The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-08
BANON TRADE WITH SOVIET RUSSIA IS| DESCENDED BY ~. S.|
Individual Export Licenses Required for War Mate rial, Locomotives, Rail- road Material, Rolling Stock, and Motor Cars and Component Parts.
as Assooia..d Prs.s

ay Associated Press
 Washington, July Re strictions on trade with soviet Russia were removed today by the state department except jn- solar as they pertain to ship ments of materials susceptible of immediate use for var pur- poses. An individual export )i- cense must be obtained for the shipment of such materials and 1t Was announced that such 'i- censes would be granted only in exceptional cases
 Individual export licenses also will be required for the export to Russia of locomotives, railroad material and rolling stock, and motor cars and com ponent parts.
 The state departments action, while taken independently of other nations followed extensive changes between the United States and Great Britain and France It is believed to have been hastened by the recent negotiations be- tween Gregory Krassln, representing the bolsheviki government, and Pre- mier Lloyd George. looking to the re- sumption of trade between treat bri- tain and Russia.
 In announcing it's action, the
 state department took particular
 pains to state that political recog-
 milton, present future, of any
 Russian authority exercising or
 claiming to exercise government
 functions was neither granted nor
 intended. It also emphasized that
 individuals or corporations trading
 with Russia would do so on their
 own responsibility and at their own
 risk as the American government
 could offer no protection to Amerf-
 cans going to Russia or trading
 with Russia.
 The statement also was made by the department that indications were that Russia had only small quantity or raw materials available for export; that it's purchasing power was very limited and that consequently there would not be any considerable traae with that country.
 OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
 
 follows:
 "The restrictions which have hereto fore stood in the way of trade and com rnunication with soviet Russia were To- day removed by action of the depart ment of state Such of these restrictions, however, as pertain to the shipment ol materials susceptible of immediate use for war purposes will Tor the presen'' at least, be maintained.
 political recognition, present or Iu- ture, of any Russian authority exer- cising or claiming to eXerclse govern mental functions, is neither granted nor implied by this action. It snouid pc emphasized moreover. that indlvlduals or corporations availing themselves or inc present opportunity to trade With Russia will do so on their own respon- sibility and at their own risk. The as sistance which the United states can normally extend to it's citizens Wno en- gage in trade or travel in some foreign country whose government is recognizeo by the United States cannot be looked for in the present case. since there IS no official or representative Russian au- thority with which this government can maintain those relations usually suosist- gs-r between nations.
 sssfihs aesief ahsch the Ialted States N new taxing ir nc wise constitutes recogissfSon 3f tie validity cf industrial xx connsereiai concessions granted by 4f @wtsting Russian astthorsty Afner'- ~ e4ens avatilng themselves of the present reiaxation of restr'cts2as are warned s.s4ilst the fiska iAeie -e ti,e accordance of commodities or other val ues. the title to which may later De brought into question
 s'The situation which at present pre- vails relative to travel from or to Rus. sia will be unaffected by the removal Of trade restrictions. Passports for Russia cannot be issued. nor will any change be made in the wise regulations now Tn force.
 .sSince 1t is not desirable at this time to undertake negotiations with the SO viet postal system, the postoffice de- partment will be unable to accept mall from or to soviet Russia There has never been any parcel post convention between the United States and Russia and this mode of forwarding goods IS therefore unavailing
 SUPPLEMENTARY STATEMENT
 This formal announcement was sup plemented by the following statement: ! While the indicatins are that Rus sia has but small quantity of raw ma < terials available for export. that the purchasing power of Russia is very f limited and that for these reasons there ' will not be any considerable trade, II any, with Russia, this government. however, 0OeS not Ieei that lHc Ia W . abiding people in Russia should be de- prived of any assistance which can be derived from such trading as may be possible.
 sThe attitude of the United States towards the recognition of any factions in control of soviet Russia has not changed. This government is not will- ing by means of political recognition to lend positive assist, .e to fac- tion whose disregarf sthe principles of democracy is evidenced at home by the maintenance of minority despot- ism. and abroad by an insidious cam paign of propaganda to subvert popular governmental institutions expressive of the will of the majority"
 Trade between the United States and Russia has been prohibited since the bolsheviki gained contrl in that cuKtry year before the end of the world WAT. Even before that time 1t had been lim- ited because of the demorAlized condi- ton of the Russian railroads. Some ex- I ports mostly war materials. had been sent to vladivostok and ArchangeL but hnuch of it never was moved to the in- erior.
 Rao1ests that the state department