Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - IX. The economic resources of Russia with special reference to British industrial and commercial opportunities
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
THE ECONOMIC RESOURCES OF RUSSIA 133
they would observe in their own country. They should set
up a better system for acquiring commercial information
of a confidential nature. The Germans have a very thorough
system of private inquiry by means of which they know
who can be trusted. It is done by branch agencies
established by certain banks keeping a private register of all
more or less important firms, which is constantly checked
by information supplied by responsible representatives. A
similar method of commercial intelligence exists in England.
It is, after all, not difficult to ascertain whether a certain
firm is of good repute and to what extent it can be credited.
British fiims should establish a kind of Information Bureau
in Russia, and thus safeguard their own interests. Such
work can be best done, or at least supervised, by the firm’s
own representatives.
There has been of late a movement in favour of a better
organisation of the Consular Service to suit mercantile
requirements, but as long as consuls have not been provided
with permanent practical commercial advisers entrusted to
carry on the painstaking task of collecting practical
up-to-date information of a commercial nature, firms will find it
to their interest to obtain the required information through
the medium of special organisations of their own, or
cooperative representation in the country with which they
have to deal. Of course they will also avail themselves of
the information to be obtained from the Commercial
Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, which lately has been
reorganised and given a larger radius of action.
There is no doubt that the future will give exceptional
opportunities for the British to revive their trade with
Russia on an unprecedented scale. The economic and
financial salvation of Russia lies in the development of her
industry, agriculture, and enormous mineral resources.
Great Britain is able to assist her in this stupendous task
provided that she is willing to avail herself of the [-oppor-tunit}’.-] {+oppor-
tunit}’.+} All kinds of machinery, implements, and plant
will be required to assure a big output of industrial products
and manufacture. Germany alone will not be able to cope
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
