The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-04-23


manufactured goods and over the
sources of raw materials that ente,
into the making of such goods, and
the gigantic failure of these com
mercial aims is already apparent
Such is the definite conclusion reach,
ed by Chauncey ID. Snow, assistan;
chief of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce, and his collab
orator. j. j. Kral, in a report issued
today by the department Of COM
merce. The report is the result OF
months of investigation Of German
political, industrial and CONNER
cial activities before and after the
outbreak Of the war, the value OF
which is enhanced by the fact that
Mr.. Snow was engaged in an indus
trial study in Germany at the time
hostilities commenced.
Germany's problem as viewed by
her rulers was, in the words of DIR.
Karl Helfferich, to overcome "the
limitation of German territory and
the restrictions imposed by our eli
matte conditions, in connection with
the growth of our population and its
increasing and more refined re-
quirements." The report adds that
Germany also confidently expected
as result of this war to get huge
indemnities, which, like the great in
demnity eXacted from France in
1871, would pay the bill of war, and
would likewise clear the way for. un-
interrupted, unparalleled strides,
leaps, and bounds in industry and
trade. Germany unquestionablv
counted on crippling the resources
and competitive power of her chief
European commercial competitors.
The gigantic failure of these
commercial aims of Germany in go
ing to war is already apparent" as
sert the authors. president Wilson
has stated the attitude of the United
States on the subject of the aims of
annexation and indemnity. England
and France have most effectively
demonstrated the mettle of their
competitive power in industry and
resources. When Germany attempts
to resume trade it will be with at
least is countries that have actually
been in state of war against her,
and at least nine that have severed
diplomatic relations with her. Ger
man commercial policy and German
traders and investors will hence
forth have to face governments and
commercial publics in every country
of the world which are enlightened
as to the German way of doing
things. Commercial treaties with
the advantages all on the German
side will be hard to negotiate. 1t
will be rare country where Ger
many may dominate trade, industry.
shipping, and finance without local
realization and opposition"
The primary object of the report
is to throw light on Germany's pre-.
paredness for trade after the war.
a subject that has been anxiously
discussed in this and the allied
countries. To aid in reaching an in,
telligent conclusion on this subject
a great many pages are devoted to
such subjects as Germany,s wartime
industries, trade organizations.
money and banks. raw materials. la
Dor conditions, land and water trans
portation, war loans, taxation and
proposed monopolies. We learn
from these that obstacles have not
melted away so readily before Ger
man efficiency as many Americans
have supposed, that there has been
serious bungling in high places,
profiteering, gross mismanagement.
and intense dissatisfaction among
the working classes. Stocks of ma
terials have been used up, substitutes
have failed to satisfy equipment has
deteriorated, some industries have
profited greatly by the war at the
expense of efficiency for peace times.
Owing to the uncertainties of
war" say Mr.. Snow and Mr.. Kral,
most of the measures for re-enter-
ing foreign trade are still in the
stage of discussion. only a few hav-
ing received legislative sanction.
Many Of the industries have been
syndicated or consolidated; an i'm
perial ministry of economic affairs
has been created; subsidies have
been voted to rehabilitate the mer-
chant marine; steps have been taken