New-York tribune., 1922-08-31
u. $. May Send
Commission ON
Visit te, Russia
Object Would BE Merely
10 Study Trade Status,
State Department Says;
Harding Considers Plan
Diplomatic Policy Stands
Krassin Gives Out Terms
on Which American Tour
Could BE Carried Out

From The Tribanes Washf1oton Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. S0.The dis
patch Of technical commission to
Russia to make q comprehensive study
Of economic conditions there soon may
be authorized by President Harding, it
was indicated to-day at the State De-
partment. The proposal has not yet
gone far enough, however, to Justify a
definite announcement Of when the
study Of the Russian situation will
begin.
Commenting on a report from Mos
COW that such survey would be made,
Acting Secretary of State Phillips dis
closed that Ambassador Houghton at
Berlin has made inquiries of the Soviet
authorities as to their attitude toward
the proposed commission. Mr. Phillips
was not disposed to discuss the pro
posal, beyond the following statement
issued by the department late to-day:
In reply to inquiries concerning
statement reported to have been made
at Moscow regarding informal over
lures by the American government to
the Soviet authorities looking TO the
sending of an investigation commits
sion to Soviet Russia, it was explained
at the State Department that the Amer
lean Ambassador at Berlin had made in
quiries with regard to the attitude OF
the Soviet authorities should this gov
ernment consider sending to Russia in
the future an expert technical commits
sion to study and report On the eco
nomic situation there. There has been
no question at any time OF sending
any commission to Russia, other than
an economic commission of experts to
investigate and report"
Puts Matter Up to II. s.
1t is understood that the failure of
the Genoa and Hague conferences
to take any definite action with respect
to Russia has put the matter of ascer~
tanning the exact state of affairs in
Russia, so far as the possibility of
resunling trade relations with the
United States is concerned, directly
before this government. The inquiries
of Ambassador Houghton were made
solely to ascertain whether the Ameri-
can study would be agreeable to the
Soviet authorities.
1t was Indicated that the American
position of non-recognition of Russia
still holds and that diplomatic or
trade relations with that government
would not be authorized unit! the
Soviet powers had met tho dema-,'- =
this country to give ample protection
to American interests there. The
economic survey would be of value to
this government in disclosing the ex-
tent to which Russia has made prog
reess toward rehabilitation, it is de-
clared.
MOSCOW, Aug. 80 (By The Associ-
ated Press Informal overtures made
broached the question OF the United
States mission to Russia, Leonid Kras-
sin, Minister Of Foreign Trade and
Commerce, declared to the correspond
ent to-day, but no official proposals had
been made since Russia outlined her
position on this subject
Three Methods Outlined
There were three possible methods,
said M. Krassin. If America desired
to send a commission empowered to
negotiate for the resumption of Amer
icsn and Russian relations, then the
commission would be received in Mos
COW, or Russia would send a delega-
tion to confer with the Americans at
any place selected.
II the commission were merely an
investigating body, then Russia would
receive it only on basis of reciprocity
sending Russian commission to Amer
lea, as Russia was very much inter
ested in the study of American, eco
nomics.
II it were question of not govern
mental, but commercial Investigators
coming to Russia, the minister added,
then each case would be judged on its
merits, and the representatives OF
American firms which really mean
business would be admitted to investi-
gate propositions interesting them.
Willing to Make Terms With Owners
Russia is now agreeable to the
proposition that foreigners who owned
properties which the government may
let, out to others as concessions shall
be compensated under certain condi-
tions, Al. Krassin declared. In the
event that joint companies were formed
with the Russian governments aud the
foreign concessionaires TO operate suck
properties, then Russia has no objec-
lions to the previous owners receiv-
iag a certain amoUnt of stock in the
rev. mixed company. This. he said,
would apply only to foreigners, and
not TO previous Russian owners.
Russia's foreign trade. particularly
her exports, had been up to expecta-
tions, and even much heavier, M
Krassin declared.
M. krassin, it is announced, win go
70 Berlin in the near future.
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