The Washington times., 1915-09-21
BRITAIN AND OUR TRADE

DR.. E. E. Pratt, addressing the In
vestment Bankers Association at
Den'ser, emphasized the Importance
of developing permanent, as we'll
as distinctively war, industries while
the war is going on. At the wars
end, he pointed out, the special lines
so suddenly and enormously devel-
oped will have their market cut off,
and there will be necessary q read
justment which will bring a serious
reaction.
Exactly this danger in the present
situation has been pointed out re-
peatcdly by The Times. The lure of
huge profits for short time is ia
BILE to lead the country into lop- sided
development. This country will
never maintain a great permanent
business in supplying munitions of
war. It must develop, during this
crisis, it's industries of peace; and it
is for precisely this purpose that the
great credit now about to be ex-
tended to Europe, must be largely
employed.
There are persistent charges that
Great Britain has used her sea pow
er, plus her empires control Of vari-
GUS raw materials, to impose hard
terms on American industries; re-
quiring, in effect, that if they are
permitted to get these materials,
they must market their products
only where Great Britain is willing.
This, of course, is defended by the
English as part of the program of
keeping necessary supplies away
from enemy countries. 1t has been
possible to introduce commodities
into Germany and Austria by way of
so many neutral nations that the
British have insisted on supplement-
ing their physical blockade with
these restrictions.
Britain, for instance, controls two
thirds Of the worlds crude rubber.
In effect, she says: Rubber is very
necessary to our enemies. We want
to keep it away from them. If the
United States wants our crude rub
Der, she must take it under terms
that will assure US that it will not be
manufactured ard then turned over
to our enemies"
1t is as if the United States, con-
trolling cotton, were at war with Ger
many. Germany, wanting our cotton,
could not get it from US; but she
could buy it through England, a neu-
trail, provided we permitted England
to have all she wanted. Is it prob
able that the United States would
permit that? Much more probable
that we would insist upon the most
rigid protection against supplying
Germany; precisely as England is
now insisting that her rubber, wool,
and other necessaries shall not go
to Germany.
But there is some testimony that
England has undertaken to go far
ther than this; that, in substance,
she has set up a sort Of censorship
on American foreign trade generally;
tried to make herself a clearing
house through which much of our
foreign commerce must be routed
This the United States cannot
accept. There is no possible rea-
son why England should interfere
with or impose conditions on oul
commerce with South America or the
Orient. 1t looks as if England, un.
der pretense Of strengthening hel
hand against blockaded enemies
were trying to get control Of Ameri
can products to fill British orders
thus keeping the market in British
hands, for British industry to reoccu
py 1t after the war.
| This is a very canny performance
but it is not to be submitted to, ant
need not be. England is here asking
American financial support, requir
ing American munitions and supplies
1t is no time for her or her allies t.
attempt imposition of unfair terms
; on our commerce.
. 1t is to be said, however, that il
J the alleged revelations of a British
policy of restriction against Ameri
| can commerce, there is not much t.
. suggest more than a strict effort tt
keep supplies out of Germany, Aus
tria, and Turkey. 1t is hard to be
come excited over stories that Eng
; land has tried to boycott" in tn
/, English market American firms tina
would not agree to sell 10 goods t.
, England's enemies. This seems lik
!, very simple patriotism and SCUM
r business. If the United States an
Germany were at war, would Amer
: leans be disposed to give patronag
: to British firms that were sellin
E goods at war prices to Germany,
}, enable her to fight US?
h IL is inconceivable that there Is an
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