Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-18

w II is not ones first thoughts and It
is certainly not ones best thought; but
there is no reason why II should be turned
out Of doors. In its last analysis this war
like every other modern warts an economic
one. Only imperfect knowledge can see in 1t
a war Of Kalsers-a dynastc war 1t is a
trade war And 1t is, therefore, peculiarly
savage. It's a fight for places in the sun
where shops may be set up. Men don't fight
so savagely for mere kings, ideals or reli-
gions Back Of the patriotism back Of wild
dreams of empire are the hard and material
ambitions Of the great trading nations. So
| 1t is fair thing for the United States to
ask wherein this tumult Of blood and de-
| struction-her profit lies
There is no doubt the United States can
| profit. BY one Of those curious condolences
that make for belief in destiny, the war
that checked the traders Of Europe found us
ready to take their place and for the first
time in our history. only in the last decade
have we manufactured more goods than we
could use at home cor course there were
few exceptions, but in broad way the state
ment is true) Then, just as that stable
equilibrium began to be disturbed-when we
began to make bit more than. we needed
came. the war. The commerce of the world
was dslocated 1t fell apart like old bones.
sl6,OOO,OOO,OOO in Trade
The foreign trade OF Germany, Austria
Belgium is-for the time lng-annihilated
That of France is well nigh destroyed; and
that of England is seriously crippled. Now
the foreign trade Of these FIVE nations alone
amounted to nearly SIC, 900, 900, 000
The figures are so immense they have
air Of myth and fable They smell of Alad-
dins lamp. But there they are.
They represent in proportion of seven |
to nine, roughly. the exports and imports Of |
the five great States locked in death strug- |
gle yonder in Europe
And they represent the opportunity offered |
to the United States.
You may be sure It has not been overlook
ed. The State Department did something.
More precise and valuable statistics were
gathered by the Merchants Association OF
New York They have got together all sorts
of information - technical, financial - and
started a crusade for world trade, which is
already having incalculable effect. And as
they have gone about 1t with caution and
sagaClty and wisdom, they are helping to lay
the foundations Of permanent md endur-
ing trade
All of which is by the way. You may take
1t for granted that It is possible for the
United States to profit by the war. What
want to show herein a nutshell-is how It
can profit.
Broadly the opportunity falls apart into
two divisions: The warning nations have lost
their grip on the markets of the Orient and
South America-theres a chance to supplant
them; and their grip is weakening on their
markets In the United States-and there is
the second chance. What we have to sell we
IAN sell abroad without strong competition,
and what we have been buying in foreign
markets can make for ourselves.
AS to the foreign market there is a thing
,r two to be said We have never looked
lpon 1t as primary market Foreign lands
lave been looked upon largely as a dumping
;round where could find a sort of market
or our surplus-what we didn't need at
lone. When we had more wooden nutmeEs
han we wanted sent the surplus to the
We were not trying to give him
what he wanted. We gave him what we
idn't want ourselves
Famous Triangle Broken
The foreign market was never looked upon
s primary market-to be wooed and work.
d for and coddled. At home trade methods
re keen, perfected; abroad they were left 6
o chance. There Is the famous triangle
'hich has linked us for years to South Amer '
"a. For instance, the beef that came to us I
rom Argentina went by the two long sides ]
( that triangle 1t went first to London and c
nen over to New York. England, OF course I
ook brokerage, for England is-or has been c
the broker of all the world. Wool went the a
anne way; coffee went the same way: money
ent the same way-up and down the long [
gs of the triangle. Always paying broker p
go In Europe-paying toll both ways. v
It was not until November 10-At IL o'clock, b
be precise-that certain daring dealers in v
ne OF the most popular articles OF trade, 4
arter and commerce smashed the triangle. d
On that hour and that day the National r
lty Bank OF New York eliminated the two g
ng sides OF the triangle that point London s
ard. q
They set up a branch in Buenos Aires. II
The money merchants have led the way "
Id other merchants following And d.
hen the manufacturers begin to look upon n
ose South American markets-not as Il
lmping grounds-but as primary markets ii