Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-11-01
Finland In Market
For BigU. Sloan

HEEL SINKI.-The Finnish trade
delegation now in the United
States will probably seek credits
ranging from $50,oO0,OOO to 1904
100000 annually for the next five
years or more, according to
statement by the Finnish Board
of Trade economist.
Only if such credits are granted
will Finland be able to make pur-
chases in the United States of
certain materials vitality needed
for rehabilitation of its LAGER
ated, inflation-ridden economy,
said the Finnish expert.
1t is unlikely that Finland can
resume exports to the United
States until it has made final rep
arations payments under the year
old armistice agreement with
Russia
Empty Store Windows
This is not that reparations pay
ments alone are taking all of Fin
lands exportable products, but be-
cause those payments plus ship
ments to Russia, Britain, Sweden,
and Denmark under separate trade
agreements are currently absorb
ing all of Finland's export produc-
ton.
Helsinki's empty store windows,
even more desolate than those in
Oslo, are a most obvious symptom
of the nations economic ailment
= desperate lack of consumer
goods.
1t is this lack, plus the flourish
ing BLACK market" it has fostered
which are at the root Of the pres
emily raging initiation.
The extent of initiation can be
measured by 1S,5OO,0O0, Finn
marks now in circulation COM
pared with 3,0OO,OO0,OO0 in 1889.
Trying to evaluate Finnish cur
rency under present circumstances
is a problem in itself.
Initiation at Peak
The official rate of exchange is
approximately % Finnmarks for
one Swedish crown, or roughly
115 Finnmarks for a dollar. In
| 1889 the Finnmark stood at AZ t.
the dollar.
Thus, if the quoted rate had any
resemblance to reality there would
still be initiation in Finland, but
nothing approaching its present
fantastic rate.
The fact is that Finnmarks can
not buy much desired goods in
Finland because those goods dc
not exist there.
Swedish crowns, however car
buy plenty from the astonishingly
well-filled shelves in neighborins
| Sweden.
Thus there is a brisk BLACK
market" here in Swedish crowns
which makes a farce OF the Off
cial exchange rate. Anyone with
Swedish currency can buy upward
of 200 Finnmarks per crown. II
is illegal to traffic. of course, bu,
it is carried on quite openly.
1,O08 Marks for Meal
Not everything can be bought
on the Finnish black market,
but it is still possible to get an ex.
cellent meal - despite the dire
shortage of most staple foods-ii
one is willing or able to pay loo
or more finnmarks per person.
Restaurants serving such meals
are well patronized and operate
quite openly with no evident gov
eminent interference.
Salaries and wages have riser
from 200 to 400 per cent since
1889. A factory worker now earn
from 5000 finnmarks for an I'm
skilled person to $4,000 for a skill
ed worker. White-color work
ers. as true elsewhere, haven
Jared so well.
For example. topflight copy
writers with a Helsinki advertis
ing agency are now receiving 10,
900 to $4,000 Finnmarks MONTH.
as the result of a recent 200
raise.
Hardships Accepted
Such discrepancies have not ere
ated as many difficulties as nigh
, have been expected. Everyone re