811.003 Wallace Henry A/7–2944
Report by Captain Kennith Knowles, Observer and Military Secretary of the Wallace Mission81
[The first two pages of this report, containing introductory material, are here omitted.]
During the course of rather extensive travels through Siberia and Soviet Asia many agricultural enterprises were visited, including [Page 976] State and Collective Farms, agricultural Experiment and Selection Stations, Agro-technical Research Institutions, Universities, etc. These activities are all carried on in a most enlightened scientific manner, in no way inferior to the methods employed by the Federal and State Departments of Agriculture in the United States. Every effort is being made to improve agricultural methods and obtain the highest possible utilization of the soil. Many research workers and farm directors have been decorated for their contributions to advanced agricultural methods. The Directors of these activities all expressed the keenest interest in American agricultural methods as ably described by Mr. Wallace, and requested that he use his influence in setting up channels whereby an exchange of agro-technical knowledge and methods could be instituted between the United States and the USSR.
The impression gained in traveling through the great industrial area east of the Ural Mountains was one of remarkable utilization of both human and natural resources. Every individual is busy, and has a fairly comprehensive idea of where his efforts fit into the overall picture of a great nation at war. Many of the tasks performed are humble, but are accomplished cheerfully and energetically by individuals who have been carefully selected for the particular work in which they are engaged in order that the fullest utilization of individual abilities may be achieved. In industries where practicable, the piece-work system of remuneration has been adopted in order to further stimulate the individual worker’s production, both through a spirit of competition and the incentive of increased earnings. Libraries are thronged by men and women anxious to learn more about the work in which they are engaged in order to earn advancement and greater income. At the same time the executives of the government controlled industries are constantly striving to improve the health and standard of living of the individual workers by such means as industry-operated State farms supplying the workers with fresh fruits and vegetables, industry-operated cafeterias serving balanced and vitamin enriched meals to the workers at cost, housing developments for workers and their families, nurseries for the care of children while both parents are at work, parks of culture and rest, including dance halls, movie theatres, athletic grounds, etc., and libraries where workers may study a wide range of subjects, either increasing their knowledge of the work in which they are engaged, or improving their cultural background.
In many of the areas visited there are racial minorities, such as the Buryats, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Yakuts, etc. In these areas the Russians have gone to great pains to enlist the wholehearted support of the minorities in the Soviet program. The culture of the racial minorities is emphasized in schools and in theatricals, the latter due to expert [Page 977] and professional leadership and direction are widely acclaimed throughout the land for their excellence and authenticity. As an example of this, when the Ulan Ude Buryat theatrical group presented the Buryat operetta “Bair” Buryats and others traveled from as far as Ulan Bator to witness the production. Additionally, newspapers are published in both languages in these areas in order that the minority may enjoy every advantage provided for the majority. Copies of newspapers from each city visited were collected by Mr. Hazard82 and turned over to O.S.S.83 upon our return. Each city has several outdoor radio loudspeakers strategically located in public squares and parks, disseminating news and cultural programs in both languages. Some of the executives and officials are able to obtain individual receiving sets equipped with both long and short wave bands, but a majority of homes have a simple loudspeaker connected by wire with the municipal receiving station which re-broadcasts programs from Moscow and other large cities in addition to programs of local origination. Every town visited appeared to be connected with the master radio network, even the small settlement at Telman Cooperative Farm84 maintains a fairly powerful transmitting and receiving station. Many of the larger cities have more than one of these stations, and the absence of other media of communication over great distances, leads one to believe that this radio network is used for the transmission of a considerable volume of official as well as personal messages which in the United States are normally carried by telephone and telegraph lines.
Local transportation in the areas visited presents a difficult problem due to the unsatisfactory condition of streets and highways and the limited numbers of automobiles in service. There are extremely few concrete or asphalt surfaced highways in Siberia, and the steps which are taken after the war to remedy this situation will undoubtedly be a major factor in the rate of development of this vast area. In all the cities and towns we visited, with the exception of Tashkent, it was apparent that the requirements of our party taxed the local supply of automobiles to the limit. Government officials, industrial executives and high ranking Army officers are assigned Government owned vehicles, but privately owned automobiles are extremely rare. Although there is apparently an adequate supply of trucks of various types there appeared to be only two types of passenger cars—the heavy “Russian Buick” and a lighter Russian version of the American Ford. Many cities maintained bus service, but due to the age of the [Page 978] equipment and the condition of the streets this form of transportation leaves much to be desired.
Although it is difficult to judge the amount of food available to the average individual on the basis of the sumptuous meals provided for the Vice-President’s party, visits to food stores throughout the areas involved indicated an adequate supply of necessities. Except for fresh fruit and vegetable shops, all food stores are government controlled and operated, and all principal items are rationed. Shelves were universally well stocked and it is believed that the food supply per capita under the rationing system is fully adequate for maintaining the health of the people. No indication of malnutrition was observed during our stay in the U.S.S.R.
At all points visited in Soviet Russia, government officials and industrial executives appeared most anxious to have the Vice President and his party inspect war industries of all kinds. There was no indication of secretiveness concerning any details of production in which an interest was evidenced; on the contrary it was not uncommon for an expert to be summoned to explain such matters. The Russians were eager to learn how their production methods compared with those employed in the United States, and in several instances mentioned proudly that they had followed American suggestions or plans in building certain industries, and indicated genuine enthusiasm for an exchange of ideas and knowledge between themselves and their counterparts in the United States.
The following report contains detailed observations made at each city visited in Soviet Russia, on which the foregoing general statements are based.
[Here follows the detailed report, not printed.]
- This report was sent to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations Headquarters, Air Transport Command, Washington, with copies to Vice President Wallace and John Carter Vincent, Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs. Later Wallace himself wrote a book, Soviet Asia Mission (New York, 1946).↩
- John N. Hazard, Chief Liaison Officer, Division for Soviet Supply of the Foreign Economic Administration.↩
- Office of Strategic Services.↩
- Located near a branch line of the Transsiberian Railroad, southeast of Ulan Ude. This farm was operated by Buryats, and Ochirov Daba was president.↩