Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-10-05
WAR AND TRADE.

4 One Of the things which is being
very clearly shown by this war. and
(which will become more and more ap-
parent as the war proceeds, is the
8 commercial and industrial interde-
pendence Of the nations. The nation,
like the individual. cannot and does
not live unto itself and within itself.
u We Of this country are prone to boast
sof our independence. The statement
is frequently made that If an impassa-
&ble wall were built around this coun-
Stry. our people could live and prosper
indefinitely. In a measure this is
true. for we have, right within our
own borders. the resources of the best
part Of great continent. We pro-
duce more than enough raw material
FOR most of our own food. We pro-
5duce more than we can use of mate
rial for certain kinds of clothing. We
have a. large surplus of many kinds of
manufactured goods. But. if we were
restricted to the use of our own goods
entirely, we would be inconvenienced
for a long time by the lack of many
kinds of goods which we do not now
produce in sufficient quantities for our
own use. and we would be deprived
for all time Of many comforts, con-
veniences and luxuries which we now
enjoy. and which we cannot obtain
\ except from foreign countries.
Il Every nation is so situated. Russia
ls country Of enormous extent and
splendid possibilities. Its resources.
although largely undeveloped, are al
most as varied as are those Of the
United States. II the risks Of ocean
transportation are ignored, the British
empire is perhaps the best equipped
OF all to live within itself, for its pos
sessions arc in every zone, and the
character Of its products is almost un-
limited. Yet the United Kingdom.
the center and heart Of that great
j empire, is one OF the largest consum-
ers Of foreign goods in the world.
An illustration Of the dependence
Of the United States on other nations
is found in the fact that American
manufactures. large producers and
large employers, have been forced in
sonne cases to shut down their works
/, altogether. and in other cases have
been put to a great deal Of inconven-
lence because Of inability to buy from
Germany articles which are necessary
! In their operations. A group Of these
I manufacturers are taking steps to
! charter a vessel for the purpose of
, importing through Holland a cargo
of chemicals, dye stuffs and other
! shings Of which Germany is the larg-
sst producer in the world, goods which
/ our manufacturers must obtain from
/ somewhere IL they are to continue in
{ business.
2 Great Britain is suffering from the
y sakne Inconvenience, for, in spite of
3 The fact that the two countries are
3trade rivals. Great Britain has been
Il one Of Gernany's best customers, and
Germany has been one Of Great Brit
/ AIMS best sources Of supply.
= We read great deal about the
{ jealousy Of each Of these nations of
each other. but the fact is that each
has contributed materially to the 9TH
& sr's prosperity. The German city of
q Hamburg owes much Of its prosperity
Y as shipping port to the trade be-
Tween the two countries. and English
u cities are similarly affected.
81 The world, considered industrtally,
. like great piece Of intricate and
u delicate mechanism, every part of
4 which performs its part, and is neces.
sS sary, and no part Of which can be in
d iured without affecting the operation
Il IF the entire machine.