RUSSIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 30 March 1921, Page 5

RUSSIA

BOLSHEVIKS AND FOHL CN CAPATALISIS

RUSSIA'S NATURAL WEALTH PLEDGED

(By Electric Telegraph —Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association)

PARIS, March 29. Lo .Matin asserts that the Soviet Government, in order to provide credits which Lenin needs, is allocating practically the whole of the natural wealth of Russia to foreign capitalists, including forest«. coal, lead, iron, platinum, and vast agricultural areas. Only three hundred million gold roubles remain out of the gold reserve. The looting iof the Russian treasury i« therefore practically finished. Secret concessions to German and British firms include timber concessions to von Stinnes oter Siberian territory one and a half times as big as France- Stinnes has undertaken to construct a great system of electric railways through the forests. Lq Matin presumes that the Allies will not agree ,fo this method of disposing of Russia's natural wealth to the detriment of Russia's early creditors.

AMERICANS HELD BY SOVIET

{By Electric Telegraph—'Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association)

WASHINGTON, March 28 The State Department is making efforts through unnamed agencies to obtain the release pf -50 Americans held by the Soviet in Russia.

BAKU COMMUNISTS

LONDON, March 29 According to business men recently escaped from Baku ; the latest Communist novelty witnessed there is that discontent amongst workmen had increased to such an extent that one robbery per week was arranged for their special benefit. Everything possible, even underclothing, was taken from the civil population. The workmen are now selling back to the inhabitants their own possessions.

RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONARIES

REPORTED CAPTURE OE MINSK

HELSINGFORS, : March 29

It is reported that revolutionaries captured Minsk. The Eighth Red Army joined the rebels and formed a democratic republic. Insurgent peasants surrounded Kieff. The Communists within are adopting terrorising measures.

MENSHEVIKS DEMAND CONSTITUENT ASSEMLBY

PETROGRAD, March 29 The Social Revolutionaries and Mensheviks are demanding the immediate summoning of Constituent Assembly. '