SOVIET RIVALRY WITH U.S.A. HAMPERED, SAYS AMERICAN JOURNALIST

Grey River Argus, 4 February 1948, Page 5

SOVIET RIVALRY WITH U.S.A. HAMPERED, SAYS AMERICAN JOURNALIST

Totalitarianism And Restrictive System i I NEW YORK. February 2.. I An aggressive war by the Soviet is not probable for M least ten years,, snys Mr Dmw Middleton, a former New York Times correspondent in I Moscow. 1 When he left Russia recently, Mr| Middleton was refused a re-entry) permit by Moscow. I He says there are many reasons for; Americans to be concerned over the Russian colossus, but the prospect of immediate military aggression is not one of them. “A facade of strength in terms ot infantry and armoured divisions confronts us, but behind this facade lies a nation that. I’m convinced would not be able to fight a modern war I against the United States at present, or for ten years to come. “The real Russia is a far different country from that wonderland of modern technique pictured bv the Communists in their propaganda. It is a vast assemblage of many peoples and races, still suffering grievously from the most destructive of all wars, and still far from mastering the industrial, agricultural and social machinery of modern society. “Moreover, in its rivalry with the United States, the Soviet is hampered

by its restrictive system. The abounding man-power, the great fertility of the soil, and the immense resources of the country are balanced by the failure of Communist totalitarianism to free the people and their energies. With its restrictions on individual initiative, its glorification of political orthodoxy over eflieency, its waste of man-power in the army, security forces and bureaucracy, and its adherence to the economic device of slave labour, the present political system is well suited to the society on which it has been imposed”. Something on Account SOVIET DEBT TO U.S.A. (Received February 3, 11.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 2. The U.S. State Department spokesman disclosed that Russia had offered to return to the United States one cargo vessel and seven tankers, as a partial settlement of Russia’s eleven thousand million dollar LendLease account. The United States had requested Russia to return nearly one hundred borrowed ships, unless there were a cash settlement.