The San Francisco call., 1899-10-09
WILL DISCUSS
WORLDS TRADE
International Congress
to Meet.
MANY NATIONS REPRESENTED
DIPLOMATIC CORPS AT WASH
INGToN TO ATTEND.
Assistant Secretary of State VIII Be
the Presiding Officer and Dele
gates From Manila Will
Speak.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 8-The Inter
national Congress, composed of delegates
from most of the civilized governments
of the world and representatives from the
most important Chambers of Commerce
of all trade centers, will convene in the
auditorium Of the National Export Expo
sition building here on Thursday next.
Assistant Secretary of State David J.
Hill will preside at the opening cere-
monies, which will begin at half-past
o'clock. Mr.. Hill will deliver an address
of welcome to the foreign delegates The
full diplomatic corps at Washington will
be present to give eclat to the occasion,
and several members of the Cabinet will
accompany Mr.. Hill and take part in the
days exercises. The address Of the as
sistant Secretary Will be followed by a
speech by Mayor Ashbridge of this city,
who will welcome the members of the
congress to this city and extend to them
the courtesies of the municipality. In the
morning, prior to the assembling of the
congress, reception will be held at the
City Hall to the delegates and dignitaries
gathered TO participate in the opening
exercises, which will be of an elaborate
character and be attended by the leading
citizens OF Philadelphia. AT the audito-
rum, upon the conclusion of Mayor Ash
bridges address, Mr.. Charles II. Cramp,
president of the Philadelphia Commercial
Museum, will formally open the proceed
ingS in an address explaining the nurpose
and scope of the congress His address
Will be followed by speech by Director
w. P. Wilson, who will enter into gen
eral announcement of the details of the
future meetings of the international gath
ering. President Mckinley, who will be
detained at Chicago on account of his
previous engagement in that city, Will,
opening of the congress by sending i'm
mediately upon the conclusion OF the
other proceedings Of the day message
announcing the sympathy OF the United
States in the movement and extending on
behalf of the Government from its eX-
ecutive head cordial greeting to the
delegates.
Curiously enough, among the delegates
at the opening of the congress Will be a
1 large number of representatives, from
Spain, and one of the most interesting
figures amcng the delegates will be the
president of the Chamber of Commerce
of Manila. The congress will enter into
a general discussion of the world trade
with a view of making suggestions for
the regulation of foreign commerce in
such way as to provide for its greatest
development consistent with native IN
terest. The following general scope of
the discussions will convey fair idea
of the purposes of the conventions:
Foreign trade in general. including
questions of the establishment for inter-
national arbitration from commercial
standpoint and the establishment of in
ternational boards of arbitration for the
settlement of trade disputes. The ad-
vantages of an extension of international
post facilities. The discussion OF the
interoceanic canal projects and the ad-
vantage TO all nations of an isthmian
canal. International banking and cur
rency, including international banking in
its relation to trade and the need of in
ternational laws concerning bankruptcy,
patents and trade marks. A discussion
of the new spheres of influence of the
United States suggested by the results
~ our Sna1n ~
quiries into the future Of the British
West Indies and the. application of the
Monroe doctrine to American republics.
The question of an open door policy in
China, of the South African situation, of
tariff policies of shipping subsidies, Of
trade prospects and the commercial out
look for the coming century will be the
features of the meetings.
The deliberations of the congress will
be in English, but no modern languages
will be excluded. The congress will be
absolutely disinterested, and the dis
cussions will be entirely free and un-
checked.