The Irish standard., 1901-02-02
FOREIGN TRADE.
our Commercial Drvc!unn,ert shown
BY an Interesting; Report by
Secretary Hay.

Washington, Jan. Ca most i'm
portant and interesting summary of
what has cen achieved by the Unit
ed States in the direction of opening
up and extending our markets abroad
is presented in the following letter
from Secretary Hay. which was laid
before congress Tuesday, accompany
ing the annual publication known as
Commercial Relations of the United
States With Foreign Countries"
Department of State, Washington Jan
&c, lNl.-The President: In accordance
with section 20S of the Revised Statutes,
l have the honor to transmit the CONNER
cial relations of the United States with
foreign countries during the year 1900, be-
ing the annual and other reports of a
comprehensive character from the con-
sular officers together with similar re-
ports from some of the diplomatic officers,
upon the industries and commerce of for
egn countries. These reports were pre-
pared under special instructions from this
department. with the object Of laying be-
fore congress, with the least delay. a prac-
tcally contemporaneous statement of the
trade, not only Of the United States with
the rest of the world. but of the various
countries with each other. This object, I
am happy to be able to say, has been ac-
cO1upllSleu, C1e GATE OF transmission to
congress this year having been advanced
over the usual time by month. and real
izing the utmost conditions OF promptitude
compatible with proper analysis Of the
latest returns for the year 1900. So graft
! flying result indicates continued improve
ment In the activity and zeal OF our con-
sular officers as we'll as in the system Of
publishing and distributing their reports.
at may be said, indeed. that, while a
variety of propositions have been I'M
der discussion for the Improvement OF
the consular service. the service has 10
a very considerable extcnt improved itself
and is winning frequent expressions OF
communication from business interests
which have received substantial aid. not
(, only from the published reports. but also
from the Individual efforts OF consular Of
| Ulcers TO meet the growing rcGnir, meEts OF
American industry and cnt lpYise. The
practical character of the comm, rcial m
formation obtained By our col ];!s and the
celebrity with winch ii is given to The
public continue 10 excite tic emulation
of foreign gCNe"EmCL;S, and during the
past year steps have been talk, by bot!
/ Great britain and Germany 10 ensrafl
! these features of ON, cons. ,lar work lpor
| their consular SYST ms.
THE general conclusion to he drawn
from survey OF Ne conditions IN foreign
countries as Gcscribrd in the =, por,s here
with presented, IS that the United States
I is approaching, even more So itly thar
was expected. position OF emn, Mcc in ,llt
| worlds markets, due to superior quality
| and greater cheapncss of MANY lines OF it:
manufactures, which must work great
economic changes ard may result in shift
| ing the center not only OF Industrial. hui
of commercial activity and the money
power OF the world TO our marts. The
trade indications of American supremacy
curing the past year have been SO marked
| that many foreign Industries, according tC
the reports of our consuls in Europe are
| introducing American machinery and Ia
bor-saving appliances and remodel;ng theil
/, factory methods, and We may expect, il
the near future, 4 more strenuous compe
titton for Which it is important we SHOULD
prepare ourselves. AS an aid to sucl
equipment. the study of the great mass o
information as 10 foreign industries an,
trade conditions. which is to be found in tn
Two volumes Of Commercial Relations, will
obviously prove most usefu! to our manu-
facturers and exporters. and l therefor
recommend that congress be requested Il
authorize as was done last year. the print
ing of a special edition of 10000 copies o
the Review of the Worlds Commerce an,
1000 copies of Commercial Relations.
(Signed) "JOHN HAY"