The Republican journal., 1918-11-21
A Truthful German.

An important little work has recently
been written by an eminent German au-
thoritsF in economic matters, DR.. Meers-
mann. It is entitled ''The Outcome of
the War and German Industry" In his
opening sentences he admits that the
future of Germany as Great Power, de-
ponds absolutely on her success in devel-
opinR and rebuilding her industries. He
points out that before the war Germany
paid for her imports in her valuable ex-
ports of finished products, in her great
shipping industry, her assurances. and
her foreign investments. But this is
now absolutely changed. There are no
receipts from shipping, no assurances, no
foreign investments, and the value of
the exports to neutral States is exceed
ingly small It is impossible to make
good the balance against Germany by the
export of gold, and the result is the sink
ing of the exchange which must have
cost Germany milliards of marks.
DR.. Meersmann proceeds to say that
should healthy conditions be sought after
the peace, it will be necessary at once to
establish the old trading relations with
foreign countries Although the import
of dispensable goods will be very limited
for considerable period after the war,
the need for raw material will be SO
enormous as to necessitate an unusually
large import. The question that arises is,
care we ready to pay exports for these
raw materials, and shall we be able to
find countries which will take these ex-
ports from us2" The author believes
that only a very limited stock of goods
can be got ready for export. To produce
an abundant supply of labor. A consid-
materials must come from foreign coun-
tries, and another important point is that
for the present, and for long time to
come, Germany will require all the raw
material she can procure and all her
available labor for the satisfaction of
home needs. The writer therefore thinks
cradle export trade from Germany for
some time to come. The payment of for
eign raw material, therefore, can only be
managed for many years to come by the
aid of loans! l may add that this is the
German opinion.
DR.. Meersmann regards it as quite fall
lacious that so-called understanding at
the peace negotiations would break down
the repulsion of foreign peoples to Ger
many, and make them disposed to open
their doors on the old terms. He goes on
to say, sit would be a complete miscon-
ception of human nature, and especially
of British human nature, were we to
reckon on any such change of sentiment.
England is ready to concede certain
measure of freedom, of economic devel-
opment. to States which are in position
of vassalage to her, but never to econom-
ic or political rivals"
Finally, the writer of the volume points
out that, after the war, Germany will be
confronted with a new world. Her cost
of production will be greatly increased,
wages will be double or treble the old
rates. 1t is the same in other States,
but other States are more favorably sit
uated with legard to raw material. This
is the great and perplexing question OF
the future-the question of the creation
of new economic possibilities. "We must
have (says the authoD large, extending,
and ever increasing economic elbow
room. Our population is increasing.
The increase is IL per cent against Eng
lands 1913 per cent, and Frances Ia
per cent. England claims one-flfth
of the surface of the earth, notwithstand-
ing its limited population, and sterile
France owns an empire which is double
that of the entire economic field OF action
of the Central Powers"
DR.. Meersmann sees no other course
or Germany than the extension of heI
political power. He will have nothing to
do with the cry, mo annexations and nc