BEATEN IN COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 307, 27 December 1915, Page 5

BEATEN IN COMMERCE.

GERMAN SWAT ENDED: THE CHANCE FOR BRITISH TRADE. = LONDON, December 26. The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Walter Riinciman), replying to questions as to trade relations after the war, said any investigations now being conducted were not made with the idea v of hastening the return of peace. There would be no peace until the main object for which we were fighting was attained. Nearly every-department of commercial life, however, had been constantly thinking of what was likely to happen when the war was over, and how best to prepare for such contingencies. It was certain the relationship with Germany ,t and Austria, and what might be called w the Central Powers Zollverein, would be is bound to conflict with our interests, is There were also the questions of the use i- of British ports made by German tonnage and alien ownership of real pro's perty in Britain, notably of -coalfields. 1- They were taking good care that no Ger- .- man would 6tand in their way. The c- Board of Trade was closely watching .r British interests, to which everything else would be sacrificed. ' One of the (most j remarkable romances in industry had been the skill with which Germans had gathered together the control of the oilfields of Europe and of the East. The question was how far this raw material, seeing its value as motive power for transport, would pass from German to British control. Mr. Runciman added: "I think, as far as commerce is concerned, Germany is a beaten nation. It is your business to see that she does not again lift up her head after the war." BOMBARDMENT OF VARNA. * RUSSIANS KEEP GOING. n ■ h. LONDON, December 26. ,n Vienna reports state that Russian B torpedo-boats continue to bombard d Varna, the Bulgarian port on the Black Sea.