"No German Goods."

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15279, 15 May 1915, Page 8

" No German Goods."

AYe are glad to find that our suggestion for a widespread organisation pledged not to use German ships, to buy German goods, or to deal with firms importing German goods, has met with approval, and that his AVorship tho Alayor is calling a public meeting, to be held in the City txiuncil Chamber on Alonday night, to inaugurate the movement, and to give the new organisation concrete form. There is not one right-minded man or woman in tne community who does not at the present moment feel horrified at the inhuman depravity of tho Germans, and who does not long for some mean s of expressing horror and detestation of the German methods. In England people, in their indignation, aro smashing German shop-windows and as-

saulting persons of German nationality. That, in our judgment, is as futile as it is wicked, and unworthy of a Britisher. Our own propos-al. wo venture to think, is sound, practical, and effective, and we do not sco how any exception can bo taken to it on moral grounds. If there existed in this town a monster in human form who killed women and children, and outraged innocent girls, should we continue to deal at his shop and buy his goods? AVhy, then, should we as a nation continue to support another nation which has done all theso things, and more, and gloried in them? Let us further bear in mind tho humiliating and disquieting fact that it is we, tho people of the British Empire, who aro mainly responsible for the fact that Germany is to-day in a position to commit these atrocities. We have helped to build up the German mercantile marine to compete with British ships, and by our patronage of German industries wo have helped to make Germany prosperous and puffed-up, and to establish her Navy and her immense Army. Are we going to do the same thing again when this war is over? If so, we shall richly deserve our fate, if next time our insensate folly proves our ruin. AYe havo been fooled once, and Germany, laughing in her sleeve at our simplicity, has been within an ace of crushing down all opposition and ruling the world. Dry-as-dust jiolitical economists may say that if wo refuse to trade with Germany we shall lose her trade in return. AA'hat of it? Will they tell us how much this war is going to cost us before it is all over? Surely "never " again" must be the answer, when it is suggested that we shall onco more put our heads into the noose.