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Yanks for
Stalin
Interview Transcript
Abel
Aganbegyan (cont)
Q.
But Hammer took advantage of this.
A.
He took advantage of this, but only much later. It was during
the Brezhnev era that Hammer received approval for an enormous
pipeline project from Taliyati to Odessa, where a port was built
for the export of raw industrial materials and fertilizer.
He concluded this deal under very advantageous conditions, and
he managed to receive such advantages because he had made the
acquaintance of the top Soviet leaders. This access to the
leaders of our country opened many doors for Hammer. Lenin
received him, and Hammer generously returned many works of art
that had been removed from the country at one time or another.
In addition, Hammer always spoke favorably in the West about Russia
and its leadership, and always said that the Soviet government
could be trusted in business dealings. In return, he received
privileges, just as Pepsi-Cola did, which was one of the first
American companies to come to the Russian market and build dozens
of factories here for the production of its product.
Q.
Do you know that when he came here in the 1920s he represented
37 American companies? He had his own interests in Russia.
Did he received permission from Lenin to purchase cultural treasures
here? What did he purchase?
A.
I don't think that his representation of those companies is very
significant, because the word "represent" can be interpreted
in many ways. That did not mean that he was authorized by
these companies to engage in serious business negotiations.
Any move had to be coordinated with them. It was better
for these companies to have a set of eyes and ears in Russia than
it was to open their own offices here. So we shouldn't overestimate
his role as representative. Nonetheless, I don't think that
he received any special favors or advantages from Lenin.
I don't think that Lenin issued any special orders to specific
organizations concerning property that should be given or sold
only to Hammer. As far as I remember, nothing of the sort
took place. Hammer wasn't the only person buying up treasures
in Russia, by the way. In Washington, there is a stunning
museum that I visit often. It was founded by a woman who
was married to the US ambassador to Russia in the 1930s.
Her first husband was a rich entrepreneur, active in the food
industry, and she bought treasures in Russia. In her enormous
mansion she created an exhibit of Russian treasures, treasures
of Russian Tsars and emperors. There were tea services,
sabers, medals, Russian paintings, sculptures. This was
a suite of rooms on two floors, packed with Russian treasures.
An enormous collection of antiques…
Q.
But Hammer owned no part of this…?
A.
No. I only was saying that other people did this, too.
Hammer bought less, I think. At least he didn't leave a
museum of Russian treasures after his death. This other
museum has a sea of treasures. I visit perhaps once a year,
and each time there are all new exhibits, and Russian treasures
are the only things on display. Nothing else. Hammer
left no such museum. Americans flood that museum, so many
that you have to make reservations to visit, you can't merely
show up and …
Q.
This was done especially for--
A.
Money, yes, for money. You have to pay an entrance fee.
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