Colonel Haskell's Second Confidential Report on Russia

COLONEL HASKELL'S SECOND COUFIDERTIAL REPORT ON RUSSIA. Hoover (SECRET: TO BE IN OIPHER TO un. HOOVER, WASHING OON, n.c.) sahington 5 November 1921 Paragraph one a Folitical si tustion stop Russia's readiness to acknowledge in principle pre war foreign debt in keeping with general policy of Government stop tenin apparently has sitation well in hand a top Speech of cotober eighteenth remarkably bold expression of intentions stop Adril ts former aystem requisitions and tazation mistake stop Government now anzious repair mischief save peasants and hold their own joba at any price stop Searcely day passes without some new concession to private ownership and right to trade stop Soviet control complete and none to oppese it stop No sign serious division in razico comunist though abvious there most be some discontent at turn of affairs stop Purification of party has eliminated con- siderable numbers stop principle upon which 1t was directed not yet clear stop Doubtrul whe ther Red Arny pleased stop Tehicherin note seems best opr portuni ty yet offered foreign powers for constructive sotion regarding Russia a top Believe way 1t is set will have perhans soon great effect hore top hoped from America atope Paragraph Two. Economie situation stop Everyone talking trade da maricet places small toans, and provincial cities stop From week to week the appearance of people changes better clothes are worn, jewela and expensive furs appearing from hiding a top All indicate security private property stop Shops along principal streets busy fixing windows doors counters showrooms preparatory to opening for business stop Gmall retailers rapidly increasing in number especially food dealera stop Rouble continues to depreciate grad- ually stop No general demand for manufactured articles worthy of considera- tion will develop in Rusaia until purchasing power of peasant is created by enabling pessant to plant and obtain surplus for purchases stop Demand among lange per centage population will develop only over a term of years 137