Evening star., 1915-10-24
TRUST TO CONTROL
j. S. EXPORT TRADE
Secretary RedfieId Announces
the Formation of American
Association.
GOVERNMENT is TO GIVE
UNOFFICIAL RECOGNITION
Purpose Is to Guarantee Neutrality
of American Shipments, Avoiding
Interference.

by Secretary Redfeld of the Depart
| ment of Commerce The company will
have the unofficial recognition of the
government.
Secretary Redfeld said that it vas
| contemplated to have the company ham
die all export shipments from the
United States to neutral countries.
Supervision by Government.
He said that while the government
| would not officially guarantee to bel
| ligerent countries in Europe that the
goods shipped under agreement with
| the American company would not reach
their enemies. the government would
exercise such supervision as would in
sure the complete neutrality of the
commerce carried on by the new Amer
ican company.
Secretary Redfield said that the COM
pany itself. under the unofficial recog-
milton of the government. would make
such arrangements with belligerent
European countries as would assure
the safety of American neutral bound
commerce from interference by bellig-
erents.
Open to All Exporters.
In considering unofficial. recognition
by the government for the new concern
it was made condition that the COM
pany must handle the export business
Of all American firms which might
make application. provided they could
meet the conditions laid down by the
belligerent countries with which the
concern. would operate.
The understanding was reached that
agents Of the Treasury Department in
export cities in the United States and
commercial agents of the Department
of Commerce abroad would cooperate
to assure the complete neutrality of all
transactions handled through the con-
cerp. ,..-.5 e-z,.s-..s.,,,.. ~, s-.--,s
! purpose to Hid Commerce.
The object Of the scheme" Secretary
Redfeld said, is to. secure the move-
ment Of neutral commerce under such
Authoritative auspices as to assure that
IT will not be interrupted. That part
of the plan to be undertaken by the
Department of Commerce, under the
arrangements discussed yesterday,
would be the ascertaining. by CONNER
other officers that the operations of
the plan were strictly Impartial and
neutral The new company would be
open to assist all truly neutral Amer
lean commerce to all countries with
which II is to operate. The machinery
would not be officially q part of the
government, and 1t would not be a
money-making scheme. It Is the vol
untary action of men prominent In
business in various cities OF the coun-
try. seeking to secure. relief for Amer
lean commerce by having neutral trade
conducted under the auspices of an
organized. responsible concern"
Arrangements Already Made.
The company officials at the confer
ence which was attended also by As
sistant Secretary Peters of the Treas
ury Department and Assistant secre-
tary vrooman of the Department of
Agriculture. were headed by Max May
of the Guarantee Trust Company Of
New York and exporters In Philadel-
were represented. It Is understood ten
tative arrangements already have been
made with the governments Of Great
Britain. France and Russia. repre-
sentative Of the company will 20 to
Europe soon to complete the negotia-
tons, now that approval of the plan
has been given by governments officers
here.
Commerce Almost Stopped.
Counsel for the company issued this
statement last night:
The American Overseas Corporation
has been organized with a view Of ia
cilitating commerce between tho United
States and neutral countries. The need
for some such agency is evidenced by
the almost complete stoppase Of oom-
meroe between the United States and
neutral countries as tho result Of war
conditions.
Tho underlying purpose Of this cor
porafion is to get goods into the neu.
trail countries for neutral consumption,
and. in order to assure this. subsidiary
companies are being organised in the
neutral countries to act as consignees
and distributors for the American
Overseas Corporation. No goods will be
handled by the American Overseas Cor
given upon which its representative can
rely that they will be confined to neu-
trail countries. and to this end the
American Overseas Corporation has
sought the cooperation OF the depart
ments Of the United States government,
which were represented at the confer
ence held yesterday.
For Neutral Countries Only.
Tho conference was preliminary to
the beginning Of operations by the cor
poration and the Representatives of the
departments present gave assurances
that they would cooperate in both the
United States and neutral countries IN
| the effort to make certain that the
trade handled through the American
Overseas Corporation would be entire
| ly a neutral trade. destined to neutral
countries. for consumption in neutr. |
| countries.
'The American Overseas Corporation
will be in substance q forwarding cor
! poration, but its functions will be con-
nned exclusively to :hs shipment Of
| goods to neutral countries. and the as
| suranoe OF all parsons interested that
these goods will be absolutely confined
| to neutral countries. Will be necessary
| to secure its services.
ITS services VIII be open to all bona
! United States. It IL not organized for
profit. and beyond its expenses NO
to prevent detentions OF shipments, re-
duce the cost Of insurance and help 10