The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-08-24
Will Unite Europe, Asia and
South America Through
Ports After War
MUST BE TAUGHT
TO EXPORT SURPLUS

Man All Available American Ships
Revision Of Maritime Laws Is Also
Important.
NEW YORK, Aug. 24.-The United
States as the economic connecting link
between three continents-Asia, South
America, and Europe, in the reconstruc
ton period after the war, is pictured
in statement just issued by the Equit-
able trust company of New York.
The Equitable's statement says thatI
it is becoming more and more apparent
that as soon as the war ends it will be
the duty of the western powers to-
strain all their energies toward the re-
construction of the shattered economic |
structure of the world. The industrial |
countries will have to produce at full |
capacity so as to be in position to
increase their exports in proportion to |
the enormous increase of their public |
debt and monetary circulation
1t is pointed out, however, that two
elements will be indispensable to the
accomplishment of this purpose. First,
the industrial countries will have to de-
velop all their material resources even
TO the extent of tapping the dormant
supplies of undeveloped countries, and
IN the second place they will have to
create new and powerful markets for
the absorption of their manufactured
products. In other words they will have
to enter. into close touch with countries
, and nations susceptible of being de-
! yeloped both as purveyors of raw ma
terial and as consumers of manufac-
t tured, or manufactured products.
/ 1.-THE most elementary knowledge of
' the world S dormant natural wealth and
of the distribution of population on the
earth, says the Equitable s statement
t Z" shows that the location of both these
h elements necessary to the international
O economic welfare are to be found in
Asia, and to a lesser degree, in South
!, America.
r Accepting this theory as basic
! truth, a glance at, the map will suffice
to convince even the most conservative
d among us of the great role which the
. United States viii have to play in the
IS coming work of. reconstruction. Our
n wealth, our development, and our geo
a graphic position will make it not only
(. desirable, but indispensable, that we
+ should act as a connecting Ink between
Ie Eastern Asia, South America, and Eu-
/ rope.
.tOur proximity to the eastern cont.
leI nent, overlooking with natural wealth
10 and with an industrious population sus
i'd eeptible of being taught the advantages
r of modern comfort represented by 9
Is thousand and one commodities manu-
d. featured by western Industries. vii
ID make it most desirable for our CAPT
n talists, manufacturers, and promoter!
IN to take an active interest in developing
IS the opportunities offered to us, thank
IL to our geographical position and to TIL,
'e worldwide reputation rightly enjoyed
&c by our business men.
til 'tIt should not be forgotten that W,
he owe it to ourselves and to sorely trie,
be world to take full advantage of tn
st means which have been put in on
h. hands by circumstances and by our 10
in cation on the crossing point of the grea
nd trade routes of the near future TIL
cd same factors which have made of Ham
at burg, Amsterdam, Antwerp, London
ID and Liverpool, the trans-shipping han
20 bors and entrepots of the trade traffi
between the West and Northeastern
,er Europe are today working toward
ed making New York, Boston, Philade
it phia, New Orleans, Seattle, San Frar
"a cisco, Los Angeles, and Manila, trans
1m shipping harbofs and entrepots of til
Mt, world trade traffic, provided we ar
lid ready to rise TO the occasion as hav
nd the Hanseatics, the Dutch, the Flemis
or and the Enghshmen.
Sesl .sIf the United States is to achieve il
Use position as a great economic link, 81
'ay forts must be concentrated on three oil
ow ieets. In the first place, it is emph:
sized that the American people must b
I've taught and induced to export their su
be plus savings which are not required b
nd the industrial life of this country, an
re- to invest them in wealth-producing 70
be eign enterprises. Secondly, adequat
lch crews must be trained to man all avail
nst able American ships, while another b
hts factor the trust company points out,
the amending of our maritime laws
de- that the new American merchant M
dis rine may compete with foreign ships {
xed the high seas and handle the expo
the and import trade from Asia and Sout
ons America to Europe and vice versa, |
tax way of American ports.
hey Finally, the statement suggests TIL
Will extensive warehouses should be co
the structed in every American key port
dak along the international. trade rout
pa (which cross the United States, besid
ard creating free ports at such terminals
Oil The statement concluded:
'res ssWhiIe it is true that the time to i
my, itiate active work will not come befo
my. the end of the war, and while it is trl
and that at present all our energies must
Thei devoted to the successful prosecution
UGH the war, If is, nevertheless, true that
,htq time of war we must prepare
ana peace.
'ilts ssThe preparatory work for a rea
justment on the lines broadly outlin
above is so considerable that it is no
The too soon to start now taking into co
the slderatlon the dlHerent angles OF t