New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23

American manufacturers, E. G. Por-
ter, executive secretary CT the Ameri-
can-Russian Chamber Of Commerce, be-
lieves, should be concentrating their
attention on the possibility Of develop
ing the markets which lie east of the
German frontier. These include Po-
land, Bohemia, the Balkan states, Ru-
mania especially, and eventually Rus
STA. The Importance of these markets
as immediate fields for American en-
deavor, Mr.. Porter states, lies pri-
marly in two things, namely:
"Advices from Paris indicate that
France, England and Italy will adopt
Of necessity policy which will elimi-
ton Of manufactured articles. Such a
policy will be based on the fact that
unless such prohibitions are put into
effect it will be extremely difficult and
almost impossible to arrange for the
payment of the goods and at the same
time to meet the heavy burdens of war
obligations.
"The countries lying east of the Ger
man frontier, with the exception of
Poland, prior to the war were non
industrial countries. In other words
they had practically no manufactured
production on large scale. They i'm
ported the bulk Of their manufactured
articles. AS a result, they require all
the primary necessities of everyday
living in the form Of general merchan-
disc, such as clothing, textiles, under
wear, shoes, etc. In addition, they will
require all forms of machinery equip
ment, in order to reestablish produc-
tive processes. Such demands will ne
cessitate the importation of large
quantities of agricultural machinery
tractors, mining machinery and ma
chinery of all varieties"
Slow to Grasp Situation
Up. to the present time American
business interests, Mr.. Porter holds,
have failed to grasp the Importance of
the outlets for their merchandise which
these markets offer.
Besides" he said yesterday, when
the facts have been called to their at
tention they will at once raise the
question in regard to the possibility of
receiving payment for goods sent to
these markets, and also the question in
regard to the possibility of continued
political and social disorders. In other
words, the American manufac turer has
naturally hesitated to consider markets
in which there. has been as yet no re-
turn to former conditions and in which
merchants and manufacturers were con-
fronted with serious obstacles in con-
nection with the financing of goods
Yet in spite of these difficulties, which
are selfevident, the American mer-
chant should nevertheless be focusing
his attention upon these markets.
American business should keep in mind
the fact that sterilization in The coun-
tries of Eastern Europe is dependent
upon the resumption of productive
work. The resumption of productive
processes in Poland, Bohemia, Ruma-
MIA and South Russia is in turn dc
pendent upon securing the mcrchan-
disc, manufactured articles and ma
chine equipment absolutely essential to
the development of any form Of recon
struction. Concentrated action in the
form of economic supplies on the part
of American business interests in re-
gard to these markets will in itself be
the most effective medium for the crca-
ton of stable and orderly conditions.
In regard to payment for merchan-