26 Soviet Dumping
which she has amassed enormous surpluses year after
year.
By comparing the figures of direct trade only, it appears
that the excess of imports from Soviet Russia over British
exports to Soviet Russia in the period 1924-30 amounted to
£138,769,000. This figure is derived by adding to the
figures given in a Board of Trade reply in the House of
Commons on December 8th, 1930, the difference between
imports and exports for 1930 from Board of Trade returns.
The figures are as follows :

EXCESS OF IMPORTS OVER EXPORTS

1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
[930

£oo0
[5,913
19,082
18,272
16,543
18,860
22,744
27,455

It should also be noted that a considerable proportion of
the goods that the Soviets export to this country is resold
to other countries by Soviet Agents working in competition
with British firms. Thus, whilst the amount actually
recovered by the Soviets cannot be placed to the credit of
the British side of the trade exchange, the profits made on
the deals are lost to British traders and thus to the nation
generally.
The inequality of benefit resulting from trade relations
with the Soviets is further emphasised by comparing the
figures with those showing the general trend of foreign
trade between Britain and her overseas customers.
Whilst the tendency of all foreign countries is to spend
a fair percentage of the value of their goods retained in the
U.K. on British produce and manufactures, Russia alone
of all countries spends as little as possible.
The following table illustrates the position for the year
928: