Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-08
Striving to Bring
Order Out of Chaos
in Stricken Europe

viehna. Nov. 17.+-(By Associated
Press).-Ths proposed trade, CONNER
cial and financial conference Of GER
tain Of the central states Of Euroep
has aroused hope in both political and
business circles that it may bring at
least some degree of order out Of the
presen. almost chaotic conditions as
far as Interstate relations are con-
cerned.
1t is already known as THE Amer
lean Plan" in compliment to it's au-
thor. Colonel Clarence B. Smith of the
United States army, the unofficial
American delegate on the Austrian
section of the reparations commission.
after more than a years study and
first-hand Investigation of the prob
lens Of these countries" Colonel
Smith said to the Associated Press. II
became convinced that the economic
life not only of Austria but of all the
succession states of the old empire. can
be rchabilitated only by larger meas
ure of good will between them and mu-
tual understanding Of their economic
interdependence.
THE plan was drawn after much
thought and with full realization of the
fact that 1t must be freed from all
suspicion of politics. My hope is that.
having once drawn them together in
common council and with the disinter-
ested advice of the representatives of
Great Britain. France and America.
who will attend only in an advisory
character some Of the distrust that
n a NJ nf
conditions which surrounded the birth
of these new states may be iispelIed
and they will realize the necessity,
aside from all political questions< of
freer trade and commerce If their eco
nomic life is to become stabilized"
Colonel Smiths plan met unanimous
approval by the Austrian commission
and preparations for the conference
have begun. 1t probably will be held
in Bratislava (Pressburgh), city
about 40 miles from Vienna in Czecho-
Slovakia, and will follow broadly the
lines of the Brussels conference.
The states represented except Am
erica, France and Great Britain, will
have present one representative Of the
ministries of finance, transportation.
commerce, industries, trade and bank
ig. Austria and Hungary will be in
vited to send similar representation.
The three first-named powers will be
represented only by their delegates
on the Preparations Commission and
then solely in an advisory way.
| AS formulated the program suggests
among the questions to be consider
ed:
improvement of financial relations
especially the transfer of money, lib
erty of using deposits, dealing in Sc
curities and banking.
| Possibility Of expediating the trans.
fer of merchandise from one state to
another or in bond through one state
| to the territory of third.
The system of prohibition of impor-
tation and expectation of certain
classes of commodities, licenses, tar
ifs and excise.
| The system of discrimination in
price as between external and inter.
nal trade.
| Communications, posts. telegraphs
and telephones.
AS planned the active participants
in the conference would include Aus
tria, Hungary. Italy, Poland, Czecho.
Slovakia. Jugo-slavia, Greece and
Rumania. all of which embrace al
least portions of the old Austro-Hun-
garian empire and which to a great.
er or less extent are affected by the
problems the Austrian Preparations
Section hopes thus to solve.