TRADING AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3635, 23 November 1920, Page 4

TRADING AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA.

The Russo-British trading question has a particularly important bearing upon the market for wheat, flour and most other primary products. ' That an agreement with Russia is on the tapis seems certain, and this involves the tolerable certainty that it will reach maturity in the very near future, in spite of America's jealousy and taunts about British recognition of the Soviet Government. The salvation of the Russian people is virtually only possible through what is obtainable rapidly and in ample quantity through British

traders, and, naturally, the desire of Russia is to make an arrangement as satisfactory to herself as she can with Britain in an inter-trade agreement. It has been stated in leading British newspapers that early resumption of trade with Eussia would solve- the cost of living unrest in Britain, and it might have been added, in Australasia also. Grain, butter, hides and other products will teem out of Russian ports in British ships, and manufactured woollen and cotton and leather goods will flow in, benefiting both aspects of trade in each country. The - BritishLabour report on conditions in Russia made it clear that the effects of the blockade were everywhere visible. In country villages, while food supplies were satisfactory, there was a serious lack of clothing of all kinds. People were out in bitter weather without coats; there was also a great shortage of household utensils, agricultural implements and machinery. In manufacturing centres food was also scarce, owing to imperfect transportation of food from country districts, and the power of the workers was considerably lessened thereby. Locomotives were idle for want of parts to repair them, and workshops that should. have been making tools were turning out guns and munitions of war. From this report it is discovered that Russia urgently requires exactly what Britain has to sell, and that Britain urgently requires for „fee<3ing «her masses of workers the grain and primary products that are lying in congested stores in Russia. All hopes of a return to constitutional government have, for the time at least, departed. Recognising this, Mr. Lloyd George^-"has come to the conclusion -that if Britain is to enter trading relationship with Russia, it must be under whatever government the Russian people themselves determine. It is extremely important and desirable for both Britain and Russia that the best relationship possible should exist between them. The probability is that Russia will again hold a high place amongst modern nations, and, examining the situation from every viewpoint, both Russia and Britain have very much to gain from immediate adoption of a trading agreement that, will result in giving to each what they--most, urgently desire; that which will operate in restoring in both countries a regime of peace, plenty and contentment.- . .