RUBBERSTAMPS KHRUSHCHEV'S OUSTER
The deliberations: of the Supreme Soviet, which ended its cure rent session in Moscow December ll, were followed with unusual inter- -ebtiby all observers inasmuch as this was its first meeting since. the downfall of Khrushchev October 14 and it could offer significant = indications of any changes in line that might be projected my the: new leadership, :
First of all, Khrushchev'!s absence, although. he. is “etill OLB formally a member of the body, and the swift approval’ without debate of the governmental changes carried out October 14-15, showed that the bureaucratic regime remains intact -- that the most important decisions engineered from above are still unanimously ratified,
This being said, there was nothing to indicate any retreat -~ within the frame of. the ‘bureaucratic regime -- from ‘She course of “de-Stalinization,"
‘The budget for 1965 indicated a slight decrease in military expenditures, apparently in accordance with a more: or less tacit — understanding with Washington not to carry the arms race beyond its present break-neck’ pace,
The budget also signalled more emphasis on production of con= sumers goods in contrast. to heavy industry. Promises were likewise made. about stepping up housing construction which has been relatively neglected in the past three years,
Numerous observations and criticisms were also made during the session about the state of agriculture. Most of the criticisms were directed at Khrushchev's, policies. However, certain declara~ tions could be interpreted as aiming more generally at the whole past and present policies in this field, moe
The new leadership openly criticized certain administrative reforms carried out under Khrushchev's leadership. . But no proposals were made or decisions taken for extensive changes in the system ¢ of Sovnarkhozes,.
Indecision was likewise apparent with regard to the proposals formulated by economists like Trapeznikov on the "profitability" of enterprises, It is likely that the top Soviet leaders have not... reached firm positions on what to do in attempting to solve the cure
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rent: problems affecting the Soviet economy. Like Khrushchev they envisage primarily administrative reforms, never Soviet democracy, : real democracy, which has become the No, 1 requisite for a new economic expansion. :
The session was not asked to ratify any important changes in posts other than the one involving Khrushchev, This probably means that the new "collective leadership" is made up of heterogeneous elements among whom a solid majority has yet to be put together.
Likewise nothing was said about Sino-Soviet relations, However, the December 12 Pravda announced that the preconference, initially projected for December 15, had been postponed until March l. The significance of this decision remains open to speculation, It could indicate preparations to resume the conflict with the Chinese, More likely it was a way of getting past December 15 without completely abandoning the idea of a conference, but one devoted to a different objective than the one: decided on last. July which was simply to finalize the split with the Chinese.