THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



503 



prior to the seizure, off the coast of Iceland, as absolute contra- 

 band. The captain, who was the owner of the ship, explained 

 his being in that location by claiming that his ship needed re- 

 pairs which could be done cheaper in Norway than in New York. 

 Afterwards he claimed that the price of rubber in New York had 

 fallen, and therefore he decided to take the cargo to Norway in 

 hopes of better returns. The president, in giving judgment, said 

 there was no question that the real destination of the cargo was 

 Germany, and that the ship was carrying contraband, and also 

 was sailing under false colors, and therefore both ship and cargo 

 were condemned as a lawful prize. 



On May 23, the Prize Court condemned 1.400 parcels of 

 rubber which were taken from the lirst-class mails on the 

 Dutch steamer "Gelria," while she was on her way from South 

 America to Holland. It was claimed that these parcels were 

 destined for Germany. This is one of the instances where 

 mails from neutral countries and on neutral vessels have been 

 e.xamined and seized by the British, a practice which is the sub- 

 ject of a note of protest sent to London by the United States 

 Government last month. The British Attorney-General, in pre- 

 senting this case, pointed out the fact that such seizures had laid 

 the government open to criticism by neutrals on the ground 

 that it was a violation of the Hague Convention, but he de- 

 clared that it should be realized by neutral governments that 

 there had been in this case an attempt, on a very large scale, 

 to use the shelter of the Hague Convention to smuggle contra- 

 band goods into Germany. 



The decision of the Court was that the parcels in question 

 had been dishonestly sent by post as though they were postal 

 correspondence, and that under the Hague Convention it was 

 expressly laid down that postal correspondence should not cover 

 and include parcels. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN GERMANY. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 

 nPHE situation here has not improved since I last communi- 

 ■*■ cated with you and, generally speaking, it cannot be said 

 that either trade or industrial conditions are brilliant. Concerns 

 that have government orders are fairly busy but those who have 

 not this good luck find time for meditation. The domestic trade 

 in rubber and rubber substitute articles is very slack as is also 

 the trade we have been doing with adjacent neutral countries. 

 The building trade is practically dead and shipping, limited to the 

 Baltic since the outbreak of the war, is becoming more and 

 more restricted. 



The economic relations between Germany, the Balkans and 

 the Near East which have been widely discussed in commercial 

 and industrial circles here, are not measuring up to expectations. 

 In spite of our enemies' blockade we have been able to continue 

 to do business with all parts of the neutral world, but of late 

 this trade has become so restricted that it hardly is worth men- 

 tion. Our fiscal year comes to an end March 31, and this date is 

 always preceded and followed by a slack period in business ac- 

 tivities. This year, however, this state of trade industry cannot 

 be attributed in any wise to the inventory period but to condi- 

 tions created by the war. 



RUBBER TRADE WITH THE ORIENT. 

 Prior to the war we did a good business in rubber goods with 

 the Balkan States, Turkey and Persia, .\fter the government 

 placed an embargo on rubber exports the demands of these 

 markets continued to be supplied to some extent from stocks of 

 goods manufactured before the outbreak of the war and with 

 substitute qualities. Of course this business was small, but it 

 was very welcome under the circumstances, in spite of the diffi- 

 culties of exchange that always mark Oriental trading. This 

 small business is now practically dead, notwithstanding the open- 

 ing up of direct communications which was accomplished last 

 year. 



KCIUIER INUUSTKV. 



Our rubber industry is in no better condition than other 

 branches of trade or production. Manufacturers who are making 

 tires and other supplies for the army and navy are fairly busy, 

 but not working under as high pressure as they were last year. 

 Crude rubber grows scarcer and more expensive, and is now 

 available for use only on government contracts. By mixing what 

 crude rubber we can obtain, with synthetic rubber and rubber sub- 

 stitute our mills are managing to meet the demands of the mili- 

 tary administrations. Goods for private use containing crude 

 rubber are distributed only by special permit which is allowed 

 only in exceptional cases. 



For compounding ingredients we are not so badly off, but 

 prices are exceedingly high. Solvents are plentiful and their 

 prices continue to be regulated by the Government. 

 LE.\THER SUBSTITUTES. 



Many of our rubber manufacturers are finding a profitable 

 occupation in the manufacturing of leather substitutes. Leather 

 has become so scarce, and its price so high, that it cannot be 

 used extensively for other than military purposes. Further its 

 use is restricted by government decrees. The state of affairs has 

 created a considerable demand for sulistitutes made from vari- 

 ous compounds which our rubber industry has created. ^ 



MECIIANIC.M- GOODS. 



Outside of the demands of the military, and of the industries 

 working under government contracts, little or nothing is being 

 done in mechanical rubber goods, if these, as now manufactured,, 

 can still be called rubber goods. 



The shortage of necessaries of life, especially grain, has led 

 to further restriction of the brewing industry, which was one of 

 the best customers of our manufacturers of mechanical rubber 

 goods. We are importing important quantities of beer from- 

 adjacent neutral countries, especially from Denmark, but have 

 sold but little mechanical rubber goods to these neutral countries.. 

 The fact is that it is better so. for the qualities we are now pro- 

 ducing would surely hurt the good name of German rubber 

 goods. • « 



The "Gummi Zeitung" in a recent issue published two clever 

 cartoons reproduced from an English paper. One represents 

 John Bull joyfully welcoming a ship loaded almost to its top- 

 masts with American automobile tires. The companion picture 

 depicts his gloom as he shows his empty pockets, while the ship 

 is sailing homeward to the United States, stacked high with 

 British gold. Commenting on this, our leading trade publication 



says that we are better off than the British, in spite of our lack 

 of raw materials. We are manufacturing our own tires, and' 

 doing what the cartoon advises, keeping our .gold at home. 



