The Washington herald., 1914-09-29
Trade and the War.
By WILLIAM $. cULHERTsoN.

1
that war is one of the means by which capitalism
strengthens its grip society and that armies and
nayies built and maintained largely for the pur
pose of capturing markets and maintaining trade
routes In the United States the USE on behalf OF
the commercial interests of the diplomatic and con-
sular machinery of the government to protect their
interests abroad has been called dollar diplomacy
In spite of opinion to the contrary trade usually is
the pioneer and after it becomes interested in other
lands the flag follows to protect it. Thus the Brit
ish empire grew. Her traders went forth to new
lands seeking their fortune and when in after years
they had established themselves they needed protec-
ton, since in many the government in the new
land inadequate or there was no government
at all These traders then appealed to the mother
country and protectorae set up or a colonial
government established. England fought many a
with savage and haf-civilized peoples in order
that her traders might be protected in their trad
ing.
There were also conflicts with civilized nations.
During the last half of the eighteenth century Eng
land and France fought wars in America and India.
These wars essentially commercial wars They
will serve as examples of fought in the in
terests of trade expansion and material prosperity
Other examples will be readily recalled in the his
tory of the rise and decline of Venice SPAIN Por-
tugal and Holland.
Commerce is not by any means the only cause of
the present conflict of the nations but it very i'm
portant factor For several decades the competition
between the industries of Germany and Great Britain
has been becoming and more keen Germany
has threatened Great Brtain's supremacy and Great
Britain has presented stubborn opposition to Ger
many's ambition This trade rivalry is simply now
continued in the rivalry of war. How then did all
this come about?
England, for many years. had her own way in
manufacturing Her capitalistic system of produc-
ton perfected sooner than elsewhere. In fact
during the greater part of the nineteenth century
England had dangerous rival Her industries
grew unrestrained By 1916 they were feeling the
limits of the home market Her leaders then rec
ognzed the fact that if her industries were to con-
tnue to expand they must have foreign markets
for their surplus production Her industries needed
protection from the industries of other countries
but they did need the materials and food-stufs
from abroad. Hence the repeal Of the corn laws in
1876 and the removal of all restrictions by 1860.
Cheaper food made lower wages possible and cheaper
raw material made further expansion of production
possible. Englands aim to take the raw ma
terias from other countries and furnish them in turn
with manufactured goods.
To degree she realized her ideal Her manu-
factures found in every land her merchant
men Travelled every She laid her trade routes
east and west and north and south with choice coal
ing stations and ports OF call all convenient places
Over the material prosperity which this marvellous
trade expansion brought the mightest navy of the
world watched
But the trade monopoly of England could not fail
to tempt the ambitions OF other nations. Other ma
tions as well as the 'coastwise lights of England"
watched the ships of England go" and they coveted
her prosperity for their people. Germany was
one of these nations. After the Franco Pruss sian
war OF 1901 there was a tremendous revival OF
and industrial ambition in Germany. In
part this due to the billion dollar indemnity
paid by France but more especially was it due to
new emotions and desires that reawakencd by
the victory over France and the unifcaton of Ger
many. Tariff laws were passed excluding in a large
measure British goods from German markets, and
behind the wall of protection her own industries
grew apace. They soon began to need foreign mar
SetS, but when they looked out upon the world they
found England in possession of the choice colonies
and they found under her control a powerful mer-
chant marine protected by great navy Apparently |
1opelessly outdistanced in the race, Germany en-
ered the contest. The government co-operated with
bankers, manufacturers and merchants Bounties !
paid for goods exported freight rates were re-
iuced for goods intended for abroad banking inter-
ests were Encouraged to establish branches in other
ands; ship lines subsidized, and vast plan OF
laval armament was begun. Great Britain, in time |
woke from her complacency to find a nation threat
ming her very existence as a world power The !
most evident factor in the rivalry between Germany
md England has been the building of armaments Pa
ienty and firmly England has built ship for ship
Is the Germany navy increased But back of the |
valry in equipment the real struggle was 60
ng on-the struggle for trade routes and the COM
nerce of neutral and colonial markets
Today this rivalry is expressing itself in war !
Competition of merchants and manufacturers has
'ecome the conflict of soldiers and sailors The
after is the climax of the former. 1t is different
n degree not in kind. Commerce it has been urged,
avors peace. So it does if allowed to pursue its
curse uninterrupted, but commerce as it exists to-
lay is based on rivalry and competition When the
Industrial and commercial interests of one nation
ome into conflict with the industrial and commercial
interests of another nation, one or the other must
leld and before either yields it may prefer to fight
war So with England today
AS far as commercial interests are concerned the
resent war would seem, from Germany's standpoint
remature. Apparently the allies occupy every point
# advantage. Germany's feet is hopelessly outnunl-
81 a,d ttI.J, ~