Evening star., 1947-10-13
Soviet Wheat as Strategy

with the French government barter deal
OF Russian grain in exchange for French
and manufactured goods u.s. in
itself, significant diplomatic move. 1t
may also be the initial phase in propa-
gandist campaign embracing other coun-
tries as well. Russian grain for hungry
Europe could conceivably become power
full weapon in Moscows "cold war" for the
wrecking of the Marshall plan and the
extension of Communist control over a
distraught continent.
Although Moscow has been character
istically secretive with its statistics, the
weight of evidence points to favorable
harvest over most of the Soviet Union, in
striking contrast to the catastrophe crop
failures in Western and Central Europe,
together with short crops in the Western
Hemisphere. It had been anticipated that
the Soviet government would use this good
fortune for political ends. AS a matter of
fact, Moscow might not have hesitated to
play a food card even though it had no
grain surplus That was what it did in the
spring of 1946, when it sent France nearly
100000 tons Of badly needed grain. The
munificence of this gesture was qualified
by the fact that Moscow required payment
in dollars, which the French government
then possessed. However, that detail was
soft-pedaled by the French Communists,
while the Soviet Ambassador tremendously
welcomed the arrival Of the first shipload.
Furthermore, this evidence of Soviet good
will" was nicely timed to occur just before
49, r1i ,%or al
Today France has no dollars and is
threatened with downright famine. It
appears that, in its desperation, the
French government approached Moscow
last August on the matter of barter deal.
For some time Moscow made no reply. Now
1t has expressed willingness to talk over
the matter. Again the nice political timing
Is obvious. Foreign Minister Bidault has
just returned from his visit to Washington,
frankly disappointed albeit not empty
handed" as the Communist press puts it.
Pessimism regarding adequate American
stopgap assistance spreads IN France. The
national crisis deepens.
It is at this crucial moment that Moscow
accedes to discussion of French requests
for no less than 100000 tons of grain.
Should that request be granted on barter
basis, three-fourths of her wheat deficit
would be met and her dollar needs reduced
by about $15O,0O0,0OO. Small wonder that
the Communist press is having field day
over the hopeful prospect. AS the Com
munist organ Humanite puts 1t editori-
ally: Scoring the daily insults of the paid
hacks, the great Soviet Union prepares to
come to our assistance. The Soviet Union
asks nothing that will cucumber our
finances. While certain others desire to
mortgage our economy and do all they can
to keep our industries in stagnation, the
Soviet Union, in proposing the exchange of
wheat for manufactured goods, opens new
opportunities for our factories"
OF course, it should be understood that
Moscow has as yet committed itself to
nothing more than discussion. And Mos
cow usually drives hard bargain, as the
British recently found when they got no
where in their trade talks with the Soviet
Union. Still, drowning men proverbially
catch at straws so the psychological effect
of even hopeful prospect of Russian grain
may be powerful on French public opinion
The local comrades" can be counted on to
make the most of the matter.