New Britain herald., 1915-12-06
DR. SNOWDEN ON
 TRADE OF WORLD
Reviews Commercial Conditions
 Existing Throughout Universe

Existing Throughout universe conditions throughout the world were reviewed by Dr. Albert A. Snowden, of the National Association of Manu- lecturers, in an address today before the International Trade Conference which is being held here under the auspices of the Manufacturers asso- citation.
 After showing what a great up- heaval had been caused in the eco- homie world by the war, Dr. Snow den pointed out some of the oppOrtun- tiles in international trade that were bound to come with the readjustment following the war. Among other things he laid stress on the improvement in foreign news service, along com mercial lines.
 international trade" said he. "in it's higher aspects, means world-ser- vice." As means of giving better ser vice to other nations, thereby obtain ing trade and through it employment for our workmen, the manufacturer shippers. and bankers of the United States, in the opinion of the speaker must cooperate; give workers teen nical training: establish export traoe schools; improve foreign news s': vice; and place direct representa'lVes of the manufacturers in foreign neios
 Requires Information
 Trade of any kind. world trade Ill particular" he continued, requires ln- cessantly, the getting and giving or il- formation The constant improve ment of the means for the lntercnanse of commercial facts with other na- tionals is essential to the rational ex- pansion of international trade. The government of the United States and our leading organizations and financial institutions have lately increased the facilities for the interchange of s 'ch information. Our industrial news service through other countries is be- ing facilitated through the same agencies"
 '"The United States is taking It's place as a premier investor nation, he said, "and for the first time our actual holdings of foreign securities exceed in amount the total of Amerl- can securities held abroad. Our ex- port or CdplIdl IldS SuooChly cVSSihiS larger than that of Great Britain in it's palniest days before the war.
 Numerous Obstacles.
 "But there are numerous obstacles in our way of international trade. The European war not only eliminated the two largest merchant fleets from active commerce-leaving an interior port, Cleveland, O., as the headquar- ters of the worlds largest line of steamers actually engaged in trade but it swept from the seas all n4ar- chant vessels of the nation that was second in ean-traff1cing- The combined merchant marine of the United States has, of course, stood second among the nations or the world for a great many years, put slhcc d large part of it's tonnage has been con- fined to the Great Lakes, an another section has been occupied in coastwise and river navigation, we have had relatively few ships in tke overseas traffic. In the United States the ill-advised seamen's act, fooEshly intended as a betterment, has had lie effect of a fotilla of hostile submarines directed against our own merchant marine"
 He said that the anticipated heavy traffic between Europe and the Orient, via the Panama canal, has not as yet materialized, and the dearth of ocean carriers is felt in our own trade with China. Japan, and the West Coast of South America, via this route, but 'Ae thought that with the ending of the European war this situation would inn prove.
 Alive to Tariffs.
 He continued.
 - "Producers everywhere are keenly alive to the tariff and manufacturing establishments to be faced alter the war. The probable low cost of labor in certain foreign countries is to sone a. cause of apprehenslon; others De- lieve that the skilled labor of the bel lieerent nations has been denloralizec and damaged, immeasurably. That machinery will be used more and more to assist production, is 8 settled con c1usion. To some persons, the dye- stuffs situation, one the foreign eul- bargo on wool and other commodities and the dumping probabilities. en- nhasize the necessity for tariff re- adiustments; on the other hand, there is an appreciation of the fact that an investor nation must have large i'm pOrtations of goods. lf-suff1cielicy in the providing of our own require ments is strongly advocated by some individuals; others realize that no na- ton can be fully self-dependent-th a division of labor among the nations, each excelling in it's own specialties, is as necessary as is hte customary di- vision of labor in the productive ac- tivities of the home country. Ger tainly, trade cannot long remain one sided. We must buy from others as we'll as sell to them. There must be middle ground between self-sufficiency and cooperation.