TRADE AFTER THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2653, 27 December 1915, Page 5

TRADE AFTER THE WAR

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrigh) (Rec. December 24, 9.25 p.m.) London, December 23. Mr. Runciman, replying to questional x ' regarding trade relations after the war, said any investigation that was .be- .• ing conducted was not made with tha , idea of hastening the return of peace, lor there would be no peace until tho main object for which we were fighting waß attained. Nearly every department, of commercial life, however, had been constantly thinking what was likely to happen'when the war was ovar, and how best to prepare for such contingencies. It was Certain that the rfelationship betweep Germany and Austria—what might ba ; called the Central Powers' Zollverein— was bound to conflict with our interests; ; there wero also the questions of the use of ■ British ports made by.'German tonnage, and aliens' ownership of real property in Britain, notably coal-fields- ! They were taking good caro that no German should stand in their way. The" Board of Trade was closely watching British interests for which everything' else will be sacrificed. One of the most remarkable ro- , mances of industry had"been the skill with which the Germans gathered to-' gether the control of the oil-fields of Europe and_ tho East. Tho question was . how far this raw material, seeing its ' value as motive power for transport,' would pass from German to British control. Mr. Runciman added: "I think as far as commerce is concerned Germany is a beaten nation. It is our business to see that she does not again lift i. her head after the war."