SECRETIVENESS AS A BAR TO EMPIRE TRADE [To the Editor
of the SPECTATOR.] SIB,—I, am prompted to write this letter after reading the letter over the signature of R. R. Thompson in your issue .dated March 29th. Your editorial comment on Professor Thompson's letter is a fitting climax to the letters which have appeared in your columns during the last few weeks, all dealing with trade.
The Spectator is widely read in Canada and the United States and it is helping British trade not at all to back up such statements as, " British manufacturers in the older industries were content so long as they received sufficient income from their businesses to imitate the ways of the landed gentry." I spend most of my life in meeting manu- facturers of all sorts. Their anxieties and difficulties occupy most of their days and their worries most of their nights.
Professor Thompson's letter is typical of the point of view
of certain well-meaning but ill-informed people not conversant with trade Conditions in this country. I could produce letters from a highly recommended business man in „Canada that were so illiterate, unbusinesslike and casual that my firm promptly broke off negotiations with him and proceeded to get in touch with another. We did not assume that all -Canadians were like him. During the last few weeks two Canadian buyers to whom we were anxious to show our goods -made appointments which they did not keep. We don't say they are imitating the ways of a casual man-about-town.
The chief grievance of Professor Thompson's friend is that he was denied access to various works, and you, in your editorial comment, say, " The progressive transatlantic manufacturer knows that he is well able to face the competi- tion of his rival and that he stands to gain more than he will lose by the policy of the ' open door ' " I I You must excuse the exclamation marks, which are mine.
The only open door is the door by which a spectator can enter, to watch the goods being made for sale in defenceless England. The goods entrance is behind a big wall, almost unclimbable. The " Progressive transatlantic manufacturer" is endeavouring to make it quite unclimbable.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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