35 BarterA Feisty Move Forward
Social and cultural events hosted at the House have played an essential role in easing tensions and maintaining contact between the United States and Russia, even when official relations were strained. As such, the history of Spaso House provides a unique perspective on the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Russia in the 20th century.
Soon after American diplomats moved to Moscow, Spaso House became the location of many important and highly anticipated social events. On July 4, 1934, the embassy held the first of its annual Independence Day celebrations. event marked the beginning of a long tradition of annual Fourth of July parties at Spaso House, and established the House as a central social site for the American diplomatic community in Moscow.
Two social events held at Spaso House in the early years achieved legendary status. On the first occasion, during the Christmas season of 1934, Ambassador Bullitt instructed his interpreter, Charles Thayer, to organize – in Thayer’s words – “a real shindig” for all of the American citizens residing in Moscow.
We had attended official functions at Spaso House, the official residence of the United States Aambassador to Russia, on several occasions, the last being on Thanksgiving Day. It was had been a particularly memorable occasion because the focus of the sermon presented to the 200 American worshippers gathered there was William Booth’s famous telegram was the focus of the sermon presented to the 200 American worshippers gathered there.
Kathie and I werehad, of course, been dressed in our Salvation Army uniforms and recognised many of those present, primarily USA Cconsulate and Eembassy staff. Regular meetings had been initiated between ourselves, the embassy and the Moscow Mayor’s office. We had begun a series of meetings addressing the social service needs in Moscow and the more general needs across the vast country. Word had been shared spread that the U.S. government was considering shipping all of the excess Operation Desert Storm war RTEM to aid Russia’s most vulnerable, with the Salvation Army beingTSA the designated recipient.
More than thirty 30 NGOs were had been vying for high- profile recognition and thiseguaranteed boost to their coffers. Fortunately, the Army had already earned an enviable role, as it relates towith favourable status with both the Moscow cCity and federal governments. And Furthermore, we were already established as the single recipient of hundreds of thousands of tons of food and other emergency aid fromby the US Ambassador Robert Strauss. (see chapter; food distribution)
I was was asked to play a trombone solo, that was followed by the sermonwith the sermon, given by Reverend John Milon regarding the Army, to follow. The Army was the focus of the sermon by Rev, John Milon. It had beenwas Christmas Eve, 1911, when and General William Booth, the founder of The the Salvation Army in London, England was near the end of his life. His health was poor, and he was going to be unable to attend the Army’s annual congress. Booth had become an invalid, and his eyesight was failing him. No one knew that he would not live to see another Christmas.He would not live to see another Christmas.
Somebody suggested that General Booth send a telegram or a message to be read at the opening of the Congress as an encouragement to the many soldiers of the Salvation Army that would be in attendance following their exhaustive Christmas programmes and the untold hours of labour ministering to several thousand families through the holidays and the cold winter months. Booth agreed to do so.
Knowing that funds were limited and desiring not to use any more money than necessary so that as much money as possible could be used to help the many people in need, , General Booth decided to send a one- word message. He searched his mind and reviewed his years of ministry, looking for the one word that would summarisze his life and, the mission of the Army, and encourage the others soldiers to continue on.
When the thousands of Salvationist delegates met, the moderator announced that Booth would not be able to be present because of failing health and eyesight. Gloom and pessimism swept across the floor of the Congress. Then, theThe moderator then announced that Booth had sent a message to be read with the opening of the first session. He opened the telegram and read the one- word message: ‘Others!’
Signed, General Booth.
*****
Our next official visit to Spaso House was on July 4th,4 July, when the Ambassador hosted the annual Independence Day celebration. On July 4, 1934, theThe Eembassy had held the first of its annual Independence Day celebrations on 4 July 1934, an event that established the hHouse as a central social site for the American diplomatic community in Moscow.
A large number of people were assembled in the gardens as we arrived. Kathie and I had just received our refreshing drinks when I spied the commanding figure of Mikail Gorbachev looking in my direction, perhaps fascinated by the unusual uniform. As if on cue, we moved across the gardens to greet each one other. He was exceptionally charming and expressed his delight in knowing that the Salvation Army was ‘finally’ established in both St. Petersburg and Moscow. He presented Kathie with his business card and suggested that we call if we ever needed any assistance from his office. His business card revealed the existence of a large complex: a; conference centre, a private hotel and a charity foundation.
''This is the way everybody in Russia does business these days,'' Mr. Shulman said. ''Of course, we'd prefer to receive cash. But it is barter that has saved us.''
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian companies have coped with a mountain of debt by developing a special brand of cashless capitalism. Now, with economic shockwaves rippling across Russia, companies are counting more than ever on barter to survive.
Virtually every Russian city has a tale of factory workers who are paid in glasswear or pantyhose. Teachers in Voronezh, 300 miles south of Moscow, recently received headstones; the Government wanted to give the teachers a product that is in constant demand and which they can easily turn into cash.
Much of the barter economy, however, is far more elaborate: Russian industry increasingly depends on Rube Goldberg schemes in which goods are shipped across the country in complex swaps that can involve a dozen enterprises or more.
''The economy has already adjusted to the lack of money and is ready to abide without it,'' the reformist Boris Nemtsov, now ousted from the Kremlin, predicted this summer.
No one knows the barter business better than Mr. Shulman, 43, the general director of Splav and a chain-smoking perpetual-motion machine. A small picture of Lenin stands in a corner of his office. The portrait, Mr. Shulman explains, belonged to his grandfather and is not an ideological badge. In four years he has expanded the company's work force to 4,000 from 500 and raised revenues to $80 million a year -- mostly by barter.
