Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-31
From Other Viewpoints
Our Opportunity I'm the Near East.
ny DIR. CALEB IL. GATES.

The Near East is at the present time the
storm center of the world politically
1t in the Near East that the great war
began and it is probable that there it will
end. for it has not yet definitely ended
That great Near East territory ccntcrs in
Constantnople, which is placed upon two
great world channels OF communication. the
Bosporus. connecting from north south
Russia and the countries bordering on the
Black Sea- and Europe ana Egypt and it is on
the liagdad Hallway just where il must leap
over from Europe into Asia
This region is OF great Importance POLITICAL
~ and also economically. Before the war the
United states annually bought from the Near
East $5o000o0O worth OF goods. They were
largely in raw materials such as cotton, to-
hacco. licorice, mohair, opium. ottar OF roses,
skins, dried fruits, nuts, coffee. cheese olive
oil. copper reclaimed rubber. manganese and
hard woods. or manufactured articles we
bought carpets and rugs. laces and curtains.
That region is almost entirely agrieuiture and
ports manufactured goods.
The United States sold the Near East
goods worth Sl2O0o,0O0. From Turkey we
bought S22,500 900 worth of goods and we sold
to THEM S3,500.000 worth The whole Near
East imported moro than $500 90 600. and of
That $l2'oOoooo came from the United states.
That proves that We have realized the i'm
portancc OF the market of the Near East.
We had relatively no share whatever in the
etaples which formed the bulk of the imports
into the Near East, and the American nag was
seldom seen in that part of the world ON any
snip Of commerce..
Robert College is situated upon the Bos-
norus. The ships of the world tome and go up
and dowm that great waterway. and if per-
chance an American flag is dying
on OF the small boats carrying American
oil all our students rush to the terrace.
We have nos American banks there
credit agencies and have permanent
ncwspapcs.- correspondents did not have
before the war. In 1911 the American Cham
Der of Commerce established in constan-
tinoplc II has 600 members and has branches
III all ports of the empire. That chamber is
doing all il to make this country realize
the Importance OF the Near East.
The chief American industry in that part OF
the world its colleges, its hospitals, It's
missions and its relief work We arc long on
philanthropy and short business. Now
there has been opened the way for American
commerce in that part Of the world. In va
rious way the American embassy has sold
some $l0.000.000 of American exchange and
American exchange is very high. The Turk sh
pra, pound. under normal conditions. is
worth $40 a little while ago 1t worth
so cents At present time IL is worth about
s1.I3 or was the last we heard from it.
The Near East Relief Association has al
ready expended more than s30.000000 and is
raising $40. 100000 more. They feeding
and clothing the people all over the country
In ALL something like $50.00o.000 $780,
coo 600 worth OF American relief is going into
that country but we arc among the most fool
ish people on the faco OF the earth-wc arc
doing everything for charity to keep the peo-
pie alive and nothing to re-estabhsh them and
make it possible for them to Darn their own
living and get back to their homes.