New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Swiss Industries
Cut Off From
Raw Materials
Import Embargoes Shut Ma
tons Products Out of
MANY Countries

Swiss industries dependent on the
outside world for raw materials are
suffering to such an extent that fur
Their curtailment of industrial activity
is to be expected, according 10 the
latest review Of the industrial situa-
ton in Switzerland prepared by the
Swiss Banking Association.
"The textile industries cotton from
the very beginning Of the war and SILK
later-have suffered" the bankers say,
from lack of raw materials. The
Italian embargo on raw silk ana
shortage Of dyes, combined with the
prohibition of the import OF articles
Of luxury into foreign countries, great
" restricted the output The SILK
ribbon industry is also beginning 10
suffer. Floss silk mills have proilted
by the increase of prices. but IN 1914
this industry had worked at a loss.
The watch industry is not doing
very well, although it benefits from the
increasing demand for cheap watches.
Fine watches are temporarily IN poor
demand.
"The 81. Gall embroidery industry is
passing through a period Of depression
because of the lack Of raw materials:
The hotel industry is also in a critical
state, having lost, in 1915, 36O,OOOOOO
francs in gross income. and probably a
simi ar amount in 1915.
High prices of materials, shortage
Of labor, and the uncertainty OF the
times affected the building industries
badly. This is also true Of breweries'
The tobacco industry has no brilliant
prospects, and the situation in the
straw and the printing industries IS
not much better.
"The Swiss export trade has also
suffered from the import prohibition
imposed by most beligerent countries
to counteract the unfavora5!e exchange
situation. These prohibitions struck
at so-called articles of luxury, the chief
export of Switzerland. These, while
not wholly necessary 70 life, are never
the!ess intended for general consump-
ton. and their title Of articles OF
luxury is a part OF the new war vocao-
ulgry' In some cases these prohlol-
tons have been removed, but not sutti-
GENTLY 10 compensate for the losses
caused Switzerland by such arbitrary
measures.
"For a while these products could be
sent 10 the United States and 20 South
America, but transportation difficulties
caused by lack OF rolling stock, high
freights, high marine insurance rates
and lack Of available bottoms restricted
even these exports. Despite certificates
Of manufacture and origin the transit
OF such goods through belligerent coun-
tries was hampered, so that the SWISS
industries were unable 70 take tu.l ad'
vantage of the cessation Of world com
petition in neutral markets. Limited
Geographic and slow postal communl-
cation added 10 the difficulties, and
tie depreciation Of foreign currencies
often made 1t impossible to md
proper basis for prices.
despite the transportation and
other difficulties alluded TO. Switzer-
lands exports of twenty-eight OF ITS
most important products reached
value of 1888, 100000 francs in 1916,
contrasted with 1922 100000 francs IN
1915. 969, 100000 francs in 1914, l.
francs in 1913, l,lOi,2O,-
900 francs in 1912, and 1,O25.2OO'Ooo
francs in 1911. II must, however, be
considered that this increase in value
Is due to the general rise in prices,
since the quart titles exported in 1915
were much below those Of 1919"