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102 PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RUSSIA
scope to any appreciable extent. The Government
controlling the shipping is, under existing circumstances, unable
to satisfy the demands of the commercial community.
Moreover, the expenses of carriage and the risk of
destruction to which goods are exposed on sea are prohibitive.
In Russia proper, the reduction in the available means of
communication, the general utter disorganisation of the
country, the danger of all private property from being
" expropriated " or simply appropriated by robbery or
theft, form insupelable barriers to the carrying on of regular
trade relations. Finally, the medium of payment has been
made of no effect by the depreciation of the legal tender.
As long as paper roubles are thrown upon the market in
unheard-of quantities by an irresponsible Government,
regardless of the calamities to the finance of the country,
currency in Russia cannot acquire any stability and will
not be an adequate medium of payment outside the
boundaries of the State. In some instances a sort of barter has
been resorted to in order to avoid this difficulty, but this
expedient is only availing in exceptional cases. Unless,
therefore, a fundamental change takes place in all these
unfavourable circumstances, the prospects of British trade
in Russia seem to be problematic. But there is every
reason to hope that in a not far distant future the situation
will undergo a radical change with the introduction of law,
order, and authority, and after the conclusion of a general
peace between the belligerent parties. It is difficult to
foresee in detail in what position trade in Russia will then
find itself, as much will depend on the conditions under
which peace is established, and which will also probably
affect Russia irrespective of the stipulations of the Treaty
of Brest-Litovsk.
But judging from the information available at present,
it should be borne in mind that Russia is willing to give
preference to British goods provided that they are offered
at no less advantageous conditions as German goods. Here
is, therefore, a great opportunity for British merchants.
Great Britain was made alive to her opportunities in Russia
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