Evening star., 1923-05-11
WORLD ECONOMIC
CONFERENCE URGED
U. S. Chamber of Commerce
Acts After Hearing French
Economist Speak.

NEW YORK, May 11.-Resolutions
were adopted at the annual meeting
of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States last night recommend
ing the calling of a general economic
conference of the nations Of the
world to adjust peace and economic
problems; opposing government oper-
alton or ownership of the merchant
marine; advocating legislation to
govern flight of aircraft and airways
to stimulate commercial aviation:
the establishment of court of tax
appeals; government reclamation of
waste lands: steps to prevent national
loss by adequate flood control and re-
iterating its adherence to the open
shop policy.
The action was taken after an ad-
dress by NJ. Robert Mason of Paris,
director general of the Credit Lyon
nais.
NJ. Mason of Paris told the MEM
berS that the mission of the Franco
Belgian armies in the Ruhr was that
of a sheriff.
THE collection of a debt by means
of the sheriff is we'll known occur
renee in the commercial community"
recover is TO the advantage, not only
of the creditor. but of the creditors
creditors. and every one of the latter
should logically wish him every sue
cess"
Needs New Money.
Frances cardinal problem now is
to find new money at time when
"all others concentrate on old mon
ey," said the tinancier. IF she does
not find that new money it means a
continuance of undeserved hardships
to her population"
Il know you SympathiZe with u.s."
he concluded. Il know you are eager
to assist. just as you assisted us six
years ago in a memorable way. l
cannot believe that entire aloofness
Is to he your policy. | do not think
that policy would be logical or prof
table"
NJ. Mason said he came to tell
America what progress his country
was making toward complying with
the formula for world prosperity
ADOPTED by the International Cham
ber of Commerce at Rome. The spe-
cif1c criticisms made against France
and her former allies. he said. were
that her taxation was inadequate:
her finances were inflated; her ex-
change was not stabilized: her bud
get was not balanced and she was
spending too much on armaments.
Pay S34 Per Capita.
To the contrary. he said, French
men are now paying an equivalent
of s34 per capita in taxes. az COM
pared with per capita of SET in
America.
France was guilty of debating her
currency. as the word was commonly
defined. he admitted. We could not
very well have done otherwise be-
cause the war had to be firanced by
every possible means" he said, add
n LNv-nr ~,
ed a plan to wipe out it's indebted
ness In eleven years by steady, slow
and prudent uefiation."
The position of French francs on
the exchange was something for
which. not France. but foreign i'm
porters. notably American. were re-
sponsible. he said. The tluctuation in
exchange he attributed to your peo-
pie. who trade their francs between
themselves. according to the impress
sfonS of the day, and mostly for
psychological reasons" For that rea-
son, he said, he could not forecast
when the franc might recover it's nor
NAL value.
1t also was true that France had
not balanced her budget, he said.
In 1928 she will spend $4,000. .O0O, 900
francs. on revenue of $4,000. 900. 900.
Frances excuse. he said. was the
interests we have to pay on recon-
struction loans and which should
have been paid by some on else,"
meaning Germany.
Military Expenses.
AS for ornaments, he said: Our
total military expenditure, war. navy
and colonies. was 1861 900, 900 in 1913. F.,
IT is 1881 o00,0 600 for 1928 How does
this compare with other countries
which are universally-and deserved |
Accredited with peaceful DISPOSE
tionS?
Great Britain spends $4,000 900, !