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Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1918, Page 2

That Germany realises Nemesis is ua her track .when the settlement of the war comes to the crucal point, is being manifested on various sides. A student of German newspapers in Eng. find points out that in its latest frantic I appeal to Germans to “keep a stiff ‘ upper lip,’’ the semi-official Cologne Gazette (in a leading article published in mid-September) shrieked that if Gor- : many loses the war “every single one ■ of us, whatever our rank or profession ' should have to dig and slave for foreign hinds. A few days before this lugubrious vision of Germany in defeat Herr Hoff a well-known Radical parliamentarian, wrote in the Berliner Tagchlatt what it would mean to the Huns if they are compelled to make amends for their war crimes in money. He said: “Let us east our minds back to the days before the war. In 1913 we exported to foreign countries manufactured products to a value of £319,800,000, snd imported £73,900,000 worth. That is to say, we sold nearly ,£250,000,000 more than we bought. We imported about £175,000,000 more of raw material a than wo exported Now, supposing we liavo to pay our enemies nn indemnity of £5,000,000 ' That would mean our having to find something like £32-5,000,000 for interest and amortisation charges. It would mean that wo should have to sell our entire surplus of manufactured goods without getting anything at all for them, while we could not pn\ for our required £250,000,00 of raw materials at all. They simply would not be sent into the country. What, would bo the result? Within a year at the outside the whole German economic machine would come to a standstill. And where there is nothing there

even the rights of the Kaiser cease to exist!'’ ! While Germany’s economic outlook is so bad Great Britain is preparing well • in advance to reap a fresh harvest in new fields. The Huns have lost their trade in South America and Britain has i taken steps to make good the chance |ho offering. Sir Maurice do Bunsen, 5 head of the British Commercial Mis- ! sion, has completed his tour of South America. In a statement to American _■ newspaper representatives' at Washing. I ton, six weeks ago, he gave the followj ing account of his mission:—.“ln prac- . tically every South American country I found the people growing more strong ly in favour of the cause of the Allies. We expected strong sympathy in Brazil , I side, but wo wore agreeably surprised to find also warm feeling towards us in Argentina, Uruguay and many other . South American countries. While the Governments of the various republics . are stll maintaining strict neutrality and are timid about going to war, public opinion in each is becoming so faJ vourable to the Allied cause that I hope I to -see them all take up' the- light j against Germany. Germany’s trade ( organisation in South America has been | almost entirely knocked out. The Gor- ! mail banks are still open, but they I are doing no business. Forced to cut ! off exports at the opening of the war, I Germany has been unable to send into ; South America the vast- quantities of small manufactured goods which formed the ibulk of her trade. She is undoubtedly preparing to resume her operations there after the war. But it is fully possible for the Allies—particularly Great Britain and the United States—to work harmoniously in South America and prevent German commercial domination. I expect to see a tacit working understanding between British and American interests there which would prevent any rivalry detrimental to either nation, and one which would permit both countries to develop their interests in harmony.” Trade af. ter the war will be the big fight into which all the nations will be eager to plunge. Two essential things count towards this end-—raw material for manufacturing purposes and ships to garry the commerce. Britain is not likely to be laggard in either respect.