The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-20


Copyright, 1890, By THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
LONDON, Dec. 10.
The conclusion of a Russo-British
trade agreement which now depends on
tho working out of important details
upon principles already agreed to, 1t Is
expected. will be announced this week.
The anticipated announcements are
evoking chorus of approval from nearly
all London editors, whereas two weeks
ago A. G. Gardiner in the Daily NeUs
was practically the sole supporter OF the
plan for the immediate conclusion OF
such an agreement. Now all the papers
supporting the plan are using as their
keynotes the terrifying depression of
British trade and the widespread unen-
ployment which they say cannot be
alleviated unless the Eastern markets
IRE restored.
Meanwhile the usual conflicting reports
from Russia are heard one side assert
..g there is plenty of gold there, while
he other Is depicting new political ter
rors.
Russia has gold-pIenty of gold"
said Renee Depensier formerly of the
French military mission, who has ar
rived in London after three months in
Scandinavia and the Baltic provinces,
where he went as a private business
man.
In the middle of November l was
aiken aboard the steamship Amazon
md was shown gold bullion to the value
ot $4,000. 900 Swedish kronen, which the
captain asserted came from Russia con-
signed to the Guaranty Trust Company
az New York to be held there to the
nccount of Washington p. Vanderbilt
". Depenser said.
The outcry in FAVOR OF British trade
resumption uses also a second theme, a
fear that other nations will scoop up
the markets. Germany already has made
feavy inroads in this direction by OBJ
tanning orders for machinery and engi-
neering work in open competition with
British firms on account OF the more
favorable effect Of the German exchange
on prices.
NJ Depensier confirms reports OF the
great efforts Germany Is making to re-
establish trade with Russia. asserting
that he witnessed the departure daily Of
a mail airpane from Berlin to Moscow.
He saws Scandinavia Is honeycombed
with German statesmen who. are under
selling many goods now and are sup
ported by war funds assigned to the
propaganda organizations when were
disbanded after the armistice.
The Germans practically dominat2
scandinavian hotels. according to NJ. De-
pensier. who says that he was kicked out
Of the Strand Hotel in Stockholm on the
anniversary OF the armistice because hs
refused to rise when the band pla!eu
deutschland Uber Allies" He says thci
openly drank Ito the death OF the Eng
lish woman" when the Grown Princess
Margaret OF Norway died.
German agents visit every Swedish
buyer some of whom receive as many as
fifteen visits a day from German sales
mon. NJ Depensier said already the
Germans arc boasting openly that the
oeace OF 1918 was only an armistice Tor
perhaps ten years.
Two difficulties in the way OF the
settlement of n trade agreement De-
.ween I.eonid Krassine. representing the
Russian Soviet Government, and Sir
Robert s. Horne, president of the Board
II Trade here. rest on the questions OF
oropaeanda and satisfaction Of the old
Russian debts. 1t is an open secret
hat there Is a strong group in the
,oreign office in sympathy with pow
erfnl group of financiers, who have
,Iaims OF e100, 10000 900 against Russia
md who want guarantees that this VIII
20 paid.
The Russians are willing to pay their
legitimate debts hut point out that the
resent Russian Government should not
% called upon. for instance. to pay for
he pearl necklace some Grand Duchess
,f the old regime might have bought
rom Bond street jewellers. Further
more. they insist atiffiy they will refuse
. recognize debts for supplies sent to
Nochak.
Neither will the bills be paid Of Deni-
dine and others who have sought 70
overthrow the present Government. but
ven II will make counter claims when
ue time comes asking damages from the
Niles for aiding them.
on the question of propaganda Kras-
inc not only has prom sed but has
hown by his performance I'm stopping
my official Russian here from preach
ug Sovietism that he means to keep
Town this feature But when he was
sked to prevent all Russian preaching
IL Soyiet.sm within British hearing he
cplied: "Wil the British Government
Guarantee TO prevent even Churchill
rom preaching anti-Sovietism within
russian hearing?'
Krassine points out he can have no
.ontrol over individual Russians who
rllI have to come here II trading is
tone. A way out Of both difficulties
,robably will be found this week. II
= proposed In regard to the propaganda
hat England be permitted 20 bar from
ending any avowed Communist.