Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-01-13
DIR. DERNBURG STRIKES HIGH
NOTE

other day, Dr. Bernhard Dernburg,
former colonial secretary Of the Ger
man empire, made an earnest plea
to Americans to reconize the unfor-
tunate effects, commercially and
spiritually, which are bound to at
tend the indulgence of i'll feeling on
the part of neutrals toward princi-
pals in theEuropean war and pleaded
! for united and rational effort to
minimize the necessarily disastrous
results Of the struggle.
DR.. Dernburg said:
II think everybody agrees that
the present European war is a world
calamity, threatening prosperity and
ciVizatiOn alike, and that it must
bo the duty Of all well meaning
people to see to it that its causes
are permanently removed and that
the actual state of the world should
be brought in harmony with the
higher ideals OF civilized peoples.
The view they must take is one OF
detachment from the incidents OF
the day Il must be taken from q
higher plane for the common interest
OF all mankind, and it must come
from people who command the trust
and confidence Of all the warning ma
tions - a trust and confidence that
can be acquired only by high moral
standard and an unbiased, impartial
state Of public opinion, without fear
or favor to anybody, but friendly
and humanitarian toward all.
Americas Commercial Losses.
Already great deal OF damage
has been done to the prosperity OF
the world Let me speak first of
the commercial side. The trade OF
all countries has been dislocated to
an alarming extent. Most of tho
German overseas trade has been
stopped. Neutral shipping is being
seriously disturbed Merchant YES
sells are lacking, and enormous
freights are being charged by the
only nation (the English) that has
any bottoms to offer. Constant In
terfering with the shipping of this
country has terrified American ex-
porters. This may be a necessary
consequence of state of war, but
the danger and the fear must be
lest this dislocation OF trade should
become permanent. Germany, for
instance, is thrown now upon her
own resources as regards foodstuifs,
metals and OIL The importation of
cotton is so far harassed by England
that the bales opened in English
harbors arrive inEurope in condition
hardly fit for use. In Germany and
Austria 120,0O0,000 consumers of
American produce have been practi-
cally cut out from the use of such
staple produce, and they must look
for substitutes. II o man breaks his
arm and it is not properly set at
IN ro1
dislocatcd, or else it must be broken
again
The war waged by England against
Germany is war of starvation. 1t
is based on the contention Contra
ry to proof and to tho rule Of threo)
that foodstuffs going into Germany
would primarily serve to feed
100000 soldiers in the jeld and
not 160,000,000 people at home
That has, of course, produced cOun-
ter measures.
Every available spot in Germany
has been planted this fall with wheat
and other foodstuffs imported be-
fore, so there can be no doubt that
the shortage of per cent Of food
stuffs that has SO far been imported
will be fully made up. To replace
wheatbreadry and corn mixed make
q very nourishing brad. American
benzine is largely replaced by ben
zol, a volatile matter gained in the
production Of coke. Instead of cop
per a great many alloys of other
metals containing a small percentage
OF copper are being tried. Instead
OF American cotton large quantities
of Indian cotton come in by way Of
italy. The samo holds good as to
coffee and tea, rubber and other
products in which tho United States
is less Interested
Shall Our losses BE Permanent.
But the advancement of the world
is largely based on every member
working up to his utmost efficiency.
The vast domain of the UnitedStates
is the producer of the cheapest wheat
and cotton oil and copper. Germany
has developed an excellent technical
education, shown q very inventive
genius and q most complete com
bination of applied technique and
science. The interchange Of tho
/ goods that have made up the bulk
of the trade between Germany and
Austria on the one hand and tho
United States on the other has been
great boon and blessing to tho
whole world, giving everybody in
these countries Of combined popu-
lation of 210,000,000 people the
best and cheapest service under
present conditions.
But it is to be feared that this
interchange, so necessary for the
well being and happiness of a great
part of the civilized world will be
permanently disturbed. If the people
have once for some considerable time
discarded the use Of certain products
it is difficult to bring them back
again to their former habits. AS
long as a repetition of the present
calamity is to be feared the coun-
tries must SO on to make themselves
Independent permanently in order
not to be placed again in the same
straits Therefore Is it highly de-
sirable and most necessary to find
some permanent means OF avoiding
tho possibility of q recurrence of the
present situation, in the interest OF
q 4. A.