The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-04-23


Omittins Introductory terms ana
some detailed statistics the letter OF
Secretary Hughes as as follows:
THE receipt is acknowledgeo Oh
your letter of March Is, 1871 IN re-
card to the trade relations pet"een
the United States and Russia.
ar recognize the interest OF the
American people in the questions you
raise and I take pleasure in replying
in detail to them.
Has Little to Sell.
I'm reply to your fir1t statement ~
lis evident that after years OF war; ou.-
ing which normal industry was ol-
verted to the production Of war sup
plies and accumulated stocks were
consumed, Russia does not now pos
sess important quantities OF commodl-
ties which might be exported.
f.1t should be remembered that IN
addition to the period of the war
AGAINST Germany, Russia has now
nassed through more than three years
~ civil war during which industrial
activities have been almost completely
paralyzed. In fact the devastation u
Industry in Russia has been so COM
plete. the poverty of the country IS So
acute, the people are so hungry ana
the demand for commodities Is SO
great that at present Russia repre-
sents a. gigantic economic vacuum ana
M evidence exists that the untortu-
nate situation above descrlbed IS
likely to be alleviated SO long as the
present political and economic system
continues.
'"Thoush there is almost no limit 10
the amount and variety or commoul-
ties urgently needed by Russia, the
purchasing power Of that country IS
now at a. minimum, and the demand
must consequently remain unsatlstleo.
Effect of War.
.In some respects the condition OF
Russia is analogous to that OF other
European countries. The war has lett
the people with diminished productive
man-power and largely Increased
numbers of the disabled, the SICK anu
the helpless.
..1n one important respect, however,
Russia's condition does not correspond
to that of other belligerent states III
: the World war. While those states are
taking such action as is llkely u le
establish confidence, the att1tuoe' anu
action of the present authorizes VI
Russia have tended to undermine lts
no,itica1 and economic relations "ltn
other countries.
"The Russian people are unaole 10
ohtain credit which otherwise mlent
ra ,sed on the vast potential Wealtn
AZ Russia. and are compelled to be de-
nr;ved ~ commodities Immediately
necessary for consumption, raw: ma
tarials and permanent prouuctAve
equipment.
Can't Get Settled.
1.-THE effect of this condltlon Is t'la'
Russia is unable to renew norman, eeo
nomic activities, and apparently VIZ
be unable to obtain urgently neeoeu
commodities until credits may be e1-
tended to Russia on sound basis.
1T should not be overlooked that
+here has been a steady degeneration
An even those industries in SOVIET Rus
siaL that were not dependent upon I'M
= ports of either raw material OF party
finished products, nor in which mas
there been any shortage Of LABOR.
'aThe Russian production of coal, OF
fron and, steel, of flax. cotton, leather
lumber. sulfuric acid or copper, OF az
ricultura1 products. of textiles, ana
the maintenance and repair OF rail-
road equipment, have degenerated
= steadily from their level of production
1.-THE time Of the Bolshevik revolu-
ton. i,;:s z.t. h.
Restrictions Were Removed. 5F8$s5
53;t.:There can be no relation OF the
Continued o. Rage q