New-York tribune., 1921-05-22
See Rise I'm Irish Linen Prices
llde Turning Toward Recovery in Trade, According
to Derryvale Company OFF,
cial at Belfast
~ HE Irish linen trade is antici-
pating rise in prices of flax,
~ fhn

CEN he Irish linen trade is antici
pating rise in prices of fax
the raw material Of the in.
dustry, and also an advance in the
price levels Of finished goods. Some
interesting side lights on the linen
situation as seen in Belfast, the Irish
linen center, is contained in the fol-
lowing letter received by Robert
Adams, of the Derryvale. Linen Com
pany, from the concerns mills in
Belfast: S% '0ss &
The tids turns when at its lowest
ebb, just as it does when at it's highest
now. The slump has been weathered
and buying is again being renewed.
Moreover, it seems extremely probable
that he who hesitates in buying at
present does so to his own loss. I'm
coubtedly it is not always prudent to
prophesy. In fact, it is beyond human
nature to foresee the many elements
which must be taken into account in
any attempt to arrive with meticulous
accuracy at what exactly may happen
q year or even, six months ahead.
Nevertheless, there are factors which
cannot be overlooked and must form a
foundation for future tendencies.
Flax Scarcity Indicated
"The linen industry is in no more
danger of extinction than is the cotton
industry. 1t will revive with the gem
cral improvement in the worlds trade.
There are abundant signs of that re-
vival even now. AS q matter of fact.
those most competent to give an opin-
ion aver that once trade in general
takes even moderate change for the
better and the existing stocks Of gov
ernment surplus and other goods are
wiped out the position will become
different. Certainly by that time, if
not earlier, it will be seen what a poor
sewing of seed for fax purposes there
will be this. season: Also there will
be brought home more actuely to the
comprehension of linen consumers
everywhere how small are the total
supplies of fax that exist to fulfill the
requirements Of the linent industry
for the coming eighteen months and
more.
"The Irish farmers are no more in
clined to SOW fax this year than are
the farmers in Belgium, France and
Holland. There Is a general movement
among them all to drop fax cuitiva-
tion. While the high. fax prices pre-
vailing q couple. of years ago stimu-
lated largely increased growing, the
more recent fall in prices. has discour-
aged fax growers in these countries, so
that an acute shortage of fax cultiva-
.tion this year is certain. Moreover,
the truth cannot be concealed any
longer with regard TO the mythical
stocks Of fiber which were supposed to
be in Russia only awaiting transport
The conclusion of the trading agree
ment with the Bolshevist governme ent
revived these rumors. Thus M. Litvi-
noff is reported TO have said. no longer
ago than March 2I: With regard to
exports, there are large stocks of fax
which have been held up for several
years In like manner last week in
London M. Krassin unblushingiy de-
clared that Russia is now in posi-
tion to export certain amount OF
timber, fax, ETC. AS the poet puts it
"A lie which is half truth is the
BLACKLIST of lies,' and that adjective
certain represents one of these ex.
aggerated mendacities.
Little Flax From Russia
"An independent and thoroughly re.
liable report, based on close persona
and expert investigation, reveals thai
for the worlds markets of the years
1921 and 1922 one can only reckon or
$4,000 tons of fax available from tbs
entire area of Soviet Russia
"Ths truth may not be pleasant, bur