Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-15
GERMAN FREEDOM OF TRADE

In a recent article in the Frankfurter zeitune. Arthur
Feuer, a German writer Of som note, discusses what he
conceiVes must be the status of his country after the war
IN relation to world trade. He insists that Gernoanv
must be able after the war to carry on world trade a,
we did before the war, buying from every foreign country
"na' We need selling to every foreign country what our
work can offer in payment for our imports, moving freq
" on>every shipping route and in every portland all this
without paying any special dues, without any differenntia.
ton, with absolutely equal rights. and wth entir. .,,o..
favored-nation' treatment such as we ourselves. , rsadv
to accord" -
1t will be observed that this German writer. in stating
the aims OF his country as to trade rights and privileges
a1eer n war, declares that those are the conditions which
II enjoyed before the war. 1t is a matter Of universal
knowledge that this is true. And vet. the cerm,, ~
thorites have sought industriouslyto make the world be-
lleve that Germany went to war; to protect her economic
existence.
An eminent German economist therefore, using a
representative German paper as his medium Of express
sion, imam article addressed to his fellow countrvn.n ana
intended for their guidance and inspiration, gives the lie
to his and their government by telling them snecirco,,v
that before the war their country enjoyed absolute free
dom of trade and equality of opportunity al, over tho
world. ~.
BEFORE the war Germany stood on a basis OF email
with all other nations. Her ships were free to sail every
sea and to enter every port. Whether as travellers or as
residents her people were welcomed in every
country, and were free there to establish new business en-
'erpt'ses' or 10 extend the trade of the establishments in
the tatnerland. 1t remains to be seen how much Of that
freedom and equality will be enjoyed by Germany after
the war. The decision rests mainly with the German,
people. Nothing is to be hoped of the present German
government. That government must be utterly DESTROY.
ed before Germany can again stand on a has of equality
with other nations. If the German people should show
by their attitude that they are DESTROYS or willing that the
Hohenzollerns and junkers shall continue to rule over
them' the civilized world will have no option but to treat
Germany as a conquered country, and to continue to treat
her so until her people have come to their senses. If that
is the German attitude it makes little difference in what
particular individual orlindiviluals the powers Of govern
nent are vested. 1t may as we'll be the Hohenzollerns
as any others. No terms of peace can be made with a
Hohenzollern, or with a people who continue to be ami
mated by the Hohenzollern spirit other than one which
will place the conquered nation in a condition of guar
olanship, with only such freedom of action as the victors
may believe that it is safe and desirable to- give.
1t is to be hoped that a peace Of a different charac-
ter may be possible. It is to be hoped that the German
by the disasters which have come upon them, and which
has not really been dead. but only sleeping. II this
proves to be true the German nation will have a new
birth, and then it will be possible for the world to look
to the not distant day when, though she must be
required to bear the heaviest share of the burdens which
have been created by her own acts, Germany may again
be received into the family of nations as an equal and
useful member. But before that day comes Germany
must pass through an awful accounting.