Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1938, Page 60

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LE NORD
extent with the markets from which it buys — a feature of great
importance in itself and in its bearings on commercial relations
with other countries.
In view of the similar structure of the exports and imports
of the Northern Countries, it might be expected that trade be-
tween themselves would be comparatively small and insignificant.
This is, however, not the case; inter-Northern trade is in actual
fact of great importance. The exports from each Northern
country to the others are found to come second, immediately after
those to Great Britain, except in the case of Denmark, whose ex-
ports to the rest of the North come third, i. e. after her exports
to Germany, and in the case of Iceland, in whose exports the rest
of the North comes first. This means that to each of the Northern
Countries the others, taken jointly, are of the greatest importance
as regards exports, and the same is the case with regard to im-
ports. It is impossible to give even a sketchy analysis of the goods
constituting the trade between the Northern Countries. As they
are based on mutual intercourse and close relations since ancient
times, they are extremely varied. These few remarks should suf-
fice to indicate their extent and character on one hand, and on
the other the possibilities of their expansion, in the event of the
obstacles at present restricting them being removed and the
Northern Countries becoming more closely united in regard to
inter-Northern trade.
Thus trade with foreign countries and between themselves
plays a decisive part in the life of each of the Northern Countries.
As a matter of fact it is not an exaggeration to say that the stand-
ard of living at present prevailing in the North is dependent on
foreign trade. This standard is based on the ability of the Northern
Countries to import a quantity of necessary commodities which
they themselves do not produce, and on the other hand it is a con-
dition of their well-being that they should, in order to pay for
such imports, be in a position to export their own products. It is
therefore only natural that the Northern Countries should be sup-
porters of the principle of the international division of labour,
and the idea of autarchy is not only unreasonable, but impossible
in all these countries. In consequence, the commercial policy of
the North has in principle always been of a liberal character.
During the recent crisis and depression they were, of course,
obliged to depart to some extent from their former policy and to
have recource to general measures of commercial restriction. They