'Belt of Fog'

In Leningrad arrived John Maynard Keynes with Mrs. Keynes (Lupokova, the famed Russian dancer). He was present as guest of the Academy of Sciences--representative of Cambridge University at the Academy's bicentenary. To Soviet pressmen the celebrated economist spoke as follows:

"A belt of fog has been separating Russia from the rest of the world. Both we and the Russians have been losers. Russia has so much that is unique and characteristic to give to the world . . . that this separation has been one of the most deplorable things possible. I welcome the occassion of the bi-centennary . . . The occasion is a happy one, because we meet under the auspices of science, which knows no frontiers nor political parties . .

"With regard to the question of Russian debts, loans and credits, it is, generally speaking, a matter of time. The Russians repudiated their debts and it is obvious that no new credits will be forthcoming until the world is convinced that the Soviet Government won't repudiate them also . . . I can say that . . . the Soviet Government will find it hard to get any fair-sized loan today.

"But important as this question may seem, there is another far more important--the Russian harvest. Now let us make a prophecy . . I foretold that Russian money would be stabilized sooner than in any of the other countries of Europe. Now I say that if Russia has good harvests coming two years in succession her wealth will be greater than the greatest credit she might obtain abroad."