Ernest Mercier and Philip Cortney, two supporters of French business interests and influence in the United States after the war, 1944–1955

Résumé 0

This paper aims to highlight the key role played by the French industrialist Ernest Mercier (1878–1955) in the affirmation of French business interests in the United States, from the Rye Conference in the fall of 1944, to the Tokyo Congress of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in 1955. Mercier was delegated by the new Provisional Government of the French Republic to participate in the Rye businessmen’s conference, where he represented and promoted both the interests of the restored French Republic and those of French businessmen. The article also looks back at the long friendship and relations between Ernest Mercier and Philippe Cotnareanu. An influential businessman, Cotnareanu (1895–1971) changed his name Philip Cortney and obtained American citizenship. He strove to implement soft power tools that benefitted France in the US and, along with Ernest Mercier, became involved with the governing bodies of the ICC.