RUSSIA TO-DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1930, Page 7

RUSSIA TO-DAY

BRITISH' DELEGATE’S IMPKESSHONS.

EXPORTS TO BUY MACHINERY. * “Russia is a complex problem,” said Mr L. 11. Tonkin, a. London business man who was a member of the British trade delegation to Russia last year. Ail the propaganda in the world was directed against the Soviet, he .said, but it must not be forgotten that the bible of 'Russia was the works of Karl Marx. These were Communism all the wa.v through. Marx told his followers to preach Communism all over the world. There was no man in the Soviet Government who dared t.o get up and urge that propaganda should cease. Personally, he could not see any hope of stopping the propaganda that was being carried on. MOSCOW A WONDERFUL CITY. Some people had a w -ong idea of the principal centres in Russia. A person in Moscow, for instance, might well imagine that he wns in Collins Street, Melbourne. Moscow was a wonderful citv, with a big population, trams, motor buses and other modern faculties such as were to be found in Melbourne. There were some terribly bad roads, however. Russia’s population of 150,000 consisted mostly of ignorant peasants, who were ruled by a million and a half Communists,

Thore were no private traders in Russia. Everything wns Government eon trolled on the co-operative principle, nnd everyone was a Government employee. The shops were badly stocked. What Russia was doing was exporting everything that was exportable—poultry, hides, furs, wood nnd other goods—and the object was simply to obtain imports which were always machinery. Nothing but mnrhiney to.build up the industries of the cou’ntrv was going into Russia today. The imports and exports of Russia balanced exactly, and would continue to do so, at least until the termination of the five years’ plan under; which they were at present working. v, CONDITIONS IN JAPAN.

Dealing. with conditions in Japan, where ; lie recently made an extended visit, Mr . Topkin said a unique problem confronted that eastern empire. In nearly every country in the world it was the lower classes who were dissatisfied, whereas in Japan it was the upper classes. Tens of thousands of the educated youth of Japan went to ISm'Ope or America to study, and they were quick to learn the best that Western, civilisation could .give. Then they went back to Japan t only to find there was no scope for them. “A person who has not visited Japan cannot possibly form an idea of the density of its population,” said Mr Tonkin. “There are teeming millions in the cities nnd every inch of ground in the country districts is cultivated. The population is like flies on a flypaper.”