affected to the same degree by a change of the tide as those of other industries, because the German chemical industry is regarded as occupying a position of its own in the world's markets. Yet during the year under report there were complaints from within the German chemical industry as to a rising foreign competition abroad and as to the great increase in the cost of the various raw materials.

The chief figures (quantities) of the British-German trade under this section of the German customs returns are as follows:

CHEMICAL and Pharmaceutical Products, Colours and Dyeing Materials.

Section V.-Worked Animal and Vegetable Textile Materials and Wares thereof, Human Hair, Dressed Ornamental Feathers and Fans and Hats.

The values of the German foreign trade of this section amounted (in 1,000,000 marks) to:

The total value of the imports of this class (of textiles) rose in 1913 as against the import of 1911 by 14,000,000 marks, as against that of 1912 it receded by 35,000,000 marks. The reductions fall practically to the share of the two main sub-sections of silk and wool. In the class of silk the reduction amounts to 15,000,000 marks; in the class of wool to 35,000,000 marks. In the class of cotton the imports rose by 7,400,000 marks in value and by 11,700 tons in weight.

In spite of the reduced import, the value of the export has risen very considerably, viz., by 95,800,000 marks, the increase in the export of silk amounted to 16,000,000 marks; in the case of wool to 29,000,000 marks, in the case of cotton to 24,000,000 marks. There was a noteworthy increase also in the export of clothing, &c., amounting to 13,700,000 marks. The value of the export of human hair and goods thereof rose by 3,700,000 marks. There was a noteworthy reduction in the value of the export of waste materials, viz., of 3,400,000 marks.

In the imports the United Kingdom maintained her preponderance in fine yarns. There was a certain competition, chiefly by Austria

Hungary, Belgium and Switzerland. The largest Austro-Hungarian increases were registered under the following:

Concerning the import of yarns into Germany, there is the following passage in the annual report of the Chamber of Commerce of Barmen, 1913:-Without wishing to discuss the merits of protection, it appears as a parody upon such a policy if, as appears to be the case, protection is to be further increased also upon those yarns, which in spite of all efforts can never be spun of the required quality in Germany, and which, therefore, require no such protection.

The growing independence of foreign markets from the German textile industry is due, also, to the export of German machines, which are, as a rule, accompanied by the necessary staff of foremen and workers. Thus foreign countries benefit without labour and without great cost from all German technical improvements, often evolved with very considerable sacrifices. The complaint concerning the duty levied upon fine British yarns is an old one. Already in 1900 the manufacturers of tulle curtains petitioned the Imperial Government to grant the repayment of the duty paid upon the yarn used in the manufacture of curtains intended for export. They admitted that such curtains contained a certain percentage of coarse German yarn; but, as it would be technically difficult to differentiate between the quantities of German or British yarn used, they asked for the repayment of the duty upon the whole quantity, as the home price of German yarn might be taken to contain the duty rate. The petition, which demanded for an industry a privilege which agriculture enjoys in the form of Einfuhrscheine, was refused. The industry was advised to petition for the benefits of a drawback. The quantities of cotton yarn imported under the privileged treatment of this admission temporaire amounted to: