SOVIET RUSSIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4528, 7 April 1934, Page 4

SOVIET RUSSIA.

According to a London paper Russia has the most powerful air force in the world. Whether the report is true or not, there are evident signs

that Russia is making sound progress, and is again taking her place as a world Power. The Soviet is not now so active in spreading Communistic propaganda in other countries, and the extraordinary diplomatic success of M. Litvinoff in Europe and the United States has placed the Soviet in a much more favourable light in other countries. Within the last twelve months Soviet Russia has

reached a new stage in her foreign relations. She has been officially recognised by the United States and France, pacts have been arranged with Italy, Fra'nce, Czecho-Slovakia and other States, and has resumed trade relations with Great Britain. In addition, she has non-aggression pacts with her neighbours. The Soviet leaders have announced that they wish peace, and that they do not want to be dragged into a world war. This is a distinct change from the former policy of the Soviet, when they tried by every means possible

tc stir up revolutions in the capitalistic countries. Yet it seems that Russia is preparing for war. She fears the aggressive attitude of Japan, and not without reason. There have been serious happenings on the borders of Manchukuo and Siberia, and Russia is not leaving anything to chance. Japan seems to realise that

Russia is now a much stronger nation than she at first suspected and has somewhat moderated her border tactics in Manchukuo. Russia has largely strengthened her position by the agreemehts made with the United States and the European countries, while Japan practically remains isolated. A possible clash between the

countries cannot be ignored, however, for Japan’s ambitions may overrun her judgment. Russia is also uneasy over the attitude of Germany under Hitlerism. Germany has ambitions for territorial expansion, and Russia suspects that country of having designs on the Ukraine. In any case the relations between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany have undergone a distinct change for the worse during the

last few months. Russia in the meantime is doing her utmost to strengthen the bonds with France, as that country would be a useful ally should Germany attempt to acquire any portion of Soviet Russia. What the internal position in Russia may be it is impossible to pass an opinion. It cannot be doubted that the control of the people by the Soviet leaders

is as strong as ever, and according to Mr. Monkhouse, the New Zealander who was imprisoned in Russia for espionage, the Five Years’ Plan is beginning to show some good results. The rigorous disciplining of the people has been somewhat relaxed.

Workers are paid by results, and in the factories they are free to criticise the organisation and working of same. One outstanding feature of the Soviet policy is the emancipation of the women. Amongst the working classes women were mere chattels, hut now they enjoy equal rights with men. Another thing is that the people are being educated to a much greater extent than before. While there seems to he an improvement of conditions in some directions, there is another side of Soviet Russia that is not so pleasing. There is no freedom of political thought and utterance. In the execution of its decisions the Soviet shows a cruelty and injustice which has to be condemned. The men are machines who must obey their masters whether they are right or wrong, and the penalties are of the most drastic nature. The prison camps of Soviet Russia are also a blight on any country with any degree of civilisation. It cannot be denied, however, that the Five Years’ Plan has met with some degree of success and future developments in Russia will be watched with interest in all parts of the world. It is quite understandable why the Soviet does not want war when working out its great experiment. But can she avoid it with two ambitious nations ready to pounce on her possessions?