Communists in key posts, a programme of Soviotisation is being carried out in the (Russian occupation zone in Germany, 'says an Associated Press correspondent, summing up his observations during an eight-day tour of the zone with four other American correspondents. They are the first western correspondents admitted to the Russian zone, and they 'entered under an exchange plan which will take the Russians into the American zone. *

According to the German Government leaders the programme is progressing satisfactorily. The reaction of the German “ little man,” however, ranges from optimism among the new farmers to helpless doubt hi Dresden. The people in Halle complained chiefly of shortages of food and clothing and Russian reparations collections, which they called plundering. German Provincial Government leaders declared that no one was starving-and that rations and quotas were being filled, and that industrial activity exceeds that" in the western zone; Saxony and the whole Russian zone have been geared to a strict planned economy, according to plans drafted b.v State Governments at Marshal Zhukov’s direction. Factories are run by hoards composed of directors and workers’ council representatives. The German State , Governments, with the approval of the Soviet authorities, split up 7,000 junkers estates, which contained more than 247 acres each, among 281,855 new holders throughout the zone. Along with the land there was a division of tools and live stock. Each new holder received from 12 to 19 acres, for which he must ray the Government. Red array commanders dolged all questions on the size of the occupation forces and their redeployment. The Soviet military governor of Dresden said the (Russians had no pian for transferring their military Government to a civilian status like those announced by the British.and Americans.