Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-02
YANKEE BUSINESS
WINNING RUSSIA
Americans in Petrograd Have
Their Pockets Bullying With
Contracts Of Sales.
SAFE ROUTES ARE FEW

Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
Stockholm, Nov. 80. y More and
more the American business men ap-
pear to be investigating commercial
possibilities in Russia. Every steam
er from America brings steadily in
creasing numbers of them, and Ameri-
cans are continually streaming in
from Petrograd and Moscow with
their pockets filled with contracts or
the proceeds of sales.
There is, however, a very consider
able number who either 60 no farther
than Stockholm 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 themselves OF the condi-
tions to be met, or routes, of things
essential to the sale and delivery of
goods in Russia.
A typical case is that of the repre-
sentative of certain automobile firms
in America, who came to Stockholm
with motor trucks intended for Rus
STA, despite the fact that it is nearly
two years since the Swedish parlia-
ment enacted a law refusing transit
to motor vehicles i'll any and all cir
cumstances. This law, enacted on
January 9, 1915, prohibits absolutely
and unqualihedly 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,
Letters no Good.
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 transited
through Sweden. It may be that the
men in the department OF the embassy
that issued these letters were not ia
miliar with the Swedish law. Quite
apart, however, from the question of
whether they know or should have
given warning, American shippers
should understand that letters of as
surance 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
belligerent countries, has prohibited
the importation of certain goods and
closely restricted the importation OF
others. Generally speaking. all luxur-
les 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
articles thither. At present, for in
stance, it appears impossible to get
any coffee across Sweden. At least
one big shipment from all American
firm has been held up for months be-
cause the Swedish government de-
mands, as condition precedent to
permitting it to be taken across the
kingdom, that third of the quantity
be sold in Sweden. The British gov
eminent refuses to consent.
Question of Routes.
Another detail in which American
shippers appear often uniformed is
the matter of routes, which now, with
the approach OF winter, becomes I'M
portant. German submarines have re-
Gently been marrying shipping in the
Gulf of Bothnia to such an extent
that it has been seriously restricted.
The results naturally have been
8 accumulation of GOO in Swedish
ports on the gulf. lGc freezing UP
of the Gulf OF Bothnia, which may
come now at any time, will close all
waiter connection between Sweden
and Finnish ports until next April.
There will remain then only the over
land route via Haparanda and Tornca.
This is a single track road, both i'll
Sweden and in Finland, there is any
thing but surplus of locomotives
and other rolling stock on the Swed-
ish end, and the route S transporta-
ton facilities are in general so lin
tied that delays of weeks and even
of months are possible in the case
of goods not wanted with great ur-
gency.
Archangel will soon be icebound,
and in any event it is and has been
of little Importance for shippers de-
string to avoid the Scandinavian
route, inasmuch as the transporta-
ton facilities there have hardly more
than suficed to handle government
importations of materials needed for
the conduct of the war. 1t is reported
unofficially that the completion of
the new railway from Mourma to
Alexandrovsk may be expected soon,
but too optimistic hopes must not be
based on the report. AlexaDdrovisk is
ice-free all winter.
Information Up-to-Date.
American shippers desiring to get
goods into Russia between now and
the reopening Of water transporta-
ton in the spring, should keep them
selves informed to the minute as to
transportation conditions via Hapar-
anda, as to goods desired and which
will be favored in expedition, and as
to conditions in Sweden regarding
transit A neglect to obtain up-to-date
information about any and all of these
details unexpectedly will-mean
vexatious delays and loss. of profits
or even more than profits.
The so-called "Aktiebolaget (stock
company Transito," company
formed in Stockholm with the consent
of the British government to super
wise transit of goods for Russia, pos
sesses at all times complete informa-
ton concerning all conditions men
toned This information will be
placed at the disposition of the Amer
lean consulate general in Stockholm
upon request from him on behalf of
an intended shipper. Another availa-
Bile source of information is the State
department at Washington.