Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1917-01-01
INVESTIGATING COMMERCIAL
POSSIBILITIES OF, RUSSIA.
Americans Streaming From .Petrosrad
With Their Pockets Filled With
Contracts s af

Il
Contracts
Stockholm, Dec. 31.-Morey ana more
the American business men appear to
be investigating commercial POSSIBLE
tiles lin Russia Every steamer from
America brings steadily increasing
numbers of them, and Americans are
continually streaming in from Petro-
| grad and, MOSCOW with their pockets
filed with contracts or the proceeds
\ of sales.
There is. however, very consider
able number who either go no farther
than Stockholm or who reach their
waiting here. These are the men who
| waiting ere. These are the men who
neglected before shipping their goods
| to inform Themselves OF. the conditions
| to be met, of routes, OF things essen
tial to the sale and delivery OF goods
in Russia.
A typical case is that Of the repre-
| sentative of cretain automobile firms
in America, who came to Stockholm
| with some motor trucks intended for
Russia, despite the fact that It ig
nearly two years since the Swedish
parliament enacted law refusing
| transit to motor vehicles in any and
all circumstances This law, enacted
on January 9, 1915, prohibits abso-
| through Sweden to Russia OF arms or
parts thereof, ammunition, war mate
rial 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 en-
bassy in Washington for having is
sued to him letters of assurance on
articles which could not be transited
| through Sweden. 1t may be that the
men in the department OF the embas-
| sy that issues these letters were not
1 familiar with the Swedish law. Quite
apart, however, from the question OF
| whether they knew or should have
given warning. American shippers
should understand that letters Of as
| surance are in no way a guaranty
| that the goods covered are wanted by
or can enter Russia, or that they can
| cross Sweden.
| Russia, in common with all other
/ belligerent countries, has prohibited
/ the importation of certain goods and
| closely restricted the importation OF
| others. Generally speaking, all luxu-
ries may not be brought into the en-
| pire.
The list Of things wanted is subject
| to frequent alteration; conditions out
| side Russia may make it impossible at
| a given moment to send certain arti-
| cIes thitcher. At present, for instance,
| it appears impossible to get any coffee
| across Sweden. At least one big ship
ment from American firm has been
held up for months because the Swed-
| ish government demands, as a condi-
| ton precedent to permitting it to be
| taken across the kingdom, that third
of the quantity be sold in Sweden.
| consent.
| Another detail in which American
| shippers appear often uniformed is
the matter of routes, which now, with
winter here, becomes important. Ger
man submarines have recently been
marrying shipping in the Gulf of Both
MIA to such an extent that it has been
seriously restricted. The result mas
naturally been the accumulation of
goods in Swedish and Finnish ports
until next April. There will remain
then onl the overland route via Ha-
paranda and iTornea. This is single
| track road, both in Sweden and in
| Finland, there is anything but a sur
plus of locomotives and other rolling
| stock on the Swedish end. and the
routes transportation facilities are in
| general limited that delays OF
weeks and even of months are posi-
BILE in the case of goods not wanted
with great urgency.
| Archangel is and has been of little
importance for shippers desiring to
avoid the Scandinavian route, mas
much as the transportation facilities
there have hardly more than suf1ced
to handle government timportations of
materials needed for the conduct of
the war. 1t is reported unofhctally
that the completion of the new rail-
waya from Mourna to Alexandrovsk
may be expected soon, but too opt1m-
i istic hopes must not be based on the
report. AlexandroVsk is ice free all
winter.
| American shippers desiring to get
goods into Russias between now and
/ the reopening of water transportation
| in the spring should keep themselves
informed to the minute as to trans
portation conditions via Haparanda,
as to goods desired and which VIII be
favored in expedition, and as to con-
| ditions in Sweden regarding transit
A neglect to obtain up-to date In
formation about any and all OF these
details unexpectedly will-mean
vexatious delays and loss Of profits or
even more than profits.
The so-calIed "Aktiebolaget (Stock
company Transito," company form
ed in Stockholm with the consent of
the British government TO supervise
transit of goods for Russia, possesses
at all times complete information con-
corning all conditions mentioned. This
information will be placed at the dis
position of the American consulate
general in Stockholm upon request
from him ON behalf OF an intending
shipper Another available source of
information is the state department at
Washington.
Regardless of the difficulties OF get
ting goods into Russia, all American
business men returning from that
countra yre enthusiastic over the pos
sibiIities there. Not only are Amer1-
can goods highly regarded, but there
is also, according to the testimony OF
several returned merchants, much dis
satisfaction over many classes OF
goods with which the Japanese have
been flooding the 6uSSldn hIhSLs
The same man spoke admiringly OF
the manner in which English mer-
chants are grasping the opportunities
offered.
wherever I went" he said, IT saw
evidence of the excellence Of English
preparation to get and hold the Rus
sian trade after the war. The English
tradesman has walked up. The great
firms have men on the ground who
know the language and the country's
customs, and their organization is
steadily becoming more efficient.
'I find no graft anywhere and paid
out no money for bribes. My expert
ence may be unique, but I gained the
impression that the man who has
can do business without bribery"
This American was inclined to think
that the British government applies q