New-York tribune., 1921-09-12
Soviet Offers
Concessions to
Help Business
After Foreign Aid to Revive
Manufacturing; Plant of
Westinghouse Electric
Operated by Agreement
Singer Factory Is Seized
American Ownership of the
International Harvester
Co. Is Not Recognized

MOSCOW, Sept. ii (By The Associa-
ted Press. ).~-Leonid Krassin, Soviet
trade representative, said to-day that
the Westinghouse Electric factory on
the Volga River was the only American
property in Russia that had not been
natonalized by the Soviet government.
He said the exception was made in that
case because Che managers did not
abandon the factory, but entered into
an arrangement with the Soviet gov
| ernment which amounted to practically
the same thing as naturalization.
Concessions are now being offered to
the manufacturers Of other countries,
M. 'Krassin said, in an effort to revive
! manufacturing in order to utilize raw
materials. He said that the Soviet
government takes Westinghouse prod
ucts and pays money to the concern,
| which in turn pays the Soviet govern
ment percentage on production.
Singer Plant Taken Over
He said the International Harvester
plant had not exactly been nationalized,
but that the Soviet government did
not recognize American ownership Of
the plant, which he said was still op-
Grating. He declared that the Singer
sewing machine factory was taken over
by the old Russian government and con-
verted into factory for the manu-
facture of arms before the Soviet
regime. Consequently, the Soviet gov
ernment recognizes no American prop
erty rights in the factory, he said.
He said also that the interests of the
New York Life Insurance Company and
No{ &c
were regarded as the property of the
Soviet government. However, he con-
tinued, while the Soviet government
recognized no legal right of any for
eigner to property held in Russia be-
! fore the revolution, yet for purposes
of negotiation in an effort to better
| the international situation and to re-
establish industries and trade, the
Soviet government was willing to make
foreign property and even foreign debts
basis for negotiation.
When asked if the Soviet government
would give former foreign owners of
property in Russia preferences in
granting concessions in lines formerly
controlled by certain interests in Rus
sia, he said:
Naturally we consider the special
knowledge Of former factory owners.
1t is our desire to get industrial con-
cessions into the hands of men who
know their business thoroughly"
One Foreign Concession
A Swedish concern has been granted
a concession to establish ball bearing
factory in Russia, which, M. Krassin
said, Is the only foreign concession
actually signed up.
Under the new economic policy con-
cessions will probably be granted
shortly to Leslie Urquhart 30 take over
certain mining properties formerly
owned by him. There are also negotia-
| tions pending with Norwegians and
Swedes for the manufacture of matches
and paper and with German financiers
for the mining of iron ore in Kurska,
! where there are valuable deposits of
| magnetic ores.
M. Krassin said the persons to whom
concessions would be granted would be
| allowed to deal individually with work
men, through unions, and that the gov
ernment would not interfere. He de-
clared that the Soviet government still
adheres strictly to the principle Of
state monopoly in export and import
trade, although recognizing domestic
free trade both in retail and wholesale
dealings. Special arrangements, he
said, will be made for the expectation
Of the products manufactured by for
eign concerns, but these foreign firms
desiring to sell to Russians must deal
through the Soviet co-operatives or the
Soviet government ON cash or credit
basic