TO EXPLOIT THE RUSSIAN MARKET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 10

TO EXPLOIT THE RUSSIAN MARKET

. - BIG GERMAN SCHEME. A commission composed of trusted re- ■• of the German great ihdus- . ;-;tnals, who are aiming i,t restoring 'ordereconomic relations between Germany • Soviet Russia, recently entered into !;.'.;, l segoaabp])g with authoritative quarters 'The Berlin ! papers now rethe "Times" correspondent) i.;that, the preliminary Tesult of these neeo. nations consists in tho settling of certain [ steps.. fv;.. In extensive discussions with represenIri'tatlvfis'.of tlio Supreme Council for Poll- < ; g ,ticnl;;Economy_ the, members of the Ger- | are said to have had r ' v/i. opportunity of learning the - views tirW wishes of, the 1 Soviet authorities and to represent their,own./ They have, more:'v:iP Ter > obtained by thorough examination , of numerous industrial' and agricultural • an 'unvarnished picture of •• tho state of things in the domain of . ■: :Soviet, government.

.The "Neue Weltwirtsohaft" sjys that vf-the impressions with which the comJ!-.. mission has returned to Germany cul- :■ {jminate in the conviction, that the speedi- ; ?: i ' est resumption of economic relations •foeGermany and Soviet Russia is not • vtonly possible, but also necessary in the ; v'interest of both parties. It-is also said vthat in the -course of negotiations a Sort :of programme of action was approved. ; The reorganisation of Russian railway traffic constitutes t.lio' first point. ' German industry will first have tho task of t ' supplying the necessary machinery, tools,'i r ; and materials for renovation, and the i .'' v foremen and technicians for the numer- i ous worlcs and for tho repairs nlnuncd. I : I>y the Supremo Council for Political >; Economy. Tho works themselves will in ; ; 'itho shortest time possible be made ready ! ;i for operations by the construction section !of tho Supreme Council. ! ' l Tho construction of a. largo trauscontinental central station near Pctrograd is also contemplated, in the ereci:. tion of which tho Allgenieine Elektrir.'jcitats Gesclkchaft would play a leading i- part. Similar projects, which promise i largo and profitable employment for Geiv ? .man industry,/aro in a preparatory stage, i As it is regarded «s problematical whe- ; ther the condition of tho Russian/rail- : 'ways is such as to admit in tho near fur ture of the transport of largo quantities .of heavy goods from Germany to the interiof of Russia, and a -corresponding

j. import from llus,sia into Germany, it is ! thought that recourse to sea transport f . wj l sjo necessary. . . . : . y.' In industrial quarters such as tho vVllI ,' gemeino Elektricitats. Gesellschaft 'it is | thought tlmt political obstruction is .no j longer to bo feared, because tho blockade t will cease as soon as the Peace Treaty ' ' is ratified by Germany, while it. is said i-' that the apparently iniiiending peace ne- !' gotiations bebveen the Entente and Rns- ■■■ sia will result in the removal of the v blockade directed against Russia by the ' entente Powers. It is also thought the I 'tonnage problem can be solved without ■ 'much difTiculty, as Swedish and Danish tonnage would probably bo forthcoming in sufficient quantity'for traffic rcquire- \ rcents to Russia's northern ports.