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2033 Russia's losses in World War 11 were stupendous. The oream of her in- dustrial and agricultural territory, an area as large as from the Atlantic to the Mississippi and from the Ohio to Canada, was tWice subjected to the scorched earth policy, .Some ten millions of citi~ens were killed, many more rendered home- less, six million buildings razed, nearly half of the railroad facilities of the country destroyed, and some seventy~five millions of livestock slaughtered. The Dnieprostroy dam and power station, which symbolized Russia's renaissance, became, through its destruction, the monument to her tenac~ty of purpose. .,.-,: Question: Were Russia I" accomplishment s under the Five Year Plans remarkable? A.nswer~ The First Fi-ve 'Lear Program is said to have involved 6.5 million man~years of labor. During the same period, in the United States, industrial construction re- quired about 2 million man-years. To be sure, the Russians devoted more effort to their task. However, at that time, it was conceded by Russian officials that it took five Russians to equal the accomplishment of one American workman, On this basis, the Russian rate of accomplishment in constructing new industrial facilities was about two-thirds of America's accomplishment during the same period, a very subnormal period for America. In nine years, between 1928 and 1937, the Russians increased their annual steel-producing capacity about 14 million tons. In less than four years, between 1941 and 1944, the United States increased its steel-making capacity a similar amount, Our four-year increment of increase was about equal to their nine-year growth. And our four-year increment of increase was equal to the entire Russian steel production in 1944, We accomplished this increase in facilities while we were preoccupied as the arsenal of democracy. . The accomplishments of the Russian Five Year Plans are not to be.deprecated. From their viewpoint, they were stupendous. From our viewpoint, they were not im- pressive, Question: What is your impression of the Russian people? Can we be friends with them. Answer: The Russian people in general are of good inherent character, the product of a rugged climate and centuries of hardship, Like our own pioneering forefathers, most Russians are plain arrl wholesome, Many are uncouth and crude. But they are genuine, They are friendly and hospitable. They are uncomplaining, They are re- ceptive and appreciative, They are artistic and aspire to culture, The whole world knows that they are patriotic and that they are brave, Due to the fact that some of their culture and most of their technology have been imported from Europe and America, they are humble and tend to respect rather than to scorn the foreigner. In the average Russian makeup there is no senblance of the arrogant, domineering attitude which prompted Germany's conquests and caused her to become the curse of Europe, The Russian people as a whole are not to be hated; rather, they are to be pitied. Question: Is the Russian government representative of the temperament of the Russian people? -5-