Evening star., 1938-10-09
j. s. WILL RESIST
4 NAz| TRADE GRAB
Officials Here Order Aides
to Protect $170,0O0,O00
Stake in Balkans.
b the Associated Press.

6S TINS AbsOCihleQ TTess.
Adolf Hitler's economic drive into
Central and Southeastern Europe will
run into an effort by the United States
10 retain her $l70,000,000 stake in the
commerce of that region
Of6cials here are working out an
American defense against Hitler's COM
inercial legions. His absorption Of the
sudetenland of Czechoslovakia is just
the beginning, they are understood to
believe, OF q gigantic German trade
offensive in Central Europe and the
Balkans
The German minister of economics,
Walther Funk, is now touring the
Balkans. He has Just concluded a
commercial agreement with Yugo-
slsvia considerably extending the pres
ent one under which 80 per cent Of
Yugoslavias total trade is with Ger
many. He has gone on to other
Balkan countries, and to Ankara.
Turkey, where a Turkish German
agreement was concluded yesterday.
Experts here say determined effort
10 retain trade must be made, not
only by this country but also by
Britain and France to prevent the
whole Balkans from becoming a COM
mercial appanage of Berlin.
They are apprehensive that the
German dream Of the drang mach
esten-drive toward the east is de-
veloping into reality commercially.
Czech Control Likely.
The experts say they expect Ger
many to obtain considerable control
over the commercial life of Czecho-
slovskia. Acquisition of the Sudeten-
land will strengthen Germany in her
foreign trade with Poland and Hun
gary. 1t will give her new products to
sell the other nations of Central Eu-
rope.
The nations to which United States
experts are turning their attention are
Czechoslovskia, Turkey. Hungary, Po-
land, Yugoslavis, Rumania, Greece,
Bulgaria and Albania. Imports of
those countries from the United States
In the first eight months of 1888
amounted to s6l, ,935 900 At the same
rate they should total about s93 3,0O0,-
900 for the whole of 1898.
Exports to the United States in the
same period Of eight months amounted
to S50,597 900, and for the year will
probably amount to s76,000.000 This
is total trade of about $l70, 900. 900
The largest trader is Czechoslo-
vakia, after which come Poland, Tur-
key and Greece. The United States
will have to revise its present trade
agreement with Czechoslovakia be-
cause of the changed outlines of that
state. American negotiators are now
in Ankara, Turkey, and have been
there for several months, negotiating
. trade agreement with Turkey. Ger
many already has complicated these
discussions by her growing barter and
blocked mark trade arrangements with
Turkey.
Treaties Now U. s. Goal.
American officials have undertaken
exploratory conversations looking to-
ward trade treaties with some Of the
other countries involved, and Amer
icsn commercial attaches are ex-
pected to receive instructions to do
all they can to promote trade with
the region.
Germany's economic advance into
the Balkans has been one of the out
standing business developments of the
last few years.
United States trade with the
Balkans and Central Europe is in
most cases only fraction of Ger
many's Nevertheless, experts here
say that the fractions, added together,
are worth a contest.
The American products likely to oe
affected by Germany's continued eco
noraic advance in Central and South
eastern Europe are automotive We
hicles, oil well machinery (particu-
larly for Rumania) office and business
machines, telephone and radio equip-
nent, motion pictures, lubricants,
construction machinery, electrical ap-
pliances, tires and tubes and scrap