The German Fury.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 330, 3 February 1902, Page 1

The German Fury.

So far Australia appears to bo needlessly harassed over this matter. There is wild talk, for example, of a general boycott of German goods by way of hitting the empire of William the Astonishing a deadly blow in the eye, and bringing the Prussian junker to reason. If such a thing does happen, and the boycott is serious enough to make William’s empiro really angry, the probable result will be a boycott or customs prohibition of our goods in Germany by way of retaliation. And as Germany buys much more from the seven States of Australasia than they buy from Germany, the balance in our favor being some .£700,000 a year, the loss would be all on our side. There is nothing which this country supplies to Germany which our restless rival, Argentina, can’t furnish just as well. Australasia has to export vastly more than it imports in order that the surplus may cover the interest on its foreign debts, and it can’t afford to kick one of its few good customers very hard, merely because that customer’s opinion of the British army is low, and of Joseph Chamberlain still lower. And Great Britain can't do any serious damage to Germany by a trade boycott cither. In 1899 —the latest year for which the writer has full details available—Britain bought a little over £30,000,000 worth of goods from Germany (German goods and other goods which reached it via Germany, all included). And Britain sold to Germany (including British and Irish produce, and foreign produce bought by British merchants and re-sold) nearly £'38,000,000 worth. India also buys about £1,000,000 worth of goods annually from Germany and sells to Germany about £5,000,000 worth. A boycott of German goods by Britain, or by Australasia, and a retaliatory measure by Germany, would leave the British Empire a heavy loser. Germany is one of the props of British commerce and industry, and the prop can’t be kioked away with impunity. And while the hostile German helps Britain to the extent of £8,000,000 a year, and India to the extent of £4,000,000 a year, and Australasia to the extent of a year, the friendly American takes £90,000,000 a year away from Britain by selling much to her and buying practically nothing. The American speaks kindly about Joe Chamberlain—but it is an awful price to pay for a few kindly remarks about Joe Chamberlain. —Bulletin.