The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-06-11

1" StOeNhoiu oh Mdfcn 81, Wnen, what
may be termed "The Girst Commercial
Commission Of the First Socialist Re.
public in the World'' broke thru the
Gordon sanitaire of the imperialistic
world and arrived in Sweden, where it
was given royal welcome by the toilers
of that country. "The Politiken" of
April first carries the following inter
esting and vivid account of the event.
which, tho late, will undoubtedly be
read with interest in this country!
SOVIET RUssIA's FIRST COM.
MERCIAL COMMISSION.
A piece of world history was written
yesterday. The blockade policy of tbe
Entente and its vassal states against
SOVIET Russia has miscarried beyond
redemption, and Sweden is the first
country to be accorded the honor of
receiving a Russian Commercial Com.
mission. This delegation, whose arrival
has been looked forward to with great
anticipation, arrived in Stockholm at
five O'Clock yesterday afternoon on the
steamer Oihonna. As early as three
o clock a considerable number of spec
tators and friends Of Soviet Russia had
assembled. Among those, who were
present when the steamer landed were
the representative in Sweden of the
Soviet Government, Fricdrik Strom;
Wilhelm Hellberg, Socialist attorney;
zeth Hoglund and C.. N. Carleson, edi-
tors of the Politiken; Carl yinberg,
member Of parliament; and many other
Left Wing Socialists Local Stockholm
of the Left Wing was represented by
Einar Ljungberg, who carried an i'm
posing wreath, decorated with red rib
bon, intended for L. B. Krassin. In
addition to these there were at the
gangplank half-score of young ladies'
loaded with flowers.
Among those who undoubtedly await
ed the steamer with greatest anxiety
was Mrs. Krassin and her children.
Mrs. Krassin, it will be noted. has been
living in Sweden for a few years
and Mr.. Krassin can therefore during
his visit stay under his own roof
something that the other members Of
tie commission cannot do. The few
Russian friends of the Soviet Repub.
lie (Russians still remaining in Stock
holm) were also represented thru Pro.
fessor Smirnoff
Late in the evening the Politiken
succeeded in arranging an interview
with Mr. Krassin, who in spite of the
manv hardships of the journey oblig-
ingly put himself at our disposal.
Regarding the chief aims Of the com.
mission, Kranssin pointed out that the
commercial policy Of Russia is based
on the following principles:
The country is at present-in need of
large amount of commodities, which
may be divided into two categories
First, industrial products like shoes
clothes, ETC., and, second. different
kinds of machinery and tools, neces
sary for the reconstruction of industry
Tho commodities of the first class
are kecnly needed, Russia must for
the present get along without them
because her gold fund does not permit
the purchase of mere articles Of i'm.
mediate consumption. The principal
needs of Soviet Russia are locomotives
and other railroad materials essential
to the increase of the country's pro.
ductive powers, and to obtain these is
the foremost purpose Of the commits
sion.
There are in Russia, and especially in
Siberia, enormous stocks of raw ma.
terial, such as grain, leather, flax,
fats and minerals especially graphite
but these cannot be moved until the
war caeses since all available means
Of transportation must be used for war
purposes.
In the course Of the conversation
Mr.. Krassin releated that during the
past ~ years no less than $500 rail.
road bridges have been constructed OF
put in order. Among these is the i'm.
portant Syrenian bridge over the Volra.
5000 kilometers Of railroad track have
also been laid. Besides this everything
possible has been done to bring trans.
portation back TO normal.
Krassin emphasized that for these
essential commodities, locomotives and
other railroad materials, Russia is will.
ling to pay in gold. In addition to her
own gold resources Russia has, thru the
defeat Of Kolchak, come into possession
lof great masses Of gold which this
Czarist general had turned over to the
Checho.Slovaks. With the needed 10.
comotives in operation Russia will be
in position to move grain to the cities
and at the same time revive transpor.
tation of commodities and raw ma.
terials.
Mr.. Krassin then referred to the com.
mercial relations between Sweden and
Russia, and in his capacity of Industrial
engineer praised the Swedish
metal industry very highly and
considered the Swedish constructors as
the foremost in the world. Russia is
ANXIOUS to buy locomotives Immediately
from Sweden and will pay cash in geld,
and is willing to deliver, grain to
Sweden later when, with the aid of
these locomotives, transportation be.
comes normal.
The blockade was also touched upon
In the conversation, and Krassin said
that Russia has not as yet received
official notification Of its cessation.
Thus, 1t is still in effect, and Russia
does not want to send out any ships
because Of the risk of being captured.
One Of the main conditions for no.
gotiations with England and other
countries is that there must he no