1915-07-10 — Page 8

THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH.

HONGKONG

GERMANY AND OUR TRADE,

WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

WILL AN ECONOMIC WAR FOLLOW?

The following article, written by Sir L. G. Chiozza Money, the celebrated financial specialist, ap peared in a recent issue of the Sunday Chronicle. We reproduce it because we believe it will prove of particular interest to our many business readers in Hongkong:-

This war is doing for British opinion on many subjects what Napoleon did for the dynasties of Europe. The cherished ideas and convictions of all sorts of people, wise and unwies, are going whole- sale into the melting pot.

The professed 'Socialists of the ante-war period may with truth be said to be the only Conservatives leit to us. As to them, it may be said that they have been for so long accustomed to suggesting very small and innocent proposals, with a view to disarming opposi tion and working from the thin end of the wedge, that now, amid the clash of arme, their proposals of yesterday seem timid beyond "belief. Indeed, their timidity remains, for they have forgotten

how to be bold.

To-day it is your politician of one of the old parties who startles us'overy moment with some un- heard of propdeal, such as buying up all the pablic-houses, or com mandeering all the factories, or abolishing illegitimacy, or shoot ing all those who do not agree with him pour encourager les

autres.

No man knoweth what is com- ing out of it all, but since the war exists, I confess that I rejbion at the shaking up of opinion, which 18 going on. And since so much opinion is going by the board, let

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1915.

Germany. The thing was very well put by Mr. Gladstone when be said Protectionist that he was, à man who, having been amitten acon, one cheek, remote himself upon the other.

its traders before proceeding to those steps which Mr. Walla fears as a consequence of the war,

But that is not all. There are also the enormous markets of the British Empire, from India to Egypt and from Newfoundland to South Africa.

that England and Frados had been enemies from the reign of Edward III. to the reign of Ed- ward VII There were periods. when the exigencies of foreign policy dictated on satente, and diplomacy did its best to unite the two countries; but it was a friend- ship of governments, and the in- dividual Englishman was never

Now you

nover

“FIERCE NEUTRALITY.

An Outspoken American Leading Article.

As a model of style, compres sion, and

"fierce neutrality,

the Times reproduces the full text of the principal leading article:

Morning, May 16. It runs "as Journal of Louisville on Sunday follows:-

"The Herr Doctor Dernburg's

The Discovery of Europe. To the Englishman his island is a piece of land entirely sure rounded by foreigners. The ma jority of these people are believed to live in a continent lying off the I do not think it necessary to

mouth of the Thames and known discuss the fiscal question in this

a8 Europe. Certain parts of it, connection, however, and I do not Germany has found in the Bri-se, for example, the Swiss mon- purpose here to do so. It is not tiah Colonies and Dependencies tains, the French Riviera, and the the time for fighting these old an ever-growing profit. So far as Italian picture galleries, are re- the friend of the individual party battles. What I desire to India and the Crown Colonies are served for the holiday of Eog Frenchman. Bay, in the clearest possible terms, concerned, Germany has enjoyed liebmen; but the remainder. is understand your enemy; possibly which appeared in the Courier is that, if after the war Germany abanlata Free Trade. In the self evtirely given up to foreigners, that is why he is your enemy. inimical to this country, it would has had to encounter of lato years served by Englishmen who have England alone was guilty of was found to pursue a trade policy governing Colonies, it is true, she These foreigners, it has been ob- be our duty to meet the onset by the British Preference, but in ventured among them, differ in this type. France in its time has But it must not be thought that prohibitions going far beyond the spite of that she has made great degree but not in kind. They misread England almost as com- dubious experiment which is headway, conspicuously commonly called Protection.

are united in every instance by enpletely as England has misread room is better than his company. obstinate refusal to converse in France. It is probably untrue If an honest man he was a most jection compels the Englishman through a darkness of perpetual organiser of the German Colony English. This unreasonable ob that on this island we travel mistaken man; If merely an to toy lightly (or painfully) with fogs to buy our wives by publio in America, and an agent of the the various absurd languagea auction at Smithfield. But until German Spy System, he was the which they use among themselves. ten years ago these stimulating enemy, not the friend, of his recognised several distinct species were articles of faith with French- could help no use. He has

Before the war the Englishman facts as to our climate and habits countrymen in of foreigners. There were the men of intelligence; that is the greatly hurt the cause of Germany. America. Ha

