322 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



Britain Sorely Pressed by Competitors 



For a considerable time we maintained such a lead in the 

 race for the world's trade as enabled us to outdistance every 

 competitor. "The products of her mines and factories long 

 held the markets of the world with ease," says "The Free -trade 

 Movement " ; and it was so. But the conditions of the race 

 have changed. Britain still leads, it is true ; but she is being 

 so pressed by competitors immediately at her heels that she is 

 feeling the strain sorely. " Other countries are advancing, but 

 as yet they have not overtaken British foreign trade," quotes 

 the above book ; and in this single sentence there is an under- 

 current of deep pathos which is clearly manifest to all those 

 who care to read between the lines. The race has ceased to be 

 a one-sided affair or a foregone conclusion ; Britain's competitors 

 are creeping up, and the near future will witness an exciting 

 finish. That this is the accepted view, even of Free-traders, is 

 proved by the following passage : — 



" The competition of progressive countries in many branches is 

 very real, and will become more acute as each year adds to their 

 skill and capital. Great Britain cannot retain permanently the 

 advantage of her earlier start, inasmuch as there is a general levelling 

 up of capacity and effectiveness, and a tendency towards assimilation 

 of the circumstances governing both labour and capital in progres- 

 sive countries. The contest has begun, and it will become increas- 

 ingly keen in the future. Whilst it is necessary to recognise this 

 fact as a comparatively new element affecting British commerce, 

 there is no occasion for despondency, and still less rational would be 

 recourse to measures of a retaliatory or hostile character, which 

 only lead to further dislocation.* 



We are, then, face to face with the irreducible fact that 

 British trade has reached " the parting of the ways," yet 

 attempts are still being made to make people understand that 

 all this is of no consequence, and that there is no cause for 

 alarm. Here is an illustration of this — 



" The coal and iron industries of the United States and Germany 

 have advanced enormously since 1870, and yet the output of Great 

 Britain is greater than ever." f 



The following table is then appended in proof of the fact 

 that Britain is still Leading :— 



* " The Free-trade Movement," p. 214. 

 t Ibid., p. 209. 



