Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-08
GAN TRADE WITH
SOVIET RUSSIA
Restrictions Removed by u. S.
''lo 6'unoo pit. Except as May
Pertain to Shipment of War
Materials

Washington, July l. (By the Associated
fress )-Restrictions on trade with Soviet
RUSSIA Werc removed to-day by the State
department except in so far as they per-
tam to the shipments of materials suscept-
ibe of immediate use for war purposes.
An individual export license must he
obtained for the shipment of such mater-
ais and 1t was announced that such IL
censes would be granted only in exception
al cases.
Individual export licenses also will be
required for the export to Russia of 10
comotives, railroad material and rolling
stock and motor cars in component parts.
The State departments action while
taken independently of other nations.
followed extensive exchanges between
the United States and Great Britain
and France. It is believed to have been
hastened by the recent negotiation be-
tween Gregory krassin, representing
the BolsheViki government and Pre-
mier Lloyd George looking to the re-
sumption of trale between Great Bri-
tain and Russia.
In announcing it's action the State
department took particular pains to
state that political recognition, present
or future, of any Russian authority cx-
erCiSlHE OF cldlnlnG 10 exercise govern
mental functions was neither granted
nor intended. 1t also emphasized that
individuals or corporations trading
with Russia would do so on their own
responsibility and at their own risk
as this government could offer no pro
lection to Americans going to Russia
or trading with Russia.
The statement was also made by the
department that indications were that
Russia had only small quantity Of raw
materials for export; that its purchasing
power was very limited and that cQnse-
quently there would not be any consid-
cradle trade with that country.
DEPARTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT
The announcement by the department
follows
The restrictions which have heretofore
stood in the way of trade and commuri-
cation with soviet Russia were to-day
removed by action of the department oe
State, Such of these restrictions. however
as pertain to the shipment of materials
susceptible Of immediate use for war pur-
poses will for the present at least. he
maintained
| political recognition. present or future,
| of any Russian authority exercising or
claiming to exercise governmental func-
| tons is neither granted nor implied by
this action. 1t should he emphasized more
a,.i1ir., +bo,,,sai,,as - ,+o n,esar+ on,,or-
| ,,nit 70 t-oao ,.i,L ,,,,..i, Ill, Il, o. o,,
| their own rosnonsihilitv and ar tbeir ov.,
risk Tho aseistancc which tho T-ritod
States can normally extend to it's citizens
who engage in trade or travel in some
| foreign country whose government is rec
| ognized by the United States, cannot he
looked for in the present case. since there
is no official or representative Russian
authority with which this government can
maintain the relations usually sUbsistinC
between nations The action which tho
United States is now taking in no wise
constitutes recognition of tho validity
of industrial or commercial concessions
granted by any existing Russian authority.
American citizens availinC themselves ot
the present relaxation of restrictions arc
warned against the risks incident to the
acceptance OF commodities or otner Va'-
ues the title 10 Whlch may iater ne
brought into question.
WILL lSSI + NO PASSPORTS
The situation which at present pro-
walls relative to travel from or 10 RUSSIA
| VIII ne unaHe'ted py 'he TenloNdl "i tId"e
restrictohS' passports LOT huSSld cam
nor pc ISSUED nor VIII any chahG' he
MADE III inc wise resuIauons no" IN ror'e'
to undertake negotiations WIN tho soviet
postal authorltles' the PoS'olnoe depart
ment VIII be unanie 10 accept man from
or to soviet Russia There mas never
been any parcel post convention hetWe'n
the United States ana RUSSIA ana ms
mode OF forwarding goods Is therefore.
unavailable.
This formal announcement was supple
mented by the following statement;
while the indications are that Russia
has but a small quantity of raw ma
terials available for export, that the pUr-
chasing power Of Russia il very limited,
and that for these reasons there viii
not be any considerable trade, if any. with
, ! Russia, this government, however, doe
not feel that the law abiding people IN
Russia should he deprived Of any assist
, ance which can he derived from suc',
trading as may be possible The attitude
of the United States towards the reco--
| milton of any faction in control of soviet