The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-29
BY JOSEPH ii. BAIRD
United Press stan Correspondent


WASHINGTON, July 29.-When
Russia, in 1923, launched her ia
nous five-year economic program,
a vast concerted powerful effort to
pull the country out of economic
mire, she set powerful forces in mo-
ton which are just now beginning
to have serious repercuSsions here.
Never before except in wartime
has the world witnessed such an
intense economic drive by nation.
BY a combination Of self-denial
and zeal approaching the fanatical,
and a virtual industrial draft Of
reluctant sections of the population,
Russia is fighting for an economic
position with determination which
has begun to cause concern in
some sections of American industry.
While many American business
men regard the attempted economic
rebirth of Russia as new trade
opportunity, others see in 1t a new
trade menace. These latter are be-
ginning to be heard from in en-
phatic terms.
Trade Shows Big Jump
Business associations have seized
on a ready means of combating
Russian competition sections OF the
new tariff act prohibiting imports
of goods made under conditions
which obtain. to some extent, in
Russia.
This embyrc trade war, officials
agree. is bound to have an erect
on the rapidly-growing commerce
between the United States and the
Soviet. This trade jumped from
virtually nothing in immediate
postwar years to SLOT ,260,919.
Lumber, pulp wood, manganese
and coal are the principal Soviet
commodities which American pro-
ducers are trying to shut out.
All are important Soviet products.
All are sent out from Russia with
the hope of building up big foreign
credits for an undercapitalized state.
Economists say all of these must
be sold by the Soviet in large GUAM
titles if her ambitious plan OF ex-
pansion is to be realized.
Convict Labor Charged
Producers of coal pulp wood and
lumber charge these products are
nroduced in Russia by convict labor.
section 3o7 of fire tariff bill bars
such goods.
Manganese companies. on the
other hand, 'allege Soviet Russia Is
dumping" this important COM
modify. indispensable for steel-mak-
ing. in the United States at less
than cost.
This position is supported by
statement in the current reports
of the commerce department.
Russia apparently has succeed
ed" It said, lin capturing the great
er part of the United States market
for manganese ore.
On the other side of the trade
picture-and likewise menaced by
developments of the last few weeks
are American exports to the
Soviet. These hulk far larger than
the incoming products
Cotton King of Exports
Cotton is king of them all. In
1929 the southern states supplied
2s9. 16I bales - 150,2SS,520 pounds -
worth SOS. 492.530 to Soviet Russia.
Some of this went by way of Great
Britain, but much was sent direct.
This enormous cotton trade took
a sharp upward leap after Great
Britain broke of diplomatic rela-
tons with the Soviet in 1927,
Agricultural implements follow
close behind cotton in importance.
In 1921 Russian purchases from The
United States we're worth only S3ll,-
O46. Last year the figure grew to
S20.12l. 429. These implements, par
ticularly, trade experts say. are vital
to the success Of the Russian agrar-
ian program.