Evening star., 1947-12-14
Soviet Economic Pacts
Expected With Some
Marshall Plan Nations
BY the Asseeioisd Pre.s

MOSCOW, Dec. l3.-Observers in
Moscow speculated today that the
new f1ve-year trade pact between
Russia and Czechoslovakia might be
the forerunner of similar treaties
throughout Europe which may utli-
mately include some Marshall
Plan" countries.
The British announcement yes
terday Of Soviet-British discussions
to begin next May on 'long-term'
trade arrangements, an the Czech
pact, these observers said, are signs
Of a revolutionary application OF
Soviet state economic planning to
the field of foreign trade. They in
terpreted these steps as the Russian
answer to the Marshall plan.
Details OF the Czech agreement,
signed two days ago, were made
public along with announcement of
a short-term credit to Czechoslo-
vakia.
An official statement said the
total amount Of supplies for each
country during the period from
1949 to 1852 will amount to five bill
lion Czechoslovakia kroners $780,
000, ,00O annually.
Czech Imports Listed.
In 1948 Czechoslovakia will get
food and fodder, cotton, fertilizers
oil products, iron, manganese and
chromium ore, pig iron, ferrous al
loys and "other raw materials need
ed by Czech industry"
Czechoslovakia next year will send
to the Soviet Union oil piping, rails
machinery for generating power and
general industrial machinery, sugar
textiles, shoes, plate glass, chemicals
and "other commodities.
The two governments agreed that
they would "endeavor to annually
increase" the indicated bulk of ex-
change commodities.
The statement said the Soviet
Union, taking into consideration
the hardships to Czechoslovakia tt
pay for these commodities to be
furnished in 1948," has agreed tt
grant the Czechoslovak governmen,
a short term credit. An Informed
source said the amount of thL
credit was substantial"
Other Agreements Signed.
The two nations also signed agree
ments on trade and navigation ane
on scientific and technical collab
grafton.
Settlement of the main questions
connected with the projected Brit
ish-Russian trade pact was seen a!
giving a green light to Western
European nations wishing to trad,
with the Soviet Union, provided the,
had goods to offer in exchange TO,
Russian grain.
The observers said the Czecho.
slovak pact emphasized once NOR
the Importance of Russias grain Sur
plus in European affairs. Numerous
trade delegations are In Moscow
negotiating for Soviet wheat.
Hungarian Finance Minister Mix
los Nyaraddy announced in Buda
pest Saturday that Hungary an<
Russia would be partners in buildin,
up "the biggest aluminium industr,
of Europe" on Hungarian soil.
He said up to $4,000, ,0O0-trans
ferred to Russia by the Hungarian
government-would be invested b,
the Russians in the enterprise ant
in the expansion Of other industrie
in which the Russians share owner
ship.
Mr.. Nyaraddy explained tn
money comes from a settlement O.
. Russian claim for all commercial
debts owed by Hungary to Germany
at the end of the war. Russia
pressed this claim, although tn,
German trade debt to Hungary was
much larger.
Subsequently the British Foreign
Off1e in London expressed concern
over the newly announced Russian.
Hungarian agreement for disposition
of German assets in Hungary, say.
ing it apparently" failed to safe
guard the interests of citizens o1
other countries.
During World War II Britain NOR.
than doubled its production O.