RUSSIAN CONDITIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 3

RUSSIAN CONDITIONS.

BRITISH VISITOR’S VIEWS. FACED WITH DIFFICULTIES. BUT PLAN MAY SUCCEED. Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, M.P.. who was Minister of Labour in the last Conservative Government, gave his impressions of a recent visit to Russia in Edinburgh, when lie delivered the. inaugural address of the winter session of the Philosophical institution. Tlis subject was “ The Future of Russia.” The first thing which struck him was that Russia was a country at peace, and yet in a state of seige. The traveller met at the frontier barbed wire entaglements; a ‘crow’s nest ’ in a tree, whence a sharpshooter could snipe any unauthorised person crossing the line; and a soldier with a bayonet who poked under the railway coaches in case any interloper was hidden there. This impression was confirmed on arrival at Moscow. He was watched like a cat. His movements were controlled, for all transport and hotels were in the hands of the government. Ilis letters were opened. Ilis almost inevitable guide was usually quite admirable in his—or her —way, but he or she watched him and they were both very probably watched by someone else in their turn. - After referring to the Five-Year Plan and the general confusion both in industry and agricultural life which is admitted even by the Soviet Government, Sir Arthur, frankly said: — “ The decisive issue was whether such mistakes were being made good, and whether, despite all the waste and the loss, industry was gradually being made more efficient. It was on this that the future of the country primarily depended. His Opinion Quito Clear. 11 The opinion which he had formed was quite clear. Russia was faced at the moment with two great temporary difficulties —the need for capital and the present agrarian difficulty. But if these were surmounted lie had no doubt as to Ihe success of the Russian scheme of industrialisation. It could not have succeeded •In a country like our own, under British conditions, but it would in Russia, accustomed as the people had been, for long years, to hard living and io short commons. “ The intensity of the effort which was being made by llie Russian Government, and its supporters was shown by the fact Hint equal energy was put into the building of workmen’s dwellings, of schools, of roads, ami oilier social activities. In the [ factories, again, every attempt was made to train and discipline labour mi l to repair tiic mistakes made in management. Enthusiasm Undoniablo. “ The immense effort by the Soviet Government was supported ami reinforced by the local branches of the Communist parly. They were composed chiefly of the younger men and women, and although llieir zeal sometimes outran their discretion, 'their enthusiasm was undeniable. “ They were prepared In pul up with present hardships for t lie sake of an ampler future. Some ul litem had a genuine pride- of ownership in their factory or place of work —and Ihe devolion of some of * them | practically took the place of re- j iigion. i '•d'o lids force si. old be added the •power of propaganda, of which all ihe ; instruments, I lie- newspapers, adveri- , isenionts, cinemas. Hie t heal res. wire-' less, were in Ihe hands of Ihe Gov-! eminent. The in 11 uem'c exerted by propaganda was enormous. " in particular, distorted accounts of foreign counlrics iiiainlained Ihe belie I among th.e Ji'UgiLm people that-

their country was In danger, and encouraged the mass of people l'or patriotic reasons to tolerate hardships against which they might otherwise rebel. Wore Like Fifteen Years than Five. “These were 'the reasons which made it likely that the great attempt to Industrialise Russia would finally meet with success. Mezlauk and others like him —men of outstanding capacity—were quite confident as to the Issue. Success would probably he longer in coming than the ardent desired or the sanguine Imagined. The •difficulties were great and the human material was Intractable. It was not a question of a Five Years’ Plan, nor even of a Ten Years’ Plan. But fifteen or twenty years would probably sec an Industrialised Russia. More Anti-Priest than Anti-God. u In reference to irrellgion, he said it was more anti-priest than anti-God, if he might put it that way. It was more concerned with dislike for the hierarchy of the Church as a bulwark of the old regime. “'Conditions like those at Archangel stuck in his gizzard, but a policy of sterile mogadon would not mend those conditions. He was, therefore, from the point of view of the immediate future, In favour of increasing trade with Russia as much as possible. “ In this country capital was lying J idle. Jn Russia It was urgently needj ed. Why should not the supply meet j the demand? Of course, security I would have to be forthcoming, and I this should not 'be impossible. There should also toe a cessation of propaganda and arrangements ought to be made so that in any negotiations for the purchase of timber, conditions of work should be laid down. If this could be arranged, the supply of capital to Russia in the form of British goods would 'help employment here and assist development there. Changing Communism. “ These would toe the immedSate effects. Rut the more remote results of such a policy would be at least as beneficial. Communism in Russia was altering rapidly. One innovation after another had been introduced in the ! last ten years. J “ The system fo-day was already i very different from that in ,1919. j Thirty years hence it would be unI recognisable as I 'haying anything ,1n | common with its early shape and | form. Assistance in such a devolopi merit would mean that Russia would ! no longer lie a disturbing element and I a menace to the comity of nations, i hut would be living in a spirit of peace | with her neighbours. . . The re- | sources of Russia in men and natural | resources were vast, and her potential ! strength was enormous. At a lime, | then, when old ideas, customs, and ; systems of organisation were in Hie crucible of things throughout the l world, it would be of no small ad- | vantage to others besides herself to ! secure a peaceful evolution in the development of so great a nation.”