The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-19
Great Trade 10 Being Built up Be-
cause OF the War and the
Fear Of Neighborlna
Nations.
COMMERCIAL INVASION
Financial Freedom to the Little Bal
kan Countries Is In Sight
After Many
Years.

[By Henry Wood. United Press Staff
Correspondent
SOPHIA, Bulgaria, Aug. Z. (by maiD
A financial and commercial invasion
by the United States is being well
coined in the Balkans with open arms.
New financial and commercial rela-
lions are now being formed with the
United States and the little Balkan
states frankly admit they see in this
their one chance for actual and COM
plete independence from domination
by the European powers that in the
past has threatened their national ex-
istence just as much as the various
political aggressions waged against
them
Ever since the little Balkan states
first succeeded in gaining their ponu-
cal independence. they have been de-
pendent on the larger European pow
ers The latter, In fact, through this
financial and commercial dependency
were, able to secure a strangle hold on
the little states which could not be Sc
cured through aggressions on their po-
litical independence.
AS an example Of how this has
worked out, Germany in her last loan
to Bulgaria asked as guarantee the
taking over of the national tobacco in
dustry at Cavalla, where the finest to-
bacco in the world Is produced. Bull
garia refused, but had she complied,
Germany would have had control OF
the little country's most important IN
dustry to such an extent. as to have
rendered Bulgaria helpless in the
hands Of Germany.
Now when the present war is over.
and we go to France for loan" / was
told by Bulgarian minister, ut will
be granted to us only on the stipula-
ton that we abandon all effort to get
back Macedonia which Is now part
of Serbia. AS consequence we shall
seek our next loan In the United
States where we are certain OF being
able to keep our financial relations
free from political ones
When the present war broke out,
Greece had an order placed in Ger
many for thirty locomotives. They
were needed especially for mobtliza.
ton purposes. As Germany did not
mobolize she refused to allow the or
der to be filled without a specific
promise from Greece not to mobilize
against Germany.
With the leash temporarily loosened
by the exigencies OF the present war,
the little Balkan states, however, have
made q dash for liberty. Hasty COM
munication was had with the big fl.
nancial and industrial concerns Of the
United States and the Balkans are
now being overrun by an army OF
American travelling men and financial
agents who are everywhere being
hailed as veritable liberators. The
business these travelling men are doing
is making them drunk with success.
One American locomotive company
has just delivered forty locomotives
in Serbia to take the places OF engines
stolen by the Austrians when they
invaded The same company has just
delivered thirty locomotives to Greece
to take the place of those which Ger
many refused to let her have unless
she agreed not to mobilize against her.
Bulgaria has likewise entered into re-
gotiations for American locomotives
and rolling stock that will no longer
place her at the mercy Of Germany
and Austria.
In Serbia, the gov ernment as a
means Of national revenue, has
monopoly on petroleum. All of this
was bought from Russia. AS Russia
since the beginning of the war has
been unable to deliver the goods, Ser
bia has broken away and now the
Standard Oil company is furnishing
all of the coal oil that is sold in
Serbia.
Likewise in Serbia, the transporta-
ton facilities OF the army now con-
sist exclusively OF immense American
automobiles.
How much this financial and COM
mercial freedom means to the little
Balkan states can only be- realized by
the general cry for it in every circle
of life here.
In Serbia both Prince Regent Alex
ander and Prime Minister Patchitch
expressed to me their most sincere
hopes that Serbia in the future will be
able to deal largely with the United
States in all matters pertaining to her:
financial and commercial needs.
The same desire for financial and
commercial independence was ex-
pressed to me by King Constantine
Of Greece, by Prime Minister RADIO
slavoff Of Bulgaria and by fully a doz-
en- Lesser ministers Of the various Bal.
kan states.
This is why American travelling men
invading the Balkans for the first time
are being welcomed as Iiberators and
this Is why the United States is fast
becoming looked upon as the future big
brother of the little Balkan powers.