All who hold that trade and politics are best kept
apart will note with satisfaction that English timber importers have again made a contract with the Soviet for a year's supply of Russian timber. The policy of contracting for a maximum amount at a fixed price was unwelcome to the Soviet when it was first proposed some years ago, but it has admittedly worked out to the benefit of all parties. The supply of Russian timber has been adjusted to the demand, so that the market for both Russian and non-Russian timber has been steadied, and no question of " dumping " could arise. Last year's import was -restricted to 450,000 standards at about /10 a standard delivered at an English port. This year's maximum import will, it is said, be sub- stantially less—perhaps no more than 400,000 standards —:as the building trades are depressed. In any ease, Russia will be only supplying part of the soft wood that we import from Northern Europe. Her Scandinavian competitors are free to make their own terms for the rest. Meanwhile the proposed barter deal between Canada and Russia hangs fire.
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