26 OCTOBER 1929, Page 2

The Delegation _Says that the orders available for British manufacturers

and exporters during the five- years' trade programme of the Soviet would amount to £170,000,000, and might be much more. Many con- cessions. are available. The Delegation is careful, never- theless, to point out that the Soviet will not be able to enter into any . contracts unless it can obtain long credit on reasonable terms. At present it has to pay almost. prohibitive rates. .That is the crux. The Govern- ment are not likely to renew their objectionable proposal to lend Russia very large sums of money on vague terms. The existing claims of British subjects would no doubt have been paid, if paid at all, out of such a loan. Mr. Henderson, we cannot doubt, has now wiser ideas of business, and in this belief we wish well to the schemes for increasing British trade with Russia.

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