The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-11
TAKE MEASURES FOR OF FOREIGN
 TRADE DURING WAR
National Foreign Trades Council Holds Special Meeting in New York.
 Work for Unity

New York, August 1O.-Thc National
 Foreign Trades council, nt speci.
 meeting here today. took measures for
 the relief of the congestion of foreign
 Farrell, president of the United states
 Steel corporation, and chairman of the council. in opening, laid stress on the se-
 rIousness of the situation, and gave as
 the object of the relief measures the
 starting of exports to Europe.
 | It was agreed that the council, which
 consists of 30 national representative
 bankers, merchants, railroad and steam
 ship men, collectively standing for the /, general interest of all elements engaged | in or affected by foreign trade, should
 work for national unity of action in set
 ting American export and import trade free from the paralysis of transporta-
 tion.
 The council decided to keep in daily touch with all its members in all parts
 of the United States and with the nuner- ous industrial organizations which have
 telegraphed to it for information regard
  with every effective agency for the ex- tension of American commerce.
 Many Attend
 | Although the meeting was called at l short notice members came from every part of the United States James J. Hill promptly left St. Paul to attend the sesr sions. while Captain Robert Dollar, the San Francisco exporter, telegraphed that Ia ...l. kar ..,iS ff. tx.if, committee of the council which will attend the conference of shipping and banking interests called by Secretary McAdoo to meet in Washington on Fri day.
 1 committee was appointed to recom- i, mend action at once to the council. l The council passed resolutions urging the prompt passage of a bill pending in l Congress which would provide immediate means to increase the American mer- l chant marine and recommending that the government at once provide war risks | insurance at reasonable rates on both the hulls and cargoes of American vessels en- gagged in ,over-sea trade.
 In order to speed the accomplishment of the proposed relief measures. the res- olutions were transmitted immediately to President Wilson, Secretary Bryan. Secre- tary of the Treasury McAdoo. Secretary of Commerce Redfield, Senator James O German. chairman of the Senate inter oceanic canals committee, who has the pending shipping registry bill in charge. and to congressional party leaders Insurance Rates, High Mir. Hill, MT. Farrell and others strongly expressed the opinion that even with up- wards of 100 foreign built ships ready to come under the American flag. in case the bill passes. the present rates of in- surance were so high that the movement of commerce still would be retarded. For this reason the recommendation for gov erninent insurance was adopted. the council indorsing the principle and not urging any particular method The gen eral sentiment was that with the shipping registry bill enacted and the insurance question placed upon a reasonable basis. the equilibrium of exchange would be restored as an incident of renewed move ment of exports and imports
 committee, to be headed by MT. Farrell was appointed to represent the
 tCsutlnusa .. rase naukf,