Firms on shaky ground

There are several disturbing elements in the trade position,

notably failures at Amsterdam, in Java and at Christiania, the trouble of a Mincing Lane firm and the limited moratorium in Cuba — all more or less due to overspeculation in sugar, rubber and other commodities.

The position in many neutral countries is causing alarm, particularly Scandinavia. During the war neutral countries made huge profits through supplying the belligerents, and many new firms indulged in the wild buying of commodities, forcing prices unduly. Since the Armistice the value of these articles has steadily declined, and many of the speculators are now burdened with a large stock which is unsaleable except at a heavy loss.