TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 15 April 1922, Page 7

TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

THE ALLIES' CONDITIONS. PRE-SOVIET LIABIUTTES. (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyris__) LONDON", April 14. The Allied experts' report relating to the reopening of trade with Russia is • being considered by the Genoa Conference. It stipulates, firstly, that the Soviet must accept all the previous Russian Governments' liabilities to the Allies, also liabilities for losses suffered by foreigners owing to the Soviets' and their predecessors' neglrgence, the amount to be determined by the Russian Debt Commission, which will establish mixed arbitral tribunals; secondly, that all Russia's pre-war debts to foreign Powers be regarded as completely discharged by the payment of the sums named in a schedule to be agreed upon; , thirdly, that the Russian Debt Commis- ' tion issue bonds to all to whom the arbitral tribunals make awards, holders of existing Russian bonds, and persons entitled to interest and repayment of capital. Provision must also be made for the good administration of justice in Russia, for foreigners' freedom of entry to aiyl egress rom Russia, freedom of foreigners* use of the postal, telegraphic, and wireless communications, and freedom for foreigners to restart their commercial and industrial undertakings. The Soviet must facilitate the acquisition abroad of materials necessary for the restoration of industry nnd transport, and undertake to refrain from imposing taxation on foreigners on a scale calculated to prevent a reasonable return for invested capital. SOVIET OPPOSITION. The Russians will possibly oppose the London experts' report, especially the passages demanding radical amendments to the Bolshevik judicial system, as an indispensable preliminary to the | renewal of diplomatic and commercial j ! relations. Hhey point out that if the i report forms the basis of the sub-com-mittee's work it will be tantamount to dictation to Russia. The report demands, inter alia, reform of the Russian! legal system, separation of the judicial ! and executive authority, abolition of; justice by Soviet decree, and of "revolu-| tionary methods."' The Russians par- j tieularly denounce the clause providing that a. foreigner may not be arrested. lor condemned for crimes in Russia with-l out the consent of a consul, also the: provision that contracts may be con- ! eluded according to any foreign law, : which the Russian Courts must enforce. TIME TO WITHDRAW PAPER. During the discussion of the experts" .'report of the economic commission, it I 1 wa» suggested that a convention of all I hanks issuing paper money be called.----j owing to the impossibility of recon-! ; struction until the issue of paper is ! abolished. j I The Australian and New Zealand j Press Association representative at' i (lenoa states that the first commission,! "hich deals with the Russian question, will not meet until Saturday at the request of the Russians, who have not completed their study of the expert's report. The Russians have submitted a voluminous document dealing with j currency and another on the cost of : armies. The chairman reminded them; that while they were entitled to refer j jto the effect of armies upon budgets] they must not deal with disarmament. [ M. Rakowsky. a Russian delegate.! presented highly optimistic views to the' financial sub-committee on the Soviets'l financial position, which created surprise, in the face of reports of the Soviets'! fantastic circulation of paper money.l He declared that Russia since IP'2ll had! reduced her army from 5,000.000 to j 1.000.000. M. Rakowsky is credited' with suggesting that, the gold concen-1 I trated in some countries during the war: I should be distributed uniformly among I all nations. | JEALOUSIES AMONG STATES. One of the sub-commissions has decided, in consequence of jealousies 'among minor States, that any State! • may submit a memoranda on the I.on- ! don experts' report. Any member may i introduce to the sittings, fur advisory purposes, a representative of unrepresented States. The jealousies are prin-i J ctpallv among ex-enemy minor States, I I who complain tbat they are not repre-l sented. | The political, financial, and economic sub-commissions and the Credentials Committee commenced their work on Wednesday. (ipposition to the Russians may develop in this committee, it being pointed out that there are many delegates bearing names not thpir own.i while others are subjects of other States. fine instance is Radowsky.'i "Czar" of the Ckraine. who is a Ruman-j ian.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.l I I