Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-21
NATIONAL LEADERS
oF TRADE HOPE TO
WIN WORLDS MARTS
Delegates to Convention
Hear John Bassett Moore
Flay Negotiations Pending
With Great Britain.

- LOUIS, Jan. H.-Men interested in
,..,sn trade from all parts Of the
r.,,sd states assembled here today for
4. second National Foreign Trade Con-
.,r,ou. called by the National Foreign
r.,As Council. The sessions will last two
~. and Il Is hoped important steps will
!, taken toward conquering the marts of
4, world for American merchants and
manufacturers.
Al the opening session, after an ad-
ss..s Of welcome by Mayor Henry w.
si,t Of St. Louis, and another by Samuel
n capen, president of the st. Louis
p,.ness Mems League, the delegates lis
,.nsd to a speech by Secretary of Com
..srce william d. Redfeld. who empha-
.I,sd the Importance of the occasion and
saelt on the opportunities the world war
mems to American commerce.
lanes A. Farrell, president of the
rsned States Steel Corporation and
shaIrman Of tho Foreign Trade Council,
ia, smoke. John Bassett Moore, recently
counsellor Of State, took for his subject
nproblems Arising In War and Com
,-erre" At the afternoon sessions the
sneakers included John d. Ryan, presl-
dent Of the Amalgamated Copper Com
pany.
Bassett Moore told the delegates the
nsndng negotiations between the United
States and Great Britain in regard to
tho right Of visit and search and British
Interference with American ships and
oargoes could result in little better than
''makeshift"
OPPOSES CONDITIONAL CONTRA
BAND"
He declared the points at issue could
be settled by the abolition of "condi-
,Ional contraband." and the cooperation
81 neutrals and belligerents in the GER
tlncation OF cargoes, and that the use of
mines in the open seas and the dropping
of explosives from aircraft are atrocities
which no nation was at liberty to perpe-
trate
neutral acts those that neutral govern
ments are obliged to prevent, and those
which such governments are not forced
10 take cogniZance of. quoting the stat
utes Of the United States as models in
their prevention of enlistment of men for
helllgerent service, and the construction,
fitting out or arming of vessels of war.
or the augmentation of their force in
In speaking of the belligerent right of
visit and search, which Is the point at
Issue in the pending negotiations be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States, Mr.. Moore said:
'The impulse OF the belligerent Is to
cut off his enemy altogether and to pre-
vent him from getting anything from
the outside The neutral on the other
hand, naturally desires that his trade
should not be unduly hampered by an
armed conflict to which he is not party.
AT the present moment n negotiation
Is in progress between the United States
and Great Britain in regard to the exer-
else Of the right of visit and search, par
Heularly in relation to the question of
contraband. The representations of the
United States were friendly in tone, but
we're evidently inspired by the desire to
reach an arrangement which should be
Gully considerate of tho interests of all
concerned, Of belligerents and neutrals
alike"
Mr. Moore showed plainly that tho
movement Of American commerce today
was by grace of British control of the
sea. saying: "If. instead OF the naval
supremacy now exercised In its own In
terest and that OF It's Allies by the larg-
est consumer of our agricultural pro-
ductions and foodstuffs, the control of
the seas were actually contested by pow
erful hostile fleets, 1t is almost appalling
70 reflect upon what might be the pres
int state OF our commerce.
FAILURE OF PRIZE COURT.
Leading up to the international situa-
ton at the time OF the Declaration of
london, which was framed by the powers
70 furnish a uniform law for the adminis-
uation OF an international prize court
Under one OF the conventions adopted at
me Hague In 1907. Mr.. Moore pointed out
that Its failure to become operative was
because ut was the result of compro-
mses. and that these compromises pro-
ceeded upon concessions to conflicting
lsudeneies rather than upon uniform
principle"
The practical experience OF the pres
eni war" continued Mr.. Moore, has
shown the Importance of expanding In
meDnited States the business of marine,
haurance, so that the country may. m
case OF wars in which It is neutral. no
longer be dependent upon the resources
-na aid Of foreign companies. The in
fance granted by the Government OF
ss United States during the present war.
t'nough II has been Of value, has been
very limited scope, because It has been
spnnned to vessels under the American
HAg and to cargoes on such vessels. and
yen IN respect of such cargoes the re-
sinctions have been such as TO make It
e''en Unavailable"
FAvoRs TRADE POOLS.
Fools for fixing prices and trade COM
enations OF other kinds were urged by
Y, l. Saunders. OF the ngersolI-Rand
konpany, New York, as a means OF in
s'ssslng Americas export business.
hsre is nothing in the Sherman law
rnlsh prohibits priee-hxing, pools and |
vale combinations OF American produce |
,n N selling goods for delivery abroad" |
aeeiared. "rhe United States, Govern |
.,nt mas no authority in the matter OF |
~ ,-.'a made for delivery to foreign eoun-
hystematiEed cooperation" was the
-aene urged by II. @. Lewis, general |
relAser OF the National Paper and Type |
~ s-.u pa5ny, OF New York, for boosting the |
y. y. slsn trade OF American manufacturers. |
y practically impossible for the small |
taeturer to develop an export busl-
I. py himself" he declared, "and Il |
almost as equally dlfiicult for the large |
~ uiseturer to develop an export bust
~, u MIS- goods are in comparatively |
en ~ demand In any one market
ss,slher or not the establishment OF |
!, ~ ~ branches OF American banks win |
5s.-,sS adequate or satisfactory in the /
rugpnaent OF foreign trade was dis
bSr,'a py John j. Arnold, Chicago
IN lie also urged amendment TO
loen haeial banking laws whereby Amer
AZ S,aHAlns institutions could unite with
IN Ivan interests In oversee commerce
@is capitalization OF such banFs