The Washington times., 1916-04-24
TIME FOR COMMERCIAL PRE-
PAREDNEss


ago, and several months after its be-
ginning the head Of our Government
assured the Congress that there was
no occasion for agitation about our
own state Of preparedness. A year
and four months was frittered away
without any serious consideration Of
that question; then, and only then,
after we had been within the shadow
Of a war cloud for months, the BUSH
ness of preparation was taken up in
its preliminary phases. Today, every
body with real American sentiments
realizes how sad mistake 1t all was.
Yet there is danger that, on the
economic side, we shall make like
mistake. The entente allies are al
ready making detailed plans for
commercial affiliation during and af-
ter the war. Their international
parliamentary economic conference
will meet in Paris this week, to work
out sweeping plans for the future. A
Paris dispatch says:
The subjects to be discussed will In
contracts, the collection OF debts, Sc
| questration OF goods and chattels, the
question OF patents and kindred sub
jects. measures of precaution against
the invasion OF the markets OF the
allies by German products upon the
conclusion OF peace, measures for re-
pairing the damages of war, reduce
ton OF postal. telegraphic. and tele-
OF minimum tariff in favor. of the
allies, agreements. in regard TO the
international transportation OF mer-
chandise. the creation OF an interna
tional patent bureau. commercial at
fairs Of the colonies of the allied ma
tions. Observation-Disclosures OF the law
governing corporations. measures
destined to reduce metallic circuia-
ton. the institution of an information
al clearing house. uniform principles
to be embodied in laws relative TO
the false designation of merchandise,
laws concerning failures. legislation
relative to the loss or theft of secur-
| tiles payable to bearer.
| The discussion of these questions
Will occupy the three days session.
Can anybody fail to appreciate
that tariff union of the allied ma
tons would be a threat to vast in
dustrial and commercial interests of
this country? Or that uniform and
presumably preferential patent sys-
TENS would have much the same eff
feet? Or that unification Of their
fabric Of ocean transport facilities,
in connection with these tariff and
patent arrangements, would be GER
tain to cut off the United States
from some part Of the maritime &C.
commodations 1t now enjoys?
These are portentous proposals
They point to purpose to knit the
entente powers tightly together, tc
consolidate their fiscal and industrial
forces, as a firm safeguard against
the possibility Of further aggression
by Germany in future. Germany ID
to be isolated commercially; but In
doing that the United States will
also be left outside unless it shall
take necessary steps to insure its
partnership.
Right now is the time for this ma.
ton to be moving in it's own interest
We are going to have new problems
Of tariff, merchant marine, and the
like, on which competent authorities
should now be at work. Economic
preparedness will take as much time
as military; and the necessity for /,
will be terribly apparent, when it i.
too late, unless we realize the need
more keenly and promptly than we
did that for military preparation.