New-York tribune., 1922-08-13
Ouerseas Trade

! Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania, just
| recognized by our government. occupy
| unique position at the present time,
as they are the back door. so to speak,
1 of Soviet Russia. Recognition at this
| time has more significance than ap-
| pears on the surface. 1t must be re-
| membered that the great sea ports
| of Russia in the time of the Cars
we're in the territory occupied by these
| states. The port of Reval, formerly a
naval station, was rebuilt and enlarged
| by the Russian government Just before
! The World War. This port, now be
longing to Esthonia, has natural
| harbor and shipping facilities second
/ to none on the Baltic. The terminus
| OF the Petrogrsd railroad to the Baltic
| is located here and the enormous
| warehouses established at this port
! gives it advantage over all other ports.
Riga. now belonging to Latvia, has a
| great harbor, it is true. but not deep
| enough for ordinary ships. An Amer
/ lean syndicate has offered to take over
| the railroads connecting these ports
/ with the Russian border, double track
| the lines, establish fas. service to the
border and install American equip
! ment and methods throughout. If
| these governments accept the PROPOSE
| tion. it will be of great benefit. not
( only to Esthonia and Latvia, but to
! Russia as well.
/ Indications are that any trading to
| he done with Russia in the near future
! will be on barter basis. CONSEQUENT
| ly, it will be ecessary for free ports
| to be established at Reval. Windau,
! Libau and Riga, The wheat. eggs,
! skins, fax. etc, of Russia must be
l otA at i
: for machinery and commodities that
Russia requires. Therefore, these small
Baltic states will act as buffer, OF
rather as a clearing house. for Russia.
1t will be much safer proposition to
exchange products on neutral soil than
10 take the risk of going over the
border to make the exchange and let
possession, so to speak. have nine
points OF the law.
Gulf of Finland and its area are less
than one of our Middle West states,
yet is remarkable agricultural country
and in q position to export many prod
ucts. Germany and England hereto
fore have controlled the trade, but it is
safe to assume that the United States,
owing to its close relations and financ-
/ ing of various projects, will have
controlling interest in the future. Es-
thonia, hilly country, has iderabe
water going to waste and it is proposed
to harness this power through hydro
electric plants. the excess power being
transmitted to Russia for lighting and
industrial plants. American concerns
are now figuring on the construction of
these enormous power plants. The
electrification Of Esthohia as we'll as
part Of Russia is proposed.
Latvia is about the same size as
Esthonia, nearly $4,000 square miles,
and imports twice as much as she ex-
ports. Exports from the United States
to Latvia have never exceeded $10,000.-
coo but indications are that this trade
will be doubled within the next five
years Manufactures of all kinds can
find market here.
Lithuania, the largest of these Baltic
States, is now undergoing great changes
and development of its resources. The
Moscow-Riga line crosses the country
and connections can be made for all
points North and Northeast into Russia
proper German interests dominate
this country and our trade is prac-
tically nil, and being without a real
port, she is placed in the control of
countries with railroad connections to
her trade centers so that We must not
look for any great export trade.
The Netherlands Indies Annual Fair
will be held in Bandoeng, Java, Sep
tember 1S to October s. Trade Com
missioner Fowler formerly stationed
at Java, will take care of the Straits
Settlements hereafter from his new
station at Manila.
:. Ford cars are going forward to
! Europe in large lots. among recent
! shipments we're 500 TO Stockholm and
| 200 to PetrOrraG direct
High interest rates being charged by
banks in the Far East as we'll as their
New York connections are severely
handicapping trade.
The Ward Lines now issue through
bills of lading to all parts of Mexico
with railroad connections. Package
cars now leave the border for points in
Mexico and shippers no longer meet
with the delays in forwarding small
lots.
e. Railroads now grant two deliveries
for export on carload lots at this port
and additional lighterages at the rate
Of 4 cents hundred pounds.
The Port Zones Authority at Bucnos
Ayres have placed orders for 1870
freight cars and ten locomotives with
| American concerns.
New York banks have financed heavy
shipments of raw cotton to Poland.
The Cannon mills have shipped large
lots Of textiles, hosiery, towels, etc, to
Australia. A canvass of the textile
trade indicates that the worst is over
and trade shows a vast improvement.
The York Ice Machine Co. has sent
large refrigerating machines to Brazil,
the United Kingdom and the Far East
Takata & Co. are shipping electrical
power plants to Japan valued at
100000. Interests in Cuba have pur-
chased the complete equipment of ons
of our largest breweries here and trans
planted it to Cuba.
Velvet Trade Active at Rio
Rio de Janeiro offers q large market
for cotton and silk velvets and plushes,
Consul Gaubin advises the Depart
ment of Commerce. Cotton velvets