New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-11
ENTENTE AND TRADE.

Theoretically political intimacy should make
for increased commercial intercourse. though
that is not always the actual result. In the
case of Great Britain and Russia there is room
for it to do so, and there is also a strong desire
to that end in the former country and, possibly
to less extent, in the latter 1t would be in
discreet to try to estimate the degree to which
such desires were potent in the making of the
entente which now exists between the two
countries to which the apprehension of such
result disturbs the mind of the nation which
is Great Rritain's chief rival in the Russian
markets. But cursory review of recent trade
statistics reveals a highly suggestive state OF
affairs and tendency likely to arouse earnest
British concern
Great Britain is fairly entitled to the credit
of having chiefly established an extensive COM
mcrcc between Russia and Western EurOne and
in spite of the political friction which has I'M
fortunately existed between the two countries,
ut times trade between them has been large
and profitable. Down to few years ago Great
Britain had decidedly the lions share of Russian
commerce. But in no quarter of the world has
German rivalry been more successful over
British trade than i'm Russia. and now Germany
i easily in first place and is steadily increas-
ing her lead. Thus in 1893 Russian imports
roughly reckoning the ruble at half a dollar.
amounted to SOB ,773,O0O, of which Great Brit
ain supplied $592O7 800 and Germany $50
SECOND. Ten years later, in 1903, the total was
$40 SS5O00 of which Great Britain supplied
only S5G.935,000, while Germanys share had
risen to $120,94S,5OO. Again, in 1907 the total
was $34S, $4,000. of which only $5Tl42.OOO
came from Great Britain, while Germany sent
$155 69S500 Thus in fourteen years British
sales to Russia have actually decreased about
81 per cent while Gprmany'S have incrna sod
more than 207 per cent 1t may be added in
passing that in 1907 the United States stood
third, with sales to Russia of $50 6I5 500. or
more than the next two put together. France,
despite Der close political relations with Russia.
furnishing only $14 29SOOO At the same time
there a similar though not nearly So
marked advance of Germany beyond Great
Britain in purchases from Russia In 1893 Rus
sia's exports were $299GO5OOO of which Great
Lrltain took $7756S.OOO and Germany S66,-
100000; and i'll 1907 they were S496 COG 500 of
which $l143S5,OOO went to Great Britain ana
$I45 1877 800 to Germany
Now the example Of France which we have
already cited, suggests that ententes and even
alliances do not certainly assure commerce. OF
course, Germany has the immense ADVANTAGE
OF an extensive land frontier marching with
that Of RUSSIA and of the most pnpulous part
OF Russia. Nevertheless, the intrinsic char
acter of the products of Great Britain and Rus
STA and the nature Of their needs strongly in
dicate the possibility and the profit of largely
Increased exchange of commodities betvpnn
the two countries. But this can be effected
not through sentiment alone or chiefly hut
through practical commercial and fiscal meth
DDS which it would seem 10 be incumbent upon
Great Britain to adopt If she is not to be hope