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BRITONS V. GERMANS IN CHINA
now perhaps be too late to take any action at all. As it is, we can afford to wait calmly for the return of our enemies, either to our Colonies, or the Coast and Treaty ports of China. It is possible that many will feel so aggrieved at what they consider our bad treatment in liquidating their firms that they will not desire to continue "raising our colonies to a position of eminence" for us, in which event so much the better, for in any case it is unlikely they will in future be allowed such commercial freedom in our lands as they enjoyed previous to the war. Their efforts in the past must not be despis- ed, and, on the other hand, they must on no account be imitated by the British.
Whether the Government will publish complete results and figures of the liquida- tions remains to be seen, but sufficient proof from all sides points to the undeniable fact that the British have made an infinitely better
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job of their trade than their enemies, although equal opportunities have been available for both sides. It now remains for us to con- solidate the ground gained, and not rest on our laurels, but rather, by renewed efforts. and vigour, put a greater distance than ever between ourselves and our most serious European competitor.
It is open to almost anyone to obtain capital by dishonest means, and also to sell articles at a loss. The only man in history who found any difficulty about the latter process was the crank who stood on London Bridge offering sovereigns for nineteen shill- ings each.
But perhaps only German "Gründlichkeit" and "Ausdauer" could have carried on their huge bluff for so long without discovery, and at the same time have mesmerised British bankers and Manchester men into an infatuation for dealing with them, which has without doubt reacted ad-
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