THE SWEDES, OURSELVES AND RUSSIA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,-If the Swedes were not a people of the most exquisite courtesy, they would have a very pertinent question to ask the Prince of Wales and Prince George when they visit Stock- holm next week.
The question, which is perturbing them, and to which their logical minds can find no answer, is this : " Why do you' go on buying timber from Russia, which buys little from you in exchange, and that on a long credit basis, when we could supply you equally well, as we have supplied' you in the past, and when every day we are increasing our purchases from Great Britain ? "
A report just published by the Department of Overseas Trade on econothio-conditions in Sweden records " a swing in sentiment " in favour of Great Britain and adds that many Swedes are adding to the official exhortation " buy Swedish," the unofficial slogan " and if you can't—buy British." How long will this go on if we persist in buying our timber from Russia ?
If it were Canada, the Swedes would understand, but to encourage Russia, whose system of government and society is deliberately and avowedly a challenge to our own, entirely defeats them.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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