The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-28
HANDSOME is AS Handsome DOES
(continued From Page Six

1 W SidiiSiilS dL the ceiling
where cracks in the cardboard
showed some of the old lath with
the plaster still clinging to it
that cleaning this still unusable
room must be a daily job, for tho
falling plaster dust alone.
The third home was much the
same. A similar size family ir
two rooms and a kitchen, THEN
front porch" bombed out
room with no roof overhead, ano
jagged walls all around, the tile
floor brushed as neat and clear
a. the kitchen table.
Thoughtful people in Belgium
are deeply concerned about
America.
First of all, they wonder
whether we may not soon become
SO involved with our own trou-
bles Suppose we should have a
, recession and unemployment or
become involved in a wave OF
strikes) that we will decide 10
pull out of Europe and let the
Europeans solve their tremendous
difficulties alone.
I have been asked that ques-
ton all over Europe, but it was
put to me more intensely in Bel
GUM than anywhere else thus
far.
Secondly, what about Ger
many? Are we going to permit
her to reorganize her industry
on the former scale?
"You see," one Belgian told
me, 1--WE were invaded in 1914
1918, and again in this war. My
father served in World War No.
l, and l in this. Every time we
have been invaded, our homes
have been wrecked and many of
our people killed, our business
knocked to a standstill.
Frankly, we're a bit fed up
with Delng invaded.
"You can talk about Germany
becoming again the industrial
center of Europe, that this is nec-
essary. But we, who know the
mentality of the German people
know also that once they have
rebuilt their industry, we will be
invaded again.
eff there is a possibility that
America may decide to get out
of Europe and leave us to our
own troubles, we would prefer
to settle the German question
our own way. We don't want to
see them suffer, and we don't
want to see them starve. In spite
of all they have done to use, they
are after all, human beings. But
we don't want to be invaded
again in another 20 years"
And then there is the question
of European markets. set this
down for what it may be worth
to any people who seek to sell
American products in Europe. l
am not sure that it represents a
general sentiment. =
"You Americans" Belgian
importer told me, are manufac-
turers, not exporters.
IN Belgium, it is the custom to
answer every letter in the days
mail the same day it is received.
We sometimes wait weeks and
even months for replies from
your manufacturers.
Furthermore, in Belgium
when we make an agreement to
deliver goods by a certain date,
we deliver on that date, barring
storms, floods, or acts OF God
which may prevent delivery. If
we can't promise a definite de-
VERY date, we tell the customer
before he places the order. We
do not take an order for de-
livery on a certain date and then
keep putting the customer Off, as
some of your American firms are
apparently accustome dto do.
Il don't think" he added, "that
most Americans realize the tre-
tremendous market that exists
over here for your products. 1t
will not exist forever, If you
want it, the time to develop 1t is
now"
I explained that in America
customers also have to wait for
merchandise, often long beyond
scheduled delivery dates, because
of unexpected shortages, delays
in production, etc. Yes" he
said, this we understand. But
YOU shouldn't take an order and
promise delivery unless you know
that you can deliver on that
date"
Finally, there is the question
of war.
Yesterday" one Belgian office
executive told me, Il told you
that in my opinion there could
not be a war for 10 to 20 years at
least. But this morning l am not
so sure. have been talking with
the head of our firm, a man who
is very we'll informed. he says
there will be war between Amer
ica and Russia within two years