the economic conditions for it are unripe—but because
shite-monopoly capitalism is a complete material prepara-
tion for Socialism, the prelude to Socialism, a rung in the
ladder of history between which and the rung called So-
cialism there are no intermediate rungs"

It goes without saying that both in Britain and France,
already then—thirty years ago—the material conditions for
the passage to Socialism were no less favourable than in
our country, But, as we know, material conditions alone are
not enough even for the solution of those problems which
hove already become a historical necessity.

World War II dealt another blow to the capitalist sys-
tem, and still further shook its position in Europe. The
new democracies—Yugoslavia, Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Albania—with the support of the
broad masses of the people, have carried out bold demo-
cratic reforms, among them, the elimination of the land-
lord class and the transfer of the land to the peasants, the
nationalization of large-scale industry and the banks, and
so forth. These countries are taking steps towards Socialism
in their own, independent ways, having created for the
working people a life that is free from capitalist bondage,
and are defending their national independence against the
attempts of foreign imperialists to get these countries into
their power and to impose their will upon them.

II
THE SOVIET UNION AND INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION
From the very first day of its existence the Soviet
Union took a place of its own in international affairs by
assuming the lead of the struggle for peace,
31* % 483