The Washington times., 1915-12-26
URGES j. 5. TO FORM
DUTCH TRADE BUREAU
J. Bendien, Of Amsterdam, Here
With Plan to Increase Amer
ican Exports.

NEW YORK, Dec. G.-Holland's busl-
ness conditions are almost an cN"''
duplicate Of those in the United states
in these piping war times. according T."
], Bendicn of Amsterdam. VINO mas
come to America as delegate lro'''
the American Export Chamber OF ''oh-
merce in Amsterdam. Holland. with "
plsn for interesting American merchants
in the establishment of an American
commercial information bureau IN
Europc. preferably in one of Holland $
two leading commercial cities
Tine shipbuildinG yards OF my coun-
,ry'' said Bcndicn at the Hotel Nc
Amin. are so crowded with orders lot
occan-going vessels that II they stopped
getting orders today II "ould teh
every foot Of their building space anu
every man they could employ uo to the
end of 1917 TO take care OF tn" ordcrs
now on their books. And yet there ~
no sign Of let-up in new contracts
that are being made. Holland ship own
ers are the largest contractors for these
new ships, and next to my own conn'
.rvmen the Norwesians are the heaviest
investors in new tonnage
Greater Demand With Peace.
1T is evident peace conditions will
bring about an even greater demand
70, ships than existed before the war,
and with their customary foresight
and thrift the Dutch shipowncrs are
getting ready to take care OF this fu-
tire demand for moro ships and still
more ships. IT IS a kind of prepared
ness Dutch merchants have been ia
nous for since they first engaged in
trade with the Ear Fast.
"Thc textiles Industries Of Holland.
particularly cotton and w"Olen man
ufacturcs, arc also turning out an
cnorrro Gus quantity Of goods. The pa
per mills are unusually buS%. so are
the match factories, ond those MAX
ing glassware, shoes, and paints.
"1he herring fisheries have grown
to be an unusually important factor
in the industrial life of Holland owing
to the enormous demand for ,herrings
as food on The part Of some of the
belligerert countries. In fact the de-
mand for herrings has grown TO such
proportions that the price OF the fish
has risen 90 per cent over the average
price before the war broke out and
the government has he'd to take con-
troll Of the prOddct 20 the extent OF
keeping a certain portion Of the catch
in Holland as food for the 2eon'e and
domestic consumption.
Diamond Trade Slumps.
"There are only two Industries un-
favorably affected by the war. These
are the diamond trade of Amsterda II,
which is in very poor condition. and
the liquor business. have noticed.
however. that lately America has be-
gun to buy more diamonds from Am
sterdam. and 1t would seem there was
a chance the trade. which is so iu-
portant to Amsterdam. would pick
up again. The Holland gin trade. on
the other hand. is not flourishinS and
there seems TO he little Improvement
for 1t in sight.
zone particularly happy result Cf
this industrial prosperity in my CoUn-
try is the opportunity it affords us 20
handle the Belgian refugees question
in practical way. The hundredS o.
thousands of Belgians who poured
across our frontier after the fall OF
Antwerp We're first taken care of in
detention camps. military fashion. But
we soon saw that was not a very
practical and certainty not a YER.
helpful solution of the problem.
Put Belgians to Work.
since our industries began to be so
busy we employed every one of these
refuceeS that We could according to the
trade they were Dracticed in. and the
result is that they are not only happier
for the change from the refugee camps.
but are also helping themselves and
helping us. 1t Is astonishing the change
in the condition of these unhappy people
since they We're given the opportunity
by Dutch manufacturers to go to work.
Holland AGRICULTURAL produces are
always her great asset and everything
she grows and makes from the products
of the soil is in great demand. paTticu-
larlN such things as cheese and Vegct-
ables. Owing to the demand prices have
risen. of course. eggs being now about
10 per cent more costly than they were
before the war. We are selling an enor-
NOUS amount OF oleomargarine to the
bclliCerent countries.
1T seems. in this war all industries
reNolNe around the shipping question. or
get back to it in the end. In my co,!lS
try. at least. there is no one single line
Of capital that is making as much money
as the Dutch ship owning companies.
Their profits are growing all the time"
Bendicn will spend three weeks in the
United States making addresses before
commercial institutions regarding his
plan for establishing an American COM
mercial information bureau in IIolla nd.
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