Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-02
AND INTRIGUE IN GERMAN COMMERCE
GERMAN TRADE 4
AFTER THE VAR
TtUo Books That Should Be
Read BY Au Interested in
American Commerce

Unless the great commercial nations
are awake to the peril, Germany, al
though defeated in the field, will ulti-
mately win the commercial dominance
or the world, to achieve which was one
or the purposes Of the war. How she
got her grip on international commerce
and what her plans are to acquire II
once more have been set forth with
clearness and precision in two books,
one by professor in French uniyer-
sity and the other by a German con-
sulting engineer. These books should be
read by every American manufacturer,
and by every other American who wishes
TO be informed on the issues which will
press for solution when peace is made.
The first book. "Germany's CONNER
cinl Grip on the World" Is thorough
analysis OF the methods used in fois,inU
German goods on foreign ma arkets, meth-
DDS that involved Imitation, fraud, cor
ruption and commercial espionage, as
well as a combination of banking and
underwriting speculative enterprises re.
pugnant to the best principles of sound
finance Professor Hauser. who writes
the book. tells US tkut German produce
ton had expanded to such an extent that
she had surplus Of 60 to 20 per cent,
which she must sell abroad, and that
this surplus was increasing because of
the perfection of her economic. machin-
cry. He says that the war was started
In order to win by conquest German
markets for this surplus. Whether we
accept this view as full explanation
or not, there is no doubt that 1t sets
forth one Of the motives of the war
party. Peace will and the Germans still
in the need Of foreign markets, and
the system which expanded German
trade before the war will be adopted
when arms are laid down. The rest of
the world must be prepared to meet
this competition. not by the adoption of
:he abhorrent German methods. but by
producing better goods than Germany
produces and by being able to distribute
them more cheaply and more quickly. A
boycott on Germany, according to Pro-
fessor Hauser. will not solve the prob
lem. for Germany will find ways to out
Wit the boycotters.
How they are to be outwitted Is ex-
plained in 1.-The Future Of German In
dustrial Exports" by s. Herzog. a book
published for circulation in Germany
alone. A copy of it was smuggled out
of that country by an American secret
service agent and translated into Eng
lish. Mr.. Herzog wrote under the as
sumption that Germany was to be vic.
the objection to German made goods in
the countries which have been fighting
Germany by ordering that no nation may
require goods, entering its markets to
be stamped with the country of origin
In this way the German goods could
he made to masquerade as the products
Of neutral countries in which complacent
agents could be found who would act as
middlemen in shipping them to the for
mer enemy countries. In the enemy
countries. he says. men could be found
who would handle the goods for a con-
sideration. and that the home Govern
ment should recompense the manufac-
turer for any loss that might be in
volved in the bribery necessary to carry
out the plan. When hostility to Ger.
many died down the goods could be
shipped directly from the factory to the
foreign market. The plan which he pro-
poses is only a continuation and elabo-
ration of the plan which Germany has
been following for years. 1t is based
on dishonor and on the assumption that
every man has his price. Unless the
great mass of American business men
understand what Germany proposed to
do and take steps to prevent her. She
will succeed. So they cannot be urged
too earnestly to inform themselves.
GERMANY'S COMMERCIAL GRIP ON THE
W2R BY Henri HSusey professor $50 r,si Of
The hsfisper PGTIRE fonsi of, GERMiAN INDUSTRIAL
EXPORTS. BY s. Her2oK. Consulting En-
gineer, Garden CITY Doubleday. Page &