THE CANADIAN MISSION
in Roubaix-Tourcoing

This visit to the industrialists of the great textile center will cooperate in the development of our commercial relations with the friendly country.

After having, on Tuesday, visited the industries of the regions of Lille and Armentières, our Canadian brothers realized "firsthand", on Wednesday, the industrial riches of the region of Roubaix-Tourcoing. Tuesday was linen and cotton day; Wednesday, that of wool.

The members of the Canadian Mission will thus take home an exact souvenir, a complete image of what the Reconstitution of the North of France is and of the riches of our region.

At the Roubaix Chamber of Commerce

It is 9:25 a.m. when the delegation arrives at the Roubaïx Chamber of Commerce. She was received there by Mr. Dillies, vice-president, surrounded by MM. Georges Motte, Wibaut, Rasson, etc.

“Welcome to our home,” he said, “this is a city of labor. You will visit our city and I hope you will take away a good impression of our city and its industry.”

Mr. Bouchard, MP, excuses Senator Beaubien, detained in Lille. He praises the French race and the Canadian race which has descended from it. The purpose of the Canadians' trip to France is a work purpose. It is about forging economic relations between two brotherly peoples made for each other. “We come to talk about business, to defend our mutual interests, for the prosperity of our two countries.”

In turn, Colonel Barret thanked for the warm welcome extended to the Canadians in France and insisted on the need to establish closer economic relations. “There is an urgent need to organize a united front to resist the economic war that Germany wants to continue. France would usefully find in Canada all the materials necessary for the progress of her industry. The Chamber of Commerce of Roubaix will study these serious problems”.

"The desires you express are ours, with you we will work".

Through the city

We first go to the Alfred Motte junior combing area. It is a superb establishment. The delegation was received there by Mr. Eugène Motte junior.

The visit begins with the sorting rooms, where the raw wool coming from La Plata and Australia is stored. The wool of thirty thousand sheep is worked daily. The washing, carding and combing rooms, where the short wool is separated from the long wool, are then traversed. This huge establishment employs 2,000 workers. His installations were admired by visitors.

We then go to the Vanoutryve upholstery weaving, boulevard d'Armentières, MM. Félix Vanoutryve and Ed. Rasson, his partner, very kindly serve as guides for the members of the delegation. This establishment is a model of its kind. They manufacture all kinds of furnishing fabrics, from the most ordinary to the most luxurious.

The Banquet of the Circle of Industry

The official banquet offered by the united Chambers of Commence of Roubaix and Tourcoing took place at half past twelve, at the Cercle de l'Industrie. It was chaired by Mr. J. Dillies, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce of Roubaix, having Mr. the senator Beaubien on his right; Mr. Lorthiois, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Tourcoing, on his left. Among those present were Messrs. E. Mathon, A. Buisson, H. Dervaux, treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce of Tourcoing; Colonel Barret, Ed. Rasson, Laglenne, Marécaux, J. Tarte, Fernand Motte, Desurmont, H. Laureys, Georges Motte, Desilets, Jos. Wibaux, Parizeau, G. Duvillier, Ami, Heiser, Ed, Masurel, J. Leclercq, Eug. Duthoït, J. Wilbois, Clouthier, Valentin, President of the Commercial Court; Bruchesi, Dufour, R, Flips, Captain Delest, Faulkner, British Vice-Consul, A. Masquelier, Hébert, Bufquin, Director of the Banque de France branch, etc. At dessert, warm toasts were pronounced.

Mr. J. Dillies, at the rom of the Roubaix Chamber of Commerce, greets the delegates of the great nation which distinguished itself by our side during the war. “You have come to show us the product of your economic activities. In the future, we want to trade with you even more than in the past. A very vast field of action is opening up for our two peoples. We will actively work together for our common prosperity, the Franco-Canadian trade agreement which has just been signed will help us to intensify common transactions, Roubaix has suffered from the war, its industries have been devastated. This in order to promote German industry. We got up, however, But Germany must pay us everything she owes. I raise my glass to Canada, to the lifelong friend, to the success of the exhibition of its products, to our good relations.”

Mr. Pierre Lestienne, vice-president of the Largest Family, celebrates the virtues of the Canadian family.

