"As far as the Russians were concerned, I felt the reverse; they had adequate gold, if they wanted to buy, and they weren't dependent upon international trade. I felt they were more self-sufficient"

W. Averell Harriman's quote suggests that he believed the Russians were more self-sufficient than other countries. He believed that the Russians had enough gold to purchase whatever they required, and therefore did not need to rely on worldwide trade. This recommends that the Russians had a strong economy and had the ability to provide for their own requirements without counting on other nations. This could be seen as an indication of strength and independence, and might be viewed as a way for the Russians to preserve their autonomy. Harriman's quote also indicates that the Russians were not as dependent on worldwide trade as other nations, which could be seen as an indication of their economic stability. Overall, Harriman's quote suggests that the Russians were more self-sufficient than other countries, and were able to attend to their own requirements without relying on worldwide trade.