New-York tribune., 1922-05-21
Export Problem
Worries French
Cottons Industry
manufacturers Combine to
Market Large Potention
Surplus and Get Govern
u,rnt Non-Intercst Loan

The pr0OfeN HV" NonAAVietitk tHc
s.,eh Gotten trade, says Economist
r.r.ul Westeott, Of Paris, In a report
). n, Department Of Commerce, is how
:. market its potential surplus of yarns
"a fabrics in view Of almost insur-
..nn,able difficulties. This surplus
...upts to between 3 and per cent
. 4. total production of cotton yarns
- from, IS to 80 per cent of the total
sssarr4;on ssa of cotton fabrics. Half Of
.s sxnorts Of these goods goes to the
- colonies and the remainder to
,ar,irp countries.
Th;s problem has become increasing.
:. a;s;eult owing to the worldwide bust
~. depression. instability OF foreign
1.s.rees. fluctuations in the price Of
az Material impo rted from America.
-" ..s expected that the Versatile.
T...tr. suspeadinf for FIVE years Ger
-. ;moort duties on Alsatian cotton
."sa, would be of material assistance
Fr.neh manufacturers. but deprecia-
~. Il The mark, due to unlimited
@sa .sa.r inAasicn. has precluded German
pprfr.h,ses In Alsace and closed that in
ss.trisl es.3et.
csttcu goods exports TO central and
,.s.srn Europe have ceased likewise,
hscsrse OF debased currencies and des-
.;.nfjen OF whole populations formerly
,eod customers. Finally, Colonial pur-
shsses have declined 90 per cent, com
nared with pre-war figures, and Iuctu-
,tions IN the price OF American raw
rctton and exchange rates have aggra-
ysted still further the existing crisis.
A farreachins policy, economically
constructive as well as remedial, has
been adopted to meet this persistently
MANAGING situation. Its salient feature
d the industrial amalgamation and re-
su,ting cooperation Of the entire
French cotton trade. That policy, it
Is tree, has been accepted only with
reluctance by many great houses, hith-
erto exclusively family concerns for
generations, but it has been forced
rpen them against traditional conserv~
a.ism by the demands Of self-preserva-
ton. 1t is generally recognized now
that such union is the only hope OF
Industrial salvation.
The first step in that amaigamotion
vas the organization Of the Comptoir
Cstonnier Francais, or association Of
French cotton brokers. for centraliz:ng.
se-ordinating and supervising the ea-
,ors trade. 1t is expected that tho &C
sYities OF that body will incresse ex-
sort efficiency by the elimination OF
taste resulting from duplication and
,y the introduction of improved busi-
,ess methods generally. All branches
II the cotton industry have Joined the
ssociation.
The French governm ent. recognizing
IS economic value to the whole nation,
as granted il loan of 100000 francs
rithout interest. The organization CO.
'perates also with the Association Co
pnniere Franchise (French Cottoniere
rancaise (French Cotton Association},
yhose primary function is to develop
nd promote cotton-growing in the col
MES. and with the Syndicate General
E lIndustrie Cotonniere eFrancais
General Cotton Industry Syndicate).
French producers apparently fear
lat in the comparatively near future
,ey may be deprived of their present
-~~lto~ If raw -a~+erial by the growth
cotton nanufac turing in America,
.assand, Inaia and other countries. Ac.
ssdingly. since the war the Associa-
aou Cotonniere Franchise has ir+ersi-
asa its exploita lion of the colonies.
The work is adequately financed by
eon.rsbutions from TIE principal weav-
ers and spinners Of France.
The associ 9ticn now operates thirty
Phrations In French Equatorial and
= r'"a. Algeria, Morocco. Somali-
lald. Madagascar, New Caledonia and
Inc New hebrides. Three ginning fac
tories located in Middle Nigeria are
producing annually 10000 bales of 440
pounds each Colonial cotton growing,
while still in its initial stages, prom
lses very substantial results within the
next FIVE years. But quantity produc-
ton has not yet been attained IN any
district,