Grand Forks herald., 1917-01-01
CHANCES FOR
j. s. BUSINESS
Russia Should Offer I'm
mense Opportunity
After the War.

Stockholm. Jan. 1.-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 Am
orleans are continually streaming in
from Petrograd and Moscow with
their pockets filed with contracts or
the proceeds of sales
There, is, however. q worry consid-
erable number who either go no far
ther 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 conditions to be met. Of routes, of
things essential to the sale and reliv-
cry Of goods in Russia.
A typical case Is that of tho repre-
sentative 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 years since tho Swedish
parliament enacted a law refusing
transit to motor vehicles in any and
all circumstances. This law, enacted
on January 9. 1915. prohibits abso-
lutsly and unqualifledly the transit
parts thereof. ammunition, war ma
terial not specially mentioned, lead in
all forms and motor vehicles Of any
kind.
The shipper Of tho motor trucks
was inclined to reproach the British
embassy in Washington for having is-
sued to him letters of assurance on
ted through Sweden. 1t may be that
the men in the department of the
embassy that issues these letters were
not familiar with the Swedish law.
Quite apart. however, from the ques-
ton Of whether they knew or should
have given warning, American ship
pers should understand that letters Of
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 lux
urtes may not be brought into the
The list Of things wanted is subject
to frequent alteration: conditions out
side Russia may make 1t impossible
at 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 an American
hrn has been held up for months be-
cause the Swedish government de-
mands. az a condition precedent to
permitting 1t to be taken across the
kingdom, that q third Of the quantity
be sold in Sweden. The British gov
ernment refuses to consent.
Another detail in which American
shippers appear often uninformed is
tho matter of routes, which now, with
the approach Of winter. becomes i'm
portant. German submarines have
recently been marrying shipping in tho
Gulf Of Bothnia to such an extent
that It has been seriously restricted.
Tho result has naturally been accu-
mutation Of goods in Swedish ports
on the gulf The freezing up Of the
Gulf Of Bothnia. which may como now
at any time. will close all water con-
nection between Sweden and Finnish
ports until next April. There will re-
main then only the overland route via
Haparanda and Tornen. This is a
single-track road, both in Sweden and
in Finland. there is anything but
surplus Of locomotives and other roll
ling stock on the Swedish end, and
the routes transportation facilities are
in general SO limited that delays Of
weeks and even Of months are pos