French Rivalry Alter the War.
Page 6
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A Chat with Mr. H. 0. Duncan, of De Dion-Bouton.
cc I HAVE at last arrived in London and, if pos sible, should like to meet you." So ran a note we received a few days ago from Mr. H. 0. Duncan, who controls the business of Messrs. De Dion-Bouton for the whole of the British Empire, the head office for this purpose being at 1, Rue Scribe, Paris, whilst the London Branch is at 10, Gt. Marlborough Street, W.
We duly met Mr. Duncan, who for a generation has been well known to many in the motor trade on both sides of the Channel.
"Have you come over to get ahead with after-war arrangements? "
" Well, yes, in a way. But it is not yet possible to go far as so much depends upon—,, " Tariff or no tariff ? "
" Yes. It can be taken for granted that, whichever it is, we shall be here to do business. If we have to face a stiff duty, we have definitely decided to manufacture in this country."
" Any particular place? ". " Yes. We have practic ally decided Upon Dover." " Dover! "
" Mainly because we think it well to be near the Channel Itunnel, which would mean that we should then be within four hours of Paris." . • "You regard the tunnel as a certainty then?"
"France does. De Dion's propose a very big scheme over here. Not only do we contemplate an enormous factory, but if necessary a large. number of dwellings for the workpeople, many of whom we should bring from France."
" Transport of raw material and output? "
" Largely by sea. Our factory is at Puteaux, on the Seine, and we intend to run our own boat from there to Dover, and if necessary on to London and elsewhere."
"You are prepared to find British manufacturers more formidable rivals than before the war, especially when some of the new, vast war plants get going on motor work?
" Yes, oh! yes. But it must be remembered that few concerns in the world have enjoyed such a consistently good reputation for fine work as De Dion—right .clown from the beginning., of the industry. Again, we think that too much reliance should not be placed upon war plant and its use for motel. vehicles. An enormous quantity will be of no use whatever, in fact will be scrapped, and the factories that want to stand against keen competition will have to lay in masses of entirely new stuff 0. Duncan, of on more specialized lines—whatever and wherever they are."
"1)o you regard a big duty against France as a foregone conclusion, or are you counting upon something preferential or even a chance of reverting to so-called free trade." " In France there is no firm opinion as to what will be likely, but of course if, as a result of the war, any form of alliance resulted in free trade once more we should not manufacture here."
" Supposing anything of the kind was seriously discussed, what would be the view of French motor manufacturers if Britain proposed reciprocity? "
"What, let you come into France free! FI'm."
"You are surely not hoping for the old one-sided game again? ." "We found at quite warm enough. _British design and quality were never to be despised."
"But what of the French Wall against the poor Briton every time and all the time!"
"Well, I believe that, so far as England is concerned, French motor manufacturers would agree to reciprocity, either in the form of a tariff on mutual terms or no tariff on either side, but; mind you, I am certain they would not agree to that with every other nation! "
Mr. Duncan is keen upon France and this country being independent of imported fuel and contends, as so many others contend, that it can be done. He says: "France can easily grow enough crops for alcohol for all her requirements, whilst England, of course, can do practically anything with her wonderful coal resources---benzole, electricity, anything.
Of course, there is the war, and who knows how long it will be with us! But those who are alple should be thinking along many new lines, for afterwards one will encounter new conditions on every hand.
Prance is fully. alive to that, and her manufacturers are at work and quite aware of the dangers that threaten her motor industry.
Our visitor is a fund of .interesting information, and we hope that very shortly some able articles by him will appear in this journal. He is an enthusiastic penman, is equally at home in French and English, and, for some time past, has been engaged upon a History de Luxe of Motoring which, under the most favourable conditions, he thinks will take two years to complete. De Dion.;Bouton.