ferential tariff, but by means of her
extensive system of concessions she has practically precluded the
competition of other states and secured a monopoly in the trade with
her own colonies."[9]

{105}

No such colonial preference amounts to a complete exclusion of the
trade of competitors. The Germans, not the English, are the chief
purchasers of India cotton, and from the German colonies, diamonds go
chiefly to Antwerp, West African copper to the United States and
Belgium, and East African skins and hemp to North America. In many
colonies and dependencies a complete legal equality of trade is
maintained. On the whole, however, whether as a result of tariffs or
of quiet discrimination by local authorities, the foreign merchant
finds obstacles placed in his way and the trade goes to the home
country. Thus in 1914, of Algerian imports 84 per cent. came from
France, while of her exports 79 per cent. went to France.[10] The
trade of all the other French colonies and dependencies tends also to
go to France. Thus of the import of all French colonies and
dependencies (exclusive of Algeria and Tunis) 45 per cent. in 1913 came
from France and French colonies, while of the exports 42 per cent. went
to France and French colonies.[11] Similarly in 1909 of the entire
import and export trade of German colonies (exclusive of Kiau-Chau),
65.3 per cent. were with Germany.[12]

To the citizens of the home country go also the investment
opportunities, the chances to secure concessions for mines, railroads
and tramways. The legal right to these lucrative monopolies inheres in
the nation that develops the backward country. This preferred
position, this assured possession of a sole and undivided privilege is
of the essence of imperialism. All the economic arguments for peace
based upon the theory that trade heals enmities, {106} shatter upon
this fact. Free traders never tire of insisting that trade is
reciprocally advantageous, blessing him who sells and him who buys;
that the more trade there is, the more there is to get. They argue
that England, Germany, America and Japan might continue until the end
of time amicably exporting pianos and gingham aprons to the backward
peoples, and receive in return unimaginable quantities of sugar, rubber
and tobacco. But modern imperialism, extending its dominion ever
further, is dreaming not alone of this field for competitive selling,
but of concessions, monopolies, exclusive privileg