The Washington times., 1916-02-09
NEUTRA[UN|ON
URGED TO AID
TRADE MARKET.
Commerce Delegate Declares
U. S. Must Take Action to
Prepare for Wars End.

Only a union Of neutral countries
Will prevent destructive competition
in business after tho European war.
Edward A. Filene. of Boston. today
told the delegates to the fourth an
nual meeting OF the Chamber of Com
merce Of the United States at the Will
lard.
hfter the conflict. he said. European
industry would grind itself to the
lowest possible level to regain lost
trade markets and to gain new ones
to take the place of exchange trade
which prevailed between belligerant
nations before the war.
Mr.. Filene said prices would be re-
duoed, European lahorers would be
urged by their governments to accept
lower wages and change their living
conditions SO as to allow the biggest
possible cut in prices in open mar.
kets. Unless an effective union Of
noutrals is brought about he said.
they would undou pte edly suffor hcav-
lily through this price cutting COM
petition.
For Court of Nations.
The speaker approved the Chambers
recent vote in which 1t favored an in
ternational court of arbitration whose
decrees would be enforced by boycott
ting offending nations or by recourse
to arms. He said the United states
SHOULD set the pace by agreeing on the
establishment Of such a tribunal to
adjudicate Pan-American questions.
Mr.. Filene said this country had en-
tered upon the greatest period of pros
war. and that. in his opinion. it was
safe to predict that this prosperlt.'
would continue at least two years more.
Speaking OF the outlook after the war
ne declared that the tariff schedules OF
this country would be based on what
was done in commercial Europe after
the war and thar railroad development,
profits. and earnings would depend on
the way Europe readJusted itself.
The speaker said the trend of civiliza-
ton 10 toward the substitution of law
for war, anS that the United States
should take the leadership In advocat-
ing measures for the permanent peace
or the world.
Ovation To DR.. Koo.
An Svation was given DR.. X. yelling
ten Koo. the Chinese minister. when he
was introduced to the 1900 delegates by
President John F>ahey. of the chamber.
Dy. hoo was in a happy vein Of humor
and told q number OF amusing stories
a. we'll as discussing Commercial Re-
lA0onS Between the United States and
China" in a scholarly manner.
8eginning with the Romans. who
traded with China in 1866 A. D.. DR.. koo
briefly sketched Chinese trading dowr
tics showing that the United States eX.
ported goods worth $40, 900, 900 a year tc
China, or about per cent of the Flow
cry kinkdom's total imports.
The speaker said the conservation OF
the finances of Europe to the art o,
destruction had not only shifted the
financial center of the world from Eu.
rope to America. but placed upor
American manufacturers and business
men the burden and responsibility OF
supplying the markets of the Orient
He said the purity of motive between
the United States and China should be-
tons. There is no Interior motive i,
your dealing with China" said DR.
hoo, and there is no suspicion or
the part Of the Chinese merchants TO-
ward you. You trade for trade profit
You have the friendship of Chimes
merchants. something which the busi
ness men OF some other nations car
not boast. as an asset. You need {
market whose wants will increase al
your production increases. Such :
market Is China. The population o
4ooO00.00o people offers immense oppor
tunities for enormous development o
countless of your industries"
DR.. Koo said last year each inhabitan
OF China spent cents for American
manufactures. and added that eacl
Canadian spent 800. 'lf YOU develol
your trade so eaCn 1nlneSe DuNS 81
worth of your manufactures. American
exports to China will be worth $4,000.
100000 instead of $4,000 900 a year" SAT-
the minister.
The envoy said China was developini
rapidly and that its laborers We're re
ceiving increased wages. In the las
century their pav has increased s.
that they now use matches instead o
flint and steel
your cigarettes last wear. and If the
get few more raises they can affor
10 90 to the motion picture shows TO
entertainment"
He then discussed tho trcmcndou
possibilities for the investment q
American capital In China. citing tn
fact that many railroads there wcr
earning a profit of from $4,000 to $li1
in gold per mile every year
DIR. Hoo Is Thanked.
On motion Of one of the delegates thu
chamber gave Or. Koo a rising vote o
thanks for telling us how the com
merce of China may be made the brid
OF American manufacturers.
Senator Duncan Fletcher of Floridi
briefly outlined the work of the higl
commission, and President Fahcy mad
a few remarks amplifying those of Dr
400 on the possibilities for American
business men and capital in China.
The commercial secretaries attended
a ECt-tOEcther luncheon at the Ralcig
Hotel this afternoon.
Tonight Vice President Marshall an
the Indiana Congressman and senator
will be the guests of the Indiana dele
gates to the meeting at dinner at Ia
Nhoreham Hoe.
Tomorrow will be the big day, as We
RS the last day of the annual meCtinE
IN addition to electing officers, the deli
Eates viii attend a banquet and listc
to President Wilson, Secretary of tn
,G.l- tuY at n
Garrison talk on preparedness.