RUSSIA’S POPULATION

Evening Star, Issue 22448, 19 September 1936, Page 28

RUSSIA’S POPULATION

SOD MILLIONS IN 35 YEARS It is estimated in Moscow that Russia’s population within the next 35 years will have increased from 170,000,000 to the stupendous number of 500,000,000. Last year, when the country’s natural increase of population broke all records reaching the figure of 4,500,000, the Kremlin refused to be worried. We must realise that this huge increase is the result of deliberate policy (says the London ‘Observer’). Up to now the Bolsheviks have mainly concentrated on industrialising a backward agrarian country in possession of tremendous natural resources. Now that they feel that this is on its way to fulfilment, they are looking ahead, and are determined to tackle even greater tasks.

The thought of “ World Revolution,” though relegated by tlnn to the background in tho course of the internal struggle to socialise and collectivise Russia, has by no means been forgotten. “ The final decisive struggle ” between the Communists, who now control one-sixth, of the globe on the one hand and large sections of the united capitalist world on the other, is not to the Bolsheviks a mere fantastic dream, but a grim reality which calls for adequate preparation; hence the firm determination to increase the population. The absence of man power, they are determined is not to be a deterrent in their forthcoming struggle for power. Within the next few years they hope to reach a natural increase of 7j000,000 a year.

Billions, of roubles are now being set aside by the Government for the establishment of thousands of nurseries and kindergarten. Thousands of additional beds in maternity homes are being provided. _ The programme is sanctified by quotations from Lenin, who frankly urged workers to raise large families so that they may have the man power necessary to wage the fight against Capitalism. “Workers must raise children,” he_wrote, “who will fight for the remaking of the world. We fight better than our fathers, and our children will fight even better than we. And they will conquer. As an immediate step in the direction of increasing the population the Kremlin has undertaken an earnest campaign to stabilise family life and generally set Soviet morals in order. Motherhood is glorified, and divorced husbands who fail to provide alimony payments for tho support of their children are being punished by a period of imprisonment. “ Those who are inconsiderate of the welfare of their offspring and brutally abandon them, putting the burden of their upkeep on the mothers, are discrediting the dignity of the Soviet citizen.” _ Such is the tenor of a barrage of editorials that have been appearing in the Press within_ recent weeks. Local authorities are convinced that as a result of the Government campaign the birth rate in the country is certain to increase and far exceed the natural increase of 4,500,000 of last year. The Bolsheviks are, in fact, determined to become a world force of great magnitude, and are now setting out to plan their population increase even as they have been planning the construction of factories and the agricultural output.