The Washington times., 1916-02-09
NEUTRALUNION
TO AID
TRADE MARKET
Commerce Delegate Declares
U. S. Must Take Action to
Prepare for Wars End.

Only a union Of neutral countries
wifi 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.
After 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 belliEersnt
nations before the war.
Mr. Ftlene said prices would be re-
duoed, European laborers would be
urged by their governments to accept
lower wages and change their living
conditions 80 aS to allow the biggest
possible cut in prices in open mar
neutrals is brought about he said
they would undoubtedly suftor 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
DEGREES 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 tribunal to
adtudioate Pan-American questions.
Mr.. Filene said this country had en-
tered upon the greatest period of pros
perity In Its history as a result of the
war, and that. in his opinion, 1t was
safe to predict that this prosperity
would continue at least two years more
Speaking OF the outlook after the war
he declared that the tariff schedules or
this country would be based on what
was done IN commercial Europe after
the war, and that railroad development,
pr0fits, ana 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
OF the world.
Ovation To DR.. KOO.
An ovation was given DR.. X. yelling
ten Koo, the Chinese minister, when he
wSs introduced to the 1900 delegates by
President John Fahey. of the chamber,
DT. loo was in a happy vein of humor
and told q number OF amusing stories
RS we'll 80 discussing Commercial Re-
lAHons Between the United States and
China" In q scholarly manner.
4eginning with the Romans. who
traded with China in 166 A. D.. DR.. Koo
briefly sketched Chinese trading down
TO tho present day, and quoted stats
tiOs showing that the United States eX-
ported goods worth $40, 900 900 q year ia
China, or about q per cent of the Flow
cry kjnkdom's total imports.
The speaker said the conservation Of
the finances of Europe to the art OF
destruction had not only shifted the
financial center of the world from Eu-
rope to America. but placed upon
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
q most potential factor in trade rela'
tons. There is lao Interior motive IN
your dealing with China" said DR.
Koo, and there is no suspicion or
the part of the Chinese merchants to-
You have the friendship of Chinese
merchants, something which the busi'
ness men of some other nations car
not boast as an asset. You need 8
market whose wants will increase al
your production increases. Such 3
market is China. The population ol
1000 people offers immense oppor'
tunities for enormous development oI
countless OF your industries"
DR.. Koo said last year each inhabitan
OF China spent cents for American
manufactures. and added that eacl
Canadian spent $50. IF you develoI
your trade so each Chinese buys ~
exports to China will be worth $4,000.
100000 instead Of $4O0OO.COO year" sai'
the minister.
RAPIDLY and that its laborers were re
ceiving increased wages. In the las
century their nav has increased 81
that they now use matches instead o
They smoked S1S.OOOOOO worth o
your cigarettes last wear. and II the,
get few more raises they can affOrt
TO 20 to the motion picture shows TO
entertainment"
possibilities for the investment O
American capital In China, citing tn
fact that many railroads there wer
earning profit of from $4,000 to $l4,OO
in gold per mile every year.
DIR. KOO Is Thanked.
On motion of one of the delegate tn,
chamber gave Or. Koo a rising vote o.
thanks for telling us how the com
meTce Of China may be made the bride
OF American manufacturers"
Senator Duncan Fletcher OF Floridt
briefly outlined the work of the higl
commission. and President Fahey made
a few remarks amplifying those of DR.
Koo on the possibilities for American
business men and capital in China.
The commercial secretaries ATTENDED
a get-toEether luncheon at the Raleig
Hotel this afternoon.
Tonight Vice President Marshall ant
the Indiana Congressman and Senator
will be the guests of the Indiana dele
gates to the meeting at a dinner at th
Ahoreham HoeS..
Tomorrow will be the big day. as wei
as the last day of the annual meeting
In addition to electinR officers, the del'
gates win attend a banquet and listel
TO President Wilson, Secretary Of tn
Navy Daniels and Secretary Of Wa
Garrison talk on preparedness.