Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-11
FRENCH DENY ENTRANCE
TO AMERICAN MACHINERY
"hiic Their Factories Arc Idle They
Refuse Permission for
Importation.
IDEA is TO CONSERVE FUNDS
rear That, Ir Balance OF Trade Con-
'ihucs to Pile Up, Frame Will Con-
immune to Fall In Vatuc-Atti-
'udc AS to Settlement Irritating.
BY JUSTIN Mct;pAT,I.

WASH, ny JgsTlN McGnATH.
nso r ass to G is aps r to be
struction OF the territory devastated
10y me war Thousands OF Chinese
uoolIe inborers are now in France en-
SdSed IN the work Of cleaning UP the
ucpris In the destroyed towns ami pre-
paTins for the reconstruction work.
the French are most anxious to see
recomstruction begun at the Garlic
POSSIBLE moment. and yet. parade Nical
as 1t may seem. it is the French them
seiyes who are delaying the COM
Ihey are divided in opinion as to
Ine best policy to insure early and
Somipietc reconstruction. They must
nave money and materials before they
san begin. They cannot get the money
tney need until the amount Of indem-
MY they arc both to receive from Ger
amd me treaty OF peace signed. But.
although almost dcsirous of an carly
peace. SO that the Industrial life of the
nation may be fully resumed n as early
q date as possible. By making demands
which tho other allies and rho United
states considered exorbitant and he
ancy have DELAYED peace and conse-
Iuently have delayed also the rcstora-
tion OF the devastated area
Attitude mt Times Irritating
The Americans in Paris have en-
aeayored from the first TO convince
,1nem that II was to the interest Of
'f'l't " accept reasonable rcpdr:itiOn
ana nave the reconstruction work start.
bu, the French were not to he nor,
huaded that II was to their interest
nuy reduction in their claims. There
were some phases OF the French atti-
luue toward reconstruction which were
bosa,Neiy irritating TO members OF the
hhefichn high commission and the
n!phihent American tinanciers who
were assisting the commission
ror instance progressive manu-
, ,ac, In vaienciennes. whose fac
"a.
Chih"rE by the Germans. contracted for
nc" machinery in tho United States
nciore ! left France word had come
rom The American firm that il was
ready 20 ship the machinery The
french government refused TO permit
,na mIinchimery to come to France. The
must buy his machinery in France
ne replied tina; he tried to do 80, but
T ra" ,3umd that !, Was not TO be had.
nc must wait until France could sup
Ply The machinery
~, American Makes Agreement.
Of come Of tho leading Americans in
iaris. ono Of them, who had resided
/, rsniS Tor 'nanE years. and vas well
~ ms business to go TO them and argue
the advisability Of changing their at
ittude. The argument he used was that
~ Inc FACTORY were permitted TO start
w Al once with American equipment
work would be given to "A large mum
III
theS could get wages which they would
spend. mus helpinE other trade In tho
ci,S. End substantial aid would he
gwen toward the restoration of normal
me argument was unavaii!ng: The
manuthcturcr was denied the privilege
: OF importing American machinery, and
his factory remained closed.
personally sought out some men
OF prominence In Paris who I thought
might enliShtcn INC as 10 tho reason
LOT this seeming !neXpliciblc attitude
Tho explanation received was that
the French flnancicrs had decided TO
embargo all Importation OF finished
products into France on the theory
France became any greater than i:
was tho certain result would DO the
further depreciation OF the French,
francs. which had already fallen to
occurred they feared panic might be
brought on. And so as TO keep rs
much gold and silver as possible in
, France /, was decided that finished
kent out of France, even IL restoration
and the resumption OF business were
delayed.
Foolish to Last Degree.
asked one OF Americas leading
fnanciers what ne thought OF this
policy OF the French-was it sound?
lie answered that he not only thought
II unsound. but foolish TO the last de-
While Americans in Paris were ir-
ritatcd by this policy of the. French,
which in the circumstances they con-
sidered 10 be against French interests.
rs we'll as unfriendly to American In
dnstry. they were not harsh in their
criticisms.
they are once more In normal state
Of mind" was the comment one lead
ing American official made TO me.