Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-24
eERMANY,s TRADE SECRETS.

TTSSluenC Roosevelt believes in the
publicity treatment" plan for dealing
with the Information the United States
government may have at it's disposal
regarding foreign trade. He believes
that 1T is good curative measure to
fight certain commercial evils. But
Germany, in direct opposition to Pres
1dent Roosevelt's plan, has adopted
strict secrecy regarding her trade re-
latioDs and transactions. Emperor
William cannot be persuaded that the
printing press is a good agency for
widening Germany's commercial scope.
Indeed, he believes that as long as
there Is profound and perfect secrecy
investing German methods German
markets are better protected against
invasion by foreigners, and especially
Yankees.
While Germany is not at present
seriously threatened by the morbid
comm ercial and Industrial excresences
referred to by us in general terms as
trusts" and against which the Presi.
dents publicity treatment" is directed
the Teutonic bugbear of foreign COM
petltlon is none the less menacing.
hecently circular letter was sent out
to manufacturers and selling agents in
the Frankfort district of Germany
warning them against giving informa.
ton OF conditions of markets and man
ufacturing interests to the press. This
circular says:
The reports in our technical and
trade papers are most assiduously
studied abroad, and by the representa-.
tives Of our foreign competitors resid-
ing in Germany, especially by the con-
suls of the United States. The articles
published in our journals and trade pa
pers Should not state selling prices of
our manufactured articles, how their
cost compares with that of similar
goods produced in competing coun-
tries, OF what ingredients the articles
are composed, what the tariff rates are,
etc. Such detailed descriptions, which
often expose even the secrets of manu-
featuring, form an excellent weapon In
the hands of our competitors and serve
to injure German business interests.
All public reports should refrain from
giving details. The chamber is careful
not to mention such in its annual re-
ports. No com plants about bad bust
ness should be published, as this is
hulllul W IAS SApUII lFduS. we Ller0.I
fore beg of you to promote German
business interests by a. spreading
this warning; (2) abstaining from Civ
ing publicity to any details which
should only be confidentially commu-
nicated to the proper authorities; (3)
urging this upon your employees who
may have intercourse with newspapers.
and az keeping your factories shut to
foreigners or strangers"
1t is perfectly well known that
though all information is cut off from
Americans and other foreigners who
may he in Germany to learn something
regarding her manufacturing and com
mercial interests, there are many Ger
mans, as well as representatives of all
other commercial nations who come to
America for the avowed purpose of
studying the commercial system and
inspect our factories, mills, trade
schools, public institutions, etc.
Though it may appear that America
gets the worse end of the bargain thus
struck. it is apparent that a trade pol
icy that seeks success and salvation in
locked factories and dumb agents has
no strong basis upon which to We 1t
is fundam entally weak because it has
too much to protect. 1t is too easily
broken and the strain is sure to tell.