M. Sazonof, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Correspondent of
The London Times, Petrograd, Sept. 15.
The eyes of the world just now are fixed on the fortunes of the armies
in the field. It is, perhaps, not spectacular from the point of view of
the average newspaper reader to speak at this time of mere business and
trade relations. I quite well realize that it is accounts of victories
and routs, acts of heroism and magnificent assaults by troops that sell
the newspapers, but beyond and above all this there now exists a
situation and an opportunity in trade and commerce with Russia which to
England and America may mean more in decades to come than it is easy to
realize.
For years past Germany has been steadily and vigorously pushing her
trade into all quarters of the Russian Empire, and now sells us above
£60,000,000 worth of products yearly. The ground has been broken by
Germany, and these enormous markets for machinery, chemicals, and all
sorts of manufactured products are now suddenly cut off from the avenues
through which they have been supplied. Herein lies the greatest
commercial opportunity for England and America that has ever been
offered.
It has been said in the Maxims of Pascal that to govern is to foresee.
This is not only true of politics and affairs of government, but applies
as well to trade relations. It is that country which foresees the
situation commercially in Russia that will reap the enormous benefits
that these markets now offer.
It is not merely sufficient that merchants and manufacturers should
offer their goods here. They that would profit permanently by the new
trade conditions of this empire must take up the task seriously. Experts
should be sent here now, even while the war is still in progress, to
study and examine the wants of our country. Our duties, our manner of
doing business, our present and future wants and growing demands, should
be studied scientifically and fundamentally, so that when peace comes
those channels which have for decades flowed deeply with German products
may continue to flow with products from America and England.
For America especially does Russia open an opportunity for an industrial
outlet such as can hardly be overestimated. We have an empire of
170,000,000 souls, and the £60,000,000 yearly that we have been paying
Germany is but the beginning of a demand that will soon make Russia
among the most desirable and valuable markets in the world. Railroad
building and new developments everywhere are a prelude to an era of
prosperity in this country such as has never been seen here before.
I cannot too emphatically express the hope that merchants abroad will
realize this wonderful opportunity and act promptly, for when the war is
over will come realization of this situation everywhere, and he who
would profit should take the first steps with the least possible delay.
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