The Detroit times., 1915-08-20

over. The German salesmen will
be In Italy the moment they can get
passports. No matter what may be
the feeling Of the Italian merchant
against the German nation. he can
not afford to crafty that feeling
at the expense of his pocket. No
doubt he will prefer to buy OF
friendly nation. but buy he must.
II II IL easier and more profitable
to buy from Germans, he Will buy
from Germans. II will be easier
and more profitable. thanks to the
German banking system, II the
Americahs do not wake up and have
a. bank Of their own.
"It Is a matter of very common
knowledge" said several well In
formed business men. that certain
OF the larger banks Of Italy have
been commercial spies for Ger
many"
This seemed hard to believe. But
the speakers were armed with too
many instances to permit doubt.
These banks bear Italian names
and are ostensibly directed BY Ital-
ians." they stated. But the cap
ital is largely German and the men
actually engaged In the direction
OF their affairs are all German. 1t
10 a part OF their business to fur
nish German manufacturers with
the first hand Information on which
sales can be made"
This Is what happened In one in
stance. A large American house
had practically closed with an Ital-
ian for an important installation OF
machinery. The order was COM
plicated one. which involved the
survey of building. When 1t was
time to close the deal the papers
were turned over to one OF Italy's
largest banks In order that certain
financial details might be- cared
for Within two days the Italian
figuring In the deal received bid
by telegraph from a German firm.
in which the most complete famil-
iarity was shown with every detail
Of this intricate proposition. The
German got the order.
These banks have been neces-
sary to the business Of the coun-
try" said the Americans, "and there
seemed no way of ending situa-
ticn that was understood by every
one. In one way the war will be
beneficial, for we understand that
the Italian government proposes to
clear every German man and mark
out Of these banks, as soon as II Is
possible to do so. It is assumed
that Germany and Italy will even
tually be at war. The declaration
of war will be the signal for this
ousting"
Along with the elimination of
German spies from the Italian
banks Americans also hope for an
improvement In our consular SER
vice. That service has been very
greatly bettered in the last few
years, but there Is still room for
Improvement
I'VE must make II more prac-
teal affair IL we are to compete
with the German" the Americans
insist. "The German consulates
have been the outposts of the won
derfui German commercial system.
whereas ours have been mere re-
porting agencies. Few Americans
read our consular reports, although
man consul makes a secret report
that helps Germans scoop in trade"
Every day the agents of the Ger
man consulates visit the docks in
every Italian port. They gather in
formation as to the amount and ma
ture of the goods imported, the
names OF the shippers and the
names of the buyers, when this is
possible. That information is hur-
ried TO Germany by fast post. 1t
isn't many days before the italian
who has been buying shelled pea
nuts Of an American firm has his
attention called 10 the fact that
the German-made shelled peanut is
almost as good as the American
product and much cheaper
IF we are to compete then let us
compete" saw the Americans.
There is nothing dishonorable in
these methods. They are the ways
of hustlers. that's all. Let's get out
and hustle"