New-York tribune., 1914-05-29
Tells Foreign Trade Dele
gates of Interest in Amer
ican Commerce.
CONVENTIONURGESGET
TOGETHER MOVEMENT
Menocal Says Action of This
Country Regarding China Has
Bolted "Open Door"
fFrom The Tribune Bureau.


WASHINGTON. May 2s-The first Natioh-
al Foreign Trade Convention which nus
been in session here for two DAYS q"
journed to-day. with the passage OF
series of resolutions which provide tor a
permanent organization to forward "ha'
is being called the get together move
ment for the promotion OF American TRACE
in foreign markets.
The delegates called at the White
House and saw President Wilson, Who' IN
a few brief remarks. spoke most reas-
suringly of the administration interest
in the expansion of American commerce.
He mentioned his particular interest III
the upbuilding Of an American merchant
marine Incidental to this the President
remarked that IL was only a parental m
reference that prevented him from go
ing to sea. "and ] only hope he ADDED
that IL is not a universal regret that
did not"
Among those at the White House were
Cyrus II. Mccormick. president OF the
International Harvester Company; James
A. Farrell, president OF the United states
Steel Corporation; Edwin y. Hurley. vice.
president OF the Illinois Manufacturers
Association, who introduced the visitors
10 the President. and Alba II. Johnson
president OF the Baldwin Locomotive
Works and presiding officer OF the con-
yontion which has Just come to an end.
A feature OF to-day's session was the
address by Daniel J. Menocal, manager or
the Pcking branch OF the international
Banking Corporation. Mr.. Menocal dis
cussed the Far Eastern situation and the
status of Americans in Chinese markets
He aroused great interest when he said
that the failure Of the United States to
participate in industrial loans in China
had closed, locked and bolted the open
door"
The purport OF the resolutions adopted
to-day is:
The creation OF national foreign trade
council OF thirty members. appointed by
the president OF the convention, 10 CO.
ordinate the industrial. commercial, trans
portation and financial interests OF the
nation for the extension OF foreign trade.
The cooperation Of the Chamber OF Com
merce of the United States will be sought
Urging Congress to put American in
dustry on an equal footing with foreign
competitors by permitting combinations
for foreign, as distinct from domestic,
commerce.
Pledging the conventions support to
measures necessary TO increase the en-
cheney Of the consular and diplomatic
services.
Indorsing increased appropriations for
0f Dp-
partment Of Commerce and the estab-
lishment of commercial attaches.
Indorsiny the manufacturing census
ordered 20 be taken in 1914 and urging
manufacturers 10 cooperate.
Favoring the upbuildng Of an Ameri-
can merchant marine.
Urging the President 10 negotiate reel
procity treaties for the extension OF for
eign trade.
The National Trade Council will be ap-
pointed by the president OF the conven-
ton. Il is intended through this body TO
work for the development Of the truly
national foreign trade policy which will
defend existing commerce against the
highly energiZed campaigns OF European
and Asiatic industrial nations. This ac-
ton sprang from the feeling OF leaders
Of American industry that they needed
the support OF popular sentiment.
Alba E. johnson. OF Philadelphia, presi-
dent of the National Foreign Trade Con-
vention, in replying TO the residents
address, said the American Manufactur-
ers Association, the Pan-American So
ciety and the American Asiatic Associa-
ton had consulted together and deter
mined that the present was peculiarly
the time 10 inaugurate a forward move
ment for the export business OF the United
States"
John r. Gardin, vice-president OF the
National City Bank Of New York, told
the convention that President wilson's
administration had given the country two
things Of which it might be proud-the
tariff and the currency law.