Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-30

several European countries nave
decided to institute an international
consortium, with an initial capital of
f20.000,000, which capital may seem
inadequate for the vastness of the
work to be accomplished. but it must
be remembered that this capital is
provided by the national corporations
of each country. Behind this capital
are the whole financial resources of
each country ready to finance any
enterprise approved by the interna-
t1onal corporation. Besides, some of
these countries are in position to
advance large sums to their ma
tionals. who will undertake to trade
with Russia or establish themselves
in Russia for this purpose.
In addition to this. individuals who
can prove that thsir enterprises are
properly guaranteed in Russia will
be able to obtain credits from their
the trade facilities act guarantees
capital or interest for financial en-
terprises overseas. This act might
be applied to Russia, there being
f25,000.o00 available which the Brit
ish parliament NAV be induced to
increase. There is also in the Eng
lish system credit, in order to facili-
tate the expectation of English goods,
whereby transactions are guaranteed
up to f26,000.000, of which f15,00O, 900
can sun De disposed OF.
France Cannot Contribute. -
France cannot contribute finan-
cially at the present moment because
expenditures must be sustained for
the reconstruction of her davastated
regions. The French governments.
however, has accepted the Cannes
principle of French participation in
the international consortium for a
share equal to the British participa-
ton. France can offer Russia seeds
or every kind. Arrangements already
Russia several thousand tractors with
the necessary personnel. and also
veterinary stations and stations for
vegetable pathology and agricultural
chemistry France offers 1900 loco
motives, $4,000 trucks and $500 rail-
might be formed for the purpose of
lending rolling stock and caring for
Its upkeep and repair and supplying
the necessary technical personnel.
Might Restart Factories.
French industrial leaders. who in
great numbers contributed to enrich
various parts of Russia, might re-
start their factories the moment they
receive the necessary guarantees.
when they will undoubtedly find in
France or abroad the necessary CAPT
tai. and also ii e technical personnel
that would be needed.
Italy will subscribe 20 per cent of
the capital of the International con-
sortium, and is ready to support any
enterprise aiming at re-establish-
ment of land and water transporta
tion. She is also ready to organize
the sale of her goods in Russia.
Italian agricultural organizations are
tion of agriculture in Russia, while
their technical personnel will parti
cipate in the revival of Russian in
dustries.
Japan Grants S,OOO,0OO Yen.
: Japan also offers assistance, grant
ing a credit of 100000 yen to the
Russo-Japanese Development Com
pany Besides. she intends to carry
out. any other projects which she
n.ercial relations between the two
countries.
1.-THE Belgian government has
paRed special appropriation of
$50, OO0. 900 francs in order to facilitate
expectations. The greater part of
utilized to help Russia. The Belgian
government has decided to submit to
parliament a bill allowing Belgian
fnanciers to participate in the inter-
national consortium in the proportion
of 20 per cent of it's capital.
Time II vital Factor.
FINALLY. If notifications in the
present Russian regime be such as to
restore confidence in workmen. en-
gineers and capitalists, it is certain
that private initiative will find in
Belgium the enormous sums neces-
sary in order to repair, reconstruct
and restart Belgian factories and
timated 1,000,000,000 francs will be
necessary.
Time is an indispensable factor
for the reconstruction of Russia, but
what is important is to begin. The
moment the first impulse is given, the
moment the first pioneers establish
themselves in Russia, letting the
world know that they are successful,
others will follow them, all the more
numerous because the road to Russia
has been closed for such long time"
VIII Work Today.
After completing the preamble the
subcommission began consideration
of the articles of the document,
which, it is expected. will consume
arranged for both morning and aft
ernoon.
Two articles were agreed upon this
afternoon and an understanding was
reached concerning the terms under
which 1 the property Of foreigners oi ma
ment will be restored to the use"
of the former owners. This question
caused much discussion and was
finally referred to the legal commit
tee, headed by NJ. Fromageot of
France, which supplied the accepted
draft.
Legal Difficulties Many.
An important fact in connection
with this decision is that France
conceded the right of the
Russian government to nationalize
the property of foreigners and agreed
to a plan whereby the mere use of
pationalized property, rather than
actual title to the property. is to be
restored. The legal difficulties were
many in framing the conditions un-
der which this will be done, as the
different legal systems of the several
countries have such varied legal ter
minology that it was not easy to
arrive at text conveying the same
meaning to all the countries.
Article 2, which relates to Russia's
war debts, provoked much discussion
and differences of opinion as to how
to devise q method whereby the debts
could be scaled down and what was
the authority which would finally pass
on the reductions. Great Britain sug-
gested the league Of nations. The
Hague tribunal and the American
Supreme Court but no decision was
Britain and Japan, oewhom Russia
owes most of it's war debts, were desig-
mated to devise new text for the
article.