Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-04
Russia Offers
Britons Trade
0f0ver Billion
Contracts Proposed
To 81 Businessmen
Visiting Moscow
BY the Associoted Press

~
MOSCOW, Feb. 4 (Telephoned
to London) The Russian gov
eminent today offered to place
contracts worth four hundred
million pounds sterling, 1.120.-
000,000. with British industries
for delivery from 1855 to 1857.
This offer was transmitted in
q memorandum handed by Ivan
G. Khabanov, the Soviet minis
ter Of foreign trade, to q delega-
ton of 80 British private BUSH
ness men who are visiting Mos
COW.
The offer concerned a large
variety of equipment including
tankerS. small cargo ships. in
duStrial plant equipment. small
electric power stations as well
as railroad equipment. floating
docks, fish carriers and steam
boilers.
Accompanying the memoran-
dunn the Russians handed over a
detailed breakdown of equipment
they said they could use.
Biggest Gesture Yet.
This was the biggest gesture
yet announced by the Soviet
government in its widely publi-
cized campaign offering to revive
EaSt-West trade.
At practically the same time.
an Argentine technical mission
spokesman told news confer
ence that Soviet-Argentine trade
is expanding and that a new
and bigger trade agreement was
expected to be negotiated for
next year. The mission has been
here for the past five weeks to
select machinery and equipment
to be purchased under Soviet
Argentine trade agreement.
The British delegation which
is the biggest private enterprise
group to visit Moscow since the
war is headed by j. B. Scott,
sales director of the big Cromp-
ton Parkinson, Ltd. manufac-
turers and electrical engineers.
They have been comforting
with top Soviet foreign and
domestic trade officials to see
what Britain can sell Russia,
and also looking for products to
import.
Many Items Not Restricted.
Commenting on the Soviet
offer Mr.. Scott said the Russian
list was fine.
They have made the gesture
and now it is up to u.s." he said.
Mr.. Scott added many items
the Russians wanted were not on
the British restricted list for
exports.
In connection with his memo
randum. Minister Kabanov said:
Development of trade between
the U. S. S. r. and Great Britain
would be of mutual advantage
to both sides. It would serve also
to strengthen mutual under
standing and friendly relations
between our two countries. I
am sure that direct contacts
between the business people Of
Great Britain and the business
people of our country will un-
doubtedly assist in the estab-
lishment Of closer relations be-
tween U.S."
Kabanov's figures were in
terms of Russian rubles. They
we're translated into pounds
sterling by the British business
men.
Moscow values the ruble
officially at four to the dollar,
but it has no estimated value
in the international currency
exchangeD
Highlights of Memorandum.
These were the highlights of
the Russian memorandum of
goods wanted:
Cargo ships, fish carriers,
whalers, power equipment, in
Guiding complete power stations,
forging and pressing equipment
and machine tools, and textile
and food processing machinery.
Kabanov's memorandum also
said the purchase of raw ma
terials, food and industrial con-
sumner goods could amount" to
over 100 million pounds. (The
pound is worth $4,000
British industrialistS still have
to negotiate contracts for these
products the Russians say they
can use.
However, Mr.. Scott and other
leaders of the group expressed
satisfaction with the Russian
offer and the general trend and
tone of the negotiations with
the SovietS.
The British businessmen have
been, getting the red carpet treat
ment here. They have been en-
tertained almost every night at
the theater, ballet and banquets.
At the week end most Of the
delegation expect to travel tn
Stalingrad to have a look at some
big Soviet industrial plants.
South Koran 0rdA.e