The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-12-24
VANDERtIP'S
BIG RUSSIAN
CONCESSION

new 1OrK, Dec. II. - NOnlJeQ
Press "A quiet little man, modest
in appearance and bearing, walking
down the gangplank of the liner
Aquitania onto American soil this
afternoon, bearing in a portmanteau
documents covering the biggest bus
mess deal in the history Of the
world. He was Washington D. Van
derlip, 81, American mining engi-
neer, who recently signed with the
Russian Soviet government a con-
tract covering all commercial rights
in the vast territory of Kamchatka,
involving about $3,000,000, 900.
This contract will not become eff
fective, he said, until the United
States government resumes trade
relations with Russia. This, he en-
phasized, does not necessarily mean
political recognition of the Soviet
government. He does not intend to
take up this matter directly with
the state department, but does plan
to do "some missionary work" in
this country.
"Our future attitude toward Rus
STA will be governed by public opin-
ion," Vanderlip said at is entirely
up to the American people as to
whether they wish to get the cream
of the great business opportunities
in Russia or take skinned milk
after other European countries are
through. France already has form
ed a committee to investigate the
possibility Of resuming trade rela-
tions with Russia and it is we'll
known that Great Britain is about
to take this step"
According to Vanderlip, the Chi
nese government is about to extend
political recognition to Russia. He
said that just before he left Moscow
he was given a letter from Foreign
Minister Tchitcherin showing that
an official Chinese delegation had
just concluded preliminary negotia-
tions for recognition of Russia, I'M
der which the Soviet government
would undertake to return to China
all territories seized under the old
czarist regime and to repay all in
IDENTITIES similarly exacted.
Vanderlip bore message from
the Soviet government to the Amer
lean people, declaring that Russia
does not want American sympathy,
but American locomotives" and that
"the Russian army and navy will
never rest until all Japanese are
under the ground or under the sea-"
In explanation of this latter state
ment, he said the Japanese are still
holding great portion of the ter
ritory involved in his deal but that
the Russians are steadily driving
them out.
Vanderlip said there was suffi-
cient oil in Kamchatka to furnish all
of the western United States and
Canada and that his hackers planned
to erect their main refineries in
Seattle. Coal is so plentiful, he
said, that much of it is actually
on the surface, and he predicted he
would be able to sell coal on the
Pacific Coast of the United States
for $4 a ton.
While preparing to explore the
eastern Siberian coast "a years ago
for British syndicate, he was ship
wrecked on the shores of Kamchatka
and soon learned of the vast coal
and petroleum deposits there, as we'll
as the extensive fisheries in the
adjacent waters. Last summer he
succeeded in interesting group of
Los Angeles business men in the
project of exploiting this rich coun-
try, he said. He started for Rus
STA in July. He met Krassin, Boil
shevik trade representative in Co.
penhagen, and through him paved
the way for conference with Pre-
mier Lenin and other Soviet Off
Gals. He was in Moscow 60 days,
during which time he talked with
more than so technical advisers of
the government, including several
former imperial mobiles.
when the deal was completed,
an agreement was reached that
none of the industries in Kamchatka
should be run on the Soviet plan,"
he said. "Bolshevism and commun-
ism will soon die in Russia and will
be replaced by regular republican
government, but the leaders of the
new government will be the same as
those heading the Soviet govern
ment. They have won the conf
dence and love of the people. All
reports of atrocities and the red
terror are the veriest propaganda.
While l was in Moscow it was as
quiet as June day on the banks
of the Wabash"
Vanderlip arrived in London three
weeks ago. He said he was imme-
diately beseiged by manufacturers,
oil merchants and members of par
lament, all of whom wanted to in
vest in his syndicate. One group
offered to buy half of his contract,
while other offers were made to un-
derwrite the whole deal.
"A man named Wise, who is head
of the commission on British trade
relations with Russia, finally told
me he had arranged for me to have
conference with Premier Lloyd
George, but | was just ready to sail
for New York l couldn't keep the
engagement" he said.
Following is a list of the men
Vanderlip said We're backing him,
all from Los Angeles:
Harry chandler, publisher of the
Times; c. F. Brandt, vice president
Of the Title Trust Company; w. D.
Stewart, president of the Union
Oil Company; E. L. Whittier, oil
operator; J F. Santori, president of
the Security Trust and Savings
Company; T. E. Gibbon, retired at
torney; B. Jevne, president of a
chain of groceries: T. w. Braun,
head of a chain of groceries; T.
N