"Capitalist Distribution"

Sharp comment on Josef Stalin's new decree restoring to a limited extent the right of private trade (TIME, May 23) passed the Moscow censor last week. Cabled United Press: "Acute shortage of rationed goods obliges people to resort to the private markets anyhow, despite wild speculation on staples. . . . The decree ... is significant chiefly as a disclosure of the Kremlin's apparent intention of changing the whole business of goods distribution from a rationed system with low fixed prices to a commercial system more closely representing capitalist distribution. . . . The food situation throughout the Soviet Union is worse now than at any time since the winter of 1929-30, which was the low point in recent years." Worst was the Famine Year 1921.

By mail Associated Press smuggled out of Russia news that the quantity of eggs which the State obtained from peasants in the first quarter of 1932 was only 1.4% of its Plan, butter 36.5%, meat 17.9%.

"Meat in Russia has always been more or less of a luxury," observed Robert P.

Lament Jr., ranching son of the U. S. Secretary of Commerce, back on his Colorado ranch last week after his famed trip to the Soviet Union (TIME, March 7).

"Traveling in Russia is not luxurious," continued Rancher Lamont. "Everyone in the Government, from Stalin down, appears vitally interested in the Plan which will provide for an annual per capita consumption of 100 pounds of meat. This is probably four or five times as much meat as the Russians eat now but only about two-thirds of the meat consumption in the United States."

Brightening up as he told a fish story, Rancher Lamont exclaimed: "In one large river we found a tribe of super-trout which ran up to 40 and 50 pounds! . . . They are taken with traps and spears and the spectacle raised my fishing blood to the boiling point."

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