The Detroit times., 1910-01-20
SAYS us. NEGLECTS
IT'S FOREIGN TRADE.
}. I. Ewell, Before Board Of Com
mercs, Points Out Deficiencies in
American Export Facilities.

Uncle Sans neglect OF his interests
abroad was the theme OF powerful
addresses by men thoroughly familiar
with the situation. at the quarterly
meeting and dinner of the Detroit
Board OF Commerce. In the Hotel
Cadillac. Tuesday night
James l. Ewell. a leading figure In
the National Association OF Manufac
turers. pointed out In forceful man
nef the deficiencies OF American ex-
port facilities. with some pointed OBJ
servations on the famous world
cruise OF our battleship feet. Had the
feet become involved with any other
power II would never have reached
home. he declared. because every one
Of the golfers that accompanied the
fleet were foreign vessels and. under
the international law, would have
been compelled to desert the fleet in
the event OF war. Ills talk made a
deep impression and was easily the
feature OF the meeting.
C. Clarence Jones. president OF
american Embassy association, the
purpose OF which Is to promote and
encourage the acquisition by the
4 United States of permanent homes
a for It's ambassadors in foreign capi-
tails, went into this subject in minute
detail and made some interesting
comparisons between our embassies
and those OF other nations. He esti-
mated that II would cost $S.00O.OOO
leo establish permanent homes for our
} ambassadors In all the capitals OF
Europe. The point he emphasized
particularly is that mental equipment,
mot wealth, should be the first re-
4 quisite OF an ambassador. IL should
not be necessary for a man to pos
aess a great fortune to be qualihed
< for service in the diplomatic corps.
he said.
Secretary Sawyer submitted a re-
port OF the boards doings for the past
three months, showing how it is full
4 filling its mission as a sort OF clearing
house for public opinion and ideas
I looking to the betterment Of the city
and the furtherance OF its. interests:
! president 4. A. Sumner presided as
Westminster and delivered short
talk. In which he advocated more
liberal estimates for public improve
ments. Other speakers we're Fred
|erick Townsend Martin and John ID.
Long, both OF New York. on the pur-
poses OF the National Association OF
Manufacturers.
M. EweIPs address follows In
part:
sour future prosperity depends up
on the development of our export
trade In manufactured products. We
are now coming to manufacture more
than we can consume at home. In
most lines we can produce as much
IN eight months as we can consume
An twelve. and were 1t not for the for
eign markets which consume a thou
sand million dollars worth OF our
manufactured products annually. our
home markets would be glutted. and
ruin and stagnation would stare US in
the face.
"This export trade does not come
by chance IL we get 1t we must go
AFTER II. The English are far ahead
Of us in the efficiency of their con-
Sular service as viewed from busi-
ness standpoint and as a means OF
lsecuring the information necessary
for the development of export trade.
Germany Is even more systematic
than England in securing for the man.
ufacturers OF that country accurate
and extensive data.
zone great hindrance that the
American exporter has found In the
way OF success has been the lack OF
adequate financial facilities. The for
keign bankers in the various great
trade centers invariably assist in the
promotion of the business OF the
countries which they severally repre-
sent. Our shippers lacking such as
Instance, are at distahet disadTant=
age. We are glad, however, to re-
port that the International Banking
Corporation. OF New York, is now TAX
Ing care OF our financial interests In
the Orient, and that the National City
hank Of New York city has arranged
70 establish a chain of Pan-American
banks In the great commercial cen
ters OF South America.
"Perhaps the greatest obstacle OF
ali to the extension of our foreign
commerce Is the lack of American
ships. We are making our foreign
deliveries in the ships OF our com
mercial enemies who are our trade
rivals. II need not be wondered that
IU4y provide every FACILITY pOSslbio
Tor the forwarding OF their own pro-
ducts and interpose every obstacle
that they can to the prompt delivery
Of our goods.
"As a matter OF fact, the American
nag has almost vanished from the
high seas We sell to England, our
largest customer, s723.000,000 worth
81 products annually. but scarcely any
or this freight or of the other thou
sand million dollars worth of pro-
sIlicts which we manufacture and sell,
~ carried in our own ships. Sixty
per cent of our foreign trade is car
ried IN British bottoms. and twenty
per cent IN German ships.
"We are building the great Panama
canal. at what will approach an ulti-
mate cost OF s500.0000O0 For whom
are we spending all this vast bulk OF
treasure? We have not single shin
..<r forofQu marine To sail throuph