The Washington herald., 1911-03-05

BRITAIN BACKWARD
In TRADE ACTIVITY
Great Contrast Is Presented
by German Enterprise.

London, March 4-one of the effects of
the proposed reciprocity agreement be-
tween Canada and the United States has
been the statements by many prominent
men that England is asleep Commercially
One that has attracted universal attention
and caused considerable comment is that
uttered by Lord Furness, one of the lead
ing business men of the United Kingdom
IF this country is to preserve and ex-
tend its commerce. Lord Furness stated,
I'VE must realize the Importance of. be-
ing alert, enterprising, and up-to-date in
our methods. At present we are losing
trade in many directions.
THE argument as between free trade
and tariff reform does not cover the
whole ground. Free trade may be good
or it may be bad-personally I am still
free trader. Tariff reform may be good
or it may be bad. 1t is essential, how
ever. that in its commercial methods. the
British nation should keep abreast of the
times.
Consular System Cited.
''To mention only one matter-our con-
sular system. If British manufacturers
and business men want reliable informa-
tion they have to go to the German and
American consuls. The British consuls
are pleasant, gentlemanly men. but when
it comes to business questions most OF
them are completely out of their depth.
My own business experience shows me
the urgency of reform. l have formu-
lated no scheme, but | regard the Crea-
ton of a minister of commerce as an
absolute necessity.
AT the moment Germany is our great
bugbear; she has free access to English
market while we are supposed to be
beating our wings against her tariff walls.
But do not let us deceive ourselves
into thinking that Germany is out for
pleasure Tariffs or no tariffs, the Ger
man people are after trade-anywhere
and everywhere; they are determined TO
have it; nothing will stay them.
Backed Up mt Home.
you may meet them wherever you go.
the world over-penetratinE. forceful,
keen to adapt their wares TO the require
ment of their customers. bringing all
things to bear upon the situation that
may in any way affect it favorably
And at homo they are backed up ener-
getically with all that science and organi-
Zation and highly trained intelligence can
give. The whole of the factors that go
TO success are bent to the task. and they
are succeeding against us in places where
both have an equal tariff to face.
THE idea of worldwide trade dominion
is not an enthusiasm with US. We des-
tine our sons for the services. or the
church. or the professions, and in our
hearts we despise trade and look down
upon IL. and in the main upon those who
follow it. The medieval attitude fingers
among us. We are 10th to part with il.
We may have grown rich by commerce,
We may watch the national trade returns
with absorbed interest but for an over
mastering and consuming passion to cap
ture trade on scientific lines one has to
look elsewhere.
Cites America and Japan.
America, Germany. Japan, to mention
three only, are in the field. and finely
equipped. and if England is TO retain
leading hand in the game, then England's
best blood. her highest intelligence, the
skilled aid of her official departments. and
every modern auxiliary must be directed
increasingly to the desired end
My principal contention is that some
thing of the energy We devote as a ma
ton to the defense of our hearths and
homes should be directed. quite as ma
tionally. TO the preservation and extern
sion of our commerce; that our trade in
terests, so far from being the private
concern of our merchants. are so bound
up with the general we'll being as to call
for the care of the state itself, to call
for the undivided attention of a prin-
cipal minister, and to be so elevated in
dignity as to make call upon our pa
triotism equally insistent with that which
impels the most highly placed of our sons
to take their part in maintaining and en-
hancing the other and older branches of
our national defense"