New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-12

(AccTecttSd 20 ne Fsf'h9hg 'H"'b '"
roov,nsh. 1917. ~ Tns rreuns AssOs,iionl
LYONS. Oct. 20.-With q little more
trust, a little more tact and little
more excelsior, American business men
can vanquish Germany for the trade OF
France after the war.
Three things have curtaiied the vol
ume Of American trade with France In
manufactured articles. One is the
general refusal by American manufaet-
urers to grant liberal credits. French
merchants will never accept demands
of our merchants for payment I. o. D.,
New York, or cash against documents
Germans always granted liberal credits
to reliable business houses in France.
Indeed. one of the chief duties Of Ger
man consular agents was to prepare
commercial ratings for the benent OF
German merchants desiring to trade
with France. Big American manu-
facturers have sometimes insisted upon
advance payments from some OF the
most reliable houses in France. Not
only DO the merchants here consider
that bad business, but it is numlliat-
ing to their pride.
A second handicap against when
American trade has had TO contend IS
the attempt Of some American agents
20 introduce rapid-fire methods OF sell
ing. The al want Just three minutes
Of your time to state my proposition
will not 20 in France. The merchants
here cannot be jollied into purcnsse'
and they have slight interest In nu-
morous anecdotes. Such small thing
as poor packing has cost America nuh-
dreds Of orders; goods from across tne
seas often come in fragments through
careless Grating.
Germany Boycotted Now
Germany had developed French trade
very highly before the war, and IN the
LONG run American goods and Amer
lean methods must be as good as ths
German if the markets are to be ned
The maxim that commerce knows no
patriotism" is probably true over
period of years, but there IS no ques-
ton that Germany will have TO over
come big handicsps Immediately after
the war. no matter whether there is an
official government boycott or not.
The unofficial boycott Is already
planned. and the propaganda for the
commercial exclusion Of Germany has
been carried throughout France
Leagues have been organized IN every
big city. and along the fences one sees
huge placards urging every one "a
apree not 10 trade with Germany at
H. end Of the war. The favorlte
noster represents in the upper half q
German soldier standing in the smok'
ing ruins of a city with torch IN one
hand and q bloody knife in the other
In the lower half he has become q
courteous civilian, with 4 suitcase OF
samples. and hat in hand he IS standing
at the doorway of French wholesale
shop. Bear in mind says the cap
ton on the poster. he is the same man
the very same"
Must Know Origin Of Goods
The various anti-German trade
LEAGUES hold frequent conferences sh'
+hev have advocated series OF meas
ures which would make 1t dlflcult Iol
Cerr,ans 20 do business IN France loi
a number Of years. The members OF
the league pledge themselves 20 get
from every business house from whlct
thew buy a declaration of the origin OF
ali merchandise which they may pur'
cbase If the members of the league
ore in business they promise TO furnish
Junlicates of this declaration TO theil
customers. The leagues are urging inc
massage Of a law TO compel every bust
ness man, every manufacturer, every
retailer and every hotel keeper to dis