Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-16
SAY RIVALS KNOW
U. S. TRADE SECRETS
European Censorship Works to
Advantage of Foreigners,
It Is Suggested
BUSINESS MEN PROTESTING

Delays arising out of the European
censorship and the handling Of Ameri-
can cable and mail communications in
European Offices are affording foreign
individuals an opportunity to abstract
valuable business information. accord
ing to a suggestion made today by the
foreign trade bureau of the Philadel-
phia Commercial Museum.
American business men have been
l protesting against the delays to Wash
ineton, and have pointed out that the
interruption of business messages sent
by cable and mail, in a measure, nulli-
fies the benefits which might otherwise
follow the lifting Of the American ex =
port restrictions and the foreign import
restrictions.
Utilizing Secret Information
Explaining the effect of the mail and
cable delays, the Commercial Museum
in today's news letter says:
MANY cases are known to have been
brought to the attention of the authori-
ties in Washington which, on the sur
face, at least, would seem to suggest
that the European countries through
which the American cables and mails
! pass are utilizing the information con-
tanned therein in such a way to give
4 their traders an unfair advantage over
American competitors. The latest press
dispatches from Paris carry the news
that representations of a similar nature
: are being laid before the economic au-
thorities connected with the American
peace delegation.
"It may be said in this connection
Shat it is incOncevable that any Euro
pean government. taking advantage of
the necessity of maintaining a rigid
. blockade against Germany, would de-
signedly resort to any such unfair prac-
tice against American firms or the ma
tionals of any other associated coun-
try. as has been alleged. 1t is con-
ceivable, however. that there may be
such a laxity in the system Of censor
4 ship and handling, or such an absence
Of the proper safeguards in the offices
through which the cables and mails
pass, as permits an occasional individual
(. to abstract business information Of
valuable and confidential nature. 1t
Is conceivable. too. that interests an
tagonistic to the continuance of ami
cable commercial relations between the
4 United States and the Allies have seized
upon and emphasized such isolated
cases of laxity as may have occurred
I to conduct a campaign, the motives of
which need not be gone into.
Want Abuses Corrected
"Whatever the merits may be Of the
controversy which has arisen over the
handling of American cables and mails
\ In European Offices, and obviously, all
the facts upon which to pass deliberate
Judgment are not obtainable, it would
seem that the controversy itself justi-
fies the proper Office of the government,
after judicial examination of all the
Information which may be placed be-
fore it, in issuing a statement of the
facts in the case or in recommending
such other action as the facts may
warrant.
IF the facts developed upon exami
nation of all the evidence in the case
bear out the contention that the pres
ent method of handling cables and
mails in European Offices is being util-
lied to the disadvantage of the Ameri-
can business men, presentation of
the facts through the proper diplomatic
channels would undoubtedly be suf-
ficient to correct the abuses proven, re-
4 gardless of whether they have crept into
the system through official or individual
laxity."