Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03

employment. not only here, but
throughout the world generally; nor
has unemployment been 50 widely
spread among all classes.
In attempting to guess-and at best
1t Is mere guesS-when we shall get
out Of our present condition, we must
survey the whole world situation and
not that In our country alone. Then
we may be able to decide what are the
contributing causes Of existing condi-
tons and endeavor to solve the problem.
This Is the underlying purpose Of the
International Chamber of Commerce
and will be the keynote of the meeting.
In every meeting of the Interna-
tional Chamber the economic tnterde-
pendence of all nations under modern
conditions is recognized and empha-
sized. While we of the United States,
by reason of our great diversity of cli-
mate and natural resources, can live
ION our own" perhaps better than any
other country, 1t nevertheless Is obvi-
Gus that ultimately no one nation can
continue to enjoy standard Of living
and prosperity meaSurably higher, all
things considered, than other nations.
I believe that the mere bringing to-
gether in washington of SO many people
from the different nations will have an
enlightening and alleviating effect
At a recent meeting Of the council Of
the chamber In Paris, held for the pur-
pose of arranging the program for this
sixth biennial congress. 1t was decided
that the responsibility for bringing
about an improvement in the economic
status of the world rests primarily upon
the business men and flnanciers: that
governments cannot do It: that we have
come out of all crises in the past by
persistent work, economy. patience.
courage and the re-estah ishment of
confidence In the stability of business.
To assist in the accomplishment Of
the result. the council at the Paris
meeting proposed to Investigate the
present situation carefully and. follow
ing the meeting, the experts OF the
chamber gave intensive study to the
worlds economic problems. The result
of these efforts will be submitted to
the congress this week.
From every viewpoint 1t Is gratifying
to us that so many representative for
eign business men have come to the
meeting. They will find the leaders OF
American business, like themselves.
eager to find some means to reao1uSt
the worlds economic machine.
Other Nations Wheat Problems.
The nations Of Europe and of other
problems, overproduction, dumping, high
prices, low prices and no prices at all.
Our friends from over the seas have
given and are continuing to give assldu-
Gus study to all these conditions, but
submit that no amount of individual
study can be so fruitful of results as
actual contact with and discussion OF
the problems in q general world con-
gress.
0un - &tan ~,.as% av,,jyao,,s clouds This I
overhang the whole economic world Is
the dumping upon the world markets
of large quantities of grain, raw mate
rial and Semi-f1nished products by So
Wet Russia at prices less than the nor
NAL cost of production. This Is a
factor in the situation the duration and
extent Of which cannot accurately be
measured.
Some of the speakers at the Paris
council meeting advised discontinuance
of extending credit to the Soviets. On
the other hand, it was argued that If
the buying power of Russia were in
creased by the development of indus
tries she would be a greater potential
market.
Among the important subjects Of dis
cussion will be the silver problem, the
agricultural crisis, mass production and
distribution, transportation, double tax
ation-almost every subject that en-
cages the attention of the business men
and financiers in every country.
The congress which meets tomorrow
cannot hope to solve all of the worlds
economic problems, but predict that
the contributions made by some OF the
worlds greatest thinkers will be Of in
estimable benefit not only to the mate
rial welfare of all the people but to
the peace Of the world.