New-York tribune., 1919-02-03
New Enterprise Will
Invest in Persia
And Promote Trade
President of Persian-Ameri-
can Corporation Says
American Producers Can
Supply All Empires Needs

Announcement was made last night
of the formation of a 100000 cor
poration, to be known as the Persian
American Commercial Corporation,
whose object is to foster trade be-
tween this country and Persia and to
create in the ancient empire opportu-
mites for American capital, initiative
and enterprise. 1t is expected that the
investment of American capital IN FER
sian commercial enterprises will form
no small part of the new organlza-
tion's activities.
Instrumental in forming the new or
ganization, which is believed to be the
first in this country with the avowed
purpcse o. fostering trade between
America and Persia, is the Persian
Minister to the United States, Or.
Mira Ali Kula Khan, who occupies the
position of vice-president in the cor,
poration. Warren G. King, of Bound
Rrook. N. j.. president of the Manu-
facturers' Council of the State OF New
Jersey and head of several New York
and New Jersey corporations, is presl-
The formation of the corporation is
the indirect result. of a speech de-
livered by Dr. Khan last December at
the reconstruction convention of the
Manufacturers Council of the State
of New Jersey at the Robert Treat
Hotel, in Newark.
At that time DR.. Khan outlined the
industrial and commercial posslbili-
ties III Persia, which has a territory
three times the size of France and
population Of 15,000,G00 and is rich in
-; 10 N
Russia, under the autocratic regime of
the Car, had endeavored to gain con-
troll Of Persia but that freed from
this impending fate by the fortunes of
war. Persia was ready to welcome
American industrial and commercial
enterprise in the upbuilding of the
country
Mr.. King was impressed with Or.
Khan's remarks and subsequent con
ference between the two developed
into plans for the organization of the
corporation The articles Of incorpora-
ton, under the laws of Delaware, were
filed before the departure of DIR. khan
on January for France, where he IS
representing his country at the Peace
Conference.
The corporation has opened offices
at n Front Street and is preparing
of that country who have resided here,
together with number of American
engineers and commercial experts who
will establish branches of the corpora
tion throughout the Persian Empire.
These representatives will go by way
of France, where they will be joined
by DR.. Khan, who will conduct the
party to Teheran, the Persian capital,
and there introduce them to the Shah
and the Persian Parliament. The
Prime Minister of Persia, now in Paris
for the Peace Conference, probably
will accompany the party to Persia. 1t
is expected that the first consignment
of American goods for Persia will
leave here in April.
american manufacturers, said Mr.
King, "can supply Persia with all it's
needs, such as light agricultural i'm
plements, shoes, clothes, glassware,
matches. lamps, foodstuffs, roofing ma
teral, autom obiles. leather and rubber
goods, chemicals, drugs and medicines
of all kinds, soap. paper, twlne, thread
and, in fact, all the necessities Of life,
except meat and cereals. In exchange
for which Persia will furnish wool.
hides, rugs, pearls and rubies, gums,
spices and furs.
persia has no railroads and engi
neers are now studying a plan Of rail
roads to link up all the principal cities
of the empire to the seaports on the
Persian Gulf, thus providing for the
opening of the wonderful coal and iron
deposits in the north. This will af-
ford an opportunity for the investment
of American capital. The corporation
expects to develop the water supply, as
we'll as the supply of gas and cleo
tricity, to the principal cities Of the