Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-05

The following is letter addressed By
H err Albert BALM, Germany's shipping
king before the war, to Privy Councillor
Dr.. Ratheman of Berlin, who is one Of
Germany's leading industrial magnates
1t appears from the text of the letter
that Herr BALM has written on spe-
cial request from the privy councillor
DIR. Ratheman:
HAMBURG, December 4, 1917.
To Herr Privy Councillor DR.. Rathe-
man, Berlin.
Ny Dear Herr Geheimrat: You hon
or me in asking me to express an
opinion regarding the propapie
course of our economic policy after
the war. But l cannot do this IN any
satisfactory or sufficient way WITHIN
the brief compass of letter. All |
can do is to jot down few thoughts
that strike me as being applicable
to the present serious situation.
must say at once that neither IN
this city nor in any other part Oh
the country do. | find a dennite OF
well conceived plan OF action FOR
the re-establishment OF after-war
economic relations, nothing advo-
Gated which can be adopted win
out grave misgiving as to It's 1eas-
Utility Most of what we read IN the
for embarking on brisk trade and
manufactures as soon as peace mas
been concluded is, ! fear, written
= with the manifest intention or heaft-
ening our people, who are notorious
" ignorant of our actual economic
conditions and all that threatens
them.
Take for example. that branch OF
commerce with which ! am supposed
to be familiar-shipping. What sorry
lies have been dished up to our people
on this subject. One reads Of the
resounding hammer STROKES of riveteTs
as they work at the creation OF new
ieyiathans for our overseas commerce.
Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Danzig. Stet-
lin are SUPPOSED to be buzZing with
shipbuildiag. Not long ago one jour
nal asserted that nearly 100000 tons
were almost ready for launching. And
there is hardly a vestige of truth IN
any of these statements Our yards
are working only for the navy. and as
for other ships, we have not the ma
terial or accommodation, and, above
ALL we have not the necessary labor,
skilled and unskilled.
A Critical Five Years.
Believe me when l say that our mer-
camille marine is in perilous condi
ton. The bill to re-establish and
strengthen it which is now before the
reichstag, even il passed in it's integ-
rity, will show no result for at least
five years. and 1t is in these Ave years
that our fate will be most adversely
influenced. What will not our great
maritime competitors make of these
five years-ireat Britain. the States,
Japan? What will not neutrals make
Of tbem-neutrals who have enormous
~ added to their reserve capitai-Nor-
way, Denmark. Holland? ! almost de-
spair when think how different it all
might have been. You and l. dear
Herr Privy Councillor. we're never ad
yocates of this fatal policy OF unre-
stricted submarine warfare. You will
remember how went to Berlin TO seek
TO stay the hand Of the authorities. l
begged them to reflect and they told
me the country insisted on it. This
would inevitably draw America into
the conflict. They pooh poohed me.
smiled at America, and soorned her
threat. Do they smile now? Let me
the United States into this struggle
may spell absolute disaster for U.S.
Our people have little or no knowl-
edge of the American character.
You and / have made a most care
full; study of 1t. What stuff our pub
iicists and journalists write about
their mammon worship their greed.
their envy of other nations. their
lack. Of discipline--Oh. that blessed
w-d discipline! You and I know
most idealtstic nation on the earth's
surface. We know that they would
not have entered the lists of our
foes had they had any doubt as to
the justice of their cause. Nom
sense to say they have been infu-
enced by Britain. We are mad not
to- see where we are and whittier
we are driving. In antagonizing
America we have done a disastrous
thing-a thing which, will throw it's
cold shadow on our economic life for
a generation
But IL am concerned about our
relations with the United States, 7
am stu more anxious about our re-
lations with Britain. 1 realize as
never before that all the increase in
our wealth. all the success which at
tended our enterprises in the years
before the war. was owing to our
intercourse with the British empire
Her kome ports. her dominions and
colonies were freely opened to our
shippers and traders. Sometimes /
wondered at this generosity. and
even called it folly. Is it to be
tnfagin for. moment that those
old relations will return?
Agree to Cooperate.
Lam not to be supposed. dear Herr
Geheimrat. as saying ono word in
favor Of Brttain's policy in this war.
1, believe that she entered 1t from
base motives. Not for moment do
believe in her characterization.
tect small nationalities. Britain Is
greedy, and INSCRIPTIONS power.
A. all her past history proves. but
now am only dealing With the fact
that By our conduct Of this war. by
turned hsr inborn dislike % us into
toathtng 20 cold and fierce and