The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-03-25
RUSSIANS BOAST
MILLIONS IN GOLD
Ready to Spend 1t in United States.
American Representative of Steel
Works in Moscow Says He is
Acting for Soviet.

Acting lux SoNiCl'
New York, March 21.-As the first
steps toward obtaining recognition
by the United States the Russian
soviet government is prepared to de-
posit S2O0,OOO,OGO ip gold with Am
erican and European banks for the
purchase of supplies needed in recon-
struction work, according to formal
statement issued here last night by
Il. C. A. K. Martens, American rep
rescntative of the Demodoff Iron &
Steel Works in Mscow, through the
bureau of representatives of the
Russian Socialist federal soviet re-
publica."
Asserting that he had received his
appointment this week as official rep
resentative of the soviet government
in the United States, Mr.. Martens
said he had forwarded his credentials
to the state department and mean
while had opened temporary head
quarters in this city. With the Gre
dentials, he said, he had sent report
on conditions in Russia and an ex-
preston of his governments desire
to reestablish normal relations be-
tween the, two countries. '
Has Big Plans. =.
Mr.. Martens said that in addition
to the s20O,OOO,O0O to be deposited
to, defray The cost Of initial purchas-
es, the soviet government was pre-
pared to submit various propositions
which he said he hoped would prove
acceptable to American manufacture
ers and exporters, looking toward
establishment Of credit for additional
government purchases. =
Martens said he intended soon to
establish permanent headquarters in
this city on ascale Commensurate
with the purchases he intended to
make. His plans, he added, called
for appointment of a Commercial
attache"' and organization Of a
'fboard of trade Of soviet Russia"
According to Martens, who assert
cd that despite "silly" reports con-
cerning the soviet government, it
had "laid .fsm the foundation Of q
we'll ordered development Of their
society" he was empowered to
state" that his government "is sim
cerely anxious to have hostilities
cease in Russia and to enter into a.
greements with the American gov
ernment for the peaceable withdraw
al Of American troops from Russia.
No Obstacles Exist.
"On the part Of the Russian fed
eral soviet republic" he said, "there
thus exists no obstacles to the estab-
lishment Of proper relations with
other countries, especially with the
United States. The soviet govern
ment Of Russia is willing to open it's
doors to citizens of other countries
for peaceful purposes Of opportunity
and it invites any scrutiny and inves-
tigation Of it's conditions which inves-
tigation certainly will prove that
peace and prosperity in Russia will
follow On the cessation Of the present
allied policy Of non-intsreourse with
soviet Russia, and by establishment
Of material and intellectual inter-
eourss."
Mr.. Martens assorted that his gov
ernnasnt was prepared to purchase In
this country great quantities Of such
commodities 40 railroad supplies; ag-
ricultural implements and machinery,
factory machinery, tools, mining ma
chinery and supplies, electrical sup
plies, printing machinery. textile man
and canned meats, rubber goods,
typewritsrs and Office supplies. auto
mobiles and trucks, chemicals and
medical supplies.
Russia, he said, was prepared to
sell fax, hemp, hides, bristles, furs,
lumber, grain, platinum, metals and
minerals.
A SPRING DAY.