The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-17
J. s. TO REOPEN TRADE AT ONCE
 WITH RUSSIANS.

Washington, Dec. H.---Ine war Trade Board has made plans to re- open trade relations on large scale with those parts of Russia, including Finland and Siberia, not controlled by German interests and the Bol- sheviki Material aid Is to be extend- ed to the Czechoslovaks.
 A tentative program mapped out provides for the export of not less than 100000 tons of commodities need ed in reconstruction work in the next four months.
 Russia is to be permitted to send considerable shipments to the United States to pay for commodities re- ceived there, and, as far as possible, establish a trade balance. The people of Russia, who will benefit by the re- opening of trade relations have little or no money with which to transact business, it is admitted. A prelimi- nary list of articles which may be inn ported into the United States has been published, and it is understood that this list will be extended.
 While some of the articles on the preliminary list, such as platinum, are ins great demand here, others are in- cluded, admittedly, in an eff5rt to ex- tend aid.
 The governments policy will be put into effect gradually and the distribu- ton of shipments will largely follow the army" The belief Is expressed that the tentative plans will soon de- velop into 0 program of tremendous importance.
 An effort to be made will be to ex- 4O OP of Siberia, Russia and Finland succor on g. scale which will prove that the 1 United States and the Allied nations are trying to aid without seeking to make large profits.
 ] To this end safeguards will be thrown about every shipment from America to Russia to make certain that the peoples in need of aid are not exploited. The War Trade Board has an establishment in VladivDstok which will be in control of the gen. eral situation, and distribution of ma
 terials also will come under the su- pervision of military officials.
 Large shipments of clothes, food stuffs, agricultural machinery and road material will be included. As rapidly as the Army of Occupation advances and the Bolshevtki are driven back, an intensified campaign
 will be carried on to develop the rail-
 road facilities and the farming dis
 tricts and help the people to get on
 their feet.
 In some districts it is probable that
 the distribution of agricultural imple- ments, food and clothing will be car
 ried out in conjunction with co-opera- tive agencies, which have been estab-
 lished by the peoples.
 The boards order follows:
 The War Trade Board announce n
 a new ruling that applications to i'm
 port commodities produced in and inn
 ported from Russia Gncluding Siberia
 and Finland) will now be considered. Importers are requested to file their
 applications with the Bureau of I'm
 ports, War Trade Board, Washington ID. c.
 A limited amount of cargo space is
 now available 1)r shipments from
 Vladivostok to points on the Pacific
 Coast of the United States. In consid
 ering applications and allocating ship ping space preference will be given tc the following commodities in the or
 der named: Platinum, tin and tir } concentrates, cameIs hair, sugar beet
 seed hairy vetch seed, bristles, horse l hair, antimony metal and matte, salt. 5 petre, carbonate of potash, heavy cat ) tie skins, goat and kid skins, calf anC kip skins, sheep and lamb skins, flax r seed or linseed, butter beans and len t tils, sulphur licorice root, oil cake I horse or colt or ass skins, grass seed f clover seed, millet seed, fur skins - sausage castings, animal ivory anH whalebone.
 . Licenses may be issued for the i'm r portation from Russia Gncluding si . beria and Finland) of the above
 named commodities whpn imported ol @ vessels allocated to the War Trad Board of United States, Russian Blu l, reau, Incorporated, under which tn :. War Trade Board, Washington, D. C. = is prepared to define and discuss witt t importers giving due consideration t = the particular transaction in question