The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-06-14
TRADE SITUATION IN MAY SHOWED
 BIG IClMPROVEMENT

New York, June 14.-The month of May witnessed marked improve ment in domestic and foreign h. dustrfal and trade conditions. and this stabiliza ton is daily gaining strength, according to The Export American Industries, official organ of the National Association of Manu- lecturers. The removal of war re- strictions, including the abolition of checklists, is being strongly felt by American exporters and streams of inquiries are coming from all the trade centers of the world for quo tations on every variety of raw and manufactured materials. The move meut by the banks to extend foreign loans without government assurances and the developments of wider markets for long term credit docu- ments indicates that the upward turn in normal commercial activity has been reached.
 The signing of the peace treaty will do much toward allaying the remaining uncertainty of the finan- cial and trade situation. It will mean in effect that reconstruction is to be- gin in earnest. The world of com merce is most eager to put the war and its havoc behind it and to settle down to the task of rehabilitation. All of the nations expecting indemnf- ties from Gtrmany are making ex- tensive plans. France especially Is absolutely counting on the huge enemy indemnity to set her industrial wheels in motion again, and she ex- poets the banks of the United States to provide the necessary gold against the German promise to pay, to under take her rehabilitation.
 Financing Foreign Trade.
 The financing of foreign trade is subject that Is occupying a large share of the attention of American business at the present time. Not only is 1t necessary to assist the business man of America in hi. foreign trade enterprises; it is also very essential to fix a policy of ex- tending credit to the war stricken countries of Europe. It is evident that 1t is no longer the part of the government to make further ad- vances for this purpose. The war is over and extension of credit by the government being purely war measure should no longer be resort ed to. Return to normal conditions can best be hastened by leaving the question of foreign finance in the hands of the banks. whose province I indeed, has expressed her opinion that the financing of her reconstruc-
 ton needs should be handled by a private organization of American bankers who can deal directly with the French hnanciers and manu- lecturers.
 More Foreign Trade Companies.
 Tho establishment of foreign trad ing corporations in the United States still goes on. within the last few weeks two more have been formed one primarily for trading in South America. the other for organizing and stimulating commerce in the Levant. The latter company, spon- sored by the Tobacco Products Cor poration and including many of the largest merchandising firms in the country. plans a widespread organ fzation which promises to be a modern replica. Of the famous Hud- son Bay Company. embracing not only an extensive business organiza- tion fin the United States but a ship line of it's own and a caravan trade in the Near East regions.
 The recognition by the allies of the KoIchak government in Russia will undoubtedly tend to stabilize Russian affairs. political, industrial and financial. Russia is in desperate need of outside assistance and her work of reconstruction cannot be car- ried on without foreign aid. Official allied recognition will enable the Russian government to borrow money from the allies and will make 1t possible for private business to go into Russia, backed by the govern mental guaranty. She needs every thing in the way of manufactured products. To the natural question as to how she is to pay for these products, the reply is that she will establish credits through the sale of foodstuffs. flax, various mineral prod ucts abundant in Russia and lumber. which was. her principal export in pre-war times. Even a reasonably stable government will enable Rus- sian business men to contrive suf- fcient commercial machinery to ex- port these raw materials. Potential ly, Russia. is one of the greatest pro- ducing countries in the world and the world should try to make 1t easy for her to realize her possi- bilities Her political and commercial rS1za hf1akn flnr mna0a fha orAnnfn~ mn