The Washington times., 1922-12-11
RUSSIAN FLEET
AWAITS j. S. !.
TRADE.
Soviet Government Looks for
Recognition by New
Congress.
BY WILLIAM RANDORF.
Cosmopolitss News Service.

BY WILLIAM RANDORF,
Cesmopolitas News Service.
NEW YORK. Dec. 11.-"Action
by the new Progressive -Democratc
bloc In Congress for recognition OF
Russia Is looked for shortly by the
soviet government" Charles Recht'
attorney in the United States fol
the soviets, said today following his
return. from Russia. He furthtr
asserted:
"The old Russian volunteer, mer-
camille fleet has just been reorgan.
lied on a semi private basis and
will have a strength Of forty freight
and passenger vessels, some OF
which would engage In Pacific coast
trade with the United States as
soon as recognition was accorded.
Wants u. 8. Products.
Russia 10 prepared to buy many
products from the United states
and to export over Pacific coast
routes such commodities az iurs'
platinum, gold and silver.
While in Moscow. Recht was IN
daily communication with Foreign
Minister Tchitcherin and other Rus
sian leaders.
"Strong opposition to the recogni'
lion of Russia will undoubtedly
make itself felt when the issue
comes up in CONGRESS" he said.
I'm anticipation OF the issue: q
campaiRn Of propaganda against
Russia has been revived by certain
reactionary' newspapers here. Ana
undoubtedly william J. Burns VAL
come forth with some trumped'up
charge at the right time.
Denies Burns Charges.
Recently, Burns asserted that
reds were trying to upoermane
American schools. That cnAEke
shsurd. the Moscow government
isnf interested in American schools,
Il has too many problems 10 tace
In orra nixinR its own schools"
lust which Senators will lead
the bloc urging recognition OF Rus
sia, Recht would not say. From
previous expressions o. op'nCn'
however, II is believed Borah. La
Foliette, and johnson will be prom
inentiy identified with the move.
"It n expected that several OF
the new Democrats. not the VIII
son Democrats. also will back rec
ognition," said Recht.
Recognition of Russia II . busi.
hess proposition Of great value to
| the-/two countries. Russia has no
desire to interfere with the govern.
ment Of the United States In any
way. - So
Trend ID Conservative.
The reorganization Of the volun'
teer fleet shows the conservative
trend Of Russia affairs. The volun
teer fleet was first organised ,unoes
the Czarist government. When the
war came. many OF the boats were
taken over by emergency shipping
boards in various countries.
when the revolution followed
the fleet was nationalixed. Now Il
has been denationalised a. restored
to its old basis. The directors Z, ,oi
the Cxarist. regime have been -
Much ot tn. property Of IN,
fleet Is still scattered. The Britisf
government has just settled with
the Soviet government for severa
ships for $s.o00.000 and Russia Il
spending $s.00o.00o Of that amount
for the building OF, new ships ir
England. to b added to the neet
Tho Emergency Shipping Board
| mere tOOk Over Two nuBD1Au uolpU
valued at 81 .4e6. 900. and Russis
has not yet been reimbursed foI
them.
i Wants Freedom Of Straits. s
Once recognition 10 accorded
Russia by tho United States. al
these matters could be quickly set
tied and trade could be resumed
OF the forty ships that the voltin
teer fleet viii own. the pnAjorit,
win be Of about 10000 tons tonnas,
and from six 10 eight would oper
ate between Siberia and American
ports on the Pacific coast.T,
Il Asked about the position OF Rus
sia at Lausanne. Recht aid.
IA glance at the map w1ll show
at once the great importance oi
the straits zone to Russia and hpw
necessary to her economic nfe, Z
real freedom Of the straits II, Thu
Alliance between Turkey and Rus
ala has only one basis. that Of eco
nomic necessity. However. that II
the basis Of most alliances between