Consul General Willoquet returns

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Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: Consul General Willoquet returns
Language: English
Year: 1937
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Fulltext: 44 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL January, 1937 Chile and Peru where he spent some years; but much contrast to Newfoundland where he has also resided. Judge Frank B. Ingersoll is seen again after arrival from a round-the-world trip, and the realm of athletics in particular welcomes his return. Another visitor to Europe was A. Beckerleg, Marsman vice-president, who spent some time there in the interests of his organization. Metropolitan Insurance director Ramon Aboitiz and family returned from a European vacation. Back to the managing partnership of Inhelder Walch, Hermann Inhelder brings views of the present turbulent European situation. Any reader is hereby authorized to submit a list of the ten highest-paid Manilans, following Congress’ list of high-salaried homefolk. The first ten of the Congressional report were, in order, William Randolph Hearst ($500,000), Mae West, C. W. Guttzeit (steel executive), A. P. Sloan (president of General Motors,) Marlene Dietrich, Winfield Sheehan (Twentieth CenturyFox), William Knudsen (vice-president of Gen eral Motors), Bing Crosby, B. D. Miller (pres ident of Woolworth interests), Thomas J. Wat son (International Business Machine Corpora tion). Unless the arts of Thespis and Apollo rank' along with business, our fair city would seem to be a trifle behind the times. W. F. McCandlish of Engineering Equipment and Supply left Manila via clipper after some months of special technical advisorship in the islands. As manager of KZRM and KZEG, Tommy Worthen will again be heard on the air, and has already announced sizeable improvements for radio audiences. Dr. Murray Bartlett, former president of Uni versity of the Philippines, is again here, busily fulfilling invitations to address gatherings at campus and club. Manila Electric’s H. A. Deymek and J. G. Owen return to their desks after invigorating vacations in America. Colonel H. H. Andreas brought back both tiger and leopard skins from a 2-months hunting trip to French Indo-China and South China, but those trophies were practically insignificant compared to the size of the “ones that got away”. J. R. Carmichael of J. P. Heilbronn Company spent most of a 6-months’ leave in England, arriving back via the United States. Of the Boston publishing house—Little, Brown—L. H. Putney came to visit this farthestflung American reading public and school system. J. F. Berkenkotter is visiting brother “Ben” Berkenkotter, plans to stay indefinitely. To be with Union Management, H. N. John son arrived from Los Angeles, home stamping grounds when not in Australia or New Zealand. J. M. Forbes joins the mining crowd, will work under Jimmy Baker who directs the Opisso mining interests. Polo and the opening of Los Tamaraos brought to Manila sundry American and Australian riders of note—Hopping, Blockey, Finlay, Hen derson, Allison, Bragg—but to the brothers Elizalde went first-game honors. Larry Enos of Kelvinator spent 2 weeks in the islands during holiday season, and to the festi vities of Christmas, Rizal Day and New Year’s added his birthday merrymaking. In Manila for a short stay was C. I. Barr, manager of Canadian National Railways’ office at Hongkong. S. Greilsamer of Paris made his annual visit to Manila in the interests of trade. A. T. Gillespie visited his company’s quarters here, found things thriving. New arrivals for the National City Bank staff are R. C. Russell and George L. Hill, who with their families will be permanent residents. Sidney Baxter and Mrs. are off to Hongkong where he will be manager of L. R. Nielson branch. British ConsuLGeneral Blunt was welcomed back to Manila but announced he remains for a short time only, pending other assignment. Consul General Willoquet Returns Eight months of traveling bring the Consul Genera) of France back to his post in Manila. Rested, freshened and even more genial—if that be possible—Mr. Willoquet reports a delightful trip. Leaving the new French motorship on which they journeyed from Hongkong to Suez, the Willoquets motored to Cairo, and after viewing Egypt entrained for Jerusalem. They arrived in the midst cf the Arabian riots. Nothing daunted, the Willoquets set out by car to see Nazareth. Time after time, Arab bands stopped the car. Repeatedly the Arabian driver explained who the occupants were, and they were allowed to proceed. Finally, along the road, a British officer hailed them, and marvelled that they had been unmolested. “Courage?” questioned Mr. Willoquet, with a shrug of the shoulders. “It W'as the same as in the war. When you returned, to your sur prise you found yourself a hero!” (Tradition ally, he wears in his lapel the inconspicuous crimson thread that proclaims him of the Legion of Honor.) In Syria, which has just been declared inde pendent by the French government, the Willo quets enjoyed a jolly reunion with French offi cers and nationals. From Beirut they journeyed “by the schoolboy’s way—the longest”, seeing Tripoli, Cyprus, Rhodes, Smyrna, Istambul, Athens, Naples, and finally Marseilles and home. The Front Populaire had just achieved victory. A series of strikes began; newspapers abroad gave them the coloring cf red. Actually the outbreaks were mastered by a Trotskist faction always at crossed swords with Moscow. Though new-baked, the Front Populaire government cleverly averted real rioting by a socialist pro gram that pleased the people. “When the social disturbances were taking place, we motored all over France,” said Mr. Willoquet. “We had the opportunity of talking W’ith all classes of people, found them quiet and optimistic. Contrary to opinions spread abroad, the French are getting along with the clear and calm consciousness that they are on the right way. They stand for social justice, liberty, democracy and peace, leaving to others the smeky theories that confuse the brain.” The French peasant is like his radishes, Mr. Willoquet continued—red outside but white inside. And the analogy is further important because the French are a great nation for garden ing. A man with a garden to tend and reap is never a fanatic. Recently the French premier said, “Democ racy will have right because it is right.” The nation has definitely exposed agents provocateurs and clings to its ideology of republicanism. Actually, in