The Rotary Balita no. 621 (May 26, 1948)

Today’s Rotary Meeting was held at the home of Rotarian “NATOY” Halili in Grace Park. The guest-speaker was no other than James G. O’Brien, trade emissary of the City of New York, personifying Father Knickerbocker, the legendary figure of friendly New York, who passed Manila as stop-over in a world-girdling tour of goodwill. In a short but very lively talk, Father Knickerbocker expressed his astonishment at the great progress being achieved in the » habilitation of the Philippines. He urged the Filipinos to be world-trade conscious, because, the speaker said, without world trade there cannot be world understanding ann without world understanding there can never be peace. The hope of the peoples of the world to achieve ideal living conditions can only be realized by a free flow and exchange of goods in the international trade. There are many things which America needs from the Philippines just as there are things the Philippines need from America, he explained. In order to achieve the blessings of world trade, Father Knickerbocker urged all determined men of goodwill to exert untiring efforts to that end. In closing, Father Knickerbocker promised his listeners that when he returns to the United States he will inform his people that there should be no fear for American capital to come over to the Philippines.