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Show ! BUSINESS MEfl OFFER PEACE IEESII ! -.... Financial and Industrial ' Interests May Ask Representation. A Tf-A NTIC CITT. N. J., Dec. 4. In him opening addresa to the reconstruction recon-struction congress of business men -representing nt-ariy alTheTTnduiTtrieeP of the country here today. Harry A. Wheeler. Chicago, president of the . rhsmbfr ot commerce of the I'nlted ! -4 States, declared that American busl- 1 ness, in common with like interest of other nation, should he consulted In framing; the peace condition, j WRITES TO WIL80N. j j "With thin In mind," Mid Mr. ' Wheeler. "I oddressed n tetter to the j president on November 31 containing , the following Inquiry: j "'Would It he heipful If American i Industry should name a thoroughly ; representative committee, particularly informed regarding the basic Indus-jtHcs Indus-jtHcs of the country, to be preatnt In' iTrnnce during the cqume of the peace-j peace-j conference and available for counsel j nn such phases of the pes.ee negotin- t tlona as they hear directly upon corn- ! merce and Industry? If such a group would 4e usfful. great care would be taken to select men ha vine the largest vision and the most generous im - pulses in connection with the resumption resump-tion or industrial activity throughout the world PRESIDENT'S REPLY. "To this Ino-Hry the following replj was received: " You may he mire that f would i send a mesesiTP to the meeting at At-I At-I lan ttc City If f knew what menngo to send, but frankly I do not. Tt is n time when we must all thought full v take counsel and apptv the wisest . action to rlr'-umetfinfes as thev firis. 1 ' 'I am, of course, enrroaned with . preparations for leaving fur the other I side I hoie ihnt you ertnnd mv ' I wurm1' greeting to )irmr who will I assemble at Atlantic City.' f I I "It nny be that the prM nt hn I In mind, or hrts nlrcndv selected, nn I advisory Industrial eornmlNslon with I whom the members of the peace con-i con-i fere nee may take counsel ns ncc-ision , arises, but upon this point his letter is silent except In the broad statement state-ment that 'We mursf all thoughtfully : take counsel and apply the wisest ac- i tion to circumstances as they arise. "Since In questions of economic re- j eonstruetlnn other nations will nn- ' do" Merit y " adequately represented i Witri iir nt"L,t -f"- i 'i r can le marshaled, ft Is for you to j determine whether you regard the ' matter of sufficient importance to j advocate the appointment of a com- mission whose continuous presence in J Paris will provide like renresentatlon on behalf of American Industry. AGAINST BOYCOTTS. "Tiie principle of .economic bov- eott " Mr. Wheeler said "is neither politically nor economic. II v sound, nor Is the princitde of 'favored nation' In commercial treaties." S pen king of the problems of in- ternil adjustrrfent. Mr. Wheeler said: "Tearing asunder the normal rela- ! tlonshlps of business nnd compelPng : suspension of activity In some (n- stances to meet the- emergeney of a war program Is properly a function t of the Kvemment with such acquics- j cnee and aid aa business may provide, pro-vide, but the task of making read- 1 Justments, r rebuilding thoee same industries Into their old uses and ef- J ficlency. Is the function of business : with such acquiescence and aid aa the ' g-ovemment may provide. "In so far as war contracts are concerned, and the control of "basic : materials that entered largelv Into ' war production, the government mnt needs adopt a llreral progrnm with ! regard to the cancellation of orders." |