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Show Germany Is Crying for Trade, but Lacks Money to Buy Materials t S, SALESMEN DECLINE 0RDEH5 ON CREDIT BASIS American Commercial Travelers Trav-elers Penetrate Hun Nation, Na-tion, Berlin to Coblenz. Information Gathered Is of Immense Benefit, but No Rich Spoils Are Obtained. By GEORGE SELDEN. (Chicago Tribune. Copyright.") LONDON, Nov. s. The first battalion of American "commercial shock troops." having penetrated Germany from Coble n. to Berlin, is. now on Us way homo. ht has gathered an enormous w . . information about the defeated ujfucti put no rich spoils. "Germany is crying for trade, but of-fers of-fers nothing substantial in payment," is one general conclusion made by the American business men, who have stopped in to report at the Chamber of Commerce here before leaving for horn. "Millions of dollars' worth of AmoiT-can AmoiT-can goods, chiefly raw materials. 6o(i4 be sold at once, provided a year's ered't is allowed. Some German firms are wi'l iug to pay in six months, but wry jfluvr wilt do business on three months credit-So credit-So the American salesmen are returning empty handed, leaving the rather barren field to British and French traders. "But all visiting business men agree that Germany has a great commercia. future that she will be one of the great trade rivals in five years." Mr. Frothing-ham Frothing-ham of the local American Chamber o. Commerce ,told me today. "They are astonished by the marvelous business organization or-ganization which so gjtiiclcly has followed the war. Transition Is Rapid. "The transition from a war footing lu a peace basis, our returning agents inform in-form us. has gone smoothly and is complete- Ths factories are intact, the business busi-ness organization is ready, and all thai is necessary is law material which must he bought on credit. ''That is Germany's drawback. TOu. depreciation of the mark is another factor holding up German aspirations. American Ameri-can business men therefore agree thai Germany need not be feared for a year.' "But a year is nothing in the life of a defeated nation," was suggested. "But it is of utmost importance in the commerce of a nation," Mr. Frothinghain replied. "If America -or other nations take advantage of a full year, it will give a handicap which would take yeatfi to overcome." Officers of the American chamber are not greatly worried over the reports thai Britain and France have salesmen flooding flood-ing the central emph'es, while Americans are having a difficult time owing to their being forced to obtain military paaoofe through the Coblenz bridgehead. Other Nations Busy. There aro about ten French and British Brit-ish salesmen to each American in G r many today, but there are almost no goods to be had cheaply In Germany and no desire on the part of Americans to take large orders on a year's credit. Most of the business being done Is In the Rhlneland, where both French and British firms are part clue ting In trad exhibits in Frankfort, Cologne and other large cities. Americans who have searched Germany for stored -un goods at bargain prh -. were surprised to find they did not exist. ex-ist. There is therefore no danger of any markets being flooded with the "maoN in Germany'' slogan. Some quantities of dies and chemicals were found, but these, according to reports to the chamber, will bo largely taken up by the government, which will use them in part payment for the indemnity. Workmen Reasonable. American nalesmon also report that the German workingmcn am becoming mo-re sober dally, and, in fear for their future, fu-ture, are consenting to long hours rir a not too high wage. Their government has warned them that the Kfo of the nation depends on commercial rivalry abroad in other words. underselling America and England in the world markets. mar-kets. It can be done only by abundant production at minimum costs, and (he German worker Is told to bear hi burden. Despite the great handicap) lack of coal, lack of raw materials and monev depreciation American business men declare de-clare they see Germany in advance of France and pressing on the heels of the United States and Britain in a few years. The answer to this seeming parade . they say. lies in the disciplined industry indus-try of the German worker mid the terprise and aeuinen of the German business busi-ness organization. |