New-York tribune., 1918-05-21
World Trade Mart
To Be Opened Here
By Alfred du Pont
Grand Central Palace Pur.
chased for Great Inter.
national Venture
Would Assist Allie.
Plan Also Would Strengthen
u. S. Relations With
South America
Would Assist Allie.

IN commercial ventures here have nn,-
chased the Grand Central Palac. :.
another step in their endeavor :.
strengthen the trade relations between
this nation, our allies, the republic, -
Latin America and the Far East
The Grand Central Palace will be N.
home OF the corporations controlled BY
Mr.. Du Pont and his partners, as vel,
as the American headquarters "a,
firms of the above mentioned nat;on.
It will serve also as a permanent ax-
hibiton building for the wares of conn
tries bound to US in a trade brothar-
hood. Under a recent act of Conrress
such goods may be brought into IT,.
country duty free for the purposes Of
exposition.
The major portion of the Grand
Central Palace will be devoted to IN.
exhibition Of goods OF foreign mann.
facturers. The two top floors of the
structure will be fitted up as club
rooms where men engaged in commercs
may meet and talk things over.
cit is proposed" Mr.. du Pont said
last night, "to have in the building the
largest commercial club that has ever
been brought under one roof and q
such size and equipment as shall Be
worthy of the purpose for which the
building is desired"
Other Corporations in Move
Other corporations which have been
brought under the control of the du
Pont group in their great international
venture are the French American Con-
structive Corporation, the Allied In
dustries Corporation, the All Americas
Association, All Americas Publishing
Company, Merchants and Manufactr
urers' Exchange and New York Furni-
ture Exchange.
The purpose Of the plan, according
to Mr.. du Pont, is "to make possible
the interchange Of commodities be-
tween peoples that have contributed
so much to the onward trend of civil
lization."
GAS one who has been actively con.
cerned for years in large undertak.
ings," he continued. "who has studied
international questions and has been
successful in serving important busi-
ness interests and many governments,
have been endeavoring for some time
to perfect an organization by means
of which I could carry out my views
and aid the government in my own
country, the Allied governments in
Europe and the countries of Latin.
America.
at is1ny earnest desire to assist
| the Allied governments and the people
of all Americas. l have carefully in-
vestigated international business con.
ditions and sought a solution Of the
complicated problems Of commercial
exchange"
Others who are associated with Mr.
du Pont in this scheme are William
du Pont of Delaware, Charles C. Dick.
son of Delaware, William P. Bonbrigfl
of New York, Myron T. Herrick o.
Ohio, Viscount Furness of London
Montreal, Colonel William Cantley Of
Nova Scotia, and M. Etienne Groscauldt
of Paris.
He then told of the motive which
prompted the purchase of the Grand
Central Palace, pointing out that un-
der act of Congress in 1912 it was
provided that articles imported Tor
exposition purposes only from other
countries might be admitted duty free.
"The goods will be brought into TINS
country duty Free" he went on; inc II
tariff will be paid as the merchandise
is sold and at a price that may Dc
caused by any depreciation that snah
appear at the time of the sale
Would Benefit Allies
"In this way large quantities Of silk
and many lines of merchandise from
foreign countries can be exhibited to
| buyers ans the money resulting from
sales sent to these countries, which are
! at the present time in need Thereon. SO
that this assistance would accomplish
two results simultaneously promo,
ton of trade and the alleviatlon OF
suffering" -,
Mr.. du Pont believes that the facin'
ties for trading insured by the estaD. az.
lishment of such an institution as tns
Grand Central Palace is to become VIII
be of great benefit to the Allies, whose
commerce has been sadly hampered pe'
cause of the war. =, =.
"No doubt" he said, there will d
tonnage space in some OF the snlps ~
turning from the TRANSPORTATION OF ou,
troops to Europe for p large amount o.
foreign merchandise, so that immeoia,s'
stock for exhibition purposes can proD
ably be secured. =.
"There never have been really ade.
quate facilities for trade between I'M
countries of the world. In other woros
such trade has been more or less &c.
cidental and haphazard, but this pro|ecs
will render it possible to have noO.
space of upward of 100000 feet, wness s
American merchants, manufacture,
and buyers can meet on grcunds Z.
common interest and consummate Wy
purchase and sale of merchandise @A'