SOVIET PEACE AIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27541, 8 November 1950, Page 7

SOVIET PEACE AIMS

Bitter Attack On American Imperialist Aggression

New Zealand Press Association—Reuter—Copyright MOSCOW, Nov. 6. Russia’s attempts to achieve peace were outlined today by Marshal Nikolai Bulganin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Soviet Union, when making Russia’s most important pronouncement of the year—the traditional annual report delivered on the eve of the revolutionary anniversary. Marshal Bulganin claimed that “ the camp of peace is headed by the Soviet Union,” and charged that “ the camp of war is headed by the leaders of American Imperialist expansion.”

Addressing an audience of representatives of professional, political and army organisations at the Bolshoi Theatre, Marshal Bulganin said: “ Comrade Stalin has said in the past that the existence of different systems need not prevent co-operation among nations, and in particular, with the United States. There is, of course, a difference between a desire to cooperate and the possibility of cooperation. The possibility always exists. The Soviet Union stands for peace, friendship and co-operation among the nations. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, led by Comrade Mao Tse-tung, the great Chinese people are fighting actively for the cause of peace. The United States imperialists are following a policy of instigating a new war and using the present circumstances to capture the sources of raw materials and markets, Marshal Bulganin said. " The American imperialists think that a new war should result in the destruction of the Soviet Union and the countries of the people’s democracy, in the enslavement of the workers, in the crushing of national liberation movements and in the establishment of an American imperialist world hegemony.” Action in Korea Marshal Bulganin said: “American imperialists have now passed from a pplicy of preparation for aggression to direct acts of aggression, the most blatant example being armed intervention in Korea. The Soviet Government insisted from the beginning on a peaceful settlement and proposed the withdrawal of all foreign troops, but the American Government, bent on a course of aggression, rejected all the Soviet proposals aimed at a peaceful settlement. The Americans were able to reach some military successes, but they have not weakened the Korean people’s will to fight.” Marshal Bulganin said that Korea had become the torch of a liberation movement of colonial and dependent countries. “Anglo-American imperialists have created an aggressive North Atlantic pact, and are busy knocking together other aggressive military blocs,” he said. “ They are hindering the conclusion of a peace treaty with Germany and are trying to prolong the occupation of Western Germany as long as possible. The recent Prague declaration is evidence of the Soviet intentions in this matter.” Treaty With Japan Turning to Japan, Marshal Bulganin said the Soviet Union also requested the speedy conclusion of a peace treaty with Japan, the removal of foreign troops, and the removal of the threat of a revival of Japanese militarism. He said the United States was “ reconstructing Japanese air and other bases, persecuting the Japanese democratic forces, and giving support to Japanese militarism in the struggle for peace and international co-opera-tion. The Soviet Government supports all measures aimed at strengthening the United Nations, which is destined to be a strong instrument for the preservation of peace and international security.” Marshal Bulganin said Russia could not be frightened by the threats. “ The Soviet people are ready and able to defend the interests of their Fatherland. if necessary, with arms in their hands.

areas of Soviet Russia. Two and a-half million houses had been built in the rural districts, and a great housing programme had been carried out in the towns, but the programme was “not everywhere fulfilled, and building was proceeding slowly.” The revaluation of the rouble and the lowering of prices had brought an increase in the real wages of the working people—24 per cent, more in 1949 than before the war for industrial workers, and 30 per cent, more for the peasants. Marshal Bulganin said the new hydro-electric power stations would have a total capacity of over 4,000,000 kilowatts, and would supply the country with- 22 milliard kilowatt hours of energy. Marshal Bulganin ended his speech, which lasted one hour and 20 minutes, with, “ Long live peace in the whole world.” I

‘‘The imperialists are masking their policy with the excuse that they are fighting against Communism. Hitler also tried to justify his aggressive policy with the so-called Communist danger. We all know what his end was. “At the present moment the strength of the Communist parties, not counting the Soviet Union, reaches 18,000.000 members.” * Soviet’s Achievements Marshal Bulganin said: “ The basic aims of the Russiah five-year plan have been exceeded. Fulfilling the duties imposed by Stalin, our scientists will soon exceed the achievements of science abroad. After having mastered the secrets of atomic energy, our scientists have passed to a solution of further problems which will help to develop our country. The post-war five-year plan provided that the level of production in 1950 should be 48 per cent, nigher than in the last pre-war year of 1940. This target was considerably exceeded in the third quarter of this year when the level of production was 53 per cent, above pre-war.” Marshal Bulganin said that the Don basin coalfields destroyed during the war were now completely reconstructed, and had become the largest and most mechanised in the whole country. Today they yielded more coal than before the war, and even more than scheduled under the five-year plan. Marshal Bulganin said the oil wells in the area overrun by the Germans had been restored, and much more oil was now coming from the eastern