The Detroit times., 1916-11-29
Trade is Nations Life
And Europe Will Fight
For 1t After the War

FOR III AIieT the W Ill
Altho il is thought that the Federal
Reserve act will serve as balance and
prevent panic in business at the close ot
the war, the National Board Of COM
merce and other business organizations
are formulating plans to insure the
United States against a possible terrific
business slump and general bad times
when the enormous expectation of Amerl-
can products shall have been curtal!ed-
A journal which acts as a spokesman
for Wall-st states that there will be de-
mand for steel for at least two years fol-
lowing the wars end, needed for con-
structive purposes, but it is the opinion OF
experts that following that time Europe
will be able to protect herself commercial
ly in that production which Is the COM
modify which rules the markets OF the
world today
Immediately at the close Of the war,
directors of the National Board Of Com
merce believe that European countries
will place high duties on all imports in
order to safeguard their own manufac-
lures.
Mutual agreements have already been
made between Austria and Germany
under the name of the Central European
Lollverein, while representatives Of the
Allied powers met in Paris as long ago as
last June and laid plans which would con
/, serve for the Allied countries all of their
f. resources for the entire period Of recon
struction.
1t is thought that raw material from
Europe will be very scarce and that the
manufacturer here Will suffer; also that
Europe will be poor customer for our
goods, thus cutting down the profits at
both ends.
IL trade wars are 10 be avoided in Eu-
rope, careful planning will have 70 be
done, for, unless all countries are given a
just opportunity and share in the mark
cts of the world this war brought or foI
commercial reasons, will bring about i'm
mediately a rivalry Of armaments and
will only be the first Of terrible series
If the European countries are con
fronted with the necessity for huge mil
tary appropriations TO maintain armies anc
navies, they will be hopelessly buried ID
debt and no permanent peace can b'
looked FOR. For ,rade is the financial lif'
blood of the nation and when "a countr,
fights for it. il is. to all in.ents and pur
poses. fighting for Is life
Therefore the National Board of Con
merce Of the United States and others ar
studying this question with all the bus
ness acumen at their command and Oh
ploblem which they believe viii cor
front this country the first of AL j., th
tariff.
They believe that ali theoretical idet
on that subject must be temporarily ia.
aside TO met an emergency never befor
encountered They believe that III
tariff must be graduated SO as 10 proteC
us from being SWamped with cheap FL
ropean goods, while at the same time b,
ing low enough So as not 10 restrict G,
portation. They believe that business il
terests should not be kept from unitini
as they will have TO compete with unitin
interests abroad.
Next they believe that there will be
serious shortage Of labor which will h&y
to be met by women or the Negro, f.
il is almost certain that the able-bodie
men of Europe will be kept at home {
assist in the work Of reconstruction.
Last We must learn to conserve our rt
sources and do away with the materii
waste which is no longer an individual
but a national crime. and we must ais
work out some arrangement whereby Ia
Z bor troubles may be adjusted and tn
49, v. 4..11.... q Z a...,.1gl...