The New York herald., 1921-02-10
GERMAN BOYCOTT
THREATENS ALLIES
Head of Hansa League to Urge
Tt if Reparations Are
Forced.
WOULD TURN TIC AMERICA
Will Push Sale of Goods in
United States After Peace
Is Made.
WOULD TURN TIC AMERICA
BY RAYMOND SWING.

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin, Feb. Q.
Dr. Koehler, director of the Hansa
League for Commerce and Trade, the
central commercial organization in
Germany, with a membership of about
300, 900. told THE NEW York HERALr
correspondent here to-day he would
support the movement begun by some
members of the league to boycott Eng
lish and French goods if the repara-
tons agreement reached by the En-
tente Allies in Paris becomes effec-
tive. Under these conditions, he said
he would urge his organization to
adopt measures to purchase American
made goods instead of British and
French, and at the same time to push
the sale of German goods in the
United States and certain South Amer
lean republics.
DR.. Koehler added that he expected
no decision by the league in this con-
nection until after the inauguration OF
Mr.. Harding as President of the United
States and peace with America. BY
that time it probably will be known
what action the London conference
of the allied Premiers takes on the
Paris reparations settlement.
DIR. Keehler said the sentiment in Ger
man commercial circles was strongly in
favor of doing business with America
instead OF with the Entente Allies. The
boycott. he added would have to be
voluntary on the part of members or the
Hansa League and could get no support
from the Berlin Government, not even
tariff restrictions as such support would
be in violation of the provisions Of the
Treaty of Versailles.
II is realized here that such a boycott
would have a serious effect on German
steamship companies, but 1t is held that
il is one of the most effective means at
Germany's hand to counter the Allies
move in the reparations settlement. But
one precedent exists in Germany for
such q boycott. A similar ban was
placed on shipments of German goods to
Poland a few weeks ago because Of the
attitude the Poles took in some impor-
tant negotiations with the Germans. II
was successful and proved to work a
real hardship on Poland, who. despite
her political affiliations with the En-
tente Powers. is too poor to buy in allied
markets and does considerably more
than half her foreign trade with Ger
many.
It is reported here now that the ne
gotiations with Poland will be resumed
soon. with prospects that the issue win
be more successful for the Germans
During the Polish boycott the Poles re-
ceived practically no goods directly
from Germany, and only got shipments
in small quantities through Danzig mid
dlemen.
Berlin newspapers call attention to
the successful working of this boycott
against Poland and voice a strong SEN
timent in commercial circles In this
country that with such a weapon Ger
many is not defenceless against tire
Entente Powers move to impose the
Paris reparations terms. Meanwhile
the scheme is being discussed widely In
German commercial circles. and the
consensus among Hansa League menu
bers is that 1t should be adopted. A
strong propaganda Is being conducted
here I'm favor of IT,