New Britain herald., 1916-05-12
BOYCOTT IDEA IS
 ALMOST A MANIA
Little Hope for Trade Relations
 After the War

uctS in France and other countries of the entente might, until recently have been looked upon as the manifesto tion of a spirit that a reasonable peace treaty could overcome. The idea is now apparently so deeply rooted in the minds of individuals as to consti- tute a menace that may resist any sort of a peace treaty. The only off, cial action regarding trade between citizens of France and the central en- pires applies only to the period or hos tilities. Private initiative, however, has gone far in the direction of per- manent ostracism of merchandise from countries now at war with France. If it continues to develop along the same lines, it may make off, cial action superflous.
 Nearly every French trade corpor- alton that has felt German competition in the past is not only spreading the doctrine of preference for articles made at home or by the French al- lies, but is organizing for the event. ual boycott with an ardour of lnitia- tive that was rare in French business circles prior to 1914. It involves the systematic education of consumers as to what German articles and prod ucts they bought before the war with out knowing it, and what French, British, Russian and Italian articles may replace them. Starting with the characteristic Partisan industry which makes the minor articles called 'ar- ticles of Paris,' local manufacturers were shown in detail how the Ger mans lowered the manufacturing cost and competed with them even in their home market this was done by pub- lie exhibition of German-made lar ticles of Paris and by explanatory documents spread among the little
 manufacturers. There is perhaps no other industry that is so important In Paris although the articles are or minor importance, they are made in immense quantities by a great num- Der of small manufacturers. Follow ing this propaganda with the manu- lecturers, the movement extended to propaganda with the families, showing them the difference between the French and the German made ar ticles.
 ''The scientific and medical com- mittee of the allied nations," is be- ing organized for the purpose of eX- posing to scientists, chemists and medical men the reasons why before the war seventy-five per cent. of the proucts and apparatus used by them came from Germany, and how they may be replaced hereafter. Most of the Fench manufacturers of surgi- cal instruments had become simply commission merchants handling Ger
 man made articles for instance all of the medical thermometers came from Germany. nearly all the fine gradu-- ated glassware used in laboratories and eight-tenths of all the micro scopes came from either Germany or Austria, as we'll as a great prOportlon of eyeglasses, opera glasses and nelo glasses sold by French opticians The preponderance of German chenlcal product, drugs and dyes on the French market was well known even before the war. but it was not so well known that Germany furnished nearly all of the synthetic remedies.
 All of the allied countries since the war began have been obliged to de- velop their facilities for the manufac- ture of explosives. The raw mater ials employed are quite the same as those that must serve in the prepar- ation of the dyes, perfumery and med icine. It is concluded, therefore, that there is nothing whatever in the way of replacing these German products after the war since the considerable number of works constituted TOT the preparation of raw material for explo- sives will be obliged to turn to some other industry and can be immediate ly utilized in the production or chem teal products.
 The scientists interested In the or ganization of this committee nave dls- covered in many dlIerent obscure corners of France men who are man. ufacturing on a small scale sclentflc instruments that they declare are equal in every way to those made III Germany. Tn the past these little m manufacturers nave satlsned them- selves with a small output without en- deavoring to make the merits or thelr generally known. The French contingent of this committee is already practically formed, com prising many we'll known names. The English. Belgian, Italian, Japanese and Russian contingents of the inter national committee are being organ ized. and working in common with the French contingent will prosecute prpaSdllu1 "lIh Iiio 50AioA al public as we'll as with doctors, scien- lists and opticians.
 As far as transpires at present, this has no official sanction. It's work, however, is being seconded. It's the government so far as concerns cor porations for development of chemical and other industries. The minister or has constituted in his de- partment a technical service charged with the examination of questions re- lating to supplies of raw material ana to the operation of industries not em- ployed exclusively in the national de- fence This technical service is dl-