The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-28

Hamburg, Dec. 4, 1917.
 To Herr Privy Councillor, Dr. Ra- theman, Berlin: My Dear Geheimrat:- You honor me in asking me to ex- press an opinion regarding the prob able course of our economic policy after the war. But I cannot do this in any satisfactory or sufficient way within the brief compass of a letter. All I can do is to jot down a few thoughts that strike me as being ap- plicable to the present serious situa- tion. I must say at once that neither in this city nor in any other part of the country do I find a definite or well-conceived plan of action for the re-establishment of after-war eco homie relations, nothing advocated which can be adopted without grave misgiving as to it's feasibility. Most of what we read in the newspapers as to our preparedness for embarking on brisk trade, and manufactures as soon as peace has been concluded is, I fear, written with the manifest intention of heartening our people, who are notor- Fiously ignorant of our actual econom- ic conditions and all that threatens them.
 Take, for example, that branch of commerce with which I am supposed to be familiar-shipping What sor- ry lies have been dished up to our people on this subject! One reads of tLe resounGing hammer of ri verters as they work at the creation os new Jeviathans for our overseas commerce. Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Danzig, Stettin, are supposed to be huzzing with shipbuilding. Not long ago one journal asserted that nearly 4GO,0OO tons were almost ready fo- launching! And there is hardly a yes tige of truth in any of these state ments. Our yards are only working ! fer the navy, and as for other ships, we have not the material or accom- 1ncdation, and, above all we have not f the necessary labor, skilled and un- skilled.
 Believe me when say that our 1 mercanti's marine is in a perilouS condition. The bill to re-establish and strengthen it which is now before the Reichstag, even if passed in it's integ- r:1y, will show no results for at least five years, and it isin these five years that our fate will be most adversely influenced. What will not our great maritime competitors make of these five yeGrs-Great Britain, the States Japan? What will not neutrals make of them-neutrals who have enor- mcusiy added to their reserve capital | Norway, Denmark, Holland? I al. most despair when I think how diff ferent it all might have been. Yor and T, dear Herr Prfvy Councillor were never advocates of this fata policy of unrestricted submarine war fare. You will l-remember how I wen to Berlin to seek to stay the hand O the authorities. I begged them to re fleet, and they told me the countr! insisted on it. This was not true. . pointed out how it would inevitabl! draw America into the conflict. The. pooh-poohed me, smiled at America and scorned her threat. Do they smil new? Let me tell you in my opinion the entry of the United States int this struggle may spell absolute disas ter for us.
 Our people have little or no know ledge of the American character. Yo1 and 4 have made g. most careful stud of it. What stuff our publicists an journalists write about their Mammo, worship, their greed, their envy O other nations, their lack of disciplin Oh, that blessed word discipline You and I know that the American are probably the most idealistic na ton on the earth's surface. We kno7 that they would not have entered tn lists of our foes had they had an ,,F+ bo; Nonsense to say they have been in fluenced by Britain. We are mad nc to see where we are, and whither W are driving. In antagonizing Americ we have done a disastrous thing,
 thing which will throw it's cold shaG ow on our economic life for a genera ton.
 But if I am concerned about our rt lations with the United States, I al still more anxious about our relation with Britain. I realize as never bt fore that all the increase in our wealt all the success which attended ol enterprises in the years before tl war, was owing to our intercour! with the British Empire. Her hon ports, her Dominions and colonit were freely opened to our shippe and traders. Sometimes 1 WOndere at this generosity, and even called
 folly Is it to be imagined for a m
 ment that those old relations will r turn?
 I am not to be supposed, dear He
 Geheimrat, as saying one word in f vor of Britain's policy in this war.
 believe that she entered it from ba
 motives. Not for Q moment do I b
 lieve in her humanitarianism, her a
 legged desire to liberate or prote small nationalities. Britain is a greco
 ard interruptions power, as all h
 past history proves, but now am on
 dealing with the fact that by our co
 duct of this war, by the unspeakat 4 press, we have tuIned her inborn di
 like of us into loathing so cold, al
 fierce, and lasting, as sometimes
 make me tremble for the whole futu
 of our economic existence.
 Consider what we are risking. V
 lock forward to resuming our S
 trade. We build our proudest expe