Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-25

F Washington. Sept z5-Thanks to
the diplomacy Of Ambassador Marye
/ at PetroErad. the cream Of the vast
and profitable trade which was secured
by German merchants in Russia be
/ fore the war viii now 60 TO American
+ producers If they care to take it. Ar
engagements which will have this result
+ have practically been concluded in
+ Palrograd. and 8 big boom in the trade
Of the United States with Russia is
looked for in the very near future.
The first step will be the release Of
tine tremendous volume of Russian e1-
ports to the United States. upon
which the cars government placed
IAN embargo shortly after war was
declared The export Of goods to the
United States is to be permitted freely
under q guarantee that such articles
viii not he re-eEported from this coun-
try. The Russian government viii be
assured thereby that goods exported
TO the United States win not find their
way eventually TO the countries Of its
enemies.
The formal agreement between the.
two governments has been signed by
Secretary Of State Lansing and Rus
sian ambassador Bakhmeten.
The unsatisfactory condition OF the
exchange market and the lack of ade-
Quate credit facilities are the chief
bars at present 10 the capture by
Americans of the profitable Russian
trade, which has enriched thousands
Of German and British merchants
AS soon, therefore, as the Russian
exports TO the United States are re
leased the department Of commerce
will endeavor TO work out a plan
whereby American exporters 10 Rus
STA may receive the pay for their goods
from American importers from Rus
sia. This arrangement, if it can be
effected, would, the department be
ltevess relieve in great measure the
existing credit difficulties.
Ambassador oTarva has gone stiIl
further in his efforts TO let American
manufacturers and producers into the
Russian market en- the ground floor
before the conclusion of hostIIities
restores competition Tt was at his
suggestion that the Bussiau-Americau
chamber Of commerce of Moscow has
sent Alexander Behr 80 the United
States as special commissioner to
promote closer trade relations
Mr.. Behr landed I'm New York last
week, and already has had several
conferences with department of com
merce officials and eastern fnanciers.
He intends to visit Chicago to consult
bankers and producers Of goods for
which there is ready sale i'm Russia
he viii furnish information concern
Ing the character and manner Of hand
ling goods which Americans now can
sell most profitably In Russia.
One of the principal objects Of Mr.
Behr's mission is to promote the es-
enlistment Of g Russian-Americau
bank in Russia to finance the great
American export business that VIII be
o4ilc Up ii the manufacturers and pro
ducars Of the United States take al
vantage Of the exclusion Of Germany /
from the Russian market during the
war. and probably for many years
thereafter. Mr.. Behr believes that
American capitalists could do Ameri- j
can business no greater service than
by joining Russian capitalists in the
establishment OF such a bank
Ambassador Marye's activities in
promoting American interests i'm Rus
STA have won high praise from the
administration and from American .
business houses. Furthermore, he has
handled a number Of delicate negotia- +
tons pertaining 10 problems arising
from the war with rare tact and con
summata success.