Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-10-26
AMERICANS PLAN TO
GET SWEDISH TRADE
Business Agents Now Laying
Foundation For Future
Commercial Cain.

Stockholm, Sweden, Thy maiI).-Not-
&~ithstandinS the many obstacles with
which they meet. representatives OF
American exporting concerns here are
~endeaNoring TO trade relations
the United States and Sweden
so as to be in position TO take adSan-
tase of the permanent opportunities eA-
pected with the conclusion of European
peace.
Prior to the war Amer lea played an
almost negligible part in the trade OF
Sweden, export and import alike Dur
ing the fiscal year, ended June 80, iala,
imports from the United States. how
ever. took a leap which carried them
up more than 600 per cen. above the
normal. Then came the tightening Of
the British blockade and the Swedish
war trade act, which prohibits an i'm
porter from giving guarantees 10 Great
lirlta!n covering goods hought in the
United States or other neutral
tries. Under these influences the trade
has rapidly declined, the American I'M
ports for the first three months OF 1876
having only so $12. 213, $50,
against SAL 43, 301 in 1916. Although
me figures are not available here, 1t
As SAID the trade OF more recent months
has shown a similar or even greater
falling OFT. The Swedish government
mas adopted the policy of not announc-
ING export or import figures during the
war and it is regarded as Il misdelnean-
or to ask for them. In February, 1916.
the imports from the United States
amounted to a little more than 2.0G0.-
GOO, against more tina $4,000 eco "a
year age. I'm March the decline was
from $lS.0 0 600 in 1915 to 81 400, 600 in
1916.
Enormous as was the increase in
American imports during the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1915. the first SIX
months of the 1916 fiscal year eclipsel,
ormer figures for IL similar period by
nearly $1,000, 900.
England contendcd that these euor-
nous imports from America meant ono
of two things-either they were going
to Germany through Sweden ors;ysea e
replacing on the market here Swedish
goods shipped to Germany. And so The
blockade lid" was put on haYd and
tight, with the result that English naval
authorities now supervise all cargoeH
coming from over The Atlantic ocean
Sweden maintains hat much Of the
increased import from America repre-
scented goods formerly bought through
Hambn that avenue OF trade having
been definitely closed by the war. 1t
was said also to- be GLe to Increased
shipping facilities between America and
The Scandinavian states. including The
establishing Of q direct line from Swe-
den to New York.
Having established this direct trade
connection, the American importers
here are anxious to maintain it end
thus permanently eliminate Hamburg
as a "middleman." The am condition
exists with reference to American trade
with Russia, much OF it having former
ly gone through the Hamburg gateway.
The Germans are admittedly ANXIOUS
over this phase of the war situation.
In the recent propaganda planned IN
Sweden 1T was acknowledge that the
direct trade lines between Scandinavia
and America, both north and south,
constituted q menace to German trad
ing in future. 1T was further said that
the Swedes must be convinced ts1etr.
best interests lay in maintaining for
mer trade relations with Germany and
should be induced to Specialize" only
in certain directions. There Is no in
dication hero. however, that the Swede s
will do anything of he sort, not Eth.
standing The fact that their present
relations with Germany are most
friendly and trading between the coun-.
tries Is decidedly brisk. ..r-
American bust ess men who have
carefully studied the situation with an
eye to the future say that the very
character Of Swedish imports from,
Germany in normal times show the
great opportunities that exist here fur
! the extension of American trade.