This article was sent to us by the Soviet press attaché in Beirut

Family law in the Soviet Union has, as its basis, principles laid down by the Constitution: "rights granted to woman equal to the rights of man in the Soviet Union, in all fields of economic, public, cultural, social, and political life..., and the protection of the interests of mother and child by the State" (Article 122).

Everything in Soviet legislation aims at consolidating the founda-tions of the family. The firmness and stability of the family are, for Soviet society, factors of the first order of importance. And the mother in the Soviet Union is surrounded by public regard and protected by the law.

Family relations in the land of the Soviets are built in the first degree upon love and mutual respect between husband and wife. The Soviet wife has nothing of her feeling to conceal when she marries, because love, in socialist society, is what cements marriage.

The self-interest that marks most cases of marriage in class society (such as the marriage of convenience, the pursuit of wealth, material advantages of every kind,

etc.) is an impossible thing in the land of the Soviets. Here man and woman are equal in marriage, as they are equal before the law that protects marriage, family, and children.

The principle of equality between man and woman in Soviet family law finds its expression also in the fact that the two spouses may choose a common name (the hus-band's name or the wife's name), or may both keep the names that were theirs before marriage. Agreement is likewise reached between the spouses on fixing the family name of the children in the case where both spouses keep the names that were theirs before marriage. The husband cannot impose his will upon his wife in such circumstances. Soviet legisla-tion has laid down the principle of the spouses' complete equality and their full independence of one another also in the choice of place of residence. And both enjoy complete freedom in the choice of their work and their profession. Questions relating to the common affairs of the household are decided by agreement between the spouses.

Soviet law, in what concerns relations between spouses and

children, has regard to the interest of the children alone, according to the letter of Article 122 of the Constitution of the Soviet Union, which provides for the protection of the child's interests by the State. All measures relating to the children are taken by father and mother together. And in case of disagreement between the spouses, the matter is decided by the councils of guardianship over minors, jointly with the parents.

Both parents must watch over their minor children. They must in particular watch over their upbringing and their preparation for activity of public usefulness. Soviet family law grants no preference whatever to the father in relations between parents and children. Father and mother have, toward the children, identical rights and duties.

Equality between husband and wife, and the absence of all restrictions upon woman's rights in the administration and disposal of her personal property, are regulated by the articles of the laws of marriage, family, and guardianship relating to property. Under these articles, the property of the spouses that was theirs before marriage remains separate. A woman may dispose of her property as she pleases, without regard to her husband's will. As for property acquired during married life, it is held in common. In case of dispute, the share of each is settled through the courts, the property being divided into two equal shares; nevertheless the share of one of the spouses may be increased according to circumstances (in the case, for example, of the one who keeps the