A. M. SAKHAROV. Fifty Years of the Journal "Voprosy Istorii"

The article briefly surveys the journal's activities, emphasizing its contribution to the elaboration of major scientific problems in the sphere of Russian and Soviet history as well as the history of other countries, to the rise and development of Soviet Marxist-Leninist historiography, to the organization of Soviet historical science. The author graphically shows how the journal responds to the most important historical events of our time, how it highlights the most significant discoveries made by archeologists, historians and source researchers. The article traces the main landmarks in the activity of the journal's Editorial Board over the past half-century and shows the prominent part played by the journal as the leading organ of historical science in the U.S.S.R.

R. V. AKHUNDOV. The Development of the Material and Technical Basis of Soviet Socialist Culture at the Present Stage

The article examines the process of development of the material and technical basis of Soviet socialist culture during the eighth and ninth five-year-plan periods. The author graphically shows how the rapidly developing scientific and technological revolution gives rise to quantitative and qualitative changes in the material conditions and technical means of organizing cultural life-the production, distribution and consumption of spiritual values. Drawing on extensive factual material, the author traces the process of successfully overcoming spatial, geographical barriers and creating broad possibilities for bringing the priceless treasures of spiritual culture within the reach of ever new millions of people, of gradually eliminating the distinctions still existing between town and country.

A. N. SAKHAROV. The "Diplomatic Recognition" of Ancient Rus (A. D. 860)

For the first time in Soviet historiography the author makes an attempt to establish how far the diplomatic practice of the ancient Russ in the 9th century corresponded to the general political tendencies of that period. The author examines the history of the campaign launched by ancient Rus against Constantinople in 860 and the subsequent Russo-Byzantine negotiations concerning the inclusion of the ancient Russian state in the political conglomerate of East-European countries. The article represents the first attempt in Soviet historiography to broach the subject of the "diplomatic recognition" of ancient Rus by Byzantium in the latter half of the 9th century.

V. N. VINOGRADOV, Y. A. PISAREV. The Revolution of 1905 - 1907 in Russia and the Revolutionary Processes in the Balkans

The authors point out that the powerful influence exerted by the Revolution of 1905 - 1907 on the Balkan countries should be attributed to the similar or common features existing in the economic and sociopolitical development of Russia and the states of Southeastern Europe, which largely determined the community of aims of the oppressed classes. The first Russian revolution gave a powerful impetus to the deep-going revolutionary processes engendered by the social realities in Southeastern Europe. The article briefly describes the response evoked by the revolution in the various Balkan countries and underscores the significance of its lessons for enhancing the revolutionary wing of the Balkan socialist movement and for ensuring its gradual transition to the positions of Leninism.

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Y. S. KHROMOV. From the History of State Regulation of Agriculture in Great Britain

The article examines the evolution of the methods of state regulation of agriculture in Great Britain, beginning with the period between the wars and ending with Britain's entry into the Common Market. In the postwar years the role played by the state in developing Britain's agriculture has increased owing to the growing economic significance of agriculture in this period. The author cites authentic factual data to prove that the agrarian policy of Great Britain has failed to solve the tasks set before it and that the internal contradictions rending the English countryside are becoming increasingly acute. The main reason for the setbacks in the sphere of state regulation of agriculture should be sought in the class limitations of this regulation which serves the interests of big agrarian capital and the monopolies.

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