BANKRUPT BRITAIN'S HEIR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 239, 7 October 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

BANKRUPT BRITAIN'S HEIR.

A SCHEME FOR COLONIAL EX-

PANSION.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)/

LONDON, ; September 5.

Tlie Express published last month what it was pleased to call "a surprising document," the authenticity cf which the paper more or less vouches for by telling us that it was handed to a corres- - pondent in Hamburg by "a prominent, merchant" to whom it had been addressed by "a German University Professor." The latter may or may not h.ivo written it at the instigation of Mr Chamberlain, but the "surprising document" might easily have bean compiled by any, electioneering agent anxious to impress the public with the necessity for returning to power the loyal followers of "the man who sets things right." The compiler of this precious tra'cfc opens with statistics to show that in the course of the present century Germany's' population win increase to 150 millions There will not be room for this vast mob even if Germany absorbs Holland, Australia and Switzerland, so, failing German extensions beyond seas, the Gorman people will go on producing children only to be obliged to send tliem forth as emigrants to Australasia, Canada and America, where, saj r s our, scribe, they will be welcomed as hereto- , force as "Culturdunger" (manure of civilisation?). Bereft of her children. Germany will have to play a modest part in the world as compared io England and America- How to preserve the Fatherland's national greatness is the problem. Its solution is simple. Germans have only to coax the people of the United Kingdom to stick to her present policy of Free Trade in order to compass her ruin, .and so make way for German rule in her colonies.

The German, prof,essor continues, mi tliis fashion;— ,

"As all lands worth having are possessed by other nations, we can only, obtain colonies by conquest. We have no reason to fear war either with America or Russia, but though we can defeat either nation, we cannot recompense ourselves at their cost. We cannot wish to absorb millions of Slavs or South Americans, nor can we permanently occupy part of the United States sea border notwithstanding the defects of the United States army. . • Only, from Great Britain can ttc hope to obtain desirable possessions. It is true that her fleet is at present numerically much stronger than ours, but as the size of a fleet is ultimately determined by the. wealth of the people, we have reason for hope, for while Great Britain is economically stagnant, or rather retrogressing we are rapidly progressing* British export are admittedly shrinking.

. . . while our exports are rapidly expanding. These facts prove that Great Britain is industrially and financially, decaying, and entitle us to hope that: Germany shall be the chief heir -when. Great Britain has been so far reduced that tlie final liquidation takes place."

But, alas! our professors dream of si dominant Germany cannot come true if. Mr Chamberlain succeeds in his fiscal' plans. With England adopting the Colonial Secretary's policy our at present "helpless and loose conglomeration of stagnant nations" would he converted" into a homogeneous and progressing Empire, and Germany's most promising; markets (i.e., the British colonies) would be spoiled for her. This would ineart the decay of German industries, so the professor beseeches patriotic Teutons to do all in their power to thwart Mr Chainberlai?:. To do so he counsels his compatriots to stand behind the British Free Traders, and the German Government 'is besought to establish in London "a powerful press bureau disposing of ample funds" out of which apparently the Cobden Club is to be subsidised and its foreign members stirred to greater activity m the cause of Free Trade. Also, since "money plays a great part in all English elections" the proffslior would give "a discreet personage ample funds for the purpose of contributing _o the party funds of the Free Traders, but chiefly in order to convert impecunious but important political personages and papers to Free Trade by judicious subsidies." j

Then the German Government is to play its part openly by intimating that it had come to the conclusion that Protection was a mistake: that it contemplated a return to Free Trade, and 1 would sound other Governments with a view to bringing to pass Free Trade all round. This artful little dodge, the professor thinks, would have to be accompanied -by an emphatic public declaration that any attempt on England's part to give preference to her colonies would be answered by a tax of 50 per cent, ad valorem on British imports to Germany. Such an announcement, the professor naively remarks, would be of little good unless it wa* "vigorously utilised by the subsidised? press in the English manufacturing dis« tricts/'

Apparently the press campaign has al* ready commenced, for there appeared isl the "St. James' Gazette" a few nighti ago a letter from "a London merchant." begging ua to consider the hideous damage likely to be done to his fraternity in particular and London In general il a protectionist policy be adopted. Th_ English of the composition was unmistakably of the "made in Germany" typs» and at the foot of the letter nppearett the signature, "Aug. Zimmerman!' 1