Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1926-11-18
MILLIONS in EUROPE
MAKE UNCLE SAM SANTA


demonstrations were being staged i
France and when England was CAR
caturing sUncIe Sam as "Uncle Shy
lock" this summer, Americans wer
parting with a half billion dollars i
Europe.
The contrast is NOR esuccinctly eX
pressed this way.
Paid by American tourists
in Europe in 1926-----$500,O 100000
Paid by Europe on ac-
count of war debt in
1926 .-- 78,000,00(
Balance in favor of Eu-
rope ------------------- @4z1,ooV'Vo'
The spendthrift proclivities of the
United States, to which Europe
chooses to blind its eyes with ban.
dage of postwar resentment are re-
yealed in authentic figures collected
by The New York American from
the most reliable sources, most OF
which was governement and official.
Millions to Europe
When Americas outgo of gold to
Europe is balanced against the COM
paratively meager sum Europe has re-
turned here in liquidation of its war
obligations, "Uncle Shylock" is shown
to be receiving something quite diff
ferent than. pound of flesh" An
ounce would be more like it.
Nor is that all.
When there is added to the $780,
100000 contribution which Ameri-
can travellers made to Europe the
towering amount of immigrants re-
mittances, totaling in the neighbor-
hood of $325, 100000 this year, the
figures reach 1926, 100000.
Then to that may be added approx
imately $3O,OOO,O00 spent by Ameri-
cans living abroad, plus about $685.
600, 900 representing charitable and
missionary expenditures by Ameri-
cans in Europe. When few odds
and ends of Yankee millions spent for
various activities are also thrown in
the grand total pyramids around one
billion.
When striking reasonable bal
ance, government statisticians gener-
ally deduct about $1O0,000.000 to ac-
count for expenditures in this coun-
try by European travellers an dbusi-
ness men and for various ventures
financed on this side of the ocean
by old world dwellers.
Uncle Sam Prodigal
With these figures in mind, even
the most prejudiced Yankee haters
on the other side of the Atlantic
must quickly re-visualize Uncle Sam
as anything but niggardly and ra-
pacious old gentleman. Rather is he
the exact reverse-a lavish, extrava-
CANT squanderer comparable to the
Prodigal Son himself.
The half billion which American
tourists spend on sightseeing and
pleasurable adventure in England,
France and Italy and other continen-
tai countries represents net debit SO
far as this country is concerned.
Some Paid in Taxes
Facts available in different statis-
teal bureaus at Washington confirm
the statement that the average ex-
penditure of $1,000 for each Ameri-
can tourist is very conservative. The
average, Of course, varies according
to the countries visited.
In drawing attention to this situa-
tion government pamphlet, issued
with the endorsement of Secretary |
of Commerce Hoover, recently set
forth these comments:
"These (American) travellers are
not only source of profit to Euro
pean merchants and hotel keepers,
but also an important source of reve-
nue. to European governments, as
practically all of the continental ma
tions levy taxes on tourists. The
rates vary from a to % per cent OF
the hotel bill, with frequently an ad-
ditional charge of 10 to 20 per cent
a day, and in most countries pass
port charge of $40.
Another thing that should not be
lost sight of is the $40 tax for vises
on passports, which is extracted by
France, Great Britain and other
countries from American travellers
before they board the steamer. This
represents a total contribution in the
neighborhood of $5,Ooo,o00 this year.
American tourists whose country
is being berated as usurer by the
nations to whose financial assistance
it came during the critical days OF
the World War are on the event OF
making further substantial contribu-
tions.
Fifteen Mediterranean tours now
being booked by foreign steamship
companies will carry $500 wealthy
Americans who will spend an aver
age of about $4,000, or total of
$15,O00,O00.
These are the facts. Should 1t be
"Uncle Shylock" or Santa Claus?
Rich Bachelor Wants