Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1938, Blaðsíða 286

2/6
LE NORD
States of the North”, the economy of which would be guided
from one place, it is possible to achieve several things that would
benefit each country. Above all, of course, it is important that
mutual friction, wherever it occurs, should be eliminated and
that action abroad should be made uniform as far as possible.
As far as trade with other countries is concerned, commercial
relations are regulated by trade agreements. The weakness of
the Northern countries in concluding such agreements consists
in the fact that, to a great extent, they operate the same markets
and to a considerable extent, too, try to sell the same products.
Besides, they have the greater part of trade relations with com-
paratively few countries. A good deal more than half their ex-
ports are sold to European countries and the greater part of this
either to the United Kingdom or Germany. They export mainly
raw materials or foodstuffs, in which there is a fairly keen com-
petition at present. On the other hand they buy principally manu-
factured articles, making their purchase chiefly from the same
countries to which their exports are supplied.
Working separately, without contact with each other, both
in concluding trade agreements and subsequently in day-to-day
trade, the Northern countries are not able to display their great
purchasing power to a sufficient degree and exert sufficient
weight. Negotiations for trade agreements are carried on by the
Great Powers with each country separately, so that each of them
is in a comparatively disadvantageous position. Some work has
been done to improve matters, particularly in the respect of the
government of each of the four countries keeping the others
informed concerning matters affecting trade relations. The For-
eign Offices of each of the four countries have, besides, appointed
members to a special joint committee, which meets regularly,
keeping the members informed of what is happening. The object
of this co-operation is by no means an aggressive one towards
other countries, but only a defensive precaution which has been
found indispensable.
In addition to expand trade with foreign countries, it is worth
while to take steps for developing trade between the Northern
countries.
In general the home markets form a strong support for local
output. The greater the absorbing power of the home markets,
the stronger the possibilities for local output. If we could extend
the so-called home markets in the Northern countries to embrace