The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-11-02

mate when Maxim Litvinoff, Rus
sian commissar of foreign affairs,
and President Roosevelt get down
to brass tacks in their converse
tions at the White House.
Three relate to barriers which
in the past have prevented recogni-
ton. They are alleged Russian
subversive propaganda. repudiated
debts and confiscated property of
American investors.
Claims In High Figures
The other question has to do
with future trade relations, prin-
cipally long-term credits to allow
Russia to purchase the products of
American farms and factories
which she needs.
American claims, government
and private, against the Russian
government total about 1926, 0OO,-
900.
The governmental claim is q
loan of $187, 100000, plus inter-
est. It was made to the Kerensky
regime just before the bolshevist
revolution when America and the
allies were striving to keep Rus
STA in the war and prevent the
freeing of German troops from the
eastern front.
This debt, along with all debts
of the czarist regime, was repudi-
ated by the soviets early in 1918.
Hull Has Secret File
Private claims are in two parts,
$86, 100000 in bond issues floated
among private investors in New
York in 1916 by the czarist regime,
and approximately $3.50, 000. 900
of American investments in Russia
that were confiscated.
These latter are kept in conf
dental file at the state depart
ment, but they are known to in
clude many large items by Ameri-
cans doing business in Russia at
the time of the revolution.
A favorite American method in
the past of handling such claims
has been to set up q commission
to work out solutions with foreign
representatives. But it is not
known whether Lityinoff is COM
ing prepared to offer any such
solution.
In dealing with other nations
Russia in some cases has agreed to
pay bonuses or high interest on
new business, specifying that the
extra money be applied against
debts and confiscations.
German Debts Figure
When it comes to the govern
mental debt, two points are likely
to be stressed by the Russian COM
missar. The soviets always have
justified Reputation of the czarist
debts by notice issued by leaders
of the abortive revolution of 1905
in which the capitalistic nations
were warned that future obiiga-
tons Of the czar would not be
recognized.
A second point Is that in the
treaty of Brest-Litovsk negotiated
between Russia and Germany in
March, 1918. no settlement of
debts to Germany was reached
and it was agreed that any settle
ment with other nations would
entitle Germany to equal terms.
The Soviet Union never recognized
any such debts.
On the other hand, q cardinal
principle of American foreign
policy since the war has been to
exact some sort Of settlement of
obligations. even though eonsid-
erably scaled down.
Should President Roosevelt de-
mand guarantee that soviet Dip
lomatic representatives in this
country eschew propaganda activi-
ties, it probably would be granted
on \ mutual basis. The Moscow
government has given similar
promises to other governments
and, in fact, has held that it Isl
no more responsible for the for
eign campaigns Of the third In
ternationale than are other gov
ernments for the actions Of pos
litical publicity organizations DOM
iciled within their borders
Credit Buys--cask Sales
Concerning credits for trade.
which department Of commerce of
fieials estimate might reach $780,
goo. 900 . year, il Is considered
likely that the Reconstruction Fi-I
nance Corporation would be ask
ed to advance the necessary mon
ey. II would be deposited in this
country and drawn against ~
Russia bought goods here
/. American purchases in Russia.
&c that country follows her usual
practice, would be for cash.