New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-03
ZOE W. PROMOTION OF TRADE.

request that should strongly appeal to the
practical business sense which is regarded as
dominant in the American mind is the one
made last week by the Secretary of State for
an appropriation of funds for the extension nf
the commercial activities of the federal govern
ment in promoting the foreign commerce of the
United States, upon which the Senate promptly
took favorable action Our foreign commerce
is now. il is true. the second largest in the
world and as such might be deemed satisfactory.
But the next competitor is close to us as
TO give warning that our utmost exertiOns will
be needed 10 maintain our rank and to sug
gest that we cannot afford to leave unused any
legitimate means for commercial extension.
Moreover. it is evident that the near future
zFill enormous increase i'm the worlds
commerce in which the United States should
have a fitting share. and that can he secured
only by wisely directed enterprise
China and Latin America, Mr.. Knox justly
remarks. are the two regions Of greatest poten-
TALLY as fields for foreign commerce and in
vestment fin the near future. and they are
two fields which are conspicuousy adapted to
American enterprise. In China the adoption
of the American principle of the open door and
equal opportunities gives a singularly strong
moral and sentimental title TO a prominent
place in the markets. So far as financial in
vestments are concerned, our State Department,
through its diplomatic representatives, has Just
a signal and important victory. which
should encourage the endowment of that de-
partment with whatever means it might ra
Quire for the further pursuance of the same
equitable and beneficent aims. China is now
working out in IA peaceful resOlute and promis-
ing manner political and social transformation.
which, when completed, will mean an enormous
increase in her foreign trade. When her four
hundred million people become as great traders
as those of other nations, the total volume or
their imports will be SO vast as to stagger
statiSticians, and historical geographical and all
other conditions justly entitle the United
States 10 foremost place in supplying that de-
mand.
As for Latin America. its present magnitude
is probably seldom appreciated while fits poten-
TALLY in the not distant future is almost he
yond estimate. Leaving out of account the
colonial possessions of four European powers.
there at the south of us in this hemisphere
no fewer than twenty independent states, with
a population which now exceeds Seventy-siX
million and which is increasing more rapidly
than our own. 1t is entirely possible that the
present generation VIII the population ~
Latin America, south of the Rio Grande.
considerably exceeding that of AnglO-SaxOn
America. north of that boundary. Our proximity
to the twenty republics, our traditional political
relations with them and the exceptional meas
ure Of natural reciprocity in demand and supply
which exists between us and them cOnvinc-
ingly attest the desirability Of employing all
proper means for increasing our commercial
intercourse with them. Mr.. Knox reports that
the existing machinery of the government for
the promotion of American commerce is made
duate and that fact alone is a sufficient argu-
ment for promptly providing for its extension
and perfection until il shall he second to no
other I'm the world