The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-06
RUSSIA BEST
U. s. MARKET.
EXPERT SAYS
Colonel Hugh Cooper, Head
of Commerce Body, Offers
Convincing Facts.
CITES FOLLY OF BAN
America Is Throwing Away
Priceless Chance for
Enormous Trade.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SrlIMS
Scripps-Howard Foreign Editor

BY WILLIAM PHILIP SnIMS
ScripDs-HOward Foreign Editor
NEW YORK, April 6.-"Beyond
question, Russia today offers the big
geSt potential outlet for American
made goods of any country in the
world. And to slam the door in the
face of this market, when million,
of anxious workers are looking for
jobs, is nothing short of folly"
So said Colonel Hugh L. Cooper.
noted American engineer, conserva-
tive business man and president CT
the American-RusSian Chamber OF
Commerce. I saw the famous dam
builder in his Park avenue office.
He spoke with feeling.
Few, If any, Americans know Rus
STA as well as he. He has lived
among them, worked with them and
dealt with them for years.
Furthermore" he said, mo sue
cesSful program to bring about eco
nomic normally in the world can
get very far toward a permanent
solution unless Russia is given major
| consideration in it. OF that. I am
convinced.
Government Is Stable
Let me give you some of the
reasons why believe in the Russian
market:
Il. The Soviets have a stable gov
eminent, which repeated visits show
me is becoming increasingly popular
with the people.
2. There is a population of 160,-
100000 whose standards of living
formerly were very low compared to
what unquestionably they soon will
be.
%. The natural resources of the
Soviet Union are greater than all
the combined resources of the re-
nlainder of Europe.
a. The SovietS are eager to have
America guide them in development
OF these resources. If America can
give them such guidance, the foun-
dationS will be laid for a continuing.
ever expanding business and friend
| ship of enormous value for an in
definite time in the future.
IS. We are great new nation.
Experience has shown them that we,
therefore, understand their needs
better than any other country.
IS. They have no tariff walls to
keep us out
Labor to Get More
81. Higher living standards result
in higher returns to labor. Thus
world economic stability will be
strengthened by increasing their
present low standard, and fears If
future competition with cheap labor
will be removed.
3. In the last eight years thew
have bought $4,000, 100000 worth OF
goods from the outside world and
paid Tor them without penny lost.
g. Russia now imports some
$4oO, 100000 worth of goods and serv-
ices annually. If she eventually
does even one-f1fth as we'll as the
per capita average among the thirty
leading nations of the world-and
surely that is not an extravaganza ex-
pectation-she will be buying 81
00O,0o0,000 worth year.
U. S. Slipping
"Yet Americans seem on the
point of eliminating themselves from
the picture. Two years ago Russia
occupied sixth place on our list Of
customers, having risen from eight
zenith place in two years. Now we
are slipping again, and slipping very
fast.
Our foreign rivals are taking over
our Russian trade. One reason IS
the matter of credits. They can Of
fer better terms. Another. and in
some ways more important one, is
the campaign in this country against
Russian imports.
We never have bought much
from RusSia-about fifth of what
she buys from us. But I venture
TO say that the majority of Ameri-
cans have an idea that the Soviets
literally are flooding us with goods.
SO enormous has been the publicity
which propagandists have given
tnese limited imports.
Politicians, and I am sorry tn
say, some business men with selfish
motives, have done their best 70
convince the country that all Rus
sian products entering this country
were manufactured by convict labor.
railing utterly to make good any
Of these wild statements, they now
are trying to interfere with this
trade by stating that all labor IN
Russia is forced labor
The American-RuSsian Chamber
Of Commerce has taken the pains to
investigate these charges carefully.
The Investigations were carried out
by some Of the leading business men
Of the country They now have put
themselves on record refuting the
forced labor allegations. More
over, the great turnover of labor all
over Russia offers additional undo.
niable proof.
To-day we are in need of some
mighty straight thinking. We have
tremendous production. We need
the widest possible markets. Upper
most in the minds of American
manufacturers is: Where can I
safely sell some goods and keep my
employees at their jobs?' Yet eyery-
where they look the way is blocked
by tariff walls with signs blaring:
Keep outl'
Alone the Russian market beck
ons. Today it is our one best ber.
Yet there are those who are trying
to slam that door. If they succeed,
time viii prove beyond question that
It was one OF the most colossal fol-
lies Of our times"