The New York herald., 1920-01-27
STILL
BOTHERS BRITAIN
Bankers and Traders Await
Definite Decision of SUI
preme Council.
HOLD ALOOF
Business by Barter Carried On byI
Several Large Com ''' -
panies. >~~t.,
SPECIAL Cable to The Hero1d j

! -s fSpec'dI Cdbte TO the Herald J-.-.-.
4, LONDON. Monday.-British finance and
trade are doing nothing toward beeinnin .
business with Russia until they learn
definitely and officially the exact mesnf,r 9
of the Supreme Council decision to per-
NIT IAN exchange of goods ON the basis
Of reciprocity between the Russian people
and the allied and neutral Countries ~ -''
British trade and finance still are as
much mystified concerning the lifting OF
the Russian blockade as they were On
January is. when the decision of the su.
preme Council in Paris was announoed
Not only do dispatches show that Arnerfca,
Is annoyed by tue delay in defininvatbe
exact meaning of the edict and the extent
to which normal trade will be fostoreG h,,t
britfsh merchants as well are anxious for
more details. -
Banks Holding AIoof.
inquiry at the large banks reveals that
.hey sun are holding aloof and have no
intention OF trying to begin business, either
py extension OF credits or buying of ruhles
until further information is forthcominr
Russian securities. which started a lively
upward movement early last week are
holding their gains, but they have come
TO a standstill.
IN the Nusslan section OF the Board
Oh Iraoe the correspondent of the
EERAhp was told today that although hun
oreoS OF business men were asking for in
formation daily, the department is NOT
yet in position to issue q statement
Inc board it was said. is as anxious to
give further information as the public is
10 get 1t, but as several different depart
ments are busy on the matter it will be
some time before statement can be
issued.
This statement is awaited with mucb
interest because 1t is OF understood how
trade can be carried on with the CO.
operative societies in Russia without some
formal recognition of the Soviet govern
ment. From diplomatic sources il is ascer
Itained that the Soviets virtually have con-
troll of the cooperative societies If IL
turns out that some ARRANGEMENT has been
made to assure safe delivery and guaran-
tees that merchandise shipped to Russia
VIII not be confiscated by the Bolsheviki.
trading undoubtedly will begin with great
visor. for there is an abundance Of British
ana French capital which is waiting only
Ior assurance Of semi-safety to flow into
Russia.
Carrying ON Trade by Barter.
Several British companies. notably the
british Trade Corporation, for several
months have been carrying on business
with Russia by barter; the British corpora
ton sells OIL machinery and other products
in Russia and takes in return tobacco.
flax, hides. &c., doing away altogether
with the difficulties in connection with
inc Vaiueless Russian paper money. An
extension OF this system on a broad scale
is believed TO be feasible. and the general
anxiety TO re-establish trade relations with
Russia indicates that the many difficult
obstacles VIII be overcome readily.
The belief in America that the lifting of
the blockade was move to give England
an opportunity to seize the Russian mar
kets rs matched by similar opinion in
Sweden, which, according to dispatches
received here, Is anxious to do business in
Russia but is fearful that this will be pre-
vented. Swedish opinion is that England
is lifting the blockade with one hand while
fostering turmoil on the other, thus maxi
ing 1t possible to assist British trade by
special government means but hampering
they have not this special government
backing.
British Plans sound.
There is no denying that British capital
laid good plans in Russia last year and i'll
Germany does not recover rapidly England
will be able to work on the development
of Russian unhampered because Germany
will not have the resources to compete
with her. In diplomatic circles Il is stated
officially that the British government isl
especially anxious to countcract the belief
that England is endeavoring TO get mo-
nopoly of Russian trade: IL is asserted that
American and other traders will receive
the same facilities and privileges as Brit
ish traders: Russia and England will put
no obstacles in their way.
The rule laid down by the Supreme Coun-
ell in Paris when the blockade was lifted
was that traders of all allied countries
should have equal treatment In the CO.
operative scheme. 1t was not disclosed at
the Board of Trade today whether the
forthcoming statement would set forth
specifically and guarantee this equality of
privilege to all.