France any political differences are considered a sign of vitality and proof of the workability of democracy. “AnEuropean war began 3years ago. Political troubles in various countries, civil war in Spain, arc mere chapters of that war. How will it end? Nobody knows. But a country with a real philosophy of life—and a sense of humor— can turn the drama into good comedy.” This first-hand report of Mr. Willoquet’s gives rise to two reflections. One, the serious student of world affairs must be on guard against the obscurantism, as well as deliberate pro paganda broadcast, that tends to muddle hap penings and issues even as camouflage does warships. Two, • the peace and commercial well-being of the Orient depend rather directly on the European situation. Whether nations of the Orient will heed the lesson, what docs the balance sheet of Europe’s last 3 years show? A definite loss I The credit side of the ledger lists—only munitions. Autarchy, or dictator-type government, vio lates the principle of division of work. For instance, Italy tries to produce all her necessi ties, whereas she would do better to buy in America such a crop as wheat, then sell to Amer ica her wines. Of course, Italy now begins the development of Ethiopia; but the cost will be tremendous. Kipling’s words have found anew interpretation. The white man’s burden is the foreign-expansion tax load inevitably shouldered by the folks at home. When the colonial harvest is ready, as in South Africa the native—by that time progressing—wants a goodly share. Of the first-class powers probably those that can be self-subsistent are the United States and Russia. Since the United States is geo graphically aloof, the great Russian bear is the shadow over Europe, with one gigantic paw in the Orient. Russia’s adoption of a democratic constitution amazes the world. Is she eventual ly to become the bulwark of European and Asiatic democracy? From Maxwell S. Stewart’s Can Europe Afford War, the following r6sum(5 of Russian strength is quoted: “As compared with the Western powers, the economic strength of the Soviet Union is practically untested. Its enormous population, its vast area, and its tremendous store of raw materials make it potentially the most formidable power in Europe. In the past few years its industrial growth has been un precedented. From the 5th country in Europe in the production of steel in 1926, it has become {Please turn to page 48) 48 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL January, 1937 RAIL COMMODITY MOVEMENTS By LEON M. LAZAGA Traffic Manager, Manila 'Railroad Company I L The volume of commodities received in Manila during the month of December 193G, via the Manila Railroad Company, are as follows: Rice, cavans................................ 107,935 Sugar, piculs............................... 504,015 Copra, piculs............................... 50,530 Desiccated Coconuts, cases....... 17,525 Tobacco, bales............................ 379 Lumber, board feet................... 496,641 Timber, kilos.............................. 1,420,000 FREIGHT REVENUE CAR LOADING COMMODITIES FREIGHT CARS to’nxaoe | Increase or Deci 1936 1935 1936 1935 | Cars Tonnage Rice................................................. 533 418 5.701 4.741 1 115 963 Palay.............................................. 82 110 1.221 (28) (372) 1,112 28,576 34,556 (148) (5.980) Sugar Cane.............. ..................... 353 833 *2*379 6J09 (480) (3.730) Molasses........................................ 55 71 1,532 2,098 (16) (566) Tobacco......................................... f 23) Mineral Products......................... 3,5*63 Lumber and Timber................... 102 Other Forest Products............... Manufactures............................... 212 105 2,890 1.164 All others including L.C.L......... 2,579 2.608 14,932 16*6.34 I <29) Total.................................... 12.215 12.402 186.701 195.708| (I 87' (9.007) The freight revenue car loading statistics for four weeks ending De cember 26, 1936, as compared with the same period of 1935 are given below: SUMMARY Week ending Deccmbcrl 5.... 2,104 Week ending December 12. . .. 2,951 Week ending Dcccmbei 19.. .. 4,025 Week ending December 26,... 3,132 3,396 3,158 3,582 2,266 29,793 44,33.' 63,581 48,319 35,802 (1.292) (26,955) (3,986) 8,742 13,192 Total................................... 12,215 12.4021 186,70’ 195,708 (187) (9.007) NOTE:—1‘igurcs in parenthesis indicate decrease. Consul General (Continued from page 44) 2nd only to Germany. It has the good fortune to be the one country in the world which possesses within its boundaries an adequate supply of all three of the essentials of steel making—iron ore, good coking coal and manganese. It is also among the great powers in possessing an adequate supply of chromium, which is likewise of con siderable importance in steel. Certain other of Russia’s recently-developed industries are of strategic importance. The chemical industry has received especial attention in the 2nd FiveYear Plan, and is believed to be nearly adequate. The U.S.S.R. leads the world in the production of tractors—a fact of great significance in consid ering the relative effectiveness of a mechanised army. Automobile production has grown many fold in the past 5'years.” With apparently no imperialistic ambitions, as a democracy Russia undoubtedly will be inter ested in the maintenance of the stains quo in the Client. Here is another constitutional democ racy—the Philippines. Are they to be big brother and little sister in the future alignment of Oriental powers? Shipping Review (Continued from page 41) The following figures show the number of passengers departing from the Philippines during November, 1936: Interl'irst mediate Third China and Japan................. Honolulu. ............................ 94 1 92 6 107 8 Pacific Coast....................... 36 17 11 Europe via America........... 2 2 0 Strait Settlement and Dutch East Indies....................... 19 4 0 Europe end Mediterranean ports beyond Colombo.. . 49 1 8 Australia 6 0 1 America via Suez................ 0 0 0 Total for November, 1936.. 207 122 135 Total for October, 1936 .... 168 152 207 Total for November, 1935.. 182 135 165 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Kerr Steamship Co., Inc. General Agents “SILVER FLEET” Express Freight Services Philippines-New York-Boston Philippines-Pacific Coast (Direct) Roosevelt Steamship Agency Agents Chaco Bldg. Phone 2-14-20 Manila, P. I. P. O. 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