Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/342

308 the customer. Thus the foreign manufacturer is asked to help to carry trade, because the majority of the wholesale dealers have not sufficient capital to pay for their imports until the ultimate users of these goods, in the main the peasant consumers, are able to discharge their obligations to the retailer, which they can do only after gathering the crops. As has been seen, the German houses were assisted by the cooperation of the banks in meeting the situation. Careful investigation of the credit position of wholesalers is of unusual importance, even in the case of large buyers. Commercial law in Russia is still in the formative stage; the recovery of debts is surrounded with difficulties, and procedure in Russian courts, while just and sure, is slow. A good deal may be effected, however, by tactful pressure and compromise. Sales made on the installment plan are considered safe, and are generally adopted in the case of machinery, which remains the property of the vendor until the last cent has been paid.

The building up of an export trade is at best a slow process, but there is no question that with ordinary caution and judgment it should be possible to make solid connections in Russia and develop a stable and profitable business for some of the many lines of supplies that are indispensable to the Russian people.