Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-12-24
FRANCE LOOKS
 ID Us FOR AID
 AFTER THE WAR
Desires Closer Trade Rela- tions, and Hopes for
 Reciprocity.
Correspondence Associated Press)

(COfreSp00dcnce ASSOclatCQ PFeSS)
 Paris, Nov. 26-"How is France go. ing to pay the bill? By applying to productive occupations the effort she has sustained in war;" in the opinion of Mir. Raoul Peret, former minister of commerce. In an interview with the Associated Press he also declar- ed that the theory of reciprocity ought to be applied to the commercial re- lations between France and the Unit ed States after the war. M. Peret $ now "rapporteur' of the budget in the chamber of deputies-a post equiv alent to that of chairman of the way 5 and means committee of the house of representatives.
 Alexander Ribot, minister of fi- nance, has had the delicate task of borrowing the unprecedented sums that have been swallowed up by war. Raou Peret who has not much more than half of M. Ribot's 75 years, has before him the task of finding the .wherewithal to liquidate the debt.
 "M. Ribct, by his prompt action ill issuing short term bonds, rendered al cstimable service to France" says M. Peret. "He gave the French people a chance to show their confidence; they brought him so much money that it was not until the 18th month of hos tiities that he found it eXpedient to issue longer term bonds. investments in French bonds are never a gamble; yet, in sense, the purchase ot these securities was 9 wager on the result of the conflict and upon the ability of France to foot the bill. French peas ants. laboring men, mechanics, capl- talists-men and women of all classes that have money saved up-have been wagering in that way billion q month for nearly two years that France will triumph. Thirty-three and a half billion france, all told, M. Rlbot found in two years time in the pockets of our people.
 "France in a two years effort. ac- complish in military preparation what it took Germany 45 years to do: The same effort applied to industrial activity will do as much in solving the grave financial problem the war will have left on our hands; but 1t IS scarcely necessary to say that we shall need time to restore our H. nances.
 "It is difficult, and perhaps futile, to make estimates while the great ef- fort is going on, but, supposlng the war adds 70 billion francs to our pres cnt national debt of 30 billions, we shall owe a hundred billion francs.
 "That involves an annual interest of five billion francs, and is sufficient to reuuare serious reflection; yet 1t does not frighten the French people upon whom the charge is going to fall. They bring their money into the treasury as freely today as they did after the battle of the Marne when we thought it might be over in less than a year, and they know exactly what they are doing.
 "France has great reasons tor Wish ing to promote closer relations With the United States" said M. Peret, Tn conclusion. There are reasons ol sentiment and policy besides bulsness reasons. We shall want to sec you use more of our products than before, and we shall need more from you, What is desirable, even necessary, to Iracilitate these growing exchanges is commercial tariff system. Your ad valorem tariff is the obstacle. It al most kept our industries away from the San Francisco fair. We are hap py now that they went there, and we have been glad to see your industrial representatives here. It is to be hop cd that out of closer intercourse may come a solution to your great benefit as well as ours. It is the theory of reciprocal advantages that ought to bo anpIia1 "