Evening journal., 1916-10-06
RUSSIA WOULD COLONTzE
POLES In LATIN AMERICA

tributed in Venezuela. Colombia, Ecu
dor. Peru and Bolivia. II the Russian
plan succeeds, and the remainder will
be placed in Argentine and Chile.
This was learned by the United
Press today on unquestionable auth
ority.
Several months ago a Russian COM
mission of twelve members. en- route
to South America came 10 Washing
ton for certain letters of introduction.
They presented here letters from
Hudson Maxim. the explosives invent
or. and from Senator O'Gorman, Of
New York. They received letters to
South American personages from
John Barrett. director of the Pan.
American Union. They did not 90 to
the State Department for any letters
of recommendation
Upon arriving in South America
the commission split up into three
groups. One, composed OF Joseph Dab
linda. publisher of a financial paper
in Petrograd; and Marc Bounimo-
witch. a Petrograd banker. went TO
Caracas, the capital of Venezuela,
where they are now conducting nego-
iations with the ministry of devel-
opment.
At first they discussed purely COM
nercial matters, chiefly concerning
lossible arrangements to purchase
Venezuelas yearly crop OF coffe, CO.
oa and mahogany direct from the
,rowers. Before the war. Russia had
Fought large quantities of these Vene-
uelan products through French and
.erman houses, principally the latter.
II developed. however. that the
hief object OF their visit-and the
,ussian visitors were frank about IT,,
{ is said--was TO obtain the sanction
Of the Venezuelan government 10 the
sending over OF hundreds OF thous.
ands of Russian Poles 10 be settled on
agricultural and grazing land
Under Venezuelan lew these I'M
migrants If admitted, would each be
entitled to 300 acres Of government
land. The Russian government, it is
understood is prepared to subsidize
the colonists. paying their passage
and providing some capital for the
purchase of live stock. farm tools, etc
The trade discussion which the
two commissioners opened. is said to
have been to get the good will of the
Venezuelan government. In addition
to the suggestion of large purchases
the commissioners suggested that
Russian capital would establish banks
and a steamship line. and would send
a diplomatic representative to Vene-
zuela. Similar proposals are under
stood TO have been made or will be
made to the other six countries in
volved.
The negotiations in Venezuela and
the other countries are said TO be
going steadily forward.
The opinion has been expressed by
persons here familiar with the nego-
tiations that Russia wishes to finally
depOpulate Poland OF its native inhab-
itants, which have always been a pO-
litloal thorn in the side OF the gov
ernmeut, and repeople the land with
North Russians. The fact that thous.
ands OF the Russian Poles are of Ger.
man extraction Is said to be a com.
pelling reason for the scheme On this
account, it Is not believed the plan
will meet with as much opposition
from Germany and Austria as II 9th.
erwise woulr.
The chief concern OF the South
American governments, is said to be
whether they want to risk flooding
their countries with thousands OF
aliens. who might in a short time be
able to dominate them, politically and
commercially
On this account the Venezuelan gov
ernment for one is sad 10 be conduct
ing the negotiations with great care
and hesitancy.