THE SOVIET UNION



  During war millions of Soviet citizens in Red Army had their
first opportunity to make comparisons between life in Soviet Union
and other countries. They undoubtedly noted that, in general, peas-
ant or worker of central and eastern Europe lived better than they
did. Amount of "liberated" cars, clothes brought back from West
is concrete evidence to masses that individuals in other countries had
more comforts than under Soviet system.
  These various factors have undoubtedly caused many misgivings
and doubts to arise in minds of large numbers of Soviet citizens.
(Recently members of staff on trips through country have picked up
concrete evidence of grumbling and discontent). In an effort to
combat this development it will be recalled that just year ago Kalinin,
in closed session, addressed large group of political agitators ad-
monishing them to explain to masses that all was not gold which
glittered in outside world. Apparently agitators were not too suc-
cessful in their efforts to reach people and convince them. Therefore,
a few months later Kalinin's address was published in order to reach
larger audience. This step also did not bring desired results.
  It appears, therefore, that authorities on basis of soundings taken
realized (1) that throughout population there was general apathy and
desire to take it easy after splendid, Herculean efforts they had made
to help win the war, (2) that zeal of party members was wearing thin
and they were identifying themselves too closely with bureaucrats of
economic apparatus in order attain with latter individual benefits and
easier life, and (3) that industrial plant because of war destruction,
lack of maintenance and excessive wear and tear was in much worse
condition than they had at first realized. These natural developments
must be coupled with fact that during war artificial stimulants and
controls ordinarily called for under Soviet system were replaced by
natural patriotic fervor and that now with latter incentive gone, con-
trols of party and perhaps police must be tightened. Realizing this
general situation, authorities apparently decided fairly drastic meas-
ures would have to be taken to get apparatus back on track and recoup
setbacks soon as possible. They apparently also decided that deterio-
ration of basic industry set up was such that they could not devote
major part of national effort to production of consumers goods.
Promises of better life had worn thin and in order to combat apathy
and rebuild industrial base they had, after defeat of Hitler and his
allies, to conjure up new boogieman, real or fictitious, in effort to
frighten people into putting their shoulder to wheel. For this purpose
they revived during electoral compaign, particularly in Stalin's ag-
gressive and provocative speech of February 9, 1946,39 temporarily dis-
3" For summary of main points of speech, see telegram 408, February
12, 3 p. m.,
from Moscow, p. 694.



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