The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-26
The Allied Economic Alliance

The Allied Economic Alliance
The statement which Lord Robert
cecil, the British under secretary OF
state for foreign affairs and minister
Of blockade, gave out on July I4th
regarding the worlds trade after the
war Is important chiefly for the sim
pie mention OF the fact that an asso-
citation OF tweutyfour nations, bound
together by common opposition TO
the international policies of GERMANY
III already In existence and has been
working along the most effective /
ihfS over Il considerab BILE period This
association of nations is a direct out
growth of the alliance of eight ma
lions entered into two years ago at
the famous economic conference held /
In Paris There is, however. this I'M /
Poftant difference to he noted The +
| carrier association of eight was n mar /
70" defensive alliance, aimed quite as |
much against the abnormal impetus /
given by the war to the Industries |
ana commerce Of the nations which |
We're then neutral including. OF
course, the United states as il was
directed against the rehabilitation of |
/ tefTnanw@ The present association, /
while still defensive In character. has
for its main purpose such a com bina-
uon OF the resources of the nations I
Whlch have entered into 1t as will |
make Germany impotent hereafter TO
use economic measures In prerara- |
tion for future wars.
| The present association Of twenty !
! four nations is not bound together by |
! any FORMAL treaty or arrangement.
but the nations in it have been drawn
! together by material interests and a
common purpose which make the
union as strong as any formal alliance
entered into around the council
BOARD. These nations have pooled
their resources and entered into in
formal ARRANGEMENTS In order 10 ea-
1 cape that economic dependence and
tFlavery which q victorious Germany
would inevitably impose upon them
he measures which most Of them
maven to control and direct exnort
ana import business are founded upon
the same broad principles. modified
IN their application by the individual
nations as the conditions and re-
fduirenents of each may dictate as
necessary The more powerful mem.
beers Of the partnership have made
financial arrangem ents with each
other. and have extended credits TO
each other, in a liberal way that
nothing short OF a very great com
mon danger could have induced them
10 do In similar manner these ma
itlons nave merged their shipping
ana have induced many OF the ship
owning neutrals TO do likewise, and
then have allocated this transporta-
ton to the trades In which 1t would
best serve themselves and the neu-
trails dependent upon them Other
concrete evidences of the actual ex-
iStence OF this informal association of
the nations. and OF the individual
sacrifices which have been made for
the common good, will multiply as
the war goes through to the only con-
ceivahle conclusion.
Regardless Of whether this ineor-
mai association shall later be trans
lated into Normai alliance, it Is we'll
10 bear In mind that the present com
hinaton Will IN fact continue TO exist
for some time after the war, and be
Just as effective as it ia today T.
the period of reconstruction is 20 be
entered into successfully and Its early
stages passed through without de-
moralization of finance industry and
commerce. the strong nations now
acting in harmony N ust continue TO
act together. Anticipating this GER
tainty. most % the countries have
provided in tho enabling legislation
upon which THEN export and i,apoIt
restrictions tire based for continl.
ance Of the trade control for a more
or less d,fintto period after the wa.
while others lave left the matter
open for culture dete- mination Tha
continuance 90 this control will natu.
rally Involve also the continuance, IN
a modified form perhaps. of the pres
emit arrangements in connection with
government and commercial credits
can he abandoned imm ediately upon
the cessation OF hostilities.
This informal association of
| twenty f0ur patioru WOW, a..
Germany, together with such other
nations as may later be added, will
continue TO exist for an indefinite pc
Rod regardless of any change, which
may come about in the German eco
nomic~ policy. II will be a matter of
self preservation for the nations now
associated, Unless the more power
full OF them are able to give stability
to industry commerce and finance
the world cannot be reconstructed
: nor ran there be any return of pros
!. perity. During this period of recon
struction Germany will have an op-
portunity to determine for itself. and
to prove TO the civilized world.
whether 1t will persist in it's present
purpose of selfish economic domino
ton, or Will consent to enter into an
association or league nations based
for all - Philadelphia Commercial
Museum.
Girl Tripiets Graduate.
Quakertown. Pa, July 25-Hatfie1d
High school Montgomery county,
claims the distinction OF being the
,p1xF frb ~~I 10