The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-04
JOINT COMMERCIAL
MISSION COMES HERE
Join Hands With Amcrf-
cans

CdItS.
Washington, July 2s.-Invitations
extended by the Chamber of Com
merce OF the United States to Great
Britain, France. Italy and Belgium
for a joint commercial mission to visit
this country in the fall have been ac-
cepted. This was announced today
at the Washington offices of the cham
Der. Elliot H. Goodwin, general sec
rotary of the chamber, and Ben. ii.
Lambe, associate editor of h nations
business, arrived in London today to
complete fral arrangements.
The missions are due to reach the
United States the latter part OF Sep
TENDER to participate at Atlantic CITY
during the week of September 20, / n
an International Trade conference.
This conference will be attended. ac-
cording to present plans. by at least
u thousand leaders in American busi-
ness, who in meetings with members
of the mission will discuss many
phases of international trade rela-
tons. AT the conclusion of the In
ternationai Trade conference the plan
is for the missions to tour the
try, visiting the chief Industrial and
commercial centers. The return to
Europe will be about November l.
On the tour, which will be conduct
ed under the auspices of the national
chamber and it's member ~organiza-
tions, the missions, through confer
ences and public meetings. will inform
American business men of the part
they can take in the rehabilitation
of Europe.
AT least two of the missions Will be
headed by cabinet members and a
government representative will ac-
company each. Each mission will in
clude five principals n a number
Of assistants and secretaries. making
a party altogether OF from fifty to
sixty. Thu government departments
at Washington are cooperating with
the national chamber in arranging for
the missions stay in the United States.
The main purpose of the visit and
of the International Trade conference
to be held at Atlantic City Is to
acouaint American business men with
the situation abroad and to bring
about closer relations between this
country and her European associates
in the war. 1t is felt that unless tho
European countries a begin produce
ton on a large scale they are faced
with a serious danger in that they
may not be able to pay for food and
clothing which they need to support
life itself. that 1t may be impossible
for them to reduce their war debt.
and that there may be grave danger
of social and political upheavals.
The United States, it Is pointed out,
has a very deep concern in these pos
sibilities because it has been shown
thai serious social disturbances in
Europe have a reaction in America
II Europe should not get back on it's
Tznk -, roe~Ntally arl tn ftrfrtn1tv ",
the near future. American business
men believe it would mean American
business would lose all chance for a
European market for the export sur
plus Of manufactured goods which 1t
is believed will be available in the
United States as soon as stocks de-
pleted by war have been replaced.
America must concern itself, 1t Is
pointed out, in bringing exchange
| back to normal as a means of keep
ing Up the volume of export and inx
port trade. Business leaders believe
the best American business policy,
therefore. is to give Europe the kind
of business assistance of which ii
stands most in need and to refrain
from action which would tend to
! prevent 1t from resuning its W pro-
duction.
At Atlantic City all OF these ques-
ton will be taken up by the missions,
and the American business men at
tending with a view to arriving at
some definite plan of re-establishing
cations will be requested in advance
to bring data on certain specified sub
jects to the end that Just the kind OF
information may be given to Ameri-
can business men which will be of the
most value.
The plan of organization for the
trade conference contenaplates the APP
pointment Of a general committee Of
from twenty-five to fifty men from
all parts Of the country. From this
! general committee an executive COM
mittee will be selected to have direct
~ in hand all arrangements for all
details of conferences and the various
visits to American cities. A. c. Bed
ford, chairman of the Standard Oil
company. Of New Jersey. will act as
chairman of both the general and exc
cutive committees. Other members
of the executive committee thus far
selected are:
Homer L. Ferguson. president,
United States Chamber of Commerce:
Thomas w. Lamont. of ]. p. Morgan
& company. Harry A. Wheeler, vice.
president. Union Trust company;
James A. Farrell. chairman, National
Foreign Trade council: John H
Fahey; George Ed. Smith. president,
American Manufacturers Export as
ISOLATION #. Godwyn Rhett: William
Feliowes Morgan. president. Mer-
chants Association of New York; AL
fred f. Marling. president, New York
State Chamber Of Commerce; Joseph
II. Defrees. OF Defrees. buckingham
& Eaton. Ernest T. Trigg. vice-presi-
dent, John Lucas & company; Theo-
dore +. Whiternarcn. vice-president.
Francis Fl, Leggett & company; Lewis
E. Pierson. chairman OF board, Irving
National bank; Edward A. Fiiene,
! William Filene's Sons company; f. G.
! Miner, president, The Pfaudler com
pany. and Ivy L.. Lee.
Information reaching the chamber
indicates that the italian mission will
be made UP as follows: Hon. DR.. Sill
| vie, former minister OF Italy as food
comptroller; Comm. Pie Perons, of
G, Ansaldo and company: Eng. G.
Quartieri, n OF the largest manu-
facturers of chemical products. CIR.
OFF. Salvatore Tagliavia, mayor of
Palermo: Hon. Marc Cassini, presi-
dent OF the union OF the Chambers
OF Commerce of the Kingdom, and
a fifth delegate to be appointed by
| the minister Of the treasury.
! TIE Belgian mission probably will
be composed of these: Jean Delori,