British imports from Siberia in the early twentieth century
Until the end of the XIX century, Siberia remained inaccessible to the British, despite the fact that the British Board of Trade, as well as private entrepreneurs were well aware of the opportunities that opened up in Siberia for the British Commerce. They called Russian Siberia Canada, because instead of chained convicts the British met hard-working farmers, showing no signs of misery and poverty. Because of the wealth of Siberian resources and cheap labor, Siberia was conceived by the British as a promised land, an Eldorado of the British trade interests. Great Britain became a major importer of Siberian raw materials and agricultural products, in particular, butter, but never earned a dominant position in the Siberian export market. Unfortunately, successful British investments proved not enough to fully realize the commercial potential of Siberian resources.