New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-23
EUROPE'S TRADE UNION.
a NEW GERMAN SOCIETY.
First Step TO Establish Barriers
AGAINST the United States.

-,,,, Ian 2e-Cnder the presidency OF
- Ernst Gunther. CT Schleswig- Holstein
,--nneror williams brother-in-law, The Middle
1-,-onesr Economic Society formally found
"a teve last night. after having been under dis
cuss:on for about a year In various forms. It
inns Al the establishment OF p Middle European
,oororric alliance, on tho ZINES stated by Count
,colpchcwshi, the AEstro- Hungarian Minister
Car Foreign Affairs. several years ago. The
resident said that tbs society MAS formed to de-
soua Germany from an overflow OF foreign
Goods 10 strengthen German capacity in the
markets Of the world. and, above ALL TO nee,
American competition.
Ju,ius Wolff OF BresIau the economist, who
Is responsible For the idea OF starting the So
cjstv. explained that the plan originated from
observation O: American progress. which was
due 70 the bourdess possibilities opened to that
energetic by its large domestic market
Furopesn economists had long ago hit upon the
notion os a commercial union. but ii had me:
With great practical difficulties. II was neces-
sary TO find plan that offered the advantages
OF commercial union without its disadvantages.
:: was feasible 10 introduce n greater division
of labor ana specialize tion both in this coun-
~ and between The countries embraced in the
plan OF the Middle European Economic Society,"
with the view Of cheapening production. A fur
Their step would be q reform of the most IA
1orsa nation principle which must be brought
INTO harmony with reciprocity. Probably the
greatest task of the society however would be
the creation Of economic alliances between ma
lions with common interests.
Professor Wolff then mentioned numerous
other mirror points of the programme tending
10 smooth international commercial intercourse,
End the society adopted a cardinal princi-
pie the necessity for directing the attention Of
the peoples and governments Of Central Europe
90 their common, economic interests.
3 The meeting attended by a hundred and
Atty leading economists. politicians. manufact-
urers. merchants and land owners including
Prince Arenberg, Count Thiel-Wink-
ler. a representative OF the Krupps. Herr Bal
lin; The National Liberal leader. Herr Basser-
mann; Deputy Count Won Kardon Professor
Lexis. the economist: the Centre Party leader
IN the Reichstag. Dr. SPAIN. and Professor
Georg Won Meyr.
IT is intended to include in the scope of the
operations of the society the powers forming the
Triple Alliance. France. Switzerland. the Neither
LANDS and Scandinavia.
The "NIeue Freie Presse'' of Vienna. or February
= last published an account Of ton with
Bsron Call. the Austrian Minister of Trade and
Commerce. the prospect of the formation of
Central European customs alliance against Amert-
competition. The baron considered that the
chief obstacle 10 such project was in the most
favored nation clauses of the existing treaties of
commerce. but he shared the Russian view that
the Brussels sugar convention made a wide breach
in the favored nation principle
, The initiative Of the formation OF a central
European customs alliance against the United
States must, Baron Call said, be left to Ger
many. owing 10 Germany's greater industries and
the immensely greater degree in which Germany
was exposed 10 the danger OF American competi-
zion. While recognizing the difficulty of abolish
ing the most favored nation treatment, Baron
Call did not consider IL insurmountahle
The 'Neue Freie Presse," continuing its articles
on the proposed European combination to meet
American competition, printed March pro-
posai made by Professor Woln that, EC-
lopean commercial union WAS impracticable, the
central European industries should be organized
under 81 great international trust. The same paper
also announced that preliminary steps were being
taken for the creation of association further
the economic interests Of the middle European
states II would be entirely non-political and its
aims would he to promote Austro-Ciermaa co-opera-
zion in economic policy and Jurisprudence the pro-
motion or reciprocal preferential treatment with
regard TO customs and railroad tariffs, etc,
mon representation in distant countries and, gen
orally, any possible cooperation which would
mutually benefit the commercial interests OF the
two nations A committee organization
subsequently, formed.