Evening star., 1916-01-07
SAYS j. S. CAN GET
TRADE IN RUSSIA
Stanley Washburn, Corre-
spondent, Predicts Great 0p-
portunities Following War.
SAYS EXPANSION PLANS
SHOULD BEGIN AT ONCE
Gives His Views of the Fighting
Qualities of the Russians
and Germans.

American manufacturers should not
permit visions of great profits from
munition contracts to make them blind
to the untold opportunities that will
await American goods in Russia at the
close of the war in Europe; they should
prepare at this time to avail themselves
of the opportunities for the expansion
of American trade that will be present
ed in Russia and not wait until the ces-
sation of hostflities, for then it will be
too late.
Such is the view taken by Stanley
Washburn, war correspondent and mill
tary expert of the London Times, who
has just returned to this country after
having spent more than sixteen months
at the various Russian fronts. Mr..
Washburn now is in Washington.
making his residence at the home of
| Mrs. Washburn's father, John D. Lang
horne, at 1910 18th street northwest. He
plans to return to Russia in about two
months.
battles and campaigns of the great
war Mr.. Washburn has spent large
portion of his time the past year in
studying internal conditions in Russia,
not with view of Tearing of Russia of
! today but in order that he might know
something of conditions that probably
will obtain when the gigantic struggle
| is over.
His views on the opportunities for
American trade in Russia are based on
| information gathered from all walks of
| life in that country. Just before start
| ing for America he had long inter-
view with the minister of foreign af-
fairs, who impressed upon him the
magnitude of the field of trade that
Russia will offer to American manu-
facturers at the close of the war If
| they will only take the necessary steps
| in preparation for it
Need of Trade Treaty.
| What is needed first of all is a trade
treaty between the two countries. ac-
cording to Mr.. Washburn. At present
no treaty OF this kind exists, the for
mer treaty having been abrogated sew
eral years ago.
The movement for such a treaty
should start in the State Department
Mr.. Washburn maintains, and it should
start as soon as possible II the United
States wishes to receive the greatest
possible profit from it. America will
| find Russia liberal with regard to the
provisions of a trade treaty. Mr.. Wash
burn believes.
| The attitude of the Russian govern
ment to American Jews in Russia,
which was responsible for the abroga-
tion of the former treaty, will not
| stand in the way of another interna-
tional agreement of the kind. accord
| ing to Mr.. Washburn. The attitude of
Russia to all Jews has greatly changed
since the outbreak of hostilities. The
Jews in Russia are receiving better
treatment from the government today
| than ever before. Notwithstanding
large portion of the Jewish population
is more friendly to Germany than to
Russia.
Russia will offer a great field for
American manufactures at the close of
the war, because Germany will not be
in position to supply the wants of
Russia as she has in the past" said Mr..
Washburn. For many years German
manufactures have dominated Russia:
Germany has enjoyed monopoly of
Russian trade. Her hold on the trade
of the country was SO great that its
influence was felt in many other ways
When peace is declared, three fac
tors will stand in the way of any eff
forts on the part of Germany to regain
her lost trade in Russia. according to
Mr.. Washburn They are sentiment on
the part of the buying public, the lack
of capital which will permit Germany
to extend the credit that will be de-
manded and the lack of skilled arti-
sans with which to carry on the work
of its now paralyzed industries.
Sentiment Not Important Factor.
Sentiment will not be an important
factor with which Germany will have
to contend, however" said Mr.. Wash
burn. For few months sentiment
may serve as barrier against German
goods, but that will be all it will
amount to. There is not much senti-
ment in business, especially interna
tional business. The country which
sells at the lowest figure Will be pat
ronized, regardless of its identity.
In the past Germany's industries
have had such great financial backing
that all manner of credit concessions
could be given. But at the close of the
war, regardless of it's outcome, German
manufacturers will not have sufficient
capital on hand to enable them to offer
the concessions of former times. Even
if Germany and her allies should win
and | firmly believe this to be impossi-
BILE, the great indemnties which she
undoubtedly would demand would not
be sufficient to care for the wants at
home and also capitalize trade expan
sion
One Great Obstacle.