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<br />the University of Puerto Rico has stated the population problem in dra- <br /> <br />matic terms: <br /> <br />Population pressure in the United States would begin to compare with that of <br />Puerto Rico if all the people of the world---over two billion men. women, and <br />children-landed there overnight and if. by the same nocturnal magic, all <br />available mineral resources were eliminated, heavy industry disappeared, and <br />agriculturf' became the main source of employment. <br /> <br />A population density of over 600 per square mile presents almost insur- <br />mountable problems. Two factors are now operating to decrease the <br />population increase-migration and birth control. Military governors were <br />impressed with the pitiful poverty of the people. As late as 1930, a study <br />by The Brookings Institution indicated a doubt if the average earnings of <br />rural workers exceeded $150 a year. Since 1940 there has been increased <br />educational opportunity: a dedicated leadership has arisen from among the <br />people of the Commonwealth; land reform has been institut~d and indus- <br />tries have grown. As was inevitable with better education, public health, <br />and technology. the death rate has decreased while the birth rate has <br />remained high. <br />The U.S.S.R. covers the enormous land area of 8.6 million square miles. <br />\Vith a population of about 200 million people, the density is something <br />over 23 per square mile. The birth rate is reported to be 25 per thousand <br />and the death rate 7.7, giving an annual increase of 1.7 per cent. It is an <br />old country which has been ruled by iron hands for centuries; until re- <br />cently the people lived in a condition of serfdom, with a very low standard <br />of livLng and very little educational opportunity. \Vhile this was the <br />condition of the great majority of people, a small minority enjoyed great <br />luxuries. Even under these conditions Russia produced some outstanding <br />artists, writers, scientists, and mathematicians. <br />For all the tremendous changes in government brought about by the <br />revolution of 1917, the U.S.S.R. is still ruled by an all-powerful central <br />government. Tremendous losses in human and material resources were <br />suffered in 'Vorld '\Tar II. In spite of social upheaval, war, and famine, <br />great strides have been made over the past forty years in raising the stand~ <br />ard of living of the people through advances in education, industry, and <br />agriculture. Great universities and technical and educational institutions <br />have been established. Fifty million people are studying in one or another <br />of the elementary and high schools, specialized secondary schools, colleges <br />and universities, in vocational schools or at on-the-job training courses. <br />Education from the elementary school through college and graduate work <br />is supported from the national budget. <br />I visited the universities of 1\rloscow, Leningrad, and Kiev, as well as one <br />university in the Kirgiz Republic in the south central part of the U.S.S.R. <br />Research and teaching is being carried on at all of these institutions. I also <br /> <br />l <br /> <br />" <br />1~ <br /> <br />4 <br />