Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-25
RUSSIAN TRADE:
IS ON UP GRADE
FIGURES REVEAL
Imports and Exports Many
Times What They Were
in 1920; Shops Reopen
ing on CapitaliStic Basis.
tns The Associated Press.l

Moscow, Dec. "a (by the Asso-
ciated Press) Nineteen hundred
and twenty one has been a year
of diplomatic and economic
battling for soviet Russia. 1t
brought the abandonment OF the
government monopoly of domestic
trading and gradual reversion to
capitalistic methods. tempered In
such a way as prevent dangerous
splits in the small communistic
group which dominates the gov
eminent. But the trade for 1921
has been many times what 1t was
in 1920, and the reopening of
shops on the old capitalistic basis
sell in a legal way manufactured
articles which are In great de-
mand.
Hampered by the triple desire
to establish trade relations with
important foreign powers, to pro-
tect the third internationale,
whose headquarters are in Russia
and to hold the communistic party
in Russia intact, Lenine and his
associates were in precarious
situation even before the drought
produced widespread famine in
the Volga area.
Krassin managed to negotiate
trade agreements with England,
Germany and several minor pow
ers, but the foreign trade commits
slons which came to Russia failed
to find the large supplies which
bolshevist readers had heralded
throughout the world. The con-
cession plan which Krassine and
his associates had devised did not
appeal to foreign Investors. Con-
fidence was lacking. Old owners
had no desire to invest more
money in factories which had been
taken away from them and other
foreigners could not be induced to
take factories whose title was
clouded.
The bolshevist government lack
ed the gold necessary to buy
abroad and could not find cred!-
tors. The government announced
it would make import and export
business possible for individuals
and corporations. under govern
ment control This belated state
ment came in October. Commits
sions are working out customs
tariffs and 1922 probably will see
a far larger export and import
trade II the government makes
good its promise to release Its grip
on foreign business.
Leslie Urquhart, British min
ing man, who attempted to obtain
concessions to work the mining
properties which he controlled in
Russia before the Bolshevist re-
gime, said it would be impossible
for him to operate in Russia I'M
til the government stops the acti-
vities of the Cheka, or secret serv-
ice. which he insists is stronger
than the central government with
which concessions are negotiated.
The Cheka always has had an
important part in directing for
eign trade arrangements. Many
commissioners selected by the For
eign Trade Council have not been
permitted to leave Russia. For
eigners are unable to understand
the relations between the Cheka,
which operates under Umslicht,
and the so-called central govern
ment. 1t is not clear whether
there Is a dual government. or
whether the men who are gener-
ally recognized as heads of the
government use the Cheka and
thus avoid direct blame for acts
which meet the public disapprov-
al.
Official figures for the foreign
trade of Russia during the first
nine months of this year show