New-York tribune., 1918-06-30
$4,000 Pairs of
Shoes Released
By U. S. for Russia
Shipment Is First To Be
Authorized Since Fall of
Kerensky Government
Go by Way of Japan
Precautions Taken to Prevent
Goods From Falling Into
German Hands

The State Department at Washing
ton, it is understood, has authorized
for the first time since the fall of the
kerensky government the shipment of
goods to Russia. The resumption of
trade relations with the Soviet Repub-
lie will be marked by the sending of
$4,000 pairs of shoes to a Siberian
port.
Although the shoes are destined for
Moscow, the American exporting house
which will supervise the shipment will
be responsible for preventing them
from falling into the possession of the
enemy. The footwear, for which there
is said to be the most dire need among
the Russian people, will be dispatched
only as far as it's escorts, sent by the
American exporting house, regard safe.
If necessary, the $4,000 pairs Of shoes
will be sold en- route in Siberia or per-
haps shipped back to japan through
which they will pass to prevent them
from reaching Teutonic feet.
These shoes, which are distinguished
by their wide sizes to meet the Rus
sian needs, constitute small part of
the sum S10,000,O0O of merchandise,
which, though said to be bought and
paid for by Russian individuals and
cooperative societies, has been lying
in warehouses in this country for many
months awaiting licenses for trans
transportation. Under instructions
from the State Department, it is said,
the War Trade Board had been con-
sistently withholding licenses for goods
whose destination was Russia ever
since the ascendancy of the Bolsheviki.
The Basis of Friendship
The granting of license in the
case of the shoes is regarded in ex-
porting circles as at least a partial
if not a complete-acceptance by the
Administration of plan sponsored by
the American Russian Chamber of
Commerce and other powerful trade
interests to start anew economic rela-
tions with Russia by shipping part of
the goods in this country which has
already been purchased. The pro-
gramme, which aims to rehabilitate the
great Slavic country and to lay the
basis of economic and political friend
ship between the two nations, was laid
before the State Department many
weeks ago.
If the action in regard to shoes is an
indication that large proportion of
the Russian bought goods will get Ii
censes, as is confidently expected in
trade circles, the basis for general
resumption Of the exchange of goods
will be laid, it is contended. In return
for such necessary American manu-
factured goods as boots, shoes, cloth
ing and small tools, preliminary ar
,%c do tO
Russia sell hides, skins, bristles. flax,
wool, furs and sugar beet seed to this
country.
The official announcement of the
broad character of the forthcoming
economic assistance for Russia, it is
expected, will be laid before the coun-
try by President Wilson in his Fourth
of July address. 1t is said in foreign
trade circles that the Administration
has accepted the view that industrial
aid for Russia is problem apart from
the military and the political. The; full
, extent to which America can help blow
the breath Of healthful vigor into the
j Russian people will probably be deter
mined by the special commission which
it is said the President purposes to
send to the former realm of the Car.
Will Ship via Japan
in the matter of Russia is emphasized,
it is pointed out, by the fact that it
takes three months to get goods to
Moscow. The plan for the first ship
ment is to follow the route to Japan
and then reship the commodities to
Siberian port and then transport them
to the present Russian capital. Be-
cause of the distance of Siberia from
Germany and its relative freedom from
inf
that at first Siberian cities will be IA
vored with goods rather than the cities
further westward.
1t is considered particularly fitting
that the first license should be granted
in the case of shoes, as advices from
Russia report pitiful shortage of
footwear. There are said to be 1,000,-
600 pairs of shoes in this country be-
longing to Russian individuals and CO.
other shipments will follow the first
unless a radical change in political
events makes the policy too hazardous.
In some instances the Russian owners
of goods in this country prefer to have
them remain here until conditions be-
come more stable and safe in Russia.
Such absolute necessities as needles
and thread, which formerly were sup
piled by Germany, are reported to be
lacking in many Russian cities, and
there is said to be lack of various
kinds of small tools, upon which 50
large proportion of Russian produc-
tion depends. Moreover, trade repre-
sentatives abroad state that there is
a button famine in the Slav country.
All kinds of wearing apparel is also
declared to be alarmingly short.
The psychological effect on the Rus
sian people of the knowledge that the
practical things they need are coming
from America: in large quantities is
cited by advocates Of economic inter
change as sufficient cause for the
radical change in national policy which
/ seems to be taking definite form. 1t
is contended that liberal supply of
prime necessities will change the gen.
eral attitude Of the Russian masses
and release their enormous energy for
production. This adjustment, it is
pointed out. must necessarily precede
Russia's remittance into the war
against Kaiserism and even the time
when it will be able to protect itself
against further German penetration.
Public Exchange to Go
The Russian cooperative societies. of
which there are thousands, are ea.
p1cted to be the backbone Of Russia's
new foreign trade structure. Certain
American exporting interests with con.
nections in Russia have made agree
ments with them to act as their repre-