New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12
British Business Fears Ra.
t1oning of Materials Might
Make Ex-Soldiers Jobless
American Position Pivotal
International R equation
Would Counterfeit U. S.
Trade Leadership, Is View
BY Samuel Crowther
New York Tribune
European Bureau

Copyright. 1919. New York r,tbun. 1rc
LYNDON, Jan. 1l.-Strikinelv s;c-
nlncant Interest has been manifested
IN the last few days among the more
influential business and financial mon
IN the impossibility of control of raw
materials and shipping in a league of
nations had not found other than an
aitrulstlc interest in the league until
the difficulties of rehabilitation beoan
10 become prominent. Then it was
realized that the plan to release 90,
olers as they found jobs also involved
proving the existence of the jobs, and
without shis to bring raw material
there could be few jobs. for Great
Britain is essentially a converting ma
ton.
Politically, such control is being
urged as method of preventing Ger
many from gaining an advantage. and
further, as an economic weapon to nre'
vent war But below the surface the
only thought is that by such control
anu consequent rationing it may be
possible to prevent industrial crises
TOR the time being.
The Question of Rationinp
ASKED prominent international
Lanker OF long and wide experience
no" ne thought such control could be
carried through, and he said:
ut cannot be carried through excen+
for short time if the price is con-
trolled and then production will shaken
lor we cannot keep stimulating world
production by credit imitation. Smaller
production will entail ratoning among
natlons and, therefore, rationing for
finished goods.
DO not imagine American manu-
iacturers, whom rationing would hit
hardest because they have, with few
exceptions, unlimited supplies of raw
materials, would consent to having their
pusiness regulated by some foreign
tTlDunal and | am very certain that we
should not, once we get on our feet
Japan is in much the same case.
ike the idea because it offers
royal road to rehabilitation by penaliz-
ing those who have suffered the least
IN the war for the benefit of those who
have suffered the most, but beyond
.hat see only trouble, for once the
oureaucrats get into the international
saddle there will be no getting them
Americas Choice Crucial
The whole rationing idea really rests
upon the notion that the United States
IS about to capture the world trade
ana general recognition in private of
her ability to do so if she desires.
English and, so far as | have been
able to gain, European thought is all
TO the effect that only by foreign trade
can war debts be paid A point which
is generally missed was stated to me
by an American merchant who has
traded here for more than twenty
years:
ENGLAND thinks she must have
greater foreign trade than ever before
while right her at her door is bio
new market that has been created bv
the redistribution of wealth through
war work. Merchants know something
OF TINS new market. They have done
three times the business they ever did
before and have had dozens Of them
ten me that nearly all this business is
IN cash from customers whom thew
never have seen before.
Officials who love control ore ovor-
looking great home markets in an eff
tort, somehow, to get foreign ones"
Cumbersome Plans for Future
II cannot be said that the recon
struction plans of England have fallen
down, for really they never stood up.
There are reams of plans, most of them
looking to the realization of an immc-
dlate millennium. Most of them look
we'll on paper, but the proposed ma
chinery for their execution is cumber
some and probably incapable of or
ganlzation within the lifetime of those
who may Do affected
The best example Of this is in the
emobilization, which was we'll CON
ceived and frightfully executed. The
whole industrial policy of in time serv-
ing and controlling raw materials and
shipping will be welcomed as stop
gap.
I. s. Navy and Poker Logic
In the meantime the declaration of
Secretary Daniels as to his purpose
OF building a great navy has been a
godsend for it serves to impress SOL
dlers who want discharges with the
necessity Of preserving the British
army: Abroad there is not the slight
est chauvinistic spirit, but the British
are not without appreciation of some
of the finer points Of poker, and keep
ing up the army is both reply to
bluff and help in dilemma, for here
it is just as if the home government
we're in the position of men who
cIOnaH a ice - ~.