The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-05
COTTONIS CRYING
NEED Of THE NEW
CZECH REPUBLIC
Ambassador PergIer Urges
Memphis Cotton and Cot
tOnSeed Men to Go After
Business at Once.


Cotton is the crying need; cotton is
second In importance only to food to
the Czecho- Slovak republic, the Hon.
Charles Pergler, trade commissioner
and ambassador to the United States
from the new Middle European Slax
democracy. told The News Scimitar
Monday morning.
Mr.. Pergler Is in Memphis to urge
that Memphis cotton men u repre-
sentatives to Bohemia TO arrange for
direct export OF raw cotton to the tex
tile people OF his country. His visit is
part Of a general campaign to promote
direct trade between America and
Czecho- Slovakia.
I'VE must have cotton" said Mr..
Pergler; the employment of hundreds
OF thousands OF our people depends
upon cotton, Before the war we i'm
ported cotton through Germany. but
there Is no reason why this should be
continued. Certainly there Is every rea-
son why II should not be continued"
America is the most favored nation to
the Czecho- Slovak republic, Mr.. Pergler
explained, and II Is the desire of his
government that the American business
interests have first opportunity to get
the large import trade which 1t has to
offer. THE business IL there and some
body Is going to go after 1t. We must
have raw materials, n we urge that
American business men send represent
tatiVe over Immediately to establish
connections. Business a not be ar
ranged satisfactorily by cable or wen
by letter. It requires personal con-
tact"
It will be no great trouble for the
Czecho-Slovakians to pay for what they
buy In America, Mr.. Pergler said, and
Americans can well afford to extend
credits to the industries of his coun-
try. The republic has the natural re-
sources to support any necessary
credits, 1ndustrially and agriculturally,
he said, the territories of Bohemia, Mo-
ravia and Slavonia, now comprised in
the new state, were the most highly de-
veloped parts OF the former Austro-
Hungarian empire and the most highly
developed In Eastern and Central
Eastern Europe. The textile industries
OF Bohemia and its sister provinces
must ultimately control the textile situ-
alton In Poland, Rumania, Jugo-Slavia
n even Russia, he said, as neither
Of these countries manufactures suf-
ficient for domestic needs. So In sup
plying cotton to Czecho- Slovakla,
America will find herself also supply
ing 4 great deal Of the needs Of these
countries,
Creating New Currency.
Czecho- Slovakia has already expended
all but the last allotment OF an Ameri-
can loan of $50, 900, 900 on American
f~oodstuffs through the Hoover admins
tration. The allotments have been at
the rate OF $4,000 900 a month, the June
allotment being the only remaining one
national assembly recently authorized
the negotiation of another loan from
the United States OF S179, 900, 900 for the
express purpose of financing trade be-
tween the two countries.
Because II In o brand new country
the task OF creating a currency system,
but H. rapidly working this out. A sys-
tenn In which a franc, similar to the
French franc, liz to be the unit of value,
Ia being evolved. II will be a gold
standard currency and n large gold re-
serve Ia being accumulated to sup
port II.
The Austro- Hungarian currency was,
OF course, formerly the currency of
C2echo-Slovakia but this will no longer
serve, CZecho-S lovakia Is temporarily
using the Austrian crown note stamped
by. CZecho- Slovakia, which is tho most
valuable piece OF Austrian money and
Is the only currency of the kind listed
on the Swiss exchange.
There Is also Il great market for cot
tonseed and cottonseed oil in Czecho-
~Slovakia, Mr.. Pergler said. There are
extensive refining industries In the
country. which use large quantities of
vegetable oils.
Market for Cottonseed,
In this connection he also urges that
the Southern cottonseed industry lose
no time IN sending representatives to
Czecho-Slovakta to rrange to supply
cottonseed and c~ottonseed oil,
Germany and other European coun-
tries arc not sleeping. Mr.. Pergler said,
and will beat America to the trade IL
she does not take prompt advantage OF
her opportunities,
Slovakia already has a finance
commission In this country to handle
the problem of credits, Mr.. Pergler said,
and an aErarian commission win shortly
arrive to study farming conditions in
America. Mr.. Pergler win
this commission on q tour of the United
states and they will very likely come
TO Memphis. Other commissions VIII
come over from time to time to study
United States methods and foster CON
ncctions.
THE pictures Of President Masaryk
and President Wilson hang together in
Cyecho- Slovakia and their names are
mentioned together everywhere" said
Mr., Pergler In the effort to make
graphic the desire Of his country for tho
closest possible connections with
America,
Mr.. Porgler addressed a large gather
ing at the Chamber OF Commerce at
noon and was introduced by Joseph
Newburger, chairman of the foreign