[From Russkia Vedomosti, No. 235, Oct. 12 (25), 1914; No. 273, Nov. 27
(Dec. 10), 1914.]
The conference of the representatives of industry at the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry decided that it is desirable that the Government
should confiscate the patents granted to Austrian and German subjects
for inventions which may be of special interest for the State, provided,
however, that the patent holders should be reimbursed after the end of
the war.
The conference found it impossible to abolish the trade marks of German
and Austrian subjects, for this would hurt the Russian consumer, who
could be then easily cheated by false labels.
Two conflicting opinions prevailed in the conference. The one held that
the commercial treaties between Russia and Germany (and Austria) have
left the question of patents out of consideration, while the other
pointed out that the commercial treaties had granted to German subjects
equal rights and privileges with Russians as regards patents.
The decision seems to be a compromise between the two.
A delegation of the Moscow Merchants' Association, consisting of Messrs.
N.N. Shustov, I.G. Volkov, and A.D. Liamin, will soon go to Petrograd to
petition the Ministers of Finance, Commerce and Industry and of the
Interior for measures against German "oppression." The delegation
intends to ask for the revocation of all privileges (franchises) and
patents granted to Austrian, German, and Turkish subjects and for the
granting to the Moscow merchants of the right to admit foreigners to the
Merchants' Association only at its own discretion.
Finally, the delegation intends to discuss with the Ministers the
special fund created recently at the State Bank for the settlement of
payments to foreign merchants belonging to the warring nations. With
this fund Russian merchants are depositing money for their matured
notes. Thus the payment for foreign goods is now better guaranteed than
before. The German merchants are taking advantage of this arrangement,
offering their goods to Russian consumers through their agents and
branch houses and commercial agents located in neutral countries.
Therefore the new arrangement helps rather than hurts the German trade
in Russia.