GERMAN SCHEMES IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2962, 28 December 1916, Page 9

GERMAN SCHEMES IN AMERICA

LOOKING FOR FUTURE TRADE.

Writing on October 25 the Washington correspondent of the "Morning Post" remarked that, in considering-tlio relations between Germany and the United States, it is important to bear in inind that-this country presents possibilities 111 'the .future with regard to trade and finance which the Germans can hardly afford to ignore. It is evident that even alter ine war tliey 'liUve little to hopo foe in this respect from their present enemies. In the United States, however, they may secilrii both money and trade provided they-remain on terms at least of nominal friendship with the-Americans. But if .German diplomacy drives tho United States into'making common causo with the Allies, Germany can hope for neither .money nor trade from this, country.. Hints have been thrown out by the commercial faction that after tlio war the influence of Germany will be used to mako New York the financial centre of the world, so as to destroy the former pre-eminence of Loudon. .. At- one timo Berlin hoped to supplant London as the world's banker, whereas now the most optimistic German sees that that is impassible, and that with peace London will cither resume its place as the world's banker or Ihe sceptro will have passed into the hands, of America, and New York will rule. Washington believes that the German trading-element is quite sincere in being willing to use its influence to mako Neiy 'York all-powerful at tile expense of .Loudon, because'the immediate interest of Germany lies in that direction, irrespective of what may happen in the future.

But at the same time Washington realises .that the . military faction is the ruling class of Germany, and may be strong enough to prevent traders from 'carrying out their policy. Tlio view, held here is that the' greater Germany's military defeats the. more insistent von Tirpita and his faction will be to use. the submarine, and when it can 110 longer bo disguised that Germany is defeated on land, ih desperation, as a last throw of the dice, submarines will be turned loose and the world defied.

Meanwhile it is interesting to note that the commercial faction is working strenuously' to be in a position to go out for trade tho moment the seas are-open to German commerce. AVashington has been informed that the great industries of Germany are being brought into rings and trusts in a way thoy never wero before, so that wasteful and unecoiiomio competitive expenses can be eliminated and output morcusod at a minimum cost 60 as to secure the control of foreign markets.

.Specifically, the correspondent remarks, my attention was directed to the dye industry. Americans are now making dyes ivliich heretofore it was believed could not be made outside Germany, and if the American dyo industry is fostered by the tariff in the same way as was the manufacture of iron and steel, it will only be a few yfcws before the United States is exporting dyes. This the Germans know, and therefore the whole dye industry of . Germany lias been modified, and plans are beiug made to flood the American market with wares, at a price that will make Amcricau competition impossible unless a prohibitive tariff is adopted.