The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-12
VIEWS RUSSIAN
SITUATION With
LITTLE CONCERN
Representative to United
States Says Govern
ment Still Exists
INVESTIGATING
IGNITE MINES
Avenir A. Snietkoff Says
Russia Looking to U. S.
For New Ideas

Bismarck, N. D., Nov. 12.-Rus-
sian government still exists.
The authority for this statement
is Avenir A. Snietkoff, who arrived
in Bismarck last week as a member
Of the special Russian mission to
the United States.
Il am representing the Russian
government in an investigation of
the Ignite mining processes Of the
United States" Mr.. Snietkoff said in
response to a reporters query.
THE Kerensky government"
i see by the morning papers there
is no Kerensky government. ] rep
resent the republican government of
Russia-that is the government, no
matter who may be at the head Of
it."
Until a day or two ago Mr.. Snict-
koh represented the Kerensky gov
eminent. He seems unperturbed
over the recent change in the ad-
ministration Of Russia. He discussed
the matter, through his secretary
and interpreter, Alexander w. Step
anoff, with a smile.
Goes to Wilton.
Saturday Mr.. Snietkoff and his
secretary were in Wilton, where sew
eating North DaEota's largest Ignite
coal mine. Later the Russian repres-
entatives will visit the lighting
plants at New Salem, Minot and
elsewhere in the state.
Russia has millions of tons of
Ignite" said Mr.. Snietkoff. mo at
tempt ever has been made to proper
ly develop it. This we hope to do.
We are looking to America for mod
ern methods. the Cologne fields in
Germany being closed to us at pres
ent. / am a member of a special
mission of three to the United States,
and myself am a member of the
geological committee at Petrograd.
In this country we work more or
less directly under instructions from
the Russian embassy at Washington.
Looks Like Scholar.
Mr.. Snietkoff does not measure up
to the popular conception of a Rus
sian. He is of medium height, but
very powerfully built, and he at once
conveys the impression of limitless
energy and force. In conversation,
while he speaks no English, he
features are so expressive that one
has little difficulty in following him.
One carries away the conviction that
IL new Russia had many men Of his
calibre it could not be in its present
predicament.
Ignores Politics.
Mr.. Snietkoff smilingly declined to
discuss politics.
Il know only what have read in
the papers," he said in response to
a request for his views on the most
recent development. Il am not in a
position to say anything except that
the republic of Russia still exists,
and / represent its government"
Russia apparently is looking to
America as a pattern in many things.
1t already has borrowed some of
Americas best executives to revise
its railroad system. It is investigat-
ing American mining in all of its de-
tails. through the mission of which
Mr.. Snietkoff is a member, and the
intimation is that other missions
will come to familiarize themselves
with other features Of American in
dustry and commerce.
Takes II Easy.
The one outstanding feature Of
Mr., Snietkoff's attitude toward the
crisis in his native land is the COM
placency with which he regards the
most recent development. Were he
a thorough-going American, his
comment might be. I'VE should
worry"