The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-30
GOODS FOR RUSSIA
HELD IN SWEDEN
American Shippers Are Checked From
Carrying on Their Business BY Rea-
son of the Exigencies of
the War.

Stockholm, Dec. 30.-More and more
the American business men appear to be
investigating commercial possibilities IN
Russia. Every steamer from America
brings steadily increasing numbers OF
them, and Americans are continually
streaming in from Petrograd and Moscow
with their pockets filed with contracts
or the proceeds OF sales.
There Is, however, very considerable
number who either go no farther than
Stock holm or who reach their aims only
after many weeks of weary waiting here.
These are the men who neglected before
shipping their goods to inform them.
selves of the conditions to be met, OF
routes, of things essential to the sale and
delivery of goods in Russia.
A typical case is that OF the represen-
tative OF certain automobile firms IN
America, who came to Stockholm with
some motor trucks intended for Russia,
despite the fact that it is nearly two
wears since the Swedish Parliament en-
acted a law refusing transit to motor We
hicles in any and all circumstances. This
law, enacted on Jan. 9, 1915, prohibits
absolutely and unqualifedly the transit
through Sweden to Russia OF arms or
parts thereof, ammunition, war material
not specially mentioned, lead in all forms
and motor vehicles of any kind.
The shipper of the motor trucks was
inclined to reproach the British embassy
in Washington for having issued to him
letters OF assurance on articles which
could not be transitted through Sweden.
It may be that the men in the depart
ment of the embassy that issues these
letters were not familiar with the Swed-
ish law. Quite apart, however, from the
question of whether they know or should
have given warning, American shippers
should understand that letters OF assur'
anee are in no way guaranty that the
goods covered are wanted by or can enter
Russia, or that they can cross Sweden
Russia in common with all other bel
ligerent countries, has prohibited the i'm
portation of certain goods and closely re-
stricted the importation OF others. Cen
orally speaking, all Injuries may not be
brought into the empire.
The list of things wanted is subject to
frequent alteration; conditions outside
Russia may make 1t impossible at CIV
en- moment to send certain articles thIth-
err. At present, for instance, it appears
impossible to get any coffee across Swed-
en-. At least one big shipment from an
American firm has been held up for
months because the Swedish government
demands, as condition precedent to
permitting it to be taken across the
kingdom that third OF the quantity be
sold in Sweden The British government
refuses to consent.
! Another detail in which American ship
pers appear often uniformed is the mat
| ter OF routes, which now, with the APP
proach OF winter, becomes important
| German submarines have recently been
marrying shipping in the Gulf OF Bothna
| to such an extent that IL has been Sc
riousiy restricted. The result has nat
urally been the accumulation OF goods IN
Swedish ports on the gulf. The freezing
IN of the Gulf OF Bothnia, which may
come now at any time, will close all wa
Ter connection between Sweden and Fin.
nish ports until next April. There will
remain then only the overland route VIA
| Haparanda and Tornea. This is single
track road, both in Sweden and in FIN
| land. there is anything but surplus oil
! LOGON Olives and other rolllng STOCK Oh
the Swedish end, and the routes trans
portation facilities are in general so linn.
! tied that delays of weeks and even Of
months are possible in the case OF goods
not wanted with great urgency.
Archangel will soon be icebound, and
in any event it is and has been OF little
Importance for shippers desiring to avoic
the Scandinavian route, inasunch as th'
transportation facilities there have hard
" mc.e than sufiiced to handle govern
ment importations of materials needed
| for the conduct of the war. 1t is report
ed unofiicially that the completion OF thu
new railway from Mourma TO Alexan
drovsk may be expected soon, but too
optimistic hopes must not be based OF
the report. Alexandrovsk is iee-iree al
winter.