Evening star., 1918-01-14
warn. GERMANY OF
COMMERCIAL PERIL
ls
Half Million Business Men
Asked to Pass Upon Edict
to Teutons.
MESSAGE THROUGH PRESS

i More than half a million American
business men are asked in referendum
submitted by the Chamber Of Commerce
Of the United States to pass upon q
proposed warning to German industrial
leaders that they cannot hope to resume
friendly commercial relations with the
United States after the war unless the
German government has become a re.
sponsible instrument Of the people.
1t is proposed that the Germans be
| told that the United States. in common
with other nations. supplied raw ma
terials with which Germany made ready
to start the world war. and that the
lesson has been learned. Newspapers
and business men of neutral countries
will be relied upon to carry the mes
sage.
Resolution Is Submitted.
| The referendum, suggested by the
boston Chamber of Commerce and now
| laid before half million business men
through their commercial organiza-
| tions. submits this resolution:
Whereas the size of Germany's pres
ent armament and her militaristio at
| tltude have been due to the fact that
| Iher<government is a military autoc-
racy, not responsible to the German
people; and
mament after the war will be the
measure Of the greatness of the arma-
ment forced on all nations; and
| w Whereas careful analysis Of eco
nomlc conditions shows that the size
OF Germany's future armament will
fundamentally depend on her after
| war receipts of raw materials and
profits from her foreign trade: and
whereas in our opinion the Ameri-
can people. for the purpose Of prevent
ing an excessive armament, will as
suredly enter an economic combinatfo
| against Germany IL governmental con-
ditions in Germany make it necessary
for self-defense; and
Attention Is Directed.
Whereas We believe the American
people will not join in discrimination
against German goods after the war
!1f the danger of excessive armament
has been removed by the fact that the
German government has in reality be-
come a responsible instrument con-
trolled by the German people; there
fore. be it
| Resolved, That the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States Of America
earnestly calls the attention Of the
|
conditions and urges them also to study
this situation and to cooperate to the
end that a disastrous economic war
may be averted. and that a lasting
peace may be made more certain
| IF the proposed action carries" saws
a statement from the chambers head
quarters. the Industrial leaders of
Germany. who. with the military party
constitute the most powerful caste in
Germany. will be bluntly told that Ger
many must choose a responsible gov
eminent to conclude a just peace or
suner the consequences of an outlaw
after the war.
! She will be denied economic inter-
course with her best customer-the
United States. The message could not
iali OF its purpose, as Germany cannot
hope for years to come to re-establish
satisfactory trade relations with Great
Britain. Italy or France.
| Potent in Its Authority.
| mo single action by the UNITED
States can be calculated to go further
than this proposed action of Americas
business men. It is more potent in its
authority, perhaps, than any similar
warning coming from Official sources
The difference lies in the fact that
Germany might doubt whether Con-
gress would sanction a treaty with the
allies for a trade boycott Of Germany,
or that the people would abide by such
treaty were 1t made.
This. on the other hand, would be
direct notice to German business men
that the business men Of America have
taken a concerted stand. to close trade
to Germany as long as it remains an
outlaw.
| 1.-The further fact should be horne
in mind that the proposal to discrimi-
nate against German trade after the
war is not at variance with the Presi-
dents announced policy not to con-
l
would engender hatred among the ma
tions. Quite the contrary, 1t might be
said to constitute the second great
drive to compel responsible govern