New-York tribune., 1919-06-17
Negotiations for Railroads
and Wharves Involve
Billion and Half; Biggest
Transaction in History
French Ports Will Profit
U. 5. Agent Says Lack of
Ships Made Disposal of
Army Property Necessary
Netr York Tribuns
Special C1bie Ssr7,;re


Copyright. 1919. New York Tribune Inc)
PARIS, June 16.-The largest COM
mercial transaction in history will be
completed in the next few days between
the United States and French govern
ments. The final stage has been
reached in deal by which practically
the entire overseas property of the
American Expeditionary Force will be
sold en- bloc to France.
The cost of this property to the
American government, according to the
inventories, was st,500,000, 900. 1t in
cludes wharves, steel cranes, wart-
houses, barracks, hospitals, locomotives,
rolling stock, railroad lines, motor
trucks, motor cars, munitions, food
supplies, machine shops, lumber mills
agricultural implements and Office sup
plies scattered throughout the length
and breath of France.
Through the transaction France will
acquire the Bordeaux harbor improve
ments, including seventeen cargo
cranes. which more than double the
harbor's capacity. Other French ports
also profit by American improvements.
Worlds Greatest Ice Plant
The American army leaves in Gievres
Inc worlds largest ice plant. The
French army is also enriched by more
war material than it dreamed could
exist before 1914. The French rail-
roads are improved by the addition of
rJS l.
which cost the American government
s132 900, ,OOO
The French public service is further
provided with thousands of motor
trucks. which originally cost s316,00O,-
300, and will be invaluable in the work
Of rebuilding the devastated areas.
The largest item in the deai,however,
covers quartermasters stores, including
thousands of articles which the French
government will resell.
Negotiations now practically COM
pieted, have been carried on for the
United States by the Liquidation Com
mission which comprises Judge Edwin
B. Parker, OF Houston, Texas, chair
man; General Charles G. Dawes, presi-
dent Of the Central Trust Company of
Chicago and general purchasing agent
Of the "a. E. F.; Homer II. Johnson, of
Cleveland; Henry F. Hollis, of New
Hampshire and Junius G. Adams. Paul
Morel, undersecretary of the Ministry
OF Finance, represented France.
All Settled Except Price
Mr.. Adams, the executive secretary
Of the Liquidation Commission, said
that the two governments had reached
agreement or all important matters in
'principle. There remains the fixing of
the total price which France shall pay
The Liquidation Commission is con-
hdent Of settlement within a few
days. According TO Mr. Adams, the
french government has been very fair,
and relations have been Of the best
throughout the negotiations. The
French officials are now completing an
inspection Of the property.
AT most Of the smaller American sup
ply depots French soldiers are already
replacing the men Of the United States
Service OF Supply, which, however, will
maintain $4,000 men in charge Of the
.wenty principal depots until the prop
eEfy ls actually turned over to France
Although practically the whole prop
erty OF the American army is to be
turned over to France, Mr. Adams said
Iaat wool clothing valued at s15o,OO0,-
Ou0 had been sold on credit to the peo-
pie Of liberated countries, such as
Poland, Esthonia and Czecho-Slovakia
Saves Shipping of Gold
Fifty million dollars worth of the
material also has been sold to a large
spanish concern to cancel an American
debit in Spain and thus avoid shipping
gold from the United States to that
country.
Mr.. Adams pointed out that the
united States was in the position Of a
salesman Of bankrupt stock Any re-
turn which the War Department re-
turns will, he said, be pure velvet"
The American installations OF ware
HOUSES, barracks and machine shops
were hastily made, the main factors
De5ag economy os material and tonnage
therefore, though the original cost
''aa enormous, owing to high prices,
@aese Installations have little peace
ttiae valne since they we're installed at
ssfaiegic points, without regard to the
industrial ard commercial future For
1918 reason the return will be small,
2as AE Adams pointed out ore return
y great value. saying that the absorb
Vea of France Of all this material
@onlo do practically all the missionary
AoEs Tor the expansion of American
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