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Show AFTER THE WAR. It is to be expected that all of the great nations now involved in the terrific ter-rific military struggle in Europe will make all possible preparations to regain as much of the world 's trade as possible. possi-ble. The German government, with its usual foresight in things material; has already made plans for the transition of Germany 'a industries from a war to a peace basis, and the transition will be made under the government's participation partic-ipation and supervision. A special imperial im-perial commissioner has been appointed to take charge of the task and he will be assisted by a committee selected from all departments of business. Credits are to bo mobilized, the labor supply will be enlarged and distributed and steps taken to keep some sort of control con-trol over imports in order to protect the gold basis and Germriy's currency sys- tern. This, of course, means the pro-tec pro-tec tion of the home market from foreign for-eign invasion. But as there are many American products prod-ucts whi'.-h Germany will need during the process of rehabilitation we shall no doubt do a thriving business with the central empires, at least until they get upon their feet again. The same is true of Great Britain and Erance. Upon Up-on the restoration of peace the demand for American products to restore the ruins will be so great that the financial superiority of the United States in Europe will continue for some time after af-ter the war (doses, according to the view of the Paris Temps, which says that Xew York will be the financial and commercial center of the world until England has paid her American debts. It is no sure thing, however, that this country will lose its financial prestige even when England settles her account with us. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been lent to other foreign countries, coun-tries, the principle and interest being payable in X'ew York instead of London, Lon-don, which used to be the clearing house for the whole world 's financial transactions. trans-actions. While it is quite possible that some of the smaller countries will prefer to do business through Loudon, it is also probable that great nations will prefer to do their business direct with the United States. South American trade will not take the old roundabout course in any event, and we look for the European Euro-pean nations to shake off the British financial domination and trade with I his country without making use of the London bills of exchange. For tho past century the pound sterling has reigned supreme in all the markets of the world, but the'dollar credits are now uppermost, and if there is co-operation between the United States government, the bankers and the business men, New York will continue to be the financial center of the world or at the very least divide the honors with London. In this connection it is worthy of note that the first organization for co-operative selling to give an American indus try an advantage over ioreign competitors com-petitors in foreign markets has just been announced from Washington by the bureau of foreign and domestic com- ; merce. Under the anti-trust law there has been some doubt as to the right of tenerican manufacturers to combine tneir interests in the foreign field, and the Webb bill, which failed of passage at . the last session of congress, was drawn for the purpose of clearing away the supposed obstacles. But as the administration admin-istration does not hold to the theory that the anti-trust law applies to the foreign trade of the country, an export sales company has been organized to increase the exportation of Douglas fir. Eighty peT cent of the firms interested in this industry are represented in the organization of tho company, which is said to have iieen approved by members of the federal trade commission who have recently visited the Pacific coast. Without doubt many similar organizations organ-izations will be formed and an earnest effort be made to extend our commerce in all directions.! If this is done and we hold our own in the foreign markets, we fail to see how London is going to regain financial supremacy. The great English city has dominated the world for a long time, but the war has broken her hold and we very much doubt if her merchants, manufacturers and bankers will ever again be in position to levy tribute upon the whole world. Certainly the United States can remain free in all trade ami financial matters and will so remain if we have the right brand of statesmanship at Washington. |