Evening star., 1935-02-19
MUTUAL AID SEEN
RECOVERY BASIS
International Trade Head
Sees Stable Conditions
In Europe.

The president of the International
Chamber OF Commerce is RolO in
the United States to confer Dtth
leading American business men.
He presents here general uiew OF
tDorld economic conditions.
BY F. H. FENTENER VAN vLIssNGEN,
President. International Chamber of
Commerce.
NEW YORK, February ID. (N.A.
N.A).-It Is my impression that the
political sky of Europe has, during the
past months, cleared somewhat.
Manifestly there is better feeling
now that uncertainty regarding the
status of the Saar has been definitely
removed. This better feeling has been
further increased by the recent con-
ferences in London between Premier
Flandin and Foreign Minister Laval
of France with Prime Minister Mac
Donald and Sir John Simon.
Now, I see in the newspapers that
Foreign Secretary Simon has just
gone to Paris for further conference,
and the news from Berlin seems to
indicate a disposition on the part Of
Chancellor Hitler to give the Anglo
French proposals the most careful
consideration. If, from these negotia-
ti0ns, there should issue real appease-
ment, great encouragement would be
given to business recovery.
Personally. I feel more confident
than at any time in recent years that
political differences, which heretofore
have acted as a deterrent to business
enterprise, can and will be SatiSfac-
torily eliminated This, take it, is
good sign. since no progress TO-
ward international agreement in
the economic field can be made so
long as the political factors continue
dominant.
Recovery in U. S.
Another great help to us in Europe,
and indeed throughout the world,
would be definite and continuing eco
nomic recovery in the United States.
During my present trip to this coun-
try ! have been keenly interested in
hearing certain Of my business asso-
ciates exple eSs the belief that basic
economic forces are now operating on
the constructive side. This is most
encouraging Sustained business i'm
provement in the United States will
have a great influence on economic
recovery in other countries.
OF course the International Cham
Der of Commerce Is interested in eco
nomic recovery in the Far East and in
South America quite as much as in
such recovery in Europe and in the
United States. We fully understand
the great trade relations between your
country and Japan, and we sincerely
hope that these may strengthen and
expand and in no way be influenced
or lessened by political factors.
The plain truth is that the great
task which faces business men the
world over today is the laying out
of q course toward sounder and more
favorable economic conditions. They
have noticed. not without concern,
that the course which private enter
prise has to steer is more and more
determined by governments. They
know that even in those cases in
which governments interfere only by
applying temporary measures Of dis
tress, these measures are generally
taken from a purely national stand
point and are consequently detri-
mental to international trade-Viz =,
the worlds welfare. They feel that
they must themselves tackle the prob
lens which menace their prosperity.
Internationalism Plea.
am confident that they will sue
ceed if they approach their work in
the right spirit.
Let me emphasize this "if."
II We try to solve our problems by
looking at them from our own angle,
and our own angle only; if it is only
Self-interest that counts; If We want
only to get and not to give; if we
want to be prosperous not because OF
our own merit, but to the detriment
Of another, we shall achieve nothing.
Our problems will remain unsolved
and We will continue trying to over
come our own difficulties by creating
new difficulties for others The latter.
in their turn. will certainly return our
kind attention in the same way.
Our problems are clearly numerous
and difficult. We will have to solve
them, however, II we want to find
werk for millions and millions of
unemployed, and relief for millions
and millions in dire need of the first
necessities of life. And we shall sue
ceed only II we understand that the
ways and means by which we try to
master our problems are not as i'm
portant, by far, as the spirit in which
we tackle them. More than one way
leads to Rome, but only by taking the
right direction can we arrive at our
destination.
It is of interest, in view of the i'm
proved political situation, that the
International Chamber of Commerce
plans to hold its eighth general con-
gress in Paris June 24-29. The meet
ing will attract a large number of
business men frem all parts of the
World-the 20 member countries of
the international chamber are sure
to be we'll represented-and several of
the most prominent business leaders
and captains of industry.
II so many Of the outstanding buSi-
ness men of nearly all the countries
in the world find it worth their time
and money, under existing conditions,
to come together from far and near,
it can only be because they have
something Of importance to say to
each other. At so critical a time
the making of a long trip merely
to shake hands with old friends or
to make a few new acquaintances
would hardly be justified.
The Road Back.
The reason why these business men
of many countries wanb to come to-
gether is that, being interested in
international trade, they find that
things are not going as they should,
and they are becoming more and
more convinced that something must
be done about it. It is unnecessary
to review the difficulties facing them.
Trade restrictions in every form have
become household words in nearly
every country, and import and ex-
port trade, and even domestic trade,
have been adversely affected by the
shackles with which the international