HOW THE FOREIGN MARKET IS KEPT 



A NATION devoted in the main to the outputting of three com- 

 modities has a peculiarly strong incentive to study the best means 

 of recommending them to the purchaser and to be alert and 

 adaptable in all matters tending to favourable competition. The 

 profitable disposal of her goods means for Denmark the keeping 

 and extending of the foreign market. What are the causes of her 

 success as an exporting nation ? Just as we feel the force of 

 definitely-aimed organisation at every stage in the extraction and 

 collection of Denmark's agricultural products, so do we become 

 conscious of the same practice of " moving together " at thfe selfing 

 and distributing end. 



Although the effect is not directly traceable, it cannot be of 

 small importance that Denmark is free from international distrac- 

 tions, and therefore can bring to her economic development a 

 concentration of State effort not enjoyed by larger powers. 

 Whatever hits agriculture in Denmark hits the State in a vital 

 part. Accordingly, ministers whose departments bear upon the 

 dominant industry are not obliged to compete for a hearing with 

 other departments claiming greater urgency. The pressure of the 

 internal trading interest is always greater than the pressure of any 

 external interest that can normally arise. Danish representatives 

 abroad are similarly without excuse for putting a single concern in 

 front of that of helping the Danish export trade. In short, the 

 central authority of the State is able to organise itself largely 

 for the very purpose of pushing Danish commerce. It is signifi- 

 cant that while the annual vote for the IVIinistry for Foreign 

 Aff'airs is £39,000, that for the Ministry of Agriculture is £182,000. 



Denmark also enjoys the security of a policy which has been 

 adopted to suit the export trade. The tariff revenue of the State 

 amounts to £1,(300,000, but only a fraction of this sum is derived 

 from taxes that could be said to affect appreciably the cost of 

 agricultural production. 



The following among other commodities are on the free list : — 



Bacon and hams. 



Living animals for food. 



Meat, salted or preserved. 



Meat, fresh. 



Oilcake. 



Wheat. 



Wheat, flour. 



127 



