Judging from his remarks there is a wonderful opening for trade in the new republic. which stretches from a line running north and south through Lake Baikal to the Pacific. a country replete with undeveloped natural wealth waiting for the capital which will enable it to play that part in world economics for which nature seems to have provided it. The present obstacle is lack of purchasing power, the absence of capital. The country needs every kind of machinery, piece goods and general manufactures such as are not produced by the people themselves and who, accordingly, are anxiously waiting for them. The matter of payment for these, according to Mr Hodoroff, presents no difficulties st all. Money is forthcoming and could be placed in banks outside the republic for the purpose of financing the import of such goods or the granting of concessions to those who would send into the country the goods it needs could very well form a basis for such trade.
Asked as to the guarantees the holders of such concessions would obtain M. Hodoroff pointed out that the present government, found ed, on a democratic basis rather than on Bolshevistic principles, was supported by the majority of - the people and from that point of view was as much a responsible govern: ment as any other in the world.
The Trade Agreement signed between Great Britain and Soviet Russia does not apply to the Far Eastern Republic and at the present moment a British Commission is at Chita making those prelimin ary investigations which M. Hodoroff hopes will lead to a similar document being executed. Such an agreement is being negotiated with China, which has despatched a mission to Chita, while an American mission is performing the same functions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.