RUSSIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10281, 7 January 1922, Page 4

RUSSIA.

—— , —-• A message via Helsingfors stales that Soviet commissaries held a financial conference in Moscow and. decided that extraordinary steps are' essential to rehabilitate Russia's financial position. It was stated that the time was rapidly approaching when the cost of printing roubles will exceed their exchange value. The Soviet's gold reserve, consisting of gold commandeered from the banks after the revolution in 1917, has now dwindled to 30,000,000 roubles. General Trotsky informed the Soviet Congress that the Red Army had demobilised from 5,300,000 last year to 1,370,000. Forty-three per cent, of the officers are workers of the peasant type who had no military education. They are the best revolutionary material. Without them the Red Army would be impossible. "Everyone in Russia wants peace," said General Trotsky. "No one desires expansion, but should Russia be attacked we shall prove in 1922 that it is easier for Russia to expand than for our enemies to encroach on our territory." LONDON, December 30. M. Krassin has signed an agreement under which the Soviet will ship 10,000,000 dollars' worth of gold to New York for the purchase of food and seed for the famine area.