The sun., 1918-12-30
FRANCE SEES PERIL
IN IT, S. TRADE DRIVE
Fear Grows That Nation Will
Become Victim Of Huge
Economic Aggressor.
WARNING FROM SOCIALIST
Americans Are Making Fatal
Mistake, He ~Says-Menace
to League Of Nations.
Special cao,s DespescA to TIE Sun.

s0o U.s. EfV"ho NNccN W.
PARIS, Dec 2s.-America's Impotence
to return to business Is causing obvi-
u unrest in France. It Is interpreted
here by men OF all shades Of opinion as
meaning the adoption OF an aggressive
economic policy by American manufac-
turers and business men for the ex-
ploitation commercially of weak and
bankrupt Europe.
A favorable impression vas produced
here some weeks g by Secretary Red
ned's appeal to American industry to
give Europe a chance to recover and
to resist the temptation to become a
great expectation trust, but this has
been removed almost entirely by recent
cabled news announcing the end OF ex-
port restrictions, the dissolution of the
war trade boards, &C. In other words,
the return to complete commercial in
dependence.
"Frenchmen see In that" said a
prominent French industrialist TO the
correspondent OF THE Sun. danger Of
their country becoming the victim of
a giant economic aggressor as menace
ing and dangerous to its vitality and
existence as any military or political
foe
Socialist Sounds Warming.
This manufacturers fear IL echoed by
another section OF opinion. Albert
Thomas. the Socialist leader, declared
to THE Sun that these fears are borne
out not only by what Is heard from
America but also by what is happen
ing under our eyes. In American COM
mercial circles in Paris. ne said, he had
discerned the amt spirit Of aggressive
business.
Commercial travellers and men OF az
fairs in the American Army. Thomas as
serted are known TO have been clearing
the field here for doing a big business.
They have been establishing relations
with French industrials. placing orders,
and. in general, building the structure
Of an immense monopoly.
Dare | say TO u American friends"
he added. especially 10 that notable
group OF savants, jur,sts and diplomats
accompanying President Wilson, that
this spirit is a bad one that II is con-
trary even TO the conception % = new
world organization formulated by the
President Of the United States?
America has rendered signal services
TO France and the entire civilized world,
and by fAr economic conventions, her
food. shipping and raw material COM
mittees. had helped to seal the entente
between France and the United States.
Sees Am ericans' Mistake.
Americans, however. are making a
fatal mistake in believing their task
has been achieved and IN demonstrating
II by their hurry 10. return TO their
sbusiness as usual existence"
The present economic conventions
must he maintained. Thomas sale the
economic organs created In the United
States must be continued a little longer.
for upon them depends the very life
OF France. md. he added The time
is come when America must how that
her friendship for France was not mere
~ passing emotionalism."
America, he declared warmly. must
not permit its most hardened Industrial
its. its most audacious and most merci-
less spectators TO profit by their new
liberty to establish n sort OF economic
hegemony over those nations which have
borne the greatest sacrifices.
by what strange paradox" he asked.
ARE the most jealous hackers OF the
league OF nations beginning TO destroy
the economic rgans which constitute
one OF the first factors for the ~realiza-
ton OF the purposes OF that league:"