Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-14
WaIgii German dustridI Leaders
PROPOSED BY CHAMBER OF COM } MERGE OF THE UNITED STATES.
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS
No Friendly Relations With the United Controlled by Responsible Rulers.

WaSh1nSIO0, Jan. EAInGTICdil Uuo mess men are asked in referendum submitted today by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States to pass upon a 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 responsible instrument of the people.
 It is proposed that the Germans be told that the United States, in common with other nations, supplied raw ma teriais with which Germany made ready to start the world war, and that the lesson has been learned. News papers and business men of neutral countries will be relied upon to carry the message.
 The referendum, suggested by the Boston Chamber of Commerce, and now laid before half million business men through their commercial organ l izations, submits this resolution: Resolution to Be Submitted. Whereas, The size of Germany's present armament and her militaristic attitude have been due to the fact that | her government is a military autocra- cy, not responsible to the German peo- pie; and
 1 Whereas, The size Of the German armament after the war will be the measure of the greatness of the arma- ment forced on all nations; and
 ''Whereas, Careful analysis of eco- homie conditions shows that the size of GerInany'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 sured1y enter an economic combina- ton against Germany if governmental
 conditions in Germany make it neces- sary for self-defense; and
 Removal of Excessive Armament. Whereas, We believe the American
 people will not join in discrimination
 against German goods after the war if
 the danger of excessive mament has
 been removed by the fact that the Ger
 man government has in reality become
 a responsible instrument controlled by
 the German people; therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the Chamber o1
 Commerce Of the United States o1
 America earnestly calls fire attention
 of the business men of Germany tt
 these conditions and urges them alst
 to study this situation and to cooper
 ate to the end that a disastrous eco
 homie war may be averted and that (
 lasting peace may be made more cer.
 tain.'
 Must Choose Responsible Government If the proposed action carries" say, a statement from the chambers head ,. quarters, "the industrial leaders 0 | rv1n fI,a constitute the most powerful caste il
 Germany, will be bluntly told that Ger many must choose responsible gov ernment to conclude just peace 0 suffer the consequences of an outlay after the war.
 "She will be denied economic inter !, course with her best customer--tll !, United States. The message could no
 fail of its purpose, as Germany canno
 hope for years to come to re-establisl
 satisfactory trade relations with Grea t Britain, Italy or France.
 Stronger Than Official Action.
 'sNo single action by the Unite States can be calculated to go furthe a than this proposed action of America 1 business men. It is more potent in it d authority, perhaps, than any simila = warning coming from official source. d The difference lies in the fact tba
 Germany might doubt whether con $ gress would sanction treaty with tn - allies for a trade boycott of German e or that the people would abide by sue = a treaty were it made. This, on tn
 other hand, would be direct notice t p German business men that the bvsi e ness men of America have taken n concerted stand to close trade to Ger IT many as long as it remains an outlay k The further fact should be borne
 mind that the proposal to discriminat l. against German trade after the war '- not at variance with the president d announced policy not to continue afte d the war policies which would engende a hatred among the nations. Quite tt
 contrary, it might be said to constitui
 the second great drive to compel re
 sponsible government in Germany. tt l. first being directed to the constitution l. alists within the empire