The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-23
S4O0, 600, 900 in Bars Shown
to Disprove Idea OF Ma
tons "SWindle'
INVITED TO STATE BANK
AND THEN THE MINISTER OF Fl.
NANCE PoMPousLY SHOWS TO
HIS VISITORS 100000, 900 IN
GREENBAcks.

interesting incidents of the visit OF
French Parliamentarians to Russia
was the inspection of the gold in the
vaults of the Russian State Bank. The
members Of the deputation, having
been invited to visit, among other in
situations, the State Bank, M. Kokovt-
Jeff, the Minister of Finance, unex-
pectedly turned up at the appointed
hour, and himself took the visitors
around, leading them straight to the
vaults through the heavy steel door
which separates them from the rest
of the premises.
The vaults are fitted round the walls
with enormous shelves, where behind
iron gates lie enormous bars of gold,
each weighing thirty-six pounds, and
measuring over five feet in length.
Close by are disposed in symmetrical
order bags of minted gold. NJ. Kokovt-
Jeff made a little speech to the visit
ors. Il have seen," he said, Gin one
OF your reviews an article describing
our prosperity as a Russian swindle.
Permit me, gentlemen, to show the
laboratory of this 'swindle.'"
"Well said," politely commented
Baron d'Estournelles.
Each Bar Worth $4,000.
M. Kokovtzeff continued: you see
here, gentlemen, 9O,OOO,OOO pounds of
gold, worth $4OO,0O0.O0O. Each bar is
worth $4,000. l am often reproached
with being unduly optimistic, but
think the state of the Russian finan.
ces justifies my optimism.
Permit me to remind you that the
last Russian loan in France was con.
cluded under unfavorable circum.
stances, but the French capitalists
who have invested their money in that
loan are now getting something like
seventeen per cent on their capital
You see, then, the trust placed by
them in Russia, has been perfectly
justified
NJ. Kokovtzeff then broke the seals
of one of the bags and emptied it into
big bowl. The coins merrily sound
ed, while M. Kokovtzeff related how
NJ. Rouvier, the Minister of Finance,
once told him that in case of war a
decree would instantly be issued in
France fixing an obligatory rate of ex-
change.
II would draw your attention to the
fact" M. Kokovtzeff added, that we
went through the war with Japan with
out having had recourse to such a de
cree.
$500,0oo,o 900 in Paper.
He then showed his visitors another
part of the vaults where 100000 OO(
worth of paper money is kept, and the
crematorium, where WORKOUT notes
are destroyed He presented to each
OF the delegates a newly coined ten
rOnhle piece as memento, whereupor
Baron d'Estournelles thanked the Min
lister in the name of his colleagues, ad
ding:
we know well that Russia, whom
we have, perhaps. assisted little, is {
rich and powerful country. We know
this fact not merely from this gold
You are rich in the vast expanse O
your country, in her mineral treasure.
and then you have another source O.
wealth. mean, your young Parlia
ment"
Whether NJ. Kokovtzeff, who ono,
solemnly thanked God in the Dunn;
that Russia had no Parliament. wa.
pleased with the unexpected turn O
Baron d'Estournelle's speech is no
known. 1t may be added that the Rus
sian state debt has increased in te,
years from $4,000. 100000 to $4,000
100000.