The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-20
WOULD INVESTIGATE
TRADE CONDITIONS
President Roosevelt Sends Message to the Senate Recon-
meqdng That Plan of Assistant Secretary LOOMS be
Carried Out Relative to Foreign Commerce.

1T is generally admitted that in recent
years the consular service whatever may
be its defects of system, has developed
a commercial utility which has been of
great practical value. 1t would be most
regrettable, however. if this Improvement
which mas been brought about through
the zeal and energy of individual consuls,
rather than by the special direction OF
the Department of State, should be ac-
cepted as fully satisfying even present
requirements, not to speak of the pros
pective demands of a rapidly expanding
commerce.
Gradual Equipment.
For this reason, cordially commend
to the consideration os the Congress the
recommendations of the Acting Secretary
OF State, looking to the gradual systema-
tizing and equipment of the foreign SER
vice by simple and inexpensive means as
an auxiliary, responsive to all points to
what may reasonably be expected of it by
great industrial and commercial interests
which are so deeply concerned in enlarg-
ing their share of the worlds trade.
In view of the inland Importance of
the subject to the public, and especially
to the business community, l also sug-
gest that authority be given for the print
ing of a special edition of Sec copies Of
the acting secretary's letter, together
with the appended reports from diplo-
matte and consular officers, of which 1000
copies shall be for distribution by the de-
partment of state.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
white House, Washington, January
IS. 1905
Details of the Plan.
The details of the proposed plan are set
out in long letter from Actin Secretary
,fsrt, tah of IF
flciency to which the consular service has
been raised in it's functions of supplying
our manufacturers and merchants infor-
nation as to trade conditions in other
countries. which tend to advance or
hinder the sale of our surplus products.
To carry forward this great work, he
says, it is now proposed to utilize the SUI
perior resources of the United States dip
lomatie service in the collection and dis
semination of this class or Information.
Mr.. LOOMS says that the apprehension
that the proposed action may be resent
ed by foreign nations as marking an ag-
gressive American campaign for trade and
consequently intensifying the hostility al
ready excited by our so-called CONNER
cial invasion of Europe would scarcely
be entitled to much weight, in view of the
fact that the more advanced industrial
countries for some time have been openly
equipping themselves for precisely such
an effort.
AS an initial step toward extension,
Mr.. Loomis proposes the creation of a
staff of capable experts acting for the
Department of State, and through it for
! the Department of Commerce and Labor,
| In personal contact and association with
the diplomatic ana consular officers in
the more important trade regions These
| employees, he says. could be made attaches
to embassies or legations, which would
afford special opportunities to secure in
formation, though their duties being de-
cared commercial. they would not COM
promise their embassies or legations in
exercising their functions.
cry Small Cost.
Mr.. LOOMS feels that this plan can be
pun into execution at a very small cost,
in fact he places the cost of the test
at $4,000 per annum. Six commercial at
taches or social agents will be sufficient
t. initiate the movement. They would
be salaried at $4,000 per annum, and travel
ing expenses, and would be assigned, one
to cover Austria, the Ba---an states, Ger
many, Switzerland, Russia and other
countries of northern Europe, one for
France, Portugal, Spain and other coun-
tries bordering on the Mediterranean; a
third for Great Britain and dependencies;
the fouth for Mexico, Central America,
the West Indies and South America; the
fifth for Asia, more particularly Asiatic
Russia, China and Japan, and the sixth
to be held in reserve for special service
and particular missions to any part of
the world