The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1916-02-10

Il
| II need Belgium, other than the havoc being
- wrought on her territory must inevitably make OF
| her a nation for some time after the war;
I@@I whereas she has always before been producer
IR RoR importing material and exporting manufactures
Let u.s. then consider briefly the from which
England and Germany have drawn the supplies OF
have made them the leaders of the world trade
and which have made possible their rivalry for first place. now
being fought out with in the trenches of Europe
England of course has drawn heavily upon her
possessions especially Australia India and Canada Further
through the investment of British capital in South America
Especially Argentine and Braz China and the United States
England credits these opening to her
their they have been opened to
other nation.
colonies, the other hand have play
ed great part her power world trader has
German capital been largely invested in foreign countries the
principal regions of German financial interest being Venezuela
Argentina, Mexico, and China.
Germany has drawn much of her material from Rus
STA and the Scandinavian countries but the outstanding German
achievement going the opened by
other nations and bound to them by ties of credit of
sovereign allegiance and by power of superior commercial
organization and trained salesmanshp utbddng her
petors In Germany drew from Australia IS cent
much material did Great Britain and sold the Australians
propoonate Of manufactured goods while in Argen
tine country developed by British capital Germany outstp
ped England in value of material purchased by 20 cent
Such the various trade conditions and relative po
ston of European nations prior the outbreak of armed
hostes August 1915 Britain still the trade leader of the
world but by rapidly diminishing margin; German organic
hands trade mastery France taking active in vital trade
and dependent the prosperity of other peoples for market
for French EXPORTS Austria Hungary negligible quantity and
by apparent gradually becoming Russia
undeveoped storehose merely making exchanges of actual
necessities Italy only beginning to wake the possibilities
of trade and ncnng toward the German SYSTEM and Turkey
in abnormal condition. trying to sided trade
and succeeding only in disorganzng her finances.
Where does the United States stand regard these
conditions effected by war? The question
is easily answered The United States stood the position of
the who holds the Bag prior to Aug 1914 True America
third volume of foreign trade but this high position is
misleading for while Great Britain and Germany i'm
porters material and exporters of manufactures repre-
sentng labor profit, the United States exporter of
vital necessities in representing little profit to the Amer
lean labor and an importer goods mostly
ures.
The second question is not easily answered. for
reason FIRST because present conditions necessarily
abnormal andsecond because this meit impossible pre-
dict what the of the be- and therefor what
conditions the United States will have should
the leading role in world trade.
This much may safely say that the will be fought
definite close, in which the power of side the
other completely broken will have absolutely effect
the relative standing of the first class powers involved
Therefor there three distinct and possible conditions
which the United States have face if it would take adj
vantage of the trade opportunities opened by the
First; anti oelum conditions peace before
the side completely exhausted In this event.
marvellous nerca organization will remain intact,
but of touch with of supply and demand due to
the period of trade cessation enforced by the British blockade
England the other hand will have her hold
the supply through the foaton of loans we'll
through the artifcay stimulated British during
the
Second In the allies succeed in their avowed nten
ton to crush Germny there will be the opportunity for
America part of the trade formerly handled by
Germany in competition with Great Britain Strengthened
positions and Italy ready adopt the German policy of
government supported organization.
And third; In the of complete victory by the
central powers the opportunity for America part
the trade controlled by Great Britain in competition
with Germanys unmpasd organizations ndepend
ent Australia and Canada.
Each of these three different conditions would require
different set of policies the part of the United Sates
there requisites essential under all of them
Let essentials and the means by which