Arizona republican., 1920-03-29
BLACK SEA |S THE SCENE OF BITTER TRADE CONFLICT
Republican A. p. Leased WIrel


 CONSTANTINOPLE. March 27.- 1 (By The Associated Press .)-Nearly every day adds to the uncertainty of 1 the people of Constantinople. This city is the center of the great torment in the Near East, but knows little about the decisions of the Paris and London censored news from the Levantine points, that New York and Washing ton doubtless have fuller information on the Turkish situation. Commercial interests are eagerly discussing the question of liquor pro- hibition in Constantinople and trade conditions if the straits are neutral ized. Many merchants believe that al- though Corstantinople would then be the transshipment port for the Black Sea trade, it's importance would be lessened as the capital of a Turkey reduced to about 6.000,000 people.
 In that event, the Black Sea ports would probably assume greater inn portance, especially Batoum, which can provide an unlimited supply of fuel oil and stands as the gateway to Georgia. Azerbaijan and Persia. After Great Britain. the United States has at the present time more shipping in Levantine waters than any other nation. The American steamers include the Massillon Bridge.
 
 Chester Valley at Constaptinople; the Potoka, Jona, West Pocasset, Chincha and Gaffney at Batoum: the OriZaba, Friday Haddon and Siboney, in Greek waters; the Nayalloe at Malta, the Sangamon at Novorossisll; the Yaqui na at Smyrnia and six destroyers, the Galveston and many small navy craft also in the neighborhood of Constan- tinople.
 Ships, But No Agents
 r-1@. -.~-<~ q l. Near East, a prominent American busi- ness man said:
 'I am afraid that this is like a rail- road which is trying to run without terminals and stations. We have ships, but we haven't American shipping agents to handle them. We haven't facilities at the various ports and are at the mercy of foreign agents backed by their governments, which are far more interested in assuring their com- mercial future than in protecting the rights of the nninorities, about whom they talk so gladly
 American interests are reportetd to be ready to erect temporary transport warehouses, but cannot get permits to do so. The efforts of the United States shipping board to get footing in Con- stantinople are declared to be blocked at every turn
 The situation at Batoun, where the British are in control is also said to be unsatisfactory. Even ships carrying supplies of the American committee or relief in the Near East for free dis tribution to the Armenians are forced to pay a transit tax to the Batoum government.
 There is a bitter trade war on.. American goods are criticised ad- versely by British merchants who re- sent the popularity of certain Amer ican commodities and try to prove to their trade that other brands are bet ter. Articles are published alleging the poor quality of goods offered by American firms and urging the substi- tuition of British. Some of the papers print articles Advocating the accept ance- by the United States of q man. date of the sterile devastated area, while the other powers divide the rich sections of Turkey and the important strategic points among themselves.