GERMANY'S TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17347, 19 December 1919, Page 9

GERMANY'S TRADE.

BID FOR WORLD'S MARKETS.

TRAVELLING AS "AMERICANS." [FEOM OtIS OWN Co-respondent.] LOS ANGELES. Not. 15-German-made goods will soon be flooding the markets of England, France and Italy declared Mr. Frank B. Mayer, president of the Essenkay Products Company, who has just returned to Chicago from a six-weeks' business trip through those countries. That gentleman gives as his reasons the present'value of the German mark, which is now worth about twopence or less, compared with the moiiey of those other countries, the proximity of Germany to those other markets, and the fact that Germany is hard at work producing the good? needed in thorp countries.

"In Spain and Holland, and on the trains in France and Italy, I met Americans of German birth with German connections after the trade of those countries," said Mr. Mayer. "They travelled as. Americans, but they were selling Germanmade goods, and it is my belief that; despite the horrors and cruelties perpetrated by Germany she will eventually get back Europe's trade. Germany is now: guaranteeing deliveries after January 1. "There is depletion of stocks everywhere.. In England, France, Italy, Spain, and Holland department stores and other wholesale and retail establishments have no assortments, and you have to take what you can get. The people are determined to buy, as they are here, and are paying the prices asked; profiteering is general; second-hand, worn-out American automobiles sell in London now for more than, they cost here." According to Mr. Mayer, he found little evidence of great love and admiration for America in the countries he visited. The feeling is expressed quite freely, he said, that the American capitalists are to blame for the depreciation of the franc, pound, and lira.

Germany is not experiencing strikes and labour disturbances, he added, while, in Italy, England, and France industries are more or less upset. In Italy, he says, there are 400,000 men idle.,- discontent is outspoken, and it -would not take much to start a revolution. ■ Unrest is also prevalent in Prance owing to scarcity of food and the depreciation of the franc.