New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-26
German Economist
Admits FaIsity Of
"Placein Sun Plea
Says England Did Not Hamper
Foreign Economic Activi-
ties Of Teutons

In the articles designed to be read BY
the general public the German news
papers repeat again and again that the
war was forced on the Fatherland by
the jealousy of Great Britain, which
left nothing undone to ruin German
foreign commerce by chicaneries. Gen
orally, the German publications con-
tend that the prospects of German
commerce and industries arc most
promising after the restoration of
peace.
Lothar Persius, a former captain OF
the imperial navy. and not only noted
naval critic but also a political econo-
mist Of recognized standing, and who,
on account of his connection with Ger
man commercial and industrial mag
mates, reflects the sentiments Of big
business" in the Kaiser's realm, admits
the falsity Of such contentious in an
article which appeared in the Der
liner Tageblatt" OF October Is under
the caption, "The Reconstruction of
Our Merchant Marine-Our Oversee
Commerce After the War The most
significant sentence of the article
reads:
I'VE must correct tho erroneous
opinion that the English tried in any
way to hamper our foreign economic
activities"
Trade with Turkey Small
Most of the people" begins the ar
ticle, "who, soon after the beginning of
the war, predicted compact CONNER
cial empire have recognized their
mistake. The advocates of a German
Austrian Hungarian, etc, commercial
confederation have been silenced.
Most of the Austrian and Hungarian
manufacturers repudiated such an
idea. Economic considerations would
hardly amount to anything. SO far as
we arc concerned; only political inter
est, favor such an arrangement. The
same Is true regarding Turkey. Her
ability to buy our products Is not great.
The money I'm question would be very
small. Before the war the annual Ger
man exports to Turkey were worth
less than 100,000,000 marks (S23,500,-
OC0. at the normal rate of exchange),
and were exceeded only by the exports
from England, France and Austria
Hungary. Even if we could prevent
England and France from exporting
goods to Turkey-an eventusllty hard
" to be reckoned with--the gain would
be very insignificant as against our ex-
ports TO other countries.
Our aims must be to regain our
share Of international trade across the
sea. More than ever before will we
have 70 depend on the world market,
after the war. Practically oar Whole
economic life has been adapted 20 war
conditions. Peace industries have been
crippled. Normal activities are sus-
pended. When the orders by the War
and Navy departments cease to be
given Germany will be confronted with
problem as gigantic as can be i'm
agined, and the more so because We
will have to begin paying interest on
the war loans and contributing 70 the
sinking fund. That means that new
taxes must be imposed and new bur-
dens placed on commerce and indus
tries. After the restoration of peace
all industries will need raw materials,
because he stocks of goods will be OK
hausted. Commerce and shipping may.
under certain conditions, enjoy
period OF prosperity. We must import
principally cotton, wool, jute, copper.
rubber and leather. also foodstuffs and
fodder, from countries across the seas.
After-War Trade
tine great mass of the people think
we must be satisfied with our domestic
foodstuffs and fodder on account Of
the rate Of exchange. But that is not
true. When we, for instance, send our
ships loaded with German products 70
North and South America, India and
Africa-and we must do it to improve
the rate of exchange-these ships may
not return under ballast. That would
be poor business method. Our ships,
will carry to Germany not
only raw materials for our industries,
but also foodstuas. II may safely be /
stated that the importation of food /
stufIs and fodder is the most important
task. because without them our indus !
tries wouli hardly lie able to success
fully compete with those of foreign |
We must produce goods |
and exchange them for raw materials |
which we needs must import to i'm.
prove the exchange rates.
What are our prospects OF export
ing our products There Is nothing to