Wheat for No Oil

Once again the world's biggest country with the "most progressive" economic system needs American wheat to feed its serfs. And once again the detente-promoters are jubilant about the opportunities of expanded trade, wheat for oil, and peace through interdependence.

We have long warned against having any of America's energy sources in the responsible and humane hands of the Soviet politbureau. But another point is now beginning to emerge: The USSR will not be exporting oil for very long. Demand is increasing; for example, the Italian-built Togliatti auto plant has enabled the Soviets to double the number of cars on the road in the last two years (bringing the number per capita to the glorious level of almost 3 % the US figure). Meanwhile the oil fields in the Volga-Urals region are drying up and are now exploited by secondary recovery. And discoveries in Siberia are not proceeding fast enough to cope with planned demand. Besides, the oil of the socialist mother country needs decadent capitalist technology to get it out of the ground. Already the Soviets are instructing their colonies in East Europe to begin looking for oil suppliers elsewhere.

The long and short of it is that eventually there is going to be no Soviet oil for export. Wheat for oil means wheat and credits and technology and concessions for another kick in the teeth. That is the "New Economic Order" both the Soviets and the Third World are now promoting, for they have one thing in common with the American liberal: They are no good at creating wealth, so they want to redistribute it.

But redistribution has always meant redistribution from the producers to the spongers, and there is no time to repeat discredited experiments with energy. If free enterprise were truly free to develop America's fossil resources and to proceed with proven nuclear technology, without being stifled by bureaucratic government meddling or harrassed by the ideologists of superstition, this country would soon steer away from its present suicidal course to energy subservience.

Such a policy would not be without sacrifices.

The American people would have to go without Ugandan computers and Soviet luxury cars.