Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-12-21

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leading representatives of finance and
commerce, are now going on in Vienna
ard Berlin, for the purpose of finding
basis for establishing closer eco
nomic relations between the allied en-
hires. Although several meetings have
already taken place no definite re-
sulst ave yet been obtainehd. The in
dustrial and commercial interests of
the two countries are so divergent that
it is difficult to see how an under
standing can be reached, which will
prove satisfactory to both sides. And
so far every conference seems only to
have discovered new troubles in the
way of reaching an agreemnt.
Austro-Hungarians fear that just as
at present they are under the DONNA
ton of Germany in military affairs, so
later their financial and economic in
dependence will also be lost before the
persistent ond powerful monarch Of
Germany. The whole question is one
of the most vital Importance for the
future welfare of the dual monarchy,
and excites far more interest in the
business community than the progress
OF the war
Since the Franco-Prussian war, Ger
many has become an industrial state,
while Austria-Hungary has remained
essentially agricultural. With the ex
ception of Bohemia Moravia and
Lower Austria, which includes Vienna,
all the other provinces of Austria are
purely agricultural, and Hungary is
overwhelmingly so. In both parlia-
ments at Vienna and Budapest, the
agrarians always possess a large ma
jority.
Nevertheless both politically and
military, a closer union between Ger
many and Austria is generally regard
el as an absolute necessity, and will
doubtless continue to be so long after
the war is ended. But the problem as
to how this is to be brought about is
exceedingly complex.
By high protective duties Austria
has long maintained an economic ex-
tence, Independent of Germany, and
indeed even opposed to German inter
ests. In Austria everything is much
tearer than in Germany from twenty
to even fifty per cent. The difference
in prices is especially great in heavy
wares, such as COAL iron, steel and
machinery 1t is only through these
protective duties that Austria has man
aged to develop growing industry,
and prevent the country from being
flooded with cheap German products.
For some years Austria has almost
monopolized the trade in the Balkans
and the Levant, but latterly German
merchants have been creeping in ther,
and capturing customers. This has
been the case more than ever since
the annexation by Austria-Hungary OF
Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1909, when
both Turkey and Serbia boycotted
Austrian goods. The rapidity with
which Germany seized the opportunity
to enter these markets caused in
tense irritation in Vienna and Buda-
pest at the time Nor has this feeling
diminished since. German trade has
steadily grown in Southeastern Europe
while Austria's has as steadily grown
in Europe while Austria's has as
steadily grown in Southeastern Europe
While Austrias has as steadily de-
creased.
How all these matters will develop
after the war nobody can foresee. I'm
doubtedly Austria-Hungary is placed
under heavy obligations to Germany
for her military aid in the war. How
and in what form will Germany re-
quire payment for such service? Prob
ably through preferential customs
tariffs, or perhaps by customs union
In either case it is declared Germany
stands to gain all the profit and Aus
tria to suffer all the injury. For then