Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-04-30
FOREIGN MARKETS

All indications point to world
wide shortage of wheat during 1920
and worldwide increase in the de-
mand for that commodity. Russia
Is still in a chaotic state, and there
is little to be eXpectod in the way
of exports of wheat ant other grains
for some time to come. In normal
time, England and Continental Eu-
rope relied in large measure on
Russia to augment their home
grown supplies of wheat, rye, oats,
and barley. With Russia out of the
market, Europe naturally turned to
the United States, Canada, Australia,
India, and the Argentina for supplies
of breadstuffs.
The United Kingdom is by far the
greatest importer of wheat in the
world. In 1912, the island kingdom
took 203, 322,000 bushels of wheat
and 5,742,000 barrels of flour out
OF total world imports of 5S5,703,-
coo bushels of wheat and 23,727,000
barrels of flour. The war cut off
Great Britain's supply from the con-
tinent of Europe. During 1919, and
in fact for the past three years, the
United Kingdom has received no
wheat from Russia, Germany the
Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy,
Austria, and Roumania. In 1914,
460,344 barrels of flour and 1870
ST. bushels of wheat were imported
from these countries out of total i'm
ports of 5,622,230 barrels of flour
and 192,725,396 bushels of wheat
! Present reports indicate that most
of these continental countries will
not only be unable to export wheat
this season, but that some of them
will be compelled to import much
larger quantities of wheat and other
breadstuffs than in prewar times,
provided they are able to arrange
satisfactory credits
As to the prospects for obtaining
wheat from Russia, there are
many contradictory stories. Colored |
propaganda and accurate informa-
| ton are SO confused that it is diff
cult to distinguish between them. |
The British Relief Mission reported |
that southern Russia has large guam
titles of grain for export variously |
estimated at from 35,000,000 to |
100000, 900 bushels. However, even |
/ il arrangements for trade and barter
are made between British merchants
and the Russian cooperative soci-
cites and Soviet governments, suf-
/ ficient railroad equipment is not
available to move any large volume
of grain from the interior of Russia
to the seaboard.
This leaves England dependent on
her home supply and upon imports
from the United States, Canada, Aus
tralia, Argentina, and China. The
crops of Canada and the United
States are, of course, as yet unknown
quantities. Owing to the continued
drought in Australia, the wheat crop
is so light as to be acknowledged
generally a partial failure. Ship
ments from Australia for the British
government are progressing lavor-
ably and will, it is expected, De COM
pleted by June l. The exports of
wheat from Australia for the month
ending January 81, 1920, amounted
to 7,105,467 bushels, compared with
1885 bushels for January, 1913,
and 210,186 bushels during January,
1913.
From the foregoing it may be de-
Quoted that the English buyers are
looking forward with considerable
apprehension to the coming year, and
are exerting themselves to the utmost
to provide the largest acreage pos
sible for wheat.
Wheat control in England will
probably continue for some time.
The exchange situation between the
United States and England will give
the English farmer an opportunity
to raise his prices and still come I'M
der the United States price. 1t will
practically mean that the English
farmer will raise his wheat on the
basis Of the shilling. paying for rent,
taxes, labor, and general expenses in
deprecated shillings, which increases
his cost accordingly, but will sell to
the English consumer on the basis
OF the American dollar.
How large this difference is at
present can be gagged by the fact
that the present maximum price for