Evening journal., 1921-08-04
.SOVIETS AFTER
BUSINESS NOW
Search World Markets For
Machinery, Textiles,
Locomotives
PEOPLE ALSO IN
NEED OF FOOD
BY LLOYD ALLEN

(bnlted Press star correspondent.
LONDON (By MaiD .-Boshevism
has gone into business.
For the time being, at any rate,
the worldwide political propaganda
Of the soviets has been side-tracked.
Today the Soviet communistic
leaders are searching world markets
for machinery, textiles, locomotives
and repair parts for the crippled
Russian factories. They want some
food--canned goods mainly.
Today Soviet Russia is actually
buying goods in every highly indus
trialized country: England, Germany,
italy and-from America, not IN
America, as yet
This is a rough summary of what
1 learn from the Russian Trade Del
egation here in London, the chief of
which is Leonid Krassin; one time
revolutlonist, still a communist but
also a man who believes in the real
allties," as Soviet attaches here say.
In other words. Krassin is classed
by his own people as a practical
idealist" as contrasted with the pure
ly theoretical communist of which
Russia has her full share these days.
One year ago Soviet Russlas rep
utation here in London Except in
Labor Circles) was blacker probably
than in any other country in Europe.
Today a marvellous transforma-
ton has taken place. Soviet com
missioners may be seen any day hur-
rying to and fro in the business sec
tion of London, some of them riding
in spanking brand new automobiles,
hugging large portfolios Of specih-
cations, busily engaged in ordering
goods for Russia.
No longer is the bar Of silence
maintained between the Soviet Dele
cation and the newspapers Soviet
Communiques are issued with as
much freedom and more frequently
than statements come from the old
established embassies Of France,
Italy and other powers.
Apparently, the majority OF Lon
don has accepted the Soviet buyers
as an immediate necessity.
The Liberal English Press and the
Labor Party organs continually in
sist world construction and British
prosperity is impossible unless Rus
sia is opened up and again resumes
her place in the list Of great buying
and selling nations.
Backed by the prestige Of the
British Foreign Office and by a de-
cision of the British Courts. the
Soviet delegation may acquire, in any
way 1t pleases, property. inside Rus
sia, and ship same to England.
Blqntly, the British have legalized
confiscations in Russia; but certain
ly they do not encourage any such
maneuver on the part of the Mos
COW government
| Bulk Of business opinion, and the
verdict Of the British diplomats
would seem t9 be: Let's straighten
out the bygones in Russia somehow
or other-but meanwhile we must
not let past errors hinder the press
ing business Of rehabilitating com
mercial relations.
England-in the midst of wide
spread trade depression-wants to
sell goods and revive home prosperity.
Russia, according to the Soviet rem
resentatives, is a great market and
offers gold and other credits as guar-
antees for purchases. Briefly the
two nations are getting together
J commercially.
France may protest; America NAV
stand amazed at the spectacle ~
England fraternizing with the Soviet
government-but the Soviet dele
cation here is not worrying much.
They confidently believe they viii be
trading with the United States he
fore long; and they don't care a ran
about French protests.
France hase nothing to sell" the
Soviet representatives say; she has
only her enormous debts for money
loaned the corrupt Czarist govern :
ment; much Of which was used to
maintain the Grand Dukes in profit
gate luxury. We win talk OF these
French debts later-now we are
preoccupied trying to establish Rus
sia Of today.