Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-12
PREPARING TO RENEW
TRADE WITH GERMANY
Ban Virtually Lifted and Manu-
facturers Here Are to
Re-enter Field
DYE INDUSTRY UNCERTAIN

Philadelphia manufacturers. export
ers and merchants have begun prepare
tions for the resumption of trade with
Germany now that the ban on busi-
ness dealings with that country virtu-
ally has been lifted by the federal gov
ernment.
The scope of the transactions can only
be guessed at until the actual condi
tions are faced. This is the opinion
of the majority of exporters here.
The dye industry in this country faces
the future with uncertainty. as the
amount and quality of German com
petition in this direction cannot be
estimated.
One idea upon which many local
exporters apear to agree is that Ger
many must do the soliciting if she ex-
poets to secure any business with the
majority of American houses. for they
claim that it is our former enemy s
place to take the initiative in this mat
ter. They also think that she will not
hesitate to do so.
Among tho commodities needed very
badly by Germany are wool. copper,
leather and cotton. Speaking of the
attitude of the leather men here. Guy
Lee, general manager of the 5anney X
Burrough Company, in an interview
today, said:
Needs Leather Badly
''There is no doubt that Germany
needs leather very badly and she will
do everything in her power to estab-
lish a leather trade with foreign coun
tries. including. of course. the United
States. I am sure that none of the
LOCAL houses will solicit her trade. for
one reason. because Germany will be
after us as soon as the trade ban is
lifted. But undoubtedly there will be
trading established in leather with that
country. although You can be sure that
they will never get the preference in
any business deals.
Holland, Scandinavia, France and
England will also be mighty glad to re :
ceive our leather goods for some time
to come
Philadelphia will nov figure in the
problematlcal copper trade. as there are
no copper exporters of any consequence
IN this city. nor is the city's wool mar
ket very extensive.
Germany will not get very mich
wool from this country" said the gen
erai manager of w. G. Davidson Com
pany. because the United States i'm
ports most of her wool. rather than
exporting it. On the other hand. she
will no doubt become our competito,
as buyer in Australia and other mar
kets which we use. There NAV be som,
small trade from here. but that will be
mostly in small quantities.
Will Take Much Cotton
t Germany will buy great deal OF
cotton from the United States, believe.
William Van Leer, head of the Van
Leer Company, who said:
There will not be as strong trade
In cotton from Philadelphia as one
might believe, although there is no doub,
that many of the houses here will open
with Germany. The cotton Germany
will buy will be of the lowest quality,
for she can utilize that class of product
better than any other nation.
pe.i''e tndI Ilollanu ana Scanul
navia will make fortune by acting as
Q clearing house for Germany in The
importation of cotton, as well as other
goods. and the trade will be very brisl
through those channels"
Only the future can determine tn,
amount of success with which the DIV,
industries here will be able to compete
with German, according to Mr.. McIn
tyre, manager of the Quaker City Cor
poration.
Protection Needed Here
''The dyes which are now bein,
turned out here are at least as goot
If not better than the products which
we were getting from Germany befor,
the war; he said. The trend O
thought among local concerns is tina
we can compete with the best dyestuff
that Germany can produce, both as t.
quality and price.
Still the fnture is matter o
guesswork in this industry, and l per
sonally think that if all restrictions
are removed from German importations
so that the country becomes flooded will
their products as before the war, thel
we are facing handicap which will
prove very great. We need some sor
of protection, l believe, if we are t,
continue with our present success"
Tl-Is ID