The company had succeeded in limiting barter to 75 percent of its receipts, but Russia's new financial crisis has increased its dependence on barter deals to 90 percent.
In the first year of our Moscow stay, telephone and/or fax contact with the ‘west’ was sporadic and hinged on the good graces of the Russian telephone operator. Calls were placed via the operator and she’d inform us when it ‘might’ take place; typically 48 hours later, emergency or not.
Two days later the phone would ring, it could be 3:00 AM or PM, along with the Russian instructions, “hold” and then, followed by, ‘speak’ or, ‘no answer’, or ‘busy’, followed by a click and dial tone. If it was ‘no answer’ or ‘busy’ the 48-hour ordeal began anew. Most frustrating was when calling IHQ or THQ at home and the call was being made during non-office hours as that always necessitated a further call and wait! Unfailingly, if a connection was completed the first question was, “How are things in Moscow – been to the largest McDonald’s in the world yet?” And our answer was always, ‘fine thank you, and, yes’! It was interesting what changes in post Soviet Russia made it to the CNN, BBC and CBS evening news.
Delicious chocolate and ice cream, McDonald’s burgers and shakes, all at Ruble prices, for pennies on the dollar, were real perks. Pizza Hut had two entrance doors, one for Russians and the other for those from the ‘west’ who paid USD prices in hard currency.
Sunday nights were special. Every other week Kathie would load the Toyota passenger seat with 2 Cheeseburgers and 8 Big-Macs as I set out on my 7 hour midnight run to St. Petersburg.
From mid-November through early April snow was often falling on the roadside shashlik (kebob) shacks as I made the journey up the M10, Russia's main highway. Progress was measured by the fresh tarmac that was laid in places month to month. In parts one is driving on a German quality asphalt surfaced Western motorway until the asphalt runs out and one is back in a lurch on the Russian cratered surface.
I loved traveling up to the former Imperial Capitol, where the late 20th century meets the 19th. There were wooden cottages, sharing the same color, yellow in some villages and green in others, reflecting the salesman’s marketing skills and the only choice of color that particular year.
The roads were replete with latter-day highwaymen, the GAI who hid behind bushes waiting for speeders to fall into their trap. The fines were minimal and usually ended up in their pockets. At several GAI posts, the wrecks of crashed cars were displayed on podiums and drivers were usually waved to a stop, saluted, and heard ‘dokumente paschalsta’, “documents, please.” The inspections would include a close search of the vehicle, all in the expectation of a small courtesy bribe.
When the GAI spotted the, by then well-known Armeija Spasenija Toyota, the greeting was always the same: “ДОБРЫЙ ВЕЧЕР капитан. И что вы везете с вами сегодня?” (Good evening, Captain, and what might you be carrying in your van tonight?) The routine never altered- we’d shake hands, I’d take out a Big Mac for the two GFAI officers to share. They’d leave the wrapper in plain view for all to witness their friendship with those from the ‘west’. The number wrappers grew by the month.
As I pulled out and set off down the pot holed road side I spied the GAI picking up the phone to alert the next GAI post, some 40-50 miles down the road, that the ‘salvation captain’ was enroute, and there the custom was repeated.
Once in St. Petersburg it was a quick turn around whether collecting Russian language Bibles for Butierkskaya Prison or blankets for Moscow orphanages. The Bibles, donated to us by the hundreds, were the regular gift of Lars Dunberg, the International Bible Society Manager in Europe. We assisted whenever possible with delivery and distribution. Lars had a special fondness for the Army the same as we had for him. He was a former SA officer.
The blankets were lightweight but very warm. They were new and donated by the Scandinavian Airlines System group’s President and CEO, Jan Carlzon. The gift was not some serendipitous luck of the draw. Jan’s Executive Secretary was Salvationist Lisbeth Lövmark from the Stockholm Temple Corps, a close and long time friend and for whom we named our first daughter.
The return journey was usually under way by 9:00 AM and in daylight. The GAI posts had had a change of guards by the time I departed St. Petersburg heading south to Moscow. And the welcome greetings were the same as those in the middle of the night; “And what are you carrying this time?”
A favorite gift was the children’s illustrated Bible. It was expected that I would sometimes join them inside their command huts for tea or coffee. We’d share stories, examine the official documents framed and displayed on the walls, and family photos. And best of all was to have earned their respect to the point that I was invited to join in the annual GAI organized bear hunt, in Siberia. I expressed my sincere gratitude but declined due to my already heavily stretched agenda. I naturally gave each my SA business card, and in December, SA cassettes featuring Christmas music from the ‘west’.
More than once I was asked to give a lift to an elderly person returning home after a long day of working in a nearby village market. The journeys generally took less than 15 minutes on the M-10 and another 3-4 minutes on deeply rutted tracks leading to a rustic farmhouse. The gift of a Bible usually elicited ы Благодарю вас и бог быть благословлены---thank you, and may God be blessed. It was often a tender scene. They’d cross themselves as did I and then set off for the next GAI post.
On my arrival in Moscow it was straight to the office to unload and tackle the mail and pile of messages.
Kathie suggested that we take a night off and attend a Bolshoi Theatre performance. One of the best perks a Muscovite could possess was a friend with free Bolshoi tickets. Our next-door neighbor had a senior position in the Bolshoi and reminded us often that he had access to free tickets.
“Maybe next week we’ll find time!”
Our next official visit to Spaso House was on ,4 July, when the Ambassador hosted the annual Independence Day celebration. The Eembassy had held the first of its annual Independence Day celebrations on 4 July 1934, an event that established the house as a central social site for the American diplomatic community in Moscow.
