GERMANY AND THE WOOL TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16742, 24 December 1914, Page 8

GERMANY AND THE WOOL TRADE.

Naturally the prohibition of export from the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and Dominion to countries neutral in the war. yet anxious to do business with the enemy in wool or any other commodity, affords occasion for a little uneasiness. . There is a disposition in some quarters to court the American demand at the present time. It is done, of course, in the hope that none of the wool will get through to Germany or Austria. But to suppose that the astute Germans in America could not get wool by hook or ‘by ciook m the Lnited States, once it got there, for the Fatherland, to clothe the hordes of soldiers that are being hurled agaipst the Allies on the t ranco-Belgian frontiers, is absurdThe United States Government "could not possibly follow up wool in private hands in America, and if the authorities asked for vouchers from woolowners that neither the raw material nor the cloth should go to Germany, they would get all the necessary declaration they required 1 ; especially if the owners were Germans, or agents acting for the German mills. We are on comparatively safe ground while export is prohibited; hut once the'embargo is off. the wool from Australia would be more elusive than the Emden : and it would give us very little satisfaction to know that much of it would he stopped in German trenches by bullets from the Sydney contingent in the Australian Expeditionary Force. All agreements, treaties, bonds or contracts by Governments in America, or anywhere else, are regarded as mere scraps of paper, and' means .to serve rapacious military endb. W-' at least have learned that fact since Au<nist last. There are other facts not yet so thoroughly appreciated. If the wool is wanted, many and specious devices will he reported to. Direct attempts have fciWJ to keep up supplies—that is evident. Expedients have to he resorted to. If exports to the United States from Great . Britain and the principal wool growing dominions are blocked, why not try a scare for Australians and New Zealanders, who are sending the flon-er of their young manhood to the front? Why should not guileless-looking Germans in London put round reports that tremendous orders are pouring into the River Plato for wool, because of the British prohition? Surely,something like that would make the Australians sit up? And who would dream that it was the concoction of the German brain that nefariousely puts up white flags, Red Cross flags, neutral. flags and other emblems to deceive people who fight and do business upon civilised lines? Tn a cable message from London recently it-,was stated that- one of the dailies, commenting on the embargo, said that “ already an avalanche of orders has been cabled to Buenos Aires purl Monte Video on-behalf of the United States, Sweden. Hohand. Denmark and Bradford”—not sheaves of as Londoners might say, or “stacks’ of orders, as in Australia, hut ■ an “ avalanche.” and that- ‘ information was focussed in London at this particular time. Following up that statement were questions and suggestions, the paoer saving:— “The question arises, how are we. to prevent the enemy from securing sgTYoVes? The ironv of the situatl"" is 'that German interests 1 nr"'Jv. prevail in fliA Ssr—*h 4merman w°ol trade, if the War Office bought a big weight of the nreseut, South' American clip and quicklv placed the wool at the disposal of' British manufacturers, practically no loss would ho suffered. Every facility should he given to the importation of tho new clips from New ’Zealand and Scuth American crossbreds as it is imperative that an adequate sunolv shall be secured as quickly as possible.” •W e have to guard against the most irsidious enemies; the. Germans are being blocked in the United Stales, and the position in South America is .not too promising Ur them The River Plata clip was only just beginning to be available last .month, and if the **££7 mans cannot got tho wool they would onlv be too glad; at this perilous hour in the history of the Fatherland, to get some British capital. “German inteiests largely prevail .in the South American wool tra -< e, ’it is true; but there are firaueial vliillctilties that may or may.not be overcome by an '‘avalanche of orders ’’ now being received. - Dalgetv and Company’s special correspondent in Boston, wi iting on -October 10, with regard to Great Britain's embargo. said: —“ Wool buying in all these markets (US A.) is financed by London, even though the wool does not go through that market. South American wool is largely in control, of Geiv raau houses, and this conot.’tut-'s an almost insuperable difficulty.. Should an American house buy wool in Buenos Ayres and undertake to finanoe tho trade in praotically the onlv \va'. possible, if the seller "were a German tho money voild go to I -melon, and there be impounded until the end of tho war. Some lew offers hare been made from thire already in some cases fully three cents a pouno below the opau-.ng quotation of last year. In spite of the low level of these offers, nothing haa been done, as buyers do not- sco how they ca.i finance the trade or get tho v 00l if paid for.”

This really is too critical a time for any risks to bo tnk>n that cwn directly or indirectly : iid the enemy in wool. Germany has laid itself out to blew its opposing nations as white as freshly fallen snow In the process its win howitzers blast the fairest cities and towns, while :ts shrapnel, bullets, and mines are laying Tow our kith and kin by the hundred thousand. Wool helps, mid every bale ns <*ell as every yard of cloth, must be aept from the enemy till it is subjugated and prevented from further devastating the earth as well as blighting the lives of countless thousands of people. Should the embargo on wool be lifted under th» ciicumstancos? |