WAR AFTER THE WAR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 15026, 25 September 1916, Page 4

WAR AFTER THE WAR.

WHAT GERMANY IS DOING. While the Allies are making ready to confer on trade, the Germanic commercial hosts are mobilising, writes Frederic William Wile, late Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail. The latest German newspapers to hand (June 2nd) overflow with evidence of vigorous and far-sighted preparations for the war after the war. The din of the joybells over Jutland and Verdun (which telegraphic news of a subsequent date indicates is materially lessening) is not distracting Germans’ attention from the immensity of tlife task of recovering their pre-war export trade of of JE604,000,000 per annum. One of the newest and most suggestive features of Germany’s plans is a Bill introduced into the Prussian House of Peers (Herrenhaus) recently by a Professor Hillebrandt providing for the compulsory learning of more modern commercial languages in all the higher schools of the State. Hitherto only English and French have been obligatory. Hillebrandt's scheme also provides for “special arrangements for promoting knowledge of Oriental languages and affairs” in the schools, colleges and universities. . He does not specify what languages in addition to English and French should be made compulsory, but newspaper discussion indicates that the only “useful” ones are considered to be Spanish, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian. Russian is dismissed as “too difficult” and unnecessary because of the prevalence of German and French among the "aristocratic and commercial classes of Russia.” ' “ENGLISH INDISPENSABLE.” A leading article in the Vosaische Zeitung expresses (!.o hope that superpatriotism will not impel the educational authorities to banish English and French from the German curriculum after the war, “as we should thereby only be robbing ourselves of an asset of ■ indispensable value in the markets of the world.” Aunt Voss even hai the courage to acknowledge that “the English language area, is the greatest of the civilised world.” This will grate on the ears of Herr Houston Stewart Chamberlain, who some time ago wrote that German was “God’s language.” and that anybody who refused to speak it should be looked upon as a "parish.” IMPERIAL TRADE MINISTRY. The project to establish an independent Imperial Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry has advanced another stage. A resolution advocating its. creation was introdued in the Reich stag on May 19th by the National Liberal deputy, Dr. Streeeman, tho general secretary of the nowerful Saxon Manufacturers’ Assoiation. The schemo has now been favourably considered by the Reichstag Committee on Commerce and Trade, which unanimously decided to recommend its adoption to the Imperial Chancellor. This means that an early session of Parliament will be given opportunity to express the national will on the subject. In the present energetic state of mind of the German commercial public there seems little doubt that the scheme will materialise. GERMAN-AUSTRIAN ALLIANCE. At Munich’, within a few days, an important conference of German and Austro-Hungarian officials, economists, and commercial leaders will lie held to consider the formation of a “Dual Trade Alliance.” The conference will deal with such questions as inter-tariff relations, railway and canal development, and “a common front” against the Germanic Powers’ present enemies. Bulgaria and Turkey are not to be represented at Munich, although the exploitation of their markets is one of the main designs of the “Central European” trade boomers. NEW “TRUSTS” FOR PEACE WAR. Vast and important new combinations have either been effected or are in process of establishment in the German chemical, shipping, electrical, steel and iron, textile, and various minor trades. The underlying purpose in each case is to “centralise” German strength for the war after the war.