Evening star., 1932-12-25

action and emphasis laid on the con-
tribution already made by American
technical engineering skill In the in
dustrianzation of Russia.
This year there has been a slump in
Russian products coming to the United
States. For the first nine months of
1892 Russian exports 10 this country,
according to Russian figures. were
valued at s5,1l6, 900, as compared with
S7,814000 for the first nine months Of
last year. Her Imports from the United
States have shrunk to almost inslgnifl-
cant figures.
The Russians are having a difficult
time in making their foreign trade
serve its one great purpose. Since the
Soviet Union needs foreign technical
equipment and other supplies to COM
plete its program Of industrialization,
and since it has only limited credit In
foreign countries, it must produce IN
excess of its internal needs sufficient
change with which to pay for its I'M
ports from the outside world. AmaSsing
such a surplus for export is very dih-
cult when its own people, to large
extent, still lack many Of the necessities
Of life.
From January to October l the
Soviet government imported foreign
products valued at approximately 800
600. 900 gold rubles and exported its
own goods valued at some All 100000
gold rubles. The unfavorable balance
Still continues. Prices have played
havoc with Russian foreign trade be-
cause, although SO far this year RUSSIA
has exported more than eight tunes as
much goods as were imported, those ex-
ported were bulk products ana tney
have brought rrices too low to meet the
prices demanded for the goods lmPor.- poll
merce points out, the United states
was in sixth place among the lmpor-
tant customers of the Soviet Union.
Leading the list is England. followed by
Germany, France, Persia, Italy ana the
Netherlands.
Those fayoring recognition claim
that the resumption of complete dlplo-
matte relations with Russia would Ia
cilitate increasing business ana ease
credit conditions. During the past 1e"
DAYS farmers organizations. a group
of ex-service men and the Sociailst
candidate for the presidency this year
have urged recognition. Finally, the
chairman of Amtorg, the semi-ofncial
purchasing agent in New York OF tne
Russian Soviet government, stated TINS
week that, in his opinion, next year
the U. S. S. R. plans to double itS
orders for all sorts of foreign products,
largely iron and steel and machinery
and he expects that in 1888 conditions
will be such that much OF this trade
can 20 to the United States"
Opponents Of recognition point to
the fact that Russia needs credit be-
fore she can buy our goods and that
general conditions do not warrant our
extending this credit. It is true that
certain American organizations, among
them concerns manufacturing mach1n-
cry and tools, have endeavored to enect
combinations Of bankers and others IN
the United States to extend credit
to Russia, hoping for trade in return.
The governments Of Great Britain.
Germany and some other European
countries have in the past helped to
finance the business Of their nationals
with Russia-not always to their own
satisfaction. This could be done legally
in this country. Moreover. say the op-
ponents Of recognition, Soviet imports
could not be paid for except through
exports and the latter-controlled as
they are by the government at Moscow
for political as we'll as economic rea-
sons-could not be depended on in our
American way Of doing business.
tcopyrisht, 1e32.S