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a ’ ABB ENPORMAT | rr i i : : , Sim ERSORMATION CONTA THEO sted . MEREIN 15 UNCLASSIFIAD 3 A | = 0 _ -RXCEPT WHERE sHowN . te OTHERWISE w ‘ Steinbeck Now Mr. Steinbeck did see a few . things that may prove interesting to the average reader, and Robert Capa contributes a few nice (but not ex- ceptiona)) shots of life in Russia. There are impressive descriptions of wartime destruction, of the shortage of artificial limbs, of Soviet inefficiency and “snafu.” Zgf Steinbeck give some curious examples ‘ of black market activities in Russia, of transportation difficulties, -of the sickening hero-worship of the leaders. fhe careful reader will be able to detect a few other interesting bits af information: fhe survival of deep religious feeling in the country; the greater ¢ emphasis on government huld- ing rather ‘than on residential housing construction; the utter lack | of humor Reviewed by ALLANDA Fo JOURNAL. “By dghi Steinbeck pith pictures bu Rober New York: Viking Press. 220 pages. $3.79. 0 i006 A UT RX STEINBECK tas joined the fraternity of vodka visitors. For three wee . 1 he toured the Soviet Union under the subtle guidance of VOKS, the gove “4 °-5 ment agency for “cultural Jiason,” saw Moscow celebrate its 800th versary. got stomach cramps from overeating on 8 collective farm, inspected the ruins of Stalingrad, was wined and dined in Georgia, flew back to Moscow, where he chattered with American officials and correspondents, came home and wrote a book. -was wined and dined, was taken and the depressing serenity of Moscow, | / ws _ Te ge te aia a “$ [s5 wot t x eb tt oy _) LL al aia ERT E Renee and its agencies? How sure is he that he got to the “people” and not merely to a model farm in the Ukraine and ta # show-case sanatorium on the Black Sea? If Mr. Steinbeck was pa wade we = re to merely after the questions as “Do children go to school in. Russia?” He could have seved himself the trouble of going. He speaks no Russian, and all his contact was, made through official interpreters. Steinbeck, whom the Russians co sider one of America’s top fi a Moscow nightclub and to a Ki eocktsil bar, went to the country home of such Soviet millionaires as Alex- ander Korneichuk — and | concludes that the Russians have plenty to eat; 7 3 RB aaat he . i - 7° wee eT wer te . Sans Wrath] \ i t sway froen the bureaucratic center. Russian clothing” improved during the 2 O. Obi “34 ~ few weeks he spent in Russfa. . a VALS, 0 ~/0 iy And yet, one cannot help question- . eo oe ES NoT NOT RE =L0l 7D ing Mr. Steinbeck’s understanding of - o, Dott . | and ae = j.ussia. He went to Moscow ss an HE ATTENDED the celebri '*4 of, an 43 SEP 18 1948 honest and libersl” man, he says, the 800th anniversary of Moscow with aes te concern ‘himself with “politics Iouis Aragon, the French “Stalinist _ feu * we: * fod the larger’ issues” but “simply - writer, and was impressed by the | Thie is lip nd post report... . neither critically nor splendor of festivities. Capa ge a clipping from a avorably.” But how can he speak led around Moscow by # special o Page _§) «OF the j bt life in # totalitarian state without cial assigned “to facilitate his mov NEW LEADER E Aponstantly referring to the government ments about the city”; “ia Red Squ ' Clipped at thp seat of Government 4 / . Uy aa