Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-05-27
PROMOTE TRADE
IN NEAR EAST
Aims Of the American Chamber
of Commerce for the Levant
Are Set Forth.
TO OPEN Up IMMENSE FIELD
Constantnople Destined to Become
the Chicago Of Europe" Says New
President Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tunity for American Capital.

| SAMMY w FN1CIlNoH SdPlNoi'
New York.--Constantinople Is des-
tined to become the "ChlcagO Of
Europe according to an interview
authorized by Mr.. Lucien Irving
Thomas, a director of the Standard
Oil company of New York, which com
pany has extensive interests through
out Asia and the Balkan states.
Mr.. Thomas lately returned from
visit to Europe. u learned, while
in London, that | had been elected
president Of the American chamber Of
commerce for the Leyant,' said Mr.
Thomas 81 refer 10 the newly-Organ-
lied American section Of the chamber,
now maintaining headquarters In New
York, It will cooperate with the long
established chamber Of the same name
which has its seat in Constantlnople.
The organization Of this chamber
is timely movement 10 promote re-
ciprocaI trade relations between Amer
lea and that great arca--eYtending
from Egypt TO Russia, and from Per-
STA TO ltaly-of which Consthntln0pe
is the center.
Gateway to Vast Empires.
VERY few people appreciate that
Europe ana Asia meet at the feet OF
Consiantinoplr," continued Mr. Thorn
as THE chain of waters, the Oar
danelles the Sea of MarmOrn and the
Bospbora>, made available for free
commerce open the gateway to vas
empires Of populous and fertile terri
tories beyond When We realize that
Russia, country considerably more
than twice as large as the United
States. has few SrapouS that are not
icr-bound for the greater part Of the
year except those situated on the
Black sea, we may imagine what
enormous traffic viii llow through con.
Stanfinople when Russia. with hun
drpd million of her people nearby,
gets into her commercial stride"
Then consider Ruumauia, now with
twice her former area a country of
great natural resources. with pres.
ant population of ll,moor0. Bulgaria
too, noted for sturdy ana ulustrl-
GUS population has her commercial |
outlet on the Black sea. Ana even
on the farther side of the Black sea
Is group Of states which eventually 1
must occupy an important place IN
over seas trade
"lugo Savla now vast in area by T
comparison with Old Serbia, with .
natural Resources ANA
population Of over lfOeO0OO has, of I
course, one trade outlet via the Adr.
atie and another via the Danube to (
the Black sea. Without any doubt the
Danube is soon 10 play much more
important part in HE trade Of the
Balkan states than it has ever done
in the past
Has Natural Wealth.
"Eofh lugo.Sayia and Greater
Greece NH hold more Important
position than now in the Lpyautine
.rade of The future Egypt is growing
into a land " commercial significance.
While certain territories have been
from Turkey since The war
here remains much fertile ana vau.
'ble land Turkey Is rich in minerals
If al kinds.
The war ana It's aftermath upset
'Xrhanse throughout the Near East,
md this has made commercial trans.
lotions difficult for the present But
he natural wealth Is there; ana
population for the most part induStr
JUS Trade must surely grow.
"a high official of an international
'ank, one who is recognized as having
unusually broad and accurate know-
'dge Of Ottoman financial matters,
tated to me M COnStantlnople that
n Turkey fully 6j000Oo0 In gold il
loarded by the people in 'stocklng-leg
anks, and not deposited AT all with
he public bankers. In this connec.
lon II should be remembered that the
rlental mind Is accustomed 70 think
in terms of hard money
nd that prior TO the European war
My gold and silver were in clrcula.
Ion, to any extent, in Turkey There
) evidence that great private wealth
NiSiS there today, In gold silver and
nwels. not to mention other yaluables,
nd this wealth VIII come into the
urreut market as trade returns to
ormal
The Ievant offers a splendid on.
ortunity for the investment of Amer
AN capital in wide range OF en-
'rprises. One OF tho great openings
( the present is for the construction
dwellings, warehouses, harhor inn
r0yements, and SO forth. CONSTANT
ople alone has lost 25000 to 10000 {
onseS by fire since the war began.
nd affords a magnificent opportunity
Or houSebuildng activity. | know
n fact that the Turkish authorities
ould welcome anyone coming there
" the purpose and that they would {
ven he glad to offer concessions. The
REVEALING spirit is progressive Mod !
m industrial equipment too, is now
ought where formerly IT was
lunned. recall that long time !
90, prior to the coming into power
the Young Turk party, a business
lhlegram was intercepted by the
nrkiSh anthnritIes hecanSe Il con.