Fortunes for Farmers 



fears, withstand a sudden shock. There have 

 been panics lately — one recently in America 

 — also we have seen bank-runs on a small scale 

 in England which have echoed round the world. 

 Stringency in America or Japan means shortage 

 in England, and at a shock in Berlin or Calcutta 

 businesses quaver throughout the earth. 



It is dimly realized — only dimly — that a war 

 between England and Germany would in a week 

 ruin more than half the trading community in 

 both countries, and if it lasted long probably 

 the other half. This is no wild cat scare, but the 

 sober conclusion of thinkers in the financial sphere. 

 Credit will vanish at the declaration of war; 

 people will fly to the banks for their money, and 

 banks — in the (probably few) cases where they 

 remained solvent would be compelled instantly 

 to ask every customer to pay off his overdraft. 

 Gold would vanish into cupboards and stockings, 

 companies would crash down or at least their 

 shares would be worthless for the time being. 

 Creditors everywhere would demand payment — 

 and where reader would you be? Unless you are 

 a landowner or farmer (or army contractor) your 

 plight will be best pictured by yourself. Think 

 it over, and perhaps you will vote against war 

 next time or at any rate will not be so pleased 

 at " scare " news in the papers. 



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