Between the Lines

The question of whether or not to boycott German goods has been indirectly answered by no less a person than President Roosevelt in a statement on the proposed barter agreement between the United States and Germany. He declared that such a pact would be a violation of America’s anti-dumping laws.

This theory advanced by the President is a new angle in the fight which certain Jewish and non -Jewish organizations in America are now conducting against patronizing German goods. Once the placing of German goods on the American market amounts to the violation of American laws, there can be no doubt in the mind of any citizen as to the necessity of avoiding purchase of German products.

BOYCOTT AND INFLATION

The present monetary system in Germany, which permits the selling of German goods at low prices on foreign markets, is not only a menace to the American producer within the United States but also to American export outside the United States.

The so-called registered marks which Germany has introduced and which are cheaper than the regular gold marks are nothing but an attempt to dump German goods abroad. Intended for foreign consumption only, these “registered marks” enable buyers to bring extremely cheap German products into the United States and injure domestic interests.

It is from this viewpoint that the State Department acted when it rejected the cotton barter agreement with Germany. The German goods which would have come into the United States in exchange for the American cotton would be in direct competition with similar goods produced by American manufacturers, since Germany would be dealing in its inflated “registered marks.”

A NEW INTERPRETATION

The question of boycotting German goods in America has, with the announcement of President Roosevelt, therefore received an altogether new and justified interpretation. It is no longer a question of revenge on the part of Jews or anti-Nazi elements in America.

It is a question of defending the American market from dumping.

In its effort to force its goods upon America, the German government is threatening reprisals. It warns that it will import less goods from the United States if America will not see to it that German products are sold throughout the United States as much as American products are sold in Germany.

This warning will not, it may be assumed, frighten the Secretary of State or any of the members of the American Cabinet. The importation of American goods in Germany is declining anyway. It declined from $140,000,000 in 1933 to $107,000,000 in 1934.

Only a year ago the American government maintained a large commercial staff in its Consulate-General in Berlin. Today this staff has been reduced to just a few officials, in view of the fact that American business in Germany has continued to decline ever since the Nazis came to power. From the very first day of the Nazi regime the German government has had its mind made up to live on a dumping policy. Hence the negative attitude of the State Department on any barter agreements with Germany.