Show FOREIGN securities for the reaper by frank P litschert the american people continue to buy foreign securities according to one of the financial experts of the department part ment of commerce in washington the foreign securities publicly offered in the united states during the first ten months of the present year totaled which is greater than the total for the entire year of 1926 it is ia estimated that by the end of the year the american investments abroad will total these investments are in practically every european country and in latin america too when we take into consideration that americans will soon have twelve and a half billions invested abroad we can begin to realize that there is something in the gleeful boost boast of the internationalists that because of our loans abroad it will be impossible for us to take a disinterested attitude toward european affairs even if we want to and thoughtful americans are beginning to wonder just where all of this is going goin glo alo end what is the money loaned to europe being used for how much is going to liquidate debts how much for public improvement how much for inci easing armament und and how much for equipping industry so that europe with its cheaper labor cin can better compete with america in the markets of the world great britain lias has often been criticized in america for mixing so much in the politics of the world but one reason john bull has been compelled to do this is that he has been the banker of the world now uncle sam is taking on the shame same title we ought to begin to wonder how he is going to handle the cares that go along with the title ane great loans to europe may eventually bring on another tariff battle those who own european bonds naturally want europe to prosper so these securities will be good in order to prosper in the highest degree europe will want as much of the great american market as possible but if we surrender this macket in order to make good the european bonds held in this country we run the danger of impoverishing american industry bringing on depression and unemployment at home and there you are |