The Washington times., 1916-03-27

Already there Is discussion among the
entente allied powers in Europe con.
cerning the commercial policy they will
pursue. In England there is sharp dI.
vision OF opinion as to whether the In.
terests OF the British empire will bC
furthered by an effort to promote some
sort OF commercial alliance among the
powers which are now co-opera ting In q
military wav.
sharp division OF opinion already IL
developing. On one side there is a de.
terrlined purpose to isolate Germany
commercially in the hope that this pro.
eeedinR will so weaken her economicaily
as to minimize the danger OF further
ambitious military undertakings.
The French people seem to have been
very little impressed with this proposal
They arc able to understand how Great
Britain would benefit vastly by such
a combination, because II would enable
British manufacturers quietly to absorb
the great foreign trade of Germany
But France has for many years found
one OF Its best customers in GerI any
and sees very little benefit in throwing
awav that market.
Seeks Russian Business.
The impression is getting pretty firm
ly established in this country that one
of the reasons for British interest In
the establishment OF n commercial al
lance Is that Great Britain would like
TO be the favored country In Russian
markets.
The war already Is making over Rus
sia in many ways. In the last generation
German manufacturers have led all
others in Russian markets. There Is
little doubt that for a decade or two
after the war. the inevitable antagonism
OF the Russians toward the Germans
will provide for English and American
manufacturers many advantages that
they have not heretofore enjoyed In
Russia.
in fact, for a considerable time. a,
least. after the war. the natural com
petitors for Russian business Will bC
Great Britain and the United states
Russia is going to have a great railroad
development. and thorough moderni'
zatlon of its agricultural methods.
The United States is the country tc
which Russia naturally would turn fol
guidance and for material to be used II
these two departments of development
American farm machinery and Ameri
to the uses OF country In which the
supply of land Is greater than the sup
ply OF labor.
American agriculture and American
railroGding are both conducted on the
expansive plan. while British and Ger.
man operations in these fields are In
tensive. The Germans have shown con
siderable skill and intelligence in adapt.
ing their manufacturing methods tc
Russian needs.
More Attractive Field.
II Is now very generally believed that
Russia will afford an even more at
tractlve field for our manufacturers
than South America. This impression
lately has been strengthened very much
by the activities OF a delegation repre-
senting Russian finance and commerce
which has been touring this country
and Will be In Washington In a few
days. The head and spokesman of the
delegation Is r, Martens, OF PetrogTad
Russia's determination to continue. In
the channels of commerce. the warfare
against Germany even after the guns
OF military warfare shall have ceased
firing, is testified by the preparations
this delegation is making to arouse
American manufacturers to their OPP
portunities In Russia. Russia's buying
capacity even now Is declared to be
greater than II ever was before. largely
because Of the prohibition OF vodka.