Germana, a peaceful people de- French error about England. It Let him go and be damn'd to him, voted to masio, philosophy and is equally an.rue that France has and now, as ever, to Hell with the wood carving, who were reported lived for the past forty years so Hohenzollern and the Haps- recently to have directed their entirely in the nightmare memory burg!" energies into the path of com- of the Annes Terrible that Freach merce; these could be distin politicians will resent no inault guished by an inabability to pro-and French soldiers can resist no nounce the letter "w" and the onset; that is the Germad error universal wearing of spectacles. about France,

which will be continued inde- finitely, the struggle of Germany to dominate, through finance, manufactures and trade. It is as necessary that the Allies should consider this ae it is that they should consider every other aspect certain goods, for example, dyes, If Germany were to withhold of this present conflict. It is an in order to cripple the important integral part of Germany's British dye-usere, or if, on the struggle against the world." other hand, she were to cut prices And Mr. Welle bas also pointed in certain directions with the de out that during the actual pro-liberate attempt of ruining British gross of hostilities Germany bae industries, either in the British availed herself of every opport: Imperial market or in foreign unity which has presented itself markets, then we should be justi in France, in Belgium, and in fied in treating such actions as Poland, to crash the industries of measures of deliberata economic those countries. Of Belgium"he warfare, and of retaliating, no has written. "There can be no by trumpery import duties, but doubt of the systematic smashing by actual prohibitions against up of "competing Belgian indus- German entrance to this or British tries in order that, after the peace, Imperial markete. whether Germany is or is not! victorious, the German plants way start in at once, relieved of a most dangerous rival."

I notice that some critics think it sufficient to "poob-pook" these representations of Mr. Welle. For my part, I think them worth profound consideration.

We must be prepared after the war for German action in the sphere of industry of the same outrageous character which she has carried into military and naval operations.”

Germany's Best Market.

I think I am right in saying that more than one eminent Free Trader has not hesitated to de-

Some people call it piracy, the liberate economic warfare, the clare that when it comes to de- kind of warfare which Germany Government of a Free Trade is waging on the British trade routes, but never in the records country is fally justified in out- of piracy, at least of white pirates, ting trade connections in the

were auch crimes committed as have now become a commonplace in this, war. Those who think Mr. Welle" expressions exaggerat

manner I have indicated.

If we were driven to such a course, it would be a most effec itself a most valuable ons. In tive one. The British market is

Australia.

in

also make it hot for the German The British Empire, then, can trader if German trading inter- eats are organised against us when the war is over.

of our Allies of France, and Bel- And then there are the markets giam and Russia, and perhaps of others. In these, too, it may go ill with Garman trade if Germany is not content at the end of the war to bring all hostilities to an end. If any attempt is made to continue the economic overlord ship of Belgium, ready means can be found to protect her.

ing let us keep dry our economic will be necessary, but while hop- Let us hope that no such steps

powder.

those of us who think we know ed will do well to remember this 1913, the year before the war, the..

our minde take advantage of the greatest opportunity to shape opinion which has ever befallen the man who believes he has something to say,

fact. Those who before the war pictured Germany as a sucking dove must pardon as if we dia regard their present, pleas for the

onemy.

were imported into this country following manufactured gooda from Germany:

· FRENCH.

What the War has Ta ught us.

ed foreigner of the Mediterranea; if he was playing the guitar fight-

Then there was the dark hair-

The Real France. The British error about Franco

a

has no dream uniform except the uniform in which it fighte; its wear the same clothes as its poli- waitera and even its head-waiters) ticians (an I even ite President); and the corps d'elite, which had Second Empire, were abolished in been the military pride of the the first military reorganisation of the Republic.

A Long Alliance.

to be the caso, as Mr. Wells also Not only so, but if we found it suggests, that Germany was using her commercial progress aguio to It is not good to believe that ing balle, or asleep, you know him came from two causes a failure pile up armaments and propara- after the overthrow of Potsdam for a Spaniard, but if he divided to appreciate the truth about tione for our would also be a good reason for to continue in ather fields a hope in opera and the precarious art observe the truth about the France destruction that the German peoples will desire his time between the tenor parte French history and an inability to prohibiting her imports and for lesa contest, nor does any right of eating macaroni be was an that is living under our eyes. same. inducing our Dominions to do the thinking man desire to deny to Italian. Then there was the Rus. When British opinion is set right Germans, the right to live and sian, whom you could always tell about the past of France, it will prosper and multiply. Neverthe- by his knous, bis fur hat, and the be in a position to see straight lishmen believes to live perpetual- less we will be prepared for any cigar-cases which were apparently about its present. But until it lyon French faress as it revolves thing that may arise in the new attached to the outside of his pan get both of these things into riotously round "Gay. Parce," is France, which the good Eng

Earops.

clothes.

But above all there was the to make itself ridiculous whenever Chine. Ita Trade Unionism is trus, perspective, it will continue the most serious country west of Frenchman, who was the foreign-it thinks of a Frenchman. er par excellence.

fifty years ahead of the rest of The first fallacy about the Europe; its inventors showed us The Greatest Illusion.

