AMERICAN PROBLEMS by WILLIAM E.BORAH 1924

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In
222 WILLIAM E. BORAH
same degree of control over the Centrosoyus.
The Centrosoyus
is free to import such merchandise as the government
tariff permits into Russia and Siberia unhampered
and to export such products as are available to foreign
countries.
In fact, the government in many instances
has encouraged them on in their foreign activities
than to place obstacles in their path.
rather
the bulletin of the "All-Russian Central Union o£
Consumers Societies—Centrosoyus" dated September 15,
1922, the following paragraph appears, which would seem
to indicate quite clearly the attitude of the government
toward the Centrosoyus
" * * * The Soviet Government is facilitating the
work of the cooperation which is enjoying the position of
'maximum of preference.' One of the proofs of this is
the granting by the government to the cooperatives of a
25 per cent reduction in the taxes levied for the
State. * * * "
The centrosoyus, as far as their activities abroad are
concerned, enjoy a spotless record, notwithstanding the
fact that
they have just emerged from a period of time
during which they have been obliged to overcome those
serious difficulties occasioned by the conditions in Russia.
Their transactions in the foreign market, previous to
the
revolution, were on a considerable scale, and yet, notwithstanding
the difficult period they have just passed
through, they have never failed to meet a dollar's obligation
to any foreign creditor.
This is from an article contributed to the
publication by Mr. Valerian E. Greaves, who
seems, as I understand, to have spent a great