GERMAN COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2423, 31 March 1915, Page 6

GERMAN COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN. At a conference in Edinburgh in 1911 of the United Kingdom Commercial lravcllers' Association there were present representatives of many foreign and colonial associations, including the powerful organisation iu Germany. To mark the occasion the honorary membership of the U.K.C.T.A. was con- , ferred in each oversea delegate present. In this connection the following announcement was recently published in "Die Post," the organ of the German association:— Notice. The undersigned have decided to resign our hon. membership of tho United Kingdom Commercial Travellers' Association, and to return our official badges 1 at the first opportunity. The reason that this has not been done before is that the undersigned had the opinion that after the declaration of pcace commercial relations between Germany and Great Britain would bo resumed, and it would thus bo out of place to break off good relations with old colleagues; but the action of England against Germany in business matters has reached such a degree of hatred and low action as has never before been known under any conditions of warfare amongst cultured nations; that it is evident the idea- is not only to destroy German commerce, but the German nation entirely. Further, the robbing of German property and tho bad treatment of ' German prisoners in England show Eng. I land_ to be on such a low station of • civilisation that it will be many years before friendly relations can be resumed. It is, therefore, below our dignity ans honour to wear an English badge — (Signed) Gcorg Haase (Chairman Central Board), W. Bauer (vicc-ohairaian Central Board), Felix Ebel (Chairman Berlin Section), Ludwig Ullman, A. H. 1. I'otfa. Emil Berstorff. 111 forwarding this extract to a London paper, Mr. Fred Coysh, tlie secretary of_the U.K.C.T.A., writes:— "L think this document most interesting, showing as it does the ignorance of the real position amongst a class of tho German people who snould bo acquainted, if anyone outside tho ruling class is acquainted, with the real fac'fs regarding the present deplorao'o strife and Britain's action and part therein, and stowing the intense bitter- ■ ness'of feeling against this country of Che commercial community in Germany. "I shall be glad if you will give publicity to this pronouncement, ao that ■ your readers may havo iirst-nand evidence of the real mind of commercut Germany with regard to Britain. Coniident as wo are in tho justice and right of the action *e have taken, we can regard such action with the contempt it deserves, and it will be as well in future to ho on our guard against resuming the business relations which havo hitherto subsisted, and to give to all things German, including her commercial travellers, a vcrj wide berth.'-' Cecil Tliiincx, Vein Spa ill I. and oilier member* ol' " ijovcu Little Auaii-almus" .M6O i'lueufcol.*