French is that they are frivolous, the way to the motor car, the Five centuries of Anglo-French This illusion takes two forme, aeroplane, and the submarine; FALLACIES ABOUT THE hostility had gone to the making each of which is extremely popu- and its genius is for the organi

of our imaginary Frenchman, be- lar in England; a belief that the eation of peace. fore the Lansdowne Convention French are light headed in their of 1904 ended him once and for public life and lightminded in. all. He was a maguificent area- their private life; türe. Because in the eighteenth Now the whole error, with re- century

beef-eating England gard to French politica is probab, and the most silent fighting force But its army is the most modern fought France for the control of ly derived from a misreading of on the Continent. One foun! in India and North America, and the French Revolution. That the little fortress-towns of Eastern British Imports of Manufactures An Englishman, writes Mr. noticed that its enemy was a group of events, which is general. France little taste for the old Whether the prospect

From Germany in 1913. is pleas Appare!

Phillip Quedalla in the Sunday trifle unorthodox in his hors ly believed to have consisted of shows of war. In the streets ant or unpleasant, whether we Motor-cara and motor..

£1,300,000 Chronicle is a man who lives on an d'aures, wo were all brought up an impulsive attack upon the every man was a soldier, becades like it or not, we have certainly.

island in the North Sea governed to apprehend that German com Chemicals.

cycles 1,500,000 by Scotsmen; that is, called self to believe that Frenchman lived Bastille, followed by an orgy of one had to have soldiers; and in marcial methods, never particul- Cotton goods

4,000,000 governing. His occupations are

exclusively upon frogs. And be promiscuona decapitation, was in the country every hill top was a arly scrupalous, may.go to grave Leather and leather

7,400,000 simple, but absorbing. Io the Franes crusaded against Europe movement by which the society have guns..“..

cause at the end of that century reality a solema and progressive gun-platform, because one had lengths when this war is over.

intervals of earning money he in the high name of the French and government of France were And we must not count too much

goods

3,200,000 practises (or preaches) the family Revolation, every Englishman reconstructed from top to bottom. mo tern France; it does not est That is the military temper of upon Germen dieorganisation Iron and steal

Machinery

2,300,000 virtues, reads (for the duration of was given to understand that through war.

7,500,000 the war) twenty-five newspapers

It resulted from the accident much store by glory, and it bas Zino

and 0127-

in the week, and regards his every Frenchman was a gestion that the reformera began at the changed so much since its armies ufactures of 1,700,000 weather, his relations, and his lating jackanapes with a farcical top that they were compelled to swept light-heartedly out into

2,400,000 Government with a settled dis

cat off heads, but the Revolution Europe on the first wave of the The generation of the late itself was an effort of the whole Revolution. Because France is and fars

gust. As the result, possibly, of Prince Albert regarded the gene- population, directed by men of civilised and because it is rich, (dressed or mana--

an indifferent climate he is a per- ration of Napoleon III, as a shock the professional class, against a Frence is a peaceful country, and factured) ...... 1,300,000 son of somewhat slow perception. ing blend of Popery and the gay discredited system of government when a country fights for peace it Woollen goods......... 2,600,000 portance he makes it & rale land of Queen Victoria could solemnity of the Revolution was wine battles. Toya Dod games" 1,200,000 With regard to persons of im- life, and because the sporting Eng- and aristocratic privilege. The makes war Sagar

with a hope that 10,900,000 Dever to notice them until they never understand the unathletic consistent with the complete seri-

sre dead, and with regard to France of President Thiera, we ousness of the nation which had drill ground nor a play ground. Modern France is neither a f.otures 20,700,000 pastries his practies ie, thanks to have all in our time conjured up produced the Hagenots and was It is a great economic State alive his classical education, much the delightful visions of little French-yet to produce the Third Re with the enterprice which has "Totoli

£68,000,000 same. defend certain British industries inflict statistics upon a long-suf any gentleman sould tell you all poodles. No picture of life in Reluctant as I always am to Thus in the sighteenth centurying fox-shooting with packs of

men in flat-brimmed silk bats go pablic.

built up the industries of its north against special German attack. Iffering public, it would be a great about the Greek Republica and Calais was too ludicrous to be

and the agriculture of its centre, that need arises, what will it be pity not to take occasion to point the Itoman Empire but nobody in believed in Dover; that is one of

leading part in the commercial vained alosely with lines of rail- our duty to do?

to these remarkable facts." The England, except Edmund Burke the advantages of being an Island

life of Europe. way and canal, and playing a British market had so greatly and the Earl of Chatham, was Race. grown in value to German expor aware of the existence of its I ters that in a single year ws thirteen North American colonies,

•

and even during the war her chemists are basy in the solution of new industrial problems. It need zot take, à scientifió nation loug to recover its power of pro- | All duction, even after a disastrous war.

