The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-06-09
PROMOTE TRADE
IN Near EAST
Aims Of the American Chamber
of Commerce for the Levant
Are Set Forth.
TO OPEN UP IMMENSE FIELD
constantlnopIs Destined to Become
the "chicaoe Of Europe" Says New
President Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tunity for American Capital.

New York.-Constantinople Is des-
tined to become the Chicago 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 ard the Balkan states.
Mr.. Thomas lately returned from
q visit to Europe. II learned, while
in London, that l had been elected
president Of the American chamber of
for the Levant," said Mr..
Thomas. ~ refer to the newly-organ-
lied American section of the chamber,
now maintaining headquarters In New
York. 1t will cooperate with the long
established chamber Of the same name
which has Its seat In Constantlnople.
"The organization Of this chamber
is a timely movement 10 promote re-
ciprocal trade relations between Amer
lea and that great area-extending
from Egypt to Russia. and from Per-
sia to Italy-of which Constantinople
II the center.
Gateway 70 Vast Empires.
"very few people appreciate that
Europe and Asia meet at the feet of
Constantlnople." continued Mr.. Thorn
as. The chain of waters, the OAR
danelles, the Sea of Marmora and the
Bosphorus, made available for free
commerce, open the gateway to vast
empires of populous and fertile terri
tories beyond. when we realize that
Russia, a country considerably more
than twice as large as the United
States, has few seaports that are not
ice-bound for the greater part of the
year, except those situated on the
Black sea, we may imagine what
enormous traffic will flow through Con-
stantinople when Russia, with a hun
bred million OF her people nearby,
gets into her commercial stride"
"Then consider Roumania, now with
twice her former area-a country of
great natural resources, with a pres
emf population of Is. 900 900. Bulgaria
too, noted for a sturdy and industri-
ous population, has her commercial
outlet on the Black sea. And eve
on the farther side of the Black sea
Is a group Of states which eventually
must occupy an important place In
overseas trade.
"Jugo-Slavia, now vast In area by
comparison with Old Serbia, with
substantial natural resources and n
population of over 100000 has. of
course, one trade outlet via the Adri-
attic, and another via the Danube to
the Black sea. Without any doubt the
Danube is soon to play a much more
important part In the trade of the
Balkan states than 1t has ever done
In the past.
Has Natural Wealth.
Both Jugo-Slavia and Greater
Greece will hold a more important
position thar now In the Levantins
trade of the future. Egypt Is growing
into a land of commercial significance
While certain territories have beer
detached from Turkey since the war
there remains much fertile and valu
able land. Turkey is rich In minerals
of all kinds.
~ Wat III ~ el1N
exchange throughout the Near East
and this has made commercial trans
actions difficult for the present. Blu
the natural wealth Is there; and
population for the most part industri
Gus. Trade must surely grow.
"A high official Of an internationa
bank, one who is recognized as having
r,,a1v hxAa1 md aarurata tnnxyl
edge Of Ottoman financial matters
stated to me at Constantinople tina
in Turkey fully 85.OOO,OOO in gold 1
boarded by the people in 'stocking-leI
banks and not deposited at all witt
the public bankers. In this connec
ton II should be remembered that tn
oriental mind is accustomed to think
and that prior to the European wa
only gold and silver were In circula
ton, to any extent, in Turkey. Their
IL evidence that great private wealtl
exists there today. In gold. silver an
Jewels, not to mention other v~aluables
and this wealth will come into tn
current market as trade returns I
normal.
1.-THE Levant offers a splendid or
portunity for the Investment Of Amer
lean capital. In a wide range Of er
terprises. One of the great opening
of the present is for the constructio
of dwellings. warehouses, harbor in
p~rovements, and so forth. Constant
nople alone has lost 25,OO0 to 5000
houses by fire since the war begaI
and affords a magnificent opportunit
for housebuilding activity. kno'
for a fact that the Turkish authoritie