New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-25

This is the FIRST interUielO on the en-
tcnte commercials giuen by member OF
the French government. II is dectard-
tion Of the most official character, the re-
spH of conference bett0een the Ministry
Of Commerce and the Ministry Of Foreign
| A fairs, submitted and revised in Cabt-
net CouncHl
Paris, Aug. 7.-"Amcrican opinion seems
to have very thoroughly misunderstood the
purposes OF the economic conference Of the
Allies" said NJ Clementel, Minister Of Com
merce, when brought this subject before
him in his Office in the ministry in the rue
de Grenele "The expression that has come
into common use, the war after the war; is,
doubtless, one of the causes of the misunder-
standing. But in addition 70 that, American
opinion seems 10 have read into the brief
official announcement of the resolutions
adopted by the conference meaning that 1t
was never intended they should have.
Both to bring out the truth and in con-
sideraton of the high position the United
States occupies in the world and the i'm
portant relations between the United States
and the nations of the Entente, particularly
France, II is highly important to dissipate
any misunderstanding and set right Amerl-
can opinion on this question.
"The criticism Of the United States re-
solves itself into three principal points, and
if we cover them ! think your country will
see that IL can join with us instead of feeling
that there is reason for any sentiment OF
opposition. Certainly, the last thing we
would think of would be to create point
of friction between France and the United
States.
"The first criticism that America makes
is that the Allies seek to organize an eco
nomic war to follow Immediately on the ces-
saton of the present hostilities and which
would lead inevitably to another armed
conflict
There is no thought among the Allies of
organizing aggressive action for economical
pressure against the Central Empires. That
would only prolong the present struggle. The
Allies have only one dominating idea to
defend themselves in their own interests in
their own countries To do that they pur-
pose to be forearmed by following plan
concerted among them against the renewal
after the present war of the German eco
monte warfare that preceded this conflict.
All the world, neutrals as we'll as Allies, is
well aware OF the dlsloyal character OF Ger
man commercial methods before this war.
Our sole purpose is not to become again the
victims of those methods after the war.
among the Allies practically all of our
great industries have been dsorganized and
many Of them ruined by the war which has
been imposed on our countries. Some of
our greatest industrial regions have been
devastated, while Belgium is wholly in ruins
Belgium, our own provinces, Serbia and much
of Russian Poland must be rebuilt from
these ruins and the merchant fleet of the
Allied countries must be reconstructed A
great work of restoration and reconstruction
will be necessary.
while this work of restoration is being
done, while these industries are convalescing
they must be protected against their COM
petitors Of the Central Empires, which have
not suffered the same material damage. Our