Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-23
VOL. II, NO. ia.
Commerce and Espionage
Difficulties Of Scandinavia
.sey Z. 5. strsa.ndysould, Hera1d staer Wr.ter.

In h previous article on war con-
2ditions in Scandinayia It was pointed
out that the increase in Norway's Inn
Fport from the Unitcds States, while
considerable. was perfectly natural in
view OF the factSthat America for the
past two years he's been the chief sup
3gply source OF the country. Certain
&Authentic statistics were quoted in an
effort to support the presumption that
an American exportSembargo is super
&fiuous, and sven harmful, as far as
&the commercial interests Of Norway
In the other northern countries the
ksituation is similar. I
Asgrecent report made by the Brit
Nish wal trade statistical department
states that the aggregate imports of
sggrain and fodder to Sweden and Dem
Rrnark have not been greater than in
sstimes OF peace, and that official fig
lures from these countries bear. out the
f~gstatement made by the chief ally of
Il the United States. III
Take, for instance, Denmark: The
ssscourtry from the United States was
In 1918 valued at $22, $780, 900 and in
4 1918 at $58,300,000, showing an in
crease of 8 0,680,000.
Against this rnus be placed the
import OF: the countries now at war
II which 4 1913 amounted to $85,10O,-
1000 which was divided. as follows:
Germany s19.240.o0o:. from
I Russia : ! ]. s1 teorl 'og Off, from q France ra e 81 81;
u and from other European countries
4 principally RoumaYia, $1,6s0.000
Z Denmark for the past fifty. years has
always been@a heavy purchaser OF
4 fodder from abroad, and its economic
life is. indeed, dependent upon itf
ability to secure sufficient feed for Its
cattle. The figures. indicating In out
ling the last three years. show that
sEDenmark really has bought just about
2&Hits normal supply even though this
*8owing to the peculiar exigencies OF
the world conflict, has conae chiefly
s%sfrom America.
In the case Of Sweden, figures also
ElEtelli the story. 1T must be remarked
Tin this connection that the figures
quoted here are official and have beer
verified by the British authorities
sSgwhereas statistical tables published In
q number Of French and British and
s$Ssome American newspapers have been
|s%arranged so as to convey the dmpres.
bsNNeion that Scandinavia IL the supply
ssschannel Of Germany. Certain ten.
%dential efforts have been made tc
Saplace the northern and other neutral
aNCOuntr1eS IN g. wrong light, SO It II
Mwell to let the correct figures speak
For themselves and tell their own
Bssfale. s S5 vs.
A& The total imports OF Sweden from
the United States In 1913 amounted
no $12.104, 368; and In 1915 to $751;
s%s9 Is, 1872. Taken at their face values
ssEsthese figures would seem to bear out
ssthe assertion that Sweden's commerce
has Increased in volume in such q
suspicious manner that It was easy for
those who are content with looking al
1.-THE superficial facts to form the idea
THAT Germany was he ultimate recipi-
INNent of much Of the excess imports.
Ss The following facts, however. are
2ssu f1ciently explanatory: In 1918
Sweden imported from Germany
s#alone goods valued at $~75.374,520 OF
" which $14. 81 5000 was for foodstnffs
1.-THE imports from Great Britain in the
year previous TO the o~utbreakSof the
sswar a~ggregated 1897 1l.640g OF (which
largest single item, was minerals
valued at $~s1,408,260. 1t is quite OBJ.
R&vious that not only these imports bu,
also the lesser amounts from Bel!
ssg2gium, France and Russia have prac.