There may well be, therefore, as Mr. Wells suggests, the need to

other manu-

'

falsetto.

Many things will never be the same again after the war, and amongst them, I hope and believe, the conditions of British industry and trade will, witnees a sea change. No more of industry as the least regarded department of public affairs. No more of a con- sular service manned chiefly by unpaid foreign subjects. No more of the restriction and hin- In spite of her enormons com- drance of trade by privately-mitments in military matters, Silk, goods.............. controlled railway intereste. No Germany is still making a sur-Skina more of derelict candle. No more, prising quantity of iron and steel, in abort, of Laissez faire,,

"The war has taught us that we had become cintent to rely upon the great nation with which we are now at war for some seventy million pounds' worth of essential gods, many of which we had entirely neglected to manufacture for ourselves. There is no ex- cuse now for any British citizen, not knowing that some of our grest industries had become de-

France. has been governed rice The Solemn Republic pendent upon foreign prod untions

The Third Republic, by which 1870, is the most serious govern to such a degree as to be in hard straits when robbed of thate supplies by war,

Mr. Welle is so much impress

ment in Europe. It is no evid ence of light-mindedness that lishmen discovered with a shock That is the France which Eng- have to make up our minds before

As to that part of the subjet, weed by the considerations which

Frenchmen have occasionally de- of surprise in the hot weather of the war comes to an end that at selfrea ly for a protectionist policy of Gorman manufactured goods,/ed in order to remind the Eng-mistakes; when a whole race ence for the republican form of will affect more than a single war ite termination we must be pre- of defence. He contemplates to say to:hing of £7,800,000 lishman that they were still where goes wrong it is not simple to government by dying for it on pared to do many things which British duties to restrict German worth of other goods, a total of he had pat them. He had not find the first blander. After all, barricades.

imports, and the formgation of a £77,803,000, whereas we sold to noticed in the nineteenth century nobody ever did understand his flippant about street-fighting, and tion of England and France in There is nothing geography has made the co-opera- or a single generation, because we have not bitherto doné..

Zollverein embracing the British Germany, good, chiefly yarn, Empire, oversese, until the fact the proceedings of the man next intelligence than when he delight inevitable as the co-operation of What Will Germany Do?

that he possessed a considerable neighbours; There are those who believe Empire and her present Allies, worth £27,000,000.

one misinterprets Tennyson was never farther from Western Europe as natural and that after the wor; Germany, with a view to the shutting out of These values, be it remember was discovered for him by Lord door simply because he is the ed the subjects of Queen Victoris Germany and Austria in Central although beaten as a naval and German trade from their territori-ed, are values of the goods at the Beaconsfield and emphasised by man next door. military Power, will carry the es and to the mutual encourage- British portsand not as enchanced Mr. Chamberlain,

by a reference to "The red fool Europe. contest into the economic field-ment of each other's trade. by subsequent freightage and And, eo recently'ne August, he roading of France because from

England was at fault in its fury of the Eeine.".

urope discovery of France is "that she will fight us ayatematical- For my part, I do not think it dealings.

made the startling discovery that 1860 until 1904 it regarded France and middle of the last century of an ally against Germany; it is It is true that in the beginning something more than a discovery ly and endeavour to ruin her would be feasible to establish Be Prepared for. Anything. be lived next door to Europe. It with the eyes of an enemy. This Frenchmen showed a certain un- the discovery ofa neighbour whom industrial competitors. Mr. H. such a Zollverein. As regarde a Just because we were Germany's may be that, as we discovered the hostility was interrupted by an certainty as to the precise form of England had not known for air G. Wolle has written

general system of British protec-bost market we have it in our British Empire in the last cen- interval in the reign of Elizabeth, government which they proposed centaries and by whom England **Beyond

ibat five duties, I have no faith in it, power to make prohibition the tury, so in he twentieth century second interval in the reign of to retain: hat for forty-five years will live in an exchange of all that for I believe that it would pro- more effective, and it will certain we shall discover Europe. In Obarles II., and a third interval they have retained the Republic, is most valuable in both countries treaty of pouco may and, is another war which was bably punish the United King-ly be well for the German Govern. this age of soience all things are under the government of Walpole: The French Republie has no for more than the time of an going on before August, and dom more than it would injurement to consider the pookst possible.

But in the main it is true to say meretricions attractions; itwarmy men sow living,

蟲

the 'war

We Have the Cards.

*॰

a

Mutual Mistakes.

It is almost impossible to analy-