"NEUTRAL" TRADERS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14877, 27 September 1918, Page 2

"NEUTRAL" TRADERS.

SUSPICIONS AGENCIES

SEJIIvING TRADE FOR GERMANY

SOME TYPICAL- "FEELERS."

That expectations in Germany ran iiigh that the recent offensive was to break down the Allied resistance, is borne out by the deluge of offers of commercial relations from so-called "neutral" sources which local merchants received coincident with its commencement, and which have been coming to hand intermittently ever; since. ;(says the, .<Jhristclmrch '/Suh'O^ ■ CEherojis more itba-n a;:.suspicion, indeed, that sudi vcpmin-iinicatiohs liarebeen inspired by the German':?Governmentyj especially as they coincide with.-thei mighty effort which the ; enemy military, ma-chine put forth. Just as significant is the fact'than in -nearly every case they are from firms just starting business, or from newly-established agencies representing groups of exporters. In other instances, also, there i.« the disingenuous stipulation that trade shall not- commence-ydespite the fact that it is allegedly with a neutral country— until after the war! , Although such communications in the. main aro very guarded in their language, others are ihoro frank. Thus, in one instance, a merchant received si letter from a neutral commercial house Stating that it recognised that it viva impossible to communicate from New Zealand with some of the countries at wax-, but that it could easily 'arrange matters through its ngencics." Needless to say, this offer was promptly forwarded to . the Dominion Government,' yet the fact is vouched for that' since then this particular- solicitous neutral has been permitted to him" goods here. ' The Canterbury Chamber cf Commerce has received many letters as above clescx-i'bed from members, and is