Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-23
j. S. SCHEDULED
FOR PLANNING"
Foreign Economic Leaders
Headed for c. of C. Session
With Chips on Shoulders.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

refusal to revise war debt settlements.
about our foreign loans program, and
about our economic manners i'll general
Is in the offing. 1t is scheduled To burst
forth at washington on May and TO
make the welkin ring for the ensuing
ave DAYS of the sixth general congress
of the International Chamber OF Com
merce. Although it is the first time
since its organization. in 1920. that the
chamber has held its biennial meeting
{ in the United States. Yankee feelings
are not expected to be spared. In fact,
the American section OF the lnteTna-
tional body particularly reminded the
rest of the chamber that the freest and
fullest possible discussion of all world
business questions is desired. European,
Asiatic and Latin American members
were urged, in case they have any chips,
to carry them on their shoulders at
washington. Advance indications show
; that the invitation is going to be ac-
cepted. Spades apparently are going
20 be called spades.
Not Aware of Importance.
Americans are not generally aware Of
the Importance in world affairs which
the International Chamber of Commerce
has achieved during the decade of its
existence. The second general congress,
In Rome in 1923, directly led to the
VI Tile NTGllIldll lGpdl dllO4I
issue through the Dawes plan. The
Nth congress, in Amsterdam in 1929.
gave immediate impetus to the ensuing
revision of German reparationS under
the Young plan. International chamber
leaders express confidence that the sixth
congress, about to convene at Washing
ton amid unprecedented world condi-
hons will pave the way to international
economic action comparable in Signif1-
- AtaA NlnV
The business men about to converge on
the American Capital are without ex-
ception private citizens. But they are
Pkey" men in their respective countries
end the forces that make and unmake
government policies.
Notables to Attend.
Names renowned in international az
Gairs will figure in the Washington pro-
Ceedings The president of the Inter
national Chamber is NJ. Georges Theu-
mis-, former minister of finance and
prime minister of Belgium. NJ. Theu-
mis- presided over the World Economic
Conference at Geneva in 1927. He
headed the Belgian Debt Funding Com
mission to the United States three or
four years ago. From France is coming
M. Rene Duchemin. president Of the
French General Confederation of In
hustry and chairman of the French Par
liament's Trade Committee, highly in
ffueutial body ItalyS chief representa-
tive Is Signor Alberto Pireli head OF
the famous firm Of electric cable and
automobile tire manufacturers and
member of both the Dawes and Young
Plan Commissions. Pirelli came TO
washington with the italian delegation
which negotiated the Mellon Volpi debt
funding settlement. Great Britain'S prin-
cipal spokesman will be Sir Arthur Bal
four of Sheffield, steel manufacturer and
bag gun In British industry. He Is for
mer president Of the British government
Committee on Industry and Trade and
is vice president of the International
Chamber Switzerland, Sweden, Den
mark and Norway are sending as dele
gates men of eminence in finance and
industry. Germany. Czechoslovakia, the
Netherlands and Poland, too, viii be
represented by some of their foremost
captains of commerce. The German
delegation will be especially large and
notable. Prom remote Australia, 1noo-
China, Japan and Turkey are coming
men bearing messages indicative OF the
whole worlds anxiety for way out OF
the all-encircling economic gloom.
Hoover win Speak.
s'The massed business intelligence of
the world" is an apt description of the
personnel OF the impending interna-
tionaI conclaye. With the single excep-
ton Of President Hoover, no govern
ment spokesman of any nationality Is
on the five-day program. Mr.. HooVers
opening address is designed to be OF
purely welcoming character. although he
may not let the opportunity pass 10
strike certain keynotes on subjects
bound to dominate the proceedings OF
the congress.
The United States will not lack able
defenders If and when American eco
nomic policies come under fire. Men
of Nationwide fame in finance, COM
merce, industry and fiscal affairs are to
deliver addresses on assigned topics,
and will be ready in an emergency 10
participate in pitched discussion. They
include julius H Barnes, chairman OF
President Hoover's Business Survey;
EilaS II. Strawn Of Chicago, lawyer and
banker, who is chairman Of the Amerl-
can Committee Of the international
Chamber; Owen D. Young OF New YORK,
Melvin A. Traylor, president OF the First
National Bank of Chicago; Gerard
Swope, president Of the General Electric
Co; H. NJ Robinson, Los Angeles
banker: John H. Fahey, Boston pub
fisher; H. L. Russell, former dean Of the
College of Agriculture at the University
of Wisconsin; Harry A Wheeler, Chi
cago f1nancier, and D. F. Kelly, Chi
hago department store magnate. Among
Foreign personalities destined to attract
attention during the Washington 6eS-
Atons are Thomas Bata, the Czecho-
Elovakian boot and shoe king; Kenkichi
KaRami, president of the celebrated
Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Japan's premier
steamship line; Vassa Yovanovitch,
president of the Danube Credit Bank
Of Jugoslavia, and Aloyse Meyer OF
Luxembourg, president of the European
Steel Cartel.
Seek to End Depression.
A hundred questions dealing with as
many different phases Of world COM
nerce are to be dealt with, but their
basic purpose, as expressed by NJ.
Theunis, president Of the International
Chamber, is to "hslp TO hasten a gen.
eral recovery from the present depres-
sion" Almost universally abroad, espe-
ciaIly in Europe, it is commended that
the United States holds the key TO the
situation Concretely, abroad feels
that until we let down our tariff bars
and consent to a revision cancellation
Is what's really meant of war debts,
the process Of world economic recovery
will be slow, If not impossible. Abroad
has another woe to yentilate at Wash
ington--the sharp restriction in our
foreign credits since slump times set
in a year and half ago. In 1929
American dollars invested abroad
reached the total of Sl,465 $4,000.
There was reduction Of several hun
bred millions in 1880. The reduction
in 1881 will be even sharper. The
effect of this retarded flow of American
capital overseas has been extremely
serious. Germany feels it vitality. Ger
man reparation payments have largely
been made possible through American
borrowings.
Will Strike at Tariff.
Twenty-six countries lodged protests