The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-24
bANKLAW BASED ON
SOUND PRINCIPLES.
SAY THE FOREIGNERS
Three Leaders From Euro
pean Centers Address
Bankers in New York
ENGLISH GOOD BUT
PRONUNCIATION POOR
Full Meaning of the Messages Brought
Became Known Only After Pub
lication of Addresses
By HOLLAND

New York, January 23.--(SpeciaL)-Not OF
dntil publication of the addresses which
were made before the great gathering OF
the associated banks in this city on
Monday of this week by three experts
whose reputation as high banking author
tiles is world wide was there a good un-
derstanding of the messages these men
brought from Great Britain, France and
Germany to the United States. There
We're III ali nearly 1000 men identified with
the great financial and industrial and
railroad activities OF the time whose in
terest had beer stimulated by the prelimi-
nary reports that they were to be ad-
dressed by Pref. DR.. Jacob Riesser man
ay.r Of the great Deutcher bank of Ber-
lin; NJ. Robert Mason of the Credit Lyon
iais of Paris, one of the great banking
institutions of the world, and James Hope
Simpson, who is the manager of the
Liverpool banks, which is also one of the
most influential of banking institutions
The intimation had been received that
these 9hree experts of acknowledged au-
thoritN had gladly accepted invitations
10 become the guests of the Associated
Banks of New York and to deliver ad-
dresses of which the central thought was
to be the new International financial rela-
ton consequent upon the enactment of
new banking and currency law in the
United States
The gathering as asiwhole was fairly
representative of the more important
banking and industrial activities of the
Unitetd States. Many came as guests OF
the association from other cities There
diSanDoptment Oc-
Casionso by the delivery of two of the
addresses that of Prof. DR.. Riesser and
NJ Mason. The fact was that only few
of those who were present were able to
hear these addresses. Some who were
seated near the distinguished banking au-
thority of France, M. Mason, discov-
cred that he is master of the English
tongue. His address was, SO far as style
is concerned, model. Yet NJ Mason
wrote that address only few hours be-
fore his hearers listened to 1t. He was
occ dpied Iauch of the time of the after
noon before the dinner in writing the ad-
dress Fer that reason all the greater
was the establishment at his command
of English. The distinguished German
banking authority spoke in a low tone,
and While his written English was excel
spnt. the spoken words were too often un-
distinguishable.
Consequently there came a general de
nand for the addresses in full and these
full reports in association with the ad-
dress delivered by Mr.. Simpson of Liver
pool and of the really momentous ad-
dress of the president of the association,
James S. Alexander, have given to the
gathering not only national, but i1terna-
tional Importance.
The Great Authority in France
NJ Mason, who is probably the chief
personal influence in the Credit Lyonnais,
is in his career well known to luen Of
finance and leading bankers all over the
world. 1t was also known to many of
those who heard his address or saw him
while he was delivering it that he is an
intimate personal friend of James still
man. The relations between these two
men are established more on the basis
of personal friendship and personal re-
spect than upon any business association.
Although there have been times when
the National City bank, of whose board
of directors Mr.. Stillman is chairman
and has remained chairman since ne took
up his residence in Paris, has had oc-
casionally some business relation with
M Mason. 1t was inevitable that there
should be a suspicion that what NJ. Mas
son might say would to some extent re-
fleet the views of Mr.. Stillman.
The opening address of President AL
exander must have been read with great
interest in Washington and in other parts
of the country. In fact, there have come
to New York since Mr. Alexander spoke.
many communications conveying senti-
ment of pleasure that President Alex
ander should have been able to announce
that the banks of New York would with
federal government and the fedesnl Z.