Imperial Valley press., 1917-05-26
TRADE COMMISSIONS
TO EXCHANGE IDEAS
CORRESPONDENCE of Associated Press)


Rome, May 26.-"The United
States should send a trade commits
sion to Italy, and Italy should send
ole to the United States, and the
two countries should cooperate, if
these two countries want to fully de-
velop their joint commerce" said
Ernest E. Ling of the American
Chamber of Commerce for Italy and
representative in Italy of one of the
largest banks of New York.
Il have been in Italy eight months
and it is clair to me that the big
war business the United States IS
now doing here can be continued aft
er the war if both countries pull to-
sether," he continued,
"The best asset and wealth of It
ally is her working spirit that the
war has awakened. The nobility OF
Italy have learned in the trenches that
work is not a disgrace, and all are
eager to leave off their old custom
of cane-carrying and party dancing.
"The other fellows in the trenches,
who have always worked more or less
for living, are going to come out
Of the war graduates of fine work
ing school and they are going to &c
work in the shops as skilled work
men.
"From an American point OF view,
Italy has become a flne market tof
iron, steel, coal, cotton, electrical
equipment. for mechanical tools, for
heavy machinery tools of all kinds.
BEFORE the war Germany sold largely
Of these materials here, but now the
Italians are going it alone. They have
developed self-reliance as national
asset, and this lasting result OF the
war should improve the market for
American products.
"The big point in international
trade is salesmanship, and this Is
where trade commissions could do
much good, by securing closer gov
ernment cooperation, by regulating
tariffs, by revising commercial laws
ny bringing closer together the bus
mess people f the respective nations,
by using expert information for the
establishment of credits. What my
firm thinks of Italy is indicated by
the fact that its first European
branch was established in Geonoa Oc-
tober last, prior by four months to
it's Petrograd branch. Of course
Genoa is a big shipping center Tor
I'll of south Europe.
"While the Americans in Italy are
| not active, trade commissions OF
| ether nations, such as Japan, are ac-
tive. A good deal of Italy's new
rade will go to South America, but
he credit extensions possible in the
United States should be an advan-
tage. The Italians appreciate tn
:.act, but l doubt if anybody, how
ever, in all of Europe knows tha'
the internal commerce of the Unltee
4 States is so enormous that we coul1
90 very we'll without any foreign
trade whatever.
.Italy is aware of her own neces
sitv for the development of her for
| e,gn trade as we'll as her interna
resources. The coal situation IN thl'
war showed her how holpless she Is
l for instance, with steam instead o
electrical power. Her national pov
trty in industries is today registere'
by the exchange value of her money
which loses some 80 per cent abroad
She is courageously preparing to IN
crease her industries, such as sllE
tc make her soil produce more whea
and other foods, and irorpove her lam
and water transportation systems an
20 develop her natural mineral depos
:fc