The New York herald., 1921-12-26
SOVIETS LIKELY TO
EXTEND SUFFRAGE
The All Russian Communist
Congress Dealing With New
Economic Policy.

Moscow. Dec. 25.--In the sessions Of
the All-Russian Communist conference,
which drew up a program for considera-
tion by the Ninth Ai-Ruesian Soviet
Congress-. tho representatives OF the
Third Internationale took q prominent
part They included Carr. representing
the United States Renal represent
ing Germany; Katayama. representing
Japan. and Souvarin, representing
France.
The general impression prevails that
the Congress itself will greatly extend
the suffrage as q result OF the new
economic policy and permit many traders
and the employers of labor to vote.
Moscow, Dec. rs (Associated 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 grad
ual reversion to capitalistic methods.
tempered In such q way as to prevent
dangerous splits In the small Communis-
tic group that dominates the Govern
ment. But the trade for 1921 has been
many times what 1t was in 1920, and the
reopening Of the shops on the old CAPT.
talistio basis has afforded an opportunity
to sell in a legal way manufactured ar
tlcles which are in great demand.
Hampered by the triple desire to es-
tablish trade relations with important
foreign powers. to protect the Third In
tcrnationale. whose headquarters Is in
Russia. and to hold the Communistic
party in Russia intact, Lenine and his
" <tr.vgO alf
ton even before the drought produced
widespread famine in the Volga area
: Krassif,e managed to negotiate trade
agreem, nts with England. Germany and
several minor Powers. but the foreign
trade commissions which came to Rus
STA failed to find the large supplies
which Bolshevist leaders had heralded
throughout the world. The concession
plan which Krassine and his associates
had devised did not appeal to foreign
investors.
No Confidence shown.
Confidence 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 lacked the
gold necessary to buy abroad. and could
not find creditors. The Government an
nounced II would make import and ex-
port business possible for individuals
and corporations under Government
control. This belated statement came
In October. Commissions are working
out customs tariffs. and 1922 probably
will see far larger export and import
trade IL the Government makes good It's
promise to release its grip on foreign
business.
Leslie Urquhart. a British mining
man, who attempted to obtain conces-
sions to work the mining properties
which he controlled in Russia before the
Bolshevist regime. said 1t would be Inn
possible for him to operate In Russia
until the Government stops the activi-
ties Of the Cheka. or secret service.
which, he insists. is stronger than the
central Government with which conces-
sions are negotiated.
Cheka wields Much Power.
The Cheka always has had an i'm
portant part In directing foreign trade
arrangements. Many commissioners Sc
lected by the Foreign Trade Council
have not been permitted to leave
Russia. Foreigners are unable to under
stand the relations between the Cheka.
which operates under Umslicht. and the
so-called central government. 1t Is not
clear whether there is a dual govern
ment or whether the men who are gen.
orally recognized as heads OF the gov
ernment use the Chcka and thus avoid
direct blame for acts which meet with
public disapproval.
Official figures for the foreign trade
4, .ta hA t,tn hu
of this year show that the exports
totalled roughly 100000 tons. These ex-
ports were chiefly raw materials or
partly manufactured articles. such as
timber, railway ties. leather, fur. tar.
bristles, hair, asbestos and graphite.
Thirty three per cent. of the exports
went to England. Forty-six per cent.
chiefly wood and flax, went to Latvia
for expectation TO various countries.
The value of goods exported from Janu-
ary until August 81 was about
g1 40 600.