The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-22

eailing in Holland, but iaborins under
the supposiuon that what trading was
being done with Germany was done
through Holland avenues. He discov-
cred soon after arrival that the restric-
tons against American exports to
Germany were not being observed either
py the British or French allies, and as
the difficulties for the American agents
Kept piling up the moro favored agents
were not only selling their goods in
Germany but were dealing directly with
me German agents. He assumes that
tul sanction for this trndo extension
must have been given both by the British
and French Governments.
How british worked the Game,
Germany's need for manufactured
products has been the chief inspiration
TOT the sudden rush OF business agents
into her territory. Major #. O. Jack
son, Red Cross agent, at Hanover. at
Mr.. sternbach's request, prepared list Of
commodities for which the greatest mar
kst now exists in Germany. The chief
items are for clothing, food, mechanical
equipment, seed and fertilizers Al
though the statement was obtained with
some difficulty by Mr.. Sternbach. he be-
lieyes that the British months ago OBJ
NAAheu c1hCtiy Ino same Information and
probably In more detail
In support of his contention that the
British banks are exercising a power
ful influence In German territory Mr..
Sternbach when in Amsterdam read let
tiers written to one Of the largest Hol-
land commercial institutions by a Ger
man customer. Ono of them suggested
that an English firm could offer much
more advantageous terms and handle
the business with greater facility. as
they would require no special license
Inc Holland arm made inquiry as to
the source OF the Recommendation favor
Ing the English Arm. and received the
answer that the Recommendation had
been made TO tho German by the STAN
dard Bank of South Africa.
AS additional testimony of the interest
which the British are displaying Mr..
Sternbach produced letter from Major
Jackson, the British Red Cross agent,
written to him on May s. II gave this
review OF trade possibilities in Ger
many:
so far as can gather foodstuffs Of
all kinds are very scarce ta1Germany,
except for certain ones produced In the
country districts where the producers
havc been boarding to a certain extent
With regard to cutlery I should say
that the country is better supplied than
In most things, as their retail shops
make quite good show. There is.
should say. very little copper in the
country. Metals generally. with the ex-
ception Of iron. appear conspicuous by
their absence"
MT eternbach places especial I'm
portance upon this letter because Of its
British source
Actual Conditions in Germany.
In tho three weeks that he spent be-
| fore finally deciding to return homo in
the face Of difficulties which seemed in
surnountabls In completing any trade
against the existing favored competitors,
Mr.. Sternbach had an opportunity to
learn Of actual conditions IN Germany.
He has embodied these conclusions In q
report to his company. which are In part
| AZ follows:
The food conditions Of Germany are
very bad. There has been q slight i'm
provement since the armistice In the
fish consumption. because the Allies have
lifted the blockade, and Germany is at
present able TO reoetve large quantities
of fish from Holland, as wen a from
Norway and Sweden. But the populs-
ton OF the occupied territories are still
practically on war rations. There are
absolutely no cattle left; therefore, but
ter Is an unknown article. excepting that
which Is surreptitiously emuggled In or
possibly made by q few farmers who
were able to save some cows. When
butter can be obtained Il sells from
about 20 marks to 80 marks q pound.
which Ia. according to the present rate
Of exchange. between ts.2o and u q
pound.
There are absolutely no meats
There are no fats Of any description.
AL there is an absolute scarcity Of su-
gar. cheese and all other articles that
are made OF ingredients appertaining to
dairy products. Tia Inhabitants are
subsisttns. rather than living. from day
to day with the hope that conditions
will improve. A dinner IN Frankfort,
oon listing Of some soup, little plain
| hBh, some veal, carrots and two bottles
Of ordinary Rhine winA cost $50 marks.
There is nothing but the shell Of Ger
4 many left of its economic self. Fac
tories still stand intact, but have not
an ounce OF raw material between them
'It win be long time before Germany
becomes q factor in the manufacturing
world again. The absolute disorganiDa-
tton OF Its skflled labor win take many
will be restored. The men returning
from the army do not wish 20 work
They recognize no head and they are
lighting for the principle OF q six hour
workday. more drastic. therefore. than
any of the labor demands of either
France, England or America This will
result in cutting the former output In
half and Il will take q long time bet )rd
they will be considered again eompeti-
tors Ct America or England"
Mr.. Sternbach said that the average
time required for letters to reach Hol
land n divided between ten days to Eng.
land and twenty days from England h
Holland. Samples which were mailed b
htm In Holland shortly after his dspas.
turs from this city have not Jet been re-
ccived.
When he reached Amsterdam ae Has
ter Tina there was great demand FOL
automobile ttrsA In which American con
Germs had NO part. Their goods were II
England and were not on the Amster
dam market, while the Dunlap Tire Com
pany, British concern. was doing Q
land Office business and running nightly
until IL o'clock. Since then. he said
conditionshave eased a little an favor o.
the American manufacturers.
uInE sTnrKc TNrprAqp