The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-05
DECLARES ENGLAND
IS LOSING TRADE.
Leading Business Man Urges
Importance of Enterprising
Methods.

Especial Cable 10 rho Times Dispatch]
London, March t.--One OIL the elleCts
OF the proposed reciprocity agreement
between Canada and tho United States
mas Deen the statements by many prom
!ncnt men that England is asleep com
mercially. One that has attracted uni
Vcrsal attention and caused consider
hDlc comment is that uttered By Lord
furness one OF the leading business
men Of the United Kingdom.
II this country Is u preserve and
extend It's commerce." Lord Furncss
stated. we must realize the Importance
or being alert, enterprising. and up
to-date In our mcthods.5 AT present we
are losing trade in many directions.
rho argument as between FREQ
trade and tariff reform does not COW
er the whole ground. Free trade may
pe eood or II may be oad--personaily
am still free trader. Tariff reform
may be good or 1t may be bad 1t ia
essential. however, that In its com.
fnercial methods. the British nation
should keep abreast Of the times.
10 meution only one mat;cr---our
consular system. IL British rnanufac-
turers and business men want reliable
information they have to go TO the
German and American consuls The
brush conSuls are pleasant gentle
manly mcn but when 1t comes to bust
ness questions most Of them are com
pietely out OF their depth.
My own business ea pcrienc. shows
me the urgency Of reform. L have
formulated no scheme, but regard the
creation of minister Of commerce as
an absolute necessity.
At the moment Germany is our
great bugbear. she has free access TO
English markets. while VIC are sup.
posed TO be beating our wings agains,
her tariff wallis.
But do not lat ,1oroI,a
INTO thinking that Germany is out FOR
pleasure. Tariffs or no tariffs. the
German people are after trade-any.
where and everywhere: they arc de-
terinlned TO have Il nothing Will stay
them You may meet them wherever
YOU 80. the World ovcr---penetrating.
forccful, keen 10 adapt their wares
10 the requirements of their custom
ers bringing all things 10 bear upon
the situation that may In any way
affect Il favorably
And at home they are backed up
theoretically with all that science and
organization and highly trained in
tclligencc can give The whole OF the
factors that go TO success are bent to
the task. and they are succeeding ana
succeeding against us In places where
both have an equai tariff to face.
The idea of world wide trade do
minion Is not an enthusiasm with US.
. - V .1NoN'i!'@ wi ssoiif ~! Inc services.
or the church or the professions. am,
4 In our hearts we dcspsc trade and look
down upon II. and in the main upon
those who follow It. The medieval
attitude fingers amongst us. we arc
loath to part With IT, We may have
grown rich by commerce. we may
watch the national trade returns with
absorbed Interest. bu, for an oycrmas-
tering and consuming passion TO can
tuTc trade On scientific lines one has
to look elsewhere.
America. Germany, Japan TO men
tion three only. arc In the field ano
finely eqn!pped. and If England is 10
retain leading hand In the game.
then Englauds best blood. her high.
est intelligence. the skilled aid OF he-
official departments and every modern
auxiliary must be directed INCREASINGLY
and uncrr!ngly to the desired end
My principal contention is tina.
something of the energy we devote as
nation TO the defense OF our hearts
and homes should be directed ana
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