The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-06-07
EUROPE RAPIDLY
 RETURNING TO <. NORMAL. STATE
Business Men Hold Optimis- tic View on General Con-
 B. ditions Overseas.
DovEn, NEwHAMPsHIRn.

Business men who have been in Europe studying conditions, and are now returning to this country, tell a very different story from those con- taaned in certain alarmist articles that have recently appeared. Instead of finding food shortages. a demoralized commercial situation, industres all most at n standstiu and Bolshevism ! spreading, they discovered that in the allied countries reconstruction was progressing rapidly, industries were being revived, and there was every indication that economic rehabilitation would be much more rapid than or tgfnally expected.
 These and other optimistic views were expressed by Alvin w. Krech, president of the Equitable Trust Co.,, two months in visiting the principal Holland, Italy and Spain, where he found unmistakeable signs of inn provement in the economic situation. Belgium, for instance, IS now produc- ing more coal than before the war, while the factories are getting back rapidly to their normal production basis.
 q was much impressed by the at titude of Europeans toward Ameri- r. are not unpopular on the other side. Quite the contrary; in fact, in every country the people go out of their way to show attentions to American visitors. Wherever I went in the al lied countries I found that a general feeling if optimism prevailed, while the work of reconstruction was pro- gressing swiftly. In the neutral countries there was every evidence of prosperity. Bolshevism is mak- ing little or no headway.
 The French people are hard at work. The farmers are busy, and at the present time they have 60 per cent. of the devastated area under cultivation. In the industrial dis tricts the wheels are again turning and production is well under way
 '1 was surprised to find Italy SC prosperous I had read so many misleading reports about that coun- try's economic condition that it was amazing to see what strides had beer made toward rehabilitation. While Italy is greatly in need of coal the Italians have begun to develop tb.il water power resources, wh ch ars now almost double what tho were before the war. This means an enor nous saving in coal
 Spain offers one of the best op portunities in Europe for the eXten sion of American trade. The peo pie have plenty of money and arr making more- Spain is willing t. buy, and has manufactured goods a well as agricultural products to sell Moreover, the den1and is for higl class goods In the more importan Spanish cities hotel accommodation are good and there is no apparen shortage of food. Although tn cost of living is high, it is not nor so than in other parts. of Europe. Tn labor situation, on the whole, is sat isfactory-
 While the trains are crowded il some instances. travel in Europe, as rule, is pleasant The hotels are do ing unusually large business, bu accomm odationS are usually obtaina ble by American travellers Rate haze advanced rnore.sthan double, bu owing to the condition of exchang the cost of living is far less than l this country
 "Before l left Europe tourists wer arriving in large numbers and a long as they keep to the allied an neutral countries, and do not ventur into Poland Russia, Germany, Hun gary or other unsuitable region they will find that European tourin has the same amount of attractio and enjoyment as in former years
 Similar views were expressed b L. K Liggett, head of. the Unite Drug Co, who recently returned frol an extensive European tour.
 Belgium" said MT Liggett "ha recovered France is coming fo1 ward rapidly. England is treatin her business men Hbera1ly in the wa / of credits. The banking systel there is getting along with a gol reserve of about one third of wh; we have in America Prosperity returning in all these countries, ar with the re-establishment of norm conditions visitors from this countl are again welcome. London ar Paris are filling up rapidly vii American tourists, and a1thous there has been scarcity of hot accommodation comparatively few
 these travellers have experienced al serious degree of discomfort. TT influx of American tourists in Europe this season is certain to followed by a much greater invasic next year when conditions will ha' still further improved"
 George J. Whalen. head of the b American tobacco interests which a now esta blishing a chain of depar ment stores around the world, w another arrival from Europe th week His views were equally O timistic.
 "Our allies" he said, "are reco ering rapidly, financially and indu triaIly, and there is absolutely