The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-07-06
BOYCOTT
OF German Business After War Ends
Leaders CIalm--Allled Finance
Chiefs DO Not Plan Trade
WaIl-PurpOse Of Confer
ence Was TO Keep
Competition Clear.

New York, July 5-There seems to
be some misunderstanding about the
purposes of the Allied Economic Con-
ference which began in Paris on June
14. There Is no misunderstanding,
however, on the part Of the interna-
tional fnanciers who we're in confer
ence I'm London little over year
ago, when the first suggestion Of a
meeting of representatives Of the al
lies was made.
lt was one of the American fnancier
who attended the first meeting in Lon
don who suggested that the customary
red tape and formal etiquette of d.
plomacy be abandoned, and that those
who represented the allies get togeth-
err as quickly as possible and without
any ceremony. The first result of this
suggestion was a cable dispatch to the
Finance Minister of Russia, in which
he was asked II he would attend
conference at Paris. So, also, the
French Finance Minister was invited,
and he responded quickly, as did the
Russian Finance Minister.
AS soon as practicable meeting
was held at Paris, and at that meet
ing the first details of cooperation,
economic and financial chiefly, were
agreed upon. 1t was then decided to
hold a second conference, in order to
perfect these plans for cooperation.
That second conference was held last
winter It was final, excepting that
there was agreement for supple
mentary conference, which was to dis
cuss certain trade and commercial
propositions which are not of present
Importance, but are in line of prep
aration for trade and commercial ac-
ton to be taken after the war ends.
No Chinese Wall Planned
There was no understanding that
this supplementary conference would
be held to devise ways and means for
choking Germany industrially and
commercially after the war was ended
The Baron d'Estournelles d'Constant
who. although a strong advocate of
world peace, nevertheless, as a men,
Der of the French Senate, has given
earnest support to all measures taken
by France for defense, communicated
to some who took part in the con-
ference last week that it would be a
suicidal, worse than childish, policy
if the allies were to attempt to build
a Chinese trade wall around Germany
There are intimations that the Baron
was informed that there was no pur-
pose of that kind.
II is probable that the chief pur-
pose Of this conference is such coop
ating agreement as would make it
impossible for Germany or any nation
to exact from Russia or any other
country commercial treaties of the
kind Germany did exact from Russia
shortly after the latter's war with
Japan was ended.
One of the international financiers,
who sared in the conferences held in
London last year, said this morning
that nobody of ordinary intelligence
would support any proposition which
had in view the choking of Germany
industrially and commercially after
the war is ended. On the contrary,
there is every reason for encouraging
trade with Germany, for the German
markets should be among the largest
in the world after peace has come
Certainly the United States would not
tolerate an unfair proposition of that
kind, for even from selfish point OF
view this country should encourage
great commerce between Germany and
the United States.
Want Freedom Of Trade
There is, 1t is believed, no possibility
o fany agreement on the part of this
conference in support Of a plan to
boycott Germany What the confer
ence aims to secure is absolute free.
dom of competition. This was some
thing which Russia sought and her
leaders said was denied to that coun-
try by Germany.
In an address delivered few days
ago in this city by man familiar with
commercial conditions in South Aemr-
lea. he stated with emphasis that the
new principle Of trade is not reflected
by the old apothegm, Trade follows
the flag" Some time ago a leading
business man stated that II had been
discovered that trade, while 1t is in
fuenced by the rails-that is It say,
by new railroads-does not follow
Exclusively the laying down of rail-
road track. The new principle is that
Trade follows the loan" To that
country from which the loans come
Twill the trade Of the country go which
has received the benefits OF these
loans
One OF the comments which have
been heard since the new and skill
fully negotiated Russian loan OF $780,
n aaa