New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-10
LITERARY CRITICISM
AND BOOK NEWS
Foreign Trade: A Study of Competition and Equip
ment-A New Generation of Russian Novel;
ists-Lighthouses and Their Keepers

chants will do well TO so after their
share of this growing trade.
No less interesting is the authors
succinct statement of the influence OF
French thrift upon French enterprise
This national habit of saving. having
its origin in The Fear of Living OF
which Henri Bordeaux speaks in his
novel of that name, has J ade France
the worlds greatest creditor, 1T is true
but il is at the same time the chief
cause Of the lack of vigor, strength
daring and purpose in French industry.
AS for French exports, while they are
extremely profitable, they are most
sensitive to financial depressions
abroad. because, being mostly lux
uries. they can be easily dispensed
with. Mr.. Whelpley tells us, by the
way. that, contrary to general belief
France imports far more wine than she
exports, the figures for 1912 being, re-
spectively, 100000 and 100000 hec-
tolitres.
The chapter on Germany is but
repetition Of what has been told us of
late by so many American, English and
French writer's. 1t is a statement or
the organization of an entire nation for
trade and industry, from the CONNER
cial section of the Imperial Foreign
Office at the top down to the smallest
undertaking. The state railroads are
frni oh
rates for both the imported raw ma
terial and the exported product; the
steamship companies will do the same,
and the banks will adjust their credits
to those given abroad. 1.-THE industrial
life Of the Empire gives the impression
of a great street crowded with heavy
traffic. This traffic is formed Of units,
but all have a common purpose and
direction, and it is well regulated" 1t
is a system that probably could not be
introduced successfully elsewhere, since
il is based upon a national character
trait. the Germans ready response 10
discipline. Meanwhile, although the
Empire is financially tender
ously extended" many say-this sys-
TEN works TO perfection. That marvel
lousy adaptable German travelling
salesman of whom we hear so much is,
Mr.. Whelpley informs us, busily en-
gagged in the present unsatisfactory
state Of American relations with Rus
STA, in capturing what share we had
won for ourselves of the Empires i'm
ports.
Some startling evidence of the dis
astrous effect Of the Balkan war scare
upon the industries and trade Of Aus
tria- Hungary is given in the chapter
dealing with that country, which the
author describes as the European
enigma" The Dual Monarhy's hopes
Of a great peaceful development Of the
Balkan nations have been dashed, but
not before they had been discounted to
a degree now threatening a serious re-
action. THE people Of Austria are in
dustrially in the position of man who
has plunged heavily on the future, and
who, seeing disaster ahead, prays for
miracle to intervene to sustain his
credit and take care of his obligations"
The chapters dealing with Japan and
its most serious fiscal and economic
problems, on China, the Argentine and
Canada are no less informing; then,
having circled the globe the author
takes up the foreign trade of the
United States, ending with some timely
words on the best employment of our
diplomatic and consular service. Dol
lar diplomacy" he says did not origi-
nate in the United States. nor has it
ever attained such development there
as It has in other countries"