Evening star., 1921-10-23

treaties Win ueTudHy'
Austria and Hungary. and a similar
step is taken by the German govern
ment. expected now at any early date.
the United States will be technically,
as well as really, at peace with the
former central powers. The tangible
results of this final step bringing to
an end the technical state of war
which has existed for nearly three
years since the termination of hos
tilities will be:
1. The appointment Of United States
diplomatic and consular officers to
Germany. Austria and Hungary and
similar appointments to the United
States by those countries.
.. Beginning will be made in the
settlement of the claims of American
citizens against the former enemy ma
tions for damages done during the
war.
5. American troops stationed in the
onaupied area of Germany will be with
dfA ~n.
There are number of other results
looked for. but which time alone will
demonstrate. One of these is the sta
bilizing of conditions so as to permit
a larger degree of trade. Another Is
the possible appointment Of American
representatives to sit with the repara-
tions commission-though such ap:
pointment would have to be sanction
ed by act of Congress, under the pro-
visions of the resolution of ratifica-
tion of the treaties. recently adopted
by the Senate.
Little Increased Trade Expected.
So far as the immediate outlook is
concerned. it is not expected by ex-
perts who have considered the mat
increase in the existing trade with
Germany, Austria and Hungary. The
experts explain this on the ground
that the foreign exchange-the de-
preciated value of the mark and the
crown-will prevent these countries
from buying more American goods
than they are now doing.
from buying more American goods
Notwithstanding the fact that
technical state of war has continued
to exist between the United States
and Germany and the other nations
involved, trade has been going on
without restrictions-except in the
case of German dyestufs. All re-
strictions were lifted in July, 1919,
and even prior to that date trading
had been going on. The exports to
Germany from the United States now
are in value greater than they were
before the war began in 1914, and
the same is true of imports from Ger
many. The volume of the exports,
however. is not so great. The Ger
mans are buying from the United
States principally raw materials
cotton and copper-which they are
not able to get elsewhere. Because
of the rate Of exchange and the low
value of the mark as compared with
the dollar the Germans are not buy
ing anything from this country they
can do without it Is said. In the
case of cotton, the value imported
into Germany from this country is
about one-half what 1t was before
the war. though the value of the I'M
ports of cotton is about the same. 1t
is not believed the Germans are get
ting cotton elsewhere, but that they
are doing without it as far as pos
sible.
Just as it is to the interests OF
the Germans not to purchase goods
from the United States under pres
ent conditions, it is to their advan-
tage to sell AS much of their own
products as they can. Their exports
to the United States today are prin-
cfpally toys, novelties and textiles.
In August, 1921, the value of the i'm
variations from Germany into this
country was, in dollars. $7.3S5.aO7. and
the value of the exports to Germany
was $3s.sss,s46.
The trade of the United States with
Austria and Hungary is at very low
ebb. In Austria the crown, which
prior to the war was valued at hve
to .he dollar, Is now $500 TO the
dollar. 1t is obvious that the Aus
tr,,ns cannot do business with Amer
leans If they can get goods anywhere
else where the rate VI
not SO prohibitive.
In some quarters it has been the
hope that the German marx VIII l"
crease in value with the establishments
81 neace. finally. with the united
c.ot.s But government experts here
take the view that the German harh
is not to increase in value for some
time to come. The Germans must
make their second payment OF the
rsn.ration money in November. ana
ui,l have a hard time meeting the
navment. it is pointed out. These
san,e experts do not look for an ap-
nrecfa,oie increase in German traae
until the mark increases In value.
May Lay Trade Foundations.
But the establishment of peace ana
the sending Of American diplomatic
and consular representatives 20 the
former enemy countries will place the
United States in a better position to
drum up trade with them than IT has
been in the past three years. When
the American consular offices In Ger
many and Austro- Hungary were
closed this country had seventy-tkree
consular officers In Germany and
thirty-two in Austro- Hungary. Diplo-
matte relations with Germany were
severed February -, 1917. and with
Austro-Hungary not long afterward.
since that time this country has had
no formal diplomatic or consular off,
GERS in either country. There have