The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-04

patriotically they are met Germany,
moreover, cannot avoid suffering Sc
yereIy from the attacks made upon
her commerce. and finance, while her
\ foreign investments are much less
/ fayorably situated than the British.
4 Germany's overseas Investments are
estimated at 1000. 900, 900, OF which
4 81 .e00, 900 900 are in Russia, Turkey
and Roumania, where they will be
adversely affected by the war. Her
I investments in the United States are
(: figured at 100000, 600 and in South
iAmerica about 5000, ZOO. 900. 1t is cyl
dent that her investments In the
United States are the most desirable
of any she possesses, and those on
which she is most likely to realize II
necessary. AS to Great Britain her
investments overseas are estimated
at nearly $20,O00.e0O. 900, Of which
over 50 percent are outside Of Europe
and away from the influences OF this
war. One-half OF her investments are
in her own colonies, and fully $1,000
900. 900 of British capital are invested
ia the United States. Belgium has
been practically ruined, and recon
struction will take many years.
France will probably recuperate rap
idly, except in the devastated dis
tricts. Austria-Hungary should re-
cover with comparative promptneSs.
not being great industrial or COM
mercial nation. Turkey will probably
disappear from Europe. Russia has
vast resources and her internal trade
and industry will not be seriously al
fected, except indirectly from pos
sible financial stress.
The foreign commerce and net ton
mage of the principal belligerents are
given as follows by one OF the stand
ard authorities: Tonnage,
Commerce. net.
Great Britain s7,o2o, o00, 900 100000
Germany -. 5,15O.0oO.O0O 3,15o.o00
France ....... 3,0T6, 100000 $4,000
Belgium .... 1850, 100000 $4,000
Germany went into this war with
much less of jolt than any other
power, and will be better able to re-
sist than was at first supposed AS
lar as gains and losses are concerned,
England probably stands to win most, .
If the allies succeed. In that event !
Ter prestige and power will be great
u enhanced. She will be free to bend
her energies to satisfying the COM
mercial instincts Of the race, but
which have been restrained by fear
of destructive rivalry and the neces-
sity of keeping a colossal navy. The
British empire is already big enough,
and it's best development will tax ner
energies for years to come. Under 81
period of assured peace British COM
merce would flourish as never before.
Next. If not first in the ranks of win
ners, would come the United States,
which has reached a period OF deyel-
opment that will force US, whether we
desire it or not, into the circle OF
great powers We are no longer SELF
contained, but have become interde-
pendent with Europe. Asia. South
America and Africa. Moreover, these
relations are bound to become closer
and closer With our growing popu-
lation and rapidly increasing pro-
duetion Of raw materials and manu-
features We require and must have
foreign markets.
II the next peace is to be rcrma-
nent, and IL ornaments are to be kept
down, a new means for working ON
the basis of live and let live1 nHst
be invented. The IDEAL plan swould
be some form OF international fedora |
ton. United States OF Europe. a
parliament o, parliaments. and an in
ternational court of final appeal with
power to enforce its decnaes. II this
is not possible, then at least some |
agreement should he possible for re- |
duced ornaments and the combined |
prevention of war until arbitration
has failed. History shows that indi- |
viduals were first disarmed by force, |
then tribes. then cities, then princ.-f
palities and then states. Why should
not national force be controlled by
forces?
HENRY CLEWS.