Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-09
MARKETS IN THE EAST
Opportunities for American
Trade in the Orient.
FIELD FOR OUR EXPORTS
Commissioner General LOOMS Tells
of His Observations.
NEED OF INTELLIGENT EFFORT
Recommends Location of Competent
Commercial Attaches in the Chief
Business Centers Of the World.
FIELD FOR OUR EXPORTS
NEED OF INTELLIGENT EFFORT

Francis B. Loomis. commissioner gen
eral to the TOXIC exposition, who has just
returned to Washington from japan. is
thoroughly Convinced. after looking into
the commercial and Industrial conditions
In the orient, that many and uncommonly
inviting opportunities for the upbuilding,
in thoroughly substantial way, of mar
kets for large variety OF the products
Of American factories. mills and farms
will surely present themselves to the
manufacturers and producers of this
country within the next few years. He
thinks that in China. Japan and Korea
the demand for articles of foreign manu-
facture will grow. and that particularly
In China the wants and purchasing power
OF the people will increase with very
surprising rapidity. In his opinion. high
ly profitable outlets for the intelligent
producers and exporters Of this country
VIII be found there If only they will be-
gin at once. In a systematic, intelligent
and liberal way. to prepare for and to
do the work which is essential in any new
and important field Of commercial enter
prise.
In Japan. Mr. Loomis not ONLY gave
close attention to the exposition prob
lem. but he devoted a great deal of
time to the study Of industrial and
to suggest to American manufacturers
and prospective exhibitors the class
and style Of goods which they can, in
al! probability. send to the greatest
advantage to the Toxic exposition and
which will have the best chances Of
appealing to the taste of oriental mer-
chants and buyers.
Prosperity Returning to Orient.
''The orient has been suffering severe
iaJ
LOOMS said to representative of The
Star at his hotel this morning. but
when / left there were signs of re-
turning prosperity. Leading business
men, both in China and Japan, assured
me that within year conditions ought
TO be quite normal and international
trade brisk
Many of the alert and representa-
tive business men of the United States
who are gathered in Washington today
from all parts Of this country have a
direct and personal interest, either
present or prospective, in the trade of
the orient, and while they are discuss
ing various topics In their conventions
I trust they will give some considera-
tlon to the question of oriental mar
kets.
The men Of the south are particularly
interested. I am sure, in a market for cot
ton goods and tobacco, while the repre-
sentative from other parts Of the United
States will sooner or later, be vitality in
terested in getting their share of the
markets for the varied products of their
mills and factories.
1T must be borne in mind that every
day the wants and the needs of the peo-
pie of the orient are growing. and that
there is a corresponding growth in their
ability to minister to those wants and
needs. In other words. they are becom
ing more liberal consumers and more gen.
erOus buyers
opportunity in the orient for building up
their foreign trader" was asked.
Opportunities for Americans.
'They can have and will have il they
so choose" was the answer. "Outside of
the activities of few great enterprises.
such as the Standard OIL Company and
few well established trading companies.
there has been very little noteworthy ef-
fort on the part of Americans to win an
important share of the commerce of the
orient. If American business men want
te succeed in this line. and to build up
and share market that is we'll worth
having they must have the foresight to
study the situation carefully and to be
aware of the opportunities that are COM
ing and what the future may hold In store
for them. They must understand the new
movement which is pulsing through
China and they must insist upon their
own government putting them. in every
respect upon an equal footing. in the
matter of success in foreign markets.
with the merchants and exporters of other
important commercial and producing
countries.
'.rhe government Of the United States
Is doing a great deal to give our mer-
chants and manufacturers valuable OPP
portunities for securing foreign markets,
but it cannot sell goods for them. 1t can
only give them certain lines of informa-
ton and point the way to opportunities
and put them upon an equal footing. SO
far as rights secured through treaty ar
engagements are concerned
Why Europeans Get Foothold.
lone of the reasons why Europeans
seem to have strong foothold in many
oriental cities is that representatives of
important European banking and COM
mercial houses have settled in the orient
and have taken an important part in the
Industrial and social life in the commu-
mites in which they live. They have es-
tablished banks and built up local enter
prises. They have had the wisdom to see
that If you want to get some substantial
return from new or partially developed
country you have got to put something
into ii In the way of brains and patience
and money.
The American government could do
one very important thing to help our for
eign trade. not only in the orient, but in
all parts of the world.
all parts of the world
What is that" was asked
1T could provide for the appointment
by the President and the Senate of high
ly competent commercial attaches to be
located I'm the principal business and
commercial centers of the world. 1t is
impossible for our diplomatic and con-
sular officers to bring to the discussion
and study of commercial and industrial
questions abroad the training and tech
meal knowledge that is necessary to
make their reports at all times of the
most useful and convincing character.
Observers at Strategic Points.
we get vast deal of most excellent
information in our frequent. varied and
we'll edited consular reports. but we
need trained generals of commerce on
the spot. at strategic points, who shall
be in command. SO to speak, of the va
rious consular and field agents, and who
can coordinate and systematic their
work.
Our rivals for the commerce of the
world have seen the advantages to be de-
rived from the work of wisely selected
commercial attaches. These officials are
stationed in various parts of the world
and their governments already are reap
ing very substantial benefits from their
work.
II would not suggest or favor the an
pointment of commercial attaches unless
Congress Is willing to provide for the
employment of higll-cIass and bigh-sala
ried men. 1t would be waste of money