Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-15
THE ECONOMIC WEAPON

III EIONUMlC WEAPON
The boycott is not always a wise thing, or a safe
thing. But sometimes it's use is both justifable and
necessary. The relations between Germany and the rest
Of the world present a case in point.
Through the medium of a referendum submitted
by the chamber of commerce of the United States the
commercial bodies of the country which are members
of that great association are asked to express themselves
on a series of resolutions which in substance declare an
economic boycott against Germany to continue after the
war unless and until the German government has be-
come a responsible instrument controlled by the Ger
man people,"
The argument presented in support of this attitude
is entirely logical. The democracies of the world are
engaged in a struggle forced upon them by Germany.
They are determined to continue the fight until the
possibility of having such another war let loose upon
the world has disappeared. One of the chief causes
which have made this war possible has been the COM
petition among the nations in the matter Of armament,
in which Germany has taken the lead, and in which
obliged to follow. If peace is concluded without step
having been taken to remove this competition, the peace
will be but an armed truce, to be broken by the first
nation that considers itself strong enough to dare an
other test. and whose ambitions make such a course
attractive.
With an irresponsible autocracy ruling Germany
in the future as it has ruled in the past, all that will be
neeoeo o II beginning o L another frantic struggle
for superiority in armament will be the possession Of
the material of which armament is made. Today Ger
many has so far exhausted her material resources that
without access to foreign sources of supply it would be
impossible for her, even without the menace of armies
from without, to proceed with her normal industrial
development and at the same time accumulate great
stores OF military material. The purpose of those who
have originated the resolutions upon which a vote is to
be taken is to serve notice upon the German people
on behalf of the United States that Germany will be
denied access to the markets of the outside world until
she has demonstrated that the facilities granted to her
will not be used in order to prepare for further agrees
sion.
That is a boycott which is legitimate and necessary.
There is no disposition on the part of any considerable
number of people in any Of the democratic nations to
impede in any manner the rehabilitation of Germany.
There Is the determination to administer to Germany
sucn a military de1eat as will serve as a perpetual warn
Ing to those who may be tempted to appeal to force
for the carrying out of ambitious and unlawful oe-
signs. That defeat having been administered, peace will
follow. If the German people give evidence by their
own attitude that they are sincerely DESTROYS of real
peace, and that they are ready to dominate their own
government in the interest of peace, GERMANY will be
welcomed back into the family of nations from which
her own atrocious acts have excluded her. But if the
German people are still slow to learn, if they give coun-
tenance to what will certainly be the demand of the
militaristic faction that the peace which will be con-
cluded shall be but the prelude to another war, then,
as a matter Of self defense the world must take steps
to prevent such a calamity, and Germany will perforce
be denied access to the materials which she would use
with which to forge new weapons for the destruction
of the world.
That is the substance of the plan outlined. There
can be np doubt that this plan will have the support
OF the commercial bodies in this country to which it is
submitted. There can be no doubt mat every nation
now engaged with us in fighting the battles of democ-
racy will join in the carrying out Of this plan, and that
neutral nations which have not dared, because of their
peculiar position to take up arms against Germany
will Join in the carrying on of this economic war. Ger
many is doomed to defeat in the field. She is equally
doomed to defeat in a war which will deprive her of ac-
cess to the markets of the world. No nation can hold
ont against such a combination.