Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-03
association has adopted the Prince of

association has adopted the Prince Of
Wales historic admonition Wake up!
England as it's motto, and is now consid-
ering the best methods to recover and re-
tain it's foreign trade. This movement Is
entirely outside Of the Chamberl1n propa-
ganda for tariff reform. and Will be pro-
NOTED by the manufacturers and exporters
of the kingdom on ordinary business lines,
without regard to the legislation Of parlia-
ment.
The association has appointed commercial
agents in every important center through
out the world to report on all matters af-
fecting the import trade, and to furnish the
fullest information likely to benefit and be
of interest to British manufacturers, such
as changes of taste and fashion in merchan-
disc, increase of competition, fluctuations in
prices the financial status of buyers, oppor-
tunities for contracts with governments,
corporations and private individuals for
public works and other undertakings, etc.
The form of publication of these reports has
been copied from our own bureau or
manufactures. except that we give the In
formation gathered by the agents of our
government free of cost to all the world
while that distributed by the British Ex-
porters Association Is available only to
paying subscribers, and the consular re-
ports of his majesty's consul all have their
price. 1t is a circumstance of some signifi-
canoe that the commercial reports from for
eign countries published by our bureau Of
manufactures can be found on file in every
public library, chamber of commerce and
commercial and industrial association in
England, and they are read with great reg
ularty and diligence. British manufactu-
rers and exporters study their contents with
even more zeal than our own merchants in
the foreign trade. This is true also OF pri-
yate Information. Our shops and mills are
open to visitors from all over the world
Our manufacturers receive English and
German visitors who are in the same busi-
ness with the greatest cordially, and per-
init them to study their machinery and proc
tbOrnnphlv thew
American manufacturer or machlnist can
secure such privileges In Europe. The shops
of Germany are guarded against foreign
visitors The manufacturers Of France are
more liberal. and visitors who bring letters
of introduction may be able to secure en-
trance. But they get mighty little infor-
nation. The same is true In England
Some manufacturers will permit strangers
to go through their shops, but in the ma
jority of cases this is prohibited.
Proposed Floating Exposition.
Among other schemes the British Export
ers' Association is organizing floating ex-
position of samples of merchandise-one
that has been frequently proposed in the
United States but has never been carried
out A large passenger steamer has been
chartered. Her decks are now being fitted
up into sample rooms adapted for special
purposes, thoroughly lighted with electric
ity and conveniently arranged for the dis
play of goods. These rooms are rented to
members Of the association who are filling
them up with samples. Most of them will
send with the ship employees qualified to
make the necessary explanations, establish
agencies, receive orders and do whatever Is
necessary to Introduce or promote the sale
of goods For those firms which do not
care to send out special agents the associa-
ton will furnish general "expositors," as
they are called, who will look after the well
fare of it's exhibitors. The voyage will oc-
cupy about twelve months and forty ports
will be visited. The entire enterprise will
cost about $125, 600