Mr. Desulets in turn greets the French Family, always beautiful and prosperous. The main node, the solution of social problems lies in the big family. The North of France is particularly honored on this point. “You have done this necessary work here, you are to be highly praised. Remember that the more large families you have, the richer you will be. This is the story of Canada, it will be yours, because a country develops because of its intelligence and the number of its arms.

Think of New France

Senator Beaubien associates himself with the words that have just been spoken. He adds: “The same French blood flows in our veins. We are sons of the same race, and that is why we fought the barbarian side by side. We still drink from the same cup of civilization. You are at the peak of your story, we are beginning ours. We will support each other in the great economic struggle. It is your interest even more perhaps than ours, for in the future our resources will be immense and you will benefit from them. Don't ignore the Canadian ports any longer, come and get supplies from a friendly country, you'll do well. Finally learn what Canada is and what it can do for you, with its immense raw material resources. Buy nickel and asbestos from us, instead of buying them from enemy peoples, like before the war. Now look on our side. See our train-exhibition, look at what we produce and, when you have to leave France to buy what you need, think of New France”

Mr. Joseph Wibaux, President of the Roubaix-Tourcoing Commercial Federation, having declared himself to be in favor of the development of commercial relations with Canada, the banquet of the Cercle de l'Industrie ended cordially.

We visit Tourcoing

At four o'clock, the Canadian delegates arrived in Tourcoing and first visited the offices and the "Conditioning" magazine. We know that this institution aims to check the degree of humidity of the raw goods, so that there is no deception as to the quality of the goods delivered. The institution of Conditioning exists since 1863, the current buildings since 1890.

The Desurmont hosiery also received the members of the delegation on Wednesday. This factory is one of the largest of its kind. A staff of 2,000 workers is employed. From the upper terrace of the establishment, one enjoys, moreover, at fifty meters in height, a magnificent panorama and the surprise of seeing a vast swimming pool installed at this place.

At the Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Lorthiois, President, surrounded by most of the members of the Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the Canadians in the following terms:

“Be cordially welcomed in this city of Tourcoing, where you only have friends. We, who for four years underwent the yoke of a barbarian invader, keep in our hearts a deep gratitude for all the brave soldiers who fought for our deliverance. The centuries-old ties that unite us have never been relaxed. The descendants of Jacques Cartier and Champlain have kept the memory of our sweet France. Don't you therefore think that this original fraternity, consolidated by the fraternity of arms, can and must also be exercised in the economic field?

You have taken the very laudable initiative of making known, by a very ingenious means, the riches of your soil, the inexhaustible resources of Canadian flora and fauna. But, while traveling through our countries, the land of your ancestors for some of you, you must have realized how the work of our workers, intelligently conducted, knows how to generate products capable of competing with all those of competing nations. .

Why don't you trade your furs. your woods, your fruits against our fine stuffs, our silks, our carpets, our hangings, our threads, our worsted?

Your Government has given us a rather privileged place in its customs regime, can we hope that all of you, Gentlemen, who have learned to know us better, will help us to benefit from it. From this happy rapprochement of this friendly contact, allow me to augur fruitful and ongoing business relations between our two countries.

We will keep, as for us, the most pleasant memory of your visit to the Chamber of Commerce of Tourcoing. Our annals will record the names of the Honorable Representatives of Canada, who greatly honored us by spending a few hours among us.

We thank you all, Gentlemen, in the person of your distinguished President, Senator G.-P. Beaubien, to whom I take the liberty of offering a copy of our attendance token. In closing, I offer the best wishes for the prosperity of the Dominion of Canada. »

Colonel Barret expresses his astonishment at noting the extent of industrial production in the North of France. Canadians will remember that and the warm welcome they received. On all these things, a report will be established, it will help to intensify relations between the two countries.

Mr. Morand, General Secretary of the “Alliance française”, thanks the members of the Chamber of Commerce of Tourcoing for the welcome it has given to the ideas of the Franco-Canadian agreement.

He glorifies Canada for having been able to keep the tradition of the purest French language and welcomes the new treaties recently established between the two countries.

Canadian delegates sign on the Chamber of Commerce guest book, and the reception ends after the wine reception.

At 3 p.m., the delegation was back in Lille.