New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-22
II CH1NCE IN EUROPE.
Opportunity for american Manu-
facturers to Make Sales.

After the most thorough canvass OF the European
situation that has ever been made James Couzens
the former chairman of the American Motor Car
Manufacturers Association and general manager OF
the Ford Motor Company returned Kaiser
Wilhelm der Crosse yesterday. with some interest
Ing reports regarding foreign conditions First OF
all, Mr. Couzens dwelt on the Importance Of Ameri-
can manufacturers looking for business abroad
provided they are ready TO comply with European
requirements. says there fertile field abroad
the American motor car. but it must be
fully titled and business transacted IN European
ways. He says OF late years comparatively few
foreign cars have been sent abroad, and the only
impression the foreigners have of American
chimes results from what We're shipped abroad five
six years ago They are friendly 70 American
products in general hut. 10 get a proper foothoid
the European situation Will have 10 be carefully
studied.
During hts three months trip abroad Mr. Cou-
zens visited thirty-eight cities in every country
except Greece and Turkey travelling 10000 miles.
and his remarks thought to be worthy of care
full consideration the part Of those interested In
the foreign market
Mr Couzens obtained a record of the number Of
automobiles in every town In Europe. and the num-
Der of persons able 10 buy new machines. Mr.
Couzens called attention 10 the fact that the ex-
ports Of American machines now exceeded the i'm
portations
Relative 10 trade conditions noted during my
European trip said Mr. Couzens. Il might say
that during the time that had in each Euro
pean country land visited them alb had not
an opportunity Of investigating as closely as desir-
able the entire trade situation. as my time was de-
voted almost exclusively looking after the condi
tions OF Ford IN these various countries so that
any remarks which I may make would be based
more or less on the experience of our company in
these various places and the prospects for the
future OF cars there.
..Speaking generally. the prospects for American
manufacturers in Europe would appear to be good
~ they will meet the conditions and requirements
Of these various countries but TO attempt TO do 1t
~, tho lines on which business is done in America
would make it a fruitless task. The American
manufacturers not only the automobile industry,
but in most all lines of manufacture. have not
catered TO European requirements. and have not
given the European business the care and attention
II should have, considering the possibilities Inc
rc,ropean public not unfriendly TO American
goods IN general, but they are somewhat unfr1endy
10 American motor cars due to the many unSatts-
factory and Improbable experiences they have
had in importing American small cars during the
aorv DAVIS of the automobile industry All cars. or
course at that not nearly so satisfactory
as they are to-day but nevertheless the impression
was left and no attempt made to correct 1t. and
tho final and only decision that could be reached
was that all American cars are practically now
,r tho same state of construction as they were IN
the early days. and that Americans had made no
strides or improvements in automobile construction
eft IS hard say whether European manufact-
urers have reached Standardization, although. to
large degree 1t would appear that they had In
tact n would appear II they were probably as
much standardized as American manufacturers
end as 10 that there is more or less controversy
respective methods OF construction and design