What Germany would demand of these new States, whose very existence was the outcome of her success at arms, would simply be an _economical organization in common with the German Empire_, an enormous central European "Zollverein" ("Customs Union") with Germany at its heart. It is only such a union, in the opinion of leading German statesmen, which could hold the United States of North America at bay, and after this present war, moreover, the world would only have to take into account _two_ first-class powers, viz., Germany and the United States of America. A commencement of this new economical connection is being made by the negotiations entered on by representatives of _Austria-Hungary_ and _Germany_ concerning the proposed formation of a _Customs Union_. Since this union would include 120,000,000 individuals, it must be evident what an immense attraction it must exert on the surrounding smaller nations. _Switzerland_ and _Holland_ can scarcely escape this attraction, and the _Scandinavian countries_, it is said, would probably find it to their advantage, together with a liberated _Finland_, to form a _Northern Customs Union_, which later, on an independent basis, could _enter in close union with the vast "Zollverein" of Central Europe_. This "Zollverein" would then include about 175,000,000 individuals. The adhesion of _Italy_ to the vast union would not be inconceivable, and then the combination of the United States of Europe, founded on a voluntary commercial union, would be approaching its realization. Such a commercial union, embracing various peoples, could only lead to moderation in foreign politics, and would be the best guarantee for the peace of the universe. A brisk interchange of commodities, a fruitful interchange of cultural ideas would result from such a union, connecting the polar seas with the Mediterranean, and the Netherlands with the Steppes of Southern Russia. All States participating in this union would gain thereby. But one European country would be the loser, _Great Britain, the land of promise for the middleman_; that, according to German comprehension, at present gains a living by skimming the cream from the trade industry of other nations by facilitating the exchange of goods, and making profits by being the banking centre of the world. The Germans declare that there is no reason for such a middleman's existence in our day. The banking system is now so developed in all civilized lands that, for example Sweden can remit direct to Australia or the Argentine for goods obtained thence, instead of making payment via London and there rate, by raising the exchange for sovereigns to an unnatural height, so that, as matter of fact, England levies a tax on all international interchange of commodities.