New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-12
THE GAIN IN GERMAN COMMERCE
II Leaves Great Britain Still Far in
the Lead.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: With your permission | should
like to present to your readers the
actual facts regarding British and Ger
man commerce.
Writers of pro-German articles, eX-
GLIDING DR. Dernburg, Professors
Haeckel and Eucken, and others. are
almost unit in declaring that Great
Britain was actuated by envy of Ger
many's commerce in entering the war
and that her defence of Belgium's neu-
trality is merely a happy excuse. So
much has been written during the last
few years on the wonderful growth Of
German trade that very few Americans
are really aware of the actual facts.
The following figures will surprise
many of our people. They are taken
from the official reports Of the British
Board of Trade, and have gone back
over a period of twelve years in making
comparisons:
i9ol- Imports. Exports. Total
g. 500 $50 $50 81. 7so s21 Oio sl:ls 272 oso
Germany. 1910, 900 l,lsS $50 90 2,6s, $4,000
Excess British commerce .........Sl,65O. n9. ogO
l9l2I Imports. Exports. Total
"a. 9os is 1884 SO s6.a>oos. 500
Germany. 25ii 900 2.13i 900 1910 90
Excess British commerce ........s- 0il. 732 500
Great Britain. therefore, increased
her excess commerce by virtually SlO0,-
100000 over Germany in the eleven
years ended in 1912. British exports in
1901 were S550,000,OO0 in excess of Ger
man, while in 1912 they exceeded Ger
man exports by 1868, 100000. II Is in
terestng TO note that in 1913 British
exports increased SlS0OOO. 600 and i'm
ports 100000 900, bringing her COM
merce TO the stupendous total of ST.
O2O,OOOO0O, against German total %
Si,s5O 100000, thereby still adding
somewhat to her net excess.
Evidently Germans arrive at the con-
clusion that they arc overtaking Great
Britain from the fact that whereas in
1901 Great Britain's commerce eX-
ceeded Germany's by 90 per cent, it had
fallen (sic) in 1912 to IL per cent. To
Let US suppose German
son to be 20 years old and the father
40. II is evident that the father Is
twice his sons age. Ten years go BY,
and father at 90, with son 30 is
losing ground, while in ten years
more it is quite evident the old gentle.
''oli ID idpiulg utlllE ONtIUdultu W Nta
energetic son, who has "cut" the lead
down TO so per cent. To say the least,
such method Of making commerce
parsons leaves lot 20 the imagi-
nation, but there would seem to be lit
tie reason for the prosperous old
gentleman in the North Sea losing his
poise and equanimity if he continues in
his present gait
Most sssuredly Germany has made
wonderful strides since confederation.
but she had the advantage Of being
new competitor, free to adopt the bes.
Of modern methods, with none of the
hidebOund customs common TO long
established business. Certainly b.
1901 she was fully equipped TO become
serious competitor of Great Britain.
and. with population OF producers
half again as large as the latter, the
wonder is not that Germany has done
so well, but that Great Britain should
have been able to meet the pace and
even lengthen her stride.
Into the discard with the supposed
superior culture Of Germany must 20
the fable Of British jealousy Of Ger
man commerce. Free trade England
has other remedies to resort to before