RUSSIA AND CANADA

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1931, Page 12

RUSSIA AND CANADA

IMPORTANT TRADING OFFER.[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] MONTREAL, February 25. Russia is anxious to exchange coal for Canadian agricultural machinery, and has made a definite offer, according to a statement published in the “Montreal Star” to-day, quoting as authority Colonel Herbert J. Mackie, exaConservative member of Parliament, and acting intermediary of Soviet officials in the’ negotiations. The inducements the Soviet authorities offer consist, first, of ten million dollars worth of orders for Canadian

—agricultural machinery, to be placed in the present year. Second, an agreement to attend a conference upon the broad problem of wheat marketing, with a view to the elimination of dumping. ' • , The only condition attached to the offer is that Canada must accept Russian coal in part payment for the machinery, upon the basis of a dollars worth of coal for every three dollars’ worth of machinery. “In all, this would mean accepting approximately three and one-third million dollars worth of coal,” Col. Mackie stated, “and the balance of the ten million would be payable in gold.” He added that he had laid the proposals before Premier Bennett, last week, and several sessions of the Cabinet were being held in connection with the matter. Colonel Mackie disclaimed any personal Bolshevik sympathies, stating that he was simply presenting the offer as a business proposal, which should bo decided on its merits, and not by prejudice. He contended that in joint action, by Russia to Canada, lay the sole hope of a. solution of the present conditions of the world wheat markets, and he discounted the danger of trading with the Soviet. “Canada and Russia must get together on wheat. We must have a. conference.” STORM OF PROTESTS.

(Reed. Feb. 27, .9 a.nr.) OTTAWA. February 26. Protests are accumulating against the proposal of Colonel H. J. Mackie .to arrange the sale of ten million dollars worth of Canadian farm machinery to Russia, in exchange for four million dollars worth of Russian coal, and the balance in gold. The coal producers of Nova Scotia, Alberta, and British Columbia declare that the importation of coal would ruin an already depressed industry. The retailers of Ontario have already sent a protest to the Government, The Saskatchewan farmers see in the acquirement of more farm machinery by Russia, an indication of still greater Russian wheat production, and declare the proposal should only be considered in the light of securing

an agreement with Russia that the Soviet will not dump wheat. They also suggest a fixed price.

A BANKER’S WARNING.

MONTREAL, February 26. If Canada were to accept the Rus sian overtures now before the Dornin ion Government, and exchangf machinery for Soviet coal and gold she would, in the opinion of Sir Her bert Holt, simply be expediting hei own economic ruin, since she woulc be supplying Russia with the means ol becoming a more formidable competi tor than ever. f rhe veteran president of the Royal Bank of Canada emphatically said, in one of his rare newspaper interviews: “We should not allow Russian coal and wood to penetrate our markets. It is produced by conscript labour, which is worse than convict labour. The Soviet allots a number of workers to agriculture and lumber enterprises, and says: ‘Unless you work, ■,we will give you no food.’ ”