Soviet-Polish Agreement Is Significant

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1948, Page 5

Soviet-Polish Agreement Is Significant

Received Thurslay, 7 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 5. The political significance of the new Soviet-Polish trade agreement is that it stresses the growing "total" inde pendence of Russia and Eastern Furope of Am'eriean imports and capital goods, says Alexander Werth in the Manchester Guurdian. The agreement followed a recent visit to Moscow of a niission lieaded by the Polish Premier, Mr. Cyrankiewicz, who declared it to be an other landmark in tlie consolidation ot Polish-Soviet economic and political relations. On the po'itieal side Russia reafiirmed her solidarity with Poland over Poland 's western frontier. There was an "identi^y of views" on the international situation with Stalin tak ing an active part in the diseussions. On the economie side there is a provision for trade of roughly 500,000,0(K; dollars for five years whieh follows the pattern of the ucent CzechoslovakiaSoviet agreement. Russia will supply iron, chromium, manganese ore, oil.products, eotton, al.unfinium, • asbestos, automobiles and tractors. Poland witJ supply coal, eoke, textiles, sugar, zinc. steel. products, rollingstQck and cement. There will also be teehnical eollabora-> tion between Poland and Russia. This agreement yvilFbe useful in connection with the agreement for thedelivery by Russia - during the nest ■nine years, of indugtrial equipment to the value of 450,000,000 dollars. A fury tlier agreement was the prompt delivery' to Poland of 200,000 tons of grain froin Russia. This will brmg up the total for the agricultural year to 500,001) tons. It was intended, "says Mr. Werth, as another geslure of ' 1 independence of ihe \Yest," and1 is reminiseent of what happeaed between Russia and Ozeehoslovakia in the autumn when Russia came to the rescue- at a time when the Americans were "rubbing their hands ahd preparing to lay'down conditions. "