The Dominion THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1916. CRIPPLING THE ENEMY'S TRADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2668, 13 January 1916, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1916. CRIPPLING THE ENEMY'S TRADE

The discussion in the House of Commons on the proposal of Mr: He-wins that steps should bo taken with the object of striking an economic blow at the enemy with a view to shortening the war should serve as a further reminder to the'whole British Empire that tho time for making preparations for the fight against Germany for the world's trade is now. It is satisfactory to have the assurance of Mr. Runciman that the British Board of Trade is looking ahead. The real trouble, ho says, will be when the war is ended. Germany will then embark upon a new economic campaign, and "it will be necessary when making peace, to see that she docs not raise her head." The preparations of Britain and her Allies for the coming trade war are causing serious alarm in Germany. One German newspaper declares t-hat it is no use to talk about victories if the nation's trade is permanently reduced. If this should happen, the war would bo a failure. Another paper in its Qommonts on the "unscrupulous English" proposals for crippling German commerce, states "that the war must not end until most-favoured-nation treatment is guaranteed to Germany elsewhere." The "elsewhere" referred to is not going to be Franco or Russia. The French Minister of Commerce has just announced ho is determined to- negotiate the/'most aggressive and permanent anti-German commcrcial treaties." Russian Ministers have also intimated that they intend to block any efforts which Germany may have, in contemplation for commercial expansion within the Tsak's dominions. Quite recently M. Sazono'ff. the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, authorised the publication of a statement in which these words occur: \Yo must say to Germany: "These are your frontiers and your limits. Work within them as you please, but out into the world you go no more. We have had enough of the disintegrating influence you oring to bear in every quarter of the world. We desire to live at peace as Christian nations. Your unscrupulous rule, based on the principle of armed force, has threatened to enslave the world. That principle is abhorrent to' us "all. You mu9t be content to stay quietly at home, and 1 to conduct your commerce and your domestic affairs as may please yon best, but you shall no more encroach upon the sacred rights of your neighbours."

' Public opinion throughout the Brit- ! ish Empire is certainly in favour of ; keeping the Germans quietly at home, and of keeping their goods out of_ our markets. Mr. Hewins , voiced the opinion of Britishers in ! all parts'of the world when he as- ; serted that "we shall see that the resources of ,tho Empire over which we have a monopoly shall'no longer be exploited in the interests of our enemies." If this war does not im- \ press upon us the vital importance of ! organisation for commerce as well as defence, one might well ask: Arc we capable of learning anything at all 1 Some people are strongly urging that Britain should forthwith take measures to strengthen her economic position. It has been pointed out that the growth of unessential foreign imports is having a, weakening effect on. the nation .at a time when the export trade has seriously diminished. Britain's efforts to destroy the enemy's trade should be accompanied by measures for increasing her ability to support herself. The vast resources of the Empire must be developed and /organised with the object of making' it as selfreliant and self-supporting as possible. This may mean a thorough •reconsideration of our commercial system, if it can be called a system. Many traditional economic ideas may nave to be abandoned. After pointing out that there is no limit to the wealth and resources of the British Empire, the London Morning Post impresses upon its readers the fact that instead of developing our own resources we have chosen to buy what we want from the foreigner. Let us learn from the enemy and begin to buy at Home—and by "Home" we mean not these little islands but the whole range and extent of the British Dominions. What a magnificent work lies before our statesmen if they would only scrap their economic preconceptions and party shibboleths, and cooperate with the self-governing Dominions in a policy of-mutual supply and trade! It is a great task, but its main i lines are simple. Preferential tanif agreements are the necessary foundation, involving a protective tariff for this country. The Dominions all give the Mother Country preference now: the system 13 complete if we give the Dominions preference in return. Such fiscal arrangements would be made in consultation with the ' Governments .of the Dominions, and the foundations would thus be laid for co- 1 operation in the development of the I material resources of the Empire. The commercial war with Germany is < going to put the Empire to a severe 1 tost. The Germans- will assuredly i put up a tremendous fight. They are 1 already making a great bid for the ] trade of the Near East. Negotiations { for an economic and commercial 1 union wth Austra have been com- ( menccd. The proposed treaty is to 1 contain a clause providing that r Austro'Dernmii commercial pulley I shall be based on & unified plan, and It

that both countries shall negotiate and conclude in common commercial treaties with other states. The Germans are also preparing for a commercial invasion of the British Empire on a largo scale. Are wo really determined to resist, or will wc, after a short and half-hearted struggle, fall back into the old grooves and once more allow ourselves to bo exploited by our enemies-! The British Vice-Consul in a large French town has made a point of questioning., his countrymen regarding business prospects after the war. He asked several British traders whether they would reopen business correspondence and renew their journeys to Germany with the object of buying Germans goods as in the past. To my astonishment (writes (he ViceConsul) the reply was invariably: "Why, certainly ne shall. We cannot do otherwise. We are bound to do so oil account of business competition." I was also .informed that the Germans are now manufacturing all they possibly can in advance, and in provision for the demands from tho London market after the war—orders for tho wholesale trade in the City of London and tho large dranerv establishments in the West End. "Is" this really a fact, anil possible, after all the horrors and suffering we as a nation have endured at their hands, and are even now uxuei-ieiicing, that our merchants and shopkeepers at Home, for the sake of miserable profits, will continue trading with the Germans—the nation who havo killed the flower of our best manhood, proved themselves to be abominable assassins and murderers of the depest dye? Jfiss Cavcll's case an example, but there are thousands of oases that will never come to light.' And these are the people wc intend to trade with later on! In May last the Board of Trade opened the British Industries Fair, with the •principal object of getting British manufacturers to replace articles of German manufacture sold in our country. What is the use of it if Germany, after the war, is again to be allowed to sell her wares freely in England and her colonies to our detriment? The British public-has the power in its own hands to prevent German goods from being forosd upon them. They can compel their Governments to place prohibitive duties on enemy manufactures, and can absolutely refuse to buy them. A strong movement in this direction has been started in England, and an organised opposition to German trade has also been inaugurated in New Zealand. In Tuesday's issue we published a report of a- meeting of Wellington ladies held for the purpose of establishing a branch of, the Anti-German League in this city. One of the objects of the league is to ask all t-lie women of New Zealand to pledge themselves not to buy German or Austrian goods, and render all the. assistance in their power to the development of New Zealand and British manufactures. Every man and woman in the Empire can do something "to " cripple, cramp, squeeze, and destroy" German tracTe. The first step is the refusal to buy German goods of any description, and the next is to impress our political leaders with our determination that the Customs tariff of the country must be so adjusted as to encourage trade with oflr friends and make "it virtually impossible for Germany and her allies to get their goods into this Dominion at all.