The Washington herald., 1910-12-12
OUTLINES COUNTRY'O
BUSINESS INTERESTS
Huntington Wilson Stands
UpfOr Dollar Diplomacy"
BOON TO OUR sH1PBU1LDERs
Assistant Secretary Of State APP
pears Before House subcommittee
to Push 100000 Appropriation for
Advancement OF American Com
merce-Heips business World.

Assistant Secretary OF State Huntington
Wilson defended the so-called dollar
diplomacy" at a recent hearing before a
subcommittee OF the House Committee on
Appropriations. which is framing the
legislative bill He requested that the
appropriation of $4,000 which has been
made for the last few years for the ad-
vanoement OF the commercial interests OF
the country be allowed to remain in the
bill
After explaining the different purposes
for which the appropriation had been
used, Mr. Wilson spoke of the results of
the dollar diplomacy
'Of course, every one knows" he sais
that it was only through the diplomatic
efforts Of the Department OF State that
we secured for American shipbuilders
contracts for two large battle ships for
the Argentine navy, which viii bring
here 81. 100000 to go TO American work
men and be applied 10 the purchase Of
American material. Then, through the
same agencies. through being able 10
have men to work on the details of these
things and TO see that we miss no oppoF-
tunities, We also got contracts for rail-
way equipment in Argentina amounting
to s., 400, 200; contracts for building two
ships for the Cuban government, 10 cost
about $500 600: contracts for furnishing
armOr and armament for the Argentine
navy. amounting 10 $1.000000; contracts
for furnishing paper 10 a large Latin
American newspaper, amounting 10 about
SEQ 900 per annum; the opening up of the
Hukuang loan agreement in China, so as
TO permit Americans TO have an equal
share with the citizens of certain foreign
governments in financing and supplying
materials for a railway in Central China,
10 cost upward of S30.0O00o0; a contract
for the construction of a railway In
Northern China, TO be financied with
American capital and 10 be supplied in
part with American material, together
with harbor works and other Industrial
improvements in Manchuria, representing
in all an investment of about $400OO,000.
Aid 40 Commerce.
I'VE are also assured Of succeeding in
concluding a loan to China of $50.O00000,
which is 70 be used in the reform of the
Chinese currency system. which VIII
greatly improve business conditions in
China, and therefore aid American COM
merce. The department is now support
ing a large American railway enterprise
in Turkey. the success of which We hope
for"
In reply to a question by Representa-
tive Bingham, Mr.. Wilson said the dip
lomatic support of the State Department
was the determining factor in obtaining
the Argentine battle ships for the Ameri-
can shipbuilders.
Discussing the difficulty encountered
by Americans in invading foreign mar
kcts, Mr.. Wilson said
1t is quite common thing in a cOun-
try where there is a big foreign colony
of a certain nationality, and where the
banks are in the hands of a certain ma
tiOnality. that that creates an atmos-
phere favorable to that nationality. In
some parts of the world where We have
no steamships no banks, and no Ameri-
can colony, our business men meet with
obstacles which they find it difficult 10
overcome. They are handicapped by be-
ing Obliged 10 compete with people Of
other nauonalities who are thoroughly
established who have a material infiu-
ence in the community and TO whom
contracts have always gone in the past
Naturally, II is one Of the functions of
the department of State, in the support
OF American manufacturers and con-
tractors. to attempt TO break up a local
habit OF placing orders in other countries
TO the exclusion OF the United States
and TO secure just recognition for Ameri-
can citizens who desire the opportunity
Of competing for such contracts"
Value of Experts.
Mr.. Wilson explained TO the subcom-
mittet that it was necessary TO employ
IN the state Department specially trained
commercial experts to keep in touch with
foreign trade opportunities in all parts
OF the world.
The advantage of having an expert
personnel lies in having enough people
here, so that nothing can be overlooked
In any part of the world that can help
America: in having somebody who has
the time and the expert knowledge 10
study the question. and to draft and
recommend and work out the action
which viii do the most good" said Mr.
Wilson.
Water cannot rise higher than its
source, and the foreign service is use
less unless We have an adequately
manned, expert. and efficient department
to tell 1t what 10 do. I know that when
! first came here before the reorganiza-
lion, besides the Secretary of State. there
were only three or four persons who
had any responsibility for the larger
matters. One man would be expected to
pass on an intricate question in China.
for instance: five minutes later a similar
difficult matter in Liberia; next. a revo-
luton In Central America; then a posi-
bic opportunity IN Chile; next, some
discrimination about meats in Europe,
and so on, You can see the impossfbility,
without specialists, OF dealing with our
Interests in the whole world and doing
them justice
i think l may say that the govern
ment of every hrst-class power has this
system. or its equivalent. In Great Brit
ain they have half a dozen of these
bureaus in their foreign Office dividing
the world in politco- geographical way
experts dealing with American countries.
with far Eastern countries, and so on.
The same is true of Russia, and in
France, and in Germany. An astounding
degree Of efficient cooperation exists be-
tween the foreign service and the COM
mercial and industrial foreign enter
prises in the case Of every first-class
commercial nation to-day We are lust
adopting what our competitors have had
before us.
Helps business World.
Now that the business world has dis
covered that the Department of State is
a business concern. said Mr. Wilson. in
conclusion, and wants and is ready and
has the means TO help them to take adj
vantage Of opportunities everywhere. Of
course they come 10 us for support in