Introduction. 9 



Administration for the year 1912 show clearly that there is no cause whatever for any 

 fear of an economic invasion allemande, seeing that these returns show the value of im- 

 ports into France from Germany to be 981 million francs, and that of French exports 

 to Germany as 814 million francs. These figures indicate that French purchases from 

 Germany have increased by 2000000 francs only, whereas French sales to Germany 

 have risen by over 20000000 francs. We ask ourselves in vain what may be the 

 cause of the French misgivings, and we can only regard it as a not very tactful and 

 extremely short-sighted proceeding on the part of a section of the French press to do 

 its best to bring about the forfeiture of the sympathy of such a valuable market as 

 Germany, in effect, constitutes. For it must be remembered that Germany, as a market 

 for French goods, is only surpassed in importance by Great Britain and by Belgium, 

 and that now-a-days, to quote only one example, the value of French exports to such 

 an important consuming country as the United States barely reaches one-half of that 

 of the French exports to Germany. In commenting upon these matters the Petite 

 Republique draws certain conclusions of which we append a translation, by way of 

 conclusive proof that public opinion in France is by no means unanimous in approval 

 of the German-baiting tone which has lately been adopted in many quarters in the 

 Republic. "There is a danger", says the Petite Republique 1 ) "that just at a moment 

 when the tendency of commercial interchange between the two countries is beginning 

 to show a change in favour of France, at the very moment when Germany, enriched 

 by the development of her great industries, is about to become one of the most valuable 

 markets for our articles de luxe (the only market, in fact, in which we stand without a 

 competition), this movement may be impeded by heedless attacks which must of 

 necessity lead to reprisals. How much more fruitful than this would be a healthy 

 commercial rivalry in which our producers, our traders and our manufacturers would 

 make it their endeavour to beat Germany in the domain of commerce, not by trying 

 to set up artificial barriers against German products by inciting people against Germany, 

 but by adopting the more rational commercial methods of Germany, by organising 

 French export trade, and by putting the same energy into the conquest of the German 

 market which the Germans show in trying to gain a footing in France. Moreover, it 

 should not be forgotten that the interweaving of interests, the logical sequel of com- 

 mercial development, would form one of the greatest guarantees of enduring peace 

 between the two nations, a guarantee at least as great as any diplomatic understanding!" 



The past six months have failed to bring about any clearing up of the political 

 situation in the United Kingdom. There is litte doubt that a great deal of water will 

 flow under London Bridge before the present condition of embitterment between the 

 opposing political parties gives way to an era of calm co-operation. It is true that 

 the Home Rule Bill recently passed its third reading in the House of Commons without 

 much difficulty, but a few weeks afterwards it was rejected by the House of Lords 

 with equal determination. This is equivalent to its early re-introduction into the House 

 of Commons, and to a consequent revival of the political agitation of recent years, 

 unless in the meantime a change of Government should supervene. 



The strikes and other disturbances among the labouring classes which are 

 incessantly breaking out, now here now there, in almost all branches of British trade 

 and industry, also constitute a grave economic impediment. Upon thousands and 

 thousands of workmen (many of them only indirectly concerned in the dispute at issue) 

 and their generally numerous families, the immediate effect is hunger and misery; in 



l ) Deutsche Export-Revue V. 12. 



