The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-12-10
Robert W. Dunn on
us. Concessions in
The Soviet Union

w 1Dll4N " lON, Dec. S.-hODGGl
W. Dunn, author of American
Foreign Investments" Company
Unionism" and other books on socia
problems, delivered a lecture here yes
terday at a conference of "The Anti
Monopoly League" on Concessions
In Russia" The following is an ex-
cerpt from his lecture:
American concessions in the So
Wet Union are not to be compared
with concessions in any other coun-
try. Their size and their peculiar
character indicate no progress on the
part of United States business in
terests in exploiting the Soviet
Union as they would exploit a typi-
cal backward country Certainly tbs
government of the Soviet Union has
made it clear from the beginning OF
its existence that it would not con-
slider itself in a class with the defense
less colonial countries-to be treated
like the Great. Powers treat China
Nicaragua, Liberia, Cuba or India.
The Soviet Government has no ma
tural resources to be developed on
that basis.
Big Investment Possibilities.
''The Soviet Government has stated
its terms and exercises its right t.
select its customers. 1t has granted
relatively few concessions and is not
now interested in small concessionary
undertakings. However the Supreme
Concessions Committee states that
within the next years a billion dol
lars can be profitably invested by
foreign concessionaires in the Soviet
Republics. This can be done, they
declare, without disturbance to the
present plans for the further social
cation of industry and trade in the
country and without conflicting with
the fundamental economic policies OF
the country.
Full Right to Strike.
CONCESSION companies operating
in the Soviet Union must strictly OBJ
serve all the provisions of the Labor
Code and pay a wage equal if MOI
higher than that paid in the state IN
dustries. The workers have the full
legal right TO strike and have exer-
cised 1t UPON occasions. They are en-
titled to all the social aid otner bene-
fits achieved through collective bar
gaining and the making of collective
agreements between the trade unions
and the concessions company. Local
shop committees must be dealt with
ana all the union apparatus fully
recognized.
Inc Soviet Government is in
-osted in attracting capital only to
branches of the national econ
which it cannot at present de-
up with its own capital. Many of
CO Il, ssions, however, have proved
70 be ..u6e advantageous to the con-
ssioA5 company.
Keep Their Contracts.
oreign business men, desiring to
secure concessions in the Soviet
Union are dealt with by the COM
petent authorities of the Supreme
Concessions Committee. and when
the Russians make a contract con-
corning concessions they keep it. AS
they have stated repeatedly: mo ob-
legation undertaken by the Soviet
Government has ever been renounced
or not been carried out in full" They
guarantee that no property of the
concessionaire can be confiscated or
requisitioned and that all questions
arising out OF concessions are sub
nlitted to third party Tor arbitra-
ton.
"The Soviet attitude toward con-
cessions remains what it was when
they addressed an answer to some
questions put by Mr.. Ivy Lee early
in 1927. We admit foreign capital
because we are strong enough ana
can regulate its role In our Socialist
economz.'
investments in the Soviet Union
are likely to help promote the peace
Of the world for the policy OF the
Soviet Government is unquestionably
a policy of peace as indicated by her
Sincere disarmament proposals at
Geneva. American capitalists who are
not interested in colonial exploitation
and superprofits, but who want to
deal with stable and responsible
government viii do well to consider
the concession possibilities now open
IN the Soviet Union with its unsur-
passed natural resources"
Save Greco and Carrillo!