The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-30
Germany Seeking
Russian Outlet
By CARL D. GROAT

tOHlJeH TTcSS 'cCdH OOIlS 'puHueitJ
BERLIN. (By Mail.)-Germany
Just now is striving hard to revive the
slogan, Business as usual" which
plagued several nations during the
war until they learned that the "as
usual" didn't fit with war.
With Germany at present, it is
struggle between many conflicting
elements not the least of which are
decreased raw materials, rolling
stock, markets-and an impaired la
Dor supply due to war conditions,
lowered food, and industrial unrest.
But while the government has been
wrestling with Spartacus and near
Spartacus troubles. with strikes; po-
litical agitation; new constitutions and
so on, German business men have
been casting about to get back to
work and trade.
The first concrete evidence of this
has just come to light with the report
that business mems commission has
been making a three weeks investi-
cation in Russia with a view to find
ing an outlet for German products
in that war-wearied land.
While much of Russia is in chaos,
the business men were reported to
feel that there is favorable outlook
for them in that country.
Germany has considerable machin-
cry which she can export. One big
electrical supply house, according to
information, has sufficient products
on hand for nearly a year to come
In this weld, Germany has been going
onward, and will soon be in the market
to do business with other nations. Be-
fore the war, she could export many
articles to foreign markets and un-
dersell home products. This probably
will be rather more difficult hereafter,
because of limitation of coal and raw
materials, and a constantly increasing
cost of labor due to constantly re-
curing strikes and constant growth
of the socialization process.
One factor overlooked in general
discussions of German business pros
poets is her supply of potash. This
supply is unaffected by the peace
treaty; and the world is clamoring
for this for fertilizer purposes. And
Germany can get this product out at
only slightly increased cost over her
previous price, while, at the same
time, she can demand more marks
for it than before in view of the
lowered value of the mark. In this
way, she stands to gain considerably
from this one source alone.
This business should prove vast
again within a short time, thus en-
abling the country to obtain credits
for materials from foreign countries.
German business forsees that it will
be under a vast load for long period
of years, due to war debts and in
demnity taxes. But the average Ger
man business man is prepared to go
at his task anew if he can get stable
market and a prospect of profiting
later on.
Socialization, however, may upset
many of their plans, for there can be
no question that there is a constantly
increasing trend toward specialization
of many lines of business. Until the
times comes. however, in which bust
ness is a state affair, the German
business man intends to go after
fresh trade, as evidenced by this fresh
ly completed Russian probe. Germany
believes that it can reach out to the
east for business, and this move
shows that there is where the trenC
is first going to be.
1t was reported that Russia coulc
undoubtedly give some agriculture
products, particularly eastern Russian
cotton, in return for MANUFACTURED
goods. This. however, will probabl,
depend largely on transportation ia
cilities which at present appear to b.
in bad shape.
Covvo~ MsIJ~o~