SECRET ANNEX SOVIET ECONOMIC POLICY AND DEFENCE Three recent events, the publication of the 1953 budget, Malenkov's speech of August 8th and the publication of the Soviet economic report for the first half of 1953, provide interesting material for an assessment of Soviet economic policy since the death of Stalin, which may have important implications for the defence industries. Taken together, they give the impression that the Government seriously intend to make an early and significant improvement in the volume and quality of foodstuffs and consumer goods.