New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-06
ENGLAND AND "MADE IN GERMANY"

ENGLAND AND MADE IN GERMANY"
While the consolidation Of the Empire was
doubtless one Of the reasons which prompted
the Government Of Lord Salisbury to reverse
the policy which. less than two years ago, IL
had proclaimed TO the world through LORD
Ripon at that time Secretary for the Colonies.
II was probably not the only one which induced
the British Government to secure at as early
date as possible the abrOgatiOn of commercial
treaty with Germany Of more than half n cen
tury's standing Considerations OF sentiment
alone such as the advocates Of imperial fed
GRAFTON habitually deal in. can hardly be sup
posed 10 have affected the Judgment OF gov
eminent In which a successful manufacturer
end man of affairs like Joseph Chamberlain
PLAYS so conspicuous and influential a role.
Englishmen Of the Chamberlain variety may
he visionary a, times they are rarely SO In
matters Of trade.
Attention has frequently been drawn in the
columns Of The Tribune to the enormous
strides made within the last twenty years by
Germany In every field Of commerce and manu-
features. BY no country has this been realized
more keenly than by Great Britain. Its trade
papers have teemed Of late with protests and
complaints. Its political economists sounded
warning after warning. Yet her statesmen
seemed content 10 follow In the old ruts. The
cry Of alarm uttered by the British merchant
did not disturb them. For all that. 1t has come
none TOO soon. Here. taken at random from
among mass of similar letters, is the pantivc
tale told recently by the Colombo correspond
ent of THE British Trade Journal English
manufacturers he says, must not lose sight
"Of the fact that the markets Of the extreme
East are constantly being lost TO German
competition AT Bombay in the principal no.
"tels. the traveller may well ask himself if he
sis on the banks of the Rhine or in city Of
India. German competition surpasses every
thing imaginable. Careful investigation among
Parse, Mussulman and IIndOO merchants
has convinced us Of the immense progress
made by the Germans. The moment has
come to take measures to stop them. Has
England expended millions Of pounds sterling
"and lost millions Of brave people and exer-
'csed skilfu diplomacy in order to open to
Germans the markets Of the extreme East"
Similar testimony IL furnished by British mer-
chants In all the coOnies-in Capada, Egypt.
Australia and NewZealand; and testimony still
more striking comes from Japan, China and
Cochin China. But worse than all, in their
own country. on the sacred soil Of Great Brit
ain itself, its merchants have discovered COM
petition In manufactured products which until
the present time seemed to constitute the I'M
contested monopoly Of British industry. Jules
Roche. French economist, writing in the
Figaro says of this competition with which
England Is so suddenly confrOnted
1t is not a French army which by night has
invaded England by the Channel tunne-we
nave not yet reached this point-but 1t Is an in
vasion not the less sacregious and not the less
dangerous which has occurred Germany has
sent to London. Manchester Dublin and Liver
pool hemp and linen goods and even-oh. what
prodigy.-cotton cloths. Yes. cotton cloths for
more than Sl.OOD.OOO-in England.
And then he adds:
You can imagine without difficulty the revo-
luton unclaimed by this phenomenon More
lish trade Is preparing for the efforts which
such situation demands and which it knows
how to take; you need not doubt 1t.
This same writer-and he cannot be sus-
pected Of II bias favorable to Gernany-sums
mp the progress made by that country as fol-
lows:
During the last fifteen years. while the foreign
commerce OF the world has increased by $1,000
OOO,WU, own has decreased by about $500
100000 calling from 81. 1W.2 OOOOO to 1.41S,-
GOVO. and the German Empire has enriched
itself by all that which We have lost. and even
more. its trade rising from Sl41O 100000 to
ISL OUOD or an Increase of 500 800 900
Some Of its industries have experienced an in
credible development. Its manufactures of
chemical products have possession Of all mar
kets: It's neutrality-suspicious. in proportions
produces nine million to ten million tons OF iron
and steel: It's export OF coal. minerals, cotton
goods and iron increases like the equinoctal
tide; It's port Of Hamburg, where ten years ago
saw the first works of Improvement. has be.
come active that 1t to-day surpasses Liver.
poOl-the celebrated port OF the Mersey-by
more than five hundred thousand tons In the
comparative maritime movement OF 1890 | do
not mention, alas. our unfortunate port Of Mar
seilles 1t would require two of them now to
equal Hamburg.
Here. then, ii seems to us, Is one Of the domi-
nant motives of Lord Salisburys recent ac-
ton Imperial federation is very we'll. but may
prove an "iyidescent dream" after ALL Sir VIII
frd Laurier may pose rs the hero of the hour
for the time being. No one however. knows
better than he that a desire TO weld together
the different members of the Empire is not the
only object Of the English Premiers new pol
ley. 1t is not alone loyalty to the Crown that
has won the day: the pocket of the British
merchant has also triumphed
-.
The meeting of the League Of American