Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1919)

. t' c c m b e r 1919 4153 An Appeal to Patriotism, Profits and Plain Common Sense have been in constant dollar to dollar contact with very phase of the developments. My partner and I ave been gomg back and forth to Europe like comluters for the last three years. We know painfully vhereof we speak. * * * I HAVE discussed the general situation with big men of affairs. They are all agreed that the holding up of the Peace Treaty is responsible for the decline in foreign exchange, and that the only remedy would be the extension of credits, which cannot be attempted until this country allays the economic unrest at home and abroad by the ratification of the treaty. Mr. Frank A. Vanderlip, a finance expert of international reputation, told me that the Central Powers could only recover through the reestablishment of trade with us, and this trade cannot be resumed until the Peace Treaty is accepted and subsequent loans and credits extended to raise and stabilize the rate of exchange. George E. Roberts, Vice-President of the National City bank, discussing the slump in values of all classes of remittances caused by the delay in accepting the Treaty which will provide a basis for placing large foreign credits here, said, " Trade balances are running so heavily in favor of the United States that other peoples cannot find the means of making payments. Trade cannot go on under such conditions. Our exports must dechne or our imports increase until the situation comes into balance unless we are willing to aid by making loans," etc., etc. Sfi 9^ THE Senate alone can save this situation, which, aside from its larger effects upon suffering millions in war wrecked lands, spells ruinous loss of income to the film industry here, and possibly the end of its progress toward bigger and better things. Wake the Senate up. Make it cease kicking the treaty back and forth between political goal posts. Immediately following the treaty defeat, foreign exchange broke to the lowest records in all history. The pound sterling fell to $3.99, the French franc to 10c, the Italian lire to 7%c. This means in round numbers that there are now $4.00 in a pound that used to be worth $4.87; 10c to a franc formerly worth 20c; 7^c to a lire formerly worth 20c and 2c to a mark formerly worth 24c ! It means that Germany must pay 1 1 0 marks for every 1 0 marks worth of goods she buys — that France must pay $2.00 for every dollar's worth she buys, that Italy must pay $6.00 in Italian money for a $2.00 bushel of American wheat ! How can nonessentials like films fit into a scheme like this^-> You don't have to be a Republican or a Democrat to see that such disintegration of values must raise the exchange embargo on exports and lower the tariff against imports, and that America's wonderful opportunity to control the world's markets is being relentlessly ruined. When the Ed"ge bill designed to finance this country's foreign trade came up recently in Congress, it was put off till the new session as a "matter of small importance." I do not believe it possible, but if perchance there should be a smug few who, having their own distribution in certain parts of Europe, figure this awful condition as being to their advantage, let them be warned by the broader aspects of the case; Europe is confronted with financial panic unless she gets credits at once, and a rising exchange that will enable her to purchase essential raw materials. We need the help of each and every one, no matter how great or how small, ^ y ^ REMEMBER that foreign made pictures have never had an American distribution, while the enormous foreign distribution of our films has enabled us to spend on our productions sums that would wipe a foreign concern out of business. This superiority must cease ; our standards must decline and our profits disappear unless this utterly unnecessary condition, created by selfish politicians, is speedily corrected. Forget mere opinions if you have them and look the facts squarely in the face. Your business is in the balance — your living threatened. Do your part. Write and wire the Senators from your State and Congressmen from your district. Do it now — today — there is no time to lose. Tell them you want the Peace Treaty accepted without ruinous reservations immediately. Let the voice of the mighty motion picture industry be heard in Washington ! Make it your business to say something. They will hear you and heed you if you speak, for they dare not slight the "movie" — the mightiest weapon of publicity and education in all the world. Chester Beecroft, 501 Fifth avenue, New York City