The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-02

ition. In the recent propaganda plan
ned in Sweden it was acknowledged
that the direct trade lines between
Scandinavia and America, both North
;. and South, constituted a menace to
German trading in future. 1t was
further said that the Swedes must be
convinced their best interests lay in
maintaining former trade relations
with Germany and should be induced
to Specialize only in certain direc-
lions. There is no indication here,
however, that the Swedes will do any
thing of the sort notwithstanding the
fact that their present relations with
Germany are most friendly and trad
/ ing between the countries is decidedly
brisk.
American business 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 for
the extension of American trade. Just
prior to the war with Germany was
the greatest exporter to Sweden, en-
joying more than IS per cent. of the
total business as against $500 per
cent. for Great Britain and only 7.84
per cent for the United States.
Among the things which Sweden
buys abroad are the fellewingi
Coffee, cotton, tobacco, wheat and
other cereals, wool and wooden goods,
copper, dyes, chemicals, ready-made
clothes and various industrial pro-
ducts.
One glance at this list will show
that most Of the German exports came
from overseas and were merely "han-
died through Hamburg Much of the
wheat and other cereals came through
Germany from Russia. Since the war
began Sweden has established closed
railroad connections with Russia so
again the German middleman has been
eliminated.
Holding the second position in the
worlds trade as an exporter to Swe-
den, Great Britain sent to this coun-
try, coal, cotton, copper, wool, yarns,
machinery and rubber-another
list offering opportunities for much d.
rect American trade. Only, France
and Italy before the war bought more
coal from England than Sweden, Now
Sweden is getting her great supplies
coal from Germany.
American exports to Sweden nor ]
mally have consisted Of cotton, miner +
oils, copper, grain, bacon, fertilizers
and machinery. Some coal has been
bought from America but normally
his would come from the nearer fields II
n England and Germany. With this n
exception and possibly that Of tin and
the Americans here declare
heir country Ia in a position to sup a
'ly all Sweden's needs. % It
How this market has been neglected a
" Americans in the past is evidenced k
" the fact that from 1896 to 1900 h
he United States had but lit per il
ent. Of the Swedish import trade, Il
from 1901 to 1905 the percentage was $,
.00. In the next five years it had in
reased TO 8.44 and then to 7.84 just z,
to the outbreak Of the war. ir
During the fiscal years 1918 and, W
914 American exports to Sweden av- ir
ragged a little more than $l2.0O0,0o0 al
or 1915 they jumped to $7S,27a,81e.
While the total figures favor Ger.
lany as normally the leader tn Swe- r.
ish trade, Great Britain prior to the y,
ar was the greatest buyer in the Ii
wedish market, taking 1851 per cent. b,
the output. Germany was next flu
18th 20,12 per cent. and the United 81,
was sixth with only $3.50 per III
mt. At one time Great Britain en-. wi
'yed nearly one-half the Swedish Y,
'ade, but there has been a steady re- 81
lotion in recent years. The exports II
the United States heretofore have
insisted chiefly Of paper, wood pulp, all
artly manufactured iron goods and Je
on ore. Sweden has sent similar az
'oducts to Germany and Great Brit 81
n together with great quantities Of TO.
mber and foodstuffs, IA
One Of the developments Of the war st,
IS been to enormously increase the of
ade Of Sweden with Russia. Ameri- tn,
also has shared heavily in the Rus tn,
an market, which had been virtually 10
ntrolled for twelve years by Ger -
any. But now a new and formidable &C
ctor has entered the field. Through In
r new alliance with Russia, Japan,