NEW TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1920, Page 5

NEW TRADE.

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. SIGNS OF REAL PEACE, . ' ftf T«iegriph,*-PMii Assn.—Copyright. Beceived Jmi. 21, 8.10 p.m. London, Jan. 17. J. L. Garvin (the editor of the Pmrver), in an article, says he sees indications pointing to possibilities of real peace with finagja. He believes the Bolsheviks are ready to attempt industrial reconstruction. The Allies need full light on the internal conditions in Russia, and the resumption of trade Will afford opportunities for inquiry and #n authoritative report.—United Service.

A FAR-REACHING SCHEME. WIDE ECONOMIC BENEFITS. Paris, Jan. 16. ; In connection with the Supreme Counfal'e decision to allow the re-opening of trade with Russian co-operative societies, Allied statesmen argue, firstly, that £he Russian situation is one of the chief Jtources of the acute difficulties of the Allies; secondly, that the absence of supplies from Russia causes social disturbance,' compelling the rest of Europe to pay exorbitant prices to America for *aw materials; lastly, a constructive policy is neceasary to counteract the Bolshevik creed of violence and destruc-tion.—Aug.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

' London, Jan. 17. The Evening Standard states that the Overseas Trade Department has already completed proposals to press forward a far-reaching scheme for pushing Russian trade, utilising ordinary trade channels, though the Government backs the scheme ta the extent of £17,000,000. mainly in the form of insurance against exceptional trade risks. .It ii officially considered that this scheme hag two important advantages Firstly, it enables the immediate economical export of goods to Russia on a laiga wale, which can be put into operation forthwith, because organised on national, not international, lines, thus dispensing with the necessity for Allied co-operation; secondly, the scheme is strongly justified «, industrial and commercial grounds, because Russia is eventually likely to be "able to absorb Britain's entire exportaWe surplus. The scheme will benefit the whole of Russia, all of Whose people, apart from the Bolshevik minority, will assist to reconstruct British trade.

Ihe scheme has the strong support of Mir. Bonar Law*, Sir Auckland Geddes, and Lord Milner. The Government is prepared, with the assent of the House of Commons, to grant a further £25,000,060 towards the scheme, if necessary.

TRADE BY BARTER. 'The trade must for some time be conducted by means of barter, owing to the' position of the rouble. Traders will find in Russia co-operative societies numbering 28,000 branches, with an experienced and trustworthy organisation. Trading under the scheme will not be controlled by the Government. Certain banking and insurance authorities have L examined and approved the scheme. Jir. G. H. Roberts, the Food Controller In Britain, has undertaken to supply Russia, with seeds, clothing and other goods in exchange for corn, food and raw materials. This comes into operation at an Mrtydate.

It it estimated that the Russian eo-op-erative societies have 25 million peasant members. They recently held a congress in Itoseow, and sent delegates to Paris. They formerly had offices in London and Pari*. Theae will be reorganised ,at the earliest date.

',■ Ifr, Arthur Henderson, outlining the Labor Party's policy, Bay 3 the collapse of the anti-revolutionaries In Russia confronted Britain with two dangers—Sov- : let intrigues in the Middle East and a campaign in Poland. The best provision against the first is peace with the Sov- ; iet; the remedy for the second is to arrange terms with Poland and the Soviet, .otherwise we shall be faced with the danger of a Soviet invasion of Poland and. possibly an irruption into Western Europe. . NEW SOURCES OF SUPPLY. The Pood Controller, Mr. G. H. Roberta, in a speech, expressed the conviction that the ever upward tendency of the cost of living was due to decreases in i the sources of supply. The only way out of the impass was to discover new sources and thug re-establish competition.

Be abhored trading with the Bolshe- , v&s, but they had to recognise that the stringency in Britain was due to their , btjng cut off from Russian supplies. He asked whether it was a wiser policy to endeavor to tap these sources or risk still higher prices. If it was possible with honor to resume, trade with Russia, they could undoubtedly open up a vast new avenue of wealth and employment. It they did not, he was convinced that Germany and America would. Mr. Roberts mentioned that for some tine past he had been in communication with the Russian co-operative agencies Which survived, despite Soviet oppression, and to-day were operating in (soviet territory.

Colonel Ward, in a speech, emphatically condemned the opening up of relation! With the Soviet. He declared that to such thing as a co-operative society or trade union existed under the Soviet authority. He related an instance of Soviet confiscation of trade union property and funds on the ground that the capitalist regime and the relationship of ■. niployer and employed had ceased to ; exist and therefore trade unions were no loagtr necessary.

MEAT BLOW TO BOLSHEVIKS. OPINION OP U.S. FOOD CONTROLLER Received Jan. 22, 12.25 a.m. Washington, Jan. 17. Mr. H. C. Hoover (the Food Controller for the United States) has commended the Supreme Council's decision to lift the blockade on Russia. He said it Would result in the greatest blow to the Bolsheviks' moral, since Bolshevik unanimity had been brought abont by the blockade. He added it was improbable Russia would have any wheat, flax or cotton, fc* export,—Aus.-N-Z. Cable