The Washington times., 1922-05-23
CERMANSPLAN
VAST TRUST AS
INDUSTRIAL AID
Hope to Include America in
European League Of Coal,
Iron, and Steel"
By. KARL H. Won WIEGAND.
Universal Service.

'S'f o''S SSSS"
By. KARL H. Won wIEGAND.
Universal Service.
BERLIN. May 23.-An Euro
pean league Of coal. iron and
steel" is ultimately to become q
world league by the inclusion of
America.
That's the latest plan for the
consolidation of industrial condi-
tions in Europe. to stabilize weak
exchange, check labor troubles,
make an end to cut-throat COM
petition. and last. but not least,
contribute to permanent peace by
internationalizing all the large IN
dustrial interests Of the big coun-
tries.
Planned for Weeks.
The project for this vast league of
Europe's largest and most powerful
commercial interests, known as the
heavy interests" has been under
discussion in London. Paris, Brussels,
Duesseldorf and Essen for some
weeks.
Negotiations between the indus
trial groups of the different coun-
tries as to the practicabiliIy OF such
q league has been kept very secret.
The idea was born In the brain OF
one Of the German Silesian industrial
captains. The project calls for the
| linking up OF the coal. iron and steel
groups of Germany. Silesia. the Saar,
Rhine and Ruhr regions with those
OF Alsace. Lorraine. France. BelPiLm.
Nuremberg and two or thr-e of the
most powerful groups In England
into a gigantic European syndicate
or league. with central offices at
Paris and Duesseldorf.
Singularly enough the idea was
sympathetically received by French
industrial captains, notably, II is
claimed. by the Schneide- .Cruezot
group. Moreover. IL is said by those
in a position to know something OF
the negotiations, the Armstrong
Vickers and other groups in England
are keenly interested in the ambiti-
Gus and daring project.
Ninety per cent Of those interests
in Belgium and Nuremberg. L is
asserted, have been won over solidly
for the scheme.
An exchange Of views between the
coal iron and steel groups Of these
countries was already begun some
time before the Genoa conference
opened and went so far, I am in
formed. that one OF the German
promoters was received by Premier
| Poincare to discuss the matter.
Krupps Undecided.
The chief obstacle lay within Ger
! many where some Of -he heavy in
dustries," especially the SHINES and
Hugenberg group strongly opposed
, the idea and the Krupps are unde.
cided In meetings held with the
French they made 1t a condition that
the German groups must first come
to an agreement among themselves.
That obstacle, 1t is said now, is
in a fair way OF being overcome,
more especially since the failure Of
the Genoa conference. IN Deuessei'
dorf, SHINES declared at n confer
ence. the prospect is well worth
| studying, and II is thought the
Krupps have been about won over.
Negotiations, II is said in circles
working on the plan, have pro
crossed so far that an announce
ment may soon be expected, max.
ing the project formally public, to-
gether with its aims, purposes,
practicability and progress made
to date.
Emphasis has been laid on the
fact that internationally interlock-
ing the interests OF the coal. iron
and steel countries mentioned. upon
which practically all other industries
depend. would be one Of the great
est guarantees Of peace, stabilize
currencies and prepare the way for
the quick reconstruction of Russia.
The league would have two i'm.
portant central offices-one for price
fixing, which It is contemplated
would be assigned to Germany. and
the other for distributing orders for
which France and Belgium have
been taken into view in the discus
sions held.
The Germans were at first in
clined to lay down among other
conditions the withdrawal Of the
allied troops from the zone Of oc.
cupation.
The amount OF capital in the pro-
jected league, II Is said would ex.
ceed that Of the Standard OIL Com
pany