Evening star., 1933-12-27
RUSSIA PROTESTS
LOW WINE QUOTA
50,WO.GaI|on Allotment by
U. S. Considered Neither
Adequate Nor Fair.

The quota Of $4,000 gallons Of wines
and liquor allotted to the Soviet Re
publics for shipment to the United
States Is considered neither ADEQUATE
nor fair by the Moscow authorities. and
conversations now are proceeding here
between Russian representatives and
the Government for an increase of that
quota to 100.o 900 gallons a month.
The arguments which form the basis
OF RuSsia's request for an increased
quota are:
l Russia has an important adverse
trade balance with the United States
and must be given an opportunity to
sell few of her products in this coun-
try If we expect her To purchase most
OF her needs here.
2. The quota was established on the
average of exports between 1910 and
1914, at which time the Russian wines
entered this country frequently as i'm
ports from France, since the French ex-
port firms were handling a large pro-
portion Of Russian wines.
Trade Balance Favors United States.
While not bringing into discussion
the point that many of the countries
which have been given larger quotas
than Russia are not giving favorable
treatment to American agricultural and
industrial products, the Russians point
out that the trade balance for the time
being Is $400,000,000 in America S favor.
The Soyiets intend to place important
orders in this country in the near fu-
ture. and one of the important assets
for trading-to enable them to paw in
something else than gold-is wine and
liquor. 1t is realized that the present
quotas are temporary, but it is argued
that II the people of this country are
not given chance to taste Russian
wines at present, when there is a dearth
OF wines, the chances of introducing
them in the United States after April
If the slogan of trade with those
who trade with you" is to be applied in
the future dealings of the United States
with foreign countries. the Soviet wines
ought to be given a better chance right
away, the Russians contend.
With the exception of the potent
rouhn, luSS4dIl dlCOuOllC prOQuctS are
little known in this country. it is
pointed out. However, Russia produces
some very high-grade wines and IN
recent years has begun to manufacture
a good quality of brandy.
Wines of High Reputation.
The Caucasian wines, white and red
| and the Crimean wines enjoy a high
reputation in Russia and the neighbo--
ing countries. Though sometimes strong.
tney can be favorably compared with
almost any wine from Europe.
In the days of the Russian Empire
the commerce OF wines and spirits W as
not developed outside the country. Tht
vineyards were in the hands of men
possessing huge estates and they q d
not care whether the wine producI u
was exported or not
The little tnat came into this country
was manipulated by professional deal
ers from outside. In most cases it
came IS a Russian product, by way ot
france or Germany, but in other cases
II came under some other label wlicl
did not indicate the country Of orgn.
although the wine merchants knew
where it came from.
Now that there Is no longer inde-
pendent trading in Russia and the gov
eminent has the exclusive monopoly of
all phases of economic life there. it is
natural that Moscow should try to use
for bartering purposes all possible
sources of wealth Of the country.