The sun., 1901-03-14
SALISBURY ON TRADE WAR.
SAYS NOTHING or OTR COMPETITION
AND BEIITTLES GERN4NY'S.
But He Advises the Nation to Take the warn.
ings az Commercial Decatence AZ ~ They
Were Real, and Make Reforms. AZ IL BEING
Done In the Army to Meet AdyerSartes. "Who
Continually, Become Wore Dangerous"
Special CaN, D,pd,ch to THE Sun


Special Cdtis Dtspd,ch TO THE Sun
LONDON. March l3 Addressing the annual
gathering. Of the Associated Chambers Of
Commerce Of the United Kingdom to-day.
Lord Salisbury discussed the question Of
foreign competition and the means 10 be
adopted to combat ii He was humoro,isly
sceptical Of the idel. which. he declared.
was derivable from the current public dis
cussion, that the English were being beaten
by their competitors all over the world and
had nothing TO look forward 10 but a rapid
and irredeemable descent into obscurlty.
He declared that he did not ind such feeling
depressing the commercial princedom OF
England He gathered that some were
driven To despair by the spectre of Germany.
and he himself thought that what one heard
OF German rivalry. which was supposed to
be driving the English 50 hard. must originate
rather in the inventveness of the producers
OF press copy rather than in the real fact
Lord Salisbury did not allude to the COM
petition of the United States. but he. perhaps.
had II in mind when he proceeded TO admit
that there was. nevertheless. note Of dis
couragement in the popular idea that the
British were not so completely masters as
they once were and had not established them
to do lie did not know whether there was
any Justin ncaticn for the feeling He was
inclined 10 attribute II to the natural pcssl-
mism which attends as a Nemesis on all great
success
However he trusted that tho nat lon would
take the warnings as If they we're real. and
give its whole attention to meeting possible
dangers equally a.. by repairing tho defects
In The army. II wodld prepare to meot possible
adversare~, who continually become moro
powerful and more dangerous,
He did not venture to suggest rem edy.
but he remarked upon a defect in British
social and commercial training. namely too
great neglect Of foreign languages in view Of
the objects pursued and the competition Of
foreigners Those responsible for COM
mercla education must not be afraid OF the
word utiltdrian. II he were not afraid Of
urging counsel Of perfection he would advise
all those destined to obtain their livelihood
from commerce from the highest TO the
lowest. 20 know French and German. and
possibly Spanish, before Latin and Greek.
In conclusion. Lord Salisbury suggested
that II the supposed decadence In English
enterprise and commerce really existed IL
ght possibly be traced to excess OF Par
lamentary meddling Was not the nations
condition. he asked, a great deal affected bv
the attitude Of capital a. well as of labor
II was not easy TO see below IN. surface. but
It appeared To him quite capable Of argument
that constant interfcreuccs with private lib-
erty. although he admitted that in many
cases this was absolutely required. had had
the result of dscouraFing the employment OF
capital II was a serious and formidable
danger. because II hv Parliamentary inter-
ference the sources 81 capital wore dried up.
the result would be the gradual decay Of the
Industries Of the country which no suhse-
auent cyeit.ons could replace.