GERMAN CUNNING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10085, 26 September 1918, Page 6

GERMAN CUNNING

A.HU«X,Fp:END , METHODS OF COMMERCIAL OCTOPUS. .G.erman cunning is at_',.times so elementary. ..and Transparent, ,ib.at it can hardly • fail to defeat.,itself.. An illustration of this is to bo found in recent articles which claim to repreI sent Germany's friendly feelings towards Spain. The "Kolnische Zeitung" in 'particular had "taken upon itself to express the generous sympathy of the German heart with Spanish interests. Tins sympathy has been expressed »o ' ] less eloquently in deeds, in the sinking of Spanish snips', and -in the pushing of the predatory fenacles of the t Ger- ' rrtun oeto-pus- in-tc-c-vepy-corner of Spam. L-,. Germaiu*coimaerce. does indeed resoluble an octopus. in that in sucks advantage, political' and economic, wherever advantage is to be - gained—that is, profit for. itself and-iiiiOf'imaion and inuuence lor its us elsewhere, it- -has been exceedingly active., in, recent .de,uadej?, and, us the war has. cut it off., from most..of its .former fields, of, enterprise, its activities | have been largely confined to Spain and Latin _ Jast fewyears.""' * " *"■"'■•"■" -" * "• One of its ■■methods* has been strikingly profitable, but the profit' has not accrued to Spaniards. It. is described as follows, by .a .writer knowledge of war-trade dealings:— "Since the war began, 'Germany's agents;' scattered" "all over " the world, have prepared ■ for -the- bloodless strife, which -they drape ..restored to them bv. .'peace, .bv organised methods which have at least the merit of consistency. In Spain and American "republics their "activities 'have been particularly noticeable-.' In these toantries "they have- vast hoards-' of commodities which will immediately be needful to.- all the world after the war. The mpment, hostilities are at.end .these hoards will be a,t_ the exclusive disposal 61 Germany. buch was th'eir primary purpose; they ' wen' to be the German munitions for the now world-strife. But the autumn leavesjiave ja.nA.agam without, -bringing, file crimination of the war- which the -Jiaiser ;.so. untiring.)- prophesies.' and'German .merchants in these countries have discovered another method of turning their acquisitions to advantage. "They have lived profitably at the expense' of native interests by cornering the native markets. At the; pre-sent'.-tinie this process has developed into a regular system. The German a?ent buvs before a new crap comes forward, stores in vast-quantities, thus creates a scarcity, and sells, as .much as he chooses-and no more, at the artificially enhanced' price before' the next vear's crop is on the ma?Ret.'"The German'agent" is in ' a~v'ery •favofii'dot'e' position as a."speculate*.'" Not only*-has he strong and organised financial support behind him, but he possesses the. singular advantage of being able' to sell or hold just as" he chooses. Whatever sfbre-f-i'tro lprft when peace is declared can -Teal'ly be placed oh -the German market, in fact they, may be. regarded a 3 already placed "The significance of the transaction to the neutral consumer is obvious. His Government, in order to increase) home supplies and keep down prices,-may prohibit export. Yet the. apparent-supplies diminish and prices rise. . . . . At the end of the War not only Germany but the neutral country concerned-will be in urgent' need of i.he-'.very-—-commodities which are being so perseveringly-hoardpd.-■But-the-n'eed-of- the.neutral will -not-I>e satisfied ■''. the commodities are- already property of Germany."- " .-.---- The "article quoted' proceeds" to givedetailed instahces-of the above procedure. In Spain vast quantities of olive.oil are known-to have been stored on "German account at Malaga,- at Barcelona, and at Seville. - Other hoardings' include- huge amounts of resin, rice, and wool. In certain cases ,tha immense profits made on re-sale.have been traced and proved. This, V 'one..ot UftT signs o: Germany's warm-hearted ' affection for Spain,. It is the affection of the parasite for want it lives and -feeds on. -Where, on the other hand' Germany offers som< > - thinjf it is somethinsr .which she lias rot. The hint that she "would favour the cession of Gibraltar to Spain, for instance, is a singularly inexpensive advertisement of friendship! As the "Diario- TJniver-'sal'-'-hae- putrid,--"seeing-jthat Germany is engaged in a mortal struggle with England not only for Continental and military, but also-for naval-supremacy, it is plain to the dullest intelligence that she is seeking to revivo . complaints and animosities against ■ Inns rival as a crntributory means to her overthrow." The innuendos dir-eted against' France in connection with < Morocco and Tangier are no less remarkable for, their simple insincerity. Indeed.in view,.of.the ctn temptuous treatment ,of Spain by Germany at the time of tho Franco-German Convention after-the Agndir,. incident, they are nothing less than an insult. Germany is a very.hungry friend, and her ■-. proffered friendship, unsuspiciously accepted would prove a bitter bargain. Friendship is-food .for tho^.German appetite. The. experience of past and present makes the facts painfully apparent. —R. P .Eowe,.