Evening star., 1947-07-28
By Dovid ZosIovsky
North American Newspaper Alliance

BY Dovid ZosIovsky
North American Newspaper Alliance
MOSCOW, July 26 Delayed. -
An American citizen completely un-
known to me has asked me to
answer briefly, plainly and clearly
without propaganda, why the Soviet
Union has abstained from partici-
pating in the Paris Conference and
why does it refuse American aid?"
This American writer is not bold
He is afraid of propaganda" But
thisis only half the trouble. He also
fears lest his townsmen learn that
he is corresponding" with Soviet
Journalist. And he asked me not to
mention his name if I answer
through the press; for this, in his
words, could cause damage to his
small enterprise. He is business
man.
So shall talk to him as business
man to businessman. Yes, we in the
Soviet Union also are engaged in
business-our national economy. We
are business people.
Efficiency Respected.
AS businessman to businessman,
say first of all: Let us stop all talk
about American aid to Europe!'
This isn't businesslike talk. We re-
spect the efficiency of the Americans
and we know that they do nothing
that isn't to their advantage. Aid
to Europe is also aid to America.
Europe unquestionably needs
American aid 1t has suffered badly
from the Germans. But the U. S. A
also needs Europe's aid. 1t may
suffer very much from overproduc-
ton of commodities. 1t needs places
where it can profitably sell its COM
modlties and safely invest capital.
1t would be better. however, not to
speak of aid at all. 1t would be
simpler and more to the point to
speak of commercial transactions.
We are businessmen and are not
embarrassed by this term. Loan
agreements, financial transactions,
all these are business terms We
people of the Soviet Union never
rejected transactions of this kind.
We recognize the tremendous role
of cEedits and trade in international
relations. Business is business. So
let's talk business.
Meaning Called Clear.
There's a Soviet saying about SELL
ing a cat in bag The American
term is selling pig in poke. The
meaning is clear. A man of bust
ness will not buy "cat in a bag
Only a swindler can offer a cat
in a bag" for sale, and only a fool
will buy "cat in, bag" But we
aren't fools. When we are offered
a transaction. we ask, What is it?,"
"How much?" and "When?" When
we are offered loan. we inquire
about the rate of interest.
The United States of America
placed "cat in bag" before the
participants in the European con-
ference in Paris. Nay. worse than
that. 1t put up a bag with un-
known contents. Perhaps it is a
cat; perhaps dog; perhaps a snake.
Soviet businessmen take no part in
such transactions. That is why we
prefer to look on from a distance
at this queer and entirely unbusi-
nesslike transaction.
1t is said that it is a question OF
a loan. Perhapsl But what are the
terms and rate of interest?
No interest-free loans exist for
the Stock Exchange Only one such
loan is known in the history of
world literature: Shylock. money
lender. demanded his pound of
flesh from Antonio's body as secur-
ity for an interest-free loan. An
tonic .incautiously accepted such un-
businesslike terms. He ,staked his
life against money. The law saved
him. The court declared this trans
action invalid and criminal. Shy
locks attempt on the life Of cit
izen was subject to punishment by
death.
Shakespeare No Bolshevik.
I believe that my timid correspon-
dent will not consider this "propa-
ganda.' So far as I know. William
Shakespeare wasn't Bolshevik.
And to this day his books grace
the shelves of American libraries.
Fortunately for him, though, he
does not live in the present-day
United States of America and can
not be called to account for "un-
American activities"
But let's get back to business.
History records no interest-free
foreign loans; but it does know OF
loans>with collateral security. There
was, for example. the well-known
"Ottoman debt" In the last CEN
tury Turkey received loan from
European powers in exchange for
her sovereign rights to customs and
national finances. 1t was harsh
and shameful debt. The Turkish
people bore it as an act of national
humiliation and never forgave the
Sultan for this remuneration Of ma
tional independence.
No one knows what is stirring In
the bag placed by the Hpited States
of America on the Paris conference
table. If it is cat, then methinks
It's name is Control" American
Control will purr tender songs to
European mice. teaching them how
to live and thank the cat for it's
noble laid"
May Be Propaganda.
All. is this propaganda? Well,
let's put it without propaganda
Transactions for loans of this kind
may be concluded only between un-
equal parties. 1t isn't credits but
slavery. Such financial transactions
were allowed in the Middle Ages
when a creditor could convert a
debtor into his serf. In all civilized
states, such transactions are pro-
hibited and subject to prosecution.
But. you may argue, Greece and
China have agreed to such trans
actions: they are renouncing their
sovereignty and giving the American
cat-I beg pardon. American control
access to their finances. and not
only finances, but to all fields of
national life.
Yes. we deeply sympathize with
the Greek and Chinese people. But.
as businessman to businessman,