The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-15
Coming of Buyers Means arI Enormous Business Will
 Continue After War
ALL ARE LOOKING TO
 AMERICA FOR GOODS
President Wilson May Solve the New York Postoffice Muddle by Reap pointing Man Who Has
 Made Big Success
By HOLLAND

One of the manager of the foreign sales department of a large American indus try spoke some months ago from per sonal experience of the French as mer- chants, traders and gathers of foreign trade He sa'd that they are energetic, very capable and clear-sfghted. and in many things fairer when in competition with American exporters than some of the representatives of other foreign trade seeking European nations.
 That is the view taSen by those who should know of the French commercial commlssion which has come to the United States so tn. it may look over our in- dustres and be preparcc, if it's inspec- ton is favorable, to place large amount of orders in the United States for com mcdities which will be ready for use in rebuilding French industries after the war is ended. These commissioners are understood fairly well to represent in- dustrial life in France. and they are mas ters of the science of trading. There fore. if they do place contemplated or ders. which may in the aggregate be in the neighhorhod of $l0Oo,o0O,ooo they are sure to make satisfactory bargains, al though it is likely that this satisfaction will not be one-sided
 Two of the comments which these com ynisioners made for publication the day after their arrival in New York have pos sbly commanded closer attention than anything else they said. One was the assertion that France. looks for reciprocal trade with the United States, apparently hoping that no small part of the pur- chases which France will make in the United states will be offset by purchases the United States will make in France, principally of commoo;lies that do not enter into competition with products of American manufactories. Herein is con- ta.ned. according to the view of experts, the true philosophy of international bar ter, fol t would be to the advantage of tho United States as we1i as France If the interna tional trade or the two coun-
 ries fairly well balanced. In connection with this statement the commissioners intimated that if trade relations with the United States are saisfacory, ater the war is ended this country will receive no small part of the French trade which formerly Germany commanded, and which was large enough to offset much of the indemnity which Germany de- manded of France as one of the terms of peace in the war of 1870. Furthermore, the commissioners assert that trade war. worldwide and world-encompass ing. is sure to follow ,ae termination of hostilities. This is the v,ew which is taken by the association of Americans engaged in foreign trade. ana is the chief reason why the association is now seek ing to be fully prepared to meet these battles of trade.
 The Worlds Money Center
 Another statement mace by the French commissioners was the admission that New York has now become the worlds money center. and that France has good understanding of this fact. The intima- ton was clear that in France the belief prevails that this pre-eminence will be maintained after the war is ended. France has for some years realized that New York would become the worlds money center, a pre-eminence which Great Britain has earnestly opposed. The European war, the commissioners said, has only hastened this recognition.
 Another point of much interest in the statement made by the commissioners is the proof the statement furnishes that our export trade will not be suddenly ended when the European war IS closed, but will be somewhat shifted. If France Is to purchase commodities, it is reason- able to presume that Russia and to some extent EnSldnQ. WILL Ildht Slliiiitf Pui chases. This is a prediction which takes issue with the intimation contained in the latest circular of the National City bank that the close of the war might be in stuntly followed by the shutting down of war orders and therefore demoraliza- tion of business. The French commis- sioners are not the only ones to visit the United States having in mind the plac- ing of contracts for commodities useful t,, ,,v,b, cf a ted industries RuS- ria has sent two or three. and there are reasons for surmising that England is represented in this way.
 Remarkable Condolences
 Some time in the mid-spring one of those who are associated with the direc- ton of the agency established by Great Britain with J. F. Morgan & Co, for the purchase of supplies in the United States, called attention to something which he looked upon as an extraordi- nary coincidence. He said that it was likely to become traditional that in year of war, and a war, too, which began lust az the American farmers were be- ginning to harvest their crops. the United States should have garnered almost record making harvest of food products. This enabled the belligerent nations, or two of them at least, 10 make good their own deficiencies. Now, similar coin cidencI Is observable in the latest return from Washington which reports the lar gest harvest of wheat ever garnered, ana almost the largest harvest of corn. And it is looked upon as a striking coinci- dence that the harvest achievements or last year will be duplicated; in fact, ex- ceeded, this year. Tnen, too, another coincidence more remarkable is spoken Of by those who discuss this subject--name- ly, the Canadian farmers nave harvested, relatively speaking, as large a crop or wheat as have the farmers of the United States. And in view of the fact that Canada has sent thousands of troops to aid tie allies and has been much occupied in financing her home and war necessi- ties. this is an achievement which may properly be compared with that of the farmers of the United States.
 New YOrk's Next Postmaster
 Az the postoffice of New York city is really a national institution, since there concentrates here dairy correspondence from all parts of he>world and is dis tributed every day correspondence that covers the United States. and as it is one of the few offices frori which the gov ernment obtains a large revenue, the choice by President Wilson of the post master who is to succeed MT. Morgan whdse term expires in few weeks-is of much more than local interest. Short ly after Grover Cleveland became Presi- dent in 1885, he relieved himself of what would have been very annoying demands 5y rival democratic factions to name the postmaster of New York by taking heed Of the wishes of the community and not of the politicians. He reappointed Post mo ster Pierson. Pres:uent Wilson may take heed of this example of his prede- cessor. for if he reappu,nts Postmaster hA find n