The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-28
ECONOMIC WAR
PLANS OF ALLIES
TO BE MODIFIED
Entrance of u. S. Causes
Change in Paris Confer
ence Decisions.

Washington. May 2s.-It is under
stood that presently there will he a
revision of afte>war policy adopted
last year ut the famous Economic
Conference Of Paris by representa-
tives of the Allied countries. The
principal movers in that enterprise
were Great Britain and France, and
the purpose was to prepare before
hand an economic war to follow the
conclusion of military peace. The OBJ
jects were mainly two:
First, to erect such barriers against
German trade after the war as prac-
goods from competition with goods
made in the Entente nations, in the
great world markets.
Second, to convert a military ALI
ance into an economic alliance which
should last through a period of ENl-
ropes rehabilitation and perhaps be
yond. The order of preference in all
things was to he: ALLIES first, friendly
neutrals second, unfriend1y neutrals
third, Germany last
There was a third purpose, rather
implied. than expressed. That was to
recover from the United States by
economic means the great mass of
gold which Europe had been obliged
to exchange for war munitions at very
hgih prices.
Obviously a change in this trade war
policy became desirable when the Uni
ted States entered the conflict. France
is said to be leading the demand for
a revision of the principles subscribed
to at the Paris conference. The Pro-
g.,
ed to be aligned with France.
The changes that have been propos-
ed would admit the Central Powers to
the worlds trade on less onerous terms
but, as now is recognized, the under
takings of the Paris conference, II
carried out literally, might actually
by cutting off the Allied countries
Central Powers.
| The Allies at the Paris conference
resolved; "The Allies declare them-
selves agreed to conserve for the Al
lied countries before all others their
natural resources during the whole
period of commercial, industrial, agri-
cultural and maritime reconstruction
and for this purpose they undertake to
establish special arrangements to IA
ctlitate the Interchange of these re-
sources"
The conferences went further and
decided:
s'In order to defend their commerce
and industry and their agriculture
| and navigation against economic ag-
| erosion resulting from dumping or
any other mode ofFunfair competition
the Allies decide to fix by agreement a
period Of time during which COM
merce with the enemy powers will be
submitted to special treatment, and
| good originating from their countries
will be subjected either to prohibitions
or to a special regime Of an effective
4 character
i 1t is held by onhcia1s here that the
URited States could not possibly be-
come a party to such an arrangement
nor to the following, also adopted by
the Allies:
THE Allies will devise measures, to
be taken Jointly or severally, for pre-
venting enemy subjects from exercis-
ing in their territories certain indus
tries or professions which concern ma
, tiona1 defence or economic independ-
ence.''
Il It is the belief here that such a pro.
| gramme as has been decided upon by
| the Allies, If carried out, would result
in another European war within ter
!, years after the restoration of peace
!, At the same time, it is recognized here
J that measures must be adopted tt
, meet the expected competition from
the Central Powers. 1t is the opin.
ion of Americans experts that the de-
: vice selected, however, must not b.
/ the continuance of a lineup of ma.
i tons which will have in heart a hos
/ tility to another set of, powers, bu
be based upon just economic princi
pies, in order to avoidthe necessity o.
powers Disseminated against havins
a fresh resort to arms to obtain fail
l treatment in the worlds trade.
) It was also asserted that the WORLD
, would have need of Germany's re-
, sources and industrial efficiency in it
: task Of reconstruction, and that arti
: fetal methods employed to suppress
. Germany would not in the end hay
, the effect Of the smothering process
but that the compression would reacl
a a point where, though possibly agains
/ her will, Germany would be COMPEL
ed to declare war anew
j It was considered probable tina
f within a few months another econom
v ic conference of the Allies at which
Q the United States is to be representa-
Y will be called. when the Paris declara
: ton will be completely revised an
s new policies based on sounder prin
= ciples. will be decided upon.