New-York tribune., 1919-09-22
Trade Relations
With Slavic States
To Be Established
Special Conference Of Unit
ed States Business Inter-
ests TO Promote Exports
to- New Eastern Countries

Practical plans for the establish
ment and maintenance of commercial
relations between this country and the
newly born states of Jugo- Slavia,
Czecho- Slovakia, Poland and Lithuanla
will be considered at a special meeting
to be held in New York next month in
conjunction with the Foreign Trade
Convention of the American Manufact-
urers' Export Association on October
16 and II.
The requests of exporters for infor-
nation concerning trade conditions
and possibilities in these new coun-
tries and inquiries from merchants
within those countries regarding the
opportunities to establish connections
here have led to the planning Of the
mercial Representatives of the new
nations, as we'll as business men from
all parts of this country, have been
invited to the conference.
TOO much emphasis can be laid
upon the boundary changes which
have taken place in Europe in so far
as their relation to international
trade is concerned" said Albert
Walker, of the Guaranty Trust Com
pany, and a member Of the conference
committee.
Mere boundary changes do not nee
cssarily affect trade, except in so far
as tariffs and customs duties are con-
ccrned. There are certain established
banking and business customs from
which it is impossible to depart They
arc matters of training and inherit
ance and have to do with the exchange
of money and merchandise. We shall
continue to do business with importers
and exporters of Jugo-Slavia, Czecho-
Slovakia, Lithuania, Rumana, Tur-
key, Bulgaria, Austria and Germany,
as we have always done. Individual
buyers or combinations of buyers
abroad will do business with indvid-
ual sellers or selling combinations in
the United States, each group of
traders having their Offices in different
cities. as always.
"The point for American merchants
to recognize is that they have no al
tentative but to observe the present
restrictions, which must remain in
force until the peace treaty is signed,
and which even then doubtless will not
be removed en- bloc. But these rcstric.
tions should not prevent American
manufacturers sending over their rep
rcsentatlvcs to Investigate and famil
iavlZc themselves with conditions up to
date, making their connections now for
the resumption. of trade when all en-.
bargoes are lifted.
'If individual manufacturers cannot
afford to do this alone. they can do it
in combination with others. or by sub,
sidaing their trade associations so that
the latter may understake the expense
for the sake of all Concerned This is
what Great britain and other European
competitors are doing; in fact, have
done for years.
at is very significant that when Ger
many thought she had captured the
Ukraine company capitalized -at
100000 marks Immediately was
formed by German tinancicrs and in
dustrialists for purposes Of investiga-
tion alone, preliminary to commercial
exploitation.
"The European industrialists have
learned to acquire reliable and authori-
tative data and to know exactly whom
they are dealing with in advance of the
promotion of commercial relations
That has been the secret of the thor
oughncss Of the European method It
is one respect in which we can we'll
initiate the European. 1t is the only
way III which We shall be able to cX-
pand our trade progressively and
maintain it against general COMPETE
ton when conditions are normal
again"