Soviets Approve Economic Reform for Baltic States

Legislators on Monday approved major concessions from the Kremlin, granting the Baltic republics the right to issue their own currency and take a share of profits from centrally controlled factories.

After four months’ work, the Supreme Soviet gave final approval to a plan launching Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on the road to economic autonomy. The law will also say that natural resources in the Baltics are to be used “in the interests of the republics and the union.”