The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-05-31

II Is affirmed that German trade by espionage
- practically great menace to the world as Is
"ermany's military machine; that. indeed. Ger
manys military methods and her economic pene-
rhtion' methods are interdependeut, and that any
peace which seemed to leave German militarism
pOweress would be vain and futile If the German
methods of trade We're allowed to continue as at
present. The question Is asked whether trade af.
ter the war Will be secret service struggle the
part Of all the nations and whether, 0s Germany
forced all the powers to mobilize for mllitarlsm
she is going force them also to mobilize for trade
warfare. These questions may grotesque
hut able men are raising them. They point out
that the law of civil CONSUMPTION in Germany has
made all the business representatives of the
pre potential secret service agents at the disposal
of the military authorities.
The French economist. NJ. LucIen Deserves. who
has made special Investigations In this matter
quotes from IA secret document. of which he has
seen copy, containing Instructions To German
engineers, who called upon to sink their pro-
frssouni pride and to devote themselves to finding
trade secrets and to furtherng German trade.
which win be readily possible for them under the
gutSe OF their professional mantle.
NJ. Deserves has described the results Of a tour
he made OF neutral countries for the purpose of In
Nestlgatng German secret service methods Of
trade. Both men and women, he says em-
poyed In this way by Germany. mostly young men
aud women. Secret service and business promo
tlon are practically convertible terms, The German
secrtt service woman Is taught the art Of
trade development and the German commercial
traveller Is taught the art OF espionage. Germany
realizes that the role of commercial traveller lis the
best disguise for a secret service man and that Sc
cret service Is the best OF all adJuncts to trade
Germany, according to NJ. Deserves. Is inundating
the neutral countries with literature and with
agents. The agents are recognized as by far the
most productive, Printed documents are scattered
and. even Ii they followed by many others
they forgotten. Where the agents follow
one another, working with mutual aid their work
Is practical and profitable. They perform not mere
~ common tnsk they work out Propaganda.
The Germans" he continues "have been sys.
tematically giving furloughs from the army 10 their
mohtlAed men who had been commercial travellers
In foreign countries, These men are authorized TO
visit their former customers but they are espe-
ctRy engaged "a work with zeal aud adroltueSs
and To produce practical results. Special rewards
are reserved for those who are able 10 practice es.
piuuagc for the benefit OF Germany The arent
has double, or rather triple part TO play He Is
openly placing his cnuutrys products he is cel,.
hrating hts countryS glory and secretly he Is gain
ing Information regarding Germany's ncighbors
und her enemies. Such work IL regarded as worth
reward and the reward Is paid. In one neutral
country was struck by the large number of these
German commercial agents who are young desplte
the fact that the country. being az war. needs
young men, But the fact Is that they can ssr,s
their country this frunt Just as Well AS ON the
hattie fronts, They are Industrious luSuuatlng
tenacious, The promises they make, In the name
~ the great commercial firms OF Germany. ara
kept They 80 and come IS In time Of peace They
have their own hotels. restaurants cafes meeting
places They arc servceahle and they push their
10 be agreeable to the point Of scryuIfy
While they do not succeed tn making themselves
popular. they impose themselves on the business
men because they can quickly obtain from Ger.
many what merchants have patiently but vainly
sought elsewhere"
NJ Deserves urges that the allies put more e,n,
mercial travellers la the field 90 offset the t;erp,
trade campaign methods, but he declares that ~.
French business agent, undoubtedly like the hp,,.
ness agents OF Frances allies has an inSur,uol,t
able rcpugnance for espionage no matter what the
reward might be-"
NJ, Charles Aumhcrt. proprietor % lie Jour,ar
or Paris, and other public men OF France d,,lsr,
that in order for the world To be safe for d,p,,s
racy Germany must not merely be beaten in A.,
Held. but her whole system ~ mIlltartst govern.
ment. with the country'S trade DEVELOPMENT s,h-