Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-18
New Soviet Trade Offensive
Aimed at American PRESTIGE

particularly in Western Europe.
Now they are out to change
this picture.
Look at the unprecedented
action OF the Soviet government
a few days ago in granting Fin
land a loan. Russia had never
before in the entire postwar Pc
Rod given one substantial credit
to a non-Communist nation.
Why are they doing it now?
The Russians know that the
Firms already are dependent on
trade with Russia for continued
financial Solvency. This step in
creases the Firms dependency.
Afghanistan. too, got a credit
from the Russians. This neigh
Dor. the Russians hope. will look
more and more to Moscow for
assistance and less and less to
the United States.
In Southeast Asia the Rus
slams made use of the platform
granted them in Ceylon to make
a big offer.
They invited 10 countries of
Southeast Asia to send five-man
trade delegations to Moscow to
conclude large deals to provide
them with markets for their
commodities and with things
they need from Russia.
The man who made this offer
is no ordinary Soviet citizen.
He is the Soviet Ambassador
to India, Mikhail A. Menshikov,
and the previously obscure rea-
sons for his appointment to this
remote post are now suddenly
clear. Menshikov is a former
Minister of Foreign Trade and
he thinks in terms Of economic
relations.
Obviously, Russia is planning
big things in this rich region.
Technical Aid Offered.
Menshikov offered not only
trade but also the prospect of
technical aid and credits for
various kinds of equipment
which the southeast Asian ma
tons need desperately.
And this is almost certainly
not just talk.
The Russians are doing an
other thing which is not exactly
economic or businesslike by
ordinary criteria, but which will
act to increase Red Importance
in world economy.
Russia is selling abroad some
OF the things it is buying abroad.
The Russians need cotton
badly. Promises to the Russian
people Of increased cotton tex
tiles must be met. But while
Russia dickers to buy large
amounts of Egypt's rich cotton
crop. at the same time it has
concluded arrangements with
Italy to sell IS million worth of
cotton.
Thus Soviet leaders have their
cake and eat it too. They are a
leading client Of Egyptian cotton
merchants and respected in
Cairo as such. In Italy they
supply a needed commodity.
They get double political inf1u-
ence out of one commodity.
While the Russians seek to buy
equipment and m achinery
abroad they are selling it to GER
tain countries, as for instance,
Argentina. The Russian interest
in purchasing equipment and
machinery in the West stems
from need, but they want even
more to be viewed by many ma
tons as the supplier of such
material.
Drive Is Complex.
The Russian trade and eco
nomic drive is a complex phe-
nomenon. 1t has many sides.
There Is the need of the Soviet
government to buy abroad the
raw materials, consumer goods
and foods it does not produce at
home in sufficient quantities to
carry out its promises of better
living standards to the Russian
people.
There is the ardent desire of
Soviet leaders to break the free
worlds blockade of strategic
goods to Communist countries.
Russia needs modern equipment
from abroad to accelerate indus
trialization.
There is even perhaps a psy-
Geological drive. The men who
rule from the Kremlin may want
to have their regime looked upon
as a normal" and "interna-
tional-minded" government, gen.