All these movements start with the question of the price of food.
The Prussian Junkers, however, are really benefited by the war. They get, even with a high "stop price," three times as much as formerly for their agricultural products and pay only a small sum, sixty pfennig daily, for the prisoners of war who now work their fields. They may, in addition, have to pay the keep of the prisoners, but that is very small. Camp commanders are allowed sixty-six pfennig per head per diem.
There is much talk of peace. The shares of the Hamburg-American Line and the shares of the Hamburg-South American Line have risen enormously in price from fifty-six to one hundred and forty in one case. This may be caused by an advantageous sale of some shares of the Holland-American Line or by promise of a subsidy, or by hopes of peace.
There is no question but that every man under forty-five that can drag a rifle has been drafted for the army, with the possible exception of men working in railways, munitions, etc.
Yesterday I noticed many women working on the roadbed of the railway.
The new Peruvian Minister is named von der Heyde; his father was a German.
The Greek Minister still thinks Greece will stay out of the war. His father is one of the cabinet.
The Germans are very glad to get rid of Brand Whitlock. For some time they have been looking for an excuse to expel him.
The dyestuff and other chemical manufacturers are getting quite scared about possible American competition. I hope the Democrats will give protection to these new industries and will also enact some "anti-dumping" legislation.
The German cities are adding to the general weight of debt by incurring large debts for war purposes, such as relief of soldiers' families, etc.