New-York tribune., 1918-06-20
Plan to Resume
Trade With Russia
Before State Dept,
Shipment of Manufactures
in Simple Barter for Raw
Materials Proposed

A plan for the economic rehabilita- =
tion of Russia has been laid before the
State Department by the Ar.crican~
Russian Chamber of Commerce and
allied trade bodies, it was learned yes
terday. 1t is proposed Immediately to
resume the shipment Of essential man
ufactured goods to the emaciated ma
tion on basis of simple barter.
AS interpreted by its advocates. the
programme is an attempt to give con-
crete and practical significance to Pres
dent Wilson's promise that the United
States will help Russia. The most
direct way to help the Slavic nation,
they say, is to send shoes to the bare
foot people and food to the half
starved population.
Before Russia can think of reenter-
ing the war, it is contended, she must
be economically strengthened. The
machines which have broken down
must be restored. New tools must be
put in the hands of the workers. The
exporting interests behind the proposal
to the Washington authorities purpose
to exchange boots, shoes, clothing,
small tools and other things which are
absolutely needed for hides. skins,
bristles, fax, WOOL furs and sugar
beet seed.
Would Abandon Exchange
c:. p,,a,;, :. Jo,lo+od &c COLD q 7, Il
the value of the ruble has notoriously
depreciated it is suggested that ruble
exchange be abandoned and barter be
substituted. If this idea should be
carried out the Russian cooperative
societies, which number in the thou
sands and which are the most virlle
economic units remaining in that coun-
try, would ship raw material to their
agents in the United States. The lat
ter would sell the Russian goods here
and with the proceeds buy American
manufactured goods for shipment
abroad The cooperative societies
would pool both orders and commodi-
ties for export.
Observers recently returning from
Russia agree that the country is fast
approaching a complete economic col
lapse. 1t was pointed out that virtual
ly no supplies have been shipped to
that country since the Bolshevik coup
d'etat last November The American
government shut off the shipment of
supplies because it feared ,hey would
fall into the hands of the ena:ny, and
it is said thai this persistent fear
that Germany might get commodities
sent to Russia is the obstacle which
alone makes the State Department hes
itate to allow the resumption of direct
economic intercourse.
To meet the objection that Germany
might profit by the sending Of goods
to Russia the proponents of the pro-
suggest that the United States test out
the new arrangement with one or two
cargoes. ]. H. Torney, vice president
Of r. Martens & Co. and one Of the
originators of the plan. yesterday said
in this connection, that If the Teutons
should try to deprive the Russians Of
shoes and clothing sent from this coun-
try q genuinely anti-Germa1 feeling
would run through revolutionary
Russia.
Urges Test of Plan
"The proposal to set in motion the
economic machinery of Russia Mr..
Torney said, "at least deserves n trial.
There are several millions of dollars
worth of goods in this country which
the Russian cooperative societies and
other interests actually bought and
paid for. The stock lies here because
no ship has taken commodities to
, Russia since Kerensky fell. We could
test out the plan by sending just one
shipload filled with part of these sup
plies. If this first ship fulfilled The OBJ
ject in view successfully more ships
could be sent later and the chain of
events which would ultimately put
Russia on her feet again would be in
motion. In this way we would De pre-
pairing Russia to think differently
about the war and, besides, we would
be laying the foundation for after-the.
war trade in that country.
"Moreover, we would be helping the
Russian peasants and workers in way
that they in their simplicity could
understand. They may prove adamant
to the appeal of the ideals of the Allies
but they certainly would be deeply
moved by the receipt of shoes anc
clothing. If only very small proper.
tion of the population was benefited al
once by the resumption of trade, the