No. 222.
Mr. Read
to Mr. Evarts.
Athens, November 30, 1877. (Received December 21.)
Sir: The general commerce of Greece averages annually $18,500,000 in imports and $11,400,000 in exports. There is, accordingly, a balance of trade against this country of about $7,100,000.
[Page 359]The external commerce of Greece is carried on mainly by sea. There are, however, some cattle and a few products of very little value which are exchanged by land-carriage with the neighboring provinces of the Turkish Empire.
The greater part of the internal trade of Greece finds its way on the backs of mules and donkeys, or on carts, whenever the roads permit.
A portion of this traffic is also by sea in caïques, or small sailing-vessels, of from 30 to 100 tons’ capacity. In this manner wine, fruit, oil, and other products are transported to the Piræus, Syra, and other seaports of Greece, from the islands of the Ægean Sea and the coast of Peloponnesus. Even dried currants are shipped from different ports of the Peloponnesus in caïques, and are landed in Patras, Zante, Cephalonia, and other depots, where they are transferred to steamers or sailing-vessels, which take them to America and England and other parts of the world.
England holds the first rank as an importer of articles into Greece and a consumer of Greek products. The merchandise imported from and exported to that country forms about three-fifths of the total commercial movement in Greece.
Next to England comes Turkey; then, in their order, Austria, France, Russia, and Italy. These six states absorb about ninety-four hundredths of the total commerce of the Hellenic Kingdom.
The principal articles exported from England and imported into Greece are the following: Cotton and wool tissues; undressed hides; charcoal; salt fish in general; unwrought and wrought iron; sugar; liquors; rice; coffee, and bronze.
The importations from Turkey are the following: Grains; cattle; wood in general; wool tissues; fruits in general; salted goods; cotton, &c.
The importations from France are: Sugar; wool; cotton and silk tissues; undressed and dressed hides; coffee; salted goods; rice; glassware; worked gold, and matches.
The imports from Russia are: Grains; black and red caviar, and undressed hides.
Italy imports into Greece, sulphur (large quantities being used to prevent the disease of the grape and currant vines); wood in general; rice; salted goods; paper, &c.
America largely supplies Greece with salted goods, and it has recently almost entirely absorbed the petroleum market in this country. The importation of refined petroleum from the United States has greatly increased of late. Greek merchants formerly obtained petroleum from Roumania and Austria. But about three years ago entire cargoes began to arrive from New York. During this year 10 cargoes of refined petroleum, each containing an average of 6,000 cases or 12,000 tin cans, arrived at the port of the Piræus alone.
The total consumption of refined petroleum in Greece averages 840,000 okes, equal to about 2,310,000 pints, or 288,750 gallons a year. The price-current varies from about 5½ to 6⅓ cents a pint, or 44 to 52 cents a gallon.
Canned fish and lobsters, and sewing-machines also form important items in the importations from America.
About one-half of the exports of Greece (estimated by their pecuniary value) are taken by England. These exports are currants; lead; valonea; olive oil; tobacco; emery. To Austria, figs; valonea; currants; liquors; olive oil; undressed hides are sent. To Turkey, dressed hides; spun cotton; soap; lemons and oranges; olive oil; liquors and cheese [Page 360] are exported. To the United States, currants; and likewise rags, olives, wool, and wine.
The consumption of flour imported into Greece is about 780,000 okes, or about 1,560,000 pounds a year. This is exclusive of the amount produced by the country itself. The market price averages 55 lepta an oke, equal to 20 lepta or 3⅓ cents a pound.
The total value of imported corn consumed in Greece amounts to about $3,600,000 a year; of barley, to about $109,000 a year; and of Indian corn, to about $207,000 a year. So that Greece can be said to spend in the article of corn, whether in the shape of flour or grain, imported from abroad, the amount of about $3,968,000 a year. The larger part of this has hitherto been drawn from Turkey and Russia. But the closing of the ports in the Black Sea, by the war, has cut off the principal source of supply, and the moment has arrived for the United States to hasten to secure the Greek grain market, in the same manner as we have already gained the English, French, and Italian markets, in accordance with the suggestions contained in my No. 305, of last July.
I have, &c.,