The Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1022. GERMAN TRADE PUSH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16713, 20 April 1922, Page 6

The Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1022. GERMAN TRADE PUSH.

The conclusion of an agreement between Germany and Russia is regarded with indignation and surprise by tHe Allied Powers represented at Genoa. It is undoubtedly a piece of sharp practice and a breach of the spirit of the conditions of the conference. The Germans claim that there was nothing secret about the agreement, and in some measure the facts support their assertion. It was known in London some weeks ago that German business men realised the potentialities of trade when the millions of Russia, cut off at present from the ordinary processes of civilisation and commerce, were again free and able to take the products of Western Europe. While the main object of the Genoa Conference was to make it possible to reopen trade with Russia, the German traders had the advantage of the position won in the frontier States. However vague and unsettled the official trade relations of various countries with Russia might be, the German merchant and manufacturer were pushing steadily aheaci in their own way and with no little success. Two months ago Britain was sending more to Russia than any other country, but her exports consisted largely of foodstuffs, while Germany’s exports consisted mainly of manufactured articles. While the sending of foodstuffs must tend to decrease, the

Russian demand for manufactured ar tides will develop. Germany is deter mined to get a firm hold of the mon important and permanent kind u

trade, and she has been busy establishing a firm position in the “ frontier States ” through which will run her lines of communication for a greater campaign. The commercial conquest of Russia is the final aim of the German trader, and the campaign has been in operation for months past. Recently a great Trade Fair was held at Koenigsberg, and of the 1800 foreign buyers present 1400 were from the, frontier States of Lithuania, Kstland and Latvia. Enormous orders were received, some German firms being compelled to ration their stocks. The German trade ! papers regarded it as very satisfactory j that .the Russian Gov rnment was j officially represented, and the hope was ■ expressed that as a result the Soviet ; authorities would be impressed with the ! necessity for lessening the obstacles in i the way of German trade with Russia ! These facts must have been known to 1 the representatives of the Allied Row - I ers at Genoa. The “ slimness “ of GerI many comes in when her attitude to the Cannes resolutions is considered. On the lines approved by the conference at Cannes the economic reconstruction of Eu ropes was to be carried out by na ' tional corporations working under the | control oi' a Central International CorS poration. The Central International ! Corporation was to be formed in LonI don, and affiliated National Corpora tions were to be set up in Great ! Britain, France, Germany, Italy and ; Belgium. Germany, for the first time since tho war, met the Allies and joined in a common international insti tut ion as an equal. The main object of the corporation was to examine the opportunities for undertaking work in connection with European reconstruction and to assist in the financing of ■ such undertakings. At a- meeting of : the delegates it was unanimously do- { cided, ns a vital condition, that the ! corporations should not do any business in or with any country that did not (1'; recognise all public debts and obligations undertaken in the past or to be undertaken by the State, as well as the obligation to restore, or in default of restoration to compensate all foreign interests for loss or damage caused to them when property lias been confiscated or withheld ; (2) establish a legal system which sanctions or enforces trade and other contracts with impartiality - (3) give security for trade. This was signed by the delegate from Germany, along with the others. Tt is ! difficult to reconcile this undertaking with the completion of a treaty with Russia to which the Allies are not a party, and it can only be regarded as another illustration of the peculiar German mentality in matters of national honour.