Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16
AMERICAN COMMERCIAL CONGRESS-

Tho battle for commercial supremacy
between nations has become quite as ar
rr>r.h dent as conflict with
mitrailleuses and Maxim
Enterprise. guns. In this sense Le Ma
tin of Paris calls the atten-
ton OF It's readers to q recent treaty Of
commerce executed by Germany with q
group OF nations. according them certain
privileges withheld from others Tho
Parisian journal says: I'm the beginning
OF the present year treaty was signed.
the most important since the dawn OF this
century. BY this treaty Germany binds
for period OF twelve ysars the interests
Austria Hungary. ewftzeriand. RUunania.
Sorvia and Belgium. During twelve years
the western nations OF Europe Will md
thefnse1ves confronted by now and for
Germany IN master. - Tho question
rs what Will France do to defend her In
forests and her national commerc0r
France answered the query BY convok-
Ing commercial congress which assem-
bled on the 21st ~ultlrno. During the Sos
sions or four days ministers Of commerce
and agricuiture. senator's and deputies.
presidents of chambers Of commerce and
trade syndicates. railroad and marine
transportation companies &C.. professors
of commercial schools, engineers. law
yers. doctors and all interested directly or
indirectly in the protection and develop
ment Of French commerce participated in
the proceedings Of the congress.
The United States, like France has been
left out of Germany's new trade combina-
fident that the treaty with Prussia OF
May /. 1925 which was continued after
1870 by the German empire. thus renew
ing the most favored nation clause con-
tanned therein. will still continue. But
aside from the fact that times and Gus
toms change, and we change with them,
we denied the claim OF France to be
treated upon the footing OF the most Ia
vored nations under like circumstances.
and this fact. which appears in the treaty
of 1881. would be invoked by Germany. II
necessary. as q precedent to bar us from
the privileges granted the seven favored
nations.
The German treaty Is more a menace to
American commerce than to the COM
merce Of France. because America pos
sesses few. II any. Of the institutions. long
since established in Europe. which lend
prompt development to commerce and ag-
riculture. To establish such institutions,
to sustain. direct and develop both do
nestle and foreign commerce an Ameri-
can commercial congress is manifestly
and urgently necessary.
An American commercial congress may
suggest the establishment In cities and
Americar manufacturing cent er
throughout the United States
Need. of what are known in
Europe as commercial geo.
graphical societies Such societies have
been found to be the most effective pro-
motors of commerce. and in France have
acquired such Importance as to be adjudg-
ed OF public utility. and thus receive a
certain subsidy from government. More
substantial results are likely to accrue
to American commerce from these societies
than from the commercial attaches
who were recently appointed and sent
out in quest Of commerce. It is
doubtful indeed IL the appointees possess
thu commercial education necessary to ac-
quire the object in view. When govern
ments send their military and naval at
taches to foreign capitals to study and re-
port upon the military and naval situation
OF the governments to which they are &C.
created. omcers are chosen whose previous
education and experience fit them for the
special duty. Service as a consul may
partially serve the commercial attache for
the work assigned him. but the Americana
coTneIcial education Is lacking and wha,
foreign languages. and the idea that En-
g1tsh Is good enough for him. his equip
ment Is very poor compared with the Euro
pean agent. whose special education con-
stitutes him formidable and successful
competitor. -
Senator Chauncey Depew in the Sunday
Magazine of The Star of the 9th instant
Diplomacy: How to Improve the Foreign
Service" The senator. writing optimisti-
caily OF our frst-grade diplomats. but pes
simstically of the second grade, says:
They are (the second grade) generally
unworthy OF a great nation. The appoint
ment to such a post Is the cock-feather
| that Is used to adorn a retired governor,
representative or political partisan
las a class our consuls are of poor ma
terial; men who neither by Instinct nor ex-
perience are fitted for such posts.
These conditions are due entirely to the
faults Of our system. by which politics Is
We must begin on new lines. We
| must inaugurate a training school for
future consular and diplomatic employees
of the United States. We cannot hold our
own with the better equipped service OF
commercial and political rivals unless we
| have the right kind Of agents in all parts
of the world
Well and bravely said. Why, may it no,
be asked. will not the senator from his
| seat in the Senate denounce. as he has done
| in The Star, the faults of our system
which reflects so sadly upon us commercial
| ly? The truth Is senator's and representa-
tives are mainly. II not entirely, RESPONSE
| BILE. at the bidding of their political ad.
| herents at home, for the unfit appointments
| in the diplomatic and consular service and
| not all the innovations. proposed from
| whatever source, can avail. until the sena-
tor and the representative abdcate their
| power and privilege In this regard.
Meanwhile the American commercial con-
gress which has been suggested may dis
! cuss the subject of the establishment OF
commercial geographical societies. with
schools for higher commercial education
| to include a consular and diplomatic school
under the joint control OF the departments
of Commerce and State.
The writer's active association with com
mercial geographical societies began during
his residence in Bordeaux. 1S0o-96, where
having delivered an address before the
Geographical Society OF Bordeaux on the
commerce of Korea. he was elected cor
responding member of that society. Sub
| seouently in 1897. he was appointed secre-