Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-31
fORESAW DISASTER TO GERMAN TRADE AS AN
 OUTCOME OF THE WAR
Albert Ballin, Manager of Hamburg. American Line, Supposed to Have Shielded After Losing Favor.

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 Sydney, Australia, Nov. g (Corres- pondence of The Associated Press.)- Albert Ballin, general director of the Hamburg American Steamship Co.,, who is reported to have committed sui eide just before the signing of the armistice, had predicted disaster for the German overseas trade as an out come of the war. This is disclosed by the publication here of letter which Herr Ballin had written in December, 1917 apparently to Dr. Rothenau, a privy councillor at Berlin. A copy of this letteh was made public here by J. M Paxton, a resident of Sydney, who received it from friend in Lon- don. In it Ballin declared that wheth- CT Germany or England was victorious in the war the consequences to Ger man foreign trade would be disastrous The letter reads in part:
 Most of what we read in the news papers as to our preparedness for en- barking on brisk trade and manufac-, i lures as soon a speace has been con- cluded is, I fear, written with the manifest intention of heartening our people who are notoriously ignorant of our actual economic conditions and all that threatens them.'
 He said that the German mercantile marine was in "a perilous condition," and that the bill to re-establish and strengthen it, which at the time of writing was before Reichstag, would show no results for at least five years. In that time Germany's great mari time competitors, Britain, and United States and Japan and the neutrals Norway, Denmark and Holland would profit enormously.
 Ballin reminded his friend that he (Ballin) vainly begged Berlin authori- ties not to engage in unrestricted sub marine warfare; and he continued:
 "You and know that the Americans are probably the most idealistlc na- tion on the earth's surface. In antag- onizing America we have done dis astrous thing, a thing which will throw a cold shadow on our economic life for generation The latter part of Ballin's letter ran:s
 But if I am concerned about our relations with the United States, l am still more anxious about our rela- tions with Britain. l realize as never before that all the increase in our wealth, all the success which attended our enterprises in the year before the war, were owing to our intercourse with the British Empire. Her nome ports, her dominions and colonies, were freely opened to ~ur shippers and traders Sometimes I wondered at this generosity, and even called it folly is it to be imagined for mom- ent that those old relations will re- turn.
 "I am not to be supposed, dear Herr Geheimrat, (Privy Councilor) as say ing one word in favour of Britain s policy in this war I believe that she entered it from some base motives. "Consider what we are risking. we look forward to resuming our sea trade. We build our proudest expecta- tions on this. How are we to resume it in face of an Anglo-SaXondom when lothes and must loathe our presence among them.
 But we must beat England, you say no matter what the consequence l agree. All I say is that whether we beat her or she beats us the conse- ouences will be the same-dlsaster to our oversea trade if Britain so WILLS it. We may in the event of victory impose all sorts of conditions securing us most characterization treatment. se- curing us free entry into, British ports eerywhere. No sane man believes that these conditions will help us.
 With hostile British Empire gall ed and fretted with our military sue cess. ranging at it's losses. hopelessly alienated, how are we t, produce the l raw material which this Empire alone can supply. That great Empire Is self contained and we are not, and all the military victories and all the wild will. O -wisps about Hamburg to basoao will not help us.
 Herr Ballin died suddenly ill Berilh on Nov. 9. The cause of his death Has mot been officially stated, but It haS been reported that he had been sum moned to the German Army Headquar' ters and criticised by General Luden' dorf for opposing plans Of the military The old reliable rem
 edy. Guaranteed fol
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