New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-08
LESSONS ~ Turkish TRAnE

Mr.. Dickinson. the accomplished and efficient
American Consul General at Constantinople
gives in n report to the Department of Com
merce and Labor. some highly instructive facts
concerning American trade with Turkey which
should convey useful lessons to our CONNER
cial world. A few years ago. he recalls. tho
freight service between America and Turkish
ports conducted altogether by European
vessels by way OF English ports Mr.. Dickin-
son devoted his first annual report largely to
the necessity Of establishing direct American
line from New-York to ConStantinoDle. As a
result of his and others efforts, such n service
established in February 1899. The four
European lines which had enjoyed a monopoly
Of that trade forthwith united to crush their
Yankee rival and for more than a year there
was fierce warfare, the most offensive and op-
pressive measures being practised against the
new line. The new line held its ground as best
It could, though it was compelled to reduce the
number Of its saillngs in the latter part of 1900
The object Of the direct line was. however
gained. At the outset Of the struggle freight
rates were reduced by about SO per cent and
they have since been brought much lower
Five years ago they were 90 shillings $50 Az
ton. Now they are only lis Cd. "a 26), and
even less on large shipments. Moreover, other
new and direct lines were started so that
the old "ring" has been hopelessly broken
or eight lines with -le natural and bencfcent
results Of lower freight rates, more expeditions
transportation and generally improved service.
These are the immediate results OF the direct
line venture. The ultimate result is seen in
an enormous increase of American commerce
with Turkey. NO other country in the world"
says Mr.. Dickinson. except the Philippine ISL
lands, shows high percentage of increase
during the last FIVE years in the purchase OF
American goods; and he points out that our
exports to European Turkey in 1902 were more
than thirteen times as great in any year from
1893 TO 1897. Nor has the trade been one-sided
1.-The increase in Turkish exports TO the United
States" Mr.. Dickinson adds, during the last
five years has been greater than the combined
increase Of such exports to all the other coun-
"tries OF the world"
Now that is most satisfactory record. 1t
should be an inspiring one, and its lessons
should he obvious TO all. AS tersely and con-
vincingly summarized by Mr.. Dickinson, they
are that cheap and direct transportation to the
markets we seek to enter is supremely neces-
sary, and that TO this end must have our
own merchant marine. IF our goods go in for
"eign ships, we must expect obstacles and adj
"vcrse discrimination. The European CONNER
"cial interests already there will be openly or
secretly hostile" The truth of this view IS
proved by the record OF our Turkish trade, and
the wisdom of Mr.. DickinsOns advocacy of
direct service of our own is abundanuy vindi
Gated 1t ought not to require much more than
ordinary perspicacity to see that similar results
would in all probability follow similar action in
other directions, and that what we have done
in Turkey might in comparable measure be done
fl South America and throughout the world.