New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-24
Wherein British
World Banking
Was Delinquent

W T. HAVE gone on WV ,.n
w man for himself" The German
Government has thrown its sh'e'o
round every German trader. bril's"
merchants must decide for themselves
how far government help is des'rao'e
in their foreign dealings. In semi-ciV'
ilized places the knowledge that
strong state is able and wiling 20 pro
tcct alike the person and the property
~ ia subjects insurcs them fair play
Prestige counts for much. and AFTER 'ne
war where Will German prestige De
Rut failure or success in the main de-
banda an tho merchant and the mer-
cbandise. Germans themselves say
that their business success comes be
cause "a merchants they arc better
more pushing. more patient than the
British. It is not as II they dealt only
in German goods. They arc out 20
make even huckster's profit, TO sell
anything from bootlace to oat'le.
shin. | believe that al The outbreak o.
war there were no German goods IN
the German quarter of Shanghai. Inc
German firms we're vending Manchester
goods. Why do they supplant us }"
MANY directions IL was not the gooda
that we're at fault but the statesmen
who did not know the language OF their
customers. and acted on the belief that
the pound sterling and the standard
yard. which we're native to them, were
good enough for tho foreigner. When
there are two shops selling similar
goods in one street, the civil tradesman
who offers his goods in the native Ian
guage in native money and in native
measures must take the place oil the
man who speaks only his own lingo
and asks the native to take the trouoIe
Of translatirg weights, measures ana
prices into the native equivalent
Now is the time to insure the intro
duction of the metric system. The eN-
nerience of the last two years shows
that tho difficulty OF making SUI"
changes is greatly exaggerated
Traders claim tho help Of mercan-
tile consular service, with consulS h1'eu
and willing 70 notify when openings
offer for business. But artificial help
~ this kind-wooden legs for manned
ucn-will not avail If the catalogues
and circulars arc not printed in the ma
tive language; II, for instance j"
Portuguese speaking countries span
ish representative appears, II traVe1'e'S
.ro not men Of education. OF courteous
address. and II the goods do not sun
the taste and even the passing fashions
Of the people, their customers we
offer in a market in which others com
ncte and the customers choose. Inc
= rrcli.h banks, even II they greatly IN
creased their present paid-up capital
and as consequence reduced their
dividends. are not suited for sucn pus''
ness.
Il is needful to work through ana
With natives who know the conditions
If local credit, the habits and tastes o.
tho neonle and. above all, their IAN
cuage. In the case Of Italy sucn com =
nany the British Italian Corporation
has been formed. This institution
with its Joint contribution Of Engl'an
and Italian capital, professional SIKH
and local knowledge, lays itself ou'
generally as a development company
' and as an intermediary for the ASSIST,
arce primarily Of Italian, but really Of
oil foreign. enterprises, which, IN inc
Judgment of its directors, may ies''''
r,atelv be helped or participated III.
rts success will depend on the skill ana
Guidance Of the management. The IDEA
i 70 offer Italy help which will com
nonsate her for the loss Of German
financial assistance, with its inslolouS
nolitical motives, and will substitute
for il friendly business help which is
not tainted with the Interior poiitlea'
motive of subverting the independence
Of Italy or reducing that power TO a
state Of economic tutelage. The Ger
man military attack. political or eco
nomic. is conducted on the mass prin'
cinle. Hence, the economically weaker
states need TO be helped lest they be
held in perpetual political pawn. and
the principle holds good in trading
manufacturing, shipping in fact, IN
anv form Of economic activity. namely
that the defence shall be so strong as
10 be able to defeat and DEFY the al,
tack. not only in home but IN neutrai