New-York tribune., 1905-01-20
10 AID AMERICAN TRADE
MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT.
appointment Of Experts to Study
Conditions abroad Recommended.

N
sitjons in foreign countries. The President rec
.o,,ren6s that provision be made for the ap-
olntnent Of six special agents. to be called COM
v,ercial attaches who shall visit the different
ountrjes and study industrial conditions with
g view TO suggesting notifications and changes
IN the existing plans OF American foreign COM
raerce. The text Of the message follows:
transmit herewith a communication from
me Acting Secretary Of State. accompanied by
-srorrs from the diplomatic and consular off,
oers upon the feasibility Of regular cooperation
lsfu-een the two branches Of our foreign service
for The better promotion of American industry
and trade. Basing his conclusions upon the
views expressed in these reports. the Acting
Secretary recommends that provision be made
for six special agents, with the diplomatic rank
sns title of commercial attache. TO be sent
abroad 10 make practical trial of the proposed
80. "a report TO the DEPARTMENT of State con
Sirions existing in different countries which
might suggest notifications or changes in the
General scheme; to prepare for the Department
~. commerce and Labor reports upon commerce
and manufactures or upon kindred topics OF a
-,ore exhaustive and comprehensive character
thar is ordinarily obtalna bic at present; and
10 visit consulates. examine their workings and
e1,geesr such changes. either 10 the consular Of
6cers or to the Department of State, as would
END 10 the general Improvement and strength
r. is nroposed that these agents shall be chosen
r,rirnsrilv for their expert knowledge, but shall
fe not merely specialists, except for particular
iavestigs tions that might from time TO time be
required. but practical men OF affairs with the
experience best suited TO III them for their exec
utive duties. Il is suggested that the consular
ssrvice might supply the best type Of agents de-
sired and that for this reason and also be-
cause Of the incentive TO merit which would thus
bs nrovided appointments should be made pref
era bIy from among those consular officers who
have demonstrates their special fitness and ca
pac.ty.
IMPORTANT RESULTS PROMISED
Il viii. in my opinion, be found upon examina-
ton that. while the measure proposed is mod
lass TnT7T2 tive Cne fr7A-0 vi 2
comparatively slight expense, II promises i'm
portant and far-reaching consequences in the
5udicious strengthening OF our Whole foreign
service in the interest Of trade and the gradual
development OF capacities in il, but iraperfectly
available. yet 20 make II fully adequate to
the demands Of our productive energy as ma
rion. Agriculture in the United States has long
been dependent for its prosperity upon the de-
rnand from abroad for its surplus products. and
Of late years our manufacturing industries have
found that they were outstripping the capacity
Of even our enormous market, and are now look
ing more and more TO foreign consumption Tor
relief from accommodating stocks According TO
an estimate Of the Department OF Commerce and
Labor, our exports Of ufnufactures in the calen-
dar year 1904 will not only exceed the highest
figures OF any earlier year, but may probably
pass the S500.O00O00 line, as against 100000
n the high record year, the fiscal year 1900;
1851 .o0e 600 in 1890 S10S 100000 in 1880, $685.
U09G0a IN 1870 and 100000 in 1880"
Tbs magnitude and steady growth OF this
port movement from our workshops and facto-
RES are such as 10 suggest the grave Importance
q providing il with all the Official apparatus
necessary 10 its fun and free development.
i is generally admitted that in recent years
the consular service. whatever may be its de-
feels Of system has developed commercial util-
ity which has been Of great practical value. 1t
would be most regretta bic, however, If this i'm
pTOvement, which has been brought about by
The zeal and energy Of individual consuls, rather
than by the efforts Of the service as a whole,
and also, 10 large extent. by the special direc-
ton OF the Department Of State, should be ac-
cepted as fully satisfying even present require
msnis, not 10 speak Of the prospective demands
ot rapidly expanding commerce. For this rea-
son cordially commend TO the consideration of
Congress the recommendations of the Acting
Secretary OF State looking TO the gradual sys-
tsnatzing and equipment Of the whole foreign
stT1ce. by simple and inexpensive means, as an
'Suxisrys responsive at all points to what may
yeasonably be expected CT II by the great indus
trA sno commercial interests which are so
loeepiy concerned in enlarging their share of the
IN view OF the interest and Importance of the
sno9ect TO the public. and especially TO the busi-
ness community, I also suggest that authority
be given for the printing Of a special edition
q I'VE thousand copies Of the Acting Secre-
terys letter. together with the appended re-
peTts from diplomatic and consular officers Of
which two thousand copies shall be for distri-
oution By the Department Of State.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House Washington, Jan. Is, 1905
DETAILS OF Mr.. LooMIs's PLAN.
The details Of the plan are set out in long
4s''er from Acting Secretary Loomis who
points TO the high pitch OF efficiency 70 which
functions OF supplying TO manufacturers and
merchants information as TO trade conditions In
olAer countries which tend TO advance or hinder
ne sale OF the surplus products Of the United
"ustes To carry forward this great work he
ASgs' II Is now proposed to utilize the superior
resources Of the United States diplomatic SER
Fioe II The collection and dissemination of this
04ass OF information.
ar LOOMS says that the apprehension that
e-e proposed action may be resented by foreign
~''Os as marking an aggressive American
-Apaieh ior trade, and consequently intensity
'Ae hostlllty already excited by the so-calIed
commercial invasion" OF Europe would scarce
Oe entitled 10 much weight in view of tbe
-O' mat tne more advanced industrial countries
=, sumo uire have been openly equipping them
4Fes lor precisely such an effort As a first
P toward extension. Mr.. Loonlis proposes The
feauon CT staff Of capable experts. acting
-O' Inc Department OF State, and through il
" lhe Department of Commerce and Labor in
pe'sonai contact and association with the diplo-
N4c ana consular officers in the more irnpor-
Iaoe regions. These employees, he says,
o'-'o De made attaches to embassies or lega-
uons' which would AFFORD special opportunities
secure Information. although their duties
De"'g declaredly commercial. they would not
folnlse their embassies or legations in ex-
Ns4ng their functions. AS there are a num-
els.s ~ coIlsuls now in the service who may be
seie. as commercial experts, il is proposed to
SsLsct the staff OF new officers from their num-
ofF,ho aho IL is believed that capable consular
cisG 49,, mus rewarded with the post Of CONNER
3sct. elssehe' would be living examples and OBJ
S ~ o emulation for every aspiring man in
os,sb5. 81 wee They also would serve as a thor
Isrr - ualned corps of consular inspectors the
S@ !" which has been greatly felt
srsa Loonls feels that this plan can be put into
cost teeon e at small cost; in fact he places the
cisl st,eafs<t ts test Al $4,000 year Six CONNER