The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-28
COLONIAL POLICY
OF THE GERMANS
Look With Interest on Terri
tory in the Far East
VISIT OF CROWN PRINCE
Colonial Trade Is Increasing Very Rap
idIy-Austrians Are Alarmed mt
Recuperative Powers of the
Russian Empire
VISIT OF CROWN PRINCE


in South America, intends to embark up
on an active colonial policy in the far
east, is now openly admitted by high gov
eminent officials. who concede that the
young crown prlncesN coming trip was
planned to make the future ruler of the
German empire personally acquainted
with those countries which will, perhaps,
witness the greatest national evolutions
of the future where in China German
leased territory is forging ahead and
where German trade with tenacity and
energy has long since made way
for itself and where the gigantic steamers
OF the great German shipping companies
increasingly display the German flag.
The entire German press pronounce it
a happy thought to send the heir to the
imperial throne to the far east and 1t is
generally thought that the idea originated
with the Kaiser, the creator of the Ger
man navy and the founder of the present
German world policy.
Crown Prince Wilhelm himself is de-
lighted and all Germany will follow the
journey of the Kaiser's oldest son with
the best wishes
So far the people of Germany know very
little of their future rulers character and
abilities. Beyond the fact that he is per-
sonally a keen sportsman and the hus-
band of a most charming and popular
wife, nothing is known Of him, and his
first independent appearance on the stage
of public events will be greeted with ex-
traordinary eagerness. The Emperor's
own journeys have taken him no further
af1eld than Jerusalem. The Emperor
Frederick, as crown prince of Prussia,
has visited America and the far east The
present crown prince, however, has not
been further from home than Egypt
What makes the journey most inter-
esting In the eyes of the world is that 1t
is certainly very significance sign of the
times that the Kaiser and his political ad-
vsers have considered 1t necessary that
Germany's future monarch should make
himself personally acquainted with the
far east
The German colonies are beginning to
pay. The subsidies granted by the moth
erland in and of the various colonial
administrations have dwindled almost to
vanishing point and In a year or two
will have disappeared altogether. The
colonial trade, though small in bulk, is
increasing at a startling rate. In the
ffve-year period, 1905-190S, the exports of
the German colonies rose from 10000,
eco marks to over 100000. One would
expect to find that the discovery of dia-
monds in Southwest Africa was RESPONSE
BILE for most OF this enormous increase,
but on examination 1t turns out that the
exports of the German colonies in Africa
grew from 21,SO0,0O0 marks to 37,700,000
marks, a more than respectable rate of
Increase but slow compared to that of
the South Pacific colonies, which almost
trebled their exports in the five years,
and still slower compared with the prog
ress of Kiao-Chau, which considerably
more than trebled hers In the same
period
1t is worth noting that Germany, al
though strongly protectionist, has not
adopted the principle of imperial pref
erence. 1t Is true thai the bulk of the
articles imported from the colonies come
in duty Free but that Is because they
are raw materials necessary for Ger
man industries, which Germany will take
duty free from anyone. Coffee, cocoa,
tobacco, wax, maize and some other colo
NAL products are subject to import duties
and the German exporter has to pay as
much as his rivals. Similarly, German
exporters have to pay as much as their
rivals. Similarly, German exports to the.
German colonies pay the same toll to
the colonial treasures as those of any
other country.
1t is understood that the question
whether the introduction Of preferential
duties or even the abolition of customs
frontiers within the empire Is desirable,
will shortly engage the attention of the
commercial committee which the colonial
office has lately called into being.
Nothing is probably worrying the Aus
tran minister of foreign affairs. Aehren-
1xrt1a ~ D1YcO totS
wonderful recuperative powers, which
threaten very shortly to put an end to
Austria's autocratic Balkan policy.
Everything tends to show that the cars
immense empire, which was thought to
have been crippled for years by the losses
sustained In the war with Japan, Is now
ready to assert its position In the coun-
Gil of the great powers with even greater
strength than before. Russian diplomats
have recently won victories which more
than make up for the defeats and blum
ders of Russian generals and admirals.
Russias position in the far east has been
immensely strengthened by the treaty
with Japan, which seems to prophecy
that China will In time be cut up and
divided between Russia and Japan. The
cars policy toward Finland. harsh and
unjust though 1t may seem from SEN
timental viewpoint, undoubtedly means a
strengthening Of tpe empire, and the
economic condition of Russia is steadily
and rapidly improving. Russia is not
yet ready for offensive action, but tho
country is gathering strength, and will
in a very short time become highly
important factor in European politics.
while Austria influence Is doomed to
dwindle away.
The latest Russian statistics tell far bet
ter than words of the immense progress
of the empire. In 1860 the population of
Russia was barely 75,000,O00; now. a half
century later, 1t has more than doubled
itself and the Car is the ruler of more
than 160, 100000 souls. The population of
Russia is increasing at the rate of 1885,
900 a year. Siberia has a population as
big as that of Canada and its immense
resources are steadily enriching the Cars
treasury. In very few years European
politics will center in the sign Of the
bear.
Notwithstanding the presence of many
Bulgarian bands in Macedonia the rigor-
Gus measures of the Turks have had their
effect. The Bulgarian districts last week
were searched, and the population surren-
dered their arms, but the Turkish meth
DDS have created a deep resentment which
will produce bitter fruits later on. A
week ago troops blockaded the little town
of Kratovo for three days, and 70 of the
most prominent inhabitants were publicly
logged The villagers, on being informed
about the Turkish procedure at Kraeovo,
arranged a meeting and gathered at the
village of Tatomr One hundred and
eighty armed villagers, representing the
whole of Kaza of Kratovo and the Vol
voda Dimitry Kokoshnski opposed that.
they should at once attack the troops
hlocka1inR KratOyO. and call the